Chapter Text
It’s early morning, the sun peeking up from the horizon and spreading beautiful orange rays across the town of Trost. The air is still heavy with moisture and the streets are empty, void of the crowded population. Only the merchants of the town are up and about, getting ready for yet another day of selling to the townspeople.
The same goes for Erwin Smith, who feeds Moblit’s horse with a carrot. He smiles, dragging his hand across its brown, long face, and thanks the animal for the upcoming work it has to face. Dragging a wagon filled with tea and themselves cannot be easy.
“Thank Moblit, not the horse!” Hanji laughs from the entrance of their store, Trost's tea shop. “He’s the one selling the damn tea, isn’t he?”
“B-Boss,” Moblit flusters, whipping his forehead after loading the last bag of tea to the wagon attached to the horse. “I’m just doing the rounds like always, there is no need to…”
“Of course, I’m deeply thankful for Moblit’s help,” Erwin says, turning towards the younger boy who stands straighter. “And like always, I’ll buy him supper as a thanks for his hard work.”
“That’s not fair,” Hanji shouts, crossing their arms in frustration. “You’ve never bought me any food!”
“Well,” Erwin smiles, turning towards his business partner. “That’s because you’re neither Moblit nor a horse.” Hanji laughs and Erwin turns to the seller. “Prepare the last and let’s leave at once.”
There has always been a high and stable demand for tea in the city of Trost, something that Erwin managed to exploit to his advantage three years ago. It started with a business trip within the walls of Sina when Erwin had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful cup of tea with the taste of citrus and lemongrass. Being the businessman that he is, thoughts began to grow around business ideas and how he could expand said ideas to the city of Trost where he lived.
Together with his work partner Hanji Zoe, the two decided at the young age of 26 to explore the world to find the right suppliers who would deliver the best teas. With that, the two opened their shop which is now famous in Trost for its wide, quality assortment.
For Erwin, it didn’t stop there. He began to wonder how they could continue to grow their market when the idea suddenly hit him; widen the market demographics. As much as the townspeople enjoyed a cup of tea, so would the farmers and villagers who lived in the countryside. However, they didn’t have access to the tea shop on a daily basis.
When the businessman presented the idea of going door-to-door in the rural areas to Hanji, they screamed in excitement, eyes turning into literal money signs. “That's marvellous, Erwin! As expected of an Alpha to come up with such ideas.”
So their seller, Moblit, would travel once in a month through the countryside and sell tea to the farmers and villagers closest to Trost between Wall Rose and Maria. The trip starts early in the morning and ends in the evening before the sun sets, as Moblit is a fast and ambiguous boy. He usually travels alone but today, Erwin wants to join.
If the owner builds a meaningless relationship with the customers, they will feel seen and therefore be more loyal to the business. It's purely for business that Erwin decides to come, yet the Alpha notices how nervous the boy is working with his boss right next to him.
Moblit is an impressive seller. They rode an hour outside of Trost where fields of grass cover the landscapes as far as the eyes can see before they reach their first customer. It’s an old man tending his several cows who laughs heartily at the sight of Moblit as if they are long-lost friends. The boy is respectful and listens to the old man's stories while selling him two bags of black tea.
One hour later they reach a secluded cabin inhabited by a young woman. Mobilt flirts with the lady who blushes and flutters with her words, then buys a big bag of green tea and will buy more only if Moblit promises to come back next month too. The boy blushes violently when Erwin smiles, mumbling about the arts of retailing, and the walk back to the horse is awkward.
An hour after that, they reach an inn secluded a bit into the woods and the owners talk with Moblit as if they’re old friends. They barely care to greet Erwin, who has been mostly quiet the whole trip but surprisingly satisfied either way. Moblit sells them seven bags of each sort, everything from herbal to oolong.
“I’m deeply impressed,” Erwin smiles during their quiet ride back home. “You're a marvelous seller.”
Moblit blushes, clearly happy by his boss’ positive feedback. “I couldn’t have done it without my Bosses.”
“Who are the next customers?”
“Oh dear. It’s the Ackerman’s…” Erwin raises an eyebrow by the heavy sigh that follows and the boy clears his throat then chuckles uncomfortably. “Mr. Ackerman is a bit… unique. I once woke him up when I arrived a bit after sunrise to sell and the man threw an empty bottle at me in rage. I’ve made sure to come a bit later in the days since then. He buys plenty.”
