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Fandom: Criminal Minds
Characters: Derek/Spencer
Summary: Spencer tries to explain to Derek why he likes tickling.
A/N: Look at me resurrecting my ‘verse! I guess you can read this independently, but it does reference this fic and takes place in that universe. I hope you enjoy!
Words: 1.5k
(Read it on ao3)
Sometimes, when they’d both fallen quiet, or if they’d steered their conversation toward an especially vulnerable topic, Derek would notice Spencer’s reluctance to meet his eyes. It was cute to see him become so shy. Not discomfort or even awkwardness, but simply shyness, something Spencer rarely displayed before, well, everything. The case had forced out embarrassment, and while Derek enjoyed seeing the way his blush spread out across his face, it was different when he was just feeling shy as opposed to being embarrassed. Embarrassment came without consent. The case, the capture, the inevitable discussions about tickling and what it meant to him: that had embarrassed him.
But now? The pinkening of his cheeks and the avoidance of eye contact only spoke of timidness, and Derek was in love with it. The shyness that came because he allowed himself to be put in a vulnerable position and trusting Derek enough to not take advantage of it in the wrong way.
“Look at me.” He placed his fingertips on Spencer’s chin, tapping it gently to get him to look up. He knew it tickled him. He knew he would jerk away with a panicked giggle each time, and yet Spencer never asked him to stop doing it. Derek had briefly wondered if he avoided his gaze just for him to do it, but while the notion was incredibly endearing he had a feeling it wasn’t the only reason.
“I’m looking,” Spencer said now, having of course let out that laugh Derek had been waiting for.
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