From: "Satina" To: "Hegal Place News" Subject: [XFNC17ff] NEW FIC: Honey and Vinegar, M/K, NC-17 Date: Friday, January 10, 2003 7:02 PM Hi all, I'm posting this for my woman, shan. All list feedback will be forwarded to her. Please send any personal stuff to her directly. Thanks! :-D ~Satina Honey and Vinegar by Shannon Kizzia (shannon@hegalplace.com) Website: http://hegalplace.com/shannon Rating: NC-17 (Another perfectly good, clean story gone bad. *sigh*) Category: SRHA Keywords: M/K, Mulder POV Summary: In a People magazine chat, a fan asked Nick Lea if Krycek would ever give Mulder and Scully any of the truths they were seeking. His response was, "After enough drinks." Well, here ya go, Nick. This Bud's for you. Spoilers: This is post-The Red and the Black. It's pre-The End, but you still need to have a knowledge of that episode. Disclaimer: I won them in a cut-throat game of Candyland. Date of First Posting: 01/10/03 Archive: Great, as long as you let me know. :) ... "Mulder, he can't tell us anything if he's dead." "I wasn't gonna kill 'im, Scully," I say, and it comes out completely whiny. "Whether *you* were or not, they will in prison if we take him in," she informs, looking totally composed in her black, form-fitting suit. 'Cause she hasn't been hitting him. I look like shit 'cause I have. I'm sweaty, my knees are scuffed from tackling him to the ground, and my shirt is torn from his clawing at me. Little prick. "I just wanna know what this little prick knows," I tell her, ruffing up his collar where I hold him, deciding to use my new favorite nickname for him. Rat bastard was getting old anyway. "I *gave* you what I know the last time I saw you, Mulder," he rasps, still breathing heavy beside me, hand and prosthetic now cuffed in front of him. Yeah, he did. Why is that? It doesn't stop me from wanting more. Everything he has. He owes me that. And I can't believe I have him. Really have him. His ass is mine and he's gonna tell me *everything* I want to know, not just the information he feels comfortable doling out to me. Too little, too late. "Your ass is mine, Krycek," I say to his clenched jaw. I get no reaction and so I throw him down to the ground in front of me on his knees (which hit with a very satisfying crack on the alleyway pavement). He stifles a grunt. "Get up," I spit at him and then watch him get one foot under him and then the other, rising to my height once more. "Are you finished?" Scully asks, and I feel like the bully on the playground. I hate when she turns into my fucking mother. "You can't *beat* the information out of him, Mulder." I sigh heavily and then look up at Krycek, whose lips are *still* parted and whose breathing is *still* heavy. Prick. "I need a drink," I tell the alley in general. Scully tilts her chin down and raises her eyebrows. "A drink. Mulder, what about him?" "Oh, he's coming," I say, once again pulling him in close to me by the lapels of his leather. He *smells* like leather. And a little sweat. Some expensive cologne. He smells the same as the last time, when he... "I'll decide what to do with him later." It's Scully's turn to sigh. "All right then. Where to?" "Where else?" ... Casey's is dead at 10:45 on a Wednesday night. The drink deal is something like two dollar Pink Ladies and those just suck so why *would* anybody want to waste their time when there's a Hooters down the street. Mmm, Hooters... No, Scully would *never* go for that. I'll just make Krycek drink a Pink Lady and that'll be my entertainment. That'll be nice. Unless he likes them. No. How could he? We take a booth near the back, and I throw my jacket over Krycek's cuffs. I sit next to him. This way he can't bolt. Scully sits across from us and folds her hands primly on the table. The waitress comes by and Scully orders a sparkling water. "I'll have a Heineken and he'll have a *Pink Lady*, thanks." I feel him look at me, but I don't glance over to see his reaction. "Oh and ma'am? What exactly is in a *Pink Lady*?" I enunciate. "Uh, that'd be Gin, Calvados, sugar syrup, uh, Grenadine, lemon juice, and uh an egg white." "Thank you," I tell her with a smile as she turns to go, and I look at Scully who's giving me the "I don't know what you're doing, but I'm sure I'm not going to like it." face. "Relax," I say so low it's almost a whisper...as close to flirting as we've gotten so far tonight. It's kind of fun to flirt with Scully. She never shows any interest, but she's easy to blush. "Buying him a drink is the least I can do for the little prick. He's about to tell me everything I want to know. Aren't you, Alex?" I look at him now and he's way too smug for a wanted felon cuffed next to an FBI agent. I'm about to smack him again, but the waitress shows up with