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rosiahills22 · 15 hours ago

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Luke Alvez x Reader: Shattered

Request: ‘Can you do a Luke x Reader imagine where they get into a really big argument but somehow it ends in fluff / Luke comforting the reader? Thank you so much!’

Word count: 1.6k

Warnings: minor blood mention

Luke watched you silently as you poured yourself a glass of wine.

It was nearing midnight, but the both of you knew that this fight wasn’t ending anytime soon. At this point in time, you had almost forgotten what you were fighting about. Only that you were frustrated, and angry- really angry.

And Luke was too.

“I just don’t understand it.” Luke let his head fall.

You scoffed, shaking your head at him.

“What?” he barked, “I don’t!”

“That’s because you refuse to even try to see things my way. You only ever think about yourself.”

Luke’s nostrils flare as he spoke, a hint of malice to his voice. “That’s not true.”

“It is true!” You raised your voice, your emotions getting the best of you. “You were too wrapped up in yourself tonight, to have the decency to call or text me, to let me know where you were. Instead you let me just sit here waiting. ”

“I already apologized for being late tonight, what more do you want for me?”

“That’s not the point, Luke!” You practically screamed. “I gave up my job, my family- everything for you. So that we could move here and you could join the FBI. I did all of that, just so what? I could be stood up? So I could be waiting for you the rest of my life, wondering if you’ll ever come home at all?”

He didn't even bother to lift his gaze to meet yours.

“Now who’s being selfish?” he sneered. “Women, young girls, were getting stabbed in Charleston, and you’re seriously mad that I didn’t make it home for date night?”

For a moment, the only sound came from the choppy inhale that escaped your lips.

Then, a tense whisper, “That’s not fair.” But you couldn’t help the pang of guilt spreading through your stomach.

“It was a bad one,” Luke barked. “The plane just landed. I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“There’s always going to be a bad case. And another, and another, and another. It will never stop.”

“For Christ's sake!” Luke tossed his hands up in the air. “And I’m just supposed to what? Quit? Is that what you’re asking me to do? Will that finally make you happy? Will that make you stop interrogating me every night?”

His anger only made you more frustrated- frustrated that he didn’t understand all your anger and annoyance with him stemmed from the very fact that you missed him. Every goddamn minute he was away, you missed him with everything inside of you. Why couldn’t he just see that?

“Oh, cut the bullshit,” you said instead.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You just love to play the hero, don’t you? You can’t stand the fact that being good at your job makes you a shitty husband.”

Luke squinted his eyes at you. “A shitty husband?” he gawked. His lips tugged into a taunting smirk that only makes you angrier. “Right. Well let’s sit down and have that date now. What was it you had planned again? Spaghetti and a movie? Sounds romantic, really the kind of stuff to keep this marriage alive,” he yelled. His sarcasm bled through your skin and penetrated your body to it’s core.

“You asshole!” You choked, lifting your fingers to your face. You hadn't even been aware that you had been crying all this time.

Luke slapped his hands on the counter, rattling the silverware still laid out. “You know, maybe I’d get home on time if I had something a little better to come home to!”

“You fucking–” you went to raise your hands up in frustration, but in the process you find yourself knocking into your glass of wine with force. A tug against your skin, and then a stinging sensation ripped through your hand before you even realize the glass has been shattered.

“Damnit!” You screamed as the wine spilled everywhere. You slid down to the floor in frustration. The tears now falling down your face could be attributed to both Luke and the gash now evident on your hand. When you looked down, you saw the blood already dripping down your forearm and to the tiled floor.

You tried to stifle the cries escaping your body, but it was no use. You clutched your bloody hand while Luke quickly approached you.

“Shit,” he muttered, his voice noticeably softer now. He grabbed the dish towel from the counter and stepped over the shattered glass to crouch down next to you. “Let me see,” he murmured gently.

You tensed up at first and jerked your arm away. “I’m fine,” you sneered.

But Luke was persistent. "Please don't be stubborn right now, I just want to look."

He reached out again, and once he was convinced you weren't going to tug your arm away again, grabs your wrist, causing you to expose your injury to him. You were forced to surrender under his touch with a sigh.

Your body was still shaking from your sobs when he wrapped the towel securely around the cut, “It’s okay, it’s not that deep.”

You just nodded weakly, your sobs subsiding into sniffles. "I told you I was fine."

You watched Luke’s face intently. He frowned as he held pressure to your hand. “I’m sorry,” he whispered softly.

You swallowed a lump in your throat and say, “Me too.” But you were still hurt, and Luke knew that.

So, he sank down onto the kitchen floor so that he was sitting beside you, his long legs stretched out in front of you. And there, in the safety of the shadows, Luke wrapped his free arm around your waist to hold you against him. The moment your body was met with the warmth that radiated from his own, you immediately felt a bit more at peace. He pressed a soft kiss to your temple. “I didn’t mean any of that.”

You nodded into his sweater.

“I was just angry,” he explained.

Luke grounded you. He was the anchor that pulled you back together when everything fell apart.

“I’m sorry too,” you whimpered. “I just miss you- like all the time.”

You felt exhausted from all that crying. When the room was filled with nothing except for your quiet sniffles here and there, you heard his voice again.

“We should get this cleaned up,” he motioned towards your hand. It was throbbing intensely under his touch. The decorative dish towel you’d once loved so much was now stained with your own blood.

You exhaled a shaky sigh and nodded, letting Luke help lift you from the floor. Your knees shook when you saw the amount of blood pooled on the floor from your cut, but Luke was there to keep a steady grip on your hip.

“How’re we doing?” he asked, clearly noticing your shakiness and fatigue.

“I’m... okay,” you whispered unconvincingly, your voice raspy from it all. You felt his lips pressing against the top of your head and staying there. You counted five seconds until he pulled away and gave your frame a squeeze before leading you carefully over the shattered glass and towards the bathroom.

Luke instructed you to sit on the lip of the bathtub and to hold the dish towel in place while he collected bandages and peroxide.

You watched him as he maneuvered around the bathroom and realized that you didn’t know what you would do if he ever didn’t come home. Despite the challenges and hard work it took to make your marriage work, it would be a million times worse if he wasn’t around.

Luke kneeled in front of you, his gentle eyes connecting with yours before he spoke. “This will probably sting a little,” he warned. He peeled back the towel, muttering a soft, “sorry,” as the fabric stuck to your skin slightly from the dried blood. When he started to pour peroxide on the cut, you hissed, grabbing his bicep with your uninjured hand.

“There you go,” he soothed as the stinging subsided. Luke finished by wrapping the area in gauze lightly. Once the bandage was on, you pulled your arm to your chest and rubbed it.

“Thanks.”

Luke nodded, but then there was nothing but silence between you.

After a few seconds you opened your mouth to speak, but Luke beat you to it.

“This is all so new. My job- the traveling. But we’ll figure it out.”

You nodded, because you truly believed him. You always did figure things out.

“I’m tired," you said, your eyes feeling heavy. “I don’t sleep well when you’re not home,” you admitted, a bit shamefully. You didn’t want Luke to think that you couldn’t function without him, and you knew it was possible he’d feel a little guilty that he wasn’t around much.

Luke nodded sympathetically. “Why don’t you go get ready for bed,” he suggested. He stood up and started gathering the bloody towel and peroxide from the floor. “I’m gonna go clean up the glass in the kitchen. I’ll be in in a minute, okay?”

You nodded as you stood up before turning and heading towards the bedroom.

About ten minutes later, when you had gotten yourself settled into bed in one of Luke’s shirts and a pair of sweatpants, you heard him enter the room. You slowly opened your eyes and watched him as he peeled his shirt off and wiggled himself out of his pants. You knew you were supposed to be sleeping, but you couldn’t without Luke’s warmth. So when you finally felt his body shift the mattress and his arms wind around you, you exhaled a soft sigh of relief, you wanted to live in his arms for the rest of your life. You heard him chuckle softly in response, his legs playfully intertwining with yours.

He stayed quiet for a long time, and for a second you thought he might have already fallen asleep, until you felt his lips linger against the back of your shoulder, followed by a low whisper.

“You’re my favorite thing to come home to.”

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rosiahills22 · 15 hours ago

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Luke Alvez x Reader: Calling It

Request: “Hi! Can you do a request where the reader and Luke work at the BAU together & they have a pact where if things get too bad or scary they will back out? And one of them has to do that? You can just make up the rest :) Thank you SO MUCH! I love your writing endless amounts, I always look forward to reading your stories :)”

Word count: 4.9k

Warnings: Kidnapping, murder mention, blood tw

A/N: This is a repost :)

“Should we wait for backup?” you asked as you trailed apprehensively behind Spencer. His gun was holstered, but he had his hand ready and placed on top of it, just in case. The closer you got to the house, the tighter the knot in your stomach grew.

The best piece of advice you had ever received was from Rossi, unsurprisingly. The man handed counsel out like flyers on the street. He had told you to always trust your gut, and that your instincts were the one thing that came above anything else.

“When it comes down to it, we’re animals,” he had said, his hand patting your shoulder gently. “And animals know when they’re in danger. Trust your gut and listen to it, kiddo.”

Right now your gut was screaming, protesting every step you took forward.

The grounds of the Unsub’s house were ominous- kind of exactly what you’d expected when you and Reid had turned down the long, winding driveway. The road had turned to dirt, the gravel crunching underneath the SUV tires. And the thick trees that surrounded you made it impossible to see enough ahead.

“We should walk the rest of the way down.” Reid noted. He’d been doing this way longer than you had, so of course you followed his lead.

As soon as the house had come into view, you got goosebumps. The outside light illuminated a porch littered with junk. There were boxes and scrap metal piled high, and barely enough room to even squeeze through the door. A slight, cool breeze caused wind chimes to ring out hauntingly.

“Spencer, I think we should wait,” you said, remembering Rossi’s advice. But Reid continued forward cautiously. You were the newest member of the BAU, having joined just nine months ago, so you still felt a little awkward voicing your opinion. But you liked to think you had the right instincts for the job.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Luke had said before you joined. “I’m so excited to be working with you.” He crossed his arms the way he did whenever he was uncomfortable. “But I really don’t like the idea of you being in the field.”

“Luke–” you started to protest, but he had interrupted before you could continue.

“I’ve seen what’s out there– what people can do. I just–” he shook his head, like he was trying to make the image disappear from his mind. “I just don’t want you getting hurt.”

You had sighed. Because as excited as you were to finally be joining the unit, you understood where Luke was coming from. “Now you know how I feel.” You had told him.

He didn’t seem to have a response for that.

“Okay,” you said after a moment of silence. You had swiftly taken a step closer to him, grabbing his arms and causing them to unfold. You took both his hands in yours, “How about this? How about we both have the right to call it? Okay?”

Luke’s face contorted into a puzzled look, “Call it?”

“Yeah, If things get too scary or too bad, we can call it.”

Luke had raised his eyebrow skeptically, so you continued. “So no matter what’s going on with work– or unsubs or with the BAU, if someone calls it, we have to stop and we have to put each other first, no questions asked.”

Luke had paused, even bit his lip the way he did when he was concentrating really hard. “Okay,” he said softly, nodding his head.

“Okay?” you had repeated.

“I still don’t like it,” he had assured you. “But okay.”

As you continued to walk behind Spencer, you wondered if Luke would be calling it now.

“Rossi and JJ were right behind us,” you reminded Reid. Something about this situation wasn’t right, but you couldn’t place it.

Ignoring you, Spencer drew his weapon. “He’s inside.”

You followed his lead, pulling your gun from its holster and holding it firmly in front of you. You attempted to steady your breathing, knowing you’d need to conserve as much oxygen as possible if you wanted to keep yourself level headed. As you and Reid inched closer and closer to the house, you stopped in your tracks when the Unsub’s porch light suddenly snapped off, leaving the two of you in complete darkness.

“Reid?” you whispered, trying to mask the fear evident in your voice.

“He knows we’re here,” Spencer responded. His voice was so steady and sure. “Hang to the left,” he told you.

“Reid, shouldn’t we wait?” You really didn’t like how this one was playing out.

“Not unless we want him to get away.”

As your eyes adjusted to the darkness, Reid’s features came into focus. His eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth was pressed into a thin line. The determination in his voice was evident, so you nodded your head, an affirmation that you trusted him. Despite everything inside of you telling you to wait for the rest of your team, you hung left, separating from your partner and turning the corner to the other side of the house.

Your breathing was shallow as you made your way across the lawn. The ground crunched beneath each step you took and your pulse pumped thunderously in the side of your head.

The Unsub’s name was Carl Hammond. White, male, age 45. Just like the profile had suspected. For the past month, he’d been reigning terror on the suburbs of Baltimore. Four women had gone missing, one a week. Each to be found days after their disappearance, discarded in unmarked, shallow graves off the highway.

By his second kill, he began posting videos of his gruesome murders on the internet. Every horrifying detail was put on display for the world to see. It was horrible and callous, but it was also how Garcia was able to eventually identify him.

The cool night air did little to relax you, by the time you rounded the corner to the back of the house, your breathing was almost deafening. Or at least that’s what you thought… Until a scream from the other side of the house caused it to stop altogether. Reid’s scream. Followed by a loud gunshot.

You spun in the direction you thought the noise was coming from, dropping your weapon so that you could begin to run. But before you could start rushing after your teammate, a large silhouette stepped in front of your path. You were barely able to process what you’d seen, let alone duck from the shovel that swung straight for your head.

…

“What have you got, Garcia?” Emily answered the line. She rode in the passenger seat, clutching the handle bar as Luke drove the SUV.

“I lost their signal–” Garcia’s voice was high, shaking with panic. “Reid and Y/N– I lost them.”

“What do you mean you lost them?” Luke piped in, the sound of your name peaking his attention.

“I had it– I had them at Hammond’s house, but it cut out about a minute ago. It’s just gone, I can’t see where they are.”

Emily turned to look at Luke, whose grip on the steering wheel suddenly tightened. His jaw clenched. “Okay, we’re on our way to Hammond’s house.”

“JJ and Rossi are closer,” Garcia said shakily. “I’ll call them.”

“Okay, thanks Garcia.”

When Emily hung up the phone, the SUV was encased in complete silence. Luke pressed his foot harder against the gas pedal and began accelerating quickly down the road.

“I’m sure she’s okay. They’re both okay,” Emily said, staring straight out the windshield. Her voice was flat, like she didn’t even believe it herself.

…

The SUV squealed to a stop at the end of the Unsub’s driveway. Luke noticed you and Reid’s discarded vehicle and continued down the drive, only stopping when he was outside of the Unsub’s house. JJ and Rossi’s vehicle was already parked further up the driveway. Luke wasted no time before he launched himself out of the car and into the cool air.

“What’s going on?” Emily jogged to catch up to Luke. Rossi was slowly walking up the driveway towards them.

His mouth opened, but no words came out. He flashed Emily a look before speaking. “We think he took her.”

The words hung in the air. They were dense and thick and Luke couldn’t stop hearing them. He blinked harshly, staring ahead at Rossi, his mouth slightly open. He waited for him to say more, waited for him to backtrack and tell Luke it wasn’t not what he thought.

“Reid was attacked by the Unsub’s dogs– had to shoot them. We think it was a distraction for Hammond to take Y/N. Her handgun was found, discarded over there–” Rossi pointed to the south side of the house.

“We have to find her, why’re we all standing her– Emily, we have to find her–”

Thoughts of the Unsub he’d only seen through the online videos raced through Luke’s mind. He thought of the girls in those videos, restrained to a chair, beaten, cut, tortured, killed.

“I’m gonna find her–” Luke blurted, pushing past Rossi in the driveway.

“Luke,” Rossi grabbed his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. “We’re gonna catch him. We’re gonna find her.”

“We need to be level headed,” Emily instructed calmly.

“He’s gonna kill her–” Luke breathed. He imagined you in the same chair those other girls were in.

Emily shook her head. “We are not going to let that happen.”

…

Luke promised Emily he’d remain level headed. He promised he’d be diligent and careful and in control. He wasn’t sure if he could keep any of those promises, but it was vital that he remain on the case, so he said it all anyway.

Luke thought he’d be angry when he saw Reid. He thought he’d blame him for what happened to you, thought he’d want to ring his neck for not protecting you. But instead, all he felt when he saw Reid sitting on the back of the ambulance, an EMT wrapping up his lower calf, was relief that his friend was okay. Spencer’s head was hung low, his long, dirty hair dangled in his face. Luke bit his lip before walking over.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Luke said. And he meant it.

Spencer snapped his head up, making eye contact with Luke.

“Luke– I–”

“Did you get a look at them? Where they went?”

Spencer shook his head. “No, I was searching the barn when… “ his voice trailed off. “When the dogs came.”

Luke looked down at Reid’s bloody calf, the aftermath of a nasty bite.

“After I shot them– I heard her scream.”

Luke let his eyes squeeze shut at the thought of you screaming, scared, alone. Probably wondering where the hell he was to help you.

“Luke, I am so sorry,” Reid said softly. “She wanted to wait for backup but I wouldn’t– this is all my fault.”

Luke held his hand up, a plea for Reid to stop speaking. He shook his head, wanting Reid to know he didn’t blame him, but the truth was, Luke didn’t want to know. He didn’t think he could handle knowing. He just wanted to find you.

…

Ripping apart Carl Hammond’s entire house took the entirety of the night. Local officers and the team coordinated to dig through boxes of miscellaneous belongings, photographs, and journals. The man was definitely a hoarder.

Reid, the fastest reader on the team, took the liberty of tackling the journals. He scoured through the pages, hoping to find any sort of hint or indication into where you might be. Matt and Tara arrived on the scene shortly after. They joined in on the search, offering to help however they could.

Garcia even made the trip down from Quantico to start digging through the Unsub’s computer files. She worked away, the sound of her fingers clicking keys could be heard throughout the house.

“Oh,” she said suddenly. “Oh no, oh no.” Her voice sounded shocked, drawing the attention of everyone else in the small house.

Luke, Emily, Rossi, Matt, and Tara filed into the small room where Garcia had set up. She stared straight ahead, her eyes not leaving the computer monitor, even after Emily asked her what was wrong. It took a moment for Luke to realize why.

But when he did, all the color drained from his face, leaving him motionless and cold. He wanted to speak, to yell, to scream, but instead he froze, his eyes unable to move from the video playing out before him. It was you– in the same chair the Unsub had tied so many women to before. Your head was hung, your chin practically pressed to your chest, and your hair was blocking the view from your face.

“It just popped up,” Garcia explained. “I think it’s a live stream.”

Reid and JJ entered the room with the rest of the team, JJ let out a loud gasp when she saw what everyone else was looking at.

“Is that–”

She was cut off when the camera shuffled, the frame shaking. Then, Carl came into the frame. He leaned forward, adjusting the camera so that it was still and balanced, before taking a step back, a wicked smile plastered on his face.

He backed up until he was next to you before gripping the back of your hair with his hand, hoisting your head up so that your face was visible on the screen.

An array of gasps echoed through the room when your bruised and battered face was shown. Luke still hadn’t moved.

There was a cut above your eye bleeding heavily and causing you to squint as you groggily looked up into the camera.

