Valentine's Day is right around the corner and a cupid named Fusco definitely has the gift of gab! No matter how much I tried to ignore him, he kept insisting that I listen to what he wanted to say in regard to Reese and Joss and their unspoken love for one another and the way he wants to bring them together. If I decide to go with this Valentine's Day story, I will have to put all my other stories on hold. Let me know what you think!
I don't own Person of Interest!
Song prompt: "Cupid" by The Spinners and by Sam Cooke – both are so incredible in their own way that I couldn't choose one over the other.
Cupid
It could work, Lionel Fusco reasoned to himself.
Yeah, and you could end up getting shot, the little voice inside his head returned.
Lionel shrugged. True, he conceded, but until he tried, there was no way of knowing. Now that he had the plan, he just needed a way to implement it. That's why he had requested a meeting with Harold Finch.
"You wanted to see me, Detective?" the bespectacled man asked as he slid on to the seat in the booth located in the far corner of the cafe.
Fusco leaned forward and lowered his voice. "I need your help." There was just a tiny hint of desperation in his voice.
"I should warn you that I'm not versed in legal matters."
"Not this time. Besides, it's not for me." Finch raised his eyebrows. "It's for our mutual friends."
"I don't understand."
"Okay. See if this makes sense: Carter is lonely."
"She is," Finch nodded, but he wasn't going to reveal how he knew.
"So is Wonderboy."
"Yes, I believe he is, too."
"I've talked to both of them and they seem upset."
"I hadn't noticed. Did they say why they were upset?" Finch questioned in hedging tone.
"Not in so many words, but I'm figuring it's because they've been dumped by their better halves."
"I see." Finch kept his expression stoic.
"And I'm thinking: John is alone, and Carter is alone..." Fusco trailed off before finishing his thought.
"And you want to help them find a partner?" Finch prompted.
"One better," Fusco enthused happily. "I want them to find each other."
To say Finch was shocked would have been an understatement. "Detective..." he began carefully.
"It's a great idea, Finch," Fusco continued in a rush. "John got dumped by some woman who thought he wasn't good enough for her."
"That's not the full-"
"And Carter just kicked some brain-dead schmuck to the curb because he betrayed her-"
"Schmuck?"
"I'd call him an asshole, but I'm in polite company."
"Thank you, Detective," Finch murmured.
"You're welcome. But this jerk let Carter go. He should know that she has high standards and strict rules, and breaking them is not allowed."
"I'll try to remember that."
"As for Wonderboy...yeah, he screwed up, but that broad had no right dismissing him without hearing his side of the story," Fusco defended his friend.
"I see."
"Lately he's been a little up tight. I don't know if they are having a shortage on bullets or the bad guys are learning to protect their knees, but, he's wound tighter than a top."
"Uh..." Finch tried to find the right words to respond, but his mind was blank. How could he respond without giving it away?
"Personally, I think he needs to get laid."
Finch blinked. "I'm not sure how I can help, Detective." Did Fusco want him to get a woman for John for sexual release? Finch swallowed hard and waited for the punch line of the joke he knew was coming.
"We need to get him hooked up with a great lady."
Slowly the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. "And you chose Detective Carter." It was more of a statement than a question.
"It's a logical choice," Fusco reasoned.
"One that will guarantee you getting shot," Finch added for good measure.
"Perhaps," Fusco said and cocked his head. The possibility of worst case scenario hadn't crossed his mind. But his mind was set and he wasn't going to back down.
"What makes you think they would agree to your plan?"
"Because it's a great plan."
"That only partially answers the question."
"They're perfect for one another," Fusco stated emphatically.
"Explain."
Fusco held out his hand and started to count off on his fingers. "First, they are both prior military. Second, they're both bad asses with guns. Third, they have trust issues. And last but not least, they're both single." The detective grinned broadly.
"It's getting clearer." Not by much, but he could see an outline of the plan. "I think I see what you are saying."
"John needs a good woman, and Carter needs...well, most of all the great guys are taken, but John's a good guy," Fusco complimented in his back hand kind of way.
"Thanks. I'm sure Mr. Reese would appreciate hearing that description."
"Hey, nothing against the caped crusader," Fusco apologized, "I think he's great guy. He's just...you know."
"You do realize that Detective Carter spent six months trying to arrest him?" Finch threw out the reminder.
Fusco shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "True."
"And you want to put them together."
"Yeah. When you put it that way." Fusco felt his cheeks burn hot with embarrassment.
"But this doesn't explain why you think they would be good together."
"They're perfect."
"It could backfire," Finch pointed out.
"It could. That is why I need you."
"Need me for what, exactly."
"To bring them together."
"I understand your passion. What I don't understand is why you require my services."
"You have the computer skills needed to make this work."
"How exactly do you want to implement my 'computer skills'?" Finch held his breath.
"I don't know. Maybe an online match site. Or maybe a fancy dinner at an expensive restaurant," Fusco rattled of the list of possibilities.
"How romantic," Finch deadpanned.
"Hey! I'm not pretending to be the brains of this plan; that's why I'm bringing you in to it."
"Thank you, again, Detective. So, you want them to meet or have dinner to create a spark?"
"I suppose. But whatever we do, we need to do it fast."
Now Finch was intrigued. "Why would we need to rush, Detective?"
"Because Valentine's Day is right around the corner! By my estimation, we have two weeks to get those two together so they don't have a chance to go back to the knuckleheads who hurt them."
"Detective, there is something you should know..." Finch protested weakly.
"What I need to know is: Are you going to help me?"
There was no talking logic to the determined man with the one-track mind Finch realized. He sighed and gave up. "What do you need me to do?"
Fusco reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a notepad. "I narrowed it down to dating sites and secret cupid gifts. I'm not sure about the reliability of the latter, but I know for a fact that Carter is registered with 'Two Hearts For A Dream'. I caught it on her phone the other day," he admitted sheepishly.
"And you want me to hack in and set Mr. Reese up with an account?" Finch hinted.
Fusco looked offended. "Hack is such a bad word. But I'm sure you can maneuver something within legal limits...that won't get us arrested or shot," he added as an afterthought.
"I appreciate that, Detective," Finch said tonelessly.
"So, it's a deal?" Fusco extended his hand. Finch looked at it with reserve.
"You're determined to get them together, I'm assuming. With or without my help?"
"I would like your help, yes."
"No matter the outcome? Do I need to remind you that both of our mutual friends are sharpshooters and they have been to war?"
Fusco nodded. "I feel it in my gut that they belong together."
Finch nodded. "Okay." He shook his partner in crime's hand to seal the deal.
Fusco grinned happily and clapped his hands together. "So, what is our first move?"
Finch glanced at the name of the dating site on Fusco's notepad. Then he looked up over the rim of his glasses. "The most important, Detective: Don't get caught."