Chapter Text
It was early into your relationship with Levi, you were still a bit conscious around him about yourself. It got worse when you visited his impossibly clean apartment.
His shoes were neatly stacked on a shoe shelf outside, and inside the furniture was a bit boring to you but definitely practical.
A beige couch, which looked like it never knew what a stain was, and a table with a few books.
It would be a nightmare if he came to your house instead, you thought of the state of your well loved couch, with a a few seams loose on the edge. You didn't really mind because it was comfy.
What you didn't know was that Levi had tidied up for you, he didn't want you to come to his home for the first time without it being spotless, not that it wasn't already. He just wanted you to feel happy there, and he also took out some of his best tea for you both to drink. A warm, comforting blend he thought you'd like.
He set the steaming cups in front of you. Behind his usual, stoic expression he was hoping you'd like the tea.
You were a bit nervous, knees clasped together as you sat, trying your best not to spill, you sipped the tea carefully, only to burn your tongue.
But you couldn't really let him see how out of place you felt so you tried to smile through the pain.
Levi on the other hand mistook your expression and thought you didn't like the tea. Yet you still pretended to like it for his sake.
"Your apartment is really neat."
You said, carefully holding the cup, hoping you won't spill.
He took a sip and hummed.
"Thanks"
After you drank the tea, which he noticed you drank the entire cup, you were about to take it to the sink when he took it from your hand gently.
"I've got it."
Which was his way of being a gentleman, but you only saw it under a lens of nervousness and that he didn't like you poking around his kitchen.
As he leaned forward to pick the cups you noticed he smelled faintly of pine and tea leaves.
You grew conscious, did you use too much perfume? Or did you smell?
You took out a box from your bag. They were pastries from the bakery where the two of you used to go on dates. His favorite ones were the little choux pastries stuffed with vanilla custard, not too sweet.
He was pleasantly surprised, how thoughtful of you.
"You didn't have to."
He said but still reached for one.
"They’re your favorite."
"I don't like the overly sweet desserts."
"It suits you."
His lips curved up into an almost smile as he ate his pastry.
"You aren't talking my ear off today."
"I'm just... thinking"
"Overthinking"
Your eyes moved away from his sharp grey ones to the room around you. The simple coat hanger by the door, sparse white walls.
"I feel like.. I'm too messy for you." You blurted out. "I mean you're so put together, your home is spotless."
"What I usually get is this place is boring."
"Oh."
"I don't want you to be like me, I like you because you're different from me."
You thought a bit.
"I guess that makes sense. Also.. I burnt my tongue from the tea, but it was lovely."
"I thought you disliked it."
"Not at all."
"I also, cleaned up a bit more because you were coming."
You smiled softly, reaching out for one of the pastries. They were crisp outside with a sweet center, much like the man in front of you.
"Now that that's out of my mind, would you like to know what happened at work last week?"
He smirked. It was sort of endearing, the way you spoke freely. He looked forward to this.
"Let me guess, more drama?"
"Like you wouldn't believe."
"I'll get more tea, be careful with your tongue this time."