#hehe aaron's pap pics

[yuly]

oh my godddddd

I'm On Fire (Chapter 6)

Pairing: DBF!Aaron Hotchner/Fem!Reader

Word Count: ~2400

A/N: Me? Writing a legal drama? It's more likely than you think!

Warnings: Age gap relationship (older Hotch, younger reader), brief sex scene at the end

Taglist: @littlepeanut03 @rosaline-black @moonmark98 @yuly @jazzymariexoxoc @frogoko @morgthemagpie @laisy @whoreforhondo @ssamorganhotchner @lex13cm @mrs-ssa-hotch @violetlilites @fairy-alix @mercurysrhapsody

A few months ago, if someone had told you that you'd be watching your lover on trial for murder, you probably would have backed out. Closed yourself off from the world, made sure you didn't look at anyone for too long. No flirty glances, no casual waves.

The case had hit the newspapers hard. The premise was irresistible, a love triangle between a married couple and a younger woman. It spiralled out of control, the husband flew off the handle, killed the other woman's father. Maybe he'd been abusive, maybe he was just getting in the way. The facts were all but irrelevant.

You watched it play out, character by character, in the paper, since you couldn't risk going to the courtroom. Of course, you couldn't travel anywhere either, you could be called upon to testify at any time.

Music played over the radio you kept in the living room, some recent-ish Pink song.

When someone said count your blessings now, 'fore they're long gone...

You tapped your foot, sighing as you flicked through the pages. Maybe there was some solace in the fact that Aaron looked so goddamn good in these paparazzi shots of him walking to and from the courthouse. In most of them, he was trying to block his face with a folder, but there were a few of him scowling at the camera, mouth set in a hard line, his gaze piercing.

He still existed, you thought. Even if it had been a while since you'd seen each other, he must still exist. It wasn't all just a dream.

Derek Morgan had taken the stand, one of his co-workers. So had Spencer Reid, a sweet-looking boy who had been plainly nervous to talk in front of so many people. They'd shown the jury crime scene photos.

It shouldn't be taking this long. You had a plan. Why wasn't it working?

----

Three weeks earlier

Haley stopped by your house again on her way back from the police station. She looked frantic as she stood at your front door.

"You have to discredit me. You have to tell the police that I'm just his crazy ex-wife and I'll make up anything to get the house in the divorce. I don't know, just, just... Just tell them anything, I'm so sorry," She turned quickly on her heel.

"Haley," You called. "That won't work. I'm not meant to know anything about you, or it would prove that I knew you and Aaron better than I said I did."

She walked slowly back to your door.

"I can't let him go to jail," She said, eyes filling with tears. "I meant to trip him up, not throw him under the bus."

"I know," You said sympathetically, reaching for her arm. "C'mon, come inside. We can talk."

She exhaled shakily, nodding.

You gestured for her to take a seat on the couch while you brewed some tea.

"I can't do it, and you can't go back on your statement, so you'll just have to tell Aaron to fight hard, to say all of those things about you."

She nodded. "I shouldn't stay. I don't know if they're having us followed, or wire-tapped, or..."

You nodded. "That's okay. Can you stay for another minute? I just want to say something."

"Sure," She replied.

You sat beside her on the couch. "I really appreciate you coming and talking to me. Not just now, but earlier, too. We have to look out for each other, and I know how my relationship with him looks."

"I was just so worried. I was thinking that if there was any chance I was right, I was so worried about whoever the daughter was. I was panicking thinking that he might be pressuring some... teenager..."

You shook your head quickly. "You know it's not like that, right? I'm younger than him, but not by that much. I'm an adult. I still live, well... lived, with my dad, but that was my choice."

She nodded. "I'm so sorry I've made this so difficult. I wish you could testify against me. I deserve it."

"No, Haley," You reassured her. "If that had been the situation, it would have been the right thing to go to the police and share your suspicions. Maybe not implicating Aaron so much, but nobody's perfect."

She reached for your hand, holding it gently in her own.

"He's difficult, you know? I love him, but he's a difficult man to love. I want to make sure you know what you're getting into."

You nodded for her to continue.

