Work Text:
2009
Spencer has never been too fond of clubs and bars, and his team knows about that, which gives him the perfect cover to slip away from their celebrations after a long, exhausting, but ultimately extremely rewarding case. They managed to save three little kids, return them safely to their parents and ensure that the UnSub will never see the sun again from the outside of a prison cell.
His real reason for deserting the team, however, is the return of his boyfriend, who has been overseas as a Ranger in the US Armed Forces. The two of them are keeping their relationship a secret from everyone because of the ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ law in order, making it impossible for Luke to be out and keep his job. So, when Spencer gets the phone call in the middle of their celebrations, he feels like he can’t contain his excitement. He hurries back to their table from outside after he forces a tired expression on his face.
“Sorry guys, I think I’m gonna take off, go home and get some sleep.” He lets out a yawn, grabbing his coat and scarf in the process. The rest of the team don’t put up much protest and say their goodbyes before Spencer heads out and hops in his car.
Soon enough, he’s standing right in front of Luke’s apartment, looking for his keys in his bag and pockets. He seems to have forgotten where exactly he put Luke’s keys, but before he can find them, the door opens and there he is. In all of his gorgeous glory. Unlike before, he now has a slight stubble gracing his cheeks and jaw, he looks fatigued and yet, Spencer thinks he’s never been more attractive. Immediately, he steps into the apartment, shutting the door behind them with his leg while he wraps his arms around Luke’s neck, pulling him into a tight embrace.
Luke reciprocates, his own, muscular arms snake around Spencer’s waist, burying his face in his neck, Spencer’s light brown curls brushing against Luke’s skin.
“Hi, baby.” A shudder ripples through Spencer’s body at the familiar voice coming from his boyfriend.
“I thought you weren’t coming home for another month.” Neither of them move from the warmth of the hug, enjoying each other's proximity once more.
“I sustained a few injuries, so they sent me home early.” Worry gnaws at Spencer’s mind as he runs his eyes all over Luke, trying to find any indication that he's in pain. “Don't worry, Spence. It's just a couple of bruised ribs, a through-and-through bullet wound and some minor internal bleeding from shrapnel. They fixed me up, but I gotta take it easy on my ribs for a while.”
“You can't just say ‘don't worry’ and then list three serious injuries, two of which can be life-threatening. Come on, let's get you on the couch.” Spencer gently ushers Luke into the living room, where he was already settled with a pile of fluffy blankets — which he bought a little after he met Spencer so the two of them could go star-gazing — and a book from the pile Spencer once lent him. He doesn't put up a fight when Spencer insists on him laying down, but Luke does protest when Spencer begins to walk out of the room.
“Where do you think you're going, Doctor Reid?”
“To make us something for dinner. I'm sure you must be starving, I know I am.” Spencer glances back from the doorway, looking at his boyfriend stretched out on the couch with a fond expression.
“Don't be long, I haven't seen you in months, we gotta make up for lost time.” Luke beckons him closer with his index finger and Spencer can't find it in himself to resist his soft, brown eyes fixed on him, touch-starved.
“I think there's a frozen lasagna in the freezer, I'll put it in the microwave.” Spencer leans down to capture Luke’s lips in a gentle kiss. “Do you want to watch something during dinner?”
“Apparently there's a new documentary about the mating habits of deep-sea creatures. It seems promising.”
“We can watch an action movie if you want. You just got back from deployment, are you sure you'd rather sit through a three-hour documentary about deep-sea creatures?” Luke hooks his finger around Spencer's, who's standing towering above him by the couch, studying his facial expressions intently.
“Baby, I just want to unwind, curled up with you under a blanket. As I am, I'm probably going to fall asleep halfway through, so tomorrow I will need you to tell me all about what I missed.”
Spencer feels the familiar flutter in his chest, which only ever comes out when he's with Luke. It's a set routine between the two of them that whenever Luke is sleepy but Spencer is not, they put some documentary on so that the background noise helps Luke fall asleep easier and so that the next day he can listen to Spencer rant about whatever the movie was about. Spencer loves reciting facts and Luke adores hearing them, no matter the topic. Perhaps this would seem strange to outsiders, but once Luke sat through a two-hour tangent from Spencer about dams with utter fascination. He even asked questions, which only made him more attractive in Spencer’s eyes.
