Chapter Text
The sun shines brightly outside, but the breeze relieves the regular passerby of the heat. You even left the windows of the shop open for some fresh air since it was so enticing. A glance at the clock on the wall reads 3:45–just a little over an hour left until closing.
You wipe down a table where a couple just left, focusing on a sticky spot left from their pastry that just sat there instead of being picked up. You sometimes questioned having pastries in your tea shop, but customers love to pair the local bakery’s goods with the tea, so you ignore your momentary frustration.
The bell chimes, signaling of a new customer entering.
You glance up and a smile breaks across your face.
“Onyankopon!”
You cross the room to one another hurriedly, embracing each other tightly.
“I was worried you wouldn’t ever come home,” you admit into his chest; you’re too short to reach his shoulder, but you’re grateful as it hides your rising emotions from view. Onyankopon is a friend of yours from your early teenage years, and you were horrified when Marley ripped him away to serve in their military.
Knowing his deployment, you assumed the worst after the Rumbling two years ago.
The Battle of Heaven and Earth.
He pulls away to place his large hands on your shoulders, a sad, knowing smile on his face.
“It’s so good to see you,” he tells you earnestly. He straightens as he turns, using a hand to gesture to his companions. “You must meet my friends—this is Falco, Gabi, and Levi.” He introduces you in turn, and you wipe your damp eyes as you beam at them. Falco and Gabi are teenagers—a blonde and brunette, respectively, both no older than fourteen.
Levi’s presence is demanding of respect, even as he refrains from a greeting. Admittedly, the wheelchair is one of the first things you notice, and you’re disarmed by how strikingly handsome he is. His angular features are framed by dark hair styled in a military-like undercut, and his otherwise youthful face is marked by scars stretching across from his right eye, which is a little hazy, unlike his left one that’s sharp and dark.
You give them all a warm smile, and welcome them into your shop with an offer for a pot of tea.
“We’d love some!” Gabi beats Onyankopon to the offer. “Do you have anything strong?”
At her choice of words, Onyankopon grins in amusement while Levi’s expression pinches in disgust.
Something in the way she says strong causes you to bite back a snicker; you’re taking a guess that she’s usually a coffee fan, so you know exactly what to make.
“I think I’ve got just the thing.”
They move to the table by the window while you set to making a pot of pu-erh for them. You watch them from afar as you ready a tray of cups and a pot, observing them interact. The two teenagers are talking—bickering?—and Onyankopon is speaking up here and there, but mostly allowing them to hash out whatever they’re discussing. Levi, however, is silently watching the trio, his shoulders a little slumped.
You want to frown at the somber demeanor.
Suddenly, you realize the tea is finished.
You bring everything over, pouring out a cup for each individual, and you’re met with many thanks. Onyankopon says your name, prompting you to pause as you’re about to withdraw.
“Won’t you join us?” He asks, though you can hear he’s expecting a single answer.
You glance at the others, and while the two teens look intrigued by you, Levi maintains an impassive face.
“Okay,” you concede, and you bring over a chair.
Over the course of the next half-hour, you learn a lot about their group.
None of them are related. They met while Onyankopon was serving under Marley. Falco and Gabi are from Marley; Levi doesn’t say where he’s from, but you also can’t place his accent because he hasn’t said a word.
Not until he’s finished his cup of tea.
Falco is telling you about a book he’s reading, and you’re both sharing your love for fantasy novels when Levi sets his cup back down. His hand trembles a bit, perhaps from the odd way he holds it by the rim. He refilled the cup at some point, so you’re hoping he liked it, but you can’t help but ask.
“What did you think of it?”
He looks a little taken aback that you’re addressing him, but his face smooths out as he finally speaks. “It was good.”
Now, it’s your turn to be disarmed by such a simple compliment in that low baritone. He has a lovely sounding voice, but you don’t tell him that.
Instead, you thank him just as Gabi asks for another helping of tea. You’re about to oblige when Falco puts a hand on her shoulder.
“You’re going to be running Levi up a wall with all that energy it’ll give you,” he points out. This devolves into a heated discussion about Gabi’s caffeine consumption, to which Onyankopon and you share a laugh over.
When you glance at Levi, you can see the hint of a smile on his lips, too.
Later that week, the group returns and sits at the same table by the window.
Onyankopon is actively in conversation with the two teens, who are enthralled by whatever he’s saying, and your attention drifts to Levi.
The mysterious, handsome man is glaring at his cup, his slate eyes boring into the dark red tea.
You approach, leaning down to speak in a soft voice to him so you don’t interrupt Onyankopon’s anecdote.
“If you’d like something different, you can just ask,” You point out. Levi’s gaze flits to you, and he narrows his eyes before returning his frustrated look to the offending tea.
“It’s not bad,” he says pointedly, like it’s supposed to be obvious to you. “I can’t figure out what it is.”
Your lips curl upward. “It’s called Orange Blossom—a blend of citrus and green tea.”
He grunts in reply, seemingly displeased that you had to tell him. You resist making a teasing comment and decide to shift gears.
“Want to smell from the tin?”
