unedited

SEVENTEEN. DOMESTIC ACTIVITES

DAISY WAS A DIFFICULT PERSON TO UNDERSTAND. Was she clumsy, or just focused on what she was doing and found herself constantly walking into people? Was she always so chipper, or was it all a front? These things had been a problem all her life, but she'd never had anyone call her out on it quite like Hotch did.

"Shit, sorry!" she apologised quickly as she stepped back onto someone's foot at her local supermarket. She whipped around, nearly falling into the apple shelves if she hadn't been yanked forward at the last minute. She grunted as she slammed into the person's chest, feeling a slight ache in her almost healed ribs. She looked up in surprise, seeing none other than Aaron Hotchner. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Hotch? Can't stay away from me, huh?"

"Very funny," Hotch let go of her and rolled his eyes, his grip tightening around his shopping basket. For once, he wasn't in one of his expensive suits, instead in an equally fancy sweater and jeans. Daisy, like usual, was quite underdressed, in a white top and sweatpants with a rolled bandanna keeping her hair up. She knew that rain was forecast for later on in the day, but she decided that she'd beat the weather home. "This is the only place they stock my son's favourite cereal."

Daisy vaguely remembered the mentioning of Hotch's son, Jack. He was young, only three or four, but from what she had seen, he was Hotch's entire world. She couldn't help but smile. "Aw, that's sweet. I didn't think you cared about other people."

Hotch scoffed at her teasing comment, starting to walk away from her. She didn't seem to care, following him down to the cereal aisle. She pretended that her being there was merely a coincidence, and whenever he'd look up at her, she'd turn her attention to a random product she didn't need. As much as he hated to admit it, Hotch found himself shaking his head in amusement. "Alvarez, can I help you?"

"What?" Daisy glanced over at him, as if she didn't hear him. "Did you say something?"

Hotch closed his eyes and exhaled. "Can I help you?"

Daisy walked up to him with a jar of peanut butter in her hand. She dropped it in her basket and then looked over at Hotch's. "Do you really need that many packets of frozen vegetables?"

"I find that I don't have much time to cut them myself," Hotch replied. He pointed at her basket. "Do you need that many juice boxes? Last time I checked, you were an federal agent in her thirties."

"Who says they're for me?" Daisy tilted her head. At Hotch's confused expression, she cleared her throat and adjusted her posture. "They're for the kids at the care facility a few blocks away."

Hotch noticed her change in body language. She was no longer as confident, as if there was something to be ashamed of. He straightened up a little. "Do you...have family there?"

Daisy pursed her lips, her heart sinking a little. "Yeah, uh, my sister. She's nineteen; been there for a couple of years."

"I see," Hotch muttered. He scratched the back of his head, feeling slightly awkward. "Well, I should get going. I'll see you at work?"

"Yeah," Daisy smiled, lifting her hand in a wave and watching him leave. She sighed softly as she was left alone once more, the only sound being the generic pop music drifting over the aisle. 

She reached for her peanut butter once more and put it back on the shelf, deciding that she didn't really need it. She really only picked it up so that she'd have a reason to talk to Hotch. Despite how rarely they got along, she found joy in their little conversations, even if it was pure bickering. 

Daisy jumped slightly when she heard something fall at the end of the aisle. Looking over, she noticed a packet of crackers had been knocked onto the floor, but there was no one there. She glanced back and forth, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. It must have been hanging over the edge of the shelf or something. She closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled, before walking towards the checkouts, considering there was nothing else she needed to buy. 

Once she made it back onto the street, she shivered as the breeze grew cold. Raindrops were beginning to fall, and she wanted to kick herself for forgetting a jacket. She had left her car at home, considering both her apartment and the Beanie's care home were in walking distance. She clearly couldn't outsmart her weather app. 

Looking up at the grey sky, she tried to figure out if it was worth waiting the rain out, or if she could make it home without getting absolutely drenched. 

