I want to give (another) big thank you to Miss Emeralds for the reviews and for the idea for this fairly big drabble. In her last review, she brought up the fact that, despite it not being flat out said in the movie, everyone (myself included) consider Jack a street kid and brought up the good question of how does Jack know how to drive? Well, here's my take on that. It's not the best, but I did my best. I hope you like it. :)

Category: Gen
Setting: Pre-NYSM
Characters/Pairings: Jack Wilder
Rating/Warnings: K+
Summary: Jack's first time behind the wheel of a car.

Disclaimer: Neither Now You See Me nor its characters belong to me.

Behind the Wheel

He was only fifteen when he ran away for the final time. He had tried to stay in the home, he truly had, but it just wasn't for him. He was young, but he was smart for his age and he was talented. He didn't need much, just a shelter over his head and enough food to keep him from starving. He could get by, and he did for nearly two years.

But all good things must come to an end, as they say, and when he was just a month past seventeen they did come to an end.

New York is a dangerous place, but that danger is multiplied for a young teenager all on his own with no one in the world but himself and a pack of cards. He made his living as a street performer, doing simple card tricks for anyone who would stop and then neatly pickpocketing them for any valuables they might have. It was only a matter of time before he pickpocketed the wrong person and that Tuesday was the day.

"Ladies and gentlemen," It had begun the same way it always had, with a loud boast that he was the next greatest magician. He allowed his trick to be caught, had easily slipped the man's wallet and watch into his own pockets and had begun his retreat. He hadn't planned on the man having friends and he defiantly hadn't expected them to follow him into the alley that cut to the place he called home.

"This will teach you to mess with us, brat." One of the three men snarled, grabbing him and pushing him up against the side of the building.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on!" Jack exclaimed, hands going up to grab the man's arms as he was picked off the ground by his jacket. "If this is about the watch, you can have it back. It's right here in my coat pocket.

"Oh we'll get the watch back." One of the other men replied. "After we teach you a lesson."

"At least let me take it out!" Jack exclaimed quickly, successfully stalling the fist that had been coming toward him. "It's a nice watch. Wouldn't want it getting ruined accidently, would we?"

The man holding him looked over to the third man, who nodded briskly. Jack was let down and his captors backed off, just slightly, but it was enough. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he began backing away slowly, just enough to put a little distance between them. The men followed him, and Jack knew it was now or never. Not sure if this would work or not, he pulled out the old cards that he always carried with him and grabbed the one on the top.

"What are you doing, kid?" the third man, the one he had pickpocketed, asked in confusion.

Jack didn't reply as he let the card go. His first shot was lucky and hit the man who had picked him up right on the nose. Not wasting any time, Jack grabbed and released as many cards as he could while backing up. When the cards had run out, he turned on his heel and took off toward the other end of the alley. He could hear the men chasing him and knew he wouldn't be able to outrun them for long. Thinking fast, he looked at the end of the alley and spotted a car with the lights blinking, signaling it was unlocking.

He had never driven a car before, but he had seen it done before. How hard could it really be? His mind made up, Jack ran out of the alley and to the other side of the car. The owner had already opened the door and was climbing in when Jack collided with him.

"I am so sorry," Jack exclaimed, maneuvering the man around and slipping the keys out of the man's hand and into his own.

"Watch where you're going next time!" the man snapped, wiping his shoulder as if contaminated.

Jack took that opportunity to slip into the car and slam the door shut. He could hear the man pounding on the door, but he locked the doors and slipped the key into the ignition. He stared at the dashboard in front of him, struggling to remember everything that he knew about driving which, to admit, wasn't much.

"Here goes nothing." He muttered, glancing over to where the men chasing him were closing in.

Pulling the lever down until it was lined up on the "D," he pushed his foot on the gas and took off from the spot, narrowly missing running into an oncoming car. He laughed as the car soared away from those chasing him. Watching the road carefully, he zigged in and out of traffic, ignoring the angry honks coming from behind him. He was surprised at how simple driving was, or maybe it was only simple because he wasn't concerned about obeying the law.

Running a red light, Jack laughed. It was nice being behind the wheel, even if he would have to ditch it soon. He knew one thing for sure, though. He would defiantly be doing this again.