#penelope garcia starter

[ahoystilinski]

penelope garcia / open to: anyone!

“Okay? Oka—No, I am not okay, my love! I’ve been up the whole night, the room hasn’t stop spinning for hours and somehow, my feet hurt!” Penelope suddenly shut her mouth once she faced the other, she won’t be complaining no more. She noticed something else under their expressions. If they were in her cave, then something must be happening. “Sorry, I’ll stop. What brought you here? Is something wrong?” Her face changed from absolutely annoyed to worry, frowning clear. “I didn’t forget to do something, did I?”

[magnoliabutters]

ok so i’m watching criminal minds for the first time ever (i know i’m mad late but give me props for being on season 6 already) and i have a thought. idk if it’s an original thought and someone else brought it up before but…

out of the main power group in earlier seasons, does anyone else see hotch as the dad? gideon is the mom, and rossi is the step mom. derek’s the eldest son, then emily, then jj, then penelope, and lastly baby spencer

maybe i’m crazy but i can’t stop watching without this in my head 🥲 does anyone see this too?

[uranometrias]

✮ꜜ : ❛ you're still a traitor : criminal minds x fem! reader [ pt. 1 ]

pairing: aaron hotchner x bau! reader (unrequited) | spencer reid x bau! reader | s7 team x bau! reader (platonic)

summary: being in love with your boss was hard. especially when there were so many factors surrounding you that made the possibility of being with him, out of the question. for starters, there was your age gap, and hotch was a stickler with baggage that he couldn't quite disclose to you. hotch was a fantasy, always out of your grasp, that is until emily dies. in the four months that followed emily's death at the hands of ian doyle, you found yourself living a life that you'd only ever dreamed about. hotch was careful, but the proof was right in front of your face as he went out of his way to care for you while you grieved. how stupid of you not to realize something was horribly wrong. but now emily was back, and hotch was back from reassignment in pakistan, and you were all on trial, and absolutely nothing makes sense except for the bitter understanding that you were a pawn in a game that in so few words was "way bigger than you." but at least you had spence.

content warnings: this is literally a barrel of angst. reader breaks the skin of her palms with her nails. mentions of slight! anxiety. follows the plot of "it takes a village" aka the iconic "this is calm, and it's doctor" episode. flashbacks x present day! spencer has been crushing on reader for as long as she's been crushing on hotch. hotch is NOT romantically interested in reader. slight! hotchniss vibes (but that's up to your interpretation. jj x reader angst! reader does not react to emily's return well. mentions of unit transfer / bureau resignation. spencer confesses to reader... open ending making room for a part 2! heartbreak, drinking, crying. best friend! penelope garcia + derek morgan. reader has a sister & niece.

read part two right here.

Your leg shakes violently as you sat just outside the court room, hands balled into tight fists as your nails press deep into the callousing skin of your palms. You couldn't say you were nervous, as far as the previous case was concerned you'd done everything you could to save Declan. You'd take whatever suspension they'd throw your way without batting an eye. You didn't regret the part you played, no, you just regretted the team that you were apart of.

It had been a crazy seven months. You remembered when things turned left, back when Emily started acting weird. She was shorter, snappier, she had less patience with any of you. Long gone were the days of wasting your time with jokes and innuendos. She had a lot on her mind, a lot none of you were privy to, and you remembered how you'd stretched yourself. You'd all tried so hard to show her you were there, to let her know that you could be trusted.

Your face contorts into a scowl, it had become your new resting face in the last few weeks. God, you hated how stupid and naive you'd been back then. Now that everything was out in the open, it was almost too obvious where the deception began. What was the point of taking care of people who had no trouble treating you like some disposable pawn piece to be moved to fit their whims. Damn. You were crying again, you'd been doing that a whole lot too lately.

You scrub furiously at your face, and you hate your teammates a little bit more. JJ had gone first, face devoid of any timidity or uncertainty. Long gone were the days of Jennifer Jareau the Liaison, she was a profiler now, one of you. When she'd come back, you'd been ecstatic. The unit hadn't been the same since she was transferred, you'd missed her so gravely. But now, now the sight of her just reminded you of the secret you'd been holding on the tip of your tongue.

Hotch wasn't the only one who had known about Emily.

You feel a hand moving to rest on the top of your thigh, and you flinch violently. You sniffle audibly, eyes moving to rest on Penelope, your God-given solace. Your best friend. She, Derek, and Spencer were the only ones who wholeheartedly understood what you felt. But even still, Hotch hadn't used their feelings to make them blind, the way he had done with you. He'd played you like a goddamn fiddle, and you'd let him. Because you were weak, stupid, grieving, and in love.

Hotch had never been in the cards for you, not that you weren't beautiful, gorgeous, an amazing agent. You had the stamp of approval of both Agents Gideon and Rossi. Erin Strauss had been (by your request) rejecting every request of transfer any other unit had tried to offer. You were an asset to the bureau, and a major part of this team. You'd been around since the beginning. You'd witnessed doe-eyed Spencer Reid join at age 23, full of facts and anxiety.

You'd seen Derek blossom and break out of his play-boy persona, and become someone that other branches of the law fought to have. You'd been around for so long, you'd witnessed so much, and Hotch knew that. Which you suppose is what you allowed yourself to believe was the reason he'd never shown signs of reciprocating your feelings. He was respecting your future, leaving your options open. But those were the delusional musings of a girl in love with someone she can't have. Hotch wasn't into you, and you knew that.

So why, why, why did you let him convince you of the opposite? For even one measly second? And, yes, of course in the grand scheme of things you understood why he did what he did. But it didn't make it hurt less. In fact knowing his duty to Emily outweighed his duty to anything else just made this whole ordeal feel more like a slap to your face. Penelope gives your thigh a reassuring squeeze, and you're pulled from your running mind. You blink, registering her worry.

"Are you alright?" she asks, and it's the first time anyone's asked you that since the first day. You know they were giving you space to cope, which only seemed to reaffirm your feelings of betrayal and loneliness. "We'll get out of this, alright? And we'll-we'll be able to be a complete family again." she proceeds, and serves you right for believing someone understood what was going on. They'd all misunderstood you. They thought your behavior was fear of the team being dismantled. Some profilers you were surrounded by.

"I'm fine, Garcia." you say, and you can't bite the snippiness if you wanted to. "I just want to get this over with, and get the hell out of here." you add, and you're standing up, Penelope's hand dropping limply as you move your seat. You find a more isolated corner, plopping back into the uncomfortable seat, as the legs squeak slightly. Your leg is back to shaking, only now you've taken to chomping on your bottom lip. You don't imagine Penelope's hurt expression, you know without a doubt that you'll cave. And you can't.

Not this time.

Your phone chirps in your pocket, and you jump once more. Your jumpiness was a new attribute triggered by the amount of sleep you hadn't been getting. Pulling it out you see that it's a call from your big sister, and you curse under your breath. You were supposed to be watching your niece so your sister could pick up an extra shift. None of you had really expected for things to go this far.

"Hey..." you wince, because you can hear the heaviness of your feelings ladled over your words.

"Hey, are you alright? I got a call from Spence." and you're surprised. You look up, searching for the brunette anywhere in the vicinity, and find that he hasn't shown up yet. It's a bit of a shock, especially for someone as punctual as Reid. You did however spot JJ still meandering about, and she's not looking tense at all. Despite your anger towards her, you couldn't deny that she'd quickly fallen into the role of a profiler. It fit her almost like a glove.

"Spencer called you?" you ask, and you hear the tension in your sister's sigh. You imagine that she must be exhausted. Your sister did a lot, and managing a blossoming family was hard. Your niece was five, and she had a new addition to the family on the way. Which was why it was so important for you to be there on the days she needed you to watch your niece.

