rlnrz🍓

Nine months of training had seeped into your bones and left something behind. Maybe it had to do with your training partner during this period. Aaron Hotcher was new to the bureau, older than the rest of your class. He had spent a decent amount of years as a prosecutor before deciding he would rather catch the evil and put an end to it than put it behind bars. Haley was sick of waiting to move forward with their life and didn’t want to wait around for him to start his career over when they still hadn’t gotten married. They broke up, leaving Aaron single for the first time since he was in high school. 

You had just graduated from Georgetown and went directly into the academy after graduating. You had partnered up with Aaron early on in training, the two of you had a long nine months ahead of you. Aaron had spent the last eight years with the same person, and you were so different from her. It didn’t take long for the lines to blur between the two of you, breaking about a half dozen bureau rules. 

“Agent Y/Ln.” 

“Chief Straus.” You greet, shaking her hand. She leads you to the elevator, giving you your access badge to have credentials to the building. 

“We’re lucky to have secured you with our team. I think we will benefit from having your input and hard work.” 

“Thank you, ma’am.” You nod. 

The doors open and you follow her lead again as she walks out to the open lobby. She points through a set of glass doors. 

“The conference room is just inside. I believe you already know SAC Aaron Hotchner.” 

“Yes, ma’am.” You nod yet again. 

“Wonderful.” Her lips purse, “I hope that confirms your hard work with the bureau won't be manipulated by how he runs his teams.” 

You still at her words, not expecting them one bit. You may have your own feelings about Aaron as a person, but you have never doubted his work ethic and his care for helping people. 

“I’m not sure I follow.” You stand a little taller, watching her eyes scan over you. 

“Aaron Hotchner is a very stubborn man who tends to go rogue.”

Oh, she really doesn’t know you or your file if she thinks he tends to go rogue.

“I think the team will benefit from your input.” She gestures to the doors again, “I’ll be in touch to check in on your transition with this team.” 

She nods once stiffly and turns back for the elevator and you push open the doors. The conference room is at the top of a short set of stairs. You knock lightly before letting yourself in, all eyes snapping over to you. David Rossi doesn’t hesitate, jumping up from his seat. 

“Well, I’ll be damned.” His face lighting up. 

It wasn’t professional, and it caught almost everyone else off guard. There weren’t many people they had seen Rossi jump up to hug. 

You let out a soft laugh, returning the hug, “Rossi.” 

“Look at you!” He pulls back enough to take you in, “Your name has been floating around for years, I was waiting for you to finally be reunited with us!” 

Hotch goes very still in his spot at the far end of the table.

Morgan’s brows had fully shot up, “Who are we hugging?”

Rossi turns back toward the table where the rest of the team is waiting and waves them off. 

“Kid here was one of the best to come out of Quantico.” 

Rossi’s eyes flicker to Aaron, just briefly. Then he looks back at you. He lets out a delighted chuckle and gestures between the two of you. 

“This is going to be interesting.” 

Your expression shifts while still looking at him, a slight warning. You should know better than to expect David Rossi to bite his tongue. 

“What? What is it?” Emily leans forward immediately. 

Rossi looks downright pleased with himself. You know what he’s about to say before he can even open his mouth. There’s a certain twinkle in his eye that screams mischief and payback.

“Oh no.” You mutter under your breath, briefly focusing down on your shoes. 

“David.” Aaron warns, seemingly picking up on the same exact thing. You finally look over at him, taking him in for the first time. You can tell he’s aged, but it’s done him well. 

“She used to get written up for sneaking off with Aaron here all the time.” He goes on, casual as ever. 

The entire table leans in. You shift your weight back, standing uncomfortably in front of them. 

“Jesus Rossi, that’s quite the ice breaker. Thanks.” You roll your eyes. 

“No way!” Morgan barks a laugh, repeating it over with ‘Not Hotch’. 

“Wait, you’re the one between Haley?” Garcia asks bluntly with an eager smile. 

Between Haley. You couldn’t have said it better yourself.  

You clear your throat, “Yeah, that would be me, I guess.” 

The team was aware of the one and only relationship he had other than his high school sweetheart, that he had eventually married. For the longest time it seemed impossible to imagine him in a relationship with someone other than Haley, but two years ago they had gotten a divorce. That changed things. That changed Hotch. Now seeing you standing in front of them, they could see why he fell.

You make your way around the table, shaking hands and officially introducing yourself. 

Garcia’s smile grows impossibly wider, “This is incredible.” 

You look back at Aaron and he looks like he wants the ground to open up and swallow him whole. 

Morgan points at Hotch, “When you and Haley broke up, you said there was one other girl.” 

Now Aaron looks like he wants the entire building to come down with him. 

