WELCOME TO S&S

[William St. Jude]

Will ran a hand through unruly curls before curling deeper into the welcome warmth of the jacket. He had never been a big fan of winter. More than once, he wondered why he didn't just hop a train south, to warmer climates. But he'd ended up in Philly, and that was for the best. He would never have met Jim otherwise... strange to think of himself as attached to anyone or any place. Not really... but he liked to think of himself as someone who wasn't tied down.

He surveyed the cold, dreary January afternoon and sighed. Job hunting sucked. He could slip back into his old ways, pick a few pockets, make more money than he could working a wage slave job... but Jim wouldn't like that. He would get grumpy, maybe even decide that Will wasn't worth the trouble... that thought kept him clean.

He shifted and paused in front of a church. He wasn't overly religious, but he remembered the lessons of his youth. He still had the crucifix that Sister Mary Lazarus had given him. It was plain blue, made of plastic beads and a little wooden cross... but he cherished it. He wore it every day, and thought of her.

St. Jude... the patron saint of lost causes. He'd overheard someone joke that it was either a horrible or a perfect name for an orphanage. He hadn't understood then, but now he did. He was a lost cause, and always had been.

His usual cocky grin slid across his face and he looked around. What Jim didn't know didn't have to hurt him, right? He slid into the crowd, found a likely target, and worked his magic. He was flipping through the wallet he'd lifted when he heard over his shoulder a phrase he feared...

"Hey! Thief! Someone stop him!" He bolted.

[Luka Drake]

The young man of Russian and British descent actually hadn't been working today. It was his day off after a grueling five day stretch of sixteen hour shifts at the hospital. Not that he didn't love it. Deep down he did. Even if at times it was taxing and sometimes made him want to reach up and pull out his golden locks until he was completely bald. He wouldn't have it any other way. The best things in life sometimes made you a little crazy. It was one of the lessons his mother had taught him growing up. His mother was easily one of the biggest inspirations in his own life and why he ultimately became someone who wanted to help out and look out for others.

Today instead of scrubs he was wearing some jeans and a tee with a black blazer over it and a pair of Nike tennis shoes. He wasn't really much of one for the 'bling' as his and the younger generation called it. A simple watch on his left wrist and simple silver band on his right hand that held his family's crest on it. Other than that he didn't have any other accessories on his person. He had a small leather case in his hand that held his sketch pad and his drawing utensils. His target today was actually the park and he was taking the long way there by walking to get some exercise.

That was when the cry broke his train of thought about what he might sketch today. "Hey! Thief! Someone stop him!" He glanced about, blue eyes quickly landing on the person that had called out and then the man now fleeing. Most people would have just called the police. If they were brave they might have tried to reach out and grab at the man. But this guy had a good fifteen foot lead on him right now. Anyone else would have said, 'Heck with it.' But fact of the matter was, Luka had a thing for helping people. And sometimes it got the better of him. Like now. Maybe chivalry wasn't as dead as people thought.

He broke out in a run after the guy, not bothering to swerve as a curve in the path came up and a bench came into view. At least it was empty, he ran for it at full speed and a foot came to plant on the seat of it. Using his speed and his own force he propelled himself up and over it, landing with a thud and losing only a moment before he was back in pursuit of the thief, as a small grin curved his lips. He was gaining some ground on him now. To him it wasn't about reward, it wasn't about getting acknowledgment of his good deed, it was simply doing it. It made something in him feel, well whole.

"Oi!" A deep gruff growl of sorts came out as he addressed the other man. Time to try an offensive. He flung his bag towards him, aiming for his knees in an attempt to knock him off balance.

[William St. Jude]

Will was being pursued? Really? By some goody two shoes. Hopefully not an off duty or plainclothes cop, at the very least. He dared a glance over his shoulder, spotting only a bobbing blonde head and the very strange fact that this man was pretty quick on his feet. Will was quicker, though. He'd been running for his life and his dinner most of his life. With another cocky grin, he ducked his head and put on a burst of speed.

"Oi!" he heard behind him. Without meaning to, he glanced back over his shoulder just in time to see the other man hurtle a bag at him. Will dodged sideways to avoid the bag, but didn't take into account one thing: pedestrians. Folks had been careening out of his way all along, but the average Joe Schmoe tourist on the streets of Philly wasn't prepared to dodge a moving target. Will hurtled right into a chubby sight seer and landed in a tumble of limbs.

He was already cursing as he tried to roll off of the man (who was very loudly protesting, which was sending little droplets of spittle all over him). Will managed to land on one knee, ready to propel back to his feet, but it was too late. He knew he was caught. He spotted the wallet, a few feet away, knocked loose by his fall, and swore.

