Save Me | Aaron Hotchner x Female OC

Chapter 10 - Infection

Elena

I got in Aaron's car, and despite the fact it was at least three years old, it still looked, felt and smelt brand new. The soft upholstery of the vehicle was verging on luxurious, and the dash had not even a mark on it. Just like his apartment, his car was the picture of cleanliness and order.

I was still unhappy with him, though I wasn't fully sure why.

I put my snappiness down the fact that I was shaken from the exchange, and that I did not handle violence very well. Seeing Aaron march over and manhandle the guy made me feel...odd. I was grateful for the intervention, if I was being honest, but I hated feeling like I needed someone else to fight my battles. After everything that had happened to me in the past, I simply hated feeling weak – especially against a man.

I'd taken years of self-defence classes, my instructor had even told me I was one of the best - though perhaps he was just saying that. In any case, I'd hoped I'd never have to use what I'd learnt, but I'd sooner that than need someone to save me. I'd been helpless before, and I vowed never to be again.

One thing I hated with equal measure was the intense betrayal my body delivered when I saw Aaron slam the guy against the wall, AKA, I hated how attracted I was to him in that moment. I didn't need someone to fight my battles...but man did Aaron look good while doing it.

As my heightened emotions began to level out, guilt started to ensnare me. I'd been an asshole with him for no reason other than I was too stubborn to accept his help, and too confused by my attraction to him to see the situation clearly. It was so out of character for me to be moody with someone that my people-pleasing brain went in to overdrive trying to rectify the situation.

"I'm sorry," I muttered. "I shouldn't have been such an asshole, you were only trying to help." I didn't dare look at him, sure that it would add to my shaken state of mind.

"It's fine," he replied firmly. The conversation ended there.

God, I hated how happy he was to sit in silence. Did he not feel as awkward as I did? I tried again.

"I'm the kind of person who prefers to fight their own battles," I explained.

He cleared his throat and shifted gear, and I tried not to get distracted by the fact him driving was weirdly attractive to me. I realised that perhaps everything he did was attractive to me.

"I can see that," was his response. "I'm sorry for getting involved and assuming you were incapable – I'm sure you could have handled hit-man Harold by yourself, I just wanted to make sure he learnt a lesson in manners."

I chuckled. "Hit-man Harold?"

"Yeah, his jacket made him look like one of those mobster hit men."

I laughed as I realised that guy did indeed look like that. "All he was missing was a concrete block to tie me to."

He let out a low chuckle. "The concrete block thing is largely untrue."

"Huh...how disappointing."

"Why did he call you Daphne?" Aaron queried.

I groaned and let my head fall back on the headrest behind me. "He said I looked like Daphne from Scooby-Doo, you know, ginger hair, purple dress," I explained, gesturing to my outfit.

Aaron's eyes left the road for a brief moment in order to scan over me. I tensed under his observation of my body, but the moment was short-lived as he turned his focus back on the road.

"I suppose you do a bit," he replied.

The rest of the car journey was spent in silence, but fortunately some of the tension seemed to have lifted, and it was only a ten minute drive.