Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Moscow State University begins classes on September 1, as usual; there, in the university hallways, many national and international students were chatting—talking about their vacations, how much it hurt to go back to classes, and other trivial matters.

Levi James Ackerman Blackwood, a 21-year-old British student, was there; at seventeen, he had decided to work to help his mother with necessary expenses. He is currently in his third year of Legal Studies; he had previously studied Sociology until realizing, damn it, that he hated the major. He was a very outstanding student in his faculty and had been transferred from a university in the United Kingdom due to his excellent grades.

At first, he wasn’t very sure about accepting the exchange, as it would mean leaving his mother alone, but after many scoldings from her, he agreed to take the scholarship. His first year was a headache, as he didn’t know anyone and didn’t speak Russian either. Over time, he met other exchange students: Mike and Nanaba, who had been a couple since they were young and were both studying journalism; Hange and Moblit, who were also a couple; Hange, a girl passionate about science, decided to study Biology; Moblit, on the other hand, Linguistics. They had all met at an exchange student gathering; to his surprise, they all came from the same country.

Hange was the closest to Levi against all odds; although her energy was overwhelming at times, and Levi often swore she was unbearable, they had a good friendship. Everything indicated that it would be a normal return to classes, as always; Levi went, as usual, with his sullen face and a briefcase that, from afar, clearly indicated his faculty.

Contrary to what he expected, the university was in total chaos.

—LEVII! —It was Hange, who had seen him from afar; the girl ran toward him, waving with her usual explosive attitude.

—Good morning to you too, Hange —greeted Levi—. Is the principal retiring, or why does everyone seem to have won the lottery?

—THE PRODIGY CHILD OF RUSSIA RETURNS TODAY! FINALLY, I CAN MEET HIM! —she said, grabbing Moblit by the arm to squeeze him.

—Can someone sane explain what the hell is happening? —Levi really didn’t understand anything; Hange was very intelligent, so referring to someone as a “prodigy” was unusual, not to mention he didn’t know who she meant. The only thing he knew for certain was that this university was full of idiots who were only there because their families had bought them their spots.

—Don’t you seriously know who Levi is? —said Nanaba, in her usual calm tone.

—Um… I think the answer is obvious, right?

—Erwin Nikolái Smith Nádimov. He’s a Chemistry student in his second year; we’ve never seen him.

—The whole university is in chaos because they’ve never seen a Chemistry student? That’s stupid, even very stupid for Hange.

—HEY! —shouted Hange—. He’s the brightest mind in this university; sometimes I use his work for my projects. His mind is on another level, plus he’s an artistic ice skater! Many say he’s even the best. IMAGINE IT, LEVI, HE’S A PRODIGY IN EVERY WAY AT ONLY EIGHTEEN!

He had never heard the boy’s name; honestly, it was certainly strange to hear that someone barely eighteen years old was already in his second year of Chemistry. One thing that stood out about that faculty was how difficult it was; many students fell behind, and some even preferred to switch majors. Another point was age; some started university at seventeen. It wasn’t new, but the fact that he was already in his second year without failing any courses was intriguing.

On the other hand, there was what Hange had mentioned: ice skating. From there, he started to consider a few things; he was probably another spoiled kid whose father paid for everything he wanted. Who else, if not him, would be in this university while also practicing a sport that, in Levi’s opinion, was a sport for spoiled kids where they just perform silly choreographies with ridiculously expensive outfits, If that was the case, there was nothing new; surely his “incredible mind” was the result of private classes that not everyone could afford.

—Look, Hange, here he comes! —said Moblit.

There he was: Erwin Smith. A blonde boy with blue eyes, pale skin; he was barely 4 cm shorter than Levi, not exactly thin, with the physique of an athlete. He walked with an elegant posture and a politician-like smile; he was exactly what Levi had imagined, exactly what Levi despised: another rich kid.

—Seriously, so much fuss over an idiot like that? Please, he’s just another spoiled rich kid; let’s go, don’t waste any more time, and let’s have breakfast.

The morning did not go with the peace Levi so desired. After breakfast in the cafeteria, there was not a single holy place where he didn’t hear the name Erwin Smith; even his favorite Law professor spoke about him to some students. It was becoming stressful, but the breaking point came in the library.

Levi was, as usual, at the library shelves looking for a book on International Law, until…

—Levi! I’ve been looking for you! —a voice far too lively for a library.

