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

Chapter 7: A Little Experiment

Morning sunlight filtered through the dense trees outside Ayoluwa, casting golden light on the dirt path where Gabi marched ahead with determination. Falco trailed behind, his eyes darting nervously to the shadows as if Titans might reappear.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Falco asked, gripping the strap of his bag. "Levi said to stay close to the shop."

"Relax," Gabi replied, crouching by a bush. She reached down, plucking a cluster of small, jagged green leaves and holding them up triumphantly. "Look at this!"

Falco frowned. "Leaves?"

"They're not just leaves," Gabi shot back, shoving them into her bag. "These are tea ingredients! Or at least, they will be."

Falco looked dubious. "That doesn't look like anything Levi uses."

"Exactly," Gabi said, flashing a grin. "It's new. Exotic. We're going to revolutionize Quiet Tea."

Falco's expression darkened with dread. "You're not seriously thinking of-"

"Of course I am!" Gabi interrupted, already heading back toward town. "He'll thank me when the customers love it."

The bell above Quiet Tea's door jingled as Gabi and Falco slipped inside. The shop was quiet, save for the soft murmur of customers enjoying their tea. Levi stood behind the counter, meticulously polishing teapots with the intensity of someone who'd rather be polishing knives. Onyankopon restocked the shelves, humming a low tune.

"You're late," Levi said without looking up. "Where were you?"

"Exploring," Gabi replied casually, slipping past him with her bag hugged close to her chest.

Levi's eyes narrowed. "Exploring what?"

"Uh, nature!" Gabi called over her shoulder, disappearing into the kitchen.

Falco froze under Levi's scrutiny, gripping his broom like it might shield him from interrogation. Levi's gaze lingered for a moment, then shifted back to his teapots.

In the kitchen, Gabi unpacked her haul of wild leaves, grinding them into a fine powder with a small mortar and pestle. She added a pinch of the powder to a jar of Levi's signature black tea blend and shook it gently.

"There," she whispered, grinning. "A little improvement. He'll never know."

That afternoon, the shop saw its usual flow of customers. Levi served them with his trademark combination of precision and indifference, noting nothing out of the ordinary-until Marta, a regular, took a sip of her tea.

The older woman paused, her brow furrowing. "Hmm."

"What?" Levi asked, his tone flat.

"Did you change the recipe?" Marta asked, taking another sip. "It tastes...different. Richer, maybe. It's good."

Levi frowned. "No."

"It's better than usual," Marta continued. "Almost feels rejuvenating."

Levi's frown deepened. He turned to Falco, who was nervously rearranging chairs.

"You," Levi barked. "Did you touch the tea?"

"No!" Falco squeaked. "I mean, not really."

"Not really?" Levi's gaze was sharp enough to cut steel.

Before Falco could dig himself a deeper hole, Gabi swooped in, her smile all innocence. "Falco's been sweeping all day. Maybe the tea tastes better because you're finally improving your brewing skills, Levi."

Levi stared at her, unimpressed, but said nothing more.

As the day wore on, more customers commented on the tea's "new flavor." Some described it as earthy and smooth; others claimed it made them feel "refreshed." Levi dismissed their comments as overthinking, but Gabi was practically vibrating with excitement.

"See? It's working," she whispered to Falco as they wiped down tables. "They love it!"

Falco glanced nervously at Levi, who was now organizing jars behind the counter. "What if he finds out?"

"He won't," Gabi said confidently. "And even if he does, he'll thank me when the shop's packed with customers."

Falco groaned, muttering, "We're all going to die."

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the shop emptied out, Levi leaned on the counter, watching Gabi and Falco finish their chores. Something still felt...off. The customers' comments about the tea lingered in his mind, an itch he couldn't scratch.

"Gabi," he said suddenly, his tone sharp.

She froze mid-step. "Yeah?"

"Stay out of the kitchen tomorrow."

Gabi forced an awkward smile. "Of course, Levi! No problem."

Levi's eyes narrowed, but he didn't press further. Behind him, Gabi turned to Falco and whispered triumphantly, "See? Totally fine."

Falco buried his face in his hands. "This is going to blow up in our faces."