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Isaiah steps into One Hogan Place and removes his winter hat, tucking it under his arm as he walks towards the elevators and waits for one to arrive.
When the doors open, Isaiah starts as he notices Sonny Carisi is exiting the car. "Carisi," he greets, feeling his lips quirk into a smile at the way Carisi snaps out of his thoughts, looks at him, and gives him a genuine smile.
"Holmes," Sonny replies, stepping to one side as he gets off the elevator so other people can enter and exit. "What brings you to Manhattan?"
"We've got a multiple murder case that started in Queens, then crossed the bridge to your neighborhood. I'm here to flip a coin with an ADA to see which one of us gets stuck with it."
"Who are you meeting?" Sonny asks, glancing at his watch. "I was about to go to lunch, but if you think it's a short meeting, I can wait, and you could join me."
"I don't want to keep you," Isaiah says, though the idea of lunch with Carisi has a great deal of appeal. "I can't imagine you have that much time to actually eat."
"Normally, you'd be right, but two of my judges are out sick with that flu that's kicking everyone's ass, so my afternoon got knocked free. I don't mind waiting a few minutes."
Isaiah bites the inside of his cheek, considering the invite. No doubt Sonny intends it as a friendly, professional lunch. Two people who know each other a bit grabbing a bite and talking shop. It's not exactly the sort of lunch he'd prefer to have with Carisi, but it won't be boring. "Sure," he says after a moment, and he can't help but smile when Carisi bounces on his toes and beams like Isaiah's just made his day.
"Fantastic," Sonny replies. "Who are you visiting? I'll ride back up with you."
"Cutter," Isaiah answers as they step back towards the elevator. "Do you know him?"
"Mike Cutter?" Sonny asks. Isaiah nods, and Sonny grins, looking a bit amused. "Yeah, I met him a few times when I was helping Barba out."
"Oh, that's right," Isaiah replies, realizing why Sonny looks amused. "They're . . . married? I think?"
"Yeah. They met when they both worked in Brooklyn, as far as I’ve been able to piece together. Barba didn't like to share a lot of details even when we became friendly."
"And Cutter didn't fill in any gaps when you ran into him?"
Sonny shrugs as they step onto the elevator. "I never asked. I only saw him when he was showing up in Barba's office to get lunch with him or drag him home, and I didn't want to interfere with either."
"Probably a good choice," Isaiah replies, "especially if what I've heard about Barba's feelings about food are accurate."
"I'm sure they are," Sonny says.
The elevator opens onto Cutter's floor, and Isaiah leads the way down the hall. Cutter's door is open, and the man is standing behind his desk, shirt sleeves rolled up. He's staring at a legal pad in deep concentration, so Isaiah quietly clears his throat to get his attention.
"Holmes!" Cutter greets him, flashing him a quick smile. He glances at Sonny. "And . . . Carisi? I can't imagine they've given you anything to do that requires my help."
"Nope," Sonny says. "Just tagging along."
"We're getting lunch in a minute," Isaiah says.
"Well, I'll keep this short, then," Cutter replies. "I want the case here. I'm worried Keane may be . . . overwhelmed with other work right now."
Isaiah can't help the sigh that escapes him. "So, you know, then."
Cutter glances at the door and nods when Sonny closes it behind him. "You know?" he asks Sonny.
"Know what?" Sonny asks, and Isaiah admires how casually clueless he sounds.
"It's okay," Isaiah says to Sonny and catches Cutter giving them a considering look. "You know about Keane," he says to Cutter. "How did you find out?"
"It's becoming an open secret," Cutter replies. "But from what I hear, none of the other boroughs’ DAs want to touch it."
"Yeah, because the short term unfucking of this would really be a lot worse than all the possible appeals that'll come rolling downhill once it hits the press that Keane barely knows his own name," Sonny says.
Isaiah chuckles without meaning to. Sonny's waspish tone is weirdly comforting. "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can fuck up today," he replies.
Sonny flashes him a grin, and Isaiah can't help but smile in return.
"Okay, fuck it, I'm asking," Cutter says. "You two dating?"
