#go derek kill em

[headcanonforthought]

Teen Wolf headcanon thing?

Stiles; "Okay, that's IT, put em up bad guy! C'mon, follow through on those threats ya monster come at me!"

Derek; *standing obscured by shadows, he has appeared from literal fucking air*

Bad guy; *staring past Stiles at the half transformed werewolf man*

Derek; *making throat cutting motion while baring his teeth*

Bad guy; *runs off*

Stiles; "Yeah, YEAH! You better run! That's what I thought!"

Derek; *disappears into the night. This is the forth time this week he's played this trick. He's going to kill Stiles himself*

[paxaz535]

Brother’s Best Friend

♡pairing ♡

paige x black!oc

chapter viii (8)

———

series here

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note: so so sorry for the late update guys ,, i’ve been busy lately :/ but here it is!

———

“P. let me go.” Daveli whispered as she looked down at paige’s hands. Paige sighed but listened to the girl, knowing that what Nai said wouldn’t slide past eli, no matter what.

Daveli quickly turned around, full speed walking towards the light skin. Nai quickly squared up, already knowing what Daveli was up to. “Come on bitch. Show me i’m a thot.” Eli spoke as she squared up as well.

“Should we let em fight?” David asked. “Hell yea. she just disrespected my best friend. And as for you bitch, I wanna see you try and jump in.” Makayla spoke as she pointed towards Mia. The strawberry blonde rolled her eyes, stepping back.

Daveli decided to swing on her first, breaking her top rule when it came to fighting but she couldn’t deal with the girl anymore. Nai got away with too much shit and this was Daveli’s breaking point.

Nai immediately tried to go for her hair but Eli punched her to the floor. Swear words could be heard left from right, the girls going at it. It was getting to a point where Paige noticed Nai was getting weaker, signaling her that it was time to break up the fight.

“Alright!” The blonde pulled Eli off, letting Nai stand up. “You a bitch!” Daveli laughed, a smile on her face. “You just got your ass beat like one, fuck outta my face.” She exclaimed as Paige drug her towards the bedroom.

“I told david ass not to bring her.” Daveli spoke as she stood in the mirror of the bathroom. “Girl, you almost killed her.” Azzi exclaimed, she was still in shock of how fast everything happened. Eli chuckled, shaking her head. “She lucky Paige pulled me away.”

Jaida was rewatching the video on her phone, laughing at how Nai fell to the floor with one punch. “This is crazy.” Caroline spoke as she watched as well. Daveli looked at her own phone and noticed the time. “We should start getting ready. It takes us a while to get there.” Everyone nodded, immediately getting their outfits out.

-

This is why Makayla absolutely adored Daveli. The girl just got into a fight and now she’s driving her car, listening to music like nothing completely happened. They all decided to only take three cars. Daveli, Makayla, Emma, Azzi and Carol is in Daveli’s SUV, Paige, Jaida and the twins decided to ride with David and them. Everyone was following Eli’s car because she had the gps.

azzi35 has added to their story !

They were 15 minutes away from the arcade and Eli got more excited as they got closer. The music was playing and the vibes was good, she had a feeling she was gonna like this little group they’ve formed.

As Eli pulled up to a stop sign, she heard Emma gasped. Emma had saw that Derek had posted a photo of them, but in the background you can see Paige and Mia all boo’d up. Emma showed Azzi and Carol and the two had the same reaction. Daveli was confused, “What are we gasping for?”

Makayla looked at the hispanic from her passenger seat with her eyebrow raised. Emma looked at her phone before showing Makayla. The light turned green and Daveli had to move so she couldn’t see the picture. Makayla looked at the girl and back at the phone. Eli quickly looked at her face before turning back to the road. “Yall, what the fuck?”

“You don’t wanna see.” Makayla told her best friend. Daveli smacked her lips, her eyebrows “Bro. you making me want to see.” She looked at Emma from the rear view mirror. Emma just nodded, before going back to her phone. Eli hated when Makayla said those words, cause they usually involved paige.

-

They finally arrived at the arcade and the first thing Eli did was look at Emma. “Show me.” Emma looked up at her. “You sure? i’ll show you pero you won’t like it..” Daveli just nodded, waiting for her to show her. Emma pulled up the picture, turning her phone towards the girl. Daveli face was confused. “It’s a picture of the twins, what’s the problem?”

Emma shook her head, “look in the background, pendeja.” Daveli took a closer look and her face dropped. she really didn’t like this mia girl. but she didn’t even fully blame it on her, paige chose to be up on her too. Eli just nodded, her lips going inwards.

“Like i said yesterday, fuck em. Come on.” Emma told her as she opened her door, everyone else doing so too. Daveli just stared ahead before sighing and getting out her car. Everyone else was finding parking spots, finally meeting up with them afterwards. Daveli noticed Paige and Mia walking side by side, smiles on their faces. She just rolled her eyes and continued into the arcade.

It was packed to say the least. Kids were running around, some people eating. There was even a bar and a bowling section. Eli made sure to come here more just to do other activities as well. She could hear Metro Station playing through the speakers, making her head bob a little.

A young looking lady came in front of them. She looked around 20 or 23. She had a huge smile on her face. “Welcome. Are you Daveli?” The girl nodded her head, a smile on her face. The worker nodded, “perfect. follow me.” The group of young adults followed the worker, they walked towards the back side of the place.

She could see an escape room sign and smiled. “This is where you’ll be placed to do the escape room, a worker should be out in a second.” Daveli smiled at the lady, “thank you so much.” The girl just nodded, walking towards a group of kids. “I’m kind of scared.. ain’t this a scary one?” Jaida asked as she, Paige and the twins stood next to Daveli and them. Daveli just nodded, “It should be fun.” She answered.

Paige noticed the way Daveli didn’t really talk to her the whole time they were waiting for the worker, which made her a bit confused. She wanted to talk to the girl but Daveli stayed by Emma and Makayla. The worker finally came out, the man smiling at the group. “Hey guys. Welcome to the escape room. The one you’ll be doing is called Scare Run. through out the whole thing, there will be actors coming around and jumping at you but they won’t touch you. I’m first gonna walk you through the whole thing, so you’re comfortable.”

The man started walking towards the door and opened it for everyone to follow. Daveli quietly screeched, she absolutely loved things like this. “There’s three rooms in total. This first room, you won’t get scared too much but don’t expect to not get scared at all. You’ll have an hour to escape.” He opened the door that was inside that room and walked in. “This room, the scaring will increase by a bit. you’ll have 30 minutes.” He went into the next door that led into a hallway. A very long one. It had big windows on each side, pitch black inside.

“Down this hallway, the last room is at that door. It’ll be a long run so I hope you guys have the stamina.” Paige and Jaida laughed and dapped each other up. The sound making Eli look at the blonde. “We play basketball so this should be easy.” She spoke as she smirked at the worker. The man just laughed, “perfect!” Eli looked away before she got too lost into staring at the girl. The group walked all the way to the room.

“Last room, you’ll have 15 to escape so you have to act quick. That door we just came through automatically opens when you get close enough to just run through. And this is the end.” He opened the other door and it showed where they all left off. “In total, you have an hour and 45 minutes to get out. Good luck and have fun.”

Daveli was first to walk into the room, immediately looking around for clues. “Damn girl, can we get inside the room first?” David teased as he looked at his sister. Daveli flipped him off, suddenly the room went dark. No one could see anyone, “aw hell nah!” Jaida spoke loudly. The lights came back on but there was a body standing in the corner, making Daveli scream. “What the fuck!”

Everyone turned their attention to where she was looking and got a little frightened too. The clock was now at 58 minutes. “Come on, just look around.” Derek spoke as he and Nai went to a spot in the room. Paige, Mia, Jaida and Jayden were all together. Daveli kept taking peeks at Paige and Mia and it irritated her. “I found a note!” Azzi spoke a loud as she held it up. Everyone looked at her, waiting for her to read what it says.

“The key is the key to the solution. In order to get your next hint, use these letters to make a word and that is the code to open the treasure box.” She looked at the letters and read them out loud. “The letters are C O L A B O L A R O T N I N.”

Everyone looked confused, “set it on the table. does anyone have a pen?” Daveli asked as she kneeled on the floor in front of the table. Connie checked her purse and handed a mechanical to her. “good looks,”

The note was pretty big so she ripped a piece of it off and looked at the letters. “Does anyone have an idea? The letters right there.” Jayden looked closely and thought. Everyone was thinking, including Daveli. After a whole 5 minutes passed, mind you they’re on a time limit, Caroline spoke up. “Try.. collaboration.” Daveli looked at the girl and nodded, going towards the treasure chest.

the chest clicked, meaning it worked. Everyone cheered, David came over to clap carol on her back. The brunette just laughed, looking at everyone. Daveli opened the chest to find a key and another note. “Find the safe before it’s too late.” She read. Everyone looked at the time, it was now 40 minutes left on the clock. “Shit.”

Everyone separated, going to find the safe. There was a bookshelf, Daveli went to look through the books. As she was looking, paige thought this was a good time to try and talk to her. She walked up, and began looking through books as well. “Daveli, y-“ Daveli head turned towards Caniya when she called her name. Daveli turned her head towards the twin and smiled, immediately walking over.

Paige smiled dropped, looking at the girl walk away. “The fuck..” she whispered to herself. Jaida came over after watching the whole interaction, a small grin on her face. “You seen that, bro? what’s wrong wit her?” Jaida just shrugged, “She probably just wanna focus on getting out. Come on,” Paige just shook her head, taking one more peak at the brown skin before continuing to look.

After another 5 minutes of searching, David found the safe. “Finally, shit.” The younger girl exclaimed as she walked towards her brother. She put the key inside and opened the safe, a flash light in sight. Not just any one though, it was a black light flash light. meaning it only works in the dark. Daveli looked more inside the safe, nothing else in sight. “A flashlight?” Makayla spoke.

“It’s a black light. I-“ A scream was heard, making everyone jump. They all turned around to see a big board on the table. It had words on it, forcing everyone to read them.

‘You have found the black light. In 10 Seconds, the lights will flicker off for 5 seconds 6 times, meaning you have 5 seconds to find a 6 digit code around the room. You only get one try, don’t mess up.’

“Aw shit.” There was a marker on the table next to the board, “Someone write the numbers down as we find them.” Daveli exclaimed as she pointed at the marker. Jayden quickly volunteered, running towards the board and immediately picking up the marker. The screen that had the timer switched to a white screen. Eli had the light ready, turning it on before the lights even shut off.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

the room was black, a lady could be heard counting from 5. Daveli quickly pointed the light to the left wall, looking around before immediately being met with the number 7. “Seven!” Jayden wrote it down, the lights coming back on after the lady said 1. The lights came back on and everyone looked at Jayden. He pointed at the board, saying that he wrote it. Daveli nodded, getting the point of the mini game they were playing here.

the 10 second cool down was over and the lights came off again. This time, she checked the ceiling, looking at every corner before the number 0 came up. “Zero!” The group yelled. The five seconds were up and the lights came on again. Jayden wrote the number down and nodded towards Eli. Eli nodded at him, this wasn’t too bad. It was actually a bit easy, just four more numbers.

The lights came off again, she checked the right wall. Immediately was met with another 0. “Zero again.” Jayden wrote it down. The lights came on. A voice could be heard.

“Only three more numbers.”

“So far we have seven, zero, zero.” Jayden spoke as he looked at everyone. The light turned off again, Eli looked at the wall in front of her, it took her a little longer but she found two numbers this time, a 3 and 1. “Three and one!”

-

The group finally finished the escape room and was honestly impressed with themselves. They had got chased by actors down the long hallway and everyone literally fell trying to pile into the last room. It was funny, Daveli asked to record the footage from the camera and the nice man let her. “That was difficult.” Derek laughed as they all walked around.

At this point, Daveli has made it an accomplishment at ignoring paige, simply because she just didn’t wanna talk to her after what she saw. Paige saw and it was lowkey hurting her feelings. She hadn’t talked to the girl ever since they left the hotel and she wanted to talk to her about the escape room.

Daveli was laughing with Makayla and the twins as everyone walked around. “What’s wrong with you?” Mia asked as she looked up at the blonde. Paige looked down with a bothered look on her face, Mia had her arms wrapped around Paige’s left arm as they walked side by side. “Nun.” She was lying. Not talking to Daveli all day was messing with her. If they didn’t talk, they at least texted but this was new to paige. She hadn’t realize how much of an impact Eli had on her.

“You seem bothered.” Mia spoke as her eyes grew soft. Paige forced herself not to roll her eyes and pull away from the girl. “I ain’t. Come on,” Another lie. The girl walked faster to catch up with everyone else. The two didn’t see but Daveli had been looking at them, her countenance sour.

“Yo, is anyone hungry?” Derek spoke a loud. Agreements could be heard around the group, letting him know everything he needed.

He walked towards the restaurant part of the arcade and found two empty tables next to each other. Him and Derek pushed the long tables together so everyone could be with each other. Everyone took a seat, Daveli was sandwiched between the twins and Makayla. Paige and Mia sat right in front of her, Derek being on Mia’s side while jaida sat next to paige.

Daveli internally screamed, why did they have to sit right there? She looked at her best friend to see the brown girl already looking at her. They talked with their eyes before David’s loud voice interrupted. “Imma get four pizzas, pepperoni, sausage, what else?” Daveli quickly spoke up. “Cheese!” Ew’s could be heard around the table. She widen her eyes, “you guys are so childish.” David shook his head, “Imma get two pepperonis, one sausage and cheese. That’s good?” Everyone agreed and david waited for a waiter to come up to the table.

Daveli tried not to look in front of her but it was kind of hard not to, she saw paige already looking at her. The brown girl quickly looked away, she was about to talk to Connie but the song that came on the speakers made her stop. ‘When Will I See You Again’ by Wakka was heard. This was her and paige’s song. The two would always listen to it when Paige came over, and they’d post each other to it sometimes too.

Daveli tried her hardest not to look at the 19 year old but she couldn’t bare the blue eyes she felt on her. They made eye contact as their favorite part came on.

when will i see you, see you, see you again

i just wanna hold your hand

she wanted to scream, cry, throw up and storm off, but she controlled herself. She sighed in disbelief as she saw Mia pull the girl closer to her and looked back at the twins. She forced a smile when Caniya showed her a reel on instagram. Paige was thinking the same thing at the same time. Her heart stopped for a bit when she heard the first few words from the speaker. It brought back memories for when the two used of hang out a lot more.

David finally ordered the pizza, letting everyone know it’ll be ready soon. Emma was thinking about what they’d do after they eat. It was still a bit early before they all had to leave and she wanted to do one last thing. “Yall tryna do laser tag after we eat?” She asked around the table.

Everyone was up for it, laser tag was always lit growing up. Now doing it with a group of friends at this age was the cherry on top. The pizza finally arrived with three pitchers of Sprite, Dr. Pepper and water. “Let’s eat!” David exclaimed.

-

After about 30 minutes of eating and letting food digest, everyone was ready for laser tag. Luckily, most kids and their families were leaving so little to no people were in line. As they approached the entrance, a boy around they age stood. “What’s up.” He spoke as she let everyone in. Everyone spoke back, gladly walking into the room. He closed the door behind them as he let them watch the rule video which no one ever followed in their life.

“He was fine..” Caniya spoke as she bit her finger. Connie laughed at her twin, shaking her head. “Meh..” Caniya smacked her lips, “girl your type is white and asian boys so obviously you’d think he isn’t fine.” Connie nodded her head, she loved her some asians and whites.

Daveli stood by Azzi, the girl still upset from earlier. that song made her think about paige the whole time they walked towards the laser tag part of the arcade. She didn’t wanna feel like this right now. David noticed his sister quietness considering the fact that she loved laser tag.

“Davie.” Eli looked towards her brother, knowing that’s his personal nickname for her. “You good?” he mouth towards her. Eli looked at paige and mia. they were watching the video, eli noticed their hands touching.

she just looked at her brother, smiled, and nodded. She turned towards the screen, not really having any interest in the video but it’d stop her from looking at paige.

after the video was over, the same boy that let them in, came inside as well. he turned on the light and led them to where the vests and guns were. the colors were red and blue, Eli automatically walking towards blue.

“Ight, before we start. what’s the teams?” Jaida asked as she looked at everyone. Eli grabbed Makayla, Emma, Azzi, Carol, Connie and Caniya, and Mj. “We team blue, aka the winning team.” She spoke as she fixed her vest. Paige was a bit upset Eli didn’t choose her but she was happy to be with David.

“Stop being delusional, davie. we all know team red gon win.” She waved him off, waiting for her team to finish up fixing their stuff. The worker waited till everyone was ready, “i’m pretty sure yall know what to do. if you run out, just go back to your corner to recharge your guns. That’s really it, have fun.” He opened the door to the arena and everyone went to their designated sides.

“Starting in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!”

Everyone immediately started running, shots being fired already. Daveli was camping. She was waiting for someone to come in view to shoot them. She had her gun ready, she could see Derek walking around. Immediately shooting at him, running away when he noticed he got shot. “Fuck!”

As daveli was running, she found a wall to hide behind with an opening. She placed her gun in the hole and again, waited for someone to come in sight. As she was waiting, she wasn’t paying attention behind her and someone grabbed her waist. It was dark, the only lights are the led lights flashing around so she really couldn’t make out who grabbed her until they stopped. “What th-“

“chill, d. it’s me.” Her heart dropped. She did not want to talk to the blonde and was doing good with that. Guess she couldn’t avoid her forever. Daveli rolled her eyes and turned towards the blue eyed girl.

“what’s up?” Daveli made her voice sound irritated. She didn’t wanna sound too nervous. “What’s wrong witchu? you ain’t talk to me since we left the hotel.” Paige looked down at the girl. Daveli knew this was coming, she really wanted to leave the conversation. “Nothing.” She simply answered.

Paige wasn’t taking that for an answer. She smacked her lips and grabbed the girl by her wrist, pulling towards a secluded corner. “Dude, i’m not slow. what’s wrong?” Daveli shook her head, looking at her gun, debating. “Daveli.” She looked up, her right eye brow raised.

“are you and mia something?” it slipped out, she didn’t mean to actually ask her that. It was already too late, paige looked at her confused. “Don’t look stupid, paige. I saw you guys in the car.” Paige thought back to earlier. Daveli didn’t stop though, “And all at the escape room. I mean you guys were all over each other.”

paige looked at her. “it’s.. it’s complicated. I-“ Daveli quickly cut her off. “It’s obviously not complicated if you guys are walking around hand and hand. you look like a couple.” daveli was letting her jealous side come out. She got mad thinking about it again. “Daveli, i” She wasn’t trying to hear the girl.

“She wants you paige. just secure the bag.” Daveli started to get sad, thinking about paige being someone else’s for the 5th time. Paige noticed the girls tone. “Daveli.”

The brown girl looked at her. Paige needed to know.

“Why do you care?”

Daveli felt tears, she wouldn’t let them fall. ‘I care because I love you paige. I never stopped, and it kills me to see you with someone else who isn’t me.’ is what she could’ve said. it’s what she wanted to say. But she didn’t. She didn’t because it wouldn’t make sense and it would fuck up a lot of things. Instead, she went with the safest option.

“I don’t.”

Daveli slowly raised her gun and shot paige in her vest, the buzzer indicating that time was up. The two stared at each other until they heard their teammates yelling their names. Daveli gave her one last glance before walking away. Saying what she wanted would’ve ended badly and she was positive it would. This was gonna be hard for the young girl, seeing that she almost confessed to her crush. She was just scared of how Paige would take it. In her mind, she thought Paige only strictly thought of her as a little sister.

She said that before a few years ago and it stuck with her ever since. She was heartbroken to say the least but she never gave up on Paige.

Maybe it’s time to.

omgosh guys holy smokes i actually love this chapter

anywho

next chapter will probably be boring idk i have to see

taglist : @melpthatsme @prettygirl-gabi @rebecca-woso @starfulani @avvwritesstufff @evry1luvzzae @hearts4morgancheli

[op1umeyes]

Where Were You? Where Were You?

🩻 - Synopsis. Aaron realizes how badly he messed up, but doesn’t know if he has the strength to mend the wounds he gave himself and you.

🩻 - Warnings. Angst. No happy ending. Self isolating!Aaron. Boo hoo we’re all pitiful clowns here. Part one HERE! NOT EDITED!

🩻 - Author’s note. Part one got so much love!!! Thank you all for reading and commenting. I hop you enjoy the second part, but I’m bringing in the big guns for part three! :)

You stayed to get your psych evaluation. It took two tries. The first time around took a toll on you: reliving everything that happened, talking about it in explicit detail, and acting like everything was fine. But you knew you failed before it even began.

You took it again a couple weeks after. Even though you were officially benched from any cases, you didn’t complain.

All the time the team spent away gave you the opportunity to job surf. In reality, quitting the BAU was much harder than you initially imagined. Of course you would still be able to see them and talk to the team, it just… wouldn’t be the same. You would miss J.J.’s round of ‘good mornings’ as she swept by you all, eyes locked on the coffee pot a few feet away. You would miss Derek perched on Emily’s desk, teasing you, Spencer, and Emily like he was getting paid for it. You would miss Spencer looking over at you every couple of minutes to see of you were paying attention or not; making faces at you or mouthing words if you weren’t. You would also miss Emily spinning stories about her past, telling you the good and the bad, letting you closer into her heart. You would obviously miss Penelope’s hugs whenever she could tell if something was off, trying to cheer you up. And Rossi. Rossi buying the coffee at expensive places after begging him too, Rossi giving you advice during a case, Rossi being the father of the team he was meant to be. But… most of all you would miss Aaron.

Aaron speeding to his desk in the morning, desperate for something to wake him up. Aaron walking into casual Friday in a pair of tight-fitting jeans you didn’t know he had. Aaron stepping out of a hotel room in a quarter-zip, unaware of you ogling him. Aaron letting Jack go straight to you whenever the little guy swung by. Aaron’s smell when he hugged you. Aaron. Aaron, Aaron, Aaron.

No. You physically shook your head. Get rid of him, you thought, he’s just going to make it harder for you to leave. The computer screen was giving you a headache now. You finally decided to get up and stretch your legs.

As you moseyed over to Penelope’s cave, you noticed the time: 11:49.

“Hey Pen,” you greeted. “You eat anything? I’ll go grab lunch for us,” you offered.

“Hey mamas!” Derek greeted. You saw his face of the screen, smiling.

“Hey, you. How’s the case?” You asked, immediately happy to talk to the man.

Derek shrugged and looked at someone behind the camera. “Reid! C’mere. It’s y/n/n.”

You heard a couple gasps over the quiet chatter in the precinct and suddenly Emily and Spencer’s face showed up on the screen.

“Hi y/n!” Spencer greeted excitedly. You came to stand behind Penelope, poking her in the cheek as you greeted the both of them.

“Hey Spence! Hey Em!” You were happy to see the pair. Though you had seen them only four days ago, you missed them. A pang of guilt stabbed at your heart: how were you supposed to quit your job if you couldn’t stand four days away from them?

“-ffee shop you’d love. I got that mocha stuff you normally get to try, and it was alright. I guess I see why you like ‘em,” Emily shrugged.

“I’ve been telling you! Anyway, how’s the case?” You asked.

“Close. I can feel it,” the black haired woman said plainly.

Spencer nodded and started talking about the case. The unsub’s main slaughter technique consisted of an electrical wire- of all things- and a Swiss army knife, a different knife each kill. You nodded along, listening to what your friend said. Eventually, you heard “Reid!” and Spencer said a quick goodbye and he was out of frame.

“That’s our cue, baby girl,” Derek said. “I’ll talk to you two ladies later.”

You heard Emily’s ‘bye!’ and the screen turned black.

“Sweetness, I would love some food,” Penelope groaned. “I’ll eat anything you get, but I need a pink lemonade! I need it, y/n, or I may perish.”

You laughed. “Yes ma’am.” With that, you poked her other cheek gently and left.

— 🔥

Aaron heard your conversation. He heard your sweet laugh, how easily you fell into conversation with Derek, Spencer, and Emily. He thought of the few months before you were taken. You were excited about a stray kitten you had found, claiming that the little creature followed you from your apartment to the bookstore you swung by regularly. You hadn’t even realized the calico until you sat down and felt his little paws tugging on your pants, tiny mews trying for your attention.

You were overjoyed to have been- in your words- ‘decided worthy enough for the system to choose you’. Penelope had been buzzing about it too, especially after showing her numerous different pictures of the little fella.

Spencer had asked what you did with him, knowing you didn’t have the time to take care lf a kitten when you were gone so much. You told the team that you had given it to a cousin’s daughter, who was immediately taken with the kitten.

The joy in your tone as you gushed about the kitten was palpable. Aaron loved- liked so many things about you, and how passionate you are was definitely one of those qualities. But he felt his own smile fade off of his face as his eyes fell back on crime scene photos: he had a job to do. And you were unimportant.

— 🔥

You picked up Chinese food, ordering inside the restaurant because the line wrapped around the whole building.

After ordering, you paid and gave the cashier a smile. You kept smiling until you turned away, still feeling her wandering gaze drag harshly down your cheek, eyebrows furrowing as she tore herself away from the scar as dipped below your shirt.

As you stood back and waited, you felt like everyone’s eyes were on you. What an idiot, you thought: a government agent who doesn’t even have the confidence to buy some food. Your jaw tightened and you kept your eyes down, waiting until your last name was called. You saw a little girl look at you as you walked out. She held her hand up to wave and you smiled at her, the chubby cheeks of her face lifting into a bright smile. You looked away when her mother pulled her forward, sharp eyes glaring at you.

