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thatesqcrush · 1 year

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Second Chances

Joe Velasco x f! reader. A very belated Secret Santa gift for @plaidbooks. CW: implied smut. Mostly fluff. WC: 2,839.

AN: Thanks @beccabarba for giving it a read through.

AN2: Not sure who to tag for Joe folks. Umm @storiesofsvu @madpanda75 @dreamlover31 @witches-unruly-heart @detective-giggles... anyone else who wants to be tagged for Joe, send me a msg!

The biting, cold wind whipped harshly around Joe Velasco as he waited for the light to change, causing him to shiver. Despite having lived in New York his whole life, he much preferred a warmer climate. Summer was his favorite. He'd dressed in black, with his dark hair, and dark eyes and fashionable stubble, he looked every bit the New Yorker he was. Joe huddled in his peacoat, as if shrinking into himself would garner some warmth.

Just when Joe thought it wouldn't get any worse, delicate snowflakes began to fall from the vast white and gray sky. Plumes of smoke rose steadily from the grates before settling over the icy sidewalks. Joe grumbled and wrapped his scarf tighter around his face. The briefcase Joe had with him suddenly felt heavier than before.

The light changed from green to red and Joe hurried across the street. A dimly lit sign that belonged to a local greasy spoon caught his eye. Instead of heading straight to his destination, Joe decided to make a pit stop to grab a cup of coffee. He hated coffee but he was too cold to care.

As he entered the diner, he noted that it was barely at full capacity, leaving him with many options to sit. Joe took the chance to grab a booth in the back. As he settled in, he signaled a waitress to take his order.

The waitress barely had a chance to greet him before Joe barked out what he wanted. She hurried off, leaving Joe alone once more and with his thoughts. Moments later, a piping cup of black coffee sat in front of him.

As he stirred two spoonfuls of sugar into his coffee, Joe focused on the patrons who were occupying the diner at the moment before being distracted by the jingle of the bell over the diner entrance.

Another gust of wind entered the diner soon followed by the most strikingly beautiful woman Joe had ever laid eyes on. His spoon clattered loudly as it fell from the cup and onto the table. Your skin was slightly tinged pink due to the cold. You had a thick scarf on and a blue knit hat with a giant pom pom on it. An easy smile spread on your face as you shook the snow off.

"My Lord, it's cold out there!"

You had an accent but Joe couldn’t figure out from where. However, Joe found that he could look past the accent. 'It's not like the New York accent is any better.' he thought as he watched you continue to shake the snow off.

"You take a seat anywhere sugar; I'll be with you in a minute," the waitress called out.

"Coffee, cream and sugar, please. I'll be in the back," you had replied in turn to the waitress. The waitress nodded and you made your way to the back, with a large suitcase and bag in tow.

As you walked towards the back you made eye contact with Joe. His dark eyes probed yours and you smiled politely as you walked passed. A cup of coffee was quickly placed on your table and you thanked the waitress. You grabbed the sugar shaker and poured it heavily into your cup.

"That stuff will rot out your stomach," Joe retorted loudly, swearing to himself as he did so.

You turned to him, eyebrow perfectly arched, and pointed at his cup. "Isn't that hypocritical of you to say?"

Joe let out a low chuckle and he extended his hand. "Joe Velasco.”

Your eyes narrowed and you didn't take his hand. You looked up and down at him, before letting out the breath you had been holding. You introduced yourself and gave him a small smile. This Joe person was nice on the eyes. But being a detective yourself, you wanted to suss this person out.

"What brings you to New York? Business or pleasure?" Joe questioned as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Are all New Yorkers so nosey? Or are you just special?" you retorted.

Joe shifted in his seat uncomfortably and cleared his throat. "My apologies. I won't bother you again."

An awkward tension followed before anything more was said. There was a sound of a chair moving and Joe looked up to see you sitting across from him.

"I'm sorry. I'm just not from here." You replied apologetically, your tone much softer. "I'm here on business. I'm participating in a conference at Madison Square Garden."

Joe furrowed his thick brows. "Not the National Sexual Assault Conference?"

"That's the one!" You exclaimed. "Wait..." There was a pregnant pause. "How did you know?"

Joe reached into his pocket and revealed his badge. "I work for the NYPD. I'm a detective in the special victims unit."

You let out a smile and what seemed to Joe as a sigh of relief. "Same, but for [your city/town]."

"So I guess in a weird way you're close but far from home?"

"You could say that," you agreed, taking another sip of coffee. "It's my first time here in New York City."

Joe laughed a little more, letting his smile grow as he looked at you again, marveling at your beauty. He was literally transfixed on you. You cleared your throat, bringing him back to the surface and he centered his gaze back on his cup. The steaming liquid provided him with a distraction as he tried to get the conversation back on track.

"So, how are you liking New York so far?" he asked, as he stirred his coffee more.

"I like it, except for the weather. In [your city], it rarely gets below sixty, even in the winter, so this is something of a drastic change for me."

"I know what you mean," Joe responded as he sipped the coffee more. He found himself easing into a relaxed state, one he hadn't felt in a long time. It was as if he was catching up with an old friend. "I am more partial to summer. Give me all the high temps.”

