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

Chapter 30: First Day

The first light of dawn crept through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Levi's room. The space was still, the faint hum of the tea shop below the only reminder that the world was still turning. Levi stirred first, his one good eye blinking against the light as he registered the unfamiliar warmth pressed against him.

Hange.

Her hair was an unruly mess against the pillow, and her arm draped lazily across his chest. She was still fast asleep, her breathing soft and steady. Levi stared at the ceiling for a moment, his mind catching up to the events of the previous evening.

And now this.

It wasn't regret he felt-far from it. It was something he couldn't quite name, a feeling so foreign yet so consuming it left him breathless. Happiness, perhaps, though he'd never known it to feel this heavy, this raw. Contentment, maybe, though he'd always thought of it as something unattainable for someone like him.

He turned his gaze to Hange, taking in the way her face softened in sleep, the quiet rise and fall of her chest. He didn't deserve this-he was sure of that-but he wasn't about to push it away. Slowly, he shifted, careful not to wake her as he slid out of bed.

Hange mumbled something incoherent, her hand reaching out instinctively. Levi paused, his gaze softening as he watched her settle back into the pillow. He pulled the blanket up over her shoulders before stepping away.

His movements were deliberate as he grabbed clean clothes from his wardrobe, his mind still replaying every detail of the night before. The weight of her hand in his, the way she'd looked at him like he was something more than just a soldier.

He stepped into the bathroom, the cool water shocking him awake as he scrubbed himself with precision. Each movement felt grounding, necessary, though the unfamiliar warmth in his chest lingered. For a brief moment, as the water ran over his face, he allowed himself to close his eye and just feel it-the overwhelming contentment that had settled over him, wrapping around him like a soft embrace.

By the time he stepped out, dressed and freshly groomed, his expression was as neutral as ever. But inside, the quiet joy he felt remained, stubbornly refusing to dissipate.

Downstairs, the tea shop was already bustling with life. Gabi and Falco were rearranging supplies, their chatter filling the room as they worked. Onyankopon stood by the counter, organizing freshly delivered ingredients.

When Levi emerged, freshly dressed and impeccably neat, Onyankopon glanced up, a knowing smile flickering across his face. He didn't say anything, of course, but Levi caught the subtle shift in his expression.

"Morning, Captain," Onyankopon said casually. "Late start today?"

Levi grunted, his standard response, and made his way to the counter. He grabbed the teapot and began brewing without a word, though his movements lacked their usual sharpness. Onyankopon raised an eyebrow but didn't comment.

Gabi, however, was far less subtle. "Captain, you're... different today," she said, narrowing her eyes at him as if she were trying to solve a puzzle.

"Am I?" Levi replied dryly, not looking up from the tea leaves.

"Yeah! You're less... grouchy," Gabi said, her hands on her hips. "What happened? Did Hange do something?"

At the mention of her name, Levi's fingers twitched imperceptibly, and Onyankopon chuckled quietly, shaking his head as he continued his work.

"Gabi," Falco hissed, nudging her with his elbow. "Stop bothering him!"

"What? I'm just saying-"

"Enough," Levi said, his voice calm but firm. "Get back to work."

Gabi muttered something under her breath but obeyed, though her eyes lingered on him suspiciously.

Hange joined them not long after, her hair slightly neater than usual but still sporting its characteristic wildness. She looked well-rested, her steps lighter than usual as she entered the shop.

"Morning, my lovely crew!" she called, her voice bright.

Gabi and Falco exchanged glances.

"Morning," they replied in unison, though their suspicion was palpable.

Hange grabbed an apron and tied it around her waist, jumping straight into helping with the morning preparations. She was unusually focused, her usual chaotic energy tempered by something more grounded.

Falco leaned toward Gabi. "It's her too. She seems... calm."

"Something's definitely up," Gabi whispered back.

Levi and Hange exchanged a glance across the room, a brief but loaded moment that didn't go unnoticed by Onyankopon. He hid his smile behind a teacup, quietly observing the subtle but undeniable shift between the two.

Later in the morning, Yelena arrived with a fresh delivery of supplies. She entered with her usual air of authority, her sharp eyes scanning the shop as she greeted everyone.

"Morning, all," she said, setting a crate on the counter.

"Morning, Yelena!" Hange said cheerfully, helping her with the supplies.

Yelena's gaze lingered on Hange for a moment before sliding to Levi, who was wiping down the counter with uncharacteristic patience. Her eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something resembling amusement crossing her face.

"Everything alright here?" Yelena asked, her tone casual but laced with curiosity.

"Perfectly fine," Hange replied smoothly, her grin widening as she exchanged a quick glance with Levi.

Yelena arched an eyebrow, but she didn't press further. Instead, she handed Onyankopon a clipboard and began reviewing the inventory.

As the morning wore on, the shop returned to its usual rhythm, the chatter of customers and the clink of teacups filling the air. But for those who knew them best, it was clear that something had changed.

Levi moved through the shop with a faint ease that hadn't been there before, and Hange's focus seemed sharper, her usual chaotic energy balanced by a quiet confidence.

Gabi and Falco continued to exchange whispered suspicions, while Onyankopon kept his observations to himself, his smile growing slightly wider every time he caught Levi and Hange sharing a quiet glance.

Even Yelena, for all her stoicism, seemed to notice. As she prepared to leave, she paused by the door, her sharp gaze flicking between the two before settling on Onyankopon.

"Seems like the tea shop's gotten a bit... warmer," she remarked, her tone dry but knowing.

Onyankopon simply smiled. "Sometimes, change is a good thing."

Yelena's lips twitched in what might have been a smirk before she stepped out, leaving the shop to its quiet bustle.

Levi and Hange, meanwhile, continued their work as if nothing had changed. But in the moments between tasks, when their hands brushed or their eyes met, there was an unspoken understanding that everything had.