8: The History Professor Knows

You're sent away from Levi's apartment shortly, the professor sweeping away a brief bout of reluctance and resolutely ushering you out. You take the city bus back to Utgard Apartments, huddled against the grimy seat as the late nights of autumn welcome biting air into the space of the poorly heated passenger vehicle.

The next morning, you're ready to return to the university by 7:30, just enough time left to catch the approaching bus that'll bring you to the edge of campus. You sling your satchel over your shoulder and leave your apartment, tucking your keys into one of the outer pockets of your bag.

Your fingers feel the slim card from Mitras Apartments, and a bolt of shock stabs you. Were you supposed to return that? Is Levi going to get in trouble for failing to return his allotted guest pass? You'll have to mention it to him, unfortunately.

It seems like the universe wants to expedite your confession, since once you push open the doors of the complex and step into the parking lot, an unexpected sight awaits you: a black sedan is here, sleek and recently washed and proclaiming maximum wealth. Against its door, the short form of your strict mentor is leaning.

Flabbergasted and paralyzed, you stare at the professor who, by all means, should be anywhere else besides your little apartment complex.

"Levi."

He seems unaffected by the crisp morning air, the weather as bitter as his expression. "Took you long enough. I was about to leave."

"What—um, what's going on?" The lifespan of your satchel is likely going to decrease with how frequently you use it as an outlet for stress.

"Get in." He steps aside and peels open the passenger door of his sedan, revealing the low, cozy seat within.

You stiffen, tempted to step away from the gaping mouth. "Um, why?"

"It's better than the bus."

You can't believe it. Levi Ackerman—the Levi Ackerman is offering you a ride? What spirit of generosity has possessed him?

"Are we...going to Paradis?" you ask, no smarter question coming to your dumbfounded mind.

"No, the fucking candy shop." He rolls his eyes as he turns on his heels and marches around the car. "Obviously Paradis, idiot. Get in."

You're frozen in place as he throws himself into the driver's seat and sticks an elbow on the center console. He cranes his neck and peers out, waiting for his passenger.

"Are you coming or not?"

Your body brings you to the passenger seat while your mind seems to have been left in the street. You sit, shut the door, and draw the seatbelt across your torso in a daze.

"Finally." The car lurches as he shift its transmission, then the world outside the window moves as he drives back to the city roadways.

The edge of the windshield is your focal point while you try to pull your thoughts together. You're sitting in Levi's car, in your mentor's car, in this godforsaken vehicle of doom. Erwin never chauffeured you to school. Nobody ever did, not unless you count the dreary bus drivers.

"Good grief, are you even awake yet?" Levi punches a fist into your arm, jolting you with energy. "You look like a corpse."

You look over at him, using his profile as an anchor for mentation. He's comfortable while driving, his pristinely dressed body relaxed against his backrest as he rests a slender hand on his steering wheel. Grey eyes watch the traffic around him, processing each passing vehicle and maneuvering through them effortlessly. Nothing seems to bother him when he's like this.

Don't fall for it, you tell yourself. "That's rude," you say to affirm your utter distaste towards him.

"A 'thank you' would sound nicer." He devotes a split second to cast his eyes your direction, his brow transforming the look into a glare.

"I didn't ask to get picked up." You owe him nothing, especially not when he's being a prick like this. His unusual gesture of courtesy is your leverage to have—you'll outwit him with his very own irregular behavior.

He makes sure he's deeply embedded in a clustered highway before speaking. "Fuck, do you want me to just throw you out right now, then?"

Your eyes follow a gigantic semi truck as it zooms past the tiny sedan. "Not really."

"Didn't think so."

You look down at your satchel and recall the guest card from within. It's daunting to broach the subject, but you can't steal his property like this. "Um, Levi?"

"What?"

"I...still have the guest card for your apartment. I forgot to return it last night—do you want it?"

"Irresponsible," he grumbles, and shame creeps through your head. "But it doesn't matter. Just hold on to it, so we don't have to go through this again. I'm permitted to lend one out indefinitely."

"Oh, okay." You smooth a hand over your satchel, relieved. "Are you sure? Don't you want to give it to someone else?"

"No. Keep it, intern."

"...Okay."

The ride is quiet, Levi focused on driving with no interest for further conversation. You space out while watching the skyscrapers pass by, your eyes dancing from one daunting building to the next.

When you enter the Paradis campus, Levi navigates between blocks of sprawling lawns and stout buildings to reach one of many parking lots on campus. He backs his car in one spot in the sparse area and switches off the ignition.

"Out."

