Running against the tides

[Deleted]

Note: For this thread Cal is still with SVU.
TAG: David Loki

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Tuesday morning and was still early, about 9am, Cal had already been working at the PD all night - officially he'd been working since 8am Monday morning and all the way through until 8am this morning - and he was exhausted, he'd been given permission to just go home and sleep the rest of the day away but first he wanted breakfast. So he'd walked here and was now seated outside in the fresh morning air sipping coffee and eating a full load breakfast whilst watching the world go by, he'd left his cellphone in his pocket and left his backpack in the car back at the PD, he'd go get the car later when he finished breakfast. He just wanted to enjoy the sound of normality for a while now after so long running himself ragged.

But the case had been worth it, hard but worth it, and now he could sit back knowing justice had been served.

He was just finishing off his toast when he noticed him - A person was walking 'towards' him, he seemed young, his clothes were baggy and filthy, a huge short sleeved t-shirt barely even looking normal on him, and ripped and tiny trousers on his skinny scrawny filthy legs, his arms were covered in marks and his face was pale and thin almost gaunt. He seemed to be completely confused, walking in a zigzag line and looking around like he was lost and looking for someone, his arms hung limp and his hair was barely even hair, it looked like matted straw, his shoes were barely even that, they were old old trainers so old that they were now being kept together by tape, but even that was now falling apart.

What draw Cal's attention however, was the haunted look in the boy's eyes, the caution and fear, the confusion and disorientation, everything that screamed something was wrong.

Then as Cal watched, drawing nearer the lad suddenly lurched, darting at and grabbing a young brunette woman who was just reaching into her bag which hung on her shoulder "Shannon? Shannon?" He asked hoarsely and the woman shrieked before wrenching her arm away from the boy "GET OFF ME YOU FILTHY CHILD! BE GONE WITH YOU! DAVID!" She clutched her bag and the man with her shoved the child causing the boy to stumble back before turning and darting across the road, just narrowly missing being hit by cars, the horns seemingly confusing him as he ran across. Cal wasted no time, jumping to his feet he took off after the boy as the onlookers watched, murmuring amongst themselves before going on their way.

For such an unhealthy looking frail thing the boy had a lot of energy, he was already quite a way ahead by the time Cal finally spotted him and fought to keep up, weaving in and out of pedestrians as the boy continued to run.

Pretty running through what was the next block over, the boy seemed like he was just aimlessly running with no idea whatsoever where he was going, he was just running and running - where was this kid going.

Suddenly the kid rounded a corner...

[David Loki]

Loki stepped off the curb and walked towards his car from the dry-cleaner's he had just dropped his girlfriend's dress off at.

His shift might not have started yet, but his mind certainly had.

Yes, there were witness statements to go over before the case went to court next week, it would be best to go and see them in person, defiantly. Then there was that report that needed to be done before deadline, can't be leaving that till the last minuet, no way. And better finish off that paperwork on his partners desk himself now that she was off with a bad case of the flu, should probably take her something. But the first thing to do at PD was to check in with the captain and brief him on everything to keep him in the loop. 

He was abruptly pulled from his thoughts as he looked up to see a young man running directly towards him, with a fair lead on the older man who was obviously perusing him.

His mind raced for a split second as he tried to cypher if the boy was a lout on the run after causing some kind of trouble, or if he was just a boy simply running from a bully much larger than himself. And their was no way of knowing until he herd the man calling out CPD, and yelling for the lad to stop.

Loki's instinct immediately took over.

He jumped away from his car, firmly grabbing the boy as he was about to pass by.

"Chicago PD." He grunted, identifying himself in accordance with protocol.       

The boy struggled trying to break free and he was surprisingly wiry, but Loki was having none of it. He tightened the grip he had on the lad's upper arms as he wrestled with him from behind. 

He thrust him against his car, still struggling with him for a second before he got him to the ground where he put him in a police hold, putting his knee on his back to prevent him from struggling any further. Though he was mindful not to dig his knee in.

"This yours?" He said, looking up to Cal as he came to a stop next to them.

Tag: @cal

[Deleted]

"Chicago PD."

Still running Cal kept trying to speed up but every time he did someone got in the way, but at least he still could see him - it wasn't until a man caught the running lad and Cal did slow down, his eyes watchful and cautious, at least the man had Identified himself as PD but he couldn't be too sure until he caught up, the boy and man seemed to struggle for a moment until the man pulled him to the ground in a police hold and got his knee in "This yours?" Cal smirked as he reached them, slightly breathless he nodded "Yeah, thanks, he's quite a runner for a small guy" he said indicating the now silent youth, he pulled out his ID to show Loki "Detective Borden, SVU" he introduced before pulling some cuffs from his pocket with his other hand and holding them out to Loki.

