Previously on Pick Pocket:

"Tuxedo guy?" Wally made an effort to calm down, building up his wall again. "He looked… rich?"

Barbara smiled, looking like she was inwardly laughing at something. "His name is Richard Grayson."

Wally felt his jaw drop.

Again.

"Richard… Grayson? But- but that's Wayne's kid!" Everyone- even street urchin runaways from out of town- knew who the richest men in Gotham were. It was impossible not to know about them with all the power they held in this city. Half of the rich side was a bunch of commemorations for the Wayne ancestry, and then of course there was Wayne Tech, one of the leading technological engineering industries of their time. Wally had read about some of their work in the thrown magazine's he'd find, and had even known about them from his parents years before. The Wayne Enterprise was a formidable face on the Gotham city.

Wally had even once heard rumors even that Bruce Wayne stuck his hand in some underhanded business, because how could he be so powerful- so high that Lex Corp had trouble keeping up? Supposedly whatever it was would drop the FBI on Mr. Wayne in seconds if he was ever caught. Looks like the rumors were true.

Wait, that was so not the point! "I- I saved the Richard Grayson? But- him?" He saved Richard Grayson? The first ward Bruce had ever taken on? "Isn't he a gajillionaire? Why didn't he have body guards, or something!?"

Barbara was taking his shock in stride. "He thinks he can take care of himself, but he's pretty needy honestly." For some reason swerving her eyes away from him and to the mirror with a smirk, like she was trying not to laugh at some joke.

Wally didn't get it. "Well, he did kind of kick their butts after he got his hand free." He was trying to put the pieces together, to see how he fit into this. "So that means you guys are friends with him?" Well goody, nothing like a well funded crime syndicate to make the world a better place.

"Oh yes. Him and 'Wing are very close."

Barbara looked like she was on the verge of giggling, but Wally honestly had no clue what was so funny. He could only assume that 'Wing' was Nightwing. But the way she said it… "So…" He frowned, trying to make sense of her tone, "what, are they're gay for each other?"

That got a response. Wally quickly averted his eyes as the girl fell out of her seat in hysterics, her short dress inching up just a little too high as she fought for air. Wally had the strangest feeling he was on the receiving end of a glare, but he didn't know why.

"Oh- oh kid." Barbara, finally recovering, quickly made herself more presentable and sat back in the chair. "Yes. Absolutely." She nodded firmly, her mouth fighting another grin. "You hit it right on the head; they're gay."

"Accept, no, they are definitely not."

Wally jumped, taking a few steps away from his chair as Nightwing melted out of the shadows. When did he even get in?

Barbara wiped a hand through her mussed tresses, not fighting back her grin. "Don't be like that, 'Wing. You could be."

"No. I really couldn't." He sent a glare at Wally, and the ten year old had the distinct impression he should have kept his mouth shut.

"Well, why'd Wayne's kid send you after me, then?" He blurted out, quickly trying to switch tracks to keep the dark assassin from wanting to knife him. He already had one gut slice, thank you very much.

Weirdly, and it was hard to tell with that domino mask, Nightwing's expression softened. "He doesn't want kids like you having to live on the street, especially these streets."

"He's a terrible softie." Barbara lamented, her face void of any tell emotion even as Nightwing sent another disgruntled glare at her.

"Well I can solve that easily." Wally jumped in, watching their heads turn towards him. "I can be off of Gotham streets in less than three hours, just give me a bus pass anywhere, and I'm gone!"

"To do what, more pick-pocketing? More running from people who could help you?" Nightwing shook his head, folding his arms across his chest. "Especially after what you did for him, he wants to return the favor, give you a place to live, a chance at a different life."

"So he sent you?" Wally couldn't help but point incredulously.

"You don't make it easy for the right side of the law to track you." He commented smoothly. "So yeah, he sent me. If you don't like it, it's your own fault Grayson took an interest in you." The rogue gave sent him a teasing grin. "And when the money maker is interested, that means we play fetch for him."

Wally couldn't help but feel his gut wrench at the idea. He saved one guy, one stupid rich dude, and his already precarious position had literally been flung out the door. Bad enough the underworld was scrutinizing him, now he has a man with infinite money and connections looking to play the part of Mr. Brownlow*. If any of them found out, got a whiff of what he could do… "So what's going to happen?" He asked quietly, wondering how soon he would get a chance to bolt.

"So what's going to happen," Barbara quickly jumped in, eyes calculating, "is you are now a member of the Justice Gang."

"What!?" Wally didn't even notice NightWing's incredulous echo. Of all the things he could think they'd do to him- this wasn't expected. And highly unwanted. "I- no! I can't be a part of some- some-" What could he say? Criminal group? It's not like he hadn't been a part of one before, it's not like he wasn't a criminal (technically). But he's never done anything to intentionally harm someone, just to get by! The Justice Gang, on the other hand, had a list of grade-A assassins, mercenaries, smugglers, hackers, and who knows what else! He knew they didn't push drugs from the other gangs in the area, and everyone knew how they felt about human trafficking after the dock's massacre two years ago, but they were none the less big leagues when it came to crime.

