2 Chapter 2
It was always awful for Dio in class, but he couldn't do anything about it.
Their small group split up after classes.
While some of them went into the alleys, most of them decided to go to the park, which was a good spot to do Ma Gunn's daily tasks.
Dio and a few other kids chose the alleys. Gotham has many dark alleys, and he didn't like pushing his way through a busy park.
In one of these alleys, Dio stood with his back to a trash can in the back of a dirty restaurant and tried his best to ignore the smell of trash.
After a while, he got used to it, and now he simply waited.
Dio's target didn't appear immediately.
A man in a coat carrying a woman's purse walked down the alley with a casual smile. He looked through it carefully and took valuable things out, hiding them in his pockets.
Finally, with a grin on his face, he dropped the purse with the useless items on the ground and continued on his way.
As he passed by Dio, Dio moved quietly forward like a cat, hid behind the man, and grabbed the gold watch he had seen him put in his back pocket.
The stealing was perfect. The thief didn't even realize it and continued on his way.
As for Dio, he turned around and walked in the opposite direction. He still didn't like stealing from other people, but he had to do it because he had to.
Luckily, it looks like he's good at it, though he had to try many times before getting there.
Dio was hit in the face so hard during one of them that he thought he was getting arrested.
When the person he tried to rob saw that he was a child, they were kind and didn't do anything more. Despite that, they left him on the cold, dirty ground.
It's funny that the person Dio tried to rob taught him the skills that have helped him stay alive. After getting beat up and failing several times, he tried to rob someone else a year ago.
This time, he thought the person was a prostitute and thought she was someone else.
He was caught before he could steal. It surprised him that she didn't hit him or call the police. She instead taught him the basics.
She told him that stealing is an art, and he finally agreed with her. Dio doesn't like stealing, but it takes a lot of skill to do it without being noticed.
This is especially true in Gotham, where everyone goes around with their eyes on their stuff the whole time.
After completing the main task, he usually spends some more time on the streets.
Dio might be able to steal from another thief or gangster and hide the money he makes in a stash in a tree in the park on his way home.
This isn't the end of his dreams. Due to his age, he can't sell any of the stolen items. This means that Dio's small wealth includes both the things he saved up for the future and the money he stole.
There isn't a lot of money around here, but Dio worked hard all year and saved almost five hundred dollars, which is a lot of money for a child from a shelter.
There are far more serious limits than just not being able to sell stolen goods when living in a child's body. Dio really can't handle being a kid by himself.
Dio needs help renting a place to buy food or clothes. When a child is seen trying to buy a lot of groceries or rent an apartment on their own, a sensible person would call the cops.
They would take him into the care of Child Protective Services and send him back to Ma Gunn for sure if they caught him.
Dio could run away and try to survive on the streets of Gotham, but that would be much more dangerous than where he is now.
So, the money he has collected so far is practically useless.
If Dio were to go to some other city, and even if he were caught, he'd have a chance of ending up in a safe place where he could stay until he became old enough to fend for himself.
But Dio believes Ma Gunn has eyes everywhere.
When he returned to the shelter, it was already getting dark, and the first thing he saw by the gates was one of the older kids.
The older kids are those who can't stay in the shelter anymore because they're adults, but kind Ma Gunn hires them for services like security or cleaning the building.
It's such a pretty excuse, but in reality, these older kids are already part of Ma Gunn's organization, so those who stay here are ordered to watch over us and "raise" us.
They're all arrogant sadists, but their leader is even worse, and he has issues with him, and the reason is simple - jealousy.
"Look who's back early; it seems Ma's golden child didn't have a lucky day,"
The guy at the entrance said.
"I'm luckier than ever, Dylan."
Dio didn't want to talk to him, but he answered.
Dylan was very fat and almost two meters tall. The thing that made him stand out was his big stomach, which he got by stealing food meant for kids.
"Kid, I told you to be polite when you talk to me. Or do you want another slap?"
Dylan said while smiling with his crooked yellow teeth.
"Come here and give me today's loot. I'll personally hand it over to Ma."
Dylan said with his hand extended and opened his palm.
Dylan is clearly trying to make him look bad for being a good kid.
Dio always brings valuable things with him, like earrings, watches, and cell phones, while other kids steal useless things.
Therefore, Ma Gunn is protecting him, and this security keeps Dylan from being too bold. But it looks like he's gone too far today.
"I'll personally hand over my task to Ma, just as I always do."
Dio said it as confidently as he could and prepared to run to Ma's office.
Dylan's smile fades, and his hand clenches into a fist.
"You arrogant brat, I'm warning you: give it to me immediately, or I'll flip you over and shake you until I get what I want!"
As Dio doesn't move, Dylan approaches him. Dio dodged to the side to avoid being caught and ran past him through the gates.
He doesn't stop and starts heading for the door. Dylan turns and chases after him.
"Stop, you little brat!"
he shouts.
Dio doesn't listen to him, but he still stops, and he does too, as the "kind" lady who runs this place appears from the building's main entrance.
...
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