Then, in the most disgusting voice Luke had ever heard, the Unsub sneered, “Say hello to your friends.”

…

When your head was whipped sharply upwards, the first thing you saw was a blinking red light. As everything came slightly back into focus, you realized there was a tripod with a camera pointed right at you.

“Say hello to your friends,” a voice said from behind you. You could feel his hot breath on your neck as he leaned in closer. He inhaled deeply, smelling you, before letting go of your hair.

The room around you was dark and dingy. The only light in the room came from a spotlight shining directly onto you. It was harsh and bright and caused you to squint. Your vision was already blurred– something warm and wet dripped into your left eye. You could only assume it was blood. As your eyes adjusted to the blinding light, you started to slowly lift your head, your gaze wandering to the camera.

Say hello to your friends, he had said.

Did that mean your team was watching?

Did that mean Luke was watching?

Your stomach turned at the thought of him seeing you like this.

“I’m okay,” you said, coughing lightly. Just in case he was watching, you thought those words might ease his mind. But your voice was choppy, and wasn’t very convincing.

Carl stepped back towards you, his finger tracing the line along your jaw. He chuckled softly before speaking. “For now.”

…

Luke’s eyes went wild when the screen switched off. He hated seeing you restrained and hurt, he felt helpless and had no way to stop any of it. But he hated not having you in his sight even more.

“What happened?” he asked frantically, eyes darting back and forth between the blank monitor and Garcia.

“I don’t know–” she rushed to start pressing keys. “It’s gone, oh no, it’s gone.”

“Can you track it?” Emily asked Garcia desperately. “Pinpoint the location?”

“It’s not that easy,” Garcia was frazzled, the tears never drying from her cheeks. Unlike Luke, she had previously been doing everything in her power not to look at the screen in front of her. Instead, she focused on her laptop, hammering away at the keys as she delved into codes Luke didn’t understand. She hated seeing her team– her family hurt.

“Can’t you get it back up?” Luke asked, unable to control the emotions flooding through him.

“I’m trying,” Garcia responded. A stunted noise rang through the computer as she clicked a link. She sighed, turning to face Luke sadly. “He cut the feed.”

Luke exhaled sharply, falling into the seat beside Garcia. He took a breath, trying to bury the anger he felt. He didn’t want to take his frustration out on Garcia, whom he knew was doing everything she could. He rubbed his tired eyes and nodded, speaking in a much calmer voice. “Will you let me know if it comes back up?”

Garcia nodded slowly before watching him stand up and walk towards the living room of Carl Hammond’s house.

“Let’s get some air,” Rossi suggested, placing a kind hand on Luke’s shoulder.

But Luke shook his head. “I need to find her.”

Luke grabbed a stack of the Unsub’s journals that Reid was continuing to read through at ridiculous rates. Luke flipped open to the first page and began scanning. He wasn’t really retaining anything, his mind was too hyper focused on you. But he was desperate, he had to do something.

“Does anyone have anything?” JJ asked, after a while, breaking the silence. She threw a stack of papers down on the table in frustration. “I mean, he could’ve taken her anywhere.”

Hours had gone by. Hours of searching. Hours of reading and scouring. Hours of you being alone with that psychopath.

“Guys!” Garcia called. “Video’s back!”

Luke was the first to rush towards the computer room. He dropped the journal he was reading and hurried to the back of the house. Even with Garcia’s warning, Luke wasn’t prepared to see your battered body back on the screen. This time, you looked more awake, more alert as you fought against the restraints he’d tied you in. You thrashed against the chair, your eyes fixated on a figure not visible yet on the screen.

“Your team is watching,” Carl said slowly. He took a few steps until he was in the frame, his back to them. “Anything you want to tell them?”

Luke’s gut wrenched as he watched your wild eyes wander directly to the camera. You nodded your head. “I’m okay,” you repeated the same words from earlier.

Carl shook his head. “Don’t lie to them.” With that, he lunged forward, his fist colliding with your temple. You let out a guttural noise, as your head whips to the side, like you’re trying to stifle a grunt. Luke’s eyes widened in horror, he didn't realize how tight he was clenching his jaw.

“What about now?” Carl asked calmly.

“I’m okay,” you repeated, you’re nodding to assure the team of something they already knew wasn’t true.

Carl chuckled, a smile briefly breaking out on his face. He threw another punch.

Luke wished he could look away.

“Now?”

“I’m– okay.”

You were struck again.

Luke tried breathing through his nose, but even when he did, none of the oxygen seemed to be reaching his lungs. They were on fire.

“What is she doing?” Garcia was horrified, her glossy eyes looking anywhere but the screen.

Luke still couldn’t tear his eyes from the screen.

Emily spoke, the calmest of any of you. “She’s staying alive.”

…

You knew that the second that you gave Carl Hammond what he wanted, you were dead. What he wanted was for you to plead, to beg, to tell the camera how scared and hurt you were. The BAU had profiled that he thrived off of his victims’ fear, that he got off on watching them succumb to the terror he inflicted. And you were terrified. But you knew you couldn’t show him that. Because once you broke, once you showed him your fear, he would discard you, just like he did with all those other women.

But you weren’t sure how much longer you could keep doing this. Your side was on fire. You wondered if he’d broken one of your ribs. The Unsub had a knack for being able to strike the same exact place on your body with extreme accuracy every time.

You closed your eyes, the only solace you could find in this nightmare. Luke was the first thought that came into your mind. He elicited peace, he made you feel calmer. You imagined his voice, telling you everything was going to be alright. That’s what he’d be telling you, if he was here. And hell, you might have even believed him.

…

“Guys, I think I got something,” Reid’s voice piped up for the first time in hours. He was holding one of Carl’s journals, opened to a page dated November 15, 1976.

Reid summarized the passage. “He tells of an old hideaway that he and his brother used to go to when their father was hurting their mother. Describes it as a ‘lightless sanctuary’.”

“A lightless sanctuary?” Tara pondered out loud. “Maybe a shed? Or a cabin?”

“But lightless, that’s specific,” Matt added.

“Guys, what if he’s keeping her underground?” Reid delved. “Think about it– the only light in the videos comes from an artificial one. He’d have all the privacy he needs.”

“Plus, all the victims have been found in shallow graves, we thought it symbolized remorse, but watching these videos, I don’t think Hammond is capable of remorse. It could symbolize where he used to hide as a child. And where he kills now.”

“Okay, so like an underground bunker? But where is it?” JJ asked.

“If he and his brother ran there from this home as kids, it can’t be far. Now that we know what we’re looking for, let’s go,” Emily said, strapping her gun to her side.

The team stood up and all headed towards the door. “Be careful,” Garcia said shakily. “Bring back our girl.”

…

It seemed like the entire police force, along with the BAU was scouring the woods and grounds surrounding Hammond’s home. After mapping out a five mile radius, everyone was divided into teams to search.

“If you find anything– call me,” Emily instructed, before breaking off to search.

Luke’s eyes never left the ground as he trudged through an open field. His gun was drawn and everything inside of him is focused on one thing: finding you.

“She’s going to be okay,” Rossi said slowly, his eyes warily landing on Luke as they continued forward. “And we’re going to get this son of a bitch.”

Luke looked over and meets Rossi’s gaze. He nodded slowly.

“Here,” Matt called from a short distance away.

Rossi and Luke quickly turned on their feet, heading in his direction.

Matt was standing with his gun pointed towards the ground. From a distance, nothing looked out of the ordinary. But as Luke got closer, he noticed a suspicious abundance of dirt neatly gathered in a pile on the ground.

Matt looked at Luke and Rossi, affirming that they had his back, before dusting the dirt away. Underneath them was a small, wooden latch.

Luke could feel his own heart pounding in his chest.

“We got something,” Matt called into his radio, alerting the rest of the unit.

“We can’t wait,” Luke said frantically, shaking his head. “We gotta get down there– she’s alone with him.”

Matt and Rossi exchanged looks. They were nervous, but ultimately nodded in agreement.

Matt hoisted open the door with Luke aiming his gun down, towards the opening. He was met by a pitch black hole, no bottom in sight. Luke barely hesitated before launching himself into the abyss.

“Luke–” Matt hissed, but he was too late. All Matt and Rossi could do was follow after him, as quickly as they could.

Luke landed on the ground with a thud. He was blinking harshly, desperate for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. When Matt landed behind him, he quickly pulled out a flashlight, illuminating a path for them to follow.

Luke stalked forward, looking for any sign of you. The hole was more like a tunnel, with twists and turns. There were rooms to the side and Luke, Matt, and Rossi each took a turn clearing them. As soon as they rounded a sharp corner, Luke could see light peeking through the bottom of one of the closed doors. He rushed towards it, Matt and Rossi right on his tail.

When Luke flung open the door, his eyes immediately landed on you. At first, a blanket of complete and utter relief washed over him to see you. You were bleeding and battered and bruised, but you were alive. Alive and looking right at him with your wide, doe eyes. But once the fuzziness from the relief vanishes, Luke realized that Carl was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’d he go?” Luke barked, the relief he felt quickly replaced by pure hatred and need for revenge. The anger pulsated through his veins, it burned his skin. He needed to find Carl, needed to make him pay for what he did–

You, on the other hand, felt an array of things. Your chest was heaving as you struggled to breathe. All the fear you’d been stifling was now surfacing as panic. You desperately needed to get out of these restraints. You expected to feel relieved as soon as you looked into Luke’s eyes, but when you finally met his gaze, all you saw was the pure, unfiltered rage filling him up.

“He ran,” you gasped. You nodded your head towards a door in the back of the tunneled room. “Through there–”

You watched helplessly as Luke started for the door– further away from you. The panic started to flood through your chest again. He was going to leave you– to go after the Unsub. Luke was going to chase after him and leave you. You squirmed against your restraints frantically.

“No, no, no– Luke!” you pleaded. “Luke, please!”

He froze, torn between comforting you and chasing Hammond. “He can’t get away!” He yelled, malice in his voice.

You shook your head, blood dripping into your eyes and clouding your vision. You didn’t care if he got away. You didn’t care about anything except Luke coming to get you.

“Don’t leave, Luke!” You sobbed, your body heaving.

But he took a step forward, further from you. “Please, no! I’m calling it!” You cried out the thought you’d been thinking since Hammond grabbed you. “I’m calling it. I’m calling it, please!”

In an instant, Luke’s features softened. His eyes locked with yours and slowly, he nodded.

Luke looked towards Matt and Rossi. “Get him,” he pleaded.

The two men nodded, before darting out of the room and after the Unsub.

As soon as they left, Luke hurried towards you.

“I’m calling it,” you repeated, your head shaking frantically. You still weren’t entirely convinced that Luke wasn’t going to leave you here to chase after Carl. “Please– please. Don’t leave.”

Luke nodded, “Okay.” He took out his knife. “I’m not leaving, I’m right here,” he soothed. Luke attempted to rip through the ties that were holding you down. Just as he did, Emily, JJ, and Reid turned the corner into the room you’d been stuck in. As soon as they saw Luke freeing you, they lowered their weapons and rushed forward.

“Are you okay?” JJ asked, her eyes wide with worry.

You nodded, but it was just a motion. You were anything but okay.

“Ambulance is on its way,” Emily stated calmly. She turned to Luke. “Where’s Hammond?”

Luke paused to look towards Emily. “Matt and Rossi went after him,” he nodded his head in the direction they had run. “That way.”

Emily nodded before directing JJ and Reid to follow suit.

The second that Luke cut the ties off your wrist, you launched yourself into him. Your arms wrapped around his neck securely and you buried your face into the nape of his neck. Once you were there, you let out the earth shattering sob that had been settled in your chest. Your entire body started shaking violently.

“I’m here,” Luke soothed. He dropped his knife to the ground and reciprocated your hug. His strong arms wound around your waist, pulling you tightly to his chest. “I got you.”

You’re not sure how long you stayed like that. Long enough for the rest of the team and officers to arrive on sight and help with searching the premise.

Luke wanted to pull away– to assess just how much damage Hammond did to you, but he couldn’t bear to let you go. Not when you had finally stopped shaking so much.

“EMT’s are here,” Emily patted your shoulder gently. You pulled away from Luke, but only enough to look at her.

“I want to go home,” you muttered, when you had finally calmed down enough to speak.

Even though it was quiet and muffled, Luke still heard you. He nodded, loosening his grip on you so that you could finally back up. Luke had to stifle the gasp he wanted to let out when he saw you up close with all your injuries. The cut above your eye was deep, and the bruises littering your jaw made the anger he’d released start coming back, but he swallowed it for your sake.

“They’re outside, let’s get you out of here,” Emily said, offering a small smile.

Luke kept his hand positioned on your hip the entire time you climbed the ladder that had been lowered into the tunnel. Just knowing he was right there was enough to make you feel secure, as you shakily climbed out of the hole.

The scene that unfolded in the field was chaos. Several police cars were parked on the grass, their lights flashing. An ambulance was parked a short distance away.

“They got him,” JJ declared as she jogs towards you and Luke. “Matt and Rossi got Hammond.”

She was looking at you when she delivered the news, but Luke’s the one who exhaled a sigh of relief.

You curled into his side, your arm looping around his back. Luke wound his arm around you, tucking you into his side protectively.

“Can we please get out of here?” you whispered.

Luke nodded. He bared the majority of your weight as he helped you hobble towards the ambulance. His arm remained securely wrapped around you the entire way. He wasn’t sure if he'd ever let go.

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rosiahills22 · 18 hours ago

Text

Vice.

Synopsis - Everyone on the team has their vices. It just so happens that yours is sat across the table looking at you.

Pairing - Luke Alvez x Female Reader

Warnings - smut. cursing. luke has a gorgeous filthy mouth.

Age Rating - 18+

Word Count - 1.6k

Author's Note - my baby my baby my BAAAAAABY!! I have been in love with this man for years and years and I can't believe I haven't written more for him. if you ever have a luke request, please send it to me. love him with my whole heart <3

as always, reblogs, comments and feedback (even anonymous feedback!!) are immensely appreciated!! your reblogs are the only way to circulate my fics, which keeps me going <3

Masterlist. Inbox.

Vice - a weakness of character or behaviour; a bad habit. "Cigars happen to be my father's vice."

✵ ✵ ·　 ✵ 　　 * · ✵

"Italian food."

The entire team laughs, faces illuminated by the warm yellow lights in Rossi's backyard.

"Yeah, no shit," Tara retorts, looking pointedly at Dave. "Doesn't take a behavioural analyst to figure that one out."

"Look, you asked the question, I answered."

He reclines back in his chair and takes a sip of his wine, looking around the table.

"Okay Tara, you go. What's your vice?"

She chuckles to herself before confessing.

"Super steamy period romances."

Everyone bursts into more laughter.

"Wait, what?"

"What kind?"

She's clutching at her sides as she answers.

"All kinds! Movies, books, TV shows. If it has corsets and sex, I'm in."

Your cheeks are aching from smiling so hard. You're not sure who first raised the initial question, but it's really allowed you to get to know each other a little bit deeper.

"Okay, enough about me. Simmons, what's your vice?"

"I have six kids. I don't have time for a vice."

He sounds serious, but he's grinning as he says it.

"I think the six kids are a result of an old vice."

The words leave your mouth before you can stop them, several glasses of wine almost obliterating your verbal filter. Your team howl with laughter.

"No comment," Matt wheezes, wiping tears from his eyes. "Golfing is a safer option now. No risk of unplanned surprises."

"I had to change mine after kids, too," JJ chimes in. "I used to smoke cigarettes after bad cases, but I can't anymore. What kinda mom would I be if I lectured the boys about the dangers of nicotine, and then got caught chain smoking in the backyard?"

"A cool one," you shrug, yelping when she jokingly punches you in the arm.

"What about you, hotshot?" she asks, the whole team turning their attention to you. "What's your vice?"

You desperately avoid any eye contact, trying to play it cool. You just know Luke has that glint in his eye as he looks at you pointedly.

✵ ✵ ·　 ✵ 　　 * · ✵

"Oh, fuck," you groan, fingers threading into the dark curls of his hair.

"Shhh, honey," he murmurs, lifting his head from between your legs to look up at you. "You and I both know how much trouble we'll be in if we get caught."

He dives back in, tongue gliding and flicking all the spots that make you keen. You slap one hand over your mouth, the other grappling to hold onto the leather beneath you.

"Bet you'd like that, wouldn't you?" he taunts, condescension dripping from his tone. "The thrill turns you on, doesn't it, baby? The risk of getting caught only makes you hotter."

You whine against your palm, bucking your hips to urge him to keep going.

"What do you want, princesa? Tell me what you want and I'll give it to you."

He loves this. Loves hearing you beg. Loves having you relinquish complete control and let him take care of you. Loves that he can turn you, the most independent, headstrong woman he knows, into a whining, needy mess.

"Fingers," you croak out. "Make me come, Luke, please."

He grins up at you like the cat who got the cream, self satisfied smirk never leaving his lips.

"Okay, baby," he soothes. "Since you asked so pretty."

He slides two fingers into you with embarrassing ease, crooking them in the way he knows you like.

"Oh, sweet girl, what would the team think? Huh? What do you think they'd say if they saw you like this, letting me finger fuck you in the backseat of my car in the parking garage?"

He's muttering lowly, under his breath, but you hear him clear as day. He loves to patronise you, tease you, get under your skin. In everyday life, he treats you with the utmost respect. In bed, not so much. You love it.

"Couldn't even wait until we got home. Poor baby, just had to take the edge off."

His eyes meet yours, like a magnetic force. His gaze is so dark, it has you squirming in place.

"It was the shirt," you choke out. "Fucking shirt."

"Hmm?" he hums against you, the vibrations pulling you closer to the edge.

"Your shirt," you moan as his thumb finds your clit. "Makes your arms look so, fuck, so big."

Oh, you shouldn't have said that. You can practically see his ego inflating.

"I'll let you wear it tomorrow morning, if you want. If you can still walk by then, that is."

You're right on the precipice, orgasm almost within reach. If he keeps talking to you like this, you'll be at the finish line in no time.

"Oh, I've got a better idea. Why don't I fuck you in it?"

The idea makes your head spin, sending you straight into your climax. Sharp white heat licks up your spine, curling your toes and arching your back. Your grip tightens in his hair and he groans, low and honeyed.

"That's it, baby," he's murmuring. "Ride it out. Good girl."

You finally relax, melting into the leather seats. Luke crawls from his position to lean over you, resting his body onto yours. He kisses you gently at first, then dirtier as you come back to yourself.

"My place or yours?" he whispers against your lips.

"Yours is closer."

"Mine it is."

✵ ✵ ·　 ✵ 　　 * · ✵

"Hello? Earth to Hotshot?"

JJ nudges you playfully, grinning at you from ear to ear.

"What you thinking about?"

"Nothing," you stutter, clearing your throat. "Nothing at all."

You make the mistake of lifting your gaze from your lap. There, staring at you from across the table, is Luke Alvez. You almost wish you could slap that smug smirk off of his face.

"Come on, girl!" Tara hollers.

"Everyone has a vice," Spencer begins. "You have to. Especially in our line of work. We have to have some kind of outlet. Some sort of release."

