Aurelia was packing the last box of tea into the crate when she heard the crunching of hooves and wheels moving across the frosted grass. After securing the wooden container, she dragged it over towards the door, smiling as she glanced out of the window. He's right on time, as always.
She left the crate by the doorway and straightened up, pushing the door open. The brisk afternoon air greeted her as she stepped outside. The blue of the sky was diminished by heavy blanketed by pale grey clouds. A steady wind blew through the woods although the trees shielded her from feeling most of it. Her attention shifted to the approaching cart rumbling down the beaten road towards the house. The rider's evergreen hood was up but she recognized the horse and the shape of the figure at once. He steered the horse round so that the back of the cart was facing her and then brought the animal to a standstill.
Aurelia watched as the figure jumped deftly from the driver's bench and began to advance on the steps leading up to the farmhouse porch.
"Good afternoon, Captain Levi," Aurelia brought her fist to her chest in a salute. As the captain raised his face to hers, she saw a corner of his mouth twitch.
"You don't need to salute. You're not military."
"I don't care," Aurelia chuckled. "All soldiers deserve a salute."
"Stubborn brat," the scout muttered as he lowered his hood and stopped in front of her on the porch. "I wouldn't go that far. You've been to the interior lately, right? Seen how those MPs do jack shit?"
"I'm sure that's not the case with all of them," Aurelia smiled at him as she stepped backwards and held the door open for him. "There have to be some who sincerely work hard over there."
"Tch, then I haven't met them yet," Levi grumbled as he walked inside the house.
It was a comfortable (and clean, Aurelia thought with pride) enough home - bigger than two people really needed of course but it helped with the business. A spacious lounge and kitchen area took up the two thirds of the room on the left. On the right and remaining third, the space was divided between the preparation area that consisted of counters and cupboards, and the storage area near the door which was currently filled by about twenty crates. Seven crates had slips of paper attached with the Wings of Freedom drawn onto them.
She watched Levi's gaze sweep around the room. Maybe checking the cleanliness, Aurelia thought as she stifled a giggle. When his eyes did turn towards the boxes, he took a few steps towards them and then stopped.
"We only ordered six crates," he said.
"I know," Aurelia slid her hands into the pockets of her apron. "But I thought you guys deserved a bit extra," she added. She walked over to the preparation counter and leaned against it with a smile. "I've included some lavender, black, peppermint, and chamomile in there."
Levi looked over to her and his stare lost some of its usual harshness. "I'll appreciate it. Not sure all our cadets can appreciate the significance of different teas."
She let out a slight giggle. "Maybe not but they might appreciate the benefits," she answered.
"Tch, I doubt it." Levi reached into his pocket and drew out a pouch. He placed the coins for the six crates out and then reached in for more but Aurelia reached out a hand to stop him. Grey-blue eyes flicked up to look into her violet ones.
"I didn't say I was charging for the seventh crate," she said with a smile.
One eyebrow raised a fraction. "We can pay for it-"
"I'm sure you can but I don't want you to," Aurelia said with a shrug.
"Your father's not going to be best pleased," Levi pointed out after some thought. "Supplies are going to be harder to gather now that we lost Wall Maria. I'm surprised you haven't had your garden raided yet. Tea may not be essential but these days people are trying to grab what they can."
The smile slowly dropped from Aurelia's face. "I know," she answered him, reaching up to curl her finger through one of her ringlets, the gold colour muted through the cold daylight streaming in through the window. "'I'm lucky this place is tucked so far out of the way from Trost. As for my father," she continued, moving towards the crates, "he won't begrudge this one crate. It's not like we do this for all of our customers."
Of course, her father didn't know that she sometimes brought tea to her neighbours who owned a farm about a mile away. Sometimes their land wasn't quite as generous as they would like and so being able to buy an abundance of tea was an expense they sometimes struggled with. Not that they didn't return the favour when their products were plentiful. Sometimes they brought her an extra few bottles of milk when they delivered her supplies.