Joe felt his stomach flutter, something which hadn’t happened in a long time. He wanted to see you again - and not just at the conference. "Well, how about this New Yorker take you to see all the sights, that is after the conference, of course."

"Are you asking me out on a date, detective?"

Joe found himself at a loss for words and he wracked his brain trying to find something clever to reply with.

"Tell you what," you said, pulling out a pen and writing on a napkin. "Give me a call when you are finished, and let's see what we can get into. Deal?"

Joe eyed the napkin and smiled, actually smiled fully at you, seeing your cheeks redden slightly. "Deal."

—-

Joe yawned as he approached the break room, a file in hand ready to give to Olivia. The conference - which occurred over a period of two days - was long and taxing.

If not for the memories of the night before coming back home, Joe would've said that the conference was a bust, but how wrong he was. One chance meeting with a stranger had changed everything for him.

He saw Olivia head his way, her dark eyes set in determination already. Joe could swear that the Captain probably woke up with that countenance. Chuckling to himself slightly, he prepared to hand off the file.

"Velasco," Olivia greeted, as she took the file, flipping through it, "How was the conference?"

"It was what it was. Good learning experience," Joe responded as he yawned again. "Other than that, it was a pretty run of the mill weekend."

Olivia smiled as she closed the file and glanced at her watch, "I need a favor. We have a new member of the team coming in today at JFK. Think you can swing by and pick them up? Muncy was supposed to but she called out sick.”

"I have a backlog of paperwork that I was hoping to catch up on…" Joe trailed off.

"It won't take long. The flight should be landing within the hour."

Joe let an irritated sigh escape as he looked at his own watch, trying to calculate his schedule. As it was, he was already behind on several things, but he knew he couldn't just leave Olivia hanging.

"Okay.” Joe reluctantly agreed.

"Good man," Olivia responded as she turned to walk away. "Make sure you bring her to see me when you get back."

Joe put a hand up to give a half hearted wave to Olivi as she disappeared through the corridor. His day just got worse, ten times worse. Another newbie. 'Great; just great.'

—

You sat on your oversized suitcase, looking in each direction for the SUV that you were told would be picking you up. Glancing at your watch, you sighed as you started to look at your nailbeds, wondering how long you would have to stand there before actually doing something about it. Just as you were about to get up and walk, you saw the hulking vehicle as it appeared in the line.

As the vehicle came closer, you stood up, dusting the back of your pants and reaching to grab your belongings. Perching your sunglasses on your head, you squinted at the driver, in an attempt to get a closer look of who they were, but found that you couldn't.

Joe’s jaw dropped and felt his heart race as he parked. 'It can't be; what are you doing here?'

But it was you. Memories of the night after the conference flashes through his mind once more – heated kisses, his hands on your hips, your hands running through his hair, your skin dewy from sweat… the moan of his name emanating from your lips.

Joe blinked rapidly, shaking himself out of his thoughts. He swallowed hard as he got out of the vehicle and approached you. "Hi."

Your eyes widened slightly at the sight of Joe and you could feel the color draining from your face. It had never occurred to her that New York detective that you had spent a passionate night with just days before would be the same man you would be working with. How could a city with over one million people seem so small?

"Joe!" You replied, attempting a brave smile as a sinking feeling began to settle over you. If this moment was indicative of your future in Manhattan, you were going to board the next plane out to home. "I…um... it's good to see you again. I had no idea that you and I-"

"It's alright," Joe interjected, his eyes darting past you and to your paisley print luggage. Joe eyed it curiously. It was hideous. "I didn't know either."

You didn't reply; you were unsure of what to say. Despite standing outside in the vast, spacious airport parking lot, you felt overwhelmed, as if there had been a giant pink elephant in the middle of them and no one was saying anything. Joe found himself once again breaking the silence just as he did before in the diner. He tilted his head in the direction of the SUV.

"Shall we?" he questioned as he reached past you to grab your luggage.

You attempted to protest his help but Joe paid no heed to her words. "Alright," you finally conceded. "Let's go." You buckled your seatbelt and settled against the passenger seat. The ride back was silent. You stared out the window and to the passing buildings and snow covered trees.

Joe watched you out of the corner of his eye. He wanted to say something – anything but he couldn't formulate the words. He had thought he would never see you again but here you were now. Joe wasn't sure if he was capable of surviving the work week with you and showing you the ropes when he knew you so intimately. Never mind the barriers of office politics.

'Working with her is definitely going to be interesting.'

The only thing he was sure of was that he wanted the day to be done and over with.

The throbbing, aching pain in his head hadn't subsided despite taking half a bottle of ibuprofen. After dropping you off with Olivia, Joe threw himself into his work in hopes that it would take his mind off of you. It hadn't worked. Instead, he found himself even further distracted. It was his luck; he reasoned that this would happen. He didn't necessarily find the situation to be bad at all; in fact, he was disappointed that you both had to part after spending the day – and better part of the night together.

You were unlike any other woman he had met. You were way too cheerful for his usual taste; however, he found himself making an exception. You were strong, sweet and sassy – all the qualities that he looked for in a woman. He only had one night with you but he found himself hooked.

