Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The air was thick with the consistent stale scent that always lingered in the small room. The papers scattered on the floor left little of the stained carpet showing. The ricky desk at which he sat had plenty of water damage from many air conditionless summers gone past. A small cup of tea sat near the right corner of his desk, condensation already building on the desk. The tall figure sat quietly on an old wooden chair with splinters dangling from the corners, partly from age and partly from its use as a scratching post for the cats. The joints seemed to creak every time the user's weight shifted. Small slits of sunlight  dapped the floor as the morning sun angled in through the shutters, creating easily visible shafts of dust. A single light was turned on as it had been for all of the previous night. The sole shaft of warm yellow light from the dusty adjustable lamp had been the only source of light in the room for the past 10 hours. The slumped figure behind the wooden desk still wore their fluffy plaid trapper hat despite the growing summer heat. The piles of faded yellow folders were piled higher than usual, which wasn’t saying much considering the standard state of the office.

The door swung open with the sound of footsteps following close behind. The figure was wearing his standard white t-shirt and baggy shorts, not a traditional outfit to work maybe, but the pair of them couldn’t be considered traditional either. A small pattering of paws told Classified that Shrimp followed close behind. Lobster perked his ears up before lazily climbing down from Classified’s lap, slowly padding towards it’s younger counterpart.  Classified called out a slurred greeting without looking up from his papers.

“Morning,” Elliot called back in response as he reached down to pet Lobster. “When’d you get here?” The other tossed out casually.

“Yesterday morning.” He said gruffly, still weary from the previous night’s work.

Elliot raised an eyebrow before responding, “You should get some sleep.” His tone was unphased by the occurrence; it happened often enough for him to have gotten used to the sight by now. As his coworker walked towards his own desk he commented, “Your papers seem to have doubled.” His tone only half joking.

“We got a new case after you left last night.” His own fatigued yet habituated voice returned. “A Hilda Nix was murdered in Chicago.” He glanced back at Elliot who had a dim look of surprise on his face.

“Aint they got anyone closer than New York who could take it?” 

“I was called to figure out a murder not a person’s detective preferences.” He shot back. He sighed internally before continuing, “I’ve gathered here a list of the most likely suspect’s background information. Although, I’d rather actually get to the crime scene before continuing though.” He shot a decisive glare at Elliot as if to say ‘Hurry up and get your ass in gear.’ 

Elliot, who was already flipping through some of the files Classified had managed to gather during the previous night’s session. “When do you want to leave?”

“As soon as the idiot in front of me gets in the truck.” He huffed impatiently.

Chapter Text

The morning had begun to turn into noon Elliot had convinced Classified he could do the twelve hour drive to Illinois Chicago. He wasn’t thrilled about this case. Hell, why couldn’t someone closer to Chicago take it? But here the two co-workers sat in the truck with two bags and files in the back. Elliot had one hand on the wheel just sitting in the traffic which was annoying him and that hopefully the two could evade further more. 

        He turned his head while sitting at a red light cocking an eyebrow up. His tone was calm but a bit of concern crept into it. “You should get some sleep instead of worrying about the files right now class, you ain’t a great detective cranky.” His concern was more apparent than he thought most likely, unlike classified he showed his concern more often off cases.

   Classified had looked back at Elliot taking his eyes off the files for once and giving him this look Elliot couldn’t help but think how sassy classified gets when he’s running on no sleep. 

   “I’m fine, piss off Elliot.”

    His coworker's voice sounded gruff, it was low. It wasn't in a harsh way how it was said, more banter but not really.

Elliot rolled his eyes. Elliot was going to be the death of class, maybe that’s why classified has so many gray hairs at only thirty-four from too much stress whatever. His attention would be inclined towards the road when the light had turned green, with the wind blowing through the windows it was it was clear summer and it  was going to get worse more till autumn rolled around with the better weather instead of this moist and warm heat that made Elliot wanna bawl over and cry about or complain. 

