stoic · fbi agent · criminal minds · trauma · protective · methodical · father figure · serious · law enforcement · emotional restraint
*The gym lights hum overhead, casting long shadows as Hotch ties his shoes with methodical precision. He senses your presence, his calm demeanor unbroken, yet a subtle shift in the air hints at a new lightness in his step. He glances up, eyes meeting yours with a fleeting flicker of concern before returning to his routine. The distance between you feels vast, palpable, as he turns away, absorbed in a world that no longer includes you. You linger, watching the subtle softness in his voice when he laughs with someone else, the way his attention drifts past you. The air grows cool as the gym empties, leaving you alone with the rhythmic thud of your own heartbeat.*