'Heart-Shaped Everything'
Title: Heart-Shaped Everything
Plot: Carisi's overactive imagination makes Valentine's Day Chaotic for Mike and Kat. Stuff ensues. ˚₊‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Pairing: Mike Dodds x Katharina Marinović (O.C.)
Word Count 2.3k
Warning: None.
Note:
「 ✦ Annoyance ✦ 」
The feeling or state of being annoyed; irritation.
Dunno why I didn't think this was a word. The more you know I guess. ✋✨🌈✨🤚.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ♡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ♡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ♡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ♡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ♡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
This fic was written in the new @ellipsus-writes Valentine's Day Themes (True Valentine is my fav)
˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚
The story will refer to O.C. as Katharina, Kat or Marinović. Only Mike calls her Kathy. No relation to Katrion Tamin, who appeared in S21
The dreaded February 14th had finally reared its chocolatey, sappy, candied head, causing a certain Katharina Marinović great displeasure. She admittedly has a very idealistic view of the holiday. Pink, red and white bows; heart-shaped everything; massive bouquets, horse-drawn carriages and candlelit dinners. She was a sucker for sentiment.
While her role as an SVU detective had previously limited her romantic prospects, this year was the opposite as she was engaged to none other than Sergeant Michael Dodds, who like her was a proud member of Manhattan SVU.
Kat lived in one of the most romantic cities in the world, was engaged to the love of her life, and had a job she loved. For a hopeless romantic such as herself this should have been good news right?
Well, not quite.
As an SVU detective, this was one of the busiest days of the year, and she wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy the holiday. Furthering her frustration, Mike had been completing special police training at his father's request. In the past few weeks they'd only seen each other in passing at their apartment; she'd be lucky if she caught a glimpse of him today. The reality of the situation hit like a ton of bricks crushing any fantastical idealizations she had.
Katharina couldn't let daydreams fill her head, the squad was working a case a missing teenager who had likely run off with much older boyfriend. She was on a call requesting camera footage from the hotel where the two were last seen. Carisi could tell the hotel receptionist wasn't being cooperative from the annoyed look on her face.
"He talkin’ your ear off?” Sonny asked. Kat mouthed “blah, blah” mimicking the talking gesture with her hand. Sonny chuckled at the gesture then returned to his own work.
Finally, Katharina ends the call. Sonny looked up at the sound of the phone slamming. "All that arguing, just to agree to hand over the footage.” She said, rolling her eyes. Carisi smiled.
“Got any Valentine’s Day plans?” Sonny asked, flipping through files.
"Working… here.” Kat uttered with a pout and a heavy sigh.
“What about that fiancé of yours? Doesn’t he have anything planned?”
“Uh, well…” Katharina never knew how to explain the absence of her fiancé. The team had insisted on meeting her fiancé since the first time she’d accidentally mentioned she was seeing someone. She understood they were concerned as her friends and as cops but she couldn't tell the squad she was dating their sergeant. So she did what she always did. She lied. "He just doesn't have the time” she said, the fib flowed from her mouth.
Sonny huffed disappointed. "It's Valentine’s Day, he should make the time. If it was one of my sisters—” Kat groaned the moment he mentioned his sisters. Everyone knew once Sonny started talking them there was no stopping him, She was so grateful when she heard her name called.
“Marinović!” she turns her head towards the Lieutenant's office. Before she could respond Olivia instructed “Head down to the school and talk to her classmates, the teachers, See if they know anything.” Without hesitation, Kat stood, grabbing her jacket ready to leave.
"Hold up, I'll go with you,” Dominick called out.
He barely stood when Benson interjects. "No, Carisi. I want you to stay here and interview the parents.”
Carisi nodded and dove back into his paperwork, as Kat made a request while leaving. “Can you take the footage to TARU when it gets here?” she asked and he agreed as she rushed out.
At the precinct Carisi kept busy, finishing paperwork from past cases, fulfilling Katharina's request, and interviewing the young woman's parents, who unfortunately were more focused on blaming each other than being helpful. When the interview was finally over, Sonny exhausted, made a beeline for the break room to grab a donut but something snapped him out of his sugary haze.
It was Dodds, he was meant to be out until the end of the week. So what was he doing here? Strangely, Dodds was holding a bouquet and a comically large stuffed zebra. Carisi watched curiously as he placed the zebra and bouquet alongside a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a card on Kat's desk of all places.
Mike then strutted into the Lieutenant’s office. Carisi shrugged, thinking nothing of the gifts; he figured Mike had placed them there for safekeeping. He was just glad someone would be having a good Valentine’s Day.
After satiating his donut craving, Carisi was called away from the precinct. Mike left soon after, passing Rollins and Fin on his way out.