Release. You almost choke on your wine, patting yourself on the chest.

"Yeah, no. I, uh, I like British reality TV. I guess that's mine."

The team laugh, everyone teasing you relentlessly. You risk a glance at Luke, and regret it immediately. He runs his tongue over his bottom lip and chuckles, knowing look in his eye. You're petrified for a moment that he can read your mind.

"Okay then Spence. Your turn," you prompt, desperate to take the attention off yourself.

Spencer starts rambling about quantum physics, and you breathe a sigh of relief.

Relief.

✵ ✵ ·　 ✵ 　　 * · ✵

"Yeah, this is what you needed, isn't it baby?"

You try to respond, but Luke's huge hands wrapped around your throat are making it a little difficult.

"My poor sweet girl, just needed some relief huh? You sick of being in charge all the time? You want me to take care of you?"

His tone is low and melted, the timbre of it settling into your bones. All you can do is whine and nod your head in response.

His hips repeatedly snap into yours, his body melded to you. He's completely smothering you with his weight, but you don't mind. You like the closeness.

You lean up to kiss him, allowing him to slip his tongue into your mouth. He's swallowing your moans, leaning his head forward to rest against yours.

"Fuck, you sound so pretty," he groans. "You gonna come for me, mama? Give me what I want?"

"Yes," you breathe. "Yes. Please, baby. Please."

"Who am I to deny you when you beg so fucking sweet?"

The hand that's not around your throat snakes between your sweat slicked bodies to rub circles on your clit, throwing you over the edge.

Your back arches, hips writhing on Luke's soft cotton sheets. You're squeezing him so tight he's seeing stars.

"Oh fuck baby, oh fuck."

Luke goes boneless, dropping his head into the crook of your neck. He releases his grip on your throat and wraps both arms around you, pressing you together impossibly closer.

"We get better at this every time," he chuckles.

You smack him jokingly, before bursting into laughter. Soon, the two of you are crying happy tears, revelling in the afterglow.

✵ ✵ ·　 ✵ 　　 * · ✵

"I'm gonna get a refill. Anyone need anything from the kitchen?"

You stand from your seat and make your way inside, taking note of the replies.

"I'll help you," Luke says, rising to join you. Neither of you see the way everyone at the table looks at each other knowingly.

You're barely through the door when you feel him against you, wrapping his arms around you from behind. He presses a kiss onto your shoulder, murmuring in your ear.

"I'm your vice, aren't I?"

You shake your head, breathing out a laugh.

"In your dreams, Alvez."

He nips at your neck before continuing.

"Admit it. I'm your dirty little bad habit that you just can't kick."

You turn in his arms to face him, running your fingers through his hair.

"Talk the talk all you want, Luke. You and I both know this works both ways."

Your quirk your brow at him, and he leans in and kisses you chastely.

"Old habits die hard, huh?" he grins.

"Wouldn't have it any other way," you smirk back.

Outside, the team decide they'll continue to let you both lie to them for a little while longer. It's more fun for everyone that way.

2K notes · View notes

rosiahills22 · 1 day ago

Text

Short n’ Sweet💋

Hugh Jackman x Fem!Sister!Reynolds!Reader

Warnings: SMUT, shitty situations, sadness (IM SORRY)

Part 18

Series Masterlist

You’ve Lost All Your Common Sense

💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋

You briskly zip up your suitcase, the excitement for the upcoming trip bubbling within you. St. Barts was a breathtaking destination, and you knew firsthand that there was always something to do.

You take a quick look around your room, making sure you haven’t forgotten anything. The prospect of the sun, the sand, and the luxurious surroundings await you, and you can’t help but smile in anticipation.

Your phone vibrated with a notification from Hugh, alerting you that he was waiting in the parking garage. Excitement mingled with anticipation as you read his text.

You grab your bags with a smile, eager to kick off your luxurious vacation. Making your way down to the parking garage, you couldn't help but feel a sense of extravagance and privilege washing over you.

You met Hugh with a warm embrace, wrapping your arms around him and pulling him into a soft kiss. There was a sense of comfort and familiarity in his presence, and the brief moment of intimacy made your heart flutter.

Drawing back, you looked up at him with a smile, the excitement of the trip clear in your eyes. "Ready to go?" "Ready as I'll ever be," Hugh replied with a grin. "I've got us a private jet, but we should probably head out now. We don't want to keep the others waiting."

He took your bags from you, effortlessly carrying both of them, and led the way towards the car.

You glanced out the car window, admiring the scenery that passed by. A nagging thought crept into your mind, and you turned to Hugh with a question.

"You don't think this is some sort of revenge attack, do you? Debora doesn't plan to poison me at dinner or steal all my left shoes?" You chuckled as you voiced your concerns, trying to lighten the mood.

Hugh chuckled back, not taking your concern too seriously. "I highly doubt it," he reassured you with a smile. "Debbie can be a handful, but she's not one for revenge. Besides, I'll be there to protect you if anything goes awry."

Hugh's reassuring words worked their magic, and you felt your worries start to dissolve. He was experienced, after all - divorced and co-parenting with his ex-wife. He was used to this dynamic and comfortable around Debora.

You reminded yourself that you had nothing to worry about. Hugh knew Debora well, and he would ensure everything went smoothly.

You entered your room and noticed a basket near the bedside table filled with complimentary products like toiletries and a bottle of wine from Debora. A small smile tugged at the corners of your lips as you appreciated the thoughtful gesture.

"Well, that's nice," you said, appreciating the little touches that made trips like this even more special.

Hugh leaned in from behind you, looking over your shoulder and nodding his head in agreement. "See? She's not going to sabotage you," he reiterated with a smile, confirming your fears were unfounded. You couldn't help but chuckle as you glanced back at him, appreciating his ability to put your mind at ease.

As you considered the possibility that Hugh might be right, a thought struck you - you were probably just searching for something to worry about.

You couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, acknowledging that Hugh's calm reassurance was probably exactly what you needed to ease your nerves.

"They've planned dinner at 8," Hugh confirmed, his hands gently rubbing your shoulders in an attempt to ease any remaining tension. "All together?" he repeated, seeking your agreement on the timing.

You thought for a moment, making sure 8pm was convenient for you. "Yeah, that works for me," you replied, feeling more relaxed than before.

The sun was setting, throwing a warm, golden glow across the ocean. The sparkling blue water stretched out before you, creating a breathtaking view.

You leaned against the glass, taking a moment to appreciate the moment - the beautiful scenery and the promise of a delightful evening ahead.

Hugh leaned against the window on the other side, his gaze following your own as he observed the scenic view outside. "We could walk the beach later tonight," he suggested, breaking the peaceful silence.

Your thoughts shifted from the breathtaking view to the idea of a moonlit beach stroll. "Sounds nice," you replied, a smile forming on your lips at the suggestion.

You smirked and leaned back from the window, turning to face Hugh with a quizzical look as you asked, "And then?"

Hugh chuckled, catching on to your playful tone. He raised an eyebrow, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "And then...?" he replied, feigning innocence.

"I think you know very well what I had in mind,” you smirk at him. He closed the distance between you, his hands gently resting on your waist as he looked down at you with a smirk.

"Let's just say, there's plenty to explore on the beach once it gets dark," he teased, his voice low and suggestive. His hold on your waist tightened ever so slightly as his eyes darted from your lips to meet yours.

After leisurely lounging, attending to some business calls, and finishing up with unpacking, the evening was drawing to a close. Time to head to dinner. The air was filled with a mix of anticipation and excitement for what the evening might bring.

You checked the time, realizing it was nearing dinner time. The others were probably getting ready, and you couldn't help but feel a slight flutter of nerves in your stomach.

You held up two dresses in front of you, each adorned in sophisticated black and navy hues. A small frown formed on your lips as you considered which dress to wear for dinner.

"Black or navy?" you repeated in a contemplative tone, turning to Hugh for advice. Hugh walked over, assessing both dresses with a keen eye. He reached out, gently running his fingers along the fabric of each one. He paused for a moment, eyes locked with yours, before his lips curled up into a sly smile. "Black," he declared decisively.

Hugh's gaze darkened as he watched you change in front of him, a sly smirk playing on your lips. He couldn't help but appreciate the sight, his eyes roving over your figure, admiring the way the fabric hugged your curves.

He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms in an attempt to appear nonchalant, but his eyes never left you.

Hugh's voice cut through the air, his statement laced with amusement. He watched you intently, a knowing smile on his lips.

"You do this on purpose," he said again, his gaze never leaving yours. “Me?” Hugh's smile grew wider as you feigned innocence, playing along with the act. He chuckled, shaking his head slightly in amusement.

"Oh, come on," he said with a hint of playful accusation. "You know exactly what you're doing. Don't even try to act all innocent now."

You slipped your heels on, perfectly adorning your feet, and picked up your bag. With a sly smile, you turned back to Hugh and feigned innocence once more.

"Really?" he teased, unable to hide the humor in his tone. "You don't know what I'm talking about? I find that a little hard to believe."

Your fingers traced the fabric of his shirt, caressing it gently. A coy smile tugged at the corners of your lips, hinting at the playful suggestion that lay underneath. “I guess you’ll just have to explain it to me later tonight.”

Hugh's breath hitched at your touch, his gaze darkening slightly as he leaned closer, a subtle shiver coursing through his body. "Oh, I will," he said, his voice dripping with promise. "I'll make it a very long explanations."

Unable to resist any longer, you reached out and pulled Hugh's hand gently, signaling it was time to leave.

"Come on," you said, your voice holding a hint of eagerness. "We don't want to be late, do we?"

Hugh nodded, a smirk playing on his lips, and allowed you to lead him out of the room, your hands interlocked firmly.

As the two of you walked into the restaurant, your eyes quickly found Ava, Oscar, and Debora. They sat at a large table, already engaged in conversation, laughing together.

Hugh led you over to the table, greeting the group with a smile, "Good evening, everyone."

Debora greeted you both with a warm smile, "Ah, there you are! We were wondering when you'd finally arrive." She gave you a teasing wink, while Ava and Oscar exchanged amused glances.

“Well you know this one and his shirts.” Debora chuckled at your comment, her eyes darting to Hugh's dress shirt, clearly making the connection.

"Oh, indeed," Debora teased, a playful glint in her eyes. She turned her attention back to Hugh, her gaze turning a shade mischievous. "You really do love them, don't you?" Hugh's smirk broadened into a grin at Debora's comment, and he played along, putting on a show.

"What can I say? I do know how to look good in a shirt," he retorted, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He gave you a glance, a subtle wink betraying the truth behind his words.

The conversation between the group flowed effortlessly as everyone settled into their respective seats. Light-hearted banter and laughter filled the air as everyone caught up with each other and discussed the upcoming vacation plans.

Ava and Oscar couldn't help but exchange amused glances every now and then as they watched the banter between Hugh and Debora. It was clear they were enjoying the playful energy that always seemed to accompany the two of them in conversation.

As the playful banter continued, your thoughts couldn't help but drift to the past, the memories of Hugh and Debora's happy times together. It was nice to see them get along, but it was also a little frustrating, watching their smiles and subtle touches as they reminisced on shared memories.

You were pulled out of your thoughts as Debora addressed you, her voice cutting through the chatter around the table. She asked about the upcoming tour for your new album.

A small smile tugged at your lips as memories of the upcoming concerts came to mind. "Yeah, we're planning a tour," you replied, excitement lacing your words. "It's going to be a lot of fun."

Ava chimed in, a giddy look of excitement on her face. "I can't wait for us to go shopping," she said, a hint of excitement in her voice. "Shopping?" Oscar asked, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "For what?"

Ava shrugged, her eyes darting between all of them. "Isn't it obvious?" she replied coyly. "For clothes!" Debora nodded in agreement, a grin on her face at the suggestion. "Absolutely! Tomorrow would be perfect for us to shop."

She turned to Hugh, a playful glint in her eyes. "Right, boys? Leave the fashion to us girls, and you can go do whatever it is you boys do while we go try on clothes?"

Hugh chuckled at Debora's remark, his tone laced with playful annoyance. "Oh, of course," he replied jokingly. "Nothing like old times. You girls go do your fashion thing, and we'll amuse ourselves somehow."

You forced a smile and a laugh, even though the sight of Debora flirting with her ex-husband was like a punch in the gut. Your grip on the wine glass tightened, the smooth liquid swirling inside as you forced down the bitter feelings that welled up inside you every time they shared a look, or a touch.

You had to remain composed, a mask of calm and nonchalance firmly in place. But in your heart, it was torture.

The conversation around the table continued, but you found it difficult to pay full attention, your mind preoccupied with the sight of Debora and Hugh's interactions. Every gesture, every word that seemed just a little too familiar, made your heart pang with a painful, almost familiar feeling.

You took another sip of your wine, pretending to pay attention, hiding the storm brewing within.

You picked at your food, barely even taking a bite, your thoughts still occupied with the dynamic between Debora and Hugh. You found yourself drinking more wine than usual, the liquid providing a temporary distraction from the painful situation.

As the night went on, you found it harder and harder to feign interest in the conversation, your mind constantly wandering back to the sight of those two together.

As the evening progressed, your jealousy intensified. You felt like an outsider, a mere spectator to their intimate reunion. Hugh's laughter, usually so warm and inviting, now felt like a dagger piercing your heart. You caught yourself clenching your napkin, your knuckles turning white from the force of your grip.

"Honey, are you alright?" Hugh's voice snapped you out of your jealous haze. His deep, concerned eyes met yours, and for a moment, you felt a pang of guilt for doubting his loyalty.

"Yes, I'm fine," you managed to reply, forcing a smile. "Just a bit tired."

Debora, leaned forward, her expression softening. "It's been a long day for all of us. Why don't we call it an early night? I'm sure we all could use some time to relax."

You nodded in agreement, grateful for the opportunity to retreat to the privacy of your shared suite. As the group stood up from the table, you felt Hugh's hand on your lower back, his touch sending a shiver down your spine. It was a subtle reassurance, a silent promise that he was all yours.

Back in the suite, the kids quickly retreated to their rooms, eager to unwind after a day of exploring. You found yourself alone with Hugh in the spacious living area, the soft glow of the moon casting shadows across the room. The silence between you was thick with unspoken words, the tension palpable.

"You seemed a little on edge during dinner," Hugh said, his voice low and soothing. "Is everything okay?"

You took a deep breath, your eyes searching his face. "I'm sorry, it's just... seeing you and Debora together like that... it brought up some… insecurities."

Hugh's brow furrowed, his eyes filled with concern. "Insecurities? My love, you know there's nothing between Debora and me. We're just being civil for the kids' sake."

"I know, I know," you said, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over you. "It's just... I can't help but feel jealous. She's so beautiful and successful, and you two have such a history. I can't shake the feeling that… I'm not enough."

Hugh took a step towards you, his strong arms wrapping around your waist. "Oh, my darling, don't ever doubt yourself. You are the only woman I desire. The past is behind us, and I'm grateful for the time we shared, but it's you I want, now and forever."

His words sent a rush of relief through your body, but you needed more than just words to ease your jealous heart. You reached up, your fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer. "Show me," you whispered, your breath hot against his neck.

Hugh's hands slid down your back, cupping your buttocks, pulling you tightly against him. You could feel his erection pressing against your stomach, a tangible proof of his desire. He kissed you passionately, his tongue exploring your mouth with urgency. You moaned, your hands roaming over his broad shoulders, relishing the feel of his muscular body.

Breaking the kiss, Hugh lifted you effortlessly, carrying you towards the bedroom. His eyes never left yours, burning with a fierce intensity. He laid you down on the bed, his hands gently pushing your thighs apart, exposing your wetness to his hungry gaze.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice hoarse with desire. "I want to taste you, remind myself that you're mine."

With that, he lowered his head, his lips finding your sensitive clit. He teased it with gentle flicks of his tongue, making you squirm with pleasure. You arched your back, your hands gripping the sheets as he delved deeper, his tongue probing your wet folds. His fingers joined in, sliding inside your pussy, curling and stroking your G-spot.

"Oh, Hugh!" you cried out, your hips thrusting upwards, seeking more of his touch. He chuckled against your sensitive flesh, his breath sending shivers through your body. He sucked your clit into his mouth, his tongue dancing over it, driving you wild with pleasure.

Just as you were about to climax, Hugh pulled away, leaving you teetering on the edge. You whimpered, reaching for him, your body craving release. He smiled, his eyes dark with desire, and climbed onto the bed, positioning himself between your thighs.

"Please, Hugh," you begged, your voice thick with need. "I need you inside me."

He teased you, sliding the tip of his thick cock along your slick folds, but not entering you. "Not yet, my love. I want to make this last."

You whined in frustration, your body on fire. Hugh leaned down, capturing your mouth in a searing kiss, his tongue mimicking the rhythm of his cock against your pussy. You responded eagerly, your hands gripping his shoulders, urging him to take you.

Finally, with a growl of desire, Hugh positioned himself at your entrance and thrust forward, filling you in one smooth motion. You cried out, your body welcoming the invasion, your walls clenching around his thick shaft. He set a slow, torturous pace, withdrawing almost entirely before slamming back into you, hitting all the right spots.

"You feel so fucking good," he grunted, his breath hot against your neck. "So tight, so wet. You're mine, all mine."

His words sent a thrill through your body, silencing any remaining doubts. You matched his rhythm, your hips rising to meet his powerful thrusts. The sound of flesh slapping against flesh filled the room, a primal soundtrack to your passionate encounter.

As Hugh pounded into you, his hands found your breasts, squeezing and kneading them. He pinched your nipples, sending jolts of pleasure through your body, pushing you closer to the edge. You could feel your orgasm building, a tidal wave of sensation ready to crash over you.

"I'm close, Hugh," you panted, your nails digging into his shoulders. "Please, don't stop."

He grunted in response, his pace becoming frenzied. He slammed into you with abandon, his cock seeking the deepest parts of your pussy. You screamed his name as your orgasm hit, your body convulsing around him, milking his shaft. Hugh groaned as his own release began building, and with a final powerful thrust, he emptied his hot cum deep inside you.

The morning arrived sooner than you'd like, sunlight streaming in through the hotel curtains and slowly waking you from your peaceful slumber. You found yourself comfortable in the large bed, your body nestled snugly next to Hugh's.

As the light played across your features, you found yourself unable to resist the temptation to simply stay where you were.

Hugh stirred beside you, feeling the movement of your body against his own. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking a few times as he came back into consciousness.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he saw you next to him. "Good morning," he murmured, his voice soft and groggy. You returned his smile, a soft sigh escaping your lips as you shifted a little closer to him. The room was quiet, the only sounds being the occasional distant noise from outside and the sound of the two of you breathing.

"Morning," you replied, your voice just as low and sleep-filled as his. “I should go get ready for my shopping extravaganza with Ava and Deb.”

You spoke, the thought of the impending shopping trip with Ava and Deb filling your mind. The word "shopping extravaganza" had been met with a sigh, indicating your reluctance to get up and get ready.

Hugh shifted in the bed, his arm still stretched out over you. "You don't sound enthusiastic about that," he observed, his voice still raspy with sleep.

