Oh look a speedy update. I mean, it's not a big chapter. I rarely did big chapters in my early days, it seems.

Feliciano hated getting up. He scrunched up his eyes in protest at the bright light. He didn't want to go to school; he wanted to go back to sleep then spend the day lazing in the sun. But, any second now, his brothers would start talking like they were on opposite ends of the house, despite being meters away, and sleep would be impossible. He was surprised he couldn't already hear them. Had he woken up early, for once? Lovino had a few choice words for when that happened.

Now that he thought about it, he was pretty uncomfortable. And damp.

He bolted up, fear trickling over him like the mystery liquid. He'd wet the bed! This was so unfair! He hadn't wet the bed in at least 4 years, and now, of all nights, when he was sharing a bed and everything-

Oh.

He pulled back the covers.

Ludwig had wet the bed.

Feliciano didn't know what to say. He didn't want to be mad, not after seeing the state Ludwig had been in, and this wouldn't help how he was feeling. He hadn't said a word to anyone, jumped at every little thing, didn't want anyone touching him. Even now, he was on the edge of the bed, up against the wall, shaking in his sleep, brow furrowed. Every time Feliciano had brushed against him in his sleep, he'd flinched.

And now this.

He gently shook him awake.

"Hey, Ludwig?" For once in his life, he kept his voice a whisper. "You've had an accident; we need to get you cleaned up."

Ludwig blinked in confusion, then it hit him. He scrambled up to the headboard, away from the puddle, curled up on himself, and maybe sobbed. Maybe he held actual tears back, but all Feliciano could see was a pair of shaking shoulders.

"Hey, hey it's okay, friendo," Feliciano patted his back, "it happens. It's okay. We'll get your stuff washed and get some breakfast and forget all about it, sound good?" He gave Ludwig a bright smile, and Ludwig nodded miserably in return. "No one will ever know." Feliciano got him up and stripped the streets, sneaking out into the hall. Luckily, his brothers, and the twins, were heavy sleepers. They passed the cupboard where Angelique slept under the boiler, and snuck into the bathroom.

"It's a good thing everyone else is as lazy as I am; lots of privacy." He smiled as he loaded the washing machine. Ludwig didn't respond, tears streaming down his face that he tried to wipe away. "Nothing to be ashamed of, but you might need to strip."

Ludwig didn't look too happy about that.

"I need to wash the pyjamas." Feliciano took his off. "We have towels if you want," he added, when Ludwig still hadn't made any move to strip. "You get your clothes in there, I'll fetch a change for you."

Ludwig took his soiled pyjamas off and hid behind the shower curtain, a pair of towels wrapped around him.

"Oh, good idea!" Chirped Feliciano the moment he came back. "Get showered. I got you a shorts and shirt." No reply. He turned on the machine. "I'll get started on breakfast."

Lovino dipped his sore feet into the river water. Fuck the heat. Actually, that was a lie. He loved the heat and the sun, but he hated walking on metal. Who decided the city was supposed to be built out of metal? His shoes stopped him from blistering, but it was still like walking on coal.

"So, how's life with the Bonnefoys?" asked Isabel.

"Awful. Crowded. Smelly." Replied Lovino, "the twins are alright, though."

"Any hot ones?" she asked, sitting next to him and dipping her own feet in the water.

"Are you ever not horny?"

"Never."

Lovino rolled his eyes, "I don't know if they're hot; they're my relatives, fuck's sake!"

"Coward. There's never more than a million people in this city at one point. We're all probably a little related."

Lovino wrinkled his nose, exchanging a glance with Xavier. "Thanks, I was hoping to fall amazingly in love at some point, but that's always gonna be in my mind now."

"Aw, suffer. And I will fuck your relatives."

"Where's Adriaan?" asked Xavier, "why hasn't he graced us with his complete and utter lack of charisma."

"At work," replied Isabel, "a concept foreign to you two."

Xavier looked at her. "You're unemployed too. Besides, there may be a position in town with my name on it."

"So much for waiting til September."

"Yeah, but you know all the good jobs will be gone soon. This one's working in an ice treats parlour. I mean, if I gotta do something, I'd like that."

"I guess." Maybe Lovino shouldn't be a jealous bitch over his friends actually having interests and direction, but he was going to be a jealous bitch anyway.

"I wonder if I could get a job at the palace," said Isabel, and Lovino nearly fell in the river.

"What?" cried Xavier; "are you insane?"

Lovino looked at her like she was. "You know those people are," he glanced around, "evil. No servant of theirs ever sees retirement."

"I just want to see real flowers," she explained, "I could if I worked in the palace gardens. I heard there's beautiful flowers growing there. Adriaan told me."

"Yeah, but you have to be one of the nobility to even get close to the palace," said Lovino.

"Then I'll find me a noble," said Isabel, wiggling her eyebrows.

"But-" Lovino decided not to mention the unlikely chances of a noble even looking her way. Everyone was allowed to dream.