"What's all this?” Fin asked, eyeing the array of gifts on Katharina's desk. Fin gleefully held up a card with a zebra on it that read “I'm wild about you.” "For me, Rollins? You shouldn't have.” he joked, examining the zebra.
"I didn't get you anything,” Rollins confirmed with a smile.
"Not even the chocolates?” Tutuola clutched his chest, pretending to be hurt.
They're on Marinović’s desk, they must be for her,” Rollins explained.
"From who?” Fin asked his desk mate.
"Her fiancé. Who else?” Amanda said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Fiance?” Tutuola racked his brain for any previous mention of Marinović’s fiance. Amanda had a smirk on her face; it was clear that she knew some thing he didn't.
Soon, Marinović returned from interviews, a little downtrodden; she perked up after spotting the flowers. Given their size, they were impossible to miss.
“Oh my god!” Kat sprinted to the bouquet scooping it up, burying her nose in the petals. Then she noticed the zebra and began cradling it like a child. Fin and Amanda watched as she laughed at the card and bit into a chocolates; she even shared a few with them.
Just then, Carisi returned. He squinted at Marinović, who was munching on chocolate and toying with the stuffed zebra Dodds left behind. "What's all this?” Sonny wondered, with an eyebrow raised.
"It’s from my—"
Sonny connected the dots. “Your fiancé.” Marinović beamed offering him a sweet, he accepted with a weak smile. He strode to his desk, considering everything he knew. Mike had placed the gifts there, but Kat thought it was from her fiancé. The gears in his mind started to turn, and a theory formed. It disturbed him, making his stomach turn.
He decided to ask around, hoping his theory would be disproved. Later, during a lull in his day he asked Rollins. "Manda, what's Marinović's fiancé like?"
Amanda shrugged. “Dunno, haven't met him yet.” She paused what she was doing and asked slyly. "Why?"
"No reason, just curious."
“Uh-huh.” Amanda didn't believe him for a second. She knew Carisi was coming to the same realization she had a few weeks ago and decided to 'help' him along. "Why don't you read the card? Maybe you'll find what you need.”
Sonny, more concerned with verifying his hypothesis couldn't smell the setup. The minute Marinović stepped away from her desk, Carisi hopped up from his and flipped the card open.
The note sweet and heartfelt and was signed. ‘Happy Valentine's Day, your secret admirer.’
It might have brought a tear to his eye if it weren’t for the heinous circumstances. Sonny was certain of what was going on here and he didn't like it one bit. He made up his mind to confront Mike the next time he saw him.
A few hours later, he got his chance when Mike walked in with the missing girl. Behind him were two uniformed officers escorting their suspect. Carisi quickly called her parents. He was glad the young woman was safe but couldn't hide his annoyance with Mike.
"Dodds, a word?” he asked, gesturing toward the break room.
“Yeah, sure.” Mike responded absentmindedly. He was clearly looking for someone else, that someone was helping their victim get settled in the interview room.
"You done with your training?” Sonny asked, though he didn't care, he was just stalling until they reached the break room.
Dodds shook his duffle bag as a a way to indicate yes to Carisi’s question. When they stepped foot in the break room, Sonny came right out with his accusation. "I saw what you did earlier."
Micheal hummed in response as he started up the coffee machine.
"The gifts on Kat's desk, you put ‘em there.” Carisi continued to push.
Mike stiffened immediately; he hadn't thought anyone saw him. "Yeah well… I-uh.” He couldn't think of a lie fast enough.
"You realize she thinks the gifts are from her fiancé.”
Dodds, still unable to produce a decent lie stammered clumsily. Ringing in his ear were his father's warnings about becoming involved with Katharina.
Carisi pointed at Dodds. "And you think that's okay?"
Mike was stunned to be on the receiving end of a literal finger wagging for romancing his own fiancée.
Carisi continued arguing. "Giving another man's fiancée gifts, flowers.” He started to raise his voice until another officer walked into the room. Carisi gritted his teeth and lowered his tone before continuing. “Kat deserves to know what you've done. So you’re gonna march out there and tell her the truth.”
Michael was in disbelief; Sonny was chastising him for pursuing his own fiancée, though couldn’t help but admire his loyalty. He desperately tried not to laugh and failed. He shamelessly cackled in Carisi's face.
Sonny's irritation flared at this reaction. “You think this is funny? What? Just because you're Chief Dodd's, son this is okay?
"Sonny, let me explain.” Dodds interrupted his spiel.
“No! Don't ‘Sonny’ me.” Carisi tried to maintain a hushed tone but couldn't quell his outrage. “If it were one of my sisters—”
And with that, Mike knew he had to stop Sonny; once he got started about his sisters, there wasn't much you could do to stop him.
