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Spencer was every bit a bomb just waiting to explode.
Hotch turned the keys into the front door and let Spencer stalk into the house first, every gangly limb taught with anger.
The young agent tossed his satchel onto the couch and promptly disappeared into the kitchen, probably for his third cup of coffee since two o’clock earlier.
It was now 14:40 in the afternoon.
Hotch sighed. A forlorn sound, aching to offer his boyfriend some support.
The case had been tough.
Two kids lost their lives before the team could apprehend the UnSub and even after that, the deputy sheriff had made a monstrous scene in front of the reporters before they could fly home.
“I thought your boy toy was some kind of genius?” he spat. Hotch was finishing up his statement to the paramedics when the deputy’s rage exploded across the lot. Aaron turned in time to see the policeman stalk towards him. Rossi took a few steps towards Hotch too, but Aaron discreetly held up his palm.
The deputy’s face was lava red, The force of his collision into Aaron made the agent stumble back a bit, but only by one step.
“I thought that arrogant little twig had the answers!” he roared. Aaron stared back coldly into the man’s eyes. Everything around them had dropped into silence. This was a rare time in which Aaron could hear nothing but his own contained breathing. His fists tingled at his sides, longing for his brain to say ‘Fuck it!’ and have this arsehole fall to the ground in two seconds.
“Hotchner, you made it very clear to trust that baby’s judgement, and look what it got us? TWO DEAD KIDS! We’ll NEVER get that back!”
Finally, the deputy stepped back. He scoffed. A disbelieving smile swept across his face. “The youngest member of the BAU is nothing but a worthless sugar baby to you, isn’t he?”
‘God, give me strength,’ Hotch prayed against the clenching of his teeth. He could make out Rossi holding back Derek while JJ and Prentiss shielded Reid against the SUV.
“What do you have to say to that, Hotchner?” the deputy probed. He cocked his head, daring Aaron to bite the bait. Hotch took one long glare in the man’s direction, counted to ten, and then walked to the SUV without another word.
He’d email the sheriff anything that was needed to tie up the case, or have Garcia and JJ handle it. Spencer needed him and they needed to go home.
Once Aaron had changed into comfy clothes, he found Spencer sitting on the couch. His breathing was laboured and his shaking hand cradled his head. The coffee cup sat empty on the table.
Aaron sighed.
Without jostling Spencer too much, he sat close to his boyfriend, their bodies almost touching.
“Honey?” he murmured, “Whatever happ-”
“I’m okay, Hotch,” Spencer sniffed. His head suddenly shot up and he tucked his short waves behind his ear. Despite his words, Reid wouldn’t look at Hotch.
“It’s okay,” the younger man nodded, “It’s okay, it was just a comment. I know it isn’t the truth.”
Hotch shook his head. “Come on Spence, don’t do that,” he whispered. Aaron tried to meet Spencer’s eyes. “Don’t do that baby.”
“Don’t do what?” Reid bit back weakly. His voice was wavering now and Hotch wanted those tears to fall. Because Spencer needed that emotion out of his body.
“Don’t shut me out, sweetheart. Don’t pretend like you have to be brave, Spencer - it’s me.” Aaron paused. He tipped up Spencer’s chin with his fingers so those watery eyes could meet his own. Smiling gently, Hotch whispered, “It’s me, baby, it’s okay. You’re safe with me… You can let go.”
Spencer’s breath hitched. And his chest lurched with each deep inhale.
Hotch nodded. “It’s me, honey… You can let go,” he repeated.
The tears fell silently at first, like quiet rivers over Spencer’s face. Finally, with a pained, choked-off noise, Spencer collapsed into Aaron’s arms.
His vocal chords sounded close to tearing as he cried into Hotch’s neck. Reid clutched Aaron’s shirt, so scared that his boyfriend would disappear.
Aaron shushed him softly. The roughness of his hands grounded Spencer as Hotch rocked them both slightly on the couch.
“Please tell me I’m not worthless,” Spencer sobbed into his neck.
Hotch blinked back tears. He squeezed his arms tighter around the man he loved, wanting their bodies to merge, wanting their hearts to connect so that the young man could feel how much Aaron loved him.
“You’re not worthless,” he said firmly, his voice thick. “You’re worth more than the universe. And that’s how much I love you.”
Spencer’s body shook as he hugged Aaron in thanks.
“I really tried, Aaron,” Spencer whispered, “I really, really tried. I thought there would be a twenty minute gap - the pattern was there - it-”
“I know, I know, baby,” Aaron kissed Spencer’s hair. “It made sense; everything lined up with the previous crime scenes.” He sighed, kissing Spencer’s head again, “But there are still exceptions to the average statistic. We just didn’t see this one, that’s it.”
“I’m sorry, Hotch,” Spencer gasped as he tried to take control of his scattered breaths.
“I’m sorry too, sweetheart,” Hotch pulled back and cradled Spencer’s face. “You didn’t deserve that. You aren’t that, you hear me?”
Spencer nodded, biting his lip against more tears.
“You’re not a sugar baby, you’re not a twig, you’re not a boy toy -”
Spencer would have laughed at the comical expression of disgust on Hotch’s face as he spat out those insults.
“- you’re my love,” Aaron pressed his forehead against Reid’s and closed his eyes. “You’re everything that makes me want to be a better man. You’re so kind, Spencer, your mind is not even from this world, you’re fun and determined.”
Hotch opened his eyes and let a tear fall as he smiled at his boyfriend.
“I love you, Spencer Reid,” he whispered into their shared silence.
Sniffling, Spencer blushed an adorable strawberry pink.
“I love you too, Aaron Hotchner,” he murmured.
Hotch brought Spencer close to his chest again, clutching his back and carding his hand tenderly through Reid’s wavy hair.
“Let’s just relax in bed, huh?” Hotch proposed, “Tomorrow is another day. Let’s just be together.”
Hotch felt Spencer snort into his neck. “You only say that because holding me satisfies some dominant part of you.”
Hotch actually snorted. “I’m a simple man, sweetheart,” he chuckled. Spencer hummed as he drew back and placed a hand on Aaron’s cheek. “You’re a good man, Aaron,” he said softly.
Hotch’s eyes seemed to twinkle as he kissed Reid. A soft, deep reassurance of his love for the genius.
They walked up to their bedroom, swaying their joined hands like a lovesick teenage couple. Once under a cool blanket, Hotch brought Spencer against his heartbeat.
A few minutes passed in calm silence until the nagging little thought just wouldn’t come unstuck from Aaron’s mind.
“Spence?” Hotch asked quietly.
“Mhm, yeah?”
“You know I would never take advantage of you like that, right? You have all of my respect.”
Spencer looked up into Hotch’s frown and pressed his finger to Aaron’s forehead until it smoothed out. When a soft smile spread across the older man’s face, Spencer pecked him on the lips.
“I know, Hotch. Whatever that deputy said, I know it’s not true, but…” Reid sighed deeply, burying deeper against Aaron’s heart, “It still hurts, because… I always think the world has looked past seeing me that way.”
Hotch rubbed Spencer’s arms, pecking his forehead. “Is it okay for now that the team and your mom see you for who you are?”
Spencer smiled, a radiant, glowing expression which made Aaron’s heart flip.
“Yeah,” Spencer answered, “Who needs the world’s opinion when my own world is so much better.”
“Oh, Honey,” Aaron sighed lovingly. He kissed Reid like a drowned man. Until Spencer knew that he was Hotch’s whole world.
And from the way Spencer placed his palm over Aaron’s chest, it seemed like he knew. And with another kiss, he said it back.
Fin.