Giving in to Luke, Spencer goes to the kitchen to heat up their dinner while Luke searches up their beloved pirate website, which allows them to watch most documentaries, and connects the laptop to his TV.
Once Spencer returns with the lasagna — which is still in its container but has been cut into two equal pieces and now complete with forks — on a plastic platter, they settle in, Luke lifting the blanket to let Spencer sit beside him. Leaning over, Luke presses a gentle kiss on his boyfriend's cheek and starts the documentary entitled ‘Deep down’.
Just like he said he would, Luke dozes off about twenty minutes after the two of them finished their dinner. His head lolls to the side, falling onto Spencer's shoulder who lies down on the couch and pulls Luke with him so that the man is stretched out on him, sandwiched between Spencer and the blanket. Spencer's ability to stay awake only lasts until the credits roll and he slips out of consciousness a few minutes after turning off the TV. It isn't the first time they fell asleep on Luke’s couch, and it definitely isn't the last. Luckily, the furniture is spacious and more comfortable than the beds at some of the hotel rooms Spencer has to sleep in during cases.
2015
Sometimes the FBI’s departments get mixed in the field. It doesn’t happen often, but when an UnSub the Behavioral Analysis Unit is looking for turns out to be a too well-known subject, the Fugitive Task Force is called in to lead the investigation and the BAU stays to be of help.
When the members of the task force arrive in Navasota, Texas, they're met with the BAU in the local police station. Hotchner shakes the leader's, SSA Johnson's, hand and the two units are introduced. Spencer spots Luke first, his eyes automatically drawn to his fiancée, and he steps to him to “introduce” himself.
“It's a pleasure to meet you. Spencer Reid, right? Your reputation precedes you. Luke Alvez” Luke holds his hand out to him and to his team's surprise, Spencer shakes it without the slightest bit of hesitation, doing his very best to contain the smile threatening to spread across his face.
“It's nice to meet you, too.” They're very careful not to let their touch linger so both of them pull back and step back to their own unit. Given the fact that he's Spencer's best friend in the BAU, Morgan shoots him a questioning look, but Spencer feigns ignorance, not even acknowledging the silent query.
The BAU hands over everything they've gathered so far on the serial killer to the Fugitive Task Force, telling them all that they know.
Spencer is particularly vocal, informing them about the geological profile, giving them insight into where he might go now that he knows the FBI is hunting him. At some point, he starts listing facts about the local area, which apparently no one deems interesting besides Luke because JJ stops him.
“Thank you, Spence.” However nice a smile she says it with, however gentle her tone is, Luke still furrows his eyebrows, looking almost mad that she interrupted Spencer. His expression doesn't escape Morgan's notice and he files it away for later.
Eventually, the two teams head out to catch the serial killer, the BAU insisting they help the task force bring him in. They zero in on his location, a barn a little way from the farm it belongs to. The UnSub is holed up inside with a gun, ready to shoot anyone who sets food inside. Unfortunately, the task force doesn't know this, and Luke is the first one through the front entrance while two other agents went around back.
The air stops dead in Spencer's lungs the moment a shot echoes through the building and he watches Luke collapse. Two more gunshots sound, one in the UnSub's chest, the other in his head and suddenly, Spencer is kneeling beside his boyfriend.
“Hey, Luke, where are you hit?” His voice is panicked, his gaze poring over every inch of his body to search for a wound.
“My vest,” he wheezes, groaning in pain.
“The ambulance will be here soon, don't worry. You're gonna be okay.” As he's holding Luke’s body, his fingers gently run through the strands of his hair to provide him comfort amidst the sharp pain rippling through his body.
Luke is rushed to the hospital with Spencer sitting right by his side in the ambulance. The BAU members all shared confused glances when Spencer got into the vehicle without a single word, but he can't think about that right now. He needs to focus on Luke.
In the hospital, the doctor returns to them quickly to update them on Luke’s condition.
“Are you family?” Before Johnson can say anything, Spencer speaks up, stepping to the doctor, Dr. Bane, according to her name tag.
“I'm his husband, yes.”
“Your husband is in good condition. He was very lucky, he has a few minor bruises, nothing too severe and he didn't sustain any internal injuries. You can go see him. Visitation is until seven p.m.”
