![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
severity-softly.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
geekystudmuffinTitle: Never Would It Be Night, But Always Clear Day (2/2)
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Pairing/characters: Morgan/Reid, Diana Reid
Rating: PG-13/FRT
Summary: Reid and Morgan go to Vegas so Morgan can "meet" Diana Reid again, this time as Reid's boyfriend.
Word count: ~16,000 (both parts)
Spoilers to: The Fisher King, part two (also an isty bitsy spoiler for The Big Game/Revelations)
Notes: Est. relationship. Written for the M/R Summer Vacation Challenge (Aug '08) @![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
morganreid_cm. Written in RP format. If you find any glaring errors, feel free to point them out! :D
(1/2)
The next afternoon, Morgan and Reid were back at Bennington. Morgan had made Reid wear a shirt with no tie this time, and hadn't allowed him to change once. "She's your mother, and she loves you no matter what you're wearing," he'd growled, and marched Reid down to the valet stand. Before going into the sanitarium, Morgan delivered a bracing kiss, then gestured for Reid to go ahead of him. He only hoped it wasn't going to be a repeat of yesterday.
It didn't take Reid nearly as long to actually walk into the room his mother was sitting in today. She was, as usual, in front of her window. This time she seemed to hear him approach before he even got to her, and she turned to look at him, her brows drawing into a frown.
"Your hair's too long," she said, then gazed at Morgan, her eyes narrowed.
Reid glanced at Morgan too, as if to say I told you she'd hate it, but he turned and smiled at her when he saw her look back at him out of the corner of his eye. "I know."
"Are you eating? You've lost weight."
"Of course I eat, and I've weighed the same since my fourth year in college," Reid said. She didn't really look like she believed him, but she seemed more herself today. He pulled up the same chair he'd sat in the day before.
Morgan smiled at her, pleased that Reid was smiling. "Hello, ma'am," he said, holding out his hand in greeting. "Derek Morgan, we met once."
Diana didn't move to shake Morgan's hand, she just turned to look at it for a moment, her arms crossed over herself. "I remember."
After a moment Morgan nodded and stuck his hands in his pockets, feeling awkward. She'd been nicer to him before he was sleeping with her son. God, he hoped that didn't mean anything.
Diana kept her eyes on Morgan, her gaze unreadable, ignoring the way Reid was watching her for a moment. "My son is rather fond of you."
Morgan couldn't repress his smile. He glanced down, then met her gaze again. "I'm pretty fond of him, too," he said.
She made a non-committal noise and glanced back at Reid. "How long?"
Reid frowned for a moment in thought. "Ah, I wrote you about it the day after it happened."
"The day after?"
Reid pursed his lips and nodded. "Ah, yeah. So... almost a year?" He glanced at Morgan.
Morgan's smile strengthened. He'd be willing to bet Reid knew exactly what day that had been. "Just over eleven months. It was the week before my birthday."
Reid smiled a Morgan and nodded. "Yeah, about a--"
"You've never brought anyone here before," Diana cut him off. "You didn't tell me you were coming, either."
"I'm sorry, mom. I thought I would surprise you," Reid said.
She tilted her head at him, frowning. "I hate surprises, Spencer. You know that."
Reid shifted and licked his lips, debating whether he should tell her it was a last minute decision or not, then deciding he couldn't lie to her, not like this, not when she was perfectly lucid and would remember it. So he just ignored that part. "There was never anyone to bring before."
Morgan glanced from Diana to Reid, wondering if he should offer to go. "I sort of invited myself along," he said. "I'd never been to Vegas before, and since Spencer always comes back home for his vacations..." He glanced at Reid again, feeling at a loss. Somehow it had been easier when she hadn't recognized Reid.
Diana looked back at Morgan. "You invited yourself?" she said, her tone flat as if she just wanted to be sure it was what he'd said.
Morgan glanced at her, then back at Reid. "Uh..."
Diana's eyebrows lifted, but she didn't look back at her son. "Why?"
"Well--" Morgan glanced from her to Reid again. Come on, help me here, he thought at Reid. "I...Spencer was...he... You're the most important person in the world to him," he said finally. God, why had he thought this was a good idea? He'd never met anyone's parents before! "And I know we met briefly, but...I, uh." He glanced at Reid again. "I love your son. And I thought we should...talk." He trailed off at the end, feeling suddenly like he might throw up.
Diana shrugged her shoulders negligently. "Then talk."
Reid pressed his lips together. "Mom." Morgan looked like he was starting to falter, which was mildly amusing--how they could face down the most violent criminals out there and both crumble under the pressure of Reid's mother. Reid cleared his throat, and thought maybe reverse psychology might work. "Would you have rather I not brought him?" He prayed she wouldn't say yes.
Diana's gaze snapped to her son's, her lips parting. After a moment she swallowed and pursed her lips. "Spencer." He held her gaze for a moment, then she frowned and looked away. "No."
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you we were coming," he murmured. She reached out to touch his knee without looking and he curled his fingers around hers readily.
Morgan still felt like he was going to throw up, but seeing Diana reach out to her son made him feel a little better. He managed a smile as he found a chair and sat down. "Spencer's only met my mom once, about the same way you and I met. It was during a case, in Chicago." He cleared his throat. "That's where I'm from."
Diana nodded. "What did she think of all this?" she asked, still not looking at either of them, though her thumb brushed over the back of Reid's hand in a slow steady motion.
"Well." Morgan glanced at Reid. "She--um...we weren't together then. But she liked Spencer, so...she's glad I'm happy." Come on, Reid, please, he thought, looking at his lover again.
"So what does she think of this?" Diana corrected, looking back at Morgan finally. Her gaze wasn't as hard as it had previously been, but there was a note of defeat in her eyes.
Morgan met her gaze and opened his mouth, then closed it again, his eyebrows drawing together. "I don't entirely know," he said finally, which was more honest than he'd even been with Reid about it. Damn the way mothers could pull the truth out of you. Even, apparently, the closest thing you had to a mother-in-law. "I've never taken anyone home before, but she...didn't realize I...that, uh." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I think she was taken aback that when I finally fell in love, it was with another man." He glanced at Reid, hoping he would understand. Morgan's mother liked Reid, and she was glad he was happy. She'd also said it would take some getting used to.
Diana nodded and looked down at where her hand was on her son's leg. Both his hands were now wrapped around her one. "Even when you expect it, it's still a shock."
Reid blinked. He'd glanced at Morgan, but his gaze flicked back to his mother, his mouth dropping open slightly. He gave her a disbelieving look. "Wait, what?"
She glanced up at him, offering him a tiny smile for the first time since he and Morgan had walked in. "Honestly, Spencer."
Morgan raised his eyebrows and looked over at Reid, a slow smile spreading across his face.
Reid just stared at his mother for a moment. It was rare to see her smiling, but that wasn't really what he was concerned about right now. "I'm not gay," he blurted.
Diana shrugged, looking mildly amused. "Homosexual enough."
Morgan generally only let Garcia get away with calling them gay, even if they were two men who were in love. He decided Diana Reid could be another person who would get away with it. He shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. "Well, we're not gonna be marching in any parades or anything."
That comment surprised a laugh out of Reid and he turned to give Morgan a look that was somewhere between amusement and shock. "You just made that decision unilaterally?" he asked, and squeezed his mother's hand gently.
Morgan gave Reid a flat look. "All right, I'm not marching in any d--uh, parades. You can if you want." No swearing in front of Reid's mom, he reminded himself.
Diana looked back at Morgan, her smile slipping off. For a moment, she didn't say anything, just letting her son's laughter fade until the two men were silent again. "So what do you want with my son?"
Morgan blinked at her, trying to catch up with the way her mood seemed to have shifted. He shook his head. "I just want to be with him. That's all. To make him happy." He held her gaze, willing her to trust him, even though he knew she didn't trust anyone. Maybe not even Reid.
Reid's lips pulled to the side and he squeezed her hand tighter, glancing between Morgan and his mother. "He doesn't want to hurt me, mom. Or you."
"Spencer, you invite people to hurt you. You trust too easily," she said, looking back at Reid.
Reid's eyebrows lifted, but he didn't say that he didn't trust enough, that he was terrified of getting hurt or being left--and that the times he had been hurt, it was most certainly not because he'd invited someone do it. He also didn't say that he probably learned all of the above from her. Instead he swallowed hard. "I knew Morgan a long time before we started dating."
"And you used to hate him. What changed and why?" she demanded.
Reid cringed, and shifted. He and Morgan had talked about their differences when Reid had first joined the team. They had even joked about them, but this was different. "Hate is a really strong word."
"I was hard on Spencer when we first met," Morgan admitted, though Diana Reid's words hurt. There had been a lot of frank discussion about their past, but it was different hearing it from Reid's mother. She had no interest in filtering things to keep from hurting Morgan. He cleared his throat and looked at Reid for a long moment, then turned his attention back to Diana, leaning forward a little and holding her gaze.
"When I was a kid, I was betrayed by someone I looked up to. An older man, someone I trusted, used me for his own sexual gratification."
