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“We’re married now.”
That phrase was rattling around in her head all night, and when she thought about it a pulse between her legs reverberated up to her heart, neither of which she wanted to acknowledge. This case, from the start, was not one she wanted to take on but they were still finding their feet back in the basement so she was willing to find these hybrid cases that she knew she could file an actual honest to god closed report on. This case didn't feel like an X-File, though it had some unexplainable elements. She was so sure they would be able to get here, find out what happened to the Klines, file a report and move onto the next case.
Once they had a few of these reports shared with Skinner, she felt like she would be clawing her way back to where she needed to be, where they both left off. She just hadn't anticipated the actual execution of pretending to be married to Mulder, having him be so tactile in such a different way, the pet names, the kiss face, it was all so intense.
Meanwhile Mulder was pretending like it was all normal to be holding her hand, jutting his face out for a kiss, smiling and calling her pet names. It was pissing her off how easily he fell into this role as if it wasn't something he thought about, day dreamed about, fantasised about. She hadn't ever seen him wear this much pastels and he looked terrible in it.
She turned her pillow over and punched it a few times then dropped her head onto it with a grunt. She could hear him downstairs watching TV. There was another room that had been made up for him but every morning when she came down the stairs he was sprawled out on the couch, one leg over the blankets, one hand dangling over the arm rest and the tv showing some random sci-fi show, the volume low.
The first morning she woke him up, asked him why he hadn't gone to bed, but he just grunted something about falling asleep by accident as he dragged his body upstairs to shower. The next morning, and every morning since, she didn't bother waking him up.
It was just too god damn close to the life she chose not to lead, and facing it now with Mulder pretending that it was all perfectly normal to cuddle on a couch, as his thumb brushed her shoulder, and his fingers curled around her bicep the pang of longing she usually dismissed flared white hot in the pit of her stomach.
Is this what it would be like to live that life? Going to work in the mornings, coming home to share dinner with Mulder. HIs basketball hoop in the garden, his scrunched up toothpaste in the bathroom and half drank cartons of orange juice on the kitchen counter.
If they were living that life, she wouldn't let him sleep on the couch. Unless he deserved it, of course, she thought with a smirk and thought about the amount of times she’s had to put the toilet seat down this week. But then she was reminded how he bumped her hip in time with the music that was playing as they washed up after dinner. Or how he had food ready for her when she came back from the field office. Or how he checked in with her during the day while they were apart, not about the case, just to see how she was, and if she wanted anything in particular for dinner.
That warmth flooded her chest again and she rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling. She took a few slow breaths, deciding if she was really ready to take these steps that were percolating in the back of her brain. She closed her eyes and could just about hear the low hum of the TV downstairs. She wondered if he was already asleep. She had shooed him out of the room almost an hour ago but Mulder wasn't a great sleeper.
Her eyes opened, as if the power of a decision was enough to banish all possibility of sleep. She kicked the duvet off her legs and sat up as she turned on the bed. Her feet dangled for a moment then she stepped into her slippers and stood up. She didn't bother grabbing her robe and walked slowly, deliberately through the room. At the top of the stairs she could see the flicker of light from the tv, but still couldn't make out what he was watching.
She moved down the steps slowly, one hand on the bannister until she turned the corner and saw him. He was in exactly the same position she had imagined. One arm tossed over his head, dangling off the end of the couch, one leg on the back, one under the blanket. On the TV was a black and white movie she didn't recognise but she didn't care. She padded softly into the room and moved around the couch then saw his eyes closed, and his face soft from sleep.
She smiled as she approached then grabbed the remote from the coffee table. She turned off the TV, plunging the room into darkness, and immediately he jerked awake, his body stiff as he sat up.
“Mulder, hey, it's just me,” she whispered as she crouched in front of him.
“Shit, Scully.” he said as he turned his ass on the cushion and put his feet on the ground, the blanket tangled around his legs. He rested his elbows on his knees and rubbed his hands over his face with a moan and she moved her hand to his knee.
“Mulder, why are you sleeping on this couch?”
“Huh?” He dropped his hands and looked for her in the dark.
The only light in the room was coming from the landing upstairs and it cast a soft hue that barely touched the edge of the room.
“Why are you sleeping on this couch?” she asked again and squeezed his knee.
“I just fell asleep watching a movie.”
“Every night?”
“I sleep better with the sound,” he said with a nod to the TV. “There’s no TV in my room upstairs.”
“C’mon,” she said and tugged his hand.
She stood up and stepped back, tugging his hand to pull him to his feet.
“I can't sleep up there, Scully. It's too quiet.”
Without a word, she led him toward the second floor. She felt the sudden squeeze of his hand as they turned toward her room, a silent acknowledgment of where they were going, but he didn't slow. He stayed right with her as they crossed the threshold.
