Stay Beneath Him (INCOMPLETE) (Levi x Reader Fanfiction)

6: In His Apartment

  His apartment was the textbook definition of a modern apartment, though a bit smaller than the glorious photos you had seen in home improvement magazines. The kitchen was immediately on your left, with a countertop making a turn to form a small bar with matching chairs. Beyond it, what used to be a living room was transformed into more of a dining room, with the absence of a TV and a couch and instead a square table, surrounded by four chairs. A glass sliding door stood beyond the dining area, framed with black curtains and revealing a small balcony. On the right, a wall cut through what you assumed to be one half of the apartment, with a door leading to perhaps the bedroom and bathroom. A smaller door adjacent to the bedroom seemed to be a closet for a washer and dryer.  

  "Is this your place?" You asked a question with an obvious answer.

  "Leave your shoes at the door. I don't want you tracking any dirt in here." Levi was at the stovetop, stirring some dish before lowering the heat. 

  "Okay." You gently removed your shoes, placing them next to a rack holding several pairs of Levi's clean dress shoes. "I have your papers."

  "I would hope so. You wouldn't be here otherwise."

  "Where do you want them?"

  "On the table. I'll get to them in a second." Levi set his spatula on a spoon rest before digging through his cupboards. 

  You passed through his apartment and set the papers on his dining table, looking around the room as you did. The room was dominated by the aroma of something cooking on the stove, though there was a calmer scent beneath it, one that you couldn't quite identify. "This is a nice place, Levi."

  "It is," he said bluntly. 

  Incredible salary at Paradis if he can afford this. This job sounds nicer every second.

  Some part of you wasn't satisfied with leaving yet. You wanted to talk to him more, now that you stumbled across an area of his private life. Reaching for a conversation to lengthen your stay, you turned to face him.

  "So will you expand the literature department? I know Dean Zachary wants it."

  "I haven't decided yet." Levi surprisingly did not shoo you away once you brought what he wanted. 

  "Or you have, and you won't tell me." 

  "It's not your business either way." Levi placed a wooden cutting board on the table, then retrieved a cluster of scallions from the refrigerator. 

  You stepped into the kitchen area, approaching him. "You have to give an answer by tomorrow, though. You could tell me now or I can ask the dean about the answer later." 

  He withdrew a sharp steel knife from his perfect knife block, wiping the blade with a dish cloth. "Are you trying to threaten me? It's not very effective." A reflection of the ceiling light flashed into your eyes as Levi rotated the potential weapon. 

  "I would never do that." You leaned against the counter, watching as he rapidly sliced into the small vegetables.

  "Of course not. You know better." His voice was low and soft, beckoning you to bend to its will.

  "Do you need any help?" you asked, trying to dismiss dangerous thoughts.

  He slid the chopped scallions into the pan, then set the board and knife in the sink. "Wash the dishes. Thoroughly." Levi picked up the spatula again and stirred the pan. 

  "You got it." You passed behind him and positioned yourself at the sink. Taking the sponge and soap next to the faucet, you began scrubbing down whatever was in the sink. First, a few small bowls. Then the cutting board. Then the knife. After rinsing them, Levi showed you to a towel to dry them, and you proceeded to wipe down the dishes.