Reid's lips parted and he turned and looked at Morgan, shaking his head. Morgan didn't need to tell her this just to gain her trust! Reid wasn't even certain it would work. "Morgan, you don't have to--"
Morgan held up a hand, not looking at Reid. Oh, God, please let him get through this without flinching. "So I don't exactly trust very easily myself. And when I realized how attracted I was to Spencer..." He shook his head. "I didn't handle it well. I took it out on him. I was wrong." He clenched his jaw, hoping she wouldn't say something pitying. He was going to have to walk away in a minute, anyway, but it would be easier if she didn't say something like that.
Diana held Morgan's gaze for a while, and Reid didn't know whether he should be relieved or worried that she wasn't talking. When she finally simply turned to look out the window again, slumping down in her seat and drawing her hand back from between Reid's, Reid still wasn't sure how to feel about the response. It was better than it could have been, but the lack of reply gave no indication as to whether Morgan sharing that with her helped or not. Reid bit his lip, his brows drawing together, and looked at Morgan.
Morgan looked at Reid when Diana turned away. When Reid's gaze met Morgan's, Morgan nodded slightly. He reached out and touched Reid's shoulder, wishing his hands weren't shaking suddenly. Then he stood and walked away, shoving his hands in his pockets. Hopefully Reid would know they didn't have to leave, but Morgan couldn't sit there after having admitted that.
Reid drew a shaky breath and watched Morgan walk away. He felt torn for a moment; his lover and his mother were both obviously upset. He didn't think Morgan would feel right about Reid walking away from his mother for him, though, and Reid didn't feel right about it either. He sighed and pulled his chair closer to his mom's. "I wish you would trust him because I trust him."
"You trust... You trust."
Diana was frowning, not moving. Reid was glad she was even still talking, but the repetition without a point to the statement was worrying in that it could be the beginning of a new episode. He reached over and took her hand again. "Sometimes I do, when it's earned," he said quietly.
She rolled her head to the side to look at him. "Don't get yourself killed."
Reid's eyebrows raised, but he followed the complete topic shift easily anyway. "I'm safe." It wasn't exactly true--not completely--but it was the best answer to give her.
"No one's safe," she said.
Reid's lips thinned and he looked out the window for a moment, noticing for the first time that it was really a beautiful view. He could feel her eyes on him. "I know." Not any reason to stop living, though.
A few moments passed in silence, and eventually Reid glanced back, catching sight of Morgan, who was trying to look inconspicuous. He smiled at Reid when their eyes met, though--a faint, slightly sad smile, but it was reassuring.
Reid settled back in his seat, the silence more comfortable, and he turned his hand to lace his fingers with hers. "You know I love you, right?" he asked finally, thinking back on the day before.
Diana smiled sadly, and gave his hand a squeeze.
It seemed like Reid had sat silently in that chair forever, but Morgan didn't seem too put out when Reid finally walked back out towards the front of the hospital. He gave Morgan a small smile. "Ready?" he asked softly. He had a feeling he knew the answer, though.
"Yeah." Morgan was glad Reid was smiling, even if things hadn't exactly gone great. "Should I--" He tilted his head back the way Reid had come. "You know, say goodbye?"
Reid glanced back. "Probably not." She was just starting to calm down again, and Reid didn't really want to upset her again. Still, he could understand if Morgan didn't want to be rude. "But we can if you want."
"No, you know her best. I don't want to upset her." Morgan really just wanted Reid's arms around him at the moment. It was possible that if he'd known how painful this trip might be for both of them, he wouldn't have suggested coming out here. He should have realized he wasn't above having his feelings hurt by the mother of the man he loved.
Reid nodded, then inclined his head for Morgan to walk outside with him. Once they were in the parking lot, Reid licked his lips, hesitated, and then slid his arms around Morgan's waist as they walked. It was awkward, but Reid didn't want to wait until they were back at the hotel to offer comfort.
Morgan immediately draped an arm over Reid's shoulders and turned his head to kiss Reid's cheek. He had regained his composure without too much work, but he still couldn't quite believe what he'd told Diana Reid. When they reached the car, he stopped and leaned against Reid, pressing him to the car door and wrapping both arms around him.
Oh, this was really awkward, but Reid had started it. He swallowed hard and gave Morgan a smile, telling himself that this was okay. Everyone that mattered inside that building already knew he and Morgan were together. "Hi," he murmured, his hands sliding to Morgan's sides.
Morgan just sighed and tightened his arms around Reid. "I didn't mean to..." He shook his head. "Sorry."
Reid frowned. "For what?"
"Just...all of that. Telling her about Carl. You know." Morgan closed his eyes.
Reid reached up and brushed his fingers along Morgan's jaw, momentarily forgetting they were in public, because this was too important a topic to hold on to whatever else was making him uncomfortable. "You didn't have to tell her, but you don't have to apologize either." He draped an arm over Morgan's shoulder.
Morgan sighed again. "She thought we hated each other. I just...she's plenty intelligent enough to understand why I was such a jackass, if she knows all the facts. So I thought it might help. God, Spencer. Let's go." He finally loosened his death-grip on Reid and kissed him briefly, then pulled away to walk around the car.
Reid's lips parted and he watched Morgan walk around and then get into the car before he moved from where Morgan had pressed him against the vehicle. He sighed and got into the driver's seat, but just turned to look at Morgan. "Plenty intelligent doesn't begin to cover it, but ashe's sick, so that doesn't mean that she's not going to see you as a threat anyway.... She sees most everyone as a potential threat." He reached out and took Morgan's hand. "Please don't take it personally," he said, though he knew even he had a hard time of that, even after all these years.
Morgan laced his fingers with Reid's and leaned his head back against the seat. "I know that. I really do." He studied Reid's expression for a moment. "I'm not really taking it personally. At least...ah, I don't know what to say, Spence. I don't even really know what I'm thinking right now. It wasn't easy, but she didn't shout at me or anything, so."
Reid squeezed Morgan's hand, smiling sadly. "You should count your blessings for that. She's scary when she starts shouting," he said, only half-joking. He tilted his head and let his smile grow a little warmer. "Thank you."
"Don't think I'm not aware of how lucky I was," Morgan said, which was complete truth. He was, honestly, a little frightened of Diana Reid, if only because she had power she didn't even understand over her son, and therefore over Morgan. "What are you thanking me for now?" he asked, smiling.
For not freaking out. For not getting angry. For wanting my mother to like you so much that you told her what you did. Reid squeezed Morgan's hand and shrugged, not really sure how to express all of that. "Everything."
Morgan's smile widened a little. "You're welcome," he murmured. "For everything." He stretched out and flipped the switch to open the convertible top. "Come on, let's go find somewhere we can get drunk and loaf in the sun. And later we can make out."
"Alcohol is a diuretic. Not generally a good idea to drink something that'll dehydrate you when you're out in the heat," Reid said, fastening his seat belt and pulling out of the parking spot. "Making out sounds good, though."
"Right, but you've just gotta have drinks with the little umbrellas in them while you're lounging by the pool," Morgan protested. He leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes, enjoying the bracing heat and the wind. "It's just...required."
Once they got up to full speed, Reid frowned at the way his hair blew all over his head in the wind. "They can put those umbrellas in other drinks, you know." Reid sighed, but when he spoke again, his lips curled anyway. "God, I am 'homosexual enough', aren't I?"
"Just for me," Morgan said, a smile spreading across his face. "Anyway, who cares? Labels aren't important. And I maintain those umbrellas only go in alcoholic things."
Reid laughed softly. Labels didn't matter, but he was still getting over the fact that his mother apparently expected him to bring a man to meet her at some point, and not a woman. "Five bucks says I could get them to put one in a Coke if I ask the right way."
Morgan opened his eyes and looked sideways at Reid. "Oh yeah? I have a hotel key that says you'd better not ask anyone the 'right way'," he said in mock jealousy.
Reid laughed again, this time a little stronger. "I like it when you're jealous."
Morgan glared. "You're mine," he said, sliding his hand over onto Reid's thigh. He liked it when other people found Reid attractive, when bartenders flirted with him. But he also wanted it very clear that Reid belonged to someone already. So maybe he was a little possessive; Reid liked it.
Reid grinned and lowered his hand to grip Morgan's. "Mmph," he said, the noise non-committal on purpose.
"Hey," Morgan said, narrowing his eyes. "Mine and only mine."
Reid glanced at Morgan briefly, then back at the road. "Yes, I am."
*****
"See, this was a good compromise," Morgan said, leaning in to talk in Reid's ear. They were sitting at a small table in a club, and Morgan had got his little alcoholic umbrella beverages while Reid got to stay out of the sun. Morgan wasn't entirely sure Reid was enjoying the music, but he'd agreed to come out at least once on the trip so Morgan could dance. Morgan was still hoping to get Reid to dance with him, though he knew the odds weren't great.
Reid turned to look at Morgan, frowning. The music was terrible, and the drinks were watered down, but he really hadn't expect much. "I'm a terrible tour guide," he said over the music.
Morgan laughed and slid a little closer to him. "Nah, you just never spent any time in the over-twenty-one venues in the city. Were you even of legal age when you left Vegas?"
"No," Reid said, shaking his head and and looking out at the dance floor. "Well, I was old enough to vote."
Morgan followed Reid's gaze out to the dance floor, watching the people idly for a few moments. He slid an arm around Reid's shoulders. "Dance with me," he said suddenly, leaning in so his breath puffed against Reid's ear.
