#moreid season 1

[captainhappyclaws]

Season 1 Episode 4

[Morgan looks so done here and then Gideon looks like a proud grandpa lmaooo]

[sapphicprentiss]

sapphicprentiss's Five Favorite Criminal Minds Season 1 Episodes

1x10: The Popular Kids

taglist: @garciailoveyou @unitchiefwives @jenny-from-the-bau @lol-lynn

[avis-writeshq]

pairing: early seasons!spencer reid x sunshine!fem!reader genre: fluff, roommate au, childhood friends warnings: general criminal minds violence, not beta-read oops a/n: I renounce the MoReid shippers; they’re SIBLINGS !!!! also, apologies for lack of posts !! have been very busy with uni :( wc: 1.06k part 1 | part 2

Spencer was shot. It all happened so quickly– the sound of the gun firing, the grunt that he let out and the apprehension of the UnSub. Too quickly, but such is the fickleness of life. This was one of the rare occasions where the ballistic vest did not do its job, the bullet jamming into his side. Hotch was on the UnSub in seconds, the cuffs on his wrists before anyone could blink. 

“Shit, Reid,” Derek gasps out, watching the way blood seeps through his once pristine white shirt, and he presses his hand against the wound. “Shit, Hotch! Hotch! We need a medic!”

*** 

“It’s going to be okay,” Aaron assures as best he can. His face is grim and Derek is shaking his head in frustration, hands trembling and cold from washing his hands over and over again. “It’s not your fault.”

“We missed him,” Gideon mutters, “he was right there and we missed him.”

“And Spencer got hurt because of it.” Elle’s gaze is set on the hospital’s sign in counter. 

Aaron understands their guilt. They caught the UnSub in the end, so nothing was ever in vain, but it doesn’t change the fact that they didn’t anticipate that he was at the end of the hallway waiting for the perfect moment to strike– and Spencer paid the price of their mistakes. The bullet hit him in the side where the vest didn’t cover, the damage reaching his liver and kidneys. Aaron doesn’t think he’s ever seen that much blood before. 

“Excuse me–” a voice loud enough to cut through their brooding chimes from the reception desk. “Hi. Hello, I’m here for, um, Doctor Spencer Reid?”

The clerk glances at her for a brief moment before turning back to his computers. “We don’t have a Doctor by that name on staff.”

“Um, no–” a nervous laugh splits the air. “No, he’s– he’s not a doctor here. He’s a patient? I got a call.”

He looks at her up and down before raising an eyebrow, mumbling something. “Is that you?”

“Yes. Yes, that’s me, is he okay? I came as soon as I could.”

“He’s in surgery. He’ll be out in a few. Take a seat over there–” He gestures over to where Aaron and the others are sitting– “and the doctor will call you over.”

“Right. Right, okay, thank you.” 

Elle doesn’t try hiding her confusion, looking up at you from her seat with raised brows. “You’re here for Reid?”

You jolt in surprise, the heavy grip you have on your bag loosening in an attempt to calm down. “Hi? Um, yeah. He’s– well, we’re on each other’s emergency contact list.”

“It’s good to see you again,” Aaron says with a tight grimace. “I wish it were under better circumstances.”

Derek’s jaw unhinges. “You knew?”

“Emergency contact list.” Aaron offers you a glance. “Are you okay?”

“I just–” your voice wobbles, a choked whimper leaving your lips. “I just want him to be okay.”

The team shares your sentiments. It’s not often when there’s an injury as serious as this on the field, but the risk is there. The room is tense with worry, the sound of doctors and nurses rushing around through the halls does nothing to ease their anxieties. You’re already fearing the worst. 

What feels like hours is only minutes as a nurse arrives in front of your little group. 

“Doctor Spencer Reid?” She confirms, looking sympathetic as ever. “The surgery was a success. The bullet grazed against his liver so he does need to stay for a couple of days for monitoring, but he should make a full recovery.”

“Is he allowed guests?” You blurt out hurriedly, the receipt in your hands crumbled in torn from incessant worrying. 

“He’s should be waking up now, but you’re welcome to see him. I’ll take you there.” The nurse offers a gentle smile. “Girlfriend?”

Heat roars against your cheeks and you shake your head adamantly. “No, no, he’s– we’re not– he’s my roommate.”

The nurse hums, a knowing smile on her face. “I see.”

After a few quick goodbyes towards Aaron and the rest of the team, you hurry after the nurse whilst clutching your bag of goods. She opens the door wide, letting you inside before closing it behind you while you pull up a chair. 

“I am– I am so mad at you, Spencer Walter Reid,” you whisper, gaze fixed on his resting face and the hair that mats his forehead. You brush a few strands away from his eyes, your lips trembling briefly. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“So you’re not that mad?” Spencer croaks out, his voice dry and his head pounding as he manages to lift his eyes towards you.

