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As soon as the significantly bigger hands clapped over her own, Boss knew she'd fucked up. That's what she got for going for someone who looked rougher round the edges. Typically she steered clear of anyone who looked straight out of Crime Alley, but times were desperate and as the eldest everyone was depending on her. But clearly this man was smarter than he looked, despite the clean attire, thick layers that indicated some form of decent income, hood up, beanie poking out from under it and a face mask pulled up over his face. It wasn't that cold, surely, it was only just dipping into October but the man looked freezing. Still, back to the matter of hand.
"Now that's not very nice." The man started until his green eyes darted down to look at Boss. She missed them widen a fraction, too busy trying to struggle her way out of the hold.
"Hm. You know what, keep it." The Man shrugged, letting go of her hand that was still clasping into his wallet that she'd tried to yank from his pocket without him knowing. "Let me get my library card out of it first though." He added. Boss frowned. He didn't look like the kind of person who read and that was clearly a gun strapped to his hip. It was clearly a trick.
"Tell you what," The man continued before Boss could escape, the wallet wasn't worth whatever he was going to suggest, she knew exactly the kinds of things people in this part of two would suggest. "How about a little lesson on how to be a proficient pickpocket?" He continued. Boss was confused, that wasn't what she expected, letting go of the wallet in shock. The man smiled under the mask, if the visible movements through it were anything to go by, grabbing his wallet to pick out a library card and a piece of paper with a scribbled phone number on it before holding it out to Boss.
"Sorry, I needed the number too, my boyfriend keeps changing his burner number every couple of weeks and I don't have the time or energy to memorise them." The Man scoffed and Boss hesitantly took the wallet.
"This a trick?" She asked slowly, grateful she still had Hood's knife tucked in her waistband.
"Nah, I've been where you are, street kids gotta stick together." The Man waved it off. "You want that lesson or not?" He asked and Boss found herself nodding despite every fibre in her body begging she turn and flee and not be a fool. But there was something familiar about the man, that somehow under all the layers, she knew this man with bright green eyes.
"Wait really? Awesome. I'm Jason, nice to meet you." He offered, hands sliding into his pockets that had Boss a little on edge but when he didn't move them out again she relaxed a little. "Sorry I run cold." He mumbled as though he could spot her anxiety a mile off.
"No names." She shook her head, because she wasn't stupid, okay?
"Aye, Aye. Well, my young protégé, can we make a pit stop for a coffee first? I don't think I can give any kind of guidance when I can't feel my own fingers." Jason asked and Boss reluctantly nodded because the man's Wallet was now tucked into her shirt and he could have just shot her when she'd tried to take it and instead he'd given her the relatively nice contents (if the slight bulge to the wallet was anything to go by.)
"Bu' I took all ya' money." Boss naively stated earning a chuckle from the man who pulled a hand from his pocket, only to dip it into his beanie and pull out a black card.
"Never keep your money all in one place, that's tip number one for once you've stolen something. Keep it in a couple of different places because if someone does pickpocket you and you don't realise, they're only going to aim for one place. If you've got more elsewhere you're not left with nothing. " Jason supplied. Boss nodded, that made sense.
"So, coffee, yay or nay, I don't want to make you uncomfortable." Jason asked and Boss nodded again, slower but agreeing to the offer.
"Great, I know a nice little hole in the wall place, just down here, the owner gives me discounts usually."
Boss followed, quietly, slyly reaching to keep a hand on the blade, lest the man try anything funny, but he didn't and a little walk later found them at a ratty coffee shop.
"It might look shit but let me tell you, they are second only to my Grandfather's." Jason proudly stated, holding open the door for Boss to enter.
"Hey Jason." An older, plump lady called, she looked kind of terrifying, buff arms and shaved head, teeth pointy and yellowed.
"Nina, darling, can I have one of your wonderful Coffees and… Do you like Tea kiddo? I ain't giving coffee to a baby."
"'M not a baby… An' tea is a'ight."
"And a Tea as well, Nina."
