criminalrambling

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How to be More Inclusive in Your Reader-Inserts

I finally made something for fanfiction writers to use as reference on things to avoid when writing. if you are making a reader-insert story, be sure as most people as possible can see themselves fufilling the role you want them to in your story. 

I became a POC fanfiction writer after years of feeling excluded in reader-insert fanfiction. It’s important as a job as a writer to know your audience—some of which may not always fit in your “view”.

Please take the time to read this to help better yourself in the future. I know I didn’t hit every issue, but I’m willing to update it in the future. 

I apologize if this isn’t the prettiest thing, but it was important for me to create.

[criminalrambling]

Nina: I would never say that Matthias is a bitch and I don’t don’t like him. That’s not true… Matthias is a bitch and I like him so much!

[criminalrambling]

Bridgerton (2020-) + The Onion Headlines 2/? (pt. 1)

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Advice

Luke: Hey, Reid. I need dating advice. *for Garcia*

Spencer, looking up from his paperwork: Just because I'm dating Y/N doesn't mean I know how I did it.

[criminalrambling]

“is it hot 🌶 in here or is it just me?”

oh to be those girls...

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Finders Keepers

A/N:  It’s been ages since I’ve written anything, so I figured it was about time I got back into it!  Hope you enjoy, any feedback is appreciated :) Warnings: None Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader Word Count: 2.7K

“What’s wrong with you, Pretty Boy?” Morgan questioned as Spencer rushed into the BAU Tuesday morning, fingers threading through his curls and a look of pure agitation gracing his features.  As if he didn’t hear the question directed towards him, Spencer continued to storm through the room, nearly stumbling into Morgan in his quest to reach his desk.

Pupils dilating, Morgan looked towards JJ who had taken stock of the scene from her chair, brows already furrowed and legs moving to stand and head towards her fellow colleague.

Taking the lead, JJ swiftly headed to Spencer’s side, moving to place a hand on his shoulder before thinking better of it and placing both hands on the edge of his desk instead, Mama Bear instincts dialed all the way up.  “Everything okay, Spence?  You seem annoyed.”  

Keep reading

[criminalrambling]

Handy

Pairing: Spencer Reid /gn!reader

Fluffy with some sexual innuendo

__________________________________________

Spencer had been dreading this task for weeks. His old apartment building, while cozy and charming, had come with small closets. and he knew at some point it would need some new shelves and such… He’d been procrastinating on it, making excuses like his busy work schedule for the reason it had never gotten done. Really, how many PhD’s did it take to be able to use a drill, level and hammer?

Apparently none. Spencer had 3, and he couldn’t use any of the tools he needed to assemble the closet. He’d been talking about this issue with his colleague and close friend Y/N, and to his surprise they’d offer to come over to help over the weekend. He wasn’t sure how much better they’d be at it than himself, but he didn’t see any harm in letting them try to help. Worst case scenario, they would call Derek when they inevitably failed. Plus, Spencer harbored a crush on Y/N and was always eager to see them whenever he got the chance. Even if the task at hand would be unpleasant, he knew it would be better with Y/N there.

He was reading through the instructions for the closet system when he heard a knock at the door and hopped up to let Y/N in. His eyes widened as he took in their casual weekend look… they looked absolutely adorable. They carried a small tool box with them (something Spencer didn’t have at his own home), and a bright grin spread across their face as Spencer welcomed them inside.

“Okay, Spencer… Where are we starting?” they asked.

“I have the Elfa system for my bedroom closet. I’ve been reading the instructions this morning and it seems fairly simple if you have the right tools.”

Y/N took the instructions and gave them a quick skim, pulling out all of the tools that would be needed. They seemed to know exactly where to start, grabbing a measuring tape to ensure that the closet pieces would fit in as planned. Spencer helped them measure and mark where the metal bar would need to be attached, and then held it steady while Y/N ensured it was level and marked with a pencil where the drilled holes would need to be.

“Ok, so first we’ll drill the holes. I already checked and made sure we’re not going to hit any studs that will make that hard. Then we’ll hammer in this anchor, and then attach the metal bar to the wall using these screws.” Y/N walked through, showing Spencer the different tools. All of this made sense to Spencer, in a bookish ‘I’ve read this before’ kind of way, but he was impressed by Y/N’s ability to actually do all of it.

