a/n: i'm writing this as i go. there's gonna be a few errors and stuff. morgan stayed. hotch left. alvez isn't existent. also, lewis doesn't work for the bau in this AU. she left full-time for the research project in season 12. will and jj exist, but they only have henry.

As he rolled up his sleeve to check the time, a rather fancy smartwatch informed him that the time was 4:07 AM. Obviously reaching some sort of satisfaction with that reading, he took a deep breath and swiped his card to enter the FBI Building in Quantico, Virginia.

Apparently not fazed by the complete lack of life surrounding him, he confidently strode to the elevator on long legs and pressed the button labeled "6" as if it were not his first day, but his last.

If one were to check the security camera at the point in which he entered the sixth floor lobby, they would see he was seriously underdressed for whatever event he was present. Anyone arriving after he emerged from the locker room, freshly showered and in a suit and tie, however, would not observe that.

Instead, as they pushed through the glass doors to enter a forum of desks that belonged to the BAU Alpha Team, they would see a rather intimidating man sitting at a messy desk, without a hint of a smile on his face, poring through document after document, consulting something in his lap periodically whilst he typed on a computer.

And for a long time, almost two hours, he was there, doing just that. To even the first people who arrived in the bullpen at a less ungodly hour, he went oddly unnoticed. To think a man who had never set foot in that building before, let alone a man of such imposing stature, blended in so easily was a testament not the ignorance of his hypervigilant colleagues, but to his skills of camouflage and ability to stay focused.

He, however, would not be ignored for much longer. Even he did not know it yet, but it was fated to happen and in more ways than one.

Quantico, Virginia | 9:39 AM

His remarkable focus, usually an asset, was a detriment to him today as he remained unaware of both the whispers and the stares with him as their subjects. It was Dr. Spencer Reid, SSA Jennifer Jareau, and, surpisingly, SSA Derek Morgan who leaned against the Doctor's desk, contemplating who he was.

"Do you think he's who Emily thinks should replace Hotch?" asked JJ.

"Why else would he be here, then?" replied Morgan. "He even dresses like Hotch."

"I mean, a suit and tie are pretty common fashion statements around here, Derek. I remember when you used to wear them," JJ smirked.

"It was a phase, all right? Now if we're going to talk about fashion choices, let's talk about Pretty Boy here," Morgan deflected. "He went from wearing sweater vests to dress shirts with ties to a suit and tie..."

Both JJ and Morgan turned to where Reid was sitting, expecting a response. When nothing came, JJ prodded. "Spence...?"

Still, silence.

"Pretty Boy, where you at?" said Morgan a little forcefully.

Reid responded nonverbally at first. He held up a single finger, the universal sign for give me a minute. Eventually, he said, without breaking his gaze on the mystery man, "He doesn't like wearing the suit and tie. He's only wearing them to make a good impression. If I had to guess, I'd say the moment he gets out of here he switches into a t-shirt and shorts. Did you know the origin of wearing a suit and tie to work can be traced back to-"

"That's enough, Spence," JJ said, laughing. "How can you tell anyway?"

"Look at how he's constantly trying to change how the pant leg falls over his leg, indicating he's uncomfortable with how the pants fit in that region of his leg. However, I did some measurements from here, and for a man who stands roughly 6' 4" and 220 pounds, that size 42 dress pant should fit perfectly, but he's still trying to change it."

Morgan shook his head, walking away. "And here I thought you were oblivious."

Reid looked around confused and made a gesture signalling, what?

JJ had a sudden urge to touch his shoulder and quell his confusion, but she resisted. It had never happened before, even for as long as they had been best friends. Hugs, yes, but never an inexplicable desire to touch and never let go. She shook herself out of it and giggled while heading back to her desk.

Exasperated, Reid decided to ignore both shorts man and his annoying friends and get back to finishing up his paperwork for the serial murder case they'd wrapped up the other day. By BAU standards, the case was a breeze, being in and out of New Hampshire in six hours and arresting the unsub before he'd even had a chance to clean his knife off.

Dr. Spencer Reid smiled at that.

