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𝑹 𝑬 𝑴
❝ 𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚕𝚘𝚍𝚢𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚠𝚊𝚢 ❞

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ㅤ𝐃𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐈 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅 in knowing and realizing what other people usually don't. As one of the founding fathers of the BAU, he had the pleasure of being the most experienced member of the time, and was oftentimes always a step ahead. He knew his teammates—probably even better than they knew themselves—and was always aware of everything that's happening around him.

His talents were both a gift and a curse, yet in this situation, it felt more like the former.

It was their second day in Florida, trying to catch an unsub with a boat. All of them were a little unsettled by the staggering number of victims, and the fact that the unsub's been doing this for a long time. They were all concerned; other than the fact that the unsub could utilize the entire Atlantic to his advantage, it was also likely he was already keeping his new victim.

They had just delivered the profile, and Rossi couldn't help himself from watching as Aaron stepped away for a moment, pulled his phone out of his pocket, and glanced down at the screen. The Italian couldn't tell what Aaron was seeing, but whatever it was, brought a smile to the Unit Chief's face that he rarely ever gets to see while on the job.

He hummed to himself and decided to walk up to the slightly taller man. "And what exactly are you smiling about?"

Aaron only gave a small shrug while trying to hide the obvious quirk of the corner of his lips as he hurriedly locked his phone. "Nothing."

Rossi gave him a look of mock-disappointment while slightly shaking his head. "Alright, you're entitled to your secrets. But I do know there's only two things—or should I say, people—that can get you smiling like that. And that's your son, and a certain biophysicist who's been occupying your heart and mind for a while now."

The younger of the two scoffed slightly, rolling his eyes playfully. "I thought we're not supposed to profile each other."

"That's only applicable in the office, Aaron, and we're in Florida."

Aaron let out a breathy chuckle and crossed his arms. "Let's just get back to work."

"Ah, yes, avoidance. You were definitely just thinking about Alina."

"Dave, I swear..."

Alina had woken up earlier than Jack and Jess. Being a scientist who did important work, as well as working with Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, had changed her otherwise normal sleeping schedule. Working with them made her somewhat less dependent on sleep, and was usually up and ready even after only four-five hours of slumber.

She stood up from Aaron's bed and carefully pried Jack off of her. She smiled as he then cuddled into the side of the bed she slept on, leaning down to gently brush his hair with her fingers, before making her way towards the kitchen to make breakfast for the three of them. As she cooked, Jess woke up, and decided to chat with her as she cooked.

"So what is it exactly that you do?" Jess asked, leaning back against the kitchen island, crossing her ankles as she stood. "I know you're a doctor, but...I mean, I hope you take no offense to this, but most doctors don't really, uh..."

"I'm not a 'regular' doctor, per se," Alina began, "I have an MD and four PhDs. I hold degrees in genetics, biomedical engineering, biochemistry, and biophysics. My specialty is biophysics, and I specifically work with Dr Helen Cho in developing technology that can help recreate organic tissue. We work together, alongside Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. I work for both Stark Industries and U-GIN. You can imagine the payroll."

Jess raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I bet. When you introduced yourself as a doctor, I quite honestly didn't believe you at first. You look really young."

"I'm twenty-six," the brunette laughed a little. "Not that young."

"But not many people have the same credentials as you at twenty-six," Jess snorted a little. "You're really, really smart."

"I know," Alina smirked as she turned off the stove and placed the final pancake into the plate. She turned to face Jess. "It's difficult to be superior sometimes."

Jess laughed. "I can see why it must be. People's brains just don't work as fast as yours."

"It's true," Alina agreed. "It's why I'm not good at making friends."

The blonde let out a scoff as she walked forward to help Alina set up the table. "You make friends just fine. I mean, you and I were quick friends, you can't deny that. And I'm just a regular person with a regular job, regular life. You didn't have any problems with me."

"That's 'cause you're openminded," Alina pointed out as she sat on one of the dining chairs. "Not many people are like you. Most of them either just find me...obnoxious, or a know-it-all. I mean, it doesn't bother me, troglodytes aren't worth my time, anyway. But I do wish that sometimes, more people would be more accepting to the fact that someone else could be better at them."