Joe cracked his knuckles and tried to focus on the paperwork before him.

—

Joe slammed the door to his locker shut, glad that the shift was finally over with. As he began to pull his coat on, the sound of footsteps caused him to pause in his actions.

"Hey Joe. I thought I'd find you here."

Joe felt his chest tighten at the sound of your voice. He turned around and found you leaning against another set of lockers. He presumed you were trying to appear casual.

"Y/N, how was your first day?"

"Good, I’m really excited to hit the ground running.”

"Glad to hear it," Joe replied. Shoving his hands deep into his pockets, he rocked on his heels. "Something tells me that you're not here to talk about how your day went though."

You shook her head. "No; you're right." You stood straight and approached Joe. "I wanted to talk about that night… about us."

"Look, if you want to pretend it never happened," Joe sighed, feeling his heart dropping into the pit of his stomach. "It's fine. I'm cool with it, but I can't just ig-"

"No! It's not that at all," you quickly rushed. "It's just that it took me by surprise. In New York, I wasn't expecting to see you again, so, I was a little…"

"Uninhibited?" Joe asked, the memory prompting an arching of his eyebrow and a smirk.

You giggled slightly, the tension that was between the two of you earlier, now seeming to dissipate. Your stance relaxed even more as you continued to smile at him, feeling something deep inside tugging at the strings of her heart. Could it be that you had fallen for him, after one night of passion? You pulled a stray hair behind your ear as you dropped your line of sight then brought it up slowly, registering that he was staring at you. Your cheeks reddened as you changed position and crossed your arms in front of yoi.

"Yeah, you can say that. So, where does it lead us?"

"Apparently, awkward moments," Joe responded as he leaned up against the opposite lockers, his demeanor a lot less stiff. Again, he found himself feeling as if he were catching up with an old friend instead of negotiating through new territory with a stranger.

"It doesn't have to be," you replied as you took a step closer to Joe. Placing your palms on his chest, you looked up at him. Your heart thumped wildly against your ribcage as you waited for his response.

Joe reached up to take your hands into his, drawing you closer as he did so. He stared into your eyes, searching. He murmured your name before pressing his lips to yours.

You gave yourself into the kiss, moaning quietly as you did so. You wrapped your arms tightly around his neck. Joe placed his hands on your lower back, in the space between the waistband of your pants and the bottom of your shirt. Your skin goosebumped beneath his touch and you pressed yourself closer to him. Joe let out a small grunt of satisfaction. You pulled away breathlessly moments later, licking your lips as she did so.

"Let's get out of here," Joe answered finally. "Get a beer or something…"

Joe had never believed in fate before but he was starting to come around. He was starting to believe things happened for a reason. After all, had he not gone to the convention or decided to grab a cup of coffee, he wouldn't have had such an opportunity with you. Rules and work politics be damned; there was no way he was going to give up a second chance with you. Perhaps this was the best decision Olivia had ever made.

You hummed a bit before cocking your head to the door. You began to head out together, Joe’s hand on the small of your back, guiding you. He couldn't help but smile victoriously at your next sentence.

"Or something."

FIN.

#joe velasco x reader #joe velasco x you #joe velasco fanfic #joe velasaco and reader #joe velasco imagine #plaidbooks #secret santa fic

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witches-unruly-heart · 3 months

