geekystudmuffin | Red Velvet Cake, Hotch/Reid, PG, for resolucidity

severity-softly.livejournal.com posting in

Title: Red Velvet Cake
Authors:

severity_softly
Pairing: Hotch/Reid
Rating: PG
WC: ~4700
Summary: It's Aaron's birthday, and Spencer decides a quiet evening at home isn't the best way to celebrate it.
Note:

resolucidity, we wrote this for your birthday. And then didn't post it. *headdesk* Go us. Happy very belated birthday.

Aaron was used to spending his birthday in strange locations. There was that year he'd been in Mexico, for instance, and another year that he'd been giving expert testimony on a case in Idaho. This year, when the team was off rotation for two weeks and he was doing nothing but catching up on written consultations, he was looking forward to a quiet evening at home with Spencer.

From the way Spencer was behaving, though, Aaron suspected he had other plans. Twice he'd caught JJ and Spencer huddled together, whispering about something. And once he'd found his lover in Dave's office, having a conversation that suspiciously went silent as soon as Aaron knocked on the door.

Something was going on. Aaron just hadn't figured out what.

Dave did mention Aaron's birthday once Spencer was gone. He asked if Aaron had plans, and offered to have a beer with him if he didn't. It was a nice try to recover what he and Spencer had almost given away, but Aaron didn't buy it for a minute. Still, he decided to act like he didn't suspect anything. He knew whatever Spencer was doing, it was important for him to do "right".

Partway through the afternoon Emily knocked on his door and stuck her head in the office. "Hey," she said, "some of us are going out after work. We'll buy you a birthday beer if you come with us."

Aaron hadn't seen Emily in on the whispered conversations. He wondered if accepting the offer would be ruining Spencer's plans, or if it would be playing into them. After a moment, he decided the only way to really find out was to see how pushy Emily got. If the offer was on Spencer's behalf, she wouldn't want to let Aaron get away with a no.

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm not sure I'm up to it."

She looked at him sympathetically, but shook her head. "Come on, Hotch, you've been doing nothing but working the whole time we've been off rotation. You need to unwind a little. What better day for it than your birthday?"

Aaron suppressed a small smile, and decided to protest one more time. "I'd hardly call filling out paperwork 'working'."

She arched an eyebrow and folded her arms. "Some people, that's all they do all day. You might think it's low key, but it's still work. Come on, let your hair down," she teased.

"This is as low as it goes," Aaron said, the smile that had been threatening finally curling his lips.

She snorted. "One drink," she said. "We're leaving here at six." She gave him a look that said she expected him to be with them, then turned and left.

Aaron sighed and rubbed at the bridge of his nose, hoping he'd interpreted that exchange right, then went on with his work. He wasn't surprised when six o'clock rolled around and Morgan was at his door.

"Hey, man, you ready to go? I'll give you a ride." Morgan was grinning at him.

Aaron lifted a brow. "I have a car."

"Sure, but why not carpool? A couple of us will have to come right past here on the way home." Morgan gestured at Aaron's desk. "Come on, file that in a drawer and let's go. It'll wait for a day."

"I never actually agreed to come," Aaron said, but he smiled faintly and put the file away anyway. "I'm getting the impression I don't really have a choice." He stood and made his way toward the door.

Morgan laughed. "Come on, man, we all know you can't relax without a little help. We're just helping." He led the way to the elevators.

Aaron nodded. For the most part it was true. Of course, Aaron had learned how to let Spencer relax him without even having to say a word. "You all act like I'm some sort of workaholic," he said, with just a hint of sarcasm.

"Hey, if the shoe fits," Morgan said his voice teasing. They made their way to Morgan's truck, keeping up the light-hearted banter, and soon enough they were pulling onto the freeway. Aaron frowned. He'd assumed they were going to be going to the Triangle bar or somewhere else local.

He looked over at Morgan, but Morgan was focused on the road. He didn't even glance over. "Are we going someplace new?"

