(no subject)

[sayshazam]

Billy didn't necessarily like stealing things but he didn't really have a problem with it either. He never stole except when he couldn't afford to buy something and it was an actual necessity and right now it was necessary that he got some new clothes.

He didn't care that other kids at school gave him shit for looking and being poor. He was poor and they were just a bunch of spoiled kids who didn't know how good they had it. His monthly stipend from the city just barely stretched enough to cover his apartment and dog food. Toiletries were hard to come by but not impossible and forget about being able to afford shoes.

Finding food for himself was a bit easier, what with school breakfast and lunch, but he was hungry all the time. He stuffed himself every chance he got but between his training with Korra and a tight budget, he didn't even realize how gaunt he looked.

But some new clothes would help, which was why he was outside a thrift shop drop off area, waiting for the right moment. A family pulled up and they had a son that looked about Billy's age. His eyes caught sight of exactly what he needed... a box of clothes with some sneakers sticking out. Pulling up the hood of his ratty hoodie over his head, Billy started at a bit of a job, like he was just a kid on the track team out for a run.

Once he got close he picked up the pace, turning it into a full on sprint after he snatched up the box. He heard shouting behind him and he picked up the pace. His training with Korra might have left him ridiculously hungry but it also made him fast. Not only that, but he was pretty sure the store employees weren't allowed to give chase.

Sprinting as hard as he could for a few blocks he risked a glance over his shoulder and when he didn't see anyone in pursuit he gave a laugh and ducked into an alley to see what he'd score. Alright, maybe there was a bit of a thrill to stealing.

Comments

[babochka_x899]

In the middle of taking Seymour for a walk, Alex wasn't going to check out what the shouting was about other than to glance in that direction, but then a familiar face, somewhat obscured by a hood came racing past, and her curiosity was piqued. Continuing along their walk as if she hadn't seen anything, she watched for where Billy turned a corner.

No one was following him, so odds were he'd stop and regroup before running too far. And when she picked up the puppy to peek around the building at the front of the alley, she was glad to see she'd been right.

"You could've done that better, you know," she offered conversationally, having put together what must have gone down based on the bits she'd seen.

[sayshazam]

Billy would have immediately taken off running if it weren't for the fact that he was in the middle of changing shoes. The new ones were a bit big, but he'd grow into them, and his current ones were literally falling apart.

When someone spoke up from the end of the alley though his head snapped up to look, his hood falling off to reveal shaggy hair that hadn't been cut since before he arrived in Darrow.

He wasn't sure if he was relieved if it was someone he knew or not. He'd talked to Alex twice, once as Billy and once as Shazam. The first time she had flashed him and the second she had helped him check on the passengers of a fallen train.

"What are you talking about?"

[babochka_x899]

The puppy wriggled a little tucked against Alex's side, and she nuzzled its head with her chin talking too softly for Billy to hear as she moved to stand in the mouth of the alley, but where she could keep an eye for any belated pursuit coming their way.

"People steal for three reasons," she told Billy as though the conversation was as innocent as talking about the weather. "Compulsion. Thrills. Or need. Grab and dash can work for any of them, but with the latter, it's usually better to go with a more subtle approach, because you might be in a similar situation in the future."

[sayshazam]

"Maybe I'm just doing it to get back at my parents," Billy said, narrowing her eyes at her. She sounded like a teacher or a parole officer or something. Whatever she was, Billy hated it when people acted like they knew him or why he did something or anything about him, really.

"You don't know anything about me, anyways."

[babochka_x899]

"Maybe not." Alex was willing to give him that much. But this, plus their conversation way late in the night Mardi Gras had her fairly certain parents, or decent ones, weren't in the picture.

"But I do have some experience ripping off thrift stores."

[sayshazam]

Billy didn't believe her. He didn't really have any reason to think that she was lying but no reason to believe her either. At least he knew better than to assume that just because she didn't look like she didn't rob thrift stores now she hadn't in the past. Still didn't mean she knew anything about him.

"How would you have done it?"

If she hadn't called the cops on him now she probably wasn't going to, so Billy went back to putting on his new shoes while keeping an eye on her.

[babochka_x899]

Right. Showing him boobs only built so much rapport. This would take more effort.