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Thank you so much for the tag @dreamlover31 ❤️ I'll do it here even if you tagged both my accounts 😅

~~~

1. Were you named after anyone: I was named after two great great grandmas of mine. But my first name comes from a lot of women on that side of the family going longer back than that. So the name dies with me 🤣 I am not cursing my future daughter with that name.

2. When was the last time you cried: A week ago — was listening to music when «Wish you the best» by Lewis Capaldi came on — That song breaks me every fucking time!

3. Do you have any kids: Not yet, but hopefully one day

4. What sports do you play/have you played: Currently don’t play. But I’ve been a gymnast, dancer and volleyball player. Also used to play football during free time at school. Not soccer like the Americans call it, but football!

5. Do you use sarcasm: ALL THE TIME! 🤣

6. What's the first thing you notice about people: Their smile. Really cliche I know. But it’s I think the first thing I notice.

7. What's your eye color: I think it’s like greenish brown, with small hints of blue. I can never describe my eye color 😅

8. Scary movies or happy endings: I HATE scary movies! Can’t stand them! But I’m a sucker for happy endings 🥰

9. Any talents: I’m an ok writer, I think 😅

10. Where you were born: I was born (and raised) in Norway 🥰🇳🇴

11. What are your hobbies: Writing, reading and listening to music, preferably with a delicious drink and something to eat.

12. Do you have any pets: I had a dog growing up. But currently pet less 🥲

13. How tall are you: 5 feet 1 13/16 inches or 157cm for my metric system users 🤣

14. Favorite subject in high school: English and History 😍 Oh and my elective class of scenography and costume 😍

15. Dream job: Writer and/or actor 🥰 If I’m lucky — Please hire me Dick Wolf, I’ll play a dead woman or a victim just please hire me! 🥲

tagging @plaidbooks @thatesqcrush @bullet-prooflove @storiesofsvu @beccabarba @butternuggets-blog @adowbaldwin @baldwin-montclair @chickensarentcheap @minim236 @birminghamshelbyboys and anyone else who wants to 😍

#karen speaks #tag game #get to know me

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lannister-slings-and-arrows · 2 years

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thanks for the tag @dreamlover31

slow burn or love at first sight // fake dating or secret dating // enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers // oh no there’s only one bed or long-distance correspondence // hurt-comfort or amnesia// fantasy au or modern au// mutual pining or domestic bliss // smut or fluff // canon-compliant or fix-it // reincarnation or character death // one-shot or multi-chapter // kid fic or road trip fic // arranged marriage or accidental marriage // high school romance or middle aged romance // time travel or isolated together // neighbors or roommates // sci-fi au or magic au // body swap or gender bend // angst or crack // apocalyptic or mundane

tagging: @pascalispretty @pajamasecrets @melk917 @detectivebarba @alwaysbethewest

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adarafaelbarba · 3 years

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🎀: Bryan Kneef

🎀 - Send me a character and I’ll write a five sentence story

It wasn’t like Bryan to be this nice to you, but you weren’t going to complain. For the last 2 years since you started working for him, he had treated you like shit! So to have him be nice for once was not something you would let go to waste. «Mr. Kneef, I’m heading out! Thanks again for agreeing», you said, standing in the doorway to his office. «No problem. Just be sure to be here early tomorrow», he said with a smirk, and you felt your stomach drop.

#karen reaches a milestone #karen answers questions #dreamlover31 #five sentence story #bryan kneef #500 followers celebration #500 followers #follower celebration #follower milestone

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prurientpuddlejumper · 3 years

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Reignite

Rafael Barba x Reader

Written for @storiesofsvu’s Fall Bingo, requested by @dreamlover31 for the square Reignite - Knox Brown.

Warnings: Angst with a happy ending, the tiniest bit of smut

Summary: Barba returns after three years. Will your love reignite, or have you both moved on to new partners?

3,240 words

It would have been inappropriate to date a paralegal who worked under him, and in those days, right and wrong were so black and white. So for years, all Rafael Barba had with you were longing glances held too long, and fingers brushed as you passed a file or a cup of coffee. Eventually, “inappropriate” began to feel like a cowardly excuse.

On your last day, after you passed the bar and accepted an associate position at Buchanan & Stilton, he finally asked you out. And for the first time in many years, Rafael Barba knew true happiness.

Two months later, he pulled the plug on the Householder baby.

Being found not guilty of murder should have been a relief, but it wasn’t. Not to Barba. You sat by helplessly as he frantically packed his belongings into cardboard boxes and suitcases. The apartment was a bare skeleton.

“Please, don’t go,” you begged. “Nobody blames you.”

“Really? Weird. Then what was this doing pasted to my door this morning?” He slid a paper across the kitchen counter and shoved it at you. “DIE BABY KILLER” was scrawled in red ink.

“It’ll blow over.”

“It isn’t about that. It isn’t just about baby Drew. I’ve been questioning myself for a long time—the legal system, what I’m doing with my life. I used to know exactly who I was, and I don’t anymore. That’s why I need to leave the city behind. I’ve lived here my entire life. I need to make a fresh start, to find myself again.”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

“No.”

“If you have to leave, then you’re not going alone!”

He shook his head, eyes wet. “I’m not letting you throw your career away because I’m having a midlife crisis.”

“Rafa...” You smiled softly, cupping his cheek. “That’s my decision to make. And I don’t want to lose you.”