Daisy huffed, holding the paper grocery bag tight to her chest. "Let's just get this over with."

So, she began her walk, trying to cherish the rain. She truly didn't mind the feeling, she just worried that her food would get wet. She never bought heaps of groceries, considering she was hardly ever home, though that meant when she had days off she just wouldn't eat. 

"Alvarez!" someone called, and she looked over, droplets falling in her face. She squinted through the downpour, seeing Hotch in his car. "Come on, I'll give you a ride home."

"I'll be okay!" she shouted back, though she couldn't deny her jealously at how warm he looked inside the vehicle. 

"Are you serious?" Hotch yelled. "Daisy, get in the car!"

Daisy stopped walking at the sound of her first name. He had never used it. Her jaw slacked a little, and she hesitated, before jumping into the passenger seat. She sighed gratefully as she was instantly greeted by the warmth of the heated seat and hot air. She put her bag on the floor and wrapped her arms around herself after she shut the door behind her. 

Hotch stared at her for a few seconds, before he reached into the backseat and pulled out a sweater similar to the one he wore. "Here, put this on."

"Hotch, I'm fine, seriously," Daisy tried to convince him, but he wouldn't have it. 

"You're shaking," he noted, and she huffed, before accepting it. "It's probably best to take your shirt off, the wet fabric on your skin will just make it worse."

Daisy snorted. "I'm getting a bit of déjà vu here, Hotch."

"Don't start," Hotch sighed, pulling the car from the kerb and starting off down the road. He kept his eyes forward, despite the fact that Daisy had pulled her wet top off and was now tugging on his sweater. He cleared his throat, feeling his cheeks heat up a little as she began to fiddle with her wet hair. "What's your address?"

Daisy gave it to him, then proceeding to hold her arms out in front of the heaters. She shivered once more, pulling the sleeves of the sweater over hands to maintain her body warmth. She then reached forward and pressed the button to turn the stereo on. It was the Beatles White album. She groaned. "Is this the only album you own?"

"It's a classic," Hotch defended his music choice. 

"A classic that I had to listen to all the way back from Ohio," she went to change it to the radio, but Hotch smacked her hand away. "If I have to listen to Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da again, I'm gonna shoot myself."

Hotch pressed the 'next' button on the stereo several times, before he stopped and sat back. A cheerful tune began ringing through the car, and Daisy's jaw dropped once she recognised it. The asshole had skipped ahead to the very song she despised. She slapped Hotch's arm and he laughed in response. 

"You can be a real prick sometimes, you know that?" she crossed her arms, though she couldn't help but smile a little as well. She shook her head and stared out the window, seeing her apartment building come into view. It really wasn't that far from the supermarket, but she was thankful that she didn't have to walk. She wouldn't let Hotch know that, though. 

Hotch pulled into an empty space outside, and Daisy began collecting her things. She reached for the door just as Hotch's phone dinged, causing her to look back and watch him pick up his mobile. A dip formed between his brows as he read the message. 

"Everything okay?"

He sighed, tapping in a response. Daisy felt her own phone vibrate, and she picked it up, seeing a text from him to the entire team. A new case. She sat back in the chair, looking back at him. He looked back at her. "I doubt we'll live it down if you show up in my clothes. Why don't you go up and change?"

Daisy pulled a face. "You're right, they'll think I actually want to see you outside of work."

Hotch rolled his eyes once more. He found he really only started doing that more since she started working at the BAU. "Do you want a ride there, or not?"

Daisy grinned. "I'll be back in a few minutes. But I don't know if I'll give the sweater back, it's way comfier than all of mine."

With that, she jumped out and ran into the building. She looked back over her shoulder before she went inside, managing to catch Hotch's amused smile. 

★☆

MIGHT FUCK AROUND AND SEE IF I CAN UPDATE ONE MORE TIME AFTER THIS WISH ME LUCK

dedicated to HighFunctioningBitch !!

I got some other dedication requests so those will happen in the next few chapters!!! xoxoxo

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