our drinks, so I hold it. "Thank you," Scully tells her and then addresses me when she walks away. "You going to feed it to him or what?" "I'll let him do it himself. Nobody's looking." "Fine. Whatever," she clips. He makes no move to take the drink, so I nudge him less than gently in the ribs. "Drink up, Krycek. It's gonna be a long night." He firms his lips, but after a hesitation, reaches out from underneath my coat, taking the drink with both hands and slamming the whole thing back as though it were a shot. Guess he doesn't do anything halfway. I drink down half of my beer and watch him put the glass down, placing his hands back in his lap, licking his lips without a hint of a grimace. Damn. "So what are we going to do, Mulder? Take him to a motel, sit him down, and shine a bright light in his eyes? Hold him at gunpoint at the edge of a pier?" "Maybe that second thing," I say, a little pissed at her for questioning me in front of him. "Maybe I'll tie him up and..." "Ppfffff!" Scully and I both look at Krycek now, who's looking down at his empty drink sardonically. Who gave him permission to be sardonic? "What's so funny?" "Nuthin', Mulder. You just keep dreamin'." I don't know what he's talking about, but at least he's talking. "Shut up," I tell him, and when Scully rolls her eyes even I don't blame her. The waitress is back. "Can I get y'all another round?" She's not from here. Another transplant. I'm guessing Texas. I like southern women. "I'll take another," I say suavely, and I think I hear Scully roll her eyes again. "*She'll* have a shot of Cuervo." "I..." Scully starts indignantly, but I cut her off. "He's fine. Nothing more." "*He*..." Scully interrupts me now. "Will have another of the same, please." "Uh...would he like a napkin? Or a Band-Aid?" She's peering at Krycek, brow creased in worry. I look at him, and his lip is bleeding. I go semi-erect. I've stopped worrying when it happens. I just really like seeing the little prick in pain. I wish I had my coat back, though. "He's fine," I tell her. "A napkin, please," Scully corrects, smiling at the woman, and then turning warning eyes on me when she walks away, having deposited Krycek's napkin on the table. I don't move to take it, and Scully and I have a silent battle of wills, eyes locked. Krycek mumbles beside me. "What did you say?" I ask him. "I said. Get. A room," he says, staring hard into my eyes, our faces close. There goes my penis again, dammit. "Keep your fucking mouth shut, Krycek," I spit at him, ignoring whatever look Scully is trying not to have right now. "I thought you liked it when I talked, Mulder," Krycek says silkily. And then he glances meaningfully down at my crotch then back up into my eyes. I grab the coat away from him violently, placing it over my own lap. "Go fuck yourself, asshole," I hiss. "Asshole. Hmmm. I thought I was Little Prick now." "You are what I say you are," I tell him. "How convenient," he answers dryly just as the waitress comes back over. Krycek slides his hands under my coat to hide the fact that they're cuffed, resting his real knuckles and those of his prosthesis against the outside of my thigh as she sets the new drinks down in front of us. I shove him away as soon as she's gone, and I think he smirks. I finish my first beer and drink down half the second, wiping my mouth and watching Scully not drink. "What'sa matter, Scully? You allergic to relaxation?" Krycek shoots me a look. Even *he's* offended by that one on Scully's behalf. "Scully, I'm sss..." "Shut up, Mulder," she says flatly, and then doesn't look away as she picks up her shot and throws it back, ignoring the little lime wedge chaser they brought with it. She just swallows the tequila and keeps looking at me. "Your turn," she says, but before I can obediently pick up my glass, she turns her intense gaze to our captive. Oh. *Him*. I feel my bottom lip protrude just slightly more, but I, too, look and wait for him to drink. Krycek reaches up and, again, slams the noxious stuff back in one long swallow. I gulp. "Yummy," he says, giving me a small smile. I frown. I let my eyes slide away from him suspiciously and am picking up my drink when I quickly look back at him, sensing that maybe he's laughing at me. His face is straight. I go back to my beer and look at Scully over the rim. "I hope *you're* buying him that one," I say and then drink. "Cheap!" Krycek says a little too loudly. I shoot him a withering glance before turning back to Scully. "Why waste two more dollars? He *likes* the shit." "Ever heard of a little saying about flies and honey, Mulder?" she whispers to me. I look covertly over at Krycek again who appears to not be listening as he's studying the back of a bottle of ketchup. "You think he's...drunk?" I