"Oh, yeah, JJ found some new place she wanted us to try." Morgan glanced at him. "You know how she is, doesn't take no for an answer."

Aaron nodded, but he was already starting to grow suspicious. JJ had Will and Henry to go home to now. She wouldn't have want to go to anyplace too out of the way. But Aaron continued to talk with Morgan over the radio. He was glancing at the clock occasionally, and after twenty minutes had passed, he gave Morgan another questioning look. "This new place JJ found... it is in Virginia, isn't it?"

"Why, you gonna yell at me if it's in the District?" Morgan tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.

Aaron shook his head. "Just seems like a long way to go for a drink."

"It's your birthday, man. It's a special occasion." Morgan glanced over at him. "What is now, anyway? Fifty-two? Fifty-three?" He was grinning.

"I am just slightly younger than 'mom'," Aaron said, giving Morgan a look. He wondered if Spencer had ever mentioned to Morgan that he told Aaron about calling Dave and him 'mom and dad'.

Morgan sort of choked and looked back at the road. "Oh, yeah, so like forty-five. Right." He rubbed a hand along his jaw, looking like he was trying not to grin again. "Oh good, here's our exit."

They pulled off the freeway and down a few side streets. The bar they pulled up at was small, which was good, but it didn't appear by all outward appearances that there was anything special about it that they were coming out here. Still, Aaron couldn't help but just be relieved there actually was a bar at all. At least this wasn't extravagant.

When they got inside, the place was nearly empty except for the table where his team was sitting... under a colorful banner that read, "Happy Birthday, Aaron!" in pink and green. Purple balloons were tied to the chairs, too. Garcia must have decorated.

Aaron shook his head affectionately. "Tell me there's not a cake with a girl in it somewhere?"

"Sorry, Aaron, I took her back to my place," Dave said, and Emily choked on her beer.

Spencer grinned and stood to kiss Aaron. "Yeah, and I tried to get in it, but sadly, it wasn't tall enough."

Aaron shook his head, but he kissed Spencer quickly. "You shouldn't have made a fuss," he said, though he could tell Spencer was happy that it had all come together. Aaron smiled at him warmly, then looked around at the team. "Thank you."

"Are you kidding? It was an excuse to get away from my paperwork," Emily teased.

"We took the liberty of ordering you a drink ahead of time," Garcia said, pushing a shot glass towards him.

Aaron's eyebrows went up. "Garcia, are you trying to get me drunk? I swear the stories Dave tells are all lies. I'm not more fun with I'm snookered."

"Yes, he is," Spencer said, before Dave could even reply. "He just forgets because he almost never drinks the hard stuff."

Aaron gave Spencer a half hearted glare, then sighed and took the shot glass. He eyed the group, his accusing gaze lingering on Spencer and Dave the longest, then said, "I'm not drinking alone."

"Oh, don't worry," Emily said, laughing. She lifted her glass of what he imagined was bourbon, considering how often she drank with Dave. "Garcia has a frozen margarita on the way."

Aaron lifted his eyebrow at Spencer. "And you?"

"Driving you home," Spencer said.

"Yeah, someone's a party pooper," JJ teased, but she grinned at Spencer.

"I'm being practical," Spencer said. "I don't want to have to pay for a cab."

Garcia tutted at him. "You are such a square."

Spencer glared at her. "Some people like it," he said.

Aaron laughed and slipped an arm around Spencer's waist, pulling him closer. "I like it," he said, because he was definitely not about to tell her that at home, Spencer was anything but a square. She didn't need to know about the silk blindfold and ties, even if they would doubtless delight her.

"Yeah, well you're an even bigger square," Garcia said, grinning, and Morgan chuckled.

"How many margaritas have you already had, baby girl?"

"Enough that she obviously doesn't think she would miss her job," Dave teased. Emily snorted.

Aaron shook his head and sighed. "No, I really shouldn't fire anyone on my birthday. People might think I was sensitive about turning forty-four."