“Spencer.” Your arms are around his neck in an instant, careful as not to disrupt the wires and tubes that surround him. “I’m going to kill you.”

 “That’s counter intuitive.” He laughs quietly, wincing a little at the suddenness before allowing his free arm to wrap loosely around your waist. He finds it uneasy, the way your lips fall into a wobbly frown and how your eyes look red and puffy from crying. He’s only ever seen you look like this once before but that’s nothing compared to this. This time you look like that because of him– a silly little accident has lead to your pretty smile vanishing off your pretty face.

“You suck. I’m telling your mother.” He knows you won’t and he’s grateful that you’ve found it in yourself to make a joke. When you pull away, he immediately misses your warmth, watching as you rummage through your bag before handing him a sealed cup of red jell-o. “It was the last one they had.”

“You’re an angel, really, but I don’t think I’m allowed to eat for a couple hours,” he murmurs, his fingers grasping gingerly at the cup.

With a wordless nod in acknowledgement, you press a thick leather bound book into his hands, your eyes meeting his gaze. “Your favourite.”

He breathes out his thanks, glancing up at you through the dim lights of the hospital room. “Are you going to stay?”

“As long as you want, Walter.” 

*** 

From the other side of the door, Derek glances through the window at you and Spencer before looking back at Hotch. “They’re roommates?”

“Apparently.”

“No, but– they’re just roommates?”

“Unfortunately.”

reblogs are always appreciated !!

part 1 | part 2 | you are on part 3!

[justjasper]

do you have any domestic moreid headcanons?

Pre-Relationship

They become fast friends, they hang out a lot, they call each other at odd hours.

Reid gets Morgan into Star Trek by making him watch Deep Space Nine. Morgan would fight god for Captain Sisko.

They fall into bed sometime in season 1, and keep doing so on and off for years while their feelings brew.

Reid wakes up alive after the events of Amplification with Morgan by his bedside, and they have a conversation full off feelings. They become "official" here.

Newly Established

They can both cook; Reid looked after his mother and went to college young, Morgan's dad cooked, and Morgan followed his example.

Nobody proposes moving in together officially, Reid just spends less and less time at his apartment until the lease runs out. He mentions it to Morgan quite matter of factly, and Morgan shrugs, smiles, pulls his pretty boy in for a kiss. "Most of your books are here already."

A morning where they don't have to work goes like this: Morgan gets up early to go for a run with Clooney. By the time he's back, Reid is making is making them breakfast. They eat, and then shower together.

Morgan has a decent vinyl collection and likes to listen to them on chill evenings. Reid is a musical sponge, and if he gets a chance when they're on cases, will seek out record shops for something interesting or rare.

Their favourite takeout is Thai. Reid is one of those "white guy with spice tolerance" outliers.

Well Established

It takes some time for them to switch to using first names in private, Morgan takes significantly longer. It's not a problem, they've known and loved each other a long time with these names. Neither of them shorten each other's names.

Clooney is a K9 dropout, and highly trainable, and Reid teaches him a lot of silly tricks. He likes to show Clooney magic tricks.

One of the properties Morgan buys has a decrepid grand piano in it. He gets it restored for Reid, who's dabble with learning on and off. He plays the piano every day.

Morgan thinks Reid doesn't really believe in marriage as an institution, and is okay with that, they don't have to get married, even if they could. Reid proposes to Morgan one morning in shower.

Reid never gets an official autism dignosis, wanting the plausible deniability while working for the goverment. They talk about it. Morgan starts packing a weighted blanket in his go-bag for him (people often ask why his go back is so heavy).

The Future

They get married once it's legal, a simple ceremony but all their important people are there.

When they leave the BAU it's a joint decision. They're both ready for a new adventure, with less actual threat of bodily harm.

Morgan goes into property full time, flipping houses and rent-to-buying them to local people/families, instead of selling them to landlord who will end up pushing locals out of the area.

Reid goes into research/lecturing.

They move to Chicago to be closer to family. They move Diana to be close them them too.

As Reid gets older, he has to use a cane more. His migranes are mostly under control, but eventually he experiences migralepsy (migraine seizures). The dog they get after Clooney passes becomes Reid's service dog.

The Future (with kid)

Reid carries (he's trans). It's an unplanned pregnancy, but they go for it. Reid is terrible at being pregnant.

They have a daughter they name Sam after Morgan's dad (bc I chose this fanon name years before CM bothered to give Morgan's dad a canon name and I am sticking with it out of spite).

Morgan's sisters teach Reid to do Sam's hair.

Morgan is very involved when sam becomes a Girl Scout, and coaches her softball team.

Reid teaches her piano. They read together every day.

They struggle not to intefer when she's a teen and it becomes apparent the girl she keeps bringing home is her first crush.

They both try so hard to be present, devoted dads that they can can fall into helicopter parent tendencies.