Reid felt a sudden jolt of nerves hit him, and his stomach flipped slightly. His lips parted and he looked at Morgan, his eyes a little wide. "I need a lot more alcohol."
Morgan smiled. "That can be arranged," he murmured, thrilled that Reid would even consider it. He flagged down a waitress and ordered them two Jack and Cokes. "I'm glad we did this," he said after a while.
Reid's eyes went even wider when Morgan ordered them more to drink, and he just stared at Morgan for a moment. "Morgan, I'm not going to dance," he said, a laugh creeping into his voice at the end, because Morgan looked far too happy about the idea, and there wasn't any way it was actually happening. "I was kidding."
"Aw, no, you can't get my hopes up like that and then refuse," Morgan said, tilting his head and giving Reid a wide-eyed look. "Come on, you can have both drinks. And I'll take care of you, you'll be fine."
"Nonononono," Reid said, shaking his head and then taking a long drink. "I don't dance."
"Pleeeease," Morgan said, smiling hopefully. "Come on, Spence."
Reid gave Morgan an exasperated look. "Morgan."
"Spencer," Morgan said, letting his lips brush Reid's ear. "I wanna dance with you. I want everyone here to know how much I want you." It was true, he realized suddenly. They were in Vegas, and he wanted to flaunt their relationship, to just for this week not give a damn about who saw them together.
A shiver ran down Reid's spine at the touch of lips against ear. He drew in a breath. "It's not about that," she said. Okay, so it was a little bit about that, but he wasn't going to say that much.
"Please dance with me," Morgan murmured. "I want you in my arms."
"You can have me in your arms," Reid breathed, and put his drink down to slide his arms around Morgan's waist. Hopefully that would appease Morgan enough that he'd stop begging Reid to dance.
"That isn't what I meant," Morgan replied, though he sighed and wrapped his arms around Reid. He loved dancing, and he'd never understood why Reid couldn't trust him enough to dance with him.
Reid sighed. "I know. Morgan, I have no rhythm. I can't dance. You would have more fun dancing by yourself. Or with... anyone else out there." That wasn't to say Reid wanted to watch girls fawn over Morgan, and Reid would be jealous, but at least he wouldn't have to dance.
"I don't want to dance with anyone but you," Morgan said. "Don't you trust me enough to let me lead you through it?"
"I don't trust myself," Reid said, looking at Morgan. "I know my strengths and dancing isn't one of them." I don't trust them either, he thought, glancing back at the dance floor.
"Following me is one of your strengths," Morgan murmured, brushing Reid's hair away from his face to kiss his cheek. It felt oddly daring, being so openly affectionate. He wondered if he would even have the guts to dance with Reid if Reid did give in. "Or maybe I should say, 'keeping up with me' is one of your strengths."
Reid tried not to freeze when Morgan kissed him. This was okay. They were in Vegas. The team wasn't here. His mother didn't care--at least not about the gay part. Reid took another gulp of his drink and tightened his arm around Morgan, somehow taking comfort in the very thing that was making him uncomfortable. "Why?" he murmured.
"Why what?" Morgan asked. "I want to dance with you because I love dancing and I love you, and...because we can. Because I want us to make other people jealous. Hell, I don't know, I just do."
Reid finished his drink in another large gulp and dropped his head against Morgan's shoulder. He was going to have to do this. He tried not to look put out.
Morgan wasn't sure if that was acquiescence or just exasperation in Reid's reaction. He brushed his lips against Reid's ear. "I'll make it worth your while later," he murmured.
"You don't have to bribe me with sex," Reid said, letting his hand slide to hook his thumb in the top of Morgan's jeans. God, he couldn't believe he was letting Morgan talk him into this!
"Mmm, do I have to bribe you with something else, or just get you drunk?" Morgan grinned and slid one hand along Reid's arm. Reid was going to give in.
"Drunk would be a good start," Reid said. "Though for curiousity's sake, what else do you think you could bribe me with?"
"No idea, but I'd be willing to try it if it would get you to dance with me," Morgan said, sliding his drink over in front of Reid. He gave Reid the smile he reserved only for trying to coax him into something.
Reid lifted his head from Morgan's shoulder and took the drink. He eyed Morgan over the rim of the glass, giving Morgan a look that said both you'd better make this up to me and don't smile at me like that.
Morgan's smile just widened, despite the way he tried to tone it down. Reid was so utterly adorable, and he had Morgan wrapped around his little finger, which he probably knew. At least the coaxing smile worked sometimes. "I think you'll have fun," Morgan said.
Reid rolled his eyes and took another gulp of the drink. "It's not right. The things you get me to do," he said, his tone holding a hint of teasing, even if he was still frowning.
"Mmm, you like it," Morgan said. "And come on, you've got me to do new things, too." He brushed his lips against Reid's cheek again.
"Not anything so menacing as anouncing your sexuality and your lack of coordination at the same time to a room full of strangers," Reid said, but he tightened his hand in Morgan's shirt.
"I don't know, I told your mother I'm in love with you," Morgan said, his tone teasing. "That was pretty damn scary. How drunk are you right now?"
Reid gave Morgan another look. "Not drunk enough yet." Though he was starting to feel pleasantly loose. "Maybe another."
Morgan just grinned and ordered more drinks. Now that Reid had agreed to dance, Morgan let up and started in on Jack the Ripper just to give Reid something to take his mind of the idea of dancing. He knew Reid would be nervous enough without being able to brood about it while he downed another glass.
When Reid judged himself drunk enough not to care about looking stupid, Morgan made him finish the last of Morgan's drink, too. Then he took Reid's hands and tugged him out to the dance floor, grinning and feeling like an idiot. He was ridiculously in love with Reid, and ridiculously happy that Reid had agreed to dance with him. He was also incredibly glad no one at home could see him like this, because he knew Garcia would take pictures and never let him live it down.
"You are so beautiful," Morgan murmured as he drew Reid close and started moving, guiding Reid's body with a hand on each hip.
About three seconds after they started moving, Reid stepped on Morgan's foot. "Maybe I'm not drunk enough yet," he said, but he laughed a little bit and leaned against Morgan, trying not to think... which was working only because Morgan had managed to relax him a little bit, enough to enjoy the pleasingly numb feeling he had. It flitted through his mind that discussing murder shouldn't relax him so much, but he pushed it aside.
Morgan just laughed and tightened his fingers on Reid's hips, nudging him so their bodies were in rhythm. He moved one hand long enough to draw one of Reid's arms up around his neck, then looped his own arm around Reid's slender waist. "Mmm, this is like Dirty Dancing, except geekier," he teased.
Reid couldn't help but laugh, though he could feel heat creeping onto his cheeks, because he could see out of the corner of his eyes that a couple people were watching them. "Which one of us is Baby?"
Morgan chuckled and brushed his lips against Reid's ear. "Mmm, baby, do you even have to ask? I'm so Patrick Swayze." He was glad Reid had laughed. His body was still loose against Morgan's, so the alcohol had done its work. And really, there was nothing wrong with the way Reid danced. Maybe he didn't have quite the smooth moves Morgan did, but he kept up all right.
"Hmmm," Reid hummed, curling his fingers into Morgan's shirt in an effort to keep up. "People are looking at us," he breathed. He didn't dare turn his head to see what they're expressions were like.
"Because you're so damn sexy," Morgan replied. "And we're such a hot couple." He smiled and glanced over Reid's shoulder, intercepting a look from someone who obviously thought Sin City had just grown more sinful. Morgan just winked at the man, who looked away in disgust.
Reid's eyes widened. "Did someone slip you something?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Morgan asked in mock offense. "You don't think we're a hot couple?" He kissed Reid's neck, which afforded him a view of a woman who was staring openly, but seemed more fascinated than anything.
Reid closed his eyes because that was too much, and he couldn't look any more--even if it did sort of feel good too. "You just winked at someone," he breathed.
Morgan shrugged a little. "Homophobes piss me off," he muttered. Reid would know that, of course, but it was the first time Morgan had actually applied it to them. Morgan suddenly wondered if this had been such a good idea. Then again, he really liked dancing with Reid.
Reid pressed his forehead against Morgan's shoulder, opening his eyes to look down between their bodies, watching the way Morgan held them and moved them both. He tightened his arms on Morgan and drew a deep breath, because if he could just focus on Morgan, he was just drunk enough to ignore everything else.
Morgan turned his head to rest his cheek against Reid's. "I love you," he whispered. Reid probably couldn't hear him over the music, but it didn't matter. Morgan felt so unutterably happy right now.
Reid let his thumb slid into the back of Morgan's jeans again, melting against Morgan. "We should do this more often," he breathed. "But at home with a bottle of wine." He figured it was too loud for Morgan to hear him.
Morgan liked the way Reid was relaxing against him. He wondered if he could talk Reid into doing this again sometime. Though they'd have to be more careful back east. Smiling a little more widely, he threw in a couple different moves, guiding Reid easily through them. He knew people were still watching them, but he didn't really care. Reid seemed content, and Morgan was happy, and that was all that mattered until someone bumped Morgan's shoulder.
"My God, it is Spencer Reid," said a man's voice. "Dude! You're just as skinny as when you were twelve!"