Quantico, Virginia | 10:02 AM

"Conference room, now," said Garcia, walking past the bullpen and her colleagues. All of them chorused some type of good morning greeting to Garcia, but she responded directly to Morgan with a response that should have been trademarked at this point: "I'll show you a good morning, hot stuff."

The mystery man looked up from his desk when he noticed a flurry of movement in his peripheral vision. Panicking internally, worried that they'd forget him, he rushed to smoothen out his outfit, play with his hair, and grabbed whatever he'd been reading. He rushed up the steps.

With that, the team gathered in their conference room. The shorts man showed up moments after the last two people, Prentiss and Rossi, walked in. All eyes turned to look at him, and he did nothing, stopping a good feet from the foot of the table and averting eye contact with anyone. He flipped through one of the numerous files he held in his left arm, and he spoke in a strangely fitting voice.

"I'm looking for a Unit Chief Prentiss?" He looked up then, and still not making eye contact with anything but the walls, he scanned the room.

He nodded at her when Prentiss made herself known. "That's me. You must be FIO Bell."

"That is correct, ma'am."

"Just Emily is fine, Officer Bell."

The seated team members exchanged glances among one another, and they all seemed to be thinking the same thing. FIO? Officer? Where does this guy work?"

"Ma'am?" If you looked closely into FIO Bell's eyes, and by closely, I mean CLOSELY, you'd see a sign of bewilderment. His tone conveyed it accurately, though.

"You can call me Prentiss or Emily, Bell."

"Madam Unit Chief, with all due respect, I don't think it's appropriate for me to address anyone in this room by anything but a title of respect."

Morgan raised an eyebrow at that. He was not alone.

Emily sighed. "You always were a stickler for legality and rules, although that really shouldn't have come as a surprise. Suit yourself." She turned to the team, introducing, "Everyone, this Foreign Intelligence Officer Bell. He's done more jobs than we can count."

Bell took the shortest of breaths before speaking, knowing the group of master profilers in front of him would notice everything he did. It was crucial to not show weakness. He crisply said, "Hello to you all. I'm FIO Bell, and I'm tenured here at the FBI for an unspecified amount of time. I have degrees in Psychology, International Law, Economics, Computer and Data Science. Additionally, I am certified in other courses." With that, he looked directly at someone for the first time today. He looked at Spencer.

Reid's eyes sparkled with delight. A man no older than 27, with a pool of knowledge comparable to his. He had never imagined in his wildest dreams that someone like the man standing before him would come to the FBI.

Bell looked away, and kept stating facts about himself matter-of-factly, as if he was divulging more than he wished was needed. "As Madam Unit Chief Prentiss said, I've had a lot of titles since I got recruited into law enforcement, my most recent one being a rather long tenure for me. I headed up the Interpol North America/Asia-Pacific Joint Taskforce on Operation Remedial."

JJ seemed to recognize the name. With her connections at the Pentagon, she had come to know about the biggest American Interpol involvement since 9/11. "You say that as if it's no small feat! Operation Remedial was the most efficient Interpol mission since-I don't know when!"

Bell shrugged, and JJ's smile turned into a frown. She had realized what Bell planned to say next.

"As you can probably tell, I don't fit the bill my name sets. and FIO Bell isn't my name. However, since I have LEPC Level J, I can't-"

"Share your real name with us." SSA Rossi cut in.

"That would be correct, sir. After I finished in Singapore, I was reassigned to a classified USAI/Interpol team, and that has led me here. I don't know my role here, which is where Unit Chief Prentiss will enlighten us all as to why I was transferred here."

The team noted the odd choice of words, and wondered if Bell really even wanted to be at the BAU. He made a mental note of that.

Emily obliged with his request. "FIO Bell is here to join the BAU. Our team, specifically."

There was an audible gasp from Garcia as she realized what was happening. She had a new team member, and she hadn't been able to run a background check.

The team was shocked, but Bell put up an unfazed facade. "I'm sorry if I get in the way or I'm not as effective these first few days. I flew in to Dulles, what," *here he looked at his watch* "10 hours ago and I haven't profiled since I was 23 and at Interpol Canada."

An awkward silence ensued.

Garcia finally cleared her throat and broke it. "To the case then, my furry friends."