Spencer

[just_hex]

Hex's attitude had brightened over the past weeks to the point that even the people at the hospital had noticed. No one gave him a hard time when he announced he had a boyfriend, but Caro did wink and nod and made him blush.

This week he'd lucked out and had actually gotten the weekend off...every dog had its day...and he'd made plans with Spencer. Hex had cooked, nothing terribly fancy, just some chicked and some oven baked chips, and he'd set up a new documentary in his queue. He really was itching to go out but he and Spencer had never really discussed...well, he doubted very much he'd get Spencer out to the Hoist and he wasn't too keen on going to a bar.

He met Spencer at the door with a smile, the rich scent of dinner filling his flat. The first impulse was to kiss him but Hex was always very careful, very purposeful when he touched Spencer. The last thing he wanted was to startle him.

Comments

[dr_spencer_reid]

Offering a small wave, Spencer smiled as he stepped inside. He still wasn't totally certain what he was doing. Dating was still so foreign to him, but he liked Hex a lot, and he enjoyed being with the other man- Even if he did worry sometimes that they didn't have enough in common.

He held out he flowers he'd brought in offering, looking a little unsure.

"Everyone said that I'm supposed to bring wine when I go to someone's home for dinner, but you don't drink- And I don't actually know a lot about wine. So I read up on dinner etiquette, and some of the books I read suggested bringing a floral arrangement instead. ...They're alstroemeria. They're meant to bring prosperity. They're not native to England, however. They're actually Brazilian, sometimes called Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas."

[just_hex]

"They're beautiful, Spencer," Hex said as he took them and smelled them. They were really lovely and he adored that the man had clearly put some thought into it- that he'd thought of wine and promptly chucked that idea out.

"I'm cooking. Just chicken and chips and I'm making some gravy. I love chips and gravy, yeah? It's my weakness." He liked all sorts of gravies, too. He wasn't terribly picky. Brown was good, or cream, or chicken...it didn't really matter.

"Come in, come in. Would you like tea? Or I bought some soda..."

[dr_spencer_reid]

"Oh, um, soda would be nice, thank you," Spencer smiled, nodding along with everything Hex had said.

"You know, The first marketed soft drinks appeared around the 17th century. They were made of water and lemon juice, and were sweetened with honey. In 1676, the Compagnie des Limonadiers of Paris was granted a monopoly for the sale of lemonade soft drinks. Vendors actually carried tanks of lemonade on their backs," Spencer babbled.

[just_hex]

"The things you know amaze me," Hex said warmly as he escorted Spencer in. He put the flowers aside so he could fetch a soda and a glass. Once Spencer was set up then Hex found a jar to pass for a vase and took care of the lilies.

"How has your week been? Classes and all?" he asked.

[dr_spencer_reid]

"Oh, it's been very interesting," Spencer smiled, happily chatting away about his classes for a while, and then finally bringing up something he'd been itching to share since he walked in.

"...And my old boss is here now, in London. I'm actually consulting for him at the moment. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed him until he was standing in my classroom."

[just_hex]

"What luck is that?" Hex said happily. "Maybe one day I could meet him. I'd like to meet your mates from home."

It didn't occur to him for even a moment that Spencer might not be out to his old boss.

[dr_spencer_reid]

"I'd like that," Spencer smiled. "It's better that you'll meet him here, in London. Things feel more relaxed here. He seemed more interested in socializing than he was back home."

[just_hex]

"That's brilliant," Hex smiled. He studied Spencer closely for a moment then moved in close to him to touch him again. "It's really brilliant. You look so happy. Not that you weren't happy before, but now you're positively lit up. I can't wait to meet him. What's his name?"

[dr_spencer_reid]

"His name's Aaron. Aaron Hotchner," Spencer smiled.

[just_hex]

If he had been the sort, Hex might have felt a bit jealous of the man just from the tome of Spencer's voice and the brightness of his smile. But that wasn't where Hex's mind went. Not for a moment.

"I'm so glad he's here for you. I'm so glad you're happy, Spencer. It's brilliant. He's working here, then? Did he get a new job, or...I don't even know how American law works. Does the FBI operate in England, even?"

