For @xfficchallenges Fic Is Medicine Anon: âI didnât know it would be this easy/hard.â
Tagginf: @today-in-fic, @contrivedcoincidences6, @baronessblixen, @agent-starbuck, @megdoesart.
âBreathe,â His mind says, and he does so, not thinking it will work.
His hands are curled into fists, fists that shake, and her hand landing on his arm startles him. Badly.
âFox, whatâs wrong?â
Her voice is soft. Concern. It dots her features, and permeates her tone. It spills out of the corners of her mouth and flows into her hands. It suffocates him, because it feels fake. Her mouth is a large, swallowing maw that lies, and he canât stand it.
âNothing,â He responds. His jaw is clenched like his fist, and he walks, stiffly, forward. She watches, and then follows, glancing about her person, and staying close behind him. He leads her to his desk, and stands, silently seething.
âAre you sure? Do you need to talk?â
He whips around, rounding on her. She is not short, like his partner. Sheâs just eye level with him. His height wonât work here.
âI didnât think it would be this hard,â Mulder started, his fists loosening. His shoulders drop and the fight is knocked out of him. Thereâs a wave of dread, and revulsion, when he thinks of them, together. Eating lunch. Having sex. Going on dates. Everything is wrong. It should be him. But it isnât.
âWhat wouldnât be? Fox, talk to me,â She says, and he collapses in his seat. She kneels slightly and touches his face.
âItâs nothing,â He says dismissively. He didnât know why the sight of her just giving her boyfriend a kiss goodbye set him off. But it did.
âFox, what is the matter with you?â
Mulder glanced at Diana again, and finally said,
âScully is dating a literal incubus.â
Thereâs a silence that hangs in the air. Mulder holds his breath, waiting for Diana to laugh. She doesnât.
âAnd she doesnât believe you.â
âBut itâs getting worse.â
âYes. I think heâs going to kill her.â
Diana straightens up, and folds her arms over her chest, looking down at Mulder. She considers him as a person, their past, and the job she was tasked to do.
âMaybe I can talk to her,â She finally says after a brief silence. Mulder shakes his head.
âShe hates you.â Itâs stated so plainly, that Diana figures that he doesnât mean it to be insulting. But it is.
âI donât know. I guess she doesnât trust you. She doesnât know you like I do. She probably thinks you hate her too,â
âI donât dislike her,â Diana said, surprised coloring her features. Itâs a revelation in the middle of Mulderâs own half confession.
âWell, she hates you,â He repeats, sitting up in his chair and turning to face the paper on his desk.
âYeah, well, it sounds like youâre jealous, ever consider that?â
He glances over at her, as if he had only just remembered she was there.
âIâm sorry. I was rude. Iâm just hurt. After all this time, she still doesnât trust me. What am I supposed to do, wait until it kills her?â
âNo,â Diana says, putting her hands on her hips. She exhales deeply. âYou stop him. If he is what you say he is, send him where he came from.â
Mulder rubbed his forehead and let out a sigh.
âSounds like you want me to kill him.â
âIf thatâs what it takes.â