hi! the description pretty much says it all. this will be the start of it all, as it's where they meet. reminder for anyone about what's going on in the show - elliot just left, amanda just got hired, and it's the case about the italian diplomat and the maid. this'll probably be slow burn, but it should go pretty quickly because i'm writing these as i watch. i want them to be together for sure before the lewis ordeal, and probably around the time we find out more about amanda's story, so yeah. i hope you enjoy! drop a comment at the bottom, or if you wanna see shenanigans probably, my tumblr is called fanblogwhatfanblog lmao.

13x01 – Scorched Earth

Amanda Rollins knows the minute she walks into the 16th precinct that it's where she wants to be. She's eager to work, and when Cragen obliges this request, allowing her to go to the crime scene, she's ecstatic. Her first crime scene with SVU is a success, she helps Melinda with evidence and she feels her nerves wearing off a bit.

She can do this. She belongs here.

It's not until later that day, her mind swimming with different aspects of the Distasio case, that Amanda knows she's done for. She's researched Oliva Benson, read her casework, used her knowledge, even apprehended suspects with the things she had learned from the woman. That was just on paper. Seeing Olivia in person, catching the faint scent of vanilla and warmth that flows by as she walks past, it's another level. Amanda's hanging on by her fingertips. She's taking in the woman's stature, her confident strides are noticeable, but her expression is still tender from walking their victim in. Amanda moves her gaze up and really focuses on the woman's face, her heart beating a little quicker.

She'd always had a preference for women, they were softer, more tender, beautiful, and in her experience, they smelled better.

It wasn't as though the blonde detective got many chances to act on her desires. She was focused on her work, dedicated, and if she was being honest, she prided herself on not being shallow. Good looks were a plus, but Amanda needed a soul to ground herself to as well, not just a body. Amanda stared for another second at the brunette who was currently making her way toward their captain's office and let out a small breath – Olivia was full of soul. The blonde was just about to look away, chiding herself for staring like a teenager hopped up on their first crush, when deep brown eyes locked with hers.

Well shit. She'd been caught.

Acting on some mix of adrenaline, fear, and quite a bit of embarrassment, Amanda hopped up, coming around her desk to stand in front of Olivia.

"Detective Benson?" the blonde stuck out her hand, trying to keep her nerves in check, "I'm Amanda Rollins."

Olivia's brows raise in recognition, "Ah, transfer from Dallas right?"

"Well, Atlanta," Amanda corrected, suddenly feeling the need to shift the conversation away from herself, "You like Distasio for this?"

The brunette detective opens her mouth for a moment, "Uh," she looks over her shoulder and then back to Amanda, "he was there."

Olivia turns away then, moving to take the few steps to Cragen's office and Amanda feels her stomach dropping. She doesn't want this conversation to end, eager to talk more to Olivia.

"I just wanted to say I'm really happy to be here," she blurts out, fumbling quickly for a reprise to her statement, "I uh, I studied a lot of your cases, I used some of the stuff you did on the Brown case – the infant homicides."

"Yeah, yeah," Olivia nods and then looks away quickly, "I haven't briefed the Captain yet so," she pauses, her eyes apologetic, "thank you."

Amanda can only nod, her shoulder burning from where the woman had just touched her before turning the other way.

She walks back to her desk and sinks into her chair with a sigh.

…

It's the next day before Amanda catches another glimpse of the woman she was so captivated by. Olivia's sitting at her desk, speaking Italian rapidly into her phone. It's doing things to Amanda, but the blonde tries her best to ignore it. So maybe her new co-worker is incredibly attractive, smart, compassionate, and fluent in multiple languages. It's Olivia Benson and Amanda is just starting in the unit. She tears her focus away from the other detective and begins to focus on her own stack of potential leads.

Amanda gets lucky, but she'll take the victory.

She manages to find a witness in Buenos Aires with similar experiences to their current victim, and Amanda reaches out to her in hopes of gaining a new witness. Captain Cragen congratulates her, commends her work, but the praise from her boss isn't what has her smiling.

"Alex Cabot, please."

Amanda looks to her right, her eyes immediately finding the intense gaze of the brunette detective.

Olivia holds the phone to her shoulder briefly, "Nice work, Rollins."

The blonde looks back to her computer, bashful under the surprising wonderment twinkling in Olivia's eyes.

She smiles to herself. She can do this.

…

"So, what's her story?"

Amanda's back is turned to her colleagues at the bar, and she assumes Olivia hadn't meant for her to hear, but the blonde always had good ears. She can't help but smile a little bit, feeling warmth creep into her cheeks knowing she was the subject of the brunette's focus. By the time she turns around, though, Cabot has already begun informing them of new information regarding the case.

The DA comes in and delivers the blow. The tabloids have destroyed their victim's credibility and Amanda practically feels the weight of the case grow. As they're leaving the bar, Amanda holds the door open for Cabot and the other detectives, Olivia trialing behind. The blonde can sense the frustration rolling off the other woman and it mirrors her own.

