Work Text:
You stepped into the elevator and took it to the sixth floor, where you knew the exact route you needed to take to avoid the BAU bullpen. You’d been called to Erin Strauss’s office, pulled from the heavy caseload at CARD for some kind of mystery meeting with the adjacent section chief.
Checking your watch, you figured that there would be enough time to for a visit before returning to the eighth floor if this meeting didn’t run too long.
“Good morning, Agent. Thank you for coming in.”
You were halfway impressed – you’d barely made it through the door when she started talking. “Good morning, ma’am.”
She stood, handing you a folder. “This shouldn’t take too long, but you’re welcome to sit.”
You flipped through the folder, taking a seat in one of the chairs across from her desk. “A transfer from CARD, ma’am?”
Erin nodded. “I’d like you to try a stint in the BAU. We are working to fill a few roles as the unit’s caseload increases, and when asked, your unit chief did not hesitate to recommend you.”
Oh god.
Your thought died on your tongue before it could leave your mouth.
That was a problem for another time.
You cleared your throat to cover the rising heat in your cheeks. “Yes, ma’am. Of course.”
“You should have no issues settling into the team. Your new unit chief, Aaron Hotchner, is a strong personality, and I am the first person to tell you he’s not always easy to get along with –“
You stifled a laugh, covering it with a light cough into your elbow.
“- but his team is very capable. If you have any issues at all, feel free to bring them to me.” She placed her reading glasses back on her nose and signed something in front of her.
“Shall I report to Agent Hotchner today?”
Agent Hotchner. That’s a goddamn crackup.
“No, not today. I’ll get everything in order for your arrival tomorrow. Report at 9am tomorrow. Agent Hotchner will be ready for you.”
You’re damn right he will.
+++
You rolled over in bed and burrowed into the warm body beside you. To get any closer, you’d have to be under his skin.
Aaron grumbled and managed to pull you even closer, one arm spanning the length of your spine and the other resting across your thigh where it was slung over his hip.
You were somewhere between sleeping and waking for the next hour or so. The slow rise and fall of Aaron’s chest under your cheek brought you a bone-deep calm, letting you rest comfortably in that liminal space.
You were prepared when Aaron’s alarm went off, a full half-hour before it normally did.
“Early meeting?” you asked, as if you didn’t already know.
He hummed an affirmative and tipped your chin up with one finger. “No earlier than usual, but I want to get settled in before the day starts.”
My favorite Type-A Unit Chief.
You smiled against his mouth, stretching up into his kiss. It quickly turned less-than chaste, your tongues sliding together and your hands wandering across his chest and back. The raised ridges of his scars marked your path as you traced invisible patterns on his skin. You knew his body as well as he did, maybe better, and he yours.
After a few minutes, you came to your senses and pulled back. He looked dazed, his lips swollen and plush, his hair soft and tousled on top of his head.
“You have no business looking that good when you have an early meeting,” you said with a light laugh. You carded your fingers through the hair at his temples, taking the opportunity to sweep your thumb across his cheekbone.
He gave you a crooked grin and reached for you again. You rolled away from him, pressing your palms to his chest and locking your elbows.
“If you keep this up, you’re gonna be late.”
Aaron rolled his eyes and threw the covers back, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. You launched yourself across the bed and wrapped your arms around him, tracing the lines of his chest and abdomen with light and playful fingers.
“As you so astutely pointed out, I will be late if you keep this up.” His chastisement was weak, at best.
You pressed kisses to the space between his shoulder blades and pushed him out of bed. He turned around and brought your face between his hands, pressing a series of kisses against your lips.
How he ever makes it to work on time, I have no idea.
+++
At about 8:50 that morning, Strauss knocked twice on Aaron’s open office door before letting herself in.
Aaron looked up. After processing who it was, he set his pen down and laced his fingers.
Why is she always ten minutes early?
“Good morning, ma’am.”
“Good morning, Agent Hotchner.” She looked a little antsy, but he wasn’t sure if that was just her general affect, or something more specific.
“What can I do for you this morning?”
“You have a new agent reporting to your unit this morning. She comes highly recommended and will be an asset to the BAU. Please make her feel welcome.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “All due respect, ma’am, it has been very difficult for me to manage these new agents with such little notice.”
“I understand, but that is my call and not yours.” Aaron suppressed a sigh as she continued. “You’re perfectly capable of managing a larger team, especially one with such capable agents.” She placed the personnel file on his desk and walked out, leaving the door open behind her.
“Damn it,” he said to himself. There was no point in reviewing the file – it was entirely possible Strauss told the agent to report at nine, which means she would probably arrive early, which means –
“Aaron?”
