Untitled

Sure, easy for you to say, Spencer thinks as he sets his book back down on the shelf. That’s when he notices a small, neatly folded piece of paper placed intricately between the last two books he read here two days ago. Spencer carefully unfolded the pristine paper, noting the fine handwriting as he read down the page. 

Cute Guy with Glasses, 

I’ve been noticing you in here, thumbing through book after book before leaving abruptly. I normally would’ve tried to catch you on your way out, ask for your number, maybe. 

I’m hoping you find this letter non-threatening. 

I’m simply choosing to express my crush on you this way. 

It’s easier on my nerves, not having to look you in the eyes while I show you my heart on my sleeve. 

I’d like to get to know you. 

Simply, 

A Hopeless Romantic 

Spencer quickly folded the paper back up and shoved it inside his satchel, suddenly feeling thirty degrees warmer than he did a second ago. He excused himself from the hidden shelves where you’d been watching him, wondering what his reaction would be to your courageous letter. 

The moment the mystery man with glasses disappeared past the revolving doors, you quietly set down the book you’d been pretending to read, holding in your breath as you leave the wondrous world of books and coffee behind. 

Spencer is so nervous as he inconspicuously walks in, darting straight to the same bookshelf where he’d found the letter last week. His team had just gotten back from their latest case, and Spencer was itching to make it back to the library on time. 

He couldn’t help but notice the handsome stranger he’d been ogling over for the past month. The man was deep in his book and Spencer could only admire how whimsical he looked, cozy in the oversized chair. 

When Spencer had sat down a few nights earlier to write back to Hopeless Romantic, he couldn’t help but wish they were one in the same. Poppycock, he thought as he shook his head and let his pen scroll over the delicate parchment. 

Now here he was, carefully placing the letter just so on the same bookshelf they had left his letter. Spencer truly wanted to go find a corner and see who his mystery pen pal could be, but the universe had it in for him. 

Emily had called him to say that a new case just came in and he was needed back at the B.A.U. as quickly as possible. 

Once you watched the fluffy-haired man leave, you ventured over to the lonely bookshelf, peeking in through the book spines before noticing a folded letter tucked into one of your old favorites. 

Dear Hopeless Romantic, 

First, I need to say that I hope your letter was meant for me. You’d be surprised how often I get hit on, only to find I wasn’t meant to receive their affections. 

I actually have an instinct to find this threatening, given what I do for a living, but in this context, as a good friend of mine pointed out to me, I now understand this is ‘written flirting.’ 

I wish I knew who you were. 

I’ll start by asking you three questions:

What is your favorite book? 

Do you like coffee or tea?

What is your most cherished memory?

To ensure that our letters never fall into the wrong hands, I vow to only place mine inside the binding of ‘Great Expectations,’ by Charles Dickens. 

Until we can meet, 

Guy with Glasses

You couldn’t help the small smile that spread across your face as you gathered your papers up inside your briefcase, making a mental note to ask the quirky guy in glasses at least three questions right back in your next letter. 

The letters continued over the course of three months. Spencer learned his secret admirer’s favorite book was ‘Strangers on a Train,’ by Patricia Highsmith. They preferred coffee in the morning and tea in the evening. Their most cherished memory was swinging on the swing in their parents’ backyard before the divorce caused them to move. 

Spencer quickly let them know he, too, knew what it was like growing up in a single-parent household. He gathered that their upbringing had nothing to do with a schizophrenic mother who was as forgetful as she was violent. 

With each passing letter, Spencer grew more comfortable with his penpal, only going out of his way once or twice now to catch the wandering eye of his library crush. Spencer noticed his smile also grew bigger as he sat there cross-legged in the oversized chair. 

Maybe he has a boyfriend- or a girlfriend, Spencer refrained. 

“Hey, Spence!” Emily perked up as she caught her favorite genius on his way to the elevators. “Glad I caught you.” 

“Oh, what’s up, Em?” 

“So… remember how I promised you I wouldn’t meddle in your love life after Maxine?” Spencer rolled his eyes, playfully, at his best friend and boss. 

He knew she meant well. After having to break up with Max, Spencer tried not to get tangled in any more women’s webs of flirtation. 

“Alright, who is it?” 

“R-really?” Emily blinked, not trusting that Spencer was actually okay with her setting him up on a blind date. 

“Yes, really,” he tried to fake his best smile, knowing it couldn’t reach his ears. “C’mon, tell me all about them.” 

“Okay, well, he’s gorgeous, prefers men, works in the V.A.P. department, likes Doctor Who, and… has been single for over three years.” 

Spencer stood there in the elevator with her, chewing on the inside of his cheek. This guy does sound like my type, he mused, following Emily to her car. “When is the date?” 

“Tonight.” 

Toni- what?! “Excuse me?!?!!” Did he hear her correctly? Why would Emily not only set him up on a blind date behind his back, but also blindside him as well?!

“I figured we were all going out for drinks anyway, and– and your date’s team is also going to O'Keefe's…” 

Spencer sighed. He knew Emily only wanted to see him happy. He supposed it was for the best. If their date went south, they could both just go back to their respective teams for the rest of the night. 

“Okay, am I allowed to go home and change?” 

“Oh, please, Spence, you wear practically the same thing everyday. He’s going to love you for being you, now stop fussing over your clothes, you look fine.” 

Spencer huffed as he got in the car with Emily, his thoughts drifting back to his perfect library crush– and his even more perfect penpal. Suddenly, he no longer cared about his current state of dress; Spencer knew, no matter what, this date would end amicably on his side because his heart was already torn between two people. 

