Sometimes trouble finds Mulder—and sometimes Scully steps right into its path.
Fictober24
Fanfiction Fandom: The X-Files/ #xfiles
Prompts: 4, 11
Rating: T
Warnings: none
Tags: angst
Notes:
This is part of my contribution to Fictober, a yearly event that celebrates writing and reading.
Since I’m not good at sticking to one prompt for each story, I’ve combined two separate ones in this story. They’re in bold if you want to seek them out specifically. You can find the list here: @fictober-event.
I once again felt like exploring the angstier side of things—this time it's more the physical aspect though. This little ficlet wouldn't exist if it wasn't for @baronessblixen who talked me off the ledge once again.
If you want to leave likes, tags kudos or a comment—no matter if it’s an emoji or several long paragraphs, please feel free. I'd be eternally grateful!
AO3 | @today-in-fic | @xffictober24
Bells Mill Road, Maryland
12:32 pm
Scully slowly raised her hands. The man standing in front of them held his gun firmly pointed at Mulder, his eyes darting around wildly. She felt her breathing increase and her palms begin to sweat.
“Put your gun down,” Mulder said soothingly, turning his palms towards their opponent in a peace offering. “There's no need for shooting anyone.”
Scully watched a bead of sweat trickle down from the man’s hairline, over his temple, and down his face until it disappeared into the collar of his dirty blue shirt. She quickly appraised the man, trying to determine how much trouble they were in.
The knuckles of the man’s right hand had turned white from gripping the gun handle so tightly, and his chest rose and fell rapidly. This man was clearly nervous and agitated, Scully concluded, and she’d felt her heart rate speed up.
Her hand reflexively closed into a fist. If Mulder so much as took a hasty breath, there was no way of telling what the armed man would do.
Why do we always end up in unlikely situations like this, she wondered. It's not like their cases weren't unusual enough. No, even doing something as simple as stopping for gas had them involved in a stand-off with an armed robber. Sometimes she wondered if it was Mulder’s destiny to find trouble–and hers to get them out of it.
With an internal shake of her head, she returned to their current situation, just in time to watch the man slowly inch to the left, his gun firmly trained on her partner. “Get out of my way, or you'll see who needs to be shot,” he hissed, baring his teeth in an angry snarl.
Without taking his eyes off of them, he blindly grabbed the plastic bag filled with money and cigarettes, the gas station worker had put on the counter before crouching down behind it. Scully could just make out the top of the young man’s bright red hair above the counter.
“No, we’re not doing that! I think I'm going to make sure that you don't get any funny ideas, hero man,” the robber spat before taking an unexpected step forward, hitting Mulder across the face with the barrel of the gun.
Mulder’s head flew to the right, a spray of bright red blood splattering on the countertop.
“No!” Scully shouted and grabbed Mulder’s arm, checking to see how badly he was injured. A deep cut across his lip had opened up, and Mulder was squeezing his whole fist against it, trying to stop the blood flow. His eyes were tightly closed against the pain, and Scully could feel her anger erupt inside of her like a volcano.
She whirled around to the gunman, who was now busy cramming bottles of alcohol into the plastic bag with his left hand while keeping a watchful eye on them.
When he noticed Scully whirling around, he raised his weapon towards her and winked. “I didn't hit your boyfriend too hard, don't worry. He’ll be fine if you behave like a good little girlfriend and keep him away from me.”
Scully could feel Mulder tense next to her and grasped his forearm to keep him still.
The robber laughed and gave her a quick once-over. “Seems like you're feistier than I thought. Romeo here seems to follow your orders like a puppy. We could have some fun, you and me. I like it when they are wild.”
Scully didn't give him the satisfaction of a reaction, and just returned his look dispassionately.
“Ooooh. Must be my lucky day. You're really a wild one. How about I give your boyfriend a real reason to cry?” He shifted the gun’s muzzle slightly to the right and lowered it towards Mulder’s knees.
Well, that worked out great. Scully tensed and a cold dread swept over her like an icy wave. She quickly stepped in front of Mulder and straight into the gunman’s line of fire.
“Scully, no!” Mulder shouted. He tried to grab her arm and pull her back, but his hand only caught air.
Scully was now standing a few feet in front of him, her arms raised slightly above her head, and her eyes were firmly locked on the man across from them.
The robber cursed and quickly redirected his gun to her. “Get out of my way,” he growled through tightly clenched teeth. “I'm done playing with you two. Give me your money, and then I'm out of here!”
When Scully didn't move, he grabbed her raised arm forcefully and pulled her towards him. “I. Said. Give me your MONEY!” he screamed into her face.
Scully winced as the man tightened his grip on her wrist. This situation was rapidly spiraling out of control. “All right, I'm going to reach into my coat and get my money, ok? There’s no need to get angry,” she tried to soothe him. Where are the police, she thought frantically. Surely the kid hiding behind the counter had pressed the emergency button while she and Mulder had been playing bait, right?
She slowly reached inside her coat, but the man grabbing her other arm wasn't in the mood for slow. He pushed her hand away and pulled her coat open, frantically groping for her purse—and that's when he saw her gun attached to the back of her pants. With a surprised yelp, he quickly whipped her around and threw her on the floor, kneeling down on her back. “Why do you have a gun!? Who are you!? Are you police? Have you been following me?! You lying piece of shit!”
Scully tried to breathe against the pain of the sharp knee pressing into her shoulder blade. Now they were really in trouble. She tried to raise her head, seeking Mulder. Just when she met his eyes, she saw his mouth open in the beginning of a scream, his eyes widened in terror.
I’m sorry, Mulder. I guess I found the trouble this time, was her last conscious thought, then the handle of the gun came down hard on the back of her head, and all she could see was darkness.
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