So this is a Morgan/Reid friendship piece, slash if you squint. I think this is probably my happiest story yet, which is kind of sad. ;)
Archetypal Associations
Light-Dark: Light usually suggest hope, renewal, or intellectual illumination; darkness implies the unknown, ignorance, or despair.
The 21st century had brought with it a wave of archetypal rebellion. Books and movies were appearing everywhere with the typical light-dark roles reversed. Darkness was considered good, comfortable, simple. Light could be deceiving and harsh. Reid could relate.
The team always thought of their job as fighting darkness, bringing light back into people's lives. It was all figurative, of course, but now more than ever Reid found himself questioning the prejudice against darkness.
Because now Reid hid in the darkness. What was once something he feared had become a source of comfort and escape. Reid huddled in the corner of his bedroom, his thin frame shaking with pain. All of the blinds were closed, but it was the middle of the day and the harsh sunlight found its way into the room.
Even after turning off his phone and shutting the blinds, the light and noise of the outside attacked Reid, making his already excruciating headache worse. He couldn't concentrate enough to even wonder if he should contact the team, tell them he was taking a sick day. Reid didn't take sick days.
There was a pounding on the door, a pounding in his head. A whimper escaped Reid's lips as the door flew open with a bang. Someone was talking to him. Morgan was talking to him.
"You're going to be alright Reid, let's get you to a doctor, come on," Morgan tried to help Reid to his feet and watched in horror as his friend collapsed, sobbing.
If it had been anyone else, Reid probably would have refused the medicine. Or maybe he the pain was too intense for him to remember his past with painkillers. Either way, Reid choked down the medicine Morgan gave him. He looked up at Morgan with an expression of pain too to strong for anyone to endure, Morgan held him, whispering softly, praying the headache would pass. Of all of them, it was unfair that sweet, innocent Reid would be the one cursed with this pain.
But Morgan would help him. He would stay with Reid through this, just like he did after Tobias and after Prentiss' death. Morgan would watch out for Reid, and Reid knew he would be alright.