Mulder/Krycek [X-Files]
Title: Destiny, Fate and Inextricable Relationships.
Author: literati.
Fandom: The X-Files.
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Alex Krycek.
Spoilers: All nine seasons.
Notes: Many thanks to darkhavens for her endless support and proofing. Thanks also to biani for fandom links and suggestions. ::hugs:: The views expressed in this essay do not, in any way, shape or form, reflect the X-Files fandom as a whole. The hyperlinks are visual accompaniments to the scenes being discussed.
The world as they know it.
Their world is one of conspiracies, shadow governments, threat of alien invasion, and an all-knowing, all-controlling syndicate of elders.
Alliances are often tested and disbanded as each individual searches for his or her version of the truth. The motto most appropriate for a world like this is ‘Trust No One'. Chances are, you'll live longer.
Of course, not every x-file leads back to conspiracies. Sometime's an incestuous family is just an incestuous family, complete with legless mum on pull out trolley. Vampires, ghosts and werewolves are of the norm when compared to the many other shades of paranormal the x-files office investigates.
Fox Mulder.
Special Agent Mulder is an Oxford educated psychology graduate who's on a crusade to find the truth about his sister's disappearance. The twist is that he believes she was abducted by aliens. He's a driven, passionate man who has an almost non-existent personal life due to his dedicated work on the X-Files. He's a just man who's been pushed to his limits on more than one occasion, yet steadfastly keeps to his principles. A brilliant profiler, Mulder is able to make intuitive leaps and is rarely one to believe the easiest theory. Sunflower seeds are his constant companions.
Alex Krycek.
Krycek, if that is indeed his name, in an enigma. A survivalist in black leather, his breathy tones and constant lip licking are enough to make anyone lose their train of thought.
He has agendas within agendas, and only he knows whose side he's on, or if he's on anyone's side but his own. He knows just the right buttons to push to get the people around him to help him accomplish his goals, when he isn't cleaning up other people's messes of course.
Interactions, Motivations and some Canon.
In (Sleepless 2x04), we find Mulder transcribing surveillance tapes. In the bullpen a handsome twenty-something guy with bad hair and an even worse suit is trying to get his attention. He talks about the case and introduces himself as Alex Krycek. Mulder ignores the hand he extends and makes it quite clear he's not interested in having a rookie, or anyone for that matter, as a partner.
We see Krycek confront Mulder after being ditched, (something Mulder is famous for) hinting at some serious hero worship. Krycek's actions, more than his words, convince us that he came to admire ‘Spooky' while at the FBI academy.
As they progress through their first case, Krycek covers for Mulder and asks for an explanation.
KRYCEK: Come on, you just about killed somebody back there. We both know I'm covering for you by keeping it between us.
MULDER: All right, what do you want to know?
KRYCEK: What's the truth? There are things you're not telling me that I need to know.
MULDER: It's just that my ideas usually aren't very popular.
KRYCEK: I told you, I want to believe. But I need a place to start.
MULDER: I think that Cole possesses the psychic ability to manipulate sounds and images to generate illusions that are so convincing they can kill. How's that for a theory?
KRYCEK: Puts a whole new spin on virtual reality but at least it begins to explain some things.
As soon as Krycek utters those words, Mulder stares at him as if he is a sunflower seed. He even pauses a moment too long as a police officer tries to get his attention. Foxy thinks he's found his soul mate.
In the end, Krycek shoots the suspect, convinced that the man - a master of illusion - was about to shoot Mulder. The man, Cole, was in fact pointing a bible at Mulder, but Mulder reassures Krycek that he did the right thing as the other man scrambles to find the gun he ‘saw' Cole holding.
Then Mulder's file on the case disappears from his car and if he suspects Krycek, he never lets on. Later we see Krycek discussing the case file with CGB and the rest of the Syndicate elders, and we realise that the partnership will be short lived. First Scully had been sent in to debunk Mulder's work, and when that failed a pretty boy was sent in. Do TPTB know something more about Mulder's personal life than what we have witnessed?
Through their short partnership Krycek is always by Mulder's side, quick to agree and so damn breathless. We learn more of his duplicity and also watch him struggle not to stare at a speedo-clad Mulder by the pool. Mulder seems quite comfortable in Krycek's presence and their initial awkwardness disappears as they spend more time together.
Scully's abduction (Duane Barry 2x05) has always been something linked to Krycek. He was a grunt in the consortium at the time, yet everyone assumes he was the one who gave Duane Barry her address. Duane was chipped and could be controlled via said chip. Being sent to Scully's location is not a stretch.
At Skyland Mountain, Krycek is under orders to delay Mulder. He cold-cocks the tram operator and stops the tram, but when Mulder begins to climb out, Krycek panics and starts the tram again. Despite Mulder's best efforts to save her, Scully is taken.
