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indiefrans · 7 hours ago

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This is a masterpiece.

Casey cannot Speak Latin | Casey Novak/Alex Cabot

Summary: Alex and Casey have been making out for the last couple weeks, this time they encounter a slight hiccup and Alex for some reason decides the issue is best addressed in Latin. Essentially just 2k words of kissing. and emotions. but mostly kissing.

Slight trigger warning for mentions of Alex's shooting & topless women but they're not fucking (rn anyway)

Casey's lithe fingers traced idle patterns on the lower portion of her ribcage, the copper headed attorney too distracted by Alex's mouth eagerly on her's to pay attention enough to do anything else.

What felt like minutes later, they finally broke apart to breathe, panting, Casey's face flushed from breathlessness in a way that made Alex laugh softly and land another soft kiss on the bridge of her nose. The copper headed attorney slid her fingers along the edge of Alex's shirt- a real shirt today, not a blouse as usual. It was a nice shirt, sure, but Casey thought to herself it would look much better on the floor.

"Can this come off?"

Alex hesitated, hard, as Casey toyed with the hem of her shirt. She never let anyone see her bare-chested- not in the past years, anyway- even with the men she fucked on occasion, she just undid the top buttons of her blouse, and they were normally satisfied with that degree of cleavage.

And she wasn't fucking Casey, no. After difficult cases they simply needed a little reassurance and they'd lock themselves either one of their offices, Casey would yank the blinds while she turned off the lights, and they'd tangle arms and lips and occasionally tongues and find some sort of solace in despite depravity of the world they were constantly reminded of. It was hard to wallow in misery and pity with a woman as ethereal as Casey pressing a line of kisses down the curve of her neck, hard to think of anything at all when the redhead's hands were cradling the base of her skull in desperation to kiss her deeper. She assumed Casey felt the same, lest be confused why she allowed this to keep happening. It was always Alex who pulled her in first, pushed her gently up against a wall or a couch or a chair or a desk, and although Casey sometimes made to switch the position so she could feel the blonde arching against a wall, Alex was always somewhat the reason it had started and was continuing. It gave her some degree of control that Casey apparently did not mind indulging her in. Evidently Alex was the needier of the two, and Casey resigned herself to serve.

Casey had never requested anything similar before- actually, Alex was unsure if she had ever asked anything of her at all. Alex felt mildly guilty- she had stripped the younger of her dress shirt before so that she could run her fingers along the muscles of her back and her arms and lavish her body in gentle attention, and she wasn't sure she had even asked or if she had went for it and Casey complied automatically as a natural progression, but now Alex was shifting in her seat and not in the good way at her request.

She had never thought twice about what Casey had previously been doing- running her fingers along the costal cartilage of her lower ribs, tracing the patterns of the anatomy beneath Alex's skin, and she did immensely enjoy the feeling, so there was no need to. Casey had done it before, too, and it was a staple in their interactions now.

"Qui prodest?" She questioned weakly, without thinking, hearing her own voice raspy, "Hoccine quid opus est?"

Casey's hands dropped immediately, before raising just enough to tug Alex's shirt back down where it had been ridden up on her hips, smoothing out the fabric delicately. God, Alex missed the feeling of her fingertips the second she felt them leave.

Who benefits, Alex had just asked her, before following it up with a murmur in Latin that translated roughly to 'is this what is needed'. Casey's head reeled slightly, a crease appearing between her brows as she grew slightly concerned.

Casey had absolutely no idea why the elder had said that in Latin- maybe the shame and the panic she could see in the curves next to Alex's eyes and between her eyebrows felt less real if she spoke in a language that no longer really existed. Maybe she just wanted Casey to understand how stressed she felt. Maybe she was using the language of scholars to emphasize the importance she felt this had. Regardless, Casey's heart ached to console her.

"No," Casey said slowly, wishing she had paid a bit more attention to her highschool English teachers, "non opus- not at all, Alex. Not needed." She bit her lip hesitantly. In the back of her mind she hoped Alex would not continue speaking in Latin because if she was honest she didn't really understand that much of it, let alone be able to formulate intelligent responses in the dead language.

"Nisi quia," Casey started, 'unless because', hesitantly, noting how Alex wasn't meeting her eyes and momentarily panicked she wasn't saying the right thing, "voluntas tua." 'It is your will.'