"Yes, he said something about..." your sister lowers her voice. "Emily." she questions, and you find your head nodding despite the fact she can't see you. "Are you alright?" she asks again, and this time she emphasizes how important it is for her to hear directly from your mouth the state of your wellbeing. Your sister seemed to always see right through you, it was a wonder she wasn't the one in the FBI.

"I'm-" you trail off before you can lie. "I'm sure if they could they'd disband the unit." you whisper, and you look up just as Derek is exiting the court room, Penelope looking terrified as she takes his place. Derek scans the room before he spots you, and his eyes soften. JJ approaches him and the two seem to chat animatedly. Still they look so serious, there was no room for smiles and banter today.

It's not long though before they're looking at you again, and you know that they know. Your self isolation wasn't something you were exactly being subtle about. You immediately look away, focusing in on what your sister was saying. "Bad decisions or not, they're no good without your unit." she says, and pride still manages to swell up inside of you. "You guys do good work. You work because you're together, everyone plays their role." she proceeds, and it's then you shatter.

Play your role. What role exactly did you play? Hotch was the stoic leader that somehow seemed to play the role of pseudo-father so well for every member of the team, with the exception of Rossi and Derek. Derek, was the shoe-in for promotion. The older brother who teased you relentlessly, but would fight til his last breath to protect you, and he always did. JJ, the pretty girl. The one who everyone on the team at some point had been attracted to. But more than that, she was resilient, a subtle glue that kept your unit running.

You quickly slot through everyone else's roles in your head, and huff. What were you except the odd-woman out. The dummy with a crush on your unit chief, and too much knowledge for your own good. You supposed that was why Hotch had to distract you with exaggerated gestures. If you got out of your feelings and really thought about it, you knew that if anyone on the team was going to see through the smoke, and uncover the truth about Emily, it would be you.

So he had to handicap you. What better way than by hanging the possibility of a romance in your face. Still, it was cruel. Just more proof that this was not the family you made them out to be. "Yeah, I'm not so sure." you reply, and you can hear how disgruntled you sound. It smacks you like a ton of bricks, and it's then you truly realize just how hurt you were by everything. Your sister sighs deeply, and it makes you second guess yourself. Were you being irrational? Unfair?

"I know what Hotch did." she begins, "And it was awful to play with your feelings like that." she expresses, and you feel validated. "And nobody's expecting you to just welcome Emily back with open arms after months and months of thinking that she was dead. You were deceived, and I want you to feel however you want, okay?" she says, and you don't respond, mostly because it feels rhetorical. "Just don't do anything rash without thinking it through alright?"

You don't know what she means by that so your eyes roll. "I think we're well past that, if they find us guilty I could lose my job." you remind her, and she chuckles. You don't find it funny, you can't. Your love for the job outweighed a lot of things, so it had been a no-brainer to help Derek seek out Ian Doyle. You wanted his head spinning on a pike, and you weren't planning to take no for an answer.

two weeks prior.

You were sitting across from Derek, steaming mug of coffee in your head that was more french vanilla creamer than anything else. You held the staged photograph of Declan and Louise. Derek's holding an identical photo, a heady sigh escaping him as you both rack your brains for some sort of bullseye. Something that would point you right in the direction of Declan. "Okay, Emily needed to get Declan a new identity." Penelope says as she walks into the office. She sits in the chair right beside you, arm full of stress balls and files. "So she must have used someone that she trusted." she proceeds.

"Alright, well that's a short list, but it's probably not even written down." is Derek's tired reply.

"Even if it was, she's been so many places, with so many different points of contact. " you speak up, and you take a sip from your coffee, praying it kicks in and wakes you up a bit. "It's not gonna be super easy to track and narrow them all down." you say, and you realize your mistake just as Penelope is placing a file in your hands.

"Oh, tell me about it. Two columns, domestic and imports." she says as she passes the other to Derek, who's looking at you with an amused smile stretched across his face. Serves you both right for underestimating the genius of Penelope Garcia. "I accept your apology, cutie." she says, leaning into you as you grin, smacking your lips in a kiss.

"Hey." JJ's at the door of the office, all three of you turning to look her way as she beams brightly. "Have you guys seen, Spence?" she questions, and you remember how you'd offered to bring him a coffee as a respite from the garbage water they served in the bullpen. He'd shut you down politely asking to reschedule as he was going to be spending his day at the Firing Range. You understood the need, he wanted to protect himself, and the team. He had to get better.

"He's at the firing range." you and Penelope speak in unison, making eye contact, as hers narrow. You knew instantly she would have questions about why you of all people knew Spencer's whereabouts.

"Again?" JJ questions as you shrug your shoulders, her eyes flitting towards you.

"Ever since Prentiss died, he..." Penelope speaks your thoughts.

"Right." JJ nods her head. "Uh... did you guys just get a new case?" she questions, hands clasping together in front of her.

"It's just an old one." Derek answers.

"Do you want some fresh eyes?" she asks, and it's painfully clear that she's still figuring out how to feel more like the team again.

"Not just yet." Derek denies, and he's polite, but you knew why he was being this way. You were all for keeping anything related to Doyle under wraps until you were further along.

"Ok. Um, well let me know." she hums, and then she looks back at you. "Y/N, can I..." your eyebrows raise as she trails off. "Can we talk? It'll only take a second." she hopes, and you look to Derek and Penelope for a moment.

"We won't do anything big without you." Derek promises, and you nod, closing the file, and handing it off, before you stand to your feet. You follow JJ out of the office, and down the hallway, stopping just before you reach the heart of the bullpen. You look to her expectantly, a bit confused, but not on edge. You had missed JJ, and in the two months she'd been back, it'd been pretty hard to get some real time with her. You'd hoped a break in the case would help to change that.

"Everything okay, Jaige?" you ask, and you witness how she exhales in relief right in front of you.

"God, it is now." she says, and your eyebrows jump up. She seems to understand the confusion on your face as she lets out a chuckle, dispelling more of her own tension. "You've been calling me Agent Jareau since I got back... not JJ and definitely not Jaige." she explains, as it seems to register for you. "I guess I was just a little worried I'd done something to make you mad at me." she admits, and she's clearly sheepish.

"Oh." you chuckle yourself, and you reach out to hold her shoulder. "No, you've done nothing wrong." you promise. "I've just been a bit in my head these last few weeks, but I'm really glad you're back." JJ beams at your words, and all the remaining tension in her posture dissipates instantly.

present day.

"Hey, everything alright?" you look up, pulled from your thoughts at the presence of Spencer Reid. He's holding a medium cup of a steaming liquid that you can only assume is coffee, and you find yourself smiling despite yourself. "I remember you asked me a few weeks ago about coffee." he holds it out, and you're quick to press your phone to your shoulder, neck craning slightly as you take it.

"Thanks, Spence." you mumble, and you can practically hear your sister's smirk from the other line. "Could you just give me one second, I'm talking to my sister?" you question, and Spencer nods his head, eyes widening in understanding. You smile politely, and he beams back at you, pretty eyes seemingly brightening before he's making his way over to Derek who's smirking like the nuisance he is.

"Hey." you mumble once he's gone, and your sister is snickering. For some odd reason she'd been dropping hints that maybe the guy on the team you should be setting your sights on was Spencer. To your defense, it wasn't like he wasn't attractive. You'd be an idiot to deny his boyish charm and good looks, but after he'd sat you down and admitted he had a crush on JJ, back during his second year, you'd sort of blocked any potential attraction towards him out of your head.

Now he was just Spence.

"Hey, I should go. I just wanted to check in, Spence made me aware of everything so I've got everything figured out on this end." she promises you, and you nod once more despite yourself. "Just think about what I said, alright? It'd be a shame for you to leave behind such a good job." she finishes, and you don't know how to respond to that, so you don't. "Call me later?" she questions, though you know she's telling you more than asking.

