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

Chapter 12: A New Blend

The morning after the tea-tasting event, Quiet Tea settled into a steady rhythm. Customers trickled in, enjoying their tea with a calm contentment that contrasted the chaos of the past weeks. Levi leaned on his crutch behind the counter, observing the space with a rare sense of quiet pride. Everything was in its place, from the freshly arranged tea tins to the polished tables.

"Not bad," Onyankopon remarked, balancing a tray of clean teapots as he passed by. "The tasting event worked. You've got a loyal crowd now."

Levi grunted, his standard reply for anything resembling praise. "People like free stuff."

Onyankopon chuckled. "They stayed for the tea, Levi. Admit it-you're good at this."

Levi didn't argue, but his focus shifted to a small tin on the counter. It was the new blend he'd perfected over the past few days, simple yet balanced: smoky black tea with a faint herbal finish. It wasn't flashy, but it didn't need to be.

The door jingled as Gabi and Falco entered, wheeling Levi's chair inside despite his earlier protests. Gabi bounded to the counter with her trademark energy.

"We're famous!" she declared. "People can't stop talking about Quiet Tea."

Falco followed with a more cautious smile. "A lot of them liked the new blend. Some even asked if it would be a regular."

Levi glanced at the tin on the counter, his expression impassive. "Maybe."

Gabi grabbed the tin, turning it over in her hands. "You have to name it! It's your blend."

Levi frowned. "Why? It's just tea."

"Because it's your tea," Gabi insisted. "It deserves a name. Something strong, like... Resilience Brew!"

Onyankopon nodded approvingly. "I like it. It fits."

Falco smiled. "Yeah, it's perfect."

Levi muttered something under his breath, but he didn't protest. Gabi grinned, taking his silence as approval.

The bell jingled again, and Armin stepped inside. He carried a small package under his arm and greeted everyone with a soft smile.

"Armin!" Onyankopon called. "Welcome back."

"Good to see you all," Armin replied, setting the package on the counter. "I came to say goodbye. I'm heading back to Paradis tomorrow."

Levi's eyes flicked toward him, his expression unreadable. "How's Paradis?"

"Stable," Armin said, though his tone carried a trace of weariness. "But there's always work to be done. I wanted to stop by before I left. And I brought a gift."

He slid the package toward Levi. "This is for the shop. Or for you. Consider it a thank-you for hosting the event."

Levi opened the package carefully, revealing a set of delicate porcelain teacups. Each one was painted with simple yet elegant designs-mountains, rivers, and blooming flowers. He ran a hand over one of the cups, his gaze lingering on the intricate patterns.

"Fancy," Onyankopon said, leaning over for a closer look.

Gabi leaned over to inspect them. "They're beautiful! Can we use them for Resilience Brew?"

"Don't break them," Levi said sharply, though there was no bite in his tone.

Armin chuckled. "They're sturdy enough. And Annie says tea tastes better in a proper cup."

Levi's brow twitched, but he said nothing. He wasn't particularly interested in hearing about Annie, but he respected Armin enough to let it slide. He suspected there was more between them than they let on, but he wasn't one to pry.

"Tea suits her," Onyankopon said casually, his tone neutral.

Armin smiled softly, adjusting the package. "She's particular about her blends, but I think she'd like this one."

Levi grunted. "If she complains, don't send her here."

Armin laughed. "Noted."

The rest of the day passed in quiet productivity. Customers filtered in and out, leaving with cups of tea and lingering smiles. Gabi and Falco worked diligently to clean and restock, while Onyankopon handled the counter with his usual charm.

As the sun set, the shop emptied, leaving Levi and the others to close up. Onyankopon wiped down the counter while Gabi and Falco stacked chairs and swept the floor.

"You've built something special here, Captain," Onyankopon said, sitting across from Levi with a steaming cup of tea. "It's more than a shop."

Levi sipped his tea, his gaze distant. "It's just tea."

"Maybe," Onyankopon replied. "But it's also a place people feel at home. That matters."

Levi didn't respond, but his focus shifted to Gabi, who was chatting animatedly with Falco as they worked. Her boundless energy, her determination to experiment despite the risks-it reminded him of someone.

Hange's voice echoed faintly in his memory: Tea is patience.

Levi exhaled slowly, setting his cup down. He didn't miss the chaos Hange had often caused, but there were moments like this when her presence felt close, as if her restless spirit had seeped into the walls of the shop-and, perhaps, into the next generation.

As Gabi and Falco finished their tasks, they joined Levi at the table. Gabi grinned, holding up the tin of Resilience Brew. "This is going to put us on the map, Captain."

"Don't ruin it," Levi replied, his tone gruff but lacking its usual edge.

Falco chuckled softly, his voice steady. "We won't."