They hopped up on the step stool, evenly drilled the required number of holes in the wall and used their hand to brush away the dust that was left behind before setting the drill down on the step stool between their feet. As they bent over, Spencer tried not to gawk at how good their backside looked in their faded denim overalls. No, he definitely wasn’t interested in grabbing a handful of their ass once they got down from the step stool and pulling them close to him. His daydream was interrupted when Y/N started talking again.

“Awesome. Spence, can you hand me the hammer and one of the anchors? They’re the little plastic things in that small bag.” They asked, looking over their shoulder and extending a hand. Spencer’s fingers tingled as he dropped the plastic and metal pieces into Y/N’s hand, and he felt a jolt of desire as their fingers briefly intertwined while he handed over the hammer. He wondered if Y/N was feeling any of this attraction, or if it was all one-sided.

They took the anchors and deftly hammered them into place, and then asked Spencer to help hold the metal bar in place. He licked his lips anxiously, both because his body was now much closer to Y/N’s and in the hopes he was doing the task correctly. Y/N’s hand was gentle on top of his as they helped Spencer line up the material to the line they’d marked on the inside closet wall.

“Awesome, yes - right there, Spencer!” they smiled encouragingly at him. Spencer tried not to think about them saying that same sentence in a different context…. One with significantly less clothes involved. He held the bar in place while Y/N used the drill to secure the screws in place. Spencer wished he could think of a joke about screwing that would make Y/N laugh… but he was never that good at jokes and also couldn’t think about Y/N and screwing in the same moment without feeling overwhelmingly hot and bothered. Gazing up at the dusty, white ceiling only partially kept him from fantasizing.

Once Y/N was done, they double checked that everything was still level (it was), and got down to the more detailed assembly of shelves and drawers. While they sat on his floor and assembled the pieces, Y/N asked Spencer questions about himself, the books he was reading, and his favorite Doctor Who episode. He could tell they were trying to make him comfortable, but he was genuinely enjoying the conversation. He tried to reciprocate, asking them about their interests outside of work and being surprised to learn they’d recently picked up crochet. He wondered if they would be interested in continuing the conversation over dinner or a drink… but before he could gather the nerve to ask, it was back to the tedium of closet assembly.

Y/N helped him space out the vertical bars according to the specifications the Container Store staff had provided him and started sliding everything into place. Occasionally a piece would slip and a quiet swear would leave Y/N’s lips, their brow furrowed in concentration. It was extremely cute and endearing… while Spencer was excited by the progress on his new closet, he was also starting to figure out how the day would end in him asking Y/N out. After this day together, he felt absolutely certain that he wanted to be the one to please and delight Y/N. He wanted to be the reason for the little grins, the exclamations of joy… someday, maybe even moans of pleasure? He shook away the fantasy as he slid the last drawer into place.

Y/N dusted off their hands and grinned at him. “There we go! See, not that hard… I feel like you really got the hang of it there towards the end. Ok, now stand in front of it and look cool. I want to text Derek a picture of our handiwork.”

He stood in front of the closet and let Y/N pose him as she wished, soaking in the feeling of their hands on his shoulders as they turned him at a different angle. Chills cascaded down his back as their touch subsided. Did they know they made him feel this way? Y/N was smart, inviting, capable, damn good looking… and had spent most of the afternoon with him, tackling a project that most would despise. He didn’t know why he’d waited so long to ask them out.

Y/N snapped the photo, then showed it to him to make sure it was ok to send. He nodded, and after the message was sent they started cleaning up.

“Seriously Y/N this was amazing! I really appreciate you coming over to help. It was actually really fun.” He felt himself blushing and swallowed nervously before asking, “Maybe I could take you out to dinner sometime, as a thank you?”

They dropped the drill bits they were holding in surprise before looking back at him. Y/N blushed and grinned. “Absolutely. I’d love that.”

“Ok, great. How’s tomorrow?” He beamed as Y/N nodded in agreement. “Ok, great. Tomorrow! Thank you so much again for helping me, not that you need to always help me with this stuff, it was just really nice and…”

Y/N cut him off with a finger on his lips that felt like a branding iron. “Spencer, you are so sweet. I’ll be your handy helper any time you need something screwed… call me about dinner tomorrow, I can’t wait!” They kissed his cheek, collected their toolbox and left, Spencer standing there, stunned.

