#charlotte after dark
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manyrepulsivethoughts · 1 year ago
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[Give Life]
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margareturtle · 1 year ago
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I don’t need a series about the next gen of TLH but it would be fun if we could learn a little about them through references that Tessa made.
Like:
Tessa to Kit: ya know who Ash reminds me of is Penelope Fairchild when she was young. Penny and her twin Louisa were very smart but while Louisa was more outgoing I always felt that Penny was more secretive like Ash.
OR
Tessa to Jem (looking at Kit with Mina): Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Jem: Alastair and Zachary
Tessa: Yes, I’m so glad Mina has a Kit in her life, I just hope for Kit’s sake and Mina doesn’t go through a phase of pranking her brother like Zachary did with Alastair
AND
Tessa watching Rafe and Max along with Mina:
(Max upset bc he is trying to draw something but it’s not coming out how he wants it to)
Tessa: It’s ok to not get it right the first few times Max, here let me tell you a story of one of your ancestors Christopher Joshi-Lightwood, he wanted to be an artist too…
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alisfelia · 9 months ago
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academic art
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bitchthefuck1 · 2 years ago
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The bridgerton showrunners really said if there's one thing we're gonna do, it's make our darkest skinned male characters evil
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queensparklekitten · 8 months ago
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time princess players how do y'all picture the MCs of every story
like since every set and piece of official art has a different hair colour, length, and style with every picture of them, and sometimes there's descriptions that don't match the images, which one do you go with
and do you make half of them look like your avatar or have your own designs
#dutp#time princess#when playing/viewing it through the ''story traveler'' lens#i often justify the hair colour changes in-universe by headcanoning that it's story kingdom magic that allows you to change your hair colou#by default i make half the mcs look like (taller versions of) me/my avatar (who's designed after me but with purple eyes) to some extent#but there are exceptions#like if the mc isn't white i'm obviously not gonna base her design off myself#except Maybe giving her my/my avatar's hair length#and if a spinoff shows the mc i'll often use that design#i always pictured zoya blonde until the salvia spinoff story came out and showed her with the light brown hair from that one set#it also described zoya as having black eyes which i went with#i didn't have a locked in eye colour headcanon for her before but i didn't really picture her with eyes that dark#probably because none of the album art gave her black eyes#though eye colours tend to be inconsistent in this game#nastia's described with gray eyes but that one album art gives her blue eyes#and on the flipside charlotte's described with blue eyes in one side story but her model doesn't have blue eyes#nor does at least one album art of her#i give virtually every mc long hair just because most of the hairstyles in those sets require it#i always picture cordelia with dark hair and ocean green-blue eyes#like a vivid teal colour. just fits someone whose name means ''daughter of the sea''#and sometimes i have her stop shaving her legs when she becomes a pirate because a) she lives on a boat#and b) representation of her leaving behind that gilded-cage life of fancy etiquette and ''you must become a perfect wife and mother''#in which she did everything society demanded of her at the expense of her own happiness#like yeah after escaping that i Will make cordelia stop shaving her legs. for the symbolism. and the fact that she lives on a pirate boat.#i always give aurora that pastel-almost-white shiny gradient dyed hair#because a) it's in half the sets b) it looks so so so cool c) it looks great next to the companions i ship her with#matches with novi and gives her a light-dark duality with selene's dark purple hair#idk her natural hair colour but i also give her the creepily pale eyes from Silent Night Rebirth#to match the pastel clothes she's so often in. this is not her natural eye colour either. hey that's p clearly a common thing in this city#i strongly doubt that selene's eyes are naturally that bright blueish purple
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froginamoodboard · 7 months ago
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froginabogg · 7 months ago
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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Hatchetfield Series - Team StarKid Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Charlotte Sweetly/Sheila Young, Charlotte Sweetly/Sam Sweetly (mentioned) Characters: Charlotte Sweetly, Sheila Young, Becky Barnes (Hatchetfield) Additional Tags: Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Dubious Consent, Vampires technically, let women be evil and also cannibals Series: Part 5 of Hatchetfield Femslash Fortnight Summary:
Sheila fishes Charlotte from the gutter on a rainy Hatchetfield evening.
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thoughtkick · 1 year ago
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Take a shower, wash off the day. Drink a glass of water. Make the room dark. Lie down and close your eyes. Notice the silence. Notice your heart. Still beating. Still fighting. You made it, after all. You made it, another day. And you can make it one more. You're doing just fine.
Charlotte Eriksson
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thespilledquotes · 8 months ago
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Take a shower, wash off the day. Drink a glass of water. Make the room dark. Lie down and close your eyes. Notice the silence. Notice your heart. Still beating. Still fighting. You made it, after all. You made it, another day. And you can make it one more. You're doing just fine.
Charlotte Eriksson
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ireneispunk · 8 months ago
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Duty
Jacaerys Velaryon x female reader smut
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After a rough start to your marriage, whispers from the palace cause you and your betrothed to start what you should have done months ago; produce an heir.
w.c: 1487
c.w: SMUT 18+, NO use of Y/N, not exactly enemies but y'all beefing, hate sex (if you squint, but more like dislike sex and its more just sass idfk), mention of pregnancy, breeding kink, afab reader, p in v sex, fingering, overstimulation, pls let me know if i've missed any
a.n: so i recently watched the queen charlotte bridgerton spin off and i absolutely loved it, this is very inspired by charlotte and george's earlier dynamic tee hee.
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Four months and 3 days. That is how long it has been since your wedding, and how long you have loathed your husband. The two of you were not exactly close before your betrothal on account of the rapidness of it but the tensions that spread between parts of his family did not help. You both seem to fight every conversation you had thereafter, so it became easier to avoid each other. That was until around 3 months into your betrothal that questions of when you would need your dresses altering had you worried. You were supposed to making heirs but you both exploded whilst in the same room as each other.  You’d visited the prince in his separate room and communicated the issue, he was reading by the fire. You played with your fingers in your hands as he eyed the flaw, thinking intently. He placed his book face down on the table as he petted the bench beside him. You hesitated for a moment, before sitting next to him. “Once a week, we will fulfil our, uh, duty to try and produce an heir. Once you are with child we will stop.” You thought for a moment, before nodding. You couldn’t help but feel your heart sink. This was not what you had wished for in your marriage. Jacaerys was a painfully handsome man, dark curls that framed he chiselled features.
“It is the end of the week today, your grace.” You spoke, not fully considering the implications of the statement. But the quicker your belly was full the better.
He turned to you, hesitated for a moment before moving closer to you and pulled you onto his lap. You were surprised by the sudden closeness of someone, let alone your husband. He looked up from beneath you with a glimmer of what he had on your wedding night, without the naïve hope. His hands slid up from your hips to the bust of your dress, he looked into your eyes before giving the bodice of your dress a quick tug down allowing your breast to spill out. You gasped as his hands cupped over your breasts, massaging them before running a thumb over your nipple. You brought your bottom lip between your teeth as you felt a warmth spread over your body. You didn’t dare look him in the eye, keeping your eyes shut or trained on the ceiling. You felt as one hand left your breast and hike up your dress further up your hips. He sighed to himself slightly, at the sight of your exposed cunt. He could not believe his luck the first time he had saw you. You were quite possibly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and unfortunately that did not change the more you both disliked each other. If anything, it grew. Seeing you from across the room at formal engagements, gluing to his side when you needed to seem like the happy couple. It made the frustrations between the two of you even more palpable over the past few months, given the lack of relief. You opened your eyes to see his dark eyes looking up at you. He brought his two first fingers up to your lips, “Open.” His soft tone contradicted the demand and look upon his face. His fingers slid into your mouth, gliding across your tongue as you closed your lips around them. Out of sheer lust you grinded your hips against him, needing to feel some release and gaining small jolt at the feeling of your cunt rubbing against his clothed cock. His free hand shot to your waist, fingers digging into the soft flesh. He removed his fingers from your mouth, admiring his spit covered fingers for a moment before they reached between your thighs and lightly grazed across your clit. You jolted, leaning forward to grip the bench behind him.
You could not stop the moan that escaped your mouth as his fingers slowly ran circles across your clit. He smirked as the noises that fell from your lips, knowing how much you couldn’t bare to be around him but fell apart in his arms was a satisfying feeling.  “I did not know you were so needy, dear wife.” The honorific felt like a pin prick. Insincere and laced with sarcasm.
Despite the tightening growing in your stomach, you could not let him have the final word as usual. “You hadn’t been paying close enough attention, your grace.” A flash of frustration flashed upon his face as his hand moved to grip your hair and fingers plunged inside of you. A gasp left you as his fingers thrusted deep inside of your cunt, you had gone from strolling towards an orgasm to being thrown at it. The tips of his fingers curled slightly, deliciously massaging that spot inside your pussy that drove you wild. You jaw fell open, eyes going wide at the loss of contact when he removed his fingers from you. You went to protest before seeing his cock in his hands, brows furrowed as he stroked the length.
You couldn’t hold off any longer before you took a hold of his wrists and pushed his hands away to his sides. You took his cock into your hand giving it a few pumps, watching an expression of lust spread across his face. You leaned over slightly, letting a ball of spit leave your lips and watch as it slid down his cock. He hissed, returning his hands to your hips pulling you closer to him. You took the hint, angling his cock towards your pussy, rubbing the tip over your clit for your own pleasure a few times, before lining him up and sliding down slowly, a large groan left his lips as be bottomed out inside of you. You had forgotten just how big his cock was, and just how good it had felt filling you up. You began to raise your hips up and down, moans leaving your lips as you did. You worked at a steady pace but after being accustomed to his hands began to push up and down with the movements of your hips moving you faster. Your fingernails dug into his shoulders as he pounded into you, no matter how much your stifled your moans, you gave him the satisfaction of them loudly leaving your lips. His hand reached up to yours, removing it from his shoulders and moving your fingers between your legs. You immediately got his instruction, fingers latching onto your clit. You worked tight circles into it as you got filled over and over with Jacaerys’ cock. A familiar tightness returned to your stomach as your head dropped back and numerous illicit words left your lips. Recognising your peak, he pulled you forward by your thighs, almost pressing your bodies against each other as he quickened his pace. Your orgasm cascaded over you, feeling your pussy tighten around Jacaerys’ cock and your body buzz from the overstimulation. You rode out your high atop of him, watching as his eyes screwed shut and his thrusts became sloppier.
You took the opportunity to return your knees to the bench either side of him and bob your hips up and down as fast as you could. His fingers reached the lip of the bench gripping it until his knuckles turned white. “Mmm, my grace,” You moaned out. His eyes shot open, his heart pounding at your remark. “Please fill me with your seed.” You pleaded and moaned, half doing it for a reaction, half because it felt too good. His jaw hung open in shock for a split second before he sputtered a moan from his lips, hips snapping into yours. You felt satisfied as a warmth filled your pussy. Your hips moved slightly, slowly thrusting his cock inside of you still. His hand shot to your hip, mumbling something, before you placed your hand flat across his chest. You bobbed a few more times on his cock, being sure to be as full as possible with his cum. You smirked to yourself seeing his head throne back, lip quivering, veins prominent in his hands gripping your waist, sweaty curls sticking to his neck. You slowly raised yourself off of his cock, standing to your feet and trying to mask your wobbliness as adjusting your dress.
You stole a glance his way, admiring his beauty before he spoke and ruined it. He panted through his mouth, arms outstretched over the sides of the bench. You smirked to yourself, admiring how he too had crumbled for you. The opening of his doorhandle caused him to call your name from behind you. You glanced at him and smiled. “Goodnight your grace, see you in seven eves’.” He opened his mouth to response, but you had already shut the door behind you. You hoped it would be sooner before he fucked you again.
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luffington · 6 months ago
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cream-filled ♡
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➤ summary: Your devoted husband really wants to have a baby with you, so he figures out a solution to your size difference. (18+)
➤ pairing: charlotte katakuri x afab!reader
➤ word count: 2.2k
➤ warnings: extreme size kink, breeding kink, belly bulge, age difference (reader is mid-20s), cumplay, titjob, creative use of mochi, established relationship, fluff, 'wife' for reader
➤ notes: katakuri’s height is biblically accurate and i did very questionable math to figure out his dick size.... this is literally so nasty but silly donut man is definitely a freak <3
NSFW under the break! minors dni thank uuu
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Months after your wedding, your husband marched into your shared bedroom, arms crossed and face buried in his scarf, and stated, “Mama wants us to have a baby.”
You furrowed your brows in confusion. If Big Mom really wanted little Katakuris running around, she should’ve considered your physical incompatibility before arranging your marriage. He was practically double your age and triple your height. Plus, the Emperor typically prioritized babies from her weaker children – Oven, Daifuku, and Perospero all remained childless, and her second son’s bounty spoke for itself. She occasionally made lighthearted comments to you about wanting a grandchild, but it sounded more like a fantasy than a demand.
As a thick silence settled between you, Katakuri became increasingly flustered. A lightbulb went off in your head and a knowing smile spread across your face. The tips of his ears turned red as he finally admitted, “Okay, I want a baby.”
Oh, he was precious. “And I would love to have one with you, honey, but I don’t know how. Your dick just can’t fit.”
Everything about Katakuri was enormous, and his cock was no exception. At full hardness, it measured at least eighteen inches – nearly the size of your entire torso. He understandably had a hard time finding sexual partners previously, and poor Katakuri was almost more nervous about showing you his dick than his fangs. Lucky for him, you didn’t scare easily.
As an average-sized human, your body was certainly too small to take it, but your sex life was absolutely thriving. Your husband worshiped every inch of you, and eating your pussy as ferociously as Mama during a hunger pang became as routine as his meriendas. And anything you could do with his cock turned him on – your dedication to pleasing him was enough to make him lightheaded. 
He’d even started training you to take his gigantic length. Katakuri replicated his dick into a mochi dildo with a donut-shaped base, then fucked you slow and deep to let you adjust to its size. The dildos got bigger and bigger, and you had already made some progress in loosening your hole. Neither of you cared if nothing ever came of it – it was intimate, fun, and incredibly sexy. 