The little girl’s toothy smile filled your head as you drove back to the office. The ice in Penelope’s pink lemonade clinked around in the plastic cup as you drove. You drove in silence, thinking of the mother pulling her daughter away. Were you… really that bad? Ugly? Your heart sank into your stomach: a feeling you were starting to get used to. You saw your vision blur, but refused to cry. Maybe that’s why Aaron doesn’t want to see your face anymore. Because you were a monster. MacMillian had done his job- successfully.

— 🔥

Aaron stared at the text on his phone.

From Penelope Garcia 🖥️😄: u need to talk to y/n. ASAP. i  don’t think she’s okay and i think it has to do with the macmillian case

It had been three weeks since the case and you still hadn’t spoken to Aaron since before you were kidnapped. Well, you had talked to him, but it was stiff and professional. He looked over at Rossi who was speaking with a few officers. Aaron felt like an idiot.

He wanted bothing more than to drag you into his office and sit you down to talk. Talk about what happened, what he did, how you felt, how you’re feeling now. Aaron just wanted to help you heal but he knew he can’t. He can’t jeapordize your relationship or his job. Aaron felt a lump grow in his throat. He didn’t even know what he wanted anymore- other than you.

To Penelope Garcia 🖥️😄: How is she? What happened?

From Penelope Garcia 🖥️😄: she went to get food for us and came back all upset. i think the poor girl was about to cry :(

From Penelope Garcia 🖥️😄: and i think there’s something else i need to tell you

From Penelope Garcia 🖥️😄: but it has to be in person.

Aaron leaned back in his chair. “Damn it.”

— 🔥 

A day later the team came home. There was an arrest and the case was closed. There was a lighthearted conversation on the way home, Reid and Rossi playing a card game as Derek, Emily, and J.J. bickered over something (Aaron doesn’t know anything when they get together and scheme). But Hotch was looking out the window and thinking of Penelope’s texts. What had happened to make you shut down? What news did Penelope have for him? How were you doing mentally? How are you at home?

Hotch knew you had nightmares. Hell, everyone could tell. You had growing purple splotches under your eyes, a larger coffee cup every morning, and you zones out consistently during the day. You wore turtlenecks- that Hotch personally thought you looked amazing in- even in 85 degree weather. Not to mention how jumpy you are whenever someone touches you.

Reid had nudged you one day to get your attention; you were staring at nothing and it was time to leave. Derek watched you, a frown on his face after saying your name thrice. Spencer nudged your shoulder with a knuckle and you flew backwards, stumbling out of your chair, a hand coming to your cheek (where The Scar ran down your face). You played it off quickly after seeing Derek, Emily, Rossi, and even Hotch’s looks. But the fear in your eyes… Spencer knew you thought he would hurt you.

After landing, Hotch gave the team the day. As they all cheered and left to get their stuff, Hotch walked into the bullpen where he knew you were still working.

“Y/n.”

God, Aaron missed you. Missed seeing you, being in the same room as you- hell, breathing the same air as you.

You looked up from your computer, eyes falling on an exhausted looking SSA Aaron Hotchner. “Sir?”

“You may have the rest of the day off.” Aaron swallowed, holding your eye contact. Your eyes were one of his weaknesses. After a second of silence, you nodded.

“Thank you, sir.” 

Hotch turned on his heel and made his way to see Penelope. He felt his head spin: your blank stare and emotionless eyes felt like a knife to the gut. Aaron really fucked up, hadn’t he? Fucked up so bad you called him ‘sir’ and acted like you hadn’t bonded over your love for Phil Collins and old action movies. And how to looked away from him like you hadn’t slept in Aaron’s house clad in a pair of his sweatpants and an old sweatshirt, Jack lying on top of you after falling asleep to a cartoon. And especially the way your voice was monotone, completely different from the way you held up a quiet conversation after being sent home because you had a concussion.

“Garcia-“

Penelope stood up the second she heard Hotch’s voice. Tears welled in her eyes, shining brightly against the different colored lights in her cave. “Sir, it’s about y/n. I- I didn’t mean to snoop, but she’s just been so distant lately and ever since that case, she hasn’t gone out with me, Emily, J.J., or even Spencer! I’m really sorry-“

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, Garcia. Slow down. What happened?” Aaron asked. He felt bile rise in his throat. He had a gut feeling that whatever the bubbly blonde woman had to say wouldn’t be good. He swallowed.

Penelope harshly wiped the tears off her face. She looked down and then back up, clearly distraught about the news. “Y/n applied to another job… and got accepted.”

🏷️: @zaddyhotch @jazzimac1967 @polireader @magical-spit @angelmather1 @pettydonuts @aremuslupinsimp

[it-was-summer]

Come In With The Rain (Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader)

A/N: Hey y'all, I'm so sorry for the late posting. I know that I don't have a new chapter of 'Video Killed the Radio Star' out yet, but stay with me here. This is part one (of two) of my 500 followers post! I want to thank everyone for reading and being so sweet throughout the years. I really hope you all like this first part! The second part will probably be posted sometime this upcoming week. AND IT WILL BE 18+. I'm estimating sometime between Thursday and Saturday. Again, this is not proofread because I never learn. Love you all- Em <3

Link to the Ao3: Come In With The Rain

You are on Part One! -> Part Two

Yee olde masterlist

WARNING: Slow burn ahh fanfiction, emotional cheating, an accusation of emotional cheating, couple fighting, sex mentioned, alcohol mentions, drunk reader at one point, light cursing, babygirl Spencer Reid, suggestion BLINK AND YOU MISS IT SUGGESTION that Reid is Bi, reader is referred to as a woman, she/her/hers pronouns at some parts, and mention of feeling like a burden. AND probably something else, idk.

Plot: Spencer Reid becomes friends with you after bumping into you at a grocery store. Instantly enamored with you he develops a crush. A crush, apparently destined to fail, because why wouldn't you have a boyfriend?

Word Count: 10,365 (That's correct... 24 PAGES)

 Day One 

Almost everyone could agree that Spencer’s job was incredibly arduous. If not arduous, it was strenuous, formidable, occasionally crushing, onerous; the list goes on. Overall, his job –despite all its pitfalls– was something he loved. There was one thing he was starting to hate more than anything, though: he couldn’t seem to keep all his groceries from going bad after a week of back-to-back cases. 

Spencer narrows his eyes at his messy handwriting, looking back and forth between the paper in his hands and the cans in front of him. He just couldn’t find the can that he was looking for. Penelope had loaned him her recipe a few weeks back, and despite his disastrous efforts in the kitchen, he was determined to give it a shot. His mother never taught him how to cook –not that he blamed her, of course– so it was truly an area in which he simply lacked a lot of skill. Given his eidetic memory, he didn’t really need a list, but Penelope said this brand was best for her recipe when they talked last week. He didn’t want to risk it, so he wrote it down. 

He turned his head side-to-side, looking for a nearby worker, but found none. The only person in this aisle was him. He frowned a little before the sound of a sigh passing behind him made him jump. He quickly looked over his shoulder to see a woman standing behind him, staring at a list in hand. He couldn’t help but wonder when you had gotten there and how long you had been standing behind him before your sigh alerted Spencer to the presence of another life form in this aisle. 

Your head tilted slowly, your eyes met his, and Spencer felt his mouth drying. He wasn’t charming around beautiful women like Derek; most of all, he hadn’t expected to run into one at the grocery store. Your eyes stayed on Spencer for a second before they moved towards the cans in front of them. Spencer felt like a warmth had just been pulled away from him in the absence of your gaze. 

He shuffles out of your eyeline as you scan the cans with a soft smile. “Thank you,” your voice was light and airy, carrying a softness that Spencer wasn’t used to hearing. Your body is closer to his as you walk toward the cans and carefully reach up on your tiptoes to grab a can of sauce on the highest shelf. 

Spencer gets the idea stupidly slow: He should get it for you. He clears his throat and maneuvers his body to avoid touching the beautiful stranger beside him. He slides the sauce can off the shelf and hands it to you. 

He’s greeted with a dazzling smile, dimples on your cheeks, and eyes shining bright under the fluorescent lights of the grocery store. “Thank you,” you repeat before you stare at him expectantly. 

Spencer can’t help but feel like his IQ is taking slashes as he stares at that smile, “Spencer,” 

You gave him a gentle nod as you walked the sauce over to your cart, “Nice to meet you, Spencer. I’m Y/N.” You say as you look over your shoulder at him, hair falling into your face. For the first time in a long time, Spencer can feel the ends of his fingers twitching with anticipation at the idea of offering to brush the hair out of your face for you. He gives you a soft smile instead, his eyes trailing back to the list in his hands in an attempt to stop himself from staring. 

Your voice near him almost makes him let out a yelp of surprise as you say, “Are you looking for something? I don’t work here, but I cook a lot.” You say matter-of-factly, suggesting that your cooking hobby somehow made you an expert in the grocery store layout. 

Spencer felt like handing you his list and following you around like a puppy dog for the rest of his grocery shopping if it meant you’d keep standing this close to him. “Yeah, uhm, this brand of chili beans.” 

“Oh, you haven’t looked low enough.” You barely even glance at his list before bending your knees and crouching down to the lower shelf to grab it. You look up from the ground, holding the can of beans for him to take with a bright smile before you say, “You’re so tall you must have forgotten about the lower shelves.” A laugh escapes your lips as Spencer carefully grabs the can from your hand. 

You stand up with a gentle sigh. He can tell that you’re about to say something else when a man’s voice interrupts you. Your eyes grow brighter at the sound, and your head quickly turns toward the sound at the far left end of the aisle. “I got the cheese.” As he approaches, the man shoots the shredded cheese into the cart with a grin. 

You mouth a soft ‘yay’ as the man’s arm quickly wraps around your waist. “Josh, this is Spencer. I was just helping him look for a can of beans. Spencer, this is Josh.” 

Spencer feels his lips draw into a tight-lipped smile as he waves his free hand, “Nice to meet you,” He says with a slight nod. 

“She’s always talking to strangers, I swear. Stop making friends everywhere you go, you little angel.”  Josh says as he pinches your side, earning a melodious laugh from you. Spencer feels a little nauseous.

“Hey, gross.” You chuckle lightly as you pull Josh’s hand off your side, “Anyways, it was nice to meet you, Spencer. See you around.” You grab the handle of your cart with a beautiful smile before rolling the cart out of the aisle with Josh in tow. 

Spencer watches you until you take a right and disappear from his view, and now he can only look at the can of beans in his hand. He sighs at his luck, smiling a little with amusement at the fact that you have a boyfriend. His short interaction made it clear to him that you were easy to get along with. Beautiful, kind, easygoing, of course, you had a boyfriend. 

Spencer silently resigned himself to the fact that he would probably never see you or Josh again as he continued with his unneeded list.

Now, he felt like the fabled gods of fate were laughing down at him as he made the last trip to his car. He was closing the trunk of his car when he heard a familiar voice yell out his name from across the parking lot. “Spencer!” You yelled with bags in hand, panting lightly as you approached him with a light jog. “How funny is this?” 

A sarcastically bitter voice was in his head. Only the Ancient Greeks would find this funny. “Do you live in this building?” he asked as his eyes scanned the parking lot for Josh. His shoulders relaxed as he realized that it was just you. 

“Yeah, third floor.” You say as you readjust the bags in your hands. Spencer gave you an amused smile as he slid his last two bags on one arm, extending his free arm toward you. 

“Need some help?” He offers in a soft voice. You give him a grateful look as you nod, handing him a slightly heavy bag. Typically, you wouldn’t have accepted help from a perfect stranger, but almost everything about Spencer screamed non-threatening, so you let yourself be a little trusting. 

“Can’t believe that we’re neighbors. I'm glad I talked to you at the store; I made a neighbor friend!” Your speaking speed almost matches his when he is going on his excited ramblings. 

Spencer pushes a door open with his back, holding it open for you with his foot as he laughs. “I guess it's plausible, being that the grocery store is as close as it is.” He’s quick to move to the next door, repeating the motion. 

You smile gently as Spencer opens another door for you, this one leading the two of you to the stairwell. “Oh, you’re probably one of those people who doesn’t believe in fate, aren’t you, Spencer?” 

“I would have to say that I absolutely fall within the twenty-nine percent of Americans who do not believe in fate. Nothing is predetermined.” 

“Maybe you’re predetermined to believe that,” Is your quick remark as you walk in front of him on the stairs. 

“Not likely,” 

“So, what? You’re a cynic?” 

Spencer smiles wide at the question, “How does my not believing in fate make me a cynic?” 

You grin, tossing a skeptical look over your shoulder, before speaking again. “Not believing in fate is such a cynical thing to do,” 

“And what does that make you?” 

“Stupid and optimistically in love.” 

Spencer shakes his head, his eyes glancing at the door that leads to the second floor, but he continues to follow you up another flight of stairs without complaint. “I would label myself as a realist.” And a profiler, but he was careful to leave that part out. The cases over the years proved one thing to him: nothing was predetermined. There was an opportunity for change everywhere. 

“Okay, Mr. Realist, what about luck?” You asked as the two of you approached the door marked for floor three. 

He thought for a moment as you held the door open for him, “Maybe,” was all he could say as the memory of when he was struggling with his aim came to mind: killing an UnSub with a shot to the head when he had been aiming for his leg. 

“So you do believe in fate.” You turned your body to walk backward down the hallway with a satisfied, winning smile as you looked at him before slowing to a stop in front of your apartment door. 

“Fate and luck are not the same thing. Luck is usually used to describe an outcome; it’s a notion. It’s circumstantial.  Fate defies logic, science really.” He said as he handed you your bag carefully. His eyes glanced at the number on your door: thirty-seven. “You live with your boyfriend?” Spencer asks before he can stop himself, silently screaming at himself for being a creep. 

The question barely phases you as you reach into your pocket, searching for your keys. “Yeah, moved in six months ago.” 

“Oh, that’s nice.” Spencer hated small talk. Actually, he secretly hated the fact that the first person he found attractive, after months of failed dates, was taken. He also hated that you were living a floor above him for six months, and he hadn’t known about it– hadn’t known about you. Above all, he hated that he enjoyed your company already, especially having only known you for more than a few hours at best. “How long have the two of you been together?” 

“A year and eleven months,” you answer with a soft smile, your eyes giving way to soft emotion as you open your door. “What floor do you live on again?” 

Spencer wants to say that you never asked, but he didn’t want to seem rude. He was sure you couldn’t be rude if you tried, that sweet smile of yours not capable of the act. “Second floor,” he answers as he readjusts his bags timidly. 

With a soft gasp, you set down a bag or two, “Oh! I’m sorry.” You apologize softly as you look up at him, your eyes beautiful and tender. Spencer can’t remember if he is mad when he looks into those eyes. 

Spencer let out a meek and barely audible “It’s okay,” He decides it truly is.

You bite your bottom lip and smile at him, “Well, thanks for your help, Spencer. I really appreciated it. Come up some time and say hi!” As you beam at him, you move a stray hair out of your face. 

Spencer nods slowly, swallowing thickly, and manages a soft smile. His feet move his body back to the stairwell slowly. “Okay, I’ll do that.” 

Day Forty-Two 

You’re laughing over something Josh said. Spencer doesn’t really get it, but you seem to think it is the funniest joke you’ve ever heard. Punchlines usually went over his head, but he was always happy to nod along with a smile on his face. 

Spencer honestly didn’t want to come up and visit you and Josh a month ago. Maybe he was a glutton for punishment. Perhaps he just didn’t have it in himself to stay away from your electric personality—why he visited you and Josh three Saturdays ago was still a mystery to him.

As Josh walks away with a smug smile, you turn to Spencer. He watches as you lean towards him, eyes tracking Josh until he’s out of sight. Your amused smile falls from your face as you whisper a soft, “Did you get that?” 

Spencer is taken aback at the question. You laughed at Josh’s joke; how did you not get it? Why did you laugh so hard if you didn’t get it? He wonders until he’s whispering that same question to you, “If you didn’t get it, why did you laugh?” 

You smile a little cheekily and only slightly embarrassed, “I didn’t want him to know I didn’t find it funny. Sometimes, he falls short of witty humor.” 

Spencer smiles at that, shaking his head as he stares over at the area where Josh disappeared. “Why don’t you just tell him that you didn’t find it funny?” 

“Because,” Your voice sounds offended, but the amused look in your eyes tells him differently, “I’m his girlfriend of two years, and I’m nice. Unlike some people.” You give him a side-eyed glare, making Spencer gasp in mock defense. 

“I’m nice!” He hisses out in a defensive whisper. He briefly falters at your incredulous look before slowly nodding in defeat, “Okay, I’m a little mean sometimes.” 

You smile again and face him, your hands moving as you talk, “Which is funny because you’re perfectly nice when you’re around me.” 

Spencer didn’t have an answer to that one either. After being friendly with the couple for a little over a month, he just could not be friends with Josh. His jokes flew over Spencer’s head, he talked over you (and sometimes him), and he never seemed to take your interests seriously. 

Last Monday after work, you called Spencer, asking him if he wanted to go to the movies with you to see a tragic Italian film. He was quick to say yes, partially because of the excellent movie selection and because he wanted to be around you more. 

When he asked why Josh wasn’t joining them, you simply said that it wasn’t Josh’s thing. That didn’t sit right with him, but he let it go. Then, the day after, you called him again, asking him if he’d be willing to go with you to one of those paint-and-sip places around town that weekend. 

His answer was another resounding yes, and he didn’t even drink. Then the question came again during the class, and you responded with the same thing– it wasn’t Josh’s thing. 

Josh’s thing was going off to work all day and then coming home to ignore you for a good two hours before dinner. Then he was all yours again. At least, that’s what Spencer saw. He understood that everyone needed their alone time and that he was being a little petty and a little jealous toward Josh. 

He wanted to be the bigger person, honestly. It was just so hard when your boyfriend made it so easy for Spencer to hate him. He’d never say that to you, of course. You looked at Josh like he had hung the moon yesterday and then created the stars today. You never missed a chance to talk about Josh around… well, anyone—the precursor to Spencer’s current dilemma. 

Deep down inside, he knew that his inappropriate crush on you couldn’t possibly get worse. So he thought, What’s the harm in becoming close friends with you? If anything, it was likely that seeing more of your personality would pull his rose-colored glasses off his face and force him to see you in a normal, less love-sick light. After all, he had gotten over his embarrassing crush on JJ and saw her almost daily at work.

When Josh walks back into the room, he’s on his phone. He barely glances up from the text as he speaks to you, “Hey, babe, would it be okay with you if I head out for the night?” 

Your eyebrows furrow with confusion, “But Spencer is here, and we were going to finish the movie, remember?” 

“Right, but I already know what happens. I mean, it’s a tragedy, right? Spencer and you always have more fun together doing your nerd stuff. No offense, Spencer. The guys just want me to go out with them.” 

A realization dawns on your face as you realize he’s not asking so much as telling you he’s leaving. You nod slowly, letting Josh kiss your forehead before he grabs his keys and leaves. You look over at Spencer, who is trying to be polite by not watching the scene, looking down at the television remote with a deep interest. 

You smile slowly, sadly, and turn your body a little on the couch facing the television. The rest of the night is spent in your living room with Spencer, sitting next to each other and watching a movie before ending with your head on his shoulder and the soft tone of someone saying they “Liked the movie.” 

Day Ninety-Three

You could feel something starting to slip. It was a familiar feeling; something in the ground was shaking. It shook you, at least. You always noticed it first—a crack in the ship's hull.  You were always the first to address it, too. 

With Josh, it used to be customary for him to apologize for any indiscretion and try to fix the damage. But false promises are like duct tape in the ship’s hull, slipping and sliding against wet wood, water pouring in until the whole ship goes down. 

It wasn’t always like this. Him coming home and ignoring you for hours, only to acknowledge you late into the evening. It was relatively new to your relationship. Well, if you consider nine months new. By now, you could only label it as consistent. Before you lived with your loving boyfriend, he would carve out time in the evenings just to talk with you for hours or take you on dates that sometimes lasted for days on the weekends. 

You knew that living together would take some of that away– everyone deserved to have their private time, and you weren’t going to start demanding day-long dates anytime soon. You just missed the effort he used to put in, the time when he would make days for the two of you– hours for just the two of you. 

A year ago, Josh would have jumped to see that weird new Hungarian horror movie with subtitles for you if you had asked. He would have attempted to stay awake during it, hold your hand during the parts that scared you, something lovely. 

The first crack started when you moved in with him. One evening, you had gotten home from work early and occupied the living room for a few hours, watching some random French movie that had been recommended to you by your best friend. She didn’t like this kind of thing but knew you did, so you were grateful that she had thought of you. 

When he came home from work a little later than usual, he saw you on the couch with a plate of pasta, watching the movie intently. You turned your head towards the door and smiled wide at him. “Hey! I made spaghetti, grab a plate and watch this movie with me? I’ll restart it.” Your hands were already reaching for the remote when a heavy, annoyed sigh cut through the air. You looked over at him again and gave him a gentle, empathic smile, “Hey… did you have a hard day? We don’t have to watch anything we could–”

“Have you ever thought that maybe I don’t want to do anything with you right after I get off work?” Josh hissed out as he threw his keys onto the wooden kitchen table. 

You felt your head reel back a little at the question, and you laughed a little, pushing yourself up to sit on your knees on the couch. “I’m sorry?” 

“Have you ever thought I might want to come home after work and not talk to you for a few hours? I mean, I thought that after living here for two months, you would have caught on, but clearly you haven’t. I come home, and you’re right there, ready to talk. Prepared to force me to sit down and watch some… foreign language film that has some profound meaning that you’ll blabber about for thirty minutes before bed tonight.” 

You blinked a little at his harsh words, which were unlike him. He never seemed annoyed by your passions, hobbies, or ramblings. In fact, he always seemed to encourage them. You tried your best to give him a genuine smile, “Love, you’ve had a long day. Let’s just take a second and get some food in you, and then we can d–” 

“You’re not getting it,” he laughed bitterly, a sound that caused a sick knot to grow in your throat. “Sometimes, I’m tired of it being we, we, we, we. I’m always doing things with you: Cooking with you, reading with you, watching movies with you, sleeping with you, going on dates with you. Ever since you moved in, it's like it's always an ‘us’ task or a ‘we’ task.” His voice was rising in volume, and you felt your breathing becoming shaky. “I feel like you're always on top of me. It’s suffocating! Maybe I just want to be alone for a few hours. Maybe I don’t want to watch your stupid, fucking, symbolic foreign films.” 

“I... I didn’t know that’s how you felt.” You breathed out as you slowly turned the television off and got up with your plate. You wanted him to apologize, you wanted him to soften those brown eyes and start telling you that he didn’t mean it. You wanted him to tell you that work was brutal that day, and he had accidentally lashed out at you. But he just stared at you, panting a little. “I’ll leave you alone some more. I, uhm, I’ll watch this alone in our room.” 

And that was that. You had convinced yourself that you were a problem. You were too clingy, always in his space, always trying to force him to like your hobbies, always trying to share too much of yourself with him, always too much. So you decided that maybe what you wanted to do wasn’t his thing anymore. 

Besides, you had plenty of friends that liked the same things as you did… maybe. Molly didn’t like foreign films, but Alex enjoyed them enough. Molly did like to paint, but her schedule always conflicted with yours. Sabrina was also a fan of painting but had moved to Boston last month. The list of her friends with crazy work schedules could go on and on, as could the list of friends who moved. You had thought about reaching out to some of them, but Josh’s words rattled you to your core, and suddenly, you felt like a burden for wanting to spend time with your loved ones. 

Then, after six months of living with Josh, you met a man in a grocery store—a tall, hazel-eyed, intelligent man. Spencer Reid was unlike any man you had ever met in your life, a rare friend. He was transparent, often going into long, passionate tangents that always had you learning something new. So when he randomly mentioned a foreign film he wanted to see that weekend in one of your conversations, you felt comfortable asking him to come to the movies with you.

Then again, to the paint-and-sip place where the two of you failed to partake in any wine and managed to paint two terrible renditions of sunflowers. Spencer Reid was becoming a friend that you didn’t think you’d burden. Your other friends were quick to explain that you weren’t too much. Still, maybe it was because he had helped you carry your groceries up to the apartment the first day you met him or the way he was so happy to listen to your stories and thoughts. Something about Spencer Reid made you believe him when he said that you weren’t a burden. 

And he was nice to be around. Then, there was the pesky fact of Spencer being attractive. At first, it was more of a passing thought. The way he wore his glasses late at night, how his hair fell to one side, the way his fingers were so gentle with books. He was a good-looking man in a nerdy way. Mix that with sweet, caring, and accomplished; he was a threat. 

A threat to anyone but your loving boyfriend of two years. Sabrina was laughing over something you had said over the phone, her giggles rising in volume as she tried to speak between them, “He’s a.” Giggling. “An adonis of th–” Cackling. “The mind!” She managed before asking, “What does that even mean?” 

“It means he’s a very smart-minded, attractive person.” 

“Oh, so you’re like… crushing on the hot mind guy and fighting with Josh. Got it.” 

“I’m not fighting with Josh, and we talked about it last month. We’re okay now.” 

“Still ignoring you when he comes home?” 

You pause before you let out a slow sigh, “Yeah.” 

“What’s his record?” 

“Four hours and fifteen minutes. He said he will try to be more attentive throughout the week, but he just keeps…” You trail off. You can imagine Sabrina shaking her head on the other side of the line. 

