Rating: T
Spoilers: None
Trigger warnings: Alcohol, bar setting
Evocations: IV
Palmetti's is higher class than the cop bars that Olivia has most often been to after a workday. She is there and seated by 8pm sharp; this feels correct, even though Alex had made it clear she would be there after the hour. Liv orders a bottled beer, needing something to do with her hands while she waits.
Twelve minutes after eight, Alexandra Cabot trails into the bar, turning every head as she passes. The heavy, tailored jacket from the courtroom is gone, replaced by a light cream-colored cardigan over the silk, sleeveless shirt beneath. Liv hurries to her feet, pulling out a chair for the blonde as a blush pinks her cheeks. She hasn't been on a date in public with a woman in at least ten years, and it feels like college all over again.
"What can I get you to drink, Counselor?" she asks, and is not the least bit surprised when Alex names a distinguished merlot.
Retrieving it, Liv slides the wine glass across the table and drops back into her chair. "So, you won your case," she smiled.
"You doubted me?" Cabot clicked her tongue in disappointment. "That won't serve you, Olivia, in the long run."
Watching her talk across the scant ten or so inches of the table was a universe of difference compared to watching her in court. Alex was a Picasso come to life, animatedly discussing the case as Olivia's eyes saw only eyelashes, the distinct line of her nose, the pout of her lips.
Too afraid to admit it yet, Liv was lost on Alexandra like a ship asea. Just laying eyes on the tall blonde set her body thrumming like a lightning rod trembling in a storm. Men, women - at some point, her awareness of her own attractiveness had made most romantic interactions tedious for Olivia, never truly knowing who was being sincere.
Her attraction to Alex was exhilarating and yet terrifying because it was the first time she could remember being afraid to get hurt.
Despite her fear, things seemed easy between them. Conversation flowed as if they had grown up together, their body language fluid, requiring no translation. Before they knew it, it was nearing 11:30pm.
"Can I get you a cab home?" Liv asked Alex as they pushed outside, walking shoulder to shoulder.
"Actually, I left some things that I need at my office," the blonde smiled, "but you're welcome to walk me there."
The night was cool but not cold. Liv offered Alex her jacket anyway.
They found themselves at Cabot's office door much too quickly for Olivia's liking. The courthouse corridor was dimly lit, and Liv was watching how Alex's blue eyes caught reflections. She had drank just enough to be pleasantly buzzed atop the natural high of being near the blonde.
"Did I meet your expectations, Counselor?" she asked quietly.
"Mm," Alex tipped her head, her hand still on the knob to her office door, "I usually get to hand off important decisions to a panel of 12 of my peers."
Olivia crossed her arms over her chest. "Should I get an attorney?" she smirked.
Time slowed to a crawl then, as Alexandra let go of the doorknob and moved toward her. Olivia could hear her heart hammering, could taste the iron in the rush of her own blood as her mouth ran dry. She couldn't take her eyes from Alex's lips as they came closer, closer …
Liv closed her eyes.
At the last second, Alex's lips brushed the corner of the detective's mouth, then landed a chaste kiss to her flushed cheek.
"Goodnight, Olivia," Alex murmured, smiling as Liv's eyes fluttered back open. She unlocked her office and slipped inside, closing the door behind herself.
"Goodnight," Liv sighed, dizzy and adrift on the smell of her perfume.