whisper back. "There's no way..." "Oh, there's a way," Krycek chimes in. "I haven't eaten in for-fucking-ever, you know. You could at least get me drinks with cherries or olives in them or something." I raise my eyebrows at Scully, and she allows a small, triumphant smile. This could get kind of fun. Maybe as fun as beating him up. Maybe. Waitress. "I..." I say, pulling my eyes off Scully to look at her. "I think we'd like to change our order." "What'll it be?" Scully pipes up. "Another *water* for me, please. Shot of Cuervo for that one and a...a Long Island," she says brightly, "for Alex. Oh and could you possibly bring some fruit with that?" "Sure thing," the waitress says and he walks away, the desire for a fat tip probably winning out over whatever worry she has about the three of us. "I won't drink it," Krycek informs us. "You will if you want the array of tropical fruits it's coming with," Scully tells him, smoothly. Krycek frowns at her and addresses me. "Mulder, why don't you just take me out back and get your ya-ya's out over punching me and let's be done with it, huh?" He looks at me. Sounds good to me. Except I don't really wanna move. I'm too comfortable. "Maybe later. You're going to get drunk first, Krycek. And if you don't. I'll shoot you." The waitress...Dora...comes back and leaves us our drinks in a hurry. We keep Krycek's fruit away from him, and he rests his cuffed hands on the table, probably ready to reach out and grab for a pineapple at first opportunity. I hastily drain Scully's water. "Hey!" "All's fair in love and war," I tell her. "Oh yeah? And which is this?" she asks boredly. I just smile and change the subject ad I pour some of Krycek's massive drink into Scully's now empty water glass. "What's in this again?" "Tequila, light rum, dark rum, gin, vodka, sweet and sour and Coke. We're getting *him* drunk, Mulder." "There's nothing that says we can't have fun doing it. Is there?" She gives me a long, deliberating look, but I know she's already made up her mind to do it. She's excited by it. I look deeply into her eyes and slide the glass over. "Skinner's gonna have our asses," she laments. "He doesn't have to know. Does he, Alex?" I look back at him as Scully waits to drink. He shakes his head emphatically. Didn't think so. "All right then." I put Krycek's voluminous beverage in front of him sans fruit. "Sadistic bastard," he whispers, and I hear his stomach growl. "Yeah, you love it," I smirk to him and to my surprise, he quickly drops his hands down to his lap guiltily. My eyes follow and he squirms. His hands rest over a sizable bulge. No...no way! He *likes* it likes it?! I smile more. He squirms more. Holy fucking shit. *I'm* giving Alex Krycek a boner. I lean my head down and look under the table just to make sure Scully's not giving him a foot job or something. Nope. Both heels on, feet firmly on the ground. "Mulder, what are you doing?" she asks almost angrily. "Nothing," I say sheepishly, feeling bad for even having thought it. Scully would never. "On three?" I ask. Scully nods reluctantly, and Krycek clears his throat in what I take for assent. "All right then. One. Two. Three." Scully brings the glass to her lips and sips daintily. Krycek leans forward, hands still in his lap, and drinks through the swirly straw they gave him. Satisfied, I do my shot and lick my lips, enjoying the heated tingle running along the tender skin there. Krycek takes his mouth away and starts to lean back. "Nuh unh. You're not done," I tell him. "Ten more seconds." He looks at me, and I think I'm going to have to hit him to get him to do it, when, not taking his eyes off me, he lowers his mouth back down to the straw. I see his tongue reach out before he closes his lips around the opening and sucks. One. He sucks. Two. He blinks. Three. His eyes... Four. ...are so green. Five. Long lashes. Six. He sucks. Seven. Mouth... Eight. Sucking... Nine. Want it. Ten. "That's enough," I say softly, eyelids feeling heavy. Slowly, he sits back, licking around his mouth. I hear Scully sigh deeply across the table, so I turn to look at her. She tucks her hair back behind her ear and looks anywhere but at Krycek. Or me. Did she just feel that? I want to ask her: 'So do you think he like...is into me? Because he is just soooo fine and I like, really want him, ya know?' I shake my head to rid myself of the offensive scene. I do NOT want Krycek. I may want to hit him so bad my cock aches, but it doesn't go beyond that. Even *if* he looks like he could give really fucking amazing h... "Doesn't he deserve a piece of fruit?" asks Scully, interrupting thoughts I never should have been having in the first place. I shrug. "I guess." I'm about to pass over a maraschino cherry when