“Three different SACs requested me, and this is what I’m reduced to.” You shake your head. 

“Yeah, for the record,” Emily cuts in, “her file is terrifying. She once talked down an armed unsub for forty-three minutes without backup.” 

“Thank you.” You smile proudly.

“Sorry, sorry.” He holds up his hands in defence, “We just have known him for a long time. For a while you seemed like a myth, kind of a legend around here.” 

Hotch clears his throat, “That’s enough.” 

It doesn’t even remotely stop them. You can see it on their faces, everyone’s minds running a mile a minute. 

“Everyone out.” 

The team scrambles, still laughing and throwing looks over their shoulders. You take one of the newly open seats, listening to the door click shut behind them. He doesn’t look at you right away. You lean back in your chair casually, exhaling slowly. 

“Well, that went worse than expected.” 

His head snaps toward you. 

“Worse?”

You nod, “Yeah, I didn’t exactly expect Rossi to bring up our history so blatantly. Now they’re going to want the whole play by play-”

“Y/n.” He warns. 

That had earned you the sharp warning look that was annoyingly familiar. 

“I expect professionalism.” 

“You’ll get it.” You reply, your typical teasing tone gone, “I didn’t come back here to derail anything, I’ve worked too hard to risk anything. I’m here because I was requested to be.”

A beat. 

“By Strauss.” He states. 

“Yes.” You nod easily. 

He studied you for a long moment. You think a full minute passes before he gives you a controlled nod. 

“We have a case.” 

You stand, smoothing out your jacket, “Good,” 

He stands suddenly to lead you out, but you pass him. 

“I’m sure I can find my desk. Also, next time you’re reliving your glory days you could at least have the decency of giving your ‘frivolity’ a name.” 

You walk straight out to the bullpen, pretending to be normal for all the trained eyes on you. Morgan was waiting, of course he was. 

“This one is open.” He points to the one across from him. 

He’s already grinning, “So, academy misconduct, huh?”

You meet his gaze briefly before seeing your bag down on the desk and sitting down. 

“Allegedly.” 

Prentiss laughs and Rossi leans back in his chair from his office. Satisfied with the chaos he created, he knows he’ll be hearing about it from Aaron later. Aaron was watching from the doorway of the conference room before making sharp strides back to his office, pausing once before going in. 

“Wheels up in thirty.” 

Morgan jumps up grabbing his go bag from under his desk, the room snapping into motion. 

“Hope your bag is packed, Y/Ln.” Emily calls, grabbing her bag as well. 

“Always.”

The engines cut through the morning sky as case files were passed out. 

“Miami PD flagged three victims in the last ten days,” JJ begins, clicking through pictures on the laptop sitting on the table, “All female, late twenties to early thirties, found in upscale neighborhoods.” 

“Cause of death?” Morgan asks. 

“Stragulation.” JJ answers, “Minimal signs of struggle.” 

Reid leans forward to scan for details, “That suggests a controlled environment. Either the unsub gains trust quickly or uses surprise and restraint.” 

“Or both.” You add, “He could be ambushing them in a place where he has the power.”

Aaron doesn’t even look up from the file in his hands. 

“Are the victims connected?” He asks.

“No obvious ties, but Garcia is already diving deeper. Different professions and different neighborhoods.” 

You shake your head, “It’s not random.” 

That got attention. 

Reid turns to look at you, “You’re sure?”

“The presentation is too consistent. Location staging is intentional, he wants them found on his own timeline.” 

Aaron finally picks up his head to look at you. He has the same trusting look in his eyes that he did back in school, never doubting you or questioning your skill. 

“The cooling off period is shortening,” He seamlessly continues off of you, “he’s escalating.” 

You nod, “Which means we’re coming in mid-cycle.” 

Rossi leans back in his seat and has to hide his smile with his hand while he takes it all in. 

“Well,” he says it mostly to himself but everyone hears him, “that hasn’t changed. 

Emily glances over at him, “What hasn’t?”

Rossi lazily gestures between you and Aaron and Morgan immediately smirks. 

“You mean the part where they talk like they’ve already had the conversation?”

Rossi smirks, “That’s exactly what I mean. 

Aaron ignores them entirely. 

“Geographic profile?” He looks to Reid, shifting focus. 

Reid picks up instantly, “Given the distribution of the dump sites-”

“He’s local.” You cut in. 

Reid nods quickly with a surprised smile growing faintly, “Y-yes. That aligns. Likely comfortable moving through multiple neighborhoods without drawing attention.” 

“Professional?” JJ asks, already taking notes and looking around to everyone. 

“Or someone who blends in well.” You offer, “The service industry provides property access without being noticed.” 