“I came up with a solution,” Katakuri muttered shyly. “I… I think you’ll like it.”
“So mysterious,” you giggled, though you expected nothing less from him. Shifting your position to emphasize your skimpy lounge outfit as you spread your legs enticingly. “Alright, get in here.”
Your husband crossed the room with two thundering footsteps, draped his feathery scarf over a chair, then carefully removed his spurred boots. Two intimidating accessories stripped away barely affected his menacing appearance, but to you, it revealed the gentle giant underneath. Katakuri’s knees sunk into the huge mattress yet he still towered over you, a mix of adoration and hunger burning in his dark eyes. 
He easily flipped your positions so you rested on top of his bare chest. Always overly careful with your small frame and wanting to eliminate the risk of harming you, which usually resulted in him underneath you. The man who supposedly never lied on his back cared more about your safety than his outward image of perfection. He adored his pretty wife, his tiny wife. Blood rushed to his dick when he noticed that your toes barely reached his hips in this position.
You cupped his jaw and kissed him passionately, running your fingers through his cropped hair. The taste of sugary strawberry frosting overwhelmed your tastebuds as his broad tongue penetrated your mouth, though he was cautious about keeping his teeth away from your delicate skin. Sensing his hesitation, you broke the kiss to lick along one of his protruding fangs seductively.
“Such a gorgeous little thing,” he murmured reverently before pressing his lips against yours again. “How did I end up with someone as perfect as you?”
“Mama has good taste,” you shrugged with a grin. Katakuri undid his skull-shaped belt buckle and slid out of his tight leather pants, not missing the way you subtly rolled your pelvis against his solid abs. He was incredibly disciplined but he adored your impatience – everything about you was so fucking cute. 
“Jerk me off,” he grumbled against your lips. Straightforward as always, but never intentionally harsh or commanding with you. Katakuri lovingly rubbed the top of your head with his huge hand then brought it down on your ass with a light smack. 
You squealed and gave him one final peck on the lips before stripping, carelessly throwing your clothes onto the floor. Dark eyes admired your naked form as you crawled down his body, playfully tracing the vertical lines of his tattoo, then slid down the elastic waistband of his donut-print underwear. Even at half-hardness, his cock was big enough to split you in two. You straddled his hips and settled your bare core atop his heavy balls.
Katakuri licked his lips at the lewd sight of you wrapping your tiny hands around his dick – your fingertips couldn’t even touch. Spitting on the mushroom head as a meaningless attempt at lubrication, you firmly stroked your palms up and down his massive length. He willed his hips to stay still and let you set the pace, though it was relatively hard to control his animalistic instincts in bed with you. Your tongue darted out to kitten-lick his slit, fingers trailing along his cock’s more prominent veins. 
“That’s it, sweetheart, get me nice and hard. Show me how much you want my cum deep in your womb.” His words went straight to your cunt, and you relieved the ache by grinding down on his testicles. Katakuri cursed under his breath and watched you open your jaw as wide as possible to suckle on the head of his dick. His salty precum had a slight mochi aftertaste – the sticky substance permeated every bit of his body, and the flavor was strangely addicting. 
You noticed your husband eyeing your breasts, their softness squished against his cock and hard nipples massaging the sensitive skin. Even more blood rushed south when he pictured them swollen with delicious milk. He knew he wouldn’t be able to resist sucking them dry as an additional afternoon snack. With a mischievous smirk, you situated his giant length between your tits and pressed them together for good measure. Katakuri’s cock jerked against you, smearing a hefty load of precum on your cheek.
“You like it when I give you a titjob, huh? Do my boobs feel good wrapped around your dick?” He nodded as if he was in a trance. “Dirty old man,” you chuckled, turning his cheeks an adorable shade of red.
Katakuri never admitted this to you, but he sometimes imagined using you as his own little toy. The most fucked up version of it involved using you as a fleshlight, your body stretching like dough around him as he speared his dick inside your tiny cunt. Seeing how deep it could go, then lifting you up his length and trying again. 
However, that was obviously unrealistic, so he usually imagined you exactly as you were now. Warm skin flush against him, dick nestled between your arms and tits as he used your body to jerk himself off. Maybe that did make him a dirty old pervert, but he had a feeling you’d be willing to try it. 
That dirty fantasy, paired with your debauched expression and your hot cunt moving against his balls, almost pushed him into dangerous territory. But no, he needed to save his cum for something much more important. Katakuri grabbed your thighs and flipped your positions again, hovering over you with lust-blown eyes. 
He growled at the sight of your drenched pussy. “This all for me?” His thick thumb parted your folds to collect your slick, then he stuck the digit in his mouth and slurped happily. “Mmm, so sweet, I could get addicted to this.” As if he wasn’t already. “Can I have more?”
You giggled. “You can have whatever you want, Kata. No need to be so nervous.”
“Don’t wanna break you,” he mumbled breathlessly but didn’t give you a chance to respond. He dove between your legs, his impressive tongue easily splitting your cunt apart and making your eyes roll back into your skull. 
“K-Kata… holy fuck.” Your thighs shook around his head as your brain quickly dissolved into mush. “Harder, ahh, please…” 
Your husband eagerly complied, holding your thighs wide open and prodding his wet muscle even deeper inside you. He was already drunk off your juices and your pussy continued to gush around his tongue. When he found the spot that made your back arch off the bed, he licked over it incessantly, pulling away for only a moment to lap at your neglected clit. 
A sharp fang brushed against the delicate flesh of your inner thigh and made you flinch, but you just grabbed his hair and kept him pressed against your cunt. You would gladly take even the harshest teeth marks if it meant he kept eating you out like that. 
Katakuri restrained himself from going any further when he noticed the telltale signs of your orgasm. “Ready?” He asked, his chin completely soaked in your juices. You nodded eagerly despite not knowing what you were consenting to. You trusted your sweet husband to treat you well – and you wanted a baby just as much as he did.
He sat back on his haunches, clutching your thigh in one massive hand and grabbing the base of his cock with the other. Tilting your bottom half slightly upwards until his dick was aligned with your cunt. For a terrifying yet exhilarating moment, you honestly thought he was going to push it inside. 
“Hold yourself open for me.” Oh. That was his plan. You gladly used both hands to spread your pussy lips wide, your fluttering hole completely visible and begging to be filled by him. Katakuri began roughly jerking off, pretty eyes laser-focused on your cunt as he grunted quietly. He pressed the flushed red tip of his cock against your hole, which was already straining from the tiniest bit of pressure.
“Fill me up, honey,” you whimpered with a blissed-out grin. “Prove that you want to be a father.”
Your husband came with a deep moan as if on command, emptying his balls and spraying copious amounts of thick, creamy cum across your skin. Some of it miraculously made it into your spread hole and trickled deep inside your soaked cunt. The rest overflowed onto your thighs and tummy, globs dripping down the crack of your ass and onto the sheets below. 
Without wasting a moment, Katakuri gathered up some stray cum with two fingers and plunged them into your cunt. You nearly screamed from the sudden intrusion – his digits alone were bigger than any of your past partners’ cocks, and so much better. He repeated the perverted process until nearly every drop was shoved inside your pretty pussy. But he didn’t stop there. An obscene squelching noise echoed throughout the room as he scissored around the pool of his hot semen. Your stomach was stuffed so full of cum that it bulged out into a pretty bump.
“So fucking full. Imagine what you’ll look like pregnant – fuck, I’d get to see this every day.” He practically drooled at the visible outline of his fingers thrusting in and out. Your tiny little body worked so hard to accommodate his size and you loved every second of it. “My sweet cream-filled donut, I could eat you right up.”
You wanted to laugh at his endearing ridiculousness – his adorable love of sweets even found its way into dirty talk. But all air was knocked out of your lungs when he prodded at your cervix, literally trying to shove his cum inside the miniscule opening. He lifted you off the bed by your leg even more, willing gravity to assist the semen flowing inside you.
Katakuri continued to finger-fuck you with calculated thrusts, but when his teeth sunk into your thigh – hard enough to break the skin but not enough to bleed – you finally hit your peak. You shrieked loud enough for all of Totto Land to hear, making it known that your seventeen-foot tall husband likely just fucked triplets into you. Your tongue lolled out of your mouth and you almost blacked out, but Katakuri kept you grounded in reality with gentle kisses on your cheeks and forehead, holding your hand and willing your heartbeat to slow down. 
After a few minutes and constant reassurance that you did a great job for him, Katakuri pulled his fingers out and quickly replaced them with a small plug made of mochi. Just to make sure everything stayed inside you (and because he could stare at your stomach bulge for hours).
“Do you think it’ll work?” You panted quietly, eyes fluttering shut with absolute bliss. “Use your Haki. Will I be all swollen with your baby soon?”
“I can’t see that far into the future,” Katakuri smiled, heart overflowing with love for you. “So let’s keep trying until it does.”
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neil-gaiman · 8 months ago
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This isn’t a question, but I want to thank you for your books and how they’ve impacted my life.
Over thirteen years ago, I read Neverwhere for the first time and it changed what kind of writer I wanted to be. I went on to read more of your books—my other two favourites were The Graveyard Book and The Ocean at the End of the Lane.
About 11 or so years ago, I asked you on Twitter if I could read Stardust on a Twitch livestream, and you responded, “Fine by me”. It was one of my best streams, and while life got in the way of me doing more, I still remember it incredibly fondly.
Ten years ago I had a baby, and while he was an infant, I read him, Fortunately, the Milk, in an attempt to read him a book. He didn’t seem interested. I decided I’d try again some other time perhaps. But I did resolve to get him to read The Graveyard Book someday.
Nine years ago, when I was a mother of a one-year-old, I posted a status on Facebook simply saying, “We do not forget.”
Two years ago, I went on holiday, and I downloaded the audio book version of The Graveyard Book from our local library. My eight-year-old son listened to it as he fell asleep, though he ended up missing some parts, and we shelved it.
Last year, he read Coraline and didn’t like it. That isn’t your fault. He read Charlotte’s Web and didn’t like that either. He just didn’t quite have the understanding for them.
This year, he read Coraline and liked it. I told him it was from the same author as The Graveyard Book. He lamented that he never finished The Graveyard Book, and I said he could always download it from the library again.
Then about a month ago, he and I went through a tough time. I was really stressed about life, he wasn’t doing so well either, and our relationship got strained. I was angry with him all the time. I needed a break from him, or I thought I did. But one day when he was at his dad’s I realised that I wouldn’t get this time back. That I needed to fix it. So I asked him if he wanted me to read to him at bedtime. Just like when he was little. And we settled on The Graveyard Book.
On nights when he got to bed on time, I’d read a chapter. It often meant stretching past bedtime, but I could never stop halfway. It had been years since I’d read it too, and I found myself remembering things I’d forgotten. I’d watch his dark eyes widen whenever things got exciting, and I loved when he would interrupt me with an important revelation. “It’s Scarlett! His friend!” he’d say. “The dog! The grey dog!” “I know what Silas is!” He would tell me that I did the voices so well, that it seemed to match each character so perfectly.
We didn’t read every night, but it was a treat when we did. One night we had an argument and he told me he hated me. That he wished I was dead. And that he wanted to be with his dad. I told him to go take a shower, and that I’d ask his dad to come get him. His dad said no, but agreed to talk to him on the phone. After the shower, my son apologised for what he said. I said okay, and told him to call his dad to chat. After their call, he asked if we would still have story time. I asked if he preferred that or to have some space. He said he wanted both, but wanted story time more than space. So I read to him. It was the chapter when Bod and Silas argued, and then apologised to each other. Halfway through that chapter, my son asked for snuggles. I said, what happened to space? And he said, “I want snuggles more than space.”
We were sad when it ended. We finished it last weekend. I cried as I read it. But it was a beautiful sadness. We’ve talked about it a bit since then, to process it. He says he would like to read more about Silas and Bod’s adventures and asked if there was fan fiction about it. I told him to look, and to write some if there wasn’t. Perhaps I’ll write some too, just for him.
Last night he was at his dad’s and I was browsing Facebook and sent him a couple of his old pictures. Then I found an old post. From exactly nine years ago. And so I sent it to him.
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It brought tears to my eyes. I did not remember making that post, and I’ve forgotten a great deal over the years, but I hope I do not forget these little moments with my son. But even if I do, I have them written down here to remind me again.
And thank you. For the words you’ve written and the impact you’ve had on our lives and hearts. I hope that your life holds the same amount of joy and love that you’ve given to others with your words.
That made me so happy. Thank you. I hope you and your son keep growing together.
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harryspet · 5 months ago
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well kept [3] r. cameron
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[warnings] dark!ceo!rafe x reader, size difference, billionaire!older!rafe, shy!reader with low self-esteem, reader is a person who stutters, boss x personal assistant, heavy abuse of power, emotional/mental manipulation, DUBCON, little editing, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK 18+
A/N: Pls reblog and let me know what you think! Thank you so much for all the feedback so far :)
word count: 4.5k
In which it's your first day working from home with Rafe and you have a new lesson to learn.
well kept masterlist
The Cameron residence was fifteen minutes outside of downtown Charlotte and situated in a large neighborhood where hills and huge oak trees hid all the houses. You didn’t really see his house, only what you could tell was large pond, until the driver was at the end of the mile-long driveway.  When you did, you felt woefully underdressed. Assuming that being inside all day meant you could opt for something casual, you’d chosen a cream knit dress. 
Following Rafe’s instructions, you sent him photos of each outfit you tried on, but he hadn’t told you which ones you could return. It was another blow to your confidence. You began to doubt whether he’d even been serious, but the fear that he might mention it the next day kept you from taking any chances.
Stepping out of the black Escalade, your eyes widened as you took in the architectural masterpiece before you. The house was a striking blend of traditional and modern styles, with a light-colored exterior contrasted by dark shutters framing the windows. A stone chimney rose from the roof, and the three-car garage with wooden doors added a rustic touch.
