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

Chapter 35: Surprise Visit

The tea shop glowed warmly in the light of the setting sun, casting long shadows over the wooden floor. The bell above the door chimed, and Levi, meticulously cleaning teacups at the counter, glanced up with a raised brow. He didn't need to say a word-his expression said everything.

Six familiar figures entered, their presence filling the shop with an air of nostalgia and camaraderie.

"Captain," Armin greeted first, offering a polite smile. "Good morning."

"Tch," Levi muttered, setting down a teacup. "A letter would've worked."

"Where's the fun in that?" Jean smirked, shoving his hands in his pockets as his gaze scanned the shop. "Still looks spotless. Guess we shouldn't expect anything less."

Behind them, Connie, Reiner, Pieck, and Annie followed, their faces showing a mix of travel weariness and amusement. Even Annie's usually impassive expression softened slightly as she took in the cozy tea shop. Pieck smiled warmly, her eyes drifting over the rows of polished teacups and perfectly stacked tea tins.

From the back, Hange emerged, goggles perched on her head and her hands on her hips. "Well, well, if it isn't the world's favorite diplomats! What brings the illustrious Ambassadors of Peace to our little corner of the world?"

"Escaping responsibility, probably," Levi quipped from the counter.

"We thought we'd drop by," Reiner said with a chuckle. "Check in on you two and see what all the fuss is about."

"Unannounced, of course," Levi muttered, reaching for another teacup.

"You love it," Jean shot back. "Don't pretend you don't."

As the group settled into a large table, Gabi and Falco rushed to help serve, their excitement barely contained. Levi moved behind the counter, silently brewing tea, while Hange leaned against the wall, her usual wide grin firmly in place.

"It's nice to see the shop so alive," Pieck said, her voice soft as she took a seat. "It's exactly what you two needed after everything."

"Didn't expect anything less," Reiner added. "You've made this place... peaceful."

"Peaceful?" Jean said with a laugh. "Have you met Hange? Peaceful isn't exactly the word I'd use."

"Oh, come on," Connie chimed in. "Hange's probably the reason this place isn't a disaster zone."

Hange grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Don't," Levi said flatly, though the corner of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.

The ambassadors exchanged stories of their travels, the successes of their peace efforts, and the occasional absurdities of diplomacy. Gabi and Falco sat nearby, hanging on to every word. It wasn't every day they got to see so many former Scouts and Warriors in one place.

As Gabi refilled cups and brought over more snacks, her curiosity bubbled over. "You all talk like Levi and Hange are just... partners running this shop. But-"

"Gabi," Falco hissed, shooting her a warning glance.

"What?" Gabi said, blinking innocently. "It's not like I'm going to tell them about the-"

Levi's sharp glare froze her mid-sentence. Hange's grin faltered ever so slightly, her eyes narrowing at Gabi. The room, already buzzing with conversation, seemed to go quiet.

"Tell us about what?" Jean asked, leaning forward, a grin spreading across his face.

"Uh, nothing!" Gabi said quickly, her voice an octave too high. "Absolutely nothing!"

Hange raised a brow, her tone calm but firm. "Gabi, what did we say about keeping things... private?"

"Wait a minute," Connie said, squinting. "Private things? What private things? What are you two hiding?"

Jean's grin widened as he leaned back in his chair. "Oh, this has to be good. Spill it, Gabi."

"Yeah, come on," Connie urged. "You can't just say something like that and not finish."

Falco groaned, burying his face in his hands. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"

"Not a chance," Jean said, now fully invested.

Gabi looked between Hange and Levi, her eyes wide with panic. Finally, with a deep breath, she blurted out, "Fine! They're married, okay?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Connie's jaw dropped, his teacup frozen mid-air. Reiner blinked, his expression one of complete shock. Annie raised an eyebrow, her usual composure cracking ever so slightly. Pieck's mouth parted in surprise, though her eyes quickly softened into amusement. Armin's brow furrowed as if processing the information in real-time.

Jean, however, burst out laughing. "Good one, Gabi. Married? That's hilarious."

When no one corrected her, Jean's laughter faltered. He looked between Levi and Hange, his grin fading. "Wait... you're serious?"

Hange sighed, rubbing the back of her neck as Levi folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "Thanks for the assist, Gabi," Hange said dryly.

"You're kidding," Connie said, his voice incredulous. "You two? Married?"

"How long has this been going on?" Reiner asked, his tone more amused than anything.

Levi's scowl deepened. "None of your damn business."

"That's confirmation!" Jean exclaimed, pointing at him. "Holy crap, you two actually did it?"

Pieck smiled, tilting her head. "I guess congratulations are in order."

"Yeah, congrats," Annie said flatly, though there was the faintest hint of a smirk at the corner of her lips.

As the group processed the revelation, the teasing began.

"So, Levi," Jean said, grinning like a cat with cream. "What's it like being married to Hange? Bet she keeps you on your toes."

"Jean," Levi said, his tone carrying a dangerous edge. "You're asking for a beating."

"I'd pay to see that," Connie said, laughing. "Seriously, though, you guys kept this a secret? Why?"

"Because of this," Hange said, gesturing to the group. "We wanted to keep it private, but thanks to Gabi's big mouth, here we are."

"Hey!" Gabi protested, though she looked sheepish. "I didn't mean to!"

"It's fine," Hange said, ruffling her hair. "It's not like we could hide it forever."

Reiner chuckled, shaking his head. "This explains so much."

"What, like why they bicker like an old married couple?" Jean teased. "Wait... how long has this been going on?"

"That's for us to know and you to never find out," Hange said with a wink.

As the evening wore on, the atmosphere grew lighter. The ambassadors teased, laughed, and eventually offered their heartfelt congratulations. Levi endured it all with his usual stoicism, though Hange's wide grin never left her face.

When the ambassadors finally left, the shop fell into a peaceful silence. Levi leaned against the counter, rubbing his temples. "Dammit, Gabi."

"Relax, Captain," Hange said, still grinning. "It's not like they're going to write home about it."

"They'd better not," Levi muttered, though there was a rare softness in his tone.

As the quiet settled around them, Hange leaned against the counter next to him. "Admit it. You're a little glad they know."

Levi didn't answer, but his hand brushed against hers, and the faintest ghost of a smile tugged at his lips.