A fresh surge of tears flooded his wet eyes, overwhelming the banks of his eyelids. Tears spilled out and rolled down his face, mingling with your fingers. “I know. I know it’s your choice, but it’s mine, too. Cariño, you just accepted a job at one of the most prestigious firms in Manhattan. You’re not going to find another position like that in Iowa. At this stage in your career, you can’t afford to drop off the map, or you’ll never get back on it. You worked so hard to pass the bar. This is important to you.”

“But you’re important to me, too!” Your voice broke. You kissed him hard enough your teeth clicked, as if to merge together so he couldn’t leave. His lips were hot and salty, his tears mixing with yours as they began to fall. As you began to realize you weren’t going to be able to talk him out of this.

Lips trembling, he took a raspy breath. “You’re important to me, too, cariño. Te quiero, tú sabes eso. But I’ve spent years building seniority as an ADA. You can’t ruin your whole future for someone you’ve only been dating a few months.”

You shook your head frantically, causing more tears to spill over. “No. No, Rafa, I wanna come with you.”

He rested his forehead against yours, hand cupping the back of your neck. “We’d be happy for a while, I know that. Leaving would be so much easier if I was starting a new life with you. But one day, the passion would wear off, and you’d look around with clear eyes and see everything you gave up just to follow me. You’d resent me.”

“I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t. If I regretted my decision, I’d resent myself for making it, not you. It’s my choice. It’s my mistake to make if I lo—”

“Don’t. Don’t say it.”

“Rafael…”

“I don’t want to be the reason you resent yourself, either. Ever since you started as a paralegal, you always told me it was your dream to be a lawyer. I know I can’t make your decisions for you, but… but I won’t be responsible for you giving up your dreams.” He took a long, shattered breath, as if this were the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. “We need to break up.”

***

Any resentment that burned inside you over Rafael Barba leaving died like a smothered ember long ago. The flames of passion that once ignited your entire soul went out long before that, when he stopped writing after his first year gone.

Every fire starves without fuel.

You didn’t care about him anymore. You hadn’t seen or been in touch with him for two years, and only a few postcards and calls the first year.

He was just an ex.

So you told yourself until the moment there was a knock at your office door, and Rafael Barba was standing in front of you in flesh and blood, a sheepish little smirk on his lips. Then it felt like no time had passed at all, and your eyes were pricking with unshed tears because you didn’t know whether to jump into his arms and kiss him, slap him, or shake his hand. You didn’t know whether he was seeing someone else. In all this time, he must have been. He wasn’t yours anymore.

He wasn’t yours.

He didn’t even care enough to call you for two years.

“Rafael,” you stood and greeted him with a friendly smile. “What brings you back to the Big Apple? Surely you’re not just here to see me?”

“That might be part of it,” he winked flirtatiously. Both of you carefully rode the line of companionable banter. “Caught a case.”

“Are you back at the DA’s office?” you leaned forward, genuinely curious now. If he was back in the city permanently…

“Defense, actually.”

You laughed. “No kidding? So, you’ve come groveling for my help, then, have you?” you grinned. “Who’s the client?”

He shifted, scratching the back of his neck. “Actually, that’s not why I came. The trial is over.”

Your shoulders fell, and you tried not to let a tick of anger creep into your voice. “Wow. After making it sound like my career was so important, you didn’t even want my advice.”

For what felt like hours, he stood perfectly still except his green eyes flicking over your face. Your skin heated under his searching gaze. “I didn’t want you to think I was barging back into your life just to get professional advice.”

Your throat tightened, forcing you to swallow before answering, “So why are you barging back into my life?”

“The squad’s getting together at the bar tonight. Just like old times.” Hope and sentimentality hung around his head like grey hairs. He never used to be this old. It looked good on him.

“Oh. I don’t know, I haven’t seen any of them in ages, and the last few times were on opposing sides…”

“So was I. We’re celebrating Carisi kicking my ass in court,” Barba grinned.

A soft laugh rumbled in your chest and puffed from your nose. “What time?”

***

The bar was decorated with colorful holiday lights, but the mood inside was cheerless—at least for you. Why did Barba bother inviting you if he was going to ignore you all night? The ADA-turned-defense attorney was busy chumming it up with all his old friends from the SVU squad, leaving you sitting off to the side, ignored among relative strangers.

Worse, he seemed to be deliberately distancing himself from you. Every time you sat too close or tried to talk, he found a reason to chat with someone on the other side of the bar.

When you broke up, it was in a “maybe life will bring us back to each other,” and “I still want you, but I have to do this” way. You’d given that up as childish fantasy—nothing but platitudes to make the leaving easier—until he showed up at your office.

Then you thought… maybe he was in New York for you. Life was bringing you back together.

What a fool to get your hopes up. He was sending painfully clear “just friends” vibes your way, and it was time to go home before you got sad-drunk and cried in public. You discreetly paid up your tab with the bartender and slung your bag over your shoulder.

Then you turned around to nearly collide with two seawater-green puppy-dog eyes.

“Leaving already?”

You shook your head with a quiet, dry laugh. He had no idea how much your heart was breaking, did he? “This isn’t really my scene.”

“Can I walk you out?”