"Forty-four?" JJ asked, a sly grin crossing her face. "More like fifty-four." Aaron gave her a weak glare, and saw her exchange glances with Morgan. His birthday cake was going to wish him a happy sixtieth at this rate.

Aaron shook his head. "I'm not above sending you all for sensitivity training, though," he threatened. "Clearly we have an ageism problem in this unit."

Dave choked on his drink and started laughing. JJ patted him on the back.

"Hey, we make fun of you the same way we'd make fun of anyone else, old man," Garcia said, just as another margarita was put down in front of her.

Aaron just laughed and looked back down at the shot glass in front of him. "What is this, anyway?" He didn't wait for an answer before downing the shot, then blinked hard as a burning taste of citrus exploded in his mouth.

Garcia was laughing. "It's called a Kamikaze," she answered. "I thought it sounded good."

"You just ordered me something and you didn't know what it was?" Aaron asked, grinning, and Garcia just grinned right back and nodded. Aaron glanced at Spencer. "You're ordering the drinks from now on."

Spencer didn't say anything, but a hint of mischief flashed in his eyes and he flagged down the waiter. "He'll have a Long Island iced tea, and I'll have a water with lemon," he said. He gave Aaron an innocent look, and picked up his half-finished beer to sip it, as the rest of the team who were almost out of drinks put in their requests.

Aaron shook his head. "You know, none of this is really necessary," he told Spencer. "I'll definitely go home with you at the end of the night."

Garcia laughed and buried her face in her hands.

"Wow, okay, baby girl, someone let you start drinking way too early," Morgan teased. Garcia flipped him off.

Dave laughed, but the waiter walked up to him before he said anything in response. He just smiled and said, "Make that two Long Island iced teas, and another bourbon for me." He gave Emily a look after the waiter left that clearly said she was getting the Long Island iced tea, and Aaron could swear that she blushed slightly.

Aaron bit back a smile and shook his head. "When did I lose control of my team?" he asked mournfully.

"The minute you turned seventy," Garcia said, snorting.

He raised an eyebrow. "Morgan, the tech girl is cut off, or you're fired tomorrow."

Morgan stared at him for a moment, then started laughing and wrapped an arm around Garcia's shoulders. "Mama, you're gettin' me in trouble now. Cut that out."

"Oh, you don't even know the kind of trouble I can cause," she threatened, but leaned against him.

"No, I know damn well the kind of trouble you can cause, and I don't want to be the one in it," he corrected, grinning.

Spencer snorted, then glanced at his watch. "Drink that faster," he admonished Aaron, who was instantly suspicious.

"Why do I need to drink fast?" He sipped his drink anyway, since he'd quickly concluded that Spencer had further plans for them.

Spencer gave Aaron a look. "Garcia is beating you, and JJ's catching up. Drink like a man."

"Drink...drink like a man?" Aaron spluttered, and wondered if Dave was going to choke from laughing that hard. He shook his head. "And here I thought the birthday chasing a serial killer in Mexico was bad." He took another sip.

Spencer laughed, his entire face lighting up, and that pretty much made the teasing worth it. Not that he was really bothered. "One of us has to."

"So you've adopted gender roles in your rel--" Morgan slapped a hand over Garcia's mouth before she could finish, and she shot a glare at him, but didn't fight him.

Aaron raised an eyebrow and leveled his best Unit Chief Hotchner look at her. "I'll pretend not to have understood that question," he said, though he knew better than to be offended by it. Even though his relationship with Spencer had become common knowledge among the team, Aaron was still unlikely to share details of his personal life with any of the others besides Dave. Garcia's questions, impertinent as they were, just showed how much she cared about him and Spencer both.

"Probably better that way," JJ said, punching Garcia's shoulder. "I am not holding your hair for you if you get sick."

Emily snorted. "She'll just get Derek to do it," she predicted. "Everyone knows the man's a pushover for her."

Morgan glared at her. "You've had too much already too," he said, and there wasn't really an edge to his voice, but Emily held up her hands in a pacifying gesture and sipped her Long Island again.