"I will." you reply, and she sounds pleased as she exhales.

"I'll talk to you soon." and then the phone is clicking. You adjust your grip on your coffee, using your free hand to grab your phone, and place it down on your lap. The coffee smelled good, it was from that cute shoppe that sold different pastries and always smelled like cinnamon. You'd been there with Spencer and Penelope a handful of times, and they always made your coffee exactly how you liked it. Still, Spencer had never ordered for you so you await a mishap.

The first sip warms you up instantly, and you're knocked flat on your ass by how on point the drink was. Your eyes snap upwards, looking across the lobby towards Spencer, who's awkwardly sitting in a seat, Derek beside him. JJ was gone now, but you figured she was probably with Hotch and Emily, the three of them had been attached at the hip since the team was "back together". You're certain them being gone was what led you to standing to your feet.

You walk towards Derek and Spencer quietly, slipping into a seat next to Spencer as Derek leaned up against the wall. "I didn't know that you knew my coffee order." you whisper, and Spencer turns to look at you. He offers a half smile, you were certain you'd be passing a lot of those back and forth until the court proceedings were done with.

"Of course I do." he shrugs his shoulders. "I pay attention when you talk." he promises, and you wonder why he had to like JJ, and why you had to like Hotch. On paper, and off paper Spencer Reid was the perfect candidate for boyfriend, plus he never pretended to be into you to keep you from finding out the truth. You both fall into silence, there's not much else to say, but you let his words repeat in your head. I pay attention when you talk. It makes your stomach twist.

"You alright over there, pretty girl?" Derek's voice barely reaches over a whispered volume. It seemed you all were feeling the dreary aftershocks of an ordeal like the one you'd found yourselves in. You look up at Derek tiredly, and you don't understand why he's asking you this, not until you feel the scalding heat of hot coffee singing your skin. Two sets of worried eyes are drawn to your cup, it's squished in your palm, brown liquid streaming everywhere.

"Shit." you hiss, and the cup falls to the floor, you're quick to clutch your burnt hand. God, you were really torn up over this.

"I'll get this cleaned up." Derek promises, and he looks at Spencer as if he was communicating something he didn't want you privy to. Spencer falters, only for a second before he's reaching out for your forearm, and guiding you to your feet. You trail after him, walking down the long corridor, listening out for the telltale sign that Penelope was done, and they'd be calling you next. On your route you pass JJ who looks concerned as she looks between the two of you.

"Spence, Y/N?" she says, and you avert your gaze, you're not sure if you're more angry or embarrassed.

"Sh-she spilled some coffee." Spencer explains, but he doesn't stop walking. "Shouldn't be more than a first degree burn, if she soaks her hand for five minutes, everything should be fine." he is passive as he speaks, eyes never quite meeting hers as he continues to lead you.

"Let me take her." JJ offers, and both you and Spencer are quick to offer denials. She looks hurt but masks it quickly. "It's not like you can go into the girl's bathroom with her, right?" she says and it's then you both realize you've got no other choice. He looks to you, trying to gauge how you'd feel about it, and you sigh. Maybe this was for the best, you could finally get things off your chest with JJ. It was only fair. He seems to clock the instant you've decided, and concedes.

"I'll be right out here." he promises, and you nod slowly. He looks like he wants to say more, but he doesn't get the chance to.

"Spence." JJ says his name a bit more sternly, and he resists the urge to cut his eyes in her direction. He ignores her long enough to take in your ailed hand, he saw the way the skin began to redden and swell. He seems cross as he passes you off to JJ, and you feel a bit silly being fussed over for something as minute as a coffee burn. JJ's earnest in the way she takes you to the nearest women's restroom. You hiss the second the cold water comes in contact with your skin.

You don't say anything to JJ though, losing your nerve the second the two of you were alone. She looks like she's waiting for you to say something though, eyes brimming with some sort of unease. She was reading you, using her new skills to profile you. You suppose that's exactly what pushes you to finally speak. "We said we'd never profile one another." you remind her crossly, and she's sheepish. "Just because you're doing it in your head doesn't make it any less invasive." you keep your wrist in place, hissing silently.

"If you would just talk to me I wouldn't have to go that far." she counters, and you blink. Fair, but you had every right to keep your distance from her. Just because the rest of the team was still more or less unaware of JJ's role in harboring the secret of Emily, you'd read right through her.

"What's there to talk about exactly?" you ask. "None of us want to be here dealing with this." and you take the route of the naive girl.

"I'm not talking about with the trial... and the senators." she shakes her head, and she's almost pleading as she tries to catch your eyes in the mirror. "I'm talking about Emily." she deadpans. "Everything that happened?" she proceeds. "You've hardly said a word to her since she came back." she doesn't want to come off like she's scolding you, and so she takes in a breath before her tone can become defensive.

"I don't speak to ghosts." and it's a quiet little dig that she hears all the same. It forces a tense silence to wash over the restroom, the only sound slicing through the awkwardness is the water rushing from the spout. JJ clears her throat, blinking a few times as she adjusts your wrist, allowing the water to evenly coat your burn. Only a few more minutes of this and you could make your grand escape.

"That's not fair." she finally voices her thoughts with a deep sigh.

"Isn't it?" you snap. "Seven months we thought she was dead." and you suppose that was a mistake of hers, getting you started. "Pretty lucky that you were off at the Pentagon, right?" you ask sourly. "Or was it lucky that you were in on the whole scam? I mean you were at the funeral, but you didn't have to cry, you didn't have to grieve." you accuse, and JJ's jaw slackens, clearly surprised at your outburst.

"I lost my friend too, okay?" she counters and you scoff.

"Did you?" you argue. "All those nights I called you crying, all those texts, those check ins... how long did you know Emily was still alive?" you demand, and JJ's feeling cornered, and her heart rate is picking up. She knew there'd be mixed feelings about this, but she'd never expected to ever be at odds with you. You, Spencer, and JJ rounded out the younger crowd on the team, it was your job to stick together. "Answer me." you insist, and you sound so crushed as you speak.

"I knew the whole time." she answers, and you nod your head, because of course you already knew.

"Exactly." you sneer. "You're a liar." you hate how angry this whole thing makes you, but you can't deny it. They'd played with your feelings, all of them, and now you were meant to behave like nothing was wrong. "Did you know about Hotch?" you ask, and JJ flinches. She doesn't answer for a while, and the water seems to rush even louder in your ears.

"I told him it wasn't smart." she finally answers. "But we needed to ensure that Emily wasn't at risk, it was harmless... just some flirting to keep you from getting too close to the truth." and JJ is speaking as if this wasn't some major breach of your position as coworkers and alleged friends. "He'd never cross the line." she reminds you, and the reminder that yeah, Hotch would never be with you makes you wince.

"And he didn't." she says this like she knows for certain. "It was flirting, Y/N. it didn't mean anything, we just needed you to..." and she trails off when she sees how destroyed you look at her admission. "Y/N..." she trails off, and you inhale sharply.

"Don't." you exhale, and you snatch your hand from her grasp. The cool air of the bathroom immediately attacks the welts blooming on your hand. You don't have time to pay them any mind.

"We just wanted to protect you... and keep Emily safe in the process. The more of us that knew Emily was alive, the more of a liability we'd be while Doyle was still on the run." she says, and you suppose in the grand scheme you understand. As profilers, as special agents working for the FBI they'd done great work. As your friends, as people you'd considered family for years... they'd betrayed you.

Plain and simple.