"To start, scoping the place out would've shown they take all new donations into a back room to be sorted, priced, whatever. And that room has a door to the alley behind." Alex had been in the thrift shop a week or so ago; noticing exits was automatic.

"They also use a lot of volunteers. I'm guessing lots of turnover there. So when a likely family drove up, I'd meet them before they got to the door," Alex was pretty sure he'd done that part, although not the way she would've. "And offer to help them carry their donations in. Make them think you're with the shop. You lead the way, stick close enough to the family as they go in so the actual shop workers think you're their son, but enough ahead, nobody thinks too much of it when you head straight to the back room, and when you're out of sight, out the door."

[sayshazam]

"Whatever, I got the box of clothes just fine," Billy said. He never would have thought to do it like that, to sneak around and pretend like he belonged there. Belonging places hadn't ever come naturally to him and besides, it would be more of a risk that people would see his face.

Still, if he got inside he'd be able to take his time maybe and be a bit more selective. That and they might not even realize anything was missing. But whatever, he had gotten what he needed.

[babochka_x899]

"Yeah, you only got caught by somebody who isn't interested in turning you in or yelling at you about it." He probably had guessed that by now, but it didn't hurt stating it directly. "Even if she was just taking her puppy for a walk."

Deciding Billy probably wasn't going to try to run at this point - although there was still a chance - Alex set the puppy back on the ground, but kept hold of his leash. Seymour could get squirmy when he didn't want to be picked up, and if she wasn't going to have to chase Billy down, she didn't have to worry about puppy legs keeping up.

"Tell me you at least got a decent haul."

[sayshazam]

"I got caught by somebody who doesn't know where I live or even my full name," he pointed out, more to be contrary than anything else. If he thought that Alex would turn him in he would have been gone by now. Decent shoes or not he would hope that he could outrun some woman carrying a dog.

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out one of the treats he always had on hand for his own dog and tossed it at the little guy. Billy figured that he could spare one of them. He probably should have asked her if it was okay first but whatever.

"The clothes are a little big," he said, glancing at the box of clothes. "Which is good, I can grow into them. I will grow into them."

Billy was short, but he wouldn't always be short. He'd grow into the clothes.

[babochka_x899]

The puppy was immediately interested in what Billy had toss his way, and Alex tugged gently on the leash and told him to heel in French. When Seymour came toward her, she knelt down to pet him with one hand while reaching with the other for the treat to give him. "That was nice of Billy, giving you a treat," she said sweetly along with praising him for sort of heeling. He was still little and just beginning to learn.

"Thanks." Then so Billy didn't get the wrong idea or anything, she explained. "I'm trying to train him now before he grows up and weighs as much as I do."

Speaking of growing up, "A little big is always better than a little small in clothes. You're probably outgrowing them faster than you can keep up these days, aren't you?"

[sayshazam]

"No, I'm not outgrowing them yet. But I will! Soon."

Only not if he continued to live on the meager rations he had for food. He didn't think that poor nutrition would really stunt his growth, that was just the sort of crap they told you in school or at the home to get you to eat your vegetables, but it probably didn't help.

Watching her dog, Billy thought it was kind of weird that she was speaking to the dog in some other language. Not that the dog would understand English any better than whatever language Alex was talking to it in, it just seemed kind of weird.

"You have to train your dog to come to you?"

[babochka_x899]

Whether Billy was outgrowing his clothes or just wearing them out, the point still held. He'd needed newer ones, and had done what he had to to get them.

"Just teaching him not to take candy from strangers." So to speak. "A lot of people think rotties are aggressive. So it's better to teach him how to behave while he's still a puppy." Part of that, for Alex, included his basic commands being in a variety of languages, to keep strangers from knowing how to command him. Sometimes she thought that was a little paranoid. Mostly she didn't care if it was.

Knowing how to deal with Seymour was the easy part right now. Alex had talked with the vet and the people at the pet store, plus done some research. Navigating Billy's pride was trickier, and she was more grateful than ever for Nikita putting up with her in the beginning. "It was nice of you to give him a treat; do you always carry some with you?"

[sayshazam]

"That's stupid. Things aren't born bad, they get bad because of how they're treated."

He'd seen enough people beat down by life until they had no choice but to be cruel back to survive. Some people were perfectly normal, perfectly decent people until someone came along and gave them something they'd never had before and it turned them.