Spencer doesn't wait for anyone else to move, he heads after the doctor, rushing to Luke’s room. Johnson raises his eyebrows, looking around at his team with a puzzled expression, but when everyone shrugs, he just walks after Spencer.
By the time he reaches Luke’s room, Spencer is already inside, sitting by the hospital bed, holding Luke’s hand in his, his fingers slowly tracing random patterns on his arm with a gentle smile gracing his lips. He watches Luke bring Spencer’s hand to his mouth to press a kiss on his knuckles as if he’s reassuring him that he’s alright.
“I’m pretty sure our coworkers know about us now. I’m sorry, babe.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Part of me is glad that it’s out there, now. We don’t have to hide anymore. We were planning on telling them and holding a second wedding ceremony, anyway.”
“And the other part?” Luke takes a second before answering, drawing in a deep breath as his hand gently squeezes Spencer's.
“I'm just worried. I mean, I know you said you trust that your team wouldn't judge, but I'm still not sure about mine.
“It doesn't matter, though. All that matters is that soon we'll be Spencer and Luke Reid-Alvez once the paperwork goes through. ‘Til death do us part, baby.” Spencer's smile widens, his expression fonder than ever and he leans in to kiss Luke. It's gentle, familiar, full of warmth and adoration for one another.
“Is it weird that we're having a ceremony even though we're already husbands?”
“Definitely not. We had a wedding just for us, now we get to have a wedding with all our friends and family.”
“You have to promise me you'll stop getting shot all the time. It better be in your wedding vows this time around.” An involuntary chuckle leaves Luke’s throat at Spencer’s words and he nods softly.
“It's only been three times, baby.”
“Three is more than enough, wouldn't you agree?” Spencer narrows his eyes, shaking his head slightly in disapproval, which Luke apparently finds too adorable to resist because he's already reaching up to Spencer's cheeks to pull him back for another kiss, and Spencer doesn't protest. Their moment is interrupted by Johnson and the entirety of the BAU, who arrived not too long ago to support Spencer, even if they had no idea what they were going to walk into when they set foot in the hospital. But now, as they lay their eyes on the two men, their fingers intertwined, it all makes sense. It feels utterly right, even to them as outsiders.
“So, husband?” Johnson is the first to speak, looking at the two men, his face showing utter surprise.
“Yes, we got married about a week after gay marriage was legalised. We know the FBI is steadfastly against having relationships with another agent, but we’re going to fill out a form with HR and disclose our relationship.” Luke nods, his eyes fixed on his boss, holding back his breath as he awaits his reaction.
“Make sure the paperwork is on my desk by Monday, Alvez. I'm happy for you.” Johnson doesn't seem like the touchy-feely type of person, so even that much emotion is unexpected, but welcome. He leaves the room right after, leaving the BAU team alone with Luke and Spencer.
“Actually, now that we’re out, we’re going to change our names.” Spencer smiles down at his husband, his thumb gently caressing the back of Luke’s hand.
“Which one will it be? Luke Reid or Spencer Alvez?” The question comes from Hotch, who despite the fact that he usually keeps his expression neutral, still seems happy for them.
“We were thinking of both. Mr. and Dr. Reid-Alvez.”
“Pretty boy, I can’t believe you were able to keep this from us for all this time.”
“We weren’t ready for a long time. Even though it was never outlawed for gay men to be in the FBI, we both felt like it still wasn’t a safe space for us to come out in. We almost never see each other at work and we both learned how to leave our personal lives out of business.” Even while speaking, Spencer pays the most attention to Luke, making sure to always touch him in some way, stealing a glance at him every minute. Luke smothers a yawn, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Spencer, so he decides to give him time to rest. “We’ll let you get some rest, okay?” He pointedly looks at his team, who file out of the room after wishing Luke a quick recovery. Just when Spencer is about to stand up, Luke stops him by grabbing his wrist.
“Stay until you can, please. I can heal better with you around.” When Spencer nods with a smile, Luke pulls him onto the hospital bed, careful not to disrupt the wires as Spencer settles next to him. As gently as he possibly can, Spencer lays his arm on Luke’s chest, avoiding his side where he’s bandaged, and he tucks his head under his husband’s chin, but not before pressing a kiss on his lips.