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

Chapter 11: Small Victory

The morning after the tea shop's ransacking, the air was thick with tension. Levi sat behind the counter, leaning on his crutch as he surveyed the now-clean shop. Gabi and Falco were unusually quiet, stealing nervous glances at him as they wiped tables and restocked shelves.

"Do we just...pretend nothing happened?" Gabi finally asked, breaking the silence.

"We don't pretend," Levi said, his voice calm but cold. "We wait."

Falco hesitated. "For what?"

"For whoever did this to make their next move," Levi replied. "And when they do, we'll be ready."

It didn't take long for the suspected culprit to appear. The bell above the door jingled, and Oliver strolled in, his smirk firmly in place. He looked around the shop, his gaze lingering on the freshly repaired shelves and neatly arranged tables.

"Looks like you've had a rough night," Oliver said, his tone dripping with faux sympathy.

Levi didn't look up from the cup of tea he was brewing. "What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing much," Oliver said, leaning against the counter. "Just checking in. I heard some...interesting rumors about your shop."

Levi's grip on his crutch tightened. "Get to the point."

Oliver chuckled. "People are saying your tea isn't quite as 'magical' as they thought. Some of them even think you've been lying to drum up business."

Gabi slammed her cleaning rag onto the table, glaring at Oliver. "We never lied!"

Oliver raised an eyebrow. "No? Then why is the crowd outside your door getting smaller every day?"

Levi finally looked up, his gaze sharp. "If you've got something to say, say it."

"Fine," Oliver said, straightening. "Consider this a warning. Your little shop's popularity is a fad. It won't last. And when it dies down, don't come crying to me."

Levi's voice was low and steady. "Are you done?"

"For now," Oliver replied, turning toward the door. "Good luck, Captain. You'll need it."

As soon as the door closed, Gabi exploded. "He's such a-"

"Stop," Levi said, cutting her off. "Don't waste your energy on him."

"But he's the one who-"

"We don't know that," Levi interrupted. "And even if we did, we don't fight on his terms."

Falco looked worried. "But what if he spreads more rumors? Or tries to sabotage us again?"

Levi stood, gripping his crutch for support. "Then we prove him wrong. We remind people why they came here in the first place."

Later that afternoon, Levi gathered Gabi, Falco, and Onyankopon around the counter. "If we're going to fix this, we need something big. Something that shows people what this shop is about."

"A special event?" Onyankopon suggested.

"Like what?" Falco asked.

"A tea tasting!" Gabi said, her eyes lighting up. "We can show off all the different blends and let people see how awesome our tea is."

Levi frowned. "It's not a bad idea, but it's not enough. We need to show people why this shop is different."

"Your tea-making skills," Onyankopon said. "People already trust you for that. If we focus on quality and honesty, it'll remind them why they keep coming back."

Levi nodded slowly. "Fine. We'll host a tea tasting. But no gimmicks. Just good tea."

Gabi grinned. "This is going to be amazing!"

"Don't mess it up," Levi said, his tone sharp but lacking its usual bite.

The team spent the next few days preparing for the tea tasting. Gabi and Falco worked tirelessly to decorate the shop, hanging simple banners and setting up small tables for the event. Onyankopon spread the word throughout the town, inviting customers to come and experience Quiet Tea's best blends.

Levi, meanwhile, focused on perfecting the menu. He experimented with new blends, carefully balancing flavors until each cup met his impossibly high standards.

On the day of the event, the shop was packed. Customers filled the tables, chatting excitedly as they sampled the teas. Levi moved from table to table, leaning on his crutch but refusing to let it slow him down.

Toward the end of the evening, Oliver appeared again, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. Levi met his gaze but didn't acknowledge him, instead focusing on a customer who was asking about a new blend.

Finally, Oliver stepped forward. "Impressive turnout," he said, his tone begrudging. "I didn't think you had it in you."

Levi's reply was cool and measured. "I don't need your approval."

Oliver smirked. "Maybe not. But don't get comfortable. Trends fade, Captain."

Levi straightened, gripping his crutch tightly. "This isn't a trend. It's tea. And as long as I'm here, people will keep drinking it."

Oliver studied him for a moment, then nodded. "We'll see."

As the event wound down, the last customers left with smiles on their faces, thanking Levi and the team for a wonderful evening. Gabi and Falco collapsed into chairs, exhausted but proud, while Onyankopon leaned against the counter with a satisfied grin.

"You did good, Captain," Onyankopon said, handing Levi a cup of tea.

Levi sipped the tea, his gaze drifting around the shop. The tables were empty now, but the warmth of the day lingered, filling the space with a quiet satisfaction. "It's a start," he said simply.

Gabi grinned, her energy returning. "We showed him, didn't we?"

Levi didn't respond, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips. The shop had weathered its first storm, and for now, that was enough.