"Yeah, my dog really likes them. He knows he gets one a day, so the longer the day goes on the crazier for it he can get."

[babochka_x899]

Alex nodded. "It is stupid. But it happens. So being strict about training now is my way of keeping bad things from happening to him later on." Hopefully it would work better with Seymour than when Papa had been teaching her as a child.

"Sounds like your dog's pretty smart. He knows to enjoy a good thing when he gets it. How about you? I'm thinking ice cream." Remembering how their first conversation started, Alex gave him a fake stern look. "Actual ice cream, not metaphorical. Want some?"

[sayshazam]

Billy's eyes automatically tracked down to her chest at the mention of ice cream. It was kind of involuntary and kind of hopeful all at the same time. When she mentioned actual ice cream though his eyes snapped up to her face.

"Uh, no, I don't need ice cream," he said. The truth was, he badly wanted some ice cream that wasn't the crap that the school served, which was both cheap and healthy, which meant it was barely a step above cardboard. Ice cream was a luxury though and one that he couldn't afford. "Thanks though."

[babochka_x899]

Alex knew that look. Both looks, actually. The former she'd been getting from guys for years, and most of them higher on the creeper scale than Billy. The second she'd usually been the one giving the look, and it made her all the more determined. Pride could be a tricky thing, but she wanted to help if she could.

"C'mon. I'm in a good mood for a change. I can splurge on a couple of ice cream cones if it means I'm not stuck eating alone."

[sayshazam]

Well, if she was going to pay for it then it might be okay so long as she wasn't pitying him or something. Pity boobs were one thing, pity ice cream was something else. She seemed to be pretty sincere though and nice enough.

"Alright," he said. "I guess if you really don't want to be alone we can go get some ice cream."

[babochka_x899]

It wasn't pity that made Alex invite him for ice cream. It was having been where she thought he was, or close enough, and remembering the woman who'd wanted to give Alex a better life.

"Thanks." She was glad he hadn't been difficult about it, but really, ice cream. It was enough to keep the smart-mouthed response to herself, in favor of treating it like he was doing her a favor.

"We probably want to go that way," she suggested. "Unless you want to walk past the thrift store again today."

[sayshazam]

"Whatever way you want is fine," he said, shrugging. If Alex wanted to go past the thrift shop then Billy would, just to show her that he wasn't afraid to do it. Also, he didn't think she'd actually take him past the place to begin with.

"You're the one that wants to eat ice cream with someone."

[babochka_x899]

"Yeah, and if we have to talk your way out of trouble when somebody recognizes you or the stuff you grabbed, it'll be that much longer before we get any. And I don't know, that sounds like an awful lot of trouble to not eat alone."

Assuming Billy will tag along, Alex clicks her tongue for the puppy and starts in the direction she'd suggested.

[sayshazam]

Billy followed after her, figuring that not delaying ice cream was a good enough reason as any to not walk past the shop again. Box still in hand, he followed after her, pushing his hair out of his face. It was really getting shaggy, maybe he should shave it? Except he didn't have clippers.

"So did you have a bad day or something that you need ice cream so badly?"

[babochka_x899]

"Nope. Bad days, I don't have time to even think about ice cream." But Alex's bad days tend to be really really bad. Frequently bloody.

"I'm in a good mood. We're finally starting to see signs of spring. Seems like a good enough reason for ice cream to me." She almost asks if he's thinking about a haircut, the way he's tugging at his hair, but she's not sure how he'd take it, and she doesn't want to come off as a meddling adult.

Even though she kind of is one right now.

[sayshazam]

"Spring is good," Billy agreed. When the weather got nice enough he would probably ditch his apartment and start living somewhere else to save money. He'd found a decent place around the train station and there were actually a few places in the school he could probably crash at if he needed to.

"Warmer weather means more time outside for, uh, activities."

[babochka_x899]

"Right. Activities. Is that what we're calling it now?" Sure he could've meant something illicit, but Alex didn't think so. Not this kid, not this time. She's kind of curious if he'll try to pass it off as such now she's calling him on it.

She'd been on the streets in winter, and she wouldn't recommend it. If she could prevent it even in the spring, even better.

[sayshazam]

"I don't mean stealing!" he said.

