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

Chapter 47: Helplessness

The hospital corridor was quiet save for the faint hum of fluorescent lights and the muffled shuffle of footsteps. Levi leaned against the wall, his head bowed, while Onyankopon, Jean, Connie, and Pieck lingered nearby, their earlier argument still hanging heavy in the air. His grip on his crutch was tight, his knuckles pale with restrained frustration.

"Levi," Onyankopon said softly, stepping closer. "You need to think this through-"

"I've done enough thinking," Levi snapped, his voice low but cutting. "If you're not going to help, then stay out of my way."

Jean ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "Levi, you can't keep doing this alone. You're not-"

"Not what?" Levi turned to face him, his single gray eye blazing. "Say it, Jean."

"Not invincible," Jean said quietly. "And if you keep acting like you are, you're going to lose everything."

Before Levi could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. A doctor appeared, her face pale and tense.

"Captain Ackerman," she said, her voice urgent. "It's Hange. She's-she's crashing. We're trying to revive her, but-"

The rest of her words blurred into white noise as Levi's heart stopped. His body moved before his mind could catch up, and he pushed past the doctor, heading toward Hange's room. Onyankopon grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Levi, wait!" Onyankopon said, his voice steady but firm. "You can't go in there. Let them do their job."

"Get your hands off me," Levi growled, his voice trembling with barely restrained panic.

"Levi-" Onyankopon began, but the anguish in Levi's expression stopped him cold.

Levi leaned against the wall outside the room, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts. He could hear the commotion inside-the doctors shouting instructions, the mechanical whine of the defibrillator, the deafening silence that followed.

This can't be it. This can't be it.

His fists clenched tightly, his nails digging into his palms. The cold, calculating focus that had carried him through countless battles was gone, replaced by an overwhelming wave of helplessness.

And then it broke.

With a guttural sound, Levi slammed his fist into the wall beside him, the impact reverberating through the corridor. The plaster cracked under the force, but it wasn't enough. He hit it again, and again, his knuckles splitting as blood smeared against the pale surface.

"Levi, stop!" Pieck cried, grabbing his arm. "You're hurting yourself!"

"Do you think I care?" Levi snarled, his voice cracking. "She's in there, fighting for her life, and I can't do a damn thing!"

Connie and Jean exchanged a glance, their own helplessness mirrored in Levi's outburst. Onyankopon stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Levi, look at me."

Levi didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the floor, his chest heaving. Blood dripped from his knuckles, but he didn't seem to notice.

"She's not gone," Onyankopon said, his voice steady. "And as long as she's still fighting, you can't give up on her."

Levi's hands trembled, blood dripping from his torn knuckles onto the floor. His knees felt weak, but he didn't let himself collapse. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts-images of Hange, smiling at him over a cup of tea, scolding him for not eating enough, laughing at her own ridiculous experiments. And then the image of her lying lifeless, her vibrant presence extinguished.

No. No. No.

His vision blurred, tears spilling over before he could stop them. He hadn't cried in years-he didn't even remember the last time-but now the tears came, hot and relentless, coursing down his face as a strangled sob tore from his throat. "I can't lose her," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Not like this. Not after everything."

Pieck knelt beside him, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. "You won't," she said quietly. "She's stronger than any of us. If anyone can pull through this, it's Hange."

The group fell into a tense silence, the minutes dragging on like hours. Levi sat against the wall, his head in his hands, the others close but giving him space. The sounds from the room began to fade, replaced by the faint hum of machines and the shuffle of footsteps.

Finally, the doctor emerged, her face tired but relieved. "We stabilized her," she said. "For now."

Levi looked up, his eye red-rimmed but sharp. "What does that mean?"

"It means she's still critical," the doctor said gently. "But she's breathing. We'll keep monitoring her."

Levi's entire body sagged with a mix of relief and lingering tension. He nodded once, unable to form words. Pieck touched his arm gently, guiding him toward a nearby chair.

As the doctor left, Onyankopon helped Levi to his feet, steadying him as he swayed slightly. "Let's get your hands cleaned up," Onyankopon said.

Levi shook his head. "Later. I need to see her."

Pieck stepped forward, her expression soft. "Levi, you've done all you can for now. Let the doctors-"

"I'm not leaving," Levi interrupted, his voice firm despite the tremor in it. "Not until she wakes up."

The group exchanged glances but didn't argue. They knew better than to push him.

As Levi stepped into the room, the faint sound of the machines greeted him, steady and rhythmic. He sank into the chair beside Hange's bed, his bloodied hand trembling as he reached for hers.

"I'm still here," he murmured, his voice raw. "And so are you. Don't you dare leave me."

The quiet beeping of the monitors was his only answer.