He was a damned good pickpocket. What had just happened? Really? He cursed to himself and turned to look at his pursuer. Will had never been large. It was part of the reason he picked pockets. He was small and forgettable. Scrappy.

"Truce?" he tried with a grin.

[Luka Drake]

Seeing him dodge the bag he cursed under his breath but his dismay was short lived. The young man had ran into another gentleman and was sprawled on the ground. That allowed him to easily catch up to him. He was breathing just a bit faster than normal, but not panting. He was used to working out and taking long runs anyway. He approached the young man who was on a knee. If he broke into a run again he wouldn't hesitate to go after him again. He saw him look to the side and followed his gaze. That's when he saw the wallet. He changed direction and moved to pick it up. All the while keeping his gaze on the boy.

"Truce?" The younger man grinned up at him. First things first, Luka wasn't a complete hard ass. Not really. Sure he'd gone after him. He flipped the wallet open to make sure it wasn't the flustered man's off to the side in the group now. Nope, wasn't his face on the license there, he closed the wallet. "Why you stealing, kid? You need money for food?" Okay so he could be a bleeding heart sometimes. He would offer to give him money for food and even tell him where some shelters were that he could get warm meals at. But he didn't look like he was dressed shabby. You never knew though, judging a book by its cover could always prove to bite you in the ass.

He moved over to him then, offering out his other hand to him to help him to his feet. He wasn't going to attack him. Not now. He'd already gotten back the gentleman's wallet that had been taken, he could give it back to him once he made his way back to the church a bit later. "C'mon. Promise I won't bite you." There was a faint hint of an accent in his voice, a mixture that couldn't quite be placed at the moment.

[William St. Jude]

Will's grin disappeared. Stealing for food? He hadn't done that in a damned long time. His annoyance wasn't short lived, but the grimace was. He was on his feet, ignoring the offered hand, stretching as if his muscles hadn't just been more than warmed up by the sprint. He wasn't breathing hard, but neither was the other guy. Will watched him out of the corner of his eyes. He'd never admit to doing anything wrong, but the guy didn't seem to be too concerned with it. Cute, too. Will glanced at the chubby tourist, but wasn't too concerned. His fat wife was helping him up, and while they didn't look pleased, they looked smart enough not to push it with Will.

"I don't steal for food anymore." he snapped, defensive despite himself. He narrowed his eyes. He was ready to bolt again. He might have lost the wallet, but he didn't like being cornered. He wasn't about to apologize for what he could do, what he had always had to do to feed and protect himself. Certainly not to this guy... with his strange accent. Will spoke with one. He'd never been able to learn how to drop it, but it wasn't as uneducated as it once had been. The distinctive dialect of Pittsburgh overlayered with enough of the street to even sound rocky.

Will had turned his back, studying faces around him as if disinterested. They'd drawn a bit of a crowd, and he didn't bother trying to glare them down. He could, but he kept a semi defensive, semi jovial grin on his face. He was glad his sunglasses were still on. His eyes would have given his mood away.

The last bit made him smirk. "Maybe I would like being bit, ya ever think of that?" he said with a wicked grin. He couldn't help it. Flirty foolishness was one of his defense mechanisms. And while he doubted that this guy would appreciate the sentiment, it wasn't meant to attract him... it was meant to keep him at arm's length, so to speak.

Will didn't need pity from pretty boys.

[Luka Drake]

"I don't steal for food anymore." The young man's tone alone was defensive. Not completely able to read him because he was wearing sun glasses. But he was back up on his own two feet now. Luka withdrew his hand as he watched him. The other turned his back and looked to the others that had gathered about them. Luka really didn't know what to make of the kid. If he wasn't stealing to eat then why? Was he sick? Someone he knew sick? There could be any endless number of reasons that could make a person stoop to stealing from others.

He glanced about to the others and waved the wallet in the air. Sure it wasn't his but he didn't see the point to get the kid locked up behind bars. Yeah, yeah, his bleeding heart might come back to bite him in the ass but he'd give the kid the benefit of the doubt. This time. "No harm done folks. Go on about your way. S'all handled now." Some of the people murmured amongst themselves, others went ahead and started to slowly move on about their way. Blue eyes then moved to fall back down on the boy, when he spoke. "Maybe I would like being bit, ya ever think of that?" And the younger gave a wicked grin to him.

Any other time that flirty-ness would have been jumped upon. Right now wasn't the time. Or was it? Though it did pull a faint smirk from him. He moved past him, leaned over and picked up his case that contained his sketch pad and drawing utensils then turned to face him again. "Then why don't you just simply ask to be bitten next time? Someone just might take you up on it." He gave a nod of his head to the boy. Willing to let him off the hook and let him walk away. He had to return this wallet after all.