This gets him to look at you properly, his dark gaze questioning. You want to ask what you did for him to be so wary of you, but judging by his scars, you don’t think it’s your place to ask anything of the nature.
Finally, he nods curtly, so subtly that you almost miss it.
You stand back up, giving a glance at the others’ cups—all relatively full and not needing to be topped off—before hesitating. Did you need to push his chair, or…?
He picks up on your dilemma and jerks his head to the counter. “I got it.”
Relieved that he isn’t offended, you head back behind your counter, and you skim the wall for the tin Levi’s tea came from.
“Aha!” You grin as you pluck it from a row of green tea blends. You take off the top as you turn toward the counter, and Levi is waiting expectantly; you place it near the edge so he can easily reach.
He takes it and sniffs cautiously at first, and his eyes widen. “Oh.” He smells it again, and his features soften a fraction.
You gnaw at your lower lip.
Gods, this man is so dashing and you feel weird for ogling him, but he likes tea and apparently has similar tastes as you do, so you take your small wins where you get them.
“This is really nice,” he agrees, setting the tin back down.
“It is.” You cap off the tin, and glance up to his companions. Onyankopon and Gabi are still deep in conversation, but Falco is looking curiously at you and Levi. You focus, and you smile at Levi. “I think yours may be getting cool. Want a fresh cup?”
Levi considers your offer, and nods after a moment. Without a word, he wheels himself back to the table where he’s met with a hushed back and forth with Falco that ends with Falco sitting straighter.
Falco does throw another questioning look your way as you steep a fresh pot for the table.
You head back to top off everyone’s cups and are startled to see they’re all empty—including Levi’s. He drank it even as it was cold.
He’s avoiding looking at you.
You refill all of their cups and insist it’s on the house, to which Falco and Gabi thank you enthusiastically. Onyankopon touches your arm as he expresses gratitude. Levi stares at Onyankopon’s hand on your forearm, but doesn’t say anything.
You don’t mind.
You smile at all four of them, and leave them to their discussion.
The following week, they stop in a few more times. Sometimes they head out quickly after tea, other times they linger and talk or read.
Today, Falco and Levi show up at high-noon. They’re both in trousers, as usual, but they each have on linen summer shirts. Falco’s is rolled up to the elbows, and Levi’s is only folded just under his wrists.
Falco takes off his hat as they enter, waving it in greeting.
“Hello, boys.” You begin grabbing a pot and two cups in preparation. “What are you thinking today?”
Falco looks to his older companion, who is squinting at the wall behind you. After a moment, Levi huffs out a sigh, annoyed.
“Surprise me.”
You quirk an eyebrow but don’t argue, whirling around and tapping your chin as you weigh your options. You end up picking a black rose blend, one that has a sweet finish that you adore. When Falco readies his wallet, you frown at him.
“Don’t. I won’t charge you unless I know you like it,” you tell him.
Levi glares at you, snatching the wallet from Falco and taking a few bills. You open your mouth to protest, but your jaw drops as he crumples the bills and throws them at you.
“What the—“
“Shut up and take the damn money,” he growls before turning abruptly and wheeling himself to their usual table.
You fix his back with a fierce look before moving to make their tea. Falco utters an awkward thank you, Miss, and then hurriedly joins Levi.
After five minutes, you pull out the basket so the leaves don’t steep too long, and you place everything on the tray. Carefully, you bring it over, placing the cups and pot on the table and pouring each of them a cup.
“Um, excuse me, Miss,” Falco speaks up as you pick up the tray to return to the counter. You wait patiently, turning back to him. He’s looking down at his tea, as if it holds the words he’s trying to search for, and Levi looks ready to jump out of his chair and smack the boy.
You’re about to gently nudge Falco in the direction of speaking when he does so himself.
“Levi and Onyankopon want you to come over for dinner tonight!” he blurts out, causing Levi’s eyes to widen before abruptly staring out the window.
Your jaw goes slack; Onyankopon, you could understand, but Levi? You’re inclined to think Falco is trying to be polite, but when you see a touch of color in Levi’s face, your stomach flips.
“Okay,” you agree, an eager grin spreading on your face.
Falco brightens, and Levi’s shoulders seem to relax. “Awesome!” Falco pulls a wallet-sized notepad from his pocket along with a pencil, and he scribbles down an address. “Is 6:30 okay? We know you close at 5–“
“6:30 is perfect,” you assure him, accepting the torn slip of paper he hands you. “Do I need to bring anything?”
Falco looks to Levi, so you do the same. He frowns at the attention, only holding your gaze for a literal second. “No, just don’t be late,” he states gruffly.
Normally, you’d be put-off but such a poorly mannered response, but you smirk before leaning down to touch his bicep. This causes those dark eyes to snap to yours, and your stomach drops at the intensity in those stormy grey irises.
“I’ll be there,” you say softly. “Thank you for the invitation.”
You think you see his eyes widen, just a fraction, but you pull back and turn on your heel before you can put your foot in your mouth.
You feel his eyes on you as you retreat to the counter to find something tidy up.
A glance at the clock tells you that you have just a handful of hours left until dinner.
It can’t come any sooner, you think to yourself.