Eugene could hardly sit still on the bench to eat his breakfast that morning. He was just so excited to be able to go outside to meet his new... friends? He thought about it, he wasn't sure what to call the two men he had met yesterday, were they his friends? He didn't have many friends, but most of them were his age. He wasn't sure, so he was just going to call Tulio and Miguel his friends. Eugene looked down at his feet and saw the small bag that contained the Flynn Rider book. Even just thinking that he be able to read it soon made him so elated.

"What are you so excited about?" One of the littler kids, Axel, asked as he poked at his breakfast sludge.

"Oh, um... I'm going to meet up with some new friends I made." Eugene didn't want to lie but he also didn't want any of the other kids knowing that he was going out to learn to read, while he considered himself brave he didn't want to make himself a bigger target for any of the bullies.

"Oh. That probably explains why you seamed so happy when you came back yesterday. You had the biggest smile on your face but you also looked tired."

"Yeah, we had the best time, we even got ice cream!" Eugene half-whispered to the smaller boy, he still couldn't get over that. The second the younger boy heard the word 'ice cream' his eyes widened so much that you'd think that they were going to pop out of his head and Eugene could swear he saw a twinkle in them. "Ice cream, are you serious? Man, they must be so cool."

There was no denying that. "Yeah. Yeah, they are." Eugene looked down as his half-eaten slop before making a quick decision. "Hey, you want the rest of this?" He asked as he slid the plate over, not even bothering to wait for an answer before he slipped off the chair, grabbed his bag and made his way to the door. He was almost gone before he felt something grab him by the back of his ragged shirt and pull him back by his neck, practically choking him.

"Where do you think you're going, Fitzherbert?" A low, bellowing voice asked him in a condescending tone. Eugene groaned in his head at the voice, the Stabbington Brothers, why did it have to be the Stabbington Brothers?

The Stabbington Brothers were twins at the orphanage and both were known for bullying all of the kids at the orphanage, all the other bullies answered to them and did whatever they told them, even some of the staff were afraid of them.

"What do you guys want? I've got things to do." The brothers exchanged a look and a smirk before Sideburns spoke up. "Oh yeah? What's up with the bag Fitzherbert, something you'd like to share?"

Eugene didn't even have time to answer before Sideburns snapped his fingers and Patchy grabbed the bag. "Hey, Give that back! It's got nothing to do with you." Eugene tried to grab the bag back but it was no use, the two brothers then exchanged their baggage, Sideburns grabbed the bag while Patchy grabbed Eugene and held them up by his collar, Eugene could barely hold himself up so he wasn't suffocated by the shirt around his neck.

"Well, what have we got in here?" Sideburns said as he pulled the book out of the bag, turning it around in his hands. "You still into this dumb book? Flynn Rider isn't real, stupid." Eugene felt his face grow hot at the harsh words before retorting back. "Shut up! I know he's not real, that doesn't mean I don't want to be like him." At the retort the brothers just laughed at him, Patchy shaking him slightly as he laughed deeply. "Wow Fitzherbert, you're even stupider then you look. You could never hold a candle to Flynn Rider, even though he's not real. That proves how pathetic you are."

The harsh words cut Eugene deep, his face was now bright red and tears were building up in his eyes, it took everything in him not to let them fall, he would not cry for the Stabbington Brothers of all people.

"This is boring, let's go Patchy." Eugene was harshly dropped to the floor as he watched the two Brothers walk away with the book still in Sideburns hands. "Hey, give it back..." Eugene didn't have the energy to sound tough anymore, he just wanted his book back.

"No, I don't think we will. If you wanted, come and get it." Sideburns taunted as he continued to walk away. Eugene knew exactly what that statement meant, the Stabbington Brothers loved fighting but there was no way that he was going to beat them, they were huge 13 years old, he was only 8 and he wasn't that big.

It was over, he had lost that book forever...

Eugene picked himself off of the floor and bolted out of the door, barely being able to see through his un-shed tears. He just kept running until he reached the alleyway that he had agreed to meet Tulio and Miguel at. He stopped momentarily to rub the tears out of his eyes so he could see, then continued running down the alley, he turned the corner and he crashed into a hard surface that propelled him back onto the floor. "Oh my god Eugene, are you ok?!" He heard a familiar voice cry out in concern, he looked up and he saw that he must have run into Miguel's legs, who was currently standing over him.

Then Tulio came into the frame as he leaned over him. "Hey, kid, what's the matter? You look like you've been crying, you didn't run into him that hard did you?" Tulio asked, tried to dispel the situation but it was clear that he was slightly uncomfortable, he had never had to deal with an upset child before.

Eugene tried to hold back the tears but his face broke and he launched himself at Tulio, wrapping his arms around the lanky man's legs before bursting again into teras.

Tulio looked down at the child in shock, before looking at Miguel with a panicked expression. "¿Qué Debo hacer? ¡¿No se que hacer?!" He whispered to Miguel, who could only watch in confusion and concern. "Consuélelo, obviamente. ¡Solo abrázalo o algo así!" Migule whispered back as he leaned down and patted Eugene's back, whispering encouragement and reassurance.

