Hi dear reader!

I was on a roll doing some writing, so might as well update. This is the continuation of the previous chapter, so it's still a flashback to Levi's childhood. The title in itself is a giveaway as to what this chapter is all about - Levi's first tea experience. I added the shortbread as a pun for Levi's height (don't hate me please).

I know this isn't what happened and I'm trying to, at least, keep the story aligned to the AoT storyline, but I had to insert that significant part because it's what makes Levi Levi, get it? :)

Think of this fanfic as an OVA or some filler episodes (if it were an anime). The timeline is around 4-5 years before the breach of Wall Maria (first season of AoT).

Disclaimer: Attack on Titan/Shingeki No Kyojin is created by Hajime Isayama

Enjoy reading!

CHAPTER 2: TEA - SHORTBREAD

Mom...

Levi woke up to the smell of something being baked. He sniffed some more to take in the aroma. He heard utensils clattering in the background. He half-opened his eyes and moved his head to look around. He was in a wooden house – no, it was a spotless, wooden house. Nothing much was in it except the small cot he was in, a table surrounded with three wooden chairs, and a bunch of flowers on the vase as a centerpiece. At the far end, there were stairs with a landing, and adjacent to it was a wooden door.

"Oh, you're awake!" a girl's voice squeaked.

Levi instinctively looked to his right and found a girl smiling closely to him, iridescent hazel eyes staring at his grey ones. He blinked twice and scurried to the closest door, ready to escape. He spun his gaze to the kitchen trying to find anything he could use to defend himself while momentarily looking at the girl.

Perhaps, a knife or a fork would do.

The girl was a tad smaller than him, probably also younger than him by a year or two. She has shoulder-length, black hair with a white, immaculate scarf spun loosely around her neck. She was also thin but not malnourished unlike him. And for someone who lives on the ground where the supply of sunlight was endless, she was extremely pale.

Levi concluded that he could easily put her down.

This would be fast. I need to get out as fast as possible.

"Hey, it's okay." She smiled reassuringly at him. "You can stay for a bit. You're safe here. I won't hurt you."

"What's your name?" the girl asked.

"Le-" But he paused. He gazed at the door for a while, then glanced back at the girl.

She can't know my name. At least not here on the ground where my motherfucking uncle was most wanted.

"No worries. I understand." The girl said as she went to the small kitchen behind him, talking to him comfortably, as if he was an invited guest. " Probably you're still in shock. I found you in the alleyway."

She's weird. She could've ratted me out already.

His thoughts were interrupted by something that smelled so good. The girl came out from the kitchen with what looked like fresh batches of cookies. Levi's eyes widened, and his stomach gave a low growl. Levi pursed his lips and held onto his empty belly.

The girl giggled, "Seems like you're hungry." She got plates, forks, and two teacups. "Come, try some. I baked some shortbread biscuits for my father and his friend, but they're upstairs and they won't be back here until later"

Levi hesitated but realized that if this girl was thinking of doing something crazy and tried to call adults, he'd take her down immediately.

Anyway, she seems weak.

And, truth be told, he hasn't eaten in days, and a fresh batch of biscuits would be nice. So following his survival instincts and rumbling stomach, he followed the girl and sat on one of the wooden chairs.

"Here have some." The little girl set the table for him and placed three shortbreads on his plate. "Go on." She urged.

His eyes were fixated on the heavenly aroma of the biscuit in his hands. He took a small bite of it and chewed. He took another bite, and chewed again until he realized, he finished everything in two bites.

"I'm glad you liked it." The girl smiled while putting holding up a cup. "Would you like some tea?"

Levi looked at her questioningly and shrugged. The girl stared at him for quite some time, and asked, "Do you know what tea is?"

Levi shook his head.

The girl looked up, thinking. "A tea is like combining water and leaves together." She explained. "It's a really good drink, and it calms you down."

Calm?

From where he came from, calm is euphoria. No one ever experienced calmness; because everyone is barely hanging on to survive. In the underground, he was certain that the closest thing to calmness most probably is death.

"Want to try?" She beamed as if teaching a child to read for the first time. "It's great, I promise!"

Seeing the girl's sudden excitement over a drink, Levi nodded.

The girl smiled in return. "Right on!", and she disappeared to the kitchen. She came back after a while, with a small kettle of hot water, strainer, and a small pot.

"It's like an experiment, so watch closely." Levi followed and looked carefully at the preparation. This is the first time he's seen such an intricate drink. But, what does he know? Even fresh drinking water was scarce in the underground.

The girl poured the hot water into each of their teacups. She then placed some leaves from the small pot to the strainer and steeped them inside the hot water. Levi's eyes widened as he saw how the clear water turned brownish, and it was oddly fragrant too.

"There you go." The girl said and pushed a cup full of tea to Levi. "Try it."

