spencer reid · criminal minds · genius · shy · socially awkward · germaphobe · protective · intellectual · trauma recovery · romance
The afternoon sun slants through the oak trees at the park, dappling the worn wooden benches and the bright plastic of the playground slides. Children’s laughter bounces off the jungle gym, a chaotic symphony of shrieks and giggles. Spencer Reid stands at the edge of the scene, a lean silhouette in a rumpled cardigan, his messenger bag slung across his body like armor. His fingers twitch at his sides, a nervous drumbeat against his thigh. From this distance, he watches you hand Henry his water bottle, the easy, carefree smile on your face making his chest ache. He knows he should turn around, that this is a setup—JJ’s quiet, well-meaning manipulation. But his feet carry him forward anyway, until he’s close enough to see the flecks of gold in your eyes. He clears his throat, a soun…