Raivis's POV

It had been a couple days before I was able to look at the blank envelope I had taken from Mattie's old house. It was someone's office maybe? I sat on my mattress with the envelope across from me. I was reaching for it when Emil entered the room. I should mention that we shared a room. Feli and Lovi shared a room with each other, being brothers and all, and Matt and Bella roomed together, with them being the oldest. Only Feliciano, Lovino, and Antonio had actual bed frames but Lovi said that he was saving up to buy the rest of us some as well.

Emil had definitely changed from when I first met him, more than just his hair color. He seemed more at ease, like he was settling back into a sense of a family. He let his guard down around us, but when in public, it was up full force. I'm rambling, aren't I? Back to the story then. Emil looked at me and then the envelope. In a fluid motion, he put his backpack down and sat facing me on the other side of the envelope.

"Where did you get this?"

No point in lying to him. "Mattie's house."

"Open it."

"Really?"

Emil smirked. "Do it. I'm eager to learn."

I nodded and reached for the envelope again. I opened it and there was a letter with a newspaper article with the headline STREET PIRATES PLUNDERING COMES TO AN END.

Emil took the clipping and examined it closer. "It says that these "Street Pirates" were arrested under vandalism, assault and battery, theft/larceny, arson, fraud, and drug possession charges. The article also says that it was a group of twelve young adults and three minors. Eleven of the twelve are going to federal prison for 25 years and the remaining one escaped capture with the three minors. The search is still on going for those that are missing. This is dated 25 years ago. Antonio would've been eleven, like you." Emil looked up when he said that last sentence. "Read the letter."

I nodded and started to read one of the handwritten letters.

Antonio,

It has been twenty years since Alister was sent away. I admit miss you and Eliza, even though I can't deny that I am happy here in university. Francis has been very kind to me, I think you'd like him. You two are similar, in a way. It is doubtful that I will ever send this letter due to the fact I have no idea where you are now. I still think you would be close, you always loved this city. I hope you find what you were looking for and that you have left our old life behind. We're not pirates anymore, as much as we liked to pretend we were. But that was when we were young, we know so much more now. I hope I'll run into you again someday. Maybe I'll invite you to my wedding. Francis says that we'll get married as soon as we're out of school, and we'd love to adopt too. He's one of the few people who can stand my English Grouchiness, as you call and Eliza loved to call it. Anyhow, I wish you the happiest of lives and may I have the same, as selfish as this may seem.

Your Brother in Spirit,

Arthur Kirkland.

"Isn't that Matt's dad?" Emil asked.

I nodded. "I think so." I handed him the second letter. "Here you read this one."

He took it and started to read.

Antonio,

I can't begin to say how glad I was that you were able to make it to my wedding. I had no idea you knew Francis. I can't thank you enough for keeping our secret, even though it hurt my heart pretending not to know you. We finally adopted, like we said we would. We now have two beautiful twin boys, Alfred and Mathieu. They look so much alike except Francis says that their eyes are different colours. I wouldn't be able to tell them apart if they didn't have such different personalities. Alfred is so full of energy and Mathieu is so quiet it's like he's not even there sometimes. That's going to bite me in the arse someday, I swear. I decided to take up writing as Eliza often said I should. Maybe I'll be published someday. Wouldn't that be grand? I'd write about us. Everyone would pass it off as a work of fiction, I'm sure, but when you and Eliza and the others see it, you'll know it was true. I have no idea what I'd call it. The paper dubbed us as Street Pirates, perhaps that's what I'll call it. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think? I'm fairly certain that this letter won't reach you as you didn't tell me where you live. I'm not about to ask my husband either. Personally, I find this therapeutic, like confiding in a diary almost. However, I'd much rather talk to you than a blank book. I can imagine how you'd react to what I'm writing and I can't get that feeling from a book. I send you my love.

Your Brother in Spirit,

Arthur Kirkland-Bonnefoy

"Hey, Bella wants to know what you guys want for dinner— what are you guys looking at?"

Me and Emil's head snapped up and we froze when we saw who had spoken. Standing in the doorway was Matthieu Kirkland-Bonnefoy. I had seen what he had looked like when he was younger, Lovino swiped a family photo of when he was about ten, I want to say. He looked really different now. His hair was in his usual loose ponytail and his glasses were perched on his nose. He always took his contacts out when he got home. Mattie wasn't Mattie unless he was wearing a white t-shirt with a flannel over it and ratty jeans. To sum it up, he looked like he was ready to either fight or hike at a moment's notice. He walked over to us and looked at the paper in Emil's hand. His face went white when he read the signature at the bottom.