She knelt down to grab one of the crates.
"Leave it," Levi's hand touched her shoulder. "I'll get them."
She peered over her shoulder with a stubborn look. "I can manage."
"I know. You already boxed them all up." Levi agreed. "I can handle it from here." His pressure on her shoulder increased insistingly but not painfully so. "It won't take long," he added as he crouched next to her. He released her shoulder and grabbed the crate, lifting it up slowly.
"Okay," she said quietly, backing away. She looked towards the kitchen for a moment while Levi headed for the door. "Before you go, would you like a cup of tea?" she asked. As soon as the words left her mouth, she cringed. That sounded kind of lame considering she'd just sold him some and also he was probably really busy. He might not want to sit around and chat with a tea merchant for a bit. He'd probably rather be getting back to his work. "It's pretty cold out there so maybe the tea could warm you up before you head back out." The words came out as a babble and Aurelia wished that she could stop herself.
The captain hesitated near the door.
Just say no if you want. I won't be offended. You're a busy man, after all.
"Sure. I'd appreciate it." He said after a pause and continued his journey towards the cart.
Aurelia released her breath. She quickly made her way to the kitchen where she prepared two cups and set a kettle of water dangling over the fireplace. Once she'd done that, she turned to find him already approaching a second crate. "Black, as usual?" she called over. "Or something different?"
"Black's good."
She poured some black tea leaves into his cup and then added some lavender to her own. All the while, she listened to the crunching of Levi's boots as he marched in and out of the house carrying the crates. After a moment, she remembered his horse standing out there in the chill, waiting for Levi. Crossing the room to one of the couches, she grabbed a blanket and draped it over one arm. A visit to the kitchen and she headed towards the door.
Once outside she approached Levi's horse and wrapped him in the blanket before giving him one of the two apples she'd fetched. "Good boy," she purred as she stroked his nose. She caught Levi's eye as he loaded the third of the crates onto the cart. Although he looked away quickly, she glimpsed a gleam of affection as his gaze passed over the horse. In a second, he was moving away, back towards the house. "Such a beautiful boy," she told the stallion again as she fed him the other apple.
She adjusted the blanket and began to walk back inside, her eyes scanning over the quiet, private patch of land that stood for the Rivers family's tea business.
For over a hundred years her family - the Rivers - had located the land with the highest of tea leaf variety and built their business near there. They'd thrived in Shiganshina, having found a wild treasure trove of tea leaves not horrendously far outside the town. When they'd moved to a village just outside Karanes district they had occupied a piece of mind with particularly varied forms of tea leaves growing there. Now here, in their third home, their third premises, they had found the place even more yielding in many different types of tea leaves too. Her father sometimes joked that their family must have "tea leaf senses" or something. Either that or the tea leaves followed them around.
She did love this business, she thought with a contented expression as she waited for the water to brew. It was peaceful work, gathering tea leaves (and for the Scouts other local herbs for their medicines). She liked to listen to the birds and the wind rather than the chattering and shouts of a hundred people around her. It made her chuckle when she reflected on this. She really wasn't as social as most people beyond the people she'd come to connect with. Not like her sisters who had all chased companionship quite easily and happily. They'd always burned brighter than her though. They had aspired for things beyond the family business and that had suited Aurelia down to the ground.
Aurelia smiled to herself as she reflected on how many people in the Survey Corps she'd gotten to meet and know their tea tastes over the years. Levi's preference was generally black tea. Erwin tended to mix it up between black tea and blueberry tea. Hange liked the fruity teas though their favourites constantly switched within that group. Sometimes their assistant Mobilit came and he was a fan of the green tea. Sometimes Levi's squad were sent too. Oluo tended to drink black tea even though he clearly hated it. (Petra explained later that he was trying to imitate Levi.) Petra enjoyed the fruity teas especially the berry ones. Eld was a fan of black tea but he also liked chamomile and lemon teas too. Gunther had taken a liking to the peppermint tea.