You couldn't deny his observation. Getting out of bed and getting dolled up for a day of shopping sounded like a chore right now. But you knew you had to make an effort, especially with the company you'd be in.

"I know, I know," you sighed, your voice betraying your reluctance. "I'm just not a big fan of leaving you all alone in this nice bed, that's all."

Hugh chuckled at your response, knowing full well there was more to your reluctance than just missing his company in bed. He pulled you closer, his hand tracing small circles on your hip.

"You're a clingy one, aren't you?" he teased, his voice still a little rough with sleep.

“I thought you liked it?”

Hugh smirked, his eyes filled with a familiar spark of amusement. "Of course I do," he replied, his hand moving up to brush a strand of hair from your face. "I always like when you're all clingy and attached to me," he added, his voice dropping to a low murmur.

You chuckled softly, the smack on your butt making you giggle despite your sleep-filled state. "You really know how to motivate a girl, don't you?" you teased, rolling out from under his arm and onto the edge of the bed.

Hugh smirked, his eyes watching as you swung your legs over the side. "The devil can wait a little longer," he retorted, his hands going back to the pillow in a pretend act of covering his eyes.

You got out of bed and started getting ready, the morning routine seeming even more tedious than usual due to your reluctance to leave the warmth and comfort of the bed.

Throughout the process, Hugh watched you from the bed, his eyes following your movements with a mixture of interest and amusement.

You emerged from the hotel room to find Debora and Ava waiting, their outfits already looking pristine and perfect. They both smiled at you as you approached, their faces radiating excitement.

Ava excitedly rambled off a list of the various stores she wanted to visit during the shopping trip. Designer names and luxury brands spilled out of her mouth. Debora, on the other hand, remained quiet, her eyes occasionally flicking in your direction.

The excitement in Ava's voice was contagious, and despite your initial reluctance, you found yourself a little pumped for the day out. But every now and then, your eyes would catch a glance from Debora, her gaze a mix of curious and calculating.

You walked along the streets, your steps matching Ava and Debora's as you three made your way from store to store.

As you spoke, your voice filled with gratitude, “Thank you for inviting me.” Debora smiled at you, her expression almost sweet. "Of course," she replied, her voice pleasant though her eyes held a hint of something else.

“I just really want to make this work,” You spoke, your words laced with hopefulness as you tried to convince both yourself and Debora that things would work out.

A flicker of annoyance crossed your face as Debora's smile suddenly turned less sincere. She cut straight to the point, her words blunt and direct.

“You’re already fucking him, honey. You don’t need to try so hard,” she said, her eyes fixated on you.

“I’m not,” You denied her words, a hint of defensiveness in your voice. Your eyes widened as you looked at Debora, trying to make her understand that what she said wasn't true.

Ava looked back and forth between you and Debora, the silence between you two hanging in the air like a thick fog.

“Hey, this would be so cute on you!” You were grateful for the distraction, allowing Ava to pull you away from the tense conversation. You glanced back at Debora, her eyes still fixed on you, before following Ava to the rack of clothes she was eyeing.

“Sorry about her.” You looked at Ava, a sheepish expression on your face. "It's fine," you assured her quietly, trying to brush off the previous tense moment.

Ava looked at you intently, a hint of concern in her eyes as she continued to look at the clothes.

You spoke in a hushed tone, your voice laced with a mixture of worry and uncertainty. "Does she hate me?" you asked, a touch of vulnerability in your words.

Ava looked back at you, her expression sympathetic. "No, she doesn't," she replied, her voice just as low. "But... she's not exactly your biggest fan."

You nodded, a touch of resignation in your gesture. It was obvious from the tension that Debora wasn't exactly happy about the arrangement between you and Hugh. Ava watched you closely, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and pity.

You moved from shop to shop, your arms filled with bags of new clothes, shoes, and accessories. The hours flew by, the three of you moving from one fashionable location to the next. Debora stayed mostly quiet, sometimes chiming in with a snarky comment or a pointed question.

As you paid for a new handbag, Debora's voice suddenly piped up, her tone laced with disapproval. "Is that Hugh's card?" she asked, her eyes flickering to the credit card you were using.

“He told me to use it,” Your statement was simple, but it caught the attention of Debora. Her eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of disbelief in her expression.

"He told you to use it?" she repeated, her tone still disapproving.

“Yes. He did,” Your answer was firm, clearly conveying your certainty in what Hugh had said to you.

Debora's eyes studied you for a moment, her expression still skeptical. "And he's fine with just giving you his card like that?"

You shrugged nonchalantly, putting the credit card back into your wallet as you spoke. Debora's skepticism was clear in her eyes, her jaw clenching slightly. Ava, meanwhile, watched the interaction with a mixture of interest and concern.

As you were about to leave Crumble Cookie, you heard your name called out from behind.

You turned around, a little startled, and saw a friend of yours. The excitement on her face was obvious, her eyes sparkling with a mix of eagerness and joy.

You smiled at your friend, pleased to see her. The others paused, a brief moment of confusion on their faces at the unexpected interruption.

"Hey!" your friend exclaimed, approaching you with a wide smile.

Your friend wrapped her arms around you in a tight hug, the warmth and comfort of her embrace immediately flooding through you.

Ava and Debora watched the scene, their gazes flickering between the two of you.

Ava and Debora both smiled, introductions made. "This is Ava," your friend began, gesturing at Ava as she spoke. "And that's her mom, Debora."

Debora's gaze was appraising, a hint of skepticism in her eyes, but she returned the introduction with a polite nod.

“Hey text me and let’s get dinner!” You agreed, your friend's offer catching your interest.

"Yeah, sure! That sounds great," you replied, your voice filled with a hint of eagerness. "We're quite busy today but I'll be sure to text you later. Dinner would be nice."

As your friend said their goodbyes and left, you and Debora were left standing together as she spoke. "Friend of yours?" she repeated, her voice nonchalant, but her eyes focused on you.

Your response was casual, your tone betraying a hint of nostalgia. "Yeah, we go way back to the Disney days," you confirmed, a nostalgic smile tugged at the corners of your lips.

Your eyes lit up when you saw Hugh and Oscar in the distance. You immediately waved them over, a smile spreading across your face. They both stopped and started walking over. Debora, who was standing next to you, shot a cursory glance their way.

Hugh's embrace around you was warm and tight, his hands wrapping around your waist as he planted a gentle kiss on your cheek. His smile widened as he looked at you, clearly happy to see you. Debora's eyes narrowed, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face at the sight of the embrace.

As you all discussed plans for dinner, a question from Debora halted your conversation. Her eyes met yours, her voice holding a hint of knowing.

"Well, I assume you have plans of some sort, right?" she asked, her tone just the slightest bit smug. “No, I’m not going to miss out on a dinner.”

Debora waved her hand dismissively as she spoke, a slight patronising tone in her voice. "Don't be silly," she said, her words dripping with a hint of sarcasm. "You said yourself you haven't seen her in a while. Go eat with your friend."

Hugh's deep voice broke the silence, his question directed at you, his gaze fixed on you. He had overheard your previous conversation and wanted to know more.

"Who'd you see?" he repeated, his eyes studying you intently. You met his gaze, your chest a little tight as his tone held an edge of possessiveness. It was clear that he was curious about your plans for the evening.

"Just an old friend. She said she wanted have dinner," you replied after a moment, your voice steady, “but I’m not going to skip out on our fun.”

“Well, darling, if you want to go have fun with your friend, you can. We’re here long enough.” You couldn't help but smile at Hugh's words, his tone both possessive and understanding. He knew that you would want to spend time with your friend, and he was willing to let you go.

"Are you sure?" you asked, your voice holding a hint of vulnerability. "I don't want to ditch you."

Hugh shook his head, a small smile on his face as he spoke. "I'll just be waiting for you, love," he assured you, his voice soft and loving.

You could see the trust and respect in his eyes, knowing that he was willing to give you the space to spend time with your friend.

You shrugged, a small smile on your lips as you accepted his offer. The thought of him waiting for your return filled you with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

"Okay," you agreed, your voice holding a hint of curiosity, "I'll text her."

With that, you pulled out your phone and sent your friend a quick message, letting her know you would be free for dinner.

You returned to the room, your arms carrying a few bags of shopping, and set them down on the bed.

Hugh, who had been relaxing, looked over to see you approaching. Curiosity gleamed in his eyes as you began to unpack your purchases.

"What did you get?"

You showed him the items you had bought, a mix of clothing, shoes, and accessories that you held up for him to see. There was a hint of excitement in your eyes as you did.

Hugh looked at the items, his eyes scanning over them slowly. "Looks like you had fun."

You shrugged, a hint of frustration in your voice. "It wasn't horrible after I managed to block out Debora's comments," you admitted, your tone holding a hint of annoyance.

Hugh frowned at your words, a concerned look in his eyes. "She said something hurtful? To you?"

You waved your hand, dismissing Debora's snide comments as unimportant. "Just a few snide remarks," you said, your voice casual. Hugh looked at you intently, clearly not satisfied with your response. "What did she say?"

You replied with a huff, a hint of frustration in your voice. "It's a long list."

Hugh's frown deepened at your response. He could tell that Debora's comments had bothered you more than you were admitting.

Hugh's expression hardened at your words, his voice firm. "I'll talk to her." He was clearly serious and determined to address the issue. He knew Debora's comments had been hurtful to you and he wanted to set things right.

"You don't have to put up with it," he insisted, his voice holding a hint of protectiveness. You leaned in and kissed him, your lips meeting his affectionately. "I know," you mumbled against his mouth, "she's just jealous."

You dialed your friend's number, a smile on your lips as you waited for her to answer.

After a few rings, she picked up, "Hey!” “Hey! Where are we meeting?” Your friend's cheerful voice came through the phone, her tone filled with excitement. "We're at that Italian place downtown I told you about."

You smiled, picturing the restaurant in your mind's eye. "That place sounds great," you replied, your tone eager. "I’ll meet you there in twenty." "Perfect! See you there," your friend said, her voice filled with anticipation. "Can't wait to catch up with you."

Hugh looked up as you walked over to him, his gaze roaming over your form as you stood in your heels, dressed for dinner. “You could always tell me not to go.”

He met your eyes, a hint of concern in his expression. "You really want me to do that?" he asked, his voice softer than usual. “No, I’m just saying you could.” Hugh chuckled at your response, his lips forming a soft smile at the way you giggled.

"I could, but I won't," he replied, his tone light-hearted, although his concern was still evident.

“I won’t be long,” You leaned in and kissed Hugh, a final reassurance before leaving.

"I hope not," he murmured against your lips, concern still etched on his face. "Don't be too late." You blew one last kiss as you left, leaving Hugh behind. Hugh stood in the room for a moment, his mind going back to Debora's snide remarks. He knew that he would have a talk with her.

You entered the restaurant and your face lit up as you spotted your friend at a table. The sight of her filled you with excitement and you couldn't help but smile widely.

"Hey!" you exclaimed, walking towards the table. Your friend turned to look at you, a wide grin spreading across her face as she saw you approaching the table. "Hey!" she replied, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "You made it! I've been waiting forever," she teased, a playful smile on her lips.

“Then I’m surprised you saved my seat and didn’t get some handsome waiter to sit down.”

Your friend chuckled at your remark, a small knowing smile on her lips. "Sorry to disappoint, but I thought it would be better to leave the handsome waiters to their jobs," she joked, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

You and your friend chatted and caught up on everything, from the latest album and her new movies, to your relationship with Hugh.

"So," you began, as the conversation turned to your relationship, "Hugh is such a great guy. You really hit the jackpot." “Comes with the extra baggage though. His ex wife literally hates me.”

Your friend listened intently as you spoke about Hugh's ex-wife and the animosity she held towards you.

"Oh wow," she said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Why does she hate you?"

You shrugged, “probably too many reasons. I think she is jealous.” Your friend nodded, her expression understanding. "Jealousy can make people do crazy things," she said, her voice sympathetic. "But what matters is how Hugh feels about you."

Hugh's mind was buzzing while you were having a good time with your friend. He called Debora, summoning her to talk to him in private.

Hugh opened the door for his ex-wife, a firm expression on his face. "We need to talk," he said, his voice flat and serious. Debora followed Hugh inside, her eyes narrowing in response to his firm tone. "About what?" she asked, her voice a mix of annoyance and curiosity.

"Don't play dumb with me," Hugh said, closing the door behind them. "I know you have something to say about my relationship."

Debora's face twisted in disdain, her eyes rolling in frustration.

"She's always running to you," she retorted, her voice laced with annoyance. "It's pathetic." Hugh's jaw clenched as he listened to Debora's words. "Don't talk about her like that," he warned, his voice steady but firm.

Debora sank into the couch, her tone confident as she spoke to Hugh, "Come on, Hugh. You can't possibly tell me you're in this for the long run. You're tired of her. I can see it."

Hugh's eyes narrowed, the comment hitting a nerve. "Watch your words," he said through gritted teeth.

Debora kept pushing, her words carrying a hint of bitterness. "I remember our marriage," she said, her voice laced with pain. "But this, this is just a bid for help. You don't have to go far and hire some bimbo to make me jealous."

Hugh's expression hardened, his patience wearing thin. "Don't act like you know what I'm thinking," he shot back.

Debora's voice lowered, a wistful tone seeping into her words. "Think about our dinner, how nice it was. The family, back together again. You barely noticed she was there.”

Hugh's eyes widened slightly at the words, a pang of guilt in his chest. Memories of their happy moments together flooded his mind.

Debora saw the flicker of emotion in Hugh's eyes, and her expression softened. "You remember, don't you?" she said, her voice filled with a hint of pleading. "We could have that again."

Debora rose from the couch, a hopeful smile on her lips. "I still love you, Hugh," she said, her voice a mix of hopefulness and vulnerability.

Hugh's heart ached at her confession, the weight of her words sinking in. Debora's voice carried a hint of pain as she confessed, "Seeing you with her drives me insane. It makes me realize what we had."

Hugh's mind was torn, conflicting emotions warring within him. Debora moved closer to Hugh, her hand reaching out to grasp his.

He stood there, frozen, his heart torn in two.

Hugh's mind was a chaotic mess of thoughts and emotions. He wanted to pull away, to uphold his commitment to you, but the sight of Debora's hand on his, the memories of their past together, were making it difficult.

Despite the turmoil inside him, Hugh realized that he didn't want Debora. He wanted you.

His hand reached out, gently covering Debora's, but he didn't pull it away.

"Deb," Hugh began, intending to reject her. He was going to list all the reasons that had led to their divorce. But before he could speak, Debora leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips, halting his words.

Hugh froze, his resolve weakening.

In all the whirlwind of Debora's unexpected kiss, Hugh didn't hear the door open quietly, and you walked in on the scene. You froze momentarily, your eyes widening at the unexpected sight.

Hugh's eyes widened in surprise, his heart dropping at the sight of you standing at the door. Debora's head snapped around, her hand still holding onto Hugh's.

"Baby," Hugh breathed, his voice laced with panic.

The moment was broken as you entered the bedroom and closed the door.

Hugh's heart sank, the weight of the situation crashing down upon him. He stood there, frozen, as he heard the sound of the door closing, knowing full well that you had witnessed everything.

Hugh moved swiftly, desperation in his steps, as he rushed to the bedroom door. The click of the lock seemed to echo in his ears, a silent barrier between him and you.

"Baby," he called out, his voice filled with urgency. "Please, let me explain." You heard Hugh's desperate plea, the sound of his voice through the door. Your mind was reeling with the emotional whirlwind.

"Explain what, Hugh?" you asked, your voice laced with anger and hurt, from the other side of the door.

Hugh's heart ached with the hurt and anger in your voice. He pounded his fist against the door, desperation and pleading in his words.

"I can explain everything," he said urgently, his voice filled with urgency. "Just let me in. Let me talk to you."

Your heart ached with the certainty in your mind. You knew there was something suspicious about the situation, and you instinctively sensed that Hugh had not been innocent either.

You remained silent on the other side of the door, your anger and hurt still etched on your face. "No," you replied simply, your voice firm.

Your mind raced with emotions, as you reached for your belongings, a small carryon case in hand. Tears streamed down your cheeks, a mixture of anger, hurt, and despair washing over you.

The reality of the situation was sinking in, and you felt a sense of betrayal and uncertainty settle deep within you.

You emerged from the room with fresh tears on your cheeks, your eyes meeting Hugh's with a glare. Behind Hugh's shoulder, Debora sat on the couch, an expression of satisfaction on her face as she witnessed your pain and Hugh's guilt.

The sight was like salt to your emotional wounds.

Hugh's heart clenched at the sight of you, the pain in your eyes nearly breaking him. He took a step towards you, desperate to explain.

"Baby," he whispered, desperation in his voice. "Please, let me talk."

“You can return all the shit I bought today, you can give the key my apartment to Ryan, and you can lose my fucking number.”

Hugh's heart shattered as he heard your words, the finality in your voice cutting through him like a knife.

"No," he pleaded, a desperate expression on his face. "Wait, let me explain. Please, just listen to me." Hugh's plea was met with a sharp look from you, your anger and hurt evident in your expression. He took a step closer, desperation etched on his face.

"I love you," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "Please, don't give up on us. Just let me talk to you."

You shook your head, “if you loved me, you would’ve never even let her get that close.” Hugh's heart ached at your words. The truth in them struck him to the core. He knew he had messed up, and he desperately wanted to explain.

"I know," he admitted, his voice quivering with emotion. "I know I messed up. But I swear, I didn't mean for this to happen. Please, just give me a chance to explain."

“Happy now?” Your glare pierced through Debora, a sharp and cold look in your eyes.

Debora sat on the couch, her satisfaction evident on her face. "Oh, very," she replied, a smug grin on her lips.

“Enjoy repairing your marriage.” Your scoff echoed in the room, the sarcasm evident in your voice.

Debora leaned back on the couch, a mocking laugh escaping from her lips. "Oh, I will," she sneered.

Hugh's hand reached out to grab you, his expression filled with desperation. But you wrenched your arm away from his grip, your eyes flashing with anger.

"Don't touch me," you snapped, the words filled with hurt and indignation.

Your anger and hurt boiled within you as you stepped into the uber, determined to keep your tears at bay. The ride felt like an eternity, the silence in the car only fueling the whirlwind of emotions inside you.

As you buckled your seatbelt and sat in the backseat, you couldn't help but think about the scene you had just left behind inside Hugh's home. Debora sneering on the couch, Hugh trying to explain, and the look of betrayal in your eyes.

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rosiahills22 · 1 day ago

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Cabin in the Snow

Request: Yes / No Fluffcember Day 21!

Don’t be shy, request things! <3 Have a nice day/night

Luke Alvez x Fem!Reader

Word count: 576

Warnings: Just cozy cute fluff!

Y/N: Your Name

Prompt(s): Cabin in the Snow

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(Not my photo, credit to whoever made it!)

The cabin was quiet, nestled deep in the forest, surrounded by towering pine trees dusted with fresh snow. Through the windows, I could see the forest blanketed in white, everything softened by the gentle hush of winter. Inside, though, the crackling fire cast a golden glow across the room, filling the cabin with warmth. I wrapped myself tighter in a soft blanket and looked up as Like came in from the kitchen, balancing two mugs of hot cocoa and giving me a grin.

