Brewed to Perfection: Quiet Tea | LeviHan | Levi Ackerman x Hange Zoe | FalBi

Chapter 3: Unwanted Helpers

The morning after Quiet Tea's chaotic debut dawned too early for Levi, who descended the stairs from his room while the sun barely peeked over the horizon. Armed with a mop and a bucket, he was determined to eradicate every sticky spot on the floor, his mutterings about "irresponsible brats" echoing off the walls. The bell above the door jangled disruptively, slicing through the quiet like a blade.

"Yo, Captain!" Jean's voice boomed, far too cheerful for this ungodly hour. He swaggered in with Connie in tow, each lugging a burlap sack that thudded onto the counter with ominous finality.

Levi didn't bother looking up from his scrubbing. "I thought I told you two to stay away."

"We're here to help!" Connie declared, his grin as wide as the breach in Wall Maria. He dumped his sack on the counter, causing a small cloud of dust.

Levi eyed the sacks with suspicion. "If that's coffee, you can leave."

Jean chuckled, opening his sack to reveal jars of honey, assorted dried fruits, and a loaf of bread. "Relax, Captain Buzzkill. It's all tea-friendly. Thought you might want to expand your menu."

Levi shot them a glare. "I don't need your help."

"Right," Connie scoffed, tearing off a chunk of bread. "Because yesterday went so smoothly."

Jean laughed, picking up a jar of honey. "Yeah, pretty sure the customers loved Gabi's tea spill show. And your charming personality was the cherry on top."

Despite Levi's protests, Jean and Connie made themselves at home. Jean began critiquing the tea menu, handwritten in Levi's meticulous style.

"This is boring," Jean complained, tapping the board. "You need something catchy, like 'Forest Breeze' or 'Marleyan Sunrise.'"

"It's tea, not a carnival attraction," Levi retorted without looking up from his cleaning.

Meanwhile, Connie was already in the kitchen, experimenting with the honey. "Hey, do you think honey goes with green tea?" he called out.

"No," Levi responded flatly.

Ignoring him, Connie added a spoonful of honey to a steaming cup, took a sip, and grimaced. "Tastes like a swamp."

Jean burst out laughing. "Maybe stick to what Levi knows."

"And what's that?" Connie quipped. "Glaring at people until they like his tea?"

Just as Levi was reaching his breaking point, Gabi burst into the shop, dragging Falco behind her. She was carrying a bundle of colorful fabric.

"Captain! Look what I made!" she announced, spreading the fabric across the counter. It was a poorly sewn banner that read "The Best Tea in Town-Served by the Legendary Levi Ackerman!" in uneven, bright letters.

Levi stared at the banner, his expression unreadable. "What the hell is that?"

"It's marketing!" Gabi beamed. "People love heroes. They'll flock here if they know you're the one serving."

Falco, looking pained, muttered, "I told her it was a bad idea."

"It is," Levi agreed, flatly. "Take it down."

"No way!" Gabi protested, already heading for the door with the banner. "This is going up outside."

At that moment, Levi's attention was briefly diverted by an envelope propped up against the cash register-Hange's handwriting recognizable even from a distance. He opened the letter, scanning the contents as Gabi and Jean argued about the banner. Hange's words were a mix of teasing and updates on her travels, her tone light but filled with longing for the simple comforts of the tea shop. "Hope the chaos is manageable. Remember, tea is patience," she wrote, her humor providing a momentary reprieve from the morning's frustrations.

Jean snatched the banner, chuckling. "She's got a point, Levi. This place could use all the help it can get."

Connie grinned, leaning over the counter. "I'd come here just to meet the great Levi Ackerman. You'd scare off the Titans of bad tea."

Levi grabbed the banner back and shoved it into a drawer. "If anyone puts this up, I'll personally kick them out."

Their bickering was interrupted by the door swinging open to reveal a man in a crisp apron with an air of self-importance. "Ah, the new tea shop," he said, scanning the interior with a smug smile. "I'm Oliver, owner of the Golden Brew Café down the street."

Levi's eyes narrowed. "And?"

Oliver's smile widened. "Just wanted to see the competition. Healthy competition is good for business, after all."

Jean leaned back, smirking. "You sound worried."

"Not in the slightest," Oliver retorted, his tone dripping disdain. "But if you need tips on running a proper business, my door is always open."

Levi's glare intensified. "Get out."

With a laugh and a mock salute, Oliver departed, leaving a tense silence behind.

"Well, that guy sucks," Connie declared. "You think he's scared of us? We should challenge him to a tea-off."

"Yeah," Jean added with mock bravado. "Show him what happens when he messes with the Ackerman tea empire."

The idea lingered after Oliver's departure, hanging in the air like the scent of freshly brewed tea. That evening, as they sat around the shop discussing the day, Onyankopon broached the subject again.

"He's got a point," Onyankopon mused. "Competition is tough. Maybe you need something special to stand out."

Jean perked up. "Like a signature blend! Or a special dish."

Connie nodded enthusiastically. "Or a challenge. Show the town who's got the best brews."

Levi groaned, rubbing his temples. "This isn't a competition."

"But it could be," Gabi piped up, eyes gleaming. "Let's do a tea-off! We'll crush that guy."

Falco, ever cautious, frowned. "Wouldn't that just cause more trouble?"

Levi sighed, staring at the three of them. "If this turns into a circus, I'm kicking you all out."

But as he watched their whispered plans and mischievous grins, he had the sinking feeling that the circus had already arrived.