"Congratulations, you did exactly what you meant to." you say dully, and you sniffle, though no tears are set to come. Instead you feel more anger blossoming in the pit of your gut. "I hope it was worth it." and it's dramatic, but you deserve the dramatics, sidestepping the blonde and leaving her behind just as Emily is stepping inside. She looks at you wide-eyed, before she sees JJ standing there seemingly frazzled.

"Is everything okay?" she questions, and you don't offer her an answer, instead leaving the restroom as your earlier words ring in your head. I don't talk to ghosts. And you don't, and despite your history you'd never allow yourself to. You find your way back to the seats that led to the courtroom, Derek was gone, the only person still there was Spencer. He stands up as soon as he hears your shoes.

"Where's Derek?" you ask quietly.

"He left with Garcia." he answers quietly. "I guess they're dismissed for now. They're in with Dave now." he explains, and your eyes shift to the door. More than likely you or Spencer would be next.

You sit down, and Spencer follows you, sinking back into his seat as his legs just barely brush against yours. "Are you scared?" you ask, and Spencer's head shakes.

"Are you?" he shoots back, and you look away from the door.

"Not of this." you admit. "But of what comes after." you add and Spencer's pretty brown eyes are swimming with confusion. "Can we really all bounce back from something like this?" you ask, and it's rhetorical, but he answers you all the same.

"We've come back from worse." he reminds you, and that faint smile is worming back onto your face.

"Sure we have." you agree numbly. Spencer's eyes drop to your hand.

"How does it feel?" he asks, and you follow his gaze with a shrug of your shoulders. He doesn't look pleased by this approach, and it makes you sigh.

"Just feels like I ran some water over it." you admit, and Spencer chuckles. "A bit anticlimactic if I'm honest with you, Doctor." and you're partly teasing, mostly because it's so easy.

"You'll need some sort of petroleum jelly... there's some pretty good products that aren't at all carcinogenic like the leading brands." he begins on a tangent, and it makes you smile a bit bigger. "That with some gauze is the perfect remedy for such a mild burn." he proceeds and you look down at it. There's a moment of silence between you, before he's talking again. "Can I ask what happened?" he whispers.

You hum, almost like you're pretending you can't hear him.

"With the coffee? Was it not good? I tried to follow your order exactly." he says and you squeeze your eyes closed.

"It wasn't you or the coffee, Spence." you promise him, and without thinking you reach out, small hand resting on his shoulder. "The coffee was perfect." you insist, and he relaxes, but not enough. "I guess I'm just thrown about all of this." you proceed. "No matter how much I try to remind myself that they did this to protect Emily... that their deception was for a good reason, it just makes me angrier. Why is it that I have to rationalize being angry?" you question.

"I have to reign my feelings in for the sake of the team." you're careful not to grow loud. Spencer's eyebrows are pressed inwardly, head shaking.

"You don't." he denies you quickly. "You shouldn't." he corrects.

"You're right." you agree, and your silent for only a second. "I wish everyone could be like you, Spence." you say, and your words surprise him. He feels this familiar wave of adoration that always seems to swallow him whole whenever he was around you.

"Really?" he knows it might be pathetic, to be hopeful for something like this. The chance to hear what popped in your head whenever you thought of him.

"Yeah." you say firmly, and he tries not to look too eager. "You're so smart." you tell him, and he knows this, but it still feels nice hearing it from you. "And you're always nice to me." you add with a quiet laugh. "And you'd never lie to me would you?" you ask, and in truth, it's not a fair question. Spencer wasn't in the position the others were in.

"What do you mean?" he asks, and he fears it may be the wrong response. You don't even react, at least not that he can tell.

"Nothing." you settle on, head shaking from side to side. "Forget I mentioned it." and he doesn't really want to remind you that his memory quite literally makes that impossible. "I heard that you weren't fighting the suspension." you say conversationally, and he's surprised, mostly because the only person he'd told about that was Derek. Which meant you had been talking about him when he wasn't around.

"I guess I just stand by everything we did." he tells you, and your hand still hurts a bit, but it's definitely a problem for a later version of you.

"Me too. I'm glad we got Doyle, and Declan's safe." you exhale, and despite your anguish towards the team, you meant every word.

"And the team's back together." Spencer himself doesn't sound so convinced. You look over at him at this, your own unconvinced expression slowly cracking through his attempt at a cool facade.

"Is it?" you ask, and Spencer's face softens, a small little frown taking over his otherwise usually content face. He couldn't admit it now, mostly because it didn't feel like the right time, but he paid attention to you. He knew all about your complicated feelings for Hotch "I don't want to be on a team with people who purposely keep me in the dark about things." you ask, and Spencer pauses.

"I'm sure they wouldn't if they had another choice." he offers, and it's not how he feels at all, but it's what you need to hear.

"You don't believe that." you deny, and Spencer can't fight his chuckle. "Or maybe you do, you've always been good at seeing the best in people."

"Oh, do you think so?" it's a bit of a surprise. With your job description it would've made more sense for you to tell him that he saw the worst in people. He felt it was a fair thing to say that he was exceptionally good at his job, but it's then he recognizes what it is you're truly saying, or at least alluding to. It makes his face heat up immediately, cheeks blossoming a rosy red that makes him want to roll his eyes.

"Of course." you promise, and then you're looking at him again. Your face is one of the prettiest he's ever seen, and it's not even subtle. You seem a bit uncertain of your own allure though, which to him is a major shock. "You're like the best person ever." you add, and he expects you to snicker or show some sign that you were joking, but you don't. Bad for him, because his deluded mind full of fantasies starring you would take words like those the wrong way.

"I think you're the best person ever..." he's whispered this, but you hear it all the same, and he's lucky enough to witness the way your entire face morphs. Despite the bleariness in your eyes, you beam brightly. He hates though, that you start to cry. It starts with one tear slipping down your cheek and dripping into your lap. The onslaught comes right after, and before you know it, you're choking on sobs.

"God..." he hears the bitter tang of self-loathing that attaches and weaves itself into your otherwise honey-filled tone. "You're making this so hard, Spencer." you huff, and you scrub at your face harshly. He doesn't understand, but he's too frozen in place to ask you what you mean. Lucky him, you seem to know that you've got explain a bit, so you do. "I'm gonna resign." you say this quietly, sniffling as more tears fall. Spencer feels like he's misheard you.

He wants to have misheard you. He flounders a bit, and he's mentally scolding himself, because he has to hurry the fuck up and say something. "You can't!" and he's scolding himself again for sounding too eager. You jump a bit at the outburst, and he winces right along with you. "We just got everyone back." he reminds you, and you exhale, head nodding in understanding.

"I know." you promise him. "Why do you think this is so hard. You think I want to be the asshole that turns the unit on its head?" you ask. "But I can't stay here and pretend that everything's fine... or act like I don't feel thrown about all of this." you proceed, and of course, Spencer understands, he's upset he was lied too as well.

"I understand." he admits with a sigh, and you let out a quiet noise of relief, almost like you were worried he'd be upset with you. He assumes this is just him being delusional again. You look like you have something sitting on the tip of your tongue, so he stays silent to give you the room to say all that you need to.

"Have you ever had feelings for someone?" you ask. You chuckle at the look he shoots you, "Not just for a second, Spence." you proceed. "I mean like... take your breath away, kind of almost-in-love feelings." you indulge, and Spencer's keen to shut his mouth. Yes, is the loud and resounding answer that rings in his head, because foolishly he'd allows you to captivate him like the siren you were almost three years prior. He'd be a dummy to tell you such now though.

"I-" he blinks harshly, eyes feeling too dry. "I can't say I have." he lies, and he remembers your words from earlier, how you'd praised him for being someone who would never lie to you. You don't seem to notice his deception though, and if you do, you're too in your own head to comment on it.

"Good." you say with a shuddered breath. "They're nothing but a headache, especially when the person doesn't want you back." you exhale the words, and it's like a dagger is being lunged into his chest. How dense could you possibly be with all your super smarts?