[David Loki]

Yeah, thanks, he's quite a runner for a small guy"

"Strong too. Put up a good struggle for such a scrawny guy." He replied. 

"Didn't you?" He said rhetorically to the boy so as not to talk about him like he wasn't there. Of course the lad remained silent.  

"Detective Borden, SVU"

   

Loki looked at the ID Cal showed him and was satisfied. 

"Detective Loki." He reciprocated as he took the hand cuffs Cal held out and calmly but them on the lads writs, "Alright. He's all yours."

Loki let Cal take over the second the guy was secure enough, it was his suspect so Loki backed off to let him question or arrest the boy. He still had no idea what the situation had been, he'd just seen an officer in pursuit and jumped in on instinct. That meant he was involved now, but he wasn't gonna take over another cops collar. It was a matter of professional courtesy if nothing else.

Tag:@cal

[Deleted]

"Strong too. Put up a good struggle for such a scrawny guy." Cal grinned shaking his head "Didn't you?" Looking sideways down at the lad Cal had to admit, the way he had behaved earlier was different compared to the way he was behaving now - too quiet for his liking, something was off "Detective Loki." Cal nodded "Good to meet you" he replied, As Loki cuffed the youth Cal pulled out his phone to call it in "Alright. He's all yours." Cal grabbed the youth from Loki with one hand firmly holding the cuffs and with his other hand he dialled and put the phone to his ear, he reeled off his Identification credentials before being put through dispatch, he reeled off the relevant information then hanging up and pocketing his phone he looked back at Loki "Any chance you're heading back to the PD?" he asked. Yep his car was still back at PD, meaning he either called a squad car or taxi or begged a ride off the Detective in front of him.

[David Loki]

"Good to meet you"

Loki just gave a nod.

He stood back as Cal made the call, his eyes falling on the cuffed man. He had put up such fight a moment ago, now he was just still and quiet, almost too quiet. The state of his hair and the look in his eye, something was not right.

"Any chance you're heading back to the PD?"

"Yeah, I was just going to start my shift actually." Loki replied. "looks like I started even earlier today, huh kid?"

Nothing.

Again, the young man did not respond, renaming silent and not making eye contact. Loki began to wonder if he was on something, that would explain his behavior but it seemed more than that.

He unlocked his car and opened the rear door to allow Cal to put the boy inside, "Here."

"What'd he do anyway?" Loki asked as he watched Cal put him in the car.
He would have directed the question to the young man himself if he thought there would have been any chance of a response, but he doubted it.

Once the boy had been secured Loki went to the drivers door and got in. He started the engine and pulled away as soon as Cal closed his door.

Tag: @cal.

[Deleted]

"Yeah, I was just going to start my shift actually." Cal gave a grin of relief, he hadn’t been looking forward to dragging the guy all the way back to the PD on foot, wouldn’t feel bad about it but it wouldn’t look very good for him, besides - he didn’t like to shame people like that. "looks like I started even earlier today, huh kid?" Cal smirked at the young man but he didn’t even blink an eyelid, something was off - his face didn’t even give anything away. "Here." As Loki opened the car door Cal pushed him inside - protecting his head anyway, the youth didn’t even know what to do and sort of ‘laid down’ rather than slide in, Cal had to help him in a way "What'd he do anyway?" Cal glanced at Loki “Grabbed someone then took off running like a thief caught in the act, trouble is - he didn’t even steal anything, nor was he trying to - still looked like he was running, couldn’t let it slide” he shrugged as he closed the door. As Loki moved around to the drivers side Cal moved to the passenger side and sliding in he checked behind him at the silent lad as he belted up “We’re going to the PD okay?” the lad stared blankly at him, as if he didn’t even understand or realise he was being spoken too - very odd.

OOC: Feel free to skip

CREDIT SAM !? of A Changed Hogwarts. Don't remove the credit or I will find you. LYRICS never gonna be alone - nickelback NOTES have anything to say?? WORD COUNT how many words? [/center][/size]

[David Loki]

“Grabbed someone then took off running like a thief caught in the act, trouble is - he didn’t even steal anything, nor was he trying to - still looked like he was running, couldn’t let it slide”

"Fair enough." Loki replied nonchalantly.

