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“You have never.. what?” Luke’s eyes widened as he stared at Spencer. “How have you never been sledding before? Next you are going to tell me you have never participated in a snowball fight! No. We have to change this! Next time we have a day off I am taking you sledding. No, no room for protesting Reid. It will be fun, I promise!”
Spencer had hoped that Luke would have forgotten all about the ordeal. Sledding sounded fun in theory, but he would much rather keep both feet firmly on the ground at all times. There were much safer winter activities out there which he had never got to do due to his unstable childhood. Why hadn’t Luke suggested baking a gingerbread house or decorating Christmas cookies? Even going to a Christmas tree farm sounded better than sledding down a hill on something that had no brakes
Okay so, maybe all the other activities that Spencer could conquer up using his imagination sounded a bit couple-y, so what? It didn’t mean anything. Spencer could platonically hold Luke’s hand while they picked out a Christmas tree for his apartment, right? God- he was a mess. A disastrous mess who was going to break a leg or an arm while sledding down a hill with Luke Alvez watching him. He was going to embarrass himself beyond saving.
When the day finally rolled around Spencer had thought of every excuse in the book to get out of the whole sledding ordeal, but the only thing that sounded worse than breaking a limb was not getting to spend any time with Luke at all.
“I can’t believe you actually forced me out here.” Spencer said, brows furrowed at the contraption in Luke’s hands. “You really want me to get on that and slide down a hill? Alvez, I can barely run in a straight line without tripping over my own feet. I’m not.. athletic like you.” He waved his hand up and down as if to point out the muscles he so often found himself staring at. “Did you know that some of the most common injuries while sledding are fractures, head trauma and organ injuries?”
Luke laughed at that. “Reid, Reid- take a deep breath. I am not going to force you to slide down a huge mountain. It will be completely safe,” he said. “We are just going over there.”
When Luke pointed out the small hill ending in a large field Spencer felt his cheeks flush.
“Oh-“ he breathed out, rubbing his gloved hands together. “I think I can manage that.. maybe,” he breathed out.
“Come on. It will be fun.” Luke grinned. He patted Spencer’s shoulder before he began to walk up the hill only stopping to look over his shoulder to make sure that the other man was following him.
“Couldn’t we have done something warm and inside and you know… safe?” Spencer asked.
“What other winter activities have you missed out on?” Luke asked curiously.
“I’ve never baked a gingerbread house…” Spencer began, but Luke turned around
“Oh no, no! That has to change. We can do that next time,” he promised.
“Next time?” Spencer asked. He could feel his cheeks heat up. At least he could blame that on the cold.
“Of course! I want us to be friends. I like hanging out with you and I am sure that the bureau would appreciate team bonding activities,” Luke grinned, winking at him.
Spencer’s blush turned even darker. Friends, of course. “Oh- I would like that. A lot.” He smiled at him. “You know we all see you as a part of the team right?”
Luke nodded. “I do. Everyone has been really kind to me so far,” he said, “except maybe Garcia all though I am sure she bullies me out of love.”
“Oh, she will warm up to you,” Spencer promised. “She will have to see that you are a good person eventually.”
“Thanks for having faith in me Reid.” Luke placed the sled down on the snowy hill. “Do you want to go down alone first or do you want to go together?”
“Together?” Spencer repeated, “wouldn’t that be more dangerous?”
“I promise I’ll keep you safe,” Luke winked at him and he couldn’t hold back a grin when Spencer’s cheeks flushed again. “Trust me,” he said, “it will be fun and if you hate it we can leave and grab some hot chocolate instead.”
Spencer hesitated before sitting down. Luke sat down behind him, knees on either side of Spencer. He pulled him a little closer. “Is this okay?”
Spencer nodded, a little flustered. “Yeah- yeah- it is fine.”
He had never been this close to Luke before. He could feel the heat radiating off of the man. His back was pressed against Luke’s chest. He didn’t know what to do with himself. Usually the slightest hint of physical touch would be too much, but right now all he wanted was more.
“Am I allowed to hold you?” Luke asked.
Spencer was convinced he would melt. Luke had only known him for a handful of weeks and yet he understood him so well and accepted each and every one of his quirks no matter how ridiculous they could be to other people.
“Yes- that’s okay.” He breathed out. It was more than okay, but he wasn’t going to admit that out loud.
Luke wrapped one arm carefully around Spencer’s waist. “Are you ready?” He asked, his head resting against Spencer’s as his other hand moved to hold onto the front of the sled.
Spencer was convinced that he had forgotten how to breathe. It wasn’t fair that Luke out of all people had this effect on him. He swallowed thickly and nodded, holding onto the sled.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Luke pushed off with his left foot and Spencer squealed as they began to speed down the snowy hill. They were moving so fast. Spencer couldn’t help, but feet giddy as he laughed. He could hear Luke’s laughter ringing in his ear, the strong arm tightening around his waist.
They came to a stop at the bottom of the hill. Spencer’s head fell back against Luke’s chest as he laughed, shaking his head. “You were right, that was kind of fun,” he admitted.
“Only kind of fun?” Luke asked, voice too close to Spencer’s ear.
