AARON HOTCHNER + HANDS ON A CHAIR | 2.01 “THE FISHER KING: PART 2“

Some Assembly Required

Fandom: Criminal Minds Pairings: Aaron Hotchner/Female Reader Word Count: 1,500 Tags: 18+, NSFW, Oral sex, Fingering, Unprotected sex, PWP Summary: When your very handy boyfriend Aaron helps put together your new office furniture, you repay his kindness the best way you know how. *Requested by @qtip-blog. Link to A03 or read below! You and Aaron have been dating for over a year, and the good times so heavily outweigh the bad it kind of blows your mind. Never before have you been in a relationship built on such mutual trust, respect, admiration—it makes you emotional to think about, he makes you emotional, all of his sweet words, his kind gestures, the ways he shows his love.

His favorite way to show he cares is to provide for you, whether it be a home-cooked meal (he’s not the best, but he’s trying,) or a book you’ve had your eye on but convinced yourself not to buy, or in this case, a new desk for your home office when the other one looked a little worse for wear.

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EMILY PRENTISS IN 2x11 “SEX, BIRTH, DEATH.”

+ Emily with a pen.

→ I NEVER GOT TO SAY “I’M SORRY”

Credits: prompt idea from @multiverse-mxdness​ cm discord writing challenge; “it wasn’t supposed to end like this.”

Sean Hotchner | set sometime during season 12 Wordcount: 2935

After straightening out some things in his life, Sean decides to visit his brother. Little does he know Aaron’s not around anymore.

Read on Archive of Our Own or below the cut!

[ i might just start to release some more sean stuff, because 1, the fandom needs more sean, and 2, i have some ideas ]

tags: @hotchnerxo​ 

He never really felt comfortable around buildings belonging to law enforcement. It was something about them that triggered his fight or flight response, mostly in the direction of flight. It was funny, really, how he had spent his entire life running from the entire thing that his brother became; an enforcer of the law. However, Sean Hotchner didn’t trigger his flight response as he made his way to Quantico, one goal set in his mind; he was going to spend his lunch with Aaron. He was going to apologize for not being the little brother Aaron needed, he was going to apologize for never being the uncle Jack needed.

Midday meant a hustle at Quantico, agents rushing in and out between meetings, and other missions. For a brief second, he felt his breath catch in his throat, his heart beating so quickly, and loudly, he could hear every beat thudding against his eardrums. He didn’t belong here – sure, wearing his suit and tie, he looked the part, but Sean knew he didn’t belong. At the end of the day, it was the other Hotchner – the older, hardened and stoic Aaron who belonged here. Gritting his teeth, Sean adjusted his tie, loosening it slightly at his collar (though it didn’t stop the feeling that he was being suffocated), before stepping inside. The receptionist at the front desk almost looked like she had seen a ghost as she laid eyes on Sean; had Aaron told them all stories about him? No, he refused to settle on that being an option – revealing his life to anyone and everyone about his life.

“Hi there–,” Sean swallowed nervously, rubbing his thumb and index together, unbeknownst that it was also something his older brother did in uncomfortable situations, or whenever he found himself nervous for whatever reason. “My name is–,”

“Hotchner.” The receptionist cut him off, her words choked up in her throat. It caught the attention of someone standing a little further down, the agent releasing a light chuckle.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him.” The agent spoke, noticing the surprised look on Sean’s face as his head whipped up, eyes meeting those of David Rossi. He didn’t quite know how, or why, the agent recognized him – though remembered how the Italian agent had been among those who helped Aaron working the case in New York City, the one which left Sean determined to straighten himself, get a grip of his life. “Sean Hotchner – right? Long time, no see.” David chuckled, placing a hand on the younger Hotchner–brother’s shoulder, pulling him along towards an elevator. 

“Yeah, I, uh–,” Sean pushed himself towards the corner of the elevator, prompting to stay as far from the other agents inside as possible. Beads of sweat were forming at the back of his neck, memories of his many times in small, crappy precincts causing his jaw to tense. “I decided to swing by, being in town for work and all.” He continued, lowering his head to avoid eye contact with those stepping into the elevator with them.

David glanced around, trying to see what was causing the uncomfort for the Hotchner. Sure, he had heard the grumbles from Aaron about Sean, but he had never gotten the chance to make up his mind on his own. “I’m sure everyone will be happy to see you.” The Italian nodded, tossing a quick glance around the elevator; he needed to tell Sean about Aaron, but right here, and right now, it was not the time to do so. Not with all these other agents around. 