"Did something happen with Hotch?" he asks, and now it's your turn to be embarrassed, face pinching up as you choke on a breath. "I don't mean to pry, if it's personal... it's just that-" he trails off, seemingly waiting for you to berate him or tell him to back off. You don't, instead your nose twitches, and you begin to look at your shoes. "Y/N?" he nudges you with his elbow, and it's light.

"No." you finally say, head shaking. "I thought maybe..." you trail off, more embarrassment slicing at you as you cringe. "But it was all a ruse, just a way to keep me from getting too close, and figuring out everything about Emily before they wanted us to know." you say and Spencer's eyebrows furrow.

"They?" he pries, and you look at him like he's silly.

"Hotch and JJ." you answer plainly, and it takes Spencer a second. JJ who he'd went to for comfort for ten weeks? He blinks at you, and you shrug. "So you see... anyone that could take my feelings and use them to manipulate me... are they really worth sticking around for?" you ask, and Spencer doesn't want to validate you in this way. He wants to be selfish, he wants you to stay on the team.

He thinks about how devasted everyone would be. How devasted he would be to walk into the bullpen and find that your desk was empty.

"I don't want you to go..." he admits, and it's quite pitiful, the sadness that soaks the words like gasoline. You find yourself chomping on your lip again, nails pressing into the cuts of your palms, and Spencer's catching your bad habits in real time.

It's a bit invasive, the way his hand surges out, and stops you in your tracks. "Please don't do this." and you're not sure if he's talking about leaving the unit, or if he's referring to the gashes littering your hands. When he holds your palm out flat, and rubs his thumb across the bleeding indentations, you find that you understand quickly.

Every few seconds it's ebbing with more droplets of blood, and he's quick to wipe them away like they offend him. Just as he's moving to say something else, the doors to the courtroom are opening, and Dave Rossi is exiting, his eyes immediately on you and Spencer. You must look foolish, hands intertwined as you stare wide-eyed at the team's senior agent. It's probably why Spencer is dropping your hand as you're snatching it away from his grasp.

You still find that your eyes are quick to appraise one another. He's looking at you, and you're staring back, mouths parted as if you'd been caught. Had you been caught? Had there really been anything to catch? You don't have time to answer, because you're being called next. You frown at Spencer, standing to your feet as he feels his pulse threaten to leap to disrespectful speeds.

"Y/N..." he calls after you, and you stop for a second. Eager eyes fall back on him, and he's trailing off, because the look in your eyes says it all. If you got out of this without being fired, you could imagine a world where quitting the FBI no longer made you sick to your stomach. Silence befalls the space, and he shakes his head after a beat. You look disappointed but not surprised, inhaling deep and audibly as you march towards the court room.

Spencer doesn't know what you're going to say, but he hopes recalling all you'd been through in the last few weeks will be enough to make you stay. At least until he has the courage to ensure that you leaving the team doesn't equate to losing you entirely and completely.

[tofeelthecold]

derek tags

[iomadachd]

Click the like button for a random starter from Penelope Garcia.

[imagining-in-the-margins]

Love Language (S.R.)

Summary: Reader cuddles Spencer. Spencer cuddles back.  Request: Reader is constantly close to/touching someone (her love language is touch) and everyone expects spencer to reject her, but shockingly he accepts it Couple: Spencer Reid/GN!Reader Category: Fluff Content Warning: None! Word Count: 725

MASTERLIST

There are few things more comforting than the home of Penelope Garcia. The lights were warm, and their reach covered every hint of a shadow. It was so far away from the horrors of the job.

It was a place where badness didn’t belong. A place full of friends, family, fuzzy blankets, and fluffy pillows. And that night, it also happened to include a few people in particular.

You, of course… and Spencer.

The boy sat innocently in the corner of the loveseat, but as soon as you walk into the room, his entire demeanor changes.

He smiles from his seat and raises a quick, nervous hand in a wave.

The others also greet you in their usual way. Penelope is quick to wrap you in an always appreciated embrace, and JJ drifts by with a gentle, welcoming hand across your back.

As you start to settle in, you note that there are several places for you to sit. You eye your usual seat, which is once again unoccupied.

You take a step towards it, but, almost immediately, you find that it seems a little too sad that day. For starters, it is devoid of your favorite blanket, which seems to have sneaked away.

Even more than that, you find that the solo seat is missing something else. Something that is warm and soft and smells of vanilla coffee creamer.

The room is filled with idle chatter up until you speak. It takes only one syllable for everyone to fall quiet.

“Scoot!” you say to the boy now in the middle of the loveseat.

He’d gravitated towards you.

You’d done the same to him.

Still, he seems baffled by the order that couldn’t have been directed anywhere else.

“W-What?” he asks.

So, you repeat, “Scoot!”

Spencer looks down at your blanket beneath his thigh. He complies with your request to move, albeit for the wrong reason.

As he scoots into the corner of the seat once more, he lifts the blanket for you.

“Thanks!” you graciously accept…

Right before you take the seat beside him.

Spencer doesn’t protest your presence. In fact, he does nothing at all. He is simply staring at you with the same shocked and bewildered expression.

Yet when you pull the blanket to cover you both, he smiles once more. He tries to hide it, but you can still clearly where his pink lips curve against impossibly pinker cheeks.

The boy is still stiff as a board when you come closer. Seemingly petrified by the possibility of ruining the moment, he stays firmly in his place with his hands in his lap.

Across the room, Penelope and JJ are eagerly hoping to change that. They are staring daggers at the oblivious genius, as if they could make him move through looks alone.

You pay no mind to their meddling. In fact, you barely even notice it because your face is smushed against Spencer’s shoulder.

You make yourself at home beside him, squirming and snuggling against his side until he realizes what you want.

He finally lifts his arm from between your bodies and wraps it lovingly across your shoulder.

Immediately, you sigh. You make a few final adjustments so that your head rests gently over a quick-beating heart.

The girls, no longer silent, promptly stand and run to the kitchen together—presumably to squeal without spooking the shy boy you’ve chosen to cuddle with that night.

After all, it was an odd sight to see Spencer accept proximity with another. It was an even odder sight to see him reciprocate it with such ease.

But he did. It was clear from the look on his face and the way his body finally found a way to relax alongside yours.

The room is quiet and filled with a simple bliss. You listen to the steady thumping of a kind boy’s heart and take joy in the feeling of his hand on your arm.

“You’re so warm,” you hum happily.

“Should I move?” he asks, frantic and certain that he’d ruined it somehow.

You laugh. You move even closer and nuzzle your face against something that is warm and soft and smells of vanilla coffee creamer. 

“Don’t you dare,” you say.

So he stays, and you stay, for as long as you possibly can.

(Tell me what you thought about this fic here!)

Looking for more to read? Check out my similar story Bedtime Stories on the Jet, where Spencer and Reader (accidentally) cuddle before they're caught by the team.

Reid Taglist (Everything Reid): @mrs-dr-reid , @dreatine , @hopefulfangirl24 , @laurakirsten0502 , @dontcallmekittens , @rintheemolion , @andreasworlsboring101 , @imsuperawkward , @wentz2005 , @lovejules888 , @dashneydanger , @materialisthicc , @violetspoetic , @mslowlife , @conniesanchor

Complete Taglist (All Works): @cynbx , @emsma11 , @mediocre-writer , @fightingdragonswithwho , @andiebeaword , @jayyeahthatsme

[kenzirr]

part 2 to the spencer imagine

@levi-of-starz

The BAU office was bustling as usual, agents hurrying about with case files and paperwork. Spencer Reid sat at his desk, engrossed in a book, when he suddenly looked up, a thought clearly lighting up his face.

