Title: Five Times Spencer Reid Kept His Hair, and One Time He Didn't
Author: Bow (bowie28 )
Pairing: None / Reid-centric (or pre-slash Hotch/Reid)
Spoiler: Up to "The Internet is Forever"
Rating: PG-13
Characters: The Reids, random dude, Amanda, Jack Hotchner, Erin Strauss
Beta: runriggers
Word count: 3,759
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot(s).
Summary: Why Reid finally had his hair cut.
Author's Note: By default I'm a Hotch/Reid fan, but this can also be read as a general Reid-centric story. Be kind and review?
Five Times Spencer Reid Kept His Hair, and One Time He Didn't
(1)
Spencer Reid wasn't looking forward to it anymore than he wasn't looking forward to the Bureau's drug test, but at least he didn't dread it as much as he had the first few times. Awkwardness aside, a family dinner reminded him significantly less of his own weaknesses.
His mom had always been an opinionated person, and as much as he wanted to say that he was no momma's boy, listening to her talk still had soothing effects on him. His father, on the other hand, had always been a listener, but hearing, listening, and actually sticking it out were three different things. For that it would take a lot more than a handful of get-togethers for Spencer to share anything with the man other than his thoughts on current events or weather.
So when his father made a comment on how unusually hot it was this time of year in the great state of Nevada, Spencer recited the statistics on Earth's climate cycles, refuting typical (but understandable) misconceptions about global warming when argued. Soon enough Spencer realized his father wasn't interested in winning the argument at all (something Spencer found almost alien given the nature of his conversations with his mom). His father, as it turned out, was only (in so many words) suggesting that in this kind of weather, it would be more logical for Spencer to keep his hair a few (or ten) inches shorter. Spencer doubted the weather had much to do with it. At least not as much as the fact that Spencer was his son, and no son of William Reid should look like a hippie.
Talking about hypocrites.
"He looks just fine," his mom spoke in her exaggerated defense, reaching for Spencer's shoulder to make him face her. "It's a bit longer than usual," she said, examining, tucking the stray locks behind his ear. "It just needs a little combing."
"Mom!" Spencer warded off his mom's hand, something he'd had a good deal of practice in junior high, when his father had still dropped him off and his mom could still tell time.
His mom wouldn't budge. Spencer turned (instinctively) for help, but like twenty years before, his father just watched, showed no attempts to come to his son's rescue.
"And when it gets too hot, he can put it up in a ponytail."
At twenty-nine, Spencer knew better (and was now fast enough) to duck his mom's other hand that was moving dangerously close to the other side of his head.
"Mom!"
That was when he heard a laugh. His father was laughing. He wondered if he inherited his father's laugh the way he wondered if he inherited his mom's brain.
"Diana, you're humiliating the boy."
His mom looked amused but backed away. Spencer kept the distance just in case. One couldn't be too careful, especially with moms.
"And I'm not a boy anymore, Dad."
It still sounded foreign even though he'd said it enough times in the past year. Spencer hadn't made a big deal out of it. After all it was merely a word, a term assigned to give something meaning. Still, it left a brief silence behind, a moment of reflection, and he knew his father felt it too.
"Anyway, I like it," his mom said with a bright wide smile. "It's you."
Her hands found his neck and cheek again, and as much as Spencer wanted, he couldn't bring himself to back away from the touch. He didn't want to.
"Why mess with perfection."
That and her trademark wink, as always, broke him. He felt a smile blooming on his face, betraying him, but he didn't mind much. He felt warm and loved. It was times like these that being his mom's precious little boy was worth all the humiliations in the world.
Even so, Spencer was grateful when his father launched into the usual 'You're always babying him' lecture that no doubt got his mom's full attention.
He took this opportunity to turn and pick up a pink box.
"Time for dessert," he said, presenting his mom her favorite pie.