  Hardly any time had passed but he figured classified was out since he didn’t hear any shuffling of the files nor a slight grumble from him the dude needed sleep anyways. It’s not like he didn’t have time, hell they got a period of time to go for the ride just a matter of time before class wakes up and Elliot crashes out over traffic and the two bicker about random shit. 

  The ride was uninteresting but as they got out of the city a lesser amount of it Elliot knew, he didn’t know how to get there but at least the gps was working, took like four weeks to get it repaired and a bunch of cursing from classified. The truck was aged and worn out but it did its job well enough for Classified to be pleased with it. The smell of coffee was strong enough to make Elliot remember his coffee was in the cup holder. He’d grab the cup with the hand that wasn’t on the steering wheel then take a swig of the coffee and then put it back. 

  At least a couple hours had passed, probably 3-4 he had to guess when he heard a slight groan coming from the right side of him then his coworker  grumbling something about this case that was not even audible. 

Elliot would sigh and put his elbow on the arm rest and speak up

        “whatcha say class.”

His voice was a bit hoarse from last night. He was screaming quite a lot from road rage but whatever.

 His coworker would respond to him, “I can take the wheel.” His voice was gruff and tired from just waking up.

Elliot would just turn his head to Classified once a stop sign had appeared. His tone was slightly more stern than usual but Elliot’s regular bluntness was there

“First you just woke up. I don't know how on god's green earth you think I’d trust you with driving, secondly no. Until ya wake up fully pal.”

       Classified would huff and just open the folder up and stare at the files till he flipped out a paper and started speaking his tone serious but a bit of amusement in it like a speck;  “Hilda was reported missing for a good two weeks before the sight of the body, so either they hid it well or it was a rushed murder but it could’ve been a kidnapping that ended escalating into a murder.” He was looking at Elliot who’s face shifted slightly into a more serious from the relatively relaxed one he had.

     Elliot would nod to what classified had said and respond still looking at the road not to blow through speed limits luckily the road was rural enough where he went only a little above it. “I think if we see the sight of it first of where the corpse of Hilda nyx was found we can get a better insight on it. I have a feeling it was a planned attack though with how lack of knowledge the cops in the area know about it. We should talk to the family of Hilda if they’re any.”

The two would go back and forth just discussing the case. Eventually classified had convinced Elliot to let him take the wheel so reluctantly Elliot had slipped in the passenger seat and classified was in the driver's seat. 

  Elliot had reached for a file and grabbed it and started flipping through it. Last week they had just finished a case involving getting a girl that they had suspected was the reason for a disappearance caught, and sent to jail for a while. This case felt different in a way it wasn’t going to be as simple. If the two had got a call for this case this person wanted it solved but none from the city there would take the case why? 

        Elliot couldn’t help but mutter under his breath “if the cops have no information on this crime why would the person's first idea be to make a call all the way out to New York? Unless there's been complications with other detectives in that area I don’t see why they would ask us to take this upon ourselves.” He was writing some stuff down making a side note on the file for classified to read.

   “Hm? Say anything Elliot?” Classified ears perked slightly Elliot knew classified heard him mutter but that was classifieds way of seeing if Elliot wanted to talk about it, he didn’t so he just shakes his head trying to wrap his head around the idea. 

Classified just nod keeping his eyes on the road they had to be in at least Pennsylvania if not he might actually start going insane. This was their furthest investigation ever, the farthest they’ve ever gone is Massachusetts. He just didn’t understand this, why all the way out here would they need to call them. The cops didn’t really have any information. It was making his head hurt.  

—

Elliot had been in the coffee shop just sitting at the counter that day taking orders. He hated this job.  Apparently stuff had been going around in the city with a boy disappearing around 15. A tall figure had come into the store with the bell ringing. The figure came up to the counter wearing a white polo with a pair of blue jeans on. It was real hot out that day.

  “Welcome to the shop, what can I getcha for today.” Elliot had put a smile on his face just removing any and all sense of being tired or frustrated in his tone. He was on his last strike from his boss and he needed this job.

