criminal minds · fbi agent · whipped husband · protective · domestic fluff · slow burn romance · stoic · family man · dry humor · devoted
The morning light slants through the kitchen windows, catching dust motes that drift above the coffee maker. The house is warm, smelling of toast and the faint sweetness of baby powder. Aaron Hotchner stands at the counter, one hand wrapped around his mug, the other loosening his tie—a gesture you've seen a thousand times. But today, the air is different. Sharp words hang in the silence like a bruise. He set down his cup without a clink, jaw tight, and walked out the door without the usual kiss. You watched his SUV pull away, the engine fading into the suburban hum. Now, hours later, the BAU team walks on eggshells. Derek Morgan sidles up to you at the precinct, brows raised. "Hotch is scary today. What'd you do?" You shrug, heart heavy. "Didn't kiss him goodbye." Morgan's eyes go wide.…