“Extra marshmallows, just how you like.” He said, handing me my mug. I took a sip, letting the sweetness and warmth melt through me.

“I’m almost convinced you’re trying to make this the best Christmas ever.” I teased, nudging him as he sat beside me. He chuckled, slinging an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his side.

“Well, that was the plan.” His tone was playful, but there was a softness in his eyes that made my heart skip a beat.

It was our first Christmas away from the chaos of the city, away from the noise and the endless busyness of our jobs. Luke had suggested the cabin idea weeks ago, and I jumped at the chance to spend the holidays just the two of us. Somewhere quiet, surrounded by snow and nature. We had spent the day exploring the snowy trails nearby, the snow crunching under our boots. Luke stopped every few feet to either toss snow at me or point out a hidden view of the mountains. Now, we were warm and cozy, sinking into the comfort of the cabin.

Outside, the snow had started falling again, each flake catching the faint glow from the cabin’s lights, turning the world into a sparkling wonderland. I felt Luke shift beside me, and when I glanced over, he was watching me, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

“What?” I asked, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

“Nothing.” He said, kissing my temple.

“Just thinking about how perfect all this is.” I snuggled closer, feeling the solid reassurance of his presence.

“I was thinking the same thing.” I happily sighed. I reached for his hand, lacing my fingers with his, and for a moment, we just sat there watching the snow fall in comfortable silence.

“Do you think we’ll get snowed in?” I joked, but part of me was hoping we would. I didn’t want to go back to reality just yet, not when everything felt so peaceful.

“I wouldn’t mind. We’ve got enough firewood, plenty of food, and each other. Sounds like the ideal Christmas to me.” He said, grinning. I laughed, giving him a playful nudge.

“You just don’t wanna go back to work yet.”

“Guilty.” He said with a laugh.

“Actually, I think I just like this. Just us, being together.” He said with a soft tone, looking down at me. His words hung in the air, simple but sincere, and I felt a warmth spread through me. I leaned in, brushing my lips against his, a soft, lingering kiss that said everything words couldn’t When we finally pulled apart, I rested my head on his shoulder, letting the quiet cabin and the soft fall of snow outside surround us. There was a peace here that you couldn’t really feel in the city.

“Merry Christmas, Luke.” I muttered, feeling his hand tighten around mine.

“Marry Christmas, beautiful.” He whispered back, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

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rosiahills22 · 2 days ago

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Luke Alvez x Reader: Five Feet Apart

Request: “hey! I love your blog and your writing so much, so thanks for that! im not sure if you’ve seen season 15 yet, but could you do a fic based off from the episode where Luke and Matt are kidnapped by the unsub, except maybe it’s Luke and the reader that are kidnapped?”

Word count: 4.2 k

Warnings: kidnapping, suicide tw, blood mention

The first thing you notice when you start to wake up is that there’s something dripping onto your leg, it’s warm and slides towards the inner portion of your thigh. The thought is replaced by the searing pain in your forehead. You groan, quickly realizing the warm liquid dripping into your lap is your own blood.

The sound of your name is what forces you to finally peel your eyes open. You brace yourself for the brightness of the sun or fluorescent lights, but instead, you find yourself planted in a damp, dimly lit room.

You hear your name being called again, and you slowly turn your head in the direction of the sound, wincing when a sharp pain radiates through your head.

“Luke?” you gasp. He’s about five feet away from you, sitting on the floor against a beam with his hands tied behind his back. You’re able to get a better look at your surroundings, as you fight to get your bearings in what looks like an old warehouse.

He lets out a shaky breath. “Thank God,” he mutters, dropping his head slightly in relief.

You catch a glimpse of the bruise that’s taking up a large portion of his face and you shutter. “What happened?” you whisper. You feel your chest start to inflate with panic. “Luke- Where are we?”

“I don’t know,” he admits slowly.

He looks around the empty room for anything noteworthy.

“Luke–” you call out his name weakly, knowing that there was nothing he could do, but all the while desperately hoping that you were wrong. The more alert you become, the more panicked you become. Without even thinking you start harshly jerking against the ties around your own wrists, desperately trying to free yourself from their constraints. You can feel the rope digging into your flesh as you tug harder, but you don’t stop. The fear and frustration inside of you escapes your body through thick sobs. They echo through the room.

Luke’s trying to inch his way closer to you, he’s already figured out that his restraints are too tight to maneuver out of, but his body naturally gravitates towards you and your obvious discomfort.

“Hey, hey, hey–” he tries to soothe. Luke’s stomach drops, as he watches you panic from only five feet away. Luke wishes he could cross the room in a heartbeat and wrap his arms around you securely. He wishes he could scoop you up, cradle you to his chest, and just hold you until you could breathe again. “It’s okay. Baby, look at me– look at me.”

You steady yourself long enough to lift your head and move your gaze towards Luke. You try to ignore the cut above his brow, split skin that’s oozing blood, and instead focus on his eyes, which are wide and wild, but still soft. They’re a deep, brown– the color of the earth after a heavy rain. You’d looked into those eyes so many times before, but you’re still always amazed at how much strength they hold. Despite all he’d weathered and all he’d seen, they hold so much life.

Slowly, Luke starts to take deep breaths. He’s exaggerating the movement, like he wants you to follow suit. You match your choppy inhales to his smooth, methodical ones, and gradually, you feel yourself start to calm.

“Listen to me,” Luke whispers. You continue to breathe. “We’re going to be okay.”

…

“Wait a minute.” Spencer is standing in the parking garage stationed outside of the BAU and shakes his head, his arms crossed tightly.

He’s walking into the building with JJ and Garcia when he notices Luke’s truck parked in exactly the same position as Spencer had seen it the previous night.

“What’s up?” JJ asks, looking up from her phone and stopping to wait. Her and Penelope exchange questioning looks.

“Luke’s truck…” Spencer trails off as he approaches the vehicle. Nothing looks out of place. All the windows are intact– no belongings are scattered on the ground as if there’d been a struggle. But he can’t shake the feeling in his gut– the one telling him that something is wrong.

Spencer cups his hand around his eyes and peers through the glass of Luke’s truck. There is a steel coffee cup sitting in the cup holder, a cell phone charger dangling from the power outlet, and some gum wrappers scrunched up and discarded in the center console. But Spencer’s stomach sinks even further when he looks onto the driver’s side floor and sees the wallet and phone discarded hastily.

“Guys–” Spencer says suddenly. When he takes a step back he notices some dark, crimson stains on the cement ground. He squats down quickly, inspecting the trail of dots. “I think this is blood.”

Garcia gasps.

“Call Emily and Dave…” Spencer gazes underneath the truck, inspecting the area. His eyes widen when he sees a much larger pool of blood on the ground outside the passengers side. His voice lowers and he sounds out of breath when he speaks. “Call everyone.”

…

The surprised smile that erupted on Luke’s face when he saw you across the parking lot made getting up at three thirty to catch an earlier flight worth it. You were jetlagged and hungry and carrying bags under your eyes that were heavier than your luggage, but you forgot about all of that the moment that your eyes landed on him. He crossed the gap between you two in a hurry, shedding the bag he had strapped across his chest and discarding it carelessly. In just two, long strides, he was embracing you, wrapping his strong arms around your waist and lifting you up excitedly.

You squealed when your feet left the ground, causing you to tighten the grip you had around his neck.

“What are you doing here? You weren’t supposed to be home until tomorrow,” he asked breathlessly when he finally set you back down. He kept his hands placed securely on your lower back.

You drummed your fingers across his chest and smiled. “I wanted to surprise you, I switched my flight, because I missed you.”

“They just let you exchange flights?” he inquired.

You bit your lip. “There were a couple of fees,” you downplayed the extra hundreds dollars you had to spend for the ticket.

Luke smirked, sensing your secret.

“It was worth it though,” you paused, poking his chest. “You were worth it.”

Luke’s face broke out into another enormous grin, right before he leaned in and pressed his lips against yours.

…

Emily runs. The way you run when you were late for a flight, and the speakers were announcing that the gates were closing. Or the way you ran to flag down a taxi about to drive off. Or how a mother would run if she heard her child crying in another room. She runs the way you’d run if your family was in trouble. Because hers is.

The blood rushing through her veins pulsates loudly in her ears, like a loud drumbeat narrating her every step. That’s all she hears as she races to the parking garage.

When she arrives, the rest of the team is already there, wide-eyed, and waiting for her leadership. She is surprised to realize that she isn’t even out of breath as she spoke.

“This is personal, the Bureau is not going to want us working this case.”

Before the rest of the team can protest, she lowers her voice and continues, “So we’ll do this quietly, and we’ll do this discreetly.”

…

“So tell me all about your trip. Did you bring enough scarves?”

You playfully hit Luke on the arm, punishing him for teasing you. “Yes, as a matter of fact I did,” you said cordially.

He smirked. “I told you three would be an adequate amount of scarves.”

You laughed, before leaning back against the flatbed of his truck. “It was good, the weather was nice. My brother and I only fought the entire time.”

Luke sighed, wrapping his arm around you. “I know it’s tough going home, but I know your mom appreciates it when you visit.” He pulled you closer to him and pressed a kiss to the side of your head. “I promise next time I’ll go with you, to gang up on your brother with you.”

You sighed and leaned closer into Luke’s touch, closing your eyes. You never realized how much you were going to miss him until you were away from him.

After a few moments, you reluctantly pulled away. “As much as I love our parking garage reunion, could we go home now? I’m starving.”

Luke smiled and nodded. “Yeah,” he agreed. “I need to get away from work for a while.”

As you made your way to the passenger side, Luke skipped around his truck to retrieve his bag, which was still on the ground. You waited by the door for him to unlock it, your hand already positioned around the handle.

You stared at your own, tired reflection in the window, marveling at the fact that Luke found you desirable in such a frazzled state. You were so fixated on your own disheveled appearance that you didn’t even notice the man approaching you, until his reflection was right behind yours.

Before you could jump, before you could turn around or scream, before you could hear Luke yelling for you to “watch out”, your head was struck and everything went dark.

…

Spencer is in the process of drawing lines on a map when Matt and Tara walk into the conference room.

“So it turns out Y/N booked a six o’clock flight into D.C. Her cell phone records show she was in Quantico before the signal was lost.”

Reid narrowed his eyes. “So she wasn’t supposed to be there,” he thinks out loud. “Whoever took Luke took her too, but she wasn’t the target. He was.”

“Who would have it out for Alvez?” Tara wonders. She crosses her arms and shakes her head.

Right on cue, JJ walks into the conference room. She slams the stack of files she’s been holding on the table in front of them. “Take your pick,” she answers Tara’s question. “Looks like Luke made a lot of enemies during his fugitive task force days.”

The rest of the team hesitates as they gaze at the daunting pile of files in front of them. But Reid wastes no time before surging forward and ripping open the first one he can get his hands on.

Spencer is going to find Luke.

…

Luke is the strong one. He holds you during scary movies and can pick you up with such ease (despite your protests). He always sleeps on the side of the bed closest to the door, and instinctively wraps his arm around you protectively anytime he senses danger. Hell, he literally fights bad guys for a living. He is a real life superhero.

This situation, as it turned out, is no different. While you sit, cold and shivering on the ground, crying silently, Luke comforts you, all while continuously searching for a way out of this mess.

He’s interrupted when heavy footsteps approach. Your eyes instinctively shoot towards the noise. A man emerges from behind some barrels stacked in the corner. You can tell that he’s tall and muscular, wearing combat boots that are tucked into his utility pants. He looks military.

“Alvez.” The word slips off his tongue slowly, like he’s savoring it. “Remember me?”

Something in Luke’s demeanor shifts when he catches a glimpse of the man before him. His eyes sink, the rest of his face quickly following suit.

“Ray–” Luke says the man's name like he still can’t believe it. But before he can finish his sentence, the man, named Ray, winds back and thrusts his foot into Luke’s stomach.

Luke lets out an unnatural grunting sound as he doubles over. Without missing a beat, the man kicks him again, and again. He kicks him until Luke is writhing in pain on the floor, hands still tied behind his back, defenseless.

You don’t even realize you’re screaming at this man to stop until Ray turns to look at you. Your gaze doesn’t leave Luke until the man approaches you quietly. You don’t care that you’ve basically made yourself a target at this point. You would’ve done anything to get him to stop hurting Luke.

“You–” the man says. He has a hint of humor in his voice. “We didn’t plan for you to be at the garage.What a pleasant surprise.”

Amidst his writhing in pain, Luke snarls from the floor. “Leave her alone!” His voice sounds gurgled, and you realize he’s probably talking through the blood in his mouth.

His lips tug into a smile once he realizes how protective Luke is over you. You can see on his face that he’s going to play off of that. He inches closer.

There’s nowhere for you to go, so you press yourself so far into the beam you’re tied to that it starts to leave an imprint in your back. For a moment, you think he’s going to start kicking you as hard as he’d kicked Luke, but instead he bends down in front of you and clicks his tongue.

You get a good look at Ray’s face, it’s covered in creases and craters. He stares at you without blinking. When he lifts his hand slowly, you can’t help but flinch. But gently, he pushes the strand of hair out of your eyes. Your breathing has become choppy and labored.

“Don’t touch her!” Luke spits out. Ray’s hand freezes on your cheek and he smiles again. This time, he’s staring directly at you.

Then he stands up, and quietly wanders behind you. You lock eyes with Luke, hoping to find some form of comfort. Instead, you just see anger and fear.

You sense Ray behind you. His footsteps click on the cement floor, when they stop, you assume he’s hovering. You expect to be hit again, or shot or kicked– but what you don’t expect is the pressure of your hand restraints to be loosened and then released all together. Before you can rub the skin that’d been rope burned, your arm is being grabbed and you’re roughly being hoisted up on your feet.

You stumble, Ray’s tight grip the only thing keeping you from falling. His arm bars across your chest and pulls tightly across your neck. He pulls something black out from his side and clicks the end of it. The cold barrel presses hard against your temple.

“Do you know what happened to me after I got arrested, after you got me arrested?” He spits at Luke.

Luke watches the scene folding out in front of him wearily. He has to choose his words carefully, or he could lose you.

“It was my job to put you away,” Luke says steadily.

The man shakes his head and repeats slowly, “Do you know what happened to me after you put me away?”

Luke’s shaken by the question. Ray can tell.

“They killed them,” he states calmly. “You see, it got out that I was caught, and by a fed no less. And my kind– they don’t take too kindly to the feds. They mistook my capture for a betrayal. So…” his voice trails off in the darkness. “So to teach me a lesson, they killed them.”

He clears his throat, his voice returning with a newly found sense of anger as he continues to speak. “Did you know that if you’re in prison, and your wife and son are murdered, you’re not allowed to go to their funeral?”

Ray lowers the gun from your temple. You’re about to inhale a shaky sigh of relief, hoping that maybe he had a change of heart, when he turns the gun, pointing it directly at Luke.

Everything inside of you ignites, like you’ve been set on fire from within. You press your hands into the arm still barred across your chest and try to get free.

“Stop it! Please!” You cry out. “I’ll do anything you want! Please don’t hurt him!”

Ray smiles, he releases you from his grasp and steps back. He leans slightly forward to caress your face. “Oh darling, I’m not going to hurt him.” He presses something cold and hard into your open palm. “You are.”

…

It’s in the evening when a file finally catches Spencer’s eye. He’s elbows deep in paperwork and case files, but this one stands out.

“Hang on,” Reed thinks out loud. He gets up from the seat he’s been planted in since the morning and makes his way to the drawing board. “This one– this guy, his name is Malcolm Ray, he was released from prison three weeks ago. His entire family was murdered just a month after he was put away by Luke. It says the killer was never found.”

“The last contact this guy has before he’s put behind bars is Luke,” JJ says.

Spencer nods. “He associates Luke locking him up with him not being there to protect his family.”

Emily sighs. “That’s certainly motive.”

…

You shake your head harshly. The tears falling down your face are making your vision blurry. “No,” you plead. “No, no, no.”

The idea of Luke being hurt is terrifying and unnatural. Luke doesn’t get hurt. Luke is the protector. Luke is strong. But the idea of you being the one to hurt Luke is unbearable.

“Shoot him,” Ray orders.

You shake your head.

Ray moves his hands behind his back and draws out another gun. This one, he points directly at the back of your head. You hear the click of the trigger. “Shoot him,” Ray repeats.

The cold barrel is pressed to your scalp and your adrenaline is surging through your veins. You’re staring at Luke now, desperate for him to give you some of his strength.

“It’s okay,” he speaks softly. “It’s okay, it’s okay,”

He’s giving you permission– letting you off the hook, so that way if you actually choose to shoot him, you can do it guilt free. Leave it to Luke to look after you, even while he’s staring down death.

You let out a shaky sob, your arms trembling with the weight of the handgun. You shake your head one last time and sigh, defeated. “No.”

The barrel of the gun pushes harder into your head while you hear Ray mutter, “You stupid–”

But his speech is interrupted when a strong voice echoes through the warehouse.

“Put it down, Ray!”

You turn to find the source of the voice, but before you can, you’re being grabbed again and pulled backwards.

Ray’s holding you to his chest, his arm across your neck, the gun that was pointed to the back of your head is now secured tightly on your temple.

“Drop it,” a familiar voice orders. For a moment, you think that Rossi is speaking to you. You quickly discard the handgun, letting it crash to the floor.

“Malcolm, I know what they did to your wife,” Spencer’s there too. He takes a step closer. Your eyes linger on him desperately. “And your son.”

You feel the grip around your neck tighten.

“I want him to hurt! The way that I hurt!” Ray presses the gun harder and harder to your temple. The angrier he becomes, the rougher he gets with you. You’re scared at what he might do if Spencer pushes him too hard.

“Making him hurt the way that you hurt isn’t going to bring them back, Malcolm. They’re gone.”

For a moment, the grip on your neck gets unbearably tight. So tight, that you have to fight just to inhale. And it’s in that moment that you realize you were going to die. It seems so inevitable. Spencer isn’t looking at you, instead his attention is focused on Ray. You wish he would look at you, offer you some sort of comfort. Your vision starts to go blurry and you find that you can’t even inhale anymore.

Just as you start to accept your new found fate, you feel the grip on your chest loosen. Ray’s arm relaxes and releases you. You lunge forward, your momentum too strong to combat, and tumble to the floor.

“You’re right,” Ray says. “They’re gone.” You’re barely able to crawl forward before you hear an earth-shatteringly loud bang, followed by the sound of Ray’s body hitting the floor.

You can’t help but turn around and face it. Ray’s body lays lifeless on the cool, cement ground. A pool of blood is already spreading around his own head.

You stay stuck like that, unable to move or breathe or think or do anything. You suppose this was what shock felt like– complete and utter numbness. Like time is standing still. Like your mind is no longer connected to your body.

A gentle hand lightly touches your shoulder and you’re awoken from your trance. You jump at the contact, to find Spencer hovering over you, a worried look on his face.

“Are you okay?” he asks, kneeling down so that he’s eye level with you.

You nod– a lie if you ever told one. But you aren’t concerned with yourself at the moment. You sit back on your heels, your hands resting in your lap. The air is suddenly hotter than it’s been all evening.