“What about the weekends?” 

“Going out with his friends more, he visited his mom’s last weekend. Nary a date night in sight, not since our second anniversary at least, and that was..” 

“Yeah..” There was rustling, chips maybe, on her side of the line. “Maybe he’s planning something big. Maybe a trip? I don’t know, maybe you should bring it up again.” 

You nod a little, your hands typing away gently on your work computer. “Maybe. The last time I mentioned missing our date nights, he just said, ‘We have dinner dates every night at home.’ That was an incredible feeling.” 

“Something about weaponized ignorance is coming to mind.” 

“Don’t,” 

“Josh has been lacking in good boyfriend points since that stunt with the cake on your birthday,” 

“He got a little icing on my nose!” 

“Don’t,” She dragged out the ‘t’ sound, “Care! The disrespect! Your dress! Ugh, I’m going to get worked up. Talk to me about Dr. Genius.” 

“What about him?” 

“Does he ever, maybe, do something you wish Josh would start doing?” 

You laugh, “What? No…” 

“So you don’t wish that Josh would know the symbolism behind The Red Shoes and go into how… what did he say?” 

“That art was worth dying for, and that Hans Christian Andersen's original story surrounded a sense of morality and religious–” 

“Ah, Ah, Ah, so you don’t want Josh to know that?” 

“He doesn’t need to know that,” your fingers falter in their typing, “Two people can have similar interests and not be in love.” 

“Right, it just seems like lately, you’ve been…” You hate the awkward silence that follows Sabrina before she carefully speaks again, “Maybe replacing Josh with Spencer in your hobbies. I know Josh lashed out and was wrong, too, but this Spencer guy… he clicks with you– your hobbies, at least. And your witty humor, too. It seems he matches your intellectualism and your passion for learning,  exceeds it even, but Josh is steps below you. Josh, he… just always seems so tolerant of your hobbies.” 

“So what are you saying?” 

“Nothing,” a voice calls her name, “Look, I gotta go. Josh is great, and I’m just being silly. Maybe I just have a grudge against him or something. I love you.” 

“I’ll talk to you later. Love you.” You reply quickly before she ends the call. 

You shake your head a little at her words, still swimming in your mind as you go back to charting something on your computer. What did that even mean? Josh is steps below you. He wasn’t dumb. He just lacked… that dry humor you had with Spencer sometimes. A quick, witty remark that had one of you smiling in seconds. Besides, that notion was ridiculous, given you had only known Spencer for three months. Josh made up for it in love… and you did love him. 

All couples went through rough patches, but you were sure that if you raised your concerns again with Josh, things would change. You nod a little at the thought as you sigh, shifting in your chair slightly as you readied yourself to be engulfed in your work. 

Day One Hundred and Forty-Six 

Spencer could feel the bass of some pop song thumping in his chest. It had been a pleasant and slow week at the BAU. While he would have loved to go home and sit down with some book of his choosing, he allowed Penelope and Derek to convince him to go out with them. 

The bar wasn’t too far from his apartment complex, so he didn’t mind. Penelope was twirling her drink's tiny umbrella between her fingers as she pointed towards a pretty red-head dancing in a dark green dress. “What about her?” 

They have been playing this game for ten minutes now. By they, he means Garcia and Morgan. The game is ‘Who does Spencer find pretty at the bar?’ 

“Babygirl, you have a great eye,” Derek says as he points the woman out to Spencer, but before he can say anything else, Spencer decides they’ve played this game past the point of amusement. 

“Why can’t we accept that I don’t feel like talking to anyone tonight, again?” 

Penelope frowned a little, giving Spencer a pleading look. “You said that the last time we took you to the bar, you were willing to participate next time. It’s next time, Reid.” 

Spencer remembers the conversation and groans softly as he sips on his water. He hated disappointing them with his lack of effortless charm. It had improved through the years, but he still struggled to find the right words to say in front of someone he found attractive. 

“Come on, Pretty Boy. Are you going to back out of your promise?” Derek’s voice is teasing as he smiles at Spencer. Spencer can’t help but feel a sense of newfound obligation. He knew what was holding him back and hated himself for it. 

His inappropriate crush on you had grown to be near debilitating, and even though Spencer had told himself that it’d never happen, he kept holding out hope that one day it would. He had gone on dates in the near five months he had known you, but he always ended up comparing his dates to you. They never laughed as sweet as you. They came up with the same academically related jokes you did. They never– they just weren’t you, simple as that. 

“Fine, but someone else. She’s pretty, but I think that girl is her girlfriend.” He pleaded softly, watching as a taller brunette woman spun around the pretty redhead to the beat. 

Penelope clapped and set down her drink, “This next one has to be perfect.” 

“Pretty boy’s future bride,”

Spencer felt his cheeks flush at that, and he nudged Derek with a nervous laugh. Penelope was still scanning the crowd. The bar wasn’t empty or devoid of beautiful women or men for her to choose from, but no one screamed Spencer Reid material. Derek was scanning the crowd with her, always happy to see her passionate about something, even if it was Reid’s love life. 

A gasp slipped past Penelope’s lips as she grabbed Derek’s arm tight, her index pointing toward someone by the speakers. Derek’s eyes landed on who she was pointing at, and he smiled wide, nodding quickly, “Future Mrs. Reid material,” 

Spencer can barely see where they are pointing as he tries to look toward the area that Garcia is pointing at. Then he sees her. It’s you, and his heart drops. He wants to tell his friends he knows that isn’t ‘Future Mrs. Reid’ at all, but Derek and Penelope are already pushing him into the crowd. He glares back at them and stubbles with his footing for a second before walking toward you. 

You’re wearing a beautiful black dress, hugging your curves. In the flashing lights, Spencer thinks that you’re shining. Your hips sway lightly to the beat as you stand near the speakers, alone. 

Spencer gently taps you on your shoulder, and when you turn around, you have a glare on your face before you see it's him. He almost laughs at how you gasp and loudly scream, “Spencer!” Your hands fly out to his shoulders, shaking him gently as you giggle. “Hi!” You’re so drunk. 

Spencer is sure that Penelope and Derek are watching the scene unfold with confused expressions as he laughs softly, your hands on his shoulders gently shaking his body side-to-side. “Hey, where’s Josh?” He yells over the music. 

“Getting drinks!” You yell back in an excited tone. 

He smiles wide and shakes his head a little; he usually doesn’t find drunk people endearing. But right now, in the flashing lights of the bar, your rosy-cheek face and tipsy giddiness have him feeling a little more enamored than usual. 

“Who are you here with?” You ask loudly, your hands falling away from his shoulders. 

“Uh, my friends, coworkers!” he replies as he stands beside you to point out the confused-looking pair staring at them. 

“Can I say hi?” He could tell that your friendly disposition continued even when intoxicated, and he found himself adoring the consistency. He nods gently, and you’re smiling so much. Spencer wonders how someone could be so excited about meeting someone else’s friends. 

He leads you over, your fingers grabbing the back of his button-up as he carefully leads you through the crowd. The gentle pull of your fingers gripping his shirt makes his cheeks burn as he stops in front of Derek and Penelope. “Y/N, Derek, and Penelope. Penelope and Derek, Y/N.” 

You let go of the back of his button-up quickly as you extend a giddy hand, “Hi, I haven’t met any friends of Spencer's yet.” 

Derek looks amused as he shakes your hand, his eyes flicking between you and Spencer, “How do you know the boy genius?” 

“I found him looking lost in the grocery store. We’re neighbors! Well, almost,” You let go of Derek’s hand to point towards the roof, “I’m on top of him.” 

Spencer can feel the breath knocked out of his lungs as he quickly corrects you, “She lives on the floor above me.” He explains before either of them can make a joke. 

Penelope matches your happy attitude as she shakes your hand, “We had no idea that Spencer had a friend in his apartment complex! How long have the two of you been friends?” 

“Almost five months,” You say with a little giggle, leaning toward Penelope slightly. “Spencer comes over to discuss movies with me or books, or we went to a poetry reading last weekend.” 

“He comes over often, huh?” Derek’s voice asks playfully, and you nod quickly. 

“The mothership is always beckoning,” You joke, laughing harder than you should at your own joke. 

Penelope slowly drops your hand, tilting her head, and her flower earrings sway slightly. “And... your roommate is okay with that?” she asks carefully, and Spencer wants to ask why she doesn’t simply ask if you have a boyfriend. 

“Oh, no. Josh doesn’t care. He’s my boyfriend of two years. Nothing can break that security, I’m sure.” You look towards the bar for him and catch his eye. You wave high and wide for him, and he smiles, shaking his head at you as he waits for the drinks.

“So, Pretty Boy here is just a friend.” 

You giggle a little at the nickname and try to cover your smile with your hand, looking at Spencer. “Pretty Boy?” You giggle out. Spencer frowns a little and goes to defend himself, but you’re already nodding, “He is a pretty boy. That’s fitting.” Then, he feels like his body is on fire. 

Derek is about to say something when Josh slides behind you with two drinks. “Always with Spencer,” he teases softly, kissing your cheek before handing you your drink. 

“Josh, these are Spencer’s friends, Penelope and Derek.” You say, taking the drink and happily taking a small sip. 

Josh holds out his hand for them to shake, a charming smile on his face, “I thought Spencer’s only friend was my girlfriend.” 

Penelope doesn’t laugh, but she still manages a polite smile and shakes his hand before Derek does the same thing. Spencer fidgets a little, still beside you. You turn your head up toward him, and you mouth a soft, ‘He’s drunk’ as a way to excuse Josh’s behavior. 

However, recently, Josh has been acting like that sober. He would demand to join the two of you at the movies while complaining about the movie selection. He’d sit between the two of you if the opportunity arose, which wasn’t strange. What was weird was how he’d become more physically affectionate with you in front of Spencer. Spencer hated that– hated looking at it.

Josh quickly grabs your shoulders and says, “We should let you all get back to your night.” It sounds like a suggestion, but he’s already leading you away. You gasp as he guides you away from the three of them, and you quickly smile, wave, and yell out a quick, ‘It was nice to meet you’ before you walk further away with Josh. 

Penelope sips on her drink as a way to stop herself from talking, but Derek breaks the silence first. “So he’s jealous of you.” 

Spencer wants to deny it, but even he can’t deny the facts. “Not at first, but now… I don’t know if I’m not nice enough or if I did something, but yeah, lately, he’s been like that.” 

Penelope sighed and looked toward where you and Josh had walked off to, “She seems sweet,” 

“Yeah, Reid’s head over heels for her too.” 

“Wait, Spencer, are you?” 

His cheeks are flushed, and he’s shaking his head a little, a lame attempt to try and hide his feelings. Derek lays it on thick, “Come on, he doesn’t let just anyone touch him. Did you see how he looked at her when he approached her earlier? Like a lovesick dog with a bone in his mouth.” 

Spencer raises his hands and scoffs, “Okay, I’m working on it, alright. She’s just easy to be around. I’m getting over it.” 

Penelope is swooning over the information, “A forbidden romance,” 

“Her gatekeeper boyfriend and you, the pretty boy genius from downstairs,” Derek adds. 

Spencer sighs, annoyed with their teasing, “Alright, let’s drop it.” The pair gives him a look, and he adds a soft, “Please.” Seeing their friend’s annoyance didn’t usually deter them, but the way he shifted from one foot to the other as he begged them to stop had Penelope and Derek sharing a look before letting all their silent jokes go. Spencer was grateful that evening had returned to normal, his nervous thoughts slowly slipping away with easy conversation. 

Day One Hundred and Eighty-Three 

You’re sure Josh is mad at you for something. You just can't get it out of him. A few weeks ago, he had been nothing but sincere. Soft again, sweet again, him from a little over a year ago. It was beautiful, and it felt like he had finally listened. It felt like he had come back around and somehow repaired the hull. 

Then he started ignoring you again. You had been careful, so careful, not to suffocate him like he mentioned. You make sure that you go out with Spencer on weekends. You distance yourself just enough for Josh to miss spending time with you. Spending time with Spencer was also good for you; he helps keep your spirits high.

He kept you feeling lighter than air. He would text you sometimes on cases with the team when he was out of town. Little reminders, little jokes, and sometimes… It felt nice. You didn’t know how to describe it. Thrilling, calming, extraordinary, and tumultuous all that once. It confused you, pulled at the heartstrings, softly tugging at something deep within you. It unsettled you and made you ache when you looked at Josh in bed next to you. 

But his sweetness distracted you. Erased longing and replaced it with familiar love. You knew his steps, and he knew yours. 

And now, he was angry with you. You didn’t want to ask, and you didn’t want to be a pest to the man you loved. You hoped he would just come right out and say it. You hoped that his cup of secret rage would overflow and spill over.

The sound of heavy footsteps disrupts your stagnant reading. Your eyes kept reading the same sentence. Every time you tried to continue with the following sentence, you found yourself unable to do so. You set the book face down on the bed and smiled a little at Josh as he stood in the doorway. It was Friday night, and Spencer was on a case. Molly was busy, Christina was busy, and everyone was busy. So you stayed home, attempting to read. 

He was drunk, no drunk didn’t even cover it. He looked like death, pale with red eyes and muttering incoherent things to himself. “Josh… are you okay?” Your smile quickly faded, and you moved to the edge of the bed, watching him sway against the door frame. 

He didn’t answer and just laughed a little, which turned into a groan and then a sigh. You push yourself off the bed and walk to him, reaching up a hand to cup his cheek, but before your fingers can touch him, he smacks your hands away with a deep frown. “Josh!” You gasp as you pull your hand away, rubbing at the slightly pink skin. 

“Not right,” he mutters, and you shake your head as you try to understand what he’s talking about. 

“What’s not right? Josh, are you okay?”

He stumbles as he pushes past you, his shoulder roughly bumping into yours as he sits on the bed. You stay by the door. “This. Us, not right anymore.” He roughly puts it together. 

You can feel your heart fall to the pit of your stomach as you turn around to face him, “What are you talking about?” 

“Not right anymore,” his drunk hands are dramatically waving between the two of you, “You’re not,” he motions to his chest lamely, “Here anymore.” 

You can feel the tears threatening to rise in your eyes, your breathing becoming fast as you shake your head. “I’m here, you’re here.” You point your index into your chest, just above your heart. “What are you saying?” 

“Not here,” He repeats loudly. 

“I am here!” you yell back as you walk to him. “I don’t know what happened tonight, but we can discuss it, Josh. We can fix things.” You can feel the weight of the world crashing down on your chest, its weight making it difficult to breathe clearly. 

“No,” 

You’re quick to talk over him, “Yes, we can,” 

“No, we can’t,”

“Whatever it is, it’s okay, we can–” 

“No–” 

“It’s okay, I won’t be mad–”

“I’m in love with someone else,” He yells, his spit hitting your cheek. Your hands twitch slightly at the feeling, but you can’t move. All you can do is stare at him with a gaping mouth, opening and closing repeatedly like a fish. You couldn’t form the words, and your mind was blank. “Don’t give me that.” 

You feel like someone else’s voice is speaking, “Give you what? Shock? Disgust? You’re in love with someone else. How else am I supposed to react? Do you want me to be happy? Oh, Josh, I’m so happy for you and your mistress! I’m so glad that you’re fucking her and me at the same time! I’m so happy, so happy!” 

“I’m not fucking Estelle, she and I,” 

“Your coworker, are fucking you kidding me?” 

“Oh, shut up with the pity party!” He looks sober suddenly, his face red and twisted with rage as he stands up from the bed. Your footing slips a little before you catch yourself walking back from him. “You think these past six months I’ve enjoyed having him over here all the time? Giggling with you in the living room over some intellectual private joke that I don’t get, o-or how about when you disappear with him every weekend you can? Introducing you to his friends in bars, going to movies with you, you didn’t try hiding it from me!” 

“Him? Who are you talking about?” Then it dawned on you, and Josh could tell from how your back straightened and how you looked at him with unsure eyes. “Spencer? You think I’m cheating on you with Spencer?” 

“Not physically, but yes.” 

“Josh, what are you even saying right now? I made a friend who likes the same things I do. I mean… a year ago, you told me that I was suffocating. You told me that you didn’t enjoy my hobbies. Did you just expect me to stop them? How did I cheat on you? Spencer and I we’ve never–”

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve never fucked, or-or kissed him! Emotionally, you gave up on us. You’re only emotionally available for him. He gets you, all your jokes, your kindness, everything. He has it all. You’re always running into his arms!”  

“Running into his arms? Josh, you push me to him. I don’t love Spencer; we are just friends. He’s there for me because he is my friend! What are you going to say now? Th-that I forced you to Estelle, who, by the way, I saw last month at that Holiday party for the office. Are you going to tell me that me being by your side all while having a friend with the same interest as me was too much for you?” You can barely breathe. 

“You know it's more than that, don’t play victim. I can see the way you look at him. You used to look at me like that, and then six months ago, you met him. You didn’t even try.” 

“I didn’t try.” You repeat back before you’re scoffing a little, pacing the room quickly. “You shut me out. You stopped talking to me for months. If anyone has the right to play the victim here, it’s me. I don’t see you for hours. We had the day off for our second anniversary, and you didn’t talk to me until noon. When I moved in with you, did you even want me to be a person? Or did you want a perfectly still doll, interesting only when you want her to be interesting, talkative only when you want to listen, ready for the taking when it was good for you? Go ahead, treat me like a fucking doll.” 

Josh is shaking his head now, his breathing ragged as he slowly runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t,” He pauses, his eyes looking at a photo of the two of you from two years ago framed on the bedside table. “It doesn’t matter anymore? I don’t love you anymore. You can make me the villain. I don’t care. I want you out.” 

You swallow hard at his words and laugh a little, “Where am I supposed to go?” 

“I,” He looks at you, and you see how tired he looks. The part of you that still loves him feels crushed; the other just feels angry. “My name is on the lease. Find somewhere else to sleep tonight. I’ll let you pack a bag, but I want you,” he motions towards the apartment, and you assume he means your presence in the apartment and your things. “Gone.” And he doesn’t let you say anything back, walking out into the living room. 

You stand still; you feel frozen. You don’t know if you want to start crying, start packing, or just call people to see if you can crash at theirs. That feeling, the feeling that he planted in you rises inside you. You’ll be a burden, suffocating, and miserable. But you need a place to sleep for the night. 

Your shaky hands reach for your phone on the bed, randomly calling people. Alex is out of town, you know. Christina just moved and doesn’t even have a couch yet. You call Molly, but she doesn’t answer. You wish you lived in Boston so you could call Sabrina, but that’s unrealistic. You keep scrolling through the contacts and try to think.

As you reach the next contact, your fingers falter, and your mouth feels dry. You hesitate multiple times before hitting the call button. You wait with bated breath as you bring your phone to your ear. 

Ring. 

You should hang up. This is a bad idea. 

Ring. 

Doesn’t this just prove Josh’s point? 

Ring. 

You don’t even know if he’s back in town or when he’ll be back. You should hang up before he answers; call someone else. 

The third ring is cut short as Spencer picks up the phone. Your hands shake as he says a gentle, tired, “Hello?” 

“He-hey.. Uh, are you still in Illinois?” 

“No, we’re an hour out. Are you okay? You sound like you’re upset.” 

You lick your lips quickly as you debate, telling him everything: the fight, how Josh is kicking you out. Instead, you settle for, “I just need a place to crash for the night, and I know it's a big ask, and you’re getting home from a case, but–” 

“Yes, yeah, you can stay at mine.” You let out a slow breath and nod a little, a sense of temporary relief settling over you. 

“Thank you, thank you so much. I… I’ll make it up to you. I’ll be at yours in an hour?” 

“See you soon,” Spencer says before you hang up the phone. You get to work as fast as you can, grabbing luggage from the closet and packing like a mad woman. Anything you can fit into the case, you carefully fold or roll up and stuff inside. 

An hour comes around, and you’re packed enough for a week at the very least. You grab the only thing on the bed that’s yours, a dark green blanket, before slowly rolling the suitcase into the living room. Suddenly, it feels like you’re not in your body anymore, watching the scene from the ceiling. 

Josh turns, a phone against his ear, and you only catch the ends of an ‘I love you’ before he hangs up. He draws his lips in a tight line before asking, “Where you headed?” 

You feel like he knows the answer, “Spencer’s.” 

His lips turn upwards, and he laughs; he laughs so hard that he’s gripping his side. “Ye-Yeah, that's right. Prove me right. Run straight to Doctor Reid. Fucking rich.” He snips at you as you finally feel the tears start to well up in your eyes. “You know what let him have my sloppy seconds.” 

You gasp softly, the comment like a punch in the gut. “Have fun fucking her in our bed. Make sure to put the pictures face down before you give her the most underwhelming four minutes of her life. I’ll be back tomorrow to start packing.” You say as you start stepping through the front door, slamming it behind you. You’re panting lightly in the empty hallway, your mind numb as tears stream down your face. You don’t remember lugging your stuff to the second floor or getting to Spencer’s door. 

The only thing you remember is the sound of your name and gentle hands grabbing your chin and tilting your head up with care. You remember sobbing, hyperventilating out the events of the past evening to him as he helps you inside. And the eventual call of sleep that reaches you on Spencer’s couch. 

Day One Hundred and Ninety

Spencer could hear the soft sounds of your computer playing something in the living room. Last Friday… Well, technically, early Saturday morning, you had your head on your knees outside his apartment door. The sound of sobs had him dropping his dirty go-bag and grabbing your chin to soothe you. 

He listened to everything: how Josh thought that you were emotionally cheating on him with Spencer, how Josh had fallen in love with a coworker, and how he kicked you out. You said you would have stayed, but the lease was in his name. It was a stupid decision of the past catching up with you– your words, not Spencer’s. 

You had told him that it would only be for one night, but Spencer wasn’t going to make you couch surf all week. He insisted that you stay with him until you found an apartment. He let you stuff your boxes of things in his study and was happy to do it. 

The worst part about this arrangement was seeing you like this, seeing you so heartbroken. You went to work a little later than him, came home later than him, ate, slept, and repeated the cycle. He kept catching you with a dissociative look on your face. Too scared to ask you if you were okay, he would awkwardly attempt to cheer you up with your shared hobbies. But that only worked for so long until you were ending the night with that numb look on your face again. 

He lays in bed, wondering if he should go into the living room to check on you. He barely thinks it through before he throws his covers off and slips out of bed. He has plaid pajama pants on with an old CalTech shirt, and when he walks into the living room, he can see you pause what you’re watching on your computer and smile at him. 

“Hey,” you whisper, even though it's just the two of you in the apartment. 

“Hey,” Spencer whispers back before sighing and walking toward the back of the couch. “Can’t sleep?” 

You look up at him before returning to the dimly lit computer screen, “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t,” His quick reply has you nodding a little. You shift a little, pushing yourself up to make room on the couch for him. He takes the unspoken invitation and sits down next to you.”What are we watching?” 

You lick your lips nervously, “Romcom. When Harry Met Sally.”  

Spencer glances at you before he admits, “Never seen it.” 

You gasp softly, and that playful light returns in your eyes for a second. He hasn’t seen that light in a week. “Spencer Reid, you haven’t lived.” 

Spencer takes the opportunity to joke around with you, making a buzzer sound with his mouth. “Wrong. I’ve been alive for many years.” 

This gets a weak smile from you, but still a smile nonetheless. “You want to watch it with me? I know it's late, but… maybe it’ll lure you to sleep if you find it boring.” 

Spencer grins, glancing at the clock to see how late it is. He shakes his head a little, “Maybe we could just talk for a second? I’ve barely seen you this week.” He suggests. You’re quick to nod, shutting your laptop. You lean back on the sofa and bring your legs up to sit crisscrossed. He watches you. Your eyes are no longer red or puffy, but the skin on your cheeks still seems pale, lacking their natural rosiness. 

“I found a great apartment, but I can’t move in until the end of this month.” You break the silence first, hands folding awkwardly in your lap. 

Spencer nods, resisting the urge to hold one of your hands as he speaks. “That’s fine, and I’m not kicking you out anytime soon. You’re stuck with me for three more weeks.” 

You chuckle a little at that, “Ever the gentleman,” You say softly, but your eyes don’t have that light anymore. You seem distracted, your eyes lingering on him briefly before staring at your hands. “Spencer,” 

“Yeah?” 

“What do you do when everything feels like too much?” 

Your voice cracks softly as you ask the question, and Spencer is scared you’ll start crying again. He always feels useless whenever you cry, a genius without answers. He swallows the nervous lump in his throat: “I read, or sometimes I force myself to go out. Whenever I’m overwhelmed, I end up at the public library. Or sometimes, if I have the day, I go to the Smithsonian. But... it’s been a while.” 

You seem to perk up a little at the mention of the Smithsonian, and you give him a playfully little side glance, “Air and Space?” You guess with a small smile. 

He smiles and shrugs, “Sometimes,” he returns the playful sideways glance. “Portrait Gallery?” 

You’re laughing a little as you nod. Spencer feels relieved to hear its soft melody. “Portrait Gallery.” You confirm your pick with a soft sigh. 

Spencer lets warm silence spread for a second, his eyes occasionally flickering over to your serene expression. “What about you? What do you do when you’re overwhelmed?” 

Your eyes meet his as he asks the question, and for a second, you seem a little surprised that he is asking you anything. He wonders if you expected him to keep talking or ignore the tension in the air around you. 

“Well, reading is lovely. Museums, movies,” you pause for a second, and your expression softens. “Music. I love music when I’m feeling overwhelmed, sad, or happy. It’s a universal fix, music.” 

