The Spooky Introvert

Byers squints and straightens his back, trying to take note of anything markedly different about the agents. It’s hard to make out what they’re talking about, but he’d wager that it doesn’t involve the case they’re all working on given their relaxed stances and easy smiles. The fact that they’re standing so close to one another indicates nothing. They do that all the time, and it’s become expected.

“They’ve known each other for how many years now? Seven? And their progress has been pathetic.” Frohike says.

“Freaking glacial.” Langly adds from behind, making Byers jump a little. Langly squeezes his way between Byers and Frohike to peer through the crack in the doorway. “Until now, apparently.”

“Why are we whispering?” Byers asks, voice low.

“We don’t want to spook them.” Frohike says.

“It’s like filming a nature documentary,” Langly explains. “We can’t interfere, only observe. Do you really want to be responsible for the collapse of the entire ecosystem?”

Byers sighs. “No, I suppose not,” His eyes fall on Frohike, who watches the scene outside the door reverently. “I’m surprised at you. I thought you were still harboring your little crush on Agent Scully.”

Frohike’s mouth thins into a line before he sighs. “I just want them both to be happy if I’m honest. But if she were to decide that Mulder’s not her speed…” he smirks. “That’s a different story.”

The closet quiets as all three men watch the scene outside unfold. To Byers, the agents look no different than any other day. Scully leans against the workbench and says something quietly that makes Mulder laugh and mirror her stance. But then he sees it, the way their fingers itch toward each other on the table until they meet.

Byers doesn’t think he’s ever seen Mulder look so shy before.

Way back in the day, during the Diana Years, Mulder had always worn a sort of love drunk smugness when she was around. That look had turned sour as the woman’s exit from his life loomed, and fortunately Byers hasn’t seen it since. He’s always observed a certain lightness from Mulder when Agent Scully’s around (a lightness which had dimmed considerably for a short time that had coincided with Agent Fowley’s reappearance). The warmth that is shared between the agents now, the tenderness with which Mulder smiles at Agent Scully, is something new. Byers feels a stir of emotion at the sight.

All three Gunmen suck in a breath as Mulder breaks the space between himself and Scully to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Somehow, Frohike finds the space to pump his fist in the air.

“Way to go, Mulder!

“He hardly did anything.” Langly mutters. “Standards, people.”

“He’s gotten more action in the last seven years than you have in your entire life.” Frohike retorts. Langly kicks him in the shin.

“Focus, gentlemen,” Byers chides.

The three men watch in silence as the agents draw closer to one another. They fight for a good view out the crack in the door, nudging shoulders and poking rib cages with elbows. The agents lean in and the door gives, opening and spilling the three spies out onto the floor.

When Byers looks up, he is met with the faces of two stunned agents and the business end of two standard-issue weapons.

“We come in peace.” Frohike shouts from somewhere at the bottom of the pile. “At ease, agents.”

Mulder and Scully share a confused look before tucking away their weapons. ‘Everything alright, boys?” Mulder asks.

Byers stands and brushes himself off, adding sweep floors to his mental to-do list. “Yes.”

Langly, glasses askew, gives a thumbs up. “Never been better.”

Frohike salutes.

–

Outside, Mulder opens the car door for Scully before jogging around the back of the car and sliding into the driver’s seat.

“That was close.” he says, backing out of the driveway and pulling out onto the street.

Scully nods, glancing back at the slowly shrinking headquarters in the rearview mirror. “Too close.” Her fingers find his on the middle console, squeezing. Her thumb caresses his palm. “We’ll have to tell them at some point, though.”

Mulder squeezes her hand back and then brings it up to his lips, savoring the softness of her skin as they sit at a red light. “Soon.”

“Yeah,” Scully agrees, blushing at his touch and secretly hoping that the glow of the traffic light will conceal it. “It’s silly but…I kind of enjoy the secrecy of it all right now. Sneaking around.”

“It’s nice to be on the other side of the mystery for once.” He chuckles. “They’re onto us, though.”

“We’ll tell them once they start having us followed and tapping our phones.” Scully smirks, kicking off her heels and squeezing Mulder’s hand.