"Did you know that the world's smallest bird, the bee hummingbird, weighs less than a penny?" Spencer announced to the room. "It's native to Cuba and measures just 2.25 inches from beak to tail."

Morgan, who was passing by, stopped and raised an eyebrow. "That's pretty cool, Reid. What got you thinking about hummingbirds?"

Spencer smiled. "It’s one of the facts Y/N shared with me the other night. We've been trading trivia back and forth, and it got me thinking. I want you all to meet her."

Garcia's eyes lit up as she walked over. "Oh, that sounds fantastic! When do we get to meet her?"

Spencer thought for a moment. "How about we arrange a dinner? I could invite Y/N, and we can all get together. I think she’d love to meet all of you."

JJ nodded enthusiastically. "I think that's a great idea. A nice team dinner would be perfect."

Hotch looked up from his desk, considering. "Sounds like a plan. I'll bring Jack along since I can't leave him alone."

Spencer smiled, feeling a wave of excitement and nervousness. "Great. I'll talk to Y/N and set everything up."

---

A few days later, the team gathered at Rossi's mansion, which he had graciously offered for the dinner. The dining room was elegantly set with a long mahogany table covered in a pristine white tablecloth. Crystal wine glasses sparkled under the chandelier's soft light, and the aroma of Italian cuisine filled the air as Rossi finished preparing the meal.

The centerpiece was an arrangement of fresh flowers, and each place setting had a small, handwritten name card. Spencer had even placed a few fun facts under each plate as conversation starters.

Y/N arrived a little after Spencer, looking both excited and a bit nervous. Spencer introduced her to everyone, and the team welcomed her warmly.

"Y/N, this is Derek Morgan," Spencer started, gesturing to Morgan.

"Nice to meet you, Y/N," Morgan said with a grin. "Spencer’s told us a lot about you."

"And this is Penelope Garcia," Spencer continued.

Garcia gave Y/N a big hug. "So nice to finally meet you, lovely! You look even more wonderful than Spencer described."

Spencer then introduced JJ, Rossi, and finally Hotch and his son Jack. Jack, clutching a small toy car, smiled shyly at Y/N.

"Hi, Jack," Y/N said, crouching down to his level. "What’s your toy’s name?"

Jack beamed. "This is Lightning McQueen. He’s really fast."

"Nice to meet you, Lightning," Y/N said, shaking the toy car's "hand."

They all sat down at the table, and Rossi brought out the first course: bruschetta topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

"Y/N, I hope you like Italian food," Rossi said, smiling. "I made some of my favorite dishes tonight."

Y/N took a bite of the bruschetta and her eyes lit up. "This is amazing, Rossi. Thank you so much for having me."

As they ate, the conversation flowed easily. Spencer couldn't resist sharing another fact. "Did you know that tomatoes were once thought to be poisonous? In the 18th century, people called them 'poison apples' because they believed the aristocracy got sick and died after eating them, but it was actually the lead in their pewter plates reacting with the tomato acid."

JJ laughed. "That's fascinating, Spencer. I never knew that."

Y/N joined in, sharing one of her own facts. "Did you know that butterflies taste with their feet? They have taste sensors on their legs and feet to help them find food."

Garcia's eyes widened. "That's amazing! I love butterflies, and I had no idea."

The main course was served: homemade lasagna, rich with layers of cheese, meat, and sauce. As they dug in, Hotch shared a story about a recent camping trip with Jack, and Jack excitedly talked about the wildlife they saw.

"Y/N," Garcia said, "how did you and Spencer meet?"

Y/N smiled, glancing at Spencer. "We met at a bookstore, actually. We were both reaching for the same book – a biography of Alan Turing."

Morgan chuckled. "Of course you were. That sounds like a perfect Reid story."

As they moved on to dessert – a decadent tiramisu – Rossi raised his glass. "To a wonderful evening."

Everyone clinked their glasses, and Spencer felt a warmth spread through him. The night had gone perfectly, and he couldn't have been happier.

After dinner, as Spencer walked Y/N to her car, she turned to him with a smile. "Your team is wonderful, Spencer. I had a great time tonight."

"Me too," Spencer replied, his heart racing. "Thank you for coming. It meant a lot to me."

Y/N leaned in, and Spencer met her halfway, their lips touching in a kiss that was soft and sweet. As the kiss deepened, Spencer felt a surge of warmth and happiness, losing himself in the moment.

Unbeknownst to them, the team had gathered near the window, watching the scene unfold. Garcia was the first to giggle, followed by a series of playful whispers and chuckles from the rest of the group.

Morgan couldn't resist. He opened the door slightly and called out, "Get a room, you two!"

Spencer and Y/N broke apart, both blushing furiously as they turned to see the team grinning at them from the doorway.

Garcia added, "We just wanted to make sure you didn't forget to say goodnight!"

Spencer, still flustered, managed a sheepish smile. "Thanks, guys."

Y/N squeezed his hand, looking equally embarrassed but happy. "Goodnight, everyone. Thanks for a wonderful evening."

As she drove away, Spencer turned back to his team, who were still chuckling and exchanging knowing looks.

Hotch clapped Spencer on the shoulder. "I think she’s a keeper, Reid."

Spencer nodded, his heart full. "Yeah, I think so too."

[problemchildtm]

BAU Matchmaker

Derek Morgan x gn Bau!reader

1.6k words

A/n: Anotha one. I had an idea and had to commit. Shout out to feminominom by Chappel Roan to keep me going.

Warnings: slight cuss words (like one I think) just a lot of fluff

Being intuitive is not for the weak and Penelope Garcia was more than aware of that. For years she’s watched you and Derek beat around the bush instead of admitting you felt something for each other. It was infuriating. So clearly the only solution was to set you up without telling you it was a setup. It all started with a ticket. 

Wednesday morning she walked into the bullpen with every intention to gaslight her beloved chocolate thunder into fulfilling her dream of being a Godmother to the children Morgan and you will eventually have. “What’s got you so excited this morning babygirl?” Morgan asked. As she mentally cheered she replied, “Well Chocolate Thunder I got us tickets to the very best carnival in town.” To say Morgan was not enthused would be an understatement. Obviously, Penelope knew her friend well enough to recognize his disdain for carnivals but it was the best and easiest way to get the two of you close while having fun. Playfully Garcia added, “What it could be fun. There’s live music, food, plus you don’t even have to play any games. Humor me?” She knew then and there he was in. Morgan begrudgingly agreed because realistically he could never turn Penelope down. Excitedly she assured her friend he wouldn’t regret it and all but ran back to her lair. Step one complete.

 Step two wouldn’t be as easy but she had faith nonetheless. All she had to do was find a reason to cancel on Derek and somehow convince him to bring you as a replacement. Can’t be too hard right? Wrong. Somehow Derek Morgan found every reason to not ask you. “They’re probably busy.” “I don’t want to bother them.” “It would be awkward and I don’t think they like me enough to spend that kind of time with me.” Excuses, excuses, excuses is all she heard. For starters, she knew for a fact you were not busy as she already asked you what your plans were for the weekend and you basically said nothing. Secondly, you loved being bothered by Derek, there was no denying it. Every time he had a slick comment to make he’d run over to you and whisper it in your ear just to see you laugh. Whenever you were in the middle of doing something, you’d drop everything to listen to whatever he had to say to you. Hell, Penelope’s sure she saw you pretend to be bored so he’d approach you. Lastly, there’s no way you didn’t like him. From the dopey looks the two of you shared to the lovesick smiles, there was no room for debate. You had it bad. And so did he. So how could everyone in the world see the feelings you shared except the two people who actually shared them? So instead of Derek waking up and asking you, Penelope took it into her own hands. On a mission, Garcia slinked over to you, “Hey you’re not doing anything Saturday right?” “Nope,” you replied. inconspicuously Garcia said, “Well if you’re interested I think Morgan has an extra carnival ticket and he’s looking for someone to give it to.”  Calling her bluff you asked, “Doesn’t Morgan hate carnivals? Something about the games being overpriced and rigged and whatnot.” The fact that you knew that alone set the plan in stone. There was no way she’s not succeeding in this setup. Penelope Garcia refuses failure. “I invited him to go with me but something came up with Kevin so I had to cancel and as the original ticket owner I appoint you as his plus one.” Laughing you respond, “I don’t think it works that way.” Seeing the glare on her face you decide to give in and ask Morgan for the ticket. What’s the worst that could happen? 