He couldn't wait for their date.

[criminalrambling]

It Only Takes a Taste: Part 2 

Y/N wasn't sure which was better- the brunch spread, the weather, or the adorable Spencer Reid. Ok, she was pretty sure it was the lanky man with the animated talking voice and excited gleam in his warm brown eyes. She was also pretty sure that Penelope had deliberately sat herself closer to Derek and Savannah so that she and Spencer would be able to sit together during the meal.

Now, of course Penelope had talked about Spencer in the past, but never in super great detail… just enough that Y/N knew he was very smart, very tall and a very good friend. Meeting him in person was even more than she expected. His hands were gesturing wildly over his eggs and toast as he talked, going on about the scientific process of laminating dough after Y/N had told him about a recent croissant failure. He seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say and asked several questions about her work and family. She found herself very comfortable around him already and if she let her mind wander too far she could see herself falling into a sickly sweet fantasy world of hand holding, cozily reading books together under soft blankets and sweet goodnight kisses. She thought to herself, Better keep that in check Y/N… don’t you go falling in love with the idea of him before getting to know him

When Spencer got up to grab another cup of coffee, Y/N also arose from her seat and went to grab Penelope. 

"Hey Pen, I'm running to the restroom, can you show me where it is?" She smiled, adding an eyebrow raise to convey there was more to her request than just directions. Penelope eagerly agreed, looping her arm through Y/N’s and leading her back indoors to the opulent guest bathroom that was off Rossi’s study. 

“What’s going on, sweet sunflower?” Penelope beamed as Y/N pulled her into the restroom and locked the door behind them. 

“I need some basic details about Spencer. Like, is he single?” Y/N blushed, but tried to be upfront with her friend. 

“Oh my goodness, you like him? Oh you guys would be so cute together, he is really the best person and so doting and sensitive, you need to tell me absolutely everyth…” Penelope rambled in excitement, forgetting the question that had been asked until Y/N gave her another look. “Yes, right. He is completely, 100% single! It would be so great to see him in love and happy with a partner, you know? You want that for your friends, right?”

“Single is good! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but… he is super attractive and sweet.” Y/N blushed as she admitted this to her friend. “He seems like the kind of guy who might need someone else to make the first move but I don’t want to embarrass myself or cause any issues with your friends. Do you feel like that’s weird for me to ask him out before we leave?”

Penelope enthusiastically agreed that it would be an amazing idea for Y/N to make a move before heading back home, and Y/N had to make her double pinky promise swear not to say anything to anyone else about it. She wasn’t sure it would work, but it was worth a shot. 

She went back to the table and was pleased to see that the tray of raspberry sweet rolls she’d brought had been placed out as a dessert. Taking her seat, she casually looked around to see if they’d turned out well and if the group was enjoying them before taking one for herself. 

“Y/N, could you hand me another roll? They are amazing.” Spencer asked, drawing her attention away. He had a roll in his hand, a single bite taken out. 

She chuckled, and snagged another pastry for him. “Going for seconds after just one bite?”

“Yep. It only takes one taste sometimes, to know you want more.” he nodded, adding the second roll to his plate and setting down the first one. The way he smiled at her made her stomach flip over and she knew it was her chance. 

“Kind of like how I know I’d love to see you again, maybe with less of a crowd next time?”

He enthusiastically agreed, fumbling to wipe his hands on his napkin before grabbing his cell phone for her to add her number to. He was just so adorable, so genuine… as she typed in the familiar digits, she found herself thinking that one taste of him was all she needed to know that a single taste would never be enough. 

[criminalrambling]

A Series of Unfortunate Dates

Summary: On a night out with the rest of the BAU, Spencer agrees to blind dates courtesy of his drunken, ridiculous, incredibly well-meaning friends. Even if they’re terrible—which he’s certain they will be—what does he really have to lose?

What he didn’t expect was to find himself much more enthralled with the barista than any of his dates.