The two of them got off at the floor belonging to the Behavioral Analysis Unit, Sean trailing behind David, almost like a kid. Truth was, that’s how he felt too, helpless and lost, as he stepped into the bullpen. He recognized Spencer, the scrawny doctor seeming confused to see Sean. Beside him stood a blonde agent – JJ – who tilted her head slightly. “Boy, do you look like your brother.” A voice spoke up, causing Sean to turn, looking right at Penelope – the team’s technical analyst. 

She had genuinely mistaken the younger Hotchner brother for Aaron when she stepped into the bullpen, his suit fitted perfectly on broad shoulders, a crisp white shirt collar poking above the collar of the jacket, his hair short and dark, though the second she saw his face, her heart sunk to the pit of her stomach. This wasn’t their long lost Unit Chief – it was just his little brother. “Hi Sean, how are you doing?” 

Penelope surprised him by pulling him in for a hug, burying her nose against his chest. He swallowed nervously, though returned her hug, resting his chin atop her head, his stubble scratching against her scalp. The rest of the team turned to them, joining in on the hug. Sean wasn’t quite sure why, but there was a certain sadness in the room, as if they had lost someone, and chose to find their comfort in his presence. However, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his presence was among the things that had caused the sadness. 

“Come on, why don’t we head up to my office for a bit?” David suggested, his hand returning to Sean’s shoulder. 

He knew David’s office was next to Aaron’s, though he wasn’t familiar with the inside of Quantico, the layout of the area the BAU called their home. They passed one door on their way to David’s office, Sean tossing a simple glance at the door, the plate reading Agent Prentiss. However, it wasn’t until he heard the words – spoken by a man he didn’t know, a voice he didn’t recognize from the times he had met the team – that he realized something was wrong. “That’s Hotch’s brother? Doesn’t he know Hotch isn’t here anymore?”

Clenching his jaw, Sean decided to shake it off as he stepped into the office, David shutting the door close behind them. There was something oddly comforting about David’s office, a warm feeling, his nostrils filled with a combination of whisky and espresso. “I couldn’t help but hear what was said out there.” Sean spoke quietly, lowering his head a little, hands deep in the pockets of his pants. “That guy who said he’s not around anymore. Is it true? Did some psycho kill my brother while he was working? Or was it like that Foyet guy all over again?”

“Maybe you should take a seat, Sean.” David sighed, motioning towards one of the leather chairs by his desk. The Italian himself tapped a few times on his phone, before sinking down into the chair behind his desk, reaching out for two glasses and the whisky–carafe on his desk. “May I pour you a drink?”

“No thank you.” Sean shook his head a little; ever since Aaron had helped him out in New York, Sean had quit drinking. He had decided he didn’t want to live a life fighting the law. He wished for a life where he could be frequently in touch with his brother, and be an uncle to Jack. Sean Hotchner wanted his family again. “Can you just tell me? Is he okay?”

David was about to answer when the door opened, a raven–haired agent stepping inside. Emily Prentiss. “Hi Sean – I didn’t expect to see you stopping by. My name is Emily, I worked with your brother.” She smiled back at him, sinking into the chair at his side, before also turning down a glass of whisky, resulting in David shrugging, pouring another one for himself. “Is everything alright? Is there anything we can help with?” She turned to the Hotchner, eyes darting around his face as she studied his features. 

Neither she nor David were going to lie; as Sean had matured, age setting on him, he appeared to look more like his brother. He didn’t have the same hardened, stoic expression, and his brows weren’t furrowed the same way Aaron’s were, but he couldn’t lie about being related to the former Unit Chief of the BAU. He shifted in his seat, glancing at David, who let out a deep sigh.

“I was about to tell him about our dear friend, Aaron.” The Italian started, before motioning for Emily to continue, her jaw tensing as she avoided meeting Sean’s eye. 

“Right.” Emily swallowed nervously, absentmindedly adjusting her blouse as she shifted in her seat.

“He told me about Foyet.” Sean spoke up, though his voice was anything but loud – it was quiet, almost broken as he uttered the words. “He told me about it when you all came to New York last. He told me how upset he had been, how he had hoped I would be more interested in being a part of Jack’s life. How upset he had been when I didn’t come to attend Haley’s funeral. Truth be told, I barely even felt welcome at their wedding. He’s always held this grudge over me, I feel, but I can’t really say why.” 

That was a lie, of course he knew why. Ever since their childhood, Aaron had always been taking the hits – he was a punching bag for their father, gathering whatever energy he could to protect his little brother from curled fists and broken beer bottles. His time at boarding school had made life a living hell for Sean, who simply could not understand how Aaron had survived it all. It had shaped them into two different men; Aaron, who became a prosecutor and later an agent with the BAU, and Sean, who, looking back, regretted throwing his job opportunities out the window for whatever it was he had done. 