[neve-gallus-girl-detective]

My Real Ships

Jemily

Demily

Temily

Morcia

Garvez

Ralvez

Tenelope

Jara

Jenelope

Jerek

Willifer

My Just-For-Fun Ships

Hotchniss

Jotch

Jotchniss

Jarontiss

Spencelle

Jelle

Jemelle

Spemily

Jeid (seasons 1 and 2)

Hotchgan

My No-Thanks Ships

Penemily

Moreid

Rossi/anyone

Jeid (after season 2)

Wotch

Spill

[spritehouse]

ShortMC's Tumblr Writing Masterlist

This list is for my Criminal Minds Writing on Tumblr

—Challenges:

–Criminal Minds Greif Fic Challenge Open

—Drabbles/WIPs:

-Rain Drabble: Spencer x Open/Unspecified | Seeing an ex in the rain after their relationship falls apart

-A Heavy Dose of Atmosphere: Moreid | Derek & Spencer breakup

-Midnight: Emily & Spencer (platonic) | Emily takes Spencer to Denny's for waffles and milkshakes before helping him get sober

-No Big Deal (I love you): Moreid | From this concept | Hanahaki AU

-I Know Those Eyes (who are you to me?): Ralvez | Luke & Spencer meet during s2 while they're both struggling. In s13, Spencer doesn't remember it, but Luke does

-Doors a Kid Shouldn't Walk Through: Moreid/Ralvez | The BAU gets a case that digs up Spencer, Derek, and Luke's pasts, forcing them to reveal some guarded secrets & make some difficult decisions

-Doors a Kid Shouldn't Walk Through Derek/Spencer/Luke | Unfinished fill from Whumptober 2023

-Give it up to You (I surrender) Moreid | Unfinished fill from Whumptober 2023

-Dads!Ralvez Ralvez | From these headcanons | Luke and Spencer as fathers

-Luke & The 187 System Ralvez/Gen | 187 System from the I've Been Having Revelations Verse

-Hum of Contact, Sound of Collisions Ralvez | Part 3 of the Black Hole Series

-Ashes, Ashes, In My Arms: Derek/Spencer/Luke | From this concept | Ghost!Spencer x Teenage!Derek & Luke

-Post-Prison Relapse: Ralvez | From this concept | Spencer relapses after prison. Unlike last time, Luke does everything in his power to help him.

-Post-5x01 (Nameless, Faceless): Ralvez | Luke finds Spencer after struggling to take care of himself following his knee injury

-Slow Down: Moralvez (Derek/Luke emphasis) | Derek takes care of Luke during a depressive episode while Spencer is away

—Concepts & Prompts: tagged with #lex prompts

–AU Concepts: -Emily & Spencer x Natasha & Clint (Avengers) -Mafia!AU + Elaboration -Unsub!Ralvez -Non-Verbal!Spencer x HoH!Luke + Derek + Part 3 + Their Cat + Roxy -Dads!Ralvez -Psychic!Ralvez -Teenage!Ralvez -Soul Bound!Ralvez -Bond Break Ralvez AU -Ghost!Spencer AU -Poly Derek/Spencer/Luke + NSFW -Married Moreid -Post-Prison Spencer Relapses -Catholic Luke -Survivor Solidarity Derek/Spencer/Luke -Kidnapped a/b/o Ralvez -Early Seasons Ralvez -Childhood Friends to Lovers Derek/Spencer/Luke -Foster Kids Derek/Spencer/Luke -Regency Derek/Spencer/Luke -Unhealthy, Early Seasons Ralvez -Non-BAU Spencer + Caretaker Luke -Prison Era Derek/Spencer/Luke -Fighting Ring a/b/o Ralvez -College Derek/Luke

–Gender-Related Concepts: -Chemtrails Over The Country Club T4T Ralvez -Trans JJ -Transfem T4T Ralvez

–Misc Concepts: -Post-Lauren Ralvez -Spencer x Two Birds (song) -Screaming in the rain -"It's getting bad again" -Getting Old Together -Luke Experiencing Dom Drop -Werewolf!Spencer x Human!Luke -Derek & Luke Speaking Spanish -Luke's Ranger Past

–Prompts: -"On Repeat" Prompts

—Headcanons: tagged with #lex hcs

–Emily: -Teenage/Young Emily

–Hotch: -Teenage/Young Hotch -Arospec Hotch

–Luke: -Queer + Neurodivergent Headcanon -Autistic!Luke + Part 2 -Separation Anxiety Headcanon -Catholic!Luke

–Spencer: -Genderfluid Spencer -Spencer's Tattoos -Stutter/Speech Impediment Headcanon

–Ravlez: -OCD/Echolalia Headcanon -Headaches Headcanon -Headcanon Dump 1 -Parenting Headcanonss -Argument Roles -T4T Dynamics -Sign Language Headcanon -Indecisive Cuddlers Headcanon -Cat/Dog Duo

–Derek/Spencer/Luke -Headcanon Dump -Sex Dynamics -Whistle Stim/Tic Headcanon -Cat Shape Shifting Headcanons

–Other: -Stims/Tics Headcanons -Dæmon Forms

My Ao3 Masterlist My (old) Editing Masterlist

Happy Reading!

