Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh. I'm ALL for "gay in the line of duty". I don't even know where to start, because I loved every last bit of this fic. The reassurance of Hotch for Reid is just so palpable. It's apparent in the last fic and in this one, and I love it, because it's one of the things that compells me about this pairing. Older man/younger man is totally my thing. Though funnily enough, Gideon/Reid should be my thing for that dynamic, too, but I see them so much more as a gen relationship, while I can easily see there being a sexual component with Hotch. And it isn't even like I don't see Gideon as a sexual being, because I certainly squeed when he had his romantic dinner with his lady friend (his wife? I don't know, I watched the episodes massively out of order). But anyway, I digress, sorry.
But yeah, it's the reassurance factor. Gideon tilts a little too much paternal, while Hotch provides the authority and security without leaning towards paternal, that's probably it, and that's why it sparks so well for them here. Hotch is safety in "All in a Night's Work". I still really love that moment where Reid realizes that he didn't fear Sam because Sam reminds him of Hotch. It's here, too. Hotch knows how to handle him. I loveloveLOVE this line: "Hotch didn't smile, for which Spencer would probably be grateful for the rest of his life." Granted, when does Hotch ever smile, but from what I've seen, he's gentle with Reid. Not overly so, because he's still a superior and needs to direct and lead and give orders. He doesn't –coddle- but he's definitely gentle with Reid. It's why I love Hotch so much as a character, because he really cares about his team.
The mention of the gun range is GREAT. That was the episode that had me running for fics to read. Before that I was like "nah, just gonna watch the show, not gonna read the fics at all." How wrong was I? I just love the characterization in this. It feels so genuine. I can see Reid thinking this way and acting this way and talking this way. The idea of dressing up is like donning a costume to him, and it feels more than just the idea of dressing up as this character that he's playing, but the whole concept of dressing to make yourself look good, period. Clothes wear him, like you wrote. And it's a really deft note of characterization, especially when I noticed just the other night when I was watching that Reid had his shirt tail hanging out in one of the scenes. He's all brains, not social skills. And the fact that Hotch can handle that. He can reassure Reid with a touch, that he goes for the surprise kiss, because you know that he knows it's a bad idea to let Reid think too much on a subject.
And the kiss, oh my GOD. "Hotch smelled like man things, warm skin and the wool of his suit, faint hint of cologne and the underlying scent of soap, sharp and clean." NGH. But oh, what I love most is this line: "That intimate things, things that involved touching, weren't in some separate, special category that didn't belong to him. It was just life, an extension of things he experienced every day, care and respect and closeness. Not so mysterious, after all." That's what makes this fic special, and what makes them together special.
I really really would LOVE to read an extended version of this. The whole mission! More gay in the line of the duty please! Because that is a lovely way to circumvent the married thing. :D
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-11-23 07:28 pm (UTC)But yeah, it's the reassurance factor. Gideon tilts a little too much paternal, while Hotch provides the authority and security without leaning towards paternal, that's probably it, and that's why it sparks so well for them here. Hotch is safety in "All in a Night's Work". I still really love that moment where Reid realizes that he didn't fear Sam because Sam reminds him of Hotch. It's here, too. Hotch knows how to handle him. I loveloveLOVE this line: "Hotch didn't smile, for which Spencer would probably be grateful for the rest of his life." Granted, when does Hotch ever smile, but from what I've seen, he's gentle with Reid. Not overly so, because he's still a superior and needs to direct and lead and give orders. He doesn't –coddle- but he's definitely gentle with Reid. It's why I love Hotch so much as a character, because he really cares about his team.
The mention of the gun range is GREAT. That was the episode that had me running for fics to read. Before that I was like "nah, just gonna watch the show, not gonna read the fics at all." How wrong was I? I just love the characterization in this. It feels so genuine. I can see Reid thinking this way and acting this way and talking this way. The idea of dressing up is like donning a costume to him, and it feels more than just the idea of dressing up as this character that he's playing, but the whole concept of dressing to make yourself look good, period. Clothes wear him, like you wrote. And it's a really deft note of characterization, especially when I noticed just the other night when I was watching that Reid had his shirt tail hanging out in one of the scenes. He's all brains, not social skills. And the fact that Hotch can handle that. He can reassure Reid with a touch, that he goes for the surprise kiss, because you know that he knows it's a bad idea to let Reid think too much on a subject.
And the kiss, oh my GOD. "Hotch smelled like man things, warm skin and the wool of his suit, faint hint of cologne and the underlying scent of soap, sharp and clean." NGH. But oh, what I love most is this line: "That intimate things, things that involved touching, weren't in some separate, special category that didn't belong to him. It was just life, an extension of things he experienced every day, care and respect and closeness. Not so mysterious, after all." That's what makes this fic special, and what makes them together special.
I really really would LOVE to read an extended version of this. The whole mission! More gay in the line of the duty please! Because that is a lovely way to circumvent the married thing. :D