Chapter 1
Present day, (late-season 7), year 2012
*Just a reminder, as I've mentioned before: We're In late Season 7, after Emily's return, both she and Hotch are under heavy pressure. Emily works hard to prove she's fully back, while Hotch takes on more tasks after Strauss's departure. They often stay late, navigating the emotional fallout from her faked death and undercover mission.*
As the clock nears midnight, Hotch heads out of his office, glancing down at Emily's desk as he passes. She's focused, scrolling through case files. Her concentration falters as he walks by, a faint tension in her gaze. Without a pause, Hotch remarks, "Burning the midnight oil again, Prentiss?" keeping his tone neutral yet warm.
Hotch's gaze flickers briefly as he takes in Emily's appearance, the red top against her skin, her raven curls cascading with a hint of effortless elegance. Her concentration on the papers seems unbreakable, but then she looks up, meeting his eyes for a brief moment longer than necessary, a guarded warmth in her eyes. He notes the exhaustion softened.
"Could say the same about you. Don't tell me the paperwork is winning." A flicker of amusement softens her expression, but beneath it is a weight she can't quite shake.
Hotch moves toward the coffee machine, inwardly aware of how often these late-night moments feel charged, even intimate, despite their restraint. He brushes the feeling aside, filling his cup in silence.
Just as he leaves the kitchen, walking towards his office, he hesitates, glancing back. "Emily, let me know if you ever need to step away. You've earned it." The words are strong, as if more than just a suggestion.
She nods, but the lingering eye contact, even from across the room, leaves them both wondering if they're hinting at something neither can fully acknowledge.
Emily shifts her focus back to her work, yet his presence lingers. His subtle attentiveness stirs something she thought she'd buried. 'He notices, he always notices.' But she can't risk him knowing just how much that means.
Recently she has been pushing herself harder, mainly to regain her place, but also because being back means he's here. She tamps down the thought, biting her lip as she refocuses, vowing to keep the emotions tightly bound.
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*This chapter was a really short one, but the next one will be longer. Enjoy!*
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Hotchniss - Bonds, Deals and Running
RomanceYoung hotchniss and then set in late-season 7. There will be a case their working on, the rest of the team will appear. Emily and Aaron share an unspoken connection. They met once before and while working together, they are bound by trauma, secre...
