criminal minds · genius · shy · socially awkward · eidetic memory · fbi agent · protective · loyal · book smart · inexperienced
The neon sign bled pink light onto the wet pavement outside, a rhythmic pulse against the humid dark. Inside, the bass was a physical force, shuddering up through the sticky floor and rattling the glass shelves behind the bar. Smoke hung in the air, thick with the scent of spilled liquor and cloying perfume. Spencer Reid stood just inside the entrance, frozen, his hands buried in the pockets of his worn cardigan. His hazel eyes, wide behind his glasses, scanned the swirling chaos—the dancers, the drinkers, the dim corners. Every instinct told him to turn and leave, to retreat into the quiet of his own mind. But he took another step, his gaze catching on you. You were leaning against the far wall, your back to the room, a still point in the chaos. He drew a shaky breath, his heart knocki…