“Alright, when we get inside, look for a guy wearing a Doctor Who scarf,” Emily explained to Spencer. “He should be waiting for you by the bar. Good luck, Spence… and, please try to enjoy yourself.” 

Spencer nodded with a soft ‘okay’ before following Emily inside. 

As she walked over to the booth where the rest of their team was, Spencer’s eyes roamed the bar, finding someone he hadn’t expected to see. 

There, sitting leisurely at the bar was the man Spencer had been stupidly pining over since he first laid eyes on him months ago in the library. Spencer felt his entire body pause, only able to watch as his crush took a sip of his drink, looking entirely too damn good as he wiped his lips with the back of his hand. 

Fuck, knowing my luck, he’s most likely there trying to pick up women. I definitely can’t be his type at all. What the fuck am I doing? Spencer shook his head as he desperately attempted to tear his gaze from the gorgeous man to see if any other patrons sitting around the bar had a Doctor Who scarf around their neck. 

When Spencer looked back to the booth where his colleagues were, both Emily and Luke gave him a thumbs up with wide smiles. He shook his head, trying to hide the blush he felt coursing through his entire body. He frantically moved to unbutton his shirt a little, feeling his skin cool down a bit as he closed his eyes to calm himself. 

When he opened his eyes, they widened in shock. 

The man from the library was still perched in the same stool, only this time Spencer saw him with a beautiful hand-sewn scarf with detailing that greatly resembled the Tardis, and well as the Weeping Angels. 

The reality of this finding hit Spencer like a shock to his system. 

The beautiful man from the library was the same man Emily had set him up with. He was Spencer’s blind date. 

Fuck!

Spencer frantically moved his converse clad feet backward in the direction of the door. He couldn’t move fast enough, feeling the chilly air hit his face, bringing the term ‘whiplash’ to an entirely new level. 

Spencer felt his whole body constricting in on itself, looking for a bench to sit down on and collect his thoughts while allowing his entire being to calm the fuck down. 

He moved to sit on a bench down the sidewalk, letting his upper body fall so his chest was settled between his legs. As Spencer focused on his breathing, breathing in, and breathing out, he realized his mistake. 

Spencer had his chance to flirt with the cute guy from the library and he blew it. Morgan would be having a field day over this, Spencer just knew it. 

Once he felt calm and collected enough to sit upright, Spencer heard someone clear their throat behind him. 

“Excuse me, sir, are you okay?” 

You’d been less than enthralled at the sudden notice that you’d been set up with a guy from the Behavioral Analysis Unit. It wasn’t a lie when you rambled to your partner about your stupid crush on the flawless man from the library. 

Hell, they even encouraged you to start by writing a letter to him, telling him how you feel. The animosity of it all, knowing he, too, willinging engaged in your own literacy world was enough to keep the spark you felt for him burning like a candle that couldn’t melt. 

By the time you’d been told you had a blind date to get ready for, you knew it couldn’t lead anywhere, no matter how gorgeous this Dr. Reid of the B.A.U. is. Your heart irrevocably belonged to the Cute Guy with Glasses who shamelessly flirts with you between the pages of your letters. 

You relented, choosing to go through the motions, hoping your date would understand and maybe find someone else to spend their evening with. 

You were told to wear your favorite scarf, something you and your date had in common. When you first settled yourself at the bar, you kept your scarf hidden, hoping that your date would think you stood them up. It was cruel, yes, but you were second-guessing yourself. 

After a half-hour went by, you wrapped the scarf around your neck loosely, knowing you’d soon vacant the bar stool in favor of walking down the street to the library, hoping Cute Guy in Glasses would be there. 

Once outside the bar, you heard a man breathing heavily, looking to see that he was bent over on the nearest bench. The good samaritan in you could just ignore him. 

“Excuse me, sir, are you okay?” 

When the curly-haired man straightened his upper body up to see who you were, both your eyes widened in disbelief. 

The man on the bench was the Cute Guy in Glasses! 

“S-sorry to bother you, I just– you looked like you were having a panic attack, and I just– I wanted to make sure you were okay.” 

You wanted to back away, let the ground swallow you before you did something positively stupid in front of your crush. 

Turns out, the world was not on your side. 

“Can I join you?” 

Your crush simply laughed as he moved to allow you space to sit next to him. As you moved to sit down, he gave you a look as if he was trying desperately hard not to laugh. 

“You– you want to join me in having a panic attack?” You couldn’t help but giggle a bit, as well, knowing you’ve at least broken the ice a little with him. 

“No, I just.. I actually was just in O’Keefe’s for a date who stood me up,” you relented. “So, to make my night better, I came out to head over to the Neighborhood Library… to, um, to look for… you, actually.” 

The strangely cute man simply blinked slowly at you. 

Unbeknownst to you, three things clicked for Spencer in that moment: 

You and Hopeless Romantic are the same person. 

You’re his blind date. 

He just stood up his crush, who he’s hopelessly in love with. 

“I– you… what?” You smiled widely at him, choosing to give him a small reprieve as you settled a little closer to him on the bench. 

“Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Y/N Y/l/N. You must be Dr. Spencer Reid.” 

Spencer looked over at you with such wonder, confusement, and guilt. 

“Fuck, I’m so sorry! I had no idea you were my date!” 

Now it was your turn to look puzzled. 

“Ho– How do you know my name? Emily never gave me yours.” 

You explained to him that your best friend and partner helped arrange the date, choosing to give you his name in hopes of helping you feel more comfortable when Spencer showed up. 

“Also, I’ve always wanted to ask you, why did you bolt from the library so quickly after reading the first letter I ever wrote you?” Spencer looked at you oddly, going back in his cranial archive to pull out the information you were asking for. 