"Leave her alone. She's fine," Dave said, his tone annoyed, though he was grinning.

"Just 'cause you want--" Morgan began, and this time Garcia covered his mouth with a hand.

"Shh, love-muffin," she said. "We are celebrating the joyous occasion of the Hotchly one's birth. Don't pick fights with Dave."

Morgan snorted and bit her fingers gently, which made her laugh and thump him.

Aaron thought for a moment, then decided not to interfere in any of it. He took a long drink. Everyone knew Dave wanted Emily and she wanted him, including them. But they both seemed to be enjoying the "chase".

It was just then that the waiter brought out a cake--red velvet, Aaron's favorite--with candles lit. Thank God there were only four. But then his team started singing, and it was... interesting. Nice, but interesting. They were lucky they had other skills. Aaron grinned at the cake and shook his head. "Thanks, guys," he said, feeling warmed. The team had thrown parties for Spencer, JJ and Garcia, but never for Aaron.

"Go on, make a wish!" Emily urged him.

He glanced at her, then at Spencer, and wondered what he could possibly have left to wish for. I wish that we stay together, this team...this family, he thought, and blew out the candles.

The waiter handed them plates, and JJ grabbed the knife from Garcia before she started cutting into it. She handed out slices, and Aaron went quiet for a while, listening to them all talk as they ate their cake. He couldn't help smiling.

"This is good. So is this what you Georgians eat on birthdays?" Morgan asked, drawing out the word 'Georgians' with a really bad southern accent.

"Of course," Aaron replied. "We like the best of everything." He smiled blandly at Morgan. "It's why I have such exacting standards."

"So it's just every other day of the year you eat chitlins, grits, and chicken feet, then?" Garcia asked, a ridiculous grin on her face.

Aaron and Dave snorted at the same time, then Aaron nodded solemnly. "Pretty much, yeah."

"Except he doesn't eat the chitlins any more," Spencer put in. "He's been off pork since last year."

Aaron glared at him, because that much was true. "Shh."

Emily made a sympathetic noise. "Hey, me too," she said, and took a long drink of her Long Island.

Dave shook his head in a disbelieving way, but apparently decided not to actually say anything. Then he glanced at his watch, and Aaron looked at Spencer, as if expecting him to do the same. Dave was looking at Spencer too, apparently, because he said, "It's getting kind of late." That made Spencer glance at his watch. "Offer you a ride home?" Dave added, and when Aaron looked back, he was looking at Emily.

"You're all right to drive?" she asked, looking at his glass. She took another long sip of her drink and grabbed her jacket.

"We should go too," Spencer told Aaron.

Aaron frowned. "Are we in a hurry?"

He heard Dave suggest sharing a cab with Emily as Spencer shrugged. "Not really," he said, then added, "a little bit." He gave Aaron a wry expression.

"Which is it?" Aaron asked, laughing. "What other plans do you have for me tonight?"

Morgan snorted and Garcia let out a whistle.

Spencer shot her an exasperated look, then looked back at Aaron. "It's a surprise. Now come on."

Aaron shook his head and drained his glass. "Behave," he told the others as he stood up. He glanced at Dave. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Dave laughed. "You know I probably will," he said, and Aaron saw Emily's lips twist. He wasn't sure if it was her repressing a smile or embarrassment. Maybe both.

"He's always been a rebel," Aaron lamented to the group in general. He looked around at them and smiled. "Thank you," he said. He and Spencer left to a chorus of happy birthdays.

When they got outside, Spencer slipped his fingers into Aaron's hand, and Aaron smiled, curling his fingers around Spencer's. "I love you," Spencer whispered. "I hope you don't get mad at me."

Aaron's eyebrows went up. "Why would I get mad?" he asked, though he was starting to feel a little nervous about Spencer's plans.

Spencer just shrugged, then gave Aaron a smile that looked too hopeful for Aaron to get too worried.