"Yeah, I know how cars work, thank you." You fling yourself out of his car as soon as you're able, huffing while fixing your satchel strap.

He climbs out and slams his door, locking his car remotely. "Just the snarkiest piece of shit, aren't you?"

It's the same routine—he's an unbelievable asshole, but you're a stubborn force that refuses to let him have his way. "You're not any kinder, prick." You cross your arms, frowning as he circles his car.

"Oi, watch it." He's one push away from unleashing rage upon you, but the sight of a distant passerby stops him. He has enough restraint to avoid onlookers, apparently. "You're lucky I let you mouth off like that," he hisses, shoving his hands into his pockets. He heads away with stiff footsteps, fury rippling in his wake.

"I could say the same about you," you fire back as you follow him inside.

"Tch."

It's a bizarre start to your morning, to be picked up by the devil himself, but you are grateful to avoid trudging through the bitter October air. You join Levi for his morning routine which involves checking on any subordinate that needs his attention and scrutinizing his office to evaluate how good the cleaning crew did. He finishes up a few assignments, then prepares to go to class.

"Actually, Levi." You speak up as he rises from his seat, deciding now is better than ever. "I'd like go speak with Dr. Smith during your class. I've been meaning to meet with him."

Levi physically stops at your sentence, a million furious thoughts cycling through his head. He twitches, zapped with jealousy, then shoots out a harsh, "No."

You stand up, reminding yourself of your independence. "It's important. I'd like to meet with him before he begins classes."

"What about?" Levi's eyes narrow as he approaches you, the professor morphing into an interrogator.

You don't exactly want to tell Levi your intentions; he'll likely refuse you the right to glean any information from Erwin. But you need to know more, just something about Levi that he himself won't tell you.

Well, can you even use stolen information in his presentation? Probably not. You admit this to yourself, and you acknowledge how tangential this treasure hunt seems. Still, the lone and true fact of how fascinating Levi is fuels your expedition.

"Something private," you decide to say. You have no obligation to tell him the truth.

"Private?" He stalks closer, inspecting your expression. "What're you hiding from me?"

"I'm not hiding anything," you state with cold, infallible confidence. "I just need to speak with him."

"With your ex-mentor?" The title Levi gives to Erwin feels demeaning, antagonizing. "And you can't tell me? What the fuck are you up to?"

"It doesn't have anything to do with us, or you." It absolutely does, but even implying as much will tick him right off. You mentally apologize to him for lying.

"I don't believe that for a second." He plants himself firmly in front of you, invading your personal space boldly. "You want to go back to him, don't you? You're going to sneak off and ask for a transfer."

"No, I'm not." At leas that much is true. It has nothing to do with your internship.

"Liar." He layers a spread hand atop your collarbone, a small warning. His fingers ripple the fabric of your shirt, claiming estate on your body. "Why else then, hm? Why do you need to talk to him behind my back?"

You start to pull back. "Hey, it's not—"

"Answer." He grabs the fabric, holding a fistful of your shirt.

"Hey! Ah—"

"I said answer." Your head is yanked close to his, your foreheads actually kissing. "Why do you need to talk to Erwin? Are you trying to sneak away from me?"

"No," you grunt, suddenly pushing against his chest. "I just need to talk to him!"

"About what?!" His grip turns to steel, your attacker a marble statue against your retaliation.

"Fuck, never mind!" You surrender, forgoing any chance with Erwin at this time. "Forget it! I'll just stay with you. Fine."

He pauses, your words a bullet through his anger. Shame sprouts up, but he smothers it with irritation. "Don't be such a fucking baby." He jostles you by the collar of your shirt, as if pulling you back to reality. "Go fucking talk to him. Whatever. As long as—"

"Wh-what?"

"—you're not planning to transfer. Talk about whatever shit you want with that jackass—gossip about crushes and braid his hair, for all I care—but do not transfer. Don't even fucking consider it." He holds you closer, making sure you process every single one of his words.

"I won't. I won't."

He free hand claims the rear of your skull. "You're staying under me, right?"

"Y-yes. I am." You grab his wrist for support, your fingers digging into his skin.

Your head is suddenly thrust beside his, his lips close to your ear.

"Say it."

An unrecognizable, unforeseen, hot flush of something gushes through your body, setting your cheeks on fire. A quiet gasp layers atop your racing heart, your composure melting away. "I-I..."

"Come on, intern," he whispers, a low tone snaking into your ear. "Don't lose your words on me now."

