RED

dresses, tequila shots, and teasing

i think people are actually starting to read this! i really hope everyone enjoys!!

word count: 2062

Penelope was practically bouncing off the walls of Emily's apartment with excitement. Clad in a vibrant, retro-style dress with a flared skirt that accentuated her curves, Penelope's outfit was a riot of colors, with splashes of red, pink, and yellow. Her hair was styled in playful curls, and her signature cat-eye glasses added the final touch to her ensemble. Drink in hand, she ran up to the bathroom door, her red heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor.

"Emily Elizabeth Prentiss, I swear to God, I will break down this door if you're not out here in the next five seconds!" JJ laughed as Penelope knocked on the door, her enthusiasm infectious as she tried to draw Emily out.

"I don't know, Pen! This feels a bit... much," Emily called out from behind the door, her voice tinged with hesitation. "I don't think I've worn something this tight since college."

"Trust me, it's not!" Penelope replied, her voice dripping with anticipation.

With a deep breath, Emily opened the door. She was dressed in a sleek, tight black dress that fell just past mid-thigh. The dress hugged her figure perfectly, with dark, fitted sleeves that accentuated her slender arms and led to a square neckline that dipped just low enough to be daring. She had paired it with black suede heels that added a few inches to her height, and her hair was styled in loose, slightly curled waves that framed her face. Emily Prentiss looked stunning.

Penelope let out an appreciative laugh. "You and I had very different college experiences if that's what you wore back then."

JJ's eyes widened as she took in Emily's outfit. She was wearing a chic, deep blue dress that cinched at the waist and flared out at the hips, the hemline stopping just above the knee. The dress had a subtle shimmer to it, catching the light whenever she moved, and she paired it with nude pumps that elongated her legs. Her blonde hair was styled in loose waves, cascading down her back. "Holy shit, you look amazing!" JJ exclaimed as she passed Emily a drink. "If someone doesn't take you home tonight, I might!"

Laughing, Emily walked over and sat down on her couch, taking a sip of her drink. "I'll save you a dance, Jayge."

Just then, Penelope's phone buzzed. A text from Derek lit up the screen: We're all downstairs, baby girl. Y'all ready to get dancing?

"Oh! They're here!" Penelope jumped up, the tulle on her skirt flying everywhere. "Time to go!"

Grabbing their purses, the three women headed to the elevator. As the doors opened, Emily took a deep breath, a conversation she had with Hotch earlier that day flashing through her mind.

Emily had popped into Hotch's office, file in hand, though she didn't actually have anything to give him. She just needed a reason to go upstairs. Closing the door behind her, she walked in and sat across from his desk.

"You know," she started, her voice playful but with an undercurrent of seriousness, "I've been thinking. What if we used this little night out as a cover for us? Maybe start showing a little something to the team, start teasing the idea."

Hotch looked up from his paperwork, shock and a little bit of pride crossing his face. "Are you sure? I think it's a great idea, but I don't want to push you."

She paused for a moment, a smile gracing her lips. He was sitting at his desk, his tie slightly loosened and his hair tousled, likely from running his fingers through it while working. The sight made her heart skip a beat—God, he was hot.

He smiled back, his eyes softening the longer he looked at her. "I'm sure," Emily nodded. "I don't want to hide this more than we have to. Besides, it's getting harder and harder to pretend I'm not staring at you during the day."