After your car drove away, a tall and impeccably dressed staff member named Anthony guided you up the stone-paved driveway. From your cheat sheet, you recalled that he was the House Manager. Rafe required a full team: Anthony, two housekeepers, a private chef, a driver, a gardener, and now you—his personal assistant. The inside of the house was as intimidating as the exterior. The expansive foyer featured high ceilings and a grand staircase that curved up to the second floor. To the left, you caught a glimpse of the formal dining room. Each room you passed was more impressive than the last. Anthony informed you that there were six bedrooms and eight bathrooms.
“I don’t usually work on Fridays but Mr. Cameron wanted me to give you a tour of the house and show you the ropes of house management. It’ll be important for you to be able to oversee the staff when I’m absent and understand the scheduling.”
Once again, it was all too much to take in. Today was your fifth day working for Rafe, and you’d barely survived until now. 
“I want to clarify that what happened yesterday stays between us. That includes Eleanor. Okay?”
That was all he said about his outburst. There was no apology for groping you, for pinning you down on his office couch, or for taking your virginity. If you were to tell the story, you’d have to mention how your body had betrayed you—not once, but twice. But you had said no. You didn’t want to use the word that described what happened to you. You didn’t want to think about it at all.
And it didn’t happen again—not over the next three days. He continued to be harsh, forcing you to apologize for every small mistake, even those you weren’t aware of.
As you followed Anthony through the expansive kitchen, you couldn't help but marvel at its sheer size and sophistication. The kitchen was a chef's dream, with gleaming marble countertops that seemed to stretch endlessly, state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances, and custom cabinetry in a rich, dark wood finish. An oversized island dominated the center of the room.
At the far end of the kitchen, massive glass-paneled doors stood, offering a glimpse of the world beyond. The porch was furnished with elegant wicker seating with plush cushions. The space was perfect for elegant parties, with enough room to accommodate at least a dozen guests.
Beyond the porch was a stunning infinity pool stretched out towards the horizon. As you walked closer, to the right, you took notice of a garden. You spotted the gardener, Tyler, who Anthony had mentioned earlier. In simple clothes, the young man blended easily into the scenery. 
“This is where Mr. Cameron will typically entertain his guests,” Anthony said, 
The beauty of the outdoor space was undeniable, but so was the control that permeated every aspect of it. You wondered what hand Rafe played in how spotless it looked. You could almost picture him, his jaw clenched and eyes blazing with a harsh intensity, if even the smallest detail were out of place. It was easy to imagine him demanding that every leaf, every petal, every stone be exactly where it belonged. 
Did his staff ever make mistakes? Did he make them beg him forgiveness like he did with you? 
“Shall I show you the study? It’s approaching seven-thirty.”
You nodded, a small smile on your lips. He was kind but part of you didn’t want him to hear your voice shake or your face contort into an uncomfortable position as you struggled to get your words out. 
There would be enough struggling today, you knew that. 
Surprisingly, Rafe’s home office was more quaint than you expected. Dark wood panneling decorated the walls as well as floor-to-celing bookshelves. As you made your way around the room, you took note of the picture frames containing images of what you believed to be his family. Here, it seemed he had a heart. The four of them stood on a dock, sun shining down, and his arms were wrapped a young girl with dark brown hair. His smile was genuine and there was darkness lingering in the blues of his eyes. 
Other than the bookshelves, the room only contained his desk, a set of leather couches and a coffee table. The smaller room still managed to exude sophistication but it was far less imposing than you expected. 
The room almost felt intimate as sunlight trickled in through light colored curtains. You were standing behind his desk, glancing out his office window which faced towards the nearby pond. Beside it, sat a gazebo, although you couldn’t imagine Rafe enjoying it. You wondered if he lived here alone as you saw no traces of the other three people in his family photo. 
“Boo,” You yelped as you heard Rafe’s deep voice. 
You placed a hand over your beating heart as you looked toward where he stood in the doorway. Having been deep in thought, you hadn’t heard the door opened. He knew that much which explained the amused look in his eye.  
Everything flooded back at the sight of him. The air had already left your lungs. You felt his body pressing down on yours, warm breath against your ears, and that pain between your legs. 
The door clicked shut, making you flinch.
“Good morning,” he said, his gaze fixed on you.
It hit you then, you hadn’t greeted him like you were supposed to.
You were taken aback by his appearance. He was wearing gray sweatpants and a plain navy t-shirt, a stark contrast to your heels and carefully applied makeup. You weren’t sure why you were expected to dress up, especially when he looked so casual.
“G-Good morning, Sir,” You crossed the room, his eyes locked on yours. You remembered where he liked you, near the door, ready to greet him and present yourself to him. You hated how your voice always betrayed you, how weak it made you sound. Your only saving grace was that you’d already memorized his schedule for the day, having spent the entire commute looking at your laptop. You recited it to him, including the midday Zoom call he had with Kelce and Topper.
Topper, you had learned, was Eleanor’s husband. Rafe hadn’t ever touched her but the way Eleanor always answered your questions with vague responses made you suspect that her relationship with Topper mirrored your own with Rafe. She hadn’t warned you but now you were suspecting that was because Rafe seemed to always get what he wanted, no matter who got hurt in the process.
You froze the moment his hand reached out to touch you. His fingers curled around your side, hovering just above your stomach but dangerously close to your breasts. His grip was surprisingly gentle as his thumb grazed over the fabric of your dress. You stiffened as his other hand mirrored the first, sliding across to the opposite side of your body. “Eleanor picked this,” he murmured, his brows knitting together as his gaze slowly traveled down your figure. A jolt shot through you as his thumb brushed over your nipple, sending a wave of panic coursing through you.
“Y-You don’t like it?” you stammered, your voice barely above a whisper. 
He clicked his tongue, “Turn around for me.”
You did as he said, “Doesn’t do enough for your figure,” Your heart panged in your chest, suddenly feeling self-conscious of your own shape, “Are you wearing the panties I sent you?”
All you could do was nod. Rafe never commanded you to wear the panties everyday to work but you didn’t risk it. Luckily, they were all comfortable despite the lace and cheekiness. 
“Pull up your dress,” He said next. 
You’d spent the last three days in a fog, trying to make sense of the situation, trying to understand why your body betrayed you. When you were younger, you always asked the universe why you couldn’t speak like the way all your friends at school did. Now you asked the universe why Rafe’s voice made you want to clench your thighs together. Why you had felt empty ever since he’d finished inside of you. Why you wanted to try again, to experience that intimacy again without so much fear. Your life was so simple before but now it felt like it was too late to turn back. 
Your thoughts were too jumbled. Rafe cleared his throat and you realized you were just staring back, “I’m not gonna fuck you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Please-”
He rolled his eyes, “Don’t make me ask again.”
You squared your shoulders. “I’m nnn-nn-not comfortable—”
“Just do it.”
You reached down to the edges of your dress, slowly pulling the fabric to your waist. It was nothing he hadn’t already seen and yet you were shaking, “Turn around. Face the other way.” Like a robot, you obeyed. You’d chosen a light pink color today. 
“Good,” You felt him against you. He pulled your hair back over your shoulder and leaned down against your ear, “Maybe I should make you walk around naked while you’re here, hmm?”
You bit down on your lip, wanting to contain the protest that was about to leave your mouth. You wanted to lean into his touch, to embrace the comfort that would accompany the torture. He brushed past you just as you tilted your head back, “Go make me a coffee,” He commanded. 
He made his way behind his desk and you reached down to move your dress, “Did I say to pull your dress down?”
“N-No, Sir,” You moved your hands quickly to your sides.
“I could make you walk around like that, couldn’t I?” He asked, leaning back in his chair.
He tilted his head and you realized you needed to answer. You gave him a painful look. You could say no but what would it cost you, “I . . . I don’t know,” He wasn’t satisfied by your answer, clearly. It was torture to force the words out, “Y-Yes.”
“Right answer,” He said, “Pull down your dress, sweetheart.”
You couldn’t help but see the irony in the fact that despite that you upgraded to a salaried job, you were still making coffee for the rich and spoiled. The opulent kitchen had an even fancier coffee machine than his office. Your movements as you prepared his steaming mug of coffee were precise despite the turmoil in your mind. 
Searching for solutions, your mind landed on the idea of trying to assert your competence. Sure, you could make a great cup of coffee but the whole point of getting a real job was so that you could have real skills to market yourself. You could be perfect at this job, anticipate his every need, and you could more than an object to look at. 
You re-entered his office quietly after realizing he’d begun his first meeting of the day. Carefully, you set his coffee down on the edge of his desk. He was always so intense, so completely absorbed in his work, and that unwavering focus made you even more anxious. Maybe that’s how you should be, more composed, projecting an air of confidence.
Unsure of where you should settle, you made yourself comfortable on one of the leather couches. You checked your email on your laptop, finding several reminders from Eleanor. You found yourself frustrated by how she picked and chose what information to share with you but you balanced those feelings with the fact that she was often your saving grace. 
She gave you a list of tasks including arranging for a delivery of documents that needed to be signed by Rafe, confirming his dinner reservations for the night, and proofreading the notes you took from yesterday’s meetings. You told yourself by the end of the next week, you’d be able to handle things by yourself, and you wouldn’t have to lean on her so much. You’d have a day, eventually, where Rafe didn’t point out anything you did wrong. 
“I was thinking-” Rafe’s voice cut through the silence. You were so focused that you hand’t realized his meeting had ended. He folded his hands over each other, his eyes on you, “From now on, I want you to wear what I pick for you each day.”
“How …y-you’re not happy with what I’ve been choosing?”
“It’s not about not being happy. Now I have more of an idea of what I like on you,” His voice was smooth and authoritative, “You want to reflect my taste, my standards, yeah?”
You mustered the courage to ask your next question, “Can I-I dress a l-little less … formally when I work at home with you?”
“Less formally?” He tasted the words on his tongue, “You mean, like more casual?”
“Yes, Sss-sir. Like more comfortable.”
“We could experiment with that,” His tone was deceptively light, “On my terms though. Yeah?”
You nodded and were grateful that he hadn’t reacted lightly. He seemed to enjoy that you were asking him for permission.
“You’ll have to wear something different tonight though, for dinner. Eleanor is coming by towards the end of the day to bring you your outfit and take you to get your nails done.” 
“Oh,” Your eyes opened wide, “I-I thh-thhought it was more of a personal-”
“I won’t keep you out forever,” He said, “You got plans or something?”
You shook your head quickly, “No, Sir.”
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Rafe worked through lunchtime, so you brought him the meal prepared by his chef, Stevie—an elegant older woman with blonde hair. She had made a pesto pasta salad that looked like it belonged in a gourmet magazine, despite your protests and insistence on eating your own packed lunch. Only after delivering the meal did Rafe grant you permission to take your break elsewhere.
You settled on the outdoor patio by the pool, enjoying the peacefulness of the space despite the distant, steady hum of a lawnmower. For a moment, you didn’t feel out of place. Your dress, though apparently unflattering to your figure, was worth a small fortune, and the gourmet lunch you were now enjoying was a far cry from the PB&J you’d packed.
Thirty minutes later, after finishing your lunch and enjoying a lengthy chat with Stevie, you reluctantly headed back upstairs. Hearing Rafe still on the phone, you decided to explore a bit more. His office was situated in the private wing of his house, and as you meandered through opulent corridors, you couldn’t resist sneaking a glance into the master bedroom. It was cozier than you had anticipated, with tall gray walls that gave it a masculine feel and a plush bed draped in navy linen blanket that created a snug, cocoon-like atmosphere.
Rafe ended his call a minute later and the afternoon wore on. You settled into a rhythm, completing the various tasks that you’d added to your own to do lists and ones he’d assigned to you. You spent some time organizing files in his office. His gaze burned into you, even more when you were turned around, and surprisingly, you were starting to get used to that unnerving feeling. 
He waited for you to make a mistake but you used a hundred-percent of your effort to make sure that didn’t happen. 
The clock inched towards the evening, and the day grew even more quieter, more intimate. “I was looking over your notes from yesterday’s meeting with the board members. I highlighted some sections for you to read back to me,” He waved you over, his voice gruff after a long day of talking. You joined him behind his desk and you moved to lean over and get closer look, but he placed a hand on your hip. The gesture was firm, possessive, leaving no room for hesitation. With effortless strength, like a wolf guiding its prey, he maneuvered you onto his lap, settling you on his thigh. You felt the power in his grip, the unspoken control, and all you could do was comply.
“Rafe–” You started, an desperate attempt at a protest. 
“Start with the first section,” He commanded, his grip tightening. 
“I’ve been working on proofreading them–”
“Sweetheart,” He warned, not needing to add that you were making him angry. You could feel it, the heat coming off of him. 
You took a deep breath and slowly tried to read each sentence. Even if you didn’t have a sentence with a small typo, you still stammered over several of your words. He slid the chair closer to the desk and you yelped. 
“See right here,” He pointed to the screen but that only pressed him into you. You breathed slowly, trying not to hyperventilate, “This whole section needs more detail. I don’t want to have to ask more information.”
You were taken aback when Rafe actually began to instruct you on what you were meant to do. He spent at least ten minutes walking you through each sentence, explaining how to word your report, and deleted all the unnecessary details you added. He was surprisingly patient. 
“Now, your turn,” he said finally, leaning back in the chair. For a moment, you thought he was letting you up, but the pressure of his hand on your waist told you otherwise. “Fix it.”
You swallowed, hesitating as your fingers hovered over the keys. Ever keystroke was amplified in the quiet room. Doing your best to actually use your brain, you carefully made the changes he suggested. He watched you closely, his hands first placed on your hips but soon one wandered between your thighs. 
“Good,” He said. You could do it again, you thought, and not be so scared. His touch was teasing, a reminder of what he could do to you, all the pressure that built inside of you a spilled over. You could impress him, you could be beautiful, and not turn into a crying mess when he was inside of you. You could be more than a fragile thing to be broken.
Each word was a small victory. It was a battle you thought you could win until his fingers slipped inside your panties and his other hand grabbed a handful of one of your breasts. It was unbearable, and as he made small circles, you found your fingers slipping clumsily over the keys. 
You pressed your palms into his desk, your body tilting forward. A frustrated sigh left your lips, you couldn’t contain it, and Rafe’s chuckle rumbled from behind you, “Do you ever touch yourself like this? Be honest with me this time.”
