TW: mentions of substance abuse, child abuse (brief)
A few days had passed since Emily and Hotch had slept together. Although nothing had happened, neither of them had slept that well in months. They hadn't spoken about that night, and they were using the case as a distraction from it.
The team had caught the unsub. Like their profile presented, the killer was a sixteen year old girl named Valeria. The first time Emily saw her, she was shocked. She looked like she wouldn't hurt a fly.
Both Hotch and the lead detective thought it would be best if Emily questioned Valeria. As the brunette walked into the dim interrogation room, she saw the young girl sitting in the chair across the metal table with her fingers interlaced in front of her, cuffed to the table. Her navy blue zip up hoodie and hands were stained with blood.
The female agent sat down with a file in hand, letting out a long sigh to keep her composure. "You've given yourself quite the reputation, Ms. Lopez." Emily smiled flatly. "Your community calls you 'El Susurro'."
Valeria chuckled sarcastically. "Yeah, well, people always assume things. They always assume everything is good and fine, until it's too late."
Emily leaned closer to Valeria, interlacing her fingers in the same way. "It wasn't fine with your mom was it? She always put on a smile like everything was ok, but it was different at home. The façade you had to put on was exhausting wasn't it? That's why you turned to drugs like she did. Then when that wasn't enough, you started killing. You snapped when your mom hit your little sister when she came home after getting high."
Valeria narrowed her eyes at the FBI agent across from her. But Emily saw the vulnerability in her hazel eyes. "You think you're so clever don't you?"
"I consider myself to be reasonably smart, yes."
"Then why do you think you know so much about me?"
"Because I've seen what happens to children who's families are torn apart by substance abuse. I know why you killed all those women. You thought you were saving those kids didn't you?"
"They're better off without them." Valeria said with disgust, leaning forward defensively. "I saved those kids, so you can lock me up if you want! I don't care! I stopped caring a long time ago!"
"You know that's not going to happen. You're only sixteen."
"You can't guarantee anything. Don't bullshit me. You and I both know this isn't the first time I've been arrested."
"I know. You were arrested ten months ago for stealing food from a grocery store for you and your sister. And I'll be honest, it was justified."
"Why are you in here questioning me? Why didn't the grumpy FBI agent that arrested me question me? By the way, he was totally checking you out earlier."
A small smirk spread across the unsub's lips as Emily fought back a blush. "I wanted to talk to you. Think of it as a personal curtesy."
All of a sudden Valeria distanced herself, sitting back in her chair. Her playful expression was replaced with a serious and cold one. "I'd ask for my lawyer, but there'd be no point. I think you got everything you need from me."
The unsub avoided eye contact with Emily and let out a long sigh. The agent stood from her chair and walked out of the room, leaving the young girl behind. She huffed as she walked into the room where the lead detective and Morgan were. "She's smart, but it's clear she doesn't care. She knows what she's done. I don't think there's anything else that can be done. It's up to the jury now." Emily crossed her arms across her chest.
"She's a sociopath, Emily. She didn't resist arrest. Any normal teenager would've either ran or freaked out. She didn't even blink when we cuffed her."
"I know, but it makes you wonder if she's always been like this, even before she knew what her mother did."
"Considering the mom's constant cocaine and alcohol abuse, I wouldn't be surprised." Morgan shrugged. His stance shifted as a playful grin spread across his face. "So...you and Hotch huh?"
Emily scoffed. "Oh come on! You can't seriously believe what she said. Like you said, she's a sociopath."
The two walked down the hallway back towards the conference room where the rest of the team was. "Sociopath or not, she's smart and observant. She doesn't care what she says anymore. And I think she's onto something." The brunette rolled her eyes, trying to push the memory from last night out of her mind. "What? You and boss man gettin a little Halloween honey?" Morgan nudged his teammate's shoulder.
The two entered the conference room, still immersed in their conversation. "Ew! Seriously Morgan. You gotta stop staying that. It creeped me out last year, and you're only making it worse."
"What's creeping you out?" Reid asked cluelessly but engaged.
Emily briefly glanced at Hotch who had his nose in his phone. "Remember when Morgan coined 'Halloween honey' last year?"
"Of course I do. I have–"
"An eidetic memory. I know." The brunette rolled her eyes.
"Speaking of, there's a Halloween party at Hawthorne's. You in, Prentiss?" Morgan asked with a slight smirk.
Emily crossed her arms, thinking about Morgan proposal for a moment. Knowing she had nothing better to do, she decided to throw caution into the wind. "Sure. Why not? What time?"
"Tomorrow. It starts at 6, but we were planning on grouping together an hour or so later."
"Sounds good. I'm assuming everyone's dressing up. I know I am."
"Definitely. What are you thinking, princess?"
"I'm not sure. I'll figure it out."
Morgan and Emily exchanged excited smiles before making their way back to the hotel to collect their go bags and return home.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Emily kept her makeup natural and simple. As she walked into the bar, the place was bustling with people all dressed in costumes. She looked around for her group of friends, remembering that Morgan told her that he was dressed as one of the agents from the Matrix and Penelope was dressed as a fairy. Eventually, she spotted her friends around a table. As she made her way through the crowd, she caught sight of JJ who was dressed as Marilyn Monroe. It was clear she was wearing a short, blonde wig and a white, halter dress that flared out at the waist, and matching white heels. "Hey! You guys all look great!" Emily smiled as she stood beside Penelope and Morgan.
