Written for the Halloween Drabble Competition
Word count (not including author's note): 483
Prompt: Someone spiked the hot apple cider
A.N. Some things that are put in drinks can make you lower your inhibitions, and do things that you wouldn't normally do. They make you bold enough to act on your feelings.
Hotch and Prentiss sat at the table in Hotch's kitchen, eating donuts. Reid and JJ had taken Henry and Jack trick-or-treating, and then Jack was staying at JJ's.
A knock on the door made both agents jump. Hotch had turned off the porch lights, signaling to trick-or-treaters that there was no more candy to be found at that particular house, so he had no idea who it could be.
Hotch opened the door to see the lady who lived across the street. "I saw you and your girl handing out candy. Not that it's just the two of you, I brought you a treat." She handed him a jug of cider.
"Prentiss isn't—" Hotch objected, trying to give the cider back. However, the lady wouldn't take it. Pressing it into Hotch's hand, she walked away, leaving the FBI agent standing stunned on his doorstep.
"Who was that?" Prentiss asked, walking up behind Hotch.
"My neighbor. She brought us cider,"
"Oh, how nice. Something to enjoy alongside our donuts."
Five minutes later both Hotch and Prentiss had their hands wrapped around warm mugs of cider. The two dark-haired agents took sips from their mugs and bites from their donuts as they talked.
More and more often Hotch found himself stealing glances at Prentiss. He had always found her beautiful, but tonight he didn't seem to be able to keep his eyes off her. And as much as he tried to focus on what Prentiss was saying, his mind kept wandering to what it would be like to kiss those pink lips, to run his hands over that sweater-covered torso and through that dark hair.
Prentiss knew she was babbling, but she couldn't help it. She was trying desperately to keep Hotch's attention, so when he pushed his chair back with a groan her spirits fell. Rising, he said, "I can't do this anymore."
He came around the table. Prentiss' frantic apology was cut off by arms wrapping around her and a face burying itself in her hair.
"Hotch?" Prentiss asked cautiously. "What exactly are you doing?"
"Emily, call me Aaron, please," Hotch said. "Hotch sounds so professional, and I can't think of you as a coworker right now."
"Why not, Aaron?"
"Because I don't think I could do this with a coworker," Hotch said, and kissed Prentiss.
Prentiss was stunned at first, but then leaned towards Hotch, deepening the kiss.
When the two agents broke apart, they just looked at one another. Then Hotch scooped up Prentiss and carried her to the couch.
They spent the next few hours watching a "scary" movie and stealing kisses from one another. Finally, as the movie ended Hotch pulled a blanket over the two of them.
"You know," Prentiss said sleepily, "I think your neighbor spiked the cider."
"Well, I'm glad she did," Hotch said, pulling Prentiss closer.
"Me too," Prentiss said, and closed her eyes.