Idea given to me by milessmorales

Summary: You work at a new bookstore in town, and Spencer goes in to check it out. Then, he meets you, and he keeps coming back...

QOTP: What's your favorite book?

Word Count: 2227

He'd run out of new books to read, and he needed another one for the jet when the team inevitably got a case again.

A few weeks before, Garcia had mentioned a new bookstore not too far from his apartment that was "really cool."

It was so close that he could walk, so he did.

And now, here he is, stepping into a cozy, well-stocked, warm bookstore. He breathes in the smell of books happily, then observes the store itself.

The bulk of the store is filled with shelves of books, divided, of course, by genre. There's also a section off to the side of DVDs, and more sections of puzzles, games, and memorabilia. He goes straight the nonfiction section and begins browsing, occasionally picking up something only to put it back.

As he's looking, someone suddenly says, "Excuse me?"

He turns, his mind going completely blank for a second just at the sight of you. "H-Hi."

"Do you need help finding anything?" you ask.

He nods. "Um, yeah. Yeah, I do."

You smile. "Alright, I can help. What's the book called?"

"Actually," he replies, "I don't know what book I want; I can't really find anything interesting."

You think for a moment, noting the section you're currently in. "How do you feel about fiction?"

He shrugs. "Whatever you want to recommend." He'd probably buy the whole store if you recommend it to him, if he's being honest with himself.

You smile. "Then follow me." As you lead him to the fiction section, you also tell him your name. "I'm Y/N, by the way."

"Spencer."

When you make it to the fiction section, you beeline for a specific book - your favorite. You hold it out to him, describing it as much as you can without spoiling it.

"Sounds good. I'll take it."

You smile. "Great. I can check you out-"

"Could you maybe recommend something else, too? I-I just tend to get through books pretty fast..."

You smile even brighter. "Yeah! I could probably recommend you, like, twenty off the topic of my head - I won't, though. That's a lot for one shopping trip."

He laughs, and you start searching the shelves again, looking for another book to give him.

By the end of it all, he ends up with three of your favorites, and promises to be back next week.

"You're gonna finish all three of those by next week?" you ask skeptically.

He shrugs sheepishly. "I'm gonna try."

"Well, if you do," you reply, "I'll have three more waiting for you."

"I'm looking forward to it."

////

"Spencer Reid, reading fiction," Emily says, amazed. "Never thought I'd see the day."

"I read fiction," Spencer replies. They're on the jet on the way back from a case.

"Yeah, Sherlock Holmes," JJ butts in, "but that's about it."

Spencer shrugs. "Maybe I just wanted to try something different."

Garcia, who had to physically come with them this time, asks, "Ooo, did you get it from that new bookstore I told you about?"

To her surprise, Spencer blushes. "Yeah. One of the employees there recommended it to me."

Garcia perks up. "Who was it? Was it Y/N?"

"Yeah, actually," Spencer replies, confused as to how she knew.

"We talked about Doctor Who for, like, an hour the last time I went there," Garcia says. "She's awesome."

Spencer chuckles, "Yeah, I'd say so. She's good at recommending books." Then, he goes back to his reading; he's almost done with book number three.

////

"I'm back," Spencer says, walking into the store and seeing you at the cash register.

You look up from the book you were reading - there aren't customers checking out - and smile. "Read them all yet?"

He nods. "I have."

"Which one was your favorite?" you ask excitedly.

"Y/F/B," Spencer replies. He then goes on to talk about why he liked it, and you end up talking about the book for a while. Then, you start talking about the other two, your conversation getting briefly interrupted by a few customers.

"So, you looking for more recommendations?" you finally ask.

"Yes, I am."

"Great! I made a list."

You tell one of your coworkers you're going to help him so they can cover the register, then pull up the list on your phone, beelining for the first book on it. Spencer follows.

You hand him Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Johnathan Auxier and explain the plot without giving anything important away. "The humor in it is great. It's a little dark, and pretty sarcastic at times..." You, then, hand him the second book in the series - Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard.

Then, you give him the third book - Room by Emma Donoghue. "It's told from the perspective of a psychologically underdeveloped five year old," you explain, "so prepare for some bad grammar, but also a lot of tears."

You go back to the register and he pays for the books, but neither of you want him to leave yet. He says, "I'll try to be back this weekend for more books, but, honestly, work might have other plans."

Your brows furrow. "Can I ask what this work would be?"

"I'm an FBI agent," he says shyly. "BAU."

"One of our regular customers is in the BAU!" you reply. "Penelope!"

He nods, chuckling. "Yeah, I know her. She actually talked about you the last time I saw her. She said you talked about Doctor Who for, 'like, an hour'.'"

"Yeah," you reply, laughing. "I love Doctor Who."

"Me, too." After a lull in conversation, he continues. "Anyway, the reason I mentioned that I might not be back this weekend is, um, I wanted to... ask for your number - so you can send me that list. You know, in case I finish these books and need to go get more wherever I am."

You smile. "Of course." You exchange numbers, then you send him the list. "There you go. Just shoot me a text if you won't be back this weekend so I know not to expect you."

"Sure."

"Or, you know, just shoot me a text whenever," you add awkwardly.

He smiles. "I will."

"Great."

"Great."

It goes quiet, both of you blushing and smiling. Finally, you say, "See you later?"

"See you later."

////

That week, when he's not reading or working the new case, Spencer is texting you. The other agents notice this, but Rossi is the only one who mentions anything.