Sonny chokes, and Isaiah immediately raises a hand to thump him on the back. "Wow," he says. "Really?"
Cutter shrugs, unconcerned. "You're out. Carisi's out. You're going to lunch and sharing jokes."
"How did you even know I'm out?" Sonny asks.
"I asked Rafael years ago when you had that crush on him," Cutter says as blandly as he'd answered Isaiah's question. "He said you were, and when you moved over here, I heard through the usual new guy gossip."
Sonny rolls his eyes. "I mean, yeah, I'm out, but come on. It's presumptuous to think we're dating. Holmes helped me with a case. He taught at Fordham. We're friendly."
"My mistake," Cutter says. He puts his focus back on Isaiah. "So, we'll take the case, and you'll be able to keep Keane away from things while we work."
"Sounds easy enough," Isaiah replies. He holds out his hand. He and Cutter shake. "Appreciate the help."
"Any time," Cutter says. He gives Sonny a nod goodbye, then shows them both to the door.
They ride down to the lobby in silence, then fall into step as they walk out the side door.
"Burgers?" Sonny asks.
"Sure," Isaiah replies. They walk half a block before he speaks again. "So, you had a crush on Barba?"
Sonny laughs, and Isaiah appreciates the line of his throat as he throws his head back. "Yeah, yeah," Sonny says. "What can I say? I like a man with interesting eyes and a nice suit."
Isaiah bites the inside of his cheek when Sonny looks at him, giving him an obvious once-over he swears he can feel. "So, is this just a friendly lunch?" he asks.
"Sure," Sonny says with a shrug. "Or it could be a first date if you're interested."
Isaiah lets himself take Sonny in, giving him a once-over as good as he’s just gotten. "I'm interested," he says. He smiles when Sonny takes a half-step sideways and bumps their arms together.
*
They eat lunch at a tiny table that requires them to sit with their knees pressed together. Isaiah's not usually one for such close quarters on a first date, but Sonny keeps smiling at him and ducking his head, and Isaiah finds he doesn't mind at all.
"So, tell me," Isaiah says when the server drops off their sandwiches and a literal bucket of fries. "How much of your current diet is the fries here?"
Sonny laughs. "Less than you'd think. I tend to make a big pile of something once a week and eat my way through it."
"Big family?" Isaiah asks, realizing he doesn't know.
"Three sisters," Sonny replies. "Mom and Dad. And the usual amount of cousins and aunts and uncles for a Roman Catholic family."
"What's the collective noun for that?" Isaiah asks. "The usual amount of cousins and aunts and uncles, I mean."
"A loudness," Sonny replies.
Isaiah chuckles and takes a bite of his sandwich. Sonny had ordered a burger, but Isaiah had chosen a chicken sandwich, which Sonny had assured him was excellent. It is. The chicken is well-cooked and just a little spicy. The toppings aren't overwhelming, and the place uses aioli rather than mayonnaise.
"Good?" Sonny asks, gesturing towards the sandwich.
Isaiah nods, his mouth still full.
Sonny smiles and bites into his burger. He makes a quiet, happy sound, clearly savoring the taste.
"Are you a practicing Catholic?" Isaiah asks. He'd seen Sonny cross himself before they'd stepped into the courtroom for Charles's hearing, but he hadn't been sure if it was an old habit or a genuine one.
"I am," Sonny says. He rolls his eyes when Isaiah raises his eyebrows. "Yes, it's possible to be queer and proud and Catholic."
"It can't be easy, though," Isaiah says.
Sonny puts his burger down and plucks a few fries from the basket. "My priest is progressive. My parents accept me. I get strength from my faith. It's worth fighting for, you know?"
Isaiah shakes his head. "I don't, actually. My parents brought me up without religion. They weren't full-on hippies, but they dabbled."
"So, does that make them proud or disappointed that you work for the man?"
Isaiah feels himself smile at Sonny's tone. He can't remember the last time he smiled so much talking to someone. "They’re split on it. Mom's proud. Dad's disappointed I didn't go into non-profit work. But they both support me, so I can't complain."