"He's away on cases a lot. He's terrible at guessing how you're really feeling, considering he's a profiler. I guess it's because he's not even around enough to get to know your tells. Maybe it'll be different for you, but he doesn't want kids, doesn't want to retire early. He's terrible at talking about his feelings. A lot of the time it seems like you're in love with a ghost."

You squeezed her hand. "I'll be okay. I don't know if it's serious. Well, I mean, I guess it's complicated, but I don't know if he really wants to be with me. I get the feeling we'll probably see each other once or twice after the trial, but after that..."

She shook her head. "I don't think so. But we'll see."

A small smile grew on her face. "But if he was going to fall in love with anyone, I'm glad it's you. You remind me of him."

Your nose crinkled. "That could be a good thing or a very bad thing."

She cupped your cheek softly, running her thumb over your cheekbone. "It's a good thing, trust me. You've got the same strength he does. You'll need it."

___

"Aaron," Haley called, chasing after the long-legged man. "Can we talk?"

Onlookers watched as this domestic spectacle unfolded.

"No," He replied sternly. "I have nothing to say to you."

"Please? Just five minutes, and I'll never talk to you again."

"No," He repeated, not slowing his pace.

"Aaron Tobias Edward Hotchner, I am still your wife, and so help me God, you will stop for a moment and listen to me."

That stopped him in his tracks, although a hot flush blossomed up his neck. It was an angry red, a seething hue.

"Counsellor, could we use your office for a moment?" Hotch spat through gritted teeth. "It seems my ex-wife has something urgent to tell me."

The other man nodded, quickly unlocking the room. "Would you like a witness in the room?"

Haley shook her head quickly. "Please, Aaron. Just us. One last time."

Aaron sighed and shook his head at the attorney. "No, we'll be fine. Please, make it quick, Haley, this is our lunch break."

The door closed behind them, and Aaron immediately walked over to the window on the other side of the room, staring out at the street below. Haley stayed near the door, leaving some distance between them.

"I made a stupid mistake," She said softly. "And I'm sorry. But we need to end this, neither of us can afford it. And it looks bad for both of us, yelling at each other, airing the dirty laundry of our marriage."

"You might recall it was not my idea," Hotch said, his voice measured. That was the true sign of his anger.

"I know. And I don't need you to forgive me. But I need you to discredit me. Don't call me names, don't tell them about the condoms, just spin a story about my motive. I'm the only witness. If my argument falls apart, there's no case."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because she told me to. I wanted her to do it, to throw me under the bus, but she's smart, and she realized that would make it worse. So you need to do it."

He visibly softened, crossing his arms over his chest as he rested his back against the wall.

"So what's your motive?"

"I want the house, I want you to lose your job, I'm a vindictive, attention-seeking whore. Whatever sells it. Whatever ends this."

"So I should tell the truth?" Aaron spat. "How inventive. Fuck you."

Haley recoiled. "You're being cruel. That's not going to help you. For once in your life, I'm asking you to be less emotional. Then we can finish this. Be logical. Be the agent. Hold it over me."

She turned away before he could see the tears in her eyes. "I'm just asking you to hate me in a different cadence. I know you can do it."

She opened the door and stepped out, walking over to the bathroom to freshen up.

This wasn't their first argument, but it might be their last. She slipped off her wedding ring and her engagement ring, dropping them into her purse.

"Damn it, Aaron," She whispered, pressing her palms into the cool countertop, avoiding her reflection in the mirror.

___

After the lunch break, Aaron returned to the courtroom with renewed energy. At first, it seemed like it might just be that he'd eaten a hearty sandwich, but it soon became clear that he'd gained a second wind.

He noticed that the press gallery had emptied out almost completely, with only a handful of reporters from local papers remaining.

He was almost sad that there'd be a reduced audience to watch him tear Haley to shreds.

"Your Honour, the defendant would like to make a brief statement."

"Go ahead, Agent Hotchner."

Aaron stood quickly and made his way to the floor, nodding to the judge before facing the jury.