Really, that could be done in any weather although it was definitely more fun to run when the weather was nice rather than when it was super hot or cold. Plus this time of year people were getting rid of a lot of their winter stuff.

"Just meant doing stuff like, um, going for walks or something. Having to run outside for PE. Stuff like that."

[babochka_x899]

"I didn't mean stealing either. Or going for walks. Or running for PE."

She had been thinking to hold off on the conversation until they had ice cream as distraction, and so he'd maybe be less likely to take off in the middle, but when plans, by necessity, had to change.

There's no sympathy in her tone when she speaks now, more like giving a briefing. "I'm going to guess food - and you're what? Sixteen or so? Food's a big deal - treats and food for your dog - and I know you take good care of it just from how you've been today - and rent. Rent's the big one. School takes up most of your day, and nobody wants to hire some 'kid with no experience' and with limited availability. And the monthly deposit only goes so far."

It's a lot of words, a lot of seeing more than he probably wants people to see. But before she loses him completely, "I had really good teachers in how to read people. And I spent over three years on the streets, on my own. I've been there."

[sayshazam]

Billy was torn between being pissed that she nailed him so well but also impressed that she had survived on the street for so long. If she had actually done it. That wasn't something that people usually lied about though. They'd tell you that they knew what you were going through or how hard it was but they never gave specifics because they didn't really know.

"I'm getting along fine," he said, jutting his chin out in defiance. "School gives two meals a day and I know all the you can eat places. And my dog isn't that big yet. I already know where I can live this summer if I have to. I'm fine."

[babochka_x899]

"I know you are." It was neither patronizing nor placating. From everything Alex could see or put together, he was getting along pretty well on his own. But unless he was planning on summer school, those two meals a day would end right along with classes. And yeah, if you were going to stay on the streets, warm weather was better than cold, but she didn't know for certain just how unbearable summer might be in Darrow.

"I am way too young for the 'when I was your age' thing, so, I kind of hate saying this, but you're doing a lot better than I was at your age. A lot."

[sayshazam]

"I've been doing it for a few years," he said with a shrug, not wanting to let her see how much the praise meant to him. No one had ever told him they were impressed with anything he had done, let alone with living by himself for so long. Just because he was making it work though didn't mean that it wasn't hard.

"I've lived in homes to and I just... I hate it. I can just barely live off of what I get here but that's just living. Sometimes it's just... what if I get caught stealing shampoo? No one steals shampoo for a thrill, the cops would figure out right away I was living on my own and they'd put me in a home and I'd run away from that and live on the street so... why not just live on the street? Now that I think about it... I'd probably live more comfortably on the street."

[babochka_x899]

"Or with a roommate," Alex suggested. Having contingencies and back-ups had been drilled into her years, and it was automatic coming up with something for his situation without even really thinking about it.

"Then you'd have an address for the school or anybody else who got curious, and it'd be easier to show anyone who did try to put you in the system that you're capable of more than just scraping by. And you wouldn't have to worry about skeevy types or the weather - except for walking the dog."

[sayshazam]

"That would be like living with a foster family, no thanks," he said, shaking his head. The last thing he wanted was some adult around who was making sure that he was responsible. Kids his own age were just as bad because most of them weren't all that mature or just generally got on his nerves. Maybe if one of his foster siblings showed up, he could live with one of them.

"I don't need someone to be an authority figure, I'd just need someone to foot half the bill."

[babochka_x899]

Alex rolls her eyes. Had she been like this when she first met Nikita? Worse, probably, which would make this payback of a sort. "Hence my use of the word 'roommate' not 'guardian'. And it's not like I made any suggestions as to who that should be. Just... someone to foot half the bill."

[sayshazam]

"Where am I going to find a roommate then?" he asked.

There was no way that there would be anyone who was willing to room with a kid. Even if he had a guaranteed income most people wouldn't think that he was reliable enough. Either that or it would be someone that annoyed him.

"Put up an add on the internet and get a bunch of weirdo creeps offering? No thanks."

[babochka_x899]

"I'd skip whatever passes for Craig's List around here." She would avoid that no matter where they were. "Get to know people. You're bound to find somebody else who'd rather save money than spend it all on rent, and if you're lucky, they'd be someone you wouldn't hate sharing a roof with. It doesn't have to be any more than that. You might be surprised."

