Chapter Text
THE UNREMARKABLE HOUSE; FARRS CORNER, VIRGINIA
2016
Scully is seated in that old leather couch she knew too well. This is no longer her home for quite some time now, but it just feels natural to be there, barefoot and cross-legged, scratching Daggoo’s neck and watching tv. Mulder had invited her for a pizza and beer night, her new dog included, and curiously enough, she didn’t give it much thought before accepting. After so much heartache, it was soothing to work with him again, to get along. It brought peace to her heart, and she could see Mulder felt the same. His features were softer, his conversations more relaxed. She knew him all too well to note he felt happy like he hasn’t been in a long time.
The doorbell rings, he gets the pizza and pays the annoyed delivery guy. She doesn’t move a finger to help get the plates or the beer, and he wouldn’t let her anyway: tonight, Scully is his guest, and he’d play the perfect host. That is, until he stops and stares indignantly at the dog nested with his new tutor.
“Daggoo! Get out of there! Come on!” he shoos the dog, that jumps out of the couch immediately, without a sound. Scully looks startled at Mulder for a moment.
“Mulder! Why would you do that? Daggoo was behav…”
“Daggoo was in my spot.” okay, now he confused her, and she makes sure to show it, furrows her brows in that way he knows so well. “This is my spot, Scully.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you now have a spot of the couch…” she was really annoyed. Just as she begins to uncross her legs to get up, Mulder stops her mid-action.
“Not the couch, Scully. You can stay. All I’m saying is that Daggoo was in my spot. I’ve claimed it back in 1997.”
Ha! Now she gets it. She’s outraged, and if she’d admit it, flattered. “And what makes you think you can still claim that spot, Mulder? You’re so cocky, aren’t you?”
“Well, can’t I?”
Mulder wiggles his brows, and she melts. She knows she shouldn’t, but she can’t help it when he wiggles his brows.
“Get me a slice of that pizza and get over here, Mulder.”
He obliges, giving her a plate and climbing the sofa. Scully lets him cuddle, place his head on her stomach so he’s lying on the couch, her back on the armrest and legs wrapped around him. He holds her calves, caresses her feet, and they watch whatever it is that’s on the tv.
“Hey, Scully.”
“Hm?”
“Too soon for a full-Mulder oral treat?”
“Shut up, Mulder!”
Scully’s grateful she didn’t see his shitty grin, or she might have put herself on a self-control red alert mode. But then again, that was not outside the realm of extreme possibilities…