[jjs-jareau]

talking about my some now bc why not <3

hotch/elle - 6/10 . did enjoy this for what it was !! i think if elle stayed for longer i would like them more but i thought they had a fun little dynamic going on .

hotch/derek - 4/10 . definitely work better as friends imo . not my cup of tea really but i enjoy them a lot as friends !!

hotch/spencer - 2/10 . i for sure prefer them as platonic . i see them more as like a family vibe or whatever but if you like them then slay !!

hotch/jj - 5/10 . look . if not for will i think i would like them more but from what we have....i don't hate them .

hotch/penelope - 7/10 . i prefer them as friends but GOD there is potential there n i do enjoy them THOROUGHLY .

hotch/emily - 7/10 . same as w penelope ^-^

elle/derek - 7/10 . that one ep where they're vacationin together...obsessed . missed potential w them . i love them vv much :]

elle/spencer - 9/10 . SPENCELLE MY BELOVED !!!! oh theyre so sweet n nice n i could talk about them foreverrrrr <3333

elle/jj - 6/10 . they were fun for what they were forsure ! if elle stayed for longer then maybeee but eh .

elle/penelope - 7/10 . i don't remember much of their interactions (if they had any at all ???) but jus the idea of them is sweet

derek/spencer - 5/10 . love hate relationship w moreid . its like there is absolutely smth there but i can't decide whether it's platonic or romantic . i have no strong feelings towards them tbh

derek/jj - 3/10 . just friends i think

derek/penelope - 8/10 . the besties of all time . i love them platonically n i absolutely wouldnt mind seein them romantically either :3

derek/emily - 6/10 . another mixed bag for me . i dont have a lot of strong feelings towards them but i dont particularly mind them !

derek/jordan - 4/10 . THAT FIRST SCENE W THEM WAS REALLY SILLY . dont like them romantically but THAT WAS WHIMSICAL !

spencer/jj - 3/10 . better as friends .

spencer/penelope - 6/10 . man raising eyebrow emoji i think theyre neat !!

spencer/emily - 8/10 . again i have no strong feelings about them but at the same time its like . i wouldnt MIND if they got together .

spencer/alex - 0/10 . i saw this once on instagram and its been in my brain since . blake sees that man as a son adn nothin more im tellin you .

spencer/kate - 8/10 . dont look at me .

spencer/luke - 9/10 . def my preference in reid ships excludin spencelle . i think they were really sweet :[ luke was so carin n considerate towards reid after he got out of prison n they made me really happy to watch <3

jj/penelope - 3/10 . im sorry jj does NOT deserve her . as much as i love jj shes jus not that great sometimes .

jj/emily - 1/10 . i do not like them . except for when i do . its like i HATE them except for that one time when jj was hallucinatin emily . like they suck until i remember that jj is so attached to emily n emily seems to return her affections n then its really cute BUT OTHERWISE THEY R JUST EUGH .

penelope/emily - 9/10 . what the fuck . i love them . so much . emily is jus so nice n funny n listens to emily n penelope is so sweet n theres obviously a bond between them n i love them

penelope/tara - 7/10 . i dont think ive seen anyone else talk ab these two but i think theyre dynamic is nice !!!

penelope/luke - 9/10 . no comment .

penelope/matt - 7/10 . look i love matt w kristy but matt w penelope is so....

emily/jordan - 9/10 . WHO DOES IT LIKE THEM . WHO HAS EVER DONE IT LIKE THEM . THEY HAD LESS THAN A SEASON TOGETHER BUT BY GOD THEIR CHEMISTRY WAS OFF THE CHARTS .

emily/tara - 9/10 . oh my god . holy shit . when i first watched the show up until like s11 i never really read emily as a sapphic character . n then tara showed up n recontextualized my opinion of emily n now its like impossible for me to see her as NOT a woman liker . also tara is a perfect match for emilys energy

tara/luke - 5/10 . bestie vibes only .

tara/matt - 8/10 . except also bestie vibes only unless......

luke/matt - 8/10 . ALSO only besties unless.........

criminal minds ships are all so interesting and compelling . except for those with rossi and gideon . minus rossi/gideon .

[idiotlovers]

MOREID, following the romantic tale of SSA Derek Morgan and Dr. Spencer Reid as they navigate a world of Unsubs ("Unknown Subjects"), Profiling, Inequality, Confrontation, and what happens when you fall inlove with your coworker.

template by @viv-psd

[piqtescue]

*windows 95 startup sound plays*

[red-drama-cascade]

Criminal Minds

"I don't wanna ever learn

How to fall asleep without you

Tell me what's worse

Losing you now or later?"

