A/N: UWAAAH! *slams head against the computer* Alfred makes this fic so hard to write! I now know why people write delinquent!Arthur~ He's easier to write… Bleh~ Anyways, I want to thank all you wonderful people who favorited/story alerted/reviewed this story! I'm so happy! x'D You guys have, once again, made me so happy! (: Well, here goes nothing X3

Matthew tried not to listen to his twin and Francis yelling. His cousin had tried to get Alfred into stealing something again. He tried to ignore the worsening aches in his body and attempted to fall asleep. This was one of those times that Matthew had wished he wasn't bedridden. Then he could go out and do those things instead of his older brother. He knew he didn't like stealing. Or anything bad for that matter.

"Fuck it, Francis! I'm not going to do anything anymore!" Matthew heard Alfred yell at the Frenchman. He's probably still feeling guilty about yesterday, the Canadian assumed.

"Well it's not like you have a choice. We do this to survive. The rent is due tomorrow and if you haven't noticed, ma chère cousine," Francis did not neglect to lace the term with sarcasm, "We don't have money to pay."

"What about you? Why can't you do it?" The American inquired.

"I would do it, ma cheri, but Mathieu looks worse than he did yesterday and I figured I should nurse him today. Haven't you noticed? So stop trying to delay the inevitable and do it already! Unless you want your brother living on the streets in his condition." Francis said in a hushed tone, hoping Matthew did not hear what he had said. But Matthew heard. He heard everything. He tried his best to hold back his tears. If only he was healthier. They wouldn't be in this mess…

Alfred's eyes widened. He hadn't realized… "F-fine." He mumbled. Francis sighed.

"You're still guilty from last night, aren't you?" The American nodded. The Frenchman ruffled the teen's hair, making it messier than it already was. "Don't worry. We'll get out of this!" He offered his cousin the most reassuring smile he could manage while giving empty promises that are impossible to keep.

"Y-yeah." Alfred smiled back, though he knew what Francis had said wasn't likely. But it wouldn't hurt to believe in empty promises, right?

"Be safe, Al." Matthew said softly as his brother walked out the door. Alfred smiled sadly.

"I promise." He replied and walked out the door to be greeted by gloomy, poorly kept streets.

Arthur trudged on the road to school. He couldn't sleep last night, as he kept thinking about the stranger with the deep blue eyes named Alfred F. Jones. He tried to stop thinking about him. What school he went to, if he's okay…. Is he okay? The Brit immediately shook the thoughts away. It was highly unlikely they would see each other again. For one, they met in one of the poorest parts of the city, which he only went through when he wanted to take a longer route home, helping the random residents whenever he wanted, or like the night before, give him time to dwell in all the work he has to do before he gets home… Obviously not safest things to do, but hey, he sort of liked walking through there (as a matter of fact, he was passing through said area)… and Arthur went to World W Academy. One of the top college preparatory schools in the world. These facts alone said a lot about how different they were. But they wouldn't see each other again. Right? As Arthur walked along, he saw a familiar figure clad in a bomber jacket run towards him, followed by an exasperated policeman…or security guard. When the figure got closer, he recognized Alfred's face, his expression was covered in guilt. Bewildered by the time the American got closer, the Brit thought of nothing except to get out of the way. And that was what he did. Alfred shot Arthur a grateful smile and kept running, guilt once more appearing on his features.

"Get back here, punk!" The policeman, Arthur realized, yelled after him. The policeman slowed down to a stop next to Arthur, putting his hands on his knees. "Damn. That kid's got stamina," the officer managed to gasp out. He turned to Arthur and shot him an annoyed look. "And you! Why did you let him pass you like that?"

"I-uh… Well, what else was I supposed to do? Let him run into me and becoming a victim of circumstance? I don't want to be late for school because some git decided to cause trouble. What did he do anyway?" The Brit wanted to know what Alfred did give him that sort of expression of regret.

"He stole sixty fucking dollars after flirting with the cashier at the bookstore." Arthur raised an eyebrow. So Alfred was a thief… So was all that food from the night before stolen also? "And he's Francis Bonnefoy's cousin. What would you do?" The officer added.

Arthur looked at the man in confusion. "Who?" What? Just because he came here often, didn't mean that he knew everyone here.

The man stared at him in confusion. "You don't know who Francis Bonnefoy is?" How could you no—", He then registered what uniform the student was wearing. "Oh! You're not from this part of the city, aren't you? Francis happens to be one of the most annoying, most perverted, sly, and obnoxious juvenile delinquents here. And he's French, so he has that irritating accent. He's always stealing things, running around drunk, and having issues with the fact people don't like public nudity. Since he goes out naked," the man grimaced. "Every so often."

How interesting. The American didn't seem like the type to do things like that. Or he was related to someone he already hated without knowing. "Oh. I see…"

"Well, you shouldn't be around these parts, kid. You can get mugged. And you'll be late for school. It's already 7:55." The policeman pointed out. Arthur checked his watch.

"Oh shit!" Never in his life had he been late and he wasn't going to start now.