“What kind of music?” He has heard you talk about music before, how you didn’t understand people who hated it. Music helped him escape to childhood memories, the good ones at least. He wondered if it had the same effect on you. 

“Everything. Pop, country, indie, anything that moves me. I like classical too, but only sometimes.” 

“Why only sometimes?” 

“I like it in ballets, plays, movies. I like the visual representation that accompanies it.” Your eyes leave his slowly, “Like a music box with a ballerina inside.” 

Spencer finds that this version of you, the melancholy version, is blunt. You don’t people-please or avoid questions; instead, you would directly state something. He liked how you directly stated your musical likes and how honest they were. He finds himself wanting every version of yourself that you have shown him lately, and he feels a little guilty for it. 

A soft gasp from your lips stops him from overthinking, “Oh shoot,” You mutter as you pull out your phone, looking at the calendar before you curse softly. 

“What’s wrong?’ 

“I, uhm,” You swallow hard and set your phone down, “I just remembered that Josh and I were going to celebrate our third anniversary a little early this year. Our second wasn’t the best, and he promised we would do something I wanted to do. We had tickets to see Swan Lake.” You chew on your bottom lip slowly, getting lost in the thought before you say, “That’s next month. I gotta cancel.” 

Spencer can see how you slump at the thought and how sad it makes you to cancel the plans. He feels himself saying the words before he can even process them: “I can go with you.” 

You turn to him with a soft laugh of disbelief, “What?” 

“We could go together. Make the most of it. I mean, I like Swan Lake.” 

“Spencer, it would be wrong to spend what would be my third anniversary with you. I mean–”

“It wouldn’t be the exact day. You said it was a couple of months early, so it would just be us…going to see Swan Lake. Just friends, seeing a ballet, and getting dinner or something. A night on the town. Something to keep your mind off things,” 

He hopes you’ll agree to the offer, his heart beating loudly in his chest as you stare into his eyes. Your eyes dart back and forth, rapidly looking into his eyes and then at his face. The silence is killing him, a knife in his back as he tries his best to breathe normally. 

Then you’re giving him a slow smile, a little shy at first, before you beam at the suggestion, “Okay,” 

“Okay?” 

“Yeah, let’s go to the ballet together. I mean, I would do it with or without Josh anyway. Now I’ll be able to go with someone who will actually enjoy it, even better.” Your eyes meet his hazel ones again, and you place a tentative hand over his. “Thank you, Spence.” Your voice is sincere, and Spencer feels his body relax when you touch him. 

“I can’t think of a better way to spend my evening two months from now.” He whispers in the air between you before he slips his hand away from yours and stands. He yawns softly, “Now… let’s get some sleep.” 

You nod, a small smile still on your face as you lay on the couch. “Night.” You whisper as you close your eyes. 

Spencer stands and stares down at you a little longer than he should before he takes a step toward his bedroom. “Goodnight,” he says as he walks into his bedroom. He’s thinking about your genuine smile for another hour before he even closes his eyes.

TO BE CONTINUED...

[hedwig221b]

Hi could u pls suggest a pic where derek or Stiles gets injured and the other takes care of them?

Ah, yes, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, the top tier duo...

Holy Injuries, Batman! by LadyDrace

Stiles gets hurt. Badly. Getting better turns out to be more of a process than anyone expected, and there are a few surprises along the way.

Leave It All Behind by asarcasticwitch

A coil of panic tightens in his chest as, after just three short rings, Derek’s voice—raspy as if barely awake—echoes through the speaker. “Do you know what time it is?” he grumbles, and at any other time, Stiles would’ve made a joke or retorted with something so sarcastic it would’ve undoubtedly earned him a huff in return. But right now, he can’t think of anything to say.

Our Days Are Numbered by tylerfucklin

They didn't know, not until it was too late. The damage was done; the scars and broken bones made, and the nightmares endless. No amount of corrective surgeries and physical therapy would take away what had happened to Stiles that day.

Beltane by DevilDoll

"Watching Stiles heal someone has always been a little uncomfortable for Derek, like he's seeing something intimate and private that shouldn't have an audience. That's nothing compared to how it feels." This is an AU in which Stiles has magical healing powers.

The Bite by LeeHan

The first time Stiles was offered the bite, he said no, but the universe only gave him the courtesy of asking so many times. When the inevitability of the bite catches up with him, Stiles has to face his new nature. Luckily, he has Derek by his side every step of the way.

Surrounded and up against a wall, I’ll shred ‘em all (and go with you) by Gorgeousgreymatter

Stiles hates hospitals. He’s always hated hospitals. Well, not always (who likes them, anyway?), but since her. Since before -- and now just the thought of them makes him want to retch, gives him that crawling-out-his-skin feeling that makes him want to peel it all off with his fingernails. Which he should really stop biting, he muses, wincing as he tears a hangnail off with a rabid flash of teeth. Although, technically this wasn’t exactly a hospital. Not for humans anyway. But whatever, Stiles thinks, veterinary hospitals still counted. At least as long as Derek was in that back room screaming like he’s dying, because maybe he is.

This is Ridiculous by zosofi

There's a unicorn in Beacon Hills. A fricken' unicorn. In fricken' Beacon Hills, California. And it turns out that unicorns aren't drawn towards virgins in a happy-go-lucky let-me-lay-my-not-at-all-metaphorical-horn-in-your-lap way. No. They kill them. And guess who's the only virgin idiotic enough to get sucked into the Beacon Hills supernatural scene? Stiles, that's who.

I will stand with you by Taigrin

John Stilinski comes home to find Stiles and Derek passed out on the couch pretty much after telling his son to stay away from the werewolf. Or the one with family Stilinski feels mixed up with angst and a hurt alfa.

Not Your Disney Romance by Wrennefer (Wrenegadeone)

After a long-forgotten agreement of an arranged marriage between Derek and the daughter of another pack's alpha resurfaces, Stiles takes it upon himself to become the most amazing fake fiancé that a clueless, desperate alpha werewolf could wish for.

[masterlist link]

[oneshotnewbie]

❝𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐬❞

𝐸𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑠 𝑥 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 (& 𝐵𝐴𝑈 𝑇𝑒𝑎𝑚)

𝐴𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑎𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑎𝑠 𝐼 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐸𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦.

𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑡: "𝐼 𝑎𝑠𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝐻𝑜𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑘. 𝑊ℎ𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 „𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑠“? 𝐻𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡. 𝐼 𝑑𝑜 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑚𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑢𝑝𝑠𝑒𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑚 – ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑚𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑."

ᕚ---ᕘ

"Emily." you called quietly, but with an undertone that was unmistakably frustrated. You stomped down the stairs from Hotch's office and walked past everyone else on the team, your goal strictly set on the black-haired girl. "We need to talk."

Emily Prentiss looked up, her eyes flashing with amusement as she saw the seriousness in your face. She was sitting at her desk, organizing some files, but it was obvious that she had been waiting for this confrontation - yes, maybe even enjoying it.

"Oh?" she leaned back in her chair, folded her arms under her chest and gave you a challenging grin. "What have I done now?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." You folded your arms too and took a step closer. "I asked you yesterday to tell Hotch that I wouldn't be coming because I was sick."

"And I did," Emily raised her eyebrows, acting innocent and casual. "Well, more or less." You snorted deeply when you heard her answer and let your arms fall to your sides. "What the hell did you tell him?"

Emily couldn't hold back the grin any longer. She practically beamed as she repeated the sentence that had obviously caused a lot more of a stir than she had originally expected. "I told him that you died for our sins."

For a moment, the room was completely silent. You stared at her with your mouth wide open, as if you couldn't believe what you had just heard. Then the pent up frustration burst out.

"Are you out of your mind? That really upset him, Em!" you raised your hands as if to illustrate the absurdity of the situation she had maneuvered you into. "He just hugged me! Aaron Hotchner hugged me!!"

The woman in front of you started to giggle, but you were far from finished. "He told me he was going to kill you in a shootout on the field! He seriously thought I was... dead. Thanks to you!" you emphasized the last word, as if you wanted to make sure Emily understood the full extent of the misunderstanding.

That was the moment when she finally lost control of herself. She pressed her lips together, her shoulders began to shake, before she suddenly burst out laughing. She threw her head back slightly and grabbed the edge of the desk with one hand, as if she had to hold on. Her laughter was loud and infectious, and it didn't take long for other team members to take notice.

"What's going on here?" Derek Morgan was the first to come over to you when he heard Emily laughing. He leaned casually against his desk and looked at you intently. "Someone wants to let us in on the joke?"

"Oh, believe me, you want to hear it," the black-haired woman gasped between her fits of laughter and you looked at her intently, your eyes shooting daggers at her.

Spencer Reid, who had just been working on his laptop, looked up curiously from his desk, already putting on his glasses and giving you a questioning look. "What happened?"

"Emily..." you rubbed the bridge of your nose as if you were trying to muster up the last bit of patience. "Emily told Hotch yesterday that I died for our sins instead of just telling him I was sick."

Morning let out a loud laugh as he processed the sentence. "Oh my god, that's epic. I wish I'd thought of that."

"Wait," JJ said, who had also come over and stood next to Reid, one hand holding onto his desk chair. "Hotch really thought you died?"

"Oh yeah," you confirmed dryly, biting your lip. "He was completely distraught. He hugged me tightly and said he didn't expect to ever see me again. That was really bizarre."

"I would have wanted to see his face," Morgan said, suppressing his wide smile as you gave him a deadly glare. "Hotch is usually so calm and collected."

"Not half an hour ago," you said, shaking your head. "It really shocked me when I saw him like that."

"It was just a little joke," Emily said when she finally caught her breath, even though the grin was still on her face and stretched across her rosy cheeks. "I thought he would understand."

"Emily!" you said in frustration, tilting your head to the side, rolling your eyes. "It's Hotch! Of course he didn't understand!"

Reid, who had been listening quietly and not interjecting until now, just shook his head, obviously confused. "But why did you even say that? What was the purpose?"

"I've had a tiring night and a long day. I needed some entertainment." she answered him simply, quickly turning her gaze back to you, grinning mischievously.

"Entertainment?" you raised an eyebrow, and braced your hands on her desk, bringing your face closer to hers. "You seriously made Hotch believe I was dead. It's a damn miracle that he didn't show up at my door in the middle of the night or that my phone didn't explode with messages."

"This may have gotten a little out of control," Emily finally admitted, raising her hands in a gesture of innocence. "But in my defense, it was a damn good joke."

"He hugged me," you repeated, stunned, shaking your head again as if you were still processing what had happened. You slowly raised your hands in the air, drawing a vague outline as if you were trying to reconstruct the hug. "He never does that. Never."

Morgan was now standing next to you, looking up from his phone before watching you. His eyes twinkled with amusement, as if he was waiting for you to realize at any second how absurd the situation really was. "I bet he was really worried. He may seem harsh, but everyone knows he cares about us like we're his children."

"Exactly," JJ agreed. "And if he really thought you were... well, you know, dead, then I can imagine that hit him really hard."

"Oh, I know," you said with a sigh and dropped your hands to your hips, the despair on your face replaced by a slight smile as you considered the absurdity of the situation. "He looked really upset. I didn't know what to say."

"How did you resolve it?" Reid asked curiously, tilting his head to the side and pushing his glasses up on his nose. He looked at Emily searchingly, as if he wanted to analyze every little reaction and consider the logic behind her actions. "I mean, it must have been a pretty weird moment."

Your fingers ran nervously through your hair as you took a step back, frowning in resignation. "I told him that Prentiss was lying and I was just sick. But he looked at me like I was a ghost."

"You should have just left it at that," Emily said, her laughter now completely dead and her shoulders relaxed as she looked past you to Reid. "That would have kept the tension going a little longer."

Your head snapped back to her and you glared at her. "I was about to shake him and tell him I was alive. He almost pinned me to the ground, that's how tight the hug was."

"The man is usually so stoic," said Morgen, shaking his head and his eyes wandering to the floor as if he was trying to keep himself from laughing again. "He'll never forgive you for that, Prentiss."

"I'm not sure I'll ever be able to talk to him normally again without him seeing me as a walking dead man." By now you were sitting on the edge of Emily's desk, your fingers tapping your thigh thoughtfully.

"Well," Emily said with a winking smile and placed her hand on your lower back. "You should just be glad he didn't arrange a memorial service for you right away like he did for me when I died."

JJ gave Reid a knowing look and laughed softly before placing a hand on his shoulder when she saw that he was still deep in thought. "It's fascinating how people react to such information. You'd think that a logical mind like Hotch would be immediately suspicious. But in a moment of emotion, he apparently took the information at face value."

"Spencer, sometimes you just can't act logically when you think someone you know has died," JJ said calmly as she gently tapped him on the shoulder.

"That was an extreme example," you replied, still shaking your head. "I really don't know what you were thinking, Em."

Emily shrugged and grinned cheekily at you. "Life is too short not to have fun. And besides, when else do I get the chance to annoy Hotch?"

"Scared?" you asked, needing to know if you had understood correctly. "He's ready to take you out on the field at the first opportunity..." you raised your hands again, this time to imitate a gun and pull the trigger with your fingers.

Morgen let out another laugh, followed by JJ. "Oh, I bet that'll be a fun conversation the next time he sees you."

Emily shrugged again, as if she didn't care at all. She grinned and reached forward to drop her hands from your waist and straighten some files on her desk. "I'll take the risk," she said casually, giving you another cheeky wink. "You only live once, after all."

You couldn't help but chuckle at that answer, though you bit your lip to keep it from happening. "You're incorrigible," you muttered as you pushed yourself off and slowly walked back to your desk.

"It's one of my many talents," Emily called after you, giggling softly once more. She reached for a pen on her desk and began to playfully twirl it between her fingers, giving Morgan and JJ an amused look. "And hey, you're still alive, so it's all good."

You sighed deeply again as you reached your desk and plopped down in your chair. As you immersed yourself in your work, your eyes kept wandering to Emily, who still had a satisfied smile on her face.

You turned to the others, whose faces were contorted in amusement and wide smiles. "Tell me, what's wrong with this woman?"

Everyone shrugged and scattered to their desks. It was clear that this incident would be a topic of conversation for a long time - and that Hotch might actually be plotting revenge.

[bettysupremacy]

The Cheerleader Curse

summary When you randomly show up at Eddie’s table, he takes your presence more malevolent than you intended

w/c 1.3k

a/n requested here!

Carol groans as Tina’s new boyfriend squeezes the meat of her hip. Turned away, he’s locked in a conversation with his teammate beside him.

“It’s sweet.” You defend.

“It’s nauseating, is what it is, I’m trying to eat here.” She takes a fry from your tray casually, popping it into her mouth.

Your nose scrunches, kicking her under the table with your white cheer sneaker. “Don’t be a bitch,” you take a handful off Tina’s boyfriends tray, dumping them onto hers. “Take his.”

She laughs loudly, biting into another one.

Tina’s boyfriend Derek turns, confused at the loudness of Carol’s laugh. “Girls.” Tommy shrugs, covering up your misbehavior. He too steals a fry from Carol’s plate, slinging his arm around her when he’s fit the whole thing in his mouth.

Tina’s shoe nudges yours. “You coming to my party this weekend?”

You dust your hands, chewing on a fry thoughtfully. “Um,” you swallow. “I think I have plans.”

Tina and Carol share a look. A dramatic, exasperated, look. “We never get to see you anymore.” Your best friend whines.

“You know we miss you at the parties.” Tina follows in suit.

You nod, understanding of their annoyance. “I just,” you sigh. “I promised I’d bring the boys to this the arcade, and we usually don’t leave till midnight.”

“Can’t Steve take em?” Tommy steals another fry. Carol swats him in the chest. “What?” He chews. “Boyfriend tax.”

“Steve works the late shift.” You shrug. “And it’s my weekend.”

“My weekend.” Tina imitates. “Why does everything always fall on your weekend?”

You frown, wary of the fallout between your friends. “He’s going through a lot.”

Tommy rolls his eyes, but his thoughts are kept quiet.

“He is.”

“We know,” Carol mumbles. “We know.”

Tina scrunches her nose at the interaction, unaware of the events that ripped Tommy, Carol, and Steve apart. “Well,” She shrugs. “If you get off the hook early you can show up.”

You nod, reaching down to pick your bag from the ground at the mention of the boys. “Of course,” you push from your seat. “I’ll be right back, don’t miss me.”

“We will.” Tina takes a fry from Derek’s plate. He doesn’t seem to mind.

The walk over to the boys table isn’t embarrassing, but it is uncomfortable. Your mind spins the whole cafeteria looking at you, wondering what is she doing? Why is she associating with them.

You flick Mike in the head when you reach. He doesn’t seem to mind, flicking your knee, but you look up guiltily anyways when you hear Eddie scoff.

“Hello?” He huffs, annoyed. This was a first. Sending a girl to do the terrorizing instead of Jason. Maybe he was absent, maybe he called you and asked can you do me a favor?

“Hi,” you nod at the older boy. You don’t know his age, but you where you are a first time senior, he is not. You don’t like the glare he fixes you with, sitting, waiting expectantly, like you’ll do something.

He’s pretty in his own way. Soft brown eyes, big curly hair. Any girl would be quick to swoon at his usual easy flirt personality.

Or maybe that’s just you.

You smile at him anyways while Dustin looks up from his picked at lunch tray.

“Hi, buddy.” Your warm hand glides over the Dustin’s cool forehead. He fusses as you smooth his curls.

“Stop,” he swats with the coolness of a teenager.

Eddie nearly jumps to scare you away, and he could. Dark black eyeliner, enough silver to shine a mile away, he’s easily intimidating. Especially when his face holds this expression of expectant distain.

Your eyes crinkle at Dustin’s flustered embarrassment. “How’re you, kid?” Its directed towards Mike and Dustin.

“Been better.” Dustin huffs at the same time Mike shrugs a fine.

You nod, hands stuffed into the oversized pockets of your varsity jacket as you roll on your heels. “You have Biology next?”

“Do you want to kill me?” Dustin shoulders droop.

“You normally love that class.”

“Not today,” he sighs, sickeningly morose as he looks up at you. “Can’t find my book anywhere.”

You frown. “That’s not good.”

He doesn’t react to the bluntness of the statement. “Tell me about it.”

“You check under your bed?” You tilt your head.

“And my moms.”

“Your backpack?”

“First place I checked, obviously.” The end of the sentence comes out with less attitude than he meant.

“Hmm,” you hum, Dustin doesn’t notice the glint in your eyes that Eddie does. “My car?” You smile.

His shoulders drop, relief and embarrassment mingling together clashingly. “You bozo.”

You pull it from the shoulder bag you currently carry. It thuds to the table loudly, but nobody outside the table seems to notice. “I know, you’re welcome.”

“Thank you.” He snatches the book quickly.

You smile. “Nobody’s trying to take it from you.”

Settling into your spot, you watch as Dustin shoves his book into his bag carelessly, and ignore the upset feeling of Eddie looking at you over the younger boys back. Searching the expression, you can’t find anything nice in it. Your tummy flips uncomfortably. “Well,” you nod to Dustin. “Don’t die before biology.”

“Noted,” he salutes, and you have to stop yourself from wrinkling your nose in cringe. Teen boys.

Eddie notices of course, his guard standing strong.

“Wait!” Dustin panics before you fully walk from the situation. “Steve can’t pick me up today.”

Harrington? Eddie thinks. The fuck is Dustin doing with Harrington?

“You need a ride?” You offer, but not really offer, cause you won’t let him decline.

“That-“

“I can give you a ride,” Eddie interrupts loudly, standing from his plastic seat. His fingertips push into the cold, sticky, table. “I’m not doing anything after school.”

And it’s not that you don’t trust Eddie, but who lets their children get in cars with strangers? Especially strangers in scary looking band tees.“Oh, it’s fine.” you look down at the geeky teen below you. “Right, Dustin?”

The younger boy nods. “It’s cool.”

“No, really,” Eddie continues, doing what he thinks is a favor to Dustin. “it’s no problem.”

Mike giggles from where he sits.

“Dude,” Dustin laughs confusedly. “It’s cool.”

And Eddie sits back down.

“Meet me at my car.” You point at the boys. “Don’t be late.”

And with that you turn, all the way back to your preferred table.

“That was weird.” Eddie laughs uncomfortably when you’re out of hearing distance. The whole table looks at him silently. “What?”

“We’re friends with her.” Mikes eyes zoom in. Eddie sweats.

“Didn’t you see her glare at me?” Eddie’s eyes scrunch in confusion. “And when have we ever associated with that group?”

“We’ve been through shit.” Dustin shrugs. “She’s cool.”

“And Harrington.”

Dustin shrugs again, hesitant with his next words. “He’s cool too.”

Jeff laughs loudly at Eddie. “You’re looking for a reason to be paranoid.”

“You sure your weed is clean?” Gareth chimes in teasingly.

“Fuck off.” Eddie sighs slumping in his seat. His eyes eyes lead back to you as the boys move on. He saw you glare. “They’re like a curse.”

“Who?” Gareth laughs.

“Them.” He waved dismissively towards you. “The cheerleaders.”

“She was nice.” Jeff shrugs.

“Nice until they’re not.” His head shakes seriously.

“Nice to look at.” Comes in Gareth quickly.

Jeff high fives him under the table, but Eddie ignores. The Cheerleader Curse.

A good campaign name.

“I don’t think Eddie likes me very much.” You sit back down at the table.

“The freak?” Carol asks. Tina side kicks her, shaking her head in don’t be mean.

“Yeah,” Your bag drops to the floor. “He was looking at me weird.”

“Maybe he wants in your pants.” Tommy shrugs, unconcerned. Carol swats him again.

“Gross,” She rolls her eyes. “But I did hear he has a reputation.” She pauses, glancing back at him. “Somehow.”

You look up at your friends. “What kind of reputation?”

“I heard he sleeps around.” Carol shrugs.

“I heard,” Tina chimes in, leaning into the group. “That he sells drugs in the woods.”

“He does.” Tommy shrugs. “He’s weird, but his weed isn’t shit.”

Tina sits back. “What’s his price?”

The conversation gets placed on back hold in your mind. Briefly, you debate looking back, ultimately turning to peek over your shoulder. What couldn’t he like about you? Had your nonexistent interaction turned him off of the idea of getting to know you?

For some funny reason, the thought sits in your gut uncomfortably.

“You good?” Carol reaches over the table to lightly pinch your arm. “We gotta call the Nurse?”

“No.” The shake of your head is adamant. “No, m’good.”

“Seriously,” Tommy shrugs. “He’s just weird, don’t let it bother you.”

You nod placid. “Yeah,” Your eyes flit to Eddie, before back to your friends again. “You’re right.”

“That’s my girl.” Tina’s knee knocks with yours.

You smile convincingly, nodding to your friends words. It’s hard for you to focus after that, mind clouded by the mean boy 6 tables away. You don’t look back again, don’t peek.

And somehow, Carol can see right through you.

[foundfam2754]

S18e3 live reactions!!

Spoilers…obviously

i have…frankly been avoiding thinking about this episode and the plot and the pain the entire week

i’m still so upset, I haven’t wrapped my head around it… not sure i want to watch the episode that’ll solidify it in my reality…

can’t believe will went through the s7 finale for this to happen….

here we go, gosh I’m going to cry, aren’t i?

oh man, they’re making us recap this??

oh fuck, this SONG???

they are doing flashbacks??? DAMN, this hurts

THIS IS NOT FAIR I ALREADY MADE IT THROUGH LISTENING TO THIS SONG THIS WEEK

and she has to parent alone :(

it does seem exactly like Tebecca to handle this in a funny, sarcastic, snarky way. Which is kinda comforting…

greenvez is helping a little

i kinda can’t believe that they have to work when Will was a best friend of them — Luke and Tara at least.

she lied, actually. she wasn’t in shock

also is it just me, or is this episode moving wayyy too quickly

honestly - to make Voit likeable, charming, charismatic is actually not a bad way to do this season

oh gosh, they’re making Rossi re live S16?? And that bunker?? Poor bb

yes, Elias, he’s mad at you. he’s been mad at you for about a year now

gosh, AJ, her voice when saying this quote makes this so much more powerful, her acting is going to be so good in this episode… so heartbreakingly good

it was a beautiful wedding - and literally one of my favourite episodes :((

she’s going to breakdown later this episode or something, isn’t she? She’s holding all of this in. Like the quote said, she’s holding everyone. And the girls are holding her.

lol JJ to Penelope, i love these women so much

oh god, I forgot it was Michael’s birthday :(

she has to re-live this every fucking second

can’t they….profile Will and find it? Not to seem clinical about it, but maybe that’ll help? Or maybe it’s too hard, and they were too close to him

gosh, even referring to him in the past tense is killing me

does Elias…know why they’re doing this and who they think he is?