he decides to talk. "You're worse than old sssssmokey." "You hungry, Alex?" "Now what do you think...Fox?" I smile humorlessly, holding the dripping cherry at lip level in front of his face, almost daring him to make a grab for it. "Tell me something. About old smokey." "Pffff!" There's that sound again. I suppose it's his laugh. "You wanna hear about him? I'll tell you about him! He likes for your old fffLAME, Diana 'Hosebeast' Fowley to kneel between his legs and suck off his old, ssssorry cock while he talks about aliens!" My eyebrows couldn't get closer to my hair. He WHAT?! "What the *fuck* are you talking about, Krycek?" "You asked!" he laughs. "Didn't know she was back in town, did you? Didn't know she was into wrinkles, did ya? Well, she *gags* for it! You should see her. I mean, ewww. I's like watching a platypus mate with a Sharpei." Oh, make it stop!!! "Who's Diana Fowley, Mulder?" Oh SHIT. This is so not good. "Oh, this is gonna be good," Krycek says, smiling on his way down to take another drink. "Mulder?" I clear my throat and then speak softly, not looking at anybody. "Well, she's not a hosebeast." "My ass!" Krycek practically yells. "She's probably fffucked half the FBI AND the entire Syndicate." "She..." I start, not believing what I'm hearing. "She's one of...you?" "Don't lump me in with those...dick weasels," he slurs, going for more Long Island, sucking down to the bottom loudly. "Mulder. Who is she?" Scully asks, looking hurt. "She... She was my partner once." "And he fffucked her. Just like he wants to fffuck you," Krycek interrupts. "It's not the same!" I shout. "So you want to fuck them differently?" "Yes! I mean...shit, that's not what I mean. Just shut the fuck up, Krycek," I say and pick up a pineapple slice and shove it into his mouth. As he chews, I look back to Scully. "Scully, I..." "Another tea, sir?" Dora asks. "Mmm!" Krycek says, nodding. "And for you?" she asks me. Scully answers. "Two double shots of Cuervo and two Coronas, please." "Right away," Dora answers. "Scully, I..." "Shut up, Mulder. Just wait." I nod. Whatever you say, Scully. Whatever you want. God, I'm gonna be in the doghouse for a year! We all sit in silence until Dora returns. Scully, pissed. Krycek, pleased with himself. Me, scared. This night is not going how I'd planned. We get our damned drinks and Scully holds her shot up in a toast. "To secrets revealed." "I'd join in, but..." Krycek says, exhibiting his bound wrists. Still he leans in toward the straw and we all drink. I can't help but grimace at having to swallow two shots of tequila at once. Scully shakes her head, grimacing as well. "Nnnyyya!" We forgot to take Krycek's new fruit away, so he sits and waits for my explanation while happily consuming an orange wedge. I take a breath to explain Diana to Scully when he cuts me off before I've begun. "I's a good thing." I don't know what he's talking about. "What are you talking about?" "Thissssstuff. 'sgood. Not Fish Mouth. She's baaaaaad. Right, Scully?" I look to her across the table and her lips are pursed, holding it all in. God, I'm so fucked. "Anyway," Krycek continues, playing with his straw. "Smokey likes both kinds." "What does that mean?" I ask him, trying to will the tequila blur away so that I can comprehend any important truths he may be about to impart. "He likes pussy," he says, smiling at his drink. "And he likes...kkkk...ock." Then he hiccups. Oh, gross. Of all the things I have wanted to know about the smoking son of a bitch, his sexual proclivities aren't among them. Although, I have to wonder if, since he likes cock, he likes Krycek's. I guess if you're into that kind of thing, you would. I feel something akin to jealousy boil up within me. I look across to Scully and she looks just like I feel. I'm sorry, Scully. I never meant for you to know. "Scully, I..." I begin. "He tried to get me in the sack," Krycek starts up again, interrupting me, and, though it's irritating, I'm all ears. "And?" I prompt him when he just continues staring into his drink. "Can you take off these cuffs, Muller, they're starting to hurt me." "I don't know...maybe," I stammer in frustration, just wanting him to finish what he started. "What happened?" "Whaddya mean?" he asks, turning his unbelievable green eyes on me. "Did you???" "Did I what?" I roll my eyes and sigh exasperatedly. "Did you FUCK him?" Both Scully and Krycek are silent as I look between them now. Goddamnit. "She's behind me, isn't she?" I ask. Nobody says anything, so I turn in the booth to see Dora standing and awaiting her chance to get our orders. "Hi," I say to her. "Do you...?" "I think we're fine, thanks," Scully answers, coming to my rescue. I shoot her a 'thank you' look and I get the cold Scully