"I know that look," he says, watching Spencer smile down at his phone.

Spencer looks up. "What look?"

"That look that was just on your face," Rossi replies. "So who is she?"

Spencer blushes and smiles again. "Her name is Y/N."

"You've mentioned her before," Rossi replies, clearly not remembering all of the details.

"She works at the bookstore," Spencer reminds him. "Recommends books to me."

"So it's not serious?" Rossi asks half-jokingly.

Spencer shakes his head. "We haven't even gone on one date. We only just started texting."

"Well, you obviously like her, and you have her number, so when do you plan on asking her out?"

Spencer chuckles at Rossi's bluntness, but shrugs. "I don't know. I think maybe I should wait a little bit."

"Well, you know the situation better than me," Rossi replies, "but it's not always best to wait."

He leaves him with that, as Emily runs in telling them they have a break in the case.

////

Spencer walks into the bookstore the day after he got home from the case, knowing you're
there because you texted him that you're working today. "Good morning."

"It's eleven," you reply by way of greeting, restocking the little snacks you hang next to the register.

Spencer shrugs. "Still before noon."

"You got me there." You finish restocking, then turn to face him. "You need more book recs?"

"Always."

One of your coworkers takes the register and you make your way down the book list. "The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg. Every book she's ever written - including the rest of this series - is on this list, just so you know."

After explaining that book, you move on to Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. "Another series - this one has eight books - but it's the best. Anne is the best. Enough said."

"Finally," you say, handing him a blue book, "Wonder by R. J. Palacio. Classified as a children's book, which you could say is accurate because it made me cry like a baby."

He chuckles, taking the book. "I think I'm all set, then."

You move back to the register, and as you're scanning his books and he swipes his card, he goes quiet. He's thinking about something - something a certain David Rossi had said to him during their last case.

"W-" he starts, but you start at the same time and don't hear him.

"There you go," you say, handing him his books. "Happy reading."

Instead of asking what he was going ask, he just gives up. "I'll have them finished by next week."

"You better," you reply jokingly.

After that, he's gone, wondering what would've happened if he's asked.

////

The next week, Spencer walks in the bookstore, ready to spend even more money. "I'm back."

"And he brought a friend!" Garcia exclaims, coming in behind him.

You audibly gasp, making your way to them from the shelf you were restocking. "Penelope! It's so good to see you!"

Spencer chuckles. "I'll just leave, then."

"I'm happy to see you, too, Spencer," you reply, "though I've spoken to you more recently than Penelope."

"I heard," Penelope replies, barely containing her excitement. "So, I need you to come with me while he stands here in shame because he's only halfway through Wonder."

You gasp, mock-incredulous. "Spencer Reid! I'm disappointed."

"Aren't we all," Garcia says, grabbing your hand to lead you away. Spencer laughs and resigns himself to browsing the shelves while Garcia undoubtedly grills you for details.

"So, tell me everything," she says.

You laugh. "There's not much to tell. I recommend him books to read, and we've been texting. Mostly about the books I recommend and Doctor Who."

Garcia smiles. "You said mostly, so there's something else you talk about...?

"Well, we've talked about ourselves some," you reply, shrugging.

"Did he tell you?"

You stop. "Tell me what?"

"How he finishes all those books so fast," she replies. "He's a genius."

"A genius?" you ask, impressed but also confused.

"In short, yes," she says, "but he can explain himself when you go on a date with him."

"A date? He never asked me about-"

"No, he didn't - not yet - and, honestly, it might take him a while to actually ask, so I think you should ask first."

"I can't do that!"

"He's not going to say no. He really likes you," she assures you.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

You think for a moment. "Okay... Maybe. I'll try."

She grins. "Great! Good luck." And with that, you're making your way back to Spencer.

He looks up. "Back so soon?"

"Fortunately for you, slacker," Garcia replies. "You two kids have fun. I'm going to look for Pop figures."

You and Spencer laugh as she leaves, then he turns back to you. "So, I know I haven't finished Wonder yet, but can I still get some more books?"

"It's your money," you joke.

"I think my money wants to purchase I Capture the Castle," he replies, referencing one of the books on your list.

"I love that one," you reply excitedly, leading him to it, both of you aware that he could easily find it himself.

On the way to it, you pick up The Glass Magician and Anne of Avonlea, then you find the Dodie Smith books and spot the beautiful, yellow book immediately.

You hand it to him, and he proceeds to look at the cover and through the book. Meanwhile, you're trying to muster up the confidence to ask him on a date.

"So it's like her journal?" he asks before you can even begin to open your mouth.

You nod, a little distracted. "Oh, um, yeah - yeah. That's what it makes it so enthralling - her writing style." He hums in response, still looking at the book (you don't blame him; it's pretty). You take a deep breath. "Could I... ask you something, too?"

He looks up. "Yeah, of course."

"Um..." you hesitate. "Would you, maybe, want to go get dinner or something sometime this weekend? Or next weekend. Whenever's good for you..."

He smiles, blushing. "I'd love to."

"Great."

"Great."

You're both standing there, grinning like idiots and blushing, yet to realize that you actually need to plan the date, when you hear someone excitedly running over to you.

"Look at this Thirteenth Doctor Pop!" Garcia says, holding the Pop out to you. Then she sees the expressions on your faces. "Oh, did I interrupt something? I'll just... go now."

She winks at you before running off, causing both you and Spencer to laugh. "She might be the best wing-woman in the world."

"I definitely can't argue with that."