He looked up at the door and his face broke out into a smile in spite of his sour mood. After a quick moment, he sobered and picked up the file on his desk. “I can’t chat long, sweetheart – I have a new agent reporting this morning.”
You did your best to look both politely interested and appropriately surprised.
“Oh, of course, love. I’ll leave you to it.” You were still smiling at him, waiting for it all to click into place.
“Thank you. It shouldn’t be long. We haven’t been called on a case yet this week, and the new agent will have to sit with Dave to work through a couple of consults so I can get a better read on her capabilities...” He trailed off, distracted. He opened the file but didn’t look down, his gaze still stuck on you.
You sauntered back toward him. Your palms met the cool wood of the desk as you leaned over it and kissed him lightly. His shaky exhale fanned across your face – restraint evident in his posture. You were taunting him, and he knew it.
But the door was closed....damn it.
He still hadn’t looked down at the file, but a small smile dancing around his mouth. “You can’t be here. My new agent will be here in a few minutes, at the very most.”
“Who’s the agent?”
He shook his head and glanced down at the file. He did a double-take, and the only thing more comical than his head flying back up was the pink flush that rushed to his cheeks.
There was silence for a moment as you watched him process the information before him.
“You’re my new agent,” he said. It wasn’t a question.
You winked at him.
“Did you ask?”
You shook your head and sat, leaning back in the chair and getting comfortable.
“When did you find out?”
“Yesterday.”
He closed the file and set it back on his desk. His arms crossed as he reclined in his chair, an eyebrow raised at you.
You finally gave in, resting your elbows on his desk and your chin in your hands. “Are you upset?”
He laughed, and you were happy the door was closed. There was no way you could keep anything from the team if they’d heard that. “No, I’m not upset. We’ll just have to compartmentalize a little bit. It won’t be easy, and we’ll have to tell Strauss eventually.”
“Let’s just see how long it takes for the team to pick up on it, and we’ll go from there. What do you think?” Keeping a team of profilers in the dark was no easy task, but you were up to the challenge.
Aaron’s face drops into his normal operating expression – stoic and a little skeptical. You’d seen it before, and you supposed you’d grow even more accustomed to it soon enough. “That sounds perfectly reasonable, Agent. You can speak to facilities about getting a desk downstairs. Report to Agent Rossi next door – he will walk you through all of our procedures.”
You suppressed a smile and stood. “Thank you, sir. Will that be all?”
He returned to his report, but there was a smile threatening at the corner of his mouth. “Yes, Agent. That will be all. Thank you.”
This was going to be fun.
+++
Your first three cases went smoothly. You quickly endeared yourself to the team and had a natural knack for building geographical profiles with Reid. Hotch did his best to pay you very little mind in the field, only to knock on your hotel room door in the very small hours of the morning.
The humor in referring to him as “Hotch” and “Agent Hotchner” and “Sir” hadn’t worn off yet. You had to suppress a smile every single time. It was easier for him, as he was so accustomed to working with his natural stoicism. The hardest part for the both of you was avoiding anything that looked like familiarity. Casual brushes of his arm, catching his sleeve, his hand on your lower back as you got into the car – it all had to go.
You’re new. You’re new. You don’t know anyone. Keep it together.
It was a game, in some ways, and one you both enjoyed playing for different reasons.
“How are you liking it so far?” Emily asked, dropping down next to you on the jet.
Aaron was across from you at the table, and you’d been playing a quiet game of footsie for the better part of fifteen minutes. You pulled away first, tucking one foot under you as you turned to face Emily.
“So far so good,” you replied. “It’s a little bloodier than CARD, but dealing with adults is always easier than dealing with parents.”
She laughed lightly and clicked her tongue. “Well, once you get your first case with kids, we’ll revisit that one.” She lowered her voice, not that Hotch wouldn’t be able to hear her. “They’re always particularly hard on JJ and Hotch, you know.”
You nodded sagely. “I can imagine.”
Hotch raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.
She bumped your shoulder with hers and invited you to drinks with Derek and Penelope when all the paperwork was finished.
“Sure,” you said, beaming. “I’d love to.”
You looked back down at your tablet as she rose to find a better place to nap. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw a minuscule grin on Aaron’s face and returned it with one of your own.
+++
“Oh c’mon everyone has a crush on someone in their section,” JJ exclaimed, looking to Penelope for confirmation. All of you, save for Aaron and Dave, piled into the car and went to the bar when you finished your case reports.
Garcia nodded. “Oh absolutely. Have you seen those TASK guys?”
