Chapter Text
Spencer Reid has always been averse to touch, always flinched when someone sat too close to him. This came from years of bullying and learning that almost all touch is bad touch. He chooses not to shake people’s hands unless absolutely necessary, sits at a respectable distance that isn’t rude but is still further away than should be and he almost never hugs people. That is until he met Hotch.
Hotch who makes sure Reid is always comfortable, little nods and glances asking if he needs to be "rescued", who makes sure no one gives him a sour look for choosing not to shake their hand. Hotch is always looking out for him and he so obviously cares for his subordinate that you can see it in his every move.
They hadn’t started dating properly until a couple of months ago and until then Hotch has been very patient with Reid. Understanding that he needs time. The first time Hotch tried to hold his hand Reid flinched so hard he thought he had burnt the younger man but they persevered because neither of them had felt this way about anyone before, never felt this intense yearning for the other like a dagger wrapped in silk, soft and inviting yet so very strong.
A few weeks after that Reid decided that enough was enough, he wanted the older man so badly, he wanted him to be good enough for such an amazing person that he never in a million years thought would love him back, and when they went out for dinner Reid was holding his hand the whole time and at the end he even let Hotch hug him, just for 3 seconds (no more and no less).
A small victory that had Hotch smiling all of the next day at the office earning him more than one look from his team of expert profilers (who still have not realised the person causing their leaders happiness is sitting across from them). He waited to see who would be the first to give in and ask him about it.
Unsurprisingly it was Rossi who walked into his office a couple of hours later.
"So, what’s her name?"
"Wouldn’t you like to know?" Hotch answered with a smug grin
"Actually yes, I would like to know" his friend just ignored him and kept smiling while reading the file in front of him. Rossi, realising he won’t get through to him sighed and left.
"So? Who is she?" Emily being the first to ask the question that was on everyone’s mind
"He won’t tell me, and I don’t think he will anytime soon" He responds defeated
Reid tries not to smile but is unsuccessful and JJ sees his grin
"Guys! Reid knows who she is and we don't" Reid’s grin grows even wider at the realisation that they have absolutely no clue who it is.
They start interrogating him but it ultimately gets cut off by the man in question "Wheels up in 10, it’s a high-profile case"
And so, they went to catch whatever piece of work they came across this time.
A few weeks passed since then and the team grows more and more curious at the behaviour of their superior and how Reid seems to be the only one in the loop frustrates everyone but delights the two lovers.
Reid grows more comfortable with casual touch to the point even the team has noticed how relaxed he his and how he sometimes initiates it himself, they tell him how proud they are of him yet they wonder how he changed this?