Secrets and Pictures – Chapter 04
Dana Scully had her hands in her trench coat pocket, her right hand playing with her keys. Alex Krycek was walking on the left side of her, telling her about his childhood. They had finished a small dinner at a café, and now were walking through downtown towards a small park.
"So, I've never told anybody this," he said, his hands in his pockets playing with his keys. "But my parents aren't really Cold War immigrants. I just tell everybody that because it sounds more interesting than 'my parents are Russian, so that's how I know Russian.'"
"So were your parents in the Cold War?" Scully asked, honestly interested. Krycek was a total mystery to her. Sure, he could be an ass, but maybe he was just acting that way because people think he's like that.
Krycek paused. "Well… maybe. I don't really know what they did. They were pretty hush-hush about their jobs. Sometimes they disappeared for months, so I'd be left alone with the dog. Or I'd spend some time with my grandmother, who ignored me most of the time." He shrugged. "It was a pretty sad childhood," he mumbled, walking over to a bench. They were in a park of some sort, and the bench overlooked a small lake. He had worn a black button up shirt and black trousers – black was his favourite colour, after all.
Scully sat down. She felt bad for bringing up his childhood. "Well, we all have bad memories," she said. That was so lame, she thought. I'm so not good at comforting people, especially semi-strangers. She looked across the lake and saw a somewhat mismatched couple. The man was a head taller than the woman. He was all dressed up, and she was wearing a sweater and skirt. She smiled a little when a little thought passed through her mind.
Krycek noticed. "What?" He looked in the direction she was looking at. "Hey, that looks like us."
"My thoughts exactly." Scully looked down at what she was wearing – her FBI wear. A red blouse, black pants, and heels. I'm way too short to wear ankle length skirts, she thought. But if that woman can pull it off, I should be able to.
The couple started making out. Public displays of affection should be banned, Scully mused.
Krycek cleared his throat. Scully looked at him and their eyes met. Scully realized that it was the first time they made eye contact tonight.
Awkward silence.
"So, you didn't tell Mulder about us?" Krycek asked, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his thighs, breaking the eye contact.
Scully shook her head. "No. I didn't think it was necessary." Or maybe I'm just too chicken to tell him. She mentally slapped herself for thinking that last part. He was keeping a secret too… plus there's nothing to tell him. Yeah, that's right.
Krycek nodded and shuffled about. "I'm horrible at positive conversations," he said, chuckling sadly. "It comes with being everybody's rat. By the way, thank you…" He looked at her again. His eyes were filled with gratefulness, and sparkled in the moonlight.
Scully blushed a little. "Pozhalsta," she replied, giving him a sly grin. She was thankful it was dark, so that he couldn't see her little red cheeks. Krycek laughed and stood up. "Actually, thank you for what?" she continued, staring up at him.
"For listening. For letting me explain myself a little," he replied. "Come on, let's go get some coffee." He stuck out his hand, and beamed at the redhead.
Scully stared at the hand for a second before taking it, letting Krycek lead the way while they talked more about everything and nothing.