Rooms

Alexandria, Virginia -- October 21, 2000

Dana Scully stood in the open doorway of Fox Mulder's kitchen and stared. Her first thought should have been, "get out your gun and cover him," but instead it was, "damn, he's beautiful."

Alex Krycek stood barefoot, dressed only in button fly Levi's; his ass was doing a poor job of holding up the well-worn unbuttoned denim. Sometime in the last year-and-a-half, he'd allowed his black hair to grow from Special Forces short to a puddle of lustrous waves that fell to his shoulders.

Scully swallowed and reached for her weapon as he suddenly stopped stirring the pot on Mulder's ancient stove. She remained tense as he turned off the heat and moved the pot to a cool burner. All she could do was gape when he pivoted, giving her an unobstructed view of his body. Her arm dropped to her side. She had expected to see a hand gripping a large caliber semi-automatic weapon; instead, all she saw was air. Her eyes slowly traveled up until they came to the place where Krycek's left arm ended, right in the middle of his biceps.

"He went for a run. You should wait," Krycek said as he took the pot and carefully poured some of the contents into a mug. He set it on the kitchen table and squeezed by his lover's former partner. "There's whip cream in the fridge if you want it."

Scully took the old, familiar mug between her cold hands and inhaled. She wasn't sure what she was going to find when she used her key to let herself into Apartment 42, but she damn well hadn't expected to be alone with Alex Krycek and drinking his apparently homemade hot cocoa. She was a stranger here now and it was Krycek who was home.

Alexandria, Virginia--March 19, 1998

Scully let herself into Mulder's apartment. She should never have let him talk her into letting him go up alone. He'd been shaky and confused and now he wasn't answering either his home phone or his cell. She walked quietly on the wood floor as she approached the couch. If he really was sleeping, she didn't want to disturb him; she just wanted to know he was all right. It had been a scant three hours since she'd dropped him off after the fiasco at Weikamp Air Force Base. She'd gone home, changed for bed and fallen asleep. She woke up less than a half an hour later with the feeling something was wrong. Melissa would have teased her unmercifully, but she just couldn't let it go. She frowned when she saw the empty couch; the Indian blanket was folded neatly over the back. Walking back through the small apartment, she checked both the kitchen and the bathroom. She stood undecidedly outside the closed door of the room that she always assumed was the bedroom. She tested the doorknob and feeling it give under her hand, she pushed into poorly-lit room. Mulder sat straight up on the bed, dislodging Alex Krycek from his chest. She looked from her partner to the green-eyed monster and then turned, slamming the door on her current life.

42 Hegal Place--several hours earlier

"Alex," Mulder called softly into the dark apartment.

"I'm here."

Mulder turned unsteadily toward the seductive voice and startled at the other man's proximity.

Krycek tangled his fingers in Mulder's sweater and pulled him closer. "You're like ice," he whispered.

"Do you know what happened?"

"Yeah, you had one hell of a night."

"I don't remember."

"I'm sorry. I thought if you could see..."

"I must have or I'd still remember seeing nothing," Mulder said into Krycek's neck. "Wait, you said 'I'. Earlier you said you were sent..."

"My benefactor sent me to save the rebel leader..."

"But, you thought I'd believe again if I saw for myself," Mulder finished.

Alex nodded and ducked his head. He hoped things wouldn't turn violent; he'd been enjoying the unspoken truce.

Mulder tilted Krycek's chin and kissed him softly. "So, what happened last night?" he asked more directly.

"My benefactor seems to think the rebels took matters into their own hands."

"Meaning?" Mulder asked.

"That the timetable for colonization hasn't been sped up."

"What do you think?" Mulder asked.

"I wish I knew," Krycek confided, his hand traveling down to Mulder's ass.

Mulder stepped between the V of Krycek's legs and ground their crotches together as he ran his tongue along the other man's lips.

Krycek moved his hand reluctantly from between Mulder's hip and rested it at the back of his neck. "If you want to stop, you'd better say so now."

"If I didn't want this, I would just have brought Scully up here with me."

"How'd you know I'd be here?" Krycek asked.

"Why do you think they call me Spooky?" Mulder said with a forced smile.

"Stay out of my head, Mulder," Krycek snarled as he turned Mulder toward the couch and tumbled him backwards.

Mulder cringed as his head bumped the wall.

"This would be a lot easier if you had a bed," Krycek said in way of apology.

"I have a bed."

"It doesn't count if you're using it for office furniture."

"I'm not," Mulder said, putting his hands on Krycek's waist and turning him so he could get up from the couch. Taking his once and soon to be lover by his artificial wrist, he led him toward the bedroom.

"When did you have time to do this?" Krycek asked, looking over Mulder's shoulder, into the bedroom. "Twelve hours ago, it looked like the storage closet it's always been."

"Some friends took care of it while I was out playing Luke Skywalker."

"What if I hadn't come?"

"Then I was going to make it my mission in life to hunt you down."

Krycek took a hold of the lapels of Mulder's suit jacket and began to tug it from his body. Mulder's hands came up to help as Krycek backed him into the bedroom. Alex used Mulder's tie to hold his head still has he ran his tongue along the full lips. As the men kissed, Mulder began to work open the buttons of Alex's Levi's.