Pairings: Spencer Reid x gn!Reader

Word Count: 10.5k

Warnings & Content: mentions of alcohol consumption, a dash of self-doubt, brief mentions of getting laid (see opening sentence) & a handful of swears. (Oh, also in this universe Morcia, Jemily, and bi!Spencer are all canon… because I can.)

A/N: This one really took on an entire mind of its own and…. I kind of love it. I hope y’all like it too <3

“You need to get laid.”

Spencer inhaled sharply, nearly choking on his water. Laughter rang from around him and he coughed out, “Excuse me?”

Penelope took a long sip of her drink and laid her head back against Derek’s chest. “Em’s got a point, Boy Wonder. How long has it been?”

Spencer could feel the flush creep up his face and he found himself thankful for the dim lighting that just barely illuminated the crowded corner booth where the entire team was huddled. There were far too many eyes on him as he opened his mouth to respond. No words came out, just a pitiful squeak, and he shut it again, gaze dropping to the sticky table.

“Oof,” Emily exhaled, the smirk evident in her voice. “That long, huh?” She nudged JJ’s shoulder, eliciting a quiet laugh. They leaned into one another and Emily pressed a kiss to JJ’s temple.

Spencer looked between them and Derek and Penelope, the latter still snuggled together in the far corner. He had never felt more irrefutably, pitifully single. There was suddenly a blinding spotlight highlighting his undeniable aloneness.

“I don’t—let’s talk about something else.” He glanced at Derek with pleading eyes. “Anything.”

Why he would ever think that Derek would have mercy on him, he didn’t know.

Derek shook his head. “Mm-mm, Pretty Boy. You are not getting out of this that easy. Prentiss is right, you need to get some.”

“Get—get some? I don’t… no, no.”

“Ooh, I have an idea!” Penelope all but squealed and Spencer held back a grimace. If her mischievous smile was anything to go by, he was not going to like this idea one bit.

Rossi arched an eyebrow, swirling his glass. “Do tell.”

Penelope leaned forward, waiting for the rest of the team to follow suit before whisper-yelling, “Blind dates.”

Spencer erupted into another coughing fit, setting down his drink with a thud. Apparently, his friends were conspiring to kill him tonight. He finally caught his breath and he blinked at Penelope with wide eyes. “Blind dates?”

Continue on AO3

Tags: @diesinspanishbcimhispanic​ @myglitteringstardust​ @sapphic-prentiss​ @fandom-monium​ @julialuv1d​ @howdycharlie​ @fantastic-fans​ @saspencereid​ @whxt-to-write​ @90spumkin​ @idocarealot​ @moonstarrnghtsky​ @thelovelyrose​ @closetedreidstan​ @averyhotchner​ @tripleyeeet​ @rainsong01​ @multifandomegan​ @no-honey-no​ @bauhousewife​ @shadybagelsludgecolor​ @idiotinnit​ @elldell1204​ @gublersbooblers​ @calm-and-doctor​ @shadyladyperfection​ @homoose​ @wheelsup​ @dorotheuh​ @reidingmelodies​ @s1utformgg @spacedikut (bc ily)

[criminalrambling]

It Only Takes a Taste pt. 1

When things got stressful or you needed to take your mind off of things, you would bake. Pulling out a favorite recipe or trying a new one was a way to open a door to somewhere else… maybe a Parisian patisserie with some pain au chocolat, or your grandma's kitchen with her famous blueberry pie. It helped you escape for a while, and you loved to share the treats with friends and family.

Your neighbor Penelope Garcia was one common recipient of these goodies, in part due to proximity but also because you knew her job required her and her colleagues to deal with some super gruesome stuff… she hadn't shared too many specifics, but you knew that she helped catch serial killers, and that was enough to get the gist. She would sometimes come by when she returned home to sit in your kitchen with a mug of tea, talking about anything but work!

You'd tell her about the books you'd read that week, your latest craft project and what was happening with the planning for your brothers wedding. She would share about what she and her co-workers had gotten up to on girls night, and her favorite blogs for fashion tips and cute puppy photos. And you'd send her home with a tupperware or Ziploc bag full of baked goods to take to work. You hoped she and the team enjoyed them, plus it felt nice to share with others.

---------------

The entire team loved when Penelope would stroll in carrying a stash of treats, but none quite as much as notorious snack-fiend Spencer Reid.

