Notes: Tag to "Brand X".
Throwing It In
"Mulder! What are you doing? You don't smoke," Scully says.
"I never used to smoke," Mulder corrects.
They've already had this conversation before. Each time he's thrown a pack of smokes in the bin to show he's giving up and each time he's taken them back out when Scully has left him alone.
"Mulder…"
"I know, I know. You've never been put on nicotine to save your life though, have you? It's addictive! I'm beginning to understand how hard it is for some people to quit."
"That doesn't make it all right. That doesn't make it safe."
"Maybe not, but it's my body, my life."
"Two things you should be more concerned about."
"Well, yes, but…"
"Just give it up, Mulder. Please."
He can't ignore the look on her face. He can't take how hurt she looks, because of him. "Okay, fine. I will give up. This time, I will."
Rather than throwing the pack of cigarettes back in the bin where he can retrieve it from later, he hands it to Scully. "Take it."
She accepts and shoves the pack down into her purse. "I'll dispose of them later," she tells him, pondering where to put them as she does so. Maybe she'd throw them in a garbage can out on the street. Only the desperate would take them then.
"Meanwhile, I'll need a distraction," Mulder hints. "While I 'quit'." He pauses and a cocky grin crosses his face. "Maybe you could lose the shirt."
Scully raises an eyebrow. "I suppose I could do that. Or you could just use this." She tosses him a pack of gum.
Mulder throws it back and straight-faced, tells her, "I think I'd prefer the first option."
She glares at him.
"Actually, you know what? The gum sounds great."
fin.
