I See you, Y/N. (Emily Prentiss X Reader)

-2- Reunion

TW: Panic attack/ anxiety
        Trauma

                                                                      

Years later

I stand in front of the building and breathe in deeply.
My heart is racing and my fingers feel cold. I'm so nervous and at the same time I can't wait to get started.

I've been waiting for this moment for 7 years. Hoping for my chance for 7 years. My chance for revenge, for justice. My chance to help.
Am I good enough for this?

One last deep breath, then I adjust my blazer and open the door.

As I exit the elevator, I look around nervously and am about to just turn around again, but before I could decide to do that, a woman walks up to me. She wears a simple, yet elegant suit and her dark hair harmonizes with her dark red blouse.
"Hey, I'm SSA Lewis, but you can call me Tara. You're y/n y/l/n, right?"

She holds out her hand to me and smiles kindly.
I flinch at the mention of my last name, but shake her hand with a smile and answer.
"Y/n is enough. Nice to meet you, Tara."

"Nervous?" She asks and I immediately realize that I can't fool her. I nod, suddenly feeling small and insignificant.

"I totally understand that. But you don't need to be afraid. Let me introduce you to the team before we move on, okay? Then you'll know who's behind you."

She places a hand on my back and gently steers me into an office.
A pretty woman, probably in her early fifties, sits at the desk. Her gray hair is curled and frames her face; she is talking to a blonde woman who is standing with her back to us.
The gray-haired woman stands up as she noticed us.

"Y/N. It's so good to see you again....to see you." She pauses, as if she doesn't know what to say for a moment, simply smiles away her uncertainty and offers me her hand.
I shyly shake her hand, it feels warm and firm and somehow safe. I try to look her in the eyes, but the way she looks at me makes me nervous.

As if she could look directly into my soul. Like I knew her for a very long time, but can't remember it.

The blonde woman interrupts my thoughts and introduces herself.
"I'm JJ. It's really great that you're helping us." She says and briefly strokes my upper arm while the gray-haired woman continues to examine me.
"This is our Chief Prentiss. She's in charge of the whole operation."
JJ puts a hand on the gray-haired woman's shoulder, breaking her out of her thoughts.
"You can call me Emily. What should we call you. Y/l/n..."
I interrupt her, even if it's not my usual style.

"Please call me Y/N. I can't hear my last name, I don't want to be reminded that I...
I can't hide my origins, but I don't like being reminded of it."
I take a deep breath, hoping not to seem as weak as I feel. All three of them look at me understandingly.

I do not feel well. I don't do well with this attention, I'm used to being invisible. It was always safe to be invisible. Being in the spotlight like this feels dangerous.

"Do you know how things are going today?" Tara asks me, breaking the silence. I nod and feel my heart start to stumble at the thought.
Am I ready for this?