Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem Three Houses, all rights to the owners.

Okay, uh, so since the Blue Lions pathway is taking me a long time, I figured I should do a miscellaneous chapter for Intimidating Instructor as well. Also, I just want to write more Intimidating Instructor, so yeah.

Here we go.

Petra waits patiently, dagger in hand, behind the door. The windows are all closed so no one can see inside, and Byleth is due back at any moment. She's going to succeed this time, she has to!

She hears the sound of footsteps outside the door, and raises her dagger in anticipation. The door creaks open, someone steps inside, and Petra-

-is grabbed from behind, her dagger arm twisted to drop the weapon, and then forced to the ground. The person who walked through the door, a tall, scruffy man with blonde hair that Petra recognizes as Jeralt, leans against the doorframe with his arms crossed. "Huh, well I guess that's a failure."

"Indeed." Byleth's voice suddenly says from behind Petra. The girl realizes the person restraining her must be her professor. She never heard the woman enter the room. Fitting. Petra regretfully admits that she still has must to learn. "However, it is a step up from her previous attempt. No one noticed her entrance, and she made sure it was not possible to see her from outside the room knowing her camouflage skills were insufficient." The teacher then addresses Petra directly. "What did you do wrong?"

"I failed to account for unconventional entrances once more, and did not keep up my monitoring of my surroundings. I estimated too highly in my preparations." She admits. "My apologies Professor."

"Do not be. Assassination is not something that can be learned in a mere couple of months." Byleth says, and lets her pupils stand. "That is why you learn in a safe, consequence-free environment."

"Of course Professor." Petra says, and bows to the lady. "I hope to be obtaining more learning from you in time to come."

After a bit more discussion of where she needs to improve, Petra exits and leaves Byleth and Jeralt alone in the room. The man takes a seat at the desk while his daugher checks all the windows before taking how own seat on the bed.

"You know, when you invite me to talk, I'm starting to expect it's just because you need me to act as bait for something." The man says dryly. He's smiling though. He's more amused than annoyed.

"You are the only one I can trust with such tasks. You don't disclose my reasons for asking for help."

Jeralt chuckles. "You make it sound so serious."

"It is."

"Ah, right, you're always serious." The man says with a shake of his head. "And here I was hoping these kids would get you to calm down a bit."

"As a professor, I cannot appear weak in front of my students." Byleth replies curtly.

"Of course, of course… and I assume that means you haven't dropped your smile in front of them either?"

"Of course not. It is imperative that I maintain my mask. An assassin never shows their true self."

"I'm fairly sure that's not what Acrim taught you." Jeralt sighs. "I'm fairly sure it was 'keep up your mask while on a mission' not, 'keep up your mask at all times, ever'."

"Being a professor is a mission."

"No, it's a job."

"Job, mission. Different words, same meaning." Byleth says firmly. "Language doesn't always work the way you expect it to."

Jeralt sighs again. He's raised her too well apparently. He remembers telling her exactly that when she was four because she always thought different words had to have different meanings. He's amazed she remembers what he said word-for-word. "I suppose I did say that, didn't I? Let me say this instead though. You're allowed to relax around your students… except maybe Petra, seeing as you're teaching her to be an assassin."

"She is unpolished, but most promising." Byleth says. Jeralt can even hear a faint hint of pride in her voice, which may as well be heavenly praise if it's strong enough to leak through her mask of a smile.

"That good, hmm?"

"Yes." She nods in affirmation. "Had I not seen potential, I likely would have not offered to train her in the first place."

"Don't want to risk Acrim seeing your apprentice as a disgrace to the practice?"

"No." She says quickly. Too quickly.

"I'm totally right." Jeralt smirks. "Of course she's worried that her mentor won't approve." He decides one more question is in order. "Does Acrim know about Petra yet?"

Byleth is silent for several seconds. Then she quietly says "No…"

Jeralt leans back in the chair and laughs as his daughter glares at him. Her smile mask drops to a death glare that would be terrifying if he didn't know it was just his daughter completely exaggerating her emotions.

Well, it's better than the stone-faced neutrality she always had as a child. She doesn't know how to emote genuinely unless she really overdoes it.

Ah well, it's better than the totally flat expressions she had up until she was seven…

###

She found it! Ah, this is perfect, just the color she needed. A nice, deep blue. At least, that's what she thinks it is. Using candlelight to find appropriate thread colors is probably not the most effective… but it's better than going out during the day and risking having to talk with someone.

"Good… now we just need some purple cloth." Bernadetta murmurs to herself, and stuffs her new acquisition in a basket she's carrying under. "Hmm… maybe I should just get some white cloth and dye it. That might be easier… ooh but purple dye is expensive, and I'd have to talk to a vendor."

She shivers just thinking about it, and resolves to instead search the other cupboards of the art room. They're all close by anyways, they're in this room. It might take a bit to open every crate and box to find some, but it will be well worthwhile.

"There's some to your left."