Alex didn't respond, but her eyebrows softened after hearing Casey's low hum, so Casey tried to continue. "Your pleasure is my priority, Alex." She breathed, in English, because very honestly she had no clue how to translate that, "I don't want to do anything that would be only for my benefit. I only feel good when and because you do-"

The blonde attorney cut her off by pulling her into an embrace, her arms lacing around Casey's shoulders to bring her head to her collar. She made a small strangled sound that was entirely unlike her usual demeanour, and Casey felt like this was probably as close as Alex would come to crying in front of her.

Casey immediately returned the motion, her hands interlocking with each other behind Alex's body while she left the other woman's hands balling the fabric of Casey's shirt in her fists. Alex's head rested on top of Casey's shoulder, Casey's forehead in the crook of Alex's neck, intentional because Alex did not want to feel Casey's eyes on her but lord she needed her close.

"Casey, I'm-"

"I hope you're not about to say you're sorry, because you shouldn't be, there's no reason to be. You never have to feel sorry with me." Casey soothes, lifting her head to kiss the side of Alex's face softly. "You're okay."

"It's just-"

"You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want too-"

"Hush," Alex interjected, overriding her notion to cut her off again, and Casey obediently relaxed with an apologetic exhale against her neck, letting her continue with a "volo te scire hoc."

I want you to know this, she meant, so Casey stayed unmoving against her, although she did suck her bottom lip into her mouth to toy with it.

"I haven't let anyone other than my doctors see the bullet mark," Alex breathed simply, burying her head in Casey's hair. "Previous partners unbutton the top of a button-up enough if they want to see my breast. You can do that. But I know you don't want something as shallow as that. You want skin, and to explore me, and mine is- mine is broken."

Her words end in a loose sigh and she pulled Casey impossibly tighter, and Casey returned the pressure, now, much more gently in comparison to the desperation in Alex but tight enough to comfort her.

Alex held her tightly for a long moment, before she relaxed slightly, still in the embrace, for a longer moment, eventually leaning backwards with a sigh, allowing Casey to let go of her.

"Where is it, Alex?" Casey hummed, eyes flickering down to her clothes torso. Alex grimaced, hesitating, but Casey shook her head.

"You don't have to show me it. Just show me where."

Alex then understood what she meant, so with another flicker of anxiety she reached with one hand up, slowly placing her index finger on the fabric of her shirt, clenching her jaw as her mind wandered back to the trauma the place she indicated was lasting evidence of.

Casey caught her before her mind traveled too far, though, catching Alex's wrist to interlace her fingers with Alex's, Casey's other hand coming up to cradle Alex's cheek in a way she knew she liked to press her lips against the blonde's. Alex relaxed, returning the kiss, the hand not held by Casey traveling to rest on the crook of the copper headed woman's waist. Casey permitted Alex into her mouth, which the blonde reveled in, feeling a bit of power return to her blood at the small movements the redhead was making to accommodate her when she pushed forward just slightly.

Casey broke the kiss, a small strand of saliva connecting her lips with Alex's for a fraction of a second, before tilting her head to the side and connecting her lips to the edge of Alex's jaw, then again a few centimeters below, and then again in a pattern. Alex, caught slightly off guard, sighed a half-amused laugh.

"Perfectus es in oculus meis," Casey breathed, very proud of herself for remembering that one, in between peppering the column of Alex's throat in little kisses as the older attorney squirmed just slightly beneath the attention. It meant, and she echoed the translation in English regardless, "you are perfect in my eyes."

She paused, before realizing she didn't know enough Latin to really formulate anything else, so she just said, "You are not broken, Alex," and continued with her line of kisses down, reaching Alex's pulse point, which she kissed a bit firmer to feel the thrum of life under Alex's skin. "You are not broken." She echoed, her hand slipping down to the base of Alex's spine, encouraging her to arch her torso upwards so Casey wouldn't have to move away to continue the path she was running over, over and over again, in her mind, because she knew even thought she could take as long as she wanted (to a reasonable degree, the realistic part of her brain chimed) when she was done she wouldn't have had enough of her.

Alex paused her when Casey began kissing above the fabric, writhing slightly in a way that pushed Casey slightly off, and with shaky fingers fumbled for the hem of her shirt. Casey tried to shoot her a look that conveyed the fact she was not asking for that, she didn't need it, and if Alex only was providing her with what she thought she wanted she really didn't want that, but Alex shook her head.

"Plus quam dolor sit fiducia," Alex breathed, and at Casey's momentarily blank expression, she tilted her head back and laughed. "Trust is- it's- I trust you, and that's worth more than pain. Please. I want you to do this."