[captainhappyclaws]

If not fruity why so close?

[bc theyre looking at a computer, ik... still]

1st pic: Season 1, episode 1

2nd pic: Season 4, episode 12

[pennyspearl]

𖧧. ָ࣪ ！ MOREID ！1.02 ！⨳

✧ PENELOPE GARCIA :: “ if i figure it out , does it earn me a night of passionate lovemaking ? ” ✧ DEREK MORGAN :: “ oh most definitely , sweetness . with reid !”

[ ⨳ ] don't repostㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ [ ⨳ ] credit @pennyspearl on tumblr if used ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ [ ⨳ ] credit on other platforms as well please

[abortionado]

derek is touching spencer Constantly in season 1.......what's the reason

[putting-the-bi-in-bau]

Dressed to Impress

Written for: @imagining-in-the-margins October CM/MGG Trick or Treat Challenge.

Prompt: Person A & B get into an argument about the “accuracy” of a costume.

Length: 3.3k

Rating: Teen (for kissing and suggestive themes)

Pairing: Derek Morgan/Spencer Reid - Moreid

Summary: Every year, the BAU dresses up for Halloween, and every year Spencer finds something wrong with their costumes. This year, Spencer’s the one whose costume is inaccurate.

Main tags: Set pre-season S1, getting together, first kiss

If Spencer had to sum up the BAU in one word, he’d pick professional. Hotch was a good leader who ensured that his team followed every FBI regulation to a tee. Some things were lost - Penelope’s phone manner, for one, Hotch knew a losing battle when he saw one - but overall the BAU stayed perfectly professional. Included in this was the dress code.

All that aside, there was one day a year when all the rules went out the window.

Halloween.

The one day a year that Hotch not only condoned but actively encouraged breaking this dress code.

This was because of the annual agency-wide costume contest. The FBI higher-ups liked to ensure that morale stayed high across the organisation, and this was one way. It was no small thing, It was judged by a council of Section Chiefs, broken down into four major categories - individuals, pairs, groups and whole teams - and documented formally by an official contest photographer. The prizes were minimal, consisting of a framed photograph and a nondescript bulk order trophy for the office. No one minded, though; the real prize was the bragging rights. The winner’s photos were displayed on the FBI intranet for all branches to view. It inspired competition in all, and the BAU was nothing if not competitive.

The team went all out on their costumes. Discussions started months in advance, deciding themes and where to find the best supplies. They had even been known to scout out the best costume supply stores during their cases. They had taken different strategies over the years, trying for all categories except for the ‘whole team.’ There was even a year that they all - minus Hotch and Gideon - came as Smurfs. (It had been a nightmare, with Spencer scrubbing blue body paint out of all his creases and crevices until at least Thanksgiving.) He’d only ever seen them take casework this seriously. They all loved it.

Spencer had always loved Halloween, and with it, dressing up. The opportunity to don a costume and be someone else for the day was exhilarating. He worked tirelessly to be accurate, even going to the effort to commission or hand-craft certain pieces to achieve it. He even learnt to knit one year specifically to make a Tom Baker Doctor Who scarf. For him, the fun came from attention to detail. However, others didn’t see it that way.

———

The other year, Elle and Penelope had tried for the ‘pairs’ category, coming as an angel and a devil. They were in matching sparkly mini-dresses trimmed with fake feathers, and shiny stilettos. Elle was in all white, topped off with a small pair of wings. Penelope was in red, with miniature horns and an oversized pitchfork. They looked simply stunning. Spencer even imagined they’d be quite attractive to someone that way incline. However, he couldn’t help but point out the inaccuracies.

“These renditions of the ‘angel’ strays quite far from how they’re described in the source material. This costume is more representative of the watered-down, palatable versions presented in Renaissance art. In fact, with the halo and the single pair of wings, is actually a ‘cherub’ rather than an angel.”

Elle enjoyed a playful argument. She crossed her arms and engaged him in his debate.

“Okay Reid, if this,” she turned in a slow circle, letting the glitter in her dress catch the light, “isn’t ‘accurate’, what would be?”

“Well, for starters, angels are never described as being humanoid. You could add some more wings and some more eyes, which are generally agreed upon when describing angelic appearance. Some depictions show them as a ball of wings and eyes, some with rings of eyes, others with multiple wings branching out from the same point.” 

Elle nodded along and smiled as Spencer lovingly scrutinised her costume. Penelope joined in as Spencer began to discuss the origins of the ‘red devil’ image. They ceded his point. 

“While they’re not totally accurate, they both are decent and fashionable representations of the evolution of these figures in Western societies.” Spencer smiled.