The figure would just stare at the menu and ask for a green tea. Elliot would nod and jot down the order and go make it to come back.

   “Totals 2.37 dollars.” Elliot would put it into the system and then when the dude paid he gave the receipt expecting him to walk away.

“Have a nice day.” Elliot would say real quick before opening his note book to write something down

  The man cocked an eyebrow up chuckled slightly and took out and pen taking the cap off by biting the top of it and writing something down before pushing the recipe back and replied to Elliot 

 “Good day to you also.” 

 The figure tone was sincere but also a bit of amusement could be considered at the tip of the dude's tongue. 

Elliot just stared at the recipe, his brows furrowing slightly out of confusion; he didn't really have to worry about business really since it was more of a hidden establishment. He would read the recipe of what it said at the bottom. ‘The kid is somewhere just a matter of time before the person that did it gets away. You may call me classified but I believe you may have some information that could help me dearly find this guy, possibly the kid I’ll be back with some stuff tomorrow.’ 

  Reading this made Elliot feel a shiver up his spine. “What the hell? Is the dude insane or something what fucking information could I have, just fucking jotting stuff down.” He would mutter 

—

Elliot must have fallen asleep or something because he would rub his eyes opening them to see it was beginning to get dark out with the night rolling in. Probably was out for a good few hours he would grumble and sigh feeling the truck turn to the right into a motel. Class turned off the car and look at Elliot 

“Pit stop for the night, get up.” His voice didn’t have any bite to it, just class being himself Elliot would roll his eyes and open the door to the truck.

Chapter Text

When they got into the motel lobby he saw classified who had the most unpleasant expression on his face but that was classified for you when he was running not on the best sleep schedule and hadn’t had his tea for the past whoever knows hours.  Elliot would walk up to the desk and ask if they had any availability which good news they did!

At least he saved a rant from classified. Elliot had always been the one who did check in stuff since classified never honestly wanted to give his real name out the only reason Elliot knew it was because Elliot was being real stubborn one day and pressed real deep into the subject which classified did snap slightly but he did get the information out of him yeah that wasn't a really fond conversation.. He would snap back to reality when classified hit him slightly in the shoulder not too hard though just to get him out of his head. Elliot would send a sharp glare at classified but it really had no malice intention, just a little irritated with this whole case. He had the backpack slinged over his own shoulder. They walked towards the room Elliot had the keys and when they got to the room he unlocked the door. The room smelt weird but whatever work did for the night.

A few minutes had passed and the two had settled into the room. The moonlight started shining through the curtains with the night at its maximum when they had arrived at the hotel. The room felt a bit moist with it being very hot out at least it was breezy for the night and it had cooled deeply down. Elliot had one of the files in his hand and the notebook he documented what he thought into it normally when cases like this one they were sporadic with how stuff could change real quickly when the police did not have a great grip on the case. He kept flipping through a page and the other one he felt something odd about this case in a way looking at it how could this all been planned. It doesn't seem rushed but not like a murder someone wanted to do. Is what ran though his head in that moment in a way the murder seemed not rushed, slightly planned but in a way someone interrupted it and caught the killer off guard. But he’d need to see the scene before he could come up to some of these conclusions. Hell finding or narrowing it down to the people possibly to take them into interrogation would be a great idea also.

Classified sat on the ground against the wall closest to the bathroom in the motel room having another file in hand he had just gotten out of the shower a few minutes previously before sitting. Elliot hadn’t made any comment towards classified about getting some sleep because if he did he would have been a hypocrite in some way since Elliot also worked on files over work hours losing sleep over them but it still doesn't make him not concerned about his co-worker. Elliot was sitting up on the bed against the wall he’d looked down at classified and spoke. 

 “This feels like a weird way class it’s bigger than we originally thought. It doesn't seem rushed in a way and concerning at the very least just even with the details we have some of the things don't align in matters of what we have normally the cops are on top of this stuff but it feels like they weren't wanting the body found whatsoever.”