Casey did not need to be asked twice, although she refrained from helping Alex with her shirt so that if the blonde at any second decided she was done with this interaction she could hesitate, or pause, or stop, but in one fluid motion Alex tugged her shirt over her head and let it fall off the edge of the couch, leaving her panting in a modest bra. Casey nearly swooned, yes at the sight of the expanse of skin, but more so the triumphant and almost breathless look on Alex's face, the way her eyes lit up as if she was immensely proud of herself, and Casey broke her previously unbroken path of kisses to claim Alex's mouth once more because she couldn't help it, although kissing while smiling so much was rather hard for both of them. Alex felt nearly giddy.

The copper headed woman's fingers found Alex's ribs again and it was as if the previous tension had never happened in the first place, Alex leaning forward and up, pushing herself further into Casey's light touches and using her hands to cradle Casey's skull.

"Angelus," Alex sighed when Casey broke the kiss again to return to the original task, kissing briefly and impatiently along the length of Alex's collarbone before becoming immensely soft, tender kisses along the small scar that had almost claimed Alex's life.

"Okay, I know that one- thank you-" Casey paused, looking up at Alex with a teasing expression, "but please, I really don't know Latin. Why do you know so much Latin? Don't answer that, actually, I'm busy kissing you."

She was rewarded for the lighthearted jest with a small cascade of giggles from Alex's mouth, as much as an attorney as esteemed as her was capable of giggling, smiling into Alex's skin as she kissed a bit more firmly. Alex's hands never left Casey's head, encouraging, rewarding her for her service by tangling in her curls gently in a way she knew Casey was fond of.

Her brain was fixated on Casey- she didn't have the space to share her mind with self-consciousness, or occupation-based misery, or the trauma of being shot and being in witness protection or any of the other things wrong with her life or her past or the world. She was in being kissed in the DA's office like a giddy rebellious teen, and it was warm, and she was shirtless, and Casey was so impossibly attentive with her kisses. Casey...

"Oh, wait, Casey-" Alex stopped, being hurled out of her bliss by a sudden realization, her voice immensely serious, and Casey startled, immediately shooting backwards. "Yes?"

Alex moved her hands out of Casey's hair, her fingers finding the buttons of the younger woman's blouse, and gave her a pointed look, although playful lights shone behind her eyes.

"Can *this* come off?"

#theyre so cute

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indiefrans · 12 days ago

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Best christmas present ever

Mock Trial - Professor AU

Professor!Alex Cabot x Fellow!Casey Novak

Chapter 11 - Masterlist

Word Count: 4.7k

Summary: A review of Christmas break, clarity about our lovers' connection, and the introduction of our dearest title, Mock Trial.

A/N: Happy Holidays!! Life has been improving and so has my motivation. Thank you all for being patient during this rough point in my life. I'm excited to keep this going!

Hands brush over curves. The dim light of the bedroom passes through them as their lips meet to create an electricity that ascends through their bodies. Casey’s moans appear in the air as bubbles shimmering with cosmic stardust. Alex’s fingertips create trails of electricity over Casey’s body, illuminating her veins. Casey’s chest swells, trust and pleasure radiating from her heart just as the heat grows in her stomach. Her mouth falls open -

The alarm plays violently, startling Casey from her sleep. She rolls over with a groan, turning off the alarm. For a singular second, her heart leaps as she turns back over, expecting to collide with the body of her lover. That second passes quickly when she arrives on the other side of the bed without collision. The start of the semester signified a pause in their dream-like life, wherein Casey could no longer reside with Alex as consistently. Now, at six in the morning, they have been apart for nearly twenty four hours. Anyone else and Casey would not have blinked at the time spent away, but with Alex she feels the tug at the base of her heart, willing her back into her arms. As Casey forces herself out of her deceivingly large bed, her mind wanders to reminiscence of the holiday break.

Leading up to Elliot’s arrival, Casey worried herself nearly sick with how he’d perceive her relationship with Alex. She couldn’t help but imagine him claiming that Alex is using her, or questioning whether or not Casey really likes Alex or if it’s just the attention. She knew that he’d find a way to comment on their age gap and Alex’s place of power. Unfortunately, these fears came to reality, more or less, when they picked him up from the airport.

