Chapter Text
Spencer stood in front of the mirror. When was the last time he wore anything remotely like his old days? No piercings, dye, remotely black clothing--except for the minor formal occasion. He remembered the hassle it took to get ready some days, plus he knows that most of those things are out of the cards for the dress code at work. Also, where would he even get the stuff? He threw most of it out when he joined the FBI, maybe a few things are in storage… but when would he wear them? God forbid he go out to a concert and on the walk home his friends happen to see him dressed like he used to, especially considering they’ve seen him outside of work before and know he doesn’t typically dress like that when a dress code isn’t in effect. That and the fact that they’d tease him endlessly about it.
He pulls out some photos he didn’t put back into the box and stares at them. It was fun… and he did still like the style at least. Walking out of the bathroom, he went to a closet impulsively. Pulling out a very old box, he dusted it off. The small box was brought to the kitchen table and placed down. When he opened it, it smelt of old attic and wood. Inside was around a dozen or more rings. Skulls and upside down crosses, vine-like designs and roses, one that looked like a spinal cord to wrap around your finger, even just some simple black or silver ones. Spencer pulled out one black ring and one of the vine ones. He felt at home putting them on, and they weren’t necessarily against the FBI dress code. He supposes he could get away with wearing rings without people caring. He squinted at them like they offended him as he tried to decide if this was what he wanted.
He never really felt like he grew out of the style, he just felt like he should’ve , so he stopped wearing it, (not to mention joining a government job). The rings could do no harm, so what the hell?
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6:30 AM - Quantico
He walked into work, honestly not even thinking about the rings. He fiddled with them a bit, but only absentmindedly. He felt as though he’d always worn them out, even though it had been years since he even looked in the box.
He chose the black ring to put on his right hand ring finger, the vine just above it on the same finger, and a silver one on his right hand middle finger. He started on same case files, finishing up field reports and such, the minute he sat down at his desk.
A few hours in, as his coworkers and friends began to file in and do their work, Garcia approached his desk.
“I have a present for you,” She says in a sing-songy voice. She’s grinning ear-to-ear, looking down at him as she places her hand on the back of his chair.
Spencer turns to her, a curious smile on his face.
“Got anything for the rest of us babygirl?” Morgan interrupts, sitting on the corner of Spencer’s desk with a grin.”
“Oh you’ll get yours later,” she smirks at him before turning to Spencer. “I’ll give you five guesses, Doc.” She tells him with a mischievous grin.
Spencer thinks for a moment before answering. “A book?” he asks, a complete guess.
“Nope.” She replies, still smiling. “Four more answers.” She holds up four fingers and wiggles them.
“Okay,” he says with a sigh. He racks his brain but can’t think of anything. Maybe food? He’ll guess that-
“A new battery?” Morgan asks sarcastically. “Bigger one for his brain?”
“No but good guess,” Garcia chuckles as she puts another finger down.
“Food?” Spencer guesses, ignoring Morgan’s comment.
“Please be food,” Morgan says, looking at Gracia hopeful. She shakes her head and raises her eyebrows.
“Nope again.” she puts a third finger down. “Two more answers.”
“Wait what?” Spencer asks, “That’s not fair! Morgan’s guesses shouldn’t count.”
“Don’t be a baby,” Morgan says, chucking a paper ball at his head.
“Any more guesses or do you give up?” Garcia asks, a twinkle in her eyes.
“Oooo,” JJ says, approaching them. “What are we guessing?” she asks, standing next to Garcia.
“Garcia has a present for Reid,” Morgan says. “She’s letting us guess.” he beams at her.
JJ grins. “What have you guessed so far?” She asks just so she knows what not to guess.
“Book, food, and a battery for my brain,” Spencer says, disdain for the last thing lacing his voice.
JJ stifles a laugh and smiles. “Okaaayyy,” she says. Her face is set into analysis mode; she’s really trying. She looks at Garcia for a tell. “A new tie?”
“Oh, good one.” Morgan says, fistbumping JJ.
“Not even close!” Garcia states, putting the second to last finger down.
“I rescind that fistbump,” Morgan says.
“Hey you can’t do that!” JJ’s voice feigned offense. “It already happened, can’t undo it.” she childishly tells him.
“No,” Morgan rebuttals, “I take it back, I didn’t mean it, you suck at guessing.” he chuckles.
JJ sticks her tongue out at him and he sticks his out as well. Spencer rolls his eyes, laughing in amusement.
“Uuhhh,” he hums, thinking. “I’m stuck.” He admits, putting his hands up.