“Y-Yes,” You whispered. 
“How do you do it?” He pulled you away from the desk, pulling your torso against his, “You use a toy?”
“J-Just my fff-fingers,” You admitted. 
“Like this? How do you like it?” Carefully, he switched between different approaches. He rubbed circles over your clit, smaller ones and then slower, bigger ones. Then he stroked you up and down, fingers slipping easily into your warm hole as he wandered lower, “You put those little fingers inside of you?”
“Rafe, please.”
“Tell me,” He kissed the side of your neck, “Or I’ll stop.”
"I-I don't usually put them inside… ," you confessed, your voice barely more than a whisper. "I always use my pillow…”
He hummed against your ear. "See how much better this is when you cooperate? You can be such a good little assistant when you try."
You nodded, unable to speak, and let the feeling consume you. He brought you right to the edge, you were seconds away coming undone, but his movements slowed. Before you could register the feeling as disappointment, Rafe was hoisting you off of his lap. 
Moving with sudden determination, your feet were suddenly off the ground and Rafe was carrying you out of the room in his strong arms, “Rafe!” You clutched his shoulders as he carried you down the hall.
You turned your head as he nudged the bedroom door open with his foot, the heavy thud of the door slamming shut reverberating through the room. With a swift motion, he laid you gently on the bed. The softness beneath you was just as you had imagined, but the thought barely registered. You shot him an incredulous look, your face flushed with a mix of pleasure and frustration.
He leaned over you, grabbing a pillow from behind you and placing it in front of you, “Show me.”
You shook your head instantly and moved to crawl away. Somehow, you could let all of his other sleazy behavior slide by but this was an insane boundary for him to try to cross. He’d already been inside you and yet this was a thousand times more intimate. 
He grabbed ahold of your thigh, “You’re so close, sweetheart. I know you want it,” He challenged you, “Probably feels like you need it.”
“Please,” You tried, your voice threatening to crack. His hands found your hips again, slowly positionin you over the pillow. The soft fabric brushed against your most sensitive spot, the familiar sensation making you bite down on your bottom lip, “Rafe.”
“You saying my name like that just makes me want it more,” Balancing on his knees, he grabbed ahold of your face and leaned in to kiss you. You felt the intensity of his desire, how much he wanted this, and it left you dizzy. 
When he pulled back, he looked over you. Your hips started moving in a familiar motion despite your embarrassment. You trembled from the vulnerability, the pounding in your chest, but you chased that high he gave you. It ignited your fire again, and since you didn’t have the full force of his touch anymore, you focused your eyes on him, “Good girl,” He said again and you whimpered, “Look at me just like that.”
You rolled your hips harder, faster, imagining his kiss, his touch, as the tension coiled tighter inside you. His gaze never left yours, his words a constant stream of encouragement and control.
“Doesn’t that feel good?” 
His words all jumbled together. 
“Just let it happen.”
“I want to see your face when you cum, sweetheart.”
“You look so desperate.”
“So needy.”
“You’re gonna make yourself cum, huh?”
“Just because I told you too.”
“Such a good girl.”
“Look at you.” 
The words pushed you over the edge, finally, and you were able to let go. He watched as you rode out that wave of pleasure and his hands found your body again, his grip grounding you. “Fuck,” You heard him say but you couldn’t respond. 
You were too overwhelmed to respond, your mind unable to fully process what had just happened. All you knew was that you felt good, embarrassed, and strangely satisfied that you'd pleased him, all at once. 
When you manage to look at him again, the doorbell rang. 
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Eleanor navigated through the upscale nail salon, a palace of white and silvers, with ease, like she was a regular, and this was just an extension of her universe. You imagined this place as an escape for her, from both Rafe and Topper. She secured side-by-side seats near the back of the salon and you followed her lead as she set down her purse and removed her sandals. Her movements were fluid and assured. 
“Have you thought about what color you want?”
“Oh, um, n-no,” You tried to make yourself comfortable in the pedicure chair, “What d-do you think Rafe would like?”
“Maybe something pastel. You can’t go wrong with a soft pink.”
“Is that what you’re getting?” You asked, unassured, as you glanced around the luxurious setting. It wasns’t like other nail salons you’d been to where the technicians and customers talked at whatever volume they liked. It was quiet and each technician wore matching black uniforms. 
“I’ll tell them you want ballet slipper on your nails and white on your toes.”
You nodded, grateful for her guidance, “Thank you.”
As your pedicures began, the warm lavender-scented water soaking your feet, two technicians took their places by your sides, working silently as they filed your nails. 
“How are you holding up?” Eleanor asked.
“Fff-fine,” You said, “I’m trying to . . . t-to understand him, I guess.”
“You’ll go crazy doing that,” She laughed lightly, flashing a look that said “poor you”. 
“How d-did you meet Topper?” Her face tightened at your question, “I mean, y-you didn’t say.”
“I’m from the same town as them, Rafe and Topper. Not really the same town, my parents didn’t have money growing up. But I worked at the country club they all went to. That’s how I met Topper.”
“And you started dating?”
“Something like that,” She made a small shrug, “I owe everything I have to them.”
You nodded, sensing the weight of her words despite the lack of detail. Another piece to the puzzle you were trying to put together. Maybe the two of them had an attraction to girls struggling to get by.
“It’s not so bad, is it?” She asked and it made you pause.
Your instinct was to mirror her shrug, but you hesitated, wondering if you could trust her with your thoughts. If anyone could understand what you were going through, it had to be Eleanor.  “I-I just ffff-ffeel like I’m doing everything wrong.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve only heard good things.”
“A-About me?” She nodded and your lips parted in shock. 
“Yes. I know you feel uncertain right now, but I think you'll be glad if you can stick it out. Topper… he’s a bastard, but he takes care of me. Rafe likes you too. Maybe he doesn’t know how to show it, but…” She paused, her eyes flickering with something you couldn’t quite place. “He’s filthy rich. That would be enough for me.”
In that moment, her brutal honesty felt almost like reassurance. You weren’t sure if Eleanor truly grasped the extent of Rafe’s inability to show affection, that his pleasure came from humiliating you, from making you cry. Just as you couldn’t fully know what she endured with Topper. Her words weren't necessarily comforting but at least they felt real.
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Please reblog WITH your thoughts on the chapter to be added to the taglist for the story :)
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luveline · 8 months ago
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Hey Jade!!! I was just wondering if you could do a soulmate au with Spencer please? Maybe something along the lines of those cheesy ones like the first words are tattooed on or they have the same tattoo idk, whatever you u feel like 😊
—Spencer meets his soulmate. You’re as lovely as he’s always pictured. fem, 1.3k
Someone will love me one day.
Spencer must think it a thousand times. When he has to put his mom in the sanitarium and he feels more alone than he ever has in his life, he knows one day someone will love him anyways. When he gets called ugly, too skinny, nerd, dork, and a handful of words that are even worse, he knows one day someone will say the opposite. He won’t be alone forever.
He was two when they appeared, dark black cursive words tucked against his pulse. Spencer felt ugly nearly every day of his life, wrong and weird, but the words on his wrist have never changed, ‘You’re so handsome I can’t believe it’s you.’
One day someone’s gonna look at him and see handsome.
Today, he feels pretty good. He’s back home in Washington, D.C., the grocery store he loves is open again after a long reconstruction, and they had a bunch of fruit from South America that he’s never tried before. He carries a white plastic bag full of fruit, bread and cheese back to his apartment, each step in the sunshine, the kiss of it warming his cheeks. A busker plays music near the mouth of the subway station. Nobody has yet to scowl at him for being in the way.
He’s wondering what he forgot when he sees you. You’re smiling, the sun on your face and arms, which are strangely full. Books slide against your chest, but besides a little huff and a shift of your elbow, you don’t seem to notice the slim paperback working its way through the crowd in your arms. It drops down onto the sidewalk but you keep walking. You must be in a hurry.
Spencer darts forward to your dropped book, thumb under the title. Charlotte’s Web by E. B White. The spine is flaking and soft from use.
He should call out for you. You’re already getting too far away.
Spencer crosses the road and dives deeper into the city with you. Washington, D.C. isn’t without grandeur —it’s the capital of the USA— and so he finds himself surrounded by potted trees and stretches of well tended grass. School’s broken for the day, children weaving around on bikes and scooters or holding hands with their parents taking up altogether too much space. He loses you in the crowd.
Spencer stops in defeat.
Maybe if he puts the book back in your path you’ll see it on the way back.
He’s not sure why he doesn’t. Spencer keeps your book and starts to walk home. This isn’t how he’d usually get there, but he can manoeuvre around the park.
He keeps an eye out for you. Ridiculously, he’d thought about giving the book back to you and making you smile. He hasn’t talked to anyone who wasn’t a cashier in two days.
“Hi.”
Spencer looks down. “Hi,” he says, spooked by the little girl in front of him.
“Is that for the library?”
He shakes his head regretfully. “No, I– I found it. I’m trying to give it back.”
“Okie dokie. I never read that one before.”
“I’m sorry, it’s not my book to give away… Where’s your mom?”
The little girl points at a mom and a younger child playing on the grass near a circle of benches. There’s a huge dark cabinet with its doors skewed open in the middle, and when he squints he realises it’s full of books. “Oh, is that the library?” he asks.
“Yes!” the little girl insists.
“Okay, well, here’s what we’ll do,” he says, looking desperately for you, disappointed when he can’t see a sign of your nice blue shirt or your sunny smile, “let me go see if I can find the lady who dropped this book, and if she says it’s okay, I’ll keep it for you to have. But you can’t run off from your mom again. Deal?”
The girl grins, thick hair shiny in the sun. “Deal!” she says, running in a burst toward her mother, who startles when she realises she’d left in the first place.
Spencer creeps toward the library. He can’t leave the book here now, he’s promised he’ll try to find you.
You come around the back of the library cabinet with a smile. Free Library, the sign says. Take one if you want, leave one if you can.
You stop in your path when you see him. You smile again, you’re prettier for it, lovely with the sun on half your face, your slight squint. You open your mouth to speak.
Spencer beats you to it. “Hi, I’ve been trying to catch up to you,” he says, raising your copy of Charlotte’s Web to his chest. “You dropped one of your books.”
You take a half step back.
Spencer grimaces. “I promised a little girl I’d ask if she can have it, I’m so sorry. I get stuck and I don’t know how to say no.”
Your eyes flash down to your hands. “You’re so handsome,” you say, and Spencer’s heart stops dead in his chest, your lips shaping each word without measure and somehow the prettiest anyone’s ever looked as they move, “I can’t believe it’s you.”
His shoulders sag with a deep breath.
You raise your arm to show him the contrasting font laid against your pulse. Hi, I’ve been trying to catch up to you.
Spencer shows you his. You’re so handsome, I can’t believe it’s you.
“It’s you,” he says.
You press your hand to your mouth. “I was walking too fast, right? When I was a kid I thought if I made everybody chase me that eventually somebody would have to say it, but then it stuck, and I rush everywhere I go.” Your voice turns breathless. “But you’re the person who was supposed to catch up to me.”
He smiles softly. “I think so.”
“And I just told you you’re handsome. I’m sorry, I bet that was embarrassing to… carry around, all this time.”
“It’s the best gift anyone’s ever given me,” he says honestly.
“I didn’t think you’d be so pretty,” you explain.
“I knew you would be.”
You hold your hand out. He’s about to tell you he doesn’t shake but he finds he really wants to, and you’re not shaking his hand anyways, you’re holding it, looking at the cursive on his arm with a disbelief he echoes in his own smile. You rub the tip of your thumb over the word handsome.
“Do you like books?” he asks.
You nod distractedly. “I love them,” you murmur, looking up.
His entire arm is alive with tingles.
“Do you read much?” you ask.
Every word you trade with one another has this shy longing he’s never felt, like you’re desperate to know about one another but worried you aren’t allowed to ask. Spencer’s about to tell you all about it, how he’s always reading, how books have been with him through everything, but there’s a tug on his shirt that stops him.
“Hi,” the little girl says.
Spencer laughs. “Hi.”
“What did she say?” the little girl whispers.
Spencer looks to you for guidance.
“Of course you can have it. It’s an amazing book,” you say.
“Thank you!” she says, holding out her hands.
Spencer doesn’t mind handing it over. If she didn’t ask him for it earlier, he might’ve never had the courage to look for you. He could’ve left the book in the cabinet and turned around, but he didn’t. And now he’s met you.
You step into his side. “Did you– do you want to get coffee?” You peer down at the bag now slipped from his elbow down to his wrist. “Are you going somewhere?”
“Do you want to have a picnic with me?” he asks.
You nod for so long he has to laugh. “I’d love to,” you say, offering your open hand.
Spencer threads your fingers together. That one day he always dreamed of seems a lot closer than it did before.
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magical-reid · 1 month ago
Text
The Quiet One
Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem! Reader
Genre: fluff
Content warnings: Reader gets taken during a case and starts isolating herself
Word count: 11.1K (It's long, I know)
Summary: Spencer Reid becomes increasingly intrigued by Y/N, a reserved but brilliant new member of the BAU, who remains distant from the team despite her exceptional skills. As they spend more time together, Spencer finds himself drawn to her quiet strength and vulnerability, leading to a growing connection between them.
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Spencer’s POV
Spencer Reid didn’t need to be an expert in psychology to know that Y/N was hiding something. It wasn’t a dark secret—at least, he didn’t think so—but it was a part of herself she kept locked away.
She was new, sure, but most new agents took Garcia’s boisterous affection or Morgan’s teasing in stride after a week or two. Y/N, however, stayed remarkably quiet unless the conversation turned to a case. Then she was brilliant—her analyses sharp and concise, her physical prowess undeniable in the field. Even Hotch had complimented her work ethic within the first month, which was rare.
But socially? She was an enigma, answering questions with one-word responses or polite nods. Garcia had deemed it her “personal mission” to get Y/N to loosen up.
And now, Spencer found himself curious too.