----------

The anxiety and excitement gnaw at Casey as they stand at baggage claim, waiting patiently for Elliot’s plane to land. Her eyes dart around, watching the baggage carousel and the people surrounding it. Her hand squeezes Alex’s tightly, the other picks at her face as she watches.

Casey’s twitching catches Alex’s eye and she turns to observe her partner. She narrows her eyes for a moment and then reaches her hand to stroke Casey’s arm. “Case?”

Casey turns to look into Alex’s eyes, grinning, “what?”

Alex looks her up and down, “What’s wrong? You’re all over the place.”

Casey sighs and looks away, going back to observing the space around them. She shakes her head softly, “nothing, Lex. I’m okay,” she claims, eyes vacant as she stares at the people passing by.

Alex scoffs and squeezes Casey’s hand as she moves in front of her. “Casey,” she says sternly. Casey’s attention is redirected, her eyes wide as she stares at Alex. “What’s going on?” Alex asks her with a soft, sympathetic look.

Casey looks down, avoiding Alex’s gaze. Alex intuitively pulls Casey into a hug, squeezing her tightly. Casey mumbles into Alex’s coat, “How are you not anxious?”

Alex laughs, “About meeting your brother?”

Casey pulls away, holding Alex’s hips, “Yes!” She bites her lip, “I know he means well, but I don’t want to hear his snide comments.”

Alex shakes her head, “I know, it’s going to be okay.” She takes a deep breath and Casey notes the wisdom seeping through Alex’s demeanor. “I’ve met plenty of detectives, I can handle him.”

Casey smirks, a wave of ease washing over her. “But have any of the detectives been your girlfriend’s brother?” Casey quips, watching Alex’s expression.

Alex blushes and looks away, smiling, “Nooo…” she giggles, “but I’ll be okay. So will you,” she presses their foreheads together and kisses Casey softly, the redhead humming against their lips, content.

As they pull away, Casey glances over Alex’s shoulder and her face lights up. Elliot comes strolling down the walk way, grinning like an idiot. Casey pats Alex’s shoulder softly and Alex steps out of her way, watching her girlfriend rush over to her family. She envelops him in a huge hug, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Alex gazes at her lovingly, picturing herself in Elliot’s shoes, and feeling her heart swell.

Elliot hugs her back of course, though with only one arm as his suitcase trails behind. He squeezes tightly, murmuring hellos in Casey’s ear. After greeting his little sister, Elliot peers up at Alex. Her eyes are firmly planted on Casey’s figure, eyes swollen with affection as she takes in the elatedness of her partner. He smiles, eyes still apprehensive, and speaks, “And this must be Alexandra Cabot.”

Alex is shocked from her haze when Casey releases Elliot and he steps forward, extending his hand. Alex nods and takes it, shaking it firmly. “I hope you’ve treated my little sister well,” Elliot comments, smirking at Alex, who adorns her white coat and black gloves. The first thing that comes to Elliot’s mind is that she looks like a pimp’s wife, but he shoves it back for the sake of his sister.

Alex smiles widely, hiding her gulp, “Nice to meet you, Elliot,” she nods.

Casey, wide eyed and fighting nausea, steps between them, glaring at her brother. “She’s been treating me very well, Elliot. Let’s get your bag,” she attempts to diffuse his tension.

“This is all I brought, Case. I travel light, remember?” He tells her with a chuckle and she nods, taking a deep breath.

She glares at him and mouths the words, “be nice.” He giggles and follows as Casey leads the way. They end up in a line, Casey in the center, as they make their way towards the parking garage. Elliot tries his best to make polite conversation as they meander through the airport.

“So, Alex,” he begins lightheartedly, “Casey tells me you’re a great professor.”

Alex’s face flushes bright red as they step outside, the heat worsened by the cold wind. “Well,” she begins, “Casey is a great student. She’s very bright and takes instruction well. She’s a pleasure to teach.”

Casey’s heart flutters at Alex’s insinuation. Meanwhile, Elliot scowls as he looks ahead. “She’s always been the teacher's pet. I just never thought it would turn into anything real,” he quips.

“Elliot!” Casey scolds.

“It’s okay, Case,” Alex reassures her, rubbing her back as they step into the elevator. “I understand your apprehension, Elliot.”

“Do you?” He asks, turning around in the elevator to address them both. He sighs and softens his gaze when he catches his little sister’s sad eyes. “Look, I want to celebrate the holidays with my sister. I know that you mean a lot to her, so you’re going to be there.” He takes a sharp breath, biting his lip as he looks down. “I’m going to try to get to know you as her girlfriend, not as her…” he sighs, “professor.”