eye. Whoops. Not quite friends yet. Okay, I get it. "So yeah, he's always coming onto me. He's like, 'Hey Alex, wanna suck me?' and I'm all, 'In your fuckin' dreams, old man.'" He takes a big slurp, and both Scully and I watch him open-mouthed. "Okay so maybe that's not verbatim or anything, but you get the idea. He's horny for being so goddamned ancient." "Okay," I stop him, feeling queasy now. "What *else* can you tell us about him? Having nothing to do with sex," I add, frightened of what I might hear if I don't. "Well!" Krycek exclaims, throwing his cuffed fists up, put out that he has to change the subject, I guess. My head buzzes. I just want some water. I look at Krycek's fruit longingly. "Do you know where he lives?" Scully has the presence of mind to ask. I'm sure he's no longer in that tiny apartment I found him in three years ago. "Pfff!" I find myself wanting to smile at that aborted laugh of his. It's kind of...endearing. Jesus, what am I thinking? I'd better beat the shit out of him soon just to remind myself who's who. "He lives in fuckin' Dupont Circle so he can check out all the cute guys coming out of the gay bars at 2 A.M." "Where?" Scully presses. He goes on as if she said nothing. "He's got this...aqua-colored carpet. It's shag, for Chrisssssake." "Where?" I ask again. "An address." "And you should SEE the walls! Fuckin' antelope heads and bearskin rugs. It's offensive!" "Goddamnit, Krycek...!" I start, yanking on his collar and pulling him off balance into my side. "I want answers!" I yell and then remember to keep my voice down. "I want the truth." "You Tom Cruise?" Krycek snickers. I slap him across the face once. And then because it feels good, twice. Then I shove him back away from me. "I think he's had enough," Scully says with a raise to her eyebrows. "I think he's had too much," I add. "Not alcohol!" she shouts. "You..." she gestures impatiently. "Hitting him! What are you doing? What *is* that?" "What do you mean?" I ask. "What do you mean, what do I mean? You can't *not* hit him, Mulder! Why?" "I hate him!" "You hate the smoker. How many times have you hit him?" "But..." "But what?" she asks, having lost all patience with me. I almost think she's ready to throw in with the little prick, she's so had it with me. "But he's not..." "He's not what? Why do you hit Alex so much?" Alex? "I just..." "You just what?" "Well...well..." I sputter, voice rising. "Haven't you ever just...wanted to..." I look over at him wildly, grab hold of the back of his neck, and push his face down onto the table. "Just...bend him over, and, andand, just...UNNNN!" I grunt, unable to vocalize anything about anything I want to do to him. All I know is that I want. And there are two pairs of eyes staring at me in shocked silence. Krycek's from his disadvantageous vantage point pressed against the table, lips squished, eyes wide. "C-Can I g-get you another?" Shit. Dora. Make that three pairs of eyes. We're all quiet. "I'll come back later," she whispers. "Y-" Krycek attempts to speak with the right side of his face out of commission. "Y-You wanna...bend me over?" I let go of him. "I didn't say that." "Yeah, you did, Mulder," Scully informs. "Whose side are you on?!" "I'm sorry, Mulder, but you did. You said you wanted to bend him over." "Yeah. To bend him over with my punches! Damn right!" "No, you made that little thrusting motion with your hips and..." "I did NOT!" "Ya kinda did," comes Dora's southern accent. I shoot her a look and she slinks away again. "All right," I say, jaw firm, nodding. "All right." I look between the both of them. "So what if I did? It doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean I want to...to..." "Have sexual intercourse with him?" Scully supplies helpfully. "Exactly," I say, crossing my arms, relieved not to have to say it. Krycek sighs beside me. "Is it my hair?" I look at him, trying to process what the hell he's talking about. "Huh?" "My hair. You know...stupid-ass haircut. Is that why you don't wanna..." "Jesus, no, that's not why!" "Well, why not?" Scully asks. "Scully!" "Seriously, Mulder. You can't keep your hands off of him, but you don't want to have sex with him? What *do* you want?" "The. Truth!" I yell, getting exasperated. "I thought I felt a little something in Hong Kong," Krycek chimes in ignoring my seriousness. "What happened in Hong Kong?" Scully asks. "Nothing!" I yell. "He had me up against this phone bank," he starts. "Yeah and I beat the hell out of him!" "He was pressed up against me and kind of moooooving on me..." "I wasn't...I didn't..." "He was so close and I kind of felt..." "A little something?" Scully asks. "I guess I wouldn't say *little* exactly," Krycek corrects her. "An erection?" Scully asks, now enthralled