The BAU jet is quieter than the bullpen.
Engines hum steadily beneath the floor while the team settles into the familiar rhythm of traveling between cases. Rossi is reading a report across from me, JJ is reviewing victim timelines, and Morgan is leaning back in his seat with that relaxed posture that usually means he’s about to say something unhelpful.
I’m attempting to read.
Attempting being the important word.
“Reid.”
Morgan’s voice cuts through the quiet.
I look up from the file. “Yes?”
Morgan studies me with a small grin that immediately makes me uneasy.
“You know what I’ve noticed lately?”
“That question rarely leads to productive outcomes.”
JJ glances up from her paperwork already smiling.
Morgan ignores my warning.
“You spend a lot of time looking toward Garcia’s desk.”
I blink. “That’s not statistically significant.”
Morgan raises an eyebrow. “Pretty sure it is.”
Across the aisle, Rossi lowers his report just enough to look over the top of it.
“This about the cyber analyst?” he asks casually.
I adjust my grip on the file.
“Agent Marlowe assists with investigations. Observing her work is professionally reasonable.”
Morgan lets out a quiet laugh.
“Professionally reasonable.”
JJ leans forward slightly. “Reid.”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you just ask Celeste out?”
I stare at her.
“…I’m sorry?”
Morgan gestures with one hand like the answer should be obvious.
“You’re constantly looking at her.”
“That is an exaggeration.”
“It’s not,” JJ says.
Rossi folds the report closed now, clearly interested.
“You two do have a lot in common.”
I push my glasses slightly up the bridge of my nose.
“Our professional disciplines are related but distinct.”
“That’s not what he means,” JJ says.
Morgan nods.
“You’re both quiet. Analytical. Spend most of your time thinking instead of talking.”
I hesitate.
“That does not automatically imply romantic compatibility.”
Morgan tilts his head.
“Kid, you realize you both sit in the bullpen like twenty feet apart doing the exact same thing?”
“That is an oversimplification.”
JJ smiles. “You both glance at each other and then immediately look away.”
“That has not been empirically proven.”
Morgan leans forward now, resting his elbows on his knees.
“Reid.”
“Yes?”
“How do you not see it?”
I frown slightly. “See what?”
Rossi gestures between us calmly.
“That you’re basically the same person.”
“That is statistically impossible.”
Morgan laughs again.
“You’re both awkward.”
“I am not—”
I stop.
Morgan is staring at me.
JJ is smiling.
Rossi looks entirely too amused.
“…socially atypical,” I correct.
Morgan spreads his hands.
“Exactly.”
I look down at the case file again, though the text is suddenly very difficult to focus on.
“Even if your observation were hypothetically correct,” I say carefully, “that would not necessarily indicate mutual interest.”
Morgan leans back with a grin.
“Reid.”
“Yes?”
“You realize every time Celeste walks into the bullpen you stop talking mid-sentence.”
“That is not accurate.”
JJ raises an eyebrow.
“Last Thursday you paused for twelve seconds.”
I blink.
“…You counted?”
JJ shrugs. “It was noticeable.”
Morgan points at her. “See?”
I shift slightly in my seat.
“That does not prove anything.”
Rossi chuckles quietly.
“Son, you’re nervous.”
“I am not nervous.”
Morgan folds his arms, watching me.
“You’re nervous.”
“I am processing several lines of reasoning simultaneously.”
Morgan grins wider.
“That’s nerd for nervous.”
I open my mouth to respond.
Then close it again.
Because unfortunately… he may not be entirely incorrect.
JJ leans forward again.
“She likes quiet environments.”
I glance up.
JJ continues casually.
“And books.”
Rossi adds, “Garcia mentioned Tolkien.”
My brain processes that information immediately.
“…Tolkien?”
Morgan notices.
His grin becomes dangerous.
“Oh he’s interested now.”
“That is not what—”
Morgan leans forward again.
“Kid.”
“Yes?”
“Just talk to her.”
I look down at the case file again.
The words blur slightly, thinking she likes Tolkien.
“Conversations require context."