The elevator dings to the floor of the garage, Alex smiles awkwardly at Elliot. They fall out of the elevator and Alex leads them to the car. While Elliot puts his suitcase in the trunk, Alex goes to open Casey’s door, as she always does. She then waits near the trunk, hoping to speak with Elliot for a moment. He looks up at her just as he closes the trunk, and she smiles awkwardly.

“I have no ill intentions towards Casey,” she reassures him.

He scoffs, giving her a once over. “We’ll talk about this more later,” he nods, trying to push past her.

“Okay,” she agrees timidly, watching as he gets into the car. She swallows and gets into the driver’s seat, frustrated with his preconceptions.

----------

Tension builds in the pit of Casey’s stomach as she gathers the last of her things for class. Her final semester of law school has finally arrived. Instead of being riddled with excitement, she’s riddled with anticipation of how much people know about her and Alex. Quiet and vile voices whisper in the back of her mind, commenting on how she’s dating Alex for the grades, for the money, for the connections - anything but for who she is. In preparation for these types of assumptions, both of them agreed to keep their relationship under wraps while at school.

Despite knowing this is for the best, Casey can’t help but hope that Alex will wrap her arms around her when they see each other in the hallway. She hopes that she’ll be able to talk with her and banter between classes, or that she’ll be able to visit her office without it catching anyone’s eye. That will be more difficult this semester, as Casey has no courses with Alex, giving her less of an excuse to see her during the school day. In the back of her mind, Casey knows this won’t stop her from visiting.

When she arrives at the school, her eyes dart around in search of her partner. Through the parking lot, down the hallways, peering into the closed rooms, no sign of Alex. As her discouragement starts to take hold of her heart, she startled out of her goal when Charlie purposefully bumps into her.

She scoffs at him as he giggles, “looking for your long lost love?” He jokes.

Casey rolls her eyes, a grin surfacing through her feigned annoyance. “Yes, have you seen her?”

He shakes his head, “sorry, Love. No tall blondes in my sights this morning.” He cuts in front of her as they walk towards the library, spinning around to look at her as he continues moving backwards. “Now, I have seen the most handsome man downstairs today. You should’ve seen him - his hair naturally swooped, his eyes were basically black, his jawline - ooohhh, Case.”

She smiles weakly at him as they step into the library. “I can only imagine, Char.” They take a table in the corner and set up like they’re going to study for class only to end up talking the entire time instead. They talked about their break, their time together and apart. The entire time, Casey couldn’t help but hold onto the Christmas dinner that they had at Alex’s.

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The entire home was enveloped in warm light. Soft, white twinkle lights danced around the outskirts. A well lit tree, perfectly decorated with gold lights, green and red tinsel, and matching ornaments all over - none of which had glitter. Wonderful scents waft from the kitchen, where Casey works multiple dishes simultaneously. Alex meanders all over the apartment, tidying and admiring her partner. Casey’s abilities never cease to impress her, a gentle grin rising to her cheeks each time she passes by the kitchen bar.

A cop knock at the door and Casey starts to pause her cooking when Alex surprises her by wrapping her arms around her waist. Alex kisses her cheek softly and whispers that she’ll take care of it, sensing the tension rise in Casey’s body. The knock raps again and Alex hurries to the door, opening it to exactly who she’d anticipated.

Elliot smiles half-heartedly, “Hey,” he greets himself.

“Come in,” Alex waves him inside, extending her hand. “I can take those for you,” she offers, gesturing to the two decorative bags hanging from his hand.

“Ah, no, it’s okay. Where would you like them?”

Her face blushes and she closes the door behind him. “You’re welcome to put them under the tree,” she tells him. He goes without speaking and, behind his back, Casey whips around and makes eye contact with Alex. She furrows her brow as her eyes slip towards Elliot, wondering why he couldn’t just let Alex take the gifts.

Elliot takes a comically large whiff of the room, “wow, Case! It smells amazing here, are you making mom’s ham?”