Hotch nods, “We’ll coordinate with local PD and cross reference employees with access to all three areas.” 

Morgan leans back against the couch, he tucks his arms behind his head, “Man… you guys are making this look easy.”

You don’t miss a beat, “It’s not.” 

“It’s not.” Aaron echoes at the same exact time. 

You look up, that you will give the team because it was weird. You and Aaron worked well together, there was no denying that, but it wasn’t quite like this. Rossi can’t help the laugh he lets escape after a few seconds of silence. 

The jet dips lower and the Miami skyline is stretching out beneath you. The team stands to gather their things after landing. You get off quickly, Morgan close at your side. 

“So this whole finishing each other’s sentences thing-”

“We don’t do that.” You interrupt and raise a brow. 

He holds up a finger and waggles it to show his disbelief. 

“Nuh uh, you just did.”

You roll your eyes and keep walking, very aware of the rest of the team walking just behind you now. JJ is checking her phone.

“Local PD is expecting us.” 

“Good.” Aaron nods, “Morgan and Prentiss, canvass the first victim’s neighborhood. JJ and Reid take the second victim’s neighborhood. Rossi and Y/LN are with me.” 

Morgan’s mouth twitches, “Of course she is.”

You sling your bag over your shoulder and carry on for the waiting SUVs. 

“Try to keep up.” You call over your shoulder, unphased. 

Morgan laughs, “Oh, I like her.” 

Rossi stops next to him, “I missed her.” 

-

Miami Metro was buzzing when you guys got there after going to the most recent scene. Everyone else had already returned from their neighborhoods. Hotch insisted on picking up a few pizzas on the way back so they could all stay at the station to work the case. 

“He’s organized,” Aaron says firmly, “Controlled. Methodical.” 

He scans the crime scene boards in front of him detailing each victim. You cross your arms over your chest, already feeling the challenge pulling at your throat. 

“Organized offenses can still be impulsive.” 

His eyes narrow on you, “He planned all the dumpsites.” 

“And escalated anyway.” 

“Those aren’t mutually exclusive.” 

Morgan is standing at the other end of the table and leans in close to whisper to Emily. You and Aaron are so focused on combating what the other has to say, neither of you hear the conversation happening on the other side of the conference room. 

“I’m beginning to see why this didn’t work out.” He chuckles and Emily just elbows him. 

Rossi leans in, having caught the comment. 

“This….” He chuckles, shaking his head, “is exactly how they used to work.” 

Reid frowns, “They disagree constantly.” 

“Mhm,” Rossi nods, “and yet their conclusions are largely still aligned.” 

Aaron has turned back to face the board, no longer wanting to face your proud smile that he knows could do this all night long.

Ten years ago.

You and Hotch were friends first in the academy. Being a few years older than everyone gave Aaron the maturity not to be intimidated by the fact that you were a woman and better than the rest of them. 

Three months into the academy training, everyone knew that you and Aaron Hotchner were a force to be reckoned with. Officially, the two of you were simply high performing partners who were highly competitive. Unofficially? The two of you were attached at the hip, and falling harder every day. 

Aaron didn’t think it was possible for him to fall for someone other than Haley. She had given him an ultimatum, it came down to the academy or their future. He moved to Quantico without her. He would never say it outloud, but it was freeing to be single for the first time in his adult life. He was about to turn thirty, and being able to explore getting to know someone new was totally foreign to him. It didn’t take long for you to be on his radar, a sharp tongue you weren’t afraid to use against classmates. You were one of the only women in the entire class, so he made his support for you clear and the two of you turned it into a partnership. It didn’t take long to evolve into more than that...

Rain pounds against the windows while the room full of trainees work through a behavioral analysis report. Everyone in the room is working in silence, David Rossi at the front of the room watching over it closely. 

Aaron glances over from his work to you, you catch it instantly. 

“There it is.” You smirk, but continue writing without pause. 

“What?” He quietly voices, leaning in closer to you. 

“The smile you’re pretending isn’t there.” 

You look up now, seeing your boyfriend’s face was closer than you had expected. The corners of his mouth curling up, barely. 

“I wasn’t.” 

“Liar.” You bite your bottom lip. 

Across the room, Rossi watches the exchange and rolls his eyes. It wasn’t from the relationship itself, but the fact that the two of you were unbearable now. He’d seen academy relationships before, and he knew that most of them burned out within a couple weeks due to the stress. Somehow, this had made the two of you sharper. 

Rossi claps his hands once to gain the room's attention, “Alright, listen up. Everyone needs to turn in their analysis tomorrow, and if I catch anyone violating academy conduct again-”

You mutter under your breath, “So, specifically us.”

