Waiting For Sunrise - The Books Of Beginning AU

17. Fitting In

Michael was most certainly not cut out for a life of crime. It was one of two issues he was having while living amongst the Savages. He loved everything else - learning magic, being among his own kind, not being yelled at by cruel adults or beat up by older, stronger boys. He loved having a roof over his head and good food in his belly and access to spellbooks and potions. He loved having a home. He could tolerate his new companions stealing for a living. He was just really, really anxious and uncomfortable at the thought of participating. Yet here he was, doing just that. Why? Well, that was because of his second problem. 

"You boys ready to go?" Abigail asked.

"Aye-Aye." Jake mock-saluted the girl.

"Beetles? Michael?"

"We're ready," Beetles exclaimed, "so unless you wanna start a hiding-on-a-fire-escape-and-doing-nothing-shop, let's go!"

Michael heaved a heavy sigh. He had never been particularly good at making friends. He was awkward and shy and moved orphanages a lot, not to mention the trust issues that came of not knowing where his parents were and why they left him. He was also more keen to have his nose in a book than to roughhouse, something that often had boys of his age turning looking down on and taking him for a weakling. The church was better, because there were children of many different backgrounds, all with magic in their veins, so he had something in common to grasp onto. But he still felt a bit apart from the familial culture of his new home. Then, at breakfast, Jake and Beetles had been teasing and needling him, telling him that he needed to come on his first heist to really spread his wings and feel at home in New York. And, like an idiot, Michael was so eager to fit in and make friends and connect, he agreed, thinking that doing what the other Savages did was the way to win their hearts.

He was sincerely regretting it now, as his hand kept a white-knuckle grip on the fire escape rail. His trouble with making friends and desire to overcome that problem, combined with the constant prodding of the two boys in his company had led him into a situation that was far more difficult than he had been expecting. 

Oh yes, Michael was definitely not meant to be a criminal. 

Abigail slid off the fire escape, her practical boots muffling the sound of her landing. Jake and Beetles followed with less grace, but still a great deal of skill. Michael went last, and nearly fell on his face. 

"Rough landing?" Beetles sniggered.

Michael shot the younger boy a glare. "Let's just get this done."

Abigail led the three boys down the alleyway and towards the well crafted coach parked in front of it. The vehicle was clearly owned by someone wealthy, as it was maintained very well and in even better condition than most buggies, though it was not as strangely opulent as the very rare automobiles that the Savages knew the wealthiest of the population were starting to acquire. 

The door to the carriage was locked, but Abigail made quick work of changing that, using a hairpin to jimmy the lock with ease. She swung the door to the carriage open and went to climb in, but was pulled back by Jake.

"Wait!" The boy exclaimed, "this is Michael's very first thieving expedition. Let 'im go first."

Abigail rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. Michael, move your ass inside before the owners come back. Your first lesson is that speed is a thief's ally."

Michael gulped nervously. "Are you sure you want me to go in first?" 

"Yep!" Beetles said cheerfully, "unless you're too chicken, that is."

Michael's face burned red. He would not be a coward, not this time. Not in front of the first people he actually, truly wanted to like and respect him. He had agreed to do this, dug his own grave in the process, and now he had to lie in it. There was a sort of bravery in that, right? He had always wanted to be brave.