Reid's eyes flew open, but he didn't lift his head for a moment, half wondering if he could just hide his face against Morgan's neck forever. He recognized that voice, that tone. He froze and his stomach tied itself in knots though and eventually he glanced up, pulling away from Morgan without letting him go completely and finding himself face to face with Ryan Wilson.
He'd known Ryan from high school. It hadn't been a pleasant experience. And even if Ryan's football physique seemed to have gone soft around the middle, Reid was still a little terrified, even if just by the memory.
He cleared his throat and faked a smile. "Yeah, I am." He turned immediately to Morgan. "Let's go."
Morgan raised his eyebrows, sizing the guy up even as he tightened one arm around Reid. "Friend of yours?" he asked. The club was too loud for the guy to hear how his tone conveyed both question and subtle threat, but Morgan shifted his stance just enough that he figured his body language more than covered it: Reid is mine to protect and I will kick your ass without blinking.
The man grinned. "We went to high school together! Spencer was always smarter than, like, the rest of the class put together. Too smart for his own good, you know? Brat." A large hand smacked Reid's shoulder in what was probably an affectionate sort of gesture. "How's it going, man? Dancing with guys, you know, that explains a lot."
Reid barely kept himself from outright flinching when Ryan touched him. He shifted slightly away and gave Morgan's arm a subtle pull, one he knew Morgan would feel without being obvious. "Oh, really, like what?" he said tersely, for lack of anything better to say. God, he wanted to leave now.
Morgan tightened his arm around Reid but didn't look away from the guy's face. Between the way Reid obviously wanted to get away and the way he'd tensed up, Morgan already wanted to punch the guy's lights out. All the same, he wasn't going to let Reid run away.
"Oh, you know, the way you sucked at PE and all that," the guy said, shrugging.
"That a fact?" Morgan said, his voice harder than it had been a moment ago. "You know, I started on Northwestern's football team two seasons running. You think that has anything to do with the fact I'm sleeping with a guy?"
A flash of heat ran through Reid, and not in the good way. Oh God, sleeping with?! Reid looked down and leaned away from Morgan, just enough to make it clear that he wanted to leave. "Morgan--"
"Nah, I'm interested to hear what your jock friend has to say," Morgan said. "This one of the football players from high school? Thinks he's hot stuff because he could pick on a twelve-year-old?"
"Hey, man, I didn't mean anything bad," the guy said, backpedaling a little. "I mean, you know, Spencer's obviously doing great, you know. Nice clothes, nice...boyfriend. You know."
Morgan just gave him a flat stare. "Yeah, Spencer's doing real great," he said. "In fact he works for the FBI. Profiling, which means he's faced down dozens of serial killers and worked half a dozen anti-terror cases. This man and his team are keeping you and your family safe in your ignorant little world. And he has a boyfriend."
Reid shifted a little in Morgan's grasp, and swallowed hard. "You, ah, don't look like you're playing much football anymore," he said. It was a subtle insult that was meant to sound like he was making casual conversation, and didn't work on either level because his voice was uneven and he couldn't quite look up when he said it.
Ryan finally quit gaping at Morgan and licked his lips. "Aw, no, man, blew out my knee my senior year, you know?" Then he chuckled. "Well, you wouldn't know that, you were, like, at MIT or Yale or something, huh? Damn, really, you work for the FBI?"
Morgan felt a little curl of satisfaction at the way the man's body language and tone of voice had both changed. Reid would see that. Reid would have to see that. This man was nowhere near as cool as Spencer Reid.
Reid glanced up them, the tone of Ryan's voice surprising him, though he almost didn't trust it. I was deciding on my first dissertation when you were a senior, he thought, but didn't say that. "Yeah, the Behavioral Analysis Unit. Ah, Quantico," he said. He still wanted dearly to leave. As soon as possible.
"Serial killers. Have you, like, met Charles Manson?"
Morgan rolled his eyes. "He stopped Chester Hardwick from killing another FBI agent," he said. "And he shot the guy who killed Dennis Kyle." What have you done since you stopped beating up on little kids? he wanted to add. "And right now he's on vacation. It was real nice meeting you." His tone of voice made it clear that the guy should move along now and quit bothering them.
Ryan took the hint and started backing away. "Um. Yeah. Right, yeah, good to see you, Spencer. Take care, man. FBI, how cool is that? See ya."
Reid sucked in a slow breath and watched him go, then turned to look at Morgan, still frowning. "Can we go now?" he asked, not quite ready to smile yet.
Morgan looked at Reid, his brows still drawn tight together. "We can if you really want," he said. "Or we can stay here and dance and show that asshole how unimportant he is." He wasn't going to push the issue, though. He wanted Reid to stay here, but he was more than willing to go back to the hotel and spend the next several hours proving how sexy and fun Morgan thought he was.
Reid sighed and pulled Morgan close, kissing his cheek. He understood the sentiment, but it had been difficult enough to make himself dance, and now he felt too sober and not at all in the mood again. "Let's go back to the room and dance there," he said, hoping the suggestion he was trying to put into his voice came through.
"Mmm." Morgan tightened his arm around Reid and leaned into the kiss for a moment, then pulled back, his unhappy expression melting into a smile. "All right, if you promise to dance at the room, I guess I'm okay with that." He grinned and steered Reid off the dance floor with an arm around his shoulders. "Finally, you're gonna let me drive the convertible."
Reid laughed, and supposed he probably should, considering he'd had more to drink. "That was the plan all along, wasn't it?" he teased.
"Aw, man, you figured it out," Morgan said. They stepped out into the parking lot and he took a deep breath.
Reid smiled and fished the keys out of his pocket as the walked, handing them over and thinking back to what Ryan had said. "You know, I think I'd really like to meet Manson," he said absently.
"Seriously? Man, I got no desire to do a custodial with him. Gives me the creeps." Morgan glanced at him. "Then again, you are the man who talked Chester Hardwick out of killing Hotch." He still felt a little glow of pride every time he thought about that. Reid had tried to keep it quiet, but Hotch had told on himself.
Reid shrugged, sort of wishing that Hotch had kept all of that quiet--partially because it had been terrifying, but also because he was a little protective of Hotch (it had clearly been a weak point for him). "I was bluffing," he murmured, willing to let the subject drop.
"So what, you'd like to do a custodial with him, or just meet him, see what he's like, what?" Morgan said, turning the car on. He waited for Reid to get his seatbelt fastened, then pulled out, heading for the hotel.
"Both," Reid said, and smiled at Morgan even as he tried uselessly to get his hair to stay behind his ears as they drove. He didn't like convertibles, he decided. At least on Morgan's bike the helmet kept his hair from flying in his face. "I could spend weeks at Corcoran, though. I mean, Manson, Juan Corona, Patrick Kearney... I wish 'Pegleg' Morgan was still alive."
Morgan shook his head, smiling, and glanced over at Reid in between watching traffic. "Have I ever told you that I love that you're a genius? And how excited you get about things?" He glanced at Reid again. "And how sexy you are when your hair's in your face?" He laughed.
Reid glowered at Morgan, then slumped in his seat. "Shut up," he said, his tone sharp, even if he couldn't quite banish the hint of playfulness in it.
The trip back to the hotel was filled with casual conversation about Kearney's twenty-eight known murders. When they got back to the room, Reid slipped off his shoes and reached to pull off his tie before he remembered Morgan had forced him not to wear one that morning when they left to see Reid's mother. "You don't think I should cut my hair?" he asked.
Morgan slid his arms around Reid and ran his fingers up into Reid's hair. "I love your hair," he murmured, and kissed Reid slowly. "I think you're gorgeous." He stroked his fingers through Reid's hair, sorting out the tangles from the wind. "Mmm. Sexy genius."
Reid made a face when Morgan caught a particularly nasty tangle. "We're putting the top up the rest of the trip... or I'm buying a helmet."
Morgan snorted. "Or you could pull it back when we're driving," he said, kissing Reid's ear. "What's the point of a convertible if we don't have the top down?"
"The front falls out," Reid said, dismissing the idea of pulling his hair back. He leaned into the touch of Morgan's lips. "I'm not really sure. You're the one who wanted the convertible in the first place. I was fine with the sedan."
"We're on vacation," Morgan said, sliding his other hand down to cup Reid's ass. "We need a convertible to enjoy the sunshine. They're fun."
Reid laughed, his arms sliding around Morgan's waist. "Right. We're on vacation; let's abandon all sense!" He kissed Morgan's cheek and then shook his head. "Remind me again how we managed to fall in love?"
"Because you needed someone impractical in your life," Morgan said, smiling broadly at him. "And because I get all hot when you talk geeky to me." He kissed Reid again.
Reid realized a moment too late how easily 'love' had slipped off his tongue by the way Morgan smiled at him, but a moment later he decided he didn't care. They'd come a long way from when Reid's 'geeky talk' was a thorn in Morgan's side. Reid deepened the kiss, cinching his arms around Morgan's waist together. "Maybe you're right... About the first part." He let out a contented sigh. "I think I needed this for longer than I knew."
Morgan hummed and buried his forehead against Reid's neck. "I'm glad you've finally admitted that," he said lightly. He kissed Reid's skin. "Now, how about we go to bed and I thank you for dancing with me earlier?" Still smiling, he guided Reid toward the bed.
