Locked Away (GerIta)

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

~

Feliciano switched his days off to Sundays so he could be with Ludwig. They would meet at the corner of Am Hof, the main road and then go for long walks; along the streets, in the forest. They'd gone too far and gotten lost, but the hours they spent together were precious and felt too short.

This particular Sunday, the two men were walking along a quiet road, Feliciano's hands clasped behind his back as he walked with a spring in his step and Ludwig was stiff, like he was leading his troops in a march.

"Food's getting too expensive." Feliciano announced with a small sigh. "Romano and I can't even afford some bread and cheese at this rate."

"I know. Food is scarce nowadays." Ludwig replied.

"Not in the camps. Soldiers get all of it." The Italian almost spat the words. "Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you in anyway."

"You didn't."

"I'm going to have to start hunting for food." Feliciano shoved his hands into his pockets, their footsteps matching as they walked. "Romano works at a butcher shop, he knows how to skin animals and cut them so we'll be okay."

Ludwig looked down at him with curious eyes. "Well, you can't just shoot them. Do you even have a rifle?"

"Yes. It's from back home so we just keep it for memories sake but we need to use it now." He explained. They had many more guns hidden in their house; all of which they knew how to use. With all the training from the resistance, they have enough firearms to kill everyone in the building.

"Well, I could teach you how to shoot straight. I mean, if its just for memories sake, you must not have used it." Ludwig shrugged, assuming.

"Y-yes." The Italian stuttered. "I, umm... I'd love it if you would teach me. I mean, I'm not going to shoot straight without practice anyway."

"Would you like to start today?" Ludwig asked, his voice laced with an ounce of eagerness.

"That would be perfect." Feliciano smiled. "I'll get my rifle and meet you at the corner of Vorwartz."

"Good. I'll see you soon."

~

Ludwig watched Feliciano load the rifle, his movements looked like he'd done it a million times over. He frowned as he realized his hands were trembling slightly and he looked a little pale.

"Are you okay?" The German asked quietly.

Yeah, I just shot a man with this rifle a few years ago.

"Yes. I'm fine." Feliciano answered with a weak smile.

Ludwig noticed that Feliciano looked so... innocent. Too innocent to be holding a rife. It didn't fit him, it was such a dangerous, strong weapon for such a fragile, kind man.

Sounds like me. Ludwig thought. I'm just a weapon. One that will hurt if he gets too close.

The Italian cocked the gun up into place; the butt of the stock pressing into his shoulder. His hands were firm on the gun, one cupping the forestock and the other wrapped around the handle, index finger on the trigger.

Ludwig rolled up the sleeves of his uniform jacket to his elbows before walking over to Feliciano. "There's two rows of bottles, five on the right and five on the left. I'm going to help you with the first five and then you're going to do the rest on your own."

"Okay." He nodded.

The German stood close behind him, he placed one, leather-gloved hand over Feliciano's hand on the forestock and the other wrapped around the Italian's other hand which was around the handle, finger on the trigger. Ludwig pressed himself to the length of Feliciano's back, lowering his head so he could almost rest his chin on his shoulder so they were at the same aim-level.

"You aim, I'll shoot." He said, his body temperature rising at the close proximity of their bodies.

"S-sure." Feliciano stuttered, blushing.

The Italian narrowed his eyes and aimed at a glass bottle, Ludwig pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the neck of the bottle. Five bottles were shattered within forty seconds; Feliciano aiming, Ludwig shooting.

The German was rather impressed with the result. "Alright, I helped you out that time. You're on your own now."

Feliciano nodded and took a deep breath. He took a quick glance around the clearing they'd found deep in the forest and took in the sight of the tall, thick pine trees. Aim, shoot.

The bottles shattered; one after the other. He didn't miss. Feliciano couldn't miss. He couldn't make himself seem like he didn't know how to shoot a gun.

"Where'd you learn how to shoot like that?" Ludwig asked, a tone of suspicion in his voice. "No one whose never shot a gun can do that."

"Beginner's luck?" He replied, his voice cracking.

"Don't lie to me." Ludwig glared at the Italian. "Where did you learn how to shoot?"

"M-my grandfather taught me." Feliciano stuttered.

"I said don't lie to me. You know what? Here." Ludwig took the Luger P08 from it's holster, spinning it and holding the handle out to Feliciano. "You're not beginning anymore so if it truly was beginner's luck, you've lost it."

Ludwig walked up to a big pine tree and stood against the thick trunk. "Shoot. If you have bad aim, you'll wound me."

"I-I can't..."

"I said shoot!" Ludwig shouted.

Feliciano tensed his jaw, brought the gun up and aimed. He shot.

A bullet hole just above Ludwig's blonde head was embedded in the strong wood of the tree trunk.

"That was perfect aim, Feliciano." Ludwig growled and stalked over to him, grabbing his wrist. "Tell me, where'd you learn how to shoot."

Feliciano felt his heart banging in his ribcage. First of all, the German's hand felt like fire; causing him to blush deeply as he remembered the dream he'd had about the soldier and had to take care of himself after he woke up.

Secondly, Ludwig's angry gaze was boring into his own frightened, nervous one.

Third, he just wanted to say it. Tell him the truth; I used to be in the Resistance.

"God damn it, tell m-"

Feliciano kissed him. He wrapped his free arm around his neck and kissed him hard; their lips fusing together.

Just shut up for a while, Captain.

~

To be continued...