“I ammm,” she drawls, “among other things.” Elliot makes his way towards the kitchen, seeming to automatically dominate the room. They begin chattering about the food and Alex finds something to feign her busyness with. Eventually, she can feign it no longer and she takes a seat next to Elliot at the bar. She listens to their conversation, hoping for an opportunity to jump in and save herself. Just as she finds the perfect entry, a softer knock lands on the door. She stands to get it, stating so, just as Casey turns around. She wipes her hands on a dish towel, having completed the last of the cooking just mere seconds prior. Her eyes land lovingly on Alex’s figure as she opens the door and greets her friends. Elliot follows Casey’s gaze and smiles, noting the loving expression undeniably clear on her face. Alex closes the door behind Charlie and Linda, and she looks up to meet Casey’s eyes. Elliot witnesses the spark fly across the room when their eyes meet, the small grins on their faces and the redness pooling in their cheeks say it all.

Alex puts the gifts from their friends under the tree and Casey finally diverts her eyes as Charlie and Linda make their way towards the table. “Dinner is ready! You guys want to help me put it on the table?” Everyone chimes in, agreeing, and makes their way into the kitchen where Casey directs them. In a few seconds, they’ve all managed to put the collection of dishes onto the table just as Casey instructed.

With all of the dishes placed on the table in a strategic manner, the family took their seats around the table. Alex at the head of the table, Casey to her left, and Charlie to her right. Elliot took place next to Casey and Linda took place next to Charlie. They smiled and engaged in momentarily awkward conversation, but after a bit, everything seemed to fall into place. Through conversation and playful banter, Elliot was able to see more of what Alex was like with them. For a time, he forgot that Alex was his age, that she was Casey’s professor. For a time, he saw how in love they are and how Alex holds great reverence for Casey, valuing her every word, letting them stick to her like honey.

During the course of the meal, Casey and Alex’s tension waned. Alex’s concerns with Elliot’s perceptions fell to the wayside the more she saw Casey loosen up. Love bubbled in her heart and made its way through to her fingertips, which wandered to Casey’s hand whenever the chance presented itself. Every time they held hands, Casey offered the occasional stray look and felt electricity pulse through her. Her skin warmed slowly and her heart leapt, but her chest calmed. Security washed over her with every look she exchanged with Alex.

Eventually, the meal came to an end and sweet gifts were exchanged. Elliot brought something for Casey and Alex, Charlie and Linda brought a gift for Casey and a card for Alex, and Alex found small gifts for everyone. Each of the gifts exchanged showcased the attributes of each individual, a totally personal connection and full of meaningful gestures. Towards the end, Casey and her friends engaged in a conversation that Alex and Elliot could only listen to. Alex took a second and kissed the top of Casey’s head, stepping out onto her balcony to cool down.

Casey paid no mind as Alex stepped out onto the balcony, sure she just needed a moment to herself as was often the case. Light snowfall landed onto the metal fencing surrounding the balcony, and sprinkled on Alex’s cheeks, melting on impact. She lit a cigarette, leaning against the railing and looking down at the cars below. Her mind and heart slowed, grateful for how the night had turned out. Her worries seemed to be extinguished as Elliot was going home the next day. In the same breath, the balcony door opened quietly and shut with the same tone, causing Alex to glance over her shoulder to find Elliot stepping out with her.

----------

When Charlie and Casey finally make their way to class, Casey can’t help but keep her head on a swivel, searching for Alex. Arriving at their classroom door, the last two in, Casey’s head finally falls in disappointment.

“Casey!” A faint voice calls down the hallway as it passes the corridor.

Casey’s head shoots up, blushing almost immediately. The blonde peeks past the edge of the corridor and waves at her partner, smiling. Casey waves back, and Alex blows her a kiss before making her way down the hall. Casey feels a weight slowly flutter away from her chest as she enters the classroom, her cheek seeming to burn from the kiss blown in her direction.

Just a short distance away, Alex rushes to her class. She hates to run late but she struggled to wake up this morning, missing her partner, who seemed to be a natural alarm clock. Throughout her class time, Alex couldn’t do anything other than think about Casey. She longed for her scent, her conversation, the touch of her hand, her warmth as she snakes her arm around Casey’s waist. She daydreams about having lunch with her later, having texted her an invitation at her soonest convenience. Since the holidays, Alex’s confidence in their relationship grew exponentially.

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Between the holiday party and Elliot’s arrival, Casey and Alex enjoyed their time playing house. Alex began going to the grocery store with Casey, they cooked together, they lounged around reading and watching sports, and they had many dates. They started to get used to waking up to each other every morning, becoming increasingly aware of each other’s habits. Issues came and went, but both seemed to be willing to resolve the issues calmly. Alex had never felt so comfortable with a partner, and had never imagined she would. She started to look forward to the future again, daydreaming about Casey’s place in it.