Laughing again, Jess finalized the table and sat down across from Alina. "But is there someone else better than you?"

"Oh, no, I'm at the very top of my field. There's not many people who can even come close."

Jess laughed even harder. "You're funny."

"I...I wasn't making a joke. I'm merely stating fact. I am quite literally the best."

At this point, Jack had woken up and was making his way towards where the smell of pancakes and laughter was coming from. He shot his aunt a confused look, before staring up at Alina and asking, "What's so funny?"

"I..." Alina was startled. "I have no idea."

Jess snorted, wiping away a tear that's slipped past her eye, and gestured Jack to sit down in between her and Alina. She let out a snort, still amused at her and Alina's conversation. Alina might be the smartest one in the room, but she's still got a lot to learn about people.

"I'll...explain later," she said through peals of laughter. She raised her right hand up as if she was pledging as she slowly calmed down. "I promise, I'm gonna teach you all about the lives of normal people. I will help you understand simpletons and troglodytes, and by the end of all this, you'll be well-versed in the art of life."

Alina frowned. "I'm very well-versed in the art of life. I know that life begins when a spermatozoon and an ovum unite--"

"That's the science of life, Lina, I'm gonna teach you the art," Jess emphasized as she sliced into her pancakes, Alina and Jack following her actions. "You probably don't even wanna learn about it, but if you genuinely want to make friends outside of your circle. Come on, let me teach you the one thing you're not that good at."

"And what is that?"

"Emotions."

Alina tilted her head and hummed. "I don't like emotions."

"But it is what makes you human. Come on, please?"

The brunette let out a raspberry as she thought over it, before nodding firmly, while narrowing her eyes. "Will it make me more...human?"

"It will," Jess promised. "Honestly, there's not that much work needed."

Alina nodded. "Gwen has been teaching me. She's my best friend."

"Then...let's be best friends too."

"You can have more than one?" The genuine wonder in her expression made Jess coo.

"Of course, who even said that you can only have on? That's ridiculous."

The brunette nodded again, finishing up her last pancake. "Well, we can get started once we get to the compound."

Jess paused, halting her movements, her knife and fork hovering just above her plate. "We're going to the compound? As in...the Avengers?"

"Yes," Alina grinned, and it only got wider when Jack cheered. "I can grab myself some clothes, and I can tour you around, give you some insight into what I do. If you're gonna teach me something, it's only fair I teach you something back."

"Oh...you don't have to--"

"Too late."

"...this is my office," Alina introduced to Jess as the blonde held onto Jack's hand. They were just about to finish the tour around the compound, and this was the second to the last place they had to go to. "It' sort of messy, with all the papers and the boards," she gestured towards the several glass boards that littered the room, all with equations. "I tend to have my own organization system that only I understand. Most people consider it mess, but it's organized for me."

"Wow," Jess could only say, looking around the room in wonder. "I do not understand a single thing on those boards."

"They're basic equations," Alina waved off. "I'm not done with them, actually. Just a bit more work."

"Why don't I believe you?"

Alina smiled at Jess' humor as she glanced down at her desk that, several weeks ago, was the surface that Aaron-- she cleared her throat and shook her head, not wanting to torture herself. Aaron had told her not to touch herself while he was gone, and the images would only break her streak.

She clapped her hands together. "Ready for the finale?"

At Jess' nod, she quickly led the two into the labs, where Tony, Bruce, and Helen were all working in. Jack pulled his hand free from his aunt's and was immediately running towards Tony. Before Jess could even say anything, Tony looked down at Jack, dropped his screwdriver onto his work table, and picked the little boy up, placing him on his lap.

Jess watched as the two interacted. "I didn't know..."

"The two are like best friends," Alina explained. "I'm pretty sure Tony's making an Iron Man suit for Jack as we speak."

"Wait...what?"

But she didn't get an answer, as Alina dragged her towards a machine.

"This is the Regeneration Cradle...version two," Alina introduced, grinning proudly. "It can heal wounds by grafting a simulacrum of organic tissue to a patient. The patient's cells don't even realize it, as the nano-molecular functionality--"

"--is instantaneous," Helen cut her off by finishing her sentence. Alina couldn't help herself from smiling at the Korean woman, who returned it before looking at Jess. "Hi, Dr Helen Cho, geneticist. You?"