He'd stop what he was doing every time he heard Penelope's heels clatter across the floor towards the empty desk that had become a congregation point for the team.

"Greetings, earthlings! I have sustenance!" She would chime happily, clapping her hands together after setting the bag or tray down.

"What do we got, li'l mama?" Derek asked, turning his chair towards Penelope, eyebrows raised.

"There's a toffee crunch blondie for the tame ones, or an espresso fudge brownie for those who like it dark and smooth." She replied with a wink.

Mouth watering, Spencer selected one of each to go with his coffee. JJ joined him, taking a bite of her blondie.

"Oh my god, Pen, these are great. Thank you!" JJ exclaimed.

"Any time I am gifted with sweets, I am always happy to share the wealth!"

"Who were they from? New boyfriend?" Derek asked, accepting the brownie that Penelope passed him.

"Nope. As usual, my neighbor and confidante Y/N."

"You should hang out with her more often. And bring us the spoils!" Emily argued, waving to Penelope in thanks before heading back to work.

Spencer silently agreed. Anyone who could prepare something so balanced and special had to be a wonderful person. She was clearly generous, since she always shared with Penelope… he found himself wondering about Y/N every time his bubbly colleague brought her up. Not what she looked like, that was irrelevant. Would she listen to jazz as she baked? An audiobook or podcast? Who were her favorite authors? He hoped someday they would all have an occasion to meet Y/N so he could find out.

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You were on your way home from a pilates class when you felt your phone buzzing in your bag. Yanking it out, you saw it was Penelope and grinned as you answered.

"Hey Penny, what's up?"

"Hi! Not a lot, well, I mean a couple things with the work and the volunteering and stuff but not really that much! Any way, I wanted to invite you to this brunch party that my boss is hosting at his ridiculously gorgeous house. I'm making my famous marg-mosas!"

"That sounds great! When is it?"

"Next Saturday at 11:00. The weather looks nice so I think it will be outdoors for at least some of the time."

"Ok, awesome, I'm free. Is there anything I can bring? Some bubbly or cinnamon rolls?"

"I don't think anyone would say no to more of your baking, but whatever you feel like bringing or not bringing is totally fine. We can carpool? I'll come by and grab you at 10:15, his place is a bit of a drive."

You agreed to her plans and said your goodbyes. What a fun idea! Garden brunch at a mansion, who could say no to that? You hoped Penelope's friends were as great as she was. Now… what would you wear? And more importantly, what would you bake?!

-----------------

Spencer had been looking forward to the team brunch at Rossi's even more than usual once Penelope had mentioned that Y/N would be in attendance. He'd arrived unfashionably early, and sat at Rossi's kitchen island with a cup of coffee while his host made the final adjustments to the various dishes that would be served.

Soon, JJ, Will and the boys arrived, followed by Derek and Savannah. The group of them caught up on the patio, and while he was definitely curious how Henry was doing in school he couldn't help losing his focus every time the doorbell rang. Finally, he heard Penelope's loud greeting to Rossi and a softer introduction of her friend. His eyes widened in anticipation of seeing Y/N, who he'd wondered so much about.

The first thing he noticed as they rounded the corner was her bright smile and shiny, soft-looking hair. She was dressed casually, wearing a white tee that was tucked into a floral print skirt that ended a few inches below her knees and a slim pair of sneakers. Rossi was clearly enamored with her, finding plenty in common with another accomplished home cook as he welcomed her to his home. She carried a large tray covered in foil wrapping, and he wondered what she'd brought.

He soon didn't have to wonder, as Penelope ushered her friend over to the group on the patio.

"Friends, this is Y/N! My neighbor, friend and beloved source of baked goods. Y/N, meet Derek and his girlfriend Savannah, JJ, Will and their boys, and Spencer."

"It's so nice to meet all of you!" Y/N said, sounding genuinely pleased but looking a little more reserved. As the conversation continued she seemed to become more comfortable, making a couple of jokes and sharing more about herself. Spencer felt she was even better than he'd imagined… her favorite musician was either Etta James or Taylor Swift, and she'd gone into great detail about a podcast she'd listened to recently about medical malpractice in a Dallas-area hospital. It was clear she was someone with strong opinions and intelligence, but a bright outlook on the world around her. Spencer thought he could use some of that optimism in his life.

