Mourning Songs

And The One Time Levi Does

1.

There's no longer a need to, yet Eren finds himself sitting in his usual space, as though leaving the other seats empty will invite them back. Levi sits at his usual spot too, drinking his tea, hanging his injured arm over the back of the chair. Eren thinks of getting him to rest it properly, but he cannot speak. Petra would have done a better job of it.

The Commander will be arriving later. Eren wonders where he'll sit. He thinks briefly of getting them to move to another room, but there is nothing against functionality. Only the ghosts of his mind.

They have fallen silent after Levi had said, neutral tone as always, that there is no knowing the results of his choices.

In his head Eren understands.

He places one hand over his heart, palm down, and he does not care that he is in the presence of his commanding officer, that he does not have the posture for a proper salute.

There is no proper posture for improper deaths.

.

In a room so silent Levi does not have to strain himself to hear it. Eren has always had a habit of making his thoughts known, even the stupid, brash ones. It makes sense that his words are clear even if they're sung.

Eren stares straight ahead, so Levi does the same and looks at the walls and thinks, Ah, so the brat can sing.

There's a grief that can't be spoken
There's a pain that goes on and on
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone

It is unlike anything Levi had ever heard of. Within Wall Sina, in the alleys, sometimes he hears a woman singing in the balcony, a sweet tune of contentment. Eren does not know her songs. Levi doubts he knows anything other than what he's singing, full of grit, with centuries of shared pain haunting him.

Here they talked of revolution
Here it was they lit the flame
Here they sang about tomorrow
And tomorrow never came

He remembers a shop with stained glass windows. He remembers slipping into the shop, unnoticed by the shopkeeper, as he stares at the ceiling where the light shines through, painting the floor a hundred shades of green and blue and red, the harsh glare of the sun muted through soft colours. He remembers the silence, as though he were far underground and this is the only light he'll ever see. He thinks that's what Eren's song sounds like.

Oh my friends, my friends, don't ask me
What your sacrifice was for
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friends will sing no more

In a world painted by blood and the silver glint of steel, he closes his eyes and wonders if the world Auruo, Erd, Gunter, and Petra sees now is any different. If maybe they've heard Eren. He's not a sentimental man, but he thinks, for a moment, that this room is heavier, warmer than it should be. But the moment passes. Eren is looking at the table, his hand over his heart, and Levi thinks Eren no longer has the strength to cry. Nobody has the strength left to do so.

Placing his cup on the table, Levi rests his hand over his heart as well and remembers.

...

Songs with adaptations:

1. D.Gray-man, Lala's Lullaby.
2. 07-Ghost, The Requiem of Raggs
3. Lord of the Rings, Song for Theodred
4. Les Miserables, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables