Fic: A Lion in Paris
The lion was sated beyond all recognition. He’d had his fill tonight; of food, alcohol, and fighting. However, the lion was not satisfied in one regard, he’d not quite had enough of one Spencer Reid. They’d had a wonderful dinner with Pen, laughing and talking, letting Spencer in on some of their secret jokes and creating some new ones for the three of them to share. Both men laughed from the sideline as Pen flirted and schmoozed her way into free dinner and wine for the three of them. After dinner was done Pen was whisked away by a very excited owner to prepare for her show.
“So Spencer, I haven’t asked you; have you ever been here before?” Morgan asked trying what he felt like was desperately to restart the conversation after the loss of their blonde companion.
“Never, this is a great place. It’s very eclectic and modern.” Spencer answered fingering his wine glass, whether in an awkward gesture or mindlessly Derek couldn’t tell.
“You’ll like it even more once Pen gets onstage; she really makes this place shine.” Derek said proudly eyes glancing towards the stage as a stage hand placed Pen’s music on the piano. Looking back Derek could see Spencer’s long fingers clearly still worrying the edge of his glass. “It doesn’t make you nervous does it?”
“Seeing Penelope perform? No, I’m excited after what you’ve told me it should be an excellent show.” Spencer said smiling shyly at Derek, fingers falling to the top of the table and moving over his fork.
“No I meant about where you’re at. This…it doesn’t bother you?” Derek asked gesturing around the room.
Spencer truly looked around for the first time. The space was dark and mellow, just stage lights from the piano and candles on the tables to illuminate everyone eating and laughing with friends and lovers. The people were difficult to see, smoke from cigarettes heavy in the air. However, even the smoke from Spencer’s own cigarette didn’t stop him from seeing the ‘it’ Derek was talking about. Almost all of the patrons of the restaurant were paired off into couples, very intimate couples, very intimate homosexual couples.
“Oh,” Spencer proclaimed softly. Derek could see the surprise in his eyes, the revelation. Derek watched as Spencer took a new look around the room, using a more discerning eye to spot the differences of this establishment to every other one he’d been in before. “No, it doesn’t bother me.”
“Or at least it didn’t before I put my foot in my mouth telling you where you were.” Derek said sensing Spencer’s hesitation to say that he was fine, that it didn’t bother him. “You can’t stop moving around, something’s making you nervous.”
“It’s not the place, I’m fine with it.” Spencer said moving his hands into his lap.
“Then what is it?” Derek asked looking Spencer in the eye and seeing his apprehension tried again. “I’ve told you a lot about me tonight; can’t I understand this one little thing?”
“I figured that out you didn’t tell me.”
“Spencer…” Derek said placing his own hands on the table palm up in a gesture of trust.
“You.” Spencer said raising his head and all of his self-confidence suddenly pouring from him. “You make me nervous. It’s not that you’re a homosexual-they don’t scare me Derek, it’s not that you could probably kill me just by looking at me-as much as I don’t want to die I’m not afraid to do it either, and it’s not that you’re black- I couldn’t care less. You make me nervous because I’m attracted to you. You are physical perfection, everything a man should be. That makes me nervous because for the first time in my life I’m actually attracted to someone who seems to feel the same way about me.”
Derek tried to interrupt, to stop Spencer and tell him that he did feel the same. That Spencer was beyond anything Derek had even imagined; intelligent, amazing sense of style and self, beautiful. However Penelope used her usual horrendous sense of timing to come onto stage and address the audience.
“Hello everyone, my name in Penelope Garcia and I would like to sing you a little song. It’s called ‘Die Alone’ and I’d like to dedicate it to a friend of mine who needs to sort some things out right now. Oh and Spencer darling could you play for me?” Penelope asked putting her hand above her eyes searching for her table in the dark. “The piano player went home and this one needs music.”
Spencer stood and walked to the stage hopping up and walking to the piano deftly, kissing Pen on the cheek on his way over. Reading over the music quickly he began softly playing letting his hands lead him through the cords and melody. Pen smiled slowly at him turning to look at the audience, fully resting into performance.