“Are you saying we’re pretty, Doctor Reid?” Asked Penelope.

“Yeah, I suppose I am.”

They ruffled his hair and kissed his cheeks playfully, leaving identical lipstick marks. 

Neither minded having the inaccuracies pointed out; they knew Spencer’s mind, knew that he could only see the world how it should be. He had forgotten more facts than either of them had ever known. They promised to consult him next year for maximum accuracy.

———

The following year there was a different problem. 

Derek came dressed as a Spartan warrior, with two major problems.

One - his costume was rife with inaccuracy. He has no shield or body armour. It featured a velvet cape. Derek looked like a background character in a B-grade ancient history movie. Sure, his sword and cape clip seemed accurate - aside from being plastic - but aside from that, it was completely off. However, there was a worse problem.

Two - Derek looked insanely hot in his inaccurate costume. He was shirtless, gloriously displaying his chest and abs - a feat not usually allowed during office hours. He was serving everyone in the office eyefuls upon eyefuls of sun-kissed topaz skin. His leather skirt was another issue; it was Roman rather than Greek, and it clung dangerously low on his hips and skimming his thighs. Hypnotising dark chocolate tabs swayed with every step drawing focus downwards to his strappy sandals and muscular legs. All around, he was a vision.

Spencer was in agony. He’d had a crush on Derek since day one, and this was making it worse. He tried to ignore it. Keeping his head down, he tried to focus on his paperwork. Derek made that impossible, peacocking around in all his Grecian glory. Spencer found himself slipping subconsciously and watching Derek. It didn’t help when Derek came over to ask what Spencer thought of his costume, and Spencer got momentarily distracted stroking his velvet-covered shoulder. He tried to run through the inaccuracies - including that having your whole chest out is a tactical disadvantage - but Derek wasn’t taking it.

“It’s not a tactical disadvantage with the ladies though, Spence, and I am gonna score me a hottie tonight.”

By the look of him, that was true.

At least Spencer has one thing to distract himself with. Gideon’s costume. Though he rarely dressed up, Gideon had taken this opportunity to show off his Charlie Chaplin costume. It was as period-accurate as possible, down to the buttons and threads. Spencer spent his day intermittently watching Derek and sneaking up to Gideon’s office to get another look at the details. It was pleasing in its accuracy. Gideon, for one, was happy to let Spencer circle him and take in all the handiwork. There was only one thing that Spencer could nitpick, it would be that Gideon isn’t technically dressed as Charlie Chaplin but instead Chaplin’s iconic character ‘The Tramp.’ He shared this with Gideon at the end of the day, at Gideon’s request. 

“You never miss a beat, Reid,” he praised, “it's why you’re so good at this job.”

Derek also pulled him aside as they were leaving to invite him to the bar. The spooky feeling in the air combined with the night off, had Derek fixing for drinking and dancing. Spencer, less so. Still, Derek was a charismatic salesman.

“I know a bar that does Halloween-themed mocktails - one of them is a smoking cauldron.” Derek coaxed.

Spencer could admit it sounded fun, but he knew watching Derek flirt with others would be torturous.

“I’m sorry, Morgan.” Spencer shrugged, trying to be nonchalant. “I have tickets to a horror movie marathon. They’re playing the 1930s releases of Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dracula and Frankenstein. And they’re even starting with Le Manoir du Diable, thought to be the first horror short film, and the pioneer work of modern cinematic horror.”

Derek chuckled, shaking his head, “Reid, we can watch all the old movies you want, but another time. Just come to the bar with me.”

That definitely sounded nice - watching his favourite movies with Derek. However, the trade-off was going out tonight. Deep down, Spencer wanted to go with him. But watching him go home with some woman would crush him. Still, it was fun to go out and let loose. 

“I don’t know. I’m not really dressed for going out.” He was referring to his Count Chocula costume. “Children’s cereal mascot doesn’t exactly scream ‘ideal mating partner’, especially not next to you.”

“C’mon, Pretty Boy, I need my wingman! Every Spartan needs a vampire.”

“Historically, there’s about two-thousand years between the fall of the Spartans and the first documented vampire folklore-”

“-Reid, you’re killing me.”

Spencer gave in. The opportunity was too good to pass up. In the end, the mocktails were quite good.

———

This year, however, took the cake. The BAU had made the finals in the past, but they were determined to win. JJ had even managed to take Hotch and Gideon into trying for the team category, both agreeing blindly to go along with whatever theme the team chose.

Spencer isn’t sure who picked the theme, but someone proposed ‘Sexy FBI agents.’ The rest of the members of the team voted in favour, outvoting himself, Hotch and Gideon. To his credit, Hotch just shrugged and ceded they might win with it. 

While it's not the theme Spencer would’ve picked, he’s confident he can pull it off. He spent his days sitting across from a sexy FBI agent, so he was pretty sure he could handle it. He brushed JJ off when she offered to help him, insisting he had it covered.

