When Sonny awoke that morning, the sweet scent of coffee filled the air and his nostrils. He couldn't tell you where he was or how he had gotten there, but he could tell you head was throbbing intensely. He palmed his eyes and then his temples before he sat up to gauge his surroundings. He was in a bed, he had gone home with someone obviously since it wasn't his own, but whose could it have been? He was clothed- which was odd. His vest and tie were strung across the bedside table and his belt was around his waist- so what had happened exactly? By the time he was on his feet, he had realized that his shoes weren't with his other items of clothing.
The sun was too damn bright for eight a.m. so Sonny retreated to the windowless bathroom to splash some water on his face. The bathroom was fairly clean and kept in a very specific way; a washcloth laid out with a razor and toothbrush already used and drying laid on it. He tousled his hair a bit, noticing it was in a rather bed headed state and then checked his phone. Two missed calls from Liv. Shit. A few texts from his buddies asking him to hang out later in the night and one from his sister texting about brunch plans. Just as he was about to slip it into his pocket, it dinged. Sonny narrowed his eyes as he looked at the bright screen.
Barba, 8:21 a.m.
'You're up. Kitchen. Now."
Once Sonny had decoded the message, faint memories began to return to his mind. He remembered the plan to confront Rafael, but he hadn't intended on coming home with him- had he? He remembered that they talked about law school and Cuba and their families and nothing seemed concrete. If he was to be honest, he was a little embarrassed right then and didn't quite know how to approach Rafael. But he knew he had to and he straightened his vest and entered the kitchen. Sonny set his tie next to Rafael's on the counter.
Sonny strode in and cleared his throat before speaking. "Hey, Liv called me and I think I have to-"
"I called her. She thinks you're at the DA's office picking up case files. Sit, detective." Rafael definitely wasn't in the same outfit as yesterday; he was in a faintly striped button down with suspenders and an undone vest. He plucked little fibers off of his vest as he spoke. "About last night…"
Sonny's eyes adjusted and he felt his ears go red in embarrassment. He tried to remember any detail he could about the night prior. Everything was a blur after about two drinks in with Rafael. He didn't even remember leaving the bar. How come he'd remembered what happened last night and Sonny hadn't. He shook his head realizing he was zoning out and bluntly asked Rafael the question. "Did we-"
Rafael sighed knowing Sonny had missed everything he just said but he knew the question was better answered early than later. "If you're asking we had sex, I can tell you with a hundred percent validity that we did not." A flush halfway of relief and disappointment took over Sonny. "However, we did engage in other conduct I'd be willing to disclose after I've had three cups of coffee. It's too early for this. Here." He pulled a cup from his Nespresso and handed it to Sonny.
Sonny took it gratefully and began to sip it down. He was a little surprised at Rafael's apartment. He had imagined it would be bigger, more impressive, but it wasn't. It actually made sense since Rafael was just a single guy who worked most of his time. With that in mind, it was still rather nice since he probably had people over for dinner- if he knew anyone. He waited for Rafael to chug down another cup before asking. "So- what did we do exactly?"
Rafael had explained the events of their little escapade and then they were left in silence. Sonny opened his mouth to speak before Rafael again cut him off. "Listen. This us too risky. We can't do this again." Sonny tried not frown, but it happened and he couldn't take it back. "Everybody in SVU has had at least two run-ins with IAB. One more and all of you are going to be working narcotics.
"Last thing I want is to deal with the Rat Squad in my first year. " Sonny was quiet for a moment in thought as Rafael sipped on his coffee- now in a to go cup- before he spoke. He was almost hesitant. Rafael could hear that. "Let's say we were to continue this."
"From this point on this conversation is completely hypothetical, understood?" Rafael had had his coffee, meaning he had transformed into Assistant District Attorney Barba; not the Rafi he had found tipsy in a bar. Rafael had to bite his tongue before saying something he didn't want to but knew he was going to eventually. Sonny ignored it. "Go on."
"Couldn't we like declare it? That way we don't hafta-"
"Carisi, I'm going to go ahead and interrupt you and point something out. The last thing that IAB wants to hear is that the Manhattan ADA and an SVU Detective are- erm, engaged in a sexual encounter. Secondly, that would mean that every case you and I worked on, meaning all I've assisted in within the past two months would have to be reopened and thoroughly investigated."
"We won those fair and square, what are you talking about?"
"Detective, you and I both know that due to the stressful nature the cases we deal with on a daily basis, the Special Victims Unit sometimes utilizes unauthorized and," Rafael made finger quotes, "unorthodox methods." Sonny shrugged and scratched the back of his neck listening. He had nothing to say. Besides, any attempt at a squabble with Barba in his prime would surely come up as a loss for the young detective. "What happened last night just cannot happen again."
