Hello, sorry for the delay, but I'm back at it with another chapter. And some SuFin. Antonio will be introduced at some point, I promise!

"I'm not sure I caught your names," admitted Arthur, as he navigated winding, narrow streets, the two boys following closely behind. "Lovi, is it?"

"Yeah, just Lovi. And this is Xavi." He wasn't giving out full names just yet. He probably should've gone for a completely random nickname, had the stranger not already known his. Thanks, Xavier.

"And you're Kirkland, right?" asked Xavier, "that's what our friend called you."

Kirkland winced. "Indeed. I'm asking you not to spread that information around, though. Not even to your friends."

Xavier nodded, and glanced over at Lovino. Lovino had to wonder if the guy was having second thoughts. He definitely was.

They followed Kirkland through winding back streets, past carts and people running errands and intimidating police. Kirkland lead them to a small, grimy cafe in some corner of the city they'd never bothered exploring before.

"Sit down and I'll explain things further."

The boys exchanged another glance, then followed Kirkland inside.

"...So, at the end of the day, our aim is to overthrow the Emperor and establish a democracy," Kirkland told them. "It may lead to the imprisonment or exile of the royal family, or, in an extreme case, their execution."

Lovino and Xavier stood in front of him, leaning against boxes in the back room. It seemed like a strange place for headquarters, or was this where he and Xavier would get shot and their bodies used in the sandwiches this place sold? Seemed like a good business model: getting rid of potential troublemakers and saving money on meat.

The long and short of it was there'd been an attempt at revolution about ten years ago that had gone as well as Lovino's potential career from the sounds of it, but Kirkland was being vague on the details. Lovino was too afraid to ask further. Whatever happened, disaster never stopped stupid people from trying again, so they were going to have a go and maybe they might get closer to not failing.

"And what exactly is a democracy?" demanded Xavier.

Kirkland blinked, then sighed. "Of course. How silly of me. It means the power will be given back to the people. We get to decide what happens, and what leaders get into power by way of a vote."

Lovino raised an eyebrow. "So, no emperor?"

"No emperor. No inherited power. Our leaders would have to listen to us, or get voted out."

"Okay, sounds like a nice dream," Xavier looked between them, "but will it ever happen? In our lifetime? In reality?"

"It does sound like a bit of a fantasy," added Lovino. A huge one, really. Life was as it is, and it was silly to change things. This was normal, and rocking the boat would only end badly for the people on the edges.

Arthur sighed again. "We cannot create a democracy on our own, or anytime soon, I will admit. We need people to fight with us, for their rights and freedom. We need the people organised and united. This is where you come in. Are you willing to fight alongside us?"

Lovino glanced around the back room. There was just the three of them, but who knew who could be listening on the other side of the door. He groaned. "What do you say, Xavi?"

Xavier nodded, lost in thought. "Okay. Might be fun."

Fun? "Fine. I'm in too."

The back room led to a cellar, which contained a hidden trap door. The tunnel underneath looked like one of many, possibly even a whole maze, mirroring the city above, but Kirkland was holding back the details. Lovino didn't blame him. There wouldn't be a lot of trust between him and them, just for a while. Neither Lovino or Xavier were too happy about climbing a rickety little ladder into darkness, though. And, when they reached the bottom, it wasn't much lighter. Kirkland lead them past closed, identical doors, this way and that. Once again, Lovino had to wonder if he was being led to his death.

Kirkland finally reached a door, no different from the others, but of some importance to him. He knocked loudly, then stepped back.

"Come in!" a voice called, and Kirkland opened the door.

Lovino and Xavier found themselves in the biggest room they had ever seen, let alone been in. Maybe it was as big as the Emperor's rooms! There was a stage at the end, with a long table in the middle and little else. There were a few boxes on the table, but it was a bare room, and dusty too. Sat at the table, were three men in deep discussion. Lovino was sure he recognised one of them, at least.

"Oh no," breathed Arthur, moving to step in front of the two boys, "I'm so sorry, children…"

"Ah, Arthur!" One of the men waved him over, "there you are! Please, allow me to introduce you to-"

"Yes, Tino Väinämöinen," Arthur snarled, "I'm familiar with your work."

Lovino should've recognised the Emperor's ex-personal guard the day he saw him hanging from that tree, even if his terror had scrubbed Tino's rant from his mind. Tino was short, but fierce, and built like a tank. Even if the years had rounded him, he still had chiselled muscles in his legs poking out under his shorts. His left arm looked strong too, but the right stopped at his elbow, from saving his old master's life. Even the legacy of the man scared Lovino out of his wits. Even if he could no longer hold a rifle, he'd ended many lives in the name of the Emperor. He could probably kill everyone in the room with his bare hand.

He'd retired - from work and public life - just over nine years ago, after losing his arm. His image was still paraded around, like some sort of hero, but the man himself was rarely seen in public. Apparently he hadn't quite left his job behind after all.

"We've been caught already," whispered Arthur. Lovino paled. This was it. Five minutes into some dumb idea and they were gonna be arrested and tortured as traitors before even doing anything. Even if he ran, he would be identified. Xavier looked like he wasn't going down without a fight, balling his fists to get a punch on Tino before they were all shot.

