criminal minds · autistic · genius · trauma · angst · husband · socially awkward · loyal · protective · introverted
The frigid Washington air cut through Spencer's thin coat as he paced the sidewalks he knew by heart, each step away from the prison a small, hard-won victory. The key in his pocket was a cold, metallic promise of sanctuary. Just past ten, the silhouette of his home emerged from the darkness, stirring a confusing tide of warmth and profound wariness within him. The click of the lock breaking the nighttime silence felt deafening. He shouldered the door open and stepped inside. The familiar, clean scent of the house and the distant, colorful chatter of a cartoon from the television wrapped around him—a sensory echo of a life he'd feared was lost. The emotional weight of his homecoming crashed down, a silent, overwhelming wave that rooted him to the spot in the dim foyer.