"But we didn't even fuck, I don't get it?" Sonny blurted out. He didn't mean to, but he wanted to know. "Why would they get upset over a personal encounter? We're not doing anything illegal. Unethical, maybe."
"Because drunken blowjobs and intoxicated frotting at the ADA's apartment in the midst of a high profile case are just as good a reason, perhaps better than a good fuck, Detective." Barba pressed his lips together in a 'deal with it' type fashion, which caused Sonny to remember that Rafael was in fact a dick without the booze. Really, Rafael was just in an uncomfortable situation so he built up the façade.
Rafael looked at his watch. "That should equivocate to just the right amount of time for you to stop by my office and give us enough time presumably to pick up coffee for the squad." He retrieved some files from the counter and set them in front of Sonny. "These are the contents of Dan Winthrop's online chats with the supposed victims. If Liv asks, you got these from my secretary and we bumped into one another and decided to take my car. Environmentally friendly government servants." He smiled lightly and they headed out, each grabbing a tie.
"Carisi, Barba, you're late." Olivia smiled at the duo and took one of the coffees off of the tray and returned to the squad's meeting at the whiteboard and table. Rafael removed his coat and stood to the side, while Sonny took a seat next to Fin and distributed the coffees.
"This," Amanda said as she pointed to the sketched out picture of a man with a hood on, "is our vic's rendering of her assailant on the night she was attacked."
"I don't get it, some executioner fantasy?" Nick asked regarding the hood.
"Classic, dark power struggle. Written in the books, but how does she know this is America's hero, Dan Winthrop?" Rafael chimed in. "Has he ever mentioned any interest in medieval torture fashion in an interview? Specific interest at the Washington Museum of Crime and Punishment?" He smirked. What a tool, Sonny thought.
"Nothing of that nature, but we have uncovered another witness statement that displays a perp with a similar M.O. and description." Liv chimed in, tacking another woman's picture to the board. "Chivonne Vandergraft: high political socialite from the Eastside. Claims she was walking back from a rally in the meatpacking district when she was thrown into an alleyway and beaten and raped by a man in a hood. Used a set of keys to cut her, too."
"She was, though. You saw her yesterday. Although, can't be sure it was our perp. She did have signs of prior trauma and abuse; makeup concealing a black eye, she flinched when she saw me." Nick nodded, tapping the button of his pen against some paperwork. Sonny began to search through the file; he had made sure to look over it on the ride to the precinct, just to back up his alibi.
"Well, you are a man." Liv retorted.
"Rape victims often show immediate PTSD towards anyone remotely resembles their rapist. That's why I had to take over. She was more comfortable answering these questions with a woman." Amanda chimed in to Nick. He could be a little insensitive sometimes, but he did have a point.
"Still. Maybe Winthrop's not our guy. I'm not a 6'5 black man."
Fin piped up, "yeah and I'm close to that. She didn't even react to me the way she did to Nick. And I'm the scary ass M.F."
Barba pressed his lips together inquisitively and raised his chin. "He does have a point there." He looked over Sonny's shoulder at the text log, "hold on, wait a second," and pressed his hand on the page. His finger ran along a few sentences of dialogue as he read along. "Chivonne says 'I do love the occasional chocolate, but I'm more of a salsa lady myself.' Meaning she's got a preference for latino men."
"Which explains the shock she had when she saw Nick." Liv realized the situation and looked at the board before looking to the squad. "So we do have a connection between our guy and vic #2, but is it coincidental?"
"Maybe it was a copycat crime by one of his buddies." Nick scratched his chin as he listened. He jotted down some notes because he felt personally connected to the case in some way. He would take the assignment. "Maybe Winthrop disclosed her information, possibly her schedule, to a friend on the team-"
"And then the pervert decided to take her Salsa dancing." Fin quipped. Sonny and Rafael both managed to simultaneously roll their eyes. It was like Fin was born to make an obvious, but stupid, observation at any given moment. Needless to say, the squad loved him regardless.
"Amaro, Fin: you go down to the arena and step in on practice. Scope out for any Hispanic players or find out if Winthrop's got any pals of the sort." Liv barked out her orders to which everyone immediately obliged. "Barba, come sit in on this interview with me. Rollins and Carisi, look over the chat logs and try to find out if Chivonne talked to anyone fitting the new description." She entered her office with Barba and they waited for a blonde woman, Chivonne's secretary, to arrive who they questioned for a while.
Sonny and Amanda divided up the file and they sipped on their cooling beverages as they skimmed the pages. Amanda was the first to break the conversation from being about anything work related. "Rough night?" She smirked. Why would she be smirking? He looked at her dumbfounded.
"No."
"Didja pull an all-nighter?" She grinned, looking up from the file. This was kind of getting on Sonny's nerves.
"I slept fine, like a baby. What are you getting at?" Sonny barked back a little more defensively than he had intended.