"Keep your nose clean kid or you're gonna end up behind bars. They ain't so nice there." Not that he really knew that in any way, shape or form. He was just guessing. But you kind of figure it had to be since there were a lot of 'bad' people there. He'd let the boy think what he would of all that. He gave him a little nod and that was that. Luka was giving him a chance by not trying to haul him in or pursue him further. Besides he was sure the guy would be rather happy to get his wallet back. He turned his back on the boy and the few remaining onlookers as he started back the way they'd come from.

[William St. Jude]

Will's temper flared. He knew he should take this lucky break and run with it, but he couldn't. His smile melted like butter, and he glared at the retreating back. "HEY!" he snapped. "I'm not a kid! You don't know a damned thing about me!"

He wasn't a kid. He might be small, short, but that came largely from being malnourished most of his life. He might be young, but he'd been depending solely on himself for a lot longer, he'd bet, then this guy had. He'd been the one that the other street kids looked to for help, when they couldn't steal enough to eat. Will couldn't count the nights he'd gone to bed starving because he'd given his dinner to one of the other kids.

He resented being written off as a kid. He wanted, no, he needed to be seen not for what he was, but at least for an adult. So he didn't need to steal to eat anymore. It was easier to steal, and he only did it from people who looked like they could spare it. He never stole from the poor or needy. They needed their money. But the guy whose wallet he'd just stolen? The wallet itself was probably worth a couple hundred dollars, let alone the contents.

Will had an eye for it.

"And what do you know about being behind bars, huh?" he was being loud and obnoxious, and the crowd they'd attracted before seemed to be enjoying this little sideshow.

[Luka Drake]

"HEY! I'm not a kid! You don't know a damned thing about me!" He could have just kept on walking. But.... But something told him not to walk away. That he shouldn't walk away from him. He wasn't sure why. Maybe he was just being too much of a bleeding heart today. All his good sense told him to just ignore the kid and keep on walking. Not to let his temper or flippant nature get the best of him.

The time he stood there, silent with his back to the younger man ticked on slowly. One second, two, three, four, five. There was no doubt that the few on lookers that were still watching this little show were anticipating just what was going to happen. Perhaps they were hoping he was going to round on him and seek to beat him senseless. But that wasn't his way. Luka didn't see any reason for that, thus the kid wouldn't get that kind of reaction from him. The onlookers wouldn't be getting the show they were seeking. He simply looked back over his shoulder at the kid. Just letting that silence speak more than any words really could.

The Russian and British lad turned slowly to face the other then. He appeared to be calm, just accessing the situation as he'd heard the anger in the boy's voice. He could see it in the way he moved now. "And what do you know about being behind bars, huh?"

"More than you know about subtly." He wasn't trying to be sarcastic but it came out that way. All the while he looked as calm as a cucumber. "You're right. I don't know you. You wanna change that?" What was he doing? What was he offering here? To play big brother or something? Maybe he was. He knew kids without support or people to care about them ended up going down the wrong path. Well this lad already seemed to be on that path. Who's to say him spending time with Luka wouldn't help? After all his mother always told him there was no such thing as coincidence.

[William St. Jude]

[list]Something in Will had him poised to run, but he didn't. He studied the other man, the guy who acted so much older and wiser. Will breathed in, out, as if he was testing the air for a trick or trap. He kept his head up, though, and stared the other man down. There was something going on here that Will couldn't understand, not really. He tried, and failed, to grasp at the ethereal feeling that he'd been here, done this before.

He hadn't. He hadn't at all.

Will swallowed hard, but his hard exterior crumbled, as it always did. He was good at playing parts, but he hated lying. He wasn't some tough guy. He'd never been arrested, not really. He had an unusual skill set. That was all.

Some lives were meant to be harder than others.

"What do you mean?" he asked, not defensively precisely. Stiffly, maybe. He felt strangely afloat. He lived and breathed the city, he should never feel this... lost. Then again... looking at the other man, it was like looking at who he could have been. Like it was another life.

"Is this a trick?" he couldn't help but asking. It was his first impulse. No one cared about street kids, let alone wanted to get too close. He was suspicious, but he didn't run. He was so good at running away, but he didn't run.

"I uh... I guess... yeah." he mumbled finally. Was that an offer of friendship? It was probably the weirdest fucking way to make a friend, but Will realized that was exactly what he needed. A friend. He had a family... now he needed friends.