Rossi and a couple of hired servers ushered them over to the dining table that had been set up, asking everyone to take their seats. Miraculously, Spencer was able to get a seat close enough to Y/N that he knew they'd be able to talk throughout the morning. Mugs of coffee and champagne were passed around, and then Rossi proposed a toast.

"To this family of the BAU, and to friends old and new. For you I am thankful and blessed. Saluti!"

Spencer clinked his mug of black coffee to Y/N's own, with a small smile that he hoped was appealing. New friends indeed!

[criminalrambling]

Monday, Monday

Weekends were meant to be relaxing, when you weren't off with your team solving a case. But since Thursday, you had been helping out your sister by doing the hardest job… babysitting your nephews while she and her husband took a much needed break. 

The 3 year old was in a picky-about-food rut, and the 6-month-old was teething and cranky. You hadn't gotten a full night's sleep since mid-week, and your waking hours were busier than ever trying to keep the two rascals entertained, out of trouble and without too much screen time. You loved those kiddos but damn… solo aunt-parenting was exhausting. 

Needless to say, you were wiped out when you arrived at your desk bright and early on Monday morning, prepared for a rough week after being out for two days. You reluctantly started in, checking your email and skimming the documents that had been left on your desk, yawning. You had wolfed down a granola bar on your way out the door but hadn't gotten around to coffee yet. Usually, you'd be on your second cup by the time you got to the office. You decided to try and focus for the next 45 minutes before taking a break to run to the Starbucks downstairs. 

28 emails and about 30 minutes later, a soft voice interrupted your focus and you saw a familiar cardigan-clad shape out of the corner of your eye. You prayed you didn't look too haggard, and then glanced up to confirm that it was your colleague and secret crush, Dr. Spencer Reid. 

"Hey, Y/N. How was the weekend with the boys?" Spencer asked, setting an extra large coffee on your desk. His presence (and that of the caffeine) was like the sun peeking through the clouds on a dreary morning. 

"Spencer, I could kiss you. Thank you, sweet man from heaven above." The words tumbled out without much thought as you grabbed the cup with both hands and took a grateful sip of the latte, your eyes closing to savor the moment. Only after that first contact with caffeine did the words you'd spoken really register with you. 

You blushed, looking up to see Spencer's eyes wide. Of course you had a crush on him, but of all the times for it to come spilling out of your mouth, it had to be today. 

"Oh my god, sorry, fuck… I did not expect to be declaring my undying love for you this early in the morning. I'm blaming the sleep deprivation and lack of caffeine. The boys were a lot to handle on my own but it was fine and now I'm back at work and wow, coffee, thank you." You rambled, trying to pull yourself together. Thankfully, the rest of the team hadn't arrived yet to witness your embarrassment. 

"You're welcome," he responded, "and technically you didn't so it's all fine."

"Didn't what?"

"Declare your undying love for me." He smirked, and he looked so smug you debated kicking him. "You said that you could kiss me, and that I was a sweet man from heaven above."

"Well, yes, but…" you paused, holding up a finger as you gulped down more of the delicious brew he'd gotten you. "I didn't mean to be weird or embarrass you. Thank you, again, you are the best."

"Any time." He shrugged his bag onto his shoulder and moved towards his desk before turning back around. "Would you, though?"

"What, be weird and embarrass you? Sure, I'm great at that, where should I-"

"No," he cut you off, flushing slightly but sticking with the playful banter. "Declare your undying love for me. It would make it a lot less nerve-wracking to ask you out if you did."

You were certain you looked like a goldfish, mouth wide open, heart caught in your throat. "You're asking me out?"

"You're not very observant when you're sleepy. It's adorable." He grinned, gesturing to the paper cuff around his own coffee cup. You spun yours around until you saw his untidy scrawl that read Dinner on Thursday? --Spencer

"Yes, okay, dinner on Thursday. I'd love that." You responded, nodding and attempting what you hoped was a smile. Was this a dream? 

"Thursday!" He exclaimed, the corners of his mouth lifting as he turned gleefully back towards his desk. 

You melted a bit, gazing at his messy brown curls and holding the coffee to your chest before taking another sip. The warm beverage radiated through your body, and it started to sink in that perhaps it was going to be a really great week after all. 