“Hey, I’m right here.” Morgan pulled on one of her pigtails. She stuck her tongue out at him.
“No but seriously,” Emily said. “Anyone catching your eye?”
You shrugged noncommittally, sipping your drink. “Not really.”
JJ squinted at you. “You might want to rethink lying to a bunch of profilers.”
“I thought profiling each other was against the rules!”
Emily rolled her eyes. “Well yeah, but that’s mostly for the big stuff, and it’s more a suggestion than a rule.”
“I thought I saw you eyein’ our fearless leader last week,” Penelope said with a sly grin.
You rolled your eyes and took a sip of your drink, buying yourself some time. You knew exactly what she was talking about – a press conference, in which Hotch shut down a particularly combative reporter with a practiced finesse. You’d failed to hide your smile before Penelope caught you, on one of her rare outings on a case.
“Yeah! I watched you guys on that last case. He’s way nicer to you than he was to me when I first got here.” Emily sounded a little hurt and a lot indignant.
Derek bumped your shoulder with his and gestured to Emily. “That’s because she was insufferable when she first got here,” he stage-whispered.
Emily looked damn near close to throwing her drink at him when you finally relented.
“Okay, fine. I may or may not have noticed that Hotch is...attractive.” You tried your best to sound more evasive and far less sure than you were. You were certain Aaron was one of the finer men you’d ever laid your eyes on, but they didn’t need to know that.
“Aha!” JJ said with a laugh. “I knew it!”
“What?” You asked
“You’ve got a crush on Ho-“ She shut her mouth abruptly as her gaze shifted over your shoulder. Emily swiftly took a massive sip of her drink and set it down a little too roughly.
You all turned around, only to find Hotch standing behind you at the bar.
“Am I too late?”
“No!” Penelope said, a little too quickly. “Not at all. Here, take my seat.”
She vacated the seat beside you, and you shot her a look.
You were playing your part well, and so was Aaron. With a small smile, he sat beside you.
“Settling in okay?” He asked. The bartender placed a beer in front of him, and he winked at you when he took a drink.
“Ah,” you said. “Emily beat you to that question,” you checked your watch, “about an hour ago. I think I said something about it being a little bloodier than I imagined, and that my new boss is a real hardass.”
+++
When you stumbled through the door of his apartment, a bit flushed and a little tipsy, you couldn’t stop laughing. You toed off your shoes and collapsed into his chest, looping your arms around his neck.
“Emily was trying so hard to weasel something out of me! You should have seen her, Aaron it was hilarious.”
He pulled you close and pressed his cold nose into your neck. You jumped and gave his hair a swift tug.
He looked up and his eyes darkened. You knew that look.
My God, he’s handsome.
“What do you say we string them along a little longer?” He asked, his voice low and rough.
You gulped. “I think that’s a great idea.” It came out a little higher and a little breathier than you intended, but he tended to have that effect on you.
+++
You had just turned off the light when there was a knock on your hotel room door. With a sigh, you hauled yourself back out of bed and opened the door.
Aaron was on the other side, in his flannel pajama pants and one of his many black crew-neck t-shirts. He looked exhausted, but that was normal when you were on the road.
“Want any company?”
As if he had to ask.
You stepped back, letting him in and locking the door behind him. He had a hand on you almost the entire time, fingers glancing across your skin as you felt your way across the room in the dark.
When you both settled under the covers, he wrapped around you, pulling you flush against him with your back to his chest. Within minutes, you were already dozing, safe and warm in his embrace.
“Hey, Y/N?” It was almost a whisper.
You matched his volume, as to not break the sanctity of the darkness. “Yeah?”
“I love you.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d told you, not by a long shot. Nevertheless, it never lost its novelty. Maybe he said it a little differently or maybe you heard it a little differently each time he said it, but it always managed to set off a wave of affection that originated somewhere near your sternum.
You took his hand from where it rested against your abdomen and pressed a kiss to his palm. “I love you too.”
When your alarm woke you in the morning, he was gone. A note covered your phone where it rested on the nightstand. His blocky, even script danced in even lines across the paper.
Sweetheart,
I had to get back to my room before the others got up, but I didn’t want to wake you. I’ll see you at the precinct in a couple of hours.
I love you (even when you snore).
- AH
You scoffed. You’d get him back for that later.
I don’t snore, Aaron Hotchner.
+++
The laughter carried out of Aaron’s office and down the hall, where Dave was reading at his desk. He set his book down – the latest advance copy of a friend’s draft he’d offered to go over as a favor – and listened.