The sound of bubbling water pulled her from her musings and she retrieved the water at once. She was just pouring it out when Levi's footsteps returned. She placed the kettle to one side and began to stir the tea leaves. She carried both tea cups over towards the dining table that bridged the kitchen and lounge slowly.
Levi walked up to her and held out his hand. She let him take his cup, in his own unusual way of course, and sat down carefully at the table.
"It was kind of you to stay," she said as she blew on her drink.
Levi's lip twisted a little in amusement. "I wouldn't say that." He murmured as he made himself comfortable. "As you say, it's better to have a hot drink before travelling in the cold." His tone was dry and his gaze fixed on the dark, swirling liquid.
Aurelia nodded, her smile diminishing a little. She wouldn't exactly call the captain someone who was particularly known for being kind but all the same, she believed he was capable of it. He'd tried to insist on paying her for the unplanned extra crate even though it wouldn't have been in Erwin's budget. Still, from their encounters so far, she knew that Levi wasn't the sort of man to engage in a lot of flowery small talk. The man was purposeful. It was what made him so effective. So if she wanted to engage him in conversation she would need to discuss significant topics.
"Would you say my father is doing well as a squad leader again?" she asked quietly. "I realize he regained that position two years ago but sometimes I don't know if he's sugarcoating his reputation in the regiment." She watched Levi's eyes lift from his tea to meet hers. "With the fall of Wall Maria and then my sister's death," here her breath hitched but she continued on, "I imagine that it'd be a lot of a soldier who took a break from the military for five years." She blew her tea again then sipped it.
"Five years isn't too long a time to be of particular concern," Levi told her. "At any rate he's doing a good job picking up his old post. The losses we sustain in this job takes us through hell but he's carried that burden with strength. So, to answer your question, I'm not concerned about your father."
Aurelia gave him a grateful nod. "Thank you."
Levi lifted his cup to his lips. "Your sister was a fine soldier too. I believe her titan kill count was 36 and she could also claim 27 assists."
Aurelia bowed her head, staring into her tea. "No one ever told us that, Captain. Thank you."
A short period of silence followed for a while. Aurelia didn't mind. She reflected on those numbers. You were really something else, sister, she thought, smiling softly.
"It seems that Leonard Rivers raised all of his children to be damn capable," Levi observed dryly. "Running the business by yourself takes a lot of work. Even so," he continued as his expression turned a little sterner, "you should have kept at least one other person employed to help you. You're not going to do anyone any favours if you overstretch yourself."
"I'm not over-stretching myself," Aurelia told him as she lowered her cup. "I'm managing well enough and doing it all myself keeps me busy. Otherwise I think I'd get frustrated not having enough to do." She leaned back in her chair. It wasn't the first time she'd heard such concerns. Many people had expressed them when her father had put her in charge of running the place. She had been working with the former manager, Emilia, up until she left to have a baby. The timing of her pregnancy and Aurelia's coming-of-age had worked out beautifully. Had there not been a need for Emilia to leave the business for now, she probably would have continued to work at the new premises with Aurelia. Although that would not have been an easy commute to work each day. So maybe she would have left anyway. That thought filled Aurelia with sadness. While she liked being busy, she also missed the conversations she and Emilia used to have and the time they spent together. Emilia's stories about her husband and his lovable but scatter-brained antics. Emilia laughing at some of Aurelia's questions. Emilia tending to Aurelia's hands whenever she'd spilled hot tea.
Levi made his usual scoffing noise before he looked around the room once more. "If you say so but I'd say you're pushing things, doing this all alone. You've got your horses to attend to as well." He returned his gaze to her, his beautiful stormy blue eyes focused on her own. "You know you need to look after yourself too, right? Work yourself too hard and you'll get ill and die. You live out in the wild so you'd be lucky if anyone found you to do anything about it. You'd just end up dying here alone."