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Pairing/characters: Morgan/Reid, Diana Reid
Rating: PG-13/FRT
Summary: Reid and Morgan go to Vegas so Morgan can "meet" Diana Reid again, this time as Reid's boyfriend.
Word count: ~16,000 (both parts)
Spoilers to: The Fisher King, part two (also an isty bitsy spoiler for The Big Game/Revelations)
Notes: Est. relationship. Written for the M/R Summer Vacation Challenge (Aug '08) @
morganreid_cm. Written in RP format. If you find any glaring errors, feel free to point them out! :D(1/2)
The next afternoon, Morgan and Reid were back at Bennington. Morgan had made Reid wear a shirt with no tie this time, and hadn't allowed him to change once. "She's your mother, and she loves you no matter what you're wearing," he'd growled, and marched Reid down to the valet stand. Before going into the sanitarium, Morgan delivered a bracing kiss, then gestured for Reid to go ahead of him. He only hoped it wasn't going to be a repeat of yesterday.
It didn't take Reid nearly as long to actually walk into the room his mother was sitting in today. She was, as usual, in front of her window. This time she seemed to hear him approach before he even got to her, and she turned to look at him, her brows drawing into a frown.
"Your hair's too long," she said, then gazed at Morgan, her eyes narrowed.
Reid glanced at Morgan too, as if to say I told you she'd hate it, but he turned and smiled at her when he saw her look back at him out of the corner of his eye. "I know."
"Are you eating? You've lost weight."
"Of course I eat, and I've weighed the same since my fourth year in college," Reid said. She didn't really look like she believed him, but she seemed more herself today. He pulled up the same chair he'd sat in the day before.
Morgan smiled at her, pleased that Reid was smiling. "Hello, ma'am," he said, holding out his hand in greeting. "Derek Morgan, we met once."
Diana didn't move to shake Morgan's hand, she just turned to look at it for a moment, her arms crossed over herself. "I remember."
After a moment Morgan nodded and stuck his hands in his pockets, feeling awkward. She'd been nicer to him before he was sleeping with her son. God, he hoped that didn't mean anything.
Diana kept her eyes on Morgan, her gaze unreadable, ignoring the way Reid was watching her for a moment. "My son is rather fond of you."
Morgan couldn't repress his smile. He glanced down, then met her gaze again. "I'm pretty fond of him, too," he said.
She made a non-committal noise and glanced back at Reid. "How long?"
Reid frowned for a moment in thought. "Ah, I wrote you about it the day after it happened."
"The day after?"
Reid pursed his lips and nodded. "Ah, yeah. So... almost a year?" He glanced at Morgan.
Morgan's smile strengthened. He'd be willing to bet Reid knew exactly what day that had been. "Just over eleven months. It was the week before my birthday."
Reid smiled a Morgan and nodded. "Yeah, about a--"
"You've never brought anyone here before," Diana cut him off. "You didn't tell me you were coming, either."
"I'm sorry, mom. I thought I would surprise you," Reid said.
She tilted her head at him, frowning. "I hate surprises, Spencer. You know that."
Reid shifted and licked his lips, debating whether he should tell her it was a last minute decision or not, then deciding he couldn't lie to her, not like this, not when she was perfectly lucid and would remember it. So he just ignored that part. "There was never anyone to bring before."
Morgan glanced from Diana to Reid, wondering if he should offer to go. "I sort of invited myself along," he said. "I'd never been to Vegas before, and since Spencer always comes back home for his vacations..." He glanced at Reid again, feeling at a loss. Somehow it had been easier when she hadn't recognized Reid.
Diana looked back at Morgan. "You invited yourself?" she said, her tone flat as if she just wanted to be sure it was what he'd said.
Morgan glanced at her, then back at Reid. "Uh..."
Diana's eyebrows lifted, but she didn't look back at her son. "Why?"
"Well--" Morgan glanced from her to Reid again. Come on, help me here, he thought at Reid. "I...Spencer was...he... You're the most important person in the world to him," he said finally. God, why had he thought this was a good idea? He'd never met anyone's parents before! "And I know we met briefly, but...I, uh." He glanced at Reid again. "I love your son. And I thought we should...talk." He trailed off at the end, feeling suddenly like he might throw up.
Diana shrugged her shoulders negligently. "Then talk."
Reid pressed his lips together. "Mom." Morgan looked like he was starting to falter, which was mildly amusing--how they could face down the most violent criminals out there and both crumble under the pressure of Reid's mother. Reid cleared his throat, and thought maybe reverse psychology might work. "Would you have rather I not brought him?" He prayed she wouldn't say yes.
Diana's gaze snapped to her son's, her lips parting. After a moment she swallowed and pursed her lips. "Spencer." He held her gaze for a moment, then she frowned and looked away. "No."
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you we were coming," he murmured. She reached out to touch his knee without looking and he curled his fingers around hers readily.
Morgan still felt like he was going to throw up, but seeing Diana reach out to her son made him feel a little better. He managed a smile as he found a chair and sat down. "Spencer's only met my mom once, about the same way you and I met. It was during a case, in Chicago." He cleared his throat. "That's where I'm from."
Diana nodded. "What did she think of all this?" she asked, still not looking at either of them, though her thumb brushed over the back of Reid's hand in a slow steady motion.
"Well." Morgan glanced at Reid. "She--um...we weren't together then. But she liked Spencer, so...she's glad I'm happy." Come on, Reid, please, he thought, looking at his lover again.
"So what does she think of this?" Diana corrected, looking back at Morgan finally. Her gaze wasn't as hard as it had previously been, but there was a note of defeat in her eyes.
Morgan met her gaze and opened his mouth, then closed it again, his eyebrows drawing together. "I don't entirely know," he said finally, which was more honest than he'd even been with Reid about it. Damn the way mothers could pull the truth out of you. Even, apparently, the closest thing you had to a mother-in-law. "I've never taken anyone home before, but she...didn't realize I...that, uh." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I think she was taken aback that when I finally fell in love, it was with another man." He glanced at Reid, hoping he would understand. Morgan's mother liked Reid, and she was glad he was happy. She'd also said it would take some getting used to.
Diana nodded and looked down at where her hand was on her son's leg. Both his hands were now wrapped around her one. "Even when you expect it, it's still a shock."
Reid blinked. He'd glanced at Morgan, but his gaze flicked back to his mother, his mouth dropping open slightly. He gave her a disbelieving look. "Wait, what?"
She glanced up at him, offering him a tiny smile for the first time since he and Morgan had walked in. "Honestly, Spencer."
Morgan raised his eyebrows and looked over at Reid, a slow smile spreading across his face.
Reid just stared at his mother for a moment. It was rare to see her smiling, but that wasn't really what he was concerned about right now. "I'm not gay," he blurted.
Diana shrugged, looking mildly amused. "Homosexual enough."
Morgan generally only let Garcia get away with calling them gay, even if they were two men who were in love. He decided Diana Reid could be another person who would get away with it. He shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. "Well, we're not gonna be marching in any parades or anything."
That comment surprised a laugh out of Reid and he turned to give Morgan a look that was somewhere between amusement and shock. "You just made that decision unilaterally?" he asked, and squeezed his mother's hand gently.
Morgan gave Reid a flat look. "All right, I'm not marching in any d--uh, parades. You can if you want." No swearing in front of Reid's mom, he reminded himself.
Diana looked back at Morgan, her smile slipping off. For a moment, she didn't say anything, just letting her son's laughter fade until the two men were silent again. "So what do you want with my son?"
Morgan blinked at her, trying to catch up with the way her mood seemed to have shifted. He shook his head. "I just want to be with him. That's all. To make him happy." He held her gaze, willing her to trust him, even though he knew she didn't trust anyone. Maybe not even Reid.
Reid's lips pulled to the side and he squeezed her hand tighter, glancing between Morgan and his mother. "He doesn't want to hurt me, mom. Or you."
"Spencer, you invite people to hurt you. You trust too easily," she said, looking back at Reid.
Reid's eyebrows lifted, but he didn't say that he didn't trust enough, that he was terrified of getting hurt or being left--and that the times he had been hurt, it was most certainly not because he'd invited someone do it. He also didn't say that he probably learned all of the above from her. Instead he swallowed hard. "I knew Morgan a long time before we started dating."
"And you used to hate him. What changed and why?" she demanded.
Reid cringed, and shifted. He and Morgan had talked about their differences when Reid had first joined the team. They had even joked about them, but this was different. "Hate is a really strong word."
"I was hard on Spencer when we first met," Morgan admitted, though Diana Reid's words hurt. There had been a lot of frank discussion about their past, but it was different hearing it from Reid's mother. She had no interest in filtering things to keep from hurting Morgan. He cleared his throat and looked at Reid for a long moment, then turned his attention back to Diana, leaning forward a little and holding her gaze.
"When I was a kid, I was betrayed by someone I looked up to. An older man, someone I trusted, used me for his own sexual gratification."
