Another one of my Cutter/Lupo fics. Something light-hearted fun between. Hope y'all like. Let me know what you think *^_^*

Disclaimer: I do not own Law & Order and its characters.

Centre Street, Manhattan, NY, Monday, 2:30pm

Cutter and Lupo continued to make their way towards the coffee shop across from the courthouse.

"So, um, have you heard about those rumours people have been making about us?" Lupo asked. "You'd be surprised by the gossip that goes on at the precinct." Well, he and Cutter had been spending quite a bit of time together lately, more than usual. It's really no wonder that they had raised people's suspicions regarding the nature of their relationship.

"Heard them? I was the one who started them," Cutter replied casually.

Lupo gave him a discerning look. "Really?" He stared down at his feet as they strolled hastily along the sidewalk. "Y-you do realise what rumours I'm talking about, don't you?" he sounded slightly embarrassed. "The ones where we're, you know, involved, with each other." He tried to put it as delicately as he could.

"Absolutely," Cutter replied, sounding very sure of himself, as well as pleased. "There's that one where you and I meet at my office every Thursday night, there's that one where we got caught doing it in the office-supply cupboard that time, and of course, that trip we took to Dargerville didn't just involve detective work. It was all me. I made them up."

Lupo was shocked by his words. "Why would you do that?" He sounded amused, as well as slightly outraged.

"I'll put it to you this way, Detective," he began to explain. "If those cute female interns at the office knew that I was available, they'd be all over me like a rash. It's flattering, but I don't want to end up with a reputation like Jack McCoy.

"But we're not, you know... Right? I mean, I'm not, I don't know about you. If you are, that's completely okay..." Lupo was rambling, not wanting to step on anyone's toes. The conversation was becoming very awkward.

"Who says I'm not?"

"Like I said, if you are, that's totally fine by me," Lupo assured him with true sincerity. "If the people you work with can't accept you for who you are, than that's they're problem. They're the ones missing out."

Cutter ceased walking for a moment, before entering the coffee shop. "Say Detective, what would you say to attending the Christmas party with me?" he enquired, an impish smirk on his face. "You know, to keep up the rouse. Would cause a bit of a stir, don't you think."

Lupo laughed. "Sure. Why not?" he replied. "It's a date, Counsellor!"

Connie watched the two men from the courthouse steps as the two men entered the coffee shop. She heard Bernard's footsteps approach her from behind.

"What do you think is going on with those two?" she asked him, her expression slightly suspicious.

"What?" He slid his hand in his pant pockets. "You mean between Cutter and Lupes?"

She stared down at her feet for a moment, seeming almost discouraged. "You don't suppose those rumours are true, do you?" She glanced back up at him.

He gazed over at the two men in question, watching Cutter place a firm but friendly hand on Lupo's back as they entered the coffee shop together. "It's hard to say. You know, those two have become pretty close the past couple of months." He didn't really want to think about it. He started to tread down the courthouse steps towards the hotdog vendor. "Hey Connie, what do you say I buy you a hotdog? My shout?"

A/N: I really like the contrast Cutter and Lupo bring to the show. They make a surprisingly good pairing like chocolate and oranges:-b

What do you think? Feel free to comment:-D

xx