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

Chapter 20: Community Day

The tea shop stood quiet, its doors shut for the day. A simple sign hung on the door, reading Closed. Levi stood outside, his crutch resting against the doorframe as he observed Gabi and Falco loading a cart with boxes of food, toys, and small bags of candy. Onyankopon and Yelena were nearby, organizing other supplies with practiced ease, their calm efficiency a sharp contrast to Gabi's frenetic energy.

"Careful with that!" Levi barked as Gabi nearly toppled a stack of candy boxes.

"It's fine!" Gabi replied, waving him off. "I've got this!"

"You said that last time," Falco muttered, stepping in to steady the wobbling tower. "And then the candy ended up all over the floor."

"That was an accident," Gabi said, shooting him a glare. "Besides, the kids loved it."

"They loved eating floor candy," Levi deadpanned, rubbing his temple. "Great lesson, Gabi."

"Floor candy builds character!" Gabi declared with mock seriousness, grinning as she carefully set the boxes down.

Yelena, watching from the side, raised an eyebrow. "You sure she's not the one in charge of this operation?"

"She'd burn the place down in five minutes," Levi replied, grabbing his coat from the rack. "Let's go before she gets any more ideas."

The street was lively despite the approaching dusk. Children and families had begun to gather in the town square, drawn by the promise of food and joy. This was a tradition-one that Levi and Hange had started as a way to bring hope to a recovering world. Over time, it had grown into a cornerstone of the town's rebuilding efforts, now bolstered by support from the government of Paradis.

"Is that everything?" Levi asked, his voice steady as he watched Gabi struggle to balance a stack of boxes.

"Almost!" Gabi called back, wobbling slightly before Falco rushed in to steady her. "I think we've got enough for everyone."

"You've said that every time, and every time, we run out," Onyankopon teased, stepping forward to take the top box from her stack. "Let's bring extra this time."

Yelena, ever the stoic presence, adjusted her hat and picked up a small bag of toys. "The children always flock to the candies first. Better make sure you have plenty of those."

Gabi grinned. "Already packed an extra box! They love the sweet ones."

"Good," Levi said, grabbing his crutch. "Let's go."

The town square was alive with laughter by the time they arrived. A makeshift canopy had been set up to provide shade, and a long table covered with colorful cloths displayed the food and toys. Children ran around, their excitement infectious, while parents lingered at the edges, their smiles soft and grateful.

Gabi and Falco immediately jumped in, handing out small bags of candy to the younger children. A boy no older than five clutched his bag with wide eyes, his grin stretching ear to ear as he unwrapped a sweet and popped it into his mouth.

"Do you like it?" Gabi asked, crouching down to his level.

The boy nodded enthusiastically. "It's so good! Thank you!"

Gabi ruffled his hair. "There's plenty more where that came from!"

Nearby, Falco was helping an older girl choose a toy from the selection. She hesitated before picking up a small wooden horse, her eyes lighting up as she held it close.

"It's yours," Falco said, smiling. "Take care of it, okay?"

She nodded shyly before running off to show her friends.