02/14/00 Tradition by Araxdelan Part of the "Unspoken" universe. Takes place sometime after "Forgetting". For my WAFFers, on Valentine's Day. -------------- Unwrapping the bit of crinkled brown paper carefully folded around his present, Mulder was suddenly faced with a familiar, foil covered form. "Chocolate, Alex?" he breathed. "Where did you get this?" "Remember Bergman?" Mulder nodded. "I was there when he died. He said I could have his things. He had that stashed away at the bottom of his footlocker." Mulder was still staring at the Hershey's bar, amazed at the presence of what was once such a common item, but now so rare and valued. "Bergman died months ago..." "I've been saving it all this time." "How did you keep from devouring it? I would have eaten the moment I found it!" "The moment I saw it, I knew it would be perfect to give to you today. Happy Valentine's Day, Fox." Mulder leaned forward and kissed Alex. Pulled back, and said, "We'll share, of course." "No, no, it's yours. You eat it." "Hey, if I had given it to you, you'd make *me* eat some." Krycek eyed the candy hungrily. It had been at least eight months since he'd had even a bite of chocolate. He kept watching, as Mulder peeled back the foil and revealed the milky brown of the treat. Mulder broke off two of the small segments. He brought one to Alex's lips and slowly pressed it the other man's mouth. He deposited the second piece on his own tongue. The two sat, reveling in the ecstasy of the old, poor chocolate. Eyes closed, smiling, they let it melt in their mouths as they carefully savored the precious sweetness. When they finished, Mulder spoke. "So, should we eat it all right now, or a bit at a time?" "It's your chocolate, you decide." "Damn. I want it all now, but I know that I'll regret it tomorrow..." He sighed. "I guess we'll eat it a piece at a time. At least it will make your present last longer. And, speaking of presents..." "You got me a present, too?" "I knew you'd find me something, so..." Mulder reached underneath the battered cot, and cupped something in his hands. He brought it back up, presenting his interlocked hands to Krycek. "It's not something I could wrap," he explained. He slowly let his fingers fall apart, revealing a shot glass filled with water. Krycek gasped, for the glass held three small flowers. "Fl-flowers? Here? In the middle of winter?" "They're called 'Helleborus'. They bloom in the winter." Krycek stared at them. "They aren't too effeminate a gift, are they?" Mulder asked. At that, Krycek looked away from the delicate blooms. "No. No no no. I've been missing... *everything*. Flowers and sunshine and grass. I've been missing outside. You've brought it to me!" He returned to his examination of his gift. "I'm glad," Mulder said. "I thought you might appreciate a little of nature's cheer." "What I still don't understand is how you got these, *where*!" "From Wazny. I saved his ass about a month back, and he owed me one. When I went up top last week I noticed these little guys poking their heads up. Right near the south door, of all places! I figured they'd be opening up right about now, so when Wazny went on that raid last night, I asked him to pick them for me on his way back." "Really? What'd he say?" "Nothing. I think he understood. We all miss the freedom, the beauty of the outdoors." Krycek gently took the glass from Mulder's hands, and held it in his own. He marveled at the flowers, at their freshness and vivid coloring. In that moment they were the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, with the exception of his beloved. "I can't believe they were just growing there... everything topside is a wasteland. How could they have possibly survived?" "This planet is very old, Alex. There have been ice ages and comets and eruptions and fires, and life has persisted. This is just one more thing for it to live through. Our buildings may collapse and our weapons and their might destroy even the rubble of the city, but through it all, nature will prevail. We may be down here, hiding, but the world is already rejuvenating itself. We'll come away, tired and battered, and everything will be lush and green and new. Just wait and see." He kissed the side of Krycek's head. "Thank you, Fox. This is the most wonderful, most *exceptional*, most unexpected present..." Mulder laughed. "It seems so silly that I didn't expect chocolate and you didn't expect flowers as a gift on Valentine's Day." "When this is over I'm going to buy you chocolate and flowers every single Thursday, just because." "Expensive chocolate?" "Sure." Mulder lost himself in his own imagination for a moment, and then broke away from his fantasy and said, "I know I said we should save the chocolate..." "You did say that." "But... one more piece." Krycek smiled. "Sounds like a good idea to me." Afterwards, they kissed, and tasted the sweetness of the chocolate in each other's mouths. --- The End