Meanwhile, Casey felt much the same, though it was tainted with fear of what others would think of them. She imagined her peers assuming she chose Alex for the money or connections, merely using her as a leg up on the latter. She feared how people would view their age gap as time went on and how they would handle it. When the anxious thoughts finally catch up to Casey, she peels her eyes open from her slumber and pulls Alex closer. She takes a deep, wakeful breath and kisses Alex’s shoulders, down into the crook of her neck.

“G’morning,” she murmurs into Alex’s ear. Alex had been awake, reading on her phone and petting Toby, who sleeps peacefully curled up against her chest.

Alex turns her phone off and turns her head slightly, allowing Casey to kiss her lips before receding back to her neck. “Morning,” she whispers back. Her hands gravitate towards Casey’s, wrapped around her torso, and she strokes them softly with her fingertips.

“Lex?” Casey asks nervously.

“Hmm?” Alex responds, eyes shutting for a moment as she tunes her ears to Casey’s words.

“May I ask you a question?” Casey’s eyes are sad as they stare into the distance, brushing her lips across Alex’s neck, the soft sensation stimulating her.

Alex chuffs, “you can ask me as many questions as you like, baby.”

Casey’s heart still skips a beat. She nuzzles her face into the back of Alex’s neck, breathing in the scent of her conditioner and their sheets. “Do you know that you love me?”

Alex furrows her brow and turns onto her back, forcing Casey to meet her gaze. She smiles sheepishly as she considers the question. She pulls Casey down for a quick kiss, “I do. I know that I love you. Why?”

Casey scans her face, seeming to ignore the question. “But…” she sighs, her face contorting in confusion and concern. “How do you know?”

Alex giggles and shuts her eyes for a moment, trying to determine how to articulate her feelings. She opens her eyes and takes a deep breath as she peers into Casey’s green. She grins, feeling her cheeks begin to warm, and looks down at Casey’s lips. A deep breath allows the words to creak past her lips, “It’s like knowing how to breathe, Case.” Her eyes return to Casey’s, which have softened with what Alex believes to be love. “I just know.”

Casey closes her eyes in thought for a time, then leans down and kisses Alex deeply. When she pulls away, she moves down to pepper kisses along Alex’s cheek before nuzzling into her neck. “I love you, too. A lot,” she whispers into Alex’s ear. Alex’s heart beats heavy, and she turns to wrap her arms around Casey’s body. She pulls her in close, stroking her fingers through Casey’s red tendrils and kissing the top of her head.

----------

Lunch finally comes around and Alex practically falls into her office, setting the food on her desk in a clamour. Once the food is set, she turns on her phone and searches for Casey’s response.

Casey <3: I’ll be late, but I’m coming to your office for lunch <3

Alex smiles, sending back a heart, and then taking a moment to split the food. She took the extra time to sit down and sift through her emails. One reminds her that she volunteered to be a coach for the 3L’s mock trial competition. She sighs as she reads the details regarding their expectations for her. She glances up at the clock, Casey’s at least fifteen minutes late. Her chest starts to sink, just a bit. She bites her lip and decides to start prepping the material for the mock trial team. More time passes and with each glance at the clock, her heart sinks and she checks her phone.

With only twenty minutes left of her lunch, she starts picking at her food with a distracted mind. So distracted that the knock at the door frame causes her to jump. Her eyes dart up to the door, aggravated at first that she was startled, but her expression eases when she notices her sweetheart smiling in the doorway.

“Hi,” Alex whispers sheepishly.

Wordless, Casey makes her way over to Alex’s chair. Alex spins out a bit, just in time for Casey to cup her face and lean down, kissing her passionately. A delighted hum is shared between them, smiles slowly spreading on their cheeks. Casey pulls away for a moment, just long enough to whisper back, “I’m sorry I’m so late. We got the results for the mock trial this semester,” she kisses Alex again, a few times over, not allowing her time to speak.

Alex snakes her hands up Casey’s body and pulls her into her lap, cradling her carefully. She figures out how to steer their lips apart and kisses Casey’s cheeks over and over. “It’s alright, I’m just glad you made it,” she murmurs into Casey’s warming flesh.

Finally separated, Casey cups Alex’s face, stroking her cheeks and treasuring how Alex’s arms fit around her, like puzzle pieces. A moment of dazzling eye contact and they’ve regained their composure. Alex brings the food closer to them with one hand and Casey takes the one she knows is hers. They start to eat and Alex barely collects herself. Once again, she’s revisited by the powerful sensation of love, seeming to vibrate in her chest and distract her from anything needing her focus. In the moments of shared silence, her mind subtly wanders to the balcony of her apartment, snow falling softly on Alex and Elliot.