You swallow thickly, your fingertips trembling against his skin. This is a sort of fire that you don't recognize, an unpermitted yet overwhelming rush of untouched feelings claiming your psyche. No thought manages to enter your head, not beside the single command Levi has given you. You have to say it, and you don't know why, you just have to—

"I'm staying under you, Levi." The words feel so oddly natural in your voice. Too much so. "I'm not leaving you."

He lets out a heavy exhale, his frame slouching as he drops his forehead to your shoulder. "Good," he mumbles while you're sent stiff with this display of rare appreciation. Devotion, rather. Your body feels tasked to support the weight of your mentor, no matter how little he deserves it.

You're thrown away from him in the next moment, your feet stumbling as he forces you two apart. "Go, then. I want you back in my office by the time I come back from class." He turns away from you and plants his palms on the desk, chaining himself down. His shoulders shrug up, and his head drops.

"Okay," you breathe, still reeling. "Th-thanks."

"Mm." He doesn't move, despite his upcoming class. He needs to remove himself from the world momentarily.

With a pounding heart and the past few moments looping in your head, you retrieve your bag and leave Levi's office, taking uncertain steps towards Erwin's door. You're quick to collect your thoughts, remembering why you need to talk to Erwin and trying to forget about whatever virus Levi has implanted in your head.

You stop at the door labelled Dr. Erwin Smith and rap tense knuckles against its face. "Dr. Smith? It's me."

The door opens almost instantly, Erwin quick to allow you inside. "Oh, you never need to knock. You're welcome to just come on in."

"Oh, right." You've forgotten about the difference in customs between your mentors. "Um, thank you."

As you enter Erwin's lavish office, that feeling of cozy comfort washes over you. It's like a crackling fireplace, inviting and safe. The rest of Paradis doesn't seem to exist when you close the door inside this eloquent haven.

"How have you been?" Erwin returns the book in his hand to a cabinet, then takes a seat in one of the two armchairs facing his desk. He gestures to the other, encouraging you to relax and commune with him.

"I'm good." You make sure you've stopped trembling enough to indicate as much. Sinking into the plush seat, you silently wish Levi had supplied you with a chair just as comfy back in his own office.

"Has Levi been treating you well?" He shifts back in his seat, enormous upon his throne. "I did mean to ask about that report he mentioned. What happened?"

"Oh, that." You think back to Levi's first attack, and to the split it had cut between you two. "It's been...resolved."

Has it? He assaulted you again mere moments ago. He torments your body when a spark of anger triggers him, his temper mightier than his respect. You fight back unabashedly, and you force apologies out of him, but he continues. You're in charge of a vicious dog, neither quite dominating the other.

But you stay with him. You stay under him; you said as much right into his waiting ear. You haven't reported him, or transferred away—not yet. You can handle him, and thus there's no need to flee.

"You don't sound sure of yourself." Erwin cuts into your rumination.

"It has been," you assert. You're not ready to give up on Levi yet. He's horrific, but he lets you fight back without reprimand. It's a never-ending battle, but one that either side wholly engages in. "I promise, Levi and I are getting along. He's uptight every now and then, but I do just fine with him."

"Alright." Erwin knows your character, and he'll put faith in your declaration. "You always know myself and the other faculty members are available. As you learned recently, he's new, so he hasn't firmly established himself in the workplace yet. We've all got a vigilant eye on him."

"I see." He's under surveillance. It indicates that he can't step out of line, but from the way you've seen him treat his coworkers, that line must be quite far out of reach.

"Anyways, did you have something to talk to me about?"

"Yeah. I actually want to talk about Levi. He's put me in charge of writing his presentation for the conference, and I'm trying to conduct some research on him."

"Has he?" Erwin quirks a thick eyebrow, intrigue flickering in his blue eyes. "That's remarkable. He must trust you quite a lot."

"You think?" You haven't been able to see it that way. It seems like nothing more than outsourcing of aggravating work to a measly intern, not an exchange of trust.

"Certainly. I mean, Levi's not one to care about his reputation, but even he understands that the weight of Paradis's reputation rests on his shoulders with this conference. He's our pride and wonder, and our neighbor universities have long kept him in conversation. His choice to allow you to script the speech that defines his message to them is substantial, in my eyes."

More weight seems to be piled on to your burden, this analysis of your task revealing the true significance of Levi and your position beneath him. Your work has to be damn near flawless, and it has to represent Levi and Paradis for an audience of revering fanatics. That's nerve-wracking, to say the least.

"I see," you repeat, your volume lowered.

"He might not express much through words, but his actions are quite loud. Take note of how he's giving you this opportunity—it's perhaps his way of showing praise."