"Jessica Brooks...I don't have any impressive credentials, but you can call me Jess," Jess laughed softly, a little intimidated by Helen's taller stature, intelligent eyes, and elegant beauty. She could tell that she's protective of Alina. "I-I'm Aaron's sister-in-law, Alina's friend."

"Right," Helen curiously tilted her head slightly, but dropped her slightly protective stance and let herself smile. "Your Jack's aunt?"

"Yeah," Jess let out a sigh of relief. "Yeah, I'm his aunt. Alina just decided to take me with them. I hope I'm not imposing or anything."

"Not at all. I'm just a little surprised you let Alina drag you here."

Jess smiled. "Well, she's a good friend."

Helen regarded the smaller blonde with an impressed look on her face. "That is very true."

Eventually, Alina, Jess, and Jack all ended up back in Alina's apartment. Jess and Jack lounged on her couch, while Alina headed over to her room to grab some clothes. She was still wearing the same clothes she was wearing yesterday, and couldn't wait to change, so she quickly put on a pair of sweatpants and a Mickey Mouse pullover.

Afterwards, she grabbed a few more clothes to change into in case she had to stay longer. She then placed all her toiletries and products into a little pouch. She absentmindedly just shoved her stuff into a duffle, not really caring about what she brings, before walking back out into the living room, carrying her duffle and a separate backpack.

"You know, I'm curious," Jess suddenly spoke up. "Why don't you just move to DC? Considering you're always there, and I'm sure you have the money--"

"I was born and raised in DC," Alina told her. "I'm not about to move back just 'cause. And we already have a house there, not a place I'd rather go back to, not unless necessary. I like being in New York. It's where my life is now, and it's probably where I'll stay forever. It's where I work, and nothing in life is more important to me than what I do. My work is my life."

Jess hummed, before nodding. Though it was admirable, it was also a little concerning; Jess made it her personal mission to get her and Aaron together, and was on her way to teach Alina about relationships. But her loyalty to her job, her blatant disregard for anything other than working, was going to be a difficult hurdle to pass. She quickly changed the subject. "I...I suppose. Seriously, you're a DC girl?"

Alina giggled. "Born and raised, I'm telling you. Our family house is there, been there for more than two centuries."

"An ancestral home? That's awesome!" Jess gaped.

"Not really," Alina dismissed. "It's old. It's thankfully been renovated quite a few times to catch up with the years but still, it's old and dusty. The only redeeming feature is the library. It has two floors."

"You guys have your own library?! Wait, wait," Jess backtracked. "Your family's been rich since the 18th century?"

"Since before, actually," Alina shrugged. "Apparently, we're related to the House of Alba through my great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother, who married my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather, a soldier from Spain who was eventually sent to the States to fight in the Revolutionary War. He and grandma moved and settled in Georgetown and had my great-great-great-great-great grandfather after the siege of Yorktown."

Jess blinked. "...nice."

"Isn't it? We have a book about our family tree, actually, and a tapestry in the main hall. Fun fact, I was the first female child after seven generations."

"Wow."

And as Jess continued on conversing with the younger girl, all she could think about how in the world she can get Alina to realize what was right in front of her; a family, a lover, a son, and a future filled with nothing but love and happiness. 

author's note: oh hey, a little bit of alina's family history. her family's had ties with the government for years, but was only solidified when hector (her grandfather), also a soldier, joined ww2 and was a founding father of SHIELD. her family's awesome.

i really liked making up her fictional family idc idc

also hey, she and jess are just getting even closer, so are her and jack. there's a lack of aaron scenes and that's mostly bc he's off at work (a very "realistic" snippet of the life she'll eventually have). 

but dONT WORRY, they'll be some juicy stuff in the next chapter and the chapters following that, so hold on to your horses and make sure both hands are on the phone.

also, i hope you guys are liking the content i've been putting out!! i'm mostly focusing on building her character (+ all her relationships) which is why the chapters are like this. i hope you guys aren't getting bored of them or anything.

just lmk what you guys think!! :>

i'll see you guys tomorrow hehe.