“After he helped me out, hauled my ass out of trouble, I decided to straighten up. I quit everything, took on a good job, and I even got myself a good girlfriend who is not just using me as a way to get drugs and cheap alcohol. I wanted to become better for him, for myself. I wanted to become better so I could be in Jack’s life, you know?” He paused, swallowing the lump that was forming in the back of his throat. One glance at Emily told him everything he needed to know; something had happened to Aaron, and he hadn’t been notified. “He barely mentioned whatever it was that hung over your heads in New York, but I could tell it was bad. Did something happen related to that?”

Sean refused to believe Aaron was dead. He couldn’t be. Surely enough someone would have reached out to him if that was the case, even if it was just a phone call, to tell him that the man he wanted to be more like, the man he aspired to be, had passed away, even if it was due to an explosion or a gunshot wound. At least, that was what he hoped would happen, if the case was that Aaron had passed.

“No.” Emily breathed out, seeming as if she thought through what her next words would be. “It’s a tricky situation Sean.” She continued, eyes locked on him as she waited to see if he would react, years of giving grieving families bad news having taught her that people needed time to understand the words she was speaking.

“It’s still a case we are investigating, but you are family, Sean–,” David’s lips turned upwards in a small, somewhat comforting smile as Sean looked at him, trying to fight the emotions that were building inside him. “Your brother, and Jack, have become targets for a very dangerous man, and have taken the opportunity to stay in witness security until the whole thing blows over.”

Witness security. The two words echoed through Sean’s head like a chant. He knew what that meant; somewhere, far out of his reach, was Aaron and Jack – though they were no longer Aaron and Jack. They probably had new identities, a whole new story about their life. Haley was no longer the ex-wife and mother who had passed away at the hands of the Boston Reaper, and Sean was a mere ghost of the past, someone they didn’t have the time or space for in whatever it was the two of them lived. He lowered his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tried to wrap his head around the situation. 

“I’m sorry Sean.” There was something genuine in David’s voice, the Italian’s words barely even getting through. “I wish I could tell you anything about when you’ll get to see him again, but I really have no idea.”

“I, uh–,” Sean cleared his throat, straightening up in the chair, releasing a shaky breath as he did what he could to keep his composure. Both Emily and David noticed it, the way his jaw tensed, his brows furrowing, making him look even more like his older brother, albeit a softer version. “Do you think I’ll be able to see him again? I don’t, uh, really know how all of these witness security or protection or whatever it’s called – I don’t really know how it all works.”

The room fell silent, Emily and David sharing a look, before she broke the silence. “We’re not really able to say anything about that, Sean. If I could, I would have, but at this point in the investigation and everything … We can’t, and I’m so sorry.” She stopped, and for a moment, Sean believed she needed a second to compose herself, to stop herself from succumbing to her emotions. Then he shook the thought away; all of these agents were probably like his brother, probably having learned how to compartmentalize their feelings to the extent where the job was bearable. “Until our unsub is caught, it is best for his and Jack’s safety that they stay completely off the grid.”

Once again, the room fell silent. Sean’s gaze flickered between the two agents. He wasn’t sure what to say, or what to do. He knew he had no rights to be upset, he had no rights feeling pushed aside by Aaron. This was something Sean had done to himself. Had he just tried a little more, maybe they would have been better.

Maybe they would have been more like brothers.

“I think I’m going to clear my head for a bit.” Sean swallowed, his voice raspy with emotion as he spoke. Emily’s gaze followed him as he stood up, buttoning the button on his suit jacket, though he already knew the button would come undone the minute he stepped out of the office; the fabric of his shirt and jacket still felt as if they were going to suffocate him, if not even worse now than when he stepped into the elevator with David. “Thank you, both, for telling me.”

He left before they had the chance to bid him farewell, emotions clouding anything and everything as he headed into the elevator. Aaron wasn’t dead – he was still alive, out there somewhere. Sean knew he was grasping for whatever he could, but he couldn’t not do it. Aaron was his brother. Aaron was his brother, who had been in danger, without even considering looping in on Sean. He knew he could only thank himself, the younger Hotchner brother having put himself entirely in this position on his own, but he still hated it. He still hated the idea that the two brothers were at a point in their relationship where they couldn’t communicate, not even about important things – like this.

To be honest, he wasn’t sure when he had gotten outside. Sean had been so wrapped up in his own head, locked in a trance with his own thoughts, not seeming to acknowledge where he was until someone grabbed a hold of his arm, yanking him back to make sure he wasn’t run over. Turning, he looked at Emily, her head slightly tilted and an apologetic smile spread on her face. 

