The Humanity's Strongest & The Graceful

Wave of Emotions

A/N: This song was the inspiration for the conversation between Tessa and Levi, also, at what Levi is thinking as he looks at her. This chapter is where the softer side of Levi comes out. Please enjoy it.

Levi's POV:

As I listen to the shower come on from the other side of the bathroom door, I lay there wondering about the conversation I overheard between Hange and Tessa. I was already in the room before Tessa got back from training and was asleep with my migraine finally gone, only to wake up to Hange's loud voice outside Tessa's office door. I groaned because I finally got rid of the migraine, and I wasn't ready to have another one, especially with Hange's loud voice. As I left the bed to walk over to the bedroom door to tell her to keep it down, I stopped when I heard Tessa crying. 'Why is Tessa crying? What happened in the past few hours since I last saw her?' I had asked myself. At first, I thought it was because I had broken another promise to her and started to blame myself. While I heard her soft, muffled cries on the other side of the door, I leaned against the cemented wall, wondering what I could do before she saw me in our room. My hand hovered over the door handle, only for me to freeze again when Tessa finally spoke.

"It's stupid...," Tessa had said, "I don't know why I'm acting like this." She had explained, and then I heard Hange's voice. "Please, don't tell me Shorty said something stupid?" Hange asked, and I rolled my eyes because she would resort to that. As I try to grab the door handle again, Tessa's voice stops me, "No, no. He's perfect. He's done nothing wrong." She reassured Hange, which made me smile and lower my hand again. I did raise my brow, wondering why Tessa was saying very little, especially to her closest friend. Besides me, Hange knows how Tessa is when it comes to protecting her emotions. It seemed Kip knew I was there because I would hear him whine anytime I reached for the handle. I stayed leaning against the wall and listened to the rest of the conversation before returning to the bed as I heard Tessa lock the office door and walk across the room to blow out the candles. As I lie still, I hear Kip's paws against the floor, with Tessa's boots followed then I see the bathroom door close.

Now, I lay here and wait for her to come to bed to see what is on her mind. My hand rustles my raven hair as I look up at the ceiling and mentally kick myself for not noticing the signs of Tessa's facade. Usually, I can figure out when she does it, but this time she had everyone fooled, maybe even herself. She's gotten better at it over the past few years to know how to hide it better. Tessa is used to being the hope and light for everyone, and she never has anyone be it for her, nor does anyone notice when she's had enough and is tired. I wonder the question of hers myself. When will it be enough to get back the normality in the world? When will it be enough to make the countless nightmares of the numerous deaths fade away? Not even I had the answer to those questions, and I wish I did because I could give Tessa some peace of mind. My racing thoughts go silent as I hear the shower finally cut off, and then Kip walks to the bathroom door to wait for Tessa, just as I am. I watch the bathroom door open to see Tessa step out in her silk robe as she dries her hair with a towel while walking over to our dresser. I listen to her hum the same lullaby I hear every night whenever my own nightmares plague me. 'She still must be unaware that I'm awake and in the room.' I thought as her soft hums filled the room. I wanted to move and go to her side, yet I couldn't look away from her. Suddenly I hear a wooden drawer open, and I snap out of my trance.

While Tessa searches the drawer, I quietly leave our bed to join her side. She continues humming as I walk up behind her to wrap my arms around her waist. I feel Tessa jump in my embrace, and I smile, "You sound beautiful, my love." I whisper before I kiss her temple. Tessa rests her damp head on my bare shoulder and sighs, "Thank you, sweetheart. I should've known you would arrive as I got out of the shower." She says. I bite my lip while I rest my head against hers, "Actually, I've been in here all day." I correct her. I watch Tessa turn around in my arms, "Wait. What?" She asks, and I nod, "After you left, I came back here because I knew I would get more peace here than in my office. Not to mention, those files were getting on my nerves." I explain. Tessa closes her eyes and bites her lip when she realizes I heard the conversation with Hange. She pinches the bridge of her nose, "So, you-you have been here, which means you heard-" She goes to say, but I interrupt her, "Heard the whole discussion with Four-Eyes? Yes, I heard everything, Tess." I finish, and she nods before looking away.