Work Text:
You’ve been in love with Emily Prentiss for as long as you can remember. You don’t know when exactly the feelings started but at this point, it felt like it’s always been there creeping in and wanting to claw its way out.
Maybe it was the first time you saw her, confident and determined, stepping into a room like she owned it. Or maybe it was the countless nights you spent together, poring over case files and talking about everything and nothing.
But as much as you love Emily, you've always known it was a losing game.
Emily is strong, intelligent, and beautiful. And she's kind. It's that kindness that drew you in, even as it made your heart ache. She sees the best in people, even when they can't see it themselves. And she never hesitates to stand up for what's right because who is she if not for the principles and values she held dear? Watching her in action is like watching a force of nature. She's breathtaking and unstoppable.
But there's something else. Something that makes your love for her even more painful. And it's the way she looks at JJ.
You've seen the way Emily's eyes light up when JJ walks into the room. It's a subtle thing, barely noticeable unless you're looking for it. And you are. You've been looking at it for years. It's in the way Emily's smile softens, the way her voice lowers when she talks to JJ, the way she’s laser focused on everything she says, the way she can't help but glance in JJ's direction, even when she's supposed to be concentrating on something else.
And JJ, god , JJ. She's everything Emily deserves. Strong, caring, brilliant. They've been through so much together, and their bond is unbreakable. No one can come between them. It's clear that Emily loves her, even if she hasn't admitted it to JJ - or herself - yet. You see the way they gravitate towards each other, the unspoken understanding between them. It hurts, but you can't help but admire it too. They're perfect together in a way that you and Emily could never be.
So, you watch. You watch as Emily falls deeper in love with JJ every day. You watch as they share some laughs, quiet moments, small touches that mean everything. You watch as JJ leans on Emily when things get tough, and Emily is always there to catch her. It's like a knife twisting in your heart, but you can't look away. You can't stop loving Emily, even though you know you should.
It's a quiet kind of agony, loving someone who will never love you back. But you've made your peace with it. You tell yourself that you don't need Emily to love you. You just want her to be happy. And if JJ is the one who can give her that, then you'll step aside. You'll smile and pretend that everything is fine, that you’re not breaking apart inside every time you see them together, that you’re not longing for Emily’s attention and love, that you’re not wishing to be JJ every single day.
Because that's what love is, isn't it? Wanting the best for someone, even if it means letting them go. Even if it means watching from the sidelines, heart in pieces, as they find happiness with someone else.
So, you'll keep working in the BAU, helping the team solve cases, being Emily’s colleague and friend, and pretending that your shattered heart isn't calling for her name. You'll keep loving Emily from afar, knowing that your love is a losing game.
Because no matter how hard you try to stop, you don’t know how else to be in this world if not always wishing for a future with her.