Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ridden by panic, green eyes scanned the area. It was dark. Way too dark to see beyond one or two metres of distance.
Mike Zacharias, a young man, student of Stohess University, was plodding through the snowy mountains of Shinganshina.
All alone. Lost.
When in fact, he definetly shouldn't be on his own.

Mike had taken on this journey with Professor Hanji Zoë, a scientist from Stohess. And Mike was her ingenious, decent and resistant assistant.
At least that's what he aspired to be.
Professor Hanji would probably describe him as clumsy and quiet - maybe acceptable at best if he was lucky and he had just willingly helped her out with one of her experiments.

The goal of the journey?
Proving Professor Hanji's theory that the living dead actually do exist.
It had taken her years of research and studying and she was so close to make it all worth.
If only they both hadn't ended up in this horribly miserable situation.

The layers of snow were thick and icy cold, making it hard to move forward but Mike was trying his best, knowing he had to keep going.

"Professor?" Mike called out quietly, struggling to raise his volume as his teeth chattered in the cold.
"Professor", he called out again, this time a bit louder.
This wasn't good. Not good at all.

Merely an hour ago everything had been just fine.
The professor had decided to rest and take some notes about their journey.
At that point the sun was going down and while it may had been cold already, there was no storm raging and tormenting them.
Mike could have slapped himself for being so thoughtless, taking a stroll on his own to see if the inn they were supposed to stay in was anywhere nearby already. In only a short amount of time the sun was all gone and before Mike could have decided to head back to the professor, a snow storm had arrived.
He was absolutely lost.

Oh, how he hoped that nothing had happened to the professor. He could never forgive himself if that was actually the case.
If only he wouldn't freeze to death that night, that was.

"Professor, where are you?!", Mike shouted, trying his best to listen for any possible answer out of the darkness but the wind was howling, making basically impossible to hear anything at all.

In a moment of absolute desperation, Mike chuckled helplessly. He was thinking about how Professor Hanji maybe hasn't even noticed him being gone as she always was so engrossed in her studies, oblivious to everything happening around her. Maybe she was still resting somewhere, taking notes and not caring for the storm and the dark one bit, Mike thought, quite obviously knowing how ridiculous and unrealistic it was.

He tried his best to keep moving forward, fighting against the wind and snow blowing against him. Stiff fingers tightened the scarf wrapped around his head once more, trying to keep warm and secure the student cap he was wearing.

Mike collected all his strength: "PROFESSOR!"

He clung on to his brown leather bag as if it was any sort of comfort. His eyes were tearing up - unable to tell if the cause was the weather or his own stupidity - but felt incredibly dry at the same time.
In a moment of hope he pressed them shut, thinking he might be able to hear Professor Hanji calling out to him if he only concentrated more on one sense at a time.
But there was nothing.

Mike had to find her or else she'd freeze to death and that really wasn't a nice end for an extraordinary person like she was one.
Maybe a bit weird but well educated for sure.
A little strange but full of phenomenal ideas.

Surely her death would make it onto the front page of every newspaper in and around Stohess.
'SCIENTIST PERISHED ON JOURNEY IN SHINGANSHINA', Mike imagined the title to be.
But then it occurred to him that no one would even spare a thought about him. He was nothing special. Merely an assistant, a student.
No one even knew he existed.
No one would miss him.

Panic arose within him once more at that realization and he started to move forward again, into the unknown. He couldn't let it end like this. Not today.

"PROFESSOR HANJI", Mike tried again, screaming into the darkness.
"IT'S ME, YOUR ASSISTANT, MIKE."

All this screaming combined with the cold made him dizzy and it felt like he was about to collaps. If he could only-

"Professor!", he gasped.

Mike's heart skipped a beat as he spotted a faint figure in the distance.
All the snow suddenly didn't bother him anymore as he was running towards the dark figure and dropped to his knees as he arrived right next to it.

"Professor Hanji, are you okay?", he asked in an agitated manner, lightly shaking the other's shoulder. But there was no reply.

"Oh god-" he managed to choke out, fearing the worst.

No no no no no, this couldn't be happening.
Not now that he had finally found her.
She couldn't be dead. She should be alive. She must.

In his panicked state, Mike quickly evaluated and then did what was the only plausible solution to their misery. The only way he might be able to save the professor from the cold grasps of death itself.

Despite his own body almost giving in, he gathered all his strength for one last time and lifted Hanji's limp body up, starting to carry her through the storm. It was a good thing he was tall and relatively strong even if his gentle personality barely matched with his intimidating appearance as people often noticed.

