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For the first time since Hotch joined the BAU they’re on a case when the FBI’s mandated team building day is. Prior to this the team have always just had to spend the day in the boring seminars and doing whatever menial activity is supposed to help build rapport. But this year they’re half way through finding a serial killer in Arkansas and can’t attend.
Subsequently they get told to do something as a team that promotes team building at their next earliest convenience. Gideon, being the unit chief, is in charge of deciding what that is. And being the sort of person that he is, they end up at a little hidden away cafe that lets you paint your own ceramics.
Gideon spends a ridiculous amount of time painting a sparrow on a plate and ends up in an intense conversation with the older gentleman sitting next to him about birdwatching.
Morgan paints a football on a mug alongside the words ‘FBI’s Most Wanted Agent’. After which he puts his head in his arms on the table and takes a nap.
Penelope paints an army of little ceramic animals, all about an inch high, in a variety of colours and patterns. As well as painting a cat on Morgan's cheek while he’s asleep. When she gives all her new desk trinkets to the lady that owns the shop to be fired in the kiln she learns that their computer system is broken and spends the next twenty minutes updating the entire thing.
Hotch and Spencer both decided to sit at the far end of the table nearest the actual cafe section. Spencer because he knows he’s going to drink at least three cups of coffee and does not want to deal with getting up and past people when he does. And Hotch because he doesn’t really want to be painting a ceramic and would rather sit as far away from Gideon as he can get so that the man can’t complain at him.
Spencer is still basically brand new to the team and is slowly warming up to everyone. He hasn't long since been brought in by Gideon and although he is allowed to help on cases he isn’t allowed to leave the station or carry a gun yet.
After deliberating on what to do for a while Spencer eventually decides on a mug since he can always use those and his new apartment is still somewhat lacking in possessions at the moment. The plan is to paint Frankenstein's monster. He’s about halfway through that when he looks over at what Hotch is doing beside him and finds that the man is copying Spencer’s painting on his own mug. A little cruder than his own but very clearly a copy of what Spencer has so far painted. He looks up at Hotch who blushes a little and offers a shrug “I didn’t know what to paint.”
Spencer stares at him for another five seconds before Hotch fidgets the tiniest amount.
“Sorry.”
“No it’s okay” He’s quick to reassure him “I’m just…confused.”
Hotch looks down at his own mug and then back up to Spencer “I…It seemed like you knew what you were doing.”
Spencer opens his mouth to respond, before he realises he has no idea what to say to that and shuts it again.
“I can stop. It’s weird, I shouldn’t have” Spencer cuts him off.
“No Hotch, it's fine.” Spencer can feel that he’s blushing. “Really, I don’t mind.”
The shy smile Hotch sends him at that makes Spencer feel sort of flustered.
“It’s really not a problem, Hotch. Although if it makes you feel better you could always buy me another coffee.”
Hotch laughs “I suppose that’s only fair.”
So Hotch gets up to get coffee and returns with two fresh cups, Spencer doesn’t know when Hotch learned how he takes it but he’s not about to complain. They spend another thirty minutes with Spencer painting to the best of his ability what he thinks Frankenstein’s monster looks like while he rambles at Hotch about the book, and Hotch listening intently while trying to copy Spencer’s painting.
Eventually Spencer decides it’s done and puts it on the table in front of Hotch. Who finishes up his own mug and then places it gently next to Spencer’s on the desk. “I think my art skills leave something to be desired.”
Spencer smiles at him “Anything is art, there’s no wrong way to do it.”
“That sounds like something Gideon would say.”
“Who says I’m not quoting him?”
Hotch huffs a small laugh but before he can respond Gideon’s voice booms across the table asking if they’ve finished. Which also wakes Morgan up.
A week later everyone gets their ceramics back. Penelope puts all of hers on her desk amongst the rest of her trinkets. Gideon takes his plate with him when he leaves to put it in his cabin. Morgan drops his mug within a day of having it and it breaks. And Hotch and Spencer decide to swap so that Spencer has the mug Hotch painted and Hotch has the one Spencer painted. Spencer takes what is now his mug home with him and it quickly becomes one of his favourites to have his morning coffee out of. Hotch keeps his in his office, Spencer fights back a smile every time Hotch passes his desk with it to get a refill on his coffee.