"You're wearing the same thing you were yesterday. Although, you did change your tie, so you must have made a little effort. Mix-up in paradise?" Sonny looked horrified, looking down at the tie, which was definitely Rafael's. Thankfully it matched his outfit, but he did work with other detectives who were trained in the art of remembering detail.
"Late night. Fordham buddies. Big paper due this weekend." He hoped his story would fly but he knew Amanda was catching up to him.
She teased with her gentle, Southern drawl, "from experience. Make sure you separate your things. Otherwise, next thing you know, you've got the wrong badge on." Sonny's eyes widened and she got up, patted him on the shoulder, and retreated to the break room. He didn't know whether he was more horrified at the fact he was basically caught, or Amanda totally just admitted to an intra-squad affair.
Olivia and Rafael emerged from the meeting with essentially nothing aside from the fact that Chivonne's assistant was the epitome of a ditz. "What kind of person who is paid to know exactly what someone is doing, doesn't pay attention to what exactly their employer is doing?" Rafael groaned pressing his face to his hands. "That throws out our first alibi."
"We'll figure it out." Olivia smiled and pressed her own lips together as she often did when sympathizing with someone. "Always do." Rafael looked up and shook his head and gave a tired half groan-half laugh. "What's stressing you? You've seemed pretty out of it the past two days."
"What? I haven't insulted enough people today?"
"I'm just saying." She looked at the picture of Noah on her desk and sighed. "You ever wish for a family, Barba? Do you want kids?"
Rafael was a bit taken back by the question. Not was he was expecting, but he was grateful to hear something other than the same work related stuff. "I do," he quietly responded after a while. He didn't often disclose personal information like this unless the person was immensely trusted or he had just started his fifth scotch or third mojito. Not the shitty, New-York-sweet ones most bars gave out. He wanted authenticity; it needed to be like firewater- his dad always said it grew your balls hair. He hated the bastard now and cringed every time he thought of him, but he did know his liquor and Rafael had to side on him with this, even if it was the only thing he ever did.
"You do?" Olivia looked at him as though she feared for the poor child who would have to call Rafael Barba their dad. Although, she knew the real Rafael for the most part, and if she loved him so much, then a child probably could instantly.
"I may be standoffish in the courtroom, but I do have a paternal instinct. I do want to protect and nurture someone who is my own blood." He cleared his throat when Liv started to zone out. She blamed it on her schedule, but she was just remembering the last time Rafael had stopped by and interacted with Noah. She had just left the room with Barba and his outstretched arms holding her son, when Rafael pulled the infant in close on his lap. He pulled at his pocket square and Rafael addressed him as 'dulzura' and 'cariño' and spoke to him in Spanglish. Truth be told, she witnessed it a few times, and she would never reveal this fact. It always made her smile. If it weren't Uncle Nick, it'd be Rafael to be the one to teach Noah some Spanish. Maybe that would be another reason to keep inviting him over.
Rafael continued on. "I do want to be a better dad than mine was."
"God knows I want to be a better parent than either of mine were. Wouldn't wish being an orphan on my worst enemy." Rafael frowned and Carisi classically cut the moment short.
"Am I interrupting something?" Sonny opened the door holding the case file in one hand, and his phone in the other. Olivia shook her head and Rafael did his best to avoid direct eye contact.
"What's up?" She asked.
"Nick and Fin have got someone. Gabriel Contreras, down at the University." Olivia nodded and grabbed her gun and shield before exiting the office. Rafael remained in the chair and Sonny entered and shut the door, making his way to the desk to sit.
"What could you possibly want right now?" Rafael got up and made sure the office's blinds were shut completely. "One on one conversations really aren't what we should be having right now-" Rafael's eyes grew wide and Sonny loosened his tie. The Cuban-American's face grew red as he made the connection. "Oh, shit."
The case didn't go to trial because Gabriel confessed on the spot and made life so much easier for Rafael. After a week or so had passed, Barba found himself having a late night case reviewal session. Nick and Sonny were at their desks filling out some initial reports from their scene. Rafael always looked over once he heard Sonny laughing at something Nick had said.
Rafael would be lying to himself if he said he wasn't attracted to the blonde detective. He definitely was physically, but he was learning to get past his kiss ass mentality. Rafael would smile along whenever Sonny chuckled in delight. He tried to play it off, but Sonny caught him peeking once, which caused Barba to hide his blush in a stack of paperwork.
Soon enough, Nick headed out after receiving a text which Rafael and Sonny both knew was probably from Amanda. Rafael also looked at his phone.
Carisi, 11:56 p.m.
'Take a picture. It'll last longer.'
He laughed and looked up. Sonny was walking towards his desk with the face of a golden retriever and the stride of the most majestic gazelle-giraffe hybrid he had ever encountered. "Detective."
"Barba." Sonny grinned. "You heading out soon?"
