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

Chapter 32: Gabi's Discovery

The tea shop had settled into a peaceful routine over the weeks that followed Levi and Hange's quiet ceremony. The hum of daily activity filled the air, from the clink of teacups to the muffled chatter of customers. Behind the counter, Levi prepared tea with his usual precision, while Hange alternated between serving customers and experimenting with new blends.

There was an air of contentment about them, a subtle glow that didn't go unnoticed.

Gabi and Falco, ever observant, had spent the last few weeks covertly watching the pair. Gabi, in particular, was growing increasingly suspicious. Levi had been in a better mood than she'd ever seen-less grumpy and more patient. And Hange? She seemed grounded, her usual chaotic energy tempered by something Gabi couldn't quite put her finger on.

But what tipped Gabi over the edge was the ring.

It started with a passing glance.

Gabi was helping restock the tea tins when her eyes landed on Hange's hand. The ring on her finger gleamed under the shop's warm light. It wasn't the same ring Hange had been wearing months ago-the simple silver band had been replaced with something slightly different. It was subtle, but Gabi's sharp eyes caught the change.

Her brow furrowed. When did that happen?

"Falco," she hissed, nudging him with her elbow.

Falco, who had been carefully arranging sugar bowls, looked up. "What?"

"Look at Hange's ring," Gabi said, nodding toward the counter where Hange was chatting animatedly with a customer.

Falco squinted. "It looks the same to me."

"No, it doesn't!" Gabi insisted. "That's not the same ring she's been wearing."

Falco sighed. "So what? People change jewelry all the time."

Gabi narrowed her eyes. "Not Hange. She's been wearing that other ring before, and now suddenly, it's different? Something's going on."

Gabi couldn't shake her suspicions. Over the next few days, she quietly observed Hange and Levi, looking for any clue that might confirm her theory. She paid attention to every glance, every subtle interaction, every shared moment of quiet between the two.

It wasn't much-Levi and Hange were careful, as always-but Gabi's gut told her there was more to the story.

Then, one afternoon, while helping clean up the storage cabinet in the back, she found it.

Buried beneath a pile of old paperwork, Gabi stumbled upon an envelope addressed to Hange. She pulled it out, brushing off a thin layer of dust, and froze when her eyes landed on the name.

"Hange Ackerman," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Her heart raced as she stared at the name, her mind spinning. Ackerman? She flipped the envelope over, checking the sender-an official-looking letter related to the tea shop's ownership.

Her grip tightened as realization struck. "No... way," she muttered.

Gabi stood there for a moment, frozen in disbelief. Then anger bubbled up alongside her shock. She stuffed the envelope back into the cabinet and stormed out into the main room.

Hange was behind the counter, adjusting a batch of tea leaves, while Levi wiped down the tables with his usual efficiency. Neither noticed the storm brewing until Gabi planted herself in front of them, arms crossed and eyes blazing.

"Care to explain something to me?" she asked, her voice loud enough to turn a few heads.

Levi's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Hange looked up, her expression puzzled. "Gabi? What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Gabi repeated, her voice rising. "What's wrong is that I just found a piece of paper addressed to 'Hange Ackerman.' Care to explain that?"

The room fell silent.

Falco, who had been restocking nearby, nearly dropped a tin of tea. Onyankopon, standing in the corner, froze mid-sip of his tea, his eyes widening slightly.

Hange blinked, her expression blank for a moment before she burst into laughter. "Oh, that's what this is about?"

"It's not funny!" Gabi snapped. "You and Levi-" She gestured wildly between the two of them. "You've been keeping something from us, haven't you?"

Levi sighed, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. "Tch. You're too nosy for your own good."

"That's not a denial!" Gabi shot back, pointing at him. "You're not even trying to hide it!"

Hange grinned, leaning on the counter. "Alright, alright. Let's calm down."

"Don't 'calm down' me!" Gabi said, her voice incredulous. "You two-what, you've been sneaking around this whole time? And you didn't tell us? Me? Falco?"

Falco raised his hands. "Leave me out of this."

Hange raised an eyebrow, her grin turning mischievous. "Gabi, are you upset because you weren't invited to something that might not have even happened?"

Gabi spluttered. "That's not-wait, so it did happen?"

Hange's grin widened. "I didn't say that."

Levi rolled his eyes, turning back to the table he'd been cleaning. "Just drop it, Gabi. It's none of your business."

"It is my business!" Gabi protested. "You're my family. Both of you. How could you keep something like this from us?"

Hange's teasing expression softened slightly, and she straightened. "Gabi, listen. Some things are... private. They're not about keeping secrets-they're about timing."

"And when exactly were you planning on telling us?" Gabi demanded.

"Maybe when you stopped snooping through cabinets," Levi muttered.

Falco finally stepped forward, placing a hand on Gabi's shoulder. "Gabi, maybe we should let it go for now."

"But-"

"Let it go," Falco said firmly, his tone gentle but resolute.

Gabi hesitated, her frustration warring with her trust in Falco. Finally, she huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine. But I'm not done with this."

Hange chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Gabi's hair. "We wouldn't expect anything less from you."

As the evening wore on, the tension eased back into the usual rhythm of the shop. Gabi's suspicions remained, but she reluctantly backed off-at least for the moment.

Onyankopon, meanwhile, exchanged a quiet glance with Hange and Levi, his knowing smile speaking volumes. He didn't say a word, but the pride in his eyes was clear.

By the time the shop closed for the night, the air had shifted slightly. Gabi and Falco left for their homes, though Gabi's parting glance at Hange and Levi was filled with lingering curiosity.

As Levi locked the door, he glanced at Hange. "Think she's done?"

Hange grinned, slipping her arm around his. "Not a chance."

Levi sighed, his lips twitching into the faintest hint of a smirk. "Figures."