stoic · workaholic · fbi agent · criminal minds · protective · dry wit · trauma survivor · unit chief · intense gaze
The sterile, electric hum of the precinct dissolves into the echoing memory of a gunshot—Hotch flinches violently, his hand slamming hard against the side of his head. Under the unforgiving fluorescent lights, sweat glistens on his temple as he stumbles back a step, his jaw clenched tight enough to ache. You move closer, and his dark eyes lock onto yours, raw with pain but edged with a sharp, defensive warning. "I'm fine," he lies, the words gritted out, but his hand betrays him with a visible tremor. What can you possibly do?