Hange Zoe was there, her glasses almost falling off, her hair naturally in a bun about to come undone, but with excitement that seemed about to explode. Moblit, her boyfriend, tried to tell her to lower her voice, without success.

—I have big and exciting news! —said Hange cheerfully.

—The only big and exciting news would be for you to transfer to another university —murmured Levi, without looking up much.

—You and the chemistry genius will be lab partners! —she said excitedly, ignoring the previous comment—. In Forensic Chemistry! It’s a cross-subject between the Faculty of Science and your precise Law major. They assigned the teams today, and I saw it when they uploaded the section to the digital classroom!

Only then did Levi slowly lift his gaze. That was the worst news he had heard in decades.

—I quit.

—You can’t! It’s mandatory. Besides, you’ll be with the little genius! Erwin Smith. You know? The boy I told you about. The skater. The one you think is an unbearable spoiled brat.

Damn. Levi remembered him perfectly, and how couldn’t he, if the whole damn university was talking about him: the annoying blonde boy with blue eyes who walked with too much confidence in his politician-like smile. He was a young eighteen-year-old who jumped on ice while adults threw flowers at him. A ridiculous spectacle. Everything about him screamed “privilege” and “easy life.”

—Great —said Levi, his voice full of disgust and venom—. Just what I needed. A kid who probably thinks an “acid-base” is a perfume, for a forensic lab.

—Oh, please! —Hange seemed about to burst with excitement—. Erwin is amazing! I don’t know him as a friend; I hadn’t seen him in person until this morning, but I’ve seen his work and I’ve taken two classes with him. His mind is… terrifying. In a good way. He’s the only one who can keep up with my theories. Sometimes he even surpasses them.

Levi didn’t respond. He already had his opinion formed. Smith was just another obstacle, a nuisance in his meticulous plan for the semester. He could handle him as always: leave him a simple task (or nothing at all), do the heavy and important work himself just to get another excellent grade; he would maintain his efficient, cold, distant side.

Chapter Text

The day of the dreaded group project had arrived. The group consisted of four participants: Levi, Petra, Oluo, and, of course, to his misfortune, the millionaire kid Smith. He really didn’t expect anything good to come out of this team. The other two kids were very young—first-years, as far as he knew—which would make things a bit difficult for them. And then there was Smith: surely the kind of guy who would pay others to complete his part of the project.

—Alright, everyone, gather in your assigned groups and try your best —said the teacher, her voice calm.

With a sigh, Levi turned to look at his teammates and motioned for them to come closer.
—Are you waiting for an invitation, or why are you taking so long? —something Levi hated was lack of commitment and/or interest.

The first-year kids approached with curious, timid faces, and a hint of fear. On the other hand, Erwin stood up with his natural confidence, the kind that irritated Levi so much.

—Alright, what are your names, idiots? —against his will and with disinterest, he had to know their names for the project.

—I-I’m Petra Ral, a second-year Physics student… —she was a medium-height girl with short hair; she seemed very enthusiastic, but also shy.

—My name is Oluo Bozado, a first-year Law student —he was a somewhat stubborn guy, average height, with a posture that suggested a bit of egocentrism.

—I’m… —before Erwin could introduce himself, Levi interrupted him.

—Yeah, yeah, golden boy, don’t bother introducing yourself —his voice dripping with pure venom.

—Excuse me, but don’t you think you need my name for the project? —Erwin’s voice was calm as always, not irritated.

—Wow, don’t take offense, but I don’t think you’ll be of much help. I assumed beforehand that you’d pay to avoid doing your part. Don’t bother pretending to care —his voice was cold and direct, loaded with all the prejudice Levi could muster.

Erwin didn’t react dramatically: he didn’t yell, didn’t slam anything, he just let out a long sigh while closing his eyes. It wasn’t the first time someone had said that to him; there was no reason to lose composure.
—Fine, I’ll ignore your prejudice, Ackerman. If you’re so interested in the project, why don’t we just get started? —Erwin already had a detailed plan ready, neatly organized, something that, much to Levi’s dismay, he found annoyingly attractive.

—Alright, here’s the project plan I drafted. Of course, I don’t expect everyone to accept it, but we can start from here. Ackerman and you, Oluo, can handle the legal framework; Petra and I can handle the research. Any objections? —his voice showed no superiority, just a carefully structured plan to make everything much easier.