“We’re going to the PD okay?”

Loki looked back at the lad - Nothing. It was as if he didn't know that Cal had spoken, let alone spoken to him. It was strange.

Loki kept glancing back at the boy in the review mirror as they drove to PD. It wasn't as if he had never seen strange before, but this was a different kind of strange. One that Loki could not quite place but one that resonated with him for some reason.

The pulled up at PD and Loki walked with Cal as he took the lad inside. Still the boy did not say anything and avoided eye contact with everyone in the building.

"You think he's on drugs or what?" Loki asked offhandedly.

He had seen the effects of drugs before in his adolescence as well during his time on the job, but it seemed there was more to it than that.

Tag: @cal

Ooc: Sorry it's short, I was not sure wher Cal would take the boy to talk to him.

[Deleted]

The drive back to the PD had been fairly quiet, Cal’s thoughts drifting between going home or seeing this through - really Cal had nothing keeping him from handing the lad over to the cops and walking off, but he couldn’t help but be curious, drawn in by the way the lad looked. Back at PD Cal walked with Loki, the lad scrawny between the two of them "You think he's on drugs or what?" Cal shook his head “It’s not my place to assume” he replied shooting Loki a smirk as he looked over at him “But he doesn’t seem to be on anything” his hand around the arm of the lad felt strange, he was feeling so much bone and very little muscle.

Booking the lad in and getting his prints done (And the results would take a while) he took the lad into the bullpen of the SVU, well as that’s where his desk was and this was his and Loki’s collar respectively “Over here Loki” Cal gestured to a desk in the far corner as he walked, reaching it he guided the lad to sit down on a chair beside it and indicated Loki could take the chair at the desk “Gimme a minute” he said simply before strolling off into another side room, he was back a moment later with two mugs of coffee and a plate of food - at the sight of it the lad very slightly perked up but it was vague to the unseeing eye, but Cal hadn’t missed it, he placed the plate down on the edge of the desk and turned his back on him as he held out a mug to Loki.

‘watch’ he mouthed to Loki as he sipped his coffee.

Behind him the lad hesitated, glanced at Cal’s turned back and down at the plate, then discreetly he took a piece of the huge chunk of bread and hid it under his jacket, slouching as he tried to hide what he'd just done.

OUT OF CHARACTER NOTES

CREDIT SAM !? of A Changed Hogwarts. Don't remove the credit or I will find you. LYRICS never gonna be alone - nickelback NOTES have anything to say?? WORD COUNT how many words? [/center][/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[David Loki]

It’s not my place to assume” “But he doesn’t seem to be on anything”

"Mmm." Loki concurred.
The lad's eye were normal enough and he wasn't shrouded in the distinct odor of a drug addict. He was just distinctly skinny and his behavior was off, but then homelessness could very well explain that.

Once the young man had been booked and printed Loki followed Cal to SVU.

“Over here Loki”

Loki followed Cal to the desk he motioned to and took a seat.

“Gimme a minute”

He just nodded.

As Cal went to the other room Loki sat silently looking at the lad who was sitting just feet from him, studying him and taking in everything the boy was saying without words.
He'd almost certainly been living on the streets, for a considerable amount of time given how skinny and unkempt he was, and who knew the things he had probably had to do to survive. A thought that tugged at Loki, although you wouldn't know it to look at him.

It was only a moment before Cal returned and placed a plate on the desk for the boy to see, "Thanks." Loki said as he took the coffee Cal held out and gave a subtle nod when Cal mouthed 'watch'.

Loki began drinking his coffee so that he could discreetly watch the young man from over the rim of the mug. It hadn't escaped his attention how the lad perked up slightly at the sight of food, and it did not surprise him at all to see him slip a piece of bread under his jacket behind Cal's back.

He would probably have used food as a way to coax the boy into talking and opening up and telling him what he needed to know. He thought it was an interesting approach 'giving' the boy food but not letting him know that was what you were doing...unless there was more to it than that.
Either way he saw this as Cal's collar and was not going to interfere with his process. He just glanced at Cal and signaled him with a quick raise of his eyebrows that the las had taken some of the food.

Loki took another sip of coffee before setting the mug down on the desk.
He leaned back in his chair a little and rested one hand on the desk, gently rubbed his other hand over his mouth as he sat there quietly regarding the lad with a non-intimidating stare, discretely allowing the young man to see the tattoo's on his fingers. His way of subtly showing to the lad that he wasn't like most cops, that he had a past too and pulling the wool over his eyes wouldn't be so easy...but more importantly it was his way of saying, without using words, that he'd be able to understand.