Reader’s POV
The BAU bullpen was oddly calm for once. Cases were lighter this week, leaving the team to catch up on paperwork. You didn’t mind it—it gave you time to settle into the rhythm of things.
Sitting at your desk during lunch, you pulled a battered paperback from your bag. It was a comfort read, one you returned to when the world felt overwhelming. The words on the page blurred slightly as you chewed on the inside of your cheek, trying to ignore the faint hum of conversation between Morgan and JJ.
Then came the voice.
“That’s Jane Eyre, right?”
You glanced up to find Dr. Spencer Reid standing by your desk. His hands were shoved awkwardly into his pockets, a rare flicker of nervousness in his expression.
“Uh… yeah,” you said, holding up the book. “It is.”
“You know, Charlotte Brontë originally published it under the pseudonym Currer Bell because women authors weren’t taken seriously in the 19th century,” Spencer said, his voice gaining confidence as he dove into familiar territory. “It was actually one of the first novels to really explore the concept of the ‘modern woman.’”
You blinked at him, unsure whether to be impressed or amused. “I didn’t know that.”
His eyes lit up, and you instantly regretted not saying something more engaging.
“Well, there’s actually a lot of debate about whether Jane Eyre is autobiographical. Brontë infuses so many elements of her own life into the story, especially Jane’s resilience and independence—”
“Reid!” Morgan called from across the room, grinning. “Are you giving another one of your literary lectures?”
Spencer flushed, pushing a strand of hair behind his ear. “I, uh… I was just—”
You shut the book and offered a small smile. “It’s fine. I didn’t mind.”
That placated him, and he nodded quickly before retreating to his desk.
You couldn’t help but replay the interaction in your head for the rest of the day. Spencer had an undeniable passion for knowledge, and for the first time since joining the team, you found yourself wondering if you’d like to hear more of what he had to say.
Spencer’s POV
It started as a casual observation: Y/N always ate lunch alone.
After their brief interaction earlier that day, Spencer couldn’t help but notice her more often. She stayed on the periphery of conversations, her focus always sharp, but there was an unshakable air of… loneliness about her.
Garcia was determined to change that.
“I swear, my magic isn’t working on her!” Garcia huffed as she leaned against his desk later that afternoon. “But mark my words, Reid, I will crack that shell.”
Spencer raised an eyebrow. “You’re treating her like a puzzle.”
“Because she is a puzzle! She’s this brilliant, badass, stone-cold agent who also reads classics on her lunch break? She’s practically you in a different font.”
Spencer opened his mouth to respond but shut it again. The comparison caught him off guard. Was that why he was so fascinated by Y/N?
Reader’s POV
Over the following weeks, Spencer became a surprising constant. It started with the occasional factoid about the books you were reading, but it soon extended to case-related conversations. You found his intelligence refreshing, and his quiet, thoughtful presence felt like something you could trust.
Garcia, on the other hand, was a force of nature.
“Okay, Miss Mysterious, you are coming to Rossi’s this weekend, and I will not take no for an answer,” she declared one Friday afternoon, her hands on her hips.
You tried to protest, but Garcia had a way of steamrolling right over you. Before you knew it, you were at Rossi’s house that Saturday evening, surrounded by your team.
Spencer’s POV
He watched from across the room as Y/N sat next to Garcia, a soft laugh escaping her lips as the tech analyst recounted some over-the-top story. It was the first time he’d seen Y/N genuinely relaxed, her quiet demeanor giving way to something brighter.
She caught his gaze and smiled hesitantly.
Spencer felt his heart skip a beat.
Reader’s POV
Rossi’s house felt warm in a way you hadn’t expected. The deep wood tones, the glowing fire in the hearth, and the hum of your team’s laughter filled the space with an almost familial intimacy. You’d arrived tense, unsure of how to handle this uncharted territory, but Garcia had stuck by you like glue, coaxing you into conversations with her sunny enthusiasm.
To your surprise, you didn’t mind.
“You’re not allergic to wine, are you?” Garcia asked, pressing a glass into your hand before you could protest. “This is Rossi’s best stuff. Don’t embarrass me by turning it down.”
You gave her a faint smirk and took a small sip, letting the rich flavor spread across your tongue. “It’s good.”
“Good?” Rossi barked from across the room. “That’s a $300 bottle! Show some respect!”
You startled, but Morgan waved him off. “Don’t let him scare you, Y/N. Rossi says that about every bottle he pulls out of his cellar.”
The group laughed, and you felt yourself relax by a fraction. You didn’t belong here, not fully—not yet—but it was nice to pretend for a little while.
It wasn’t until later in the evening, when the group had spread out into smaller clusters, that you found yourself wandering onto Rossi’s back patio. The cool night air was a relief after the heat of the crowded living room, and you leaned against the railing, gazing out at the sprawling yard.
The sound of the door opening behind you made you glance back. Spencer stepped outside, a mug in hand.
“Coffee?” you asked, eyebrows raised.
He nodded sheepishly. “I don’t drink, so… this is my go-to.”
You turned back to the yard. “Makes sense.”
Spencer hesitated before moving to stand beside you. For a moment, the two of you stood in silence, the faint hum of conversation from inside fading into the background.
“You handled yourself well tonight,” he said finally.
You frowned. “What do you mean?”
“With the team,” he clarified, his gaze flicking to yours. “I know how overwhelming it can be. They’re… intense.”
A small laugh escaped you. “That’s one way to put it.”
He smiled at that, his face softening in a way that made your chest ache.
“I’m not great at these things either,” he admitted, his voice quieter now. “Social gatherings, I mean. But… it gets easier.”
“Does it?” you asked, surprising even yourself with the vulnerability in your tone.
He nodded, his expression thoughtful. “They’re good people. It just takes time to feel like you belong.”
You studied him for a moment, his profile outlined by the soft glow of the patio lights. It was strange, how he seemed to understand you in a way that no one else had tried to.
“Thanks, Spencer,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.
He turned to you fully, his eyes searching yours. “For what?”
“For… being you, I guess.”
His brow furrowed, but before he could respond, Garcia’s voice rang out from the doorway.
“There you are, lovebirds! C’mon, it’s picture time!”
You flushed, stepping back instinctively, but Spencer’s soft chuckle eased your embarrassment.
“Let’s not keep her waiting,” he said, gesturing toward the door.
As the two of you returned to the chaos inside, you couldn’t help but feel that maybe, just maybe, you were starting to belong after all.
Spencer’s POV
The next few weeks were… different.
Y/N was still reserved, but something had shifted. She smiled more, lingered a little longer when the team joked around, and even initiated conversations once or twice.
Spencer found himself drawn to her even more. He wasn’t sure when his interest had crossed into something deeper—maybe it was the way her eyes lit up when she talked about a case, or how she always seemed to carry herself with quiet determination.
What he did know was that he wanted to spend more time with her.
Reader’s POV
It was late when you returned to the office after a long day in the field. Most of the team had gone home, but the glow from Spencer’s desk lamp caught your eye as you passed by.
“You’re still here?” you asked, leaning against the doorway.
He looked up, startled. “Oh, yeah. Just… catching up on paperwork.”
You hesitated before stepping into the room. “Do you want some company?”
Spencer blinked at you, clearly surprised, but he nodded. “Sure.”
You pulled a chair up beside him, glancing at the neat stacks of files on his desk. “You’re ridiculously organized, you know that?”
He chuckled. “Comes with the territory.”
For a while, the two of you worked in companionable silence, the quiet hum of the office almost soothing. It wasn’t until you reached for a file at the same time that your hands brushed, and you both froze.
“Sorry,” you muttered, pulling back quickly.
“No, it’s—” He cleared his throat. “It’s fine.”
Your eyes met, and for a brief moment, the air between you felt charged with something unspoken. But then the moment passed, and you both returned to your work, your hearts beating just a little faster.
Reader’s POV
The call came in at 3 a.m., pulling you out of a restless sleep. By the time you arrived at the BAU office, coffee in hand and exhaustion tugging at your limbs, the rest of the team was already gathered in the briefing room.
“Morning, sunshine,” Garcia greeted with mock cheerfulness as you slid into your seat.
“Morning,” you mumbled back, earning a sympathetic smile from her.
Hotch wasted no time launching into the details. “We’ve got three bodies in the last week, all women in their early twenties. Each victim was abducted, kept for approximately 48 hours, and then left in a public location. The cause of death is strangulation. The local PD in Richmond has requested our assistance.”
As the photos of the victims flashed across the screen, your stomach tightened. Young, bright faces extinguished too soon.
“Are we looking at someone who knew them?” you asked, your voice steady despite the knot forming in your gut.
JJ shook her head. “The victims don’t seem to have any connections to each other. Different neighborhoods, different jobs, no shared social circles.”
“So we’re dealing with an unsub who’s opportunistic,” Rossi said, leaning back in his chair.
“Most likely,” Spencer chimed in. “The cooling-off period is short, which could indicate a lack of control or a growing compulsion.”
As the team delved into theories and assigned tasks, you felt Spencer’s gaze linger on you for a moment. When you glanced his way, he offered a faint nod, as if to say, We’ve got this.
Spencer’s POV
Something about this case felt different.
It wasn’t the pattern—he’d seen similar cases before—but the look in Y/N’s eyes as she examined the crime scene photos. She was usually composed, but there was a flicker of something raw beneath her quiet exterior.
“Spence?” JJ’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. “You ready to head to the ME’s office?”
He nodded quickly, grabbing his bag. As they left, he caught sight of Y/N slipping into the SUV with Morgan and Rossi, her expression unreadable.
Reader’s POV
The first day in Richmond was grueling. You’d interviewed families of the victims, combed through hours of CCTV footage, and spent far too long staring at a map of potential dump sites. By the time the team regrouped at the precinct that evening, the weight of the case was pressing down on you like a vice.
“Y/N,” Spencer said softly as you sat down at a desk in the corner, your head in your hands.
You looked up to find him holding out a bottle of water.
“Thanks,” you murmured, taking it from him.
He hesitated before sitting beside you. “You okay?”
You nodded, though the lump in your throat betrayed you. “It’s just… hard. They’re so young.”
Spencer’s expression softened. “It’s okay to feel that way. It means you care.”
You glanced at him, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. “How do you deal with it? Knowing that… we can’t save them all?”
“I remind myself that we can save the next one,” he said quietly. “That’s what keeps me going.”
His words settled over you like a balm, easing some of the tension in your chest.
“Thanks, Spencer,” you said after a moment.
He offered a small smile. “Anytime.”
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The break came on the second day. Spencer had been poring over geographical profiles when he noticed a pattern in the unsub’s movements—a cluster of locations that centered around a local park.
“It’s a comfort zone,” he explained as the team gathered around. “The unsub likely lives or works nearby.”
With Garcia’s help, you narrowed down a list of potential suspects. One name stood out: Michael Devlin, a maintenance worker with a history of domestic violence.
“We’ve got enough for a warrant,” Hotch said, his voice clipped. “Morgan, Rossi, Y/N—head to his residence. Reid, JJ, and I will coordinate with SWAT in case he runs.”
Your heart pounded as you pulled on your vest and climbed into the SUV. The tension was palpable as Morgan briefed the team on the way to Devlin’s house.
“He’s dangerous, but he’s not expecting us,” Morgan said. “Stay sharp.”
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The house was eerily quiet when you arrived. Morgan motioned for you to take the back while he and Rossi approached the front.
Gun drawn, you moved silently around the perimeter, your pulse thrumming in your ears. A faint noise from inside made you freeze—a muffled cry.
You signaled to Morgan, who nodded and motioned for you to breach the back door.
The next moments were a blur. The door splintered under your weight, and you swept through the darkened hallway, your flashlight cutting through the gloom.
“FBI!” you shouted. “Hands in the air!”
In the basement, you found Devlin with his latest victim—a young woman, bound and gagged but alive. Devlin lunged toward her, but you didn’t hesitate. One precise shot to his leg sent him crumpling to the ground.
“Suspect down!” you called, rushing to the woman’s side.
Morgan and Rossi were there seconds later, securing Devlin while you freed the woman.
“It’s okay,” you murmured, your hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through you. “You’re safe now.”
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The team returned to the hotel late that night, exhausted but victorious. You’d saved someone.
As you sat on the edge of your bed, the weight of the day finally caught up to you. A knock at the door startled you, and when you opened it, you found Spencer standing there.
“I thought you might want some company,” he said, holding up a bag of takeout.
You stepped aside, letting him in.
The two of you sat in companionable silence, the unspoken bond between you stronger than ever.
“You did good today,” Spencer said softly, breaking the silence.
“So did you,” you replied, meeting his gaze.
For a moment, neither of you looked away. The air felt charged again, but this time, you didn’t retreat.
“Thank you,” you said finally, your voice barely above a whisper.
Spencer’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Anytime.”
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The weeks following the Richmond case brought you and Spencer closer in ways you hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t anything dramatic—no sweeping gestures or long, soul-baring conversations. Instead, it was the little moments that built a quiet, steady foundation.
You started spending more time at his desk between cases, initially just to borrow books or bounce ideas off him, but it became something more. A shared cup of coffee here, a late-night brainstorming session there. The rest of the team noticed, of course, but they didn’t say much—except for Garcia, who gave you a sly wink whenever she caught you lingering near Spencer.
It wasn’t just Spencer, though. You were starting to feel more connected to the entire team. Rossi’s dry humor, Morgan’s teasing camaraderie, JJ’s quiet support, and Garcia’s unrelenting cheerfulness—all of it felt like pieces of a puzzle finally snapping into place.
But Spencer… he was different.
Spencer’s POV
It had become second nature to seek out Y/N when he needed a fresh perspective. Her sharp mind complemented his own, and her methodical approach often helped him piece together details he might have overlooked.
But it wasn’t just her intelligence that drew him in—it was the way she listened. Spencer wasn’t used to people really listening when he rambled about obscure facts or spiraled into tangents. Y/N didn’t just tolerate it; she seemed genuinely interested, even when he went off-topic.
He found himself looking for excuses to talk to her, whether it was about a case, a book, or even something as mundane as coffee preferences.