I LOVE GREENVEZ SO FUCKING MUCH. I love this bromance

and of course, our penelope girl is there

i feel like penelope should NOT be on speaker

are you trying to make him jealous, penelope?

this love triangle is literally going to wear me out; i hope to goodness they’re not soft-launching greencia this season

Linda Lavin!!

ma’am, this is NOT what our Jaje needs right now

holy fuck lady, leave JJ ALONE

i hope and think this is just because she’s grieving and JJ’s the only person she can put her anger and sadness on

“agent tyler green” made me smile ngl

ty is the best person to support Ramona

oh goodness, JJ, please let them support you. i’m so sorry :(

damn, that scared me

“co-worker’s spouse” is diabolical

OH FUCK, THEY’RE GOING TO PUT JJ THROUGH IT…. S9 flashbacks anyone?

oh dang MAMA BEAR JJ

well…shit

why is that pan to penelope and em borderline comedic

no okay so what i find interesting here is that even, in this state, elias is still a fantastic reader of human behavior - that part of him hasn’t changed

aww, Auntie P is so cute

the more that they draw this out, the more i think elias is faking this…

yeah, because he was seeing sydney at the same time he was with ramona

well… he may be who he ‘used’ to be….i feel like we still don’t know yet tbh

zach’s acting is impressive in this episode, he is managing to make us feel bad for Elias

oh…heck, whoopsy ramona

no sir, they are not…, and yess… they are

i feel like… if this is real, this is what elias keeps hidden - esp in s16 and 17, the person he tries to be and the fear he has deep down that people are scared of him, oh who he is behind the facade and he was trying to avoid that AT ALL costs

i love papa pasta

ok i dreaded this episode, but it’s been my favourite so far, they’ve done it really well

yay hotch mention! derek mention! spence mention! can’t wait to see him soon!

WAIT SHUT UP IT’S MATTHEWWW, SPENCYYYYYYYYYYYYYY - i thought it was episode 4!! IMBD LIED TO ME SHUT THE FUCK UP

hi Spence <3 i think this is going to be healing for all of us ❤️‍🩹

wait it is this that might make me cry

i kinda love that he looks the EXACT same

i’m watching that again

he’s the one she’s going to breakdown in front of

the pan to lukey post garcia’s speech!

wait okay this episode is everything

no, jj, please don’t blame yourself

wait this may actually break me

she’s talking to him

oh my goodness, AJ is going to make me cry this is NOT OK

they’re not going to have spence for just these 2 minutes, right? please tell me not just these 2 minutes

yeah it happened - i’m officially crying

the camera shot of luke, penelope and tyler walking off together is diabolical

ok, Spence was the perfect person to hold her here

why are post-funeral soirées always held at penelope’s house

what is this soft-launching of penelope, and tyler

ohhhhh…this is emily’s house

i love that she’s being authentic with everyone, she’s being open and vulnerable

yeah, i still don’t understand killing off krystall

is it bad that i know every episode these quotes are coming from :( i miss you, will, so fucking much

oh god, poor henry

yeah, so that episode tore me apart into a million pieces

I’m still not happy that will is gone, but it was beautiful, it was done SO DAMN well, and AJ deserves everything

like i kinda almost understand why they wrote will’s death … it allows for SO MUCH character development, not ONLY for JJ but for penelope, penelope and tyler, penelope and luke, dave, tebecca

the only thing i’m mad about is that spence coming back was only for 2 minutes and MGG had like…2 lines lol, but idk maybe there’s reason

dang, okay but this was my favourite episode so far

and with that, sitting here with a wounded heart that’s on its way to healing, i’m signing off

see y’all next week for 18x4

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

The Stranger: Part One

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.1k

Warnings: canon violence, canon language, canon talk of death, methods of kill

Summary: When an unsub is killing young women in San Diego, your team is called in before he can rack up the number of victims. He's targeting babysitters and it's your job to figure out why. Meanwhile, Frank ups the pressure on you and Spencer, something that will definitely put a wedge in your relationship.

Season Six Masterlist

Author���s Note: I do not own anything from Criminal Minds. All credit goes to their respective owners. If any warnings exceed the normal deaths/kills from the show, I will list them.

x

"Sometimes human places create inhuman monsters." - Stephen King

Spencer has his arm wrapped around your shoulders as you push the bar of the exit door to the theater. The movie is still playing but Penelope made everyone leave due to it being too gory.

"Unnecessary. There's too much blood and gore and eew," Penelope shudders.

"Garcia, it's a slasher film. How do you do a slasher film without violence?" Spencer laughs.

"You imply it."

"Baby, the movie is called 'Slice 6'. What were you expecting?"

"A refreshing beverage with a twist of comedy. I'm gonna have nightmares for a week."

"With everything that we do and see on a daily basis, that got to you?" Ashley asks.

"Listen, newb, you may be all Sigourney Weaver ass-kicking tough, which is awesome, but the mystical mavens of innocence like myself jump at things that go bump in the night."

"Why are you worried? I'm sure that Morgan will protect you," Spencer snickers. "As long as he's not jumping out of his chair like a prepubescent schoolgirl."

"The only reason I jumped is 'cause you guys woke me up," Derek defends himself.

"How could you sleep during that?"

"Easy. You drag me out after a twelve-hour workday for what? Are you telling me that the girl didn't know that the unsub was waiting for her upstairs? Come on, now."

"Villain," Spencer corrects.

"What?"

"In movies, unsubs are called villains."

"My bad," Derek rolls his eyes.

"You want to know why horror movies are so successful?"

"Tell 'em, baby," you grin.

"They prey on our instinctual need to survive. In tribal days, a woman's scream would signal danger and the men would return from hunting to protect their pack. That's why it's always the women and not the men who fall victim to the bogeyman."

"Count on you, Reid, to break a movie down to science," Penelope laughs.

"My favorite thing about horror movies is the suspense factor," Ashley says. "The helpless victim walks through the dark... Shadows reaching out to get her. A sudden noise draws her attention. Is someone there, or is it just in her head?"

"Still, it's totally unrealistic. No one should be walking through a dark alley by themselves at night."

"Ahem," Derek clears his throat. "Hello?"

"Sorry. No one should be walking through a dark alley without a Derek Morgan by their side," she grins and pulls him into her side.

"The best part of a horror movie... You never know when the end is gonna come."

"So, when is the wedding?" Penelope asks.

You and Spencer look at each other, and he smiles. "I don't know. We're really in no rush to get it done, and we just want it to be perfect. We are having it at a botanical garden. There's a beautiful one right here in Virginia so you don't have to travel far for it."

"Let me know if you want some pointers on the honeymoon," Derek grins.

"I'll be sure to come to you," Spencer laughs.

"Whenever you decide to do it, I'm planning your bachelorette party. I already told JJ I'm taking that one," Penelope says.

"Alright, it's yours," you grin.

In the morning, you arrive at work with Spencer and see Rossi on his way to the briefing room.

"How was your weekend?" he asks you two.

"We went to see 'Slice 6' with Derek, Penelope, and Ashley. Pen made us leave early. She claimed it was too gory."

"It was a good movie, and it's hard to find slasher movies that are good these days," Spencer says. "What we didn't see coming is the slicer's brother was in the closet."

"Frightening," Rossi chuckles.

"His betrayal consumed him and he sent his brother to his own private hell."

You pass by Hotch's office and see Strauss in there talking to him. Spencer and Rossi notice her, too, but you continue to the briefing room instead of hanging out outside the office.

"Speaking of horror," Rossi mutters.

"What is Strauss doing here?"

"Whatever it is, I cast my vote on 'not good'," Penelope says.

Seconds later, Hotch comes into the briefing room giving no indication on his face of what the meeting was about.

"Let's get started."

"Okay," Penelope clears her throat. "Monica Shanley, Natalie Wallace, and Amber Lasko were three college students who were killed in their off-campus apartments in the last five days. Two were going to San Diego Coastal University, and one was going to San Diego Tech."

Pictures of the three girls are put onto the screen, and you immediately notice a similarity between them.

"The unsub definitely has a type. They could all be related," you say.

"They're all in their early twenties, brunette, and majoring in education and/or child development."

"Is there any indication that they knew one another?" Ashley asks.

"As it stands right now, I'm coming up empty. Their apartments were spread throughout the city, and no fingerprints were at the crime scene. The unsub must have used gloves."

"He's organized."

"There was forced entry at all the apartments at the back door, patio door, and living room window. The homes were wrecked. That's a clear evidence of a struggle. He's creating a scene. He wants to inflict fear not only in his victim but in whoever finds the body."

"It could be a message to the local PD. 'Look what I can do.'"

"He's killed three women in under a week. In all likelihood, he's hunting for his fourth victim now. San Diego PD wants us on the scene as soon as possible."

You don't waste time in getting to the jet. As soon as everyone is on, the pilot takes off.

"Our unsub has a type and a temper. Amber was getting ready for her bath. It would have been an easy target for a sexual assault, but none came. That's highly unusual behavior for this kind of unsub."

"Extreme violence in physical aggression is in its nature sexual," Spencer explains.

"That's true, but as a substitution for the sex act. This guy could be impotent. He can't perform so that's why he goes all out for the kill."

"If he's targeting female college students, we need to make sure that campus officials are informed if they haven't been already. We also can't rule out other students and faculty," Hotch says.

"You know, San Diego's essentially one big college town, with an enrollment at SDCU of approximately sixty-five thousand students. San Diego County has nine universities, five private and four public. We add seven more if we're including trade schools," Spencer says.

"Each girl lived off-campus and was attacked in their apartment. That's pretty high risk. It's less risky if he's stalking them in advance like running layouts and routines."

"Between classes and part-time jobs, they'd be home sporadically at best which tells us they're not victims of opportunity. He targets them, then stalks them to know where they live and when they're gonna be alone."

"Morgan, you, Y/N, and Reid go to the last victim's apartment. Seaver, interview the roommate. Dave and I will go to the medical examiner's office."

All three victims have defensive wounds on their arms which means they put up a fight. With each new victim, the stab wounds increase. On Monica, the wounds show hesitation as if the unsub has never done this before or he felt remorse. She also had a fatal blow directly to the heart.

The unsub might have gotten lucky with her.

By the time he gets to the third kill, he's more experienced and he knows what he's doing. The cuts are more direct, and Amber died from massive blood loss. He made the struggle last longer with her because he wanted her to suffer.

Now, he's starting to enjoy it.

The only place to park for Amber's apartment is a parking garage behind the building, so Derek pulls into it as soon as you three left the airport. This place being unsecured means anyone with a car can access it. That doesn't narrow down your list of suspects. You three get out and start walking to her building.

"This isn't secure parking," Derek comments.

"I rode a bike when I was in college."

"Baby, you weren't old enough to drive," you chuckle.

"I could drive. It's just that the government wouldn't issue me a license until I was fourteen." He looks around the parking garage. "There's a lot of places for the unsub to hide out here."

"Yeah, he could have easily grabbed her when she passed through here."

"Yet she made it all the way to her apartment where she should feel safe, but then he took that from her." You walk inside her apartment and meet with the detective on the case. "Hi, I'm Agent Y/N and they are Agent Derek Morgan and Dr. Spencer Reid."

"I'm Detective Bryce Harding. Amber's roommate, Michelle, told us she was out of town visiting family when the attack occurred."

"The unsub must have known that. That's why he made his move last night."

"He jimmied the lock on the window," the detective says and shows you the broken window.

"I guess he needed the privacy to complete the torture."

"Well, most sadists like to kill on their own turf. This guy didn't risk taking her to a secondary location."

You stand in the corner of the room overlooking the rest of the apartment. You connect with her energy rather than the unsub's to paint you a pretty picture of what happened. When you open your eyes, you're brought to last night. The front door opens and Amber walks in, having just come from the gun. She looks sweaty and wearing workout clothes. She has headphones in, and you follow her to her bedroom which is connected to her bathroom.

She walks into her bathroom and turns the tub on to get the water to warm up while you assume she will start to undress for her bath or shower. While the tub is running, she walks back into her bedroom. Instead of watching her, you walk back into the living room to see the unsub already at the window. Much like you assume, he jimmies the lock before it breaks, and he slides the window up. He slips inside without alerting Amber, which you know she still has her headphones in.

You can't see what he looks like because he wears a stark white mask, hiding from people like you.

The unsub searches through her apartment first, not like he's looking for anything specific, just to see what she has. You walk back into the bedroom to see Amber just about to light a candle. That's when she notices the unsub's shadow on the ground through her open bedroom door. She walks slowly into the living room and screams when she sees the unsub. 

He takes off running toward her, and she books it back into her bedroom. She doesn't have time to close the bedroom door but she does try to close the bathroom door on him. You slip inside the bathroom right before she can close it so you're in the bathroom with her. The unsub tries pushing it open and reaching through the slit, but she's strong. She slams the bathroom door closed and locks it but it doesn't keep the unsub out. 

He busts the door open and she falls back into the bathtub in shock, taking the curtains down with her. He jumps on top of her and stabs her repeatedly. She tried to put up a fight. You have to give her that.

"Y/N?" You snap out of the trance and notice you've made your way into the bloody bathtub. You turn to see Derek and Spencer at the doorway. "Maybe something happened which makes the location of the kill significant. Look. That's something new. He's smearing blood on the walls, exhibiting more control and rage over his victims, taking pleasure in the kill."

"What's with the specific physical type?" Detective Harding asks.

"It looks like he's taking his anger out on women who represent someone he knows."

"Yeah, like Edmund Kemper," Spencer agrees. "He most likely can't confront his true target yet, so he's going after women who look like her until he can build up the confidence to complete his endgame."

Amber had a lot of friends who cared about her, especially her roommate who had been friends with her since the third grade. Amber wasn't the type of girl to go out. She loved spending time to herself inside the safety of her apartment. Michelle had a hard time trying to get her out because Amber worked her ass off. She didn't have time for trivial things like college parties.

She needed the money so she was working odd jobs like dog walking or horse sitting or proofreading. She'd get those odd jobs from coffee houses, Craiglist, or the student center. Anywhere that had a bulletin board people can post on. That means just about anyone could have noticed her and decided to stalk her.

x

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[matchestopetrol]

Gladiator 2 hurts my soul

The thing that really gets me about the inaccuracies in Gladiator 2 is how goddamn lazy they are.

Like there a lot of things I'm willing to ignore for the sake of fun, sharks in the coliseum for one. I just tell myself that if Romans could have put sharks in the coliseum they would have.

(never mind that they coliseum could not have been flooded and they more likely used smaller purpose built amphitheatres...)

Or a gladiator riding a rhino, ok sure go off princeps.

(rhinos in the arena were either shown off and not killed or fought by beastiarii's.)

But what really gets me is the sheer incomprehensible laziness.

Ok so the film opens in 200 AD in Numidia right? that choice alone makes everything that happens after utterly bonkers. They could have changed one date, one! and had the movie make an iota of sense, but no.

In 200 AD Emperor Septimius Severus was still alive and would be alive for another 11 years.

In 200 AD Caracalla would be 12 and Geta would be 11.

In 200 AD Numidia would have been conquered for 250 years.

It's so lazy it hurts.

It also pisses me off because it completely ignores the nearly 20 year rule of Septimius Severus who was considered to be a good Emperor that stabilized Rome after the mess that was the year of the five emperors.

And it completely sidelines Julia Domna, the Empress who after the death of her husband basically ran the Empire because her sons were more preoccupied with being soldiers than good administrators.

Geta was murdered by his brother in 211 AD and then Caracalla ruled for another 6 years after his death.

This movie just annoys me so much, it's so lazy and had such an enormous budget and even overlooking the inaccuracies it was such a mid film that made you care about no one and nothing. The only person who I enjoyed watching was Denzel, and thats because he just chewed the scenery like there was no tomorrow.

Ok so heres a list of more of my petty gripes.

-They call Lucilla the Queen and Lucius a prince, never would have happened, monarchies are a no go in Rome due to so many historical reasons.

-Nice female character ya got there, how about we fridge her?

-You know what better than one queer coded villain, two queer coded villains!

-Why is Rome so drab and colourless, where are the mosaics? The frescoes? The paint ?

-Nice north African characters ya got there, how about we make 'em pasty twinks.

-Oh look it's the praetorian army...? Yeah they're definitely loyal and won't murder an emperor if they don't like 'em.

-Oh look it's a newspaper?

-Look what you've done to Derek Jacobi.

-Nice literal plot armour ya got there.

-Acacius my guy could you try to be even a little inconspicuous?

And here are sone things I liked

-Nice glassware, really quite excellent 10/10 no notes

-Paul Mescal saying "did ya now" and his Irish accent slipping through, loved it.

-The costumes, lovely, I thought the background characters looked even better than the main cast.

-The fights were fun, I liked the boat ramming scene.

-And lastly Pedro Pascal, sad dad redux, the dad who tried to step up, love it.

Alright so that's me, don't waste your money on a movie ticket, wait till it comes out on streaming, meanwhile imma go watch HBO Rome and Spartacus again.

[agent-leighreid]

BAU TEAM MEMBERS...

...BEING JEALOUS OVER YOU

-Part one of two

-f!reader

-!!TW!! Mentions of rape and murder. Sexual innudenos.

-Y/n (Your name)

-Y/l/n (Your last name)

-Written in Y/n's POV (unless mentioned otherwise)

-Part one of two includes Emily, Hotch and Spencer.

-Part two of two includes, Derek, JJ and Garcia.

EMILY PRENTISS

"Okay Morgan, she's going to a Nightclub tonight, scouting for another victim no doubt..I need you to-"

"Charm? No problem Hotch, it's in my blood." Derek said, a smirk tugging at his lips.

I rolled my eyes, playfully hitting his shoulder. He chuckled, swatting me away, I raised my hand to attempt to 'hit' him again, but before I could continue, Garcia was calling in.

"Go ahead Garcia" Hotch said, putting it on speaker.

"A little birdy told me, that my Morgan is going undercover at a nightclub to flirt with an unsub?" she questioned.

"Don't worry baby, you're still my number one girl.." Derek spoke, smiling.

I glanced up at Emily and saw her smile, radiant as ever. She met my eyes and if I didn't look away, those pools of perfection would've had mine locked in place forever.

"Oh I had no doubt about that!" Garcia's response brought me back into orbit. "But that's not my issue, sugar" she said.

"What is it Garcia?" Hotch asked, growing slightly impatient.

"Our unsub is a lesbian." she stated.

Everyone's eyebrow raised, and through the corner of my eye I saw Emily look up at me.

"That explains her victimology, could be surrogates for an ex, or a girl who never liked her back.." JJ said.

"Or she could be acting out on her internalised homophobia" Reid suggested. "She grew up Catholic right? Recently Catholic churches have reached out to LGBT members to offer support..but that wouldn't have been the case for her growing up, most likely her parents tried to take her to therapy or they might've even tried to exorcise the homosexuality out of her..she's been manipulated into thinking who she is is evil, and wrong when in actuality she was just never accepted." he said. "Murdering these women is a way of killing that part of herself that no one, not even God, had been able to rid her of. She's trying to compensate for her so called “sins”. "

A small wave of silence washed over the room in the police precinct.

"Well, Y/l/n? Prentiss? Which of you is happy to do it?" Hotch asked, as Derek sadly sat back down.

Again, another small wave of silence until I grew confident and spoke up. "I'll do it." I said.

Yes, I was voluntarily putting myself in harms way but..

Number 1, it's my job

And Number 2, I can show Em I'm not just for the gentlemen.

"Are you sure?" Hotch asked.

"Yeah, we gotta catch this bitch right? And plus, I match the victimology better.." I responded, glancing up at the crime scene photos, my stomach sinking slightly.

"Okay, let's get ready" He said, walking off.

I was given a black satin dress, running from my shoulders to just above my knees. It had lace sleeves and was pretty thin. I shivered as I stepped out of the toilet that I changed in, my given high heels clicking along the floor of the precinct as I walked. While I never wore high heels, they weren't that hard to get used to.

(A/n: that's a fucking lie they're the worst shoes to ever be invented. Torture. And for what?)

I entered back into the room that we were set up in, whiteboards with speculations filling up the space and paperwork littering the desks.

I placed the handbag I was also given on one of the desks, putting my gun and badge inside.

A wolf whistle pulled me from my thoughts as the rest of the team walked in. The whistle came from Derek as he walked in smiling, Emily not far behind him, glaring in his direction. The rest of the team followed close behind, and we went over the plan.

Hotch and Morgan would also be in the nightclub watching over me and the unsub, while Emily, JJ, Spencer and Rossi, along with a number of officers from the police station, waited in SUV's outside. Watching through CCTV and listening through shared ear pieces.

The team got ready and walked out to the SUV's, the cold air hitting me like a brick; the dress wasn't exactly the thickest material in the world. I stopped in my tracks and folded my arms, feeling goosebumps.

"Want my jacket, Y/l/n?" Emily asked, coming up behind me, her warm hand placed gently on the small of my back.

My eyes met hers and I had to thank the city lights for hiding the blush that flushed onto my face.

"Oh, are you sure?" I asked, proud of my voice for staying steady.

"Of course! And hey, it goes with the dress.." she said, draping it over my shoulders as she looked me up and down, before entering one of the SUV's.

I had no idea if I fantasised that last part, but by the way Derek smirked at me while he walked past, wiggling his eyebrows as he followed Emily into the SUV, told me that I didn't.

I got into the other SUV, and we drove to the Nightclub.

I walked inside, music blaring in my ears, making them ache slightly. I glanced over the room and walked to the bar after JJ telling me she was there. I spotted her, and slowly approached the bar.

She sat fiddling with the little umberella in her drink.

"Can I just grab a lemonade please?" I asked the bartender.

The unsub watched me from her seat as I turned to face the dance floor, my arms resting on the bar.

"You not a drinker?" She said, initiating conversation.

Play it cool, Y/n.

"Me? Oh..nah." I said, turning in her direction.

The bartender slid me the lemonade.

"Thank you" I said, digging through my handbag for the money.

The unsub layed her hands on mine, stopping me from looking.

"Let me get this for you." she smiled.

I smiled "...oh, thank you" I said, my tone steady.

"It's no problem, why don't you drink?" The unsub asked, leaning toward me a little.

"Oh...my dad was an alcoholic.." I admitted to her, sheepishly looking down at my lemonade.

"Ugh, Dad's. Don't you hate them" she said, moving one of her legs on top of the other. "Or just...men in general.."

I saw Hotch a few feet down the bar, eyeing us up. "Yup.." I said, popping the 'p'.

"So many treat thier daughters terribly.." she said, taking another sip of her drink.

I didn't respond, but held my gaze.

"I bet I could treat you better.." she said, rubbing her high heel along my calf. "So much better than any man.."

My eyebrow arched as I copied her earlier move of leaning toward her.

"Oh yeah? How would you do that?" I asked, lightly biting the straw of my drink.

She smiled, her eyes growing hungry.

"Firstly.." she started, getting up off the stool.

EMILY'S POV

"Firstly.." she got up off her stool and took another step closer to Y/n.

"I'd show you how much of a princess you are.." she said, running her tongue along her teeth.

"Ew." I said, audibly. JJ, Spencer and Rossi drew their faces away from the computer and looked at me.

"What?" I asked. They said nothing and returned back to watching the unsub, while my eyes darted back to Y/n again.

"What then?" She asked, tilting her head.

"Oh then?" the unsub replied. "You'll just have to wait and see..." she said, paying with the lace of Y/n's sleeves.

I felt my heart leap into my throat.

"Can we go in already?" I asked, impatiently.

"Morgan and I are slowly etching toward them, be ready." Hotch replied.

I let out a breath and made sure my gun was loaded.

"Oh alright Y/l/n.." I heard JJ say, her eyebrows were raised, she sounded impressed.

I looked up from my gun "What?" I asked.

She pointed to Y/n just in time for me to see her tucking in some of the unsub's hair behind her ear.

The grimace on my face was painfully obvious, but I didn't care. I felt my chest roaring with flames of....I don't know what. Watching Y/n like that with someone else just didn't sit right with me. Maybe it was the fact that she was an unsub.

I watched the screen and saw the unsub pouring something in Y/n's drink, Y/n's vision blocked by the unsub's hand that she placed on her face.

"Hotch!?" I questioned, already making my way out of the SUV.

"I saw it, go." he responded.

"Already at the door."

Y/N'S POV

I heard her crush something in my drink, and my smile grew as I masked the slight fear creeping in.

"You're so beautiful" she said, stroking my cheek.

I giggled and reached inside my bag, pulling out my gun. "You're not, F.B.I" I said.

She turned to lose me in the crowd, but was met with Hotch right behind her. Morgan, JJ, Reid, Rossi, the police and Emily all filtered through the party goers, with thier guns pointed at our unsub.

The crowd of clubbers dispersed, some running out of the club, others huddling and watching from the sides.

She huffed putting her hands up. Emily holstered her gun and forcefully pushed down the unsub's arms, tightening the handcuffs around her wrists. "You're under arrest for the murder of 4 women, you have the right to remain silent-"

"I know my rights!" the unsub spat.

"Let's hope you do." Emily replied, shoving her toward a police officer to escort her to a cruiser.

I watched her leave, standing at the bar.

Emily turned to me, placing her hand gently on my elbow. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft.

I looked to her and smiled. "Yeah, I'm good" I smiled.

She looked down at my drink, the powder still visible. "I was scared you were gonna take another sip.." she admitted.

My heart fluttered. "I heard her crush it.." I said sheepishly.

"Crush it?" She asked.

"Yeah, it must've been like a pill or something..I don't know" I said.

Emily met my eyes again, her pupils dilating as she took in my features.

"Actually pills are pretty hard to crush, unless it was specifically made, she would have struggled to crush it without atleast looking like she was trying to. She may have snapped the pill if it had a casing on it but I don't think that's what we're dealing with. Due to how packed the powder is within a pill, a human's finger strength isn't enough to crush it how you thought she would have. Have you ever tried to crush an egg with just one hand? It's basically the same thing-"

"Reid.." Morgan smiled.

"Yeah?" he asked. Morgan just shook his head.

Reid looked back at Emily and I and noticed how neither of us were processing the information he was giving, we were just looking in each other's eyes. We were staring at one another a little too long to just be friends.

"Oh.."

AARON HOTCHNER

Was flirting with my boss unprofessional? Yes.

