Locked Away (GerIta)

Chapter 35

Ludwig walked to the alleyway and stared down at the gravel beneath his feet, standing motionless in the dimly lit area. He took a deep breath and didn't look up as the approaching Jeep's wheels crunched the gravel.

He raised his head a little as they climbed out of the vehicle and approached him. They had his uniform he'd handed over earlier.

Ludwig squeezed his eyes shut as one of them spit in his face and grit his teeth as the other shoved him down with enough force to scrape his palms on impact. His uniform jacket was thrown at him, sporting some alterations.

"Put it on." One of them demanded and the rest taunted him as he did. "Fucking fag. Sexual deviant. Impurity."

Ludwig stood slowly, blood pooling in his palm but was only up for a few seconds before a blow to his jaw knocked him over again.

"Faggot."

Ludwig closed his eyes and didn't dare open his mouth. He swallowed past the lump in his throat and cringed at the taste of blood and the feeling of it between his teeth.

They yanked him up by the hair and he yelped softly in pain. He refused to open his eyes when they demanded that he look at his uniform. He couldn't.

No. I can't, I won't.

"Open your fucking eyes!"

He groaned with a kick to the gut and opened his eyes as they forced his head down to look at the sleeves and the chest.

Pink swastikas.

"Pink. For all you goddamn homosexuals impurifying the Reich." One of them spat in his face once more and shoved him. "Like it? Huh? Perfect for a liar like you."

Ludwig looked forward and spit a bloody wad of saliva into his face and before he knew it everything went black as the butt of a pistol slammed against his head.

~

Feliciano rubbed his tired eyes and looked up as Elizabeth opened her front door. She took in her friend's disheveled look, complete with a half buttoned shirt and wild hair.

"Jesus, what happened to you?" She took his arm and lead him inside to the kitchen table.

"Ludwig." He mumbled.

Elizabeth scoffed and gestured at the marks littering his neck and chest. "I can see that." She buttoned up his shirt properly as he blushed and looked away.

"He came back and then he left." Feliciano shrugged and sat in the chair at the table, pressing a hand to his forehead. "I don't even, I don't know where he is, he just had to leave. Again."

Elizabeth frowned and pulled a chair closer to him before she sat down. "What happened?"

"He just left me this letter." Feliciano placed it on the table along wiyh the dogtags. "And his tags."

"May I?" She asked, touching the letter and opened it when he nodded.

"It just says not to look for him because I won't find him. He will come find me when the war is over and he promises that we won't have to be apart." Feliciano looked down and clasped his hands in his lap, swallowing past the lump in his throat. "If he's alive when this is over."

Elizabeth felt a pang of sadness in her heart and reached over to take his hand. "I'm sorry."

Feliciano wiped his tears with his other hand and smiled sadly with a tiny laugh. "Shh..." He sniffled. "Don't you be sorry."

Elizabeth looked up as Roderich walked into the kitchen and cautiously looked at the man sitting at their table. She cleared her throat and Feliciano looked up.

"Oh," he looked around and tried to flatten his shirt and comb through his hair with his fingers. "I-I uh, I'm Feliciano, I know you haven't met me, sorry, I-"

"It's alright." He said calmly and looked at Elizabeth. "This is your friend you were telling me about?"

"Yes, he just came from, uh, well.." She giggled a little and rubbed his arm. "He just needed to talk."

Roderich nodded and turned around to make coffee. "Would you like anything? Tea, coffee?"

Feliciano looked at his back and nodded even though he couldn't see him. "Just a tea, please."

Elizabeth took him and showed him to the washroom and smiled sympathetically when she saw Feliciano rub his eyes tiredly.

"Wash up and come have your tea. You'll feel better." She said softly and closed the door, walking back to the kitchen.

~

Feliciano sat down at the kitchen table and watched as Roderich placed their tea in front of them. He thanked him quietly and felt a tiny pain in his chest when he saw Roderich kiss Elizabeth's head.

They made small talk and eventually brought out a deck of cards and played a few rounds. Feliciano felt himself beginning to get anxious, chest tightening as he tried to put on a smile. He looked at his watch, having to grab his hand to steady it, and swallowed hard.

"I-" He tried to take a deep breath. "It's getting late, I should head home. Sorry for busting in here, I didn't mean to intrude."

"No, no, it's alright." Elizabeth took his hand. "Roderich can drive you home."

Roderich nodded and got up but Feliciano shook his head and told him he really didn't have to inconvenience himself.

"It's no trouble."

"It's okay, I can walk from here. But thank you for offering." He shook Roderich's hand and told him it was nice to finally meet him.

Elizabeth walked him to the door and could tell he was having a tough time keeping his composure. "Are you sure you don't want to stay the night?"

"I'll be okay, really, you don't have to worry." He smiled shakily. "You and Roderich have clearly sorted things out, you should spend time together."

"He won't mind."

"Really, thank you, I appreciate it." He whispered and hugged her as a tear slipped out. "I think I just, I need to be alone. I need some time."

Elizabeth nodded with a sympathetic smile and hugged him again, tighter. She rubbed his back and kissed his cheek before opening the door for him. She sighed as he turned away and leaned back into Roderich as he came up behind her and wrapped an arm around her.

"Is he okay?" The Austrian asked quietly. 

Elizabeth sighed again. "He's had a tough time, can't catch a break." She watched as he disappeared down the street. "He's troubled."

She closed the door and turned around fully to hug Roderich, nuzzling close. He kissed her head and stroked her hair.

"Let's go to bed."

~

To be continued...