"That's nice," Sonny says.
They fall into silence, eating their sandwiches. Their fingers touch a few times when they both reach for fries, and each time, Sonny's eyes light up and he steals a glance at Isaiah.
There's a series of beeps, and Isaiah watches Sonny tap his smartwatch. "Got a meeting?" he asks.
"No, just a reminder," Sonny replies. "I need to find—" he stops short, glances at Isaiah again, then looks down at the last few bites of his sandwich. "Um." He looks at Isaiah again. "This might be a little fast, but do you have any plans to attend the Queens' office holiday party?"
"I should show up for the networking," Isaiah says, and simply the thought of spending the evening pretending he's not very much aware that Keane shouldn't be in office makes him feel bone-tired. "But I'm hoping for a good reason to skip it, honestly."
"Well, how about a second date?" Sonny asks. His knees press more firmly against Isaiah's as he leans forward, his smile shy and hopeful and maybe the best thing Isaiah's seen in a week. "You could come to the Manhattan party as my plus one. I'm sure the booze is just as strong and the food is just as middling."
Isaiah leans back in his chair, tilting his head and not looking away from Sonny as he considers it. "You'd be comfortable with that?" he asks. "You're still the new guy, and being out is one thing, but showing up to the office party with a man on your arm is different."
Sonny waves away the concern. "If anyone in the office is going to disrespect me because they see proof I suck dick, I'd rather have the early warning."
Isaiah snorts and straightens up, pressing his knees against Sonny's. "How is it possible I feel almost charmed to be described that way?"
"I'm charming," Sonny replies. "Natural talent."
"Right," Isaiah says, layering on the sarcasm because he's pretty sure it'll make Sonny laugh. It does, and he enjoys the view.
"So," Sonny says. “Is that a yes to the invite?"
"It is," Isaiah replies. He gets a flutter in his stomach when Sonny shifts his legs so he can knock their ankles together. "I'll meet you at your place if you want. That way you don't have to cross the bridge twice."
"Sounds good," Sonny replies. "It's Friday night, same as all the other ones. Want to meet at mine at six? We can have a drink and a snack before we head over."
"Works for me," Isaiah says. "You've got my number. Send me your address."
"I will after lunch," Sonny replies.
Isaiah nods and they go back to their meals.
*
They part ways outside the restaurant. Isaiah holds out his hand without thinking, so used to working lunches that his brain switches to autopilot for the goodbye.
Sonny shakes his hand, then lifts Isaiah's hand to his mouth and kisses his knuckles. "I'll text you," he says. "We can chat a little before the party."
"Sounds good," Isaiah replies, feeling stupidly light-headed because Sonny kissed his hand like he's some sort of fairytale prince.
"Get back to Queens safe," Sonny says. He's still holding Isaiah's hand; their fingers aren't intertwined, but Sonny is stroking the back of Isaiah's hand with his thumb.
"Don't work too late," Isaiah replies. "I'd like to know I have your full attention when I text you tonight."
"Do my best," Sonny says, then squeezes Isaiah's hand and walks away.
*
Sonny: What's your favorite food?
Sonny: Do you have siblings?
Sonny: Plaid gay or leather jacket gay?
Isaiah wakes up the next morning to that string of texts and can't help his delighted laugh.
Isaiah: Really?
He gets out of bed and showers and shaves before checking his phone for a reply.
Sonny: Yeah, really.
He pours a cup of coffee and enjoys the first few sips before answering just to see if Sonny will send another question or reply. He doesn't.
Isaiah: Cheese and crackers
Isaiah: Only child.
Isaiah: Leather jacket gay.
Isaiah: I know you have three sisters, but what about the other two questions?
He's three-quarters of the way through his coffee and tagging emails in his work inbox by order of importance when Sonny texts back.
Sonny: Carbonara with broccolini.
Sonny: Plaid queer.
Isaiah smiles all the way through getting dressed. He looks at himself in the mirror as he pauses in knotting his tie, and he feels almost unrecognizable. He's not unhappy in his work, and he hasn't been unhappy in being single. But his cheeks are flushed, and his eyes are bright, and he's clearly feeling a new level of expectation with the texts from Sonny.