Aaron rubs a hand over his mouth. 

Rossi points at you immediately, “Especially you.” 

You hold up your hands in defence but the smirk tells everyone this isn’t a real denial, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

Rossi’s brows raise. 

“Scouts honor.” You salute and you can practically feel Aaron’s entire body tense beside you. 

“The two of you were caught in the gym last week.” Rossi leans back on his desk, looking forward to the rest of the classroom but mainly you and Aaron. 

“We were training.” 

“I think you know that kind of training is not in our curriculum.” 

You can feel the heat behind the blush growing on your cheeks. Aaron’s ears go completely red. 

“Hotchner,” Rossi turns his focus to him, “You’re supposed to be the responsible one.” 

You snort so loud you nearly choke and Aaron shoots you a look. 

“If only you knew-” you whisper. 

“Yes, sir.” Aaron cuts off loudly. 

The class is dismissed and the two of you decide to work in the library for a couple hours to finish up the analysis. It was mostly empty now, you and Aaron had managed to snag one of the study rooms to work in. He was reviewing case notes by the time you came back with two cups of vending machine coffee. 

“You know, normal people go to sleep when they finish their work.” You set down the cups. 

He takes the coffee without looking away from the file. 

“Normal people also fail qualification exams.” 

You let out a huff and plop yourself in his lap before he can complain. He still has the file in hand, but the other arm wraps around your back to secure you there. 

“Aaron,” You look directly in his eyes, “we have the top two scores in the class.” 

“That’s not the point.” 

You shift in his lap, letting your eyes drag over him. His sleeves are rolled up, giving you the delicious opportunity of seeing his forearms. His tie has been tugged loose at this point too. He looks exhausted, but still so painfully serious about everything. His eyes however are warm and linger on your lips, causing his own to lift slightly. 

He notices the change in your expression, “What?”

“You know, Haley was wrong about one thing.” 

The room shifts slightly at the mention of her, but he doesn’t tense or look too surprised. 

“What’s that?” 

You reach out a hand to run it back through his hair. 

“You do know how to have fun.” 

He huffs softly, “That’s debatable.” 

“No, I’m serious.” You turn impossibly closer to face him, “Most people only get this version of you. 

You gesture vaguely to his posture and professionalism he was known for. The walls he had designed himself, but for some reason never put up with you. 

“But I get this one.” You lean in and press a quick kiss to his lips. It tastes like bitter black coffee, but it’s so Aaron. His hand tightens along your waist, pulling you closer still. He pulls away after a few seconds, you steal one more peck. 

“You know what your problem is, Hotchner?” 

“I assume you’re going to tell me.” He smirks. 

“You think too much.” 

“That’s literally my job.” He argues. 

“You think too much about everything.” 

His hold on you was instinctive now, his hand settled securely around your waist. At this point in private it had become second nature. Like breathing. 

You tilt your head, “You’ve got that look again.” 

His gaze drops briefly to your mouth again. Caught. You smile immediately, 

“There you are.” 

You kiss him again without hesitation. Every stolen moment between the two of you was addictive. He kisses back immediately, finally setting down the file so he can have both hands on you. 

You grin against his mouth, “See? Better.” 

“You are such a distraction.”

“And yet you’re still fighting me for top of the class.”

He actually laughs softly, the kind of laugh almost no one got from him. You pull back enough to really look at him. 

“That’s one of my favorite things.” 

“What?” He questions. 

“That sound.” You smile, “Your laugh.” 

For a second he just looks at you, undone and exposed in a way he wasn’t sure he had ever been. His hand reaches for the back of your neck, pulling you back in. His kiss is greedy now, sitting up taller so he can truly devour you. Until the door swings open. 

You and Aaron both freeze, heads snapping to the door. Rossi is standing in the doorway, looking disappointed as ever. 

“Unbelievable.” 

You blink, “Okay, in fairness-”

“I don’t want fairness.” He holds up hands, and you slowly get up from Aaron’s lap. 

“We did finish our work-”

“Uhp!” He holds up a hand to cut you off, his stare turning to lock on Aaron. 

He straightens in his chair, clearing his throat, “Sir.” 

“You!” Rossi points at him, “are one of the most disciplined trainees I’ve ever taught.” 

Rossi spins his attention back to you. 

“And you-”

You swallow. 

“are a menace!” He finishes, tossing his hands up in the air before turning around and walking out of the room muttering to himself on the way out. 

Aaron looks over at you, still flustered but trying to recover the professionalism. 

You grin, “Worth it.” 

He stares at you for another second, before a tiny and reluctant smile appears again. 

“Come on.” He stands, packing up his stuff, “Let’s go before you get us both kicked from the program.” 

-