It's (not) Fine: an excerpt from Spencer Reid

Chapter III: Trip to Home

Just as he predicted before, Spencer had finished half of his paperwork stack by the time lunchtime rolled out. Emily shot him an envious look when she noticed half of his paperwork was gone and moved into the finished stack. Morgan and JJ weren't doing any better with their paperwork either. This is one of many occasions that he was thankful for his speed-reading ability.

Spencer darted his eyes away from his paperwork, wandered around the bullpen to examine everyone. Even on a rare slow day, the office was still filled with buzzing patrons running around here and there with urgency in every step they took. He had spotted Garcia made her third trip to the kitchenette to brew herself some tea. He also had spotted Clementine rushing in-and-out of Hotch's and Rossi's office multiple times.

It was still a jarring experience for him to realize that his new neighbor, out of all people, is also his new coworker.

Spencer didn't let himself dwell on the thought too much. Despite the apparent and understandable confusion that occasionally crossed Clementine's face, proven by the way she made multiple trips towards Hotch's office with an urgency of a dying rhino in her arms, she seemed to fall into an easy flow with her work. She also wormed her way into the team easily, Spencer noticed, as he overheard her laughter mixed together in the air with Garcia's.

Always easy to befriend with and talked to. One of many traits that Spencer found endearing when he noticed it in other people. He had no capacity to withhold one whatsoever, he had made his peace with it long ago. It's always nice when someone was actually easy to befriend – even for him – how they easily skipped over the awkward phase that made his skin crawl from the thought alone.

Clementine's office was right across his desk. Spencer had a clear sight into her office, and if craned his neck just enough, he could see her wheeled in her chair here and there as she read her files. Clementine had met his stare one or two times, and she never failed to shoot him a smile and a small wave every time their eyes met. Even when she was in the middle of a phone call.

"The new girl?" Morgan was quick enough to catch the interaction between him and Clementine. Spencer almost wanted to smack his own head.

"She's my neighbor," Spencer's eyes still trained into his paperwork. He made a note to ignore an amused and questioning stares Morgan would throw him. Of course, he would. "A new neighbor just moved into an empty unit last weekend. It was her, oddly enough."

Morgan let out a hum of acknowledgement at his answer. Spencer was acutely aware that Morgan was still staring at him, somewhat unsatisfied with his answer.

"You can't finish your paperwork by staring at me all day," Spencer nonchalantly reprimanded him.

Morgan snorted. "I am working now."

"By staring at me?" Spencer questioned. He leaned towards the edge of his desk to gain Morgan's attention. "No wonder you always lose your bet to me when it comes to who finishes the paperwork fastest."

Morgan squinted his eyes, looking half offended at his jab. Spencer leveled his stare at him, his lips twitched into a teasing smile. They stared at each other for a little while, before a crumpled paper smacked his face. Hard. And landed on Spencer's lap.

"Hey!" Spencer squeaked. He quickly tore a paper from his notebook, crumpled it in his palm hurriedly.

"That was for all the money I lost! Not everyone has the speed-reading talent."

"Not my fault that I'm talented!" Spencer retorted as he threw a balled paper aimlessly towards Morgan. He was satisfied enough when it hit his shoulder.

Morgan shot him a look. "Oh, you declare war on me now? Is that it?"

"What war?"

"This."