"I would like to remind everyone of the central question of this case. This is not a trial about whether I was a good husband, or whether my marriage was typical or healthy. It is a trial about whether I entered the residence intending to kill the suspect, and therefore, whether this was a murder, or a tragic but inevitable consequence of my line of work," He paused to take a breath, pleased to see that the jury was more attentive than they had been an hour ago.

"By now, you know my argument, and the argument of the prosecution. I would like to point out that Mrs. Hotchner is the only person who has raised questions about my relationship with the suspect's daughter. You've seen evidence that I met her once, and that meeting was purely professional. Mrs. Hotchner and I are in the midst of a divorce, and it's advantageous for her to suggest that I had some sort of murderous intent when I killed the victim. She would be able to gain a substantial amount of my assets, including the house we owned. I believe this is why she is yet to sign the divorce papers, as she would no longer be the automatic inheritor of my assets if I was to be convicted."

He surveyed the jury again. This was going over their heads.

"Additionally, I would like to remind you that the victim is the primary suspect in a serial homicide investigation. This didn't give me the right to shoot him, but he was a suspect before anything else. I knew him, many years ago, but it had been years since we'd spoken."

"In short," He said, taking a deep breath. "Mrs. Hotchner would be the sole financial beneficiary if I was convicted before she signs the divorce papers. She would get the house and my savings. I would call the jury's attention to this fact, in the hopes that we might all resolve this sooner rather than later."

The judge nodded. "Acceptable. The jury is advised to consider this statement."

One of Aaron's lawyers nodded, and started to speak. "And I would add that Mr. Hotchner works as an FBI agent, and plays a key role in preventing violent crimes. The sooner he's able to get back to work, the better."

The judge looked over at one of Aaron's less talkative lawyers.

"Are you the divorce attorney representing Mr. Hotchner?"

"Yes, Your Honour."

"Is it true that the divorce proceedings have stalled due to Mrs. Hotchner's hesitancy to sign the documents?"

"Yes, Your Honour."

The judge turned to the other side of the courtroom.

"Is this a fair statement? Is Mrs. Hotchner's divorce attorney present?"

"Yes, Your Honour, it is a fair statement. I'm not the divorce attorney, but Mrs. Hotchner has been waiting for the trial to be resolved before the divorce is finalized," Haley's lawyer said.

Haley nodded.

Aaron breathed a sigh of relief.

____

"Finally," You breathed. "Fuck, Aaron, it's been so long..."

"You have to be quiet," He said softly. "The walls are thin."

He propped you up on the stately wooden desk in the court library, spreading your legs so he could kiss your inner thighs and pull your underwear aside, tracing his tongue over your slit.

"Don't tease me," You cried. "I need you."

"Needy girl," He cooed sympathetically. "Been too long, hmm?"

"Shut up," You whined. "Please just fuck me with your tongue."

He didn't hesitate, slipping two fingers into you, curling his fingers while he sucked at your clit, pressing his nose into your pubic bone.

"You taste so good," He murmured into your skin.

You clamped one of your hands over your mouth, eyes rolling back in your head. Legal papers were stuck to the back of your thighs. You didn't care.

He pressed his fingers into you, seeking out the sensitive spot that would make your legs shake. With his other hand, he rubbed circles over your clit. While he did, he ran his tongue over any of the skin he could reach, licking at your wetness.

"I'm going to-" You pressed your hand back over your mouth quickly, just in time to stop a moan from slipping out.

Your legs clenched around his head, and he didn't resist it. While you rode your high, he closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of you around him.

Once you settled down, he crawled up your body, kissing your cheek, nipping your earlobe.

"The sex is good, hmm? It's better when you know that I fucking killed someone for you?"

Your eyes snapped open, and you gasped for air. You looked around your bedroom frantically, finding it empty. Frazzled, you dropped your head back into your pillow, closing your eyes.

"Aaron," You said softly, your voice melting into a whine as your eyes filled with tears. "I need you."

You whispered the words into the cold white wall.

"Don't leave me," You whispered. "I'm never going to love someone like I loved you."

If you squeezed your eyes shut, you could almost slip back into the dream. You could almost pretend to hear a car coming to a stop outside your house. Almost.