After Eren had left, Levi sat on his sofa staring at the kitchen sink; his apartment had no wall separating the kitchenette area and the living room area, only the round table where he ate and often used as a desk. He focused on the sound of the dripping faucet picturing the tall frame of the boy, with his sleeves rolled up past his elbows revealing his tan arms, wet hands rinsing the coffee-stained mugs, and long fingers squeezing the pale-yellow sponge letting the foam gleam through his skin. What was he doing? It was the least he could do. He didn't have to do the dishes, he was a guest and guests don't do dishes. He knew. A provocative smirk played over Eren's lips, forcing the older one to copy. Levi relived the moment repeatedly. A burning sensation formed deep in his belly causing him to let out the air he didn't realized he was holding in. What a waste of time, he thought. He ran his hand through the nearly shaved hair at the back of his head, scolding himself for spending his precious minutes thinking about a brat. The strident sound of his cell phone vibrating against the table echoed through the small apartment, making his heart drop to his stomach. Ridiculous. It was Erwin, he wanted to know if he was ready to go exercise like they did every weekend, but he had forgotten. He lied though, saying he had been ready for ages and would meet him outside in two minutes, that's how long it took to change his clothes. Erwin started these workout sessions right before Levi accepted the position as professor at the university, before Erwin stopped being his professor and became his colleague. At the time he wasn't fond of the tall blond, but the man never gave up on him when times got hard, so Levi decided to give him an opportunity. Every Saturday morning (almost without exception) for five years, they went to the rugby court with a leather shield and mitts to throw some punches and kicks, to get their hearts pumping and relieve stress. They usually took that time to catch up and get each other's advice, which Levi praised when it came from Erwin.

They weren't alone at the court site; three girls sat in a circle doing sit-ups near the 22-meter line, laughing so loudly they could be heard across the field, and some lone joggers who ran around on the tracks. Levi and Erwin habitually stayed next to the goal post. They ran in place for a while, raising their knees and stretching their arms and shoulders. Erwin was always the first one to have the shield. "I didn't hear of you all week," the blond stated getting in a defensive position pulling the shield close to his long, strong torso, "Hange didn't either, she was worried." The dark-haired man moved his left leg forward and raised his fists. "I've been busy", Levi said as his knuckles shot the leather of the shield.

"You're always busy" bushy eyebrows furrowed at dark evading eyes "what happened?" Levi didn't answer, he kept punching, focused on an imaginary point on the shiny black material. A drop of sweat rolled down his face as he tired himself out. He grabbed the taller man's shoulder with both hands and pulled him down banging his knee on the shield. He spun on his heel and shot his leg back to kick the leather, making Erwin trip on his own feet and fall on his behind. The blond glared at the panting man whose skin glistened; he looked tired, but behind that just-here-to-workout expression, Erwin knew there was something bugging him. "Petra was right."

Levi reached down to help his friend get up "Did she talk to you?" Erwin nodded. "What did she say?"

"That you ignore her calls and texts," he took Levi's veiny hand and pulled himself up "and that you haven't been together since last week." He shrugged. "She thinks you've been acting weird."

Levi raised his thin eyebrows "So I'm acting weird because I don't want to sleep with her?" His tone was judgmental, showing a little disdain. He stretched his pectoral muscles pulling his arms back and grabbed the punching mitts.

"Well, yeah." The older man beamed, and Levi frowned. He threw a mitt at Erwin who ducked but it still hit him which made Levi smirk.

"Hello, Levi."

"Smith."

"How are you feeling?" Levi didn't give an answer, just stared at tired blue eyes "Are you ready for your finals?" The younger shrugged with a lifeless look on his face. Erwin realized he couldn't get through to him by asking direct questions, he had been trying to make him open up for almost four years with no luck. Levi had had a tough life and Erwin wanted to make sure he wouldn't give up. He did what he could; when Levi was on the verge of dropping out, he convinced him otherwise. The raven haired one always looked at him with a hatred he couldn't understand, but he could tell he respected him, for the most part he followed Erwin's advice and when given an opportunity he always took it.

The blond man raised the punching mitts and signaled the other to begin. "There's something I need to tell you." He said when he felt the first blow. Levi didn't stop, he hit the pads harder than needed. "Miche is leaving, he got a job in Spain," he struggled to get his words out, absorbing the force the young man put into each blow "I have a place for you if you want."

Levi stopped, stepped back, and placed his hands on his hips, his knuckles red and aching "Why?" He asked through heavy breathing.

"You need a dissertation to get your master's degree and you need money," the blond man stripped his hands and unzipped his navy-blue hoodie. He drew his hands to his hips as well copying the other's posture "and I need an employee. It's a win-win situation."

"I mean" Levi wiped his forehead with his sleeve "why do you keep trying to help me?"

"Do I need a reason?"

"You feel sorry for me." Said Levi, his voice low and arrogant. "You feel so superior to me, you're a fucking privileged snob." He watched the older man, his eyes filled with anger darkened by the shadow of his hair.

Erwin walked toward him emanating serenity and looked down at him "I help you because I see in you a kind of potential and strength that is rare. Something I've never seen in anyone else." He said, calm and collected yet with an assertiveness that made Levi's lips part. "No one cares about your past but you." Erwin clutched the equipment and turned his back, walking slowly as if nothing had happened. "Grow up, Levi."

That night, after mentally arguing with himself whether or not he would finish grading some papers from second-year students, Erwin turned on his computer to find an e-mail from Levi.

From: Levi Ackerman

7:43 pm (2 hours ago)

To: Erwin Smith

I'll take the job.

...

From: Erwin Smith

21:50 pm

To: Levi Ackerman

I know.

E.S.