Mike was determined. His mind set on one goal only.
He had to find that inn and save Professor Hanji's life.
It was their only and last hope.

Chapter Text

"Quick, Nanaba, get a tub of hot water! The steam might help to loosen the muscles."

"Who are they?"

"Doesn't seem like they're from around here."

A bunch of voices, all strange and unknown to Mike, filled his pounding head.
His vision was a mere blur and his body felt limp.

"Why is this taking so long, Nanaba?", a rough voice, belonging to a man, called out again.

Mike tried his best to focus his thoughts and properly open his eyes but a surge of senility kept pulling him back to his numb state.

"Are they okay?", he managed to make out someone ask.

"The boy seems to be just fine", the man from before grunted and Mike felt his cheek getting patted roughly.

There was chattering all around and while he struggled to regain proper control of his senses, there was one thing never failing him.
His nose.
Mike quickly scrunched it up in disgust as he noted how the air was filled with the smell of alcohol and- Was that garlic?

At that realization his eyes shot open and he looked around warily, staring into unknown faces.

"See! Told y'all he'd be fine. Now where's Nanaba with-"

"I'm right here, Kenny", a new voice spoke, quite obviously annoyed. Mike turned his head to look at its owner and watched as a young, blonde woman placed down a tub of hot water and knelt down, pulling the boots and socks off someone to place their feet inside.

It was only then that Mike noticed that someone being none other than Professor Hanji.
He started to remember how he had found her in the snow storm, he had carried her and as he had felt himself getting weaker by every second he had seen the dim light of the inn in the distance.
Everything else was a blur. Up until this moment.

"Rub her nose with vodka", a boyish voice suggested.

"Ew, Connie. Lard works so much better for this sort of thing. Or mustard", a brunette girl with a ponytail responded eagerly.

"Ah, you youngsters know absolutely nothing. It's the wine that really helps", an old man chuckled, though it seemed like there wasn't even any wine left as he had just finished the bottle right in front of him.

"Garlic is the way to go."

"Yeah, garlic."

Another few people voiced their agreement.

Mike felt too weak to speak up, his eyes and ears trying to focus on multiple things at once.

As he turned his head to Hanji again, he saw how her eyes were wearily flattering open, adjusting to the light.

A relief beyond imagination settled within Mike, knowing that he hadn't lost her.
In fact, Hanji seemed to be in a considerably wonderful condition as she immediately took interest in the new surroundings while Mike still appeared to be rather absent.

"Do you see that?" the professor asked Mike, tone filled with excitement.

Not realizing he was being spoken to, Mike happened to catch eye contact with the short haired maid. What was her name again? Nanaba?
She flashed him a kind smile and Mike managed to return it.

Lost in the sudden warmth of joy blooming in his chest, Mike let out a quiet yelp when Hanji bumped her elbow into his side.

"Mike, look at all the garlic!" she demanded, her enthusiasm being hard to miss.

It was then that Mike actually properly looked around the inn for the first time. It was filled with all kinds of people. Some eyeing them curiously, some not caring at all and loudly chatting with each other.

And there was garlic. Loads of it.
Garlic hanging over the wooden door.
Garlic hanging on the walls.
Garlic on the tables.
Garlic wrapped around some people's necks.
Judged by the smell, Mike was pretty sure that the soup that was being served was nothing else but garlic soup.

He raised his brows in surprise and couldn't help but notice the professor next to him shaking from excitement.

"Are you feeling well again, Professor?"

"The garlic is a clear sign that we're very close to the goal of our quest."

"Do you re-"

"Inkeeper", Hanji called out loudly and the man from before approached them again, a sly smirk on his face.

"Kenny's the name, at your service", he introduced himself and tipped his hat, "I am glad you-"

"Does there - by any chance - happen to be a castle somewhere around this area?" Hanji promptly asked, not caring for any niceties at all. If she was set on finding something out, questioning the things around her, then there was no stopping her.
There was no time to bother with manners.

However suddenly the inn went quiet.
All sound from before was gone in an instant as the question of a castle was thrown into the room.

"A castle?"
Kenny's smile didn't falter as he kept eye contact with Hanji.
"Why are you asking?"

"Does that matter? I might be a tourist planning on exploring the area or I might have completely different goals in asking. It shouldn't bother you."

Kenny kept smiling but Mike noticed his jaw tightening and his fist clenching.
Everyone was staring and listening to the exchange.
Something wasn't right here.

