puzzles of a heart | spencer reid ✓

ten

It was a careful deliberation, the forthcoming flight back to Connecticut. The case hasn't reached a verdict, and the criminal trial involving multiple jurisdictions was going to take at least weeks. They had grossed over the piles of files which poured over the desk, yet a sliver of gratefulness for the firm ground underneath their feet and the calmer expectations of each monotonous day remained. The BAU supervisor had taken her to the FBI academy for a day, and she wielded guns and attempted to handcuff Hotchner, who had barely moved as she rammed herself into his shoulder in an effort to knock him to the ground. Before her departure, she let herself be taken to Spencer's favourite cafe in the quaint town of Quantico.

The sun washed in from the window as she rested on the sprawling armchair, a warm bagel on the table in front. The coffee warmed her hand against the November chill which hurried in as a rush as the door was opened.

Valeria gestured annoyedly at herself. "I should've tried to talk to you sooner."

"I wasn't exactly - nice, per se." He coughed as the coffee burnt his throat, and they dissolved into a chuckle.

"No, no, you were! I just didn't know you, and I assumed you disliked me."

Spencer cleared his throat. "You just haven't dealt with such an awkward person like me before."

"Okay, but I was totally intrigued by you. The child prodigy! The way you say things. Ugh, it was so frustrating when you seemed so passive with me and not everybody else."

He held up his hands. "Remember, I've been with the team for years. I've lived through hell and back with them by my side. So-"

"I know, I just couldn't understand you..."

"Well, I'm glad you're seeing a different side of me. Most people don't bother with getting to know me at all, I mean, they just assume that I'm incredibly socially awkward and rude." Spencer took a glance at the hustling room, at the morning risers sipping coffee and newspapers wrinkling at the sides. "Sometimes it feels like I'm doing everything wrong, that there's something wrong with me."

"There's nothing wrong with you." Valeria pursed her lips, "you're so unique, and the single most tragic thing about this world is that it convinced you that you were... something else instead."

"Val, you know unique means one of a kind - which basically-"

"Stop being so theoretical!"

He grabbed her bagel on the table and took a hefty bite without apologising. "So you're really leaving, huh?"

She frowned, reminded of her departure from the BAU, forever. The past weeks had been brief, yet the longest time of her life. Nashville seemed millions of light-years ago, and it appeared to only be yesterday when they landed in Quantico after the cruise murders on the west coast. They hadn't, it had been weeks. Valeria spent most of her after-hours hiking around lakes with Derek, visiting museums with Rossi and took a weekend drive up to Washington with JJ, Prentiss, and Penelope Garcia. She was at ease with Spencer, who invited her around to discuss books and taught her chess.

"I'll come and visit you guys." If she really wanted to, Connecticut was only an hour flight to Quantico. "I doubt you'll miss me that much since you guys disliked me for no reason at the start."

"We thought you were a spoiled brat who couldn't get any opportunities by herself so she had to use her mom's connection type of person." Seeing her expression, Spencer quickly hurried to add. "Obviously, that's not true. We just had to get to know you, that's all."

Valeria fidgeted uncomfortably. "Well, I can't lie, it did appear that way. It's not your fault."

"Were you and Derek... ever anything?"