"Mulder, what are you doing?" Scully asks as she opens the door and walks into his hotel room, a slight smile on her face at finding him looking at himself in the mirror.
"Nothing."
"Hmm. Didn't look like nothing." She crosses her arms and raises her eyebrows, her smile wider now.
He glances at himself again and sighs as he turns to her.
"Have you ever thought about changing your appearance? What you would change if you could?" he asks and she blinks at him, taking a deep breath. He shrugs as she lets it out.
"I wouldn't mind being a little taller," she says and he shakes his head.
"No, not that," he says, glancing at the mirror again. "I mean… your appearance. Your face."
"Are you suggesting I need to change my appearance?"
"What?! No!" he says, turning to look back at her. "I would never think that you did. I'm asking if you ever thought about it." He shakes his head again and she smiles, uncrossing her arms.
"I don't think anyone ever loves everything about their appearance, but no, I've never considered plastic surgery."
"Hmm," he says, nodding at her and looking at the mirror out of the corner of his eye.
"Why are you asking? Are you thinking about it?"
"No… not… well, I mean…" He touches the tip of his nose quickly and then moves his hand as he clears his throat. "It was just a question. Just a… never mind."
"I like your nose," she says and he stares at her, with a look of surprise in his eyes.
"I didn't say anything about my nose."
"You didn't have to say it," she says softly with a smile and she watches him draw in a breath.
"You don't think it's… too…" He shrugs as he gestures to it and she shakes her head.
"I think it's exactly the nose you're supposed to have, the one that was meant for you." She smiles again, stepping closer to him. "You change that… and I think you lose a bit of you."
"Yeah?" he asks, his voice quiet.
"Yeah," she whispers, standing right in front of him, smiling as she licks her lips.
"It makes me look… pleasant?"
"I could think of a better description."
"Like what?"
"Hmm," she says, reaching out and squeezing two of his fingers. "Distinguished. Notable. Memorable."
"Attractive?"
She stares at him, hearing the desire for truth despite the casual tone he had used. His eyes hold hers and she smiles as he opens his hand to clasp hers.
"Exceedingly," she whispers and his eyes widen.
"Exceedingly?" he echoes in a whisper and she nods as she squeezes his hand. He swallows hard and she smiles. "Well, that's good to know."
"Happy to have assuaged your worries," she says and he hums softly.
He lets go of her hand and suddenly pulls her to him, holding her close as he lets out a breath. She smiles again as she closes her eyes and puts her arms around his waist, breathing in his scent.
"Thank you," he whispers and she hums with a nod as she takes a deep breath and begins to let him go. He smiles as she steps back and tucks her hair behind her ears.
"So, you wanted to show me something?" she says and he nods, pointing to the television.
"Yeah. A video," he says.
He walks to the television and pushes the tape into the VCR. She stands beside him as he readies it and he clears his throat.
"I don't think you need to be taller," he says quietly and she holds her breath as she listens. "I think you're the height you were meant to be."
He brushes his arm against hers and she dips her head with a smile, thinking of how she fits in his arms.
Like puzzle pieces interlocking.
She nods as he brushes against her again and their attention turns to the video and back to the case at hand.