And If I Fall, Let Me Part II: After The Rain - A. Hotchner x OC & Jemily

Confessional

"He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee." Friedrich Nietzsche

The Rainbow Club, NYC

Jody Emerson hadn't been home. No, she was at a club. That much did her doorman disclose to Emily, the expression on his face a far cry from friendly. Passing the club with their cars, it became clear quickly that with their vests and weapons it would take too much discussion to get inside. By the time they would enter the club, Jody could be God knew where. So the police unit that was supposed to support them, had parked around the corner, together with the rental car of the FBI. Emily let out a sigh.

"You two should go in," Rossi said, nodding towards Emily and JJ. The brunette raised her eyebrow, already stashing her vest in the back of the van. That much she had figured, too.

"Oh I don't know, you make a convincing sugar daddy," she grinned, strapping her gun to her ankle.

"I might, but you two look like you would spend some nights with each other. Wine and everything," Rossi gave back dryly, and Emily almost tripped. With all the little comments lately, could he know how they spend their off time with each other? Even Morgan had picked up on it, giving her a wink whenever the older man said something like this.

"Right," Emily gave back weakly, looking away. Rossi only raised his brows in amusement.

"I think I'll stay out too. You two look a lot more like a couple by yourselves than with me," Reid added. Emily wisely avoided looking at JJ. That was no situation she was in any way prepared for. With anyone else, sure. But not with JJ.

"Open hair?" the blonde asked in Emily's direction. Humming, Emily pulled her own hair out of her bun and tousled it a little. She wiggled out of her shirt, left with a red top. If she had to go in, she might as well look good doing it.

"I'm ready."

She looked at JJ, in a black blouse with her blonde hair in open waves. Her mouth went dry. Fuck. "Yeah, me too."

They gave the unit, Rossi, and Reid one last nod and walked around the corner, both setting up easy smiles and swinging hips. Emily casually threw an arm around JJ. When the blonde leaned in, she tried her hardest not to stumble. Stay professional, Prentiss.

"Good thing it's so early, I'm freezing," JJ whispered into her ear. Chuckling lowly, Emily hummed. It was surprisingly easy to slip by the bouncer, and in no time, they stood inside the club. JJ took her hand and guided her to the bar. To any bystander, they looked like a real couple, or like a pair of really good friends.

Signaling for two drinks, the blonde slipped onto a bar stool. Pulling Emily close enough that it became increasingly harder to breathe, JJ leaned in to whisper something in her ears.

"If we stay like this, we can see both sides of the bar."

Emily made the mistake to look into her blue eyes, only inches from her own face. Abort mission, Prentiss, abort it now.

When JJ's eyes flickered down to her lips, it took every little bit of self-restraint not to lean down and find out how hers tasted. She swallowed thickly.

"Perfect," Emily rasped when she realized she still owed her an answer. JJ smiled. God, can you not?

The blonde took one of her hands in her, playing lazily with her fingers. Heaven and hell, that's what it must feel like.

When the bartender placed the two glasses in front of them, Emily took it and downed the liquid in seconds. A low chuckle was the answer from JJ. The burning sensation of alcohol helped to clean her head for a second.