“A lot of fun,” Spencer admitted.
He tried to ignore the disappointment growing in the pit of his stomach as Luke let go of him. He didn’t have an excuse to ask Luke to hold him again though so he just accepted his faith of probably never sitting in his arms again. Could anyone blame him for being disappointed and a tad dramatic? Luke was a catch and Spencer was convinced that anyone with the ability to see would agree with him.
They both got up and began to climb up the hill again.
“This one is all you,” Luke grinned. “Sit down and hold on tight, I will push you.”
“Not too fast, right?” Spencer asked as he sat down and looked over his shoulder.
“Trust me,” Luke said, placing his hands on Spencer’s shoulders. “It will be fun. Just hold on tight,” he grinned.
Spencer nodded. “I think I'm ready,” he said, holding onto the sled tightly with both hands. He squealed when Luke pushed him off, hard. He was going so much faster this time. He couldn’t help but let out a little yelp as he slid down the hill, his laughter ringing in the air behind him.
His breath hitched in his throat as the sled stirred off course and caught on something. He went toppling over, rolling the last few inches down the hill in a fresh pile of snow and he couldn’t help the silent laughter that escaped him as he came to a stop down the hill.
Snowflakes coated his curls and clothes. Spencer gasped for air. He was laughing so hard that his sides and stomach were beginning to ache. He was faintly aware of Luke rushing down to him and calling his name, but he couldn’t speak.
“Reid? Reid?! Spencer? Are you okay?” Luke almost slipped himself as he ran down the hill. He came to a stop next to the man. "Spencer? Please tell me you aren’t actually hurt-”
Spencer rolled onto his back, clutching his sides as he laughed. “I- I am fine,” he forced out. He pushed himself up into a sitting position. “Your face- Luke, I am not hurt, I promise.”
Luke’s eyes widened before he began to laugh as well. “You scared me there Reid,” he pushed his shoulder playfully, but he quickly reached for his arm to steady Spencer so he didn’t fall over again.
Spencer wiped the tears from his eyes as he chuckled, leaning into the touch. “I am sorry-” he said once he had finally calmed down enough. He glanced down at his clothes. “I am covered in snow.”
Luke reached for Spencer’s hand and helped him up. He chuckled, ruffling his curls to remove some of the snow. “Don’t worry, it’s kind of a good look on you,” he grinned.
“I don’t know if I agree with that, but thank you-” Spencer said, letting go of Luke’s hand and smiling at him. “Want to go again?” He asked.
“Sure, adrenaline junkie,” Luke grinned. He grabbed the sled and swung an arm around Spencer’s shoulders. “Maybe we can sled down a mountain together after all.”
“Let’s just stay at the little hill,” Spencer laughed as he followed Luke all the way to the top again.
Later that afternoon they were huddled together in a small coffee shop, both of their outfits still wet from the snow. Spencer’s hands were wrapped around a mug of hot chocolate, opting for the warm chocolatey drink for once instead of his usual coffee preferences. (Luke had suggested it and how could he say no to that?)
“I am glad you had fun today, I told you it wouldn’t be that bad,” Luke said with a smile, taking a sip of his own hot chocolate.
“You were right, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but sledding is definitely my limit. That’s as crazy as it’s going to get. If you want to go ice skating you have to find someone else,” Spencer laughed.
“Fine, no ice skating then,” Luke promised. “How about that gingerbread house we talked about, though?”
“I don’t know if I am the right person to do that with. Maybe you should ask Garcia, she’s a lot more creative than me and better at baking than me as well,” Spencer admitted.
“While I enjoy Garcia’s company,” Luke said, “I would much rather do it with you.”
Spencer blushed at that. “Are you sure?”
“I am sure,” Luke promised, “don’t cut yourself short like that. I enjoy your company.”
“Alright- fine,” Spencer said, “maybe next Friday? If we don’t have a case, that is.”
Luke nodded, bumping their knees together. “It’s a date. My place? You can meet Roxy.”
Spencer’s eyes widened at Luke’s choice of words, his cheeks flushing a bright red. This time he didn’t have the weather to blame for his flushed cheeks and he hoped that Luke wouldn’t comment on it.
He cleared his throat. “Do I need to bring anything?” He asked when he realized he had been quiet for a few seconds too long.
He made a mental note to watch some videos and read up on some gingerbread house decorating tips. He knew that it was all for fun, but he still wanted to do well.
Maybe he should buy a little toy for Roxy. Dogs didn’t always like him and he didn’t want Roxy out of all dogs to dislike him. Neither did he want to have to explain the Reid effect to Luke.
“No need,” Luke promised. “As long as you are fine with me buying one of those kits,” he chuckled , “because I am not good at baking either.”
“I can’t wait,” Spencer smiled up at him.
Luke smiled back at him. He reached over and pushed a wet curl away from Spencer’s forehead. “Me neither. Garcia’s going to hate me for trying to get you all to myself.”
At that Spencer laughed. “I will put in a good word for you,” he promised, melting into the touch. “Believe me Alvez, there is a lot to like about you.”
He couldn’t help, but feel a sense of pride when Luke was the one to blush this time.
Today had turned out a lot better than he had expected.