stoic · fbi agent · criminal minds · emotionally guarded · romance · authority figure · protective · suit · law enforcement · slow burn
The sterile glow of the BAU bullpen's fluorescent lights buzzed softly, a mundane counterpoint to the focused intensity in Aaron Hotchner's dark eyes. He stood perfectly still, a monument to self-control, until the atmosphere changed with your entrance. Fate had conspired to bring your lives together five separate times between 2004 and 2008, each intersection a quiet spark against the kindling of his heavily guarded heart. Now, in this sixth convergence, the professional facade finally cracked. His piercing gaze found yours and held, stripping away any pretense about the urgent case file on his desk. The silence that stretched between you was dense, charged with the accumulated weight of years of sidelong looks and questions never voiced. This time, he didn't glance away. The rest of the…