AN: I'm not going to apologize for the delay, because that would be pointless. I hope you like this anyway.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Ocean's movies.

I will apologize, however, for some run-on sentences. They're intentional, though. My younger Rusty tends to think in run-on sentences when he's really upset or really excited.

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Two weeks before Rusty's graduation ceremony, Danny showed up at his window in the middle of the night. This wasn't what startled Rusty. Despite Brenda's anger and watchfulness, Danny hadn't stopped visiting Rusty between cons and teaching him as much as he could without actually taking him on a job. And that was something Danny had been adamant about - Rusty was not allowed to accompany him on his endeavors. He could hear all about it later, stories stretching long into the night, easy laughter and stolen snack food filling his room while Brenda pretended to be asleep down the hall and Michael really was asleep because he took sleeping pills these days instead of drinking himself to unconsciousness and, and… Danny was slumped over the window sill, half inside and half out, and Rusty would have laughed if he wasn't bleeding.

"Could I get a little help here?"

Rusty did laugh at that, but it was brief and strained. He tugged at Danny's arm and drew him into the room, steadying the older boy as he stumbled. When he pulled his hand back, it was slippery and red and reminded him a bit of the time he'd spilled cherry sauce on himself when he was six. Rusty mourned the confection, because he knew that he wouldn't be able to eat it again for some time after this.

"Danny-"

"This is why you don't come with me," was all Danny said before collapsing onto the bed.

"You're bleeding on my sheets," Rusty retaliated, not happy to be interrupted. "Explain."

"It was the perfect plan. I would have made enough to retire if I'd wanted to, but I'm too young for that."

"Danny-"

"I make the plans. You know that. And it was perfect-"

Rusty clamped a hand over Danny's mouth (the one that wasn't bloody) and glared at him until Danny understood. If you interrupt me again, I'm going to make that wound bigger.

"Your detail guy fell through and you had to go alone," Rusty summarized the Danny babble, keeping his hand firmly in place. "Things went south and you had no one to watch your back."

Danny nodded reluctantly.

"This is why you should take me with you."

Brown eyes flashed dangerously and teeth sank into his palm. Rusty did not pull away. Anger dimmed to affectionate concern and a tongue soothed the bite. Rusty still didn't pull away, though his stomach did a little back-flip. He would not be pushed, or conned, or placated. Finally, Danny huffed a defeated sigh and blinked at him. Rusty let go and retreated to his bathroom to find the first aid kit. If he took an extra moment to compose himself, what did it matter? He needed to wash off the blood, anyway.

"Two weeks," Danny said when he returned, trying very hard to sound casual. Rusty tried very hard not to smirk triumphantly. "We leave that night."

Rusty stayed silent for the next couple minutes as he tended to Danny's side, noting the angle of the wound and guessing what type of knife had been used. When he was finished (and had meticulously scrubbed his skin clean again), he laid down beside Danny and hummed thoughtfully.

"What's the plan?" Rusty asked and Danny flashed that same smile he had when they first met.

"Plans. And don't interrupt me until I'm done."

Rusty rolled his eyes and Danny spun idea after crazy idea and Rusty stopped being incredulous and started making suggestions by the third one and Danny (impressed and inspired) forgave him for the interruption only because Rusty's inputs were genius and Rusty knew without a shadow of a doubt that the next two weeks were going to be the longest in his life.

---

Brenda paced. Michael watched. Rusty bit the inside of his cheek.

"I know what you're doing."

The cheek biting didn't work. Rusty laughed and Brenda froze at the carefree sound she'd never heard from him during the daytime (or in her presence).

"Does it matter what I'm doing?" Rusty asked and Brenda couldn't answer. "I thought so. I'm sure you're a great mother, Brenda. Danny's too nice to have two bad parents. But I'm not interested in having a mother."

I'm interested in having Danny, was left unsaid. Both adults heard it. Michael raised an eyebrow. Brenda flared.

"You're just a kid to him! He feels sorry for you!"

The insult slid off Rusty like water. Nothing could ruin this for him.

"He understands. There's a difference."

---

Rusty was restless. No one would know that if they looked at him. He was very good at controlling himself in public. It was almost a compulsion. Almost? Danny's voice mused inside his head. Rusty mentally shook himself. Focus.

"For a detail man, you sure are scatter-brained."

No reaction. Rusty was solid.

"For an idea man, you sure like to nit-pick."

Danny approved of Rusty's confidence. Approved more of Rusty's (convincing to anybody but Danny) disinterest in his approval. The other seniors waiting in line never heard their conversation, but they did notice Danny. Some even recognized him. There were murmurs and heads nodding. Rusty felt a brief flicker of bitterness, as they would now all think that Danny was the reason Rusty had gotten away with so many scams.

"Thought I'd look you up, kid," Danny said with a pat on the shoulder, loud enough for the others to hear. "I've heard you're good."

The bitter feeling disappeared. Rusty shrugged Danny's hand off dismissively.

"I am good. We'll talk later."

Another ripple of interest went through the line, this time for Rusty. Danny walked away and nothing but a slight crease on his forehead revealed his amusement. Once Danny was out of sight, Rusty returned his attention to the high school principal and waited for his name to be called. When the moment finally came, Rusty didn't even glance at the audience. He didn't care about them. His days of compliancy were over. He could be whoever he wanted to be. Back in the locker rooms, Rusty put his diploma in the gym bag he'd brought with him and reached into the collar of his graduation gown. Danny had slipped him something when he patted his shoulder.

A plane ticket to Las Vegas.

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AN: So, yeah… Did the jumping around annoy you? Fortunately, we're getting to the parts where I have more to work with and can stretch scenes instead of hopping. Be on the look out for Reuben next chapter.