I woke up this morning with a funny taste in my head
Spackled some butter over my whole grain bread
Something tastes different, maybe it's my tongue
Something tastes different, suddenly I'm not so young
I'm just a stranger, even to myself
A re-arranger of the proverbial bookshelf
Don't be a fool girl, tell him you love him
Don't be a fool girl, you're not above him
I never thought I could love anyone but myself
Now I know I can't love anyone but you
You make me think that maybe I won't die alone
Maybe I won't die alone
Kiss the boys as they walk by, call me their baby
But little do they know, I'm just a maybe
Maybe my baby will be the one to leave me sore
Maybe my baby will settle the score
I never thought I could love anyone but myself
Now I know I can't love anyone but you
You make me think that maybe I won't die alone
Maybe I won't die alone
What have I become?
Something soft and really quite dumb
'Cuz I've fallen, oh, 'cuz I've fall-fallen, oh 'cuz I've fall-fall-fallen
So far away from the place where I started from
I never thought I could love anyone
I never thought I could love anyone
I never thought I could love anyone,
But you, but you, but you, but you, but you
But you make me think that maybe I won't die alone
Maybe I won't die alone
Spencer played beautifully. The first thing that struck Derek, even before he began hitting the keys, was how beautiful he looked in profile; sleeves rolled up past the elbows, forearms defined and lithe, his hair hanging down in front of his face as he concentrated on the music before him. Then he struck that first note and Derek was officially in awe at the man before him. Spencer played with such ease that it flowed, an amazing pattern; beat after beat tearing out his heart. Derek couldn’t even concentrate on Pen singing, he heard the words and recognized how well they complemented Spencer’s playing; but that’s all it was. His entire universe was now thought of in relation to this song being played like water slowly flowing across a mirror.
Derek felt like he couldn’t hold onto the moment long enough, the song was ending and he wished it could go on forever. Just as Derek was worshipping those last few notes from both Spencer and Pen; the young piano player looked out into the audience. The eyes searched for a moment fighting with the stage lights for vision then rested on their target. Derek knew then that moment was the most powerful thing he’d ever experienced, and while he couldn’t imagine anything more moving he was sure Spencer would find a way to make something move him even more; maybe past the point his body could handle.
“Thank you everyone, I love playing here and I’m sure my new friend Spencer will be back sometime to give you all a treat.” Pen said over the applause and took Spencer’s elbow leading him backstage.
Derek stood from the table, knowing that Pen and Spencer would be waiting for him on the stairs, as Pen usually did after performing. She liked to think that never greeting an audience personally made her appear mysterious, and for the most part it worked. Pen had a reputation for appearing at random, never booking performances, and having extremely little contact with her fans. Derek waved to the waiter as he walked out into the night. Spotting Pen he quickly walked over and silently pulled her into his arms.
“Wonderful as always, baby girl.” Derek said swinging Pen around to look into her eyes.
“Why thank you Derek, you know how you inspire me.” Pen winked at Derek taking his elbow just like she had taken Spencer’s and lead them down the stairs. “Spencer is catching a cab for us, isn’t that nice?”
“It’s very nice, but I think he’ll have to catch two. You know you live on completely the opposite side of Paris from me.” Derek commented kissing Pen on the cheek-unknowingly on the same spot Spencer had kissed earlier in the night- as he saw Spencer waiting with the cab down in the street.
“Fine, don’t come home with me tonight. You disappoint me Derek Morgan.” Pen said kissing him back and getting into the cab. “You better make it up to me.”
“I will, you know I will.” Derek said waving goodbye as the cab pulled away from the curb and down the street towards Pen’s side of town. “So where do you live, Spencer?”
“I live on Rue Fresnel, just off Avenue de New York.” Spencer answered raising his hand once again to catch another cab.
“Perfect we can share.” Derek said stepping down to slip into the cab.
-------------------
“I had a wonderful time tonight.” Spencer said finding his tongue in English, as to not be overheard by the driver whose taxi Derek and he were currently sitting in.
“You speak English very well, and you’re welcome. I still haven’t bought you dinner yet though, Pen got that for us.” Derek said teasingly.
“That is true; you’ll have to take me somewhere sometime.” Spencer said turning his head towards the cab window where his small house was. “Come and see me sometime, or call”
“I will” Derek said nodding so Spencer would know that he could get out of the cab now without offense. “And just so you know, I think you are the most beautiful man I have ever seen, and am more attracted to you than I’ve ever been to another person.”
