⠀⠀⠀ two

T W O



SPENCER REID WAS known to be a very intelligent man.


It was no lie that everyone knew in the BAU, almost as it was common knowledge. However outside of his department, this was not the case.


When he was not amongst his friends, he kept his head down. Spencer didn't want any attention at all and liked it that way. People didn't question his existence in the building and he didn't question others.


That is until that girl bumped into him. Or did he bump into her?


Spencer shook his head as he was driving into the parking lot of the FBI building. The sun hadn't even started to come out yet. It was an early morning, much to his dismay, since Hotch has called the team with an urgent text.


Once he parked the car, Spencer grabbed his large cup of coffee and his bag before walking inside. Everything was quiet which was rather comforting. It made it easier to think. Too many people created too many distractions and he was glad he was the only person around beside security.


With quick steps and large strides, he found himself standing in front of the elevator and waiting for the steel doors to open. It felt like a routine after working all these years at the BAU. And it was a nice feeling.


"Mark! Get your smelly coffee out of my office or I'll spray you in the face with Febreeze, I've done it before and I'll do it again. Now out!"


Spencer's brow furrowed together. The elevator made itself known with a loud ding but he ignored it in hopes of investigating the yelling from further down the hall. He had heard that voice and he had a hunch who it belonged to.


He soon peered into the mailroom and a very pungent smell of ocean filled his nose. The mailroom wasn't a large place and Spencer had only been there once to deliver an urgent package a long time ago. But when his eyes glanced at the two bodies inside, his assumptions on who's voice was screaming had been correct.


"Kid, this ain't your office and I'm tired of having to chug my coffee on the drive here. Look, I'm in charge so I think that I can make the rules around here." The man with his back turned away from the said.


The girl from yesterday was sitting on top of a desk with her legs criss-crossed wore a harsh glare on her face.


"Do I get bonus points if I act like I care?"


From what he recalled, she was: short, aggressive, and stood out like a sore thumb. And he could tell by the way she was dressed today that the clothes she worse yesterday was a normal attire.


Now he wasn't much for fashion but he at least knew how to dress for work. But this girl obviously didn't. Her sneakers were dirty and not even close to a correct shade of black. The brown hair on her head was tangled and hidden under a hat, almost as if she simply woke up.


"Scout, I really don't like your sarcasm." Mark mumbled before grabbing his coat and throwing it on a chair.


"Well I don't like your stupidity and yet here we are."


Spencer stifled his chuckle before walking back to the elevator and going up towards the correct floor. And for a reason that he didn't care to admit, he had a small smile on his lips and was no longer tired of his usual routine.


***


It was common knowledge that Scout was very childish.


She watched Saturday morning cartoons in matching pajamas with little hamburgers on them while eating a big bowl of Captain Crunch. When she brings lunch to work, she uses her favorite Crayola lunchbox with a PB and J sandwich (no crust, of course) and cut into squares.


So when Scout walked around during her break with her nose stuck in a book, many people turned head. Could it be, Scout Wiley is actually reading?


She actually was willingly reading a book.


It was shocking, that is until people noticed which book she was reading: Harry Potter. And with that fact known, people didn't question anymore.


Her brown eyes scanned the lunch room. Luckily, no one was there which meant she could eat in peace without having to make any small talk. And she could go back to reading her book without distractions. Scout pulled out her lunchbox from her and ate in silence.


"Do you know if this is a fresh pot?"


Across the room stood a bright blob of fuchsia with platinum blonde hair and stiletto heels. She was a sight for sore eyes in a building where everyone wore suits and ties.


Scout shrugged her shoulders, "Sorry, don't know."


The woman nodded before grabbing the filled pot and dumping it in the sink. Scout watched her carefully all while she was pretending to still be reading. She interested her but most of all, surprised her.


'How the hell have I never seen her before?' Scout thought.


"You can never been safe with the coffee here. Some people leave a full pot out for days and don't make more until its empty. It tastes like lighter fluid if you ask me." The woman scoffed.


"I'm not a big fan of coffee."


The woman turned, "Well good, kids these days are drinking way too much of it and frankly it scares me. Sooner or later, they're going to be more hopped up than the hippies were with meth."


Scout dropped her book on the table when the woman started to walk towards the table and lay a stack of files she hadn't noticed she was carrying.


"Just how old do you think I am?" She raised her brow.


The woman froze, "You're...part of the internship program. Right? The ones from the high school down the block?"


"No," Scout smiled. "I work in the mail room. Have been for about 5 years now."


With a squeak of embarrassment, her face turned as bright pink as the dress she wore. Scout chuckled under her breath, something she always did when anyone found out that she was older than she looked.


Her youthful face was something that made people wonder her age but she knew the way she dressed and acted didn't help. After all, how many late 20 year old still acted like they actually were in high school? Not many and practically none in the FBI.


"I'm so sorry, I just figured- and with the lunchbox-I never seen you before- you look so young-" The woman started to ramble.


Scout waved it off, "No need to worry, happens all the time."


"But how come I've never seen you before?"


"Eh, I guess I just blend in when I want to. Most people just think I'm visiting a parent or something half the time."


"Well now," The woman smiled, "You won't blend in anymore to me erh-"


"Oh uh, Scout. My name's Scout."


"Penelope Garcia."


"Well Penelope, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think your coffee might be overdone." Scout looked over her shoulder and smelled the pungent bitter smell.


"Shit." Penelope mumbled under her breath before rushing to the counter.


Scout stiffed a laugh before gathering her things. She was in far too good of a mood to continue reading or eating lunch and figured it would be best to go back to work.


With a quick goodbye, she walked to the elevator.


It felt good to make a friend, especially someone who didn't look like she belonged either. And Scout was glad to have been able to do it without worrying about saying something wrong or sounding stupid.


'If only it was always as easy as that was.' She thought.


The buzzing from the back pocket of her jeans pulled her out of her thoughts. When she saw that a text from a blocked number was blinking back at her, her good mood disintegrated.


'No, not now.'


The screen unlocked.


CALL ME WHEN YOU'RE HOME. WE NEED TO TALK.


-X



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