You were eating your words. Miraculously he agreed and you were ready for a night of childlike fun. Everything was going great until he picked you up. You got in the car and it hit you. He looked good. Derek never dresses up for the office but seeing this casual look was almost too much. On top of that, his cologne was intoxicating, taking over your every sense. He was hypnotizing. “Everything okay sweetheart?” He smiled. No, you were not okay but you didn’t have to tell him that. “Yeah everything’s great I’m just excited, I love carnivals,” you said almost convincingly. The rest of the drive was peaceful and you tried to shove your thoughts in the back of your mind. You were friends that’s it. On the flip side, Derek was just as gone as you were. Luckily he was more composed and didn’t stare at you with his mouth agape like he really wanted to. Ugh, you looked beautiful as always but the close proximity made you addicting. Once you finally got to the carnival, Derek parked and opened your door while helping you out because in his words. “Someone like you should never have to open their own doors.” That kind of flirty banter continued throughout the night and you returned most of it. The carnival was amazing. The lights were mesmerizing and the venue was filled with things to do. Despite the overstimulation, Derek’s eyes were trained on you, just taking in the sight of you surrounded by the lights. He even offered to play those “overpriced and rigged” games. You denied because you had other plans. Starting with the band. You practically dragged him over to listen. The music was great and as you walked away you made a note to listen to more of their music when you got home. The rest of the night was spent eating some good food and browsing attractions. You were having so much fun but you couldn’t help but wonder what this would be like if there was more. Not that you dislike being his friend but you wanted more with him. All good things must come to an end so you decided to finish the night on the Ferris wheel, as one does. It took some convincing but he gave in (How could he not). 

The view from above was breathtaking and it was only accentuated by you. Derek has had a staring problem all night but this specific moment was one he needed to capture. He was so close. So close to you and so close to spilling his guts about his feelings for you. There was a reason he was so apprehensive about you tagging along with him. He didn’t want to blur the line between friends and more than friends. Derek Morgan has always been a decisive person but right now he was lost. He could either tell you everything and face rejection and humiliation, or he could bottle it up and wonder about all the what-ifs. You learned so much about him in the little time you’ve been at the BAU and in that same frame he’s been so much happier. He thought it was because he could finally relate to someone but deep down he knew the truth. He was infatuated with you and every second he had to deny it was torture. Why should he waste the perfect moment to confess everything? Why wonder what could’ve been when he can find out right now? Screw being scared. He was going to tell you he liked you and ask you without any fear because- “Will you go out with me?” you said breaking him out of his thoughts. “What?” said an incredibly shocked Derek Morgan. That was not the reaction you wanted and instantly you regretted everything. Unfortunately for you, there was no room to backtrack. Scrambling you said, “I’m sorry I just really really like you and I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Let’s just forget this ever happened because I’m embarrassed and can probably never show my face again or at least anytime soon-” This time it was his turn to interrupt you as he cut off your rambling with a chaste kiss. The kiss could only be described as months of feelings and tension being exchanged in a single action. Everything fell into place as you kissed him back and solely focused on him. Eventually, the two of you separated with huge, dazed smiles on your faces. Before you could say anything Derek launched into an explanation. “I’ve liked you for a while, probably since you joined the team. I never acted on it because I had no clue if you felt the same or if an inter-team relationship would be worth the risk, but it is. I want you, I want to be with you if you’ll let me. We can take it at any pace you’re comfortable with because I could never imagine losing or missing out on someone like you. Someone kind and thoughtful while being a total badass in the field. You are incredible and I would love if you let me take you out.” It was like you were on cloud nine. You always thought being with Derek Morgan would be amazing but you never imagined this. Astonished, all you could say was, “Technically I asked you out first but I could make an exception this one time.” You were both smiling as you went in for another kiss and let’s just say you didn’t come back up for air until the ride stopped.  Penelope was anxious. She had been texting both of you since last night so she could get real-time updates on your date-not-date but there was nothing. She had so much pent-up energy she got to the office earlier than normal and just paced by your desk. Even the looks by Hotch, Rossi, and Reid didn’t defer her, that’s just how serious she was. When you finally arrived at the office every worry she had vanished. She wanted to jump on the two of you and demand answers immediately but seeing the doe eyes and love-struck smiles on your faces she decided not to. She’ll at least wait until lunchtime.

[prentiss4les]

garcia: why does everyone thinks i'm this soft cute person?? i'm not! jj: well, for starters, you cried for an hour after stepping on a bug yesterday. garcia: it had feelings, okay?! it was probably going home to his family for dinner and i killed it! morgan: ...babygirl, it was a bug. garcia: it was a BEETLE, and its wife is definitely worried sick, wondering where it is, and i really don't get why you all think i'm so sentimental because i'm not! emily: ... reid: ... garcia: i am not! rossi: oh, penelope.

[murkyhazed]

since i only want criminal minds right now, MUTUALS comment below one of my cm muses and i'll write a starter <3 i am currently on s6, so most likely threads will be before that point. if you're a multi as well, please specify your muse too!

muses are as follows:

aaron hotchner

david rossi

erin strauss

jason gideon

penelope garcia

[persephonyed]

hiiiii cuties and happy friday! woohoo !! ♡

okay, it's that time again where i caught up on all of my drafts, and i'm finally allowing myself to get some new threads going. below the cut are muses that i really, really want to write with lately ( as well as a couple test muses ) + little descriptions of each of them. give this post a like if you're interested in writing / plotting / etc. with any of them and i'll come to you! you can even just treat this as a like for a starter even if u wanna. i'm really excited to write some new things and potentially find some new people to write with. ☺️

*** if u like the post, when i message u, i can and will ramble on and on about character descriptions and what everyone is like. i just didn't want to put it here because the post is already so long!

arden henderson — olivia cooke fc. late 20s, bisexual, forensic criminologist.

blair bennett — katie douglas fc. early 20s, bisexual, university student.

camille st. clair — jessica alexander fc. early 20s, bisexual, aspiring actress.

cora devlin — daisy edgar jones fc. mid 20s, bisexual, hair stylist.

darby davies — hailee steinfeld fc. mid 20s, lesbian, film & tv actress.

erin nichols — jessica chastain fc. mid 40s, bisexual, housewife.

eve lawson — willa fitzgerald fc. early 30s, bisexual, historian.

jillian "jill" walsh — alva bratt fc. mid 20s, bisexual, freelance photographer.

laia aguilar — fiona palomo fc. early 20s, bisexual, university student.

malia dixon — greta onieogou fc. early 30s, bisexual, indie film director.

margot jensen — sydney sweeney fc. mid 20s, bisexual, diner waitress and cult escapee / survivor.

maude morgan — ella purnell fc. mid 20s, bisexual, unemployed rich girl and secret drug dealer.

nora giuliani — victoria pedretti fc. late 20s, lesbian, true crime journalist and podcaster.

preston fox — rudy pankow fc. mid 20s, bisexual, university student, fraternity president, and lead singer / guitarist of his band.

palmer mckenzie — erana james fc. mid 20s, lesbian, professional athlete.

piper novak — samara weaving fc. early 30s, pansexual, coffee shop owner.

ramona "romy" park — adeline rudolph fc. late 20s, bisexual, professional concert photographer.

ruby brodsky — gideon adlon fc. late 20s, bisexual, arts grad student.

siena norwood — florence pugh fc. late 20s but is really centuries old, bisexual, vampire.