“Lie down,” she said and pushed him towards the bed, then circled around to the other side and climbed in herself.
Mulder was on the far side of the bed as if he was trying to take up as little space as possible. Scully looked over and smiled then tugged his arm to get him closer.
“C’mere,” she said as she encouraged him gently until he rolled into her side.
She lifted her arm and pulled him in against her. His head landed on her chest and he carefully draped an arm over her middle. Her arm tightened around him and she felt him settle against her. He became loose and soft, heavy against her side then a slow huff of hot breath against her chest as he sighed.
“Sleep, Mulder,” she said softly into his hair. She heard him mutter something before he nuzzled into her and fell asleep.
She felt so comfortable and safe with his arm wrapped around her. They’d fallen asleep together before. In cars, on planes, his couch, or hers. But this was way more deliberate and she couldn't help but snuggle in a little lower. Scully was awake for an hour or so, as if she wanted to be sure he was really asleep then let her own eyes close over.
She wasn't sure what time it was when she slowly opened her eyes, but she could see light creeping in through the blinds so she knew it was later than she had gotten up all week. The other real difference was the heavy weight of Mulder’s arm around her stomach, the press of his body against her back and his forehead resting against the nape of her neck.
She felt so comfortable, she closed her eyes and basked in his arms for a little while longer though the ticking clock of knowing she had to get to the field office was hampering any real relaxation she was trying to steal. Just as she was contemplating getting out of bed, she felt the rumble of Mulder’s chest against her back and his arm tightened around her torso to pull her back against him. He moaned and stretched and even though she was facing the other way, she could tell immediately when he woke up.
She felt his body go still, and his breath caught in his throat. Just as she felt his arm loosen from around her body she knew he was going to pull away and try to sneak off, but she didn't want him doing that. Before his hand, which had snaked under her top and was resting on her skin, moved half way across her stomach, she turned on her back and faced him.
“You slept,” she said.
She could see the surprise in his eyes and a hint of fear as he tried to figure out a response.
“Uh, yeah, I guess I did.”
“You shouldn't be sleeping on the couch, Mulder,” she chastised gently. “You’ll end up hurting your back.”
“I should just crawl in and snuggle up with you?” he said with a half smirk and she knew he was trying to be flippant, but she could see the flush on his cheeks, and the racing pulse just under his jaw.
“Yes,” she said simply.
She shuffled in the bed, taking advantage of his shock to roll onto her side and face him then cupped the side of his face and stroked his cheek with her thumb.
“You are very important to me, Mulder,” she said, holding his eyes. “I want to make you happy.”
“And…you do that by…letting me snuggle?”
Scully chuckled and nodded her head. “If you’d let me.”
“Let you snuggle?” he asked and she wanted to laugh at his eager confusion. She could see he was following her, but he wasn't quite ready to believe she was saying all this.
“Let me make you happy?”
“Would that make you happy?”
“Mulder,” she said and moved her hand to his shoulder then pushed him back and followed to hover over him from the side. “Seeing you smile, making you relax and feel good, makes me really happy.”
“Then by all means, Scully,” he said and moved his hands to his sides as he stretched them out on the bed then curled them behind his head on the pillow. “Don't let me stop you.”
Scully smiled then pushed up a little before she swung one leg over both of his and straddled his thighs.
“Wait,” Mulder said and put his hands on her knees as he half leaned up. “You’re serious? I thought you were joking.”
“I’m not joking, Mulder,” she said and pushed his shoulders back onto the bed. “Lie back, relax.”
“I uh…”
“Shhh, relax.”
She moved her hands down his chest to the hem of his tee then pushed it up his body and urged him to take it off. She could see he was looking a little nervous but the bulge in his grey sweats was telling another story. With his tee removed, she ran her hands up and down his chest in slow strokes, covering every inch of his skin down to his waist where her fingers curled into his sweatpants.
“Uh…” he lifted his head off the pillow to look at her, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Want me to stop?” she asked even as her hands continued to pull his sweats low enough to expose his pubic hair and the base of his cock.
“I uh…I don't know…”
Her hands stilled, though she didn't release his sweats and she tilted her head as she tried to decipher the expression on his face. Was he scared? Was he uncomfortable? His eyes were wide, brows arched towards his hairline, but his lower lip was clamped between his teeth and his dick was really hard.
“What are you thinking?” she asked softly.
“Thinking?” he huffed a laugh. “You think I’ve got any blood up here for thinking?”
Scully grinned then continued to pull his sweats down and when he lifted his ass to help her she chuckled. She could see his dick sticking straight up in her peripheral vision but kept her eyes locked on his as she shuffled down the bed and pulled the sweats off him entirely.