"I think I'm gonna have to lock in some OT, actually. I might be on to something." Rafael sipped on an unmarked to go cup and Sonny wondered whether it was a soda or Rafael's umpteenth cup of coffee that day.
"I could make it worthwhile?" Rafael almost choked.
"You what?"
"I could make this overtime a little more bearable for you." Sonny smirked trying his best to be remotely seductive.
"In the place we work…"
"Yupp."
"Where there are cameras…"
"Yupp."
"And our coworkers…"
"Yupp."
"With the possibility of anyone walking in at any given moment, you have got to be joking, we said we wouldn't do that again." Rafael spoke quickly, he was nervous and taken aback.
"There's a bathroom."
"Which is probably hideously germ infected. No."
"I'll be the one on his knees. You won't have to touch the floor."
Rafael choked on the drink he was sipping on and realized that maybe Sonny's tie was too small for him; too tight. He couldn't dismiss the knot in his stomach, however. He wanted to say yes, but he wanted to say no just as much.
"Orgasms release stress and relax your muscles. That's what you need right now." Sonny leaned in on the desk and grinned deviously. "Let me soothe you, Counselor."
Rafael's mouth was smaller than usual and his eyes were wide open. With the thought that this was probably the stupidest thing he did on the job, he looked at his papers as he continued to write. "I'll meet you in the bathroom in ten minutes, third stall from the right."
And with that, Sonny marched off with a victory fist pump while Rafael awkwardly shifted in his seat. "Son of a bitch."
Rafael, being the punctual bastard he was, strode into the bathroom precisely ten minutes later. He leaned down to check the stalls, noting nobody in any of them until he came to the third stall from the right. He smirked and knocked.
"Occupado!" Sonny responded- he noticed Barba peering through the crack in the door and grinned, lifting his foot up to let him in. "Hello, Raf-"
Barba lifted a hand up to cover the other's mouth, then pressing up to the door behind him as it closed. "Shh." He ran a hand through his own hair nervously- what was he thinking? This was ridiculous. They couldn't be doing this now, here. He was just about to suggest going back to his place for the second night in a row when he felt the warmness of a hand against his thigh. He stuttered on his words, lifting his chin up higher. "O-oh."
Sonny grinned. He'd known that would shut him up. His hand ran against the silky texture of Rafael's dress pants and he looked up at him knowingly, proud that he would actually get to remember tonight. Rafael shifted his feet- a subconscious nervous habit that he had. Sometimes his feet would get going in the middle of court, but he couldn't control it. His left one shifted thrice before he planted a firm grip on the ground. "Jesus- this has got to be a quick thing, okay? I have two more files I need to- ¡Dios mío!" Rafael's head leaned back against the stall door as Sonny had palmed his erection.
He tried to keep his mind on the pleasure but he was too worried about someone coming in. Sonny looked up at him, "I thought you told me to be quiet." If Rafael weren't trying to keep his cool right now, he'd probably slap that smirk right off of his face. Sonny grasped the belt buckle and undid it with his left hand in an experienced manner. Rafael wondered how many times Sonny had blown a guy in a bathroom stall. A flash of a memory returned from the night prior and he smirked, wondering how many times Sonny had even blown someone. Suddenly, Rafael felt a warm and wet pressure around his length and his pants drop to his knees. Oh, he definitely had experience.
Thankfully, Sonny had acquired enough knowledge to know how to avoid the unattractive slurps and gulping sounds often attributed to sloppy blowjobs and bobbed his head quickly, looking up at Rafael through his eyelashes. He knew Rafael wanted it quick, but they both knew if they were in another place and time, their stamina could let this last. Rafael ran a hand along his waist, feeling his stomach coil. It had to have been the added risk of someone walking in at any moment, which rocketed him to climax. Soon enough, Sonny's tongue would be dragging along Barba and Barba would be gone. Sonny tried not to blush when he heard Rafael mutter his first name in his post orgasmic bliss.
Sonny helped clean the situation up and tucked in his pants and buckled them back up. He stayed sitting when he was finished, smiling at Rafael. "What?"
"If you weren't good at what you do, I'd sue you."
"Sure you would."
"Now, I need to, I should-" Rafael shifted awkwardly, starting to turn and Sonny stood up.
"Wait, one more thing."
Rafael perked an eyebrow and tilted his head. Sure enough, Sonny pressed his lips to Rafael's and ran his thumb along Rafael's bottom lip.
"Let's make a deal." Sonny locked eyes with Rafael and they both knew what each other would do when they got home. "When cases get too stressful and ya need a bit of reassurance, I'll be here." He smirked wiping his own lip off and exiting the stall. "You got my number!" He shouted out before exiting the room entirely.
Rafael shut the door and stayed in the stall another fifteen minutes just in case anyone was nearby to hear Sonny's proposition. He noted to get started on his will and testament because Sonny Carisi was definitely going to get his ass killed.