“Oh, I– I work for the B.A.U., which you know, so.. We had a case and I had to get back to Quantico as quickly as possible.” 

The two of you walked together to the library, and just before you turned the corner, you reached out for Spencer’s hand as gently as you could. You were pleasantly surprised to feel how soft and warm his hands were compared to your own. 

Once inside, you both made your way to the lonely bookshelf, the very same one that brought you two together without even realizing it. 

“From the first moment I met you, I knew I had to get to know you,” you confessed, feeling Spencer squeeze your hand, affectionately, as he thumbed through the books with his other hand. 

“I spent all those months pining over the you who I saw always sitting in that chair, and I…” Spencer paused, lowering his voice while hesitantly brushing his lips over yours. “..I fell in love with the you who moonlighted as the Hopeless Romantic within the pages you gave me.” 

You were visibly taken back by Spencer’s confession. Only in your wildest dreams had you imagined the cute, curly-haired man with glasses would express his undying love for you. 

Now, there was truly only one thing your heart and head agreed on and you slowly stepped closer within Spencer’s personal space. 

You maintained eye contact with him as you raised your hands to grip the back of his neck, leaning him down slightly until your lips tentatively grazed against his. 

Within seconds, the dam broke between you. His lips crashed against yours while his tongue invited yours to dance alongside his, pleading for dominance, which you relinquished in an instant. 

Your hands tangled in his curls, causing Spencer to moan into your mouth. The sound was so arousing that you both flushed your bodies against each other, not caring about any passersby who might stare. 

If they did, they would only see two men so astoundingly in love with each other that they just couldn’t not kiss right here in the library near the loneliest shelf in existence. 

As the two of you break apart, you let your foreheads rest against together, allowing each of you to slowly steady your beating hearts. 

“I know this might sound.. forward,” Spencer breathed out against your lips, “but, would you like to go back to my place?” 

You hummed in agreement, letting your lips travel along his jawline until you settled in that beloved sweet spot where his neck and shoulder meet. 

“I’d love to.. Doctor.” 

Spencer groaned as he relished in your desperate attempt to persuade him to lead you both out of the library to his apartment. 

“We—uhh, need to.. fuck! Ohh.. slow down..” 

You understand what he was trying to say, so you reluctantly removed your lips from his skin, choosing to guide him into a passionate kiss that left you both incredibly breathless. 

“Lead the way, Dr. Reid.” 

You smirked as Spencer took your hand, feeling a loving warmth underneath the heat of the moment. 

You knew tonight would be special beyond anything you could’ve ever imagined. 

The next morning, Spencer didn’t even bother putting on new clothes, wanting to slyly give his team a reason to ask him about his night. 

Normally, he’d always been the one who never had plans, never had a night out with the team where he left with someone and actually had a story worth telling the following day. 

“Spence, hey.. looking good, did you enjoy yourself last night?” Luke winked at him, already aware he’d gone home with his blind date. 

Soon, Emily and J.J. walked in, the two of them eyeing the genius up and down. 

“Are those.. the same clothes you wore yesterday?” 

Spencer was quick to retort, “Well, Em, you said I practically wear the same thing every day, didnt you?” 

 Both women laughed as they gave Spencer a knowing smile before leaving to their respective offices. 

“So.. I didn’t realize you were the type to fuck them on the first date, let alone a blind one,” Luke chucked as he coaxed Spencer to spill more details. 

Spencer was prepared for this exact moment. 

“I hadn’t, either, but, you know what?” 

Luke leaned in closer, wanting to hear the good doctor’s gossip. 

“I’m positive I’m a cute guy with glasses who’s in love with a hopeless romantic.” 

Taglist: @pleasantwitchgarden

**If you want to be added to any taglist, just drop me a line and let me know :)

Sure, easy for you to say, Spencer thinks as he sets his book back down on the shelf. That’s when he notices a small, neatly folded piece of paper placed intricately between the last two books he read here two days ago. Spencer carefully unfolded the pristine paper, noting the fine handwriting as he read down the page. 

Cute Guy with Glasses, 

I’ve been noticing you in here, thumbing through book after book before leaving abruptly. I normally would’ve tried to catch you on your way out, ask for your number, maybe. 

I’m hoping you find this letter non-threatening. 

I’m simply choosing to express my crush on you this way. 

It’s easier on my nerves, not having to look you in the eyes while I show you my heart on my sleeve. 

I’d like to get to know you. 

Simply, 

A Hopeless Romantic 

Spencer quickly folded the paper back up and shoved it inside his satchel, suddenly feeling thirty degrees warmer than he did a second ago. He excused himself from the hidden shelves where you’d been watching him, wondering what his reaction would be to your courageous letter. 

The moment the mystery man with glasses disappeared past the revolving doors, you quietly set down the book you’d been pretending to read, holding in your breath as you leave the wondrous world of books and coffee behind. 

Spencer is so nervous as he inconspicuously walks in, darting straight to the same bookshelf where he’d found the letter last week. His team had just gotten back from their latest case, and Spencer was itching to make it back to the library on time. 

He couldn’t help but notice the handsome stranger he’d been ogling over for the past month. The man was deep in his book and Spencer could only admire how whimsical he looked, cozy in the oversized chair. 

When Spencer had sat down a few nights earlier to write back to Hopeless Romantic, he couldn’t help but wish they were one in the same. Poppycock, he thought as he shook his head and let his pen scroll over the delicate parchment. 

Now here he was, carefully placing the letter just so on the same bookshelf they had left his letter. Spencer truly wanted to go find a corner and see who his mystery pen pal could be, but the universe had it in for him. 

