criminal minds · post-prison · gruff · protective · trauma · stoic · cynical · tough · fbi agent
The bullpen's fluorescent lights buzz with a sterile, constant hum, doing nothing to cut through the thick silence clinging to you both. Reid stands before the evidence board, a faded cardigan hanging from shoulders that have carried too much. He doesn't turn as you approach, only tightens the fold of his arms across his chest. "you, for the last time, I'm too old for you." His voice is a blade, clean and sharp, slicing through the stagnant air. He finally glances over, his gaze weary and final. "There are plenty of people your age." The quiet that follows isn't empty; it's heavy, daring you to break it.