Work Text:
He's studying for an exam in the kitchen of their apartment when he hears Haley's keys in the door. Aaron looks up from his notebook as a smile appears on his lips, only momentarily when he sees the sad expression drawn on his wife's lips, dropping her purse in the entryway as the apron sits across her slated shoulders. Haley's holding a plastic bag to her chest, right where her heart was located as she blinked at him, not saying anything as she broke down in a mountain of tears.
"Haley?" Aaron moved his work aside and doesn't bother pushing his chair in, already by her side as her knees hit the rug in their living room, something she had picked out. Apparently he had terrible taste and no tongue for interior decorating. "What's wrong?" His hand cupped her check, catching the tears before they hit the floor. Her eyes were bloodshot and stained red from previous tears. He's examining every inch of her body as his chest tightens, worried something happened at work or on the drive over. "Haley, you're okay. I'm right here." As if he's trying to break through her walls, he says, "It's Aaron, Haley. Your husband."
The smallest signs of a smile peek through as she buries her head against his chest, mushed against his bicep as she wept, so quiet he can barely hear her say, "I know who you are, Aaron."
"Hmm?" He hums as his hands find her hair, gently pulling her long blonde locks out of her work uniform. Haley had picked up a job last summer as she struggled to find an internship. It was only supposed to last a few months, working at a coffee shop wasn't long term. She hates herself every morning she wakes and has to get dressed. 14 months at the same dead-end job as her husband flew through law school, wise behind his years: way too good for her. "I'm not sure what you said, sweetheart."
Haley pulls away, mascara streaming down her fair cheeks as he holds a tight expression. He's always been good at being strong. Haley's thankful for that, she never has to be the rational one in the relationship. He gently moved a strand of hair behind her ear as she stared at him, waiting for her to say something, he grins, asking. "Are you okay? Did that jackass ask for your number again?"
Haley nods slowly. She doesn't bother holding his gaze, she knows what she's going to say before it happens. "Did you report it?" Aaron asks and she shakes her head. Not saying anything else as he holds her tighter. "Honey. You have to speak up, that's the only way he'll stop."
"I have a wedding ring." Haley rolls her eyes as he holds her, "Shouldn't that be enough?"
"Want me to talk to him?" Aaron asked and for the first time that evening, he gets a laugh out of his better half, voice deep with an ember that might consume his soul if he gave it the time of day. Haley sinks in closer as he rubs her back mindlessly. "Hales, I'm serious. I can't stand seeing you this upset. I don't mind screaming at someone for flirting with my wife." She laughed again as the tears slowed down. "I'm not kidding, Haley."
"Aaron." She choked on her words as he held her. "I know."
"Is he still working?" Aaron asked as Haley shrugged and he breaks their embrace, standing tall as she remained sitting, trying to grab his hand as he walked away, clearly looking for his car keys.
"What are you doing?" He's grabbing his jacket as her pupils widened, following behind him as she grabbed his shoulder, seeing his face as he turned back in anger. "Aaron?"
"I'm going to make him stop." Haley shivers, raising a brow as he kissed her. "He won't hurt you again."
"Aaron."
"Do you want to come?"
Haley swallows, only agreeing so he wouldn't kill the guy. She didn't have the time or money to bail him out of jail. "Just go easy on him." Aaron picks up her hand as he locks the door, not responding to that as he kissed the top of her hair. He's never acted like this before. She kind of likes it.
The bell rings above their heads as Aaron holds her hand, the woman working the register waves up at Haley as she eyes Aaron. He lived in her stories, her loving husband that they never saw. Haley was anxious to show photos of him, just happy to have him. "Do you want anything, honey?" Aaron steps inside as he looks up at the menu, having it memorized now after visiting her at work so many times. Her friend’s jaws drop when they realize the hot tall regular better known as Erin was her husband.
Haley shook her head, she felt nauseous as her colleagues watched her every move, how her hand was stuck on his bicep. Aaron smiled, taking a small step towards the register as he whispered, "Which one is he?"
Haley clams up, her breathing becomes irregular as John moves to the front of the register, smiling up at her as Aaron looked over at her. "You're okay." He reassured, "I'm right here, Hales. I love you."
"Hotchner!" John draws, a southern accent that made every hair on her body stick up. Aaron's head snaps out of instinct, and then he realizes he's talking to Haley. "Did you miss me that much? Had to come back and steal another kiss?"
Haley pales and someone beside him elbows John in an attempt to make him stop. "I have to go use the bathroom." Haley whispers under her breath as Aaron focused his attention onto the twenty-something behind the counter. "I'll be right back, Aaron." She slips away before he can protest, taking his eyes off John and then back to her, following her every move until she safely makes it to the bathroom.
"What's your name?" Aaron asked, stepping aside as someone tried to order. John turns pale, he starts running out of excuses as Aaron stared at him. "I don't have all day. I asked for your name."
John actually laughs at that. Aaron tensed his entire body, nothing about this was funny to him. "Why do you need my name?"
"You're harassing my wife. I want to know your name before I beat the shit out of you."
"Did you just threaten me?" John asked, turning his back as he tried to find his boss. "That's a federal offense."
Aaron chuckles, it sounded so ridiculous coming from someone like him. "No, it's not, John."
"I don't even know who your wife is!" He backtracks. Suddenly scared that Aaron knew how to read, squinting at his name tag. "I — I didn't do anything, sir."
"Haley." Aaron says, thundering out his syllables, rash with anger. "Haley Hotchner. She came home crying today after her shift because you won't stop asking her out even though you know she's married."
John's quiet, a tell-tale sign that he's in the wrong as Aaron inched closer, leaning over the counter to really look at him, grabbing him by the collar as Haley re-merged. "If you even look at her again. I will hurt you." John pants, unable to breath, "Do you understand?"
"Aaron!" Haley comes closer, her hands find his neck as her husband tightened his grip.
Shouting as he says, "I said do you understand?"
John whimpers as he nodded. "Yes — yes, sir." Aaron lets him go, almost laughs as his back hits the ground and he sighs, turning to his wife, distraught and embrassed as her boss walks out.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"He was going to hurt you." Unclear, and then, gaining confidence. "He did hurt you. I can see it on your face."
"I can take it." Haley murmurs as John stands, trying to explain his side of his story to their manager. She won't hear him out. Aaron gently kissed Haley's cheek as she began to cry. "I just want to go home, Aaron."
He holds her waist steady as she waves goodbye to her friends, tears streaming down her cheeks as he holds the door open for her. "I love you." Haley said. "Thank you… for everything."
"Anytime."
"You scared the shit out of him." The smallest sign of a smile comes out as they begin walking to the car.
"Good." Aaron doesn't feel as triumphant as he hoped. "I won't let anyone hurt you, Haley. Ever." And for a while, he means it, until he ends up being the one to hurt her.