Mike glanced over to Nanaba who also eyed the professor. In her eyes he noticed a mixture of curiosity and nervousness. The same as in everyone else's.

His gaze returned to Kenny whose entire demeanour suddenly seemed to change in the split of a second.

The expression on his face turned soft, his posture got released of its tension.

"There is no castle around here", he chuckled lightly. His smile was kind but appeared completely out of place on his rough features.
"There never has been. Just like there aren't any windmills or anything alike around this area."

Professor Hanji seemed to be anything but happy with this reply. Her expression was stern and Mike exactly knew that she was keen on finding out more, no matter the cost.

The boyish voice from before - belonging to a boy named Connie - suddenly rang out, breaking the momentary silence: "But isn't there a castle just a-"

"Connie, shut up", the girl next to him hissed and placed one hand over his mouth.

One could spot Kennny's expression faltering for a short moment before returning to its disgustingly smug smile.

"Believe me. There is no castle", he spoke.

"And why is there so much garlic?"

Oh, she most certainly wouldn't give up.

Mike felt overwhelmed, unsure what to do and not knowing if anything at all was even expected of him in this situation.
So he did what he thought was the best solution to his dilemma.
Keeping his mouth shut but paying attention.
A reliable approach, he thought, as it has often been the right one in the past.

"Garlic?", Kenny looked around the room, actually seeming as if it came as a complete surprise that his entire inn was decorated with garlic.

"You see, garlic isn't only a wonderful ingredient for many meals", the brunette girl - Sasha - burst into the conversation. "It can also be very helpful for other things, like uhh-"

"It keeps you young!" Connie added.

Sasha nodded enthusiastically: "Yes, that's right! It can also cure an awful stomach ache within only a couple of minutes, you should try it."

"A friend once told me that if you eat garlic right before you ge-"

"I didn't know you had any other friends besides me, Connie", Sasha interrupted.

Connie frowned: "What's that supposed to mean?!"

The two broke out into a heated argument about how Connie was definetly too much of an idiot to have any friends. Unfortunately Sasha figured out that she too must be an absolute idiot aswell to be friends with Connie.

Watching them bickering around made Mike almost forget what they were actually here for but Kenny's deep voice managed to snap him out of his trance.

"About the garlic..."
Kenny didn't seem to find a good answer.
"Yeah, whatever those two idiots said. Garlic can be very useful. That's all I have to say", he grunted.

Hanji was just about to start another argument, demanding more information, when the innkeeper continued: "I assume you two will stay overnight?! Frankly, anything else would be stupid."

Before the professor could say anything else that might offend Kenny, Mike intervened, smiling kindly: "Yes, we'd both be most grateful to rent one of your rooms for the next few days."

"Very well. I'll get one ready, I'll be back in a bit", he replied, giving a short nod towards Mike and glaring at the professor before heading off.

As soon as Kenny was gone, Mike let out a relived sigh he didn't know he had held in. He was glad that they were still welcome in this inn and not thrown out into the snow after Professor Hanji being all nosy.

Of course, Mike was invested in their expedition and the professor's studies. He wanted to prove this theory of hers aswell. He has been working for this a lot too after all.
But the truth was that he was just way too exhausted to care in that moment.
He wanted nothing more than food and sleep.
Yes, that would be perfect.

"Can I get you anything?"

An angel, Mike thought as he stared at Nanaba who was patiently waiting for a reply.

Stop staring, he told himself and immediately cleared his throat in an attempt to appear more confident in talking than he actually was.

"If we could get something to eat and drink, that would be wonderful."

"Alright, just give me a minute", Nanaba spoke kindly and Mike watched as she left for the kitchen.

For the first time - in what felt like ages - Mike was able to relax again. It was then that he noticed his entire body aching. He was beyond exhausted.

He allowed hismelf to close his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath. The smell of garlic was stinging in his nose but at least the warmth of the fire place in the inn gave him some sort of comfort in this strange situation.

As he opened his eyes again, he saw Hanji getting up from her seat.

"Where are you going, Professor?"

"Taking advantage of the fact that the innkeeper isn't here right now. Might aswell ask some of the villagers if they can give me more information."

And before Mike could even try to argue, she was gone, heading over to the table at which Connie and Sasha were still arguing about something while the old bald man was in the process of emptying another bottle of wine.
Mike sighed. How the professor still had any energy left was beyond his imagination.
But he knew that there was no reason to try and talk some sense into her.

"Here you go", Nanaba returned with two bowls of what smelled like garlic soup aswell as two jugs of beer.