Tulio didn't want to be awful but he legit did not know what to do, so he took Miguel's advice. He reached down and picked up the small child in his arms and held him to his chest, rubbing his back and letting the youngster cry on his shoulder.

Eugene cried for what seemed like forever but in reality, it was only 5 minutes. When he had calmed down, Tulio broke the silence. "Eugene, what happened? You can tell us, it's ok..." Eugene then lifted his head from Tulio's shoulder, which was now drenched with tears, and looked up at the two men.

"I...I...I lost the book..." Eugene was almost too quiet to hear but since he was so close to Tulio's ear he heard it perfectly.

"What do you mean you lost the book? You mean you couldn't find it?"

"Well, that's no reason to be upset. I'm sure it's around somewhere, and if not we can always get you a new one." Miguel said, trying to brighten the young boy's mood.

"No, I mean I lost it! These two bullies at the orphanage took it from me and now I'll never get it back!... I'm sorry, I really wanted to learn to read, I honestly did..." Eugene blurted out. His eyes were red and puffy from crying and he had tear tracks running down his face, he looked so devastated, it broke Tulio and Miguel's hearts.

They had to do something.

"Don't worry Eugene, we'll get it back for you..." Miguel said as he felt his fingers clench into a fist.

"Miguel, I am not going to let you go and get us thrown in jail for beating up children," Tulio said in a deadpan tone as he rubbed Eugene's back. "But we can teach him how to get it back, how about it kid?"

Eugene wiped his eyes as he looked at the taller man. "Sniff...Really? You'd help me take it back?"

"Well duh, I said I was gonna help you to read. How can I do that without your book, huh?" Tulio said as he slightly bounced the child in his arms, which made Eugene giggle.

"Yeah, heh...but how do you expect me to get it back? The Stabbington Brothers are massive, there's no way I'll be able to fight them..." Eugene said as he was set back on the ground, rubbing the dried tears from his eyes.

"Who said you were going to fight them?" Tulio asked in a smug tone.

"But they said that the only way that I would get it back was if I took it back and that always means they want to fight." Eugene was getting somewhat frustrated, he had already told them all this.

"Kid, calm down. What we mean is we are going to help you steal it."

...Oh...That made sense...

"Steal it?" Eugene asked, not sure he had heard the older man right.

"Yep! We're gonna teach you everything we know and then you'll have your book back in no time, you ready?" Miguel asked as he ruffled Eugene's dark brown hair.

"Yeah! This is gonna be so cool!"

And it was indeed cool, but it was really hard work. By the time it was 4 p.m. Tulio had taught him how to creep without being seen, how to become quick-handed to pickpocket faster and more effectively, he even showed him his pair of loaded dice and said that he would teach him how to make them someday.

Miguel taught him some different things, however. Miguel taught him how to be charming. How to say the right things to get himself out of trouble, how to put on a show to distract people while getting into the best position to make a getaway.

Eugene learned something about himself too. If he made a pouty face, he could get people to do anything he wanted. He figured that out while he was practising on some old woman's fruit stand after she caught him trying to steal some apples. Then he remembered 'The Face' as Miguel liked to call it. He had used it on Tulio whenever he wanted something and it never failed. It was like a pout that made him seem like he was about to cry but if it worked on Tulio (The grouchiest man Eugene had ever met) then it should work on jut about anyone, right?

He pulled the face after he was told to put the apples back before she called the guards, he then watched as her face softened before she said he could have them since he looked hungry, then making him promise to not do it again; which he agreed to in his most precious voice.

Yeah, right. Like he would actually do that.

It shocked everyone that it had worked but Miguel was so excited since he also had a secret weapon, which he called 'The Face' but it only seemed to work on Tulio, not that Miguel was complaining, Tulio did a little bit though.

All in all, it had been a fun day but Eugene was getting antsy to get his book back. "Do you think I'm ready yet? I really want my book back ..." Eugene asked as the three of them ate the apples that Eugen had gotten.

The two men exchanged a look before Miguel swallowed his apple and stood up and clapped Eugene on the back.

"Ok Eugene, time to enter the jaws of the beats, conquer your destiny, climb the mountain of success and plant your flag at the very top as the world looks on in awe, and that's when you know you've made it in this world!" Miguel proclaimed as he lifted Eugene to his shoulder and stuck his arm out as if he could see the mountain of success as Eugnen watched on with wide eyes as he felt his excitement rising!

"Miguel, he's going to steal his book back, not find the Lost City of Atlantica or save the whole of China." Tulio deadpanned and he plucked the child out of Miguel's arms and help him against his hip.

"I thought it was called Atlantis?" Miguel pouted.

"It doesn't matter! Now come on, we've already lost most of the day and we need to get this book back soon or I won't have enough time to teach him before..."

Tulio paused before he was able to finish his sentence. The two men looked at each other with wide eyes before both glancing down at Eugene.

"Before what?" Eugene asked, innocent as ever.

"Umm...B-before it gets dark silly. So come on, we haven't got all day." Miguel said as he awkwardly patted Eugene on the shoulder.

Eugene could tell that they were lying to him, he didn't know why but he just knew. He was confused and thought about why they might lie to him as they all walked to the orphanage. Before he knew it he was back at the place he had lived in all his life.