Mulder pulled his mouth away as he pushed Alex down on the bed. Krycek rested on his elbows and watched as Mulder knelt between his legs. Hazel eyes locked with jade ones, as Mulder ran his fingers along Krycek's cotton-covered abdomen. Mulder stroked back down to the soft denim and tugged until Alex lifted his ass, so he could finish pulling the jeans and boxers down the long, finely muscled legs. Mulder wrapped his long, elegant fingers around Alex's thick cock and guided it carefully through his teeth. Alex caught his fingers in Mulder's unruly locks and struggled to not thrust up into his lover's face. Mulder relaxed his throat and took Alex the rest of the way in. Losing control, Alex would have fucked his face if Mulder hadn't taken a firm hold of his hips and held him to the bed. Alex dropped back on the bed and hid his face under his arm as he came down Mulder's throat. Mulder slid off Alex's softening cock, running his tongue along the back as he went. Climbing to his feet he smiled down at the incongruous sight Alex made.

The Basement--March 20, 1998

Mulder sat at his desk and drummed his pen on the open file folder, his gaze drifting back and forth to his watch. Scully was now 94 minutes late. Her answering machine and cell phone were both turned off. Skinner wasn't answering his private line and his secretary had coldly rebuffed him when he'd tried official channels. The only shiny spot of the whole morning was that Alex was at home, curled under the down comforter. He'd promised to be there when his lover got home. Mulder chose to believe.

"Sir," Mulder said, standing up as the AD walked through the open office door.

"Sit down," the imposing former marine said.

Mulder sat.

Skinner lowered his large frame into the chair opposite his subordinate. "Are you aware that Agent Scully was up in my office requesting a transfer?"

"No, sir, but I'm not surprised. Did you grant the request?" Mulder asked.

"No, I told her to take some time to think about it. She said it wasn't necessary and if I wouldn't transfer her then she'd tender her resignation. She's waiting."

"You should honor her request, sir," Mulder said, his eyes downcast. "She's a good agent."

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Skinner asked.

"I would've thought that Scully would've taken care of that already."

"She didn't say that much, other than that it was personal," Skinner said.

"She's been ready to move on for quite a while. Last night just made it easy for her to walk away."

Skinner nodded grimly. "Then I'll approve her transfer and have personnel start a search for her replacement."

"That won't be necessary, sir," Mulder said pushing an envelope toward his boss.

"Mulder..."

"Accept my resignation. If you don't, you'll just wind up firing me later."

"What happened between the two of you?" Skinner asked.

"Not the two of us. Let's just say you won't approve of my interpersonal relationship any more than she does."

Chair creaking, Skinner quietly cleared his throat. "Bisexuality isn't grounds for termination."

Mulder rested his forehead against his fist. "Maybe not, but when you find out who it is, you're going to have the same reaction as Scully."

There was a moment of silence, and then Skinner exhaled. "Didn't you learn anything the first time around?"

Stunned, Mulder raised his head and struggled for words.

"No wonder Scully put in for a transfer. That Alex Krycek has a well- proven track record for deception and manipulation only seems lost on you. You fell for it before; don't let him do it to you all over again. It doesn't take a top notch psychologist to figure it out, especially after your melt down in my office after he disappeared."

"That's not going to happen this time," Mulder said.

"Of all the agents I've worked with," Skinner said acerbically, "you're the last one I'd expect to put sex ahead of career."

Mulder averted his eyes as Skinner stalked out of the office, his resignation clenched in his fist.

Mulder jerked at the warm hand on the back of his neck. He lifted his head and met Alex's hungry gaze. "Wander away from your tour?" he joked weakly.

"That's for amateurs. Do you think I'm an amateur?" Krycek purred in that low velvety voice that always went straight to Mulder's cock.

Mulder shook his head and ran his tongue across his lips as Krycek stepped behind him. And this was Krycek, not Alex. He was a little bit scared and a lot turned on. He felt Krycek firmly place his hands on his shoulders and guide him to his feet. He jumped when Krycek kicked the chair out of the way.

"Over the desk," Krycek ordered.

Mulder had to concentrate just to breathe.

"Don't make me repeat myself," Krycek said gruffly.

Mulder lowered his upper body across his desk, resting his right cheek on a pile of newspaper clippings.

Krycek ran his hand over Mulder's upturned Armani-clad ass. "Drop your pants."

Mulder unfastened his pants and dropped both them and the black silk boxers in one movement.

"Very nice," Krycek said as he tugged open his button fly. He continued to enjoy the view as he dug around in the pocket of his leather jacket for the lube and condom that he'd stashed there before leaving Mulder's apartment. "Spread your legs."

Mulder gripped his desk as he slid his legs apart.