"You're too good for some poncy lord or politician," Xavier told her bluntly.

"Well aren't you-" Isabel stopped, looking past Xavier. "Wait, who's that?"

Out next to the bridge, at the top of the steep steps leading to the street above, was a man with incredible sunburn, bright red limbs poking out of a shorts and shirt, and sunglasses. His hair was the colour of piss, and didn't match his eyebrows.

"Oh shit, he looks freaky," Lovino hissed. "How much as he heard?"

"Think he's part of the Shadow Police?" asked Isabel, clutching his hand.

"Nah, they have uniforms and stuff," Xavier tried to reassure her.

"Maybe he's undercover."

Lovino looked at the stranger. He stared back. "Nah, that's crazy. Come on now, we're not doing anything wrong." Saying stuff that was, but not, technically, doing.

"Never stopped them from arresting anyone," said Xavier, "take 'em away for some questioning. Might be released. Probably not." He nudged Lovino with his foot; "shit! He's coming over to us!"

"Act natural," said Lovino, "act innocent."

"Which one?"

The strange man sat down between him and Isabel. They both shuffled away.

"Hello all," he nodded at them, "may I join you?"

"Why?" asked Isabel.

The stranger shrugged. "You seem interesting. Thought I might sit and listen. What are you talking about?"

"Nothing," said Lovino quickly.

For once in his life, he wished Adriaan was there. He always knew how to act in the presence of authority figures. He'd be able to speak for them here.

"Doesn't sound like nothing."

"We're not breaking the law," said Xavier. Lovino wanted to kick him.

"I never doubted that for a second." The stranger scratched his head. "Would you like to?"

"What do you mean?" Lovino eyed him suspiciously. This was a trap. "We obey. We care about the law."

"Do you?" The stranger raised an eyebrow. He jerked a thumb at the wall. "That poster. Your work?"

It was one of the Emperor. He was all regal, dressed in more jewels than Lovino would see in his lifetime. Feliciano had drawn a moustache on it. Not an act of rebellion, he'd just been bored. And Lovino wasn't going to grass on his brother.

"That's ridiculous," Isabel wrinkled her nose.

"I won't say anything," said the Stranger, "but I like that you have an eye for trouble. Mischief. Maybe even a little rebellion."

Lovino leaned closer. "What do you mean?"

"Would you say you're satisfied with life?"

"What does that mean?"

Arthur glanced around. "You guys seem young. Smart. You have your entire futures ahead of you, like thousands of other young people. But who's to say you have a future here. Want to change things? Make life better? Less… oppressive?"

"That's impossible," said Xavier flatly. Rehearsed. "This is the way things have always been, and always will be."

"It doesn't have to be. You can help make it different."

"No thanks," growled Adriaan from behind them.

The four jumped, wheeling round to find him looming over them, furious. He recognised the stranger, Lovino could tell. He looked scared too; it wasn't a reassuring expression.

"You're not dragging my sister into this, Kirkland," he spat, grabbing Isabel's wrist.

"Ad-"

"Trust me, it's for your own good." He yanked her up. "Please, just come with me. I can't tell you two what to do," he added at the boys, "but if you had any sense, you'd walk away from this." He stormed off, dragging Isabel behind him.

Isabel scratched at her brother's arm. "Hey, what's the big idea?"

"Arthur's trouble. He's only gonna drag you down."

"I can make my own decisions!"

"Just trust me here," Adriaan finally let go, wheeling round. "I'm begging you, stay away from him. He's gonna get you killed."

Isabel saw the pleading in his eyes, heard the quiver in his voice. Adriaan never got like this, about anything. She sighed. "I see. Fine, fine. I'll be good."

Adriaan left a scene of stunned silence under the bridge.

"Well," began Arthur, "that was… unfortunate. Still, what do you two say? Can I call this a success?"

"What are you getting at, exactly?" Lovino liked doing the exact opposite of what Adriaan wanted him to do, and it wasn't like he'd been helpful with this guy, just leaving them behind to look after his sister. Maybe he was curious now. He'd been told not to do something, and now he wanted to do it.

Arthur brought his voice down to a whisper. "I'm talking revolution."

Revolution. A word so forbidden Lovino had never dared think it before. He tingled with anticipation.

"Sounds a little risky," said Xavier, glancing at Lovino for help.

Arthur leaned in. "It is, but imagine a world without him. Without any of them."

Incomprehensible. The Emperor was eternal.

"If we got enough people on our side, if we managed to pull this off, everyone could be free. Safe. I really think we can do it, but we need people."

This was ridiculous. They'd be found out within hours and killed. And then their entire family. And that was before considering the prospect of this all being some set up to trick them into dissident behaviour.

Xavier spoke first.

"Sure, why not? What about you, Lovi?"

He shrugged. "I'm not letting you be stupid on your own. And what have I got to lose?" Besides everything.