Emily had called him to say that a new case just came in and he was needed back at the B.A.U. as quickly as possible. 

Once you watched the fluffy-haired man leave, you ventured over to the lonely bookshelf, peeking in through the book spines before noticing a folded letter tucked into one of your old favorites. 

Dear Hopeless Romantic, 

First, I need to say that I hope your letter was meant for me. You’d be surprised how often I get hit on, only to find I wasn’t meant to receive their affections. 

I actually have an instinct to find this threatening, given what I do for a living, but in this context, as a good friend of mine pointed out to me, I now understand this is ‘written flirting.’ 

I wish I knew who you were. 

I’ll start by asking you three questions:

What is your favorite book? 

Do you like coffee or tea?

What is your most cherished memory?

To ensure that our letters never fall into the wrong hands, I vow to only place mine inside the binding of ‘Great Expectations,’ by Charles Dickens. 

Until we can meet, 

Guy with Glasses

You couldn’t help the small smile that spread across your face as you gathered your papers up inside your briefcase, making a mental note to ask the quirky guy in glasses at least three questions right back in your next letter. 

The letters continued over the course of three months. Spencer learned his secret admirer’s favorite book was ‘Strangers on a Train,’ by Patricia Highsmith. They preferred coffee in the morning and tea in the evening. Their most cherished memory was swinging on the swing in their parents’ backyard before the divorce caused them to move. 

Spencer quickly let them know he, too, knew what it was like growing up in a single-parent household. He gathered that their upbringing had nothing to do with a schizophrenic mother who was as forgetful as she was violent. 

With each passing letter, Spencer grew more comfortable with his penpal, only going out of his way once or twice now to catch the wandering eye of his library crush. Spencer noticed his smile also grew bigger as he sat there cross-legged in the oversized chair. 

Maybe he has a boyfriend- or a girlfriend, Spencer refrained. 

“Hey, Spence!” Emily perked up as she caught her favorite genius on his way to the elevators. “Glad I caught you.” 

“Oh, what’s up, Em?” 

“So… remember how I promised you I wouldn’t meddle in your love life after Maxine?” Spencer rolled his eyes, playfully, at his best friend and boss. 

He knew she meant well. After having to break up with Max, Spencer tried not to get tangled in any more women’s webs of flirtation. 

“Alright, who is it?” 

“R-really?” Emily blinked, not trusting that Spencer was actually okay with her setting him up on a blind date. 

“Yes, really,” he tried to fake his best smile, knowing it couldn’t reach his ears. “C’mon, tell me all about them.” 

“Okay, well, he’s gorgeous, prefers men, works in the V.A.P. department, likes Doctor Who, and… has been single for over three years.” 

Spencer stood there in the elevator with her, chewing on the inside of his cheek. This guy does sound like my type, he mused, following Emily to her car. “When is the date?” 

“Tonight.” 

Toni- what?! “Excuse me?!?!!” Did he hear her correctly? Why would Emily not only set him up on a blind date behind his back, but also blindside him as well?!

“I figured we were all going out for drinks anyway, and– and your date’s team is also going to O'Keefe's…” 

Spencer sighed. He knew Emily only wanted to see him happy. He supposed it was for the best. If their date went south, they could both just go back to their respective teams for the rest of the night. 

“Okay, am I allowed to go home and change?” 

“Oh, please, Spence, you wear practically the same thing everyday. He’s going to love you for being you, now stop fussing over your clothes, you look fine.” 

Spencer huffed as he got in the car with Emily, his thoughts drifting back to his perfect library crush– and his even more perfect penpal. Suddenly, he no longer cared about his current state of dress; Spencer knew, no matter what, this date would end amicably on his side because his heart was already torn between two people. 

“Alright, when we get inside, look for a guy wearing a Doctor Who scarf,” Emily explained to Spencer. “He should be waiting for you by the bar. Good luck, Spence… and, please try to enjoy yourself.” 

Spencer nodded with a soft ‘okay’ before following Emily inside. 

As she walked over to the booth where the rest of their team was, Spencer’s eyes roamed the bar, finding someone he hadn’t expected to see. 

There, sitting leisurely at the bar was the man Spencer had been stupidly pining over since he first laid eyes on him months ago in the library. Spencer felt his entire body pause, only able to watch as his crush took a sip of his drink, looking entirely too damn good as he wiped his lips with the back of his hand. 

Fuck, knowing my luck, he’s most likely there trying to pick up women. I definitely can’t be his type at all. What the fuck am I doing? Spencer shook his head as he desperately attempted to tear his gaze from the gorgeous man to see if any other patrons sitting around the bar had a Doctor Who scarf around their neck. 

When Spencer looked back to the booth where his colleagues were, both Emily and Luke gave him a thumbs up with wide smiles. He shook his head, trying to hide the blush he felt coursing through his entire body. He frantically moved to unbutton his shirt a little, feeling his skin cool down a bit as he closed his eyes to calm himself. 

When he opened his eyes, they widened in shock. 

The man from the library was still perched in the same stool, only this time Spencer saw him with a beautiful hand-sewn scarf with detailing that greatly resembled the Tardis, and well as the Weeping Angels. 

The reality of this finding hit Spencer like a shock to his system. 

The beautiful man from the library was the same man Emily had set him up with. He was Spencer’s blind date. 

Fuck!

Spencer frantically moved his converse clad feet backward in the direction of the door. He couldn’t move fast enough, feeling the chilly air hit his face, bringing the term ‘whiplash’ to an entirely new level. 

Spencer felt his whole body constricting in on itself, looking for a bench to sit down on and collect his thoughts while allowing his entire being to calm the fuck down. 