"Where'd you get that?"

Emil and I said nothing.

He reached out and gently took the letters out of our hands and sat down. We let him, he needed to read these. He pushed his glasses farther up his nose and silently started to read.

"Are there anymore?"

I finally found my voice. "One more." I handed it to him. "It's all yours to read."

He took a shaky breath and started to read.

Antonio,

Today, my heart has broken into a million pieces. I found my son Mathieu lying dead in a hospital bed. He committed suicide. I can't believe it! I should've paid more attention to him, now I can't because he's gone. He's gone and there's nothing I can do. Francis weeps for his son and Alfred morns his brother. I'd give anything to see Mathieu's smiling face again. Oh, Antonio, where are you when I need you most?!

Yours,

Arthur

Matt's voice broke while reading the letter aloud and silent tears were streaming down his face by the time he was finished. Emil and I moved to either side of him and hugged him.

"Matt, they loved you," Emil whispered when he had calmed down a bit. "Why did you leave?"

Matt took a shaky breath. "I-I didn't know... I didn't think they would notice... Maybe, I thought this would make them..."

I pulled the news clipping from the envelope, as well as the other two letters. "Do you know anything about these? Have you seen them?"

Matt wiped away the rest of his tears. He read them over. "I don't know anything about this. Street Pirates, huh? It has a nice ring to it. I'd love to know more."

I exchanged a look with Emil with a look. "Well, I know someone we can ask."

"Who?"

Emil gave him the are-you-kidding-me? look. "Really?"

Mattie seemed to get the hint. "Oh."

"We don't have to if you don't want to," I said quickly. I wouldn't want to make him comfortable.

He shot us a smile. "Then you shouldn't have gotten me intrigued."

"You don't mind seeing your family again?"

Mattie was silent for a moment. Then, he moved so he was sitting on my mattress. He motioned for us to be beside him. He had me and Emil snuggled into his sides. We all looked at the wall in front of us.

"No, and it's weird. They did notice me, but in a silent way. I wasn't as much trouble as Alfred," he chuckled a bit. "But they're not my concern anymore and life moves on. I made my choice. You guys are important to me, like the little brothers I never had. You two and Bella and Feli and Lovi and Toni are my top priority right now. I can't worry about my old family, I have make sure we're all safe." He looked at the news article again. "Vandalism, assault and battery, theft/larceny, arson, fraud, and drug possession charges, huh? What the hell were you thinking, old man?" Mattie muttered.

"I'd put it to the adrenaline rush," Emil put in. "There was always a certain rush I got when Bella and I pulled a successful scam. It makes you feel alive, getting away with that sort of stuff."

"That must feel pretty good," Matt muttered. "Let's do it. We can visit my old man later."

"Do what? Go out on a stealing spree?" I clarified.

"Yeah, we need some groceries and stuff. I'm low on cigarettes too." Matt ruffled Emil's hair. "And you're going to need a touch up soon. Your blond's starting show."

Emil subconsciously touched his hair. He face hardened. "Let's go."

"Let's go be the next generation of Street Pirates."

I couldn't help but feel the adrenaline build up within me. I lived on the streets since Eduard died but always stayed within the law. I couldn't deny that this felt exciting. It felt wrong, but exciting, kinda like butterflies in the pit of my stomach.

We heard a door shut and Matt looked out of our bedroom. "Shit, Toni's home early. You two go. Teach Raivis to live a little, Em. I'll keep Toni busy," he smiled and nudged us out the door. "Try not to get caught," he said with a wink as he shut the door

Emil took my wrist. "Come on, let's get Matt his cigarettes before he starts going through a withdraw." He lead me down the steps and through the alley behind the convenient store. "Bella and I used to raid here all the time. Security's shit, honestly. It's like they're asking to be robbed."

"It's that easy?" I was skeptical. It seemed to good to be true.

Emil nodded. "How'd you get stuff before you came to La Casa de Toni?"

"Dumpster diving."

His face twisted in disgust. "Dude, no."

I nodded. "The first time I attempted to steal Toni caught me."

"That's rough buddy."

I shrugged. "I got what I needed and found something better."

Emil rolled his eyes. "Now I know why you smelled like literal trash when we met. Whatever, let's get this over with."

AN: You would not believe how often I edited and re edited this chapter. It was slightly longer but I ended up trashing it. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about this story or Of Skin and Scales. I will finish them if it kills me. But, hopefully you enjoy the story and it won take me a year to put out the next chapter.

I don't own Hetalia or its characters