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

Chapter 34: Tea and Teasing

The tea shop was bustling as usual, but Gabi and Falco were clearly up to something. Their suppressed laughter and exaggerated whispers filled the air, drawing the attention of even the most distracted customers.

Levi, perched behind the counter with his usual grumpy demeanor, didn't miss a thing. His sharp eyes tracked every movement like a predator watching its prey. "They've been giggling like idiots for hours," he muttered, his voice low and gravelly.

Hange, standing nearby and measuring out tea leaves, smirked. "Relax, Levi. They're just being kids. Besides, it's kind of adorable."

"Tch. It's annoying," Levi shot back, his glare intensifying as Gabi snorted loudly, clearly trying to stifle a laugh.

Before he could bark at her, Gabi approached the counter with the widest grin Levi had ever seen. "So, Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman," she began, her voice practically dripping with mischief, "how's married life treating you?"

Levi's glare snapped to her, sharp as a blade. "What did you just say?"

"Married life," Gabi repeated, leaning on the counter as if she hadn't just signed her own death warrant. "You know, being husband and wife, sharing a home, making tea for each other-"

"Stop talking," Levi growled, his tone low and dangerous.

But Hange, ever the instigator, burst out laughing. "Oh, it's just wonderful, Gabi. Levi even cleaned up the kitchen this morning. Such a romantic gesture, don't you think?"

Levi turned his glare on Hange. "Tch. You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Falco joined in, balancing a tray of cups with an almost heroic effort to suppress his grin. "Honestly, Captain, we all thought you'd be the last person to settle down. It's... inspiring."

Levi groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You've got two seconds to shut up before I make you scrub the floors."

Gabi, undeterred, leaned closer. "I mean, did he even say anything romantic, Hange? Or did he just grunt and expect you to figure it out?"

"Gabi," Levi said in a warning tone, his eye narrowing.

"Oh, come on, Captain," Onyankopon chimed in as he walked in from the back, wiping his hands on a towel. "Even I'm curious now. How did it happen?"

"It didn't," Levi said flatly.

"You're saying your marriage just magically appeared?" Onyankopon teased, folding his arms.

"It's nothing," Levi snapped. "Stop talking about it."

"Oh, come on," Gabi teased, her grin widening. "What did you even say when you proposed? Something super romantic, right? Like, 'Hey, four eyes, marry me or I'll kill you!'"

Hange doubled over laughing, clutching the counter for support. "Oh, Gabi! That's brilliant. Levi, is that what you said? Because it sounds just like you."

Levi groaned, rubbing his temples. "I didn't say anything like that."

"But you didn't deny it could've been close!" Gabi shot back, pointing a finger at him triumphantly.

"I bet after that threat, he gave you a bouquet of daggers instead of flowers!" Gabi added, her confidence growing.

"And a bottle of bleach instead of champagne," Falco said solemnly, earning a snicker from Onyankopon.

Levi's glare shifted between them. "You've got five seconds to get back to work before I make you clean the entire shop with a toothbrush."

Falco quickly grabbed his tray and scurried off, but Gabi lingered just long enough to wink. "Sure thing, Mr. Ackerman." She darted away before Levi could respond.

Onyankopon chuckled as he leaned against the counter. "You've got to hand it to them, Levi. At least they're creative. Threats and bleach? That's poetic in its own terrifying way."

Levi shot him a look that could have withered a tree. "You're not helping."

"Oh, I don't know," Hange said, laughing as she leaned on the counter. "This might be the most fun we've had in weeks."

"Tch. You're all insufferable," Levi muttered, turning away to pour tea for a customer with deliberate focus.

That evening, after the shop had finally quieted, Levi and Hange sat at a back table, the teasing echoes of the day lingering like the faint scent of tea in the air.

"They're pests," Levi grumbled, his hand resting on a cup of tea he wasn't even drinking.

"They're family," Hange corrected, her tone light.

"They're insufferable," Levi insisted, though his glare had softened into something closer to resignation.

Hange chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "You know, you could've shut them up with just one little story. But no, you have to keep them guessing."

"Because it's none of their business," Levi said firmly.

"True," Hange agreed, her grin widening. "But you have to admit, it's kind of funny."

Levi rolled his eyes. "If by 'funny' you mean 'irritating,' sure."

Hange leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand as she studied him. "You're so grumpy. If you'd just laugh once in a while, maybe they'd tease you less."

"They'd find something else," Levi replied, his tone deadpan.

Hange laughed, her voice warm and rich in the quiet room. "Probably. But admit it, you don't hate it as much as you pretend."

Levi didn't answer, instead taking a long sip of his tea. As the silence stretched between them, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but he hid it quickly behind his cup.

"You know," Hange said softly, breaking the quiet, "I think they tease because they care. It's their way of showing it."

Levi snorted. "Tch. Annoying way to show it."

Hange grinned. "Annoying, sure. But we'd miss it if it were gone."

Levi didn't respond, but his hand rested on the table, inches from hers. The lantern light flickered, casting soft shadows across the room as they sat in comfortable silence.

Despite the day's chaos-and the relentless teasing-Levi allowed himself a rare moment of contentment. Maybe Hange was right. Maybe he wouldn't trade it for anything.