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

52: A Deal

Class came and went, though you were somewhat distracted with thoughts of what Levi had been searching up. You had begun strategizing a way to make him show you, or at least tell you what it was. It was enthralling to find a thorn in Levi's side, another challenge to take on purely to bother him. This time, though, you made the choice to commit. You wanted to really agitate Levi, to test how much power you could assert over him before you overstepped it. You liked seeing him flustered, after all.

Not only that, but you wanted to discover what him and Erwin were discussing. The elusive "it" was intriguing to hypothesize about. See if "it" works? What was Erwin telling him? Surely it wasn't about me, right?

Then again, Levi implied it was because of me that he has to do "it" in the first place.

Gosh, I just don't know. I'll have to get an answer out of one of them sometime.

You headed to Levi's office afterwards, stopping outside the shut door and carefully listening for voices within.

"Is that so?" Levi was heard, low and quiet.

"Yes." A female voice responded. "I published several of my own textbooks and their subsequent editions independently."

He's conducting an interview right now.

"I see." Levi took a moment. "Well, that's all I have to ask. Do you have any questions, Dr. Langnar?"

"Yes, just a few."

Maybe he'll be done in a couple minutes. What can I do until then? You scanned the anteroom, truly at a loss when it came to keeping yourself busy. Oh, I know.

Knocking on Erwin's door returned nothing but silence. Damn, he must be in class. What does he teach on Tuesdays around noon? You thought back to your short internship under the history department head, recalling your days lazing around in the classes that didn't interest you.

You made your way to the lecture hall from your memories, carefully retracing the path you took when you had followed Erwin to his class. Here we are. You stopped at one of the many classrooms on campus. Texts in Transition. Not the worst class I sat through, and pretty comprehensive for a gen-ed. You listened closely, hearing quiet conversations beyond. Pushing open the door, you peeked in to see the fifty or so students busy in their own work, occasionally talking with each other.

"(Y/n)?" Erwin was at the front, arranging papers at his lectern. "You don't usually come to my classes. Did something urgent happen?"

"No, not at all." You entered and shut the door. "I just wanted to ask you something, but I can wait until class ends."

"No need to wait. My students are busy right now."

"Well," you began as you approached him, keeping your voice low. "I wanted to ask what you and Levi were talking about this morning."

"Ah." Erwin looked down on you, forcing you to crane the neck that was typically downturned for Levi. "I think there was a bit of secrecy implied in the conversation. I don't know if Levi would want me telling you."

"Yeah? What compelled you to join his side this time?" you asked semi-teasingly. "Sometimes I get whiplash with how much you flip-flop between the two of us."

"I'm just trying to respect a colleague. I don't think it's a matter of sides."

"You don't have to be so strict, Erwin. I'm just curious."

"Why didn't you ask this morning, then?"

Because Levi wouldn't let me speak, obviously. "Because Levi was right there. He wouldn't've just let you spill it if it was a secret."