Chapter Text
Levi’s hands are quick and mechanical at the espresso machine, he smiles politely and says “come again” , he wipes his hands before serving the next customer. Erwin watches him from afar, Levi doesn’t know that Erwin is there, and its good. Erwin has a surprise for his boyfriend of 1 whole year now.
“I’ve always wanted to travel more,” Levi had said, his head lying on Erwin’s bare chest and they were awake late, talking about their future and dreams. “But I haven’t ever had the chance to just up and leave everything. I wonder what it’s like.”
And Erwin took that seriously.
If anybody in this world deserves to just drop everything and have a little fun, it’s Levi.
That’s why Erwin is grinning from ear to ear thinking about what he’s going to tell Levi as soon as he can get him home, he’s been rehearsing it in his head for the last two days.
Erwin continues rehearsing it in head until the familiar jingle of bells draws his attention to his boyfriend.
“We’re closed,” Levi calls out to him, having spotted him already while Erwin was lost in his thoughts, he's smiling already. “Come again tomorrow.”
Erwin stands up from his seat towards the back of the little shop, grabbing his phone and work coat. “Won't be necessary. Let's go home.”
Erwin is buzzing with excitement all the way down to his toes, Levi really has no idea. A few times, he feared he’d gotten caught, but Levi is so oblivious.
“Sunday’s the big day, " Levi says, pressing a kiss to Erwin's cheek as soon as they get inside their home. “What do you want for dinner?”
Erwin hangs up his coat on the rack and slips his dress shoes off by the door, he leans down, pecking Levi’s forehead. “You.”
“I am the dessert, " Levi smirks cheekily. “But seriously, what do you want? Do you want to get catering? Hanji’s really good at pulling strings with fancy restaurants. Mike’s a chef.”
Erwin chuckles, Mike and Hanji already know of his plans and he trusts them to say nothing. Tonight, Erwin will surprise Levi with his first gift, tomorrow he will give Levi his second gift. Levi’s last and most important gift is already in Erwin’s suitcase, along with other things for the trip.
“I don't know yet, baby,” Erwin sits in the kitchen, opening his phone to a myriad of text messages in the groupchat he created for this occasion. “Anything with wine and champagne.”
“And champagne?” Levi questions, opening the fridge and pulling out leftovers to reheat. “You can't pick one? Also, is Thai okay? I'm a little tired and don't want to cook.”
“Yes, both, and yes.”
“Alright,” Levi opens the tupperware to heat the food, and while he's busy, Erwin sends multiple text messages to Mike, Hanji, and Nanaba. “You've been on your phone a lot more recently. Are you cheating on me?”
“Wouldn't dream of it,” Erwin puts his phone down, having already told Mike to act like he's going to cater an anniversary party for the couple, for Hanji to follow along and pretend like they just can't find the right outfit to wear, when in actuality, they both know that Levi and Erwin will be on a plane to Spain. “You're the only one for me, you know that.”
“I do,” Levi washes the empty tupperware while the food heats up on the stove. “That's why you need to let me cook something nice for you. If you don't tell me soon, I won't have enough time.”
“That's what Mike is for, love,” Erwin grabs Levi's wrist when he's finished drying the container and sits him on his lap, pecking his cheek in kisses again. “You and I work too much. I just want to relax with you this time.”
This is it, he's getting close.
“You know I can't relax,” Levi gently strokes the back of Erwin’s neck with his index finger, speaking softly. “It's easy for you to say, you've never used any of your vacation days, and I work independently.”
“Don't worry about that,” Erwin starts to smile wide, inside of him it feels like a thousand butterflies flapping their wings. “I took care of that for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Petra and Oulo are taking over for you.”
“What?!” Levi's voice raises, he isn't one to let anybody control what he does, even out of good intentions. “No, they're not going to do shit with my shit. I can't believe you, Erwin. I told you I’d close for the day, why did you tell them anything? Oulo doesn't even wash his hands. I don't want his filthy hands on my espresso machine or my mixer!”