Levi looked at her momentarily and diverted his gaze on the tea. He inserted his bony fingers inside the cup's handle. However, it slipped from his fingers and shattered into pieces on the wooden floor.

Both kids were surprised. In her panic, the little girl rushed to the stairs and shouted, "The cup just slipped, Papa. Don't worry!"

Instinctively, Levi was on his guard and took a fork, just in case he needed to. However, he relaxed a bit when he saw the little girl went to him with a worried look on her face.

"Are you okay?" She asked, hazel eyes meeting his grey steely ones. Levi placed the fork on the table, looked down, and nodded.

"I'm so sorry." She went to the kitchen and brought back a new teacup. "I forgot to tell you that you have to hold the cup tightly."

She pushed the cup on his side of the table. "Here, this one should be fine."

The girl repeated the process, with Levi watching her with awe. "You have to be careful now."

Hold the cup tightly. Be careful. Levi repeatedly told himself.

Learning from his mistake, Levi carefully held the cup close to the rim - securing it with his fingers better than the last time. He slowly placed the cup on his lips and took a whiff of the scent once more, before taking a sip.

"That's an odd way of holding a cup." The girl giggled. Levi's face turned red.

Seeing his embarrassment, she smiled at him reassuringly, "It's alright. It's what makes you, you. I like it."

Levi's face turned redder.

"So, how was it?" The little girl asked excitedly.

Levi sipped the tea again, and to his surprise, he actually enjoyed the strong earthy yet floral taste. The tea also warmed him up in an instant.

"Good." He said.

"I'm glad you like it!" The girl chirped and clapped for her victory.

Little Levi watched the girl as she cleaned the tea stain splattered on the floor and gathered the broken pieces on the floor. He put down his cup on the table and crouched beside her, helping her pick up the tiny shards of ceramic on the floor.

"Thank you." The little girl smiled at him. Levi felt his face and ears getting warm, and after quite some time, he stood up and sat back down on the chair.

After cleaning, both children were sitting across from each other. The girl sat down and poured tea for herself.

"What we're drinking is black tea." She said in between sips, her iridescent eyes still noticeable despite the steam escaping from her cup.

Levi's gaze moved from her face to her hands. He noticed that it was covered in bandages, with only her fingertips showing.

"What is that?" He asked.

The girl looked at him and noticed that he was looking at her hands. She immediately put down her cup and hurriedly hid her hands in her apron pockets.

"It's...it's nothing." The little girl said. Levi noticed a hint of apprehension in her voice. "I-I have hideous hands." She tried to laugh it out but Levi knew she was lying.

"You don't smile or talk a lot, do you?" She asked. Levi knew she was trying to divert his attention by talking about him.

Levi eyed the girl in front of him. Her sudden change of demeanor was suspicious.

What's with her hands? What is she hiding?

Distracted by his thoughts, Levi took a sip of his tea and ate some more shortbread. The girl asked him, oblivious of his unresponsiveness, "Where do you live? Where's your family?"

Levi looked at her and just shrugged. After a few minutes of silence, the little girl stood up, went to the kitchen, and reappeared with a small paper bag."Here, for you to take home. Maybe you can share it with your family."

He looked at the girl in awe and disbelief.

His reverie was interrupted when they heard voices coming from upstairs. Both of them froze.

"The trial has been ongoing for a year now, and it has been working on her. She's our only hope to end this mess."

"All our research will go to waste if this information goes out of hand, Jaeger. You and I both know it will cost our lives...and my daughter's. I don't know if I want to continue this any longer."

They heard footsteps getting closer, and shadows appearing from the stairs.

I have to go.

As fast as he could, Levi stood up and swiftly rushed to the backdoor. He opened it and sprinted outside.

He was about to leave when he saw the girl by the window.

"Hey!" She called out in a hushed tone and then threw the paper bag to him.

Levi stopped, caught the bag, and looked at her questioningly.

"Take care." She whispered, loud enough for him to hear her.

Tall figures appeared from the window, and so Levi ran with the paper bag in his arms.

Levi sprinted until he reached the hatch. He was catching his breath and realized that despite getting beat up earlier, he can run fast like his normal unbeaten self. To his surprise, he was unscathed – no wound or scratches in sight.

He shrugged these unnecessary thoughts away and turned to the paper bag he was clutching on tightly, and slowly opened it. The aroma of the shortbread and the earthy smell of the tea leaves welcomed his senses.

She took me in, gave me food, had me drink tea...and then, she gave me food to take home? I'm a stranger. She doesn't know me. Why was she being so kind? And there I was, thinking of hurting her...

Levi took one shortbread and looked at the night sky. It was the first time he ever saw what night really was - it was beautiful. He closed his eyes and thought of iridescent eyes and bandaged hands.

You take care too.

So, what do you think? Please don't forget to leave your comments and reviews!