[dr_spencer_reid]

"They have offices here, but it's only temporary, I think. ...I'd like it if he stayed though," he admitted. "You'll really like him. He's one of the most intelligent and bravest men I know."

[just_hex]

"Most intelligent? Coming from you I think that's high praise. You're the smartest man I've ever met," he replied, his voice laced with pure affection. "I'm going to have to start studying to keep up with you lot, I imagine."

[dr_spencer_reid]

"You don't have to study," Spencer assured him, taking Hex just a little too seriously, and looking confused. "You're knowledgeable, Hex. Just not about the same things, that's all."

[just_hex]

Hex smiled softly and pulled Spencer closer.

"I know that. I'm good at what I do and I know that. A bit narrow, but I'm good at it," he said. "And it means I can always learn something from you when you talk. But for now...let's get dinner on, yeah? Mmm...even though I'd gladly snog you a bit..."

He forced himself to pull away. Spencer was intoxicating in his own way and Hex had a bit of a difficult time not crowding him. His hands itched to touch Spencer any time they were together. He couldn't help how tactile he was.

[dr_spencer_reid]

Spencer blushed, still not used to being the object of someone's desire, and nodded.

"Do you need some help in the kitchen?" he offered. "I'm not much of a cook, but I'll help if I can."

[just_hex]

"We could make a salad to go with dinner? If you like. I realize you're not terribly keen on salad," he said. Something he's picked up more than anything Spencer had said outright. He could tell the man didn't fancy many vegetables, which Hex found to be a tragedy.

"Otherwise there's maybe five minutes more for the chips. Then we can eat. We can eat on the sofa if you like. They've got that Ken Burns National Parks documentary series on if you've any interest in that. I heard it's quite good."

They both knew he'd much rather watch an action movie, or even maybe a horror film. But he knew what Spencer liked and what made the other man happy made Hex happy in its own way. He would gladly watch a documentary with dinner.

[dr_spencer_reid]

Spencer perked up at that, nodding as salad was ignored in favour of watching a documentary.

"I'll find the channel," he chirped, already wandering off to do just that.

[just_hex]

Hex let Spencer deal with the entertainment and he busied himself with setting out plates and getting dinner ready. He was poised at the ready when the timer went off and the chips came out of the oven hissing ans squealing. He plated them and the chicken and topped the whole thing off with gravy, then brought it in to the sofa to Spencer.

"And dinner is served. The chips are hot so I brought a fork. And they're a bit messy, too, so...well, fork," he said as he served Spencer and settled himself in beside him.

[dr_spencer_reid]

"Thank you," Spencer said, his smile as genuine as his thanks as he took the offered plate. "It smells really good, Hex."

[just_hex]

That made him smile and he gave Spencer a nod. "Tastes good, too. Eat up and I have ice cream for dessert if you like. But you can't have it unless you eat first," he said. He started in on his own, eating a bit of chicken but then diving into the chips. He'd been craving chips and gravy for a week and had indulged twice, even, but he couldn't seem to get his fill. That was nothing new, though. Chips and gravy was his weakness. He'd even taught them to make it on Colony 34- out there on the edge of everything and he'd still been caught out in the rain with a takeaway box and a fork...

[dr_spencer_reid]

Spencer happily ate his dinner, content to be sat on Hex's sofa, watching telly and eating his favourite kind of food- The junky kind.

"Do you ever socialize with your boss?" he asked suddenly, seemingly out of the blue.

[just_hex]

"Caro? At Christmas and the like, sure," Hex said. "But not otherwise. The blokes I play football with are fun, but none of them are me superiors. I've never gone in for that sort of thing, I guess."

[dr_spencer_reid]

"That sort of thing? ...What sort of thing?" Spencer asked, looking puzzled.

[just_hex]

"Well, they're in charge, yeah? My boss, not me mate," Hex replied. "There was one Doctor who was more a mate than a boss, but for all me life I've never tried to be friendly with anyone in charge."

[dr_spencer_reid]

"I've always been friendly with people above me. Hotch, my teachers, Gideon... And I'm hoping now that he's here, Hotch and I can be social even more often."