He thought he was mistaken, but he could swear he heard Aaron laughing, too.
And laughing he was. You were reaching forward with great ambition. Your one knee giving you leverage on the desk, one foot keeping your balance on of the chairs, trying in vain to snatch the pen from his hand.
“Give it to me! You’ve been here for hours!”
Aaron’s left arm stretched high into the air as he reclined in his seat, the pen in question entirely out of your reach.
You changed tactics, bracing yourself against the desk as you leaned forward and snatched his tie. You pulled it, tugging him toward you. Your lips crashed together, and you wound the tie around your fingers to keep him close to you.
Kissing Aaron never got old. He relaxed into you, leaning forward. His hands were warm on your face, his thumbs sweeping across your cheekbones. You could feel the pen resting against your skin, resting between his index and middle fingers.
You brought your hand to his wrist, your thumb at his pulse point. It was always reassuring to know he was here and alive. But there was, of course, an ulterior motive.
When you slid your fingers up the side of his hand, you took the pen from between his fingers. You threw it over your shoulder and he laughed into your mouth. You pulled back and kissed his nose. He looked at you, and you looked back for a moment, the outside world forgotten.
Meanwhile, Dave had left his office, peering through the not-so-closed blinds and listening through the open door.
“How long were you planning to keep us in the dark, kids?”
You jumped apart, skittering to your feet and turning around. At attention, you heard Aaron sigh and slowly rise to his feet.
“Dave, I –“
Rossi waved him off with a wide smile. “No need. As long as I get to be in on it, I’ll drag the rest along as long as you’d like.”
He crossed the office and took your face in his hands, kissing you on both cheeks. At your left, he whispered in your ear. “Thank you for taking care of his heart.”
+++
“Oh, you are so busted.”
Aaron froze where he stood, closing the door to your hotel room. He grit his teeth and took a breath. “JJ –“
She sauntered up to him with a smug smile. When she reached his shoulder, she shoved him playfully, her façade breaking immediately. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “I’m so happy for you.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in an almost-smile. “Thanks.”
Just then, you opened your door, holding his FBI windbreaker and fully expecting to sneak down the hall to his room. “Aaron, love, you forgot – fuck.”
JJ laughed. “For a pair of profilers, you two really suck at sneaking around.”
Your stomach dropped. “Do the others know?”
“I think Dave has picked up on a few things –“
Aaron shot you a look, but JJ was still looking at you.
“- and I think the rest of them are just hoping you’ll get your shit together.” She shrugged. “I’ll keep it under wraps – I’ve got money on another four months and I intend to rob Emily blind.”
You snorted, but Aaron grabbed your wrist – a warning.
Don’t tell her Dave knows, that touch said.
Just as Aaron predicted, she kept talking. “If you hold out for me, I’ll give you a third.” She raised her eyebrows and extended her hand to you.
“Deal,” you said.
She sighed, chuffed, and almost danced down the hallway. “See you later!”
+++
The ride home was quiet, with almost everyone asleep. Hotch was kicked back in one of the seats, his eyes closed, brow drawn, and arms crossed. You always tried to put yourself where you could see him, without getting too close.
Derek sat beside you, and you thought he was asleep, when –
“Are you gonna tell me what’s goin’ on between you and Hotch?”
You looked at him over your nose. “I don’t know what you’re referring to. You’re gonna have to be more specific.”
He removed his headphones entirely, keeping them around his neck. “Oh come on. You might be able to trick the rest of them, but not me.”
It was true. Derek was the one you had your eye on from the beginning, and Hotch had told you to remain especially vigilant around him.
When you didn’t say anything, Derek continued.
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. You’re better at hiding it than he is.”
Your cheeks warmed, and a smile pulled at your lips. “Really?”
He nodded. “Hotch is a sucker when he’s in love. I saw it when I first met Haley, and I see it with you.”
“I’ve got money on catching you guys next week, so let’s keep this on the low for now. I will, however, be very impressed if you manage to keep this under wraps much longer than that.” He shrugged. “If JJ wins, I’ll babysit Jack for a night so you guys can go out on a real date.”
You offered your hand, and he shook it once. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Morgan.”
He put his headphones back on, tipped his head back, and closed his eyes.
When you glanced up, Hotch’s eyes were watching, half-lidded. You knew he heard the whole thing. He gave you one of his smiles that wasn’t quite a smile and closed his eyes again.
+++
A few nights later, you all had plans to meet up at Dave’s for dinner. You and Aaron were there a little early and could take a few minutes to relax. You were curled up on the couch at Hotch’s side, his arms wrapped around you to pull you snug to his chest. Dave had a movie on – one of those loud action movies starring some famous bald guy with an iconic one-liner and a bad attitude.
