Two Existentialists | S.R.

1

Hello folks. I have decided to add gifs (I got the idea from another fic but cannot remember the name for the life of me so please lmk if you think you know!)

I'll add a ** where it applies!

You walked into your lecture hall. Your professor smiled at you as you sat down in the second row, opening your notebook. Most everyone else used laptops or tablets but you liked being what they called 'old-fashioned.'

Your professor began your lecture by explaining that you had two guest lecturers from the FBI. You rolled your eyes, knowing that two alpha males were going to come in and talk to everyone about the amazing-ness that was their day job. They would cater to the men in the room and blatantly disregard the women, their egos would be too big, and they'd probably be fit as fiddles.

You refused to look up as they entered, not bothering to care. They began to introduce themselves and you crossed your arms, smirking lightly. An older man stood at the podium, with what looked like his assistant behind him. This was not who you expected, but he was still probably egotistical and testosterone filled bully who enjoyed taking his anger out on people by claiming it was interrogation.

"I'm Special Agent David Rossi. I was a founder of the BAU - the behavioral analysis unit. I recently came back to the field after publishing a novel about my time as a profiler. In college I majored in criminal justice, like many of you I assume, with this being the psychology of criminals."

You smiled gently, seeing that this man was not as arrogant as you imagined. You were ok with admitting your faults, but you were not often wrong with your assumptions.

The skinny man behind Agent Rossi looked up and gave the room a tight-lipped smile. "I'm Dr. Spencer Reid. I hold doctorates in chemistry, mathematics, and engineering as well as B.A.'s in psychology and sociology," he said looking around, his hand fidgeting slightly. Everyone became silent, no keys typing or pens clicking.

A girl that sat at the end of your row asked, "how old are you?" You laughed silently, thinking the same thing.

"I'm 27, as of last month I turned 27. I'm also completing an additional B.A. in philosophy. Which reminds me that I have a joke. How many existentialists does it take to screw a lightbulb?" He asked with a small laugh.

Once again the room was silent. You faintly heard Agent Rossi mutter, "Don't."

"2. One to change the light bulb and one to observe how it symbolizes an incandescent beacon of subjectivity in a netherworld of cosmic nothingness," he said. The room was silent still, until you laughed. His eyes looked up at yours in confusion.

"Wouldn't they sit in the dark and hope that the bulb decided to light again? An existentialist would never change the bulb. He would allow the darkness to exist," you questioned, leaning back in your seat, your voice monotone as if you didn't care.

But you did care. You cared that people didn't think you were too smart. That they didn't purposefully wish for you to fail. You never told anyone about your dreams for the future because of this. Because jealous people could move mountains to impede others from success.

Dr. Reid's eyes met yours, a surge of happiness filling them.** "Yeah, that's pretty good," he said before going back to explaining the psychology of a serial killer. Agent Rossi raised his eyebrow at you and smirked, turning back to the screen. You were rather intrigued by the presentation but didn't bother to write anything down. Rather, you just closed your notebook and paid attention.

As class ended, you packed your bag and walked to your professor. Dr. Panlotel, your professor, beamed at you as you approached him. "Miss Y/L/N, my star pupil, what may I do for you?"

"I had a quick question about the essay due next week. I know you asked for only 10 pages but after getting completely caught up in my argument I ended up writing 12. I just wanted to make sure that going over wouldn't cause me to lose any points," you said quickly, hoping his answer would be no. If not then you'd have to rewrite your argument and condense your thinking , and, frankly, you hated to do that.

He shook his head lightly. "Most students can't even reach my limit and you're going over. It's not a problem, I look forward to reading it. Though I'm sure it will be perfection as usual."

You smiled and nodded. "Thank you so much. See you on Monday," you said and turned towards the door. As you stepped out of the room you felt someone come up next to you.

"I see we have a philosopher on our hands?" Dr. Reid said gently, eliciting a small smile from you.

"I dabble," you teased, holding back a full on grin from taking over your face.

"Dabble as a hobby or as a college major?" he asked in response.

"Major. No offense Dr. Reid, but why are you talking to me. You don't even know my name," you said, stopping and looking at him. He mumbled something under his breath and fidgeting his fingers.

"You are the first person to ever give me a thought-provoking response to that joke. I just wanted to talk to you for some inexplicable reason," he answered truthfully.

"Have you never met another philosophy major before?" you asked bluntly, causing his smile to drop. You sighed lightly. "3 PhD's before 27 is impressive, I'll be 25 when I finish my first one."

"I actually finished my 3rd PhD at 21," he said matter-of-factly, causing you to smile.

"Of course you did," you muttered.

"What do you want a PhD in?" he asked, walking with you to your next class.

"Neuroscience. I want to run a behavioral research lab about the scientific cues behind serial killers and psychopaths," you said, realizing this was one of the first times you had ever told anyone. Yet somehow you felt like it was ok to tell this man, even though you had just met.

"That's one of the most brilliant things I have ever heard," he replied, causing your smile to turn into a grin. "Any idea where you want to go for graduate school?"

"I'm between MIT, Caltech, and Georgetown right now. The programs are insane but it just depends on which one gives a more livable stipend. I'm leaning towards MIT though. Because they," you said before being cut off.

"Receive the most NIH funding in behavioral neuroscience in the United States," he continued, pushing his hair back with his hands. "Sorry, I interrupt people sometimes. Bad habit."

"It's ok. That big brain of yours has to do something. Anyway, I have a neuroanatomy lecture in fifteen minutes. But it was really nice to meet you," you said as you turned to walk away.

"Wait," he called, making you turn around. "You told me everything about yourself but you didn't give me a name."

You smirked. "You're a profiler right? Figure it out," you replied as you walked away leaving him standing on the stairs of the building.