Work Text:
Spencer Reid is in a perpetual state of cockiness; that much is clear. This mostly comes from the above average intelligence that he is well aware of, which works in the BAU's favour almost every single day - closing cases, saving victims, letting the team in on unnecessary yet admittedly interesting fun facts.
Despite the entire team knowing that he is a genius who's job is to get all up in peoples business and learn their secrets - they opt to tease him relentlessly every day, not suspecting he might ever use his skills against them.
"hand that over, please" Dr Spencer Reid asked as Morgan passed his desk
"and why would I do that, pretty boy?" Derek smirked and sent a charming wink reids way, promptly walking away towards his own work station.
Spencer scowled. "because it's mine?"
"Actually, Morgan" you start, excited to get your daily dose of messing with Dr. Spencer Reid. "that look's like it could be mine"
"oh? well of course, sweetheart, here you go" Derek makes a show of setting down the small brown notebook on your desk.
"very funny. pretending my property is your property. some sort of piggy in the middle. hilarious joke. can I have it back now?"
"have what back?" you ask innocently
"I have no idea" Morgan replied
Spencer huffed "how come I always end up being the butt of the joke?"
"because you're an easy target, spence. You never fight back"
You were right. Spencer rarely ever shot back or even acted bothered by the crews relentless teasing. You guess it was kind of a way for everyone to let off some steam and bond with the otherwise socially awkward dr.
"I could fight back" Spencer's voice seemed eerily confident as he leaned back in his seat "I just choose not too"
"oh, could you now?" Derek started walking towards him and playfully squaring up, as if they were about to fight. Spencer suppressed a smile, stood up and walked right past him, directly towards you. "you make a valid point, always choose a target that is on an equal or lesser playing field" He pulls up a chair directly in front of yours.
"you're going to fight me?" You couldn't help but let out a giggle as you observed the skinny, geeky profiler that had never been anything less than proper and polite to anyone, most likely ever.
"I don't need to fight you. Not to effectively get back at you and metaphorically speaking, win the war" Spencer looked you straight in the eye, and smiled.
"oh I have got to see this" Derek pulls up his own chair a small distance away and leans forward, expectantly.
"What are you going to do, pretty boy, profile me to death?" You smirk affectionately, enjoying the unsuspected turn of events.
"well yes, that's exactly what I'm going to do. I may not be able to fight with my fists but I can certainly fight with words. Words are actually often more affective in causing distress and anguish in an opponent than any kind of physical violence. A man who gets in another mans head always has the advantage"
Out of the corner of your eye you see Derek stifling a laugh with his fist, probably expecting spencer to thoroughly embarrass himself in this attempt at mental warfare. It's incredibly rare that the crew see's spencer use his gifts for personal gain, let alone anything close to malicious intent. It was actually kind of amusing.
"Okay" you retort, Making an effort to sound confident and unbothered. "go ahead"
"well, agent Y/N Y/L/N. Newest member of the group, youngest too. You work overtime almost every night - trying to prove yourself" he pauses briefly to gage your reaction.
You maintain your unbothered façade even as the uneasiness creeps inside of you. Spencer notices your shift, of course.
"So I can assume that what would affect you the most would be being seen as weak or unprofessional. vulnerable even-" he squints, the cogs in his brain clearly turning effortlessly. "perhaps an expose, or public display of humiliation is what you're most afraid of"
You start to fidget and you can feel a slight blush creeping up your neck, you try to hide it with a faux scoff and an eye roll - attempting to throw him off the scent. Morgan is practically at the edge of his seat at this point.
spencer continuous- "I wonder, Y/N are you ticklish?"
Completely taken back by the question, your face betrays you to the highest extent by immediately turning crimson red. "wha-" you try, unable to hide the extremely incriminating sputtering that comes out when trying to form your next sentence. "that's ridiculous" you turn to Derek. "isn't that ridiculous?" your voice came out higher and shakier than expected.
"Is it?" he responds, raising an eyebrow.
"yes" you demand. Ignoring the fact that Spencer looks way too proud if himself, you stand up and grab a random pile of files as an excuse to leave the desk - and this awful situation. You begin to walk towards Coulson's absent desk when Reid shoots up and grabs a hold of your shoulder, his grasp far firmer than you had expected.
he starts yet again. "Inability to compose yourself under pressure. stuttering and unstable tone of voice indicate panic. Not to mention the excessive blushing, your bodily reactions have indicated to me that the answer to my question is yes, yes you are ticklish. And if I'm correct, not only are you ticklish but you would consider yourself considerably more sensitive to the average person. Am I right?"
Before you can respond he ducks behind you and engulfs you in a bear hug, his hands latch onto your sides and begin to squeeze rapidly.
You immediately drop the files in your hands, and your knee's buckle beneath you.
"SPEHENCE! nonohohno spencer plehehease!" You squeal in protest but your words are quickly engulfed by a stream of uncontrollable giggles that turn into loud laughter when he begins to drill his nimble fingers between your ribs.
Spencer exhibits strength unbeknownst to you or Morgan as he continues to hold you up with ease long after your legs collapsed underneath you. You scream when he reaches a particularly sensitive spot near the bottom of your left ribcage.
"I cannot believe my eyes right now" Derek exclaims, taking in the sight that is very peculiar in many ways
"oh wow, y/n, you're significantly more sensitive than even I estimated" Reid gushes, holding you up with one arm and using the other arm to spider his fingers along your stomach. "what do you think? would you say this is adequate 'fighting back?'"
"YEHES yeheehes plehease just STOHOP yohohu win!" You practically yell as you squirm his arms.
"I have never seen a human being blush so red" Morgan chuckles
"oh yes, they are rather red, aren't they? embarrassment is actually a very interesting phenomena - being flustered often physically weakens a person making them an easier target. not to mention the mental dysfunction that comes along with it, being unable to finish sentences or make rational arguments. People often inflict this with the use of teasing - are you familiar with teasing, y/n?” Spencer darts his hand down and gets a good squeeze on your hip, sending you spiralling into a new spout of squeals and giggles.
“shuhuhut uhup!” you felt yourself blush even more furiously, if that was even possible at this point.
“have you had enough?” Spender asks, genuinely.
“yehehes!”
Spencer promptly releases you from his arms, straightens his tie and fixes his hair, looking very pleased with himself.
You regain your composure and stand there for a moment, your face burning red and hyper aware of the amused gazes from the two agents in front of you. Spencer relishes in his success for a few more seconds before predictably, opting to comfort you.
“As successful as this was - if I do say so myself. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, y/n. Everyone is ticklish, you just happen to be...” he trails off and you shoot him a glare. he decides not to finish.
“Anyway what I was saying: it’s ok to be vulnerable. it’s all a part of being human, and we’re going to be working together for a very long time so..” he pats you on the back and gives you one last jab to the side, causing you to jerk and yelp. “you’d better get used to it” he smiles warmly at you and as much as you want to glare at him again and for the rest of eternity, you smile back.