He remembers the first time he saw him. Isaiah was teaching Legal Ethics, and when he'd walked into the classroom, he'd immediately noticed Sonny. He'd been sitting in the back row and his posture had looked exhausted, but there'd been a bright determination in his face to pay attention and learn. He'd assumed Sonny would constantly ask questions and be a bit more naive than was realistic, but that hadn't happened at all. Instead, Sonny had listened and taken notes and asked probing, difficult questions when he had spoken, and his questions had opened the door to other students asking difficult questions. It had been one of the best teaching experiences of Isaiah's life.
And now the same man was asking him about his favorite foods and siblings because he wanted to know Isaiah as a person.
Isaiah: Favorite movie?
Isaiah: Dumbest thing you did as a teenager?
*
Sonny's responses come in while Isaiah is in a staff meeting.
Sonny: Juno.
Sonny: There was a wispy mustache. I refuse to show you pictures.
Sonny: Favorite book?
Sonny: Yes or no on Funkos?
Isaiah sends his replies before he settles in to review the newest cases in his inbox.
Isaiah: Bone by Jeff Smith
Isaiah: Yes, but I refuse to say anything more than that.
*
Isaiah checks his messages at lunch and laughs out loud. Sonny has sent a photo of Funkos that clearly live in his office. There's a She-Hulk and a Matt Murdock.
Isaiah: Let's ignore the ethics of superheroes also being attorneys and talk about how you didn't list your favorite book.
Sonny: Wide Sargasso Sea because fuck Rochester getting happiness with Jane at the end of Jane Eyre after he tried to trick her into a bigamist marriage and was generally terrible to Antoinette.
Sonny: I also really love The Giver.
*
Isaiah thinks about Sonny's favorites while he swims his laps at the gym. He vaguely remembers The Giver. He opens his library app while he's on the bus home and checks out the e-book.
Isaiah I just burned my dinner because I was reading The Giver.
Sonny: Well, guess I owe you a dinner, then.
Isaiah: Guess you do.
*
The texting continues for the next two days. Isaiah finds himself smiling every time his phone goes off. Sonny sends photos throughout the day. His mostly empty coffee mug at seven in the morning with the caption: "God why." A large dog on the subway being carried in an Ikea sack. (His name is Billy, like the bookcases.) A shot of a stack of messy dishes and a countertop covered in flour. (Hope you like chocolate chip cookies.)
Isaiah's favorite photo is a shot of the Manhattan courthouse Sonny sends midday on Thursday. It's just a quick snapshot of the front of the building, but the heart emoji Sonny sends along with it makes something in Isaiah's chest tighten and release. He screencaps the text and saves it to his phone.
*
Sonny: Just confirming we're still on for tonight.
Isaiah: Should be out of work on time and to your place like we discussed.
Sonny: Great!
*
Sonny's building is older but clearly well-kept. Sonny buzzes him in, and Isaiah rides the somewhat creaky elevator up to the fifth floor while trying not to overanalyze what he's wearing. He's dressed as he would be for the Queens party, in a pair of dark wash jeans and a ribbed, burgundy sweater, but he wonders if things are fancier in Manhattan. He should have asked.
Sonny's door is cracked open when Isaiah reaches it, but he still knocks as he walks inside. "Sonny?" He calls when he looks around the open-air living room and kitchen and doesn't see him.
"Just a sec!" Sonny calls from down the hallway.
Isaiah closes the door behind him and throws the lock. He takes off his satchel, then his jacket, hanging both on the hooks by the door. He tucks his hat and gloves into the pockets of his jacket, then unwinds his scarf. He's still holding it in his hands when Sonny walks down the hall.
"Hey," Sonny says, his grin wide and welcoming. "Sorry for the delay; I was hunting down my other shoe."
"No problem," Isaiah replies, looking him over. Sonny's in a bright white sweater and jeans, and it makes some of his nervousness vanish. "A white sweater for an office party? That's dangerous. Might as well splash some red wine on yourself before you leave here."