Krycek meets with CGB in his car after Scully's abduction, and he's firmly put in his place when he enquires what happened to her. When CGB reveals he doesn't wasn't Mulder killed, Krycek is visibly relieved.
A moment of pure squee was when Mulder called Krycek ‘Alex' for the first time and ran his hand from shoulder to elbow, only to gain the double agent's attention, of course. He asks for Krycek's car keys, and Krycek tries to dissuade him from taking them. Wistfully, he then watches as Mulder leaves with the keys, knowing their partnership is over as soon as Mulder finds the cigarette butts in the ashtray. Mulder is first confused then a look of hurt crosses his face as he holds a butt in his hand.
There is speculation as to why Krycek didn't remove the butts from his car. Most believe he wanted to be found out and confronted by Mulder, to see what he was up against before he left, while others believe that he merely forgot. The latter seems less likely as Krycek isn't the type to leave loose ends.
With Krycek gone, Mulder regains control of the X-Files, but with Scully's abduction and Krycek's betrayal it is a bittersweet victory.
When Bill Mulder is shot and killed, he leaves a grieving and extremely drugged Fox trying to understand what the other man wanted to tell him before his death. Krycek is lurking outside Mulder's apartment building and Mulder throws him on the hood of a car, and starts beating him and aiming his gun. He doesn't let Krycek speak, just lets his fists and accusations fly. He fingers the trigger, but before we find out if he was going to fire, Scully shoots Mulder in the shoulder and Krycek makes his escape.
They don't meet up again until Hong Kong, a few months later. In the meantime Krycek was with Luis Cardinale when the other man shot Scully's sister, Melissa (The Blessing Way 3x01), resulting in her death (Paper Clip 3x02). He, and two companions, assaulted Skinner to obtain a DAT that the AD had retrieved from Mulder's desk. The tape contained files stolen from the Consortium's computers (Anasazi 2x25). Krycek's bosses, obviously displeased by the Melissa screw-up, promptly try to assassinate him with a car bomb. Krycek, showing his first signs of pure instinct, escapes the car mere seconds before it explodes (Paper Clip 3x02). He calls his now ex-boss and threatens him with fame if he so much as breathes near Krycek.
With no patron, Krycek makes his way to Hong Kong where he awaits the arrival of his associate Geraldine to bring him information he can sell from the DAT tape.
When Mulder and Krycek meet up in Hong Kong (Piper Maru 3x15), Mulder is handcuffed to Geraldine, having followed her to discover her involvement with the ship and why she's selling information about what he believes killed the crew of the Piper Maru. Mulder is unaware that they were actually killed by a diver under the control of an alien entity. This ‘oilien' currently inhabits the diver's wife and has followed Mulder to Hong Kong.
When Mulder and Geraldine arrive at their destination, Mulder asks where the lights are and a man replies ‘right here'. It's Krycek, looking the worse for wear. After exchanging a few barbs with Mulder, Krycek retrieves what he is after. He escapes through the window while the oilien is killing the people on the other side of the door, including the woman handcuffed to Mulder.
The next contact Mulder and Krycek have is at the Hong Kong airport. Mulder is pretending to speak on the phone when Krycek walks past. Mulder punches him and slams him against a bay of phones, pinning him as he fishes the other man's gun from his jeans. He uses it to demand the usual answers, about his father, the DAT, etc.
KRYCEK: No! I didn't kill your father.
MULDER: Now you tell me.
KRYCEK: It wasn't me.
MULDER: Oh yeah? Then who was it?
KRYCEK: I don't know, don't know.
MULDER: Either way, Krycek, you're a liar.
KRYCEK: Come on, finish it, Mulder. C'mon finish it, do it to me.
Technically, Krycek has never lied regarding Mulder's father. As we later find out, Bill Mulder was not in fact Mulder's biological father, CGB Spender is.
The atmosphere positively crackles with UST. Mulder releases Krycek and after agreeing to discuss letting him go if he delivers the DAT, Mulder tells him to clean up. As Krycek washes, the oilien follows him into the bathroom, slams him up against the wall, and when Krycek walks out and is asked if he feels better, he replies with ‘like a new man'. Cue the swirling oil eyes.
MULDER: Give me the key.
KRYCEK: When we get there.
MULDER: I wanna make sure we get there together, give it to me.
(Krycek hands Mulder the key: C.I. 517 is printed on it) What's "C.I." mean?
KRYCEK: When we get there.
They arrive in DC and Krycek drives while Mulder keeps his eyes on his erstwhile partner (Apocrypha 3x16). Mulder has no idea he's riding in the car with an alien and is sure to kick himself later. When they are forced off the road, oilien Krycek obliterates the Consortium goons while Mulder is left in the car with a concussion and the key.
While Mulder is recuperating in hospital, oilien Krycek makes a deal with CGB - the DAT tape in exchange for the location of its ship.
