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You could feel his eyes on you, his stare burning into the back of your head as you stood beside Emily, the pair of you chatting to JJ and Will as they excitedly showed you both new baby pictures of little Henry now that he was able to sit up all on his own. Your girlfriend cooed over them as you smiled along politely, struggling to really pay attention to the conversation when all you could focus on was the person shooting you daggers behind your back. It had always been like that with Aaron, ever since Emily had brought you into the BAU that first time to meet her team; her family. He never seem to warm up to you, and even now, after almost a year, he was still cold and standoffish. The rest of the team had welcomed you in with open arms (Rossi even insisting on hosting your latest birthday shindig!) and you’d grown to love them all like they were your own family, but it still bugged you that you could never get more than a quiet “hello” out of the Unit Chief. You knew he had history with Emily, it wasn’t a secret that they’d been a couple in the past, but what was his problem with you now?
“Are you okay baby?” Your love’s soft voice echoed through your head suddenly, her presence quickly pulling you out of your thoughts and back to the conversation as she rested a hand gently on your waist.
“Hmm?” You hummed, looking up to find three pairs of eyes on you, JJ and Will both sharing a quizzical stare while Emily’s was slightly more concerned.
“You suddenly went quiet on us.” JJ explained, her gaze softening slightly as your eyes met hers.
“I hope it wasn’t something I said.” Will joked with a smirk to lighten the mood, pulling a small chuckle out of you as you shook your head, allowing yourself to relax into Emily’s side as you no longer felt you were being stalked from across the room.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if it was.” JJ poked at her other half, the two now exchanging a few playful digs and nudges while you quickly downed the last of your drink, keen to grab yourself another to help you unwind from the week.
“Anybody need a refill?” You quizzed, the pair declining while Emily nodded, finishing the last of her own glass in a large gulp.
“Are you okay?” She repeated her question from earlier as the two of you excused yourselves. Her arm stayed around you as she lead you through the usual Friday crowd, shoving past the overly excited college students and grumpy old folks to make it to the bar in one piece. “Y/N?” She quizzed herself, stopping you in your tracks before you could start to order your drinks. “Talk to me.” She said seriously, pulling you towards an empty table before making you sit.
“I’m fine Em.” You lied, faking a smile as she rolled her eyes, letting out a “you can’t lie to me” scoff. “I just zoned out a bit back there, but I’m fine, really.” You explained, waving it off as nothing as she eyed you off, not believing your bullshit for a second. You honestly hated what she did for a living sometimes, especially when you would often let your inner voice get the better of you.
“You should know better than to try and lie to someone who studies behaviour.” She sassed as you rolled your own eyes, salty that she could always see right through you. “Is something wrong Y/N?Have I done something?” She asked, quickly turning serious again as you sighed, instantly feeling guilty for making her think she’d upset you.
“Nothing is wrong Em, and you haven’t done anything.” You reassured, taking her hands across the table. “I promise.” You nodded, watching as she let out a breath, nodding along with you. “I was just having a me moment, that’s all.” You shrugged, giving her hands a squeeze to drive home that you were okay.
“Did you want to talk about anything?” She asked, her thumb softly brushing over your knuckles as she stared at you, only wanting to help if she could. She knew you weren’t always super friendly with yourself and never wanted you to be alone when you didn’t have to be. You wanted to talk to her, but you weren’t really sure what to say. Maybe you could’ve just been imagining the looks from Aaron, or maybe you misunderstood his coldness? Could her boss really hate you that much?
“I think Aaron hates me.” You mumbled, immediately feeling the burning of his stare on you again the second his name left your mouth. A wave shivers tingled down your spine as you quickly spun around to search for his familiar face. Did you just conjure him up?!