Spencer stopped in his tracks as he walked across the sidewalk. Turning around with a grin on his face he readjusted his blazer and winked at Derek a devilish look on his face.
“You’re a brave man Derek Morgan, a very brave man.”
Chapter Five
“So Spencer, I haven’t asked you; have you ever been here before?” Morgan asked trying what he felt like was desperately to restart the conversation after the loss of their blonde companion.
“Never, this is a great place. It’s very eclectic and modern.” Spencer answered fingering his wine glass, whether in an awkward gesture or mindlessly Derek couldn’t tell.
“You’ll like it even more once Pen gets onstage; she really makes this place shine.” Derek said proudly eyes glancing towards the stage as a stage hand placed Pen’s music on the piano. Looking back Derek could see Spencer’s long fingers clearly still worrying the edge of his glass. “It doesn’t make you nervous does it?”
“Seeing Penelope perform? No, I’m excited after what you’ve told me it should be an excellent show.” Spencer said smiling shyly at Derek, fingers falling to the top of the table and moving over his fork.
“No I meant about where you’re at. This…it doesn’t bother you?” Derek asked gesturing around the room.
Spencer truly looked around for the first time. The space was dark and mellow, just stage lights from the piano and candles on the tables to illuminate everyone eating and laughing with friends and lovers. The people were difficult to see, smoke from cigarettes heavy in the air. However, even the smoke from Spencer’s own cigarette didn’t stop him from seeing the ‘it’ Derek was talking about. Almost all of the patrons of the restaurant were paired off into couples, very intimate couples, very intimate homosexual couples.
“Oh,” Spencer proclaimed softly. Derek could see the surprise in his eyes, the revelation. Derek watched as Spencer took a new look around the room, using a more discerning eye to spot the differences of this establishment to every other one he’d been in before. “No, it doesn’t bother me.”
“Or at least it didn’t before I put my foot in my mouth telling you where you were.” Derek said sensing Spencer’s hesitation to say that he was fine, that it didn’t bother him. “You can’t stop moving around, something’s making you nervous.”
“It’s not the place, I’m fine with it.” Spencer said moving his hands into his lap.
“Then what is it?” Derek asked looking Spencer in the eye and seeing his apprehension tried again. “I’ve told you a lot about me tonight; can’t I understand this one little thing?”
“I figured that out you didn’t tell me.”
“Spencer…” Derek said placing his own hands on the table palm up in a gesture of trust.
“You.” Spencer said raising his head and all of his self-confidence suddenly pouring from him. “You make me nervous. It’s not that you’re a homosexual-they don’t scare me Derek, it’s not that you could probably kill me just by looking at me-as much as I don’t want to die I’m not afraid to do it either, and it’s not that you’re black- I couldn’t care less. You make me nervous because I’m attracted to you. You are physical perfection, everything a man should be. That makes me nervous because for the first time in my life I’m actually attracted to someone who seems to feel the same way about me.”
Derek tried to interrupt, to stop Spencer and tell him that he did feel the same. That Spencer was beyond anything Derek had even imagined; intelligent, amazing sense of style and self, beautiful. However Penelope used her usual horrendous sense of timing to come onto stage and address the audience.
“Hello everyone, my name in Penelope Garcia and I would like to sing you a little song. It’s called ‘Die Alone’ and I’d like to dedicate it to a friend of mine who needs to sort some things out right now. Oh and Spencer darling could you play for me?” Penelope asked putting her hand above her eyes searching for her table in the dark. “The piano player went home and this one needs music.”
Spencer stood and walked to the stage hopping up and walking to the piano deftly, kissing Pen on the cheek on his way over. Reading over the music quickly he began softly playing letting his hands lead him through the cords and melody. Pen smiled slowly at him turning to look at the audience, fully resting into performance.
I woke up this morning with a funny taste in my head
Spackled some butter over my whole grain bread
Something tastes different, maybe it's my tongue
Something tastes different, suddenly I'm not so young
I'm just a stranger, even to myself
A re-arranger of the proverbial bookshelf
Don't be a fool girl, tell him you love him
Don't be a fool girl, you're not above him
I never thought I could love anyone but myself
Now I know I can't love anyone but you
You make me think that maybe I won't die alone
Maybe I won't die alone
Kiss the boys as they walk by, call me their baby
But little do they know, I'm just a maybe
Maybe my baby will be the one to leave me sore
Maybe my baby will settle the score
I never thought I could love anyone but myself
Now I know I can't love anyone but you
You make me think that maybe I won't die alone
Maybe I won't die alone
What have I become?
