It’s referenced in the show a lot how Reid gets an automatic iq cut when he talks to a pretty girl; so can we get some headcanons about awkward, fumbling, nervous Reid talking to his crush. Please:).
The first time you meet he almost spills punch all over you.
You’re at a costume party at Garcia’s apartment and all her coworkers are in attendance. You’re in attendance as well given you’re Garcia’s next door neighbor and she’s cat sat for you when you go out of town.
Reid and you meet in front of the table of the wide variety of snacks Garcia has set out.
Reid hasn’t been able to take his eyes off of you from the second you arrived to the party. It’s hard not to. You’re stunning and your costume is so eye catching. You’re dressed in a mermaid costume, shell bra included though you did wear a cardigan over it not comfortable with being that exposed. You made sure the skirt you fashioned into a tail is high waisted but still your cleavage is pretty apparent.
He finally works up the nerve to approach you after mentally psyching himself up for what seems like hours.
It’s not intentional it’s just like his hands start fidgeting and the cup of punch he’s holding almost flies right of his hand all over the pink shell bra you spent hours making for your costume.
Thankfully you seem to have fast reflexes since you’re able to reach out and steady his hand stopping fruit punch from escaping his plastic cup.
He stumbles over apologizing and the sweet smile you send him and your reassurances that it’s fine and “are you okay?” just make his cheeks flush.
He struggles to make small talk stumbling over asking you how you know Garcia feeling so pathetic as he can barely work the words out. He keeps smoothing back his hair and straightening his own costume as he struggles to speak fearing he’s a giant mess. he’s regretting the Mad Scientist costume he picked out now fearing the white lab coat he’s wearing is making him sweaty...or maybe that’s just his palms that are sweating.
You’re polite though he doesn’t miss the raised eyebrow at his obvious awkwardness.
He wants to drown himself in the punch bowl when Garcia approaches you a smile on her lips. “Come on it’s time for the pumpkin carving contest!”
You give him a polite smile as you walk away before Reid has a chance to say anything more.
Of course the party comes to an early end as the BAU team’s cell phones chime off one by one hinting they have a case.
Reid doesn’t even have a chance to say goodbye to you.
Everyone of course notices Reid moping.
They also noticed the clear heart-eyes he was shooting Garcia’s pretty neighbor and Reid’s hopelessly awkward attempts to interact with her.
Emily doesn’t hesitate to point out that Reid’s IQ really does plummet when he sees a pretty girl.
Reid resigns himself to never seeing you again. He’s sure you’ll be just another pretty girl he never had the nerve to actually make a move on.
He’s reluctant when Garcia and the other girls drag him out for a night at the club. He holds in his complaints though. Even if it’s a girls night sometiems Reid is still invited given that his sparse social life is a pretty well known fact among his coworkers.
He’s shocked when you approach the little round table he and the girls have settled at Garcia squealing a hello and “so happy you could make it”
The smile you shoot Reid makes his heart swoon and his IQ once again drop. “Hello Dr. Reid, good to see you again.”
He cringes realizing he didn’t even introduce himself by his first name whe you met. He’d barely stumbled through “Dr. Reid”
He speaks his voice a squeak. “Sp-pencer is fine. My name is Spencer.”
You thankfully don’t notice him mentally scolding himself for his statement.
Of course Garcia sits you by Reid and of course Garcia, JJ, and Emily make their way to the dance floor and the bar leaving him alone with you.
Reid feels his cheeks flush his hands toying with his cardigan as you make small talk with him.
Your voice is so pretty. He could listen to you talk for hours. He just wishes he could make himself speak.
When a song comes out over the loudspeaker he doesn’t miss the smile on your lips the excitement clear in your voice. “I love this song.”
Reid takes a deep breath working up courage he didn’t realize he posessed. “D-do you maybe want to dance? I mean you don’t have too, I’m not the best dancer.”
“I’d love to.” You insist taking his hand in yours making his cheeks flush even more. Your hand is so soft.
He feels his cheeks flush all the more when it hits him it’s a slow song which means slow dancing.
His brain was so caught up in his own anxiety that he hadn’t even been listening to the song. He’d just heard you say you liked the song and decided to take his shot. He hadn’t considered that this would mean slow dances.
His hands are shaking when he places them at your waist your arms wrapping around his shoulders.
He stares at his feet making you chuckle. “I won’t shoot you for stepping on my toes.”
He feels like the laugh that leaves his lips is less than attractive which makes him flush all the pinker.
You smile speaking up not missing his clear anxiety. “You seem nervous. Are you okay?”
He speaks wanting to shoot himself for his words. “Y-yeah, sorry, my coworkers say that my IQ kind of drops to sixty when I see a pretty girl.”
The smile on your lips makes him blush so hard he’s sure he’s the color of the red dress you’re wearing. Your words are a little teasing. “You think I’m pretty?”
He only manages to nod his head frantically unable to force himself to form the words sure it’ll just sound like a squeaky mess.
He finally manages to work the words out ashamed that it does sound just as squeaky as he imagined it would. “The prettiest, You’re stunning.”
He can’t wipe the love sick smile off his lips as you speak up without hesitation. “You’re not too bad looking yourself Spence. I’d say you’re pretty stunning too.”
The words give him a little boost of confidence. “Can I take you to dinner sometime?”
The smile on your lips and the “yes” that leaves you makes him swoon.
When you rest your head against his chest he feels his heart swoon all the more. His IQ may be struggling a little at the moment, but he doesn’t think anyone could blame him.
