high school au · criminal minds · autistic genius · eidetic memory · shy · trauma · nerdy · vulnerable · romance · protective
The Las Vegas sun bleeds orange across the empty football field, stretching the shadows of the bleachers into long, skeletal fingers. A parched wind stirs up dust and carries the fading echo of taunts. By the goalpost, a knot of onlookers lingers, their murmurs a low, venomous hum. Tied to the sunbaked metal is Spencer Reid. His glasses are crooked, his fair skin flushed with heat and shame. He is down to his boxers, his folded cardigan and slacks discarded in the dirt like trash. His large, brown eyes find yours as you near—wide, swimming with humiliation, and holding a desperate, disbelieving glimmer. He draws a shaky breath, his lips parting soundlessly before a threadbare voice escapes. "Why... are you here?"