The red blood spreads so fast on the concrete floor. It oozes thickly in a perfectly round circle. You’re so open, so vulnerable. You don’t feel safe in the open like this. You want to bury yourself in your sheets at home, and wake up to find that this had all been a dream. But sure enough, when you place your hand on your own arm and start scratching vigorously, trying to wake yourself up, you can’t. This is real.

Your ears are ringing as you fall into a pit of darkness, nails digging deeper into your own skin. It’s getting unbearably hot. It’s terrifying how alone you feel.

In a muffled daze, you suddenly hear your name being called.

Once Emily frees him from his restraints, Luke wastes no time in hoisting himself up and rushing over to you. It’s hard to miss his girl sobbing on the ground.

You’re crying harder than he’s ever witnessed, and it makes his knees nearly buckle as he runs closer. Your nails are digging into your own skin and you’re unable to catch even a single second of breath.

When Luke reaches you, he can’t possibly move fast enough. With hands outstretched, he desperately tries to grasp onto any part of you that he can get. You’re trembling, and for a split moment, he notices you flinch from his touch.

“Baby, it’s me,” he assures you, choking on his own words.

It takes you a minute, but soon you realize it’s Luke kneeling beside you. Luke– with his hands on your face. Luke’s not hurting you. Luke’s would never hurt you.

“Shh,” Luke soothes, pulling you into his arms quickly. “I’m here, God– I’m so sorry,” he breaks off when you grasp at his bicep, fingers digging into the cloth of his shirt, craving to be closer and closer to him. “I’m here,” he repeats.

Luke holds you steady, his hand traveling up and down your back comfortingly. After a while, your tear ducts run dry and there’s simply nothing left but exhaustion. You rest your head on his chest.

Once Luke notices that you’ve calmed down slightly, he adjusts his grip on your body and stands the two of you up. “C’mere,” he murmurs. Without waiting for a response, he bends, wraps his arms around your knees and lifts you into his arms.

You wrap your arms around his neck, letting your sobs subside while he whispers how much he loves you in your ear.

“Let’s get out of here, yeah?” Luke suggests.

You close your eyes against his chest and simply breathe him in as Luke carries you bridal style out of the warehouse.

You spent the rest of the night attached to Luke. The car ride home you’re glued to his side, his arm wrapped securely around your waist as he mumbles soft words into your ear. When you walk up to your shared house, Luke makes sure to guide each step you take, his steadiness making up for your shakiness. His strong hand resting on your hip. Only once you’re back in the four walls of your own house, do you venture away from him.

You find yourself crawling into bed still fully clothed. You don’t have the energy to do anything else. You’re staring at the blank wall in front of you when you feel a strong arm wrap around your waist. Luke rests his head on your shoulder. You leaned into his arms, finding his hand to hold tightly.

“It’s over.” Luke whispers in your ear.

The words made you relax slightly.

“It’s over,” he repeats. “He’s dead– he’s gone.”

Luke plants a soft kiss to your shoulder blade and you tug him closer against you. His warm breath is comforting and familiar on your neck. And you finally feel safe, in his arms.

“It’s over,” you repeat, exhaling the breath of air you’ve been holding.

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rosiahills22 · 2 days ago

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The Games We Play ♡ Luke Alvez

Pairing: luke alvez x fem!reader

Cw: no use y/n, mentions of Canon typical violence, probably strays far from cannon but the vibes are there, luke being a himbo, reader being intelligent (as you should) .

Trope: friends/coworkers to lovers

Word count: idk maybe 1k?

Summary: after a long case you school Spencer Reid on the plane back playing chess and you try to convince luke to play. It's only when luke is driving you home that he reveals that he's never played before...

♡♡♡♡♡

"And that's checkmate." You moving your queens knight into the closing position. Spencer look at you confused for what must have been the 5th time on the flight back from the last case.

"How?!" He questioned, slightly outraged by his loosing streak.

You bit back a simile as you looked at him, "would now be a good time to mention I was a 'chess prodigy' growing up...?"

"So was I but-"

"Spencer, I was British chess champion was I was 16 years old and competed in the world championships several times before flying to the US and joining the fbi..." you confessed, smiling at your childhood achievements. Spencer was an intelligent wonder kid, but he wasn't a chess grand master and he didn't have several chess titles, not like you.

"I think that's your signal to quick while your behind," luke commented from beside you, biting back a laugh as he looked at Spencer sulking. "I'm sure you could beat her at noughts and crosses?"

You rolled your eyes at his comment. He probably wasn't wrong, but still you liked the idea of winning, especially after the lengthy case that you just closed.

It was a collection of several murders of young girls and their dogs, with alot of mutilation, far too much for your average serial killer. You managed to close it, but not after weeks of sleepless nights and too many casualties for your liking.

"I'll have to pass on that game," you say before Spencer can try to convince you to play noughts and crosses. "But alvez, your the last one left that I haven't played," you say turning to look at the brunet who's eyes were already fixed on your own, "what do you say? I'll go easy on you I promise."

"Hell no!" He laughed, but you could tell there was somthing else that he wasn't saying. You were a profiler so you were generally pretty good at reading people, but with luke it was almost like you could read his mind and vise versa. You didn't just know eachother, you understood one another. Most days that was a comfort in this line of work, but sometimes it was terrifying.

It scared you that someone could know you so completely without having to tell them. It scared you that you saw luke as more than just a colleague and friend, it scared you that while he understood you he probably didn't feel the same. It was torture.

But you had to be professional. Which is why you didn't press why he didn't want to play and chalked it down to him wanting to keep his pride. However it didn't stop you from drifting asleep with your head on his shoulder when Spencer tried to analyse your previous chess game. Platonic friends can fall asleep on eachothers shoulders, right?

♡♡♡

As the plane landed you began to stir as luke gently nudged you.

"Wake up princess," he whispered in your ear.

"Shut up, I'm up," you mumbled as you got up, feigning annoyance at the nickname. It was pointless in front of a group of profilers, who could probably all could tell that you had a bit of a thing for luke and actually enjoyed the nickname, but your pride wouldn't allow you to admit to any if it.

"Let me drive you home." He says as you're walking of the plane. "Your tired, its probably not a good idea if you drive right now."

Usually you would argue, make some excuse, but you took the buss to work and we'll the buss after 10pm for a woman wasn't exactly a safe place, even if you took down serial killers for a living. So you agreed to a totally platonic friend driving another friend home after a long day.

"Why don't you want to play chess with me?" You asked once luke began driving down the farmiliar roads to your apartment. You weren't going to ask, really you weren't, but curiosity got the best of you.

"I didn't want to get my ass handed to me like everyone else," he laughed, but once again there was somthing else, somthing hidden. He didn't look at you, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

"Luke?" You questioned, "you know you can tell me, right?"

He was quiet for a moment, changing the gears of the car, the radio loosing signal briefly.

"Promise you won't laugh?" He asked quietly, he seemed vulnerable, almost sacred.

You nodded, "not unless it's an embassading childhood story."

He laughed then, the tension in the air easing.

"Okay," he nodded, pulling up outside your apartment complex, pausing before he spoke. "I don't know how..."

He didn't look at you, his eyes were fixed on the road even though he had just parked.

You placed your hand on his knee.

It broke your heart that he felt embarrassed saying it. It didn't even occur to you that he wouldn't know. You'd just assumed he knew because he was intelligent. But that doesn't matter if no one has taught you how to play.

He looked at you then, vulnerable. He thought you would think he was stupid, as if he wasn't one of the smartest people you had ever met. As if he wasn't so talented and kind and not to mention beautiful inside and out.

"I can teach you." You mumber quietly, "you would be good at it, all you need to know are the basics. Not that you need to learn, I just think it would be fun to play with you." You similed before over thinking your last few words. "Chess" You amended, "playing chess with you."

He laughed at your fumble. You just grew redder. Now it was your turn to be embarrassed.

Luke placed his hand over yours, finally turning to face you with his beautiful smile. You grew redder again, this time not because of embarrassment.

"You would do that?" He asked, smiling more widely.

"Of course! I love chess and showing the beauty of it to someone that I love honestly is the dream. Platonically of course, not that you would think any differently I love you platonically. Not that you would think otherwise, obviously. I love you platonically. Not beacuse your unattractive. Your very attractive don't worry, not that you would, I mean look at you. Sorry I didn't mean like that I just ment... in a coworkers way you know? Sorry I'l stop now thanks for driving me home." Your hands covered your face, too embarrassed to look at luke.

He began to laugh. You wanted to die. Why on earth did you just say all of that? Honestly sometimes you felt as though your mouth ran 1000% faster than your brain when you were tired out from a long case.

"For someone so intellectual you can be so stupid princess," his hand left yours and tilted your chin to face him,as your hands fell from your face.

"What do you-?"

You began to question, but you couldn't finnish. Not that you wanted to anyways. Likes head diped forward and cut you off with a kiss. Slow, almost as though he was testing to make sure that this is what you really wanted. He didn't want to push you.

The kiss ended far to quickly. You wanted more, you needed more.

"I ment that in a 'non platonic' way, I mean it in a 'I find you very attractive' way, just incase you needed clarification." He laughed bashgully as he lingered only inches away from your face.

This time it was you who made the move, grabbing his face and pulling him into you. you flushed your lips against his as he reciprocated just as strongly. It felt right. It felt like this moment was overdue. you were falling deeper into his grasp. His arms snaked around your waist, pulling you as close as he could in the car as you saw stars behind your eyelids.

"Do you want to come inside?" You asked finnally pulling away, he quirked an eyebrow at you. "To play chess?" You defended, although it didn't take a profiler to work out what you really ment.

"I'll come inside, but I can't promise that I'll play chess."

"Oh?"

Oh?

"What can I say... I much prefer princesses to queen's and King's, besides I'm far too impatient right now for chess. I've been waiting for this moment for far too long."

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rosiahills22 · 3 days ago

Text

Breathe. (Luke Alvez x Wife! Reader)

Word Count: Do not know

Warnings: Mention of death and slight infertility issues if you squint? Also mentions of depression.

Also, es lo que ay translates to “it is what it is” or at least that’s what Google said. If it’s wrong, PLEASE tell me and I will change it.

Exhale.

It was morning, the sun just beginning its ascent, making its way over the horizon, not quite enough to even begin to melt the ice that had formed overnight, the temperature dipping well into the low twenties. The wind had stopped howling at some point, letting the wet ground freeze, only for the wind to start back up right before dawn.

Luke regretted not putting on a jacket. He was already halfway down the block, though, and didn’t want to turn back and risk waking you again. You’d emerged from sleep long enough for him to give you a sweet goodbye kiss, one he wasn’t sure you would remember when you woke again. If you’d been fully awake, you probably would have told him to put on a sweater. Hell, you might have prevented him from leaving the house altogether, dragging him back into the bed and snuggling into his warm side.

But it was too late for that now. He turned the corner, despising the wind as it sliced right through his thin t-shirt, the cold burying itself in his bones and seeming to settle in for a while.

It reminded him of the thoughts he was trying to run from, the nightmares that had plagued him the night before. They were the reason he was awake at four in the morning on his day off, facing the dark wall of the bedroom, trying to calm his racing heart while you slept soundly beside him. Sweat dripping down his face as he tried to shake it off, but he just couldn’t seem to loosen its grip on his mind.

When it was clear he wouldn’t be going back to sleep, he quietly slipped from the bed and dressed in the cold bathroom. Roxy greeted him by the bedroom door, nails clicking against the hardwood, tilting her head and darting through the opening the second he turned the handle, so he paused for a few minutes to let her outside then back into the bedroom with you. She was a loyal pup, even though she was getting older and Luke knew she was slowing down just a little.

The front door clicked closed and he locked it, making sure to secure the deadbolt and the passcode lock clicked, too.

And then it was just him and the darkness. Literally and figuratively. The streetlight was still on as he made his way down the driveway.

It was getting to be the time of year that the darkness and cold were getting to be a little harder to manage than usual, and it didn’t really matter what he did. It was what you had once described as The Big Sad or seasonal depression. There was really no stopping it, which was horrible considering he had some form of it year round. Luke was trying to keep his darkness under wraps, but it was becoming more and more evident every time he came home from a hard case.

The latest cases had been nothing short of heart-wrenching, the kind of thing that a person couldn’t unsee, no matter how much they drank or tried to suppress the memories. He remembered that eerie, disgusting smile of the man they had recently taken into custody, the face of a man with no remorse or even a shred of regret. But the case had hit everyone working it extremely hard.

The unsub had spiraled, taking a mother and her infant child as the authorities zeroed in, but it was too late for the baby.

Her mother’s cries- screams- wails as she was told the baby hadn’t survived haunted Luke.

Just the thought of them sent goosebumps spreading across his skin, which didn’t help in his fight against the cold.

He was halfway around the neighborhood now, the sun right in his eyes as he made the turn back toward home, stopping to take a breath on the sidewalk, regretting it the second he was still and actually finding himself shivering just a small bit. His breaths were coming out in small puffs of steam, the closest to smoking he would ever get. Even overseas, when his fellow soldiers had surrounded him with nicotine and smoke, Luke never had the urge to do it.

The thought of the woman’s cries returns as he makes it another block, swearing for a second he actually hears it, but it’s only a cat letting out an unhappy meow at being outside. His temporary relief turns and feels like a punch in the gut when he realizes something, though.

A year into marriage- a glorious year- and the two of you had agreed that it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing if a baby came into the picture. Since the conversation, neither of you were being exactly.. careful, though you weren’t actively trying for a baby, either. If it happened, it happened. Es lo que hay.

But.. what if something unfortunate happened? What if a baby came along, and then he wasn’t able to protect both of you? Or was forced to choose between you or the baby? Or something happened to him and you were left alone?

Which, you wouldn’t be alone of course. The BAU team wouldn’t let you go through it alone, especially Penelope and Spencer. Luke had already spoken to them about that, wanting to have a plan in place, just in case.

After what happened with Phil, he felt like he couldn’t be too cautious. Hell, he even still had weapons hidden all over the house, some in places you knew, some you didn’t. There was a burner phone under the loose piece of flooring on his side of the bed, one that would hopefully never have to be activated.

He stops at the end of the driveway, looking up toward the still dark house before making his way toward the front door. He punches in the passcode and twists the key in the lock, listening to the sound of Roxy’s nails against the floor as she noses the bedroom door open, coming to the front to greet him.

It’s still quiet inside, the low hum of the fan coming from the now open bedroom and then growing louder as the bedroom door opens all the way. You stumble out, eyes adjusting to the light, seeing him kicking his running shoes off by the door, and you give a troubled look.

“Where did you go?” You question, and Luke fights the urge to chuckle at you. He knew you wouldn’t remember the fuzzy goodbye from only a little while before.

“Around the neighborhood.”

“In that?? Luke it’s…” You squint at your phone, checking the temperature. “20 degrees outside.”

“I know.” Luke confirms, walking over to where you’re standing, your hand coming up to caress his cheek.

He’s still shivering, and this doesn’t go unnoticed by you, especially when the cold seeps into the skin of your hand.

“You’re freezing, baby. C’mon.” You state, taking his icy hand and leading him into the bedroom, flipping on the light in the bathroom to see by.

“What are you-“

“Shower, to warm you up. I need one too.”

Luke can’t really argue with you on that one, he’s still shivering, skin still cold.

The warm water immediately begins to steam up the bathroom, mirror fogging as you slip your pajamas to the floor, sliding your wedding ring off and dropping it in the dish on the counter with a clink.

Luke lets out an exhale as his fingers brush his skin, evoking a quiet laugh from you as you step into the shower. He too removes his ring, pushes his shorts to the floor and almost trips on them as he kicks them out of the way, a flash of blue and white in the trash can stopping him in his tracks, though it had become a familiar sight for the last few months. He leans over just a little more to look.

Only one line. It’s simultaneous relief and disappointment, wanting to experience it with you but also knowing it would happen in time. He hadn’t asked you about any of the tests he’d seen, knowing that if you wanted to talk about it or you got a different result, you would absolutely share it with him.

Luke steps into the shower as you slide back, taking a step under the warm water into the spot where you just stood.

“Couldn’t sleep again?” You question, reaching for the bottle of shampoo up on the shelf, only to gasp at the feeling of his freezing hands wrapping around your torso.

“Something like that.” He responds, running his fingers up your hips and sides, stopping and pulling you flush against his chest.

“Want to talk about it?”

No, not really. How could he really talk about it? There was so much that he really couldn’t say, since it would breach the security and confidentiality of their cases. Luke hesitates, grounding himself in the way your skin feels underneath his fingers.

“I’m not exactly sure how.”

“Just.. talk. Something is clearly bothering you, and-“

“It’s nothing you can help with, sweetheart.” Luke quietly states, gently cutting you off before you can continue.

You don’t really press the issue, which he’s grateful for. He grabs the shampoo that you were previously reaching for, flipping the cap up and pouring some into his hand. He smooths it over your head, fingers working the shampoo into your scalp as a lazy smile crosses your face.

“It’s been a while since you did this.”

“What do you mean?”

“The last time you washed my hair like this was on our honeymoon.”

Luke pauses. That had been about six months prior, as the two of you weren’t able to take a trip immediately after your wedding.

That warm, luxurious week that the two of you had spent in Cancun, the blue water shimmering in the sun. You’d spent a good chunk of the time in your suite in the hotel, enjoying the feeling of your husband’s body so close to yours and every single minute of pleasure he gave you. Even the balcony hadn’t really been safe, with Luke dragging you onto his lap in one of the lounge chairs and well.. it went downhill from there. On the last night, the two of you were in the hotel, taking a shower before going out for the last time in Cancun, your husband’s hands drifting over your body before moving up to your scalp, moving gently through your tangled hair.

Luke instantly feels remorse for the time he’s spent away from you. Flying to dozens of different cities across the country while you remained home with Roxy, communicating through phone calls and FaceTime.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” You question, pausing in your efforts to rub body wash over his shoulders, the scent one that had become a comfort to you. It was the same scent as his cologne, the smell permeating into every single piece of clothing he owned, and in to his side of the bedsheets. It was your physical lifeline when he was gone, knowing that if you missed him you could just wrap yourself in one of his shirts or snuggle into his side of the bed.

“I’ve been gone so much lately and-“

“You can’t help that.”

“No, but it isn’t fair to you.” He sighs, watching as you give a slight eye roll.

“I knew what I was getting into when I married you, Luke Alvez.”

He doesn’t know what to say in response to this, continuing with the shower in silence. You step out first, slipping into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, sliding the silver band back onto your finger, which brings to mind the vows you exchanged on your wedding day.

To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse.

Luke seems to be deep in thought when you brush through your hair, meeting his eyes briefly in the mirror. He can see that there’s a tinge of sadness in your gaze, your eyes drifting down to the trash bin before flicking back up to glance at him again, and it makes sense.

He sees every emotion in your face in that moment, realizing that you’re harboring more than you let on. Disappointment, pain, a little fear.

“I’m not..” You begin to say, but Luke crosses the space between you and pulls you in to him.

“It’s okay.”