He moved to sit on a bench down the sidewalk, letting his upper body fall so his chest was settled between his legs. As Spencer focused on his breathing, breathing in, and breathing out, he realized his mistake. 

Spencer had his chance to flirt with the cute guy from the library and he blew it. Morgan would be having a field day over this, Spencer just knew it. 

Once he felt calm and collected enough to sit upright, Spencer heard someone clear their throat behind him. 

“Excuse me, sir, are you okay?” 

You’d been less than enthralled at the sudden notice that you’d been set up with a guy from the Behavioral Analysis Unit. It wasn’t a lie when you rambled to your partner about your stupid crush on the flawless man from the library. 

Hell, they even encouraged you to start by writing a letter to him, telling him how you feel. The animosity of it all, knowing he, too, willinging engaged in your own literacy world was enough to keep the spark you felt for him burning like a candle that couldn’t melt. 

By the time you’d been told you had a blind date to get ready for, you knew it couldn’t lead anywhere, no matter how gorgeous this Dr. Reid of the B.A.U. is. Your heart irrevocably belonged to the Cute Guy with Glasses who shamelessly flirts with you between the pages of your letters. 

You relented, choosing to go through the motions, hoping your date would understand and maybe find someone else to spend their evening with. 

You were told to wear your favorite scarf, something you and your date had in common. When you first settled yourself at the bar, you kept your scarf hidden, hoping that your date would think you stood them up. It was cruel, yes, but you were second-guessing yourself. 

After a half-hour went by, you wrapped the scarf around your neck loosely, knowing you’d soon vacant the bar stool in favor of walking down the street to the library, hoping Cute Guy in Glasses would be there. 

Once outside the bar, you heard a man breathing heavily, looking to see that he was bent over on the nearest bench. The good samaritan in you could just ignore him. 

“Excuse me, sir, are you okay?” 

When the curly-haired man straightened his upper body up to see who you were, both your eyes widened in disbelief. 

The man on the bench was the Cute Guy in Glasses! 

“S-sorry to bother you, I just– you looked like you were having a panic attack, and I just– I wanted to make sure you were okay.” 

You wanted to back away, let the ground swallow you before you did something positively stupid in front of your crush. 

Turns out, the world was not on your side. 

“Can I join you?” 

Your crush simply laughed as he moved to allow you space to sit next to him. As you moved to sit down, he gave you a look as if he was trying desperately hard not to laugh. 

“You– you want to join me in having a panic attack?” You couldn’t help but giggle a bit, as well, knowing you’ve at least broken the ice a little with him. 

“No, I just.. I actually was just in O’Keefe’s for a date who stood me up,” you relented. “So, to make my night better, I came out to head over to the Neighborhood Library… to, um, to look for… you, actually.” 

The strangely cute man simply blinked slowly at you. 

Unbeknownst to you, three things clicked for Spencer in that moment: 

You and Hopeless Romantic are the same person. 

You’re his blind date. 

He just stood up his crush, who he’s hopelessly in love with. 

“I– you… what?” You smiled widely at him, choosing to give him a small reprieve as you settled a little closer to him on the bench. 

“Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Y/N Y/l/N. You must be Dr. Spencer Reid.” 

Spencer looked over at you with such wonder, confusement, and guilt. 

“Fuck, I’m so sorry! I had no idea you were my date!” 

Now it was your turn to look puzzled. 

“Ho– How do you know my name? Emily never gave me yours.” 

You explained to him that your best friend and partner helped arrange the date, choosing to give you his name in hopes of helping you feel more comfortable when Spencer showed up. 

“Also, I’ve always wanted to ask you, why did you bolt from the library so quickly after reading the first letter I ever wrote you?” Spencer looked at you oddly, going back in his cranial archive to pull out the information you were asking for. 

“Oh, I– I work for the B.A.U., which you know, so.. We had a case and I had to get back to Quantico as quickly as possible.” 

The two of you walked together to the library, and just before you turned the corner, you reached out for Spencer’s hand as gently as you could. You were pleasantly surprised to feel how soft and warm his hands were compared to your own. 

Once inside, you both made your way to the lonely bookshelf, the very same one that brought you two together without even realizing it. 

“From the first moment I met you, I knew I had to get to know you,” you confessed, feeling Spencer squeeze your hand, affectionately, as he thumbed through the books with his other hand. 

“I spent all those months pining over the you who I saw always sitting in that chair, and I…” Spencer paused, lowering his voice while hesitantly brushing his lips over yours. “..I fell in love with the you who moonlighted as the Hopeless Romantic within the pages you gave me.” 

You were visibly taken back by Spencer’s confession. Only in your wildest dreams had you imagined the cute, curly-haired man with glasses would express his undying love for you. 

Now, there was truly only one thing your heart and head agreed on and you slowly stepped closer within Spencer’s personal space. 

You maintained eye contact with him as you raised your hands to grip the back of his neck, leaning him down slightly until your lips tentatively grazed against his. 

Within seconds, the dam broke between you. His lips crashed against yours while his tongue invited yours to dance alongside his, pleading for dominance, which you relinquished in an instant. 

Your hands tangled in his curls, causing Spencer to moan into your mouth. The sound was so arousing that you both flushed your bodies against each other, not caring about any passersby who might stare. 

If they did, they would only see two men so astoundingly in love with each other that they just couldn’t not kiss right here in the library near the loneliest shelf in existence. 

As the two of you break apart, you let your foreheads rest against together, allowing each of you to slowly steady your beating hearts. 

“I know this might sound.. forward,” Spencer breathed out against your lips, “but, would you like to go back to my place?” 

