A/N: Most people who are reading this probably got an email alert that I'd published a new story and are thoroughly confused because for the past 5 years I've only ever written SwanQueen but … stick with me? Rolivia is a ship worth shipping! Every time I watch Season 13, Ep 11, this story resurfaces in my mind. Today, I couldn't resist. I've used the lines from the show in a couple of places to kickstart the narrative. I'd love your feedback on my foray into a new show!
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Amanda asked as Olivia walked away. "How long have you been doing this job?"
The brunette turned around and let out a short huff of laughter. "Don't ask."
"No, just how do you trust any man?" Amanda pressed, following Olivia who had recommenced her journey back to her desk. "Ever, after working this job, day in, day out."
The incredulity, the exasperation, the resignation in the honeyed tones of the Georgian detective were evident and Olivia realised the woman needed a glimmer of hope. She knew the feeling. There were times she too felt utter despair at the state of humanity, let alone dating. But there was always someone there to offer her some light. Her gut clenched as the memory of Elliot floated into her mind.
"I trusted my partner." Except he betrayed me too, when he left. The words echoed in her mind, but she didn't dare say them to Amanda. It seemed to be enough for the blonde anyway.
"Yeah, ok," she conceded although she still looked sceptical.
"I haven't given up hope," Olivia reassured her younger colleague. "There are good guys still out there. And suppose I'm lucky that I get to fail at dating women, as well," she added as an afterthought.
Turning away and heading for her desk, Olivia missed Amanda's shocked expression which followed her. Seconds later, the blonde snapped herself back into reality and forced her mind away from her superior and towards the case. There was a rape victim still waiting for justice, and she was determined to find whichever man was responsible for her trauma.
Hours later, with the case closed, the bullpen was unexpectedly subdued. They may have solved the crime but the whole team felt stunned by the revelation, yet another example of how cruel the human race may be to one another. Deciding she had had enough of mulling over their latest arrest, Olivia got to her feet, wishing the blonde a goodnight.
"Get home safe," Amanda calls after the retreating back of the senior detective. Olivia turned and offered a sad smile at the despondent woman before continuing her walk to the elevator. The blonde watched, unaware of the words bubbling up inside her until they spilled from her mouth. "Actually, wait up."
Olivia turned as she pressed the down arrow and watched as Amanda hurriedly stuffed her phone into her purse, switched off her computer and grabbed her coat from the back of her chair. As the only other woman in the squad walked towards her, Olivia cocked her head to one side, curious. It had only been a few months since Detective Rollins had moved up to Manhattan and the duo didn't know one another that well. Olivia had seen snippets of the woman, heard snatches of her former life down in Atlanta. But they were still, very definitely, colleagues. Not friends, as she was with Alex and Casey.
"Leaving too?" she asked as the elevator behind her dinged open just as Amanda arrived.
"Actually, I thought I'd walk you home. You live a few blocks away, right?"
Olivia nodded slowly. "I do but I've been perfectly capable of walking myself home for years."
"I know," Amanda conceded, stepping past Olivia and entering the elevator first. "But after the day we've had, I feel like I need to remind myself that there are kind people in the world. And for me, that includes doing kind things for others. Even if they don't, you know, need me to help them."
The older woman hesitated for a moment before walking into the elevator without another word. Amanda leaned forwards and pressed the ground floor button. Seconds later, the metal box shuddered slightly and began its descent.
The sun had already set by the time they stepped out of the precinct onto the cool New York City sidewalk. Olivia pulled her coat a little closer around her and Amanda visibly shivered.
"Not used to the cold yet?"
"I'm a southern belle," Amanda replied, exaggerating her Georgian accent. "Which way to your place?"
"This way," Olivia answered, pointing east. "Um, where are you staying at the moment."
"I rent an apartment about six blocks north. It's nice enough but I'll probably try and find somewhere else soon. It was just a stop gap really; somewhere to move into as soon as I arrived in the city. I never even saw it before I moved in. It could have been a hellhole but the pictures were pretty accurate. How long have you been in your place?"
"About ten years. I hate moving so I try not to do it often. Plus, my place is rent controlled and I know I couldn't afford a larger apartment this close to work."
They walked a little further in silence. Olivia was trying to remember what she had in her fridge and whether she'd be able to scrape together a meal or resort to ordering in, which was her go-to choice for dinners anyway. She hated cooking.
"So, your old partner," Amanda said after almost thirty seconds of silence.
Olivia looked sideways when no more words were said and saw the tentative expression on Amanda's face. "Wow, am I really that intimidating?" she asked. "You can't even ask a question about him?"
