A/N: Hey, everyone! Still working to build up momentum on Pickpocket and more chapters to Not a Cellist. I'm slow, though. Please bear with me!

In the novels he had read, in both a mansion and an apartment, Tony had always imagined starvation as missing lunch, and feeling really, really hungry by the time dinner rolled around. It was a hollow feeling in his belly, and he just wanted to fill it. Starvation only lasted a little while, and then it was over and done. That's how he had always experienced it.

After spending a few weeks on the streets, scrounging through trash cans, begging, and occasionally snicking a Starbucks muffin from somebody's purse, Tony wondered if he would ever eat again. He could feel his ribs, and he had lost weight, not to mention how tired he was all the time. Some days, he could barely summon up the energy to crawl out of his cardboard box and go looking for something to eat.

Other kids didn't really bother him once they figured out he was just some stupid undersized runt who had nothing to offer. Tony figured it didn't help that he was really, really bad at interacting with other kids. He never got to see anyone when he was with Dr. Yinsen, so when they made fun of him or even just tried to talk to him, Tony got really sarcastic and mean.

The result? An ugly gash at the end of his right eyebrow. It turned out kids didn't like it when their intelligence was insulted. Not that any of them were that smart anyways.

In the end, Tony decided to start walking until he couldn't walk anymore. It surprised him how adults were able to overlook a scruffy street urchin, but it served him well enough as he ducked through crowds and headed towards Central Park. He liked to stop there, and watch people with families. Real ones, where the mothers and fathers were attentive and alive. The kids got food and hugs, and were wearing clothes that were clean and warm enough for the onset of fall.

He shivered reflexively as the wind picked up, kicking up piles of leaves and swirling them over the sidewalk. He liked the leaves and their bright colors, but he could have done without the wind. Trudging on, Tony caught sight of a rough looking man in a brown leather jacket, seemingly unaffected by the chilly breeze. He had a fast food bag sitting next to him, rolled down to reveal two burgers and a sleeve of fries.

Tony wasn't sure if he'd ever drooled that much in his life. Surely the guy didn't need both burgers, right? The idea to take one rooted itself in Tony's brain. Dr. Yinsen's voice echoed in the back of his head, saying that stealing was wrong, but Dr. Yinsen was gone and Tony was hungry so sometimes doing the wrong thing was necessary.

He had spent hours watching other kids pickpocket people and make it look easy. He had the theory down, he was just worried about the follow through.

"If you want to eat, you've got to take it first," Tony growled under his breath. He could do this.

Stealing burgers apparently wasn't Tony's forte. The attempt to steal the guy's burger ended with Tony hauled up by his hood, dangling from the guys grip like a rag doll. He kicked and struggled, but the guy wasn't fazed.

"What do you think you're doing, bud?" The man asked, popping a fry in his mouth to chew while Tony mulled over his answer.
"Nothin'."
"Didn't look like nothin'."
"Well it was. Nothing, that is."
"You try to steal food often?"
"Does it matter?"

The guy gave Tony a good shake, keeping him in the air while reaching for another fry.

"Sure does. Where are your parents, kid?"
"Home."
"Where's home?"

Tony squirmed uneasily, tilting his head to the right.
"That way?"
"You sound so sure," the guy muttered, waving a fry in front of Tony's nose before eating it.
"Do your parents know you're wandering Central Park in filthy clothes? Did you know I've lifted sacks of potatoes heavier than you?"

Tony snorted, pulling at the neck of his hoodie, which was starting to choke him.
"Not my problem."

"I'll let you down if you start answering me honestly," the guy growled, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

Was he one of those 'Candy + Windowless Van' guys? It didn't really matter, because candy nor not, Tony was kind of screwed. Unable to do anything else, Tony nodded.

He gasped for air when his hoodie stopped pressing against his throat, but he was quick to notice the guy still had a hand fisted in his hood, the other preoccupied with unwrapping a cheeseburger.

"Alright, kid. We'll try this again. Where are your parents?"
"Dead," Tony ground out.
"Guardians?"
"D-dead," Tony hiccupped. It had been a couple of weeks, but it still gave him nightmares. He missed Dr. Yinsen.
"Orphanage?"
"No."
"Warm place to sleep at night?"
"No."
"Hungry?"
"Yesss," Tony hissed, wishing the guy would stop being a jerk and either let him go or feed him.

The guy moaned around his first bite of cheeseburger, Tony's stomach growling in time. He yelped when he was hauled up onto the park bench, swallowed by his hoodie and the shadow of the man next to him. A cheeseburger dropped into his lap, and Tony didn't care if he cried like a girl. It was food. He fell upon the burger, scrambling to rip the paper off and cram as much of it as he could fit in his mouth.

"Slow down kid, you're gonna make yourself sick," the man chided, which had Tony slowing his bites and taking time to chew. He'd never been allowed burgers, and it seemed so unfair now as the flavors filled his mouth. This was delicious. He licked his fingers after, identifying ketchup and mustard, not ashamed to eye the man's fries, which were shoved at him with a gruff sigh.

With the cheeseburger and fries scarfed down in record time and his tears wiped away, Tony slumped against the bench, drifting in a haze of content. He was still hungry, but it had tasted so good, and he felt like he could relax.

"So. No place to go at all, eh?"
"No," Tony murmured, closing his eyes to the sun and taking deep breaths. This was when the guy was supposed to pat him on the head and send him off to freeze to death, without any weight on his conscience.

"Good. We just lost our courier, and happen to have a job opening for an errand boy. You look like you would fit the bill."

Tony opened one eye, frowning. Was he hearing things?

"Don't look at me like that. Charles would skin me alive if I let you run off on your lonesome. Plus, we can pay you under the table. Saves money somewhere. Up and at 'em, kid."

The guy stood up from the bench, stretching his arms above his head, hissing in satisfaction when several vertebrae popped. Tony sat up straighter on the bench, wringing his hands nervously. Was he supposed to go with this guy? Just like that?

"Time's a wastin', punk. I don't have all day, and you could do with some dinner and a change of clothes."
"Where are we going?"
"Westchester County, New York."

Thanks for reading! Reviews are always welcome!