You hummed in agreement, letting your lips travel along his jawline until you settled in that beloved sweet spot where his neck and shoulder meet. 

“I’d love to.. Doctor.” 

Spencer groaned as he relished in your desperate attempt to persuade him to lead you both out of the library to his apartment. 

“We—uhh, need to.. fuck! Ohh.. slow down..” 

You understand what he was trying to say, so you reluctantly removed your lips from his skin, choosing to guide him into a passionate kiss that left you both incredibly breathless. 

“Lead the way, Dr. Reid.” 

You smirked as Spencer took your hand, feeling a loving warmth underneath the heat of the moment. 

You knew tonight would be special beyond anything you could’ve ever imagined. 

The next morning, Spencer didn’t even bother putting on new clothes, wanting to slyly give his team a reason to ask him about his night. 

Normally, he’d always been the one who never had plans, never had a night out with the team where he left with someone and actually had a story worth telling the following day. 

“Spence, hey.. looking good, did you enjoy yourself last night?” Luke winked at him, already aware he’d gone home with his blind date. 

Soon, Emily and J.J. walked in, the two of them eyeing the genius up and down. 

“Are those.. the same clothes you wore yesterday?” 

Spencer was quick to retort, “Well, Em, you said I practically wear the same thing every day, didnt you?” 

 Both women laughed as they gave Spencer a knowing smile before leaving to their respective offices. 

“So.. I didn’t realize you were the type to fuck them on the first date, let alone a blind one,” Luke chucked as he coaxed Spencer to spill more details. 

Spencer was prepared for this exact moment. 

“I hadn’t, either, but, you know what?” 

Luke leaned in closer, wanting to hear the good doctor’s gossip. 

“I’m positive I’m a cute guy with glasses who’s in love with a hopeless romantic.” 

Taglist: @pleasantwitchgarden

**If you want to be added to any taglist, just drop me a line and let me know :)

Sure, easy for you to say, Spencer thinks as he sets his book back down on the shelf. That’s when he notices a small, neatly folded piece of paper placed intricately between the last two books he read here two days ago. Spencer carefully unfolded the pristine paper, noting the fine handwriting as he read down the page. 

Cute Guy with Glasses, 

I’ve been noticing you in here, thumbing through book after book before leaving abruptly. I normally would’ve tried to catch you on your way out, ask for your number, maybe. 

I’m hoping you find this letter non-threatening. 

I’m simply choosing to express my crush on you this way. 

It’s easier on my nerves, not having to look you in the eyes while I show you my heart on my sleeve. 

I’d like to get to know you. 

Simply, 

A Hopeless Romantic 

Spencer quickly folded the paper back up and shoved it inside his satchel, suddenly feeling thirty degrees warmer than he did a second ago. He excused himself from the hidden shelves where you’d been watching him, wondering what his reaction would be to your courageous letter. 

The moment the mystery man with glasses disappeared past the revolving doors, you quietly set down the book you’d been pretending to read, holding in your breath as you leave the wondrous world of books and coffee behind. 

Spencer is so nervous as he inconspicuously walks in, darting straight to the same bookshelf where he’d found the letter last week. His team had just gotten back from their latest case, and Spencer was itching to make it back to the library on time. 

He couldn’t help but notice the handsome stranger he’d been ogling over for the past month. The man was deep in his book and Spencer could only admire how whimsical he looked, cozy in the oversized chair. 

When Spencer had sat down a few nights earlier to write back to Hopeless Romantic, he couldn’t help but wish they were one in the same. Poppycock, he thought as he shook his head and let his pen scroll over the delicate parchment. 

Now here he was, carefully placing the letter just so on the same bookshelf they had left his letter. Spencer truly wanted to go find a corner and see who his mystery pen pal could be, but the universe had it in for him. 

Emily had called him to say that a new case just came in and he was needed back at the B.A.U. as quickly as possible. 

Once you watched the fluffy-haired man leave, you ventured over to the lonely bookshelf, peeking in through the book spines before noticing a folded letter tucked into one of your old favorites. 

Dear Hopeless Romantic, 

First, I need to say that I hope your letter was meant for me. You’d be surprised how often I get hit on, only to find I wasn’t meant to receive their affections. 

I actually have an instinct to find this threatening, given what I do for a living, but in this context, as a good friend of mine pointed out to me, I now understand this is ‘written flirting.’ 

I wish I knew who you were. 

I’ll start by asking you three questions:

What is your favorite book? 

Do you like coffee or tea?

What is your most cherished memory?

To ensure that our letters never fall into the wrong hands, I vow to only place mine inside the binding of ‘Great Expectations,’ by Charles Dickens. 

Until we can meet, 

Guy with Glasses

You couldn’t help the small smile that spread across your face as you gathered your papers up inside your briefcase, making a mental note to ask the quirky guy in glasses at least three questions right back in your next letter. 

The letters continued over the course of three months. Spencer learned his secret admirer’s favorite book was ‘Strangers on a Train,’ by Patricia Highsmith. They preferred coffee in the morning and tea in the evening. Their most cherished memory was swinging on the swing in their parents’ backyard before the divorce caused them to move. 

Spencer quickly let them know he, too, knew what it was like growing up in a single-parent household. He gathered that their upbringing had nothing to do with a schizophrenic mother who was as forgetful as she was violent. 

With each passing letter, Spencer grew more comfortable with his penpal, only going out of his way once or twice now to catch the wandering eye of his library crush. Spencer noticed his smile also grew bigger as he sat there cross-legged in the oversized chair. 

Maybe he has a boyfriend- or a girlfriend, Spencer refrained. 