You're not sure if you follow completely, no matter how much Erwin tries to sway you. You've certainly sensed the volume of Levi's actions, as in his bold invasion of your space and body. Yes, that's as loud as thunder. Perhaps Levi views this presentation the same way Erwin does, or perhaps he truly doesn't give two shits about its outcome. You're not sure.

"I veered off on a tangent, I apologize." Erwin's treacly charismatic and kind, almost like crystalized honey. "You were saying?"

"Yeah. Um, the presentation. It's just been hard for me to learn more about Levi. I could only ask him so much, but...you know, he tends to get rather avoidant. I was wondering if you had any useful information about him."

"Of course I do. You know I was his mentor, correct?"

"Yeah. I thought that was really fascinating." You glance down at your lap, where your laptop waits within your bag. "Um, do you mind if I take notes?"

"Not at all."

Erwin's a welcome interviewee, and a huge help in your research. He tells you how he met Levi at an event at Levi's old high school, and how he was delighted to see Levi in his own classroom the following year. These two professors have known each other for years, cementing a relationship that far surpasses most others at Paradis. You feel like an absolute newcomer to Levi's character when listening to Erwin, barely scratching the surface of his whole history and personality. Erwin gives his own theories on Levi's natural talent and he details Levi's most notable accomplishments, some of which astound you.

"He said someone inspired his passion for literature," you bring up following a profound conversation. "Do you know who?"

Erwin's stumped with that one. "I'm afraid not," he admits, his brow knotted. "Him and I didn't usually touch upon our personal lives in conversation."

"Damn." You stare at the blinking text cursor on your screen, wishing you could put it to action with new information. "Did he have any hobbies outside of classes? Clubs, or another job, anything like that?"

"No clubs," Erwin recalls. "He devoted his time to literature through his classwork and internship."

"I see."

"He did, however, have a second job alongside his studies. If he had a free evening, he would go there. Sometimes I dropped him off during the snowy winter, when the walk was treacherous."

Now that's interesting. Side jobs aren't usually much more than a source of income, but whatever sort of job Levi managed to hold during his college feels different than anyone else's. What sort of place would Levi work in, besides the halls of Paradis?

"Where at?"

"A pawn shop. One of those nondescript ones several blocks from the highway."

A pawn shop? A back-alley one, no less. It sounds like a front, you think. A pawn shop that disguised his real job as a serial drug dealer, or master hitman, or—

Forget it, you're overthinking. He's just a secretive man that used to work at a pawn shop. Of course.

"Do you know why he worked there? That seems like an interesting choice."

"I don't. I never pried into what he did after school."

It's standing out to you, though. It's a strange anomaly that doesn't fit in smoothly, and you're spurred to examine it.

Maybe you could ask his ex-manager about him. Managers shouldn't disclose information about employees to complete strangers, and they probably won't, but even a look around the place might tell you something.

You're grasping at straws, but this abnormality will bother you until you probe it.

"Where is it at?"

Erwin's reluctant. He shifts in his seat and throws his gaze aside, not quick to give you the answer. "I don't think that'd be for the best. It's not a safe area."

You're already coming to realize that. It isn't enough to stop you, though. You're capable.

"I understand that, but I'd still like to take a look. I'll be careful."

"I don't want to be the reason you get into trouble in a murkier part of the city." Erwin's quite the guardian, either of you or of his reputation.

And it's kind of him to protect you like this, but it's also contradictory. He literally brought Levi to that part of the city less than a year ago, when the college student was your age. You're sure to bring this up.

"You let Levi go to work, even knowing where he worked. Am I any different?"

Erwin doesn't want to say what he's thinking, but you seem to have found a telepathic connection with him. You're a single woman tossing herself into the dangerous canyons of the city's underbelly. You're not the strong and vicious Levi, and that iniquitous world will take to you differently than it took to him.

But this isn't the Dark Ages. Creeps aren't going to literally leap out of the shadows—you don't think. You're going to take care of yourself and stay wary.

"Really, Dr. Smith," you say before he's even responded. "I know what you're thinking, but I want you to trust me to protect myself. I'm an adult; I shouldn't be restricted from going where I please just because it's dangerous."

He's swayed, pulled towards your self-assurance. He has to acknowledge his bias towards Levi. "You're right," he utters.

"If you don't want to tell me out of privacy towards Levi, that's fine. All I want to do, though, is take a look at a shop where my mentor used to work. Nothing more."

Erwin gives in, pushing his reservations aside. "Very well. I'll write down the address for you."