Despite the grim topic of conversation and the bleak image of her own death that Levi painted, Aurelia couldn't stop herself from snorting a little. Redness swarmed over her cheeks and she cringed at the sound, bringing her free hand to her mouth and nose at once. "Sorry!" she said quickly. She took a moment to compose herself, watching both of the captain's eyebrows lift into his forehead.
"And now you're doing pig impressions," he added monotonously. That did nothing to help the blush in Aurelia's cheeks. In fact, it deepened.
She bowed her head a little and waited for the quivering feeling in the back of her throat to calm down. She began to smile again slowly. "Sorry about that," she said again, lifting her eyes to meet his once more. "It's just you have such a way with words, Captain. Bluntly talking about such a miserable death for me like that."
Levi looked unapologetic. "I'm just addressing a real possibility if you continue to refuse to get some help."
"It's a lot of work running the house and the business, agreed," Aurelia answered. "But most of it doesn't feel like work. I like gathering and preparing the leaves. It's peaceful working in the garden away from noisy towns," she continued. "Taking the horses out for a ride is as much a break for me as it is exercise for them between delivery runs. I only have the two horses and aside from the paddock and the garden, there's not too much land to manage either. Plus there's less to do in the colder weather anyway now that the harvest is over." She picked up her cup again. "But I appreciate the advice, Captain."
"Tch. Don't mistake this for worry," Levi retorted. "It'd be a pain to have to find a new supplier." He peered down into his cup as he took another sip.
Aurelia giggled a little. "I'm sure."
They drank the rest of their cups in companionable silence.
Aurelia watched him carefully out of the corner of her eyes every so often. What kind of circumstances produced someone as simultaneously blunt and mysterious as Captain Levi also known as Humanity's Strongest. It sounded like a heavy weight to bear. She looked away before he could catch her staring and just focused on the pleasant feeling of company after many days on her own.
Once his tea had been drunk, Levi lifted his cup and saucer and carried them over to the sink. "I appreciate the tea," he told her, "but I should return to headquarters."
"Of course." Aurelia told him as she crossed the room towards the door. She began to put on her boots, followed by her coat. As she began fastening the buttons, she caught Levi giving her a quizzical expression. "What?" she asked.
"You don't need to see me out." He eyed her seriously. "It's damn cold out there. You should stay indoors. Don't freeze your ass off for civilities."
Smiling and fighting back the urge to laugh, Aurelia shook her head. "I need to go chop some firewood and check on the horses anyway," she insisted. Next to the shoe rack and coat pegs, she opened a wooden box to bring out a basket and a sturdy axe. She slid the basket over her arm and took the axe in hand. It was pretty weighty but she was getting stronger and wielding it easier. She wouldn't be felling entire trees anytime soon but she could cut branches off and chop them up. Branches didn't crumble and fall off in the winter.
Levi was frowning at the axe in her hand as he lingered by the door. He reached for the door and opened it, slipping through it. Aurelia followed him out, locking the door behind her and putting the key in her pocket.
She turned back towards the porch steps where Levi waiting at the bottom, holding out a hand to her.
"What-?"
"Give me those." His fingers beckoned impatiently to the axe and the basket. "I'll get your firewood."
Aurelia's cheeks heated up. "Oh no, don't trouble yourself. I can't have you doing that when you're a guest. Don't worry about it. I can manage."
Levi's only response was to beckon his fingers again.
Aurelia's hand tightened on the handle. "Really, don't worry about it."
"You're the one worrying about it." Levi told her, slowly advancing up the steps again. "I'll do the shitty firewood. I'll be quicker at it." He reached out and took the handle of the axe and pulled it out of her hand with a firm tug. "You can go check on the horses." He added as he slipped the basket off her arm.
As he strode down the steps again, Amelia's protest finally reached her throat. "You really don't have to!" she called after him.