“Is it,” Morgan begins, searching for another thing to say, “yeah I’m out.” He finishes, defeated.
JJ snaps her fingers. “Tickets to some nerd thing!” She exclaims, a look in her eye showing hope she got it right.
“Nope!” Garcia says, putting the last finger down. She rummages through her pocket and holds a small, pink, over-decorated box with sparkles, bows, jewels, and drawings of cats with glasses, (Spencer assumed they were supposed to be him), on it.
Smiling down at it, Spencer shook it a bit. It felt light, but a quiet rattle emitted from it so it wasn’t empty. He opened it while Garcia smirked down at him, amusement and anticipation behind her eyes. His eyes widened as he stared at the present in the box; a small, printed photo of him when he was in college, the photo Garcia had found on his old friends website, though Spencer didn’t know that particular part. He closed the box quickly and looked up at her, his eyebrows raised in genuine surprise.
“Garcia I-” his voice cracks, perhaps in embarrassment or shock, he doesn’t know, “Where did you find this?” he asks, tilting his head. Bewilderment donned his face as he stared at her. Words failed in his head, which rarely happened. His ears felt hot and if he could see his own face, he’d see himself turn slightly red.
“Details aren’t important,” She waved her hand at him dismissively. “What IS important is what you’d do to keep that little photo a secret…” she raises an eyebrow, the smirk growing on her face.
“Are you-” Now it’s Spencer who’s smirking, despite his embarrassment. “Are you blackmailing me?” he asked.
“No!” She says, giggling. “It’s more like, motivating you to do what I say with something you didn’t know I had..” she explains.
“What-” Morgan starts. “Spencer what is it?” He laughs. Morgan reaches for the box and Spencers pulls it away, shutting the lid as he turns it away from Morgan in case he was able to see the contents. “Come on kid,” Morgan replies.
“Nope,” Spencer says, putting the box in his pocket. He turns back to Garcia.
Morgan looks at JJ with a curious-amused expression, and she returns the look.
“Garcia, that’s literally extortion.” He tells her, shaking his head.
“You say extortion, I say coercion.” She shrugs, patting his head.
He scoffs in amuse-disbelief. “Those-” He sighs, “Those are synonyms-”
“Shhhh” She puts a silent finger to his lips. “The logistics aren’t important, my sweet boy.” She says in a feigned comforting tone.
He rolls his eyes.
“Garcia,” JJ begins curiously, “What is it?”
“Well, I won’t tell you unless Reid decides I can,” She says, turning to look at JJ. “Reid,” She begins, not looking at him as he looks at her with a sort of friendly-disdain, if possible. Like a light-hearted annoyance, in a way. “Would you be a dear and make me some coffee,” she tests.
“Garcia, you can’t blackmail me,” He begins.
She only smiles and beckons JJ and Morgan closer. “Follow me, I have copies of-”
“Fine!” He replies in disbelief. He stands and cards his fingers through his hair. “You win,” he tells her as he gives up.
“Well, guess he decided.” Garcia smiles at JJ and Morgan, who look disappointed by this.
“Oh come on,” JJ pouts. “You’re gonna use this blackmail for petty stuff? We wanna know, it can’t be that bad.”
“Sorry, them's the rules.” Garcia shrugs.
It’s not even that Garcia thought Spencer hated making coffee for everyone, he often does with no complaint. It is purely the fact that he has to if she asks that makes the current task funny.
Spencer finishes making the coffee and sees that Garcia has gone back to her office, so he brings her a cup.
“Thank you,” She smiles at him.
“I didn’t have a choice,” He tells her, standing next to her still. “Where’d you find it?” He asks again, looking down at her.
“A magician,” She begins as she clicks through things on her computer, “Never reveals her-” She pauses as the open tab of the website she forgot to close shows on the monitor.
Spencer's mouth drops and he squints down at her. “Hey!” He says, getting closer to the screen. “You looked Page up?” He asks, though there was no accusation or venom in his voice, just surprise.
“I mean-” She sighs. “Yeah,” she admits, shrugging.
“Why?” He asks curiously.
“I got jealous,” She teases him. “Really, though. I just wanted to see who this mysterious woman was,” she says, smiling up at him with a mischievous look, “And I have to say Reid…” She draws out. “Didn’t think you were into older woman,” She says in a scandalous tone.
“What-” He backs away. “No! Garcia- Page was just a friend. Really,” He says nervously.
She just laughs. “I know, I know pretty boy,” she admits. “Just teasing…” a quiet eases over the room. “So…” she begins, turning towards him. “You had a punk phase?”