[criminalrambling]

Checkers and Coffee

Pairing: spencer reid x reader

Rating: G , fluffy! Some mention of a stalker, typical unsub stuff but story does not take place during a case. Enjoy the cute!

__________________________________________

The Charleston sun was still rising, not yet heating the air to sweltering, and the morning smelled of coffee and salt water. Most people would have been asleep at their vacation homes at this time of day, but you happened to be seated in a cozy booth at the local diner across from a certain tall, tousle-haired Doctor. The rest of his team had left earlier that morning on their jet, but unrelated to their recent case, they were transporting two Marines back to DC and two people needed to wait for a later commercial flight… you’d all drawn straws, and the lucky agents to stay behind were yourself and one Dr. Spencer Reid. 

You’d checked out of the hotel, but hadn’t wanted to go to the airport just yet. So you’d convinced Spencer to join you at one of your favorite places for a few cups of coffee and breakfast. It must have been the lack of sleep combined with lack of coffee that caused you to challenge someone with an eidetic memory to a strategy game.

“You really think you can beat me?” His brown eyes glinted as he raised his left brow and smirked. 

You rolled your eyes and nudged the round crimson game piece one space forward. “It’s checkers, Spencer. Not chess.”

“True,” he responded, scooting forward a black piece of his own. “But there’s still a significant amount of strategy involved. Did you know that versions of checkers were played as far back as 3,000 BCE? Archaeologists found evidence of a similar game in the Iraq city of Ur, and there have been other versions played throughout history. Though I’m not sure any of those versions involved a fabric board…” 

His sentence was cut off by a grey-haired waitress who took your breakfast orders with military precision and a smile. You didn’t place a dainty order either. If Spencer thought you were a gluttonous cow, then so be it… breakfast was the best meal of the day, and you didn’t make it to Fleetwood Diner nearly often enough. You were pleased that Spencer took your suggestion of pancakes as part of his order, though his were plain and not the blueberry ones you preferred. 

“Playing checkers at the Fleetwood Diner is tradition in these parts. At least, in my family it is.” You countered, jumping one of his pieces and trying not to gloat as you snatched it off the board. “Your turn.”

“Well, if it’s a tradition in the Y/L/N family then I’m happy to partake.” he shrugged, and gulped down more coffee out of the stout, thick handled cup. “Is it just me, or does coffee taste better when it’s served in this kind of mug?”

You grinned and looked over your shoulder to see where your waitress was. “Not just you - I love diner mugs. In fact, a couple of Fleetwood ones may have mysteriously made their way into my kitchen cabinet.”

“A federal agent, admitting to thievery!” Spencer laughed. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

A warm, fuzzy feeling spread through your body at the sound of his laughter and the way his wide grin made his eyes crinkle.  You hadn’t heard that laugh in several days, maybe even a week? Despite the busy workload in the intelligence department of the FBI, you’d taken off for South Carolina as soon as your sister had called asking for your help. The BAU had come down a couple of days later after you’d phoned JJ, the panic and emotion in your voice convincing her to bring the team to your hometown to help. The fact that everything had worked out… well, the fact that you were even able to smile was truly something to be thankful for. 

Your sister’s 6 year old son James had gone missing from the University day-care that he attended after his half day of kindergarten. It turned out that one of her former students, now going by a new name, had targeted her. He was jaded since she’d turned him down shortly before her wedding 7 years ago and coveted the life she’d built. After 3 days of dedicated work on the geographical profile, James was found in an abandoned warehouse. He had been unharmed but was very dehydrated. The UnSub was located a few hours later as he was en route to the University, where he would have… well, done something terrible to your sister. 

“I owe you one,” you smiled back, moving another piece. “And not just for keeping my diner mug secret. There’s no way I could have handled this one out without you and your team. It means the world- thank you.” 

“Oh, I’m sure…” he started to brush off the commend, looking a tad sheepish before you cut him off with a look and placed your hand on top of his, squeezing gently. He gulped. “You’re welcome.”

You withdrew your hand awkwardly, hoping to whatever higher power there was that your cheeks weren’t changing colors. The two of you continued moving your checkers pieces, and you downed the last sip of your coffee before reaching for the pot the waitress had left on the table. 