"I love you," Aaron murmured, and leaned in to kiss him. "You know I trust you. I won't be mad."

"I hope not," Spencer said, leaning against Aaron as they walked. "You don't have to accept it, either, if you don't want. I'm sure Garcia can un-work her magic."

Aaron studied his lover for a moment then shook his head. "Whatever you've done, I'm fine with it. I'm also incredibly tipsy. What was in that shot?" He smiled at Spencer.

"I'm not really sure, but your Long Island Iced Tea was incredibly alcoholic." Spencer smiled back, then hit the clicker for his car. He didn't let go of Aaron, though. He lead them around to the passenger seat, then kissed him before heading around to the other side.

Aaron relaxed and leaned his head against the back of the seat as Spencer drove. He didn't need to know what they were doing. He was content to let Spencer take charge. It was possibly the alcohol relaxing him that much, but he didn't really care about that either. He was forty-four years old with a satisfying career and a gorgeous younger lover. He talked to his son every week and would have him for a month next summer. If just for one night, Aaron was willing to be happy.

He might have fallen into a light doze. He didn't think they'd been driving very long when he had his attention jolted back to the present. Spencer had stopped the car and turned it off. Aaron blinked and looked around. "Where are we?"

When he managed to focus on Spencer's face, Spencer was looking a little nervous. "The airport," he said, almost as if it were a question.

"The airport?" Aaron thought about that for a moment, then gave him a tiny smile. "Do I get to know where we're going?"

"I hadn't considered withholding that information until you said that," Spencer said, visibly relaxing at Aaron's smile. "I'll tell you if you don't trust me," he said, his expression going mischievous. "Hey, you only have yourself to blame for that one."

Aaron stared at him for a moment, then shook his head. "I already told you I trust you, so if I demand to know now, you'll just think I was lying." He snorted. "Sometimes it's damned difficult to date a genius." He knew he was looking fondly at Spencer, despite his words.

Spencer hummed a happy noise, then leaned over to kiss Aaron. His seat belt stuck halfway there, though, so he had to sit back and undo it, then try again. His lips brushed Aaron's, then he murmured against Aaron's lips, "Garcia made sure you requested time off. I packed your things."

"You think of everything," Aaron murmured, laughing. He kissed Spencer. "I love you." He wanted desperately to know where they were going. Not because he didn't trust Spencer, but because he was curious.

"We have about an hour for our flight, so we ought to get going. Try not to act too drunk around security," Spencer said. He kissed Aaron again, then pulled back and popped the trunk.

"I'm not acting drunk," Aaron protested indignantly. He was a little, but no stranger would be able to tell if they couldn't smell the alcohol on his breath. Drunk for Aaron Hotchner, after all, wasn't as relaxed as drunk for someone else.

Spencer snorted, but didn't protest. He just got out of the car and lugged the bags out of the trunk, then handed the ones without wheels to Aaron and took the rolling one for himself with a grin.

Aaron blinked down at it for a moment, then sighed and followed him. "You only love me for my body," he protested.

"Ha!" Spencer said, then in a falsely serious tone, added, "It's so true."

Aaron sighed. "I knew it. One of these days I won't be strong and handsome any more, and you'll leave me for Morgan."

Spencer laughed and looked at Aaron, affection plain on his face. "No, I'll just milk it for what it is now, and cling to the memory when you're old and feeble." Spencer suddenly turned around and cupped Aaron's face, kissing him with a surprising passion. Aaron felt his cheeks heat, even if they were in a mostly empty parking lot, when one of Spencer hands moved into Aaron's hair. When he pulled back he breathed, "I'm so happy."

Aaron's surprise faded into pure happiness as he smiled up at his lover. "That's all I want," he said. "To be happy with you."

Spencer's smile was broad. "I get you all to myself for two weeks."

"Two weeks?" Aaron spluttered, then shook his head. "How did you manage two weeks for both of us?" he murmured. "They'll fall apart without us."

"Morgan is taking the lead, and Dave promised not to hesitate to cut our vacation short if they needed us."