"Thank you," Olivia says softly, the corners of her lips turning up slightly as she walks through the door.

"Yeah, no-" she clears her throat nervously, "No problem."

Amanda beats herself up all the way to the car. Real smooth, Rollins.

…

At the end of the day, Distasio is only convicted of one charge, but Amanda will learn to stomach it. He'll do a year, according to Olivia, and somehow hearing it from the brunette soothes Amanda's conscience. She can't help but observe the other detective as she arranges some papers on her desk, completely mesmerized by the woman. She's only pulled out of her reverie when Cragen calls Olivia into his office.

"Nice workin' with ya."

Amanda looks up upon hearing Fin's words and watches as Munch and Fin try to lighten the mood. They had all sensed the shift in the air. Olivia's hands turn to fists for a millisecond and Amanda barely catches it, but her eyes are drawn to the distressed move.

Olivia leaves Cragen's office looking worse for wear and Amanda is mildly, well, heavily concerned. She's only vaguely listening as Munch calls out the 10-34, and it's ultimately the eldest detective ordering her and Fin to go check it out that pulls her back to reality.

"No, I'll go," Olivia's voice is shaky, but she masks it quickly, "Give me five and we'll roll."

Fin and Munch nod, making themselves busy as Olivia pauses momentarily before turning and walking down the hall. Amanda felt the troubled look in Olivia's eyes burn into her mind, and she didn't like it one bit. She tried to block it out, though. It wasn't her business, and likely never would be. Wiping her hands on her pants, the blonde excused herself to the restroom. She'd been holding it since the verdict, and now that Olivia had volunteered to go, Amanda wasn't letting the opportunity slip again.

The blonde is lost in her own thoughts, leaning against the sink, when she hears the door open.

Amanda's careful eyes look over and she's surprised to find Olivia staring back. The brunette's eyes are red, slightly puffy, and a small sniffle escapes the woman's nose. Amanda knows Olivia probably prefers that it had not. The younger detective is careful, knowing full well that sometimes the more noble thing to do is to afford someone their privacy when they're upset rather than trying to figure out what caused it. She gets the impression that Olivia isn't looking to talk about whatever personal strife had led her to this moment, and Amanda is fine with that.

She gives Olivia a small smile before looking away and instead focuses on getting the warm water to leave the faucet. Pipes, apparently, are not a priority for the NYPD, and it takes forever for the water to come to the desired temperature. Out of the corner of her eye, Amanda watches as Olivia wipes her face and reapplies some of her makeup, carefully sliding her mask back into place. The blonde dries her hands quickly, ready to leave. Throwing the paper towel in the trash bin, she readies herself to depart, but is stopped with one look at the brunette.

Her heart breaks a little as her eyes are drawn to Olivia's shaking hands.

The other woman is struggling to open a bottle of water she seemingly just bought, and though Amanda has fought her fair share of stubborn caps, she knows that's not the problem.

"Damn it!"

Amanda watches as Olivia sets the bottle onto the counter with a little more force than necessary, her other shaking hand coming to grip the other side of the sink. The blonde carefully approaches her co-worker, eyes focused on the bowed head of Olivia, cautious and ready to move away if need be. Olivia seems unfazed by her presence, or if she is bothered, she doesn't let on. In an uncharacteristic move of bravery, Amanda reaches out and gently grasps Olivia's wrist, her hand still gripping the water bottle tightly. The brunette's head shoots up at the contact, her eyes wide and fiery.

Oh fuck.

The blonde's first instinct is to back away and run out of the restroom, but Amanda doesn't want to be like that anymore. She's stronger now, and she's done being afraid. Despite her own nerves, the younger detective moves her fingers away from the soft skin of Olivia's wrist, and eases the bottle of water out of her grasp. Olivia's eyes are burning into her now, curiosity, and confusion obvious in the woman's soulful gaze. Amanda can practically hear Olivia debating with herself on how much emotion to display, how much trust to give, and whether or not she too should leave the restroom.

In the end, they both stay.

Amanda cracks the water bottle open carefully before setting it on the counter next to the other detective. She boldly grips Olivia's hand again and softly places the cap into tanned fingers. With that, she steps away from the brunette, wishing she could sink into the ground. The blonde nods nervously and slowly sidesteps Olivia before promptly making her way to the door. Amanda's hand is on the handle, ready to grant herself freedom from the situation, but she pauses.

"Whatever it is," she says softly, looking back towards the brunette, "If anyone can handle it, it's you."

Olivia looks over then, her eyes are softer now, more unguarded than before and it melts the younger detective's heart. The brunette's voice is a little rough when she speaks, but Amanda couldn't care less.

"Thank you, Amanda."

The blonde nods briefly before ducking out of the room, wanting to give Olivia the privacy she needs before going out on the call. She settles back into her desk easier this time, opening a case file that Fin had given her to catch up on, even if her thoughts never really made it to the papers in front of her.

She called me Amanda.