THE SPIDER

The mission had gone horribly wrong. Eren and Levi were the only ones in the castle tonight. In another couple of days, the Military Police would be coming to claim custody of Eren. Levi's entire squad had been wiped out in one fell swoop by the female titan just twenty four hours earlier. Eren had heard the heart wrenching conversation between Levi and Petra Ral's father as Levi was forced to explain that Petra would never return home (before he had a chance to mentally prepare himself for it, worse still). Eren had then gone with Levi as he visited the remaining three families to tell them that their love ones would not be coming home.

For Levi, this was the worst part of his job. He could have left it to others to do for him, but he couldn't help but feel that it was his responsibility to tell the families himself. It was so difficult when they warmly and gladly welcomed him to their homes. And then to see them break down in tears . . . it tore a piece of his heart out every time. The families were always so understanding and always thanked him for delivering the news personally, but that did nothing to make him feel any better about it.

This evening, things were dismally quiet at the castle. Eren had grown accustomed to the sound of chatter and laughter amongst the squad members as they talked and joked with each other. Levi usually just sat back and listened to the conversations, but rarely spoke unless it was to tell them to stop exaggerating. Eren missed the sound of music that came with every evening after dinner as Levi and Eld would get out their guitars and Gunther would play his flute while everyone sang together. Many of the songs were ancient songs from before the walls that Levi had taught the others. Eren enjoyed listening to them and soon grew comfortable enough to join in.

There was no music this evening. Last night, Levi had build a large fire in the courtyard, staring into the flames. Eren had no way of knowing what the captain was thinking until he heard the man start to sing.

When the dark wood fell before me
And all the paths were overgrown
When the priests of pride say there is no other way
I tilled the sorrows of stone

I did not believe because I could not see
Though you came to me in the night
When the dawn seemed forever lost
You showed me your love in the light of the stars

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me

Then the mountain rose before me
By the deep well of desire
From the fountain of forgiveness
Beyond the ice and fire

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me

Though we share this humble path, alone
How fragile is the heart
Oh give these clay feet wings to fly
To touch the face of the stars

Breathe life into this feeble heart
Oh lift this mortal veil of fear
Take these crumbled hopes, etched with tears
We'll rise above these earthly cares

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
Please remember me

(Song: Dante's Prayer by Loreena McKennitt)

Levi had a magnificent voice, and one could hear the heartbreak as he sung the mournful song. Eren fought to hold back his tears. This was how Levi mourned the loss of people he cared about.

This evening, however, all was silent. Neither one of them had much appetite. After cleaning up from dinner, they proceeded to go to the showers to wash the day away (not that either of them had done anything to get dirty – it was habit).

The hot water felt wonderful and seemed to lift the spirit as well as cleansing the body. Both washed in silence, until Eren let out a high pitched squeal of panic. Levi reacted instantaneously, opening the door to his stall and starting to come out, "What happened?! Are you alright?!" he cried.

Eren was gripping the side of his stall, his knuckles white and his sea green eyes wide with alarm. "Kill it! Quick!"

Now Levi was just plain confused. "What?!" Then he saw it. He watched as a little brown spider ran desperately for its life across the showers' flower. He leaned forward to watch it continue down the aisle and out under the door. Levi blinked, still looking a little confused as he stared at where the hapless spider had disappeared, contemplating what had just happened.

"You let it get away!" Eren cried, his voice still a little higher pitched than normal.

Levi turned to look at the spooked teenager. He looked down under the stall walls and saw that Eren's feet were not on the floor – he was hanging off the side of the shower stall. Levi straightened up again and looked the boy squarely in the eye. "You can put your feet down now. It's gone," he said dryly, his usual, dry expression returning to his face.

"Heh, heh, heh," Eren chuckled nervously as he set his feet back on the shower stall floor.

"Let me see if I understand this correctly," Levi continued, leaning forward on the door to his own stall. "You will, without a moment's hesitation or fear, take on the fifty meter colossal titan . . . by yourself, no less. But see a two centimeter spider, you squeal like a little girl and try to get away."

Eren, his hands still gripping the side of the stall, shrank down in embarrassment so that only his eyes peered over the top. "But . . . it has eight legs . . ." he said pathetically.

Levi raised an eyebrow, just staring at the hapless teen for a moment. "Tch!" He then rolled his eyes and shook his head as he stepped back into his shower stall. "Well, then," he said at length. "I guess we should count ourselves lucky that titans don't have eight legs."