"And you didn't have to give us some extra tea," he called back. "So call us even."
Amelia closed her mouth as she watched him walk into the forest. After just a moment's hesitation, she began to walk towards the barn that stood adjacent to the house, the back of it wrapped in trees. And he says he's not kind, she mused. Maybe he just doesn't think of it that way. But I can see it.
She entered the barn and smiled as she shut the doors closed on the biting wind.
On her right stood two large stalls, both of whom had their occupants' heads poking over the doorway inquisitively. She walked over to their long, soft faces, caressing their foreheads and cheeks with soft coos. "You guys okay?" she asked.
The tall, chestnut mare, Melody, nickered at her and nuzzled her hand. "Ooh someone's being a lovely girl today," she cooed. "You nice and warm in here?" Peeking over the doorway, Amelia examined the stall. There was plenty of water, the food was a bit low but she would refill it soon. A certain smell wafted up to Amelia's nose and she wrinkled it. "I guess mucking out day will be tomorrow huh?" She patted Melody's nuzzle. "I'll bring you some carrots later," she added.
On her other side, the dapple grey stallion let out a whinny which drew a chuckle from Melody. "All right, all right, Mr Attention Hog, I'm here," she rubbed the underside of his head and was rewarded with a contented nicker. "That feel good, huh? Who's my good boy?" She giggled as he nickered again. "That's right, you!"
She continued to fuss over them while giving the barn a speculative look for any wear and tear that might create some holes and let the cold in. The place was in good condition when her father had bought it but even so, she wanted to be extra vigilant with winter here.
After a short while, she emerged from the barn to see Levi approaching the house with the basket of firewood almost overflowing. He had the axe pressed against the bottom so he could carry the basket with both hands.
"You chopped that much?!" she cried out, jogging over to him.
"Tch, you have a lot of fallen feeble branches," Levi told her as she reached him. "It wasn't particularly challenging."
"I suppose it wouldn't be for you," Amelia remarked as she stepped in to take the basket from him but he turned it away from her.
"Just get the door, brat," he grumbled. "I can manage the rest of the way."
Once again, her cheeks coloured but she slipped past him and unlocked the house, opening the door for him. He carried everything swiftly inside. Lingering by the door, she heard him place the basket and then the axe down. He appeared in the doorway with a small huff.
"Thank you so much," she told him.
"Tch. It was nothing." He answered, descending the porch steps. "That should keep you going until your father next visits," he remarked as he walked towards his horse.
"I can do it myself," Aurelia chuckled. "I've managed quite well before."
"I'm not doubting your capabilities," Levi answered, as he removed the blanket from his horse and ran a hand gently across the stallion's back. "I'm giving you one less task to do." He folded the material up and carried it back to her. "I don't want your product getting shitty because you're wearing yourself out."
"Okay," Aurelia fought back another laugh. If that's your excuse, so be it. He raised the blanket towards her and she took it from him. "Thank you," she added.
"… you've said," he answered quietly, as he turned back towards the cart.
"I'm not talking about the firewood," Aurelia remarked as she walked along the porch, lining herself up with the soldier as he climbed onto the bench of the cart. "I mean… thank you for everything the scouts do," she told him, leaning her arms on the railing.
He kept his eyes on the horse as he gathered the reins. He didn't speak for so long that she wondered if he'd even heard her, or if he was just ignoring the thanks. His expression was as grim as ever.
Did I annoy him?
"You mean die?" he finally spoke. "That's really all we do for humanity. We might hold a supply base for a while but eventually those shitty titans trample over it with their fat-ass feet and joke of coordination." His eyes shifted to peer round at her briefly. "Sure you want to thank us for that?"
"You're always trying," Aurelia reminded him. "And I don't believe it'll always be like this," she added.
Levi made a noise so small she could barely distinguish it. "Must be nice being so naive," he commented, flicking the reins. With a jolt, the cart began to roll away.