It was a particularly boring day for Hange. She had finished all her paperwork, there was no expedition to prepare for, and she had already analyzed all the data from their previous excursion. She needed something to keep her mind busy. She had tried training but got bored easily, and walking around town wasn't any better. She even took a shower, ate, and attempted meditation.
In the end, she decided to go bother her short, grumpy friend. As she was walking to his room, she remembered the tea leaves she had acquired from their previous expedition. She was certain Levi would enjoy them, so she changed course to grab the leaves, thinking they could perhaps enjoy it together. After all, who doesn't love afternoon tea?
The knock on his door distracted Levi from obsessively scrubbing his already pristine floors. He looked up, irritated, knowing there was only one person crazy enough to disturb him when he explicitly said not to. Her knock was also unique—he could always tell it was her. What a hassle. Before he could answer the door, though, the bespectacled woman had already let herself in.
"I'm going to stop you right there," Levi said, pointing at her boots and his clean floors.
"Oh, but Levi, how am I supposed to—"
"No," he interrupted. He knew if she started rambling about her research, he'd never be able to leave. He couldn't say no to her and just let anything she said or did slide. She had that effect on him.
"Look! I brought tea! Come onnn," she said, holding up the container to show him what he might be missing out on.
Levi sighed. As much as he wanted to go back to cleaning, he figured he could take a break and spend it with her.
"What kind?" Levi asked as he took off his dust mask and started putting his cleaning supplies away. He didn't want to admit it, but he really didn't even care what kind of tea it was.
"It's a special one I found outside the walls, and you'll try it with me! It's not lethal though, don't worry," Hange said, taking off her boots and walking toward his couch so she wouldn't offend the raven-haired man.
Levi poured the tea, watching the steam rise from the cups as Hange made herself comfortable on his couch. She kicked her feet up, already feeling at home in his space.
"So, what's new with you?" Hange asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Aside from your relentless cleaning, of course."
Levi took a sip of the tea, keeping his expression unreadable, though he could taste the unfamiliar herbs. "Same as always. Keeping things clean, trying to stay sane."
Hange chuckled. "You need a hobby, Levi."
"I have one," he replied flatly, gesturing to the spotless room. "Keeping you out of trouble."
"Ah yes, the eternal task." Hange leaned back, her smile widening. "But really, you should get out more. There's a whole world beyond this room. You might actually enjoy it."
Levi grunted. "I enjoy quiet, Hange. Something you never seem to bring with you."
Hange laughed, sipping her tea, and the conversation continued, the two exchanging light banter, with Hange rambling about her experiments and Levi throwing in his dry remarks. Despite their differences, there was a comfort in their back-and-forth, a rhythm to their interactions that neither of them fully acknowledged, but both understood.
A As they finished the tea, Levi felt a strange wave of dizziness wash over him. At first, he brushed it off, but when he stood up, the room tilted dangerously. He pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Levi? You okay?" Hange asked, noticing his sudden change in demeanor.
"Yeah, yeah," he replied, quickly ushering her out. It wasn't uncommon for him to get headaches, so he figured he'd just lay down for a while and wait it out.
