Aaron Hotchner Relationship Headcanons
It’s been a really long time since I’ve actually written anything…so, I guess this is a great way to warm back up, right?
So, again, disclaimer- I’ve never written for any of these characters, so some of these may feel off.
Constructive feedback is welcomed <3
I refuse to believe that hotch will start any romantic relationship with anything other than painful, overly long and drawn out yearning - like the kind that makes your chest hurt when you think about them
Like, there's no will they won't they. You don’t even have an inkling that Hotch might have romantic feelings for you. You know that he cares about you, there’s no question in that. Even if he took a long time to warm up to and trust you. The care just feels the same way as it does to the rest of the team.
At the same time, I could see there being slip ups or cracks in the armour he’s put on. Moments where there’s that little voice in the back of your mind asking ‘is this platonic? Is this how he is with everyone he cares about, or…?’. These are moments where safety is questioned, either party is inebriated, things like that. It’s a hand on your lower back, it’s a lingering hand on your shoulder, a soft spoken question.
I feel like touch is something he tends to save for people he cares for, friends, family, etc. I feel like this dial gets cranked up when you’re actually in a relationship with him. He wants to be touching you as often as he can. And I mean this in a fully innocent way. It’s his way of feeling like you’re real and you won't just slip away.
I feel like there’s a few ways the first few “sections” of a relationship with Aaron could go.
I could see it being a bit tumultuous in the beginning. He’s got a lot to think about when starting a romantic relationship. He has Jack, his career, his past and his trauma, I’m sure the list goes on. It’s not easy to just let someone in and be vulnerable like that. And I can see that causing tension in the beginning. That struggle of wanting deep down to let someone in, to allow yourself to be vulnerable with that person, to feel seen and cherished and accepted, all while fighting that deep rooted - and, frankly, valid fear, especially in his case, of that blowing up on you.
I could see that causing him to retreat a little bit and even if you are in a relationship officially, that it would feel like a slow burn. Like dates feel like hangouts, intimacy, both physical and emotional, being small moments or just put on hold. But, I think the kind of person he deserves would have the patience to wait and support him through that.
On the other hand, I could see this happening in the midst of your relationship. He lets himself be vulnerable with you, he lets you in. But, then he catches himself, realizing how truly intertwined with his life you are, how important you truly are to him. And that scares him. So, he retreated, even if he doesn't realize that’s necessarily what he’s doing. You hang out privately less often, kisses become short and chaste- not void of love- just short, he slowly puts distance between you two.
I could see that ending in a few ways- either he cracks and realizes what he’s doing or you bring it to his attention.
But, all in all, I think Aaron would be nothing short of attentive and loving in a relationship. Especially after Haley, he knows where his shortcomings were and he knows what he needs out of a partner as well.
TLDR; I think he would be loving but I do think a relationship with Hotch, really anyone on the team, would take more work and support than people seem to think.