You got so caught up in the movie you didn’t hear Spencer and Penelope arrive. By this point, you were halfway into Aaron’s lap, his cheek against your temple, and your fingers tracing patterns on the hand that rested on your hip.
“Oh. My. God.” Penelope stopped dead in her tracks, snatching Spencer’s sleeve.
At this point, it was just funny. You looked up at Aaron and laughed, tucking further into him. He kissed your forehead and looked up at them over your head.
“Where’d you have your money, Garcia?” He asked.
Penelope shrugged. “I’m out, I had three weeks ago, on the Nevada case.”
“I had a maximum of seven months, based on our last bought of big secret-keeping,” said Spencer. “So I’m out too. We’re going on eight months and five days, now. Emily’s up next, at the nine-to-nine-and-a-half month mark.”
They plopped down on the couch beside you, and you disentangled yourself from Aaron. Penelope glommed on to your arm. “What are we watching?”
+++
The end of the night found Dave, JJ, Derek, You, Aaron, and Penelope outlasting Emily, who graciously offered to drive Spencer home. You and Aaron were cleaning up in the kitchen, visible through the big window, while the rest of the team lounged by the firepit. You sprayed Aaron with water from the sink, and he swatted you with a towel. Very few dishes were actually washed.
They couldn’t hear your laughter, but they saw it written all over your faces.
“So,” Derek started. “Who knew?”
They all shared a look for a moment before bursting into laughter. They realized the game you played was better than the one they thought.
“Who’s the only one who doesn’t?”
JJ smirked into her wine glass. “Oh, that would be Emily.”
Derek offered the neck of his beer bottle, and JJ clinked her glass against it. “How’d you manage that?”
“Nuh-uh. Not a chance. I don’t kiss and tell.” She winked at him.
+++
“Oh, goddamn it, you guys! You couldn’t have done this last month?” Emily threw her hands in the air.
She’d just pulled the kitchen divider curtain on the jet home from an exceedingly long case. When you last checked, everyone was fast asleep. Even then, though, you’d grown more lax in the off-hours – Emily’s bet had long since lapsed, and everyone else (who mattered) knew.
You sat on the counter, with Hotch leaning against the counter between your legs. He was making a cup of coffee, seemingly uninhibited by the obstacle of your body. Your phone was in one hand, and the other was resting casually on Aaron’s shoulder, playing with the hair behind his ear.
Aaron stood up straight, his coffee in his hand. With his usual deadpan, he took a sip and said, “Sin to win weekend is coming up, if you’re worried about your account balance.”
There was a snort from behind her, and you belatedly realized her exclamation had woken the rest of the team. JJ was already collecting cash from Dave and Derek. She ruffled Spencer’s hair on her way past him. Derek dialed Penelope, and almost immediately had to take the phone away from his ear to avoid premature deafness.
JJ stood before Emily with one hand on her cocked hip and the other extended palm up, right under Emily’s nose.
Emily scoffed and pulled out her wallet. “You suck.”
+++
Three Months Later
There was a knock on your door, and you smiled to yourself as you signed another document. “Come in.”
The familiar figure sat at the chair across from you, kicking up his feet like he owned the place. You didn’t look up from your work.
“Get your feet off my desk, Hotchner.”
He huffed, but the dress shoes disappeared from the polished surface. They were soon replaced by a pair of elbows and a set of ten laced fingers.
It was nice to be back in CARD. A couple of people from the Critical Response Team had transferred out of the unit, leaving significant gaps in leadership. You were now the Special Agent In Charge for Northeast CARD operations and Deputy Unit Chief – duel positions that kept you mostly chained to your desk unless something went horribly awry.
There was no need for Aaron and you to sneak around anymore, but you missed it a little. A secret was a little exciting – something that was just yours.
But then again, that was the thing about love. It didn’t have to be exciting to make your chest feel too small for all the things you kept inside of it.
You finally looked up from your file, closing it and pushing it off to the side. Warm eyes met you across the desk.
“What can I help you with, Agent Hotchner?” Your tone was crisp and professional, but you reached for his hand, and he took it.
He rolled his eyes. “The team is going out tonight.”
“And?” You raised an eyebrow.
He stood without releasing your hand and rounded your desk, pulling you to your feet. “You’re coming with us.”
“I am?”
A tug and you were pulled flush against him. “Of course.”
“And after?”
“Jack’s with his grandparents for the weekend,” he said.
When you kissed him, you could feel his smile against your lips.