"You remember the plan, kid?" Tulio asked das he took in the sight of the huge building.

Eugene decided to put the lie out of his mind, now was the time to focus.

"Yeah. They share a room and they keep all their stuff in there, it's gotta be in there."

"You don't think they'll still have it with them?" Miguel questioned.

"Nah, they're both too lazy to carry around a book all day, plus in my make them look soft so no doubt they hid in their room somewhere." Eugene had lived here long enough to know that much about the Stabbington Brothers.

"Alright, which one is theirs? I'll give you a Boost." Tulio said before Eugene pointed to a not too high window on the right of the building.

"Alright, come here." Eugene didn't hesitate as he turned to the tall man, he then carefully stood up on Tulio's shoulders as he reached forward and slowly pushed the window up before crawling in. "You be careful there, kid and be quick, you never know when you're going to come back!" Tulio half-whispered before he tucked down to not look suspicious.

Eugene was not being quick. Eugene just looked upon the huge pile of stuff in the right corner of the room, the two had kept everything that they had stolen from other kids over the years and now it was just sitting in the room almost completely useless. One thing, in particular, caught his eye, it was his bag! It was at the very top of the Pile in it seems to just been thrown haphazardly on top.

Eugene begins to climb the mountain of stuff, wishing that he could take everything and bring it back to the other kids but he knew there was no way he'd be able to get it all without being caught. So he quickly grabbed the bag and checked that the book was still inside, luckily it was so he put it on his shoulder and make a run for the window.

But something shiny caught his eye, he stopped and looked at the bedside table and saw a little golden key. The reason that the Stabbington Brothers add the room all to themselves was that they stole the keys to the room, sideburns had one on him at all times but Patchy was always around his brother, so why would he need a key anyway?

Eugene knew that he shouldn't have been greedy, but when he thought about it, if he got the key and kept it a secret then he could unlock the door when the Brothers were away and the other kids could get their stuff back without having to fight them.

It was full proof, they would never suspect it was him and probably think one of the staff just did it, and there wasn't much they could do about that.

So Eugene crept over to the bedside and grabbed the key and put it in his pocket, this was the biggest rush that he had felt in a long time.

But then he heard the footsteps, the deep voice that he always dreaded hearing. They were back!

Without thinking, Eugene ran to the windowsill and jumped out of it... Only to quickly realise the flaw in his plan as he suddenly saw the ground approaching will nothing stopping him.

"EUGENE!" He heard two voices scream out before he closed his eyes to avoid looking at his impending doom.

He did hit something, but it wasn't the ground. It made a reasonably low groan as he thudded against it. When he opened his eyes he found that he was being held in Tulio's arms as the older man lied flat on his back.

All three of them were panting heavily from the adrenaline that was still pumping through their veins.

"Are you ok, Eugene?" Tulio painted out as he held the child tightly to his chest.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine..." Eugene both the men let out relieved sighs before Tulio slowly leaned up. "Good, that's good..."

Tulio was being way too calm about this, Eugene wasn't able to pick up on it but Miguel was. "Uh...Tulio?" Miguel put his hand out to his partner Tulio just lifted his hand as he set Eugene on the floor before standing up himself.

Tulio then closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

Then he just exploded.

He grabbed Eugene by his shoulders and shook him. Not too hard, just enough to get his point across.

"What the hell is your problem kid!? Why the heck did you do that!? You could have gotten seriously hurt! !No solo saltas de Windows! ¡Nos diste un ataque al corazón!" Tulio yelled at the top of his lungs, even though Eugene couldn't tell what he said at the end of the scolding, he could tell that he was in big trouble.

Tulio then took another deep breath and stopped shaking him

"Just!... Never do that again, ok? Promise us."

Eugene nodded and stook his pinkie finger out, "I pinky promise..." he waited for the other men to stick out pinkie's but nothing happened.

"Well, come on, it's a pinky promise. We have to shake your pinkies for it to work."

"We know what a Pinky promise is, kid. If we have too then fine." Said Tulio as wrapped his finger around the much smaller of the child, as did Miguel.

It was then that Miguel noticed the bag hanging off of Eugene's shoulder. "Hey, you got the book! Good for you Eugene, you did it!"

Yeah, you did well on your first time. Well done kid." Tulio was impressed, the kid had actually managed to pull it off.

"Yeah! And I got this!" Eugene said as he pulled out the small key from his pocket.

"Oh, and what's that for?" Miguel asked enthusiastically.

"The Stubbington Brothers have a whole bunch of stuff in their room, all kinds of stuff that they've stolen from all the other kids over the years. We would get it back but the room is always locked. Well, guess who got the spare key?~" Eugene said in a smug sing-song voice.

"Wow kid, that's pretty sneaky and smart." Tulio praised, the kid was better than he thought he was.

"Yeah but now that I've got my book, Can you teach me now, please?" Eugene begged, he had worked all day to get to this book, there was no way he wasn't going to learn to read it now.

Tulio laughed.

The kid was funny and pretty enthusiastic about reading.

Well, why delay him any longer?

"Of course kid. Anything you want."