By the time she climbed back up onto his thighs and her hands span out on his lower stomach his pulse had quickened and she really wanted to lick that spot just under his jaw. But this wasn't about her, it was about him. She leaned up off his thighs, crossed her arms in front of her and heard his breath catch in his throat as she pulled her silken sleep top off over her head then tossed it behind her and reclaimed her position on his thighs.
“Scully…”
Her hands moved up and down his chest again, this time moving a little lower until she finally circled the base of his cock with both hands.
“Christ,” he moaned and tipped his head back.
She watched him screw his eyes shut and his mouth slowly opened as she moved her hands up his shaft and twisted at the top. Her thumb swiped a drop of precum from his slit and he hissed a deep inhale. His hands clenched fistfuls of the bedsheets as she stroked him harder and faster, but all of it totally measured and controlled. At least on her part, she thought with an internal smile when she saw him try to suppress a shudder that made him moan.
“Does it feel good?” she asked.
He moaned a little louder and she shuffled a little lower on his bed. She moved between his legs and he spread them for her then she leaned up and pressed her breasts around his cock. Mulder’s eyes flew open and he lifted his head off the pillow to look at her and she grinned at the surprised expression on his face. She used her breasts to rub his shaft and dipped her chin to her chest to lick the head of his cock as it emerged from between her breasts.
“Oh my fucking god,” he exclaimed, a breathy moan that made his whole body stiffen and shudder.
She moved her breasts around him then trapped the head of his cock exposed for her tongue before she moaned around him and urged him to take over. With a few tentative pushes up into between her breasts Mulder slowly took over the movement while she kept a steady pressure on his cock and used her tongue every time she could reach him.
“Scully, fuck!”
She didn't want to waste time talking or trying to figure out what words would work for him, instead she just moaned and sighed against him at every opportunity.
“So good, fuck, so fucking good!”
Scully closed her eyes and held her mouth open when she felt his hips move harder, faster until his voice broke and his hands gripped her shoulders to hold her down. She clamped her mouth around the head of his cock and sucked on him hard as he came down her throat with guttural moans that reverberated through her whole body.
His cock was hot and thick in her mouth, throbbing with the last of his release before he fell back on the bed panting and loose. Scully gently sucked him clean, licked a trail up the underside of his shaft then released him from her mouth and her breasts before she sat up and straddled one of his thighs.
“Feel good?” she asked, her hands making the same trails around his chest like she began with.
“You have no idea,” he managed to say though the words were more breath than vocal.
Scully chuckled then leaned down to kiss the tip of his cock, earned herself a low grunt, before she climbed off him and went into the bathroom. She turned on the light and closed the door then turned to the mirror and gasped.
She had totally forgotten she was wearing that facemask. The colour had faded and it was dry and cracked, looking like peeling green skin on her flushed face.
“Oh my god,” she cursed with a little laugh as she ran the hot water for a moment before she cupped her hands under the tap and splashed it on her face. She scrubbed her skin as best she could and patted it dry with a hand towel though it wasn't enough and remnants of the green mask were still visible around her hair line.
She reached into the shower and turned on the tap to find the right temperature then pushed her silken pyjama bottoms down and kicked them aside. She was still chuckling about what Mulder must have seen to think as she sucked his cock with the dried flaking face mask on. She turned her head up into the hot water with a chuckle as she lathered soap on her hands then scrubbed her face clean.
She was deep in her own thoughts, remembering what she had just done when she heard the curtain pull aside. She looked over her shoulder to see Mulder stepping in behind her. She smiled as he fixed the curtain and his hands found her sides almost immediately.
“You ok?” she asked.
She covered his hands with her own and pulled them across her torso as she leaned back into him.
“Am I ok?” he said against her neck then kissed her shoulder. “Yeah, Scully. I’m pretty fucking spectacular.”
“You could have said something, you know.”
“About what?”
“The face mask I was wearing?”
Mulder huffed a laugh and opened his mouth to press his teeth on her shoulder. “Maybe I liked it.”
“Shut up, Mulder!” she said and pushed her elbow back into his side.
He chuckled and kissed her neck then tightened his arms around her and held her close. “Scully, I wouldn't care if you were wearing a clown mask, or wearing a burlap sack.”
She let him hold her for a moment more then patted his hand and turned in his arms. “I gotta get to the field office. And you gotta go piss off Gene Gogolak.”
Mulder chuckled and hugged her tighter. “Dinner tonight?”
“Sure. I should be back around seven.”
She hugged him close then stepped out of the shower and wrapped her body in a towel. Mulder was still under the water, but watched her carefully and she smiled at him. She wondered if tonight he could crawl into bed with her again, or if she would have to take his hand again.
She walked into the bedroom to get dressed, and enjoyed the fizzle of excitement that raced through her body. She couldn't wait to get to the field office to get all the reports she needed so she could hurry back here and spend the evening with Mulder.
This time without the caked on green face mask.
The End.