Pairing: Poly!BAU (Season 1 Team + Emily) x Reader
Summary: You join the BAU and immediately notice something a little…strange.
A/N:Fair warning that this is an extremely self indulgent fic and the characters are a little ooc because of it.I also wrote it in a headcanon format because I didn’t know how to go about it an a regular format…I apologize for this mess in advance.
A new face never goes unnoticed in the BAU for long,especially during a slow period where no new cases are coming in.
You just so happen to join during one of them.The team was grateful for the break,but they were all bored out of their minds and you were the most excitement that they had had all week.
You were greeted very warmly,everyone (except for Reid) offering their hand for a quick shake when Gideon and Hotch first introduced you.You had everyone’s undivided attention and,frankly,it was a little overwhelming.
Not long after you joined,cases started to pile in again.
You immediately proved yourself to be very useful during discussions and on the field,therefore quickly earning respect from your colleagues.
All in all,you were fitting into the team very well…for the most part.
It was obvious that the team had formed a very strong bond and,despite feeling a little left out at times , you understood that it’d take a minute for you to become part of that bond.
However…there was more to it than that.
It was the way they would get so emotional and their decision making would become so irrational when one of the others were compromised.
It was the way any time they would brush past each other,they’d lean into the touch just the slightest bit.
It was the mean and unwelcoming look they gave any intruder that flirted with one of them while working a case or just having a night out.
It was the way they smiled at each other.Sometimes coy sometimes suggestive,but almost always flirtatiously.
You really didn’t mean to jump to any conclusions.Maybe they were just really good friends.Maybe they all were just flirts and physically affectionate by nature.
But if being a behavioral analyst made you good at anything, it was studying people.And your studies show that there was something not entirely platonic going on between these people.
The only exception was Gideon.He didn’t look like an outsider by any means,but you were pretty sure that he wasn’t involved in whatever was going on.
As soon as you came to your conclusion,you tried to push it into the depths of your mind as to not think about it.
Because if they haven’t outright said anything to you about it after over half a year,it obviously wasn’t something they felt comfortable with sharing.
But they were making it so hard!
How were you suppose to ignore the protective,almost possessive hand that Aaron would put on the back of whoever was closest to him when the team would go out for drinks at night?
Or the way Emily would look away annoyed every time Derek would have to flirt with a potential suspect to get something out of them?(At first you thought it was because she thought it was unprofessional,but that was proven to not be the case when Derek would have to subtly comfort her afterwards.)
And were you just suppose to act like you didn’t notice Spencer’s puffy lips and flustered face when he walked out of Penelope’s office in a hurry??
Despite all of this, nothing confirmed your suspicions more than your one year anniversary celebration.
You genuinely didn’t even plan on mentioning it,was completely ready to go about the day like any other day.
Until Penelope and Elle invited you to a little sleepover.Neither of them mentioned the anniversary in the invitation,so you figured that they didn’t know about it and just wanted to hang out.
That is,until you walked into Elle’s house and was met with the entire team.
They yelled out ”Surprise!” with big,excited smiles on their faces and you couldn’t help but tear up at the sentiment.
They teased you lightheartedly,pulled you in for a group hug,and the party officially began.
You were having a great time the entire night and as the night went by…the mood began to shift.
Of course the team would be more comfortable and let loose outside of the office…but this wasn’t how you expected them to do that.
Emily and Aaron were sitting over on the couch talking in hushed voices as Emily softly played with the hair at the nape of his neck.
Derek had his arms wrapped around Penelope’s middle with his head on her shoulder as she put the finishing touches on one of the desserts.
And Elle and JJ sat on either side of Spencer,both with one leg draped over his own as they showed him Tiktoks that he didn’t understand.
You had been talking to Jason when you started to take all of this in and the older man realized you had gone quiet.He waved a hand infront of your face,the sudden movement startling you a bit.
“Y/N,sweetheart,is everything alright?”
You managed to get out an “I just need some fresh air.” before quickly making your way through the front door.
You had your suspicions from the get-go,but having it basically confirmed not verbally but physically right in front of you,it was overwhelming to say the least.
You tried your best to not look like you were freaking out.After a couple minutes outside you smoothed out your clothes,took a deep breath,and headed back inside.
The team asked if you were alright once you made it back in.You dismissed their worries,telling them you had just gotten a little hot,but it was obvious that they weren’t buying it.
The night continued on for an hour or so anyway.You,Penelope,and Elle herded the rest of the team out with goodbye hugs and kisses,throwing in a “drive safely!” for good measure.
The three of you were pooped to say the least,but you cleaned up a bit and put on a random movie anyway.
You all were asleep before the beginning credits could finish.
The next morning, you all headed back to the office.
The morning was going pretty normally,everyone catching up on paperwork in the bullpen as they waited for JJ to get ready to brief them.
JJ was eventually ready for everyone,therefore rounding everyone up into the conference room.
Once everyone was seated, JJ standing at her usual place by the Promethean board,Aaron was the last to join.As he did so,he closed the door and locked it.You found it odd,but otherwise didn’t question it.
What you did question was everyone’s nervous behavior.Spencer was fidgeting more than usual and everyone kept glancing at each other,like they were expecting the other to say something first.
The suspense was killing you.
“Alright guys,what’s going on?You’re making me nervous.” An anxious little giggle slipping out further proving your point.You also took a second to look around and realized Jason wasn’t at the table. “And where’s Jason?”
“Jason is still in his office,he’ll join us when we’re done.” Aaron,always being the man in charge,speaks up.
“With…the briefing?” You asked,genuinely confused about the entire situation.
“With talking to you.” Penelope spoke up next, nervously fidgeting with one of her silly pens.
“To me?What about?” Oh,you had a feeling what is was about.You just needed to hear them say it.
“Y/N,in the past year you have not only proven yourself to be a very valuable part of the team but has also wiggled your way into our little family.We care about you very much and we trust you…which is why we’re comfortable with sharing with you what we’re about to…” Aaron started the explanation,but looked to Derek to say the most crucial part.
“To put it plainly,everyone in this room is in a relationship with each other.Not as an everyone is paired off in couples or we’re a group of swingers-no we’re all in big relationship.”
You couldn’t even began to think of a word that would properly describe how you were feeling in that very moment.
Flabbergasted and discombobulated were both pretty close though.
“…What?!” Was your initial reaction.It must have come off worse than you meant it to because everyone retreated into themselves a bit.
“I’m sorry,I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.I’m just…shocked?Like,I had my suspicions,but being right about them?Woah.”
Your astonishment at the end of your explanation made everyone chuckle,finally relieving the tension in the room.
“Do you…have any questions for us?” Spencer asks,feeling a little more confident now that he knows your opinion on the matter.
“A few.But I think my main one is…how?”
“With lots of confusion,sexual tension,fooling around,and finally confessions.” Elle stated bluntly.
“Elle!” Emily scolded her significant other lightly.
“Well am I wrong?!” This got another laugh from everyone,you included.
“As fun as all of this has been,I do have a case to brief.I’m gonna go ahead and call in Gideon.”
A/N: I DIDN’T WANT THIS TO NEED A PART TWO BUT IT WILL!