Halloween morning rolled around, and Spencer was well into the spirit. He donned his costume, feeling somewhat self-conscious. He’s got his accuracy down - exact brands and overall look. A tight blue-grey V-neck, black cargo pants and a belt he pilfered from his muse’s go-bag. He even grew out his stubble and shaved it perfectly into a goatee. He was as accurate as he could get with the time constraint. Still, looking in the mirror, he didn’t really feel like his costume. 

When he arrived at work, it was clear he’d missed the brief.

He was first greeted by Elle. She wore a tight black jumpsuit, neckline plunging and shorts riding high on her thighs. Hanging from the belt were fluffy black handcuffs. The only thing distinguishing her from a police-themed stripper was the FBI emblem emblazoned on the chest and ass. At first, the sight confused him, because Elle didn’t look like anyone in particular. Then Hotch arrived. He was wearing leather pants, the light glinting off the contours of his legs. On top, he put a sleeveless shirt under his bulletproof vest. He’d even let Haley tousle his hair to look like ‘sex hair.’ He, too, looked attractive but generic. 

This was when it dawned on Spencer - ‘Sexy FBI agent’ must be a genre of Halloween costume. The team expected him to dress up in an overtly sexualised outfit, something that showed off his assets, with the assorted law enforcement paraphernalia to differentiate them from any other ‘sexy’ costume. This was clear to everyone else - no one else came dressed as an FBI agent they find sexy.

Spencer considered going home to change, but he didn’t get the chance. Soon the bullpen was flooded with the rest of his team - minus Derek, thankfully - and his embarrassment is sealed.

Gideon understood the brief - aviator sunglasses, tight jeans, and a black button-down that’s tucked and rolled to show more of his skin than Spencer had ever seen. Behind him, JJ was effervescent in a one-shoulder tank top and pinstripe business pants, shiny black stilettos tying it all together. Then Penelope took the cake, having pulled out all the stops: blood-red lips, smoky eyes, hair perfectly curled and flooded. She looked like a cross between pin-up and policing, with her sweetheart neckline corset top, fishnets and a garter belt with a fake badge. 

Spencer was debating his strategy for getting home when Elle addressed him.

“Spence! Are you dressed as Morgan?”

In lieu of answering, Spence went as red as Penelope’s lipstick.

“Uh…” He flustered, trying to think of a workaround.

“Oh my god, you are!” Penelope joined, snapping a picture with her flip-phone - to set as his contact picture or send to Derek, Spencer would never know. “That’s not what we meant at all, Junior G-Man.”

The blush hit his ears. He couldn’t even bring himself to call on Gideon or Hotch to help him out of it. 

“Morgan’s the sexiest FBI agent I know,” he trailed off in defence. It wasn’t a good answer, not even one that would get him out of trouble.

Of course, it was precisely then that Derek arrived. Sneaking up behind Spencer, he heard every word.

“You think I’m sexy, Pretty Boy?”

“Morgan!” He squeaked. He couldn’t have been blushing more if he tried. “Um, well, historically, you’ve gotten the most attention from woman and-and such, with your, um, your ‘tall, dark and handsome’ thing going on-”

“Now I’m handsome? Damn, I didn’t know you were into all this, Spence.”

And how could he not be? Derek looked hot, for lack of a better adjective. The sleeves of his deep blue button-down clung tight to his biceps, like a rock climber pressing close to a cliff-face. It’s unbuttoned all the way to his belly button. It’s tucked smoothly into jeans, a second denim skin leaving just enough to the imagination. His FBI cap is straight from the uniform shop, the only part of his ensemble taking him from ‘Derek Morgan’ to ‘Sexy FBI agent.’

Spencer was lost for words. All he could do was whisper the first thing that came to mind.

“How could I not be?” 

That was when it dawned on everyone, all at once, all that they’d been missing. Spencer Reid was gay. He had a crush on Morgan. He’s embarrassed about it. So embarrassed, he was decidedly not meeting anyone’s eyes. If he had been, he’d have seen how excited and hopeful Derek looked at the prospect.

“Really, Spence?”

Spencer went from blushing to fidgeting, from embarrassed to ashamed. He intertwined his fingers and scuffed his shoes on the tiles. He kept his eyes down to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes, especially Derek’s.

“You’ve got a crush on me.”

Spencer’s face twisted in fear.

“You think I’m attractive.”

Derek waited for an answer, but none came. He called on Spencer again.

“Please don’t make me say it.”

Thankfully for him, the competition photographer arrived and shattered the moment. The team switched gears immediately to configure themselves into the most flattering ‘sexy’ group formation. Though Spencer tried to keep far away from Derek, however, they needed up next to each other thanks to their height. They ended up with Derek’s arm draped around Spencer, and Spencer’s arms crossed decidedly not touching Derek.