"Hey princess!" Morgan gave her a side hug and a beer. "You look hot."
"You definitely do!" JJ smiled.
Emily's gaze fell on Reid and Rossi. Reid was dressed as someone from the Star Trek crew, but no one in particular. Rossi costume on the other hand...well, someone must've paid him to do this because he was dressed up as Luigi. Emily had to hold back a laugh as she stared at her older teammate. "Nice hat, Rossi." Emily giggled.
"Morgan promised me scotch. That's the only reason I'm dressed like this."
"Hey. Where's Hotch?" Reid asked looking around. "He was supposed to be here," He glanced down at his watch. "seven minutes and forty-two seconds ago."
As if on cue, Hotch walked up to his friends from behind Emily. "Sorry I'm late."
His low voice made Emily jump and nearly dropped her beer. When she turned around, she looked her boss up and down. He was dressed in an old fashioned, dark gray wool suit with a black trench coat and deerstalker. It was clear that Hotch was meant to be Sherlock Holmes. He looked good. Really good. Emily couldn't help but let a small smile spread across her lips as her boss looked down at her, returning the kind gesture. "You look good, Prentiss." He said in her ear.
Emily felt a blush creep on her cheeks, forcing her to look away from her friend group. Soon a peppy voice brought her attention back. "Alright! Let's get this party started!" Penelope shouted as she set several shots of liquor down on the table.
–––––––––––––––––––––––
"I want your love, and I want your revenge! You and me could write a bad romance!" Penelope sang into the microphone.
"Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh! I want your love, and all your lover's revenge! You and me could write a bad romance!" Emily sang half drunk on the stage.
"She is so hammered." Morgan laughed at the two women on stage.
"Which one?" Rossi smirked.
The men and JJ laughed as they watched their teammates sing their hearts out to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" on stage. They had taken several more shots of tequila than the rest of the group. The liquid courage allowed the the spunky blonde and sassy brunette to get up on stage and do some karaoke, something Emily never saw herself doing.
Once the song was over, everyone cheered and laughed with the two women as they stepped off stage. They made their way back over to the friend group, holding onto one another and laughing uncontrollably. As Emily stumbled towards the table, she reached over Hotch for his bottle of beer which he promptly took away. "I think you've had plenty." Hotch said giving the bottle to Reid who looked at it with confusion.
"You too, Angel Face." Morgan said, gently grabbing the blonde's shoulders. "Lets get you home."
"I think we should call it a night. These two are about to pass out or start a fight." JJ said pointing to her drunk friends.
"I'll take Penelope home."
Hotch noticed that Emily was on the verge of passing out on his shoulder. He felt her weight on his side. "I'll take Prentiss home. Her apartment isn't far from mine."
The rest of his team nodded as they all headed out of the bar, eventually going their separate ways. Emily stumbled to Hotch's car as he held her upright. He helped her in and closed the door. The drive was silent for the most part, only the occasional mumbling from a drunk Emily would make the grumpy FBI agent turn his head.
Eventually, they made it to Emily's apartment building. Hotch helped her into the elevator and into her apartment. As he looked around, he realized he'd never been in here before. It was neat and decorated sophisticatedly. He sat Emily down on the couch and began taking off her black boots. She began giggling uncontrollably and grabbed onto Hotch's jacket. "You smell goooood." The brunette woman slurred. "You smell like the woods after a rainstorm."
Hotch continued taking off her boots and took her gun, just in case. He put her feet up onto the couch before walking over to the kitchen to get a damp towel. When he returned, he saw the beautiful brunette lying on her couch. He raven hair had been taken out of the braid and was fanned out over a pillow. She looked peaceful. Her eyes were shut and had a small smile on her face. He sat down on the coffee table across from her and began patting her forehead with the damp towel. She moaned at the feeling of the coolness on her soft skin. "That feels nice." Emily sighed. She opened her brown eyes to look at her boss. "You know Aaron, you're more fun once you get a few drinks in you. And hotter."
Hotch couldn't help but smile. "I could say the same about you."
"I'm going to forget all of this tomorrow aren't I?"
"Probably." Hotch paused for a moment, admiring the woman before him. "You really are beautiful, Emily."
All of a sudden, the brunette was sober. She sat up, brushing the hair away from her face. They were close, less than a foot apart now. "You think I'm beautiful?"
"As cliche as this sounds, I think you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met."
Emily couldn't contain herself any longer. Years of unspoken feelings had been released when she grabbed the back of Hotch's neck, pulling him into a passionate kiss. At first, he resisted. But he quickly reciprocated the kiss by wrapping his arms around her svelte frame. When the need for air became too great, the two agents broke apart, both breathless. They simply stared at one another before Emily ticked a piece of hair behind her ear shyly. "I–uh...that was...that was" Hotch stuttered, scratching the back of his head.
"More than a one time thing hopefully?" Emily asked, almost regretting the words that came out of her mouth.
A smile spread across Hotch's face, showing off his dimples that she rarely got to see. "Depends." He replied lowly, gaining back some confidence. "Do you want it to be?"
Rather than saying anything, Emily grabbed Hotch by his tie and pulled him on top of her on the couch, connecting their lips once again.
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