Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The waves lapped the shore, soothing in a way as the pair stood.

The boy was tall, striking hazel eyes gazing down at the girl, her blue orbs locked on the ocean before them.

It was late, very late but this was their last moment. Their final moment together, before their dreaded return to reality.

“Scully”, the boy began, moving to tuck an errant fiery curl behind her ear, before resting his hands on her shoulders. The girl turned to him, craning her neck to look up at him properly, his height was something she was going to miss.

“Yes Mulder?” Scully’s voice was soft. Despite the darkness outside, Mulder could feel the entirety of her attention and its piercing intensity.

“I’m going back to the vineyard tomorrow”

Scully sighed sadly “I know, I know, these past few months have been the best of my life”

“I feel the same” Mulder gave her a pained smile, as Scully pressed her face into his chest in a heartfelt embrace

“I’m going to miss you”, Scully mumbled, her words muffled by his solid figure. At that, Mulder slowly removed himself from her warmth, his tone serious while he stared down at her

“Scully, there isn’t going to be a day where I don’t miss you”

Scully stood on her tiptoes just as Mulder bent down, dragging their lips together into a scorching kiss, sparks flooding her veins, and Scully knew she would never feel this with anyone else.

Mulder made her feel alive, but it would never work between them, he was from the Vineyard, she was in Maryland, and they would never see each other again.

But that still didn’t mean she couldn’t be hopeful. Hopeful about the future and maybe just maybe being together again one day.

Scully felt her eyes start to moisten, as she savoured her final kiss with her partner, her equal and she couldn’t believe it was over, just like that.

They remained frozen for a moment in each other’s embrace before tentatively separating.

Overcome with uncertainty about their future, Scully grasped Mulder’s hands in her own pleading up at him.

“Promise me this is forever”

She needed to know this was special, that it was something Mulder also saw written in the stars.

The teenage boy’s hands clung to hers, as he reaffirmed her request with a certainty Scully had never heard from him before.

“Scully, I promise”

And right then and there, the two knew they would be okay.

They had to be, no matter the time or distance between them, their love was fated and neither would ever forget the magical summer they had spent together.

Chapter Text

Two weeks later

Fox Mulder began his descent down the corridor of Our Lady of Sorrows High School tugging at the tie around his neck, its presence suffocating.

The accessory was constricting, just like the building he had of very recently become bound to for his final year of schooling.

Crucifixes were hung everywhere along with stain glass windows and was that the Virgin Mary? Mulder really had no idea, not that he even cared.

His parents hadn’t even given him the choice of moving here (here being all the way from The Vineyard to the middle of suburban Maryland).

If only he had known his three-month stint vacationing in Maryland was dedicated to their search for prospective high schools. But at least something good had come out of his trip, Scully. He smiled dopily at the thought of her as he walked towards the school office.

Mulder’s father had been offered a job and along with Mulder’s suspension from his previous school, his parents had gotten it into their head that their son needed to be whipped into shape.

It’s not like he really did anything wrong; it was just when those assholes mentioned Samantha, he couldn’t help it, they had no idea what was going on and it wasn’t any of their fucking business bringing his sister into the mix. So, what if he’d thrown a few punches a few times, it didn’t mean he needed a complete intervention.

But regardless he was, wearing a stupid pretentious uniform in this religious hell hole as he wandered up to his destination, dinging the service bell to signify his arrival. A serious looking woman greeted him, the name badge on her chest proclaiming her name to be Arlene. Arlene’s expression never changed while she handed over his new timetable, locker information, a map of the school and a pamphlet filled with a lengthy list of school rules he needed to obey.

That was that before she pointed Mulder in the direction of his first class of the day, English with a Ms Covarrubias and dismissed him, like she was merely swatting away a pesky fly.

Geez, Mulder sighed to himself, trekking down the west ward of the school. If Arlene was anything to go by, his senior year would be stuffy and joyless. He couldn’t wait.

But there was one thing he genuinely couldn’t wait to do. See Scully again.  

The past two weeks had been hectic, but now that Mulder was in Maryland again, he was beyond hopeful he would see her again, at the grocery store, at the beach, god anywhere.

Scully was special and he would be damned if he never saw her again, after their incredible summer together.

He ran a hand through his hair as he eventually reached his destination, a Room 18 as printed on his timetable.

Mulder paused, collecting himself outside the looming door before he tentatively knocked and partially entered the room.

Instantly, the eighteen-year-old was met with twenty pairs of eyes, many full of judgement as he readjusted his tie for the hundredth time that morning.

