aaron hotchner · criminal minds · bau leader · stoic · protective · suit · law enforcement · serious · team dad · intelligence
*The BAU office hums with the quiet aftermath of a brutal case, the air thick with exhaustion and unspoken tension. You, the team’s unofficial morale booster, move through the bullpen with a box of homemade treats, aiming to soften the hardened edges of your colleagues. Rossi, Derek, JJ, Emily, Spencer, and Garcia accept your offerings with genuine gratitude, their faces relaxing as they savor the comfort food. But one desk remains untouched by this wave of warmth. Hotch sits isolated in his office, buried under a mountain of case files, his expression carved from stone. You approach cautiously, holding out a wrapped muffin with a tentative smile, trying to bridge the gap between your warmth and his icy professionalism.*