Again I know longer have an editor so if there's any really bothersome mistakes or you just want to give me some feedback I always appreciate it. As for the great idea about the 2ps in the gang they definitely are and if the gang served a longer purpose I definitely would have included them. But I really liked the idea so I'll probably do some one shots of Mathew trying to win over the respect of the older street kids and the adventures they got in the few weeks he was there. I have plenty to work with concerning that but the story must move forward. Thank you for the ideas and feel free to comment or leave more input again as I always love hearing from you guys.

Chapter 9: The Mommy Mage

They wasted no time with Matthew. He already knew how to fight so they polished his skills slightly and it wasn't long he was kept in a cage and guarded.

Matthew found himself pleasantly surprised by the sense of family the group of children seemed to share, and the leader sensing Matthew desperately wanted a part of it let Mathew out of his cage after only two days.

Of course more time had passed since Mathew was considered one of the Bleeding Eagles, which didn't take long as like the leader figured he was extremely helpful.

Mathew stretched and exited his room, butterflies in his stomach. It was now the day of the operation and Matthew couldn't believe that he had agreed to go along with the plan and that he had even enjoyed the past week with the kids. He was constantly surrounded by younger children and he spent his nights telling them stories.

A lot of them depended on him and he was indeed a great asset once he was taught how to properly steal, which didn't take long as Matthew was a natural.

By now all discrepancies he had about stealing had disappeared and after seeing so many starving scared children he swore to protect them and was fighting for them more than he had ever fought for himself.

He brought back the most food and he fought off the most people who wanted to get their hands on them. He had smashed the hand of a pimp of sorts that tried to come to recruit them with a surprising amount of resentment.

He had definitely gotten a lot of attention from the Burning Eagles and for the first time in a while he was happy and having a good time. He adored the little kids and he quickly earned respect from the older kids which wasn't an easy feat as they were all quite violent and surly.

Then there was the leader. Matthew spent the most time with him. In less than a week he was unofficially in second command. He had been cleaned up some although Matthew refused to wash his hair still paranoid his mother would turn up and identify him.

Mathias never pushed him to speak and Matthew found himself thoroughly enjoying the young leader's company. Mathias had seemed so terrifying at first but Mathew quickly found out the leader's personality wasn't evil or twisted at all. In fact over all he was pleasant and humorous.

If Matthew was loved by the group Mathias was adored. He was a great leader and despite being bossy and controlling which was honestly what they all needed it was clear how much he loved his team. His family he would call them which now included Mathew.

He couldn't believe he hadn't even spent two weeks with the group and already felt tuggings of belonging. His initial name had been changed almost immediately. Mathias had admitted he was just trying to scare Mathew although he made it clear without any shame he would have done anything to force Mathew to carry out "the plan."

It was insane and it was very illegal but after three days with the group Matthew knew it was necessary. After all Burning Eagle was comprised of ten kids that could fight and the other 20 were sick children or very young children that Mathias refused to let fight or steal.

So the ten older kids worked their asses off to steal food and fight off predators, sure it was made much easier by the addition of Matthew but with so many sick and needy children they desperately needed real good supplies in the form of medicine and food otherwise very few of them if any would survive.

Mathias would be the first to die, if anyone went hungry it was the leader, he gave everything he had and the only reason he wore nice clothes consisting of a long black coat, red shirt and cuffs, a black tie, boots, and most memorable an axe was because he was constantly traveling and meeting with people from other groups for negotiations.

And Bleeding Eagles having as few fighters as they did had to put forth a good strong front to show they were doing fine, otherwise other children would spill into their territory and they would definitely die.

Of course children tried to spy all the time and Burning Eagles would have been found out to be as weak and struggling as they were if it wasn't for Mathias intimidating appearance which basically meant his insane height as he towered over the other kids, and his impressive skills at acting like a psychopath.

"Ready?" he asked Matthew holding out his hand.

"Ready," Mathew agreed and grasped his hand firmly allowing Mathias

to help him onto the roof. It was simple and brilliant really. They were going to break into the town's richest building the base where all soldiers were stationed and where royalty stayed whenever they visited.

"Careful Mattie two princes are here right now, so you just slip in with your magic steal what you can and they probably won't even notice," Mathias said eagerly as he draped his black coat over Mathew. It was an insane plan absolutely insane but Matthew knew he could do it. He never stuck out a lot anyways which was why he remained "The Loner" for so long.

Besides he felt a sort of justice in stealing from the royalty that refused to help those suffering. Mathew had been filled in on how the king and those in power didn't give a shit about people like them.

He learned not many people gave a shit about them, all they had were each other for everyone else saw them as nuisances and wanted to remove them or use them. Mathew had had enough of being used and he knew there was no way the group could move.

"I'll be fine Mathias and I'll signal you if anything goes wrong," Matthew smiled at the leader who was trying not show his worry and placed the stolen whistle in the coat pocket knowing he would never use it.

There wasn't much good Mathias could do even if he came to the rescue, sure he was a hell of a fighter and his axe was deadly but these were soldiers trained soldiers and royalty. If caught it would be the death penalty and there was no way Mathias could afford to get caught.

"Hey you better signal me if it goes to shit in there, we won't get caught alright" the leader said as if he read Matthew's thoughts. Matthew shook his head smiling.

"of course of course I'll make sure to grab a whole bunch of shit!" he boasted sounding more confident than he felt.

But he didn't have a choice, almost thirty lives were resting on this. Matthew sheathed his dagger Mathias had given him not really wanting to use it. But he had quickly picked up on how to fight with a weapon thanks to Arthur's training.

Matthew swallowed and stiffened as Mathias hugged him. He knew what the kids called them, mommy and daddy, Matthew was the mommy which bothered him at first but even though most of these kids were orphans they reassured him on what a mother should be.

What Mathew's mother should have been like. His heart was pounding and he was aware Mathias could hear it. He knew Mathias suspected a lot about him. He had given Mathew his own room because he kept waking up the others from his nightmares.

"Do us proud momy mage," he said softly before assuming his usual cheery demeanor that never quite let on how much he cared.

Mathew had went from tortured trash to momy mage as his official name right away which he definitely preferred but Mathias and Mathew usually just called each other by their names unless they were being formal which they seldom were.

"Of course daddy," he teased lightly and grinned again unsure where this new him had come from, he found himself hiding his true emotions a lot, he figured he learned that from Mathias who rarely let anyone see what was going on being his suave smile.

Mathew turned his attention to the plan and dangled himself off the ledge and with Mathias's help he maneuvered himself through the open window. They had staked out this place enough to know who kept their window open, for how long, ect.

So with ease he was in! Only a slight squeeze as Mathew countered the protective barrier that made it virtually impossible for anyone but him to enter the back way. Matthew felt exhilarated and proud his sense of purpose had greatly increased since joining the Burning Eagles and if he lived through this he was determined to continue helping them.

He didn't need Arthur anymore he still missed him but he convinced himself Arthur was fine and had forgotten him by now. After all deep down he was just disgusting trash or so he felt. Again Matthew brought his attention back to the task at hand after all now came the hard part.