Innocents Ch. 3

Notes: Ah, I just want to jump right in the middle of the plot bunny! Atlas, I can't.

Song that inspired me: I'll make a man out of you. Yes, that song.

Begin:

Ludwig was staring at 'him' in disbelief. Feliciana was reading a book, ignoring the stare. The two were in their cell, and it was a comfortable silence.

"You really are stupid, aren't you?" Ludwig broke the silence.

"No." Feliciana said, not looking away from her book.

"Oh really? You don't even know what sex is, and I bet you're a damn virgin." Ludwig growled. Stupid virgin boy Italian dummkopf.

"Si. Aren't you one, also?" Feli looked away from her book and tilted her head.

"How do you know about that?" There was a warning undertone in Ludwig's voice. Feliciana wasn't the granddaughter of the Mafia leader for nothing. She knew stuff, where some pressure points were, how to shoot a gun, read people's emotion, and sort out problems. Except the one time when Markus and his friends surrounded her.

"Grandpa Romulus said that sex occurs after marriage, ve."

"Well, it should happen after marriage, but you've seen these losers around here. They're all stupid. I can't wait to get out of here."

"How long were you sentenced?"

"Two years. You?" She was surprised that he didn't yell at her for a personal question.

"Eighteen." At this, Ludwig choked on his own spit.

"Eighteen! Vhat ze hell did you do? Murder someone?! I highly doubt that! Now, tell me the real reason vhy you're here!"

"Somebody murdered...Jones Kirkland. They apparently knew where I lived and framed me. They found my fingerprints on a bat that I never seen before."

"Ah, I knew you were innocent, I mean, you couldn't kill anybody...but a small fry like you were blamed? How in ze hell did the judge bought the story? Has he not seen you!?"

Was she supposed to be glad that the German was angry for her and not at her?

"Vell, did you make any friends here? I doubt it. Look at you, you're small, you can't fight, veak, und a loser!"

Really?

"Natalia and Wang Yao are my friends, ve."

"Natalia?! Natalia Braginski? She's worse than me, and she befriended you!?"

"Si. She even befriended Wang Yao."

"I don't believe zis. Zat girl damn near killed five prisoners because they were hitting on her! She really never cared for boys!" At this, Feliciana felt a little worried. To her relief, the German sighed. Then he grinned. Not a happy one at that.

"You do notice all those looks other prisoners are looking at you, right?"

What looks?!

Feli shook her head.

"Nein? Look around at 'recess', you'll find them staring at you. It's a sure shame zat Natalia won't stick up for you."

"Ve? Whys that?"

"You're a boy. Natalia doesn't even like boys. Maybe the reason is because they flirt with her ze whole time, und most of them are creepy."

"Natalia wouldn't abandon me, ve! Nor would Yao!" Feli protested.

"Pft. I beg to differ. Anyvay, basically you're on your own. I'm not saving you again, neither."

"What are you getting at, ve?"

"Man the hell up. You're not going to depend on me, Natalia, nor Yao to save your lame ass. You're going to have to do weight lifting, join in ze basketball courts, and all of zat stuff."

"Why do you care?" She didn't add her usual 've', this time. That was...odd.

"Because, reputation is everything, und I don't want to hurt mine while saving you." Ludwig glared at her.

…... (Lovina's Feli sense is tingling)

Lovina sat up in her bed suddenly. She had a sisterly feeling that was going wrong with Feliciana. Tomorrow she was going to visit that prison, and kick whoever's ass who threatened her sorrella!

…...

After supper, Feliciana asked Arthur if she could go in the weight room and practice fighting the punching bag.

"Dear, of course you can. Here, I'll go with you." Arthur smiled at the innocent cross-dresser. The two walked into the weight room, only to find about ten people in it.

Ludwig was there, and Feliciana swore that she felt a trickle of fear go down her spine. However, she respected him.

"Lad, I'll keep an eye on the others and you kick and punch that bag." The gentlemanly English guard nodded and the Italian went off. At least she would be able to exercise, and get knowledge on defending her self.

The other prisoners were too busy, and Ludwig was lifting pretty heavy weights, he didn't notice her. The Italian grinned. When she was in the Mafia, she had trained very hard with her grandfather and sister. Putting gloves on, she kicked the boxing bag hard. Sure she could fight, but that was because she had a gun, time, and wasn't guarded. Here, she had to rely on other skills.

The bag came back down, she punched it hard, and it flew up in the air again. Every time the bag would come towards her, she kicked, punched, blocked, and dodged. She was getting awed stares at the other inmates. She didn't care. She felt like she was unloading a huge weight on her shoulders. The death of an innocent, her imprisonment, and the judge. She was fighting it all, all the anger, hurt, scares, and whatever else. It also helped that she pretended that the bag was the judge, and his stupid judging face.

A hand grabbed her shoulder and she tensed.

"Now lad, I admire your willingness to fight, but I think that it's time to rest up, now." Arthur was amazed, but he had seen Amelia do worse to a poor punching bag.

The Italian had a lot to unload, that's for sure.

"Oh, your sister called, and she'll be here tomorrow. She sounded pissed." Arthur chuckled sheepishly.

Feliciana smiled brightly. "Ve, she always said that we had a sibling connection. When I'm in trouble or feeling really scared she senses it. I don't know how it works, ve."

"Ah. Well, she must have sensed it." Arthur led her into her cell, like a gentleman would to a prison inmate. Or something like that. Feeling extremely tired, she laid down on her bed, turned towards the wall, and tried to sleep. She heard the door open again, and heard Ludwig's footsteps.

"Well, you take care of our Italian, Luddy!"

"Amelia, I don't think he needs protection. Have you seen him fight? It's like...it's like he was from the Mafia."

"Really? Well, people are full of surprises."

…...

After he finished talking to the guard (or guardswoman), he looked at the boy, all snuggled (a weird word) in his blanket. It shocked all of his inmates, including himself. The normally shaking or bubbly young man fought like he was on fire. Who knew that the young man had it in him?

Ludwig sighed as he sat on the bottom part of the bunk where Feli was at. Maybe...was he being a little too mean to the young man? He punched him once, and that was it. No, the boy would get stronger, and hopefully would be able to protect himself.

"Goodnight, dummkopf." He muttered as he got up and went into his own bed.

…...

Short, but visiting day is tomorrow! We'll see our favorite Prussian and Italian!