TITLE: "Face off" AUTHOR: Kirsten Kerkhof * kirsten_xf@yahoo.com RATING: R, for a few nasty words and adult situations CLASSIFICATION: Mulder-Scully Romance KEYWORDS: S R SPOILERS: none DISCLAIMER: Not mine ... and I make no money from the story either ... SUMMARY: Sticks and stones ... Insults from another agent can reveal a lot, can't they? FEEDBACK: Mulders on offer since Fox doesn't need him anymore. At ARCHIVING: Gossamer I'll do myself, others, just drop me a line, 'kay? NOTE: Written in 30 minutes. Not bad, huh? XxXxX I've been standing here for a little while now, just listening. I don't think they even want me to hear it, and I know for sure that they don't expect me here, but that still isn't making me go anywhere. I've heard enough to know I want to know more. Especially since it's me they're talking about. "You're insane, you know that?" Ah, that must be Agent Boyce, I recognise that voice. He's basically a smart guy, young and ambitious, pretty good-looking too, but does he really think he can take on my partner? This has got to be good. "I've been called worse," is the only reply he gets. A crowd is gathering and people have already noticed me, the subject, but they don't seem to be too eager to make that clear to the men involved in the argument. "Is that all you got?" "No!" Boyce says. He crosses his arms and tries to make himself larger than he really is. Meanwhile, Mulder is leaning against a table, his hands in his pockets. There is no doubt as to who is more comfortable in this situation. I can't see Mulder's face, but I'll bet he's smiling that arrogant little smile he has. I hate it when he uses it on me, but I love it when someone else is on the receiving end. I've never told him, but it makes me hot just to watch him do it. "So?" "So? I'd like to know where you got the arrogance from to talk to my superior like that. About me. What is it about you that you can't say that when I'm there in the same room, but you can when I'm away?" "You weren't even in the building. And I told you I was going to talk to AD Schreiber about this. Ask him and you'll find out I told him nothing but the truth." Boyce is breaking out in a sweat, but refuses to go down. I gotta hand it to him, he doesn't let Mulder beat him that easily. "That isn't good enough! I worked my ass off on this case and you took the glory. The glory I deserved!" "You didn't solve the case, Boyce, Agent Scully and I did. That's why we got the glory and not you." "Oh yes, Agent Scully solved it alright, but where were you?" Now it's getting nasty. I should probably leave - some others are - but I don't want to. Then I see Mulder get to his feet, apparently fed up with this charade. "Listen, Boyce, if it will make you feel better, file a complaint against me, but I got work to do." "Oh no, you're not walking away from me like that now, Mulder, you owe me gratitude. And an apology!" I can see Mulder's face now and it's not a pretty sight. "I don't owe you anything except for what I already gave you in the report. You did a great job, but in the end, well, it wasn't your day to shine." "You arrogant son of a bitch!" "Again, I've been called worse," is Mulder's calm reply. "Are you done now, calling me names, or do you have any more to share?" Boyce is seething, I can see it, and I can also tell that he doesn't know that Mulder actually likes the current situation. He can take energy from people who are angry with him, and he inevitably ends up winning. Boyce looks him down and back up, measuring him up. I think, Then Boyce shakes his head. "I don't understand how Agent Scully can stand being around someone like you," he spits out, his voice laden with disdain. Whoa, now it's getting personal! I can see how Mulder reacts instantaneously. This, Agent Boyce, may not have been your wisest move to date. Mulder doesn't respond, but his whole posture changes. Now he's getting dangerous. And wild horses couldn't drag me away now ... "Cat got your tongue, Mulder? I don't recall you being so silent when you ratted on me in front of AD Schreiber. Or does Agent Scully have to do that as well? Surely you're not just using her as your little secretary, are you?" "Don't involve Agent Scully in this," Mulder answers, his voice dangerously calm. "She can take care of her own business herself very well." "Then why do you keep her if you don't have any need for her?" The crowd has grown again - there's something about fights that never fails to attract an audience - and everyone is deadly quiet. I, meanwhile, have trouble breathing, let alone being able to talk. I know it sounds insane, but this argument is quite a turn-on. Then Boyce grins. "Oh, I see now. Are you fucking her, Mulder?" A gasp escapes the crowd. Or maybe it was just me, I can't tell. Before Mulder has a chance to reply to this highly impertinent question, Boyce shakes his head and laughs harshly. "Of course you're not. Who'd wanna fuck her, right? You couldn't get a decent lay out of that ice-cold bitch if you heated her up with a blow-torch!" That certainly causes a reaction from the crowd - and not least of all from me. Okay, this has got to end, I'll show him, the arrogant little ass-hole. I push through the mass of people, all the while keeping my eyes on the two guys in the argument, and hoping Mulder won't lose it and punch this guy's lights out. He's not worth risking his job for. Besides, I want to be the one doing the punching. I work my way through the crowd until I'm right behind Boyce. Mulder has spotted me and his expression is one of shock mixed with revengeful anticipation. I see how he smiles a little, his eyes focused on mine. Boyce, of course, can't help but noticing. "I believe you were talking about me, Agent Boyce?" I say, arms crossed. Boyce turns round and - oh Christ, I think with disgust - turns beet-red. "Agent Scully! I, erm, didn't expect you here ..." Jesus, he's panicking, the little weasel is panicking! "Oh, you didn't. Then why were you talking about me, if you didn't think I was here? What is it about you that you can't say it when I'm here in the same room, but you can when I'm away?" I make no secret of using his own words on him. I see Mulder grinning unabashedly. I'm gonna get a treat tonight ... "I, er ... I didn't mean to ..." Gad, now he's stammering! "That's good, because otherwise I'd punch your lights out. As for why Agent Mulder is 'keeping me', as you put it so eloquently, allow us to demonstrate to each and everyone here so no more misunderstandings can arise." I walk up to my partner and pull him against me. He's still grinning, but something else is visible in his eyes as well, something dark and very exciting. He cups the back of my head in his hands while I hook one leg around his hips, pulling him closer. Then he looks at Boyce, who's currently trying to make himself invisible in front of a silent crowd of dozens. "I'm keeping Agent Scully because she is a fantastic partner, a great Agent, a brilliant mind and she has her heart in the right place. Qualities all of which you still have to develop, Agent Boyce," he says. Then he scans the crowd, making sure everyone is paying attention. "And, yeah, I'm fucking her." And with that he kisses me hard and deep. From the perimetres of my brain I can hear the crowd holler and clap, and when we break our kiss, we smile. "Guess the secret is out now," he says in a low voice and I laugh. "Yeah, I guess it is," I reply. "Let's go." THE END Kirsten Kerkhof The Netherlands, 29 December 2004 (c)