“I’ve been off of my birth control for-“

“It’ll happen. We have all the time in the world.”

“But what if it doesn’t?”

That phrase bounces around in his mind for a beat longer than he would have liked, taking in the way your eyes glisten, an almost wild look in your gaze as you lean back to look at him.

“Then it doesn’t. We can adopt- a human child or another fur child.” Luke shrugs, the sentence drawing a laugh from you at the brief mental image you get of a dog wrapped in a baby blanket, a pacifier in its mouth.

“But will you love me anyway-“

A split second passes, his lips pressing to yours to cut off that ridiculous notion.

“I didn’t fall in love with you for that. I fell in love with you because… you kicked my ass at everything.”

“It wasn’t everything.” You counter, leaning in a little further to him as he reaches over to grab his own ring from the counter.

“You’re a liar, Mrs. Alvez! Let’s see- mini golf, darts, pool..”

And for a minute, the world is back to normal. For a minute, both of you get lost in each other, falling back together and shrugging off the darkness.

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rosiahills22 · 3 days ago

Text

Inferno.

Prompt: You love teasing and flirting shamelessly with SSA Alvez until the tension snaps, and it snaps for good.

Pairing: Luke Alvez x Female Reader

Rating: Mature (smut, 18+, MINORS DNI)

Warnings: dom/sub undertones (Dom!Alvez, Sub!Reader), heavy teasing, dirty talking, hair pulling, grinding, breath play, light verbal degradation, overstimulation, oral sex (female receiving), spitting, unprotected sex, breeding kink, creampie.

Words: 12.7k

Check my masterlist here. Share your thoughts on this here.

A.N: This is the first time I write something about Luke Alvez and, to be honest, I had so much fun. Maybe I’ll write more stuff involving him… ;)

Terribly terrible, she’s the villain One as sweet as caramel, she’s my saint Think I’m getting butterflies, but it’s really Something telling me to run away

Keep reading

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rosiahills22 · 3 days ago

Text

Luke Alvez x Reader: Welcome To The Team

Description: When your one night stand becomes your coworker.

Tagged: @ssaic-jareau , @alvezstan , @lcvischmitt , @ogmilkis , @ssa-morgan, @akimagies, @zhangyixingxing1 , @pinkdiamond1016 , @yourwonderbelle , @rachelxwayne , @sc4rletw1tch , @ellvswriting

Word count: 7.7k

Warnings: Angst

A/N: I'm baaaaack. Sorry it's been like 10 years, i'll try to do better.

The pounding in your head is debilitating. You haven't even gotten around to opening your eyes yet, and you know your headache will only get worse once you do, but you need to get ready for work. The first time in months you had decided to go out, and you get plastered.

In general, you don’t drink. Sure, there’s the occasional glass of wine here or there, but even that doesn’t happen very often. You also don't go out.

But last night was Rossi’s retirement party, so you kind of had to go. You were only planning on staying for a bit, maybe having one drink and then calling it an early night. But one drink quickly turned into two, which turned into tequila shots with Emily and Pen, which turned into flirting with the cute guy who was eyeing you up the entire evening.

Another thing that you do not do is date. It’s the kind of distraction that you don’t need. But there was just something about the guy at the bar last night that lured you in.

The pounding in your head is quickly replaced when you get a glimpse at the bare back of the guy from the bar that you apparently took home. He was fast asleep next to you. God, you don’t even remember his name, probably didn’t even bother to learn it.

You reach out to shake his shoulder gently and he stirs, turning over to face you. “Good morning,” he grumbles, a smile spreading on his face. Your stomach flutters. That smile alone could end wars you thought. In fact, that’s probably the very same thought that drew you to the man to begin with.

Saying ‘good morning’ back would have been the polite thing to say. Instead, with wide, panicked eyes, you say “You have to go.”

The man uses one arm to push himself up in bed, identifying a defined tricep muscle. “Shit,” he grunts, rubbing his eyes, he flings himself out of the bed, a little quicker now and begins picking up his discarded clothes from your bedroom floor. “What time is it?”

You hesitate for a moment, your gaze stuck on his muscular figure before shaking yourself out of the trance. What the hell were you doing? You hit the home screen of your phone, which is lying on your night stand. “It’s quarter past five.”

“Shit,” he says under his breath, shoving his leg into his jeans. “It’s my first day at my new job and I can't be late.”

“You went out drinking the night before your new job?” you questioned, stifling a laugh as the guy trips while putting his other leg into his jeans.

“Yeah- I mean, I was nervous about it and just wanted to not think about it all night,” he turns to face you and his face gets soft. “You were just a pleasant addition to that plan.”

You try to ignore the same fluttering in your stomach that those words ignite. The guy tightens his belt before sighing. “I had fun last night. Hopefully, I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah,” you nod, but in your head you think, ‘like that will ever happen’.

After a quick shower, you’re walking into work with a large cup of coffee in hand. Once you make it to the third floor, you turn into the BAU’s office, weaving your way through the cubicles to the opposite side of the room. The humming of voices and typing on keyboards rattles in your hungover brain.

You stop at the desk directly across from yours. You give the now empty desk one last longing look, already missing Rossi’s presence, before tossing your bag onto your own desk.

Just as you’re about to log onto your desktop, there’s a voice behind you calling your last name.

You wince, the volume sounding twice as loud in your brain as it probably was, before glancing up.

Emily and Morgan were approaching you with smiles on their faces.

“Hi,” you greet warmly. You were trying your best not to appear as hungover as you were.

“How’s that head of yours?” Derek asks, his grin was so wide it made his eyes crinkle.

Before you could reply, Emily piped in. “More importantly, how’s that bed of yours?”

Your eyes widen in response, but you do your best to maintain your composure. “Ha, ha. You guys are hilarious.”

Just when Derek opens his mouth to no doubtedly harass you some more, Hotch walks up to the three of you with his signature, stern figure. There’s someone right on his tail.

When the rest of the team sees Hotch approaching, they all gather around.

“JJ’s setting up in the conference room to present a case. But before we join her, I wanted to let you guys know that Rossi’s replacement will be here today.”

In unison, you all nod, trying to peek around the unit chief to get a glimpse at whoever is still awkwardly standing behind him. “This is SSA Luke Alvez, he’s come from the Fugitive Task Force.”

And that’s when the person finally steps out into the room and you get a good look at your new desk mate. Your stomach drops along with your jaw, because that’s the guy from last night. The guy you took home with you. The guy you slept with.

You’re too dumbfounded to catch the amused look on both Emily and Derek’s face.

“Hi, I’m Luke,” he introduces himself to the team like Hotch didn’t just do it for him.

There’s a smirk playing on Luke’s lips, the same lips that were against your neck and chest and pretty much every other inch of your body last night.

Your memories are still a bit fuzzy from the alcohol but you see flashes of clothes falling to the bedroom floor, sheets tangled around your legs, and flushed skin.

What are the odds that in a city this big, your new team member is your one night stand from last night?

Hotch nods. “Feel free to get acclimated, this will be your desk. We’ll meet in the conference room in five.”

With that, Hotch leaves, his heels clicking against the carpeted floor of the unit.

Morgan is the first to speak. “Looks like there’s no introductions needed between the two of you, huh?” His smile flashes white while your cheeks turn red.

“Morgan,” you snap, “I swear to God-”

“I’m just playin’ sweetness,” he laughs. He gives your shoulder a gentle pat before extending his hand towards Luke. “I’m Derek Morgan.”

Luke shakes his hand- the same hands that traveled over the length of your back last night.

Luke makes his rounds, listening to everyone as they introduce themselves. When he turns his back to shake Emily’s hand, you stand up and make a beeline for the conference room, still in complete and utter disbelief that this entire thing was happening.

“Hey,” JJ greets as you sit down beside her. “Did you get a chance to meet the new guy?”

Without making eye contact you just grunt in response.

“That good, huh?”

When you don’t answer she laughs. “You gotta give yourself a chance to get to know him. No one can replace Rossi, but we gotta give him a shot.”

You sink further into your chair. You already knew Luke Alvez way more than you would care to.

…

“You know,” Luke says, once the rest of the team leaves the conference room and it’s just the two of you. You were hoping Luke would leave with everyone else, but instead, he stayed behind, desperate to get a moment alone with you.

“When I told you this morning that I hoped I’d see you again, I didn’t think it would be this soon.” He chuckles, a deep dimple popping into his left cheek.

“That isn’t funny,” you snap a little too harshly. You swear you see a hurt look flash across Luke’s face, but you ignore it.

“Did I do something wrong?” Luke asks. “You’ve barely even looked at me since I first walked in. I thought things went pretty well last night. I mean, I had a really good time and it seemed you did too but maybe I’m wrong.”

You sigh and close the case file in front of you. “Look, what happened between us was a mistake. A huge mistake.” There’s a look of confusion and hurt on Luke’s face, but you ignore it and continue.

“I don’t do things like that. I was drunk, which is also something I don’t do, so I wasn’t thinking straight. I especially don’t get involved with people I work with. It’s something that is never going to happen again so I would really appreciate it if you forget about it and don’t ever bring it up again.”

Luke blinks in response. There’s a very minuscule quiver of his jaw that you barely catch sight of before Luke is snatching his belongings off from the table and walking straight out of the conference room.

Well that went well, you think to yourself.

…

In thirty minutes time, the team is loaded onto the jet and heading to Sun Valley, Idaho for a case.

“Samantha Harrington,” Garcia’s voice rings through the tablets on the jet, “Sun Valley PD just identified her. She’s a twenty-nine-year-old graduate student at Boise State University. Her parents reported her missing four days before they found her body.”

“Four days?” Hotch questions, flipping open the folder to read more about her.

“She was an only child, born and raised in Idaho, a lengthy list of academic achievements, about to start a pretty prestigious internship this summer.”

“She was last seen Friday night at the O'Connell nightclub in Sun Valley. She was there for a weekend of skiing with her friends.”

“Friday night?” Emily asks. “And the body was just discovered this morning?”

Garcia hums to confirm.

“So what the hell did this guy do with her for four days?” Morgan sighs, shaking his head sadly.

“Morgan, Prentiss, head to the medical examiner's office. See what they have to say about her and the other victims,” Hotch directs. “JJ, Matt, I want you two to head to the crime scene. See if that’ll tell us anything. “Reid, Tara, you two head to the last crime scene. Walk through, see if there was anything missed.”

Hotch looks at you next. “I want you to stay at the station with Alvez. Samantha’s parents are going to be driving to Sun Valley today. Talk to them, please.”

You nod, trying to hide the fire burning inside your stomach.

…

Talking to the families has always been the one part of your job that you hated the most; when the families come in to identify the bodies of their loved ones.

As soon as you enter the lobby of the Sun Valley police station, with Luke on your tail, you see a man and a woman sitting on a bench with visitor stickers pasted to their chests. You approach them slowly.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Harrington?” They both nod and the man, who you now know is Samantha’s father, stands and shakes your hand. “I’m SSA Y/L/N, this is SSA Alvez and we’re working on your daughter’s case.”

“We want to see her,” her father interjects quickly.

“Mr. Harrington-” you try to plead.

But he stops you. “No, we’ve thought about it. We’ve discussed it and we want to see her.”

You nod at him sadly, your lips pursed.

They follow you down the stairs to where the morgue is located. You hold the door open for them but stay outside to give them some privacy. You watch through the little window in the door as the ME folds down the sheet covering their daughter’s body just enough to show her face.

Immediately, the mother collapses against the chest of her husband as sobs rack her entire body. The father wraps his arms around her and holds her close as silent tears roll down his cheeks. You feel a pang in your chest.

“You okay?” Luke asks softly, the first words he’s uttered to you since the conference room.

You blink harshly and nod. “‘M fine,” you say, harsher than intended. “Done this hundreds of times.”

“Doesn’t make it any easier,” he states.

The ME shuffles the parents back out and you slowly lead them upstairs to a small office that Sun Valley PD uses for interviews just like this one. “You two can wait in here. I’ll give you a few minutes to yourself. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to come back shortly to ask you both some questions.”

The father nods, his arms wrapped tightly around his wife who’s still crying softly into his shoulder. “We understand.”

“Can I get you anything?” you ask gently. “We have water, coffee, tea, some snacks from the vending machine?”

Mr. Harrington gives him a weak smile. “Just some water would be great, thank you.”

You nod and quietly shut the door behind you. You walk down the hallway to the break room and get two bottles of water from the vending machine. You slowly make your way back to the room with Luke trailing behind.

“How can I help?” he asks.

You keep walking. “Just stay quiet. Let me talk, alright?”

You ignore the way his shoulders fall.

When you and Luke make it back to the room with Samantha’s parents, you hand her mother a spare box of tissues and a water bottle. She whispers her thanks and takes a tissue out of the box, dabbing it underneath her eyes.

“First of all,” you say, taking a seat next to Mrs. Harrington. “Let me just say how sorry I am for your loss. We’re trying everything we can to find out who did this to your daughter and you will be the first people we tell once we do. We’ll do our best to keep you updated during this case.”

They both murmur their agreement and you take that as an invitation to start with the interview.

“Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt your daughter?”

“No, absolutely not,” Samantha’s mother speaks up. “She was a quiet and kind girl. Everyone who has ever met Samantha loved her. I don’t know of anyone who would hurt her.”

She breaks down into another fit of tears and it’s mainly the father that answers the questions after that. By the time you finish the interview, you have no new information, which is understandable. The Harrington’s were in pain and shock and they were mourning the loss of their daughter, so in all honesty, you weren’t expecting much.

You just hope that the team can find out who did this.

...

There’s another body.

You get the call when you’re back at the hotel. It’s the first time you’ve been there since arriving in Sun Valley. It’s a little past one in the morning and your eyes were heavy. You had the crime scene photos scattered out in front of you in bed as you poured over reports from the case.

The sound of the phone ringing had startled you. You answered it without bothering to look at the screen to see who is calling. As soon as you heard Hotch on the other end of the phone, you knew bad news would follow.

You scrambled out of your hotel room, only stopping to grab your jacket. You meet Morgan and Hotch in the lobby. Morgan’s eyes were puffy, evidence that he hadn’t been sleeping either.

“Ready to go?” he asks you, he twirled the keys to the SUV in his hand as you nodded.

“Call me if you find something,” Hotch instructs. His arms are crossed and his eyebrows furrowed.

“You got it boss,” Morgan nods.

The car ride to the crime scene is quiet, an atmosphere that rarely occurs around Morgan. You suppose he’s just as tired as you at this hour.

“You couldn’t sleep either, huh?” he finally asks.

You grunt in response. “Nah, I never sleep when we have cases like this. Too much to think about.”

“Yeah between this case and Alvez I’m sure your mind is spinning.”

Even in the dark, you can see the glow of Derek’s teeth as he smirks playfully.

“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” you say stubbornly.

“Oh c’mon,” Derek shakes his head. “You ain’t fooling anyone. I see the way you look at him.”

“Are you joking?” you exclaim. “The guy drives me crazy.”

“Only one thing can drive a person that crazy and it’s love,” Morgan says, dragging out the ‘o’.

...

There’s a slew of detectives already at the scene when you and Morgan arrive and one of them fills you in on everything he knows so far. He leads the two of you around a bend towards where the body is and as soon as you see it, you stop dead in your tracks.

It’s another woman about the same age as Samantha. It’s the way that she is posed though that caused you to stop. It’s the same exact way it was with Samantha; her hands clasped and lying across her stomach, her legs crossed and tied at the ankles. She even has the same finger-shaped bruising around her neck.

“What the hell,” Morgan mutters, clearly he’s just as stunned as you are.

“I know,” the officer responds. “I couldn’t believe it either.”

Another officer leans over the girls body to unclasp it from around the girl’s neck and places it into an evidence bag. “There’s a fingerprint on this necklace,” he tells the evidence collector.

“Take this back to the station, tell him to run that print through the database and see if we get a match,” he says, handing the baggie with the necklace.

You and Morgan get closer to examine the body.

“Strangulation again,” he says, snapping on a pair of plastic gloves. You crouch next to her, trying not to focus on the way her eyes were still open, staring blankly up at the sky.

“We’ll have to take a look at missing persons and see if she comes up,” you sigh. “Someone’s gotta be looking for this girl.”

...

There’s no match for the fingerprint found in the database. It could still belong to either the victim or the suspect, but whoever it does belong to isn’t in their system. Of course, they wouldn’t be, that would be too easy.

The following morning, Garcia finds the newest victim listed as a missing person, and again just like Samantha, the victim’s family reported her missing several days ago.

Her name is Lisa Stalks; she’s a twenty nine year old nurse practioner, she’s married with two children. Or was.

When the ME is finished with the autopsy, he tells you and Emily just how much this murder was like the first.

When you tell Hotch on the other end of the line, he sighs.

“I think we’re working with a serial killer.”

…

It’s midnight on a Thursday and you are parked down the street from a nightclub. Luke is sitting next to you in the passenger's seat slurping on an iced coffee. It had been four days since they found Lisa’s body and eight since Idaho PD had found Samantha. Hotch had suspected that there might be another victim tonight.

Both women were found in the early morning hours and both were found just outside of popular Sun Valley nightclubs, so you and Luke were on a stakeout. Hotch had placed his team at various nightclubs in the area. Your job was to wait and watch, hoping you’d gotten it right. You hated waiting. The fact that you were doing it with Luke didn’t make it any better.

There’s no way of telling which nightclub the killer will leave the body by if they even leave a body at all today, but you were all hoping to get lucky. Maybe you’d be able to catch the suspect in the act.

It had been silent in the car all night. For a moment, you wondered if you should apologize to Luke for yelling at him back at the BAU, or for snapping at him at the police station. But then you stopped yourself. What would you even say? You had spoken your mind, something you made an effort to never regret. Plus, you were enjoying the silence.

About thirty minutes go by and you are already bored out of your mind. Nothing has happened besides a few drunk people stumbling in and out of the club. As it gets closer and closer to sunrise, you begin to think that maybe you guys were wrong about this lead.

That’s when Luke interrupts the silence. “Do you really think that night was a mistake?”

“Haven’t I made that obvious?” you snapped, exhaustion and frustration seeping out.

Luke nods solemnly. “Yeah, suppose you have.”

The way he says it was so soft and vulnerable sounding, it made you feel guilty for hurting his feelings.

“Look,” you say, voice infinitely more compassionate than the first time you’d had this conversation. “This job means everything to me. I worked really hard to get where I’m at. It’s all I have and I just don’t think that sleeping with my coworker is worth losing that.”

Luke’s eyes are locked on yours as you speak. They’re so dark in the dimly lit car that you can barely even see his pupils. God, those eyes made you melt. Luke nods slowly, like he was finally grasping what you were saying.

“Even if your coworker is this insanely good looking?” He aims his hands towards himself, his fingers motioning the length of his torso. He was smirking, making a joke to lighten the mood.

You shrug him off and mutter, “Shut up,” playfully. But in your mind you were thinking, he has a point..

“Listen,” Luke says, smile fading and sincerity evident. “The last thing I wanted to do was come in here and screw things up, okay? I’ll be honest- I like you. And in more than just a one night stand kind of way. But I get it. And believe it or not, I’m serious about this job too. So I’ll back off. I’m sorry.”