Lovino couldn't even bring himself to fight; his entire family was doomed.

"Oh, it's nothing like that," said Tino casually, "I'm on your side."

The third man - with shoulder-length brown hair - piped up. "He's one of us."

Arthur ignored him. "Boss, how do we know this?"

"Who do you think got me into the city in the first place?" replied the boss, "it wasn't a one-man job."

Arthur looked between his boss and Tino. "Why would he help us?"

"Oh I hate the Emperor as much as you do," Tino replied, surprisingly bright about it, "I should explain, right? How he took so much from me? I hope it will be enough to convince you."

Arthur scowled at him. "So, you're switching sides when it suits you?"

"That's not-"

"You were threatening to shoot him," Lovino spoke up, "at the rally. But why? You were completely loyal to the emperor. You saved him from that malfunctioning factory machine. I heard all about it."

"So that's the story they went with? I never checked. You hear that, Sadik?" Tino gave a short, harsh laugh.

"So it's not true?"

Sadik raised an eyebrow. "Arthur, who are these children?"

"New recruits. Lovi, Xavi, please sit."

Lovino did as he was told, sitting between Arthur and Xavier, all of them a good distance from Tino.

"So, you're here to fight?" asked Sadik.

The boys nodded; there was no backing out now.

"Great! Well, you need to hear what Tino has to say, then. We all need to trust each other."

"It's true I was close to Roderich III," began Tino, "and I have done so, so many horrible things in his name. And of my own free will. I was ambitious, power-hungry. Stupid. The transition from pride to disgust in my work was a slow one, as my... well, my victims grew younger than me. Smaller. As my husband could no longer look me in the eye." He picked at the grains of wood in the table. "I wanted to do some good for once; I wanted my husband to be proud of me, and he agreed to my plan because he loves children and longed for his own some day. It was a spontaneous plan, when we saw soldiers and their child prisoners being led to the mines. Little more than babies, but they would die down there, and maybe collect gems and salt in the short time before. Traitors' children, but children all the same. Berwald believed they were innocent. I don't deserve him."

"I would love to meet him one day," said Sadik.

"He's amazing." Tino gazed into space for a moment, then shook himself. "I don't know why we thought our plan would work. We only saved two, passed them to some friends to hide, and went back for more. They weren't exactly well-guarded. But we were caught before we could save any more. The little boys we'd already hidden were never discovered, but we were arrested, and this man I had dedicated my life to called us traitors." Tino paused for breath, looking around at them all to check he had their attention. He did. "But he had some sense of loyalty. At least, he didn't want to kill us, not after all I'd done for him. Maybe he considered me a friend. Or maybe he thought it would look bad if his personal guard was revealed to be working against him. Did you know his father was killed by a member of his own council?" He shrugged. "We were not killed. He didn't grant us our wish to take in the orphaned children in the mines, and we still had to be punished, but I wouldn't have to watch Berwald die."

"As you can see," he gestured at his missing arm, "our lives came at a price. Mutilations. He took away my shooting arm, and Berwald lost his eyes. Edelstein made me watch as his new Captain, my old subordinate, took them out. He joked that they were never much good to see with anyway." He fell silent, but no one else dared speak. "He cannot see our sons grow up. You have my undying loyalty. I'm no good as a soldier, but I can train people. Let me do what I can!"

"Oh, we need your experience," Sadik squeezed his hand. "Few know more about Roderich III than you. I'm sorry for what happened to your family." The two exchanged a smile, then Sadik turned to Lovino and Xavier. "And it seems we have some new people for you to train. We are grateful for your assistance, but can we have your loyalty too?"

Lovino tried not to squirm.

"Yes," said Xavier immediately. Lovino nodded.

Sadik didn't look satisfied. "Do you swear to commit to this cause and fight with your all?"

"We swear," said Lovino, who had committed to nothing in his life except being as petty as possible.

"You swear on your mothers' lives?"

"Yes," replied Xavier. Lovino hesitated.

Sadik raised an eyebrow. "Getting second thoughts?"

"No. My mama's dead. Childbirth. Thanks for reminded me."

"My apologies," Sadik bowed his head, "your…"

"My grandfather. Yes, I swear on his life." He was an idiot.

"Welcome aboard," Sadik shook both their hands, squeezing them within an inch of their life. "Can we get you here at 7 tomorrow? And try to recruit some people! Friends, family, anyone you can trust. We'd love to see some new faces but be careful who you tell, of course."

The boys nodded and stood up to leave.

"Oh, sorry," said Sadik, "I never caught your surnames."

"Do we have to?" asked Xavier.

"Humour me."

"We'd rather not."

"I swear on my son's life that I will never divulge your identities, even under extreme torture." Sadik put a hand on his heart. "I will take every secret here to my grave."

"Alright, it's Xavier Martinez Rodriguez," Xavier groaned. "You're dramatic."

"I know."

Lovino bit his lip. "Lovino Vargas."

"Vargas?" Now both Sadik and Tino were looking at him curiously, "sorry, how did you say your mother died again?"

Lovino frowned. "Childbirth."

"I see," Sadik shook his head slightly, "well, anyway, see you both tomorrow."

The irony of Arthur explaining democracy is not lost on me.