( the ones below this are all test muses ! )

bellamy caldeira — alba baptista fc. mid 20s, bisexual, will take any job that pays the bills.

katia garcia — camila mendes fc. late 20s, bisexual, competitive cheerleading coach.

penelope "penny" sosa — camila morrone fc. mid 20s, bisexual, team usa professional soccer player and secret onlyfans / cam girl.

valeria "val" quintero — rachel zegler fc. early 20s, bisexual, musical theatre university student.

[southern-belle-outcasts]

@ifyoucatchacriminal plotted starter

The phone shouldn’t be ringing. Not while she was at work. Not with that ringtone, not that with that name on the screen.

[CALL INCOMING: PENELOPE GARCIA]

Rogue had given the contact the most obnoxious alarm she could find. After all, she wasn’t going to be keeping contact with Garcia. Spencer has said to never contact her direct line unless there was truly something very wrong, that he still hadn’t told the team. But here she was, getting a call from the tech analyst. And that made her heart jump into her throat, and she quickly made her way out back to be out of the echoing noise of the engine bay, already pulling out her ear plugs.

“What happened?” Her voice was quiet and tight. Maybe if she wasn’t struggling so hard for air she would have put more force behind the demand, utterly lacking in greeting or introduction. She didn’t even remember what Spencer had said when it came to where they were going, the panic was already taking over.

“This is- oh. He had you put me in your phone, didn’t he? Of course he did, he’s smart like that! Anyways, I’ve been told to ask you to come in because the team is all out of options, and you are better equipped to, well, take mutant attacks. And I know I wasn’t supposed to know about you and Spencer, but he was clearly seeing somebody and I got nosy and I di-”

“Where?”

“Boston. I’m already sending the address.”

She was already clocking out and taking off, no time to explain. They knew she would dip out occasionally for emergencies, it had never been a big deal, but she wasn’t even thinking about that at the moment.

“What did you mean by mutant attack? The suspect was a mutant?”

“At least one of them, they think. They’re not sure. We’re just certain there are multiple Brotherhood members involved in it from what I could see a-”

“And they took him.”

It wasn’t even a question. Why else was it Penelope calling her, and Spencer? Why else had she not even had a text saying it was going to be suggested to call her in?

“That’s why I convinced them to let me bring you in, I’m sorry. They’ll fill you in better when you get there.”

It wasn’t but a few moments on a roof to change into her uniform that she kept in her bag, and she was darting towards Boston.

Given that she didn’t exactly feel like being taken as the wrong person, she lit down a block away so she could walk up to the precinct where she was told the rest of the team was discussing the plan of action and how to find Spencer.

The officer at front didn’t even wait for an explanation as to who she was or why she was there, simply showed her back, while making a point to eye her warily. She had been on the TV enough at this point, especially after joining the Unity Squad- that she needed no real introduction.

“Do y’all know where he is yet? Cuz if you do Ah ain’t stickin’ around waitin’.”

[magnoliabutters]

ok bro, i have another thought…

when i see this man, i see xander harris from buffy and as i’ve grown older i have very much formed dislike for him. but but but, kevin? kevin and penelope? mr. garcia? incredible.

i think this just furthers my sexuality as a pansexual hot bitch 🤷🏽‍♀️

[shy-fairy-levele3]

2023 Book List

Unbelievably I read a staggering 70 books in 2023! The most ever! My only disappointment is NOT finishing Dracula Daily, I came so close...

Wolf Brother Michelle Paver

Skin-Walker Michelle Paver

Be the Serpent Seanan McGuire  

She Who Became the Sun 

Soul-Eater Michelle Paver

Nona the Ninth Tamsyn Muir 

The Girl in Red Christina Henry

As yet Unsent Tamsyn Muir   

Outcast Michelle Paver  

Leonard Cohen: On a wire Philippe Girard

Oath Breaker Michelle Paver 

Ghost Hunter Michelle Paver   

 Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life Alan Cumming

M is for Magic Neil Gaiman

Silverwing Kenneth Opal 

Last Violent Call Chloe Gong

Malice: Malice Duology #1 Heather Walter  

Pandora Susan Stokes-Chapman

A Lady for a Duke Alexis Hall                                    

Boyfriend Material Alexis Hall

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries Heather Fawcett  

Motorcycles & Sweetgrass Drew Hayden Taylor

Conventionally Yours Annabeth Albert  

The Unbalancing R.B Lemberg  

Stone Blind Natalie Haynes

The Winter Soldier: Cold Front Mackenzi Lee 

Ruby Nina Allan

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter Theodora Goss

Husband Material Alexis Hall

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason India Holton  

My Dear Henry: A Jekyll and Hyde Remix Kalynn Bayron

The Monsters we Defy Leslye Penelope

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix Aminah Mae Safi

Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman Alan Rickman

Morgan Is My Name Sophie Keetch

Threads That Bind Kika Hatzopoulou

European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman Theodora Goss

Feeling Sorry for Celia Jaclyn Moriarty

Daughter of the Pirate King Tricia Levenseller

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix C.B. Lee

Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour Tee Franklin

Magic for Liars Sarah Gailey

The Story of Owen Emily Kate Johnston

The Brilliant Death A.R. Capetta

Circle of Magic: Sandy’s Book Tamora Pierce

The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror Daniel M. Lavery  

Death's Detective- Malykant Mysteries #1-4 Charlotte E. English

The Salt Grows Heavy Cassandra Khaw

A Touch of Darkness- Hades & Persephone #1 Scarlett St. Clair

Mortal Follies Alexis Hall

Witch King Martha Wells

The London Séance Society Sarah Penner

A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future David Attenborough, Jonnie Hughes

A Game of Fate- Hades Saga #1 Scarlett St. Clair

Immortal Longings Chloe Gong

Hooked Emily McIntire  

Foul Heart Huntsmen Chloe Gong

Signal to Noise Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Daughter of the Siren Queen Tricia Levenseller  

Starter Villain John Scalzi

The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl Theodora Goss

Starling House Alix E. Harrow

A Marvellous Light: The Last Binding #1 Freya Marske   

A Restless Truth: The Last Binding #2 Freya Marske 

Thornhedge T. Kingfisher

What the River Knows Isabel Ibanez  

The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments Hadley Vlahos

Misrule: Malice Duology #2 Heather Walter

The Raven and The Reindeer T. Kingfisher

A Power Unbound: The Last Binding #3 Freya Marske

I started some series, and I finished some series. I found new favourite authors and revisited some old favourites. Please take them as recommendations, or if you have read any of the same books come talk about them with me!  

Reminder you can also follow me on The Storygraph to see what I am reading in real time, where I am simply shy_fairy   

Previous Years Reading lists can be found here: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015

[woodcries]

permanent starter call. for penelope garcia / criminal minds. liking this means you're interested in interacting with this muse and are willing to receive starters and asks from them. knowledge of the source material is never necessary but always appreciated.

[fearlessmuses]

✈️ ───── well if ever there was a call he was happy to make it was definitely this one. he leaned back against the car as he held his phone to his ear as he leaned his head back and grinned. “hey there, baby girl.” he spoke as he grinned, unable to help himself as he glanced behind himself and then turned his attention back towards the area surrounding him. “i need you to trace a number for me, see if you can get anything on it.”

@writtenxbeginnings ♥ for a starter from derek morgan for penelope garcia