You try to ignore the butterflies flying rampant inside your abdomen upon hearing Luke’s confession. He liked you. “Thank you- for apologizing. You don’t have to, though. It was a two way street, what happened.”

“So we’re good?” Luke asks.

You nod, smiling. “As annoying as you are, I’ve actually come to realize you aren’t half bad.”

A deep dimple pops into Luke’s cheek as his grin widens.

...

“I brought you some dinner,” Luke says, throwing up a white paper bag of takeout onto the mattress. He had come over to your hotel room to look over the case files with you.

You hum, barely looking up from the sprawled out documents on your bed. “Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”

“C’mon,” Luke says, an obvious reprimanding tone to his voice. “You need to eat. I haven’t seen you eat anything all day.”

You look up from the picture of Lisa’s belongings that’s in your lap and gaze at Luke. The fact that he’d taken the time to notice what you had or hadn’t eaten flattered you slightly. You shake the thought away before reaching out for the bag and riffling through it until you grab a couple of fries. You pop them into your mouth.

“There,” you say, your mouth full.

Luke ignores you. “You look exhausted,” he says.

“How can I sleep when we still haven’t solved this case?” you ask, shoving a few more fries into your mouth. You hadn’t realized how hungry you were until now.

Luke shrugs.

Your mind was turning into mush as you read the same sentence about Lisa’s crime scene over and over again. The words didn’t make any sense- nothing made sense. You huff out a breath of frustration, tears prickling behind your eyes, threatening to spill over.

“What’s wrong?” Luke asks.

“What’s wrong?” you snap sarcastically, without even meaning to. “Are you kidding me? None of this makes any sense! We’ve been here almost a week now and we’ve made no progress, we have no leads, and these women keep winding up dead.”

Luke nods sympathetically, “I think you really just need to get some sleep-”

What he said wasn’t rude, it wasn’t annoying- but for some reason, you felt the need to take all of your frustration out on him. “I don’t need sleep!” You snap. “I don’t need sleep and I don’t need you telling me I need sleep. You’re not my boyfriend- I don’t need you bringing me food or taking care of me, okay? We’re not even friends! You’re a guy I slept with once when I was drunk- and now we have to work together.”

As soon as you say it, you wish you could take it back. The hurt across Luke’s face is evident, but it’s out there and the air is thick.

He nods slowly, digesting your words. “Yeah,” he sighs. “Yeah, you’re right, sorry.” He grabs the takeout bag from off the bed and slides towards the door.

What you should say is sorry, I didn’t mean it. I’m frustrated and tired and sad, but not at you. Don’t go.

But instead, you sit silently and watch him leave.

...

“We aren’t getting anywhere,” Matt says frustratedly.

A third body was discovered just hours earlier. She still had her ID on her, and was identified as thirty three year old Maria Poirier, a licensed social worker that lived in Sun Valley.

“Maybe we have to start looking at this from a different angle,” Reid suggests. He begins clearing off the pictures on the cork board and instead lays them out on the conference table in front of everyone. “Okay, what do we know for sure right now?” Before anyone else even has a chance to answer that, Reid continues to ramble on and answers it himself. “They look nothing alike, so obviously our killer doesn’t have a type,” he puts air quotes around the word type. “It could just be the fact that they’re all women, but I feel like there’s more to it than that. There has to be something else, something more personal.”

Everyone nods along as Reid talks because yes, they all already know that. They just can’t seem to figure out what that something personal thing is. You watch as Reid stares at the photos, scratching at his chin in contemplation. Harry goes back and forth between the photos and their notes in the case file.

“I got it!” Reid exclaimed excitedly. “It’s their jobs- It’s the hospital.”

Morgan frowns. “But Samantha didn’t have a job.”

“Yeah, technically,” Reid nods. “But she was about to start an internship, remember? I read in her file she was going to be interning with a physician’s assistant on the Rehab unit. And Lisa-” Reid points to the photo of her on the desk. “She was a nurse practitioner and Maria, our newest victim, was a hospital social worker.”

“Different hospitals, though-” JJ interjects.

“But close enough in proximity,” Reid rambles, his voice trailing off as he dials on his phone.

He puts it on speaker phone where it rings twice before Garcia’s voice answers.

“I thought you’d forgotten about me,” she says sullenly.

Reid ignores her. “Garcia, are there any contracted positions or agencies that service both Sun Valley and St. Michael’s Hospital?”

The clicking of Garcia typing on her computer could be heard through the faint speaker phone. There was just a brief pause before she answered, “RBH Janitorial Services and Tri County Crisis Services are contracted at both Sun Valley Hospital and St. Michael’s Hospital.”

“Can you get an employee list for both of those agencies, Garcia?” Hotch asks, crossing his arms sternly.

“Can I get a list-” Garcia scoffs, like the answer was so blatantly obvious.

“Two hundred and thirty three employee names,” she says only minutes later.

“Okay, our suspect is a white male.”

“One hundred and twenty six names, keep narrowing,” she says.

“The first murder happened a few weeks ago- any guys with a recent stressor?”

“Wouldn’t necessarily be in their files,” Garcia says, but types anyway. “None.”

“Look for men with disciplinary notices in their files,” Tara pipes up.

“Smart girl- twenty one names,” Garcia announces.

“This guy is threatened by women in powerful, professional positions. He’s probably in a lower or entry level position,” Luke suggests.

“Ooh,” Garcia sings. “Newbie has ideas.”

“Still twelve names.”

“Send them,” Hotch says. “We’ll go through them and try to narrow it down here.”

“Righty-o Crime Fighters,” Garcia muses. “List is on your tablets now.”

...

The room goes quiet when there’s only one name left on the list. The team had narrowed it down and the dark lettering stared blatantly back at you. Richard Arlington.

His name is burned into your brain, along with the crime scene photos of Samantha, Lisa, and Maria. You knew in your gut that this time, you’d gotten it right. This was the man.

Garcia sends over his driver’s license photo and his demographics.

Now that you knew who you were looking for, the chase was on.

…

The ride to Richard Arlington’s house was quiet. Other than Hotch giving you instructions over the phone, talking was kept to a minimum. Everyone, it seemed, had taken this case personally.

Hotch, Reid, and Tara had gone to one hospital to try to locate Arlington. Morgan, Emily, and JJ had gone to the other. That left you, Matt, and Luke to scour Arlington’s home.

Luke hadn’t even looked at you since the night at the hotel. You couldn’t blame him.

The last thing you heard over the phone was Hotch instructing everyone to “be alert”. That was his way of saying, “stay safe.”

…

Upon arriving to Arlington’s home address, you, Matt, and Luke emerged from the SUV with your guns drawn. His house was run down. There were boards missing from his side paneling and strips of the roof were tattered and worn. There was a pile of junk outside on the deck, limiting the view inside. Not that you could see anything even if the deck were clear, the windows were covered with a thick coating of dust and dirt.

Without speaking, the three of you glided across the driveway and up to the house. Every single one of the hairs on your neck stood up as you crept closer and closer to the house. Matt rapped on the door.

“Arlington!” he shouted, “FBI- open up!”

Without missing a beat, you heard a scuffle from inside the house. Through the dirty windows, you saw a shadow of a figure run across the house before disappearing.

“The back,” you yelled, taking off before thinking twice.

Luke sprinted behind you.

You circled around the house, pushing open an unlatched metal gate before seeing him take off in the backyard.

“Stop!” you screamed, without slowing your pace.

You didn’t even notice that Arlington had a gun until you saw him stop and turn suddenly, with it pointed directly at you. You freeze but before you can think or act or do anything at all, Arlington shoots and takes off running again.

You feel the whoosh of air against your neck as the bullet whizzes by. It was that close. You let out a breath you didn’t even know you were holding when you realize how lucky you are. You’re just about to start chasing after Arlington again when you hear a gasp followed by a thud from behind you.

When you whirl around, you find Luke on the ground, one hand clutching at his shoulder, and blood seeping in between his fingers. Your heart drops to your stomach.

You rush to Luke’s side and fall to your knees, your hand falling on top of Luke’s to apply pressure to his wound.

“You're okay, you’re okay, you’re okay-” you stammer, trying to comfort him. Panic seeps through you as Luke’s blood starts to cover your own hand.

“Go-” he tries batting your hand away.

“I’m not going anywhere,” you assure him. You were trying to appear calm, but your shaky voice betrayed you. You use your free hand to dig your cell phone out of your pocket. You hit the one and wait while it rings.

“C’mon,” you plead, until finally Hotch answers.

“We need an ambulance,” you stammer, voice high pitched. “Luke’s down- Arlington’s house, we’re out back-”

“On our way,” Hotch says. His voice is firm and reassuring.

You sigh a breath of relief. “They’re coming, it’s gonna be okay-”

Matt approaches just then, his eyes widened in shock at Luke’s state.

You point your head in the direction that Arlington ran. “Go- I got this,” you tell him.

Matt nods, trusting you. He runs towards the woods’ line.

“Really, it’s okay. It doesn’t even hurt that much,” Luke lies. You can see the pain clearly written all over his face. “Do not let that bastard get away.”

“Matt’s got him- I’m staying right here.”

There’s something burning behind your eyelids that you know cannot possibly be tears because you’re not going to cry over this. You’ve seen people be shot before. But not Luke, you think. Luke’s not people. Luke’s different. All these weird feelings are flooding through you and you don't understand why. Deep down you think you know, but you’re terrified to even think those thoughts so you push them all away and just focus on Luke instead.

Luke uses his pinkie on the hand that is underneath yours to gently stroke your palm as best as he can. “I’m fine. I’m okay,” Luke says very calmly for someone who is bleeding out on the dirty ground. Leave it to him to be comforting you while he bleeds out. “Go- help Matt. He needs backup, not me.”

You can’t imagine leaving Luke’s side right now, you want to be here for him, but you know he’s right. There was nothing you could do for Luke here.

Quickly, without thinking and before you can change your mind, you do something drastic. You know you’ll probably regret it later, but right now, you couldn’t care less. You lean forward and press your lips against his.

It’s soft and barely lasts a few seconds, but you hope you’re able to convey all the confusing thoughts floating around your head through that kiss.

“Don’t you dare die,” you say, tears evident in your eyes.

Luke chuckles, but it immediately turns into a grimace when his shoulder shakes with it. “I won’t die, I promise. Now go and catch the bad guy.”

You give Luke’s hand a reassuring squeeze before standing up and bolting after Matt and Arlington. They’d had such a big head start, you hoped you could find them.

You finally get to the tree line and stop. You listen and wait, hoping to hear twigs snapping or leaves crunching. Instead, you’re met by silence.

You slowly start creeping deeper and deeper into the woods, the overcast from the tall trees made things seem all the more ominous.

You tried to stay alert, your gun was clasped firmly between your bloodstained hands- Luke’s blood. You could feel your pulse pounding rapidly in your ears, it was deafening. You wondered if the Unsub could hear it too.

Just as you turn to clear behind a tall tree, something hard crashes into you and knocks you to the ground. Your head hits something hard, there’s a crack, and then warm liquid spilling down the side of your head. It takes you a second to realize that it’s Arlington, he must have been hiding and waiting.

Richard is bigger and heavier and suddenly kneels on top of you, legs on either side of your torso as he holds your arms down. His body weight pins you to the ground. Your hand fumbles in the leaves, searching for your dropped gun, but it’s out of reach. Arlington’s hands find their way around your throat, his fingers wrap around your neck and squeeze, cutting off the airflow. These were the same hands that took the life out of Samantha and Lisa and Maria, you thought. You stared up, your eyes meeting his. Those were the last things they ever saw.

You gasped, willing yourself to look away. That would not be the last thing you saw, and you would not let him take another life away from anyone ever again. You reached and squirmed desperately against his weight. You tried lifting your arms to hit him- but he only smirked. You were powerless, losing oxygen and energy by the second.

Focus, you thought, as you started seeing spots. You will yourself to relax, just for a moment. Arlington may be bigger and stronger than you, but you were quick and adamant on putting up a fight. In a split second with the last remaining energy you had, you’re able to use your body weight to roll your hips to the side and swing your legs up and over to and knock Arlington off balance. You feel his grip being torn away from your throat and you gasp for air, crawling as far away from him as you can.

Arlington freezes, momentarily stunned, and before he can charge at you again, he’s being tackled to the side by a blurry object.

You’re seeing stars as you cling to your throat and continue to crawl backwards. Leaves crunch underneath your bare hands and bruised knees and no matter how hard you try, you can’t get enough air into your lungs.

The blur is speaking to you, but you can’t make out what he’s trying to say. You fall to the side, feeling too weak to keep crawling, the spots become orbs, the orbs become black holes, until suddenly, there’s nothing.

...

The first thing you notice is the sound of sirens.

Slowly, you force your eyes open, despite everything inside of you telling you to just go back to sleep.

You’re still laying in the leaves, but there’s someone beside you, their voice soft and comforting.

It’s Matt. And he has his hand on your back, gentle pressure, confirmation that you’re here, you’re alive.

You try to sit up, but you’re met by an instant wave of nausea and pain.

“Easy,” you hear Matt say. “Don’t try to get up, just relax.”

You try to talk- you want to ask if he got the Unsub, if Arlington has been captured, if Luke is okay- but when you open your mouth all you can manage is a jumbled mess.

“We got him,” Matt ensures you. He must have understood your groan. “Everything’s okay, we got him.”

...

There are several squad cars and an ambulance waiting in Arlington’s driveway. When you were finally conscious enough to speak coherently, Matt helped you limp across the field and hobbled towards them. You see Richard Arlington in the back of one of the squad cars. He looks straight ahead and never turns to meet your gaze.

You don’t care. He’s not who you want to see right now. You look around sheepishly for Luke. But there’s no sign of him anywhere.

...

You learn quickly that Luke didn’t need surgery. The bullet went cleanly through his shoulder and there wasn’t any further internal damage. The doctor says that Luke should recover just fine. You feel like you could finally breathe for the first time after hearing that news.

You had been checked out too. You had a concussion from where your head hit a rock when you landed, and your neck was littered with finger shaped bruises that looked eerily like the bruises all of your victims’ had. But other than a headache and some stitches to repair the cut in your temple, you were fine.

The door to Luke’s room was open and you pauses just outside before going in. The nurse in the room was checking on one of the monitors by his bed, smiling at something that Luke had just said to her.

When you step inside Luke lifts his head and smiles. His eyes are warm, his dimple popping into his cheek, all of his teeth on display from how wide his grin is.

“Hey,” he greets softly.

“Hi,” you whisper, trying to hold back tears. You swallow them embarrassed and say, “So your nurse told me that unfortunately, you were going to be alright.”

A smirk crosses Luke’s face and he chuckles, “Don’t be mean to me,” he pouts. “I’m in the hospital.”

The nurse gets called out to help with another patient and then it’s just the two of you, alone.

“Honestly though,” you say, stepping closer to Luke’s bed. “I’m really glad you’re okay.”

You watch as Luke’s eyes narrow and his lips turn into a frown.

“What is it?” you ask, worries that something might be wrong.

“Your head-” he says, trying to get a better look at the nasty cut on your temple.

You shake your head. “I’m fine- I wasn’t the one who was shot.”

“What happened?”

“Got caught a little off guard is all. I’m okay.”

Luke nods, but his eyebrows remain furrowed.

“Luke-” you choke, embarrassed by the tears falling down your cheek.

“It’s okay,” he says. “It’s okay, I’m okay.”

You leave it at that.

...

Once Luke is stable enough to fly, the team boards the jet and gets ready to head home. The flight was quiet, everyone exhausted, both emotionally and physically.

When the team lands in D.C., you help Luke carry his things to your car. He had grumbled about you giving him a ride, but you insisted.

It isn’t until you’re pulling into the parking lot of your own apartment building that Luke realizes that you didn’t take him home.

“What are we doing at your place?” he asks, clearly confused.

Suddenly, you feel very nervous. You should have thought this through a bit more. “I just thought we could hang out here for a bit. I can take you home though if you want. If you’d rather be at your place. I understand —”

“No,” Luke interjects, shaking his head, “Hanging out here sounds perfect.”

You get Luke situated on the couch, handing him the remotes. You leave Luke be before heading to the kitchen to grab a couple of glasses.

Your hands are shaking as you pour water into the cups. You had mentally psyched yourself up for what you’re about to do, but you felt more nervous than anything. You took a deep breath, and before you could talk yourself out of it, you walked back into the living room.

Luke is propped up, his sling across his chest uncomfortably, scrolling through Netflix on the TV. You hand Luke his glass before sitting beside him.

“Thanks,” Luke says. “I thought we could watch a movie or something. Or—” he frowns when he turns to face you. “Or not. What’s going on? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just—” you swallow, why did your mouth feel so dry? “I want to talk to you about something if that’s okay.”

Luke nods and uses the remote to turn off the television. “Of course, yeah. What is it?”

You leaned back against the couch cushions and pulled your knees into your chest, trying to make yourself smaller. “You getting shot scared me. I thought I might not get to see you again and I didn’t like the thought of that. I really didn’t like the thought of that.” You wrapped your arms around your knees, too afraid to look up at Luke to see his reaction. “I think it took possibly not seeing you again to make me realize I want to see you all the time.”

You felt tears prickling behind your eyes, but forced yourself to continue. “Like see you, see you,” you didn’t even know what you were saying at this point. “I know I’ve treated you like shit- and I’m so sorry for that. I don’t know how I’ll be able to make it up to you, but I want to try. I’m sorry, so sorry-”

Luke tugs on your arm, still wrapped tightly around your knees, until you loosen your grip. “Hey,” he murmurs softly, you're too afraid to meet his gaze. But with his good arm, Luke pulls you into his side, his lips kissing the side of your head. “You do remember me basically confessing my love for you like less than a week ago, right?”

You felt so shy all of a sudden.

“C’mon, look at me,” Luke pleads.

Finally you do. Luke isn’t laughing or smirking or making fun of you. He was smiling, warmly and kindly. You let out the breath you’d been holding.

“I’m in this, okay?” he says. His voice is sure and confident. It makes you feel sure and confident too.

“Okay,” you whisper, nodding. “Okay, me too.”

He smiles, his fingers tracing your hairline, until they reach where your head had hit the rock. He frowns and bites his lip gently.

Luke’s eyes wander to your neck, where the finger shaped bruising has darkened. He touches your skin, each stroke of his finger is gentle and deliberate.

“I hate that you got hurt,” he whispered. “I hate that he hurt you.”

Before you had the chance to assure Luke that you were fine, he leaned in to capture your lips with his own. You had kissed Luke several times by now, but it’s still never enough. Your lips slide against each other’s easily and you melt into it.

When you finally pull away, your gasping and your stomach is fluttering. You wanted more, but Luke was injured and your head felt like it might explode, so for now, this was good. You had all the time in the world to have more. You let your head fall onto Luke’s chest and feel your eyelids getting heavier and heavier. You let your eyes fall shut, feeling so safe with Luke’s hand running slowly up and down the bumps of your spine.

“It’s okay now,” is all he whispers.

And now, at this very moment, you realized he was right. It was okay now and there is no other place you wanted to be.

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