Alfred slumped against a wall in an alley where he had turned to. He was so tired. He would have been caught if Arthur hadn't moved out of the way. The American thought he wouldn't move and let him get captured by the officer. He took the money out of his pocket. He still felt guilty about it… but he also felt something else… This time he wasn't thinking at all while he was carrying out his task. Not at all. He actually felt… alive. The rush of adrenaline made him feel… good. He then felt the urge to do it again. The American immediately pushed those thoughts away. He couldn't! Heroes don't think of committing crime, let alone liking it! He let himself drift off. He could get the other forty when he woke up. Just for a few minutes.

When Alfred woke up, it was getting dark. What time was it? Shit. He still needed to get forty more dollars. Matt and Francis would be worried about him. Mostly Matt though… He got up and started looking around. He had mixed feelings about his life now. Half of it was that stealing and all that other crap was wrong and that he shouldn't do it. The other half is that he knows that this is his life and he liked the rush it gave him. Sighing to himself, he got up and walked out of the alley, grateful he wasn't raped or something like that. He walked around, looking for nothing in particular. He then spotted the familiar mop of blonde hair and blue uniform. Without realizing, he ran towards the student.

"Hey, Artie!" He came to a stop before he could crash into the Brit, who jumped in surprise.

"W-what? A-Alfred! I didn't see you." Arthur stammered out. Alfred laughed.

"Hey! You remember my name! This is the third time I've seen ya in two days! Have you been hangin' 'round here lot?" The American said with a smile. He didn't know why, but he was very happy to see the student.

"Well, someone like you is not very hard to forget." Arthur mumbled. "Well, do you need anything?" He then wondered why Alfred was wandering the streets. Was he going to steal again?

"Nah." The American waved his hands dismissively. "Just wanted to thank you for letting me go earlier today." He scratched the back of his head. "Didn't know what I would do if I got caught…" Arthur frowned.

"Do you feel guilty?" The question had caught Alfred off guard.

"Well, yeah, I feel guilty. But it's not like have a choice. I don't like doing it." He then remembered the pleasant rush and his urge to do the task again. He once again shook that thought away. It was going to become habit he predicted. "And I didn't even get enough to pay the rent. What will Mattie do if we're on the streets?" He mumbled to himself. Apparently Arthur had heard. Mattie? He thought to himself. So there were two others in his life.

"You need to pay rent? How much money do you need?" Alfred looked at Arthur in surprise.

"Ah—wha— You…" Before Alfred could form a coherent question/protest, Arthur had already fished out his wallet from the brown book bag he was carrying around.

"If you can still talk, let me ask again. How much money do you need?" Arthur raised an eyebrow and tapped his foot, waiting for an answer.

Alfred's brain told him to accept the offer. But his mind was screaming at him not to accept. Something about he could handle himself and accepting help was for wimps. Before he could protest, he had answered the question. "F-forty dollars." He slapped a hand over his mouth. "W-wait! D-don't. I don't need it." Arthur looked at him, deadpan.

"And let you steal money from an innocent person? No." Alfred sighed and accepted the money.

"Thanks. Really. I really appreciate it. A lot."

"No problem. Now, you stay out of trouble, boy." The American pouted as the student turned on his heel. Boy?

"Hey! I'm at least a year younger than you!" He yelled.

"Of course, kid." Arthur waved his hand and turned towards Alfred. "What school do you go to anyway?" Arthur had been wondering that for a while.

"I don't." Alfred said, giving hints that he didn't want to discuss the matter any further.

"I see. Well, I have to head home now. Mum would be worried." Alfred felt a twinge of jealousy. Arthur seemed like the perfect person. He did the right thing, had the whole world ahead of him (since he went to World W Academy. Everyone who went there were extremely smart or overly talented at something), and he seemed to have a family who loved and cared for him.

" 'kay! Hope to see you again sometime!" He yelled after the Brit. Arthur gave him a small smile. Maybe I should pass by here more. Both of them turned around and went their separate ways home.

"Hey you guys!" Alfred yelled out as he got home.

"H-hi, Al." Matthew said softly. "We were waiting for you."

"Heyya, Matt! I got the rent!" Alfred smiled proudly.

"That's awesome." He said, followed by a fit of coughs. It was then that Francis decided to come into the area, holding a bottle of cough medicine.

"Bonjour Alfred~ Did you get the money?" Alfred nodded. "C'est bien!"

"Y-yeah." Alfred started feeling the guilt again. "I'm going to sleep now. 'Night." Matthew and Francis watched Alfred as he fell asleep.

"You can't keep letting him do this." Matthew said quietly.

"Well, what choice do we have?" Francis countered.

"Job?"

Francis sighed. "If only it were that easy. No one wants to hire 'Francis Bonnefoy's cousin' And what if I were to not return one day? How will you take care of yourselves?"

Matthew frowned. "Can we get out of this?"

"I don't know."

"I see. Well we should follow Alfred's example and sleep."

A/N: I hate the ending. I really do. ): Well, anyway, bad chapter is bad. Sorry. I couldn't think of anything else because Alfred wouldn't do what I wanted him to do. Hmph. Well, until next chapter!