Something soft and really quite dumb
'Cuz I've fallen, oh, 'cuz I've fall-fallen, oh 'cuz I've fall-fall-fallen
So far away from the place where I started from
I never thought I could love anyone
I never thought I could love anyone
I never thought I could love anyone,
But you, but you, but you, but you, but you
But you make me think that maybe I won't die alone
Maybe I won't die alone
Spencer played beautifully. The first thing that struck Derek, even before he began hitting the keys, was how beautiful he looked in profile; sleeves rolled up past the elbows, forearms defined and lithe, his hair hanging down in front of his face as he concentrated on the music before him. Then he struck that first note and Derek was officially in awe at the man before him. Spencer played with such ease that it flowed, an amazing pattern; beat after beat tearing out his heart. Derek couldn’t even concentrate on Pen singing, he heard the words and recognized how well they complemented Spencer’s playing; but that’s all it was. His entire universe was now thought of in relation to this song being played like water slowly flowing across a mirror.
Derek felt like he couldn’t hold onto the moment long enough, the song was ending and he wished it could go on forever. Just as Derek was worshipping those last few notes from both Spencer and Pen; the young piano player looked out into the audience. The eyes searched for a moment fighting with the stage lights for vision then rested on their target. Derek knew then that moment was the most powerful thing he’d ever experienced, and while he couldn’t imagine anything more moving he was sure Spencer would find a way to make something move him even more; maybe past the point his body could handle.
“Thank you everyone, I love playing here and I’m sure my new friend Spencer will be back sometime to give you all a treat.” Pen said over the applause and took Spencer’s elbow leading him backstage.
Derek stood from the table, knowing that Pen and Spencer would be waiting for him on the stairs, as Pen usually did after performing. She liked to think that never greeting an audience personally made her appear mysterious, and for the most part it worked. Pen had a reputation for appearing at random, never booking performances, and having extremely little contact with her fans. Derek waved to the waiter as he walked out into the night. Spotting Pen he quickly walked over and silently pulled her into his arms.
“Wonderful as always, baby girl.” Derek said swinging Pen around to look into her eyes.
“Why thank you Derek, you know how you inspire me.” Pen winked at Derek taking his elbow just like she had taken Spencer’s and lead them down the stairs. “Spencer is catching a cab for us, isn’t that nice?”
“It’s very nice, but I think he’ll have to catch two. You know you live on completely the opposite side of Paris from me.” Derek commented kissing Pen on the cheek-unknowingly on the same spot Spencer had kissed earlier in the night- as he saw Spencer waiting with the cab down in the street.
“Fine, don’t come home with me tonight. You disappoint me Derek Morgan.” Pen said kissing him back and getting into the cab. “You better make it up to me.”
“I will, you know I will.” Derek said waving goodbye as the cab pulled away from the curb and down the street towards Pen’s side of town. “So where do you live, Spencer?”
“I live on Rue Fresnel, just off Avenue de New York.” Spencer answered raising his hand once again to catch another cab.
“Perfect we can share.” Derek said stepping down to slip into the cab.
-------------------
“I had a wonderful time tonight.” Spencer said finding his tongue in English, as to not be overheard by the driver whose taxi Derek and he were currently sitting in.
“You speak English very well, and you’re welcome. I still haven’t bought you dinner yet though, Pen got that for us.” Derek said teasingly.
“That is true; you’ll have to take me somewhere sometime.” Spencer said turning his head towards the cab window where his small house was. “Come and see me sometime, or call”
“I will” Derek said nodding so Spencer would know that he could get out of the cab now without offense. “And just so you know, I think you are the most beautiful man I have ever seen, and am more attracted to you than I’ve ever been to another person.”
Spencer stopped in his tracks as he walked across the sidewalk. Turning around with a grin on his face he readjusted his blazer and winked at Derek a devilish look on his face.
“You’re a brave man Derek Morgan, a very brave man.”
Chapter Five