"AAAAAAHHHH!" Bernadetta shrieks. She's dead! Done for! Someone's caught her sneaking out at night, and now they're going to run her though thinking she's a thief, a spy, an assassin!

O-Or maybe they're a thief, a spy, or an assassin, and she's seen something she's not supposed to, and she's being silenced before she can say anything!

"I surrender! I surrender! Don't kill me!" She cries, throwing her hands up in front of her face to block an incoming attack. She totally forgets the candle she's holding, and it very nearly burns her hair. The other person grabs her arm, holding it still, and quickly pries the candle out of her hand. "I swear, I'm not a spy! I'm just getting art supplies!"

"Good, because you'd make a terrible spy with how obvious you are." And unfamiliar female voice says flatly. "I would know."

"B-Because you're a spy?"

"In the sense that I occasionally do spying, yes." The lady raises the candle to light up her face, showing a phenotype Bernadetta isn't familiar with. Her skin is slightly tanned, but her eyes seem… stretched? And her face is very smooth. Her hair is also pure black and perfectly straight, though tied into a ponytail about halfway down her back. Her eyes are a calculating grey. Bernadetta can't even begin to guess her age. "My job description is technically 'assassin' though."

"Aha… hahahahaha…" Bernadetta laughs unstably. Her knees wobble, her arms get weak, and her vision blurs. "Of course… just my luck…"

The girl promptly faints, and collapses.

###

At first, Byleth thought it was a test. It has been a long time since Acrim made a nighttime visit. They sparred only a few days ago anyhow, so unless there's an emergency (which is unlikely) there's no reason for her to be here.

So, of course, Byleth assumed it was a test to make sure she hasn't gotten rusty. She opened the door with one hand while bringing up her sword in a defensive position with the other.

Seeing the lady carrying a limp Bernadetta over one shoulder and a basket in the other, however, makes her dismiss the thought of a test. "Before you ask, yes, she does that fairly frequently."

"Ah, good. I was hoping it wasn't just me."

"She is easily startled. Apparently I am particularly startling."

"Good. That means you're keeping up your training." Acrim nods approvingly. She glances at the girl she's holding again. "So… which room is hers?"

"I'll show you." Byleth says, and sheathes her sword. "She never bothered to replace her window latch, so it's very easy to get in."

"You don't have a master key for her room? I thought that's something you would have."

"Oh I do." Byleth says. "But it's unnecessary. After all, the point of a back entrance is so you don't need a key."

This is not the first time Byleth has said something to this effect, and Acrim has long since given up trying to convince her otherwise. Besides, she's probably partly responsible for Byleth thinking in such a manner in the first place. "Lead on."

###

"There's two of them. Oh goddess…"

"Actually, I hear the Professor has been teaching Petra as well." Caspar offers.

"Three? Three!?" Bernadetta whines. "Save me!"

"Come now, surely it cannot be that bad." Ferdinand scoffs. "The Professor is perfectly pleasant, and I am sure her mentor is as well, and Petra is nothing to fear."

"She said I'm food!"

"I believe have already clarified that I do not wish to eat you."

"Eeek!" Bernadetta dives under the table. "D-Death has arrived on brown and purple wings!"

"I do not have wing- oh! I see, that is a metaphor. You are speaking of my hair and my skin, yes?" Petra muses. "I understand now."

"How long have you been standing there Petra?" Dorothea asks.

"Only a moment. I have just done the finishing of my lesson with the Professor." The girl says, and takes a seat.

"And where is our dear Professor now?" Dorothea prods.

"Y-Yeah…" Bernadetta says. She peers over the edge of the table as she slowly creeps out from her hiding place, and glances all around the room, with special car placed to check the rafters. "She's not going to appear from the rafters, or come through a window, or down the chimney?"

"I don't like to come down the chimney if I can avoid it. It's usually dirty in there."

"AUUUGH!" Bernadetta dives under the table again.

"Hello professor." Dorothea says calmly. "How did you get in this time?"

"Roof."

"Pardon?" Dorothea blinks.

"The roof." Byleth repeats, wearing her usual smile.

"How did you come in through the roof if not the chimney?"

"I made a hatch." She says calmly. She ignores her student's shocked expressions at her flagrant disregard for school property. "Bernadetta would have seen be if she looked a bit earlier. You're getting very close Bernadetta, you're doing well. Awareness is paramount after all."

The lavender-haired girl's only response is a pitiful whine.

###

Dedue grunts as his opponent's sword slams down against his shield. Both the sword and the shield are wooden, but his foe's sheer strength makes the man worry they're going to break either the sword or the shield.

Dedue spares a glance behind himself to see how much distance he has until he's backed against a pillar. He looks back just in time to see the sword jabbing at his face, and he brings up his shield just in time to deflect it.

"Careful." The Professor murmurs, retracting her blade. "Look away at the wrong time, and it could be the death of you. You got lucky this time."

