Tea Cups

A Love Story in Cups of Tea

A/N: Whew. I'm back after a long hiatus from FF, and I've come with a Romance. OOH. And yes, it is Allen X Lenalee...

He drinks tea every morning, instead of coffee. It was a habit picked up in England with Mana, he tells her. She notices that he uses the cup that was given to him, and keeps it in immaculate condition. He never makes a mention of it, though, and neither does she.

Today he has English Breakfast Tea. When she tells this to him, he laughs and says, "Only you, Lenalee...only you would see that." She doesn't mention that she's seen him with generic "Red Tea" every day, and that this the first time he's deviated.

Next to come is Earl Grey. He needs the caffeine, he says, and she can't help but agree. He's been looking haggard around the edges, and the Inspector constantly watching him like a hawk doesn't help any. Still, the smell of bergamot fits him, and only adds to the gentlemanly persona he has crafted. Of course, she doesn't tell him any of this.

The day after that he gets coffee. It is black, and without sugar or milk. He clenches the cup like it's a lifeline, and his face seems perpetually clouded. "Cross died," he whispers as she runs over to find out what's bothering him.

"I know."

They sit in silence together, and for now, it is enough.

She'll never tell him that she snuck into the room at the same time that he did, and she'll never tell anyone that she saw him cry.

He seems happier the next day, and gets Chamomile. "For the nightmares," he says, with that mild smile on his face. She thinks she might hate that smile a bit, but that vanishes when he leans close to her and softly says, "Thank you."

And she'll never tell him that she fell in love with him at that very moment.

There is Green Tea next. It seems funny because he usually doesn't stray from the English teas. When asked, he replies, "You might've inspired me a bit. And what's with the interest in my tea drinking habit?"

Nothing at all, she replies, and walks away with a secret smile on her face.

She will never tell him that she likes the fact that he drinks Green Tea over his English ones.

When she kisses him, he had Jasmine. It was a sudden and spontaneous thing, and happened faster than both of them could process. When he doesn't respond, she pulls back, hurt.

And then he kisses her again.

"Moron...did you think I didn't like you?" he says. And this once, she knows it's true.

There is the taste of jasmine in his mouth and a stupid grin on his face, and maybe this once, she can tell him that she loves him.

A/N: Whee. So.. did you like it? Clicky that review button to say so, for a review whore am I.