“Hotch?” Emily questioned, drawing your attention back to your table as she raised an eyebrow. “You think Hotch hates you?” She quizzed, making you feel like a bit of an idiot as you nodded, the question sounding ridiculous when said out loud. “Why would Hotch hate you?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t think you death stare someone you like.” You snapped back, your voice now hushed in case he somehow was listening. You wouldn’t put it past the man to spy on you if he hated you as much as you thought he did.
“Death stare?” She snorted back a laugh, shaking her head as you raised your own brow. “Baby that’s just Hotch’s face!” She chuckled. “I think I’ve seen him smile once the whole time I’ve known him!” She exclaimed as you sighed, not buying it. He may be stern and uptight most of the time, but he wasn’t just frowning at you. You could FEEL the hatred radiating from him.
“It wasn’t just him looking at me Em. He was GLARING.” You frowned yourself with a frustrated huff. Part of you wanted to confront him, to just ask why the fuck he was trying to bore into your soul with his eyes, but you knew you couldn’t. That would make things awkward at work for Emily and you didn’t want that. It wasn’t fair on her for you to start World War lll with her boss (and her ex!). “Maybe…maybe I shouldn’t come to work things with you anymore.” You said quietly, trying to ignore the way your heart clenched as you saw her face drop. You didn’t want to hurt her, and you didn’t want to give up some of what little time you actually had together, but you also hated feeling like you weren’t welcome. You’d rather spend the night at home alone than feel like you were walking on eggshells.
“I can talk to him.” Emily blurted out suddenly. “I’ll talk to him.” She nodded, looking overly determined as you let out yet another sigh.
“Em-“
“I’ll talk to him.” She repeated, her eyes locking onto yours as she nodded again. “Whatever his problem is, he’ll just have to get over it.” She stated firmly, crossing her arms over her chest.
“You don’t have to do that.” You shook your head, not wanting her to start something over nothing. You just wouldn’t come out when Aaron was around. It was fine.
“Y/N, we hardly get any time together as it is! We shouldn’t have to miss out on what we do get because of him.” She said seriously, the annoyance thick in her voice. You felt guilty. You barely knew Aaron. Maybe Emily was right and he was just like that with everyone? Maybe you were overreacting? You didn’t mean for all of this to get so out of hand. You didn’t want things to get messy because of you. They were exes, it would be awkward.
“Let me talk to him.” You spoke up confidently, deciding that it would probably be best if you took the lead with this rather than letting Emily go off on her own. You loved her to pieces, but you couldn’t trust her to keep her cool after a few glasses of wine.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” She asked, not seeming convinced as she took her bottom lip between her teeth.
“It’s a better idea than sending you to talk to him.” You replied, your sass taking her by surprise as she scoffed back a chuckle. “I’ll just ask him if I’ve done anything to upset him.” You shrugged, trying to psych yourself up for a conversation you almost instantly regretted offering to have as you notice your palms starting to sweat.
“I can talk to him Y/N.” Emily offered, taking your hand in hers before giving it a squeeze. “I promise I’ll go easy on him. Just this once.” She joked with a smirk as you rolled your eyes.
“I think it’ll be better if I talk to him.” You nodded as she squeezed your hand again. “Break the ice a bit, ya know.” You mumbled as she nodded back, happy to let you do your thing. “Okay. Wish me luck!” You smiled nervously as you took your hand back, standing from your seat to smooth out your dress.
“You’re doing this now?” Emily quizzed as she did the same, suddenly feeling the nerves herself. “I thought you’d at least wait until you’re sober.”
“If I don’t do it now, I’ll never do it.” You sighed before taking a deep breath. You could do this. He’s one man. He’s not so scary. “I’ll come and find you when I’m done.” You flashed her a small smile as you turned to leave, Emily quick to take your hand though before you could disappear into the crowd.
“I love you.” She said seriously, pulling you back towards her. “Okay? Whatever happens, whatever he has to say, I love you.” She smiled softly, sending your heart into a flutter as you noticed the light blush flushing her cheeks.
“I know.” You smiled back as you leaned in closer, your lips ghosting over hers. “I love you too.”