You tilted your head, trying to figure out where the contradiction was between his distant behavior and the longing in his smile. “I’d like to see more of you than the distance between the bar and the door, you know. I thought you might want to talk? Alone?”

His hesitant smile turned into a frown, and his eyes darted away from yours like scared mice. “Are you sure Buchanan would be OK with that? I don’t want to overstep.”

“My boss?” you nearly laughed with surprise. “I know you hate the guy, but—just to clarify, we won’t be talking about cases.”

“You know who I mean. Your fiancé?”

“My…? What the fuck are you talking about?”

Barba stared at you, genuinely shaken and confused. It was as if a fundamental, universal truth had just been reversed on him. As if he was just finding out now, at the age of fifty, that gravity pulled objects up not down.

Eventually, his mouth opened and closed, and he managed to say, “Liv told me you were marrying Buchanan’s son, Nate.”

“OLIVIA DID WHAT?!” you screamed, a little too loud, but your blood was on fire with disgust, betrayal, and a 0.07 alcohol content.

He muttered to himself as if in a trance. “I was going to come back to New York two years ago, but I heard that you were… And I couldn’t bear to…”

“I heard my name,” Oliva called as she squeezed past people and chairs to get to the bar. “What did I do?”

“Did you tell Barba I was engaged to Nate Buchanan?”

“Yes.”

“Liv, how could you?!” Barba snapped.

Her eyes widened slightly at his tone, then narrowed as her jaw set. “I thought you had the right to know. I didn’t realize it was a secret.”

“It isn’t a secret—it isn’t true! Do you see a ring anywhere?” you held up your hand. “What the fuck?! Was this revenge because I started working at a defense firm? Or were you just jealous?”

“Excuse me?” She fixed you with a fierce stare.

“You took up so much of his time. It was always, ‘Liv needs a warrant’ this, ‘Liv has a family emergency’ that. I always knew you wanted him for yourself, but pushing me out of the picture?! I can’t believe… you kept him away this long… He might have come back if you hadn’t…” You sniffed. Shit, you were crying in public.

A warm hand pressed your shoulder. You expected it to be Barba’s, but when you opened your eyes, Liv had her arm around you in sympathy, holding out a paper napkin for a tissue.

“I didn’t know that,” she said as you wiped your eyes. “I didn’t know. Buchanan told me about the engagement. It sounded legitimate—he even tried to convince me to buy a wedding present.”

“Wait—that was what the pen was about?” It came in a gaudy silver box with a card that said “congratulations.” You thought it was for your promotion (and that it was a little weird an SVU lieutenant would be congratulating the opposing counsel).

“Liv...” Barba groaned, brow buried deep in his pinched fingers. “You’re a detective. You couldn’t have verified his statement?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. Why would he lie?”

You heaved a miserable sigh and dropped your forehead pathetically onto Liv’s shoulder. “I can answer that one,” you mumbled. “Nate did keep asking me out. We even went on a couple of dates. But not—for fuck’s sake—anything close to marriage.”

“So he just… wanted you for himself? And used Liv to keep me from interfering?” Barba growled.

Olivia added thoughtfully, “Or Buchanan hoped it might change your decision to return. You sent a lot of his clients to prison.”

“Well, it worked.” His eyes were blazing with rage, hand curled into a trembling fist.

He couldn’t settle on an emotion to feel—guilt? All that time, he could have just called you, but he was too afraid to face you being happy with another man. Anger at the Buchanans? Or joy?

You were here. Not married. Feelings he thought he’d buried flared up like a spark exposed to oxygen, and his instincts roared to pull you into a fiery kiss right here at the bar.

“It’s OK, Liv,” he sighed. “That manipulative weasel doesn’t run the most powerful firm in Manhattan for nothing. If he told me directly, I’d look into it, but to you, the news wasn’t important enough to question. And he knew I’d believe it if I heard it from you. Smart bastard.”

“I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Rafa. I can’t believe I let him use me as part of a… a gossip chain.” She looked between you, and at the way you were looking at each other. “I’ll, uh… give you two some time.”

Olivia backed away, and you were left facing each other in awkward, stunned silence. It didn’t take Barba long to recover—he always seemed to know exactly what to do.

“Let’s go somewhere quiet? My hotel is down the block.”

You raised both eyebrows.

“Just to talk,” he dismissed your scandalous expression. “Without prying eyes.” He flicked his toward Carisi and Rollins, who both conspicuously looked away.

“I can’t say no to you,” you smiled.

***

The suite Barba was staying in until he got settled was much cheaper than his old apartment. Hotel space in Manhattan was at a premium, and he was never exactly rich on a prosecutor’s salary. There was a reason you’d gone into defense first—you’d saved up enough of a nest egg in three years working for Buchanan’s sleazy firm that you’d be able to leave soon and start doing work that mattered.

Barba never compromised his ideals like that. All of his work mattered right from the beginning, even if it meant a shockingly high percentage of his income went toward suits. Even when it meant committing a crime to stop the suffering of a brain-dead child and his mother.

Even when it meant leaving.

“Were you really going to come back sooner?” was the first thing you asked as the door clicked shut behind you. It wasn’t a question for the walk over. You’d already cried in public once today.

“After the first year,” he nodded. “I missed you so much, and my role with the NAACP was ending soon. When I heard you were marrying someone else, I signed on to the voting rights task force. There was no reason to come back.”

“Rafael...”

He perked at the sound of his name spoken from your lips in a soft, familiar tone. Heat built in his chest.

You sat on the corner of the king bed that was the room’s centerpiece. “Is that why you stopped answering my calls? Why you never texted anymore?”

His face burned. “Yes,” he confessed as if to a crime.