"I just didn't want to pry," Amanda said. "I mean, I could tell that you guys were close. You seemed pretty cut up about him leaving in those early days. Everyone else was saying sorry to you but that didn't really feel right for me. So I left it. And I've kinda been feeling awkward about it ever since. I mean, I guess I replaced him, right? I didn't then want to nose around into something that isn't my business."
"Yeah, well, there's not much to say. It is what it is. He made his decision. He chose to move on with his life." And left me, Olivia added to herself.
"Can I say I'm sorry now? Or is that weird?" Amanda asked.
Despite the sting of emotions which always accompanied thinking about Elliot, Olivia found herself laughing. "No, it's not weird. Thank you, Rollins. I appreciate that."
They turned into Olivia's street and she began rummaging around for her keys. By the time they were outside her building, Amanda found herself wishing the walk had been longer.
"Well, thank you for walking me home, Detective Rollins," Olivia said, keys now dangling from her fingers. "I appreciate the sentiment. Although I suppose I should now walk you to your building to make sure you get home safe. We could find ourselves trapped in a terrible loop unless one of us capitulates and just moves in with the other."
Amanda grinned. "It's cool. I've got my gun. I don't need a chaperone."
"I could have said exactly the same to you in the precinct," Olivia pointed out. "And I would advise not walking down the street with your weapon out by the way. Not sure if you've heard but the NYPD has a rightly deserved image problem at the moment. My partner, in fact, is part of the reason why."
"Really?" Amanda asked. She'd heard whispers about the mysterious Elliot Stabler. Too many shootings. Too many excessive force complaints in his jacket. Too hot headed. She had to be honest, the guy sounded like a jerk. But he couldn't have been. If he was someone Olivia held in such high esteem, the man had to have been good, right? Because Olivia was good. No, scrap that, Olivia was one of the best people Amanda had ever met. Well, putting aside the bitchy first few weeks.
"El sometimes struggled to control his emotions," Olivia said after a pause. Amanda realised it was the first time the woman had said his name in her presence. "Working this job can get to you and much as it pains me to say it, perhaps stepping away was the right thing for him. His judgement was off towards the end, had been for a while. And maybe it's good to have some fresh blood in the squad. I'm glad you requested the transfer, Rollins. You're a good addition. Amaro too."
The blonde beamed. "Really?"
Olivia rolled her eyes. "You know you are. Stop fishing for compliments. You're a good cop. Good instincts. You'll do well here. Just, keep your head down, keep learning. And maybe stay away from Nick."
At that, Amanda frowned. "Nick? What do you mean?"
"Look, it's none of my business," Olivia said, trying to backtrack. She didn't want to get involved with office gossip. It wasn't her scene.
"No, go on, please. Why should I stay away from Nick?"
"Well, he's married, for one," Olivia began. "And -"
"Woah, you think I'm interested in Nick?" Amanda interrupted, eyes blown wide when she realised what Olivia was alluding to.
"Well, it was more Nick's interest in you I was sensing to begin with. But he's cute. I can't imagine you don't think he's attractive, do you?"
Amanda couldn't help but chuckle. "I mean, objectively, yes, he's an attractive man. But I'm gay, Liv. So even if Nick does like me that way, I ain't gonna be the one breaking up his marriage."
Olivia blinked several times, shocked. She was usually excellent at reading people. Amanda might have been new to the precinct but she had never entertained the thought that the woman might not be straight. Why, now she came to think of it, she had no idea.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realise," Olivia said after a moment. "Please, forget I said anything."
"Consider it forgotten. Although I am tempted to tell Nick. He'll think it's hilarious. He could tell I was batting for the other side from the first time we rolled together."
"Perhaps I'm losing my touch," Olivia mused.
"Perhaps you are."
Olivia regarded the woman in front of her for a moment. The streetlamps were bright overhead, the harsh light bouncing off platinum blonde. Under the woman's gaze, Amanda stuffed her hands into her coat pockets, suddenly feeling as if she was being scrutinized. The faintest blush appeared on her high, pale cheekbones.
"I've got a bottle of wine inside."
While she heard the words crystal clear, it took a moment for Olivia to realise she had been the person to speak them.
"Oh, um, I like wine," Amanda replied, a shy smile on her lips.
Realising that her unintended invitation had been accepted, the brunette somehow managed to act normal. "Great, we can order take out," she said, turning to unlock the first door into the apartment building. "Chinese, Mexican, Sushi."
"I could murder a pizza," Amanda said as she followed Olivia into the building.
A/N: Ok, this was so not supposed to be a multi chapter fic. It won't be one of my epic 40 chapter stories, but I'm curious to see where this goes so give it a follow if you're interested! To all my SwanQueen followers, sorry if this wasn't what you were looking for. To any new SVU readers, hi! You can follow me on Twitter (swanqueenffuk) and Instagram (swanqueenff) where, I guess, I'll also be posting SVU stuff now!