[Luka Drake]

"What do you mean? Is this a trick?" He didn't blame the other for thinking so. Most people would have just walked on off already or made an attempt to haul him in. He wasn't sure why but... he didn't really want to do either. He did want to know why he was stealing and heck maybe he could help him if he wanted. He wasn't sure but he had to admit the kid was a pretty good athlete. If he didn't have a record he should consider doing something with that. Then again he always did have a thing for looking at the good qualities in people and trying to bring them out if given half a chance.

"Not a trick. I promise." He gave him a warm smile hoping that the kid would trust him. Believe him that he had no ulterior purposes for asking to get to know him. For Luka had none, he was just an average guy with a good heart who liked to help people. "I uh... I guess... yeah." That brought a brighter smile to cross the older man's features and he gave a little nod of his head to the other.

"Then let's go, eh? You like coffee or tea?" Personally he was going to grab a cup of tea for himself, despite liking both. He moved over to him and offered a hand out to him. "Names Luka." There was a place about a block away that they could go to and get to know each other a little. "Pleasure to meet you." He knew that some of the people around them were giving him an odd look. He'd just chased the guy down and now he was acting all friendly. But he didn't care what they thought. He knew you couldn't always judge a book by its cover.

That and.. well he looked like he could use a friend. Besides after their little sit down he could leave the wallet at the business and trust that they would call the police to return it to the owner. That way he wouldn't get the kid in trouble.

[William St. Jude]

Will found himself poised to run but unable to turn away. Something about this exchange felt weird, but he wanted to believe in it so badly that he couldn't just turn away. He hadn't realized how much he'd wanted a friend who just wanted to be that, a friend. He was used to questioning people's intentions, never quite trusting, but something about Luka's calm, sure attitude both shamed Will into compliance and gave him hope.

The warm smile was a little offputting, but only because Will was already like a skittish cat and direct attention was a little intimidating. He considered the guy's offer... he wasn't big on tea or coffee... but if he was talking about that half fancy coffee place, Will knew that they sold blended ice drinks that was pretty tasty. He'd even paid for them before.

"Yeah... sounds good." He suspected that he was gonna get the usual counselor routine with this guy. The what do you want to do with your life? routine. Will didn't know how to explain to people that he hadn't had much time to consider the issue... and his options were already limited. Sure, he was bright enough, but his formal education was already minimal. He knew he couldn't handle college, and he didn't think he'd want to. Part of him wanted to work with kids like him, orphans and street kids, but he didn't know how he could even do that, officially.

He slipped his hands into his pockets as they walked, trying not to blow this thing before they even got started. He didn't know when this guy had decided to give him a chance, or why, but Will didn't want to blow it.

They arrived at the coffee place and Will produced a few crumpled ones from a near hidden pocket in his jacket to pay for his delicious strawberry drink. No coffee allowed, please! He stepped aside, sipping on his drink, waiting for his new...friend?... to order as well. Will, by force of habit, scanned the crowd. Not looking for marks, now, but spotting anyone who might be trouble.

"So uh, yeah... I'm Will," he supplied when they were finally seated. He realized he'd left that hanging earlier, which was weird. "And I hope you don't want my life story or anything, cause I don't like talking about it."

[Luka Drake]

The walk to the coffee place was fairly uneventful. On the plus side it was away from the prying eyes of the gawking people from before. He was in no rush to ruin the calm moment and just let it soak in and settle. Once they got there he watched as the younger man got himself a drink and paid for it. He fished out some money from his own wallet and got himself a mocha latte. He looked to Will as he spoke, told him his name and told him that he hoped he didn't want his life story.

He gave a little nod of his head and moved over to a nearby empty table next to the window. He set his portfolio next to his chair on the floor. "Well Will.. you don't have to tell me your life story. Everyone has things they like to keep to themselves, I get that. So... tell me something you like doing?" A faint smirk tugged his lips as he sipped his coffee. "Well other than getting chased." He teased now, tone friendly and joking, mirth showing in his eyes.

He leaned back in his chair slightly, hand resting lightly on the table as blue eyes took in Will's features up close now. It was easy to appreciate a persons subtle beauty but that really wasn't why he was here. No, he saw a young man that looked like he was alone. Sure he did want to know his story but he wasn't going to press it out of him. Maybe eventually he'd hear it, maybe not. He wasn't in a rush, there was plenty of time, right? Of course there was.

"As for me I like to dabble in drawing. People. Landscapes. Stuff I dream." He laughed a little and looked down at the table as a cheesy smile crossed his face. It may just be mundane stuff he was sharing but it was a start in a way to get close to Will. Who knew, maybe he could end up being somewhat of a good influence of him. "Geez that sounds... really lame right now." Another chuckle left him as he looked back up to the other.