it seems. I want to yell that of course I had a hard-on! I love hitting him. But it has absolutely nothing to do with me wanting to fuck him. "I'm straight!" I yell inanely. "Mulder, have you ever heard of The Kinsey Scale?" "I'm a psychologist, Scully! I know about the damned scale! Zero to six! Hetero to homo! And I'm a zero. A big ol' zero! Now I've had it with this!" I pull myself roughly out of the booth and pull Krycek out with me. "I've had it with your mouth. And I'm going to fucking shut it up!" "I have more fruit..." "Shut up!" "Mulder, I'm coming with you..." "Stay here, Scully dammit." "I can't condone brutality, Mulder." She starts to get up. "I have to...oh god...I have to...throw up. Excuse me." Leave it to Scully to excuse herself to go puke her guts up. Ah well. I'm sure not going to wait for her. I take hold of Krycek's cuffs and jerk on them to get him to follow me out the back door and into the alley. I shove him forward past me and he falls into the wall with an, "Oof!" "Turn around," I command, feeling my cock fill with the power of it. It practically *throbs* when he obeys. I slap him across the face. He gasps. I step in close, taking his wrists and yanking his arms up over his head, pinning them to the wall. He groans. I should hit him again. I really should. I should want to. But I don't. He hasn't said anything. But I have to tell him anyway. It comes out a whisper. "Just shut up." And then I mash my mouth to his. It's not a kiss. It's not. I just need him to shut up. I need everyone to shut up. I just need some quiet. I just need that thing I get with him. I press his wrists, good and plastic, hard against the brick, and I push my tongue into his mouth. "Nnnnn!" he whines into my mouth as I lick at the insides of his. He's not shutting up, even now, dammit. I walk in closer, angling my pelvis against his. I just need to hold him there. To hold him still. I'll start beating him soon. I will. I just want...oh, there's his cock now, trapped up against mine between our bodies. He's so hard. I moan back into his mouth, pushing even harder, feeling my pulse pound through my dick. I pull away slightly, my mouth still attached to his. I want to pull away all together, but instead I shift back in again, my cock to his. And it feels so good, I start to move. Back and forth. Into him and away from him. In. Away. Innnnnn...oh god...away. I realize as I'm not kissing him and not masturbating myself on him, that what I am also not doing is beating him. And I'm not going to. I'm going to keep doing this. Because I want this. I want this *more* than I have ever wanted to hurt him. His mouth is softening and becoming completely pliant...completely...mine. With that realization, I drag my mouth away, breathing heavy against his lips. I keep pulsing my hips and crushing our cocks together. "Don't wanna...fuck you," I breathe. And it's true, because I know if I fuck him nothing will ever be the same. I kind of hate him for that. "Muller...I..." "Shut up, Alex. Just don't..." "I can't! Ohgod! AhhhhgodMulderAhhhhhhh!!!!" He jerks and shudders against me, his wrists trying to pull out of my hands. I'm making him come. I just stand, holding him up against the wall, and watch in awe. He shivers to a stop and I breathe the word. "Shit..." I'd never seen much in him but ugliness before. Because of what I thought he was. And now to see such beauty... Our lips are so close that when he begins to talk, I feel his every breath. His voice is soft and breathy from his climax. He stares into my eyes. "The smoker lives at 341 4th street. In Dupont Circle like I said. There's a code. 6629." I let go of his wrists, surprised. He lowers his arms with a slight hiss. I take a step back away from him. "Is that what you wanted?" he asks, smiling slightly. "Why, Alex?" He starts to back around me, not trusting enough to turn away. "It's like Scully said. You can catch more flies with honey, Mulder." He starts to back down the alley. Away from me. "Wait," I say desperately. He doesn't stop, but he slows down, still smiling softly at me. "What?" "The cuffs," I say when I can't think of anything else. He looks down at them and back up at me, smiling bigger now. "Souvenir." And then he turns and jogs down the alley, into the dark, and he's gone. Just then, the door bursts open and and a still slightly green Scully steps through. "Wha...? Where'd he go, Mulder?" "That way," I say, pointing to the street. "You let him go?" I shrug. "Kind of." She waits for a moment, looking down the dark alley in the direction of his escape. Then she looks back at me. "Mulder, what happened out here?" I look down at her. I touch her arm. "Not vinegar." End Feedback very greatly appreciated at shannon@hegalplace.com!