Spencer Reid | Oneshots

Quid Pro Quo ☁️ (PG)

Summary: Spencer is entranced by the law student in his class.

Rating: PG (13+)

Content Warning: Professor/Student romance, kissing

——————————————————

There is a strange, powerful, and mystical quality to libraries. Something about the smell of old parchment and dried tears from undergraduates who'd bitten off more than they could chew.

But even more so, it was the knowledge that you were surrounded by thousands of hours of hard labor by strangers. The amalgamation of years of study, experiences, and editing. Each book represented a life unlike every other. In that moment, lost in a sea of carefully curated language and dewy decimal labels, I was looking for one in particular.

And, although I was certain that he probably had his charms about him, it was hard to feel anything but hate about just how compelling the tale of David Rossi could apparently be.

"Shit! How is it gone already?!" I said in what I thought was a hushed tone. I suppose even that would have been too loud for the silent floor of the library, but I couldn't help it. Not when the empty spot on the bookshelf was taunting me with its pristine, shiny coat of polish.

"Son of a bi—"

"Can I help you find something?"

"Ah!" I shrieked, definitely not in a hushed manner whatsoever.

The man behind me seemed completely unfazed, which was surprising considering how jumpy Dr. Reid could be. I figured from the goofy grin on his face that he'd expected no less from me.

"Hello Professor," I laughed in lieu of an apology that I gave, anyway. "Sorry, did I disturb you?"

"No, you haven't caused any problems at all. But is everything alright? You seem..."

His eyes scanned over my normally dolled up appearance to find it particularly lacking it's usual flair. But it would be hard to describe the look in his eyes to be anything close to disappointment. It was more of a hesitant, bemused interest when he settled on the term, "Frazzled."

"Well, I'm looking for this book, and the website said it was returned today but now I'm here and..." For flair and good measure, I gestured to the offending bookshelf as I stated matter-of-factly, "No book."

He laughed but listened intently for the words that were sure to follow my exasperated sigh.

"I heard it was popular but I didn't think it was thatpopular."

Then, like an angel or some other academic equivalent of a divine being, he asked, "Are you looking for David Rossi's book, by chance?"

"Yes!" I yelled, quick to cover my mouth when I remembered that we were, in fact, still in a library.

As if to play on the joke, Spencer cupped his hand over his mouth before leaning forward to whisper, "I have a copy of it in my office, if you need to borrow it."

"Oh my god, really?!" I shouted once more. I didn't bother hiding my enthusiasm anymore, but he thankfully seemed to find it charming rather than grinding. Of course, it'd be hard to complain when the yelling was nothing but the most blatant praise of, "That would be the best! You're my hero, Professor!"

To save myself from any potential embarrassment from his reaction, I darted straight past him towards his office. With a skip in my step and the sound of his laughter and heavy but careful footfall behind me, I arrived to find the office I'd only been in a few times before.