Work Text:
Higher Love
Think about it, there must be a higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above;
without it, life is wasted time
Look inside your heart, and I'll look inside mine
They were walking; side by side, steps unhurried, a stark contrast to the city around them. Their home. Buzzing. Pulsing. Perpetually alive. Never sleeping. At some point, Elliot had given in, thrown caution to the wind and gently clasped her hand in his own.
Olivia didn't stop him, didn't even protest. They stood fused that way as they marvelled over the busker whose voice Olivia had heard faintly from several blocks away and followed.
“Whitney,” Elliot whistled, kneeling to place a few crumpled bills he'd pulled from his pants' pocket into the young woman's guitar case. “Tall order.”
“She makes it look pretty easy,” Olivia spoke into his ear as he resumed his post next to her.
Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk the line and try to see,
falling behind in what could be, oh
“Like she's reciting the alphabet,” he chuckled, nodding.
It wasn't crowded. They were two of a small circle huddled together. Listening. Singing. Swaying in time to the voice that was nearly Whitney Houston reincarnated.
“Right?” Olivia laughed. Elliot felt her breath hot against his earlobe with every word. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up of their own volition and he felt goosebumps raise on his arms. Some would blame it on the chill of the evening, but he knew better. It was the effects of the moment. Savouring every bit of it with her.
“Hard to believe such a big voice can live in such a tiny body.”
The singer was short, her frame petite. Dark hair swayed in the light winds and olive skin glistened ever so slightly with the exertion of performing. The smiles she gave passers-by for their monetary contributions or compliments reached all the way to her eyes.
Olivia moved closer to the open case, gently placing a hundred dollar bill inside. She winked at the stranger, vowed to stay long enough so as to witness a final bow and ask for her name. Every borough of their city laid claim to undiscovered talent, and she sincerely hoped this girl wouldn't remain that way forever.
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
Where's that higher love I keep thinking of?
“Whitney's version of this is my favourite.” Olivia was sure she'd mentioned this in passing in all their years working together, saw Elliot nod as she reached for his hand again, entwining their fingers. “She elevated the original.”
“She had that ability,” Elliot agreed. “Was pretty incredible. Not many people can touch Whitney.”
“Not like this girl's doing.”
“I think she's singing right to us,” Elliot told her after they'd let the music envelop them for a while. Things were comfortable. Familiar. Each had allowed themselves to fall silent. “You can't tell me the lyrics to this song are lost on you?”
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
Olivia, my friend, can I take you and Noah to lunch this weekend?
She'd pumped the brakes like she'd always done. Cautious. Measured. Anxious. Maybe even more than a little scared. She'd wanted to wait. Given some half assed – but not entirely false – excuse about Noah becoming easily attached.
Somehow they'd still ended up here. Noah with Rollins and Carisi and the two ex-partners on an unofficial date wandering the city, listening to a busker on a random street corner.
That lunch had never happened, but Elliot Stabler was nothing if not persistent.
So here they were. She acquiescing to an unofficial, no pressure evening that was slowly, steadily morphing into something else: Butterflies fluttering in the pit of her stomach each time their hands disconnected and reconnected anew. Blush creeping up her neck and into her cheeks with every subtle and not so subtle compliment. Heart skipping beats as he leaned in close, so close, to talk to her over the sounds of the city, the din of the music.
Of course fucking not.
Those lyrics, one of her favourite songs, shot right through to the middle of her chest, with more meaning now than they'd ever done. Not lost on her at all.
“Earth to Olivia..” Elliot squeezed her hand to get her attention, his voice pulling her from reverie.
“Oh. Huh?” Olivia blinked repeatedly, as though the action would clear the fog from her brain. She noticed the music had all but stopped, saw the busker packing up out of the corner of her eye. “Sorry.”
“I asked if you wanted to stop and get some ice cream or something on the walk back?”
“Oh,” she half smiled. “Sure. I could do ice cream.”
“Perfect. You ready?”
“Give me one second.” She disconnected their hands, held up an index finger to let him know she'd be right back.
“You were great tonight,” Olivia called out, walking toward the busker who'd packed up her guitar and was making to leave the area, having wrapped up conversation with most of those who had stopped to listen.
The young woman startled a little. Turned and smiled once she'd composed herself. “Thank you.”
She was soft spoken. Nowhere near as commanding as when she sang. Had an accent Olivia couldn't place.
“You like Whitney?”
“Who doesn't?” she joked. “She's amazing. One of my favourites.”
“Mine too.”
“She should have had so much more time.”
“I agree.”
“I appreciate you stopping to listen tonight. I saw you put the hundred in my guitar case. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
“You're welcome. It was my pleasure.” Olivia smiled warmly. “What's your name, honey?”
“Aria.”
“That's a pretty name,” Olivia answered. “I don't hear it often, but I'll remember it. I'm sure it'll be all over the radio sooner rather than later.”
“You're too kind,” Aria laughed, “but thank you...”
“Olivia,” the brunette offered, realizing she hadn't given her own name.
“That's my best friend's name,” Aria smiled. “But I really should be going. It's getting late. It was nice meeting you. Thank you again for coming. Looks like you have someone waiting on you.” She tilted her chin in Elliot's direction and he lifted his hand in a light wave.
“Yeah,” Olivia murmured softly. “I do.”
“I'm still gonna make that lunch with you and Noah a thing, you know,” Elliot told her matter of factly. “I didn't forget.”
“El...”
“What, Liv?” He stopped walking, turned to face her. “Please don't tell me again that we need to wait. That's all we've been doing. I don't want to wait around forever.”
This wasn't entirely untrue. He didn't want to. But he didn't tell her out loud that he would. He'd do just about anything for her.
“Are you sure you're ready for this? I mean, after Kathy and all? What if it doesn't work out?”
He took her hands in his own, laced their fingers. “What if it does?”
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh,
bring me a higher love
Where's that higher love I keep thinking of?
She stepped closer. Fixed her gaze on his. Their faces were inches apart. She could feel the heat of his breath. Time stood still. So incredibly still.
He'd said once that he was the longest relationship she'd had with a man. Standing in front of him now, she knew it. She knew him. He knew her better than she'd let almost anyone know her. They understood each other. Reached parts of one another that outsiders couldn't touch.
Let him learn you in all the ways he hasn't.
His mouth was on hers before she had time to protest her own thought.
He was slow, gentle, hesitant. “What are you doing?” She questioned quietly, biting her lip as she pulled back, noting that he looked crestfallen.
“Something I should've done years ago.”
Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk the line and try to see,
falling behind in what could be, oh
Let him learn you in all the ways he hasn't.
She stopped fighting, granted him access to her mouth. Felt him smile against her lips before their bodies parted, coming up for air.
“I'll put lunch with Noah into my calendar.” Reaching for his hand, she pulled him closer to her, matching him stride for stride the rest of the walk home.