Reid's lips parted and he turned and looked at Morgan, shaking his head. Morgan didn't need to tell her this just to gain her trust! Reid wasn't even certain it would work. "Morgan, you don't have to--"
Morgan held up a hand, not looking at Reid. Oh, God, please let him get through this without flinching. "So I don't exactly trust very easily myself. And when I realized how attracted I was to Spencer..." He shook his head. "I didn't handle it well. I took it out on him. I was wrong." He clenched his jaw, hoping she wouldn't say something pitying. He was going to have to walk away in a minute, anyway, but it would be easier if she didn't say something like that.
Diana held Morgan's gaze for a while, and Reid didn't know whether he should be relieved or worried that she wasn't talking. When she finally simply turned to look out the window again, slumping down in her seat and drawing her hand back from between Reid's, Reid still wasn't sure how to feel about the response. It was better than it could have been, but the lack of reply gave no indication as to whether Morgan sharing that with her helped or not. Reid bit his lip, his brows drawing together, and looked at Morgan.
Morgan looked at Reid when Diana turned away. When Reid's gaze met Morgan's, Morgan nodded slightly. He reached out and touched Reid's shoulder, wishing his hands weren't shaking suddenly. Then he stood and walked away, shoving his hands in his pockets. Hopefully Reid would know they didn't have to leave, but Morgan couldn't sit there after having admitted that.
Reid drew a shaky breath and watched Morgan walk away. He felt torn for a moment; his lover and his mother were both obviously upset. He didn't think Morgan would feel right about Reid walking away from his mother for him, though, and Reid didn't feel right about it either. He sighed and pulled his chair closer to his mom's. "I wish you would trust him because I trust him."
"You trust... You trust."
Diana was frowning, not moving. Reid was glad she was even still talking, but the repetition without a point to the statement was worrying in that it could be the beginning of a new episode. He reached over and took her hand again. "Sometimes I do, when it's earned," he said quietly.
She rolled her head to the side to look at him. "Don't get yourself killed."
Reid's eyebrows raised, but he followed the complete topic shift easily anyway. "I'm safe." It wasn't exactly true--not completely--but it was the best answer to give her.
"No one's safe," she said.
Reid's lips thinned and he looked out the window for a moment, noticing for the first time that it was really a beautiful view. He could feel her eyes on him. "I know." Not any reason to stop living, though.
A few moments passed in silence, and eventually Reid glanced back, catching sight of Morgan, who was trying to look inconspicuous. He smiled at Reid when their eyes met, though--a faint, slightly sad smile, but it was reassuring.
Reid settled back in his seat, the silence more comfortable, and he turned his hand to lace his fingers with hers. "You know I love you, right?" he asked finally, thinking back on the day before.
Diana smiled sadly, and gave his hand a squeeze.
It seemed like Reid had sat silently in that chair forever, but Morgan didn't seem too put out when Reid finally walked back out towards the front of the hospital. He gave Morgan a small smile. "Ready?" he asked softly. He had a feeling he knew the answer, though.
"Yeah." Morgan was glad Reid was smiling, even if things hadn't exactly gone great. "Should I--" He tilted his head back the way Reid had come. "You know, say goodbye?"
Reid glanced back. "Probably not." She was just starting to calm down again, and Reid didn't really want to upset her again. Still, he could understand if Morgan didn't want to be rude. "But we can if you want."
"No, you know her best. I don't want to upset her." Morgan really just wanted Reid's arms around him at the moment. It was possible that if he'd known how painful this trip might be for both of them, he wouldn't have suggested coming out here. He should have realized he wasn't above having his feelings hurt by the mother of the man he loved.
Reid nodded, then inclined his head for Morgan to walk outside with him. Once they were in the parking lot, Reid licked his lips, hesitated, and then slid his arms around Morgan's waist as they walked. It was awkward, but Reid didn't want to wait until they were back at the hotel to offer comfort.
Morgan immediately draped an arm over Reid's shoulders and turned his head to kiss Reid's cheek. He had regained his composure without too much work, but he still couldn't quite believe what he'd told Diana Reid. When they reached the car, he stopped and leaned against Reid, pressing him to the car door and wrapping both arms around him.
Oh, this was really awkward, but Reid had started it. He swallowed hard and gave Morgan a smile, telling himself that this was okay. Everyone that mattered inside that building already knew he and Morgan were together. "Hi," he murmured, his hands sliding to Morgan's sides.
Morgan just sighed and tightened his arms around Reid. "I didn't mean to..." He shook his head. "Sorry."
Reid frowned. "For what?"
"Just...all of that. Telling her about Carl. You know." Morgan closed his eyes.
Reid reached up and brushed his fingers along Morgan's jaw, momentarily forgetting they were in public, because this was too important a topic to hold on to whatever else was making him uncomfortable. "You didn't have to tell her, but you don't have to apologize either." He draped an arm over Morgan's shoulder.
Morgan sighed again. "She thought we hated each other. I just...she's plenty intelligent enough to understand why I was such a jackass, if she knows all the facts. So I thought it might help. God, Spencer. Let's go." He finally loosened his death-grip on Reid and kissed him briefly, then pulled away to walk around the car.
Reid's lips parted and he watched Morgan walk around and then get into the car before he moved from where Morgan had pressed him against the vehicle. He sighed and got into the driver's seat, but just turned to look at Morgan. "Plenty intelligent doesn't begin to cover it, but ashe's sick, so that doesn't mean that she's not going to see you as a threat anyway.... She sees most everyone as a potential threat." He reached out and took Morgan's hand. "Please don't take it personally," he said, though he knew even he had a hard time of that, even after all these years.
Morgan laced his fingers with Reid's and leaned his head back against the seat. "I know that. I really do." He studied Reid's expression for a moment. "I'm not really taking it personally. At least...ah, I don't know what to say, Spence. I don't even really know what I'm thinking right now. It wasn't easy, but she didn't shout at me or anything, so."
Reid squeezed Morgan's hand, smiling sadly. "You should count your blessings for that. She's scary when she starts shouting," he said, only half-joking. He tilted his head and let his smile grow a little warmer. "Thank you."
"Don't think I'm not aware of how lucky I was," Morgan said, which was complete truth. He was, honestly, a little frightened of Diana Reid, if only because she had power she didn't even understand over her son, and therefore over Morgan. "What are you thanking me for now?" he asked, smiling.
For not freaking out. For not getting angry. For wanting my mother to like you so much that you told her what you did. Reid squeezed Morgan's hand and shrugged, not really sure how to express all of that. "Everything."
Morgan's smile widened a little. "You're welcome," he murmured. "For everything." He stretched out and flipped the switch to open the convertible top. "Come on, let's go find somewhere we can get drunk and loaf in the sun. And later we can make out."
"Alcohol is a diuretic. Not generally a good idea to drink something that'll dehydrate you when you're out in the heat," Reid said, fastening his seat belt and pulling out of the parking spot. "Making out sounds good, though."
"Right, but you've just gotta have drinks with the little umbrellas in them while you're lounging by the pool," Morgan protested. He leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes, enjoying the bracing heat and the wind. "It's just...required."
Once they got up to full speed, Reid frowned at the way his hair blew all over his head in the wind. "They can put those umbrellas in other drinks, you know." Reid sighed, but when he spoke again, his lips curled anyway. "God, I am 'homosexual enough', aren't I?"
"Just for me," Morgan said, a smile spreading across his face. "Anyway, who cares? Labels aren't important. And I maintain those umbrellas only go in alcoholic things."
Reid laughed softly. Labels didn't matter, but he was still getting over the fact that his mother apparently expected him to bring a man to meet her at some point, and not a woman. "Five bucks says I could get them to put one in a Coke if I ask the right way."
Morgan opened his eyes and looked sideways at Reid. "Oh yeah? I have a hotel key that says you'd better not ask anyone the 'right way'," he said in mock jealousy.
Reid laughed again, this time a little stronger. "I like it when you're jealous."
Morgan glared. "You're mine," he said, sliding his hand over onto Reid's thigh. He liked it when other people found Reid attractive, when bartenders flirted with him. But he also wanted it very clear that Reid belonged to someone already. So maybe he was a little possessive; Reid liked it.
Reid grinned and lowered his hand to grip Morgan's. "Mmph," he said, the noise non-committal on purpose.
"Hey," Morgan said, narrowing his eyes. "Mine and only mine."
Reid glanced at Morgan briefly, then back at the road. "Yes, I am."
*****
"See, this was a good compromise," Morgan said, leaning in to talk in Reid's ear. They were sitting at a small table in a club, and Morgan had got his little alcoholic umbrella beverages while Reid got to stay out of the sun. Morgan wasn't entirely sure Reid was enjoying the music, but he'd agreed to come out at least once on the trip so Morgan could dance. Morgan was still hoping to get Reid to dance with him, though he knew the odds weren't great.
Reid turned to look at Morgan, frowning. The music was terrible, and the drinks were watered down, but he really hadn't expect much. "I'm a terrible tour guide," he said over the music.
Morgan laughed and slid a little closer to him. "Nah, you just never spent any time in the over-twenty-one venues in the city. Were you even of legal age when you left Vegas?"
"No," Reid said, shaking his head and and looking out at the dance floor. "Well, I was old enough to vote."
Morgan followed Reid's gaze out to the dance floor, watching the people idly for a few moments. He slid an arm around Reid's shoulders. "Dance with me," he said suddenly, leaning in so his breath puffed against Reid's ear.
