Addictive ~Levi x Reader AU~

Chapter 7: Black Tea

"Yeah," a deep voice responded lowly, answering Bertolt.

"Coming right up," Bertolt replied happily.

That voice...where have I heard it? I questioned within my mind. Part of me wanted to glance up to investigate, but I wasn't about to get caught staring. There was no one else in the shop besides the three of us, so I wasn't about to appear like that nosy girl who watched everyone who placed an order. That just wasn't my scene. So, instead I kept my nose buried in the book, occasionally taking a sip or two of my tea, enduldging both my tastebuds and mind.

I flipped to the next page just as Bertolt spoke to the other customer, "Here ya go, professor. One black tea."

"Thanks," the voice said. "Charge it to my account."

"Will do. Enjoy," Bertolt chimed.

Silence once again fell over the shop, minus the pattering and strumming of the rain against the windows. My mind became entangled with a captivating story about a tedious love triangle between one woman and two men. She had to choose between the heartfelt green eyed childhood friend with wavy brown hair or the pale eyed biker with jet black hair and a history. It was a decent story, but all truth be told, it infuriated me. Love stories, especially those with love triangles urked me. The plots were always so cliché and easy to predict. Even with different endings, you could just smell the irony from a mile away. And yet, I was reading one. I couldn't tell you why other than I was already in too deep to stop. Yeah...stupid me didn't read the story description befre purchasing it. A perk of being me, I guess.

I turned another page when the dashing scent of lavender flooded my nostrils. I know that smell. I thought. The aroma mixed and swirled with the shop's old fragrance and blended nicely with the inky papers' perfume. It was a pleasant and clean smell, one I didn't mind inhaling. It was soothing and calming to me, though I couldn't see how much calmer I could be. I already felt like a carefree sloth, but the new spice added to the scent cocktail had me in a tranquil trance. Until I heard his voice again.

"Hey brat, you're in my seat," his tone was dark and low, laced with irritation.

I froze. Oh, hell no. It can't be. I whined on the inside. All calmness and joy drained from my being, leaving my body to go numb. I wanted to kick myself. I had chosen one day to leave the apartment to enjoy myself and that was happening. I was really starting to think the universe had it out for me.

"Did you hear me?" he repeated, his tone even more annoyed. "Hello? Brat?"

I slowly glanced up, my eyes colliding with those icy cold steel orbs. My heart felt like it was trying to burst through my ribs, every pound more intense than the last. My palms became claimy as the pulse in my ears strummed to the beat of my frantic heart. My breathing became shallow; how I kept it quiet was beyond me. I felt like I was dying, the little peace I had that morning decaying right before my eyes. It was just my luck.

"Either you move or I'm joining you," Professor Ackerman said, his expression numb, yet fierce.

I wanted to reply, I really did. But my voice was caught in my throat, muting me from speaking. I couldn't say a thing, not a damn word, not even if I wanted to. Nor could I move. My legs had transformed to jello while my body became glued to my seat. Nothing was working; not my arms, not my legs, not my voice. Nothing. It felt as if my body had morphed into a cement slab. I was practically a deer in headlights and the car barreling at me was Professor Ackerman.

"Tch," he breathed as he pulled out the seat across from me and sat down.

He gingerly set a cup of steaming tea down alongside a book he was reading. I observed what was before me. Unlike my styrofoam cup with my name sloppily written on it with black marker, his was a ceramic mug with white and blue patterns sprawled across it. The steam from his tea drifting up into the air before vanishing from sight. From the mug, my eyes wandered to his attire and posture. He was wearing a light tan t-shirt with three quarter sleeves, the fabric clinging to his build nicely. Some of what looked to be black jeans played peek-a-boo beneath his shirt as he situated himself. As for his posture, he was sitting comfortably it looked. His back was pressed to the chair's cushion, giving him a slight slouch. His hands were craddling the book, his fingers swiftly turning the pages. The veins in his forearms pulsed beneath his skin, buldging like secret tunnels beneath his pale flesh. Then, I dared myself to glance at his face. He was emtionless, his lips pressed in a hard line as his cool metalic gaze scanned the page he was reading. He looked surprisingly...handsome.

He reached over and grabbed his mug, his fingers pressing against the rim instead of using the handle as he lifted it to his lips, blowing on it to cool it off. I watched, oddly captivated by him for some unbeknown reason. I wanted to look away; I begged myself to, but eyes just wouldn't listen. It was as if all my muscles had grown stiff. Just then, his piercing gray orbs met mine, instantly taking my breath away and leaving me utterly paralyzed. He narrowed his eyes at me and lowered his cup after taking a few sips.

"May I help you, shitty glasses point two?" he asked coldly, his eyes still boarding into me like nails.

Point two? What the...? IS HE CALLING ME HANJI'S STUPID NAME?! I mentally wailed. I wanted so badly to rip him a new one and tell him off, professor or not, but my vocalcords wouldn't let me. I wanted to sound as intimidating as possible, but all that came out was mousey words.

"I have a name," I said in a quiet whisper.

He lifted an eyebrow, "What was that?"

"I have a name," I repeated, my tone still barely a whisper.

He set his book down and cupped his hand to his ear, mocking, "Let's try again. What?"

With my face flushing red and my temper boiling I yelled, "I HAVE A NAME, YA KNOW!"

"Oh, there's your voice," he remarked coldly, picking his book up again. "Yes. I'm quite aware you have a name."

"Then why don't you use it?" I growled. Well, it was more of a half growl as I felt my voice slipping away again.

He brought his eyes back to mine, glaring. If looks could kill, he would have murdered me. I saw not a lick of emotion besides frustration and annoyance, maybe even a dash of anger. Okay, I saw no sign of any positive emotions. He just appeared pissed off, and yet...and yet, I couldn't stop myelf from relaxing when I caught a whiff of his scent. The rage I had felt just moments ago melted away, calmness and tranquility draping over me. For a fraction of a second, I forgot what we were even discussing...until he opened his mouth.

"Listen, brat," he snarled, "I'll call you what I wanna call you. If I wanna call you shitty glasses point two, then I'll call you shitty glasses point two. If I wanna call you brat, then I'll call you brat." He leaned in closer, furrowing his brow, intensifying his glare, "If I wanna call you Y/N, then I'll call you Y/N, but I'm not up for that. Right now I wanna call you brat and shitty glasses point two. Got it?"

I felt my heart skip a beat when he grew closer to me, the fragrance of his cologne spinning my head. I could feel myself feeding off his vibrations, fueling my inner being. I was still nervous as hell and shaking to the core with anxiety, but I bulled my hands into fists, digging my nails into my palms. I pushed my glasses up and stared him directly in his eyes. I didn't know if I was going to regret the next few words, but I had to give it a try.

I breathed in a puff of air and did my best to sound intimidating by lowering my voice, "Drink your damn black tea, sir."

**Hello my lovelies! Wow, these chapters are getting long! I apologize! This chapter just totally took off and I had to figure a way to end it so you weren't reading it forever. Don't worry, I'm continuing it in the next chapter (hits here Friday). So, you'll see more of Levi! Yay! Anyhow, thank you to the moon and beyond for reading! Feel free to leave a comment and/or vote! :)**

-Noel Ross