Krycek rolled the condom up his stiff cock and then used his artificial hand to hold the tube of K-Y as he carefully squeezed enough out to put a thick layer of his latex-covered penis. He then squeezed a large dollop over his index and middle fingers before dropping the tube onto the desk top. He slowly worked his slick fingers past the first ring of Mulder's tight ass. He stopped as he heard a low hiss escape his lover's lungs. Using the prosthesis to balance himself, he gently draped himself over Mulder's back. "You okay?" he whispered against the soft hair.

Mulder, not trusting his voice, nodded. He was relieved that it was Alex who was about to fuck him and not Krycek. In the last twenty- four hours he'd become to recognize how seamlessly the Russian could drift from one personality to the other. He was also beginning to suspect that Alex was who the man really was and that Krycek was a survival instinct.

"Do you want to stop?" Alex asked.

"It's okay it's just..."

"Been a long time," Alex finished.

"No, I..." Mulder fell silent, not able to say the words.

Alex thought back to the few times they'd been together, physically, when they were partners and quickly came up with four. "He slowly started to withdraw his fingers.

"Don't stop," Mulder said finding his voice.

"Okay, but you have to tell me if you need me to."

"I won't," Mulder said.

"Take a deep breath," Alex instructed.

Mulder complied and tried not gasp as Alex pushed his fingers in past the second ring.

Alex waited patiently until he felt the tension finally leave Mulder's body. He gently turned his fingers feeling for his lover's prostate.

Mulder thrust himself onto Alex's probing fingers as found their goal.

"Good?" he asked as he stroked.

"Fuck me," Mulder growled.

"I'll take that as a yes," Alex said sliding out his fingers and replacing them with the head of his throbbing cock. "Breathe," he reminded as he pushed his way steadily in until his balls met warm flesh. He rested his cheek against Mulder's and stayed perfectly still while he waited for Mulder's keening to stop.

"Alex, please."

Alex wrapped his fingers around Mulder's weeping cock and masturbated him to the same easy rhythm as his thrusts.

"Harder," Mulder groaned in frustration as he shoved himself back into Alex.

No longer fearing he was causing pain, Alex shifted positions and drove himself repeatedly into Mulder's body until semen spilled over his fist. The force of Mulder's contracting muscles put him over the edge. "You ready?"

"What?" Mulder asked.

Alex slowly pulled out of Mulder's body and disposed of the condom. After tucking himself back into his pants and wiping his sticky hand on his jeans, he walked around to the other side of the desk and grabbed an empty box.

Mulder forced himself onto his shaky legs and fumbled with his clothes.

Liking the well-fucked look on his lover's flushed face, Alex set the box on the desk and moved around into Mulder's space. Tugging the partially tucked shirt out of the waistband, Alex leaned in and explored the inside of Mulder's hot mouth with his tongue.

Mulder raked his fingers through Alex's cropped hair. "What would it take to get you to let this grow?"

The only answer was a wicked smile.

Washington, DC--October 13, 2000

Mulder sipped his champagne and scanned the menu as he waited for Alex to return to the table. He knew his lover had something big planned, but he hadn't expected to be sitting in Anneau wearing a Calvin Klein tuxedo. He couldn't remember the last time anyone made a fuss over his birthday. Alex claimed he was making up for being in Istanbul the previous year. Mulder didn't buy it.

"Fox?"

He raised his eyes and found himself looking into Margaret Scully's warm face. He stood and took her offered hand, his eyes discreetly scanning the crowded restaurant.

"How are you?" Mrs. Scully asked.

Before he could answer, Alex appeared at his back. "Everything okay?"

He cleared his throat and turned toward the similarly-dressed man. "Mrs. Scully this is my..." He stopped and searched for an appropriate adjective to use in this situation. He was too old for a boyfriend, long-time companion seemed way out of date, and partner could be too easily misconstrued. And he wasn't about to say lover-- that was way too descriptive.

"I'm Alex, Mrs. Scully. It's very nice to meet you," Krycek said, offering her his hand.

"It's nice to meet you too, Alex."

"Thank you."

"I'll tell Dana you said hello," Mrs. Scully said, patting Mulder on the arm.

"She's...she's well?"

"She's still in remission, Fox; the doctors don't think that's going to change."

"I'm glad to hear that. She likes her job?"

Mrs. Scully reached into her purse and pulled out a business card. "Call her," she said firmly.

"I don't know how she'd feel about that."

"She misses you too. I'll tell her you and your young man look very happy together. I need to get back," she said indicating the wedding party gathered around the large table across the room. "Take care of him, Alex."

"Always," he whispered.

Alexandria, Virginia--October 15, 2000

Scully set the mug down and walked into the living room. Hearing the shower go on, she took the opportunity to snoop. On the surface, things looked just as they had the last time she was in the apartment, but as she stood in front of the bookcase, she saw the changes were obvious. Heinlein, Clarke, and Asimov had been joined by English translations of Nabokov, Chekohov and Solzhenitsyn along with books written in a half dozen other languages. In the CD rotation, U2, REM, and The Smiths were mixed in with Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones. She smiled when she came across the Elvis Costello CD. It must be love if Mulder hadn't objected to having an Elvis that wasn't Presley played in his presence. She sprinkled a bit of food in the fish tank and walked through the apartment, closing the door behind her as the shower turned off.