Reid felt a sudden jolt of nerves hit him, and his stomach flipped slightly. His lips parted and he looked at Morgan, his eyes a little wide. "I need a lot more alcohol."
Morgan smiled. "That can be arranged," he murmured, thrilled that Reid would even consider it. He flagged down a waitress and ordered them two Jack and Cokes. "I'm glad we did this," he said after a while.
Reid's eyes went even wider when Morgan ordered them more to drink, and he just stared at Morgan for a moment. "Morgan, I'm not going to dance," he said, a laugh creeping into his voice at the end, because Morgan looked far too happy about the idea, and there wasn't any way it was actually happening. "I was kidding."
"Aw, no, you can't get my hopes up like that and then refuse," Morgan said, tilting his head and giving Reid a wide-eyed look. "Come on, you can have both drinks. And I'll take care of you, you'll be fine."
"Nonononono," Reid said, shaking his head and then taking a long drink. "I don't dance."
"Pleeeease," Morgan said, smiling hopefully. "Come on, Spence."
Reid gave Morgan an exasperated look. "Morgan."
"Spencer," Morgan said, letting his lips brush Reid's ear. "I wanna dance with you. I want everyone here to know how much I want you." It was true, he realized suddenly. They were in Vegas, and he wanted to flaunt their relationship, to just for this week not give a damn about who saw them together.
A shiver ran down Reid's spine at the touch of lips against ear. He drew in a breath. "It's not about that," she said. Okay, so it was a little bit about that, but he wasn't going to say that much.
"Please dance with me," Morgan murmured. "I want you in my arms."
"You can have me in your arms," Reid breathed, and put his drink down to slide his arms around Morgan's waist. Hopefully that would appease Morgan enough that he'd stop begging Reid to dance.
"That isn't what I meant," Morgan replied, though he sighed and wrapped his arms around Reid. He loved dancing, and he'd never understood why Reid couldn't trust him enough to dance with him.
Reid sighed. "I know. Morgan, I have no rhythm. I can't dance. You would have more fun dancing by yourself. Or with... anyone else out there." That wasn't to say Reid wanted to watch girls fawn over Morgan, and Reid would be jealous, but at least he wouldn't have to dance.
"I don't want to dance with anyone but you," Morgan said. "Don't you trust me enough to let me lead you through it?"
"I don't trust myself," Reid said, looking at Morgan. "I know my strengths and dancing isn't one of them." I don't trust them either, he thought, glancing back at the dance floor.
"Following me is one of your strengths," Morgan murmured, brushing Reid's hair away from his face to kiss his cheek. It felt oddly daring, being so openly affectionate. He wondered if he would even have the guts to dance with Reid if Reid did give in. "Or maybe I should say, 'keeping up with me' is one of your strengths."
Reid tried not to freeze when Morgan kissed him. This was okay. They were in Vegas. The team wasn't here. His mother didn't care--at least not about the gay part. Reid took another gulp of his drink and tightened his arm around Morgan, somehow taking comfort in the very thing that was making him uncomfortable. "Why?" he murmured.
"Why what?" Morgan asked. "I want to dance with you because I love dancing and I love you, and...because we can. Because I want us to make other people jealous. Hell, I don't know, I just do."
Reid finished his drink in another large gulp and dropped his head against Morgan's shoulder. He was going to have to do this. He tried not to look put out.
Morgan wasn't sure if that was acquiescence or just exasperation in Reid's reaction. He brushed his lips against Reid's ear. "I'll make it worth your while later," he murmured.
"You don't have to bribe me with sex," Reid said, letting his hand slide to hook his thumb in the top of Morgan's jeans. God, he couldn't believe he was letting Morgan talk him into this!
"Mmm, do I have to bribe you with something else, or just get you drunk?" Morgan grinned and slid one hand along Reid's arm. Reid was going to give in.
"Drunk would be a good start," Reid said. "Though for curiousity's sake, what else do you think you could bribe me with?"
"No idea, but I'd be willing to try it if it would get you to dance with me," Morgan said, sliding his drink over in front of Reid. He gave Reid the smile he reserved only for trying to coax him into something.
Reid lifted his head from Morgan's shoulder and took the drink. He eyed Morgan over the rim of the glass, giving Morgan a look that said both you'd better make this up to me and don't smile at me like that.
Morgan's smile just widened, despite the way he tried to tone it down. Reid was so utterly adorable, and he had Morgan wrapped around his little finger, which he probably knew. At least the coaxing smile worked sometimes. "I think you'll have fun," Morgan said.
Reid rolled his eyes and took another gulp of the drink. "It's not right. The things you get me to do," he said, his tone holding a hint of teasing, even if he was still frowning.
"Mmm, you like it," Morgan said. "And come on, you've got me to do new things, too." He brushed his lips against Reid's cheek again.
"Not anything so menacing as anouncing your sexuality and your lack of coordination at the same time to a room full of strangers," Reid said, but he tightened his hand in Morgan's shirt.
"I don't know, I told your mother I'm in love with you," Morgan said, his tone teasing. "That was pretty damn scary. How drunk are you right now?"
Reid gave Morgan another look. "Not drunk enough yet." Though he was starting to feel pleasantly loose. "Maybe another."
Morgan just grinned and ordered more drinks. Now that Reid had agreed to dance, Morgan let up and started in on Jack the Ripper just to give Reid something to take his mind of the idea of dancing. He knew Reid would be nervous enough without being able to brood about it while he downed another glass.
When Reid judged himself drunk enough not to care about looking stupid, Morgan made him finish the last of Morgan's drink, too. Then he took Reid's hands and tugged him out to the dance floor, grinning and feeling like an idiot. He was ridiculously in love with Reid, and ridiculously happy that Reid had agreed to dance with him. He was also incredibly glad no one at home could see him like this, because he knew Garcia would take pictures and never let him live it down.
"You are so beautiful," Morgan murmured as he drew Reid close and started moving, guiding Reid's body with a hand on each hip.
About three seconds after they started moving, Reid stepped on Morgan's foot. "Maybe I'm not drunk enough yet," he said, but he laughed a little bit and leaned against Morgan, trying not to think... which was working only because Morgan had managed to relax him a little bit, enough to enjoy the pleasingly numb feeling he had. It flitted through his mind that discussing murder shouldn't relax him so much, but he pushed it aside.
Morgan just laughed and tightened his fingers on Reid's hips, nudging him so their bodies were in rhythm. He moved one hand long enough to draw one of Reid's arms up around his neck, then looped his own arm around Reid's slender waist. "Mmm, this is like Dirty Dancing, except geekier," he teased.
Reid couldn't help but laugh, though he could feel heat creeping onto his cheeks, because he could see out of the corner of his eyes that a couple people were watching them. "Which one of us is Baby?"
Morgan chuckled and brushed his lips against Reid's ear. "Mmm, baby, do you even have to ask? I'm so Patrick Swayze." He was glad Reid had laughed. His body was still loose against Morgan's, so the alcohol had done its work. And really, there was nothing wrong with the way Reid danced. Maybe he didn't have quite the smooth moves Morgan did, but he kept up all right.
"Hmmm," Reid hummed, curling his fingers into Morgan's shirt in an effort to keep up. "People are looking at us," he breathed. He didn't dare turn his head to see what they're expressions were like.
"Because you're so damn sexy," Morgan replied. "And we're such a hot couple." He smiled and glanced over Reid's shoulder, intercepting a look from someone who obviously thought Sin City had just grown more sinful. Morgan just winked at the man, who looked away in disgust.
Reid's eyes widened. "Did someone slip you something?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Morgan asked in mock offense. "You don't think we're a hot couple?" He kissed Reid's neck, which afforded him a view of a woman who was staring openly, but seemed more fascinated than anything.
Reid closed his eyes because that was too much, and he couldn't look any more--even if it did sort of feel good too. "You just winked at someone," he breathed.
Morgan shrugged a little. "Homophobes piss me off," he muttered. Reid would know that, of course, but it was the first time Morgan had actually applied it to them. Morgan suddenly wondered if this had been such a good idea. Then again, he really liked dancing with Reid.
Reid pressed his forehead against Morgan's shoulder, opening his eyes to look down between their bodies, watching the way Morgan held them and moved them both. He tightened his arms on Morgan and drew a deep breath, because if he could just focus on Morgan, he was just drunk enough to ignore everything else.
Morgan turned his head to rest his cheek against Reid's. "I love you," he whispered. Reid probably couldn't hear him over the music, but it didn't matter. Morgan felt so unutterably happy right now.
Reid let his thumb slid into the back of Morgan's jeans again, melting against Morgan. "We should do this more often," he breathed. "But at home with a bottle of wine." He figured it was too loud for Morgan to hear him.
Morgan liked the way Reid was relaxing against him. He wondered if he could talk Reid into doing this again sometime. Though they'd have to be more careful back east. Smiling a little more widely, he threw in a couple different moves, guiding Reid easily through them. He knew people were still watching them, but he didn't really care. Reid seemed content, and Morgan was happy, and that was all that mattered until someone bumped Morgan's shoulder.
"My God, it is Spencer Reid," said a man's voice. "Dude! You're just as skinny as when you were twelve!"