Sonny chuckles. "Well, I do have a red I could open, but the white in the fridge will go better with the food."
"I like a good white," Isaiah replies. He turns as Sonny opens the fridge and pulls a box from his messenger bag. "I got you a little something," he says, turning back to face Sonny. He stops short when he sees that Sonny's pulled a glass-domed wooden tray from the fridge. It has four types of cheese on it. "Cheese and crackers?" he asks.
Sonny nods and sets the tray on the counter, then reaches into a cupboard and pulls out a glass container holding crackers. "When you said it was your favorite food, I figured it'd be the perfect thing for the pre-party snack." He turns and pulls a bottle of white wine from the fridge. "What were you saying?" he asks, twisting the cap off the wine and setting down the bottle.
"Oh, I. Um. Here." Isaiah says, holding out the box. He's not sure why he's so flustered. Maybe because buying the gift had felt silly but right, but now he's standing here holding a Funko box, and Sonny's getting wine glasses out of a cupboard so they can eat a fancy version of Isaiah's favorite food.
Sonny takes the box and grins. "Lady Justice? Nice! I didn't know she was a Funko."
"I had no idea, either. I just googled 'lawyer Funkos' to see if there was another you might like, but then I realized I wasn't sure what other references you would get. Lucky for me, she popped up in the results."
"This is great," Sonny says, turning the box over in his hands. He looks up at Isaiah and takes another step closer so they're almost touching. "Thanks." He stands on his toes and presses a kiss to Isaiah's cheek.
Isaiah turns his head as Sonny pulls away and hums in approval when Sonny takes the cue and kisses him on the mouth. His lips are soft and his kiss is confident, and Isaiah slides both hands around Sonny's waist and pulls him closer as Sonny licks into his mouth.
"Wow," Sonny breathes a minute later when they separate.
Isaiah runs his hands up and down Sonny's back as he catches his own breath. "That wasn't bad," he says.
Sonny gives him a mock-angry look, but it dissolves almost instantly. "We could try again," he offers. "Make sure we get it right this time."
Isaiah smiles and tilts Sonny's chin up with his finger. "Maybe one more," he agrees and swallows the sound of Sonny's laugh by kissing him again.
*
The second kiss leads to a third, then a fourth, but then Sonny takes a step back and insists they try the cheeses he picked out. "You know as well as I do that the food's going to be iffy at this thing. Let's get something good in our stomachs before we have to deal with that."
Isaiah agrees by standing on the other side of the kitchen island as Sonny pours them both wine. He looks at the crackers in the glass container. "Are these homemade?"
"Yeah," Sonny says. "The cheeses are all pretty different, and I was worried the usual crackers wouldn't quite work, so I made some the other night."
"Was that before or after the chocolate chip cookies?"
"After," Sonny says. "I meant to save you a few since you mentioned you liked chocolate chip, but my sister came over with my niece, and the cookies mysteriously disappeared when they left."
"Was it your sister or your niece who stole them?"
"Six of one," Sonny replies. "I think there were definite cahoots going on."
"Cahoots," Isaiah murmurs, chuckling. "There's a word that doesn't get nearly enough use."
"Right?" Sonny says. He takes the glass dome off the tray and reaches into a drawer for a cheese knife. "Okay, so this one's a goat cheese, extra salty, but there's a really rich flavor to it that cuts through it. This one's a sheep's cheese with walnuts ground in. This one's Italian and my Nonna's favorite, and the last one is just a basic bitch cheddar with paprika."
"I'll start with the basic bitch cheddar," Isaiah says. "Work my way up to classier options."
Sonny grins and cuts a thin slice of the cheddar for each of them.
All the cheeses are excellent. Sonny talks a bit about the overall flavors, and Isaiah simply watches him talk as he eats and sips his wine.
"Why are cheese and crackers your favorite food?" Sonny asks as he cuts them a second set of slices from the cheddar.
"I don't know," Isaiah says. "It's just always made me feel content, I guess."