----------

“Hey,” Elliot says quietly as he approaches Alex, who leans on the railing, letting the cigarette burn between her fingers.

She smiles sheepishly, whispering “hey,” back to him.

“I didn’t peg you for a smoker,” he states as he mimics her stance.

She scoffs, “I don’t regularly. Just when I need to clear my head.”

A moment of silence passes between them and Elliot shoves his hands in his coat pocket, turning towards Alex. “I don’t dislike you,” he states.

Alex furrows her brows, flicking her cigarette and turning to face him. “You don’t?” She asks apprehensively, a faint smirk present on her face.

He laughs and shakes his head. “No…” He takes a deep breath through his nose and exhales, his breath fogging between them. “I see the way that you look at her. I’ve been paying attention to the way you treat her and the people she cares about.” He bites the inside of his lip and glances into the distance behind her. “It says a lot about you.”

She tries to slow the smile that slowly rises to her face, “thank you.” She looks him up and down, “I like you, too. I’m really glad that someone cares about Casey as much as you do. She loves you,” she glances at the door, peering through the glass at her lover, “a lot.”

He glances the same direction, and then back to her. Her eyes are still planted on Casey, her features softening before his eyes. He remembers seeing this look on his father’s face every time he watched Casey’s mother from afar. He remembers giving this look every time he admires his own wife with their children. Joy fills his lungs at the thought someone could look at his sister this way. Having protected her all his life, he could only hope that she would find someone who looked at her this way and treated her the same.

“You know, Alex,” he begins to catch her attention. She slowly turns back to him, her eyes light and soft in the dim light of the apartment as it casts through the window and reflects on the snow. “Love is…” he exhales deeply, “a connection that transcends everything. It’s not an obsession.” Alex narrows her brow and tilts her head as she listens, hoping he’ll continue. “When I first heard about your relationship, I thought it was an obsession, an infatuation.” Alex scoffs with a light grin, he does the same as he continues. “But the more that I’ve gotten to see you both interact, the more that I’ve seen how she acts with you, and you with her…it’s apparent that it’s far more than obsession.” They meet each other’s eyes, Alex’s twinkling with anticipation, unsure if he has more to say. He smiles awkwardly at her and lets out a chuckle, “Alex, she loves you. And it’s obvious to me that you love her.”

Alex, trying to muster a response and being met only with the impulse to tell him that he loves her, is interrupted by the glass door opening. Casey peeks her head out, grinning with her teeth wide in the chilled air. “Everything okay out here?”

Elliot and Alex look back at each other, smiling, and then back at her. “Everything is perfect, Case,” he tells her.

A moment of silence passes as they all exchange glances. “Well…” she starts, her eyes darting between them, “come back inside. It’s cold!” They laugh at her and nod, Elliot rolling his eyes as he leads the way back inside. Alex flicks her cigarette to the ground and snuffs it, stepping inside after him, and kissing Casey softly, whispering an ‘I love you’ that had been trapped in her throat.

----------

Once they’d quickly eaten their lunch, Alex finally took a moment to breathe and acknowledge Casey’s reasoning for her lateness. “What were the results for the mock trial, baby? I got an email about it, too, but I haven’t looked at the list yet.”

Casey grins, returning to Alex’s lap after cleaning up from eating. “I got in! Charlie, too.”

“That’s so amazing, Case. I’m proud of you,” Alex tells her, cupping Casey’s face and pulling it down to kiss her deeply.

“You should see who else got in,” Casey presses. “I haven’t gotten to talk to anyone else,” she reasons. Alex rolls her eyes but does as proposed, turning around, and using one hand to navigate her computer. With the other hand wrapped around Casey’s body, softly stroking her with her thumb, she pulls up the email about the mock trial and begins opening the attachments.

“Mmmm,” Alex hums, a devious smirk pulling at her cheeks.

“What?” Casey asks urgently, “what is it, Lex?”

Alex runs her tongue over her bottom lip and pulls it between her teeth as she turns to look up at her lover. “Well,” she begins, trying to tease Casey a bit by dragging out her answer. “It looks like I’m coaching your mock trial team.”

#casey novak #alex cabot #calex #they’re in love your honor

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