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Title: Croissant crazy –
Part Two Walter released Alex’s
collar and Alex dropped onto the couch, hunching into a ball of black leather
and well-worn cotton and denim. ‘Sit there. Do *not* move.’ Walter indicated the
armchair. ‘Mulder.’ Obediently, Fox dropped into
the chair, casting surreptitious glances at Alex. Eventually, he hissed: ‘You
stabbed me.’ ‘Did not!’ Alex said, shaking his head. ‘I’m bleeding!’ Fox whined. ‘Where?’ Alex retorted sarcastically. Fox lifted his t-shirt and
checked his chest carefully. ‘Um…’ Finally he found a tiny red dot and pointed
accusingly. ‘There!’ Alex got up and peered
closely at the tip of Fox’s finger. ‘That’s a pimple.’ ‘Is not!!’ Fox pouted. Walking back into the room,
Walter thundered: ‘QUIET, BOTH OF YOU NOW!! SIT DOWN!!’ Fox pouted silently and Alex
glowered at him. Walter pointed to the
kitchen. ‘Breakfast. Qu-iet-ly.’ Walter leaned back against
the sink, sipping slowly at a steaming mug of strong black coffee, watching Fox
pick at a croissant, spreading a little butter and strawberry conserve on the
soft pastry. Alex was already on his second, piling each with a heap of butter
and conserve which made Walter’s arteries shudder. Putting his mug on the
drainer, Walter walked to the refrigerator and added ‘conserve’ to the sheet of
paper held on the white door by a plain matt silver disc magnet. Draining his
coffee, he walked across to the table. ‘I’m gonna shower. Do *not* kill each
other while I’m gone, understand?’ ‘Yes Sir.’ ‘Okayyy.’ Shaking his head, Walter
ascended the staircase and prepared for his shower, leaving the bathroom door
open. Just in case. ********************* Walter came downstairs,
dressed in a loose t-shirt and cotton shorts. He almost laughed as he crossed
to the kitchen and looked in. Fox was standing at the sink washing the dishes
and Alex was lying on the table, head resting on his arms, snoring softly. Walter left them and walked
into the living room, flicking the TV on, channel hopping until he found his
favorite sports channel. He settled onto the couch, laying back, listening
occasionally to sounds coming from the kitchen. After a few minutes, Fox
appeared in the doorway. ‘Thanks for breakfast. And saving
me.’ He blushed and looked at the floor, biting his lip. ‘Krycek is…um,
sleeping.’ Walter smiled. ‘Any time
Mulder. You have plans today?’ Fox shook his head. ‘Nah. I was gonna shoot some hoops later…’ He shrugged. Walter pointed at the
armchair with the TV remote. ‘Let your breakfast settle first.’ Fox slid into the chair and
squirmed for a moment, getting comfortable. ‘I never imagined Alex Krycek would
run out of money.’ Walter looked round. ‘Maybe
he didn’t.’ Fox’s eyes widened. ‘You
think he wanted to kill me?!’ Walter rolled his eyes. ‘No
Mulder! I think perhaps his money isn’t held in a checking account at the local
S&L. Maybe he can’t get to it.’ Fox sighed. ‘That must be
why he used to wear those ten-dollar suits.’ Both men laughed, falling
silent as the chair scraped in the kitchen. ‘We’re in here!’ Alex walked through the
living room and towards the front door of the apartment. ‘Um…thanks
for…breakfast. See ya.’ ‘Krycek, I think you owe
Mulder an apology.’ Walter got up and nodded at Fox. ‘I didn’t hurt him.’ Alex
muttered crossly. ‘You stabbed me!’ Fox
yelled. Walter sighed tiredly. ‘Do
*not* start this again. Krycek, apologize. Now!’ ‘Sorry.’ Alex hissed with
bad grace. Alex reached for the door
and hissed in pain. He cursed in Russian and made a second attempt to open the
door. Walter got up and walked to the door, reaching into his pocket, bringing
out a stack of neatly-folded bills. ‘Here.’ Alex shook his head. ‘I
don’t need handouts.’ ‘You’d rather hold people up
at knifepoint?’ ‘You were right. I don’t
need money.’ Fox spluttered, getting to
his feet. ‘You mugged me for fun?!’ Alex pulled the small knife
from his pocket, pressed the button and the blade slid out. It was rounded,
similar to a butter knife, and clearly no threat to anyone. ‘Nah,
for breakfast. I was heading for Skinner. You get lost or something?’ Fox nodded sheepishly. ‘Yeah. I wasn’t concentrating.’ Walter frowned. ‘Back up a
minute. You were gonna hit me? What for, breakfast rolls?’ Alex nodded. ‘Yeah. I was kinda hungry. And you always buy a newspaper,
your breakfast, you drop the change with the guy on the corner, then you head
home.’ Walter leaned on the door,
his hand above Alex’s head. ‘Exactly how long have you been planning this
pastry heist?’ Alex shrugged. ‘A while.’ ‘Alex!’ Walter clearly
wasn’t satisfied. ‘A month.’ Fox scowled. ‘You’ve been
watching us a month?’ Alex shook his head. ‘Just Skinner.’ Walter sighed, taking in a
deep breath, wrinkling his nose. ‘And how long is it since you washed?’ Walter regretted his words
as soon as they were out. Alex flushed, his hand balling into a fist as he
pushed into Walter, intending to move him out of the way. He hadn’t realized
how difficult the task would be, even as angry as he was. Walter didn’t move,
planting his feet apart on the polished wood floor, folding his arms across his
chest. ‘Unless you have urgent business Krycek, how about
taking a shower?’ Alex’s eyes flashed. ‘With you?’ Walter frowned and Alex thought for a moment he
was about to get hit again. ‘Not a chance Krycek.’
Walter snarled. Fox ruined the moment by
laughing. Loudly. For several
seconds. ‘Like you’re his type Krycek!’ ‘Well you’re not!’ Alex shot
back. Walter sighed, leaning back,
stretching his neck, rubbing it. ‘This is why I never had kids.’ Alex smiled a little and
looked from Fox to Walter. ‘No way would I pick you as my Dad.’ ‘Oh?’ Walter seemed
affronted. ‘You’re *way* too strict.’ ‘Yeah.’ Fox agreed, nodding. ‘Shower. Now. Go.’ Alex looked at Fox, rolling
his eyes. ‘Waaaayyyy too strict.’ Fox laughed as Alex ascended
the stairs. Click here to go to Part Three
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