“Fuck,” you deflated, scrubbing the prickling of tears from your eyes. “I thought you just… didn’t care. That you were too busy with your new life to bother with your ex. I thought I didn’t matter to you anymore.”

“I never stopped thinking about you. Not once.” His voice cracked as he sat on the bed next to you.

You cupped his cheek and pulled him into a tight hug. You couldn’t bear to admit that you had—you had put him out of your mind and squarely in the past—but now that he was in front of you again, now that he was in your arms and you could smell his cologne and feel the waves of heat pouring off his solid chest, it felt like he had never left. Your heart skipped with infatuation the same way it did three years ago when you were younger and more naïve… When you thought going with him would have been a good idea.

It was for the best; you knew that now. You were proud of the career you were building. Barba was right—your options would have been limited in pig-farm country, chasing him around from one temporary assignment to another.

“Still, after all this time, things have changed. I’ve changed,” you whispered into his hair, a shade lighter than the last time you’d been this close. The greys were coming in fast, now. “Do you have someone else already? Do you even know who I am anymore? We couldn’t just pick up where we left off like nothing ever happened. Three years is a long time.”

“I know,” he whispered back. A hot puff of breath tickled your ear as he pulled back to meet your gaze. He was always direct when he spoke, never hiding his face in a hug, concealing his emotions. A sheen of tears reflected the yellow light of the bedside lamps, but he straightened his posture and told you matter-of-factly: “I want you to know where I stand.”

You nodded.

“There is nobody else. Iowa isn’t the hottest dating scene, and… there was someone I couldn’t get over.” He gave a coy, wistful smirk. “I understand if you don’t want to rekindle our relationship, but I can’t stop needing you. Whoever you were, whoever you’ll grow into one day, I love you. I should have told you that back then—I love you, and I’ll never stop loving you.”

His suspenders were in your fists, and you were tugging him against you, lips crushing his in a fierce kiss. “I love you, too, idiot,” you panted between kisses. He hungrily reciprocated, warm hands flattening against your back, mouth opening to allow your tongue entry.

Your lips barely parted until you were tugging each other’s clothing off and falling back onto the blankets. “Are you sure?” he whispered, arms bracketed to either side of your body. “We’re not moving too fast?”

You caressed his jaw and drew him down into a soft, sweet kiss. “We have a lot of time to make up for.”

His head bowed as his hips canted forward, parting your thighs. You moaned against his lips, gripping the sheets at the familiar, yet different, pleasure. An old melody, but the rhythm had changed. Breath mingling, you rocked together gently and slowly. There was so much time to make up for, yet it made him less rushed. He savored every inch of you—every trembling muscle, every sigh and moan, your warm depths gripping him tight as he tasted the salt of your skin—never to forget the poetry of your body again.

The weight of those two stolen years was a heavy burden. There were so many moments you would never get to share that you could never get back. But there was plenty of time left. You were proud of what you’d accomplished in those busy years on your own. You and Rafael had both carved out your paths, and now, in the end, you could walk them together.

• ● • ━━━━━─ ••●•• ─━━━━━ • ● • Tags:

@beccabarba / @itsjustmyfantasyroom / @thatesqcrush / @dianilaws / @permanentlydizzy / @mrsrafaelbarba / @madamsnape921 / @astrangegirlsmind / @neely1177 / @onerestein / @dreamlover31 / @isvvc-pvscvl / @shroomiehomie / @storiesofsvu / @welcometothemxdhouse / @feedthemadness-sweetie / @law-nerd105 / @amelia-song-pond / @michael-rooker / @xecq / @madpanda75 / @alwaysachorusgirl / @bananas-pajamas / @leanor-min / @mad-girl-without-a-box / @katierpblogg / @worldofvixen / @sassyada / @detectivebarba / @greeneyedblondie44 / @teachingpanda @ms-panda / @zizzlekwum / @charlottegrice / @averyhotchner

#Rafael Barba x Reader #storiesofsvufallbingo #gender-neutral reader #My writing

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madpanda75 · 3 years

Text

Fic Update: Taking Chances Series is back!

Its been an obscene amount of time, but I’m happy to say the next chapter of my Taking Chances series is back tomorrow! For a refresher I’ll be reblogging the masterlist for the Taking Chances series tonight.

I know there is a huge possibility that folks have forgotten about this story…which I totally understand since it’s been MONTHS since this fic has been updated. If you’re still interested and want to be tagged, let me know! ❤️

Tag List:

@glimmerglittergirl @southern-magnolia @dreamlover31 @obfuscateyummy @sass-and-suspenders @eclecticminded @thatesqcrush @katmstanton @amirightcounsellor @beltzboys2015-blog @letty-o @sonnysdoll @lyssa1385 @sweetsummertime99 @burningsorr0ws @gibbs274 @izzythefanfreak @babypink224221 @livxrafa-blog @esparza-army @obsessionprofessional @ottosuricato @mgarner1227 @dreila03 @tropes-and-tales @thecraziestcrayon @goodluckfindingone @scarletsoldierrr @youreverycolor @yeah-boiiiiiiiiiii @imagine-all-the-imagines @imjustreallynosy @graniairish @ashley-chi @lolacolaempath @cocomel0613 @mysterioustrashadventures @that-girl-named-alex @scapricciatello @mrsrafaelbarba @zizzlekwum @katierpblogg @crowleysqueenofhell @garturbo @rachelxwayne @averyhotchner @sarcastically-defensive17 @permanentlydizzy @beccabarba @infiniteoddball @ritajammer21 @fallingforuke @berniesilvas @green-spagehtti @awhatismylife @barbasbodaciousbeard @wanniiieeee @leximus98

#My writing #i'm baaaaaaack

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alwaysachorusgirl · 5 months

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10 fandoms / 10 characters / 10 tags

Thanks for the tag @plaidbooks ! In no particular order:

1. Loki (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