“Hey, Spence!” Emily perked up as she caught her favorite genius on his way to the elevators. “Glad I caught you.” 

“Oh, what’s up, Em?” 

“So… remember how I promised you I wouldn’t meddle in your love life after Maxine?” Spencer rolled his eyes, playfully, at his best friend and boss. 

He knew she meant well. After having to break up with Max, Spencer tried not to get tangled in any more women’s webs of flirtation. 

“Alright, who is it?” 

“R-really?” Emily blinked, not trusting that Spencer was actually okay with her setting him up on a blind date. 

“Yes, really,” he tried to fake his best smile, knowing it couldn’t reach his ears. “C’mon, tell me all about them.” 

“Okay, well, he’s gorgeous, prefers men, works in the V.A.P. department, likes Doctor Who, and… has been single for over three years.” 

Spencer stood there in the elevator with her, chewing on the inside of his cheek. This guy does sound like my type, he mused, following Emily to her car. “When is the date?” 

“Tonight.” 

Toni- what?! “Excuse me?!?!!” Did he hear her correctly? Why would Emily not only set him up on a blind date behind his back, but also blindside him as well?!

“I figured we were all going out for drinks anyway, and– and your date’s team is also going to O'Keefe's…” 

Spencer sighed. He knew Emily only wanted to see him happy. He supposed it was for the best. If their date went south, they could both just go back to their respective teams for the rest of the night. 

“Okay, am I allowed to go home and change?” 

“Oh, please, Spence, you wear practically the same thing everyday. He’s going to love you for being you, now stop fussing over your clothes, you look fine.” 

Spencer huffed as he got in the car with Emily, his thoughts drifting back to his perfect library crush– and his even more perfect penpal. Suddenly, he no longer cared about his current state of dress; Spencer knew, no matter what, this date would end amicably on his side because his heart was already torn between two people. 

“Alright, when we get inside, look for a guy wearing a Doctor Who scarf,” Emily explained to Spencer. “He should be waiting for you by the bar. Good luck, Spence… and, please try to enjoy yourself.” 

Spencer nodded with a soft ‘okay’ before following Emily inside. 

As she walked over to the booth where the rest of their team was, Spencer’s eyes roamed the bar, finding someone he hadn’t expected to see. 

There, sitting leisurely at the bar was the man Spencer had been stupidly pining over since he first laid eyes on him months ago in the library. Spencer felt his entire body pause, only able to watch as his crush took a sip of his drink, looking entirely too damn good as he wiped his lips with the back of his hand. 

Fuck, knowing my luck, he’s most likely there trying to pick up women. I definitely can’t be his type at all. What the fuck am I doing? Spencer shook his head as he desperately attempted to tear his gaze from the gorgeous man to see if any other patrons sitting around the bar had a Doctor Who scarf around their neck. 

When Spencer looked back to the booth where his colleagues were, both Emily and Luke gave him a thumbs up with wide smiles. He shook his head, trying to hide the blush he felt coursing through his entire body. He frantically moved to unbutton his shirt a little, feeling his skin cool down a bit as he closed his eyes to calm himself. 

When he opened his eyes, they widened in shock. 

The man from the library was still perched in the same stool, only this time Spencer saw him with a beautiful hand-sewn scarf with detailing that greatly resembled the Tardis, and well as the Weeping Angels. 

The reality of this finding hit Spencer like a shock to his system. 

The beautiful man from the library was the same man Emily had set him up with. He was Spencer’s blind date. 

Fuck!

Spencer frantically moved his converse clad feet backward in the direction of the door. He couldn’t move fast enough, feeling the chilly air hit his face, bringing the term ‘whiplash’ to an entirely new level. 

Spencer felt his whole body constricting in on itself, looking for a bench to sit down on and collect his thoughts while allowing his entire being to calm the fuck down. 

He moved to sit on a bench down the sidewalk, letting his upper body fall so his chest was settled between his legs. As Spencer focused on his breathing, breathing in, and breathing out, he realized his mistake. 

Spencer had his chance to flirt with the cute guy from the library and he blew it. Morgan would be having a field day over this, Spencer just knew it. 

Once he felt calm and collected enough to sit upright, Spencer heard someone clear their throat behind him. 

“Excuse me, sir, are you okay?” 

You’d been less than enthralled at the sudden notice that you’d been set up with a guy from the Behavioral Analysis Unit. It wasn’t a lie when you rambled to your partner about your stupid crush on the flawless man from the library. 

Hell, they even encouraged you to start by writing a letter to him, telling him how you feel. The animosity of it all, knowing he, too, willinging engaged in your own literacy world was enough to keep the spark you felt for him burning like a candle that couldn’t melt. 

By the time you’d been told you had a blind date to get ready for, you knew it couldn’t lead anywhere, no matter how gorgeous this Dr. Reid of the B.A.U. is. Your heart irrevocably belonged to the Cute Guy with Glasses who shamelessly flirts with you between the pages of your letters. 

You relented, choosing to go through the motions, hoping your date would understand and maybe find someone else to spend their evening with. 

You were told to wear your favorite scarf, something you and your date had in common. When you first settled yourself at the bar, you kept your scarf hidden, hoping that your date would think you stood them up. It was cruel, yes, but you were second-guessing yourself. 

After a half-hour went by, you wrapped the scarf around your neck loosely, knowing you’d soon vacant the bar stool in favor of walking down the street to the library, hoping Cute Guy in Glasses would be there. 

Once outside the bar, you heard a man breathing heavily, looking to see that he was bent over on the nearest bench. The good samaritan in you could just ignore him. 

“Excuse me, sir, are you okay?” 

