#inspired by poipoi1912's groove series

[barbaesparza]

Juicy Secret - Barisi one-shot (981 words)

This one’s a gift for @carisi-sonnycarisi! Happy belated birthday :)

Amanda regarded Sonny’s phone where it lay on his desk with narrowed eyes, suggesting that she had read the name there before Sonny had had a chance to reject the call.

Sonny pocketed his phone and met Amanda’s gaze steadily.

“Rafael.” She paused. “… Barba?” Amanda looked dumbfounded. “Barba was your hot date?”

Sonny said nothing. Which apparently spoke volumes.

“Oh my God, you and Barba! That’s actually… Wow. That’s great!” She was fully grinning now, having adequately processed this shocking but not unwelcome information.

Sonny turned to her with surprise.

Amanda clapped him on the back excitedly, “Get it, Carisi!”

Sonny chose to ignore this childish comment. He also decided not to deny it, because lying to Amanda – that was never going to work. And she knew it now, there was no going back. “Uh, so you don’t think it’s weird?”

“Hell yeah I think it’s weird! But I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised. You two are… you two would be good together. I’m sure you are.”

Sonny fought a smile.

“And you’ve been so happy lately. I’ve noticed. You deserve to be happy, Sonny.”

Sonny thought he could almost cry. Instead, he pulled Amanda into a warm hug. “Thanks, Amanda.”

Amanda smiled into his shoulder. “It’s just kinda hard… to think of Barba dating, you know?”

Sonny smirked.

“How long have you been dating Barba?” Amanda asked with a glint in her eye.

“Almost two months.”

“Two months?! I thought it was more recent than that. I can’t believe you didn't tell me about dating Barba for two months.” Amanda stood with her hands on her hips.

She looked as if she was mentally replaying every time she had seen Barba and Sonny together in the past two months, re-evaluating every interaction.

“Well, we haven’t told anyone.”

“Oh.”

“And we’re not going to. Yet.”

“Ah, I see where you’re going with this. Don’t worry, I can keep a secret.”

“Thanks, Amanda.”

“And I still feel honored to know this juicy secret, despite the fact that you didn’t actually tell me.”

“What juicy secret?”

Sonny jumped.

Rafael had suddenly appeared behind them.

Amanda played it completely cool, not even reacting. “I just found out the secret ingredient for Mama Carisi’s vegetable stew. But I can’t tell you, sorry. I’m sworn to secrecy.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, if you really wanna know you’re probably better off cross-examining Carisi than me. I’m not letting this one out easy.”

Sonny shot daggers at her.

Barba cleared his throat. “Uh, okay.”

“Anyway, I was just leaving. Jesse’s sitter should be going home soon.”

“Evening, Detective.” A forced-looking grin was plastered across Barba’s face.

“Evening, Counselor.” Amanda smiled cordially as she buttoned her coat and swept out of the room.

Sonny, again, said nothing.

“Hey.”

“Hey yourself.”

“So, what is the secret ingredient for your mom’s vegetable stew?”

“It’s just oregano,” Sonny answered truthfully.

Rafael appeared to ponder this.

“But actually, um, we were talking about something else.”

“Oh? Another juicy secret?”

Sonny looked at Rafael pointedly.

Rafael looked back questioningly.

“She… well, she found out about us. By accident.”

“Oh.”

Rafael didn’t seem angry or horrified.

“Obviously it’s not ideal, but-”

Rafael simply shrugged. “It was bound to happen sooner or later.”

“I… I suppose.”

“Maybe we should think about telling the others.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Why not?”

Sonny could think of a few reasons. Embarrassment. Professional integrity. Rules. A talking-to from the Lieutenant. The fact that they’ve been dating for barely two months and maybe there wasn’t going to be much to tell.

“Um. Are you sure?”

Rafael paused. “Wait, aren’t you sure?”

“Well…”

“I mean, I was planning on sticking around. If you were.” Rafael’s voice had grown soft.

Sonny swallowed, a wave of something unknown threatening to overcome him, and looked at Rafael with awe in his eyes. “Rafael, of course I am.”

“Well, good,” Rafael said, appearing relieved. And happy. He put his arms around Sonny and held him tight.

Sonny smiled at Rafael’s touch, enjoying the feeling of being wrapped in Rafael for a moment before pulling back.

“Does this mean you want to disclose?”

Rafael nodded. “If you’re not ready, though, we can wait.”

“I’m just worried about the Lieutenant.”

“I wouldn’t worry about Liv.”

“Why?” Sonny narrowed his eyes.

“I think she knows. Or at least suspects. I mean, I didn’t tell her. But I think she put two and two together.”

Sonny raised his eyebrows.

“Does that mean she approves? Do you think?”

“If I were to hazard a guess, yes.”

Sonny exhaled in a puff. It appeared he hadn’t been playing it as cool as he thought. Or, perhaps, it was Rafael who hadn’t. That was a better thought.

He smiled. “Then I’m ready.”

“I’ll get the papers tomorrow and we can go over them together before we sign.”

“Good. That means I can do this,” Sonny said as he grabbed Rafael by the collar and kissed him lightly.

“It’s not official yet, but-” Rafael leaned forward and planted a firmer kiss onto Sonny’s lips.

Sonny sighed into the kiss and held Rafael against him. They moved their lips slowly against each other, Rafael’s hand splayed on Sonny’s neck, warm and gentle.

Rafael pulled away with a small smile. Sonny sighed happily. “Obviously, we won’t make squad room make outs a habit, but-”

“After hours privileges,” Sonny grinned. “Come on, let’s go,” he said, grabbing Rafael’s hand.

Rafael took it, grabbing his briefcase and following him like a puppy before closing the distance. He gave Sonny a playful shoulder check. Rafael couldn’t stop smiling. He was smitten.

And Sonny could get used to smiling openly at Rafael in the squad room without worrying about looking smitten.

As they walked out of the precinct, hand in hand, Sonny tapped out a message to Amanda before dropping his phone back into his pocket.

I owe you one.