I See you, Y/N. (Emily Prentiss X Reader)

-67- the perfect dress

TW: Body Issues, Self-Doubt

Emily's POV

"Come on out now, Emily." JJ says with a smile in her voice and nudges the dark red curtain of the changing room so that it gently hits my legs.

I turn to the side one last time, smooth out a few invisible wrinkles from the dress, then pull the curtain aside with a sigh.

I take a few steps out of the changing room and look at Tara and JJ with an uncertain look.

When the two of them don't say anything, I turn to the mirror and tilt my head as I watch my reflection skeptically.

"I know, this isn't the right thing..." I murmur quietly and put my hands on my hips in dissatisfaction.

"Maybe because you're sinking into it?"
Tara teases me lovingly and tugs at the fabric that hangs loosely down my body.
I glance at her and then look at JJ, who just nods in agreement.
"I'm to old to wear figure-hugging clothes anymore...nobody wants to see that."
I mutter contritely and stare into the mirror again.
"Emily, that's not true." JJ contradicts me firmly and Tara reaches next to her and pulls out a dark green, long evening dress.

"At least try it." She suggests with an inviting smile and holds the dress out to me.
I examine it for a moment, the color reminds me of a forest in the fog, of rain-soaked moss.

I have to admit that it is a pretty dress.

I sigh deeply, then grab the dress and go back to the changing room, followed by the enthusiastic cheers of JJ and Tara.

I take off the dress that has covered my body so beautifully and take a quick look in the mirror, look at my body and try not to judge what I see.

But my eyes immediately jump to every spot that I have thought about a thousand times, wander over every wrinkle, every imperfection and trace every curve that my body throws.

For a moment I try to see myself through Y/N's eyes, try to understand what she sees when she calls me beautiful.
But I can't see it, this beauty that fascinates her so much seems to remain hidden from me and I wonder if it feels the same for Y/N when I contradict her own doubts.

I take the green dress from the coat hook, let the flowing fabric slide through my hands and slowly put it on.

"Could you help me with the zipper?"
I murmur and step out of the changing room without having even glanced in the mirror myself. 
With one hand I hold the dress closed at the back, with the other I hold the fabric in place over my cleavage.
I hear Tara quietly whistling her teeth, while JJ immediately rushes to me and closes the zipper with a fluid movement.
Then she steps back and when neither of them says anything, I raise my head and meet my own gaze in the mirror in front of me.

For a moment I am at a loss for words.

The dress fits like a glove without constricting me.
It emphasizes my cleavage that Y/N loves so much without looking cheap and falls in flowing folds from the waist down to the floor.

The dark green color changes in the light when I move and harmonizes surprisingly well with my gray hair, which I have only carelessly laid over one shoulder.