Criminal Minds One Shots

*Nerdlike (ReidxReader)

Requested by SaintLucifer13 | y/m/n = your middle name

You had been working with the BAU for some time now. You had got a feel for things almost instantly. The only thing you never quite adjusted to was seeing Spencer Reid every day. Not that that was a bad thing. You loved it, in fact. But it was still a struggle to keep your cool around him. Still, you were certain that you were concealing your crush well. At least, you were usually certain. Sometimes it felt like Reid knew you liked him and started reciprocating.

---

"Hey, is that The Merchant's Tale?"

"Y- yeah," you bashfully mumbled. "You uh... you a Chaucer fan, too?"

"Are you kidding? He's my favorite! I grew up hearing his stories!"

"Wow," you giggled. "You're lucky. I only found him in college."

Reid smiled awkwardly. "I mean, there's never a- never a wrong time to discover your favorite author, right?"

You smiled in agreement.

~

"... in 10," Hotch said, dismissing everyone.

"Y/n. Y/n."

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, Reid?"

"We're leaving. Grab your bag. Come on."

"Wait. Leaving? What? Why?"

Reid laughed. "What's going on up there? You missed the whole briefing?"

"It's nothing," you mumbled.

"I have to know what was keeping you preoccupied this whole time."

"It's stupid."

Ried raised an eyebrow.

"Okay okay," you conceded. "I was debating with myself about what the definition of a superhero should be. Should it require un-earthly and/or inhuman abilities? If so, then Iron-Man and Bat-Man wouldn't be superheroes because all of their abilities come from Earth-made tools. And if it extends to include them, then isn't a superhero just a vigilante in a costume?"

Reid smiled broadly.

"Sorry. You did ask."

"I think we should continue this conversation. But on the jet. We're leaving soon. Come on!"

~

"Anyone up for drinks tonight?" Morgan asked.

"Uh Reid and I'll pass," you cooly.

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

"We're going to a foreign film festival tonight," Reid answered.

"The movies subtitled?" Morgan asked, directing his glance at you.

"Yo hablo más lenguas que tu sabes, Derek," you snapped back.

Morgan threw his hands up in surrender.

As you and Reid walked to the elevator he mumbled, "That was super cool."

---

"Hey, y/n."

"Hey, Morgan. What's up?"

"You trust me, right?"

"Why?" you asked, raising your eyebrows.

"You're single, right?"

"Again, why?"

Morgan sighed. "Because I've got a friend I think you'll like, okay?"

You cocked your head. "Since when have you given a damn about my love life?"

"Since now. Anyway, he said he's free tonight at seven. You wanna meet?"

You looked over at Reid longingly for a moment. "Sure," you sighed.

"Awesome! I can take you to the restaurant after work."

. . .

"Okay, he should be here any minute now. I'll be headin' home now."

"Morgan this is really weird."

"What is?"

"This! You've set me up on a date with someone I don't know, who I've never seen, and don't even know the name of! How will I even know if he comes in?"

"Oh you'll know. Trust me."

"Can you at least tell me his name?"

Morgan thought for a moment. "William." At that Morgan left the restaurant.

A few minutes passed before a familiar mop of curly brown hair appeared in the doorway. The man was talking to the hostess, who pointed in your direction.

Reid sheepishly walked over to you and sat down.

"So you're William," you commented.

"I- I guess? Are you y/m/n?"

"Probably. Y/m/n is my middle name."

"William is mine."

The two of you looked around the room trying to avoid eye contact.

"Why are we here?" Reid asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Morgan tricked us. I guess he assumed we liked each other or something."

Reid let out a forced laugh. "How foolish."

You painfully laughed in agreement. "Yeah. That was dumb..."

"I mean," Reid admitted, "I like you. But... it's..."

"You're my best nerd," you finished.

"Yeah, yeah." You could see that Reid didn't fully agree with what you said.

Another awkward silence fell upon the two of you.

Swallowing your fear, you spoke up. "Spencer?"

Reid looked up.

"I- I think I... I might be in nerdlike with you."

Reid smiled broadly. "I- I think I am, too." Reid's expression morphed into shock quickly. "I- I mean with you- I mean with you I am in nerdlike with- with you."

You laughed. "So, all those times we connected?"

"I felt it too. To be honest I thought you wouldn't ever like me because you had better prospects."

"Better prospects? Who else am I gonna talk about obscure 16th-century authors with?"