“You’re spending a lot of time with our newbie,” Morgan teased one afternoon as Spencer returned to his desk.
Spencer bristled. “We’re just… working well together.”
Morgan’s grin widened. “Sure you are, kid. Sure you are.”
Spencer tried to ignore him, but the comment stuck in his mind for the rest of the day. Was it really so obvious?
Reader’s POV
The next case was in Chicago—three bodies were found in abandoned buildings, each with eerily similar staging. The unsub was methodical, leaving almost no evidence behind. It wasn’t until the fourth victim was found that a pattern began to emerge.
“We’re looking at someone with a background in construction or architecture,” you said during the briefing, pointing to the detailed layout drawn on the whiteboard. “Each site was chosen for its isolation and structural integrity. He’s not just picking random locations; he’s planning this down to the last detail.”
Spencer nodded, adding to your analysis. “It’s possible he sees himself as an artist. The staging suggests a need for control, but also a desire for recognition. He’s leaving a signature.”
Hotch glanced between the two of you. “Work with Garcia to identify anyone with the right skill set and a history of violence. We need to narrow this down before he strikes again.”
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You and Spencer were paired up to interview a potential suspect—a reclusive architect with a history of volatile behavior. As you drove through the quiet streets of Chicago, the conversation drifted to more personal topics.
“Do you miss it?” Spencer asked suddenly, his gaze focused on the road ahead.
“Miss what?”
“The academy,” he clarified. “Before the field. Before…” He gestured vaguely.
You considered the question for a moment. “Not really. I mean, it was challenging, but I always knew I wanted to be out here, making a difference. What about you? Do you miss… normalcy?”
Spencer laughed softly. “I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced normalcy. But I think I’ve found something better.”
His words hung in the air, and you felt your chest tighten.
Before you could respond, the GPS announced your arrival, pulling you back to the present.
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The interview didn’t yield much—your suspect was uncooperative, but there wasn’t enough evidence to hold him. As you and Spencer left the building, the frustration was palpable.
“He’s hiding something,” you muttered as you walked to the car.
Spencer nodded. “Agreed. But without concrete evidence, we can’t—”
A sharp noise interrupted him—a metallic clang, followed by a figure darting into the alley beside the building.
“Stay here,” you said instinctively, drawing your weapon.
“Wait—” Spencer started to protest, but you were already moving.
The alley was narrow and dimly lit, and the figure was fast, but your training kicked in. You rounded a corner just in time to see the man scaling a fence.
“FBI! Stop!”
He didn’t.
You followed, adrenaline surging as you climbed the fence and hit the ground running. The suspect turned sharply, heading into an abandoned warehouse.
You slowed as you entered, your heart pounding. The faint sound of footsteps echoed through the cavernous space.
“Y/N!” Spencer’s voice called from behind you, and you turned to see him catching up, his own weapon drawn.
“You shouldn’t be here,” you said, your voice tight.
“And let you go in alone? Not a chance.”
Before you could argue, the suspect lunged from the shadows. Spencer reacted instantly, stepping between you and the attacker. The fight was brief but chaotic, and by the time you secured the suspect with cuffs, your hands were trembling.
“Are you okay?” Spencer asked, his eyes scanning you for injuries.
“I’m fine,” you said quickly, though your heart was still racing. “You?”
He nodded, his expression softening. “I’m fine.”
For a moment, you just stood there, the weight of the encounter settling over you. Then, without thinking, you reached out and placed a hand on his arm.
“Thanks,” you said quietly.
Spencer’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Anytime.”
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The suspect turned out to be a crucial lead, and the case wrapped up soon after. On the flight home, you found yourself sitting beside Spencer, the two of you poring over a book he’d brought.
“You’re starting to remind me of Reid 2.0,” Morgan teased as he walked by.
You rolled your eyes, but Spencer smiled.
“Is that such a bad thing?” you asked, glancing at Spencer.
He shook his head, his expression unreadable. “Not at all.”
As the plane soared through the clouds, you couldn’t help but feel that your partnership with Spencer was becoming something more—something you weren’t quite ready to name yet, but something that felt right all the same.
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(Next Case)
The case had felt off from the start.
You’d arrived in a small Colorado town after two young women disappeared within days of each other. The unsub had a clear pattern—abducting women in their twenties, keeping them for a few days, and leaving their mutilated bodies in remote areas.
You’d all felt the clock ticking with each passing hour. But even as the team worked tirelessly to profile the unsub and narrow down suspects, you couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong—something you couldn’t quite put into words.
You were walking back to the SUV alone after canvassing a witness when it happened.
A sharp sting at the base of your neck.
Then, darkness.
Spencer’s POV
“She should have been back by now,” Spencer said, his voice tight with worry.
The team had regrouped at the precinct, but Y/N’s absence was glaring. She’d been checking in regularly all day, but her last update had come nearly an hour ago.
“She probably just got held up with a witness,” Morgan offered, though even he sounded unconvinced.
“No,” Spencer said, his jaw clenched. “Something’s wrong.”
Garcia’s voice crackled through the speakerphone. “I’ve got her GPS! It’s… oh, no. It’s not moving. Her phone’s near a deserted building on the outskirts of town.”
Hotch didn’t hesitate. “Morgan, Reid, let’s go. JJ, Rossi, stay here and coordinate with the local PD. Garcia, keep tracking her phone.”
Spencer’s chest tightened as they raced toward the location, dread clawing at his insides.
Reader’s POV
You woke to blinding pain.
Your arms were wrenched behind you, your wrists bound with coarse rope that cut into your skin. The room was dark, save for the faint glow of a single bulb overhead.
A figure loomed above you, his face obscured.
“Finally awake,” he said, his voice calm, almost casual.
You struggled against the restraints, your breath coming in sharp gasps.
“Don’t bother,” the man said, crouching to meet your gaze. “It’s just you and me now. And I don’t like it when people scream.”
He raised something shiny—a blade—and you froze.
The first cut was shallow, a deliberate line across your arm. Pain bloomed, sharp and hot, and you bit down hard on your lip to keep from crying out.
“Good,” he murmured. “You’re strong. Let’s see how long that lasts.”
Time became a blur after that. The pain was relentless—cuts, bruises, burns. He was methodical, asking questions he didn’t seem to care if you answered. You tried to focus on anything else—your training, the team, Spencer—but the agony kept dragging you back.
At some point, you lose consciousness again.
Spencer’s POV
When they found you, Spencer nearly collapsed with relief—and horror.
You were slumped in the corner of the room, your clothes torn and blood staining your skin. Cuts and bruises covered your body, and your face was pale, almost unrecognizable.
“Y/N!” Spencer was the first to reach you, dropping to his knees beside you.
Your eyes fluttered open, but there was no recognition in them, only fear.
“It’s me,” he said softly, his voice breaking. “It’s Spencer. You’re safe now.”
Your lips moved, but no sound came out.
Hotch and Morgan secured the unsub, who was screaming as they dragged him out of the building. Spencer barely registered it. All he could focus on was you—broken, fragile, and trembling in his arms.
Reader’s POV
The ride to the hospital was a blur. You were dimly aware of Spencer’s hand gripping yours, his voice low and soothing as he spoke to you, though you couldn’t make out the words.
The pain was overwhelming, but worse than that was the fear—the raw, unrelenting terror that you were still there, still in that room.
It wasn’t until you were in the hospital, surrounded by the sterile smell of antiseptic and the soft hum of machines, that you began to feel grounded again.
Spencer stayed by your side the entire time.
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You didn’t want to go home.
The thought of returning to the BAU, to the same desks and faces, felt impossible. But Hotch had insisted you needed to recover somewhere familiar, and the team had gently assured you they’d be there every step of the way.
You sat alone on the plane, staring out the window, your arms wrapped tightly around yourself. The team kept their distance, speaking in hushed tones as they gave you space.
You hated how broken you felt. You hated the way the memories of that room kept flashing through your mind, the way your skin still crawled despite the warm blanket Garcia had draped over your shoulders.
And yet, when Spencer moved to sit beside you, you didn’t pull away.
You stayed silent as he settled in, the faint scent of his cologne reaching you. After a long moment, you leaned into him, resting your head on his shoulder.
Spencer stiffened for half a second before relaxing, his arm curling around you protectively. He didn’t say anything—didn’t need to.
The rest of the team exchanged quiet glances but said nothing. They knew better than to interrupt.
For the first time since the ordeal, you felt… safe.
Spencer’s POV
She didn’t say a word the entire flight, but Spencer didn’t mind.
When she’d leaned into him, something in his chest had cracked open. He didn’t know what to say or do, but he knew he’d do anything to protect her from feeling that way again.
As the plane descended toward Quantico, he tightened his arm around her, silently promising her—and himself—that he’d be there for her, no matter what.
Reader’s POV
Recovery wasn’t linear.
You thought it might be—thought you could box up what happened and file it away in some corner of your mind. But the scars on your body weren’t just physical, and no matter how hard you tried, the memories of that room clung to you like smoke, thick and suffocating.
You barely left your apartment in the weeks after the case. The team gave you space but stayed present in small ways: a text from JJ checking in, a phone call from Morgan offering to bring dinner, Rossi dropping off an expensive bottle of wine “for when you’re ready.”
But Spencer and Garcia… they were different.
They didn’t just check-in. They showed up.
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It started with the nightmares.
They came like clockwork, dragging you from sleep with a gasp and leaving you trembling in the dark. At first, you tried to handle them on your own. You’d curl up on the couch with a blanket, the TV murmuring softly in the background as you willed yourself to calm down.
But after one particularly bad night, your hands shaking so hard you couldn’t hold the phone steady, you called Spencer.
He answered on the second ring, his voice groggy but alert. “Y/N?”
“I—I’m sorry,” you stammered, immediately regretting the call. “I shouldn’t have—”
“Don’t apologize,” he interrupted gently. “What’s wrong?”
You hesitated, the words catching in your throat. But he waited, his patience endless.
“I had a nightmare,” you admitted finally, your voice barely above a whisper.
There was a pause, then: “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
You opened your mouth to protest, but the line had already gone dead.
When Spencer showed up at your door, his hair mussed and his sweater slightly wrinkled, you felt a pang of guilt.
“You didn’t have to—”
“Yes, I did,” he said firmly, stepping inside.
He didn’t press you to talk about the nightmare. Instead, he made tea while you curled up on the couch, his calm presence enough to ground you. He stayed until the sun came up, his hand resting lightly on your arm as you drifted in and out of an uneasy sleep.
That became your new normal. Every time the nightmares came, Spencer would be there, no matter the hour.
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Garcia was the first to call you out on your self-imposed isolation.
“Okay, honey, I love you, but you’re starting to worry me,” she said one afternoon, her voice tinged with concern.
“I’m fine,” you insisted, though even you didn’t believe it.
“Uh-huh,” she said, clearly unconvinced. “So fine that you’ve become a hermit. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. “I’m just… not ready to go out yet.”
Garcia was quiet for a moment, then her tone brightened. “Alright, challenge accepted. If you won’t go to the world, the world will come to you.”
The next day, Spencer and Garcia showed up at your apartment with an armful of books.
“Welcome to the world’s tiniest bookstore,” Garcia announced, sweeping into your living room like a tornado.
“I may have gone a little overboard,” Spencer admitted, setting the books down on your coffee table.
“A little?” Garcia scoffed. “Reid, this isn’t overboard—it’s a full-on invasion.”
You couldn’t help but laugh as you flipped through the stack, your chest tightening at the sight of your favorite titles mixed in with a few new ones.
“You guys didn’t have to do this,” you said, your voice thick with emotion.
Garcia waved you off. “Please. This is nothing compared to the epic coffee shop we’re planning for tomorrow.”
You raised an eyebrow. “Coffee shop?”
“Just wait,” Spencer said with a small smile.
The next morning, your living room was transformed.
Garcia had brought fairy lights, a Bluetooth speaker, and pastries from your favorite bakery. Spencer had set up a coffee station, complete with syrups and a milk frother.
“Order up!” Garcia called, handing you a steaming cup of your favorite drink.
You curled up in your armchair, the faint sound of jazz playing in the background as you sipped your coffee. For the first time in weeks, you felt a flicker of something like peace.
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It was Spencer’s idea to bring the theater to you.
He showed up one evening with Garcia in tow, a projector tucked under his arm and a bag of popcorn balanced precariously in Garcia’s hands.
“Movie night!” Garcia declared, dropping the popcorn onto your kitchen counter.
“What’s all this?” you asked, watching as Spencer set up the projector.
“Well, we figured since you’re not quite ready to hit the theaters yet, we’d bring the theaters to you,” he said, his tone casual but his eyes warm.
They went all out, dimming the lights and piling your couch with blankets and pillows. Spencer even gave a little lecture about the history of film before the movie started, earning an affectionate eye-roll from Garcia.
By the time the credits rolled, you were smiling—a real, genuine smile—and for the first time since the case, you felt like yourself again.
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You weren’t fully healed. The nightmares still came, and there were moments when the memories felt too heavy to bear. But Spencer and Garcia didn’t let you carry it alone.
With every late-night visit, every carefully planned surprise, they reminded you that you weren’t broken. You were still you, even if it took time to feel whole again.
One night, as you sat on the couch with Spencer beside you, your head resting on his shoulder, you found yourself whispering, “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked, his voice soft.
“For… everything,” you said, your words faltering but earnest.
He didn’t respond right away, but his arm tightened around you.
“Anytime,” he said, and you knew he meant it.
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The turning point came on a quiet Thursday night when the weight of everything finally broke through the walls you’d built around yourself.
It started innocuously enough. Spencer had come over, as he often did, with takeout from your favorite Thai place and a new book he thought you’d enjoy. The two of you had eaten in companionable silence, the TV murmuring in the background as the sky outside darkened.
You hadn’t planned to say anything. You hadn’t planned for any of it.
But then Spencer said something—something small and offhand about how strong you were—and it hit you like a freight train.
The tears came suddenly, unstoppable.
Spencer’s POV
He’d never seen her cry before.
