Spencer Reid One-Shots

Out in the open

SUMMARY:
Spencer discovers his fiancée's secret that she's been hiding since she was a teenager.

——————————

Back when one was a child, and one was a teen, Y/N and Spencer were completely different. Y/N was 16 and popular, dating a member of the football team. Spencer was 12 and a dork, constantly being picked on and bullied because of his age and knowledge.

There was one night that neither of them would ever forget. Spencer was the target, and Y/N was a witness.

While Harper Hillman went to go fetch Spencer, Y/N hid in the bushes near the field house with Alexa. They watched as Spencer walked behind the field house, shocked and embarrassed at the sight of the entire football team and Alexa waiting for him. Before Spencer could escape, he was stripped of his clothes and tied to the goal post. Y/N and Alexa watched the terrified boy struggle to get free. While Alexa laughed, Y/N ran off, unable to continue watching Spencer struggle on the goal post.

The next morning, Y/N admitted to a close friend of hers what had happened the previous night, only once accidentally revealing the target of the cruel incident. It was the football team's gloating, plus Y/N being overrun by guilt that led to others connecting the dots. Soon enough, Spencer was the butt of the joke, constantly being laughed at by anyone and everyone he walked past.

A week later, Y/N broke up with her boyfriend and left the school, unable to face Spencer every day after what she witnessed.

———

At 32 years old, Y/N returned to Las Vegas, this time with a man by her side. But not just any man. Her fiancé, 28-year-old Dr. Spencer Reid. She had never minded being older than him, and he never minded either. In fact, their relationship was encouraged by their colleagues and fellow FBI profilers.

When Y/N - then 28 - reconnected with Spencer - 24 - for the first time in 12 years, it was obvious that he had no resentment toward her. Although, why would he? He never knew that Y/N was hiding away in the bushes that night, watching as he begged for her boyfriend and the team to let him go. He thought that only Alexa and the football team were behind the cruel prank.

Which is why Y/N became tense when she brought Spencer along as her plus one to a reunion party that was meant for the football team and their friends (past and present). Y/N told Spencer about the event, and insisted that she skip it, not wanting Spencer to feel uncomfortable around the people who used to bully him. But Spencer denied Y/N's worries and put on his best suit. He planned to be by Y/N's side as her plus one. He was going to be brave and face the bullies he once left behind so long ago.

Some of the football team were happy for Spencer, pleasantly surprised that he managed to land such an impressive job at 22 after getting 3 PhDs and 2 BAs. Others were clearly jealous, or hanging onto their dislike of the young genius.

While Spencer went to get some drinks for himself and Y/N, Alexa walked over to Y/N and started chatting.

"So, you're engaged to the nerd? What happened to you, girl?" Alexa questioned, confused.

"I'm sorry?" Y/N furrowed her eyebrows.

"I just never thought you'd be the type to fall in love with the nerd who was so easily tricked back in school." Alexa smirked.

"Times change, and people change. I grew up. Clearly you didn't, if you're still gossiping." Y/N rolled her eyes. Little she know, Spencer was returning to his fiancée with two drinks in his hand. Alexa noticed him walking up and decided to have a little fun.

"Don't act all high and mighty. You had the entire night to help him. You could've stopped your ex-boyfriend and the entire team by ratting them out to a teacher. You could've stood up for the nerd and helped him down from the goal post. But what did you do? You ran off and let him suffer. You left the school." Alexa hissed, glaring at Y/N.

When Y/N saw that Alexa's gaze shifted slightly behind her, Y/N turned around to see Spencer storming out of the building. She ran after him, managing to catch him in the parking lot before he got in the car.

"You were there that night?" Spencer glared at his fiancée, who was now on the brink of tears.

"I- I was. Alexa and Harper told me the football team was going to pull a prank that I wouldn't want to miss. Alexa and I hid in the bushes until you came behind the field house. She left me in the bushes, watching." Y/N confirmed.

"You let your ex-boyfriend and his asshole friends strip me naked and tie me to the goal post?!" Spencer slammed his clenched fist down onto the roof of the car.

"I had NO idea what they were going to do. When I did realise, it was too late. I couldn't leave without them noticing." Y/N insisted.

"So you watched me suffer, just because you didnt want your reputation to be ruined? You could've at least helped me down after they got bored and left. Alexa wouldn't've cared once she got her video of me crying out in pain." Spencer shook his head.

"I was too ashamed. I ran off while Alexa laughed at you, and...I couldn't face you every day knowing that I had allowed them to pull such a cruel prank on you." Y/N wiped a tear from her cheek.

"I always wondered why I stopped seeing your face around school. Now I know why." Spencer relaxed a little bit, letting himself breathe.

"I am...so sorry, Spencer. There is not a day that I don't regret that night. I know I can't take back the pain that my ex, his friends, Harper and Alexa caused you. I won't be upset if you want to end our engagement." Y/N was crying by this point, her hand slowly wiggling off the engagement ring on her finger.

"I love you, Y/N. Don't take the ring off. It's going to take more than admitting fault for an incident over 10 years ago to make me leave you." Spencer told.

"Are you sure? I mean, I could've helped you, but I didn't." Y/N reminded him.

"I'm upset, sure. But over the past 4 years that we've been working together, I've seen how much you've changed since we were in school. 2 years of friendship, and 2 years of dating have shown me how good of a person you've become." Spencer wrapped his arms around Y/N's shoulders, placing a kiss to her forehead.

"How come I'm older, yet you're the wise one?" Y/N smiled,

"I'm wise for my age." Spencer chuckled, unlocking the car.