As soon as the flash went off, Spencer pulled away from the group and made a beeline for the bathroom. Derek followed him.

“Reid, wait up a minute!”

“Morgan, I don’t want to talk about this, now or ever.” His voice was edged with anger.

Unfortunately, Derek didn’t take the hint.

“Well, I do.”

“Can’t we just forget about it and move on?” Spencer pleaded, suddenly vulnerable again.

“Not a chance,” Derek began, preparing for a confession, “listen-”

“-No, Morgan, you listen.” Spencer rounded on him, no longer trying to get away, “You don’t need to do the whole ‘let me down easy’ thing. I know you like women, I know I’m not your type, I know there are fraternisation rules and I know it’ll never happen. I don’t need to hear it from you.”

“Reid, c’mon man-”

“Derek, let it go.”

Spencer tried to slip past him back to the bullpen, but he wasn’t fast enough. Derek grabbed his wrist.

“Spencer, you gotta listen to me-”

“-No, Derek, just forget it! It doesn’t matter.”

He tried to pull away. Derek knew he couldn’t let him go, couldn’t miss the only opportunity he might get to tell Spencer how he really feels. So he did the only thing he could think to do, to keep him here, to get a foot in the door.

He kissed him. Derek pressed his lithe body up against the wall of the corridor, pressing their lips together, sweet and urgent. As far as he saw it, this could be the only chance he got to kiss Spencer, so he poured himself into it. He refused to pull away until he had every line of Spencer’s smile memorised. Still, he tried to be gentle, to go easy on Spencer, knowing his inexperience. He hooked a hand into Spencer’s hair, smoothing comfortingly through his curls. As Spencer began to relax, he leaned into Derek and - to his amazement - kissed back. Derek almost stopped kissing him from surprise but came to enough to deepen the kiss. It was real, built on a want of emotional intimacy rather than physical. He needed to show Spencer how much he wanted him.

Spencer tried kissing back, tentative at first, lacking technique. He tried to avoid the feeling that he was somehow detracting from the beauty and simplicity of Derek’s kiss, but couldn’t. He whined when the kiss parted when their noses bashed together. Derek just chuckled, gripping Spencer’s jaw and guiding him back in. 

The second kiss was just as good - slow, gentle and unhurried. 

Derek pulled away when he was sure that Spencer wouldn’t bolt. He didn’t, just looked up at Derek with glassy, kiss-drunk eyes.

“Pretty boy, if I had thought I’d have a chance to go out with you, I’d have done it a long time ago.”

“Really?” Spencer breathed. Derek shook his head affectionately and rubbed Spencer’s arms reassuringly.

“Sweetheart, I’ve got a crush on you, I find you attractive. I’m sorry you got embarrassed, and I wish it had happened a different way, but I am not sorry that it happened. I’m glad I got to kiss you.”

Spencer blushed again, a sweet pink rather than his previous shade of red.

“I like you,” Spencer smiled. He put a hand on Derek’s chest.

“I like you too, kiddo,” Derek put his hand over Spencer’s, “I like you too.”

“Can we do more kissing?”

Derek nodded, “But not here, not at work.”

“Are we dating now?” 

“Do you wanna be?”

“Yeah,” Spencer laced their fingers together.

“Then yes we are. We are dating.”

They hugged for a long moment.

“Are we gonna tell the team?”

“I think they might already know.” Derek gestured at the CCTV cameras. Penelope had likely already backed it up on various devices. Reid blushed, seeming to have forgotten that their workplace had cameras. Pink was becoming his colour for the day.

"Hey, I’m not ashamed of you, or this. You’re my boyfriend now, and I’m proud of that. Who cares if Garcia gets us on tape. I’d do it again, a thousand times, and I don’t care who’s filming.”

“Me neither, it’s just new.” Spencer smiled, “I don’t know what to say to the team.”

“Well we’ll figure it out,” He took Spencer’s hand in his, “Let’s get back out there and show them all that the two sexiest agents in the FBI are off the market.”

And that’s exactly what they did.

———

They came second in the contest, only losing out to California’s White Collar Crimes division, who came as the characters from ‘The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas.’ They paraded around the office proudly with their trophy until Hotch allowed it to be displayed in the conference room. It would be taken down next October, but that didn’t bother them much. They were high on the win for weeks, until Halloween bled into Christmas.

The real winners were Derek and Spencer, whose happiness couldn’t be measured with a plastic trophy. It was too soon to say what would become of them, but what they had was good, and that’s all that matters.

[cyn-00]

everytime I watch that scene in L.D.S.K. where Elle and Gideon want to make sure nobody makes fun of Reid for failing his qualification once again and Morgan says "not a word" but then still pulls off that thing with the whistle I can't help but :C

like Reid must've thought for a second that he's just yet another bully it breaks my heart