“It wasn’t supposed to end like this.” Sean croaked, feeling his own eyes well with tears as he looked at her. “He’s my brother, I wanted to be more with him. I wanted to be more with my nephew. It wasn’t supposed to end with him going off the grid, not even knowing when I can see him again.” He lowered his head, not wanting to let her see him cry. She was a stranger to him, someone he didn’t know, yet he gratefully accepted her embrace as she pulled him close, nuzzling his face against her shoulder. “It wasn’t supposed to end like this.”

“I know Sean – I feel the same way.” Emily replied, one hand at the nape of his neck, the other rubbing comforting circles on his back as she held him close, allowing the younger Hotchner brother to weep against her, the thin fabric of her blouse getting damp with his tears. “He would have been here, had it been up to me, but this is his choice, and I respect it. Though, I won’t lie – I wish he was here. This wasn’t how it was going to end, and it’s not how I’ll allow it to end.”

Sean sniffled as he lifted his head, blinking a few times to get in control of his own tears, nudging himself out of Emily’s embrace. “You know what the worst part of not knowing when, or even if, I’ll ever see him again is?” He asked, his words almost coming out as a chuckle, a stupid defense mechanism as he noticed she tilted her head slightly. “I never even got to say I’m sorry.” 

AARON HOTCHNER IN 7x07 “THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME”

HAHAHAH SSNSJSN penelope can’t keep a secret for the life of her i love her sm ahha

emily prentiss with showing varying degrees of interest in the case being presented at the round table

Burn Our Horizons

Summary: John Blackwolf makes an unexpected visit to Hotch while he’s on medical leave.

Warnings: blood, stab wounds, discussion of grief & death, depression

Pairings: None

Words: 3.3k

The thing about knowing John Blackwolf was that you had to be prepared for him to show up at any time, very often without warning.  The thing about being friends with him was knowing that he would somehow show up exactly when you needed him.  It wasn’t spooky, it wasn’t magic, he was, as Aaron liked to think of it, more like a modern day Sherlock Holmes – he was simply perceptive.  He paid attention.  When Jason Gideon vanished, Aaron received a package at his desk with a book inside – The Catcher in the Rye. He’d stayed at work late that night and read it cover to cover, eventually falling asleep at his desk with his third cup of coffee beside his head.  He rode his bike home at 3am.  Haley was livid with him when he told her, and rightly so, but there had been something so cathartic about it.  He’d needed that book at that time.  It wasn’t even the first time he’d read it, but it was the first time he’d liked it.  He couldn’t have told you why it struck him so at that time and hadn’t ever before, and Blackwolf wouldn’t ever explain why he’d sent it.  Aaron kept it in his office, didn’t bother to take it home.   When Haley divorced him, he got a phone call.  It was the middle of the night, he’d been asleep in his brand new apartment, and there was Blackwolf’s name on his caller ID.  Of course, there was a two hour time difference so Blackwolf was still awake – he’d had a few beers and was writing the outline for a lecture he would be giving on a college circuit, said he wanted Aaron’s take on a few of his statements about the American government, not because he was going to change what he said but because he was genuinely interested in how his friend saw things.  They talked into the night, and though John never mentioned Haley or the divorce, he did make Aaron laugh like he hadn’t laughed in years.  Mostly at himself, because that was his way.  Aaron couldn’t really think of a time he’d returned any of the favors, been that good kind of a friend, but he tried in his way. He attended all of Blackwolf’s lectures within driving distance. He called or texted regularly, sent birthday cards and Christmas cards, did all the things a man like him was inclined to do, and as basic as they were, he meant them.  He just wasn’t wired like John. It made him self-conscious, but John would just laugh at him and tell him to get over himself and that was that.  

As Aaron lay on his couch, wrapped tight in his heated blanket, body a mess of stitches and gauze and scabs, healing baby pink skin and bright red blood, he wondered when his friend would show up.  Day after day he expected a knock at his door.  Or a phone call or a text, maybe some mail from his friend.  It had been a little over a week since George Foyet had stabbed him, days since he’d been discharged from the hospital, at least by his calculations.  He wasn’t eating or sleeping regularly so he supposed he could be a little off on that.  His team had made so many meals that his freezer was jammed full, and his fridge had more food in it than it ever had before but he wasn’t eating any of it.  He had no appetite.  They were coming by so often that he was overwhelmed, overstimulated, just wanted to be left alone.  His attitude had shifted from grateful to grouchy, resentful, secretive.  He snapped at Emily, told her to stop watching him like he was a toddler.  He’d wanted to snap at all of them, he just chose Emily because he knew she could take it and maybe she’d pass it on to save the rest of them the trouble.  That had worked, in more ways than one.  He got what he wanted, he was left alone – the team flew out for a case in South Dakota and he had time to himself.  He also got a knock on his door, and through the peephole he saw John Blackwolf staring back at him.    

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