Was I certain I was one lip bite away from getting fired? Also yes.

Did I care? That's another story.

I sat next to Morgan on the jet as we ran through what we had and attempted to get as much information about the unsub as possible before landing in Detroit.

"Well this guy surely isn't organized, his work is sloppy. It's like he doesn't care about getting caught" Hotch said.

"But evidences suggest that he is organised. He's taken forensic countermeasures to ensure we can't ID him..." Rossi spoke from his seat.

"Well...I wouldn't care if it was you taking me into custody either, Hotchner." I said, looking up at him and smiling.

He licked his lips, staying slient. "Morgan, Reid, go the crime scene. Rossi, Prentiss and JJ, talk to the victim's families..see what you can gather. Y/l/n, you're with me at the station." he said.

"Alright Hotch! Friendly remarks aren't a crime now are they?" I asked, holding up my hand sin defence.

"If you're not careful they will be, and plus..they were hardly friendly.." he said, walking off to sit in his seat.

"He loves it really." I say to the rest of the team, as they either hid thier smiles or unshamefully giggled at my antics.

We landed in Detroit and separated, each of us leaving for where Hotch wanted us to go, of course, he kept me by his side. Can't help it can he?

"So are we just gonna set up and wait for the others?" I asked, walking to our given room at the precinct.

"No, not exactly. The Detriot Police already have a suspect in custody.." He said, nodding toward the interrogation room.

"And you were gonna tell the team when exactly?" I asked, looking through the glass.

"They know, I had Garcia notify them as they made their way to where they needed to be. You and I, are gonna crack this guy. Even if he didn't kill and rape those 3 women...he's got something on him.." He said.

I raised my eyebrow. "Let me guess, I should be the one to talk to him?" I said, tilting my head slightly.

Hotch stepped closer to me. "Steven Oaks. He's a typical Alpha Male, one who doesn't lack dominance, he's unlikely to talk with someone a bit too...similar." he said.

I matched his movements and turned to face him too. "So what are you saying, Hotch? You afraid your “Alpha” persona's gonna rub him off the wrong way?" I mocked.

"Not at all, I'm just saying he might take pleasure in talking to someone a little more...submissive" he said, glancing from my eyes to my lips again and again.

I let out a breath and bit my tongue. "Is this an order?" I asked.

He didn't respond, he just held his gaze, and so I stared right back. His eyes, though often darting south, were never drawn away by nearby policemen.

I shook my head. "Pfft, fine. What's my tactic, Hotch?" I asked, approaching the glass and getting a good read of the guy before going in.

"Just see what you can find out.." He said, his arms folded.

I approached the door and entered, not before undoing just one more button of my shirt.

"Listen man i-"

I smiled warmly. "Last time I checked, I wasn't a man.." I said, sitting across from him.

He smirked and leant back in his seat. Relaxed already.

"No..no you are not" he said, his smile not fading.

"Ma'am, I can assure you, I had nothing to do with those 3 women, okay?" he said, sitting up.

"Oh we know, well- I know.." I sheepishly smiled, playing into whatever persona I threw on as I walked in.

"I know what kinda man you are...you wouldn't kill.." I said, my smile not faulting as I began to brush his leg with the tip of my shoe.

He took a breath in. "Oh yeah?" he asked, biting his lip.

As much as this was killing me, I had to play along. It's all fun and games flirting with your boss whom you know (and cherish on that note) but it's another thing doing it with a creep that you're certain should be in a cage.

"So...tell me Steven. How many people are in your gang?" I asked. If I'm totally honest, it was a shot in the dark, the only thing I had to go off was the badly covered up tattoo on his forearm. It was the symbol of a pretty wanted gang in the area after they moved from Canada down to Detriot.

"Oh I have a gang do I?" he asked.

"I assume so, you seem like the type of guy who.. likes to be in charge.." I said, running my foot just that tiny bit higher.

"I am." he said.

I kept my gaze fixed.

He smirked again. "Mulier vivit ut serviat viro suo et viri qui in circuitu eius sunt."

(A/n: I used Google translate, do not quote me that that was a correct translation)

This time, I leaned back and drew away my foot. "A woman lives to serve her husband and the men who surround her." I said, translating what he said. The way this gang was first noticed, was through an investigation of rapes. Each woman was left with a word printed out on an A4 peice of paper, until the rapes stopped and the police were able to form a sentence.

“A woman lives to serve her husband and the men who surround her.”

By the look on his face, he wasn't expecting me to know Latin.

He smirked again though, drawing his eyes away from my face, to my chest.

"Oh the things I would've done to you..." he whispered, his voice low and his breath repulsive.

He leaned forward more, reaching out his hand, probably to stroke my cheek, but before I could move Hotch stormed in, slamming his hands on the table.

"Touch my Agent, or even think about it, and I swear to you, I have a registered Glock 17 in my holster with a new box bullets that I will personally fire into every single one of your limbs, until any low life friends you do have, won't be able to identify your body. The only thing left of you will be those already rotting teeth." He said, his voice stern.

Steven sat back in his chair, unimpressed. Hotch took me by the hand, and placed his other on my waist guiding me to the door.

"Was that a threat, Agent?" Steven asked as Aaron was about to shut the door.

"No." he said. "That was a promise." he said, slamming it instead.

"Are you okay?" he asked as soon as we were back in the BAU's room at the precinct.

"Yes." I smiled. "Didn't you want more dirt on that guy anyway? I mean...was the quote even enough to nail him?" I asked.

"The words left with each of the rape victims were never released to the public, the only people who would know that phrase are the Detectives who worked the case, or the gang members themselves..are you sure you're okay?" he asked again, taking a step forward. It was hesitant, compared to his pervious one.

I closed the gap between us, laying my hands on his chest. "Aaron Hotchner, I am fine. I was doing my job." I said, looking up at him.

He almost leaned in to my touch as he took a deep breath. "If you need to tap out of the case I will happily-"

"Aaron." I interrupted him.

"We've put away a freak, let's work on the unsub we were called in for, okay?" I asked.

His hand found itself at the small of my back, his thumb rubbing soft circles.

"Just let me know.." He said, before turning around away from me, just in time as Reid and Morgan walked in.

SPENCER REID

"-It's all maths really.." Spencer had climbed out of his pool of facts and statistics. He was trying to convince Hotch to let him come into the casino with me.

"And plus if..if anything happens then she won't be left on her own.." he said, glancing at me.

"Not that you wouldn't be able to handle yourself..I was simply-"

"Spence." I cut him off smiling.

"Hotch said you come in with me 5 minutes ago." I said.

"He did?" he turned his head to where Hotch was standing.

"Get ready" Hotch said, before turning on his heels and leaving the room.

Spencer turned to me and sheepishly smiled. That same smile in which I'd fallen for.

I exited the room also, to change into something more...gold digger appropriate. Wasn't exactly my style. I wasn't the type to dress so provocatively but if it's to catch a killer, I'll wear anything. I changed out of my shirt and got into the dress I was given, squeezing into the high heels and attempting to but on the mascara.

I huffed in the mirror after slipping for the third time.

"You..need some help with that?" Emily asked, walking into the changing room.

I smiled. "Please" I said, holding it out for her.

She took it and began applying it. "You're telling me you don't ever wear mascara?" she asked, concentrating.

"No? Have seen me with mascara? Or any makeup for that matter?" I asked.

"Well lucky for some...natural beauty and all that.." she said, turning to my other eye.

"Oh please" I said, waving her off.

"What?" she asked, almost offended. "You're gonna tell me you're not beautiful? Because I know I certain man with an IQ of 187 and interestingly enough, his intelligence gets slashed to 60 when he sees you for the first time in the mornings.." she said, smirking.

I tried to hide my blush, but that was hard considering she was right in my face. She turned my head with her fingers and examined her work. "There all done." she said, turning me to the full length mirror, taking in my appearance as a whole.

"Jeez that's a look" I said, slightly grimacing. "I mean...it'd look great on someone else I just don't know how I feel about it.."

"Well you're gonna have to embrace it!" She said, walking out. I followed close behind. "And besides you actually look really hot" she said, winking at me.

I laughed. "Don't let JJ hear you say that.."

Her mouth gaped and she hit me on the shoulder.

"Okay, we're ready" Emily said, as we walked back in to the room.

The others gawked at my outfit, never expecting to see me in something like it, even Hotch raised his eyebrows momentarily.

"Damn, pretty girl" Garcia said from the computer.

"Thanks Penny" I smiled. "Where's..Spencer...or Reid, sorry.." I asked.

"Oh he's just coming we gave him something to wear aswell" Hotch said, pointing to the door.

Spencer walked in, he wore a black jacket with matching trousers and a white shirt, with a number of the buttons undone. His hair a little less styled than before, and a bit messier.

I felt the blood rush to my cheeks in a frenzy, and the fabric around my chest got a little tighter.

"Sorry, I know what time the unsub gets to the casino and I didn't have time to do my hair..." he said, fiddling with a number of strands.

Too flustered to speak, I just did the first thing I thought of. I walked over and ruffled his hair up more. "You look beautiful." I said, and walked out immediately.

My eyes were popped out of my head as I walked away, the team following close behind me.

Morgan began walking next to me. "What was that?" He giggled.

"Derek." I warned, my blush still hadn't faded from when Spencer walked in.

SPENCER'S POV

"Sorry, I know what time the unsub gets to the casino and I didn't have time to do my hair..." I said, trying my best to fix it.

That's when my heart stopped. Y/n walked over, in a dress I'd never imagine her in. I'm sure she wouldn't have put herself in the dress either, but that's not to deny how beautiful she looked.

Sure, her persona for tonight was: 'flirt with and rub up the guy with the most money' (our unsub) but she looked like an angel to me.

"Reid!" Garcia snapped me out of my thoughts from her spot on the computer.

"Go! Everyone left with Y/n when she walked past you" she said, smirking. She disappeared off the screen and I scurried out of the room, catching up with everyone.

Y/N'S POV

"Here are your ear peices, they're small enough so no one will notice." Hotch said.

I put mine in, as did Spencer.

"Okay, Y/n you go inside first, all you need to do is steal his phone, it should be in the inside pocket of his blazer.." Hotch said.

"So my pick-pocketing childhood has payed off.." I said, jokingly.

I made my way inside the casino and let myself settle in. I'm here to find a man with a big prize pot. A specific man anyway.

I wandered from one end of the casino to the other latching onto winners of games until I finally noticed the unsub sat at a poker table.

I looked behind me, noticing Spencer just entering the casino. He saw me, we locked eyes. I reluctantly teared mine away and went and stood behind the unsub.

"Well isn't that a bad hand? Surely you should fold.." I said, looking down at the straight in his hand.

"Call." said the others at the table.

The unsub looked up at me and smirked as he showed the dealer his straight, winning the pot. He handed me a bill. "Why don't you go get us some drinks for the next game sweetheart? A scotch for me if you don't mind.." he said.

I made sure to be overly touchy. "Sure thing" I said, strutting away.

I made my way over to the bar, where Spencer was. "Can I have a lemonade and a Scotch please?" I said, making sure to not drop the act I'd put on.

"Is that Poker over there?" Spencer spoke up.

I faced him. "It sure is, takes a lot of luck.." I said, walking off with the drinks.

Spencer followed. "Or intelligence." he said, beating me to the table and sitting down.

I passed the unsub his drink and we clinked glasses.

The dealer dealt everyone their cards, including Spencer this time around.

Everyone took a brief look at thier cards, and each man tapped the table. They all called.

The dealer flipped over the three cards, resulting in two of the men to fold, the only ones in the game now were the unsub and Spencer.

"C'mon baby, you got this.." I whispered, not so quitely in the unsub's ear, running my hands in and out of his blazer, passing off as just really horny. The game continued as I felt up this little freak until I eventually felt the phone and managed to slip it out, unnoticed.

"I'll raise.." the unsub said, throwing in an abundance of chips.

I looked up at Spencer, trying to tell him that he could fold already as I had the phone.

Instead, he watched me fiddle with the collar of the unsub's blazer.

He said nothing, and just placed the chips in, seeing the unsub's raise.

"Okay, cards?" the dealer asked.

The unsub layed his cards down. "Full House.." the unsub said, smiling.

Spencer didn't even look at the dealer as he placed his cards down, his eyes were glued to mine. "Royal Flush.." he said, his head tilted slightly.

I of course had to keep up my act, so while running my hands down his arms, I slowly walked away from the unsub and over to Spencer, wrapping my hands around him this time.

"Well aren't you lucky?" I said.

He faced me. "It's all maths really" he said, placing his hand over mine as it layed on his chest.

"What do you say I cash in these chips and we...get ourselves outta here" he said, standing up, and turning to face me, his hands snaking around my waist.

I bit my tongue and further closed the gap between us. "Okay" I said. At this point I didn't even need to act turned on. I was.

SPENCER'S POV

We walked, arms linked over to the cashier and exchanged the chips I had for the money.

"You won big tonight didn't you, son?" The cashier said, gathering the bands. I looked at Y/n, examining every inch of her perfect skin.

"I did.."

We made our way out of the casino, and walked down the road a little, before hustling into the SUV.

"Y/n you got the phone didn't you?" Hotch said, his angry eyes not leaving mine until she pulled it out.

"Oh but of course Agent Hotchner" she said, passing it to him.

I faced her again, the dim light in the SUV glowing down on her like she was the center of the universe..well...she was the center of mine anyway.

[hotchy-poo]

Five Minutes

a/n: This is my literal first ever piece of fanfiction I've ever written so bare with me please, any and all feedback I would love. This is based off of season 3 episode 20 Lo-Fi.

Summary: The final moments of a terrorism case and too many close calls leaves the reader more shaken than usual.

GN!reader x BAU!Team, some slight Hotch x Reader, maybe Morgan x Reader if you look hard enough.

Word Count: 1.7k

cw: some swearing, discussions of death and explosions

You can hear your heart thudding in your chest, it feels like your ears are ringing but you can still clearly hear the sounds of the shoes and boots you and most of your team were wearing. Dave and Hotch had pieced it together that the profile your team had been putting together was wrong, it wasn't a trio or duo of serial killers, it was a home grown terrorism attack, and it was going to take place in a hospital in downtown New York. The hospital you and your team are currently in. Almost your entire attention is being put towards sweeping the parking lot searching for the terrorist ambulance driver.

The rest of your brain was occupied with two thoughts. 1. Where the hell is Derek Morgan and 2. That surveillance video of Kate Joyner's SUV blowing up, sending her and Hotch flying. He's behind you now, you can hear the change in his gait, his limp from the shrapnel cutting its way into his leg. You also know his face is scratched to hell and his ear is bleeding. Part of you wishes he would have sat this out due to his injuries but everyone knows he's allergic to taking care of himself.

Turning the corner, gun in hand, finger on trigger, you shake those last two thoughts from your head. All focus needs to be on this current situation. Reid nods towards the elevator and you see the dead special service agents lying there covered in blood. One of their legs in the way of the door preventing it from closing all the way.

Your attention is then drawn to a man who is sitting on the concrete floor with his legs crossed. A phone in one hand and a knife in the other. The team surrounds him, guns raised and ready. You notice his EMS uniform and know this is one of the UnSubs, the master bomber. You also notice the lack of ambulance with a bomb that would decimate this hospital and surrounding buildings. The bomber decides he won't be arrested and uses the knife to end his life, proving that he would kill and be killed for his cause.

A faint explosion is heard far in the distance as Hotch calls in that the hospital is secure. The tension could be felt in everyone's chest as they turned their heads to the sound, making eye contact with others, panic visible in their expressions. Reids phone rings and he immediately answers, only a second passing before his whole body sags with relief as he hears Morgans voice on the other side letting him know he is ok and the bomb exploded in a safe location away from the city and its residents. Relief fills your chest as you realize everyone is safe and that another case has come to an end. And while it may not have been the ending anyone wanted, it was over and you looked forward to leaving this experience in the past.

You had barely gotten enough sleep in your hotel room, expecting to have passed out from exhaustion from the events of the case, but you found yourself thinking of all of the what ifs. What if Morgan hadn't of gotten to a safe location in the ambulance, or what if he hadn't gotten out in time, what if Garcia couldn't have jammed the cell towers like she did, what if Hotch had been closer to the SUV or even inside of it. Tossing and turning all night left you quieter than usual in the morning and it was not unnoticed by your team.

Reid, Morgan, Garcia, Prentiss, JJ, and Rossi said their goodbyes and see you laters to you and Hotch outside the federal building. You offered to make the drive with the injured man and Morgan was more than happy to let you as he wanted to lay down on the flight and drink his Cristal. Keys in hand you and Hotch begin the walk to the black SUV you would be driving, subconsciously you brace for some sort of impact as you approach the vehicle and before you can try to play it off Hotchner is suddenly standing in front of you with a concerned look in his eye.

"Everything ok Agent L/N?" he asks raising his eyebrow.

You brush him off trying to step around him "yeah of course I'm fine." Hotch shuffles his feet and prevents you from walking away. "I'm just not super excited for the long drive Hotch, I'm good."

You hope that that was enough to sway him and you think is has as he lets you step around him. Just as you reach for the cars handle to throw your bag in the back, you feel his hand grasp your elbow and turn you to face him.

"You know" he begins "it's ok to be upset, what we all just went through in the past couple of days was hard and damaging, and its ok to feel conflicted, or sad, or angry." He moves his head trying to make eye contact with you but your eyes are firmly placed on the sidewalk. Knowing that if you try to explain what it is that you are feeling it might all come out as word vomit and your emotions might get the best of you.

"I'm good Hotch" you respond still not making eye contact "let's just go." You pull your arm out of his grasp before throwing yours and his bag in the back seat. Shutting the door you go to walk to the drivers side when Hotch calls your name.

"Y/N." Him saying your name doesn't leave room for you to walk away. You slowly turn to face him and you see his lips in a straight line and his eyebrows furrowed. He starts to walk towards you, his limp so prevalent and you can't keep it together anymore. Your eyes fill with tears threatening to spill over and you know that if you start to cry you won't be able to stop.

Hotch gently grabs your shoulder and sighs as he asks you again if you're ok and you can't keep your emotions and tears at bay any longer. Tears start to fall down your cheeks as you try to speak.

"It's just... this case was so much... we thought we had it figured out and that we could catch them but they were always a step ahead of us" The tears keep rolling and you can't stop talking even if you wanted too. A sob breaks out of your mouth and you drop your head as your body shakes with your cries. "All I can think about is the what ifs, all I can see is that surveillance video of you being BLOWN up Hotch" You're aware that your voice is much louder than it needs to be and Hotch's ear rings and aches but he acts like it doesn't bother him. "You got flung across a street Hotch! Derek climbed into a goddamn ambulance with an explosive that would have decimated three blocks of this city at least!" Your breathing is erratic, chest falling and raising quickly. You're using your hands very expressively and Hotch grabs both of your arms to try and slow you down.

"I need you to breathe Y/N" he says but you're not listening.

"I thought you had died when I saw that video!" you sob. " And you weren't answering your phone!"

"I left it behind, I forgot about it" He responds "I didn't mean to I'm sorry" his voice is quiet and gentle.

"And then once we were in the hospital Derek took off like a madman and when the ambulance blew up I thought he was in it!" You are still almost yelling, the tears have not slowed at all, in fact they may have sped up. You keep rambling about how you thought you had lost Hotch and then how you thought you had lost Derek. Starting to stumble over your words you stop talking and just start to sob, pulling your hands up over your face.

Suddenly you're pulled into Hotch's chest, one arm wraps around the middle of your back securing you to him, and the other goes to the back of your head. You can his thumb moving on your back trying to calm you. You know your tears are staining his clothes but you can't seem to care, you also wouldn't be able to escape his hug even if you wanted to.

He holds you as you cry, not caring that you are on a busy sidewalk, ignoring peering eyes. His only concern right now is you.

"I know that this case was a lot Y/N" he begins "this case demanded a lot of us, and we were put into dangerous situations. But I'm ok" He moves his hands to grab the sides of your face and pull your head up so that you can look at each other. "Derek and I are ok, some healing time is necessary but we're alive and well."

Your cries have stopped and now you're just left with a runny nose. Sniffling you take a step out of the embrace allowing his hands to fall back to his sides. You let out a singular breathy laugh and wipe your face with your hands.

"You're right" you agree with him, Derek and Hotch are alive and that is what matters the most. "I'm still gonna kick Derek's ass for what he did."

Hotch exhales through his nose and cracks a small smile "why don't we start driving back to Quantico L/N, its a long journey ahead of us."

You nod and climb into the drivers seat of the car, immediately refusing his offer to drive. Turning the key in the ignition and plugging in the offices address into the GPS, you take one deep breath and let it out slowly as you turn on the blinker and pull out into traffic.

The car is silent for a few minutes before you decide to break it

"Hotch?" you ask. He turns his head to you, prompting you to continue, "promise me you won't tell the others that I just cried in your arms for a minute in the middle of down town New York?" You glance over at him and you see a small smirk form on his face.

"I would never" he responds. I also won't say that it was five minutes not one he thinks to himself.

a/n ok im kinda proud of this, and i hope i can articulate myself well enough, literally just watched this episode for the first time and i cried. if it sucks or you have any tips for me to write better please let me know! I really hope you enjoy it and I hope i get to make more fics hehe

[sugar-omi]

someone asked me what songs i associate with the OLBA boys but i lost the ask.... n it was ages ago so..... anon. if youre still here, this is my answer lol. it took a long time for me to think what songs I associate with each of em but now i can tell you without it just being whatever im obsessed w that week LMAO

(bold-italics are sexy/suggestive songss, and all links direct to youtube for the song)

[ SPOTIFY PLAYLIST FOR THE ENTIRE POST ]

derek

let go by Lucia and the best boys

cool by gwen stefani

pined for you my whole life by Matt maltese

buses replace trains by Matt maltese

i will by mitski

lowkey in love by the struts

with derek, my MC will always be the one who got away. he's too busy. his tunnel vision is frustrating, brushing off my feelings is frustrating, never seeing me and telling me he misses me is frustrating. keeping the distance of a friend when we're finally alone and i'm trying to make a move on him kills me.

either my MC never truly moves on, yet no one makes a move and they spend the rest of their lives (or too many years) in limbo, full of yearning and heartache. or derek has to swallow the rock in his throat when he moves on, has to keep the tears out of his eyes when she and Cove walk down the aisle. it could've been him if he let her in, but he didn't. he waited too long, was too quiet about his love. and now it's but an untold tale, blown away in the wind...

baxter

first kiss by actually

night shift by Lucy dacus

magnetized by garbage

two years by rose

jersey by baby tate

breathe by julia zelg

baxter is the summer fling MC dreamed about having. a fleeting passion, burning hot and leaving its mark on her long life. she knows she's not meant for such a thing, too needy, too sentimental, too obsessed with fate and what's to be. he knows this relationship will end, in fact, his rational mind told him not to get in line with baxter's trail of ex-lovers but his eyes are deep and bewitching, his smile is charming, and his tongue is proven to be just as talented inside her mouth as it is his own when he repeats his practice prince charming speech.

and when he leaves, just as cruel and raw as he could to shatter MC's delusions of forever and fate, all that is left is a burning hot anger with jaw dropping sadness in his rawest moments. the 5 years is a blur of rage and tears, than more rage and broken ceramic, cleaned up and thrown away with tears blurring her vision. he knew it was the end, knew this show already had the curtains called before it started. but baxter was the summer fling of MC's dreams, a perfect coming of age story, only complete with indefinite yearning and the appropriate amount of cussing and raging when reunited.

but compared to baxter's preplanned ending of their last summer of freedom, this sequel doesn't end with a rushed recoupling. baxter will spend many summers alone, and MC still feels the ghost of his lips on her skin.

cove | *spotify version of the entire list 3

goliath by jessie reyez

you're still the only one by tangerine

i love you always forever by donna lewis

sexy drug by falling in reverse

diet pepsi by addison rae

brooklyn baby by lana del rey

my MC's love for cove is bordering on obsessive. he is addictive; the love is hot and passionate; her love for cove welling up like the rising tide, inch by inch every year, to every day until it's up to his throat. choking. consuming love. trying to put distance between himself and cove, trying to be normal about his crush, about who cove is around, about others realizing cove is attractive... only settling down into a still pool, no longer constantly rippled and abrasive, when cove returns the affection and loves just as deeply. a pool of infinite, passionate dedication and love. peace. heaven.

+ some bonus tracks that i like as well but may ache :,)

baxter: spotlight by jessie ware +flashes between baxter still in sunset bird and him already leaving, my MC staying up late and imagining the time they spent together and imagining more times. but also when he imagined the nights lasting forever, even when baxter was still in her arms. wanting more, but living off the intoxication that lingers from his touch. accepting and welcoming the day he leaves, but also accepting that her heart aches for him anyway and just continues daydreaming of him staying, or have a second longer, but also imagines being alone. days, weeks, months later still drunk and high off the feelings baxter gave. angry, in love, and mad at herself for getting so attached still. mad for yearning, but only knowing how to yearn for more...

derek: i know what you want by busta rhymes +cause i imagine MC & derek doing a lil song n dance for months, years, enticing each other and flirting before finally giving into their lust and romance...

cove: candyman by christina aguilera +LISTEN TO THE LYRICS! DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING!!!!!!