"Thank you so much."

He couldn't care any less about the overdone use of garlic the soup contained as he felt like he was starving. He probably would have eaten anything in that moment.

Eagerly lifting up another full spoon up to his mouth, Nanaba suddenly sat down at the table, right across from him.

"What is your friend up to?" she asked, curiously eyeing Hanji from afar.

After his initial irritation was gone, Mike followed her gaze and replied with a plain sigh: "If only I knew..."

Sometimes he really did worry for the professor and the things she was getting herself into. Not that he was any better.
After all he followed her every step voluntarily.

"I see. You don't look like you're from around here."

"We come from Stohess."

"Stohess? We barely have any guests from so far away", the blonde maid hummed thoughtfully before lowering her tone. "The reason for your visit must be very important, I assume?!"

The change in mood didn't get unnoticed by the assistant. It was strange to witness those kind blue eyes retreat to a more cautious stare, smile on her face fading into a straight line.

Mike nodded cautiously, only slightly intimidated by Nanaba.
"Yes.. It is."
He felt like he shouldn't give any further information, not go into detail.

"I see."
Nanaba got up from her seat, still seeming undeniably thoughtful.
"Don't do anything thoughtless. You need to be cautious around here."
And with that she left for the kitchen.

Everything in this inn irritated Mike to no end. He couldn't explain it but he knew something wasn't right at all.
In fact he would go as far as to assume that everyone here knew something but nobody wanted to talk about it.

"Nothing", Hanji suddenly appeared from behind him, sighing in an exhausted manner.
"No one is willing to talk, what a shame."

The professor walked around the table to eventually sit down in her seat, tending to her food aswell at last.

"Mike, I saw you talking to that maid before. Got any useful information?"

Mike shook his head: "No, she just warned us, saying that we need to be more careful."

"I figured as much."

The student watched his Professor eat a spoon full of soup, her face immediately lightening up at the taste.

"Garlic. At least they have good taste around here", she commented and enthusiastically shoveled more of the food into her mouth.

Mike could only raise a brow at that sight: "Really? I'm already fed up with the sight of it."
He sighed and closed his eyes for a second, tiredness washing over him in an instant.
"The smell is awful", he mumbled, brows furrowed but Hanji wasn't listening in the first place anyways. Like always.

The blonde's eyes scanned the room once more after a while as there was nothing else to do, knowing quite well the professor would give him this instruction anyways should she notice his lack of attention (or rather his boredom).

"I wanna know what all this noise was about."

"Kuchel, I've told you to stay in bed", the innkeeper's voice could be heard, immediately recognizable through all the noise.

"And I've told you I'm doing fine", the voice of a woman replied.

Mike spotted a small woman, dark black hair, her skin pale as a sheet, eyebags gracing her soft facial features. She seemed tired. Beyond exhausted. Though she kept insisting she was fine.

"Tch, whatever. Where's that brat when you need him?! I thought he was keeping an eye on you anyways", Kenny looked around, presumably trying to find someone but without success.

"I've told Levi to spend some time by himself and take a break. Kenny, he can't spend all his life in here looking after me", the woman named Kuchel scolded.

"You tell him that. You exactly know-"

Kenny was interrupted by Kuchel suddenly coughing violently. She gripped on to Kenny's arm, fearing to break down.

"I'm..- okay-" she managed to wheeze out inbetween, appearing weak and fragile.

The concern on Kenny's face was obvious and he quickly ushered Nanaba over so she could take care of Kuchel and get her back to bed. He on the other hand would have to take care of the newly arrived guests.

As Mike noticed Kenny approaching their table, he quickly looked away, pretending as if he hadn't just blatantly watched the scene out of pure curiousity.

Kenny's facial expression changed in an instant when he arrived at their table, the worry leaving his face and that smug smile returning. It was as if nothing had been the matter just a minute ago.
Mike couldn't help but admire this ability. He himself struggled with hiding his emotions most of the time.

"I hope you've enjoyed your meal", he spoke, the sentence sounding rehearsed and unnatural. "If you're done here, I'd like to show you to your room."
It was painfully obvious that all those niceties were merely an act around costumers but considering he even made the effort, Mike figured that credit was due.

It was relieving to see that Hanji wasn't gonna continue her interrogation that night as her exhaustion has probably gotten the better of her. Mike loved the professor but he really didn't want to deal with any more of her antics that day. There would be enough of them the days to come.

Kenny led the two through the inn, through some corridors, then downstairs.