Erwin can't help the laugh that bubbles up out of his throat at Levi's mini tirade. None of that will even matter in the next 12 hours.
Levi looks so pissed off, he pushes himself off of Erwin's lap, and just as Erwin expected, he storms out of the kitchen to their bedroom, but Erwin is faster. Before he speeds after Levi, he turns off the stove. They are going to be awhile.
In the blink of an eye, he has successfully wrapped his black tie around Levi's eyes.
“What the fu-!”
“Wait,” Erwin tells him, not being able to contain the excitement in his voice, and thankfully, Levi does not try to remove the makeshift blindfold from his face. “Wait, baby. Don't take it off.” Levi’s probably confused to the point of speechlessness. This isn't like Erwin, he knows. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Don't think you're getting off free, Erwin,” Levi says, frowning behind his blindfold. “I'm upset with you. You know I didn't want you to do anything, especially not without my permission.”
“I know, baby,” Erwin quickly pulls out his fully packed suitcase, unzipping it and leaving it out for Levi to see. He does the same with Levi’s suitcase, laying their passports on the bed. “I'm sorry.”
“...What are you even doing?” Levi asks, some of the fire gone from his voice. “Is this some kind of kinky trick you've got going on?”
“This is hardly kinky, darling,” Erwin chuckles, kissing Levi’s cheek. “Do you remember the first month we started dating?”
“...Yes?”
“Mhmm,” Erwin kisses Levi again, he just can't help himself. He's so happy. “Do you remember what you told me you've always wanted to do?”
By now, Levi must be connecting the pieces. His pink mouth is hung open, he's silent for a moment. “I told you… I wanted to travel?”
“Yes you did, but where?”
The smile that breaks out on Levi's face should be bottled up and preserved forever, because Erwin is sure it's the cure for any and every ailment ever. He's perfect.
“...Europe?”
“Yes, you can take the blindfold off now...Well, my tie.”
Levi quickly pulls the tie off of his face, and he immediately looks down. Before him are two fully packed suitcases and passports.
Levi doesn't even say anything. His mouth is hung open and his eyebrows have almost connected with his hairline.
“I want to make your dreams come true, you've been working so hard for everyone, for us. I want to give back to you, my love.”
“B-but what about-”
“Already taken care of.”
“My-”
“Don't worry about it. You're closing temporarily. For the summer.”
“For the summer?” Levi looks at Erwin and there are stars in his silver eyes.
“Yes. All Summer, you and I are going to explore Europe for 92 days,” Erwin pushes Levi's bangs back to kiss his forehead. “Don't say no, I've already booked a hotel for us to stay in Barcelona. The flight is 12 hours straight, so I've rented movies for us to watch on my phone, but it's best if you just try to sleep, I'm not going to let you sleep when we land.”
“We're staying in Spain for three months?”
“No, love,” Erwin can't stop smiling because Levi is positively shocked. He's lagging. “Not just Spain, but don't you want to see where your mother grew up? I'm taking you to France next, then Italy, Switzerland, wherever my baby wants to go.”
“Can we afford it?”
“I've taken a paid leave from work,” Erwin hugs Levi from behind. “I've got it all covered, I've been planning this for a month.”
Levi turns around in Erwin’s embrace, wrapping his arms around Erwin's neck to pull him down, kissing him hard on the lips. His kisses are even excited, and Erwin can feel the joy pulsing through his veins so he laughs, he laughs against Levi's lips and then Levi joins him in his laughter. Erwin feels like 30 more years have been added to his lifespan.
“We have to go to sleep,” Levi says immediately after breaking the kiss. “Oh my god, Erwin, what are we gonna tell Hanji? Or Mike?”
“They already know.”
Levi playfully smacks Erwin's chest. His smile is absolutely brilliant.
“You bastards! I'm the only one that didn't know, huh?”
“Yes!” Erwin giggles as Levi keeps hitting him gently, then drowning his face in kisses. He can feel Levi's love.
Erwin already feels like life couldn't get any better, but he knows that this is just the beginning.