[it-was-summer]

Video Killed the Radio Star - Tape #3 (Spencer Reid x Fem!reader)

A/N: I am exhausted this weekend so if at some point you feel like the writing shows that DON'T BE ALARMED. It is simply just me fighting back the urge to go to bed. The chapter does contain a good amount of sexual assault and violence so please, please, please be mindful of that while reading. I love all the comments here and Ao3, they make my day! I have also been noticing a lot of love towards the original of this series and I appreciate everyone for taking their time to read the remake! Please know that as of right now this thing IS NOT PROOFREAD I JUST NEED TO GET IT OUT! Stay safe, healthy, and happy! -Love, Em.

Video Killed the Radio Star Remake Masterlist

Link to the Ao3: Video Killed the Radio Star

Previous Chapter: Tape #2 > Next Chapter: Tape #4

WARNING: Cancer mentioned, sexual assault, blood, knife, cutting, mentions of death, death threats. Remember that you are not alone.

Tape Contents: Spencer and Derek are sent to discuss your abduction with Adeline. You fight back a sexual and physical attack from Heather. Heather reveals her plans for what will happen if anyone finds you.

Word Count: 4,029

March 5, 20XX

Spencer wasn’t too fond of hospitals, but he was fond of children. He interacted with them, loving that he could see how they processed information–new and old—every day. He loved Henry to bits, the way the kid was so willing to listen to Spencer’s ramblings or the way he was so amazed at a magic trick Spencer was doing. 

Sick kids were a tragically different story, not that he didn’t like them. He always felt like… well, he was having a hard time conceptualizing it as he weaved through the crowded lobby. The pediatrics oncology unit was too packed for his liking. Statistically, he knew that one in two hundred eighty-five children could be diagnosed with some form of cancer before they hit twenty. That didn’t mean he had to like weaving through a small crowd of parents, doctors, and nurses on the way to room two hundred thirty with Morgan. There it was –the words for that feeling– watching someone younger than himself not being able to experience life at thirty. 

After finding the friendship keychain, Hotch decided that Reid and Morgan should find your alleged ride-or-die, Adeline Smith. Meanwhile, Hotch and Prentiss would drive to Norfolk to talk to your mother. Rossi and JJ were handling some information with the police, so they were all paired away. 

Derek and he slipped into the hospital room that housed Adeline and her daughter, Nicole. His chest tightened involuntarily at the sight of a mother stroking her daughter’s head, a smile on both of their faces. Derek was quick to speak, “Excuse me,” The mother and daughter jumped at the noise, and their eyes snapped to the hospital room door. “I’m Special Agent Derek Morgan, and this is Doctor Spencer Reid. We just have some questions.” His hands dug into his jacket pocket to pull out the badge, muscle memory for both.

Adeline’s hand fell from her daughter's hairless head to her shoulder, her fingers giving it a light squeeze. “Questions regarding?” She asked with a curious expression as she stood up, a skeptical look in her eyes. 

Spencer’s eyes met Nicole’s for a second, a small smile rising to his lips, and she gave him a nervous smile right back. He moved his gaze over to Adeline, who was now standing with her arms folded across her chest as she waited for the two men to answer her question. Derek looked over his shoulder at Spencer, then back at Adeline. He gently motioned for her to follow him to a slightly more private area to talk to her, the two moving to a corner of the room near the bathroom.

“Were you aware that Y/N L/N was being stalked?” Derek’s voice was calm as Spencer approached Nicole’s bedside chair and sat in it awkwardly. 

Spencer motioned towards the girl’s stuffed animal, a bright orange cat that sat in between her legs. “I love cats,” he said in a soft voice. 

Nicole beamed at him, grabbed the stuffed cat, and happily petted the top of its head: “Me too! This is Bee.” 

“Bee? Do you like Bees?” 

Adeline’s eyes strayed to Spencer's conversation with her daughter, and she nodded a little at Derek’s question: “We talked about it. She went to the police.” She said, a little numbly, before her head suddenly snapped towards him. “Why?” 

“She was taken from her apartment on March third. She recorded videos for the police to send to us, the Behavioral Analysis Unit, to help find her.” Derek explained gently as he watched Adeline’s face go pale. 

Adeline grabbed her clothed chest and searched for a breath, her eyes wild as she looked at Derek’s face. Her eyes began searching for some hint in his face that he was lying, but she found none. She couldn’t stop the tears that were filling her waterline, and she turned her body away from her daughter and Spencer in a desperate attempt to hide her tears from her daughter. Her knees felt weak as she tried to breathe. 

Spencer glanced back at Adeline and Derek, scooting a little to obstruct Nicole’s field of vision. He didn’t want the young girl to see her mother cry. Nicole shook her head slightly at his question, “No, not really. Auntie Y/N got her for me, and she loves bees.” She laughed softly, her words making Spencer’s heart melt a little. 

“Is Bee your favorite?” 

The girl covered the cat’s plush ears and smiled like she had a secret. “No, but she is my second favorite.” Her fingers scratched the stuffed animal’s ears gently. “Mr. Business is my first,” she whispered to him. 

“Ah, and where is Mr. Business?” His eyes searched her hospital bed, and then he spotted a stuffed cat, a tuxedo cat. He grinned a little, and he motioned to the stuffed animal with his eyes, “Mr. Business is a very fitting name, I think,” 

Adeline held out a hand for some space from Derek, and the hand clutching her chest came up to her mouth as she tried to keep from vomiting all over him. She had been stuck in this hospital when you had called her that first night. Having always loved talking to you, she answered enthusiastically. Still, the more she listened to the situation, the more she realized she didn’t have the emotional strength to comfort you the way you needed. And she said that to you. She said that to you. She couldn’t help you then, and she couldn’t help you now. She couldn’t even help her own daughter. 

A sob rose in her throat, and she shook her head rapidly. “No, no, no, we talked on that day. Th-That night,” She recounted softly to Derek through her tears. 

“What did you talk about?” Derek whispered the question softly as his eyes searched the room for some tissues, but his search was futile. He places a gentle hand on Adeline’s shoulder instead. 

“We talked about college; she wanted her mind off of things, so we talked about our apartment when we were in grad school. It’s been two days! What have you been doing for two days while my best friend went missing?” Her cheeks were red, her fingers pointing accusingly at him before she sobbed softly, and her hand was moving back up to wrap around her mouth to muffle the sound. 

“She didn’t show up to work on March fifth. That's when she was reported missing. We’re doing everything we can. What time did the two of you talk?” 

“W-we talked around nine, maybe nine-thirty?” She whispered back softly before she started to breathe heavily again. “Why didn’t I call? I should have called again. It was getting so late, and she had locked all the doors, and I thought she was just being anxious. I should have called her again. I should have left the hospital to visit her.” Her mind was spiraling, the neverending rabbit hole that showed her all the ways she could have saved her best friend, unhinged its proverbial jaw and swallowed her whole, ready to digest.  

Morgan wasn’t necessarily new to the information, as Penelope had already told him about your call logs from that evening, but he always liked to hear it be confirmed. It also helped him place an estimate of the time of your abduction. “Could you tell me about anyone, anyone at all, that might have been a little too into Y/N? Any ex-boyfriends that refused to leave her alone? Did she break up with anyone around Christmas?” 

“No, she hasn’t dated anyone for almost a year.” Adeline sighed thickly and shook her head as she tried to calm down. “No, all her ex-boyfriends, they were always so mousy. ” She sighed, “And they always look alike,” she paused and gave a soft, sad chuckle, motioning over to where Spencer was as he continued to entertain her daughter. “Well, they all look like your Doctor friend, if I’m being honest. She’s always been too nice for her own good, even in college.”

Spencer tried to talk over the sobs that could be heard from the corner of the hospital room, clearing his throat or laughing as Nicole stumbled through a story. “She’s a loud crier,” Nicole whispered with a gentle pat on Bee’s head. 

Spencer frowned as his efforts failed him, and he looked over his shoulder at Morgan, who was looking at him with a similarly sympathetic look on his face. He was about to say something when Nicole shoved Bee toward him, “You should give this to Auntie Y/N. Mommy said she was sad the other day. Bee always helps.” 

Spencer turned the stuffed animal over in his hands, and he debated telling her the truth, but thankfully, his better judgment decided against it. “It’ll be the first thing I do when I see her,” Spencer promised softly as Nicole smiled wide at him. 

As Derek and he walked out of the hospital, Derek’s eyes stayed on the stuffed orange cat in Spencer’s hands. As they pushed past a small group of people, Spencer found himself almost slamming into a pretty nurse, a gorgeous nurse. Her blue eyes blinked as she shuffled to one side, only to be unintentionally blocked by Spencer once more. She sighed a little and gave him a once over with a frown. Her eyes lingered on the gun holstered against his hip before she gave him a polite smile and said, “Excuse me,” and slipped past the two men with a determined look in her eyes.  

Derek only said something when they got into the parking lot, the two of them walking to the black SUV, “Did you pick one up at the gift shop?” 

Spencer groaned softly, making Derek chuckle as he walked around the car’s front to the passenger seat. “Open the door,” He said bluntly. When they were both inside the car, Spencer carefully placed the stuffed animal in his bag, and Derek chuckled again at the sight, turning the key. 

“You didn’t even buy me one,” 

March 5, 20XX

You were assuming Heather was angry with you. The assumption wasn’t baseless as the hunger in your stomach growled. You were quick to find that the harmony between a full stomach and morphine did matter and that harmony had left you many hours prior. You also were basing the assumption as you had spent what must have been a whole day fighting off tears and nausea. 

The sick part was that you were beginning to get used to how your body got swarmed with heavy, hot, and benevolent warmth. The dull pain in your ankle was silenced under the warmth’s blanket of kindness. It reminded you of a heated blanket in a strange way. 

You had finished the sips of your water before falling asleep and regretting it. You had learned that the bucket off to the side of the dresser was the perfect distance from the bed. Your broken ankle was dragging against the carpet with every movement.  The chain around your good ankle didn’t snag as you sluggishly managed to hold your body up against the wall to pee into the bucket.

Once you were done, you hopped on your good leg and managed to pull your clothes back on. Your body fell face-first onto the bed, eliciting a soft groan from your lips as you found your body reluctant to move from its new home. 

You closed your eyes and fell into the position, letting the bed sink in deeper. Your eyes snapped open with a sense of alertness that you hadn’t felt in hours as you heard the first click of a lock. Your arms weakly managed to push yourself up into a sitting position, pushing yourself back to your former position against the headboard. Your head throbbed at the fast movement, and your vision blurred as you tried to focus on the door. 

When it slowly opened, you sucked in a small breath of air, watching as Heather slid into the room with a tray of food. “Hello, my Catherine.” She sighed as she shoved the keys into her scrub pocket with one balanced hand. “My, my, someone is looking pale today.” She asked as she sat down in the chair off the side of the bed with a gentle, pretty smile. 

You nodded a little. Your lips were numb as you licked them. “What day is it?” Your voice came out quiet and strangled. 

“Monday,” She stated simply as she twisted the top off a bottle of apple juice. She handed it over to your already waiting hands before she carefully lowered the morphine drip’s intake level. You greedily drank the juice without thinking twice, desperate to get something in your stomach. 

You panted lightly as you pulled the half-empty bottle away from your lips, “Th-the date, I mean,” 

“March fifth,” She rolled her eyes as she carefully rearranged a neatly made turkey sandwich on a paper plate, slowly placing the plate on the edge of the bed for you to take. “You moved in here early Saturday morning, don’t you remember?” she laughed out like it was the silliest thing she had ever heard. 

You felt your mouth start to move to correct her, to tell her that you didn’t move in; she had kidnapped you. But as you stared at the turkey sandwich on the edge of the bed, you realized that playing along would be better. Playing along meant more food and less nausea. Playing along meant living longer. “Right,” You said breathlessly as you pulled the paper plate to your lap. “How could I forget?” 

Heather smiled a little as she watched you bite into the sandwich, happy to see you adjusting. You were eating so fast that she was a little worried about your empty stomach. She didn’t want to make feeding you so sporadically a habit. But yesterday, when she came up with a food tray, she thought about your rudeness and how cruel you had been to her. It made her stomach twist into angry knots. She decided that not feeding you for a day would be a lesson.

“I’m so happy our first fight is over. I hate to be angry with you, Catherine.” Heather’s sweet tone wasn’t lost on you as she touched your arm gently. Your chewing slowed for a second before you swallowed, your eyes glued to her hand on your arm. 

“I picked out every gift just for you,” She sighed softly as she traced soft circles against your skin. You fought back the urge to pull your arm away. “You’re a hopeless romantic, you know? You remember in college when you and Adeline dressed up as Lizzie and Jane Bennet. No one got it but god,” She sighed, her eyes finding yours as you stayed frozen. 

The hand on your arm slowly reached for the paper plate on your lap. Your fingers twitched a little as you fought back the urge to grab the food as she placed the plate on the nightstand beside your bed. Everything was happening so fast and yet incredibly slow at the same time.

Then she stood up and crawled onto the bed, swinging one leg over your lap before stranding you with a white smile. Her hands came to cup your face and tilt it up. A soft sigh fell from her lips. “You’ve always been brilliant,” 

You shook your head in her hands lightly. The warmth of the morphine was slow to leave your body, but as your body filled with an intense feeling of dread, you could feel everything. Your ankle throbbed sharply, and you were starting to feel like you were about to be sick again. “I’m not,” 

Heather threw her head back and laughed as if it was the funniest thing she had ever heard. When she lowered her head to meet your gaze again, she leaned closer, one of her thumbs reaching up to trace your bottom lip. You cringed a little at the feeling, a sight that she ignored. “You’ve always been so humble, too. How did I get so lucky?” She whispered as she leaned in to kiss your lips softly. 

You felt your lips tighten and bile rise to your throat, and you swallowed it. You let her kiss you once, then twice, then a third time. Your lips stayed closed in a tight line as you tried to imagine yourself in a different position, but with every touch Heather placed on you, the more you stayed cemented in your reality. 

Heather pulled back with a look in her eyes that you could recognize as crazed lust. You didn’t want to. You didn’t want to know what her hands felt like anymore. You bit your lip to silence a whimper. Her hands pulled roughly at your shirt as she grabbed the hem of it and pulled it over your head with a simple yank. 

You shook your head quickly now, “No, Heather, I-I’m not ready. I don’t-” 

She shushed you softly with a gentle smile as she traced the swell of your breast slowly, the touch eliciting your tears to pool over your waterline. “I know you’re worried, but I’m going to take care of you, I promise.” Her eyes lingered on the prominent bruise on the center of your chest. She frowned, leaning down carefully to kiss the blue and black patch of skin. 

“No,” You cried softly, your voice soft before you decided that you couldn’t take it anymore. “No!” You yelled, causing her back to straighten and sit up. 

“I’m sorry?” She asked with a soft scoff. 

“I-I can’t do it, I’m not ready. I don’t want to, Heather. Please don’t make me.” You begged softly as tears rolled down your face. “I’ll try next time, I promise. I just, please, please don’t make me.” 

Heather frowned a little before she let out a harsh laugh, her arms folding over her chest tightly. She looked down at you, “You know I saw your precious little Adeline today,” 

You felt your back tense at Adeline's mention, “What? I thought you worked in pediatrics, not pediatric oncology. W-why did you see Adeline?” 

Heather reached out a hand to press on your bruise roughly, the feeling making you wince. “I work in pediatric oncology. Sometimes, I help Nicole. I loved it when you visited her at the hospital. It was almost too easy to steal the copy of your apartment key from Adeline. She doesn’t love you as much as I love you, you know that, right?” 

You shook your head, and you cried harder as you realized that you had never even noticed her at the hospital. Your focus has always been so zoned in on Nicole or Adeline that you didn’t even register Heather’s presence. Would Adeline remember Heather? You doubted it. 

“She talked to some agents or something and was inconsolable. Fucking useless friend of yours. Anyway, I ran into them in the hallway. Scrawny kid with some buff guy, I’m sure Adeline called them.” 

You found your hands grabbing her hand on your chest and shook your head side-to-side. “No, Adeline doesn’t know. I didn’t tell her anything. I didn’t, I promise.” 

Heather’s eyes met yours briefly before they trailed down to your bare chest and your hands holding onto her wrist. “Say you love me more than her then,” 

“I-I, what?” 

“Say it.” 

You opened your mouth, but all that came out were gentle sobs as you tried to form the words, terrified that she was about to do something to Adeline. The thought of Heather hurting Adeline had you gasping softly for air. 

Her eyes were on yours again as you panted softly, “You don’t love me?” Her spit hit your cheek as she hissed the words in rageful disbelief. She was off your lap in seconds as she moved to the dresser and quickly pulled out a small pairing knife. 

“Wait,” You cried softly as you tried to hurry away from her, making a vain attempt to get up from the bed that was meant with a howl of pain from your ankle and your body slumping over the edge lamely. 

Her hands grabbed your ankles, good and injured, and pulled you roughly to the edge of the bed. A scream left your throat at the contact. “You think I’m going to let them find you?” She questioned in a suspiciously calm voice as she grazed the smooth side of the knife against your collarbone.

You stayed frozen as she leaned in closer, her lips at the shell of your ear, “If they ever found you, Emma. I would kill you and then myself. I’ve already decided. We have to be together,” Her voice in your ear had you breathing harder as she slowly pressed the tip of the knife into the area above your heart. 

The knife only stung at first before it felt like a ripping pain. Heather dragged the knife into your skin with a deliberate sense of control. Not too deep, not too superficial. Something she wouldn’t have to stitch up. She made a diagonal line before staring a few inches apart from the other cut. “We belong together, Jane.” 

You cried out again as she started dragging the knife into your skin once more, “Please,” 

“You just need to open your heart. If they ever found us, I need to mark where to shoot. Stay still.” 

As Heather got close to completing the ‘X’ mark on your chest, marking you as a possible target. You felt your body thrash under her weakly. The edge of one of the lines skewed to the left, and Heather let out an annoyed groan before she pulled the knife away from your chest and to your lips. “Stop fucking crying,” She growled as she slashed at your bottom lip. 

You hissed at the feeling as blood coated your chest and filled your mouth. You stared up at her as soft sobs kept leaving your mouth, “Fuck you.” You muttered before gathering as much spit as you could in your mouth and shooting it directly at her. 

You laughed as it made contact with her cheek, and she wiped the bloody spit away with the back of her hand. She laughed harshly as she nodded a little, “Okay, so you want to be a brat.” She laughed. 

She was sliding off the bed now, leaving you lying on your back, her chest rising and falling quickly as she gripped the pairing knife in her hand tighter. “Enjoy the rest of your meal. It’ll be your last one, Emma.” She snapped at you before stomping to the door and flying it open. 

Once she was gone, you stayed there, staring up at the ceiling wordlessly. You licked at the cut on your lip gently as blood flowed freely into your mouth. You swallowed the copper-tasting liquid as you let the consequences sink in. She was going to kill you if they found you, and you had already called for a team of highly trained professionals to come to find you. 

You almost laughed at the irony. You didn’t want them to find you. You did want them to find you. It was almost hilarious. You tried to smile with your cut lip but found the action too painful to manage. 

You didn’t want to die at twenty-eight. You wanted to see your mom again, Adeline, Nicole, hell, you wanted to go to work one more time. You rolled onto your stomach and cringed the way the fluffy comforter grazed the bleeding “X” on your chest. You reached for the morphine drip and rolled it closer as you slowly turned a knob and upped the intake. Your shaking hands then moved to the sandwich on the nightstand with a sigh. 

She could kill you when they found you, but if she thought you weren’t going to try and manipulate the situation, she was dead wrong. You weakly bit into the sandwich while trying to think of a plan. 

You refused to die without leaving a mark.

TAG LIST: @babyspiderling @cocobean16 @kodzukenie333 @mmmunson

[the-queen-and-the-king]

A little piece of paradise - 14

Summary: An unsub uses his car to kill his victims. Hotch and a part of the team pursue him on the wavy roads around. Emily is worried for her lover who can be a real jackass sometimes. And her level of stress rises when he comes back with a head injury.

It follows S04E23 "Roadkill".

Characters: Derek Morgan, JJ, Spencer Reid, Aaron Hotchner, Emily Prentiss and someone else. :D

Contents: mention of car crash (obviously), head injury, medical stuff (with inaccuracies probably because still not a doctor), angst, anxiety, talk about Aaron's potential autism.

This text will be an AU with a sudden canon-divergence. I wrote it when I was rewatching the show, so many chapters will be directly related to some episodes of season 4. There will be 28 chapters.

PS : English is not my mother language so they are necessarily mistakes. Sorry about that.

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Read on AO3 / lire sur AO3

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Emily was relieved to see the team return. This suspect using his car to murder people didn't reassure her at all, especially knowing that her lover was on his tail. The roads in the area were unsafe, devoid of guardrails and made up of a number of hairpin bends. The FBI's SUVs were tough, but so was the suspect's vehicle and, launched at full speed, it wouldn't take much to send any motorized vehicle into the fray.

All the men in the team had gone after him, and she and JJ were waiting to hear from them. With her phone in hand, she had waited, heart pounding, hoping that nothing serious had happened. So, when she saw Derek walk through the police station doors, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. His colleague had a strange mocking smile on his lips. 

“Don't worry, Em, your darling is fine.”

“What?” she croaked, both confused and outraged.

“Morgan,” Aaron growled, coming up behind him.

She immediately noticed the bandages stuck to his forehead and a wave of panic rose in her chest.

“Oh, my God! What happened?” she exclaimed, instinctively grabbing his arm.

“Nothing,” replied his companion with his usual calm.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the ex-policeman lean over to Dave and whisper, mockingly: 

“You’ll notice that she didn’t deny it.”

“Derek, this is not the time!” she snapped, furious that they were taking things so lightly. “What happened?”

“I intercepted the suspect's car with the SUV.”

Her dark eyes turned on the spot to her lover. She couldn't believe what he'd just told her, and in a completely innocuous tone at that. 

“A… Are you serious?” she retorted, barely restraining herself from calling him by his first name. “You thought you were in a bumper car?”

“Emily…” murmured JJ, uncomfortable.

“No!” she cried, her stomach churning. “It was a stupid idea! You could have hurt yourself a lot worse.”

She imagined that neither of them was driving at the speed limit at the time of impact, and that shocks of this kind could do a great deal of damage. He miraculously escaped with just a scratch on his eyebrow, but could have suffered a sunken ribcage, spinal trauma, or concussion. There was nothing laughable about it.

“Yes, and the airbags didn't go off,” Aaron pointed out quietly. “I'm going to make a note of it.”

She felt like slapping him.

“And are you planning to go to hospital too?”

“I'm fine, Prentiss,” he assured, staring down at her. “I walk, I talk, I remember everything, so everything's fine.”

“You've been hit by a hit-and-run driver, and I can't believe you've come out of it with just two small bandages on your forehead.”

“I was examined by the paramedics, and they told me it was okay. That I could go.”

“By plane?” she raised an eyebrow, squinting.

“Of course. In fact, now that the file is complete, we'll be able to get going again. Gather all the papers.”

And he entered the meeting room that she and JJ had left to welcome them and start tidying up their mess. He seemed to move with his usual ease, indifferent to the looks on him, but Emily found it hard to believe in this miracle. Her instincts told her that something was wrong and that her companion wasn't doing as well as he seemed. It wasn't the first time he'd been seriously injured and yet continued to live his life as if nothing had happened. In New York, he had been blown up by the explosion of his vehicle, but that hadn't stopped him from supporting one of their colleagues in distress, driving an ambulance and then running through the hospital corridors at their side, even though he had a torn eardrum and wounds all over his body. At most, he hobbled slightly.

“I feel like someone is very, very worried,” Morgan scoffed from beside her.

“Derek, he may have a subdural hematoma and you're acting like a teenager.”

For some time now, she and Aaron had noticed that the other members of the team were regularly dropping hints, more or less discreet, about the possibility of a relationship between them. They were absolutely right, but for the time being, neither of them had any intention of breaking the cocoon they'd locked themselves in so they could enjoy their love without having to deal with their inopportune interrogations. And to hear her neighbor indulge in this kind of thinking when the man she loved was perhaps in danger made her furious.

“But he tells you he’s fine.”

“Well, I'll let you handle it when he passes out at an altitude of three thousand meters.”

Her question about his ability to fly did not come out of nowhere. After what he'd experienced in the city that never sleeps, his partner – who wasn't one yet at the time – had been off work for a few weeks to allow his eardrum to recover. He had returned with a doctor's authorization and had flown out with his entire team for a new investigation. It didn't take long for his men to realize that he was in no condition to sit in the jet, or even to be on the ground surrounded by people using firearms. In fact, he had driven home.

                Just then, Aaron came out of the meeting room with boxes in hand. 

“I won’t pass out. Put all the documents in there, please.”

The female profiler didn't insist, but remained skeptical throughout the flight, watching her lover surreptitiously. But he behaved normally, playing cards with Spencer and Dave to pass the time. She punctually saw him raise his hand to his forehead before lowering it again without having done anything in particular and deduced that he was holding back from scratching where it was open. He didn't waver, he didn't wince, he didn't say anything incoherent. And yet, she remained convinced that he needed care.

The jet landed in Washington DC, and all its occupants eagerly got up to go to their respective vehicles. Now they could go home and get some well-deserved rest. But Emily stepped in when the agency manager tried to climb into his car.

“No, I’m the one doing the taxi.”

“What?” he grumbled, bewildered.

“I’m bringing you back home.”

“Prentiss, I'm fine,” he repeated, sighing without discretion.

She knew he didn't appreciate being taken by the hand like that, even if it came from the woman he was sleeping with, but she wasn't comfortable with the idea of him taking the wheel again.

“I’d rather take you home. At least I can be sure you won't have an accident in a tunnel.”

