The Humanity's Strongest & The Graceful

Instincts

Tessa's POV:

After leaving Erwin's office, Tessa and Levi gave Landon the remaining tour as the rest of the Scouts were still unloading and preparing for the upcoming expedition. Tessa had made mental notes with Landon about what would be discussed once she and Levi returned from patrol. The plan was to meet with Erwin and inform him of the details regarding Landon's future. However, something else weighed heavy on Tessa's mind while watching Levi and Landon look out the windows, admiring the scenery before them. Besides worrying about Landon's well-being as his future guardian, the stress of her role as Humanity's Graceful and yesterday's events overtook her mind. Yet, Tessa knew what she was signing up for when choosing the Scouts, and then accepting the role as a Captain. The work will never cease until the primary mission is over, then she could have a peaceful life with Levi that they never got to have as kids.

The unwavering optimism of the future had led Tessa to where she was now. To some, it might sound silly for a woman like Tessa, who has been around so much death to remain hopeful in the future of ending the Titan onslaught when there's hardly any hope to support it. People possibly have said that Tessa was as crazy as Hange, or she was in denial of the neverending terror to cease, maybe she should settle down and leave the fighting to someone else. Yet, Tessa didn't care or sit idly by because she was taught not to let anyone else fight her battles. This optimism had been her strength since her mother's death to obtaining her medical license, joining the Cadets, then the exhausting year in the MPs, up to the present time when Levi joined the Scouts the following year, remembering the promise she made to him by helping him leave the Underground, regardless it wasn't by her own hands. The memory of Levi, Furlan, and Isabel stepping off the carriage to take in their new home when she saw them from the window as it still felt like yesterday.

"AHH!! Can someone help me out here?!"

The trio stopped in their tracks to search once they heard someone yelling, only to see that it was Section Commander Ness, who was being held against his will by his horse. Tessa exhales a defeated sigh while resting her hand on her hip, "Every fucking time." She mutters while shaking her head. It had become a tradition since Ness was the appointed Section Commander of the recruits because he would give them the base tour before ending it with his horse taking his hat every time. The others had lost count of how many times it's happened because it became an everyday occurrence with Ness and his team. Tessa shook her head while watching Ness call out for someone to help, but the recruits were unsure of moving from their saluted stance, "Ness did it again, Levi." She announces, followed by another defeated sigh. Levi clicks his tongue while joining Tessa's side, "Tch. I swear I think he does it on purpose now with how many times it happens, Tess." He claims with a scrutinized glare at the Section Commander, who is still fighting with his horse.

Landon raises a brow as his eyes bounce from Levi to Tessa before tilting his head, "Isn't he the Section Commander with the white hat?" He asks, and Tessa nods while turning around, "Yeah, that's him, Landon. Why do you ask?" She questions while leaning against the castle wall with her arms crossed. Landon scratches his head before softly chuckling, "Because the same thing happened before we left Trost last night." He explains while tapping his fingers together. The couple shares a glance before shaking their heads in time for Ness's horse to drop the hat on the ground. With the chaos from the stables finally settled, Tessa exhaled a sharp breath, "Landon, are you sure you'll be fine until we return?" She asks, to which Landon nods, "I promise I will, Tessa," He reassures her before grinning, "Besides, Section Commander Hange said I could help her with drills and errands." He reveals, causing Levi and Tessa to share another alarming look, both aware this could go good or bad.

Whether it could be sharing her crazy ideas for titan experiments with Landon or truly helping Landon keep his mind off what happened in Trost, Hange would know what to do. Levi hoped it would be the latter of allowing Landon to help the Scouts since he couldn't due to his compromised immune system, yet his expectations were low since this was Hange they were talking about. The only way for them to know their true intentions is to ask the source themselves. Landon notices his new guardians' concerned faces upon mentioning Hange and her errands, making him tilt his head, wondering why they have those expressions when he remembers how close Tessa and Hange are, "Levi, is everything okay between the two of you with Section Commander Hange?" He timidly asks while fiddling with his fingers.