Damian knew what he was doing was dangerous, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He felt tired of being useless. He was wearing a worn-out sweater and jeans. He purposefully messed up his hair and used some dirt to dirty his clothes and face.
He looked like the average street kid. In the league, he learned a technique. To thoroughly blend into his role, no matter how small, he needed a solid role.
That is why he was no longer Damian. He was Michael. He was the only child of his parents, Mary and James. His mother worked all sorts of jobs from home. She was a seamstress who made and fixed clothing for her clients.
She also cooked and cleaned for their elderly neighbors. She also took some jobs at night, but Michael was not allowed to talk or ask about it.
His father was an angry drunk who beat him and his mother. Thankfully, he left them one day and didn't come back.
It was the weekend, and his mother saved enough to take him to the cinema. He was so happy the whole time. Excited about the movie and being out with his mother. They were walking in an alley when it happened.
He didn't remember much of it, but he retained a man in black clothing with a mask covering his face. He remembers a gun pointed at them and his mother arguing with the man. He remembers the sounds of gunshots and falling down.
He remembers waking in a hospital and being told that his mother was dead. He remembers running away. He knew that he would be taken to the orphanage or his father, and he didn't want that. He wanted revenge.
So he escaped. Ran into the streets and didn't look back. He wanted to find that man and bring him to justice.
Michael was tired and hungry. He couldn't remember the last time he had a full meal. He didn't have many options. If he didn't stick to the alleyways, he could get picked up by cameras, and the bats would be upon him.
He had to be careful. While he didn't want to give out his knowledge about cameras, he also couldn't risk getting seen by them. So, the number of places he had access to and how he could get to them was limited.
He was currently looking in the dumpster behind a restaurant for something edible. They just closed for the night, so the trash was untouched. It was also in a middle-class area, so there weren't many people searching the trash for food.
Damian was busy thinking as he was searching. How would his life be if he escaped the league but didn't join Father? He knew that he was pampered. He was lucky to be born to reach families on both sides. He never had to struggle for food, education, and basic living expenses.
But he knew he was deprived of another element. Love. He didn't realize that he craved the feeling until he saw the way his father treated his siblings. He was gentle and caring, and no matter how many arguments they had, he would make sure to make it up to them.
He made a space for them. Somewhere, they could feel safe and protected. Somewhere, they could lower their guards and be themselves. To be honest about who they were and get accepted. But it wasn't the same for him.
He knew that it was selfish, but he wanted the same thing. He tried, tried so hard to earn it, but it was all so frustrating. Maybe if he had the courage to walk away, he could finally find a family of his own. His siblings weren't blood-related to him, but they all found a family in each other.
Even if Damian was not as close to them, he still couldn't bring himself to lose them. He cared for them. But it was hurting him. Hurting him so much that he couldn't have a close bond with them. He didn't know how much longer he could bear it all.
He snapped himself out of it. He was not Damian. He was Michael, and he had a mission to do.
It was the third day now. Michael finally made some progress. Earlier today, he was approached by some other children. They saw how he expertly navigated around the streets and wanted to recruit him.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in working with others. I'm just looking for some information." Michael said.
"Oh, so you think you are better than us?" The 14-year-old girl who was the leader of the group said. She was tall and lanky with curly brown hair and hazel eyes. Their group consisted of 8 people, and she was the tallest, if not the oldest.
"I never said that. I just have a mission I have to complete, and I'm looking for someone." Michael said, trying to keep his tone calm and friendly.
"And what makes you think we will help you? You made it clear you don't want to join us." The girl huffed angrily, folding her arms in front of her. There were hums of approval from others behind her.
"a thousand bucks," Michael said.
"What?" The girl asked, shocked.
"If you find information with proof, I will give you a thousand bucks. I will give you 200 when you bring the information and the rest when it's confirmed." Michael said.
"And what makes you think I won't just beat you up now and take all the money?" She said, taking a step forward.
"Do you think I'm stupid enough to carry that much money on me? I have it well hidden." Michael said, clicking his tongue.
"And what guarantees that you won't just escape with the money when we give you the information?" she said. She seemed interested now.
"As I said. Once you find solid information, you come to me. I will show you the money. You will give me the information and take it. then you can come with me to confirm the information, and once it's done, you take the rest." Michael said.
"Fine, but what information are you looking for?" the girl said.
Michael smiled.