Tag: @cal

[Deleted]

Whilst his back was to the boy Cal had continued to sip his coffee, pretending to look out the window behind Loki, but also was watching Loki for any reactions - he’d suspected the kid might be hungry so had brought out a plate of sandwiches that he’d ‘borrowed’ from a box they had in the breakroom, well it was that or steal from the fridge! At Loki’s raised eyebrow Cal surmised that food had been taken, placing the coffee cup down he casually turned and peered at the plate, a look of fear crossed over the boy’s features and he seemed to shrink as he ducked down, as if expecting to be attacked, Cal didn’t fail to notice as he calmly pulled another chair over and sat down on it “Eat kid, it’s for you” he said softly and the kid seemed shocked, even curious and Cal sat back “We’ve already eaten” he pointed to himself and Loki and then pointing at the plate he guestured between the lad and the plate “For you” The lad slowly reached under his jacket and pulled out the bread and started nibbling at it, his eyes darting cautiously between Loki and Cal. Starved and malnourished, the kid was thin and it bothered Cal, but something else bothered him too “Loki” he said looking over at his new partner “What dept you in again?” he asked absently, but the hidden question was there, Cal indicated the computer on the desk “See if you can find any missing persons or anything” he said quietly. “Please” Cal suddenly heard and turning he saw the boy reaching for his coffee cup, looking at Cal cautiously “Have it” he said shrugging - it was really weak coffee anyway - wouldn’t have much effect.

OUT OF CHARACTER NOTES

CREDIT SAM !? of A Changed Hogwarts. Don't remove the credit or I will find you. LYRICS never gonna be alone - nickelback NOTES have anything to say?? WORD COUNT how many words? [/center][/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[David Loki]

As Cal put his coffee down and looked at the plate the lad shrank back with a look of fear crossing his expression that did not escape either of the detectives attention. 

Loki had seen boys like him coming through the care system growing up, as well as several on the job.
Runaways or boys who had been abandoned, usually after a duration of abuse and neglect, though he hadn't seen anyone in quite this state before. But then he was working in a metropolis now and he was getting used to seeing the kind of things he had expected to see, the things he wasn't used to seeing to such degrees back home.

Loki frowned underneath the hand he still had curled round his mouth and chin as he sat there leaning back in his chair observing the young man. The scene tugged at his heart, causing a whole range of emotions and sympathies to stir inside, though he didn't show it.

“Eat kid, it’s for you” “We’ve already eaten” “For you”

Everything told Loki that the boy had suffered mistreatment; The way he had taken and hidden food, then the way his eyes darted between the pair cautiously, be it at the hands of the people who was supposed to care for him or from living rough was yet to be determined. It was still yet to be determined if the lad had in fact been living rough. The signs pointed that way but Loki could not assume. Some of the neglect he had seen over the years was shocking and the truth was that the young man could have been deprived of adequate food and hygiene at home, or even been living chained up in a dog kennel in his step-father's yard or something like that.    

“Loki”

He turned just his eyes to Cal. 

“What dept you in again?”

He knew what he was getting at. In fact he was thinking it himself.

“See if you can find any missing persons or anything”

Loki took his hand away from his face and sat up, pulling the keyboard to wards himself a little and using Cal's computer to check through the missing persons reports.

But it was hard to know where to start, he didn't have a name or fingerprints in the system and he wasn't even sure how old the lad was, 14 maybe? Possibly older or younger it was hard to tell, he was so malnourished and underweight. He hadn't said a word yet so Loki couldn't even be sure of his nationality. But he seamed to understand English at least.

 “Please”

Loki glanced at the lad, so he wasn't physically mute then, he did in fact speak English. And he was asking for things which could be a good thing. It meant he felt it was a secure enough environment to ask for what he wanted, or at least he was desperate enough to ask. Either way it could potentially be
used to their advantage.

He finished the search but didn't find anything substantial, looking to Cal he shook his head. Without anything to go on there was not much he could do and the boy wasn't giving them anything right now.

Loki looked at the boy for a moment and a thought crossing his mind.
He glanced to Cal for a moment before He put his hands on the arms of the chair ready to push himself up, "Guess theres nothing for me to do here then." He said casually, hoping Cal would pick up on his cue.

