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

Chapter 26: Puppet Show

The tea shop was in its usual state of organized chaos. Gabi and Falco darted around like overly enthusiastic bees, trying their best to keep up with orders while simultaneously competing to see who could stack teacups faster. Levi, standing behind the counter with his ever-present scowl, was busy brewing his signature marlok-infused black tea.

Hange, as always, was at the center of the commotion-this time with a large, suspiciously colorful package she had dragged in from the market earlier that day.

"What...is that?" Levi asked, his tone flat but tinged with dread.

Hange grinned, holding up the package like it was the solution to all of humanity's problems. "It's a little something to liven up the shop!"

Levi's eyebrow twitched. "The shop doesn't need 'livening up.' It's called Quiet Tea for a reason, idiot."

"Oh, come on, Captain," Hange teased. "You can't keep things boring forever! Besides, it's for the kids."

"Which kids?" Levi asked, squinting suspiciously.

Before Hange could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and a group of local children burst into the shop, giggling and chattering excitedly.

Gabi's eyes lit up. "What's going on?"

Hange clapped her hands together. "Perfect timing! Everyone, gather round! We're about to have some fun."

Levi groaned. "Hange..."

But it was too late. She tore open the package, revealing an assortment of brightly colored ribbons, balloons, and what appeared to be a small puppet stage.

"Tea and a puppet show?" Gabi exclaimed, bouncing on her heels. "This is genius!"

"No, this is insane," Levi muttered, crossing his arms.

Despite Levi's protests, Hange set up the puppet stage in record time. She stood behind the tiny curtain, her hands already busy assembling her cast of mismatched puppets.

"Alright, everyone," Hange announced. "Prepare to witness the epic tale of the Tea Titans! Starring Captain Steep, the Tea Guardian, and his trusty sidekick, Leafy!"

Falco leaned over to Gabi, whispering, "Did she just make those names up on the spot?"

"Definitely," Gabi replied, grinning.

Levi stood at the counter, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed. "You realize this is ridiculous."

"Ridiculously fun!" Hange shot back, winking before ducking behind the stage.

The show was, predictably, absolute chaos. Hange's voice changed dramatically with each character-her interpretation of "Captain Steep" sounded suspiciously like Levi, complete with exaggerated grumbling about keeping the tea leaves in line. Leafy, on the other hand, had an uncanny resemblance to Gabi, with high-pitched enthusiasm and a knack for accidentally knocking over tea cups.

The kids howled with laughter, clapping and cheering as Hange performed. Even Gabi and Falco couldn't contain their giggles, though they tried to mask it with mock-serious critiques.

"I don't sound like that!" Gabi protested as Leafy flailed around the stage.

"Oh, but you do!" Hange retorted, popping her head out from behind the curtain to stick her tongue out at Gabi.

At some point, one of the kids tugged on Levi's sleeve. "Mr. Levi, aren't you going to watch?"

"I'm busy," Levi replied gruffly, though his hands weren't actually doing anything productive.

"Come on, Captain," Onyankopon chimed in from a nearby table, where he was sipping tea. "Even you have to admit, it's entertaining."

Levi shot Onyankopon a glare, but the corner of his mouth twitched. Reluctantly, he leaned against the counter, pretending to focus on something else while the laughter continued to fill the shop.

As the puppet show came to a close, Hange stepped out from behind the curtain, arms wide as if expecting a standing ovation. "Thank you, thank you! Tips are appreciated-but only in the form of tea!"

The kids erupted into applause, and even some of the adults who had wandered in joined in. Gabi and Falco took it upon themselves to pass out cookies to the audience, much to everyone's delight.

Levi, however, shook his head. "You're going to scare off the regulars with this nonsense."

"Nonsense?" Hange echoed, feigning offense. "Levi Ackerman, did I just see you smirk during the show?"

"You imagined it," Levi said flatly.

Hange leaned in closer, her grin wide. "Admit it-you liked it."

Levi's response was a curt, "Tch," but the faintest hint of a smile lingered on his face.

As the shop emptied and the kids left with balloons tied to their wrists and cookies in their hands, Gabi flopped onto a chair, her cheeks red from laughing so much.

"That was amazing," she said, grinning at Hange. "You should do this every week!"

"I think the Captain would murder me," Hange replied, glancing at Levi, who was already cleaning up the remnants of the puppet show with an air of exaggerated suffering.

Falco tilted his head. "But the kids loved it. And... you smiled a little, Captain. Didn't you?"

Levi looked at him, his expression as stoic as ever. "Get back to work, Falco."

As the group dissolved into laughter again, Levi shook his head and returned to wiping down the counter. Chaos was inevitable when Hange was involved, but somehow, it never felt out of place.

For a tea shop named Quiet Tea, things were rarely quiet. And strangely enough, Levi wouldn't have it any other way.