This is my first ever Oceans 11 fic. I've been into the movies for a long time and have been reading in the fandom for a few months. I don't own anything to do with Oceans.

I would like to thank Emerald Tiara for beta reading this fic for me.

First

The first time Danny sees Rusty is in the school corridor. Danny is in his final year at high school and is quite proud of the fact that he knows the names of every single person in the school, which is why Rusty stands out. Danny can tell that the kid is a few years younger than him, but the moment he sees him he knows that he wants to get to know him.

Danny watches as the kid reads a bit of paper, and then tries the combination to his locker. The locker doesn't open; Danny takes a step forward, about to offer help. But then the kid shoves the bit of paper in his pocket and begins to work. His fingers are long and quick, his hand moves over the combination lock expertly. The locker is open within two minutes and Danny is impressed, but he makes no move to introduce himself to the kid.


The second time Danny sees Rusty is in the principal's office at the end of the week. He is there because he skipped class, again. He assumes the kid's in trouble too, but then the principal speaks.

"So, Robert, how did you find your first week?" Danny watches as the kid rubs his finger over the corner of his mouth.

"It's Rusty."

"Pardon?" The kid sighs slightly.

"My name, it's Rusty." Rusty runs his finger over his lips again and then turns to Danny and holds out his hand. Danny is taken aback for a moment, but then he shakes it, surprised by how strong Rusty's grip is.

They leave the office together and by the end of the day they are discussing tactics and potential targets.


Over the next ten years Danny sees Rusty a lot, he sees him upset, he sees him happy, he sees him hurt and he sees him angry. He watches Rusty grow up, go on dates, even go to prison a couple of times. And then it all goes wrong.

Danny has the safe open when the police fill the room; Rusty is standing next to him and Danny doesn't think. He grabs hold of Rusty and begins shouting things, anything to make the police think that Rusty is just an innocent bystander. Rusty plays along but Danny knows by the stony look on his face that he's angry, because he's seen that look before.


When Danny looks around the court room he sees Rusty. He notices with some amusement that Rusty has dyed his hair to stay inconspicuous. Their eyes meet and Danny can see that Rusty is still angry, but mixed in with that anger is worry and desperation and guilt.

As soon as the trial begins Danny looks away from Rusty, because he has to stay strong and he knows that he will break if he looks at his best friend.

When the verdict is announced Danny looks over to see Rusty, but all he sees is the door swinging shut behind his best friend.


It is three weeks before Danny has any contact with the outside world, Tess has left him and Rusty has been too annoyed. When Danny gets back to his cell to find a box of homemade cookies waiting for him he knows who they are from, even though there is no note. After that he receives cookies every week; sometimes Rusty attaches a note, full of nonsense and stupid things that only Danny could understand. Every so often Danny opens the box to find that half the cookies are gone, and it gives him a certain satisfaction to know that even the grey four walls of the prison can't stop Rusty from stealing his food.


Danny's first thought when he steps into the fresh air is to go and find Rusty, it's the natural thing to do. And then he realises that it probably shouldn't be the natural thing to do. He realises that his first thought should have been to track down Tess.

But he goes to find Rusty anyway.