sometimes being a smart person had nothing to do with how much common sense you were using at a given moment. honestly hotch doesn’t know what he was expecting. that he’d hand emily the plate of cookies and she would just accept that they were going their SEPARATE ways? maybe he thought the team being there, waiting and watching, would be some kind of deterrent. it wasn’t. ❝just gonna grab my bag,❞ is offered over his shoulder, with maybe too much CASUAL in his tone. he can feel her a step behind him, eyes studying him -- looking for signs to DECODE. it’s rossi that asks if he’s not going to join them, so aaron has an excuse to focus his gaze on the other man, not letting it drift to the left until emily interjects, it’s over seven hours back to quantico? the answer he gives is perfunctory, matter-of-fact, and doesn’t answer her UNSPOKEN QUESTION. he can barely hear her soft oh as she turns away, dark eyes flicking up to meet his and still so aware of everyone around them. when she disappears around the side of the SUV he feels equal parts relieved and alone. rossi’s suggestion to take a few extra days only further strikes that chord, and then they’re pulling away. leaving him to find his way back in more ways than one. only, when he looks back up his chest tightens. emily was standing right there, revealed as the BLACK CURTAIN was pulled back. she didn’t leave. now she was looking at him with a tentative smile, her bag in hand, and the sight of her almost chokes him up. he’s forced to clear his throat before trying to speak, ❝emily...❞ a starter vesta didn’t ask for // @mindlaw
