Work Text:
It was a normal day. A normal case. A normal plane ride-
Actually, no. Normal day, normal case, and a far from normal plane ride.
Spencer Reid was sitting in his usual place and reading a book. Or trying to at least. Derek Morgan was annoying the hell out of him as per usual. Emily was privately aiding Morgan and Rossi was rolling his eyes at these children . Hotch was sitting as stoic as ever, but seemed to harbor a hint of a smile as he listened to Penelope Garcia go on about the next theater production she was starring in. Jennifer Jerou seemed to be on a phone call with Will, and all was well on the plane.
For the first thirty minutes.
It had taken a moment, but eventually everyone had settled down and was relatively quiet. Spencer Reid had finally gotten to a good place in his book. Not only that, but he was in a groove too. Words had turned to images, images turned into voices, and both of those turned into a full motion picture. If anyone was to ask, he would never even know the name Spencer Reid. BAU? The hell is that? In fact, he was following Merlin as he helped King Arthur dominate kingdoms and ascended to his throne as the Once and Future King.
Unfortunately, Spencer Reid was not able to help Merlin out much longer. Spencer heard a small clearing of the throat and immediately glanced towards the noise. Morgan was staring at him with crossed eyes and his tongue sticking straight out. Reid wasn’t aware of many social cues, but over the years he had learned that when an individual sends a funny face your way, you are more than welcome to send a funny face right back.
So that is precisely what Spencer Walter Reid does. He matches Morgan by sticking his tongue out and crossing his eyes. As his eyes uncross he expects to see Morgan smiling at him or letting out a small chuckle. What he doesn’t expect is for a giant hunk of a man to be barreling towards him and pushing him out of his chair and onto the floor.
“What the hell man?!” Almost immediately the young gangly man realizes what Morgan must be getting at.
His tongue piercing.
Oh god…How could he have forgotten to take it out?!
For a genius, he really could be stupid.
They both roll around on the floor, grunting, and grasping at one another before Hotch and Emily finally manage to separate the two squabbling men. Hotch is grabbing Spencer around his waist and Emily is basically using her entire body weight to keep Morgan in place.
“Enough.” Though Hotch hardly raises his tone, everyone on the plane falls silent within seconds. So quiet you could hear a pin drop. As much fun as a relaxed Hotch is, he is the unit chief for a reason. His confidence easily allows him to slip into a room and have every ounce of attention focused on him. This situation is no different.
A blush instantly rises to Spencer’s cheeks and Derek has the audacity to look slightly guilty of his actions. Morgan raises his finger and begins to open his mouth in an explanation.
“Morgan. Stop. No finger pointing. I want a real story without you blaming Spencer for something he never did.” Morgan’s mouth turns slack and then sours before he glares at Hotch’s raised eyebrow. Spencer just smirks. He knows he gets away with a lot of things because of his so-called ‘innocence.’ His heavy sway over Hotch helps to. They simply don’t expect Spencer to do certain things, so when Morgan throws the blame…Well…Safe to say that most just don’t believe him.
“Hotch, I think Morgan is jus-” “SPENCER REID HAS A TONGUE PIERCING”
Everyone goes silent. I suppose Morgan has the ability to silence a room as well. Spencer’s eyes wearily settle on Hotch's eyebrows which are both raised slightly above average. Not that he would ever admit that. Hotch is a master at emotions. He watches people get murdered on a daily basis without so much as a grimace. Finding out his subordinate has a tongue piercing should not even cause a blink of an eye!
Which it doesn’t.
Cause Hotch is already well aware of the tongue piercing on the slightly younger man's tongue. He is just surprised that it didn’t stay at his apartment is all.
Rossi watches on with a doubtful expression.
“Spencer Reid? A tongue piercing? Really Mor…” Rossi trails off as his eyes land on Spencer's outstretched tongue. In the very center sits a shiny silver ball. Spencer gives a sheepish laugh as everyone's eyes begin to pop out of their heads. It’s one thing to hear Morgan say it, but it’s another to actually see it.
“You? With a tongue piercing?” Spencer just shrugs his shoulders and watches as everyone around him stares slack jawed at his mouth. Emily is the one who finally asks the question.
“Why?”
“Well, for one, it looks cool. I also really like the way it feels in my mouth. A worry stone type thing! It’s also good for- uh- nevermi- yea- mhh- sorry.” With a single warning look from Hotch, Spencer manages to roughly silence himself. He nearly mentioned how much quicker it was to get people off.
Namly, Hotch.
He wasn’t about to let that little part slip to the rest of the team though…
That would be his and Hotch's little secret… ;)