Reid is not okay. Everyone can see it, everyone knows about it, everyone just... pretends. A tiny, spiteful part of you almost feels victorious that the BAU's golden boy wasn't so golden, that his shine had been tarnished, except this was far more serious than Reid making a mistake on a case. He was in the process of developing a serious drug problem and no one was making any move to stop it from happening.

The Hankel case had fucked all of them up, Reid more than most. the entire team was feeling the effects of Reid's kidnapping, of almost losing an irreplaceable member of their team. You're pretty sure you never want to see another dog ever again. The weeks following the case had left you all oddly quiet, trying to piece yourselves back together. but the puzzle couldn't be finished, pieces were missing, because Spencer Reid was not at all himself.

He'd become more aggressive towards the team, mainly yourself, you notice. Small comments that were once insightful turn snide and then straight up mean. The team reacts differently to Reid's newfound nastiness. JJ treads more carefully around him, Garcia is overtly nicer towards him, the rest of them let him get away with it, not wanting to upset him further. You get angry. You don't understand why Reid doesn't just fight his personal demons instead of taking it out on you. What was once unfriendly bickering between the two of you turns into all out war and it gets so bad that Hotch has to haul you, individually, into his office.

Apparently calling Reid a 'fuckwit with the emotional intelligence of a bendy straw' in front of local law enforcement on a case is frowned upon by the FBI.

At least, the one benefit of this new development in you and Reid's relationship is that Gideon and Hotch seem to have given up the idea of sending the two of you off to bond in the field.

It's starting to get ridiculous, the pseudo-war you have going on in the office. Reid calls an idea of yours stupid in front of everyone, you 'accidentally' spill coffee on his just completed paperwork. He deliberately shoves past you, you replace the sugar with salt and watch him put it in his coffee. He calls you a bitch, you steal his coffee mug, knowing he gets too freaked out by germs to just use someone else's.

It's occurred to you that a lot of your revenge is coffee based.

You take Reid's case files and hide them to waste his time, he steals all your pens so that you can't fill out your own paperwork. You deliberately close the elevator doors so he has to wait for the next one, he starts blasting music at 3 am to wake you up. You start a rumour that he shat himself while at a crime scene, he tells everyone that he'd overheard your ex-boyfriend breaking up with you because you'd cheated.

You were both effectively ruining each others personal and professional lives, and it didn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. The name calling and bullying was escalating to highly personal insults and low blows. Honestly you were starting to become ashamed of your actions but you couldn't stop, and it seems Reid wouldn't either.

Even though your feelings of hatred toward Reid had tapered off after his kidnapping, his asshole behaviour was not something you were about to let slide. Besides, not hating him doesn't mean you have to like him.

"Did you take my case files?" Reid is towering over you while you're working at your desk, unfortunately located right next to his. "I can't find my case files and you're the only kleptomaniac here."

"No. Fuck off." You wonder if he's just calling you a kleptomaniac as an insult, or if he's profiled you well enough to figure out that you really did have a stealing problem when you were fifteen. It was mostly a ploy to get your parents attention, and when it didn't work you had turned to other methods of acting out.

He grabs your shoulder and turns you to face him. You roll your eyes. Reid seemed to be getting physical with you more and more these days. If he wasn't careful you'd end up punching him in the face.

"Seriously Y/N, stop being a little bitch and give my files!" He says loud enough for Hotch to stick his head out his office, distracted by our chaos.

"You two. My office. Now." Hotch orders, and the two of you wince.

"Uh oh, looks like someone's getting it trouble with Dad!" Morgan laughs, as the two of you trail off to Hotch's office.

"Take a seat, both of you." Hotch says sternly, and you both drop into the chairs before his desk. "This has to stop. I don't care what petty rivalry the two of you have going on, but keep it out of the field and out of the office. You're starting to cause issues and that is the last thing the BAU needs right now. I will not hesitate to transfer one or both of you if you don't stop this childish nonsense. Am I clear?"

We both mutter affirmations and flee from his office. Of course, you knew his threat of transfer essentially applied just to you rather than Reid. He'd been here longer than you had, was literally a genius, and Gideon's golden boy, handpicked for the team. While you might have your last name and father's position at the Bureau on your side, it would not be enough to keep you in the BAU if push came to shove.

"I'll stop if you stop." You sigh at Reid, not looking him in the eyes.

He snorts. " Whatever, Y/N. Just tell me where my files are."

"...Taped under your chair." You watch him almost run, his silly little run with his too skinny frame flailing about, and pull the files from underneath his seat.

"How did you even…" He mutters and you smirk, knowing you'd outsmarted him this time.

"You were in the bathroom and I told Morgan I'd set him up with a friend of mine if he didn't spill the beans." Grinning you turn to Morgan, "By the way, getting caught by Dad means our deal's off."

"Aw shit, and I really wanted a date this weekend without having to do any of the work." Morgan laughs and you join in. Reid just stands there with a weird look on his face, as if he can't figure out whether to be annoyed or not.

"Anyways, gotta get back to work, Baby Genius! You got a lot of files to catch up with there!" You give him a fake smile and return to your own desk.

Of course Reid had a lot of files - you'd slipped at least three of yours and Morgan's into his pile while he was away.