2. Dean Winchester (Supernatural)

3. Bishop Losa (Mayans)

4. 10th Doctor (Doctor Who)

5. Moriarty (BBC Sherlock)

6. Eric Draven (The Crow)

7. Joel Miller (The Last of Us)

8. Sidney Prescott (Scream)

9. Tiffany Valentine (Chucky franchise)

10. Nancy Downs (The Craft)

Tagging: @detective-giggles @madamsnape921 @beardedbarba @princessdragon23 @dreamlover31 and anyone else who wants to play!

#marvel #supernatural #doctor who #bbc sherlock #mayans #the last of us #the crow #scream #chucky #the craft

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plaidbooks · 1 year

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I saw on your dashboard that today's your birthday so I wanted to drop in and wish you a great happy birthday, hope you have a fun and joyous day ♥️😘

Oh thank you!! That gif is sooooo cute!!!!

Happy new year!

#answered #dreamlover31

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madamsnape921 · 3 years

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Ask questions: 38. Which famous person would you like to be BFFs with?

100% Raúl Esparza

#thanks for the ask!#dreamlover31 #raúl esparza #raul esparza #bffs for life #please please please

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itsjustmyfantasyroom · 3 years

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Finally

For: @thatesqcrush Valentine’s Bingo and a follow on from this.

Bingo square: Love me like you do- Ellie Goulding

Pairing: Rafael Barba x reader

Warnings: Fluff.

WC: 784

Enjoy x

It was like some curl twist of fate, the case you had been working on when you first discovered Rafael’s voice message went to trial and he went up against Sonny. But when he was in the squad room talking the case over you were always out for whatever reason Liv telling you as you walked in “You just missed Barba”, the times he was with Sonny in his office you would walk in just after he left, the days Sonny was in court you could never go because of other cases or paper work that needed to be filed and the night they all went out for a drink together you had plans with your friends that you had already changed three times.

After a few messages from Rafael telling you that he missed you and asking when were you free for dinner, it was finally the night. Sonny dropping you off to make sure you got there ok. You were standing on a corner in uptown on the block where the restaurant was booked for dinner in a grey wool tight mid-thigh skirt with a white long sleeved turtle neck tucked in. Black stockings and ankle black heeled boots with a black wool over coat wrapped around you. Your tummy doing somersaults and despite the cold temperature sweat dripping off your hands.

It had been so long since you had seen him, your mind drifted back to the last night you had spent together making love before you were both in tears on your lounge room floor crying together that he was leaving. He promised to keep in touch but life got in the way and before you knew it all contact stopped and now here you were, feelings running through you like he never left.

The streets were busy as you scanned the hustle and bustle, people making their way to the subway, groups of friends on a night out and couples on date nights when you looked to your right, your eyes meeting a green pair that made you melt and go weak at the knees even after all this time. A big smile pulled to Rafael’s face yours mirroring his. You started to make your way towards him. You both weaving and dogging the crowd to get to each other.

You were finally less than a foot away you both grabbed each other. Your arms going around his middle your chin resting on his shoulder, his around your shoulders his cheek resting on yours, as you both melted into each other squeezing each other tight. His warm body against yours bringing tears to your eyes. Rafael pulled away, his hands going to your cheek’s resting his forehead on yours, your hands moving to rest on his chest,

“Y/N- you have no idea how good it is to finally see you. I’ve missed you- every inch of your skin I’ve missed” Rafael dropped his hands from your cheeks running them down over your shoulder’s, down your sides resting them on your hips pulling you into him. Your nose now resting on his.

“Rafi you have no idea” you whispered “I’ am on the edge of paradise just standing here with you”

“I’ am sorry I didn’t keep in touch. I hope you can forgive me?”

“I think I can” you pulled back kissing his cheek.

“Do we really need dinner?” Rafael purred “You're the only thing I wanna touch. Never knew that it could mean so much seeing you again, only you can set my heart on fire, I was stupid being away from you. I just want you to love me like you do. Touch me like you used to”

You ran your hands up Rafael’s chest up to his neck resting them on either side of it. Rafael sighed contently under your touch. Rafael lent forward his lips kissing your cheek and then at your ear. His warm breath fanning over your cold exposed skin on your cheek covering you in Goosebumps going straight to your centre and you moan lightly.

“Can we do dinner another time? I want to kiss you Y/N, I know if I start, I’ am not going to be able to control myself. Come home with me”

You pulled away from him, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the curb flagging down a cab. You pulled Rafael into you wrapping your arm around his neck, your lips now at his ear, and Rafael’s free hand on the small of your back,

“I'll let you set the pace cause I'm not thinking straight. My head's spinning around, I can't see clear no more, what are you waiting for? Take me home Rafi”

Tags: @detective-giggles @beccabarba @witches-unruly-heart @dianilaws @scarletsoldierrr @lv7867 @permanentlydizzy @averyhotchner @infiniteoddball @fandom-princess-forevermore @madamsnape921 @dreamlover31

#rafael barba #rafael barba fanfiction #rafael barba imagine #rafael barba x yn #barba #barba fanfic #barba x reader #rafael barba x you #rafael barba x reader #rafael barba x female reader #reafael barba x reader #law and order svu #SVU fanfiction #SVU FANDOM #svu fan #thatesqcrushvdaybingo

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