Aaron grinned. "If he calls, ignore it. Two whole weeks just the two of us? Sounds like heaven."

Spencer laughed and kissed Aaron again. "I forgot to mention, we're going to the arctic tundra."

"Okay, sounds like hell." Aaron pretended to pull away. "I'm a southern boy. Don't like cold."

Spencer laughed again and pulled Aaron back. "Too bad. You already said you would come. Now hurry up."

"Hurry up," Aaron scoffed, but he draped an arm around Spencer's shoulders just long enough for it to become uncomfortable. "You weren't supposed to get taller than me," he said, and settled for curling his fingers around Spencer's as they walked. It occurred to him after a few steps that the loosening of his usual strict rules against public affection was one of the main side effects when he drank too much. A moment later he decided he didn't care; he was on leave for two entire weeks.

"I did it just to mess with you." Spencer was still smiling as they got inside the airport. He didn't let go of Aaron's hand until they had to at the baggage check.

It was weird going through security with everyone else, when Aaron was so used to getting by quickly on the job, but they ran their carry-ons through the x-ray machine, emptied their pockets, and took off their shoes with everyone else. When they were on the other side, Spencer glanced at his watch and curled his fingers around Aaron's again.

"We're not late, are we?" Aaron asked. "I'd forgotten how much we take the jet for granted." He squeezed Spencer's fingers. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so out of control of the situation and still liked it. Spencer seemed to be enjoying himself, and Aaron loved to see that.

"Not late, but we're cutting it a little close." Spencer stopped and looked up at the lighted sign that told him which gate he needed to be at, and Aaron tried unsuccessfully to figure out which part of the sign Spencer was reading. Then Spencer was pulling him down a corridor that headed up to a number or terminals.

"You know I'm not carrying my passport on me, right?" Aaron said, trying to tease a little information out of Spencer without actually asking where they were going. He wondered if he looked silly following Spencer around with a lost look on his face.

"Uh huh," Spencer said vaguely, which gave away nothing, no indication Spencer had it, or that they wouldn't need it.

"Just checking," Aaron said, trying to look innocent. He wondered vaguely how Spencer always got him to play.

Spencer laughed. "You're so fussy." He tilted his head in thought. "I'm going to have to blindfold and put headphones on you in a minute though. Can't have you reading the signs or hearing the announcements. Or the captain. In fact, I might need to keep you in sensory deprivation until we get there." He looked like he was trying not to grin too widely.

"Now you're letting the power go to your head," Aaron said, rolling his eyes. He gave Spencer an affectionate look.

"Maybe," Spencer said. Spencer slowed down to a stop in front of a gate and looked at it, letting Aaron's eyes fall to the sign on the gate. It was a non-stop flight to Cairo, Egypt. "It'll be a long flight, but we can sleep on the way," Spencer said, and when Aaron looked back, Spencer looked suddenly apprehensive again.

Aaron gave him a bemused smile. "Egypt." He looked at the gate. "Really?" He waited for Spencer's nod, then said, "I've always wanted to see the Pyramids."

Spencer's face lit up. "Me too. I've read a lot about them." Aaron had a feeling he was going to hear all of it on the plane if they couldn't sleep. He grinned.

"So you'll be my tour guide?" Morgan had once asked him how he could stand to listen to Spencer ramble the way he did. Aaron found it comforting, though he also liked it that Spencer didn't feel the need to spout facts at him all the time now that they shared things on a more intimate level.

"Absolutely," Spencer said, then lowered his voice. "Thank you."

Aaron lifted a hand to brush Spencer's jaw lightly. "I told you I trust you," he said, matching Spencer's tone. "I'll always trust you." He gave his lover a warm look. "I'll always love you," he whispered.

Spencer's eyes went just slightly glassy, and he squeezed Aaron's hand. "I know," he whispered, then his smile was back on his face brightly. He gave Aaron's hand a little tug. "Let's go see the pyramids."