Tess glanced around the room, she stepped carefully until her eyes finally landed on you—half-sprawled on that small, one eyebrow lifted, and a tired, crooked smile tugged at her lips.

—“Look at you.”—she muttered in that rough, familiar voice.—“You look like shit. You smell like shit… and you’re still somehow attractive. Damn miracle.”

You rolled your eyes without answering,you were her favorite informant, and she knew it. Always bringing fresh word about FEDRA movements, warnings about trouble before anyone else caught wind of it. Always watching her back when she couldn’t. And sometimes... just sometimes... being more than a friend. Sharing silent hours on the rooftop of her building.

—“Got the night free?.”—she asked suddenly, lifting a half-empty bottle of old liquor.—“I’ve got this... and some crappy old movie nobody wants to watch. You could relax for once, you know?.”

You smirked a little. Same old Tess. Passive-aggressive in the way she invited you over, never admitting she wanted company. That she’d rather have you there, nearby, than anyone else.