Brewed to Perfection: Quiet Tea | LeviHan | Levi Ackerman x Hange Zoe | FalBi

Chapter 15: The Night Before

The town of Ayoluwa was quiet as the evening settled in, the streets lit by the soft glow of lanterns. The tea shop had long since closed, the bustle of the day replaced by a comforting silence. Upstairs, Levi sat at the edge of his bed, leaning on his crutch as he stared at the floor, his thoughts elsewhere.

Hange had stayed for nearly a week, her presence filling the shop with the same unpredictable energy that had both annoyed and amused him in equal measure. But now, that energy was about to leave again.

The creak of the stairs pulled him from his thoughts. He turned his head to see Hange lingering in the doorway, her silhouette framed by the faint glow of the lantern she carried. She wasn't smiling this time, just watching him with a quiet expression.

"Can't sleep?" she asked, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

"Not much point," Levi muttered, setting his crutch aside.

Hange crossed the room and sat beside him, close enough for their shoulders to touch. She let out a soft sigh, her glasses reflecting the dim light of the lantern on the nightstand.

"I hate leaving like this," she said after a moment, her voice quieter than usual.

Levi didn't respond immediately. His gaze stayed fixed on the floor, but his hand shifted slightly, brushing against hers.

"You didn't have to come," he said eventually, his tone softer than it had been all week. "Work doesn't wait for anyone, not even you."

Hange turned to look at him, her smile gentle. "I wasn't going to miss your birthday, Levi. You know that."

He glanced at her briefly before looking away, his expression unreadable. The words he wanted to say sat heavy in his chest: that her being there had meant more to him than any celebration, that the shop will feel emptier if she leaves, that he hated the way her absence lingered.

"You make a mess of everything when you're here," he said instead, his voice low.

Hange laughed quietly.

They fell into a comfortable silence, the kind only years of familiarity could create. Hange leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees as she stared at the lantern's flickering flame.

"I hate leaving you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Levi didn't reply. Instead, he reached out, his fingers brushing against hers before curling around her hand. The touch was steady but deliberate in a way that was rare for him.

Hange blinked, her breath catching for a moment. Levi's gestures were never casual. She'd come to understand that every one of them carried meaning-reserved only for her. She'd learned over the years that, beneath his sharp edges and stoic exterior, there was a quiet tenderness he kept locked away from the rest of the world.

Levi shifted slightly, leaning closer. His free hand moved to her back, his touch steady as he guided her to face him fully. "Stay still," he murmured, his voice low.

She obeyed, her heart pounding as his forehead rested against hers. The moment was quiet, charged with unspoken emotion. His breath was steady, warm against her skin, and his hand tightened ever so slightly on hers.

"You don't have to do anything," Levi said after a long pause, his voice almost a whisper. "Just... be here."

Hange felt her chest tighten. She lifted her free hand, resting it lightly against his cheek. "I am here," she said softly.

Levi's eyes closed briefly, and when they opened, they were softer, quieter. He shifted again, his forehead leaving hers, but only to press his lips gently against her temple. It wasn't rushed, wasn't uncertain-just steady and grounding, like everything about him.

Hange leaned into the touch, her hand moving from his cheek to the back of his neck, pulling him closer. They stayed like that for a moment, her head resting against his shoulder, his hand tracing lazy circles against her back.

"Tch. You're a mess," Levi murmured, the faintest hint of teasing in his voice.

"Thanks, Captain Clean Freak," Hange replied, her voice muffled against his shirt.

They stayed like that for a long time, the quiet wrapping around them like a protective cocoon. When Hange finally pulled back, her hand lingered on his shoulder.

"You'll be okay, right?" she asked, her voice quieter now.

Levi's response was wordless, his hand tightening around hers before pulling her into another loose embrace. He didn't answer directly, but the way he held her spoke volumes.

"You always come back," Levi said finally, his voice quiet but steady.

"I always will," Hange promised, her hand tightening slightly around his.

The lantern flickered as the night deepened, the two of them finding solace in the silence, holding on to each other as if to delay the inevitable.