Not during cases, not after the ordeal in Colorado, not even during the nightmares that haunted her nights. She’d always held herself together with an almost unnerving composure, her pain buried so deeply that even Spencer, with all his insight, couldn’t reach it.
But now, as she sat across from him on the couch, her head in her hands and her shoulders shaking with silent sobs, Spencer felt utterly helpless.
“Y/N,” he said softly, setting his food aside and leaning toward her. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, her voice muffled. “I—I can’t…”
“Can’t what?” he pressed gently.
“I can’t keep pretending I’m okay,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m not okay, Spencer. I keep telling myself to move on, to be strong, but I—I don’t know how.”
Her admission shattered something in him.
“You don’t have to pretend,” he said, his voice steady despite the ache in his chest. “Not with me. Not with any of us.”
She looked up at him then, her eyes red and shining with tears. “But what if I never feel normal again? What if I’m always this… broken?”
Spencer didn’t hesitate. He reached out, his hands enveloping hers.
“You’re not broken,” he said firmly. “You’re healing. And healing isn’t linear—it’s messy and hard, and sometimes it feels impossible. But you’re not alone in this. I’m here. We’re all here.”
For a long moment, she just stared at him, her breath hitching. Then, slowly, she let herself lean into him, her forehead resting against his shoulder.
Spencer held her carefully, his arms wrapping around her as though she might shatter.
“You’re going to be okay,” he murmured. “I promise.”
Reader’s POV
It felt like something had shifted that night.
You’d spent so long keeping your pain locked away, afraid that letting it out would make you weak, make you a burden. But Spencer hadn’t turned away. He’d held you, his presence steady and unwavering, and for the first time in weeks, you felt like you could breathe.
Over the next few days, you found yourself opening up to him in ways you hadn’t before. Little things at first—a comment about how much you missed running, a quiet confession about a song that made you cry. And then bigger things, like the fear that still gripped you every time you stepped outside, or the way your scars made you feel like a stranger in your own skin.
Spencer listened to it all, never interrupting, never judging.
And when the words ran out, he simply stayed.
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The real turning point came a few weeks later, when you found yourself standing in your kitchen with Spencer, the two of you cooking dinner together.
You’d insisted on making something from scratch, though Spencer had warned you that his cooking skills were questionable at best. He was carefully chopping vegetables under your watchful eye when he suddenly stopped, his brow furrowing.
“What’s wrong?” you asked.
He hesitated, his gaze flicking to you. “I was just… thinking about how different things are now.”
“Different how?”
He set the knife down, leaning against the counter. “When you first joined the team, you were so… reserved. It felt like you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. And after Colorado, I thought…” He trailed off, shaking his head.
“You thought what?” you prompted, your voice soft.
“I thought I might lose you,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
The air between you seemed to shift, the unspoken tension that had been building for weeks finally coming to a head.
“You didn’t lose me,” you said quietly.
Spencer met your gaze, his eyes searching yours. “But I almost did. And it made me realize how much you mean to me.”
Your breath caught in your throat.
“I know this might not be the right time,” he continued, his voice steady but laced with vulnerability. “And I don’t want to make you feel pressured. But… I care about you, Y/N. More than I think I even realized until now.”
For a moment, all you could do was stare at him, your heart pounding in your chest.
Then, slowly, you reached out, your fingers brushing against his.
“I care about you too,” you said, your voice trembling. “More than I’ve let myself admit.”
Spencer’s expression softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“We don’t have to rush this,” he said. “Whatever you need—however long it takes—I’ll be here.”
Tears welled in your eyes, but this time, they weren’t from pain.
“Thank you,” you whispered.
Spencer squeezed your hand gently, his presence grounding you once again.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight on your chest began to lift.
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In the weeks that followed, the fragile threads of your connection with Spencer began to weave into something stronger. There were no grand declarations or dramatic shifts—just quiet, intimate moments that built on the foundation you’d already created.
The nightmares still came, though less frequently now. Spencer was always there when you needed him, showing up at your door with that same gentle determination. But the dynamic had subtly changed.
One night, after a particularly vivid dream, you didn’t wait for him to pull out his phone or suggest tea. Instead, you moved closer on the couch, resting your head against his chest.
His arms came around you instantly, holding you securely as his steady heartbeat anchored you to the present.
“Better?” he murmured after a while, his voice low and soothing.
You nodded against him, your fingers curling lightly into the fabric of his sweater. “Better.”
From then on, it became your unspoken ritual. Spencer would hold you through the worst of it, and when the panic began to fade, you’d sit together in comfortable silence, your breaths syncing as the weight of the dream dissipated.
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One evening, as the two of you sat at your kitchen table playing chess—well, he was playing chess, and you were doing your best to keep up—Spencer spoke quietly, his gaze fixed on the board.
“You know,” he said, moving a pawn, “I’ve never been very good at relationships.”
You raised an eyebrow. “Really? I find that hard to believe.”
He gave a self-deprecating smile. “It’s true. My job, my… personality—it doesn’t exactly make things easy. But with you, it feels… different.”
“Different how?” you asked, leaning your chin on your hand as you studied his face.
He hesitated, then met your gaze. “Like I don’t have to try so hard to be understood.”
Your chest tightened at his words. “You don’t,” you said softly.
The corner of his mouth lifted in a faint smile, and you knew you’d said exactly what he needed to hear.
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Spencer showed his affection in quiet ways.
He’d slip a bookmark into the pages of your latest read with a handwritten note—a quote he thought you’d like or a simple “this reminded me of you.”
He’d remember your favorite tea and make sure the cupboard was always stocked, even if it meant sneaking a box into your cart during a grocery run.
He’d lend you his scarf on cold mornings, looping it around your neck with an almost reverent care.
You found yourself returning the favor in your own subtle ways. You’d leave post-it notes on his bookshelves with little comments about the titles you borrowed, enjoying the way he’d chuckle when he found them.
You’d teach him how to cook simple meals, laughing as he fumbled with the stove but never letting him give up.
And once, after he’d spent an exhausting day at the BAU, you’d shown up at his apartment with takeout and a copy of his favorite movie, sitting with him on the couch until he finally let himself relax.
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The turning point in your growing relationship came during a particularly hard day at work. The case had been brutal, dredging up memories you’d tried to bury, and you’d found yourself withdrawing again.
Spencer noticed immediately.
“Y/N,” he said gently as the two of you worked late in the bullpen, the rest of the team long gone. “Talk to me.”
You hesitated, your hands tightening around the file in front of you. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t press, but his silence spoke volumes.
Finally, you set the file aside and looked at him. “It’s just… this case. It reminds me of Colorado. And I thought I was past that, but…” You trailed off, the words sticking in your throat.
Spencer reached across the desk, his hand brushing against yours. “Healing isn’t a straight line,” he said softly. “You’re allowed to have bad days.”
You swallowed hard, his understanding breaking through your defenses. “I don’t know how you always know exactly what to say.”
He gave a small shrug, his fingers curling around yours. “Maybe it’s because I know what it’s like to feel broken. And I know how much it helps to have someone who understands.”
You held his gaze, something unspoken passing between you. “Thank you,” you whispered.
“Always,” he said, his voice steady.
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It happened on a quiet Sunday afternoon, as the two of you sat on your couch reading. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden glow over the room.
You weren’t sure what prompted it—maybe it was the way Spencer had leaned closer to point something out in your book, or the way his hand lingered on yours for a beat too long.
Whatever it was, when you turned to look at him, you found him already watching you.
“Spencer,” you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper.
His gaze flicked to your lips, and for a moment, you thought he might pull back. But then, slowly, hesitantly, he leaned in.
The kiss was gentle at first, tentative and unsure. But as you relaxed into him, his hand came up to cup your cheek, deepening the connection.
When you finally pulled back, your foreheads resting together, you couldn’t help but smile.
“That was…” you began, struggling to find the words.
“Long overdue?” he finished, his lips quirking in a shy smile.
You laughed softly, nodding. “Yeah. Long overdue.”
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From that moment on, things felt… lighter.
You still had bad days, and Spencer still had his own struggles, but together, you found a balance. The quiet intimacy you’d built over months became the foundation for something stronger, something unshakable.
And for the first time in a long time, you felt like you could face whatever came next—because you weren’t alone anymore.
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Being with Spencer wasn’t like anything you’d experienced before.
It wasn’t a whirlwind romance filled with grand gestures or dramatic declarations. It was quiet, steady, and deeply rooted in trust. Spencer was the kind of person who noticed the small things—when you were fidgeting with your hands because you were nervous when you couldn’t quite meet his eyes because something was weighing on you, when your lips twitched ever so slightly at a joke you pretended not to find funny.
And, in return, you began to notice him.
The way he’d drum his fingers on his desk when he was deep in thought. The way he’d tilt his head slightly when he was about to say something he thought might make him sound awkward. The way his eyes lit up whenever you spoke, as though nothing else in the world mattered.
It was terrifying and comforting all at once, and you wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Spencer’s POV
Spencer wasn’t used to feeling this… settled.
He’d been in relationships before, but none of them felt like this. With Y/N, he didn’t feel the need to explain himself or hold back parts of who he was. She saw him—really saw him—and still chose to stay.
It scared him sometimes, the intensity of his feelings for her. But then she’d laugh at one of his rambling stories, or brush a strand of hair out of his face with a soft smile, and all his fears would melt away.
He didn’t know where this was going, but for the first time in a long time, he wasn’t afraid to find out.
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One rare day off, Spencer showed up at your apartment with a grin that immediately set you on edge.
“What?” you asked, narrowing your eyes at him.
“Put your shoes on,” he said, his tone practically vibrating with excitement.
You frowned. “Why? Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” he said cryptically, rocking back on his heels.
You groaned, but his enthusiasm was infectious, and you found yourself grabbing your jacket.
The “surprise” turned out to be a day at a local botanical garden. Spencer’s excitement was almost childlike as he led you through the winding paths, pointing out rare plants and rattling off facts about their origins.
“This one,” he said, stopping in front of a sprawling orchid, “is called Paphiopedilum rothschildianum. It’s one of the rarest orchids in the world and can take up to 15 years to bloom.”
You tilted your head, pretending to be unimpressed. “That’s nice, but can it make coffee?”
Spencer chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’ll add that to my list of criteria for impressive plants.”
Despite your teasing, you found yourself captivated by his passion. Watching him light up over something so simple was a reminder of why you cared for him so deeply.
Later, as you sat together on a bench surrounded by blooming flowers, Spencer reached for your hand.
“Thank you,” he said softly.
“For what?” you asked, genuinely puzzled.
“For letting me share this with you,” he said, his voice earnest.
Your chest tightened, and you squeezed his hand. “Always.”
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Dating someone you worked with was tricky, especially at the BAU, where boundaries between personal and professional were already blurry.
You and Spencer had agreed to keep your relationship private—for now, at least. It wasn’t that you didn’t trust the team, but you both valued the quiet intimacy of what you’d built and weren’t ready to share it yet.
Still, there were moments when it was hard to hide.
Like when Spencer brought you coffee in the middle of a particularly stressful day and lingered just a little too long by your desk.
Or when Garcia caught the two of you exchanging a look across the bullpen and immediately raised an eyebrow.
“Spill,” she whispered to you later, cornering you in the break room.
“Spill what?” you asked innocently, though your cheeks betrayed you by turning red.
Garcia narrowed her eyes. “Uh-huh. You’re lucky I love you, or I’d make it my personal mission to find out what you’re hiding.”
You laughed nervously and quickly changed the subject.
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The first argument you and Spencer had wasn’t dramatic, but it rattled you nonetheless.
It started over something small—he’d forgotten to text you after a particularly dangerous case, and you’d spent the night worrying.
“I didn’t mean to worry you,” Spencer said, his voice tinged with frustration as you stood in your living room. “I was just… caught up in the aftermath.”
“I get that,” you said, your arms crossed. “But you know how I feel about not knowing if you’re okay.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not used to this,” he admitted. “Having someone who worries about me.”
The vulnerability in his voice softened your anger, and you stepped closer, your expression gentler.
“I’m not trying to smother you,” you said quietly. “I just… I care about you, and I need to know you’re safe.”
Spencer’s shoulders sagged, and he nodded. “I’ll do better,” he said, his voice soft. “I promise.”
You reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “That’s all I ask.”
The tension melted, and as Spencer pulled you into his arms, you realized that even your arguments brought you closer.
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As the months went on, your relationship deepened in ways you hadn’t thought possible. Spencer became your safe haven, the person you turned to in your darkest moments. And in turn, you became his—a steady presence in a world that often felt overwhelming.
There were still challenges, of course. The job was unforgiving, and your own lingering fears sometimes crept back in. But with Spencer by your side, you felt stronger—more capable of facing whatever came your way.
One night, as you lay in bed together, his fingers tracing absent patterns on your arm, he spoke softly.
“I love you.”
The words were quiet, almost hesitant, but they hit you like a tidal wave.
You turned to face him, your heart pounding. “I love you too,” you said, your voice steady despite the tears welling in your eyes.
Spencer’s lips curved into a small smile, and he pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead.
In that moment, you knew you’d found something rare—something worth holding onto with everything you had.
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It wasn’t like you and Spencer were trying to hide your relationship, exactly. You just… hadn’t told anyone yet. There was something comforting about keeping it to yourselves, about having a part of your lives that existed outside the chaos of the BAU.
But the team wasn’t made up of fools.
Between Garcia’s laser focus, Morgan’s teasing intuition, and JJ’s quiet observations, it was only a matter of time before someone put the pieces together.
The unraveling began on a Wednesday afternoon when Garcia came storming into the bullpen, waving her phone like a sword.
“Explain this to me!” she demanded, stopping in front of your desk.
You blinked up at her, confused. “Explain what?”
“This!” she said, thrusting her phone into your face.
On the screen was a photo Spencer had posted to his rarely-used Instagram: a blurry shot of a chessboard and two coffee cups sitting on a familiar coffee table—your coffee table.
“Why is Reid at your place drinking coffee?” Garcia asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
You scrambled for an excuse. “Uh, we were… playing chess. It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal?” Garcia echoed, her tone incredulous. “Reid doesn’t even post pictures of his cat! And now he’s posting pictures from your apartment?”