—Um… Erwin? Can I call you that? —there was a touch of admiration, but also fear, in the poor girl’s voice.

—Uh, sure, don’t worry, I’m just another student here —honestly, he was uncomfortable; he hated when people treated him as if he were someone superior.

—Oh… I’m glad! Honestly, I wanted to be your friend. I’m very happy to be on your team! —she said in a slightly happier, livelier voice—. Well, Erwin, as you know, we’re first-years, so we don’t have the same knowledge as you or Levi. I’m sorry in advance if that becomes a problem —her happiness dwindled into a timid, insecure tone.

—Don’t worry about that, we’re on the same team. If there’s anything I can help you with, I’ll gladly do it. —Contrary to what Levi might think, Erwin’s voice had no trace of narcissism; it just had the tone of someone wanting to help others.

—Alright, enough with the fan club nonsense. Smith, your plan is terrible —he didn’t actually think so, but he wasn’t going to admit he was a bit impressed—. Are you sure you can handle the part you assigned yourself?

—What are you implying? —he knew exactly what Levi meant.

—I’m just saying, isn’t it too hard for you? In every class we’ll have to present progress. I doubt your private tutors or your father can come help you in the middle of class —he wasn’t going to waste time; if Erwin couldn’t handle it, he wanted to know now.

—Oh, shut up, Ackerman, and work on your assigned part. —This time, Levi noticed how his voice became cold and sharp, as if he had touched a delicate nerve.

—Fine —he raised his hands in mock peace—, don’t start crying either, golden boy.

Hours passed surprisingly quickly for Levi. While he buried himself in the texts and rules to apply, Erwin sat beside Petra, explaining everything with a care and patience Levi had never seen. Sometimes he caught himself looking up from his books just to observe this strange behavior. From past experience with rich students, he hadn’t expected this; he thought Smith would waste time bragging about his money while others did the work. But no: there he was, next to a first-year girl, trying to guide her so she understood better.

—Class is over, you may leave.

Erwin stood, packing his things into his backpack while taking a small bag. He didn’t seem rushed, but something in his gaze had changed.

—Heading off to ballet class already, Smith? —honestly, it wasn’t that he necessarily wanted to bother him every time, but he had the urge to talk to him, even if only to insult him.

—It’s not ballet. Do you have a problem, or do you want to come? —his patience was running thin.

—No, thanks for the offer, but I prefer real sports, men’s sports, not rich boys’ games —a mocking tone slipped from his lips.

Erwin stepped closer, gripping the strap of his bag. He stood right in front of Levi, his face slightly lifted to meet his gaze.
—You know, Ackerman? When I first heard about you, I was intrigued. I hoped you wouldn’t be another idiot like most people I know, but you’re no different. You love to talk and criticize about things you don’t understand. Better shut your mouth if you’re going to comment on something that’s none of your business —with those words, he turned on his heels and left the room.

Levi hadn’t expected that reaction from Erwin. He had definitely touched a nerve. But something that really stuck with him was that sentence: “I hoped you wouldn’t be another idiot like most people I know.” What exactly had Erwin expected from him? He didn’t understand, but certainly that phrase stirred something inside Levi.

Lunch wasn’t exactly peaceful. Hange kept interrogating Levi about what it was like to work on the same team as Erwin, while Moblit tried to calm his girlfriend.

—Levi, tell me everything, I beg you! It’s amazing, right? Erwin works on another level! —her voice was pure excitement.

—Hange… if you keep this up, Levi might have a stroke or hit you with a breadstick —Moblit knew Hange could get too excited.

—If you’re so excited, why don’t you ask him yourself? Surely he’ll answer when he finishes lunch and talking with his fan club —her tone was pure disdain.

—Fan club? Levi, don’t you know? Erwin rarely eats here. Most of the time he’s alone —Nanaba commented calmly.

—Honestly, I don’t understand your obsession with despising him —said Hange, stirring her coffee with a spoon she had used earlier to test a non-lethal, probably toxic chemical—. He’s literally the perfect lab partner. He does his work, doesn’t talk nonsense, and is efficient. What more do you want?

—I want him not to exist —murmured Levi—. Or at least admit he’s only here because his dad has enough money to buy all the university deans.

