Big reputation, big reputation

Ooh you and me we got big reputations, ah

And you heard about me, ooh

I got some big enemies

-Taylor Swift f/ Ed Sheeran (End Game)

Amy smiled up at Jackson as he dropped a drink in front of her and Savannah, sitting in the chair between them.

"The people watching here has been amazing tonight" Savannah said, holding up her glass as they all clinked them together. The three of them had come through the DA Intern program mostly intact and bonded for life – Amy, the stable one with her fiancée and tiny apartment out in Brooklyn, Jackson with his professional demeanor in the office and flamboyant lifestyle on the weekends, and Savannah, who was the smartest of the three of them and knew exactly where the hippest parties were happening at any time, thanks to her Tribeca apartment jam packed with how many other roommates, Amy had forgotten. They may have come from three different law schools, but they hit the ground running together and were a formidable threesome.

"Carmen grabbed me this afternoon" Jackson started, taking a sip of his drink, "and she said Stone is trying to figure out a way to keep all three of us in the office."

"He would be a giant fool to let us walk out the door" Amy nodded, glancing across the room at their bosses' boss, Peter Stone. Tonight was part fundraiser, part networking event for the interns. Amy knew the three of them should be working the room, but after 70-hour weeks over the last 6 months, that was the last thing any of the three of them wanted to do. So they sequestered themselves in a corner table where they could survey the room and do what they did best when they were together – judge and spout off inane things.

"I don't think we should stay. He's such a Debbie downer" Savannah replied.

"Nice compassion there. His sister did die right in front of him!" Jackson taunted her, as they were prone to do.

"I know I know. But uggghhhhh… isn't life hard enough without your boss being all mopey all day?"

"You are such a bitch" Amy laughed. Savannah just nodded and smiled. Jackson's eyes got huge.

"Ho. Ly. Shit. I'm about to fan girl the hell out. Olivia Benson just walked in!" All three of them looked over to see the infamous Olivia Benson making her way through the crowd, saying hello and shaking hands with just about everyone.

"She's fabulous. I have GOT to meet her tonight" he said.

"You just want to know where she gets her hair done."

"And her favorite shoes. Favorite ice cream. How she stays so completely bad ass after 20 years in this job. Yes. All of it" Jackson replied, refusing to tear his eyes away from the object of his obsession.

"Breathe, Jackson." But the three of them could not tear their eyes off of Olivia as she worked the room. They watched her pause for a moment as she stopped to talk to Peter Stone.

Savannah leaned forward. "You don't think they are…"

Amy shook her head. "No way."

Jackson smirked and let out a chuckle and they looked at him. "Spill it" Savannah said.

"No, not Stone."

"God, Carmen really does tell you all the good stuff!" Savannah lamented.

Jackson nodded. "Look, Carmen has no proof. But she said there was always something… more.. between Benson and the guy before Stone. What was his name?"

"Rafael Barba" Amy said.

"Yeah. That's it!"

"No. Rafael Barba. At the top of the steps." All three of them shot their eyes up to the top of the steps to the man in the impeccable three piece suit, a small glass in his hand, as he ran his eyes over the room. They watched him pause, and they all shot their eyes over to the direction he was looking, which in the direction of Olivia Benson. They couldn't tear their eyes away as they watched him down his drink and head down the steps. Stone must have whispered something about him to her, because they saw her whip her head around, staring at him like she had seen a ghost.

"I heard he had to leave town last year because people were threatening him" Amy whispered. They all knew the tale of Rafael Barba. Carmen had let them in on it one night when they were all stuck in the office very late and they were all very tired.

Jackson leaned forward. "Is… is Olivia Benson… is she crying or about to start yelling at him?"

Savannah smacked him on the back. "I told you we should have picked a table closer to the center of the room!"

They were rapt with attention as they watched Rafael Barba approach Olivia Benson and Peter Stone. Stone shook the man's hand, having a quick conversation with him before taking off to leave them alone.

Barba pushed into Olivia's personal space, resting his hand on her upper arm. They spoke in very close proximity to each other.

"I wish I could read lips" Jackson said.

"Shit, they just ooze sexual tension, don't they?" Amy asked, not really expecting a reply from anyone, but they all just nodded in agreement.

"Sooo… are you three going to gawk all night or do you plan to get up and actually meet some people?" They all turned their heads to see Carmen standing next to the table.

Amy pointed. "Barba, right?" Carmen looked across the room at her former boss and Olivia Benson, standing so close, it was like they didn't care who saw. She caught his eye very quickly and he gave her a quick smile and nod before they all watched as he grabbed Olivia's hand, pulling her toward the side of the room.

"You three need to talk to someone other than yourselves."

Jackson pushed himself out of his seat, throwing his arm around Carmen's shoulder. "Come on… Benson and Barba… is that like a thing or what?"

"I ship it so hard and I didn't even know about them until like 5 minutes ago" Savannah sighed. Carmen laughed. "Yeah, welcome to the club. Seriously. I was sent over here to tell you three to get out of your chairs and go talk to people."

The three of them grumbled as they pushed themselves out of their chairs. Carmen pointed at them. "Behave and I'll fill you in on the Benson/Barba saga next week." Jackson gave her a quick salute and they headed out to mingle.

The three of them stumbled out of the party a few hours later, some number and email addresses gotten and given. They were making plans about where to go next when Amy stopped short.

"SHUT UP!" She said, grabbing her friends by the arm. She pointed across the street. And there, under the light of the street lamp, stood Rafael Barb and Olivia Benson, kissing as if their lives depended on it.

"I ship it soooooo hard" Savannah sighed as they all stood there, watching their current obsession make out like no one could see them. They continued to stare as an Uber pulled up. Olivia pulled herself out of Barba's arms long enough to open the door and slide inside, pulling him by the hand. Right before he got in the car, he looked at the three of them across the street and gave them a slight nod before dropping into the car.

"He's so hot" they all sighed as they watched the Uber pull off into the night.