"Comin' Right up, love." She smiled, displaying her scary teeth again.
"Nina's actually pretty high up in the drug trade." Jason started, voice low as the two sat at a table near the window. "She's good though, doesn't deal to kids or use them as runners, and if she has food left at the end of the day she gives it to Hood to share amongst people on the street." Jason added, Boss eyed Nina critically as the woman hummed and prepared their drinks.
"Drugs are bad." Boss finally spoke, eyes still on Nina as she did, missing Jason's expression of pride.
"That they are. But if the trades stay away from kids, it's an improvement. It's something Batman could never stop."
"Hood does good?" Boss asked, despite knowing first hand that Hood wasn't all bad, after all he'd housed her and the other kids during a Joker breakout, fed them and let them sleep in his house.
"I like to think he does, but it depends on who you ask." Jason shrugged as their drinks were brought over. Jason pulled out the card but was stopped by Nina.
"None of that, Jason, it's on me, who's your friend?" Nina asked, putting the drinks down on the table.
"Thanks Nina, you're a star. And this is my pickpocket protégé for the day, going to give her some pointers."
"It's no worries, remember to bring that boyfriend along with you again sometime, I haven't seen him in a while."
"I will, I promise."
"And, the best place is always 12th street, you get quite a few folks from Wayne Enterprise lurk around there on their lunch break." Nina added, shooting a look at Boss.
"Um, thank ya' ma'am." Boss responded and earned twin laughs.
"I ain' ever heard no one call Nina 'Ma'am'" Jason laughed.
"Just Nina will do, love." Nina corrected and then departed, "enjoy your drinks."
Boss turned to the tea to eye it, critically. Her rules were to not eat or drink anything given to her, because who knew what nefarious plots people had.
“Want me to drink a bit first, to ease your worries?” Jason asked and Boss nodded, grateful when Jason pulled down his mask and sipped the hot liquid, taking a couple of mouthfuls before passing it back to Boss, wrapping his cold fingers around his own Styrofoam cup before sipping the coffee, a moan of relief rippling through him at the warmth flooding his body. The pit made him run cold so winter was a bitch.
“So, more tips, remember to take note of what you’re wearing, nothing that has any chains or bells, nothing that can make a noise. You also want dark colours, you don’t want to stand out, keep everything dark.” Jason continued, watching as Boss nodded, taking internal notes while sipping her tea with a grateful look on her filthy face.
“Fingers like this.” Jason continued, making pinching motions with two fingers that Boss imitated. “Like a crab, perfect.” Jason smiled, a fond look gracing his features as he worked a giggle from the typically stoic girl.
“Another great tip is using a distraction, if you can get a partner, one of you works as a distraction while the other gets in and out with the goods.”
“What kind of distraction?”
“Depending on the person, typically falling into them works well or stopping them to ask for directions or money. Anything to take their focus.”
“Okay…”
“Only if they look unarmed though, don’t put yourself at risk.”
“Okay.” Boss echoed, nodding her head slowly.
“So, let's give it a test, I’ll be your distraction?”
The two left, drinks finished, shooting Nina a wave which she returned. Boss didn’t think she looked as scary now, she was nice and hadn't drugged her drink. The afternoon was spent with Jason making a fool of himself, playing the part of a lost tourist, a drunk, a confused businessman, flowing into every role perfectly despite his attire not matching, accents changing at the drop of a hat and easily allowing Boss to snatch up wallets and phones with ease.
“Thanks Jason.” Boss mumbled, unable to show her gratitude to the man.
“No worries, Kiddo, remember your lessons and stay safe, and if you ever run into trouble, feel free to throw Hood’s name about, he’s around for kids like you, after all.” Jason smiled behind his face mask, shot the girl a wave and then departed, leaving Boss to scurry back to the others she’d left under Viktors care with more money than she’d seen in months. At least they’d eat well tonight.
Jason smiled to himself all the way back to his safehouse. The kid was doing okay since their last meeting, which was great and somehow she’d wormed her way into his heart. Roy would never let him live this down…