Erwin hums, leaning back. There have always been troublesome customers which need to be handled effectively. Simply put, those customers have to purchase enough to compensate for the bother, otherwise, it isn’t worth the resources. If Moblit says that Mr. Ackerman purchases plenty, then they will have to deal with the man like any other. Bother or not.
The horse stops when they’re faced with a precious, nurtured piece of land with a big wooden house in the center of it. There is a garden with rows of vegetables growing and a coop for chickens who are freely walking around the land. Besides the wooden house seems to be some sort of workshop, but Erwin’s eyes are stuck on the porch of the house.
There is a young woman with long raven hair sitting on a worn-out sofa, eyes focused on the needle threading through a black shirt. The woman is quite a beauty, with big eyes and a cute tongue sticking out in concentration. The horse’s neigh catches her attention and she looks up to see Moblit waving from the wagon.
“Moblit!” The woman stands, throwing the shirt on the sofa and clasping her hands together, grey eyes sparkling in excitement. “How lovely to see you! Let me fetch my brother.”
“Oh boy,” Moblit sighs under his breath after the woman hurries inside the wooden house and Erwin suspects that the brother is the infamous Mr. Ackerman. They jump off the carriage, ready to present the tea. Moblit spread them out, one after the other to properly present the newest taste and variations as he mumbles under his breath. “If only the brother was as generous as the sister…”
“Well, well. If it isn’t Tea Boy who joins us this wonderful evening," a voice shouts from the porch and both turn to the source. Leaning on the banister is a tall middle-aged man with slicked-back hair hiding under a worn-out hat. He’s dressed in riding gear, a big contrast next to Erwins and Moblit's tuxedo, and a cigarette hanging between his lips pulled in a smirk. The Alpha can recognize this kind immediately; he’s seen that clever and smug behavior in many politicians inside the wall of Sina. Of men who wouldn’t hesitate to steal a coin from a child. The only difference is that Mr. Ackerman doesn’t have the benefit of power or position.
“Hello, Mr. Ackerman,” Moblit smiles, clearly forced, but Mr. Ackerman immediately throws a glare at the blonde man. Erwin sees how the man inhales, nose curling in disgust by Alpha pheromones and just as he’s about to snarl out who he is, a feminine voice comes from the house.
“Kenny, let Levi pick a flavor! Go on now, pup, go to your uncle.”
Out of the wooden house comes a boy, balancing against the threshold to put on some worn-out slippers, then hurrying down the steps down the porch. The boy's small eyes, as grey as his mother's, look up through the raven slings of hair covering his eyes and for a second, they land on the blonde man.
Erwin feels his world freeze into ice and his body burns up in flames.
Something possesses the blonde, enhancing him in a way he has only read in books. Praying to the gods that his knees wouldn't give in at the sight of the most beautiful Omega that he’d ever seen. The smell of the boy, the soft pheromones that the wind carries and serves to Erwin on a silver plate has him blinded by a deep sense of want.
The boy, Levi, is young. He has a petite body, not fully grown yet, and skin as fair as the ivory petals of a white rose. He has black hair and grey eyes like the dark clouds hovering over Trost during the autumn. On his body is a big shirt that comes to his thighs, short enough to expose knees so delicate it would fit Erwin’s palm.
Mr. Ackerman groans, scratching his forehead. “Get over here, boy!”
Levi clicks his tongue bothered but even the crease on his nose bridge is enough for Erwin's cock to stiffen. He walks up the wagon to the presented teas lined up. Moblit smiles at the young boy, greeting him, and Levi greets back with a mumble. Erwin hasn’t stopped staring, his eyes stuck on the Omega who has barely acknowledged him.
Levi picks up a bag of tea and Erwin's hands turn into fists when his neck is suddenly exposed. Delicate, beautiful skin. Tasty enough to lick, soft enough to bite, deep enough to claim-
The boy suddenly grunts when Kenny pushes his head down in a forced bow and Erwin is awoken from his dangerous daydreaming.
“You rascal, greet properly! Say hello to Tea Boy and…” Kenny scrunches his nose at Erwin and the Alpha smiles half-heartedly. Bastard.
“Erwin Smith.”
“And who are you?”
“I’m the owner of Trost's tea shop. I import tea from outside Paradis, the best quality for my customers.”
Levi looks up with a sparkle in his eyes, even with a hand pushing down his head, clearly interested. Blue meets gray and those innocent eyes warn the blonde that this Omega may be too young.