“The only flaw of these mugs… they aren’t nearly large enough.” You joked, trying to lighten the mood. 

The corners of Spencer’s mouth turned up slightly. “I was debating doing some research through the biomedical engineering program at Johns Hopkins… There has to be a way to inject coffee straight into the bloodstream.”

“Might even earn yourself another PhD, smarty pants.” you played along, teasing him. You loved the way he lit up at the banter as you went back and forth.

“One can never have too many PhDs.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“No PhDs, and yet you’re winning at checkers.”

“Are you letting me?”

“No. Do you want me to?”

“No!” You gasped. “I like to win fair and square.”

“Oh, that’s too bad…” He smirked, and double jumped your pieces. “I might just have to make a comeback.”

“You son of a…” 

“Pancakes!” chimed your waitress, swooping them down to your table. They looked perfect, as always, and your mouth watered. You knew they would taste even better. “And the blueberry, with extra crispy bacon. Syrup is on the table, anything else I can get you?”

“More coffee?” You and Spencer said in unison, looking at each other in embarrassment when you realized it had happened. 

“That would be amazing, thank you.” You told the waitress as she took the empty pot from your table and said she’d be back momentarily.

You ate in silence for a few minutes - both due to the delicious food and also to take in what you were feeling. Of course, you felt relieved that your family was healthy and safe. Genuinely thankful for the smarts and skills of the BAU, especially those of the man across from you. You also felt… nervous? Oh dear, were those butterflies? 

Of course, you knew Spencer prior to his arrival in Charleston to help with the case. You both worked at the Bureau and everyone knew the BAU team. You’d been with Spencer at a couple of functions (not together, just… there at the same time), and had gotten to know a few other members of the team over the years. Your department frequently passed cases their way, so you worked with JJ and Penelope most often. You’d always found Spencer handsome, but figured he was either already seeing someone, well out of your league or just… not interested. 

But now, after spending the last several days in close quarters and under emotional stress, you felt that something had changed. The entire team was great, but Spencer in particular had been sweet, supportive and focused on helping you and your family. And when your nephew had finally been found, he'd been the one to talk to him, probing for details that would help in the UnSub’s capture. He'd pulled a magic trick to make James laugh, and you could immediately see how much he loved kids. Something about that combined with the extra time together… well, now that you weren't so anxious about your family, your attraction to him was ramping up into a desire for more than just the casual acquaintance you had before. 

But did he feel the same? 

The coffee arrived and you finished your last piece of bacon. 

"So, uh.." Spencer started, fiddling with a sugar packet. "What time is our flight?" 

"10:30.” you replied, sipping your coffee. It was just after 7:00. “So we should probably be there around 8:45 or so and it takes 45 minutes to get there…we can grab our checks if you want to leave a little extra time to grab our luggage from the hotel.”

“Okay, yeah. That would be good.” He flagged down the waitress quietly. “Can I get the check? Thank you so much.”

She handed over the seafoam green order slip, to which was paper clipped a crisp white receipt. He scanned the total briefly and handed it back with his card tucked inside faster than you could even move to pull out your wallet. You pulled it out anyway, feeling a bit flustered. 

“What do I owe ya, Doc?” you joked, flipping through the cash in your wallet. 

“Don’t worry about it,” he responded, the pitch of his voice rising ever so slightly. “My treat, Y.N. Besides, isn’t it normal for a gentleman to… well, not that this is a… um, never mind.” He looked back to your now-forgotten checkers board, his lips narrowed together in concentration. 

You grinned, hoping that you had heard him right. “I love a breakfast date. Even better than a coffee date, really.”

His tongue brushed over his lower lip and he looked back up at you before responding. 

“What about dinner and… well, it’s not a movie, but I happen to have an extra ticket to a poetry reading on Thursday if you’d like to join me and…”

“I’d love to.” You smiled at him, feeling absolutely giddy at the prospect of a romantic date later in the week.“We can figure it out while we wait at the airport.”

His whole face lit up, and he followed you out of the restaurant. A couple of hours later, your head would come to rest on his shoulder while you napped on the flight home, and Spencer would feel very pleased indeed that he’d switched straws with Morgan to get this extra time with you