The boy's head snapped towards him with a frown realizing he was going to go.

"Better get back to my own work." He said, standing to his feet.

The boy's face suddenly dropped. His eyes met Loki's pleadingly. Begging him not to go without using words.

The look tugged at Loki but again he didn't let it show, playing it collection and professional, maintaining the pretense that he was going to leave Cal to it.
There was an inherent affinity between the pair with their inferred sentiments and wordless exchanges, but Loki wanted to coax the lad to start actually speaking and this looked like a good opportunity. If it didn't work he could just walk away and make an excuse to come back in a few minutes.

Tag: @cal .

[Deleted]

At Loki’s look Cal’s heart sank but he knew it was due to the lack of information on hand "Guess there’s nothing for me to do here then." Cal knew what Loki was doing, he sat back with a frown “I guess not” he agreed with a sigh “sorry about that” he wasn’t missing the boy’s reaction to Loki’s motion "Better get back to my own work." Cal gave a nod “Thanks man” he was avoiding looking directly at the lad.

The boy hesitated, he was scared and he wanted the two men to stay, he wanted to tell them he was scared, he was confused and bewildered and it had been the first time in a while that he’d ever actually seen people outside of his ‘captives’ home (Not that he knew he was actually being held captive - he’d grown so used to it the past 18 years - but hated it). He wasn’t even sure of his own identity, they called him a name a lot, a name he’d become accustomed to being called so much that he’d forgotten his actual name.

“They call me Charlie” he said oh so quietly, four words that spoke volumes and was more than he’d said the entire time since Cal had grabbed him, Cal looked right at him, ‘Charlie’ didn’t shrink back this time but hesitantly held Cal’s gaze, unsure and cautious.

Cal glanced up at Loki “I’m gonna chase up those prints” he indicated Loki to take his seat as he stood “I’ll be right back” heading out Cal disappeared around the corner.

NOTE: I plan to have Charlie start talking to Loki whilst Cal is gone, it'd be easier I'll play Charlie for a while if that's ok? Have a bit of back and forth

OUT OF CHARACTER NOTES

CREDIT SAM !? of A Changed Hogwarts. Don't remove the credit or I will find you.
LYRICS never gonna be alone - nickelback
NOTES : - 
WORD COUNT : -

[David Loki]

Loki waited for a short moment, giving the lad a chance to say something. He went to step away and that's when he finally spoke, be it oh so quietly, causing Loki to twist back to face him again.  

“They call me Charlie”
 
That was a good start.

Loki put his hands on his hips as he looked at the lad for a moment, “Charlie', alright.”
 
“I’m gonna chase up those prints” “I’ll be right back”

Loki gave Cal a short, single nod before he sat back down focusing his attention on Charlie, squaring up to him in a professional but non-intimidating way. He Looked Charlie in the face but not in a manner that would make him uncomfortable.

The lad was hesitant and bewildered and Loki didn't want to push him as he went on with a standard round of questioning, not yet anyway. After all he hadn't been charged with anything at this point.
 
“You said 'they', who's they?” He asked in an even tone.

'They' seemed to imply more than one person, but then again it could just have been a very impersonal way to refer to someone he had no affection or liking for.

“And what about your surname? What's your surname, Charlie?”

Tag: @cal

[Deleted]

As Loki looked right at him Charlie hesitated, between wanting to run but wanting to stay, he kept glancing at Loki and away every so often, almost afraid to hold his gaze too long “You said 'they', who's they?” Charlie shrugged weakly “They said they were my uncles and dad” he said feebly, almost scared “I had a mom too, and some sisters but I lived downstairs cause they didn’t have room for me upstairs” it indicated a lot more than just a case of not enough bedrooms. He seemed confused still. “And what about your surname? What's your surname, Charlie?” What’s a surname? Charlie’s eyebrows rose in confusion “Surname?” he asked, he vaguely remembered being called another name but it was like a distant memory that wouldn’t come to him. Memories suddenly assaulted him, of his 'parents' and 'uncles' and 'sisters' and he cringed, whimpering and cowering as he closed his eyes tightly "They're gonna come for me, they're gonna come for me, they're gonna come for me" he stammered shaking.

OUT OF CHARACTER NOTES

CREDIT SAM !? of A Changed Hogwarts. Don't remove the credit or I will find you. LYRICS never gonna be alone - nickelback NOTES have anything to say?? WORD COUNT how many words? [/center][/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]