When the curly-haired man straightened his upper body up to see who you were, both your eyes widened in disbelief. 

The man on the bench was the Cute Guy in Glasses! 

“S-sorry to bother you, I just– you looked like you were having a panic attack, and I just– I wanted to make sure you were okay.” 

You wanted to back away, let the ground swallow you before you did something positively stupid in front of your crush. 

Turns out, the world was not on your side. 

“Can I join you?” 

Your crush simply laughed as he moved to allow you space to sit next to him. As you moved to sit down, he gave you a look as if he was trying desperately hard not to laugh. 

“You– you want to join me in having a panic attack?” You couldn’t help but giggle a bit, as well, knowing you’ve at least broken the ice a little with him. 

“No, I just.. I actually was just in O’Keefe’s for a date who stood me up,” you relented. “So, to make my night better, I came out to head over to the Neighborhood Library… to, um, to look for… you, actually.” 

The strangely cute man simply blinked slowly at you. 

Unbeknownst to you, three things clicked for Spencer in that moment: 

You and Hopeless Romantic are the same person. 

You’re his blind date. 

He just stood up his crush, who he’s hopelessly in love with. 

“I– you… what?” You smiled widely at him, choosing to give him a small reprieve as you settled a little closer to him on the bench. 

“Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Y/N Y/l/N. You must be Dr. Spencer Reid.” 

Spencer looked over at you with such wonder, confusement, and guilt. 

“Fuck, I’m so sorry! I had no idea you were my date!” 

Now it was your turn to look puzzled. 

“Ho– How do you know my name? Emily never gave me yours.” 

You explained to him that your best friend and partner helped arrange the date, choosing to give you his name in hopes of helping you feel more comfortable when Spencer showed up. 

“Also, I’ve always wanted to ask you, why did you bolt from the library so quickly after reading the first letter I ever wrote you?” Spencer looked at you oddly, going back in his cranial archive to pull out the information you were asking for. 

“Oh, I– I work for the B.A.U., which you know, so.. We had a case and I had to get back to Quantico as quickly as possible.” 

The two of you walked together to the library, and just before you turned the corner, you reached out for Spencer’s hand as gently as you could. You were pleasantly surprised to feel how soft and warm his hands were compared to your own. 

Once inside, you both made your way to the lonely bookshelf, the very same one that brought you two together without even realizing it. 

“From the first moment I met you, I knew I had to get to know you,” you confessed, feeling Spencer squeeze your hand, affectionately, as he thumbed through the books with his other hand. 

“I spent all those months pining over the you who I saw always sitting in that chair, and I…” Spencer paused, lowering his voice while hesitantly brushing his lips over yours. “..I fell in love with the you who moonlighted as the Hopeless Romantic within the pages you gave me.” 

You were visibly taken back by Spencer’s confession. Only in your wildest dreams had you imagined the cute, curly-haired man with glasses would express his undying love for you. 

Now, there was truly only one thing your heart and head agreed on and you slowly stepped closer within Spencer’s personal space. 

You maintained eye contact with him as you raised your hands to grip the back of his neck, leaning him down slightly until your lips tentatively grazed against his. 

Within seconds, the dam broke between you. His lips crashed against yours while his tongue invited yours to dance alongside his, pleading for dominance, which you relinquished in an instant. 

Your hands tangled in his curls, causing Spencer to moan into your mouth. The sound was so arousing that you both flushed your bodies against each other, not caring about any passersby who might stare. 

If they did, they would only see two men so astoundingly in love with each other that they just couldn’t not kiss right here in the library near the loneliest shelf in existence. 

As the two of you break apart, you let your foreheads rest against together, allowing each of you to slowly steady your beating hearts. 

“I know this might sound.. forward,” Spencer breathed out against your lips, “but, would you like to go back to my place?” 

You hummed in agreement, letting your lips travel along his jawline until you settled in that beloved sweet spot where his neck and shoulder meet. 

“I’d love to.. Doctor.” 

Spencer groaned as he relished in your desperate attempt to persuade him to lead you both out of the library to his apartment. 

“We—uhh, need to.. fuck! Ohh.. slow down..” 

You understand what he was trying to say, so you reluctantly removed your lips from his skin, choosing to guide him into a passionate kiss that left you both incredibly breathless. 

“Lead the way, Dr. Reid.” 

You smirked as Spencer took your hand, feeling a loving warmth underneath the heat of the moment. 

You knew tonight would be special beyond anything you could’ve ever imagined. 

The next morning, Spencer didn’t even bother putting on new clothes, wanting to slyly give his team a reason to ask him about his night. 

Normally, he’d always been the one who never had plans, never had a night out with the team where he left with someone and actually had a story worth telling the following day. 

“Spence, hey.. looking good, did you enjoy yourself last night?” Luke winked at him, already aware he’d gone home with his blind date. 

Soon, Emily and J.J. walked in, the two of them eyeing the genius up and down. 

“Are those.. the same clothes you wore yesterday?” 

Spencer was quick to retort, “Well, Em, you said I practically wear the same thing every day, didnt you?” 

 Both women laughed as they gave Spencer a knowing smile before leaving to their respective offices. 

“So.. I didn’t realize you were the type to fuck them on the first date, let alone a blind one,” Luke chucked as he coaxed Spencer to spill more details. 

Spencer was prepared for this exact moment. 

“I hadn’t, either, but, you know what?” 

Luke leaned in closer, wanting to hear the good doctor’s gossip. 

“I’m positive I’m a cute guy with glasses who’s in love with a hopeless romantic.” 

Taglist: @pleasantwitchgarden

**If you want to be added to any taglist, just drop me a line and let me know :)