[sayshazam]

"I don't trust that many people to know that I'm living on my own," he said with a shake of his head.

There were a few people that knew out of necessity from when he needed to fake having a parent but he didn't think Helen or Vanessa were looking for a roommate. There was always Fred but... that was different.

"It's not worth risking someone trying to put me in a home."

[babochka_x899]

"You'll probably say 'no,' and that's cool." Alex held up her hands in surrender before even finishing her thought. This was pretty obviously a bad idea for a ton of reasons, but she liked the guy. He was... what she or Jason might have been if things had gone differently. Which meant he could also become like her and Jason if things followed a familiar path, and she'd stop that if she could.

She counted off points on her fingers. "I know you're living on your own. I'm sure as hell not going to put you in a home. And I could really use socking some funds away for the future."

[sayshazam]

It took Billy a while to realize that she was talking about herself. He could sort of understand why she was doing it, wanting to help out another street kid, he was pretty sure the saving money thing was bullshit. Billy really didn't know anything about her though, everything she told him could be a lie. Alex had shown him her tits though and that had been pretty awesome.

"Are you very messy?" he asked, figuring he might as well find out of there were any reasons to reject the offer out of hand before he seriously considered it. "Because if there's one thing you learn in orphanages and foster homes, it's how to keep clean."

[babochka_x899]

"When you're used to not having much, you learn to take care of it," she countered. "I'm not messy." And there'd been the surprise inspections at Division too, when they'd look for contraband, but punishments for not keeping things up to regulations were the norm even if nothing unapproved was found.

"Obviously, I have a dog. I don't smoke. I don't drink, but don't care if other people do. I'm a pretty terrible cook. But I pull my share. Anything else you want to know?"

[sayshazam]

"You wouldn't go into my room without permission?" Billy asked, eyes narrowing just a bit. There was friendship and then there was the sanctity of privacy. When you weren't used to having a lot or staying in one place, everything that was yours was precious to you and you'd mess up anyone who tried to take it.

Alex seemed like she understood that sort of thing. The more he talked to her the more he believe that she really did spend time on the street.

"No looking through my stuff, right? And my dog can come?"

[babochka_x899]

"The common areas are fair game: living room and kitchen basically, and the hall bath has a lock. Bedrooms and anything in them are private space, entered by permission only." Alex paused a moment, an almost frown forming. "Unless there's an immediate threat of some kind, like a fire or not fun screams or something, but I don't see that being much of an issue." She'd just have to make sure not to bring her not-exactly-work home with her, that was all. But at least she wouldn't have to worry about him finding her weapons or the other gear she'd been collecting.

"We should probably make sure your dog and Seymour get along okay since they'll be rooming together too. I'm not going to make you get rid of your dog."

One more thing came to mind, and if it was going to be a deal-breaker, better to find out now. "I do have a... friend who I've said can crash with me whenever. He hasn't, and maybe never will, but he can sleep in my room if it ever comes up."

[sayshazam]

The way she says "not fun screams" and hesitates to say "friend" makes Billy make a face. It's not like he hadn't lived in foster homes where sex was going on but this was different, this would be in his place with a person he saw every day. Still, that was probably better than living on the street. He could afford some headphones if it came to that.

"My dog is too dumb not to like other animals," he said with a shrug. That was easier than saying that he'd accept her offer. "I'm sure he'll be happy to have a playmate."

[babochka_x899]

She could have told Billy it wasn't like he assumed with Jason, but her phrasing had been deliberate to fuel those assumptions and keep him from wondering too closely about Jason or how Alex knew him.

"So a doggie playdate in the park's no big deal. And I can make sure the second bedroom's ready for whenever you're ready to move."

[sayshazam]

"Alright. Play date with the dogs and- and I'll think about it, okay?"

Already he was pretty sure that he was going to take her up on her offer. It would be nice to not have to scrimp and save so much. Plus, she seemed to understand how to make this work. Besides, Billy could always change his mind after a bit.

[babochka_x899]

"Okay." He was going to say yes. She could see it in the line of his shoulders, the length of eye contact. But she didn't let that knowledge show and spook him off.

"But for now...you still up for that ice cream?"

What Would Nikita Do? take number whatever. Alex just hoped she wouldn't screw this up, leaving Billy to pay the price.