"That's the best kind of favorite food," Sonny says. "That's why carbonara is mine. It's always been around, you know? My Nonna used to make it for Sunday dinner, just a giant pot of the sauce and piles of noodles."
"Sounds nice," Isaiah says. "I've never had a big family dinner. My parents were only children, too."
"If you ever want to experience the occasion, let me know. My parents always keep a chair or two empty in case anyone needs a good meal."
Isaiah can't help his chuckle. "From a friendly lunch date to a first date to taking me to your office party to saying I can meet the folks? You're moving pretty quick, aren't you?"
Sonny huffs a laugh and takes a sip of wine. "I spent a couple of years spinning my wheels in a lot of ways," he says. "I should have moved to the DA's office back when Barba left, honestly, but I couldn't quite bring myself to do it."
"I heard what happened," Isaiah says quietly. "I know you admired him. It must have been hard to lose him like that."
Sonny thinks it over, taking another sip of wine. "I understand why he did it," he says, looking at the cheese knife in his hand. "I don't think it was ethical, but I don't think it was immoral."
Isaiah tilts his head, watching the way the emotions wash across Sonny's face. "Really?" he asks quietly.
"His soul was gone," Sonny says quietly but with deep conviction. He looks at Isaiah and meets his gaze squarely. "Barba shouldn't have made a choice that wasn't his, but I won't pretend like I'm not grateful that that baby is at peace."
Isaiah feels like his breath has been punched out of him. He takes a slow, steady breath, then walks around the counter. He steps in close and looks down into Sonny's upturned face. He thinks of the picture of the courthouse and the heart emoji Sonny had sent him. "I need to kiss you right now," he says.
"Please," Sonny replies.
Isaiah kisses him slow and deep and lush. He holds Sonny's head in his hands and slides their tongues together as Sonny gets a handful of his sweater and pulls him in even closer.
When they break apart, they're panting quietly. Isaiah drops a kiss on Sonny's nose because it feels impossible not to. "You're an amazing man," he says quietly. "I'm tempted to encourage you to move even faster."
"Wow," Sonny says quietly, his hand still gripped tight in Isaiah's sweater, "Kiss me like that again, and I'll move however you want."
Isaiah laughs, full-body and fully open. Sonny kisses the side of his throat, and Isaiah drops his hand over Sonny's, intertwining their fingers over his sweater.
*
Mike Cutter sidles up to Isaiah at the bar a half-hour into the office party. "How friendly was that lunch?" he asks in greeting, setting two empty glasses on the bar.
Isaiah cuts Mike a glance as the bartender sets down the two glasses of wine he'd ordered. "I burned my dinner the other night because I was reading a book he likes. I reminded him about it on the way here, and he offered to make me breakfast in the morning to make up for it."
Mike barks a laugh. "We might still be here at breakfast. He and Rafael are currently arguing over some new article in the New York Law Review I intentionally didn't read."
Isaiah chuckles and turns from the bar. It's easy to spot Sonny, even in the crowd. His sweater glows warmly under the lights, and he's animated as he says something that's making Barba look interested. "Well, you may get invited to breakfast," he says to Mike.
"I'll make sure we pass," Mike replies, then turns to give the bartender his order.
Isaiah walks over to Sonny and hands him his drink. Sonny presses his free hand against Isaiah's back for a moment, and Isaiah thinks about that photo again. The courthouse with the heart emoji. The feeling it gives him swells higher as Sonny makes a proper introduction between Isaiah and Rafael and says, delightfully casual, "We just started seeing each other."
"And he brought you to an office party?" Rafael asks, all smirk.
"He saved me from a worse one," Isaiah replies as he looks at Sonny and gives him a small smile. The feeling, he realizes, is love. Not a deep well of emotion, but the first swell of something that Isaiah knows he could love more than the law as long as he's willing to accept it.
"I'm secretly trying to get him to admit our office is cooler," Sonny says, then laughs at his own joke as Rafael rolls his eyes.
Isaiah presses his own hand to Sonny's back, splaying his fingers to touch as much of him as possible. He's more than willing to accept it, he decides. Looking forward to it, even.