"We've only got one free room left I'm afraid but it should be big enough for two. I hope you don't mind", he spoke. "It actually is one of our best rooms if that kind of makes up for it."

He opened a door, letting Hanji and Mike enter.
The room had a decent size aswell as a comfortable looking bed (large enough for two) and a wooden wardrobe. Mike also spotted a desk which he was sure the professor would be happy about.

"Where does this door lead to?" Hanji asked, pointing at a door which Mike hadn't even noticed before.

"This?" Kenny chuckled. "Well this is a real treat. Just look for yourself!"

He ushered the two over as he kept talking: "You're about to see something real nice."
He unlocked the door.
"Let me present to you, your very own ba-"

"The fuck, Kenny?!"

They were met with an angry voice as the innkeeper pushed the door open. Aswell as a rather... interesting sight.

Hidden behind the door there was a bathroom. A bathroom that was very much occupied.

Mike's eyes widened as he saw the display presented in front of him - a young man, black hair and small frame, comfortably sprawled inside the bathtub filled with bubbles.

It wasn't at all what he had expected.
Kenny seemed to feel the same way, though he appeared more angry about it than Mike.

"LEVI", he cried. "How often have I told you- GET OUT!"

The young man - Levi - seemed unimpressed about the innkeeper's outburst and simply rolled his eyes.

"Fine", he sighed seemingly annoyed and followed order.

Mike's jaw dropped in an instant as Levi stood up, ready to get out of the bathtub, not caring about his bare body being seen.

Despite the shameful feeling of having invaded someone's privacy lurking within Mike, he couldn't help but stare.
This whole scene seemed too absurd to really be happening and Levi looked too fine to be real, Mike thought.

"NO WAIT LEVI, GET BACK IN THERE!" Kenny hysterically waved his arms around, gesturing for the two guests to leave the room again so he could shut the door once more, putting an end to the display of Levi's naked body.

The door being closed almost set off some sort of disappointment within Mike but he quickly regained control of himself, pushing the sight from before to the back of his head.
Though he noticed his cheeks burning and silently cursed himself.

Kenny cleared his throat and scratched his chin as he let out a nervous chuckle.

"Erh, sorry 'bout that. That brat- Levi", he corrected himself. "My nephew. Totally forgot about him being in there. Sorry again."

Hanj dismissed the topic with a mere silent nod and then went on to further inspect their room. The situation had left her entirely unaffected.
Mike on the other hand was still staring at the door, face glowing.

Kenny shot him a weird look, one eyebrow raised but kept talking: "The bath should be free in a bit. I promise this won't happen again. If you excuse me now, I have to get back up to the other guests. Enjoy your stay!"

And with that he left.

"Stop staring and help me unpack!", the professor ripped Mike out of his thoughts and he quickly complied, trying to free his mind of inappropriate thoughts.

It wasn't long until Hanji laid in bed, fast asleep which was no surprise at all, considering what obstacles she went through that day. Mike too was tired and wished for nothing more than rest but whenever he tried to close his eyes, the same image appeared in front of him. The very one he had experienced just about an half an hour ago.
It almost seemed like a distant dream, something just existing in his imagination.
Surely, this couldn't have been real. Right?

Almost instinctively, Mike slipped out of bed, his bare feet cold on the wooden floor. They carried him over to the door. Quietly, not wanting to wake the professor.

He didn't know what he was doing.
There was no logic behind his actions.
There would be no one in there.
Levi would be long gone.
But for some reason he knew that he wouldn't be able to find peace if he didn't check.

Mike slowly pushed the door open and was met with dim light, one or two remaining candles still burning lightly. It was quiet.
He could still smell the scent of soap - lavender to be exact.
The air was still humid and warm from the previous bath. But there was no Levi.

The student didn't know what he had expected.
He let out a disappointed sigh and was just about to leave again when suddenly the door on the opposite wall of the bathroom opened.

Mike's eyes widened, once more being graced by Levi's apperance, now dressed, hair neatly parted and a serious expression.

Their eyes met and for a moment they just stood there and stared at each other.

In that moment, Mike felt silly beyond believe.
He felt as if he had committed a sinful crime.
He felt as if Levi was about to call him out, grey eyes piercing through him like a dagger.
But silence remained.

Levi stepped forward, not breaking their eye contact. He then picked up a sponge which was resting next to the bathtub.
He spared Mike one last glance before leaving again, closing the door behind him.

Mike knew his knees were about to give in any second if he wouldn't leave this damned bathroom.