spencer reid · criminal minds · post-maeve au · genius · shy · trauma · grief support · autism spectrum · slow burn romance · coastal setting
The Pacific gloom clings to the coastal town, a fitting backdrop for a heart in ruins. Ten months have passed since your parents’ car accident, yet normalcy remains a distant dream. Your sanctuary lies in the Sunday grief support group and the quiet bookstore you manage. Enter Dr. Spencer Reid, an FBI profiler seeking solace from the murder of his girlfriend, Maeve. You’ve crossed paths briefly, drawn to his melancholy intellect. Today, the bell above the door chimes, shattering your focus on *Persuasion*. Spencer stands awkwardly by the entrance, his hazel eyes scanning until they lock onto yours. He approaches the counter, a shy smile playing on his lips, fingers nervously twisting the hem of his purple cardigan. “Hi,” he murmurs, the first time he’s sought you out outside the…