The Humanity's Strongest & The Graceful

Ilse's Notebook

A Few Moments Later

Levi's POV:

After we joined the rest of the Regiment, Erwin pulled Hange into a meeting while everyone else went to their assigned jobs. The Special Operations and I waited outside the tent and listened to Hange screaming at Erwin, but to my speculation, everyone could hear her. Tessa remained silent and annoyed as she looked over the notes and supplies. I assume it was to keep her frustration at bay, yet the tapping of her pen or tightened grip said otherwise. I watched Kip nudge her leg, but Tessa didn't acknowledge it like usual, which now worries me. As I walk over to her, Kip whines before joining my side and nudging my hand, and I know he's concerned too, "Tess," I whisper, which makes her look at me, "Are you okay?" I ask, and Tessa sighs before running a hand through her ebony-colored hair, "I honestly don't know because I'm frustrated with Zoe, but then I'm frustrated with myself because she is right. We need to find out the truth of the Titans, but diving headfirst without a plan is suicide." She confesses before throwing the pen on the paperwork. Before Tessa can say any more, we hear a commotion inside the tent where Erwin and Hange are and turn around to listen.

Hange slams her hands on the table, "Dammit, Erwin! I understand this mission is to set up a new supply cache, Erwin!" Hange yells, "But the mission for the Scouts is to uncover the truth about the Titans!" She argues, but Erwin remains silent. Hange shakes her head, "Surely you can understand without me having to shout it at you!" Hange snaps, yet Erwin is still quiet.

I see Tessa rubbing her temples and sighs, "I swear Hange won't give this up." She mutters, and I click my tongue, "She's going have to because, as you said, Tess, it's suicide." I remind her as we walk to our horses. Tessa shakes her head as she puts the paperwork in her bag and sighs again, "And let me guess, it's up to me to convince her to let it go?" She questions while tilting her head at me, and I smirk, "Out of everyone here, Four-Eyes listens to you the best." I answer while climbing onto Shadow. Tessa clicks her tongue while following me, "Are you forgetting what happened an hour ago?" She questions, but I don't answer her, "We lost ten Scouts because we had to chase after Zoe." She reminds me, and I nod, "I know, Tess, but you are the only one she listens to." I repeat, and Tessa sighs, "I'm not the only one, you know," She says, and I look at her and raise my brow, "She listens to you too, Levi. I'm just less abrasive than you." She teases before winking at me and leading us to where Eld and Gunther are waiting for us.

While Tessa, Eld, Gunther, Kip, and I look ahead for any sign of more Titans, we can still hear Hange screaming, and Gunther sighs, "Section-Commander Hange has a set of pipes on her, doesn't she, Captain Tessa?" He questions, and Tessa chuckles, "Trust me, I know. You're lucky not to hear her scream because that will deafen you like the sound grenades for the Titans." She remarks, which causes me lightly smirk in amusement. I turn my attention to Eld, looking through the telescope, "Any sign of Titans, Eld?" I ask, and Eld shakes his head while looking through the spyglass, "Not at the moment, sir, but we will be ready." He answers, to which Tessa and I nod, "Good. Keep it up." I order, to which Eld and Gunther nod. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tessa raise her head to see Erwin leaving the tent with Hange and Moblit following him out. Tessa bites her lip, knowing that Erwin refused the proposal again, and turns back to face the others, "Erwin refused it again." She reveals while shaking her head.

Before Tessa leaves to check on Hange, she sees Kip's ears perk up in a direction and then meets my gaze. Without saying anything, Tessa and I share a look before Tessa turns her attention back to Kip, "Kip, scout." She orders. We watch Kip leave our sides and hear a low growl coming from him as he faces the direction of where he senses something, and I watch his stance shift into a protective one, which means there's a Titan nearby. Before Tessa or I can ask him about what he's found, we hear someone shoot a flare. We turned around to see it was red and by Miche, "Titan! In the trees!" He informs, which makes everyone pause as they wait for the orders. While Erwin calls out the order, Hange gets on her horse and runs toward where Kip and Miche sensed the Titan, "Bye, Erwin! I'll be back with a prisoner!" She squeals, and Tessa's eyes widen, "Not again!" She groans before chasing after her. Erwin turns to face me, "Levi-" He goes to say, but I click my tongue, "Tch. That idiot!" I grumble, "Special Ops, let's go!" I order while chasing after the two women.