His teacher, a woman with a sleek blonde bob addressed him “hello, yes that’s right, I was informed there was a new student starting today, come in Fox and introduce yourself to the class”

Mulder took in a breath as he stepped further into the room “actually ma’am, I go by Mulder, not Fox”

A series of gasps ran through the room, clearly questioning or even correcting authority was a huge no in this place but Mulder went on. After all he was used to being universally hated by his teachers and peers alike.

“Well, I just moved here from Martha’s Vineyard, and I want to believe.”

Taken aback by his introduction, Ms Covarrubias cleared her throat “thank you Mr Mulder, now please go sit next to Mr Frohike” her chin jutting in the direction of the back of the classroom.

Slightly nodding, Mulder ventured past the plethora of occupied tables to where a slight teenage guy sat alone, his glasses framing his frowning features.

“I’m-” Mulder began

“Yeah, I already heard who you are”

A moment of silence passed before the corners of the boy’s mouth subtly curved upwards. “I have to say you intrigue me Mulder, not many students would correct a teacher on their first day like you did”

“I guess I really hate my first name” Mulder shrugged

“That I can definitely respect, my parents called me Melvin of all names, which is why I go by Frohike”

“You sound like my type of guy” Mulder returned Frohike’s small smile as he dropped his backpack on the floor beside him and pulled out a notebook and a pencil.

“Oh, you’ll definitely want to meet Byers and Langly then, I’m sure they’ll have a field day with you” Frohike rolled his eyes fondly “say, why don’t you join us for lunch, I don’t imagine you’ll get many other invites”

At that, Mulder supressed a chuckle, he really must have outcast stamped across his forehead. Not that he gave a shit, at least Frohike seemed decent.

“It’s a plan”, Mulder held out his open palm and watched the other boy’s initial grin grow just a bit bigger as he brought out his own to shake on it.

It turned out the school library was Frohike’s refuge.

Well, not just his, but that of his two equally as eccentric friends Byers (born on JFK’s assassination of all days) and Langly (a total computer whiz).

Mulder had learnt that the trio published an online monthly magazine ‘The Lone Gunmen’, its name mirroring their unofficial group title. Their publications centred around conspiracy theories and aimed to expose the US government along with its secretive bullshit.

It was clear to Mulder that the guys were beyond intelligent, trying to spread the truth to whoever would listen within their overbearing catholic high school. It was something he had to admire, after all their drive and passion was going to one day save the world in one way or another, that he knew.

After the foursome had scoffed down their lunches and Langly had finished a lengthy argument with Frohike about their upcoming editorial Mulder eventually spoke.

“Not that I care, but fill me on my peers, the other cliches, I know they are at every school no matter how stifling it is”

Byers sighed wearily “well as you can see, most people don’t know we exist, that’s why we were banished to the library”

Frohike cut in “not that we mind, because it’s a hell of a lot more regulated in here than out in that godforsaken cafeteria” the slight teenager snorted “but I guess in terms of cliches you’ve got the sport obsessed students, the foreign students, the super studious ones, the theatre kids and of course us”.

“And then there’s the popular kids, they are definitely people to avoid” Byers chimed back in “they live in their own little bubble consisting of them and them alone”

“Shame though, that Dana is a fox” Frohike winked.

At the name Dana, Mulder felt himself perk up a bit. Where had he heard that name before? He was pretty sure that was Scully’s first name. Surely it had to be a coincidence.

But that didn’t stop the thumping of Mulder’s heart in his chest in pure anticipation, but what if it was her?

“As if she would ever go for you” Langly turned to Frohike pointedly “we all know she only goes for guys like Ethan, boring and religious to a fault, we are far too out of this realm for her, I can guarantee”.

A second passed before the school bell rang signifying the end of lunch.

Mulder instantly jumped to his feet, hoping to catch even just a glimpse of this Dana before his next class. Bidding farewell to the still seated Lone Gunmen, Mulder made his way out of the library and into the hallway surrounded by a sea of students.

Caught up in the daydream of seeing his Scully again, Mulder continued in what he hoped was the correct direction, walking a few feet before bumping into someone.

It wasn’t just anyone though, it was a guy with dark hair, a muscular build and a pissed expression on his face.

Intent on going straight by him, Mulder’s steps were suddenly halted when he was addressed by said guy “what was that?”

Mulder was struck by the reality of the situation, his hopes of seeing Scully again temporarily escaping his mind, while he spoke sincerely “sorry, didn’t see you there”.

“Watch where you walk” was the teenage boy’s curt response and Mulder’s fists started to clench at his blatant rudeness, but before Mulder could say a single word, he felt himself freeze.  

“Ethan, what’s going on? I thought we were meeting the others outside?”

Mulder would recognise that voice anywhere.

It couldn’t be, could it?

Slowly he turned towards the voice behind him, icy blue eyes meeting his hazel ones in pure shock.

“Mulder?”