“You’ve been outside Trost?”
Erwin's dick turns harder, either way. His voice, so soft and silky, dances in his eardrums, and images of licking the boy’s tongue fill his head. “Yes, I’ve been all over the world.”
Levi reminds him of a puppy, tail wiggling behind him at the aspect of exploring the world outside of the wooden house, but Mr. Ackerman pushes him towards the wagon.
“Come on boy, hurry up and pick some.” Kenny sighs and Levi seems to swear under his breath, picking up the bags again.
“Is Mr. Levi your nephew?” Moblit asks in an attempt to make some small talk and clear the awkwardness between the bored Mr. Ackerman who’s busy lightening up the cigarette between his lips and themselves. It’s also a strategic way of connecting and building relationships with customers, but Erwin is more interested in knowing the Omega’s family connections rather than business.
Kenny hums in confirmation, sighing loudly and dramatically. “My sister met some trash Alpha who marked and pupped her before he left. Just the three of us in this humble house now.”
The mother is an Omega too, which isn’t surprising. Omega’s is rumoured to be more beautiful than average and she is no expectation. Erwin didn’t scent any pheromones from the woman, but if she’s marked then it explains it. The only smell that fills his nose is Levi’s. It’s an unexplainable force, the scent he spreads around like pollen. It’s a mixture of lemon and the fresh smell of grass. Like lemonade on a rainy summer night. It fills his lungs and goes straight to his heart, and shamefully, his cock.
As if punishing the seller for asking a simple question, Kenny proceeds to ask if Moblit has a lover. The boy blushes violently, shaking his head but Mr. Ackerman continues probing in a best attempt to be a bother. While the two bicker, Erwin slowly moves toward the wagon where Levi is busy smelling the different teas. So focused that he flinched at the sound of the Alpha’s voice, not noticing him until he spoke.
“Anything you fancy so far?”
Levi looks up and his small eyes cause the illusion of a spiteful glare. Or it might just be one. Erwin smiles, either way, both his hands in his pockets in a carefree manner. It also prevents him from touching the boy. Standing next to Levi, the height difference is more prominent and it reminds the blonde once again of the age difference as well. The boy only reaches to his pecs.
“...I like this one.”
“Ah, Jasmine green tea." Erwin tilts his head. “I took a six-month trip to China in order to have one sip of this fine taste. I’m glad I brought some to Trost, knowing that it is to your liking.”
Levi’s eyes lit up again, just as the blonde predicted. But it’s also accompanied with a bit of rose color on his cheeks. Erwin recognize the look, seen it before, and identified it as admiration. He’s a businessman who uses carefully calculated words in a soft manner, has styled blonde hair, and wears expensive suits. People look up to him, especially the younger ones.
However, Erwin knows that the blush across the Omega’s face isn’t admiration but something else. Flattered; the boy is flattered by those simple words he’s probably never heard before from someone else's mouth besides his mother's.
Oh, how would he react to the words that occupy Erwin’s head when meeting the Omega's eyes?
“I’m quite curious; do tell me why a young boy such as yourself fancy tea so much?” Erwin asks because he wants to know his age.
Levi grunts, lowering his gaze in annoyance. “I’m not young; I’m ‘bout to be sixteen.”
Sixteen. That’s alright. A ten-year gap isn’t the worst; Erwin knows plenty of couples with far worse.
“Oh, when?”
“Next week.”
Erwin smiles. “How lovely.”
Mr. Ackerman interrupts their conversation, telling the Omega to hurry and Levi glares daggers at his uncle. He picks the Jasmine green tea and Moblit insists that they take off before the sun goes down and darkens the path back to Trost. Mr and Ms. Ackerman wave them farewell, Levi long gone. He had hurried up the porch with the teabag pressed to his chest, throwing the slippers off his feet before running inside the wooden house.
Even when they’re sitting in the wagon again, the calming sound of hooves clip-clopping in the background, Erwin hasn’t stopped thinking about the Omega. His soft, dark hair, the cloudy grey eyes, and the petite frame that the Alpha wants to have a taste of. No, not want. He needs it .
“Sir, we will be back just in time before it gets dark,” Moblit ensures. “No need to worry.”
Erwin doesn’t understand why the seller tries calming him before the blonde sees his knee bouncing in place. Moblit must mistake it for nervousness when it’s in fact impatience that has Erwin restless.