Before you could respond, Morgan sauntered over, clearly intrigued. “What’s this about Reid and Y/N?”
“Nothing,” you said quickly, your face burning.
Morgan raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. “Sure doesn’t sound like nothing.”
You glared at him, but before the conversation could go any further, Hotch called everyone into the briefing room, saving you from further interrogation.
For now.
___________________________________________________________
The second slip came a week later when the team was out on a case in Seattle. You and Spencer had ended up sharing a room at the hotel due to a booking error, and you thought nothing of it. After all, you’d spent countless nights together—this was no different.
Except it was.
When Garcia called Spencer for an update, you could hear her voice loud and clear through the phone.
“Wait, what?” she screeched. “You’re sharing a room with Y/N?!”
“It’s not a big deal,” Spencer said, his tone even.
“Not a big deal?” Garcia repeated, her voice rising in pitch. “Are you two—oh my God. You are, aren’t you?!”
Spencer’s eyes darted to you, his face a mix of panic and amusement. “Garcia, can we focus on the case?”
“Oh, we’ll talk about this later,” she said ominously before hanging up.
You groaned, covering your face with your hands. “She knows.”
“She suspects,” Spencer corrected, though he didn’t look particularly convinced.
___________________________________________________________
It all came to a head during one of Rossi’s famous dinners.
You and Spencer had arrived together, as usual, but this time, you’d carpooled, which immediately caught JJ’s attention.
“Did you two come together?” she asked casually as you handed her your coat.
“Uh, yeah,” you said, trying to sound nonchalant. “It was just easier.”
“Right,” JJ said, her smile a little too knowing.
The evening went smoothly—until it didn’t.
You were helping Spencer carry dishes into the kitchen when Garcia cornered you, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“You know, you two make a terrible couple,” she said, her tone dripping with faux innocence.
You froze, a plate halfway to the sink. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, come on,” Garcia said, waving a hand. “We all know. You and Reid are about as subtle as a neon sign.”
You opened your mouth to protest, but before you could, Morgan walked in with a wide grin.
“What’d I miss?”
“Garcia’s accusing me of dating Spencer,” you said, your voice a little too defensive.
“Accusing?” Morgan repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Nah, sweetheart, we’re just confirming.”
Your face went red, and you glanced at Spencer for backup, but he just sighed and set the dishes down.
“They’re not wrong,” he said simply.
The room went silent for a beat.
“Wait,” JJ said, walking in with Rossi and Hotch close behind. “Are you serious? You two are together?”
You looked at Spencer, your heart racing. He met your gaze, his expression calm, but you could see the faint tension in his shoulders.
“Yes,” he said quietly, his voice steady. “We’re together.”
The silence that followed was deafening.
Garcia’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “I knew it!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “Oh my gosh, this is so much better than I imagined. You two are like—like a bookish rom-com come to life!”
“Garcia,” you said, your face burning, “can we not make a big deal out of this?”
“Are you kidding?” she replied, her voice high with excitement. “This is the biggest deal! You and Reid? It’s like finding out Clark Kent and Lois Lane are secretly dating!”
“Technically,” Spencer started, “Lois Lane wasn’t actually aware of—”
“Not the time, Reid,” Morgan said, grinning as he leaned against the counter.
JJ folded her arms, her smile soft. “So how long has this been going on?”
“Uh…” You exchanged a glance with Spencer.
“A few months,” he said, his tone even.
“A few months?” Rossi interjected, his eyebrows raised. “You’ve been hiding this from us for months?”
“It’s not like we were trying to hide it,” you said quickly, your hands fidgeting. “We just… wanted to keep it private for a while.”
Hotch, who had been standing silently in the doorway, finally spoke. “And your relationship isn’t interfering with your work?”
“No, sir,” Spencer said immediately. “We’ve been careful to maintain professionalism in the field.”
Hotch studied the two of you for a moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded. “As long as that remains the case, I have no objections.”
Relief flooded through you, and you gave him a small, grateful smile.
Morgan, however, was clearly enjoying himself. “So, Reid,” he said, clapping Spencer on the shoulder, “you finally made a move, huh? About time.”
Spencer’s face turned pink. “It wasn’t— I mean, we— It wasn’t like that,” he stammered.
“Sure it wasn’t,” Morgan said with a wink. “I’ve been watching you moon over her for months.”
“Morgan!” you protested, your own face heating up.
JJ chuckled. “Don’t let him get to you. We’re happy for you guys. Really.”
Garcia practically bounced on her heels. “Does this mean I can officially call you my favorite BAU couple? Because I’ve been holding back for so long, and—”
“Garcia,” you interrupted, laughing despite yourself, “let’s take it one step at a time, okay?”
Spencer’s POV
The teasing didn’t stop after dinner.
By the time everyone had moved into the living room, Garcia and Morgan were in full swing, grilling the two of you with questions about how you got together.
“Come on, give us something,” Garcia pleaded, her hands clasped dramatically. “Was there a grand romantic confession? A surprise kiss? A late-night stakeout where you realized you couldn’t live without each other?”
“It wasn’t like that,” Spencer said, his face still pink.
“She’s right,” JJ added with a laugh. “If anyone’s earned some privacy, it’s these two.”
Morgan leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Fine, fine. But don’t think this means we’re letting you off the hook completely. I’m keeping an eye on you, Reid.”
“Duly noted,” Spencer said dryly, though his lips twitched in a faint smile.
Reader’s POV
By the end of the night, you were exhausted but relieved. The team’s reactions had been overwhelming at first, but their acceptance and teasing affection had left you feeling lighter than you had in weeks.
As you and Spencer walked to his car, the cool night air brushing against your skin, you glanced at him, your heart full.
“Well, that could’ve gone worse,” you said with a small smile.
Spencer chuckled, unlocking the car. “I think Morgan’s never going to let this go.”
“Probably not,” you agreed, sliding into the passenger seat.
As he started the engine, you reached for his hand, your fingers threading through his.
“Thanks for being honest with them,” you said softly.
Spencer glanced at you, his expression warm. “I wasn’t going to let you handle that alone.”
The drive back to your apartment was quiet but comfortable, the tension of the evening melting away.
When he walked you to your door, you hesitated for a moment before pulling him into a gentle kiss.
“Goodnight, Spencer,” you murmured, your voice soft.
“Goodnight,” he replied, his eyes shining with affection.
As you closed the door behind you, you couldn’t help but smile.
The team knew now, and while things might be different going forward, you felt ready to face it—together.
___________________________________________________________
The team adjusted to your relationship with Spencer in their own ways, but the teasing never let up. It became a new dynamic, woven into the fabric of your daily lives at the BAU, and while it was occasionally embarrassing, you couldn’t deny that it brought a warmth to the team that hadn’t been there before.
___________________________________________________________
Garcia
Garcia, predictably, went all in.
She was ecstatic that her two “favorite nerds” were finally together, and she wasn’t shy about expressing it. She’d leave little notes on your desks with messages like “Lovebirds hard at work!” or “OTP: Reid & Y/N forever” scribbled in glittery pen.
One day, you caught her sneaking a photo of you and Spencer sitting close together during a case briefing.
“Garcia,” you hissed, narrowing your eyes. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing,” she said, attempting (poorly) to hide her phone.
“Penelope,” Spencer said, his tone exasperated but fond.
“Fine,” she relented with a dramatic sigh. “But you two are too cute, and it’s practically my duty to document it. What if your hypothetical future kids want to see their parents in their adorable early days?”
You buried your face in your hands as Spencer stammered, his ears turning pink.
___________________________________________________________
Morgan
Morgan was relentless in his teasing, but you knew it came from a place of affection.
He had a knack for making both you and Spencer squirm in the most public ways possible.
“Reid,” he called out one morning as you all sat in the bullpen, “did you finally teach Y/N the quadratic formula last night? Or was it more of a hands-on tutoring session?”
You groaned, your face heating up. “Morgan, seriously?”
“What?” Morgan said with a grin. “Just trying to keep the workplace educational.”
Spencer rolled his eyes but shot you a small, reassuring smile. You’d both learned that ignoring Morgan was usually the best defense.
___________________________________________________________
JJ
JJ was quieter about her support but no less kind.
She’d give you subtle smiles when she caught you and Spencer exchanging glances or a soft nudge when the team’s teasing got out of hand.
One day, while you were working on a case together, she leaned in and said, “You’re good for him, you know.”
You blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”
“Spencer’s always been… a little isolated,” she said thoughtfully. “He has us, but he’s never really let someone in the way he’s let you in. It’s good to see him happy.”
Her words stayed with you long after the conversation ended, filling you with a quiet warmth.
___________________________________________________________
Rossi
Rossi was the least vocal about your relationship, but his approval came through in other ways.
He started inviting the two of you to his dinners more frequently, always seating you next to each other and making subtle comments like, “It’s nice to see Reid eating something other than takeout. You must be a good influence, Y/N.”
Once, when you thanked him for the meal as you were leaving, he gave you a knowing look. “Just take care of each other,” he said simply.
You nodded, the weight of his trust settling over you like a blanket.
___________________________________________________________
Hotch
Hotch was, as expected, professional about the whole thing. He never made any overt comments about your relationship but made it clear through his actions that he trusted you both to maintain your professionalism in the field.
That trust came to the forefront during a high-stakes case in New Orleans. You and Spencer were paired together to investigate a lead, and when the situation became tense, Hotch’s calm voice came through the comms.
“Reid, Y/N,” he said, his tone even. “I need you both to stay focused. You’re a team first.”
You could hear the unspoken meaning in his words: I trust you to keep your relationship separate from the job.
When the case wrapped successfully, he pulled you aside.
“You handled yourself well out there,” he said, his expression unreadable.
“Thank you, sir,” you said, standing a little straighter.
His gaze softened slightly. “You and Reid are good for each other. Just don’t let it cloud your judgment when it matters.”
“We won’t,” you promised, meaning every word.
___________________________________________________________
As time went on, your relationship with Spencer became a natural part of the team’s dynamic. The teasing remained, of course—Garcia’s glittery notes, Morgan’s innuendos, and Rossi’s subtle smirks were constants—but there was also an unspoken sense of support that ran deeper than you’d expected.
When cases got tough, the team knew to keep an extra eye on both of you, making sure the weight of the job didn’t pull you down too far. And when things were calm, they celebrated your happiness in their own unique ways, whether it was Garcia baking cupcakes with “R+Y” frosted on top or Morgan giving Spencer a mock toast at Rossi’s next dinner party.
You and Spencer never felt alone in your relationship—not with this group of people who had become your family.
___________________________________________________________
Months turned into a year, and your relationship with Spencer became a steady, unshakable part of your life. What had started as a quiet connection had grown into something deep and enduring—something that didn’t just survive the pressures of the job but thrived despite them.
It was a rare night off, and you and Spencer were curled up on your couch. The soft glow of a lamp cast long shadows across the room, and the faint scent of coffee lingered in the air. A chessboard sat between you, though neither of you had made a move in over an hour.
Instead, your attention was focused on Spencer as he explained a theory about quantum mechanics with the same enthusiasm he brought to every subject. His hands moved as he spoke, his eyes alight with the passion you adored.
“Am I boring you?” he asked suddenly, noticing your quiet smile.
“Not at all,” you said, leaning forward to rest your hand over his. “I just love listening to you.”
Spencer’s expression softened, and he turned his hand over to intertwine his fingers with yours.
“You’ve changed my life, you know,” he said quietly.
You tilted your head, caught off guard. “I could say the same about you.”
He smiled, his eyes searching yours. “I mean it. Before you, I didn’t think I’d ever find someone who really… understood me. But you do.”
Your chest tightened at the sincerity in his voice, and you reached up to cup his cheek. “You make me feel the same way, Spencer.”
The kiss that followed was soft and unhurried, a quiet affirmation of everything you’d built together.
___________________________________________________________
Rossi’s house was alive with the sound of laughter and clinking glasses. The entire team had gathered for one of his famous dinners, and you couldn’t help but marvel at how far you’d come.
You stood in the kitchen with Garcia, the two of you laughing as she recounted an over-the-top story about a case from her early days at the BAU. Across the room, Spencer was deep in conversation with Rossi, his hands gesturing animatedly as he explained something.
Garcia nudged you, her grin wide. “He’s crazy about you, you know.”
You smiled, glancing at Spencer. “I’m pretty crazy about him, too.”
“Well, duh,” she said, throwing an arm around your shoulders. “I mean, you’re practically the BAU’s golden couple at this point.”
“You don’t think it’s weird?” you asked, suddenly curious.
Garcia tilted her head, her expression softening. “Honey, weird doesn’t even come close to describing the BAU. But you two? You’re good for each other. And we’re all lucky to have you both.”
Before you could respond, Morgan called out from the dining room. “Come on, you two! Food’s getting cold!”
Garcia grabbed your hand, dragging you toward the table.
As you sat down beside Spencer, his hand found yours under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. You leaned into him, a quiet smile playing on your lips as the team fell into their usual rhythm of teasing and storytelling.
___________________________________________________________ 
Later that night, as you and Spencer walked back to your car under the glow of the streetlights, you felt a sense of peace you hadn’t known was possible.
“Did you have fun?” he asked, his voice soft.
You nodded, your fingers laced with his. “Always.”
He glanced at you, a small smile tugging at his lips. “What are you thinking about?”
You stopped walking, turning to face him. “How lucky I am,” you said simply.
Spencer’s eyes softened, and he stepped closer, his hands resting on your waist. “I’m the lucky one.”
The kiss you shared under the stars was filled with the quiet certainty that no matter what challenges lay ahead, you’d face them together.
You’d found your place—with Spencer, with the team, with the life you’d built. And for the first time in a long time, you felt whole.
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perfectfeelings · 2 months ago
Quote
Take a shower, wash off the day. Drink a glass of water. Make the room dark. Lie down and close your eyes. Notice the silence. Notice your heart. Still beating. Still fighting. You made it, after all. You made it, another day. And you can make it one more. You're doing just fine.
Charlotte Eriksson
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