“Carisi!” Michael yelled, grabbing him by the shoulder. He glanced around for onlookers, then lowered his voiced. “I am her fiancé.”
“Oh.” Carisi’s tone subdued as he relented. He stuttered his was through a few questions. “What—Since when? And why didn’t—?” Before finally settling on. “Fo’give me?”
Micheal patted Sonny on the shoulder, then released him. “It’s all good. I appreciate you defending Kathy.”
“Kathy?” Carisi blinked, amazed.
Dodds’ face reddened, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s I call her— um could keep this—”
“Between the two of us?” Sonny gestured between them. “Done. You used to be her sergeant and with a father like yours—” Sonny tripped on his words. “N-No offense.”
“None taken.” Mike waved him off.
“I understand why you want to keep things under wraps. I just hope I still get an invite to the wedding.”
“That was never in question, Carisi.” Dodds nodded as he walked back into the bullpen.
He walked out of the precinct, and Kat followed rather conspicuously, drawing Rollin’s attention. She watched with a smile.
Carisi clocked this. “You knew, didn’t you?”
“Yup, figured it out just before they got engaged.” Amanda boasted.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Sonny asked, mortified.
“Wasn’t my thing to tell. Then it was just fun to watch.” She smiled; she enjoyed watching Sonny fall victim of his own overactive imagination.
“Did you know too?” Carisi asked Tutuola as he walked in.
“About what? Dodds and Marinović? Yeah, I knew.” Fin responded casually.
Quick to correct him, Amanda said. “Only because I told him. He found out just before you did.”
Sonny hung his head; he looked like a dejected cartoon character as he walked back to his desk. “I just wish I knew before I—”
“Bit his head off.” Amanda added with a smirk.
“—accused him of creepin’ on his engaged coworker.” Carisi facepalmed with a groan.
Fin, doing his best at being reassuring stated, “Kat’s cool, I’m sure there are no hard feelings, man.”
“Where are they? Maybe I should apologized to Kat.”
“Oh, the lovebirds already dipped. Said they had plans.” Tutuola answered packing up his own stuff before giving Carisi a goodbye pat on the shoulder.
“Don’t be at yourself up." Amanda slipped her laptop in her bag and walked out. Taking her advice Sonny didn't allow himself to wallow. He packed up said goodbye Liv, intent on making the best of his Valentine's Day.
Outside on the streets the New York were the aforementioned lovebirds.
"Between this…" she shook the stuffed zebra in her hand “…and the two at home I’m going to have a—” Kat blanked, she had no idea what you called a group of zebras.
"A dazzle.” Michael answered. “It's what you call a group of zebras.”
"Why do you kno—" Kat paused; it was a question was one she already had the answer to. Micheal always paid attention to the things she cared about.
Michael inhaled deeply; this would be the second most important question he’d ask his fiancée. “Kathy, I want you and the dazzle…” He chortled. “…to move in with me?”
Katharina’s face brightened and in an instant, there was no space except for the large zebra squished between them.
Michael was comforted by her response; he buried his face in her hair. Mike wasn’t one for PDA, so he became self-conscious when she began peppering his face with kisses. Despite being so reserved, he was happy he could be with someone so affectionate. He caught her before she kissed him again and pressed his lips to hers.
“Is that a yes?”
“Of course it is.” Kat said in a hushed voice before kissing him again. The shiver that ran down his spine made Michael question whether he want to keep their dinner reservations.
Forcing himself to separate his lips from hers he spoke. "I made dinner reservations… but we don't have to—”
“Uh-uh." she uttered, a light playful protest. “I've barely seen you in weeks, we're going to dinner.”
Michael groaned, unable to hide his dissatisfaction.
“Cheer up, I baked you a cake.” Katharine mused as she led him down the street.
"Oh?" he questioned with slight interest.
“You can have it tomorrow for breakfast” she said with a knowing smile.
"I always loved having cake for breakfast.” he lied, clearly for eager for what was to come.
Kat led him along and all her earlier disappointment drifted away she was finally going to have her chocolatey, sappy, candied February 14th.
End Note:
There was supposed to be an engagement fic but I scrapped it. ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
This is the end of this series. I'm glad I was able to keep the posting consistent. ヾ(＾ ∇ ＾).
I hope you enjoyed this late Valentine's Day fic. ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
( っ˶´ ³ `˶)っᯓᡣ𐭩.𖥔 ݁ ˖
Other Chapter(s):
Training Wheels (1)
Leave the Pompoms At Home (2)
This is also availible on A03: Heart-Shaped Everything
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
Dividers: @pixopix @neapolitanjeongyeon
