Prosecutorial Misconduct // Rafael Barba

01 || AN EVENING AT FORLINI'S

When Detective Melanie Dodds entered the quiet establishment of Forlini's, the first, and only, person that caught her eye was ADA Rafael Barba. He was by himself. His perfectly tailored blazer now gone from his body as he sat perched on a stool about halfway down the bar, nursing a single glass of scotch in one hand and flicking through a thick manila folder with the other.

It made her frown, seeing him with his nose buried so deep in another case when they'd only just put their most recent one to rest. Melanie always told him he needed to slow down. That he needed to stop pushing himself so hard, but he never listened. And granted, neither did she when anyone would tell her the same anytime she got so wrapped up in a case that she forgot to eat or drink, but at least she knew when to shut off when said case finally came to a close — which was more than could be said for Barba.

Nevertheless, Melanie took her time in approaching him, opting to drink in the sight of him sitting there for as long as she possibly could before she annoyed him by snatching away his file. His hair was slightly tousled. His sleeves were rolled up, showcasing the slight tan to his muscular forearms that sat atop the bar where his stuff resided. Even the top two buttons on his shirt were undone, his silk tie absent from its usual place around his neck and no doubt shoved lazily into the pocket of his briefcase.

Melanie would never admit it aloud to anyone, her partner included, but she'd always found Barba attractive. From the way he presented himself, with that scheming smirk he displayed so frequently in court and that cocky strut of his when he walked. To his usually perfect hair and many tailored suits that Melanie just happened to be a sucker for, it all made him utterly delectable for a woman like her. And oftentimes, she never could get him out of her mind.

"Detective, are you planning on joining me?" Barba called towards her, pulling Melanie out of the trance she'd fallen into over seeing him with his hair down, so to speak. "Or do you need another few minutes to... ogle me?"

She knew that sentence was a joke on his part, but Melanie's face still reddened and given the otherwise pale complexion of her skin tone it was highly noticeable. Barba said nothing though, whether he chose to deliberately spare her the embarrassment of being caught staring or whether he had simply chalked her sudden blush up to the change in temperature from her entering the bar, Melanie had no idea. But she prayed for the latter.

With a flustered clear of her throat, Melanie stepped closer to him, "You would be so lucky as to have me ogle you."

"Lucky's not exactly the word I would use." Barba retorted quietly, glancing to his side to fire Melanie a playful smile — which earned him a gentle punch to the arm as she glared at him.

The two of them had always had a flirtatious-banter-like relationship. Ever since Melanie witnessed Barba be literally choked with his own belt in court, she'd never once let it go and he was more than happy to play along. He enjoyed seeing her smile when he did, and he wouldn't admit it aloud, but he liked her. Their interactions were the sole highlight of his boring days, and if playing along meant he got to keep them, then so be it. He'd even continue to take Carisi's relentless teasing about the two of them being like an old married couple, as just the idea of that... warmed his heart something terribly.

"Careful counsellor, I could have you arrested for slander," Melanie fired back, rounding his stool to take the one on his right without the need for an invite, as no matter the circumstances she was always welcome to sit with him.

"I'd be out in no time..." Barba replied, bringing his glass to his lips before taking a deliberately slow sip. "Insufficient evidence... They'd have no grounds to hold me."

"We'll see about that," Melanie murmured, hearing Barba chuckle faintly into his near empty glass as she motioned for the bartender's attention. "Could I please get a tequila? Neat. And a refill for my friend here."