Work Text:
Both teams are relieved. They have just wrapped up a joint investigation into the fentanyl ring Elliot spent eight months undercover with. When the investigation crossed paths with a missing persons case from SVU, the two squads joined forces. Together they were able to bring Maddie and half a dozen other girls home to their families.
After returning to OC’s headquarters to begin working on paperwork, Elliot gets an idea. He fires off a quick group text to both Ayanna and Olivia.
E: Drinks at O’Halloran’s? Both squads?
He glances up to Ayanna’s office, where both women have gathered. Olivia pulls her phone out of her back pocket and nods toward it as she speaks. Ayanna shrugs her shoulders slightly but nods, seemingly in agreement. A second later, Elliot’s phone buzzes on his desk.
O: I think that’s a great idea. I’ll gather my team. Ayanna, you got yours?
A: On it.
Olivia stays in the office and makes a phone call - to Fin, he presumes - as Ayanna approaches the railing just outside the door to present the idea. Everyone seems enthused about getting out of the office and begins to shut down their computers and gather their things.
A few moments later, Ayanna and Olivia join the rest of them downstairs, with Olivia naturally gravitating towards Elliot’s desk. It probably would have happened that way anyway, but they’ve been seeing each other for most of the five months that he’s been back from his assignment. It started with his voicemail and a few exchanged phone calls and text messages. There were the coffees and lunches he brought to her office when he was “in the neighborhood.” Then, there were dinners - sometimes with Noah, sometimes without . Now, she spends the night at his place when Noah’s in Woodstock, and sometimes he spends the night at her apartment even when Noah’s home. Like last night. They’ve not disclosed yet, but she’s pretty sure that Fin is aware - or at least he thinks he knows something.
“Fin and Bruno are meeting us there. Velasco was originally scheduled off today and already had plans for tonight.”
Elliot nods in acknowledgment, as they watch Jet, Reyes, and Ayanna make their way to the door.. “Need a ride?”
“That’d be great.”
***
Drinks are flowing, and everyone seems to be having a good time - relaxing, getting to know each other without the pressure of a case hanging over them.
Olivia and Elliot are on one side of a booth with Fin and Ayanna across from them. Bruno has stepped outside to make a phone call. Jet and Reyes are standing at the bar, and Olivia can’t help but notice the lack of personal space between them. “What’s going on there?” She nods in their direction, and when Ayanna sees the scene in front of her, she rolls her eyes.
“Supposedly nothing anymore.”
Olivia’s eyes widen at Ayanna’s words. “Isn’t he-”
“Yeah. Started when they were in D.C. for Jamie’s memorial. He apparently slept in his car for a few weeks, but he’s back home now as far as I know.” Ayanna looks to Elliot who nods in agreement while glaring at the young duo.
“Haven’t heard any different.”
Fin senses Elliot’s tension and offers to grab the next round. Olivia excuses herself to the restroom while Fin gets their drinks. Elliot watches her walk away, and a vision of her in purple lace pops into his head. Slipping his phone from the table, he types out a quick message.
E: Thinking about last night. Any chance that purple thing can make another appearance?
He places his phone back on the table and just misses the shocked look on his sergeant’s face.
“Stabler.”
Elliot looks at Ayanna questioningly. “Yeah?”
“I, uh-” Unsure how to continue, she turns her phone to face him.
Elliot’s heart drops into his stomach. “Shit. That text wasn’t for you.” He fumbles for his phone and sees that he accidentally sent the text to the group message he’d used to arrange this evening’s outing. “She’s going to kill me.”
Just then, Olivia returns to the table, obviously oblivious to his gaffe. Elliot stands to let her back in, thinking that at least with her on the inside of the booth she won’t be able to run away. He feels his face burning with embarrassment as he watches her check her phone.
“What the hell?!” She turns to glare at him.
“I swear, Liv. It was an accident.”
With perfect timing, as always, Fin returns to the table with their drinks and jokes, “What's up? Trouble in paradise?”
“You knew?” Ayanna is shocked, and Fin’s jaw drops.
“Wait. You two finally got your heads-”
“Odafin. Tutuola,” Olivia slips into her Captain voice. “I swear to God. If you don’t want to work weekends for the next six months, you better stop talking.”
He does stop talking, but he’s still grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
Ayanna decides she needs to step in. “Olivia, it doesn’t have to leave this table. He didn’t use any names in the text. As far as I’m concerned I don’t know anything if you don’t want me to.”
Olivia’s shoulders relax a little, and she nods her head slightly, reaching for the whiskey Fin had brought to the table for Elliot and taking a healthy sip. She sets the glass down between the two of them and looks Elliot in the eyes. After a moment, she brings her hand to rest under the table on Elliot’s thigh.
“We have actually been talking about disclosing. It’s not that we didn’t want you guys to know. It’s just that it’s still early, and we - I wanted to feel secure in this before we opened ourselves up to other people’s comments and opinions. We have twenty-six years of rumors and innuendo to live up to.” She feels Elliot’s hand on top of hers, and he gives it a slight squeeze.
“No. You don’t,” Fin says definitively. “You don’t have to live up to anything. You just have to be happy. If anyone gives you shit, send them my way.”
Olivia smiles and finds herself tearing up a little. “I am, Fin.” She looks at Elliot. “I’m happy.” She doesn’t stop him when he leans in to press a soft, chaste kiss to her lips.