pov- imagines

COMFORT- A. HOTCHNER

pairings: aaron hotchner x readerwarnings: mention of a gun, panicabout: reader and aaron's relationship after haley
a/n: this is short (what is wrong with me lately smh), and i have a different ending written down but i cut it because i decided i was just fluffing it; PERSONAL FAVORITE! (i rlly like this one idk)

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after haley was murdered, aaron had been paranoid. it was in small ways that no one could tell unless they were paying attention- and unluckily for him, he was surrounded by people who were paid to pay attention each day.

it was the way he held your waist every time he was walking with you, holding you closer, and always making sure you had some sort of skin on skin contact to make sure you were there.

it was also the way he slept, holding you flush against his chest and not letting go the entire night.

it was how he hesitated in letting you go alone with suspects, and how he always searched for you first to make sure you were okay, hugging you not only for comfort, but to make sure there wasn't a scratch on you.

it was that and more, all that most of everyone on the team had caught on to- especially you, who lived with him and loved him.

you hadn't talked to him about it, or even really acknowledged it, only searching for and squeezing his hand to soothe his worries more often, giving him soft, secret kisses on the cheek and lips to comfort him, and whispering that you were okay to him, or giving him a soft smile to reassure him.

it had gotten better with time, and his toned arms gradually loosened their hold on your waist while you slept.

it had been a tough case with a bad ending, and all both you and aaron wanted was to be with each other and sleep. which was what you did the moment you got home.

at two a.m, however, you awoke, sliding out of bed and aaron's arms to prepare ramen and tea because you were hungry- the exhaustion of the day not allowing you to eat before going to bed.

it was a bad idea, eating ramen so early in the morning, but you didn't care because you were hungry and craving the simple food. you stirred the water in, feeling thankful jack wasn't home to see this and out you as a bad influence.

you hadn't finished yet when aaron woke up, his tired eyes snapping open the moment he realized you weren't there, crisp, cool sheets in place of your warm body.

his hands frantically patted the space next to him, breathing speeding up while he sat up and looked for you.

"y/n? where are you?" his rough voice went unheard by you, too invested in making sure the boiling water didn't burn your hands as you poured it into your ramen. aaron reached and grabbed for the gun on his nightstand, trying to calm his shaking hands as he tried to find you, expecting the worst.

you saw him first, eyes widening when you noticed the pointed gun.

"aaron?" you asked gently, and he flinched at your gentle voice, before freezing for a second, dropping his gun and running over to you, wrapping you in a tight bear hug.

"aaron...?" you mumbled, and he pulled away to look at you, eyes searching for injuries.

"i'm okay- what's wrong?"

"i woke up, and you weren't there, and you weren't answering, so i just guessed-"

"i'm okay," you repeated, and he sighed, bringing you into his embrace again.

"i thought it happened again," he muttered into your neck, and you kissed his shoulder, shaking your head gently.

"he's dead; foyet is gone, it's never going to happen again, i promise."

you knew your words did little to soothe him, so you hugged him tighter, kissing his cheek again and again.

three minutes later, he spoke. "please don't leave me," his voice took you by surprise, you had never heard him so quiet, so vulnerable, and you squeezed your eyes shut at that, squeezing him. "never, okay? you will never have to go through that again," you whispered, pulling away to kiss him on the lips, "i love you."

"i love you too," he murmured, and you smiled, pulling away for a second to look at him and kiss his lips.

another few minutes passed before you kissed his nose, "d'ya wanna eat ramen with me?" you murmured, and he laughed, nuzzling his nose against the crook of your neck.

he responded after a few seconds, "yes."

and that is the reason you both were falling asleep in the jet (not the reason morgan thought).