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

Chapter 37: A Simple Band

The tea shop stirred awake with the soft clinking of teacups and the faint aroma of marlok-infused blends wafting through the air. Levi stood behind the counter, hands methodically arranging a new batch of loose-leaf tea. The morning light streaming through the windows highlighted the faint lines of his expression-a look of quiet focus, tinged with something deeper.

On his left hand, the silver band glinted subtly in the sunlight. He didn't fidget with it, didn't acknowledge it, but its presence was unmistakable.

It hadn't been a grand revelation, no sudden epiphany. Levi had woken up that morning, opened the drawer where the ring had sat for months, and put it on without a second thought. People already knew-Gabi had made sure of that. Avoiding questions was pointless now, and the constant attempts to hide something so small had become more trouble than it was worth.

Hange had been wearing hers all along. Not because she wanted people to notice, but because she liked it. She'd said so once, brushing off a nosy customer who'd pried too much with a cheerful, "It's just a ring! What, I'm not allowed to wear one now?"

Levi had smirked at her casual deflection, though he knew the truth ran deeper. Hange didn't like explaining herself any more than he did. The ring was hers, plain and simple. That was all that mattered.

And now, it was his too.

The door swung open, and Gabi and Falco bustled in, their usual chatter filling the shop. Gabi was mid-argument, waving a paper in the air, while Falco followed behind, his hands full of freshly polished teacups.

"I'm telling you, Falco, we did restock the lavender yesterday! It's not my fault if you misplaced it-" Gabi's voice trailed off abruptly as her gaze landed on Levi's hand.

Her eyes widened, and the paper in her hand crumpled slightly as she pointed. "Wait... are you-are you wearing it?"

Falco nearly dropped the stack of teacups, his head snapping toward Levi. "The ring? You're actually-?"

Levi's brow furrowed, his gaze flicking between the two. "What's with the noise? It's just a ring."

"Just a ring?" Gabi echoed, her voice rising. "Captain Levi Ackerman, who can't stand being asked questions, is walking around with a wedding ring on like it's no big deal?"

"Maybe it's because it's no big deal," Levi deadpanned, turning back to his tea without missing a beat.

Falco, more cautious than Gabi, hesitated before asking, "What changed? I mean, you've never worn it before..."

Levi's hands moved steadily, scooping tea into a fresh tin. "People already know," he said flatly. "Doesn't matter now."

"That's it?" Gabi pressed, stepping closer. "That's your big reason? Because people know? Not because, oh, I don't know, you want to wear it?"

Levi's sharp gaze silenced her immediately. "You're awfully bold for someone who still owes me three hours of work from last week."

Gabi groaned, throwing her hands up. "Fine, fine! But I'm keeping my eye on you two."

The door jingled as Hange returned from a morning errand, her usual energy lighting up the room. She spotted Gabi's frustrated expression immediately, her grin widening. "What's with the pout, Gabi? Lose another bet with Falco?"

"She's just upset because Levi's finally wearing his ring," Falco explained, his tone more measured.

Hange blinked, her grin turning to a mischievous smirk as she turned to Levi. "Oh? Look at you, Captain. Finally joining the club, huh?"

Levi didn't bother looking up. "Don't make it a thing."

Hange waved her hand dismissively, walking past the counter. "I'm not. You know I don't care who notices."

"Yeah, because you hate the questions," Gabi said, narrowing her eyes. "You both do! So why even bother wearing them?"

Hange paused mid-step, glancing down at her own hand where her ring sat comfortably. "Because I like it," she said simply, her tone cheerful but firm. "That's all."

As the day wore on and the shop settled into its usual rhythm, Levi found himself reflecting on Hange's words. She wore the ring because she liked it-because it was hers, a part of her life she didn't owe to anyone else. And maybe that was why he'd finally put his on. Not for the people around them, not even for Hange, but because it felt... right.

Later that night, after the shop was locked and the tea garden was quiet, Levi sat on the bench by the trellis, his hand resting on the arm of the seat. The soft glow of the moon reflected faintly off the silver band on his finger, and for a moment, he simply stared at it.

The weight of it wasn't uncomfortable-if anything, it felt grounding, like something that had always been missing but was now in its proper place. He flexed his fingers slightly, the cool metal catching the light.

Levi's gaze drifted toward the tea garden, his sharp eyes softening. Life wasn't what he'd expected it to be. If someone had told him years ago that he'd find himself here-tending to a tea shop, growing plants, and wearing a ring that tied him to someone else-he'd have called them insane.

But now?

Now, it didn't feel insane at all. It felt like peace.

Still, there was a small knot in the back of his mind that refused to unravel. He knew this peace wasn't permanent. It couldn't be. Hange had a role far bigger than the tea shop, a calling that had always pulled her away from him. As much as he hated it, as much as it left him restless, he knew it was who she was.

The thought didn't stir the same frustration it once had. Instead, it brought an ache-a quiet, familiar ache he'd learned to live with. Because even if she left, even if she was gone for weeks or months at a time, she always came back. And every time, she brought with her that chaotic, brilliant energy that made the quiet seem bearable again.

For now, Levi was content. The shop was running smoothly, Hange was here, and even the constant pestering from Gabi and Falco felt manageable. He allowed himself a rare moment of calm, leaning back against the bench and closing his eyes.

The time would come when Hange would leave again, but he'd made peace with it. What mattered was that she always returned. And until then, he'd keep living the life they'd built together-quiet, steady, and undeniably theirs.