“What about me?” interjected Reid, coming up to their level.

“You?”

“I was supposed to bring him back,” confessed Aaron with a very discreet sneer at the corner of his lips.

With both men living in the same building, it came as no surprise that they could make the journey together. Now she understood why he was so reluctant to be towed home. Nevertheless, she didn't let this stop her.

“Well, I'll take you back with us. Come on, go! End of the discussion.”

The male pair gave in without further struggle and climbed into Emily's car. The youngest sat in the front and the second was thoughtful enough to sit where she could see him in the center mirror. This she did all along the way, as soon as traffic allowed, and nothing of note jumped out at her. He read his e-mails on his smartphone without seeming to mind. The giant was one of those people who could read in the car without feeling nauseous, even now that his right ear was damaged. So, she began to think that if he really was suffering from some kind of head trauma, he wouldn't have been able to perform this kind of task.

She walked him to his door, however, unable to abandon him any sooner as the elevators and stairs to the upper floors were further up the corridor.

“It's okay, I'll find the way now,” joked the ex-prosecutor with a teasing smile.

“If you feel unwell, call…”

“911, yes,” he continued in her place. “Good night, Prentiss.”

“Good evening,” she replied shyly, before turning to her co-worker who had followed her this far. “Let’s go, Spence.”

For good measure, she climbed the stairs alongside her colleague and left him in front of his home after the customary greetings. Then she went back down to the first floor but didn't head for the exit. They hadn't agreed to see each other tonight, but she wanted to have a chat with him and be sure and certain he was okay before returning to her own apartment. She wouldn't let go of him as long as she still had this feeling of unease pinned to her body.

                So, she rang the bell and waited in the corridor, without getting the slightest reaction. She repeated her gesture, in vain. Her anxiety soared. Thanks to the spare key Aaron had made for her at the start of their relationship, she entered, but not without knocking to announce herself. The lights were on, and his belongings were where he usually put them. She called but got no answer. She stepped forward, her heart pounding against her ribs. He couldn't have gone to bed already, it was still far too early for that, even if the investigation had been trying. She almost fainted when she discovered him sprawled across the kitchen floor, unconscious.

“Oh, my God! Aaron!” – she rushed to his side – “Aaron!”

Kneeling beside him, she awkwardly searched for his pulse, felt a few beating in the midst of her upside-down thoughts, and took hold of his pale face as she continued to call out to him. Her eyesight was blurry because of the tears that filled her eyes but she knew that he didn't react to the gentle slaps she sent his way. She didn’t dare strike any harder.

                In a panic, however, she had the presence of mind to pick up her phone to call for help and answered without understanding her words. Unexpectedly remembering her first-aid classes, she got up to fetch one of the pens that were continually lying around on the hall dresser and returned to sit beside her lover to press one of his fingers between the cylinder and her own phalanges. The pain provoked would normally help the victim to come out of their catalepsy. It was a failure. She then tipped him into the lateral safety position, shocked not to feel any resistance on his part. Her companion was nothing more than a gigantic rag doll.

                In tears, she waited for what seemed like an eternity, one hand slipped into his, attentive to the slightest twitch that would attest that he was returning among them. But when the paramedics arrived, the giant was still unconscious. She was allowed to ride in the emergency vehicle with him, and she felt as if she were walking through a dream, with no sound, no smell, just Aaron's profile in an oxygen mask whizzing through the streets of Washington DC. She only regained her footing in reality when a little nurse prevented her from following the stretcher beyond a pair of swinging doors.

“But…”

“Are you one of the family?” she asked, with an unfriendly air.

If she'd wanted to, Emily could have knocked her down in no time, but she reflected that she was only following protocol. Upset, she struggled to formulate a grammatically correct sentence. 

“Y… No. I… I’m his partner.”

The orderly raised an inquisitive eyebrow. She must have read on his chart that the new patient was an FBI agent. The profiler suddenly wondered what she looked like. Did she, too, look like a member of the Bureau? By reflex, she had used a tendentious turn of phrase, but suddenly feared that her interlocutor would call the head office to tell them that two of their feds were fooling around together.

“Do you know a family member you could contact?” she enquired instead.

“Uh… yes, his mother.”

“Then, do it.”

The peremptory tone didn't please her.

“But… how is he doing?”

“We'll let you know when he's passed all his exams.”

She knew then that she would get nothing more. Conciliatory despite the anguish in her gut, she took a seat in the waiting room and bit her nails, annihilating months of regrowth in a matter of moments. Aaron's presence had gradually calmed her inner turmoil and she had gradually lost the habit of disfiguring her hands. She was almost ready to adorn the horn with polish, a coquetry she'd renounced for years. And tonight, she was destroying everything, consumed by stress.

She dialed Ada Hotchner's number after hearing from the doctor who had taken charge of her companion's case. His mother didn't know he was a couple again, so she introduced herself as his colleague. She reacted to her son's hospitalization with her usual bluntness and informed her that she was on her way. Since Emily didn't know where she lived, she didn't try to stop her, figuring she had time on her hands to share a moment with her lover.

She entered his room shortly afterwards. He looked sleepy and she gently closed the door so as not to wake him abruptly. She then moved the chair closer to his bed and slipped her hand into his, reassured to feel his warmth on her skin again. He slowly opened his eyes, and a flush of anger seized her.  

“How could you have been so stupid?!”

A sneer twisted the corner of his lips before he retorted:

“… Thank you.”

She then realized her rude attitude and sat back down. She placed a kiss on Aaron's fingers that protruded from her hand and, chasing away a tear, resumed:

“I… I’m sorry. You scared me. I… I thought you had a stroke or an aneurysm.”

“… That wasn't my goal,” he said, having a hard time to articulate.

The doctor had told her that he was still under the effects of anesthesia and might have difficulty speaking or making intelligible statements, but that she shouldn’t worry about it. She could see him struggling to keep his eyelids open. But even half in the fog, he sought to reassure her of his condition. She closed her grip around his hand and smiled, not holding back the pearl that rolled down her cheek.

“I know. Sorry. I… I love you.”

“Me too.”

Caressing his face, she leaned in to kiss him. They remained like that, mouth to mouth, for some time. They both needed to verify that all this was not an illusion.

“Is that allowed under your rules?” exclaimed a firm voice behind their backs.

They shuddered in unison and turned their gaze towards the entrance to the room. An elderly woman stood in the doorway; arms folded across her chest. Her curly hair was gray, her irises dark, and she couldn't have been more than five feet tall. Looking stern, she watched them without batting an eyelid.

“Mom?”

“Mrs… Hotchner?”

“Sorry to break the mood, but I didn't think I'd be in the middle of a courtship,” she grumbled with a scornful pout. 

“Mom…”

Emily had never crossed Ada's path before that day, unlike the other members of the BAU who had already seen her land at Quantico when her son refused to answer her calls. JJ had explained to her that the organization of a family party was at stake and that she had demanded from him an answer other than "I don't know", even though he was effectively unable to determine whether or not he would be present two months later. Her colleague and Penelope had told her that the debate had been heated and had continued well beyond the walls of the training center, as she had harassed him on the phone throughout the ensuing investigation. At the time, she was curious to discover this phenomenon in the flesh. Now that she was in front of her, she regretted having had that thought.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” harrumphed her potential mother-in-law.

The tone didn't call for any negative feedback.

“Uh… yes. Of course,” stammered Emily, giving her neighbor a distraught look.

Aaron gave her a weak smile that should have reassured her, but she left the room with trembling legs. Ada walked a few yards to keep them away from her offspring's ears and turned around. The young woman, expecting to be struck down on the spot by this creature capable of making her partner tremble, hurried to say:

“I’m sorry. We… we were going to tell you... differently.”

Her interlocutor merely raised an eyebrow subtly, indifferent to the compromise she was showing. Ada sighed and threw out:

“I'm not asking if you sleep together, the answer seems obvious to me.”

“Our relationship is totally consensual,” Emily hastened to add, terrified.

“I hope so. In any case, I can't imagine Aaron demanding anything from anyone for himself. It’s not really the type.”

“… No, indeed.”

She was surprised to hear someone talk about her partner in such terms. Most people had a very pejorative view of the titan in the suit, attributing to him an improbable number of faults. We found him cold, unsympathetic, nasty, annoying and, above all, very demanding. In truth, if he was fussy about a couple of things, he was absolutely the opposite of this portrait. But to find out, you'd have to break through the walls he'd built around himself over the years. In fact, she was taken aback to realize that her words were right on target.

                She was all the more bewildered because, according to her partner's testimony, mother and son had a very conflicted history, largely parasitized by the presence of Stanley Hotchner. The son had quickly taken a dislike to his progenitor once he realized that his behavior towards Ada and himself was not that expected of a husband and father, but trapped by his hold, Ada had turned a deaf ear to her descendant's pleas for divorce. Furious at not getting his way, the pre-adolescent fell into absenteeism and vandalism, making repeated trips to the police station, and visibly angering his parents.

                That's how he ended up in boarding school, far from his childhood home, surrounded by problem kids, the vast majority of whom had been through worse things than he had. However, the tension between them did not abate. Indeed, when she'd told him she was pregnant again, Aaron had had a trenchant reaction underlining her irresponsibility in keeping the baby. And when he'd discovered, after Sean's birth, that Stanley didn't have long to live, he'd kept quiet, leaving his mother to face this sudden loss alone.

                However, this death had the advantage of bringing the teenager back to a better frame of mind. He returned to school, took on a plethora of odd jobs to help Ada pay off her late husband's debts – in addition to raising her two children – and even began studying law. It was only much later, when he began his training as a profiler, that he understood what his mother had gone through without ever daring to open her mouth. But the words they had spoken to each other remained engraved in their flesh, and their interactions were marked by a latent hostility. At least, that was how Aaron felt.

“Look, I don't know what my son has told you about his past and our relationship,” began Ada, “but I want you to know that I love him more than anything else in the world, and I'd kill for him if I had to. And I say that knowing you're a federal agent.”

And she was convinced of her sincerity. In the course of their investigations, Emily and her colleagues were confronted with a whole range of motherhood profiles. From those who had no maternal instincts and therefore neglected their offspring, to those who flouted the laws of the country for the sake of the flesh of their flesh, no matter what the latter had done. Surprisingly, despite the less-than-glorious portrait her partner had painted of her, Ada fell into the second category, and she certainly wasn't going to throw stones at her.

“It’s… it’s something I can understand.”

“Do you intend to behave as the other did with him?”

“The oth…?” she repeated, before realizing who she was talking about. “Oh! No. Absolutely not. I… I love your son. I love Aaron. Truly.”

“That’s what she was saying too.”

Clearly, the stab in the back Haley had given her descendant wasn't going down well at all. Emily imagined that she'd had to help him pick up the pieces and that, as a result, she'd witnessed her first-born's suffering without really being able to do much other than console him and try to make him understand that not all women were like her. An arduous task, all the more so for two individuals sharing a filial bond.

                That she didn't want to see the pattern repeated over and over again was perfectly understandable, and the profiler felt her mistrust was legitimate. But she also wanted to show her that she had nothing to fear from her. They may only have been at the dawn of their relationship, and it was possible that the same chemistry might have existed between him and Haley in their early days, but she had assets in her pocket that Jack's mother never had, which had probably hindered her understanding of her husband's behavior. She was certain that things could be maintained between them far more permanently than between he and his ex-wife.

Simply put, it was more a feeling than anything she could present.

“I… I don't know how you prove it right now,” she admitted nervously, “but I sincerely love Aaron.”

Ada wrinkled her eyelids, staring intently at her. Emily reflected that Aaron had inherited this characteristic from his mother. Except that he forgot to look away from time to time. The grandmother uncrossed her arms and planted her fists on her hips, which her cadet interpreted as a good sign.

“…You might as well know right away, before you start thinking about going into something more serious with him: my son is a complicated person.”

A shiver ran down the young woman's spine. She thought she'd understood what it was all about, but feared she'd made a mistake. 

“I… I know,” she dared to say.

“No, you don’t understand. I'm not talking about his constant anxiety – that, at the very least, can be fixed,” she asserted, rolling her eyes – “I'm talking about... everything else. Aaron is not an easy person to live with. He’s… different. If you want to build something with him, know that you'll have to think for two about a lot of things. While he's thinking of others for himself or for you. Others you didn't even know existed.”

She was now ninety-nine percent certain that they were on the same wavelength. They'd never had a chance to talk about it before, mainly because she hadn't had the guts to put her foot in it while he surely didn't know the truth, but it was a subject that had been rattling around in her brain since the beginning of their relationship.

“I… I know. I… I was aware of that before I... before I agreed to go out with him. It… it doesn’t bother me.”

She was so impressed by this little woman standing proudly in front of her that she couldn't stop herself from stuttering, which wasn't going to work in her favor. But Ada continued without remarking on the quavering of her voice.

“It's not going to get any easier, so I hope you've got that in mind.”

“Yes. I'm ready to do whatever it takes,” she assured, looking her most determined.

“Good.”

A slight smile curled across the old woman's carefully painted lips. A host of questions ran through Emily's head, but she allowed herself to ask just one. 

“You… Did he see any doctors for… this?”

Ada laughed briefly.

“His father already had a hard time dealing with the fact that he was left-handed, surely, he wasn't going to give me money to get him diagnosed,” she spat snottily, before relenting. “No, all I have is my instinct and all the clues he scatters around him.”

A bit like her, in the end.

“I… I see.”

“One more thing,” bounced Ada, serious again. “If you ever think of behaving like the other...”

“The other's name is Haley,” Emily corrected, uncomfortably.

“If you knew what she did to Aaron, you probably wouldn't want to name her.”

“I know what she has done.”

Her interlocutor's eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh? He told you?”

“Yes. In an indirect way, but yes.”

“I'd have been surprised if he hadn't,” she commented, mockingly. “Whatever, I knew something was up since I'd never seen my son so happy in a long time. However, he was in the exact same state when he met her. She was everything for him. So, when he discovered the truth, he was devastated. Aaron looks big and strong, but in truth he's small and fragile. If you ever try that again, I'll make you wish you'd never been born.”

The young woman knew that these were not empty words. Ada had seen her son suffer and had no desire to see him go through it again. Mainly because she wasn't sure he could endure this kind of ordeal again. She was right: the BAU director was a colossus with feet of clay. His self-confidence, his tall stature, his indifference, all this was just a smokescreen hiding all the uncertainties inside him and the deep empathy he had for his loved ones. A dichotomy of which Emily was well aware of.

“Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now, tell me what happened.”

Without going into detail, the federal agent told her about the accident her offspring had instigated to apprehend the suspect, and everything that followed afterwards, up to and including his fainting spell and the ambulance ride.

“Men and cars...,” sighed Ada, rolling her eyes.

“We agree.”

“Well, let's go before he panics.”

The two women made their way in the opposite direction, the younger one much more serene than on the outward journey. She was relieved to have finally had this conversation with her companion's mother. It was true that they had both decided to keep their relationship quiet, but now that things were getting more and more serious, this secret weighed heavily on her shoulders. She kept telling herself that the longer they waited to talk to their respective families, the harder it would be for them to take the news. It was now done with Ada – who would pass on the information to her sisters, who in turn would pass it on to their many children; Aaron having explained to her that his cousins formed the best communication network in the world – all that remained was for her to tell her own mother. Which would be no mean feat either.

                The grandmother entered the room first and said, without any preamble:

“Emily just explained to me what had happened. Did you seriously think you could cause a pile-up and get away with a scratch on your forehead?”

“I was fine,” he defended himself, more alert than when they'd gone out.

“You've got a head injury, you idiot! It's not up to you to decide whether you're well or not, it's up to the doctors.”

“Mom...” he grumbled, absent-mindedly playing with a fold in his sheet.

“What? Imagine if Emily hadn't come back to your place. You'd still be drooling on your hardwood floor! Is that what you wanted?”

“… No,” he conceded, lowering his nose sheepishly.

His companion had to restrain herself from rushing to his bedside to give him a hug. He may have outnumbered the matriarch by two or even three heads, but he was no match for her. Especially since her reasoning seemed unassailable.

“Well. Otherwise, I've signed all the papers and expressly asked them not to let you leave until all the lights are neon green.”

The profiler heard her superior and lover grumbling without discretion.

“I warn you; I'll be calling every day.”

“I have no doubt about that.”

Ada didn't pick up on the sarcastic tone and, in a softer tone, went on: 

“I'll leave you to your cooing in peace. You, you rest and avoid falling into a coma, you'll be nice. And you,” she said, turning to her neighbor, “I entrust to you the task of keeping an eye on him. Watch out, he's liable to climb out of the window.”

“I know. I’ve already seen the phenomenon in action.”

Ever since she'd seen him do it in New York, she'd kept in mind that he was particularly good at dodging medical examinations and avoiding by all means staying peacefully at home resting.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Good night, Mom,” Aaron replied, smiling all the same.

“Good evening, Mrs. Hotchner.”

The old lady stepped through the door, giving them back their privacy. Emily returned to settle herself next to the mattress and threw out, amused: 

“Well, here you are, bedridden for at least two days.”

“Please…”

“Aaron, this is serious,” she said, grabbing his hand. “You'll be under observation for the next two days.”

“Great...” he grumbled, not at all thrilled at the idea of doing nothing for such a long period of time.

His partner was very good at keeping himself busy when he was in his apartment: reading, doing crosswords or logic exercises, completing administrative tasks, tackling household chores, etc.; but trapped in this sanitized room, he'd have only his thoughts to accompany him, and they weren't the best companions. They would only fuel his stress and anxiety.

“I'll come and keep you company,” she declared, kissing his fingers.

“You’re supposed to work.”

“I can come before and after. Even during lunch break.”

“We're not supposed to be noticed either.”

“I’ll be careful.”

She held his gaze with a smile – already mentally preparing her battle plan to keep her promise – and he finally gave in with a vague nod. She kissed him tenderly, her palm lingering on his cheek before she sat back down.

“What did she say?”

“She more or less implied that she would torture me if I broke your heart.”

Aaron gave an approving pout.

“That must mean she likes you.”

“What?” choked Emily, unsettled.

“She never said that to Haley. She couldn’t stand her.”

“And I guarantee you, she still can't.”

“At the same time, she's got arguments for now.”

They smiled in unison and their lips met once more, following each other in the fleeting little kisses they so loved to exchange.

“I love you,” she murmured, aroused despite the context.

“I love you too.”

“Don't ever do that again,” she commanded, eyebrows furrowed.

“Yes, ma’am.”

___

First chapter >> https://www.tumblr.com/the-queen-and-the-king/771016298484334592/a-little-piece-of-paradise-1?source=share

Next chapter >> https://www.tumblr.com/the-queen-and-the-king/779893473909391360/a-little-piece-of-paradise-15?source=share

[takaraphoenix]

For Stiles month, could I ask for 12 and Steter or 14 with Stiles, Jackson, and Danny? 🥺

(You are lucky you are getting both even though you put 'em in the same ask - just send two next time ;) - because someone else ALSO wants Stackson brOTP for 14!!)

The Birds and the Wolves

Tags: m/m, fluff, getting together, Pack Alpha Peter, post Nogitsune, vaguely post series

Main Pairing: Peter/Stiles

Teen Wolf Characters: Mieczysław 'Stiles' Stilinski, Peter Hale

@writersmonth Prompts: birds + library

Summary: Stiles is in the Hale Mansion's library when he realizes he's in love with Peter.

This Story on FFNet | This Story on AO3

The Birds and the Wolves

Stiles Summer Stories 2024

Things had been kind of messy when Scott became a True Alpha and Derek gave up his Alpha status to save his sister's life. For a while, Peter, Derek, Cora and Isaac stayed as part of the McCall Pack. Until the Hales left. And Stiles tried not to take it personal, because it wasn't, of course it wasn't, and he wasn't even part of the Hale Pack – not that there was a Hale Pack anymore – and he even understood why they left, because there was no Hale Pack anymore. They'd already lost so much in this damn town, so of course would they leave. But it devastated Stiles.

They stayed in contact, though. Stiles and Derek, because over multiple times of mutually saving each other's lives, they had become friends. Stiles and Peter too though, because they'd been working together to create one coherent digital bestiary, out of the Hale bestiary and the stolen Argent bestiary and any book that either of them could find online. At first, it was all just professional, all about the bestiary. Then they started talking more.

It was the Nogitsune that really brought them closer. Though not possessed, Peter could relate to being a prisoner in your own body and to slowly losing your mind. It was also just easier, for Stiles, to talk through texts than in person. Not having to look at the other, not having to speak. Especially in the early weeks, months, after the possession, that helped him a lot.

Stiles knew that Jackson got his number from Peter, because not long after Peter got Stiles to talk – by offering his own trauma first, talking about the coma and his own experiences to get Stiles to talk – Jackson texted him. Stiles and Jackson bonded over the Nogitsune and the kanima.

That was how Stiles had learned that the Hales had ended up moving to London. Jackson was there, Derek's first beta, one of the scattered members of the Hale Pack. Stiles wasn't surprised when, a few months later, Peter casually mentioned being an Alpha again. That was always going to happen, Stiles had known it from the moment Peter had been resurrected, but it became an inevitability after Derek lost his Alpha spark, because Peter was not going to let the Hale Pack die. So he had hunted and killed a rogue Alpha and started rebuilding the Hale Pack, in London.

Boyd and Erica found their way to London, after Stiles texted them about this development. After running away from Beacon Hills, they had bounced from pack to pack. Never truly finding a home. Stiles hadn't found it in himself to make them stay, after everything, but he had insisted on staying in contact, so he would know they were safe. Safe but not happy. So when there was a small Hale Pack in another country, Stiles told them to go, to give it another chance, with a different Alpha.

After graduation, Stiles packed his bags and didn't even have to think about it. He needed to get out of this town. He loved Scott, dearly, he had many friends in the McCall Pack, it had been his family for so long now, but… he couldn't stay. The town that had killed his mom had also nearly killed him, he'd killed one of his best friends here, and so many others. Scott was sad, but he understood.

Stiles left, and he never even considered any other option than London. It had never been a question for him but maybe he should have considered telling the pack first. He'd knocked and got greeted by absolute bafflement. And then by hugs and fierce declaration that he had to stay.

That had been exactly a year ago now. Stiles settled in, found his place among the pack, fell back into friendships that had only existed on his phone for far too long now. The Hale Mansion was stunning, large and… home. His favorite room was the library though. All the books from the Hale vault, all the books both Peter and Stiles had bought over the past years, in their research. Stiles had been delighted when he first walked in there and he could be found in it about every day.

Especially at first, when he was settling in and was… kind of overwhelmed. There were still a lot of things he was struggling with after the possession, which only made it worse, because then he got frustrated with himself for still not being over it, so he retreated even further into himself. His pack was patient with him though, they understood and gave him time.

Sighing, Stiles turned his head to look out of the library's window. The pack was outside, training. Sparring with each other. Derek and Peter were instructing them. A soft smile spread over his lips as Stiles watched his Alpha. Damn, Peter had come a long way since the feral Alpha who had first turned Scott. Coming back to life had helped him, but becoming an Alpha again, without killing a family member, to bring back his family's legacy this time, to form his own pack, it had helped him so much. He'd become a great Alpha and Stiles was proud to be in his pack.

Stiles couldn't help but laugh when the wolves started chasing birds. Sometimes, when they were connecting a little too much with their wolf side, they acted more animalistic. Like chasing birds.

"Stop that, you unhinged puppies!" Stiles called out of the window. "Behave yourselves!"

"Let the pups have fun, darling," Peter called back, looking up at Stiles with a smile.

Stiles froze, surprised, as a thought crossed his mind. He's beautiful. Not just physically, of course was Peter Hale gorgeous. But seeing him with the pups, seeing him be a good Alpha, seeing him be snarky and teasing, Stiles found it all beautiful, loved it all. Loved… Peter.

It had all developed so naturally, they'd grown closer, Stiles found his place. And more often than not, that place was next to Peter. He hadn't noticed before, because it happened so gradually. But that moment, as random as it seemed, with Peter standing among his pack, smiling so softly up at Stiles, it felt like something was slipping into place.

"Oh," Stiles whispered to himself in awe. "I'm in love with you."

Peter, who'd slowly turned back to the betas to make them stop chasing birds, froze. His head snapped back to Stiles, eyes flashing red. Stiles' heart jumped into his throat and he flushed. But no. No, he didn't want to take it back. He was better, he had gotten so much better, he hadn't felt like he deserved to be happy, after the possession. Now, he was happy, finally. Here, with them. With Peter.

"I love you," Stiles repeated, louder, laughter bubbling in his chest.

It took Peter all but ten seconds to move from the garden upstairs to the library, standing in front of Stiles a little wide-eyed. Still red. There were some fangs too. Stiles smiled at him and reached out, resting a hand on Peter's cheek. There was no doubt, no worry that Peter wouldn't return his feelings, because at the same moment he noticed that he loved Peter, he also realized that Peter loved him. Had loved him for a long time, had shown it in so many different ways.

His support, his help to get through the possession, his patience, kindness and care, when it came to Stiles. There were so many lingering touches, more than just normal scent-marking among pack. A possessiveness. A protectiveness. Stiles smiled warmly at Peter.

"I'm glad you're ready," Peter whispered, resting his hands on Stiles' hips.

"I'm glad you waited for me to be ready. Thank you. Sorry to keep you waiting."

"You're worth waiting for, darling," Peter assured him as they both leaned in slowly.

Stiles' eyes fluttered shut as he pressed a soft kiss against Peter's lips.

~*~ The End ~*~