"Of course." Dedue responds with a grunt. Byleth tries to move around to his unguarded side, and the man responds by hacking at her with his axe. The Professor quickly moves back to her former position to avoid it.

"Good space control." She nods approvingly. The lady executes another heavy overhand strike, but lets it slide off his shield so she has momentum to backstep with the follow-through. This is followed up with a leg-sweep to abuse his raised guard, but Dedue manages to back away out of the range of her legs. "But you're still losing ground. I have offensive momentum."

Dedue can't deny that. He hasn't been able to land a hit on her, or find a way to threaten her enough that he can force her to move back.

Then, Byleth does something unexpected. She smacks Dedue's axe with her sword, and grabs the edge of his shield with her free hand. With her brute strength she forces his shield open and slips inside his reach. This creates the awkward situation of the two of them being nose to nose, and being far too close to each other to actually use their weapons.

"What do you do now?" The Professor asks calmly.

"I…"

"Too slow." Her head snaps towards his, and Dedue flinches at the feeling of something hard on his nose. It takes a moment for him to realize those are his teacher's teeth. He freezes, realizing his defeat. Byleth keeps their position for a few seconds, then removes her mouth from his nose. "You need to act instantly, use any advantage you can think of. Biting, gouging, head butting, or a good kick in the groin. Incidentally, I would have kicked you in the groin were you an actual enemy. That is not something you can do in sparring though."

"Understood." Dedue nods. He's actually very uncomfortable at the moment. His Professor hasn't moved out of his space; they're chest-to-chest, and with how he's been made aware of just how vulnerable he is in such a position, he feels incredibly vulnerable at the moment. Byleth's unchanging smile doesn't make him feel any more comfortable.

"Always keep in mind your strength. If you're stronger than them, you can abuse that sheer strength to overpower them. Otherwise you're going to have to rely on technique and skill, although always using technique is advised as well." Byleth comments.

"Noted." Dedue responds. "Now please move away…"

###

"I don't want to know, I don't want to know, I don't want to know." Edelgard tells herself. Yet, she can't help but watch with wary curiosity as the Professor walks down the street with Flayn thrown over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "I don't want to know… but I really should ask."

With a resigned sigh, Edelgard moves to intercept her teacher.

"Professor, hello." The princess says quickly when the woman notices her. "If I may ask… what has Flayn done to deserve such a fate?"

"Nothing!" Flayn protests with a pout. Now that Edelgard is close enough, she can see the green-haired girl is soaking wet. "I was just fishing!"

"You fell in the pond, and your clothes are heavy. You could have drowned."

"I can swim! And I only fell in because you appeared behind me out of nowhere! You startled me!" Flayn protests. "Don't try to blame this on me!"

"It is not my fault you lack awareness."

"I don't need awareness! Not here at least. Must I be paranoid in my own home?"

"This is a monastery and a school, rife with strangers. You can never assume you are safe. You must suspect everyone you are not intimately familiar with, and always be on your guard." Byleth scolds. "I pushed you in the pond, and you never saw it coming."

"Pardon?" Edelgard interrupts. "You pushed her in?"

"Of course. It is a professor's duty to test their students and make sure they are retraining lessons."

"But not by pushing them in a pond." Edelgard sighs. "Honestly Professor, that's going a bit far."

"Really? This is tame compared to my training…" She hums. "Ah, of course, I forgot you are all novices. My apologies."

Flayn's eyes narrow. "Is that an insult Professor? I'll have you know I am quite intelligent!"

"I see. Then please explain to me the rules of being a good warrior. Just a few will do."

"Well…"

"Or, tell me how to be a good scout."

"Erm…"

"Or tell me how to assassinate someone, or seduce someone, or how to effectively spy on a target and gain information."

"I… don't know any of those things."

"Then you are a novice." Byleth says flatly. "Perhaps you should consider joining my class."

"If it involves getting pushed in more ponds, I'll have to decline." Flayn responds in a huff. "Must you deal with this every day Lady Edelgard?"

"Yes, multiple times a day, and I surely have a shorter lifespan for it." The Princess replies dryly. "Flee while you still can."

"That's unlikely to help you. I'm very fast."

"That's not what… never mind." Edelgard sighs. "Just get Flayn dried off before she catches a cold."

Nothing too special here. I've noticed as these chapters continue, I'm leaning harder and harder on the 'assassin' aspect of Byleth's personality and less on the 'social awkwardness' part. I feel like I exhausted the social awkwardness opportunities very quickly with her, or at least it's not as natural for me to do as it is in Peculiar Professor.

Oh, I should also touch on Acrim, seeing as I've introduced her here. For Peculiar Professor, Jeralt is the only important character in regards to understanding why Byleth acts like she does (as well as a general idea of what mercenary life is like) but with Intimidating Instructor, she explicitly has a mentor who has clearly shaped some of her personality, so I thought it fit to toss her in here. Tell me what you think. Acrim won't be a frequent member of this story either way, but I want to know if she's particularly unwelcome (on account of being an OC I suppose).