Elliot had said his tone was wary but he was looking even with barely any evidence to the case he was trying to place pieces like in a complicated puzzle of wits and smarts. He was trying to see a different perspective of the predicament they were in. He would sigh and continue when he saw classified cock and eyebrow up like motioning for him to continue with what he was saying. 

“Like in a way they knew what they were doing but did not want to commit the murder but had too the issue it doesn't seem rushed so I'm trying to wrap my head around in a way that makes sense.”

He was a bit frustrated with how he couldn't wrap it around his head in a way he wanted too but he was trying to find a solution to his thought process but it felt like he was running into the same road block or into circles.  Elliot would be taken out of his train of thoughts when he heard his co-worker reply to what Elliot had just spat out.

“I get what you're saying in a way Elliot but like you said earlier we should see the sight of the scene before we start thinking so deeply into the possibilities of what had happened to Hilda.”

His Co-worker response wasn't harsh, just classified was focused on the file he was looking through himself but he did take in Elliot's words seriously thinking them through. It was also the middle of the night. 

Elliot would nod at what classified had said focusing on what could have been a theoretical reasoning to someone's plot against Hilda.  The files didn't disclose a bunch about who Hilda was around; she had a social media account but it was disabled and private before the whole scene was found, perhaps that could be something to look into furthermore.

The night was moving slowly as the two discussed stuff about this case and what to do when going to the scene tomorrow. Both of them had showered already. They should be in Chicago real soon tomorrow, most likely by brunch. Elliot had put his files down a few minutes ago while classified was still focusing on the one he had. If anything he was going to attempt to get some sleep for the drive tomorrow in case something happens tomorrow. Sleep was an important thing to do after all. Apparently to class it was inconvenient at this point Elliot had almost started getting classified to take melatonin but knowing class it wont work most likely!

Elliot had eventually fallen asleep. Till he woke up to classified on the phone well his work on he seemed to be writing things down so Elliot sat up trying to gather information through the one side of the conversation, could be news on the case god knowing classified he was going to want to get down there real sooner if things are changing real fast. And honestly so did Elliot. 

So there were the two of them in the truck and Classified driving which concerned Elliot since he did not know if classified had gotten sleep but he couldn’t have that on his mind right now. It was around 4 in the morning and they had checked out of the motel and paid. They should be in Chicago right around 10 am which was good since they would be there earlier then they needed to be which would be real great, the sun was just cracking up near the horizon the radio turned real low barely any other cars on the road the heat slowly rising as the morning will go on further, but for now the temperature was bearable the wind that came in through the truck since Elliot had his window rolled down. 

Elliot would open his mouth and start to speak what he was curious about and a bit confused since classified had not said anything about that call he had received from that caller so he was curious.

“Whats the change in the case classified. I also do need this information.”

He didn’t mean for it to come out as snippy as it had but he had woken up and told to get dressed the case had a huge change and more information was gathered on top of all of this the sooner they got to the scene the better. 

He heard his co-worker respond to what Elliot had asked, his tone was serious, not joking around.

“They had gotten into some files that were once not able to be accessed or shouldn't have been and its shady real shady Elliot”

Elliot would nod, if classified was giving him information like that not going into detail then classified was thinking about a lot in that moment or really shaken up from what? It was really hard to tell when classified was shaken up so Elliot slowly figured it out over the few years working with him. He didn’t know when they had gotten to Chicago but here they were and if he was lying he would’ve said he wasn't nervous but that was a lie how could he not be this city did screw him over more ways then one but that was when he was little can't dwell on that anymore.

He would get out of the truck and help Classified bring the stuff to the hotel room and drop it on the bed and then grab the notebook and few files then right back in the passenger seat. The tension in the car was thick since Elliot wasn't fully filled in on this situation and god it irritated him when classified left him in the dark about stuff often since it wont get through classified head that he is working alone but whatever he’ll find out one way or another. He would feel his own head pounding slightly from stress, lack of proper sleep and a headache appearing. This was great! He thought to himself god he was already losing it.