NightWing, who had been staring weirdly at Barbara, finally snapped out of it, his voice coming out casual. "Please, like we'd trust you with any big job. But he doesn't want you on the streets, and we happen to be good employers. We're placing you in a runner."

Wally felt his heart plummet at the words, working to breath normal. "A… a runner?"

"You know, an errand boy." Barbara jumped in, a satisfied smile on her face. "You know; 'Get this', 'Take this to so-and-so'. I'm sure you'll do great. Of course we'll put those quick hands of yours to use too." She added musingly.

"I only pick pocket to get by, though!"

"Well," the dark assassin drawled, "now you'll be pick pocketing so others can live even more comfortably. How thoughtful of you."

"And what's to stop me from running away?" Wally blurted again. He was panicking again. He couldn't- he couldn't join an organization like this, this is why he ran, why his parents died- because of people like this! "I will! You can't keep me here, you can't make me join!"

The domino mask narrowed, and Wally was once again reminded how like a demon this man could look. "We'll tell."

All blood drained from his face, barely registering Barbara's surprised turn and small "'Wing?" inquiry.

No, no. He couldn't possibly… how would he know…"… what, what do you mean?"

"Your guardian." NightWing casually reminded, like he didn't just drop a figurative boulder on him. "Sure, you can run. I'll even give you a few days until you think you're safe again. And then we'll catch you, and throw you right at his feet." He stepped passed a now stone faced Barbara, following Wally as he backed up until he hit the wall. "And what do you think will happen then, hmm? Personally, I'm growing increasingly interested to see who this person is that you're avoiding so much."

Wally wanted to hit him, to punch that smirking mouth until he knocked his teeth out. Does this mean he knew? Does this mean he knew who Wally was running from, and why, and he was still going to throw him at the his feet? "I should have known," he whispered at NightWing, just quiet enough that Barbara couldn't hear the venom he spoke with, "people like you are always the same."

He didn't care. In that moment, he didn't. The first chance he got, the second NightWing left him, he was running. He didn't care where. He didn't care how. He didn't care if he had to drive himself into the ground, he didn't escape one murderer only to be forced to work for another.

"It's not a forever thing, Wally." The man backed up, his voice still hard. "But until Grayson says differently, you're not getting away."

Grayson. Maybe that was the key? Maybe, if he somehow got around all the freaking goons and security, he could confront the gajillionaire and let him know things are fine and he can leave him alone (not to mention put in a good word about getting rid of NightWing).

"Wally." The dirty kid turned back to Barbara, who casually shoved NightWing away in what Wally would have taken as disdain, if he didn't know better. She's with them too. He thought sadly. Why? Why her? This would have been so much easier if he didn't have that face looking at him so imploringly. "I personally don't care what the rich brat wants," she started, "but I can't in good conscience leave you out there Wally. It's dangerous, and someone is mad at you enough to send SportsMaster. We can help figure this out, keep you safe until whatever hit is on you is taken care of." She knelt down, placing her hands on his little shoulders. "When someone comes after you, it'll mean they come after us. And trust me, no one gets away with putting a hit on the Justice Gang."

"You're one of us now, kid. And the Rogues look after our own, you can bet your life on that."

He didn't know why he thought of Len right then, not after working so hard to forget, but that basically summed up his day, having unwanted memories dredged up. "You won't…" he trailed off, knowing he had no choice but to join, and still was hoping, "you won't make me… kill… right?"

Barbara's eyes narrowed, and for a second he feared she was going to tell him off, that of course Wally would now have to kill, but instead said, "Not a chance. We end life for justice, and making you do it against your will is hardly justified." Wally almost had to snort at how much she sounded like she was a cop, like she really was on the side of justice.

"And if I join…" he turned his eyes back to NightWing, his countenance hardening, "you swear you won't tell him where I am, you swear."

The leader stiffened at the attitude. "I'm a man of my word."

If nothing else, Wally tacked on mentally.

He looked between the two again, from the demon's face to Barbara's all too familiar one. He didn't want to do this, he shouldn't do this. But he had to keep going, he had to finish his mission. And if this is what it took, until he could get away, then he'd do it. For real justice.

"I'm in."

Yep, so I updated. You thought I'd automatically go for the bromance between Dick and Wally? Heheheh, so funny… No. Real friendship is formed through trial and fire, and I plan for a lot of trial (with the occasional fire). For those of you who don't know who Mr. Brownlow is, wiki 'Oliver Twist' and find your answer there. ;) For those who did know, I congratulate you for being familiar with the 'classics'.

Coming up- Wally meets more members of 'the Team', and Barbara chew Dick out for being a… we'll, you know.