Reid's eyes flew open, but he didn't lift his head for a moment, half wondering if he could just hide his face against Morgan's neck forever. He recognized that voice, that tone. He froze and his stomach tied itself in knots though and eventually he glanced up, pulling away from Morgan without letting him go completely and finding himself face to face with Ryan Wilson.
He'd known Ryan from high school. It hadn't been a pleasant experience. And even if Ryan's football physique seemed to have gone soft around the middle, Reid was still a little terrified, even if just by the memory.
He cleared his throat and faked a smile. "Yeah, I am." He turned immediately to Morgan. "Let's go."
Morgan raised his eyebrows, sizing the guy up even as he tightened one arm around Reid. "Friend of yours?" he asked. The club was too loud for the guy to hear how his tone conveyed both question and subtle threat, but Morgan shifted his stance just enough that he figured his body language more than covered it: Reid is mine to protect and I will kick your ass without blinking.
The man grinned. "We went to high school together! Spencer was always smarter than, like, the rest of the class put together. Too smart for his own good, you know? Brat." A large hand smacked Reid's shoulder in what was probably an affectionate sort of gesture. "How's it going, man? Dancing with guys, you know, that explains a lot."
Reid barely kept himself from outright flinching when Ryan touched him. He shifted slightly away and gave Morgan's arm a subtle pull, one he knew Morgan would feel without being obvious. "Oh, really, like what?" he said tersely, for lack of anything better to say. God, he wanted to leave now.
Morgan tightened his arm around Reid but didn't look away from the guy's face. Between the way Reid obviously wanted to get away and the way he'd tensed up, Morgan already wanted to punch the guy's lights out. All the same, he wasn't going to let Reid run away.
"Oh, you know, the way you sucked at PE and all that," the guy said, shrugging.
"That a fact?" Morgan said, his voice harder than it had been a moment ago. "You know, I started on Northwestern's football team two seasons running. You think that has anything to do with the fact I'm sleeping with a guy?"
A flash of heat ran through Reid, and not in the good way. Oh God, sleeping with?! Reid looked down and leaned away from Morgan, just enough to make it clear that he wanted to leave. "Morgan--"
"Nah, I'm interested to hear what your jock friend has to say," Morgan said. "This one of the football players from high school? Thinks he's hot stuff because he could pick on a twelve-year-old?"
"Hey, man, I didn't mean anything bad," the guy said, backpedaling a little. "I mean, you know, Spencer's obviously doing great, you know. Nice clothes, nice...boyfriend. You know."
Morgan just gave him a flat stare. "Yeah, Spencer's doing real great," he said. "In fact he works for the FBI. Profiling, which means he's faced down dozens of serial killers and worked half a dozen anti-terror cases. This man and his team are keeping you and your family safe in your ignorant little world. And he has a boyfriend."
Reid shifted a little in Morgan's grasp, and swallowed hard. "You, ah, don't look like you're playing much football anymore," he said. It was a subtle insult that was meant to sound like he was making casual conversation, and didn't work on either level because his voice was uneven and he couldn't quite look up when he said it.
Ryan finally quit gaping at Morgan and licked his lips. "Aw, no, man, blew out my knee my senior year, you know?" Then he chuckled. "Well, you wouldn't know that, you were, like, at MIT or Yale or something, huh? Damn, really, you work for the FBI?"
Morgan felt a little curl of satisfaction at the way the man's body language and tone of voice had both changed. Reid would see that. Reid would have to see that. This man was nowhere near as cool as Spencer Reid.
Reid glanced up them, the tone of Ryan's voice surprising him, though he almost didn't trust it. I was deciding on my first dissertation when you were a senior, he thought, but didn't say that. "Yeah, the Behavioral Analysis Unit. Ah, Quantico," he said. He still wanted dearly to leave. As soon as possible.
"Serial killers. Have you, like, met Charles Manson?"
Morgan rolled his eyes. "He stopped Chester Hardwick from killing another FBI agent," he said. "And he shot the guy who killed Dennis Kyle." What have you done since you stopped beating up on little kids? he wanted to add. "And right now he's on vacation. It was real nice meeting you." His tone of voice made it clear that the guy should move along now and quit bothering them.
Ryan took the hint and started backing away. "Um. Yeah. Right, yeah, good to see you, Spencer. Take care, man. FBI, how cool is that? See ya."
Reid sucked in a slow breath and watched him go, then turned to look at Morgan, still frowning. "Can we go now?" he asked, not quite ready to smile yet.
Morgan looked at Reid, his brows still drawn tight together. "We can if you really want," he said. "Or we can stay here and dance and show that asshole how unimportant he is." He wasn't going to push the issue, though. He wanted Reid to stay here, but he was more than willing to go back to the hotel and spend the next several hours proving how sexy and fun Morgan thought he was.
Reid sighed and pulled Morgan close, kissing his cheek. He understood the sentiment, but it had been difficult enough to make himself dance, and now he felt too sober and not at all in the mood again. "Let's go back to the room and dance there," he said, hoping the suggestion he was trying to put into his voice came through.
"Mmm." Morgan tightened his arm around Reid and leaned into the kiss for a moment, then pulled back, his unhappy expression melting into a smile. "All right, if you promise to dance at the room, I guess I'm okay with that." He grinned and steered Reid off the dance floor with an arm around his shoulders. "Finally, you're gonna let me drive the convertible."
Reid laughed, and supposed he probably should, considering he'd had more to drink. "That was the plan all along, wasn't it?" he teased.
"Aw, man, you figured it out," Morgan said. They stepped out into the parking lot and he took a deep breath.
Reid smiled and fished the keys out of his pocket as the walked, handing them over and thinking back to what Ryan had said. "You know, I think I'd really like to meet Manson," he said absently.
"Seriously? Man, I got no desire to do a custodial with him. Gives me the creeps." Morgan glanced at him. "Then again, you are the man who talked Chester Hardwick out of killing Hotch." He still felt a little glow of pride every time he thought about that. Reid had tried to keep it quiet, but Hotch had told on himself.
Reid shrugged, sort of wishing that Hotch had kept all of that quiet--partially because it had been terrifying, but also because he was a little protective of Hotch (it had clearly been a weak point for him). "I was bluffing," he murmured, willing to let the subject drop.
"So what, you'd like to do a custodial with him, or just meet him, see what he's like, what?" Morgan said, turning the car on. He waited for Reid to get his seatbelt fastened, then pulled out, heading for the hotel.
"Both," Reid said, and smiled at Morgan even as he tried uselessly to get his hair to stay behind his ears as they drove. He didn't like convertibles, he decided. At least on Morgan's bike the helmet kept his hair from flying in his face. "I could spend weeks at Corcoran, though. I mean, Manson, Juan Corona, Patrick Kearney... I wish 'Pegleg' Morgan was still alive."
Morgan shook his head, smiling, and glanced over at Reid in between watching traffic. "Have I ever told you that I love that you're a genius? And how excited you get about things?" He glanced at Reid again. "And how sexy you are when your hair's in your face?" He laughed.
Reid glowered at Morgan, then slumped in his seat. "Shut up," he said, his tone sharp, even if he couldn't quite banish the hint of playfulness in it.
The trip back to the hotel was filled with casual conversation about Kearney's twenty-eight known murders. When they got back to the room, Reid slipped off his shoes and reached to pull off his tie before he remembered Morgan had forced him not to wear one that morning when they left to see Reid's mother. "You don't think I should cut my hair?" he asked.
Morgan slid his arms around Reid and ran his fingers up into Reid's hair. "I love your hair," he murmured, and kissed Reid slowly. "I think you're gorgeous." He stroked his fingers through Reid's hair, sorting out the tangles from the wind. "Mmm. Sexy genius."
Reid made a face when Morgan caught a particularly nasty tangle. "We're putting the top up the rest of the trip... or I'm buying a helmet."
Morgan snorted. "Or you could pull it back when we're driving," he said, kissing Reid's ear. "What's the point of a convertible if we don't have the top down?"
"The front falls out," Reid said, dismissing the idea of pulling his hair back. He leaned into the touch of Morgan's lips. "I'm not really sure. You're the one who wanted the convertible in the first place. I was fine with the sedan."
"We're on vacation," Morgan said, sliding his other hand down to cup Reid's ass. "We need a convertible to enjoy the sunshine. They're fun."
Reid laughed, his arms sliding around Morgan's waist. "Right. We're on vacation; let's abandon all sense!" He kissed Morgan's cheek and then shook his head. "Remind me again how we managed to fall in love?"
"Because you needed someone impractical in your life," Morgan said, smiling broadly at him. "And because I get all hot when you talk geeky to me." He kissed Reid again.
Reid realized a moment too late how easily 'love' had slipped off his tongue by the way Morgan smiled at him, but a moment later he decided he didn't care. They'd come a long way from when Reid's 'geeky talk' was a thorn in Morgan's side. Reid deepened the kiss, cinching his arms around Morgan's waist together. "Maybe you're right... About the first part." He let out a contented sigh. "I think I needed this for longer than I knew."
Morgan hummed and buried his forehead against Reid's neck. "I'm glad you've finally admitted that," he said lightly. He kissed Reid's skin. "Now, how about we go to bed and I thank you for dancing with me earlier?" Still smiling, he guided Reid toward the bed.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-09-11 12:03 am (UTC)Thank you, dear! :D