Hange looked at him like he had just said water isn’t wet.
—What are you talking about? Erwin doesn’t have a dad. Or… technically he does, but he’s an old bitter man who only shows up to collect sponsorship checks.

Levi paused. That was new. But he quickly reaffirmed his point.
—See? He was raised by money, not by family. Same thing.

—Levi, for the love of science, do some research! —Hange exhaled exasperatedly—. Nobody gave him anything. It’s… complicated.

That word, “complicated,” sparked Levi’s unhealthy curiosity. The same that drove him to read unpleasant legal case files. He decided to do his own research.
What he found was a wall of silence and a bottomless pit of absurd rumors.

Rumor 1: Erwin Smith was actually a British spy, and skating was his cover. (Absurd. Though it explained why he spoke so many languages, according to what Levi had heard).
Rumor 2: He had made a pact with the devil in exchange for his talent, which was why he clashed with his father. (Stupid. Too gothic for the grey university halls).
Rumor 3: His family was part of the mafia, he witnessed an important case, and he was a protected witness. (The favorite among Law students, of course).

No one knew anything concrete. Only achievements: competitions won, perfect grades, early university entry. The “prodigy” narrative was polished and bright enough to hide any cracks, any trace of humanity. For Levi, it only confirmed his theory: it was a façade. A well-built, funded façade.

His chance to unmask him came during the next lab session. The project progressed quickly thanks to Erwin’s efficiency, which only worsened Levi’s mood.

—The isolated compound is aconitine —Erwin announced, studying the computer screen—. Aconite poison. Sophisticated.

—What a surprise —muttered Levi, drying his hands with a disinfectant wipe—. Something expensive and exclusive. Just the kind of thing someone like you would use…

Erwin stayed still. His shoulders, always straight, tensed almost imperceptibly. A microgesture, but Levi, an expert in the body language of those he despises, noticed.

—Someone of my class? —Erwin asked, not turning around. His voice dangerously calm.

—You know —Levi insisted, determined to poke that bubble of perfection—. People with… resources. Who else can afford to poison someone with pretty flowers? Must be boring to have so much money that crime becomes a hobby.

Petra dropped a test tube. Oluo, as always, caught it midair with a muffled shout. Silence in the lab grew dense and heavy.

Erwin slowly turned his chair. His face was a mask of serenity, but his blue eyes had lost their icy glaze, becoming sharp as shards of ice.

—Do you think privilege is the only source of sophistication for crime, Ackerman? —he asked, using Levi’s surname like a slap—. Aconitine can also be extracted from wild plants with patience and knowledge. Skills I’m sure are foreign to your concept of “people with resources.” Poverty and desperation can be as ingenious as wealth and boredom. Only, they’re usually more… practical.

He stood, collecting his things with abrupt, precise movements. The session was over.

—I have training —he said again, his tone now icy, directed at the wall, not them.

When he left, Levi was left with the echo of his own words sounding stupid in his ears. Erwin hadn’t defended himself. He hadn’t said “I’m not like that.” He had dismantled Levi’s argument with the coldness of a scientist dissecting a flawed specimen. And, on top of that, had implied that Levi’s worldview was simplistic and ridiculous.

Hange, passing by the hallway, broke the silence, whistling softly.
—Wow. You touched a nerve. That’s really rare for him.

—What? For defending his rich friends? —Levi grumbled, feeling inexplicably defensive.

—No —said Hange, and for the first time, her tone was completely serious—. For assuming his life has been easy.

That night, Levi couldn’t focus on his Law books. The image of Erwin’s eyes, filled with cold fury, didn’t leave him. It wasn’t the anger of a spoiled child losing his toy. It was something deeper. Something darker.

Frustrated, he opened his laptop and typed “Erwin Smith skating” into the search engine. He found videos of his competitions. He was researching, needing news, not silly videos. All the news was praise, with scandalous headlines. Erwin looked like a perfect young man, smiling in every photo, kind, disciplined. But when his face appeared in conferences, with adults or his father, that look, those blue eyes, went dead. Only seriousness and perfection existed. He didn’t smile. He simply existed. It was unpleasant to watch, like observing a soulless body.

Levi slammed the laptop shut. He couldn’t keep seeing something so grim.
His prejudice, his comfortable and warm prejudice, began to crack. And instead of the satisfaction of being right, he only felt the cold emptiness of being wrong.
And worse: an unbearable, furious need to know why he looked so unhappy if he had everything.