WELL MANICURED MAN: I'm curious. If you've encountered Krycek, why didn't you kill him then?
MULDER: 'Cause he has the tape.
WELL MANICURED MAN: Ahh yes, the tape.
This conversation is quite interesting. Mulder lowers his head and takes a moment before coming up with ‘'Cause he has the tape'. WMM glances knowingly at Mulder.
On the trail of the salvaged UFO, Mulder and Scully go to an abandoned missile site in North Dakota. Unbeknownst to them Krycek is there in an underground silo, behind a red door marked 1013, throwing up the alien, which is subsequently absorbed by the UFO. CGB prevents Mulder and Scully from finding the ship. They are forced to leave the site and as they drive away, Krycek is left screaming for help.
SCULLY: And what about Krycek?
MULDER: Oh, he was there, I know that.
SCULLY: You think they got to him too?
MULDER: I don't know, but if they haven't they will. I doubt it'll weigh on their consciences though.
Months pass and the usual cases keep Mulder busy. Then anonymously sent receipts lead him to Krycek. After the usual beating, Krycek tells Mulder that he's the one who sent the information (Tunguska 4x09). The UST between the two of them in this scene is palpable. Little else holds their attention when they are in the same room together. Again, Mulder believes Krycek can lead him to his precious truth.
Later on, when they reach the airport, Mulder keeps Krycek in his sights lest the younger man elude him again. He chains Alex to a railing and rushes off to apprehend a man with a pouch containing an oilien in rock form, and Krycek casually throws his jacket over the cuffs.
For safekeeping Mulder takes Krycek to Skinner's apartment, and the AD gut-punches Alex and handcuffs him to his balcony. While Skinner is at work the following day, the man with the pouch attempts to kill Krycek, who ends up dangling over the balcony by one arm. Krycek pulls the man over and onto the street below.
As the police are gathered at Skinner's apartment, Mulder slips in and tells Krycek they're leaving.
MULDER: We're going to walk out of here like nothing happened. If anybody speaks to us, you say nothing.
KRYCEK: I got no problem. You put me up here, man, I'm looking forward to seeing you get me out.
MULDER: (whacking Krycek's forehead) Stupid-ass haircut!
Now, although Mulder's mind works in a… unique way, it's completely out of left field when he admonishes Krycek about his haircut. It is a horrid military buzz cut, but, at the time, Mulder had other more important matters to attend to.
With the intense gazes from them both and Mulder's violence, this scene is charged with sexual tension. Mulder can never keep his hands off Krycek, be it to guide him somewhere or to smack him, and Krycek's continued passivity is a mystery, since he's currently not under any orders from anyone to keep Mulder alive.
It's awfully convenient that Krycek's heritage is revealed to Mulder just as he's on his way to Russia. He takes him along and they spend countless hours on an airplane, while we are left wondering about the mile high club.
Once in Russia, Mulder tells Krycek why they are there. They are pursued by men on horseback and consequently imprisoned in a gulag, where Krycek's uneasiness regarding enclosed spaces is shown. Mulder again attacks Krycek, pinning him to the cell wall. As Mulder is pressing close, the younger man utters the line that sparked many a story and set slashers hearts aflutter.
MULDER: What did you tell them?
KRYCEK: That we were stupid Americans lost in the woods. (They stare at each other.) Mulder, you're going to need me in here. (Pushes Mulder's arm away from his throat.) Don't touch me again.
'Don't touch me again', yet his whole demeanour is an open invitation to the contrary.
Sometime later a guard appears at their cell door and Krycek speaks to him in Russian. When Mulder asks what he said, Alex tells the truth. The guard agrees to let Krycek see his superior and as he is leaving, Krycek's eyes linger on Mulder and he softly says ‘Dos Vidanya' (until we meet again).
Mulder is then experimented on with the black oil (Terma 4x10). Later we see Krycek schmoozing with a commandant and this spurs Mulder, shiv in hand, to lunge at Krycek, punch him, and throw him into the back of a truck as he escapes the gulag. Unfortunately the truck's brakes have failed and a now roused Krycek flees. A mistake he pays for dearly as he's surrounded by a band of one-armed peasants. While he sleeps by their campfire, they grab him and, with no anaesthetic, start hacking at his left arm to ‘protect' him from the black oil tests.
Before they meet again, Mulder loses his belief in extra-terrestrials and Krycek begins working for the Well Manicured Man, but only after he is ‘persuaded' to hand over the vaccine against the black oil which he stole from the Russian gulag.
Mulder is certain that the consortium was behind Scully's abduction, yet she now believes in the existence of extra-terrestrials. Try as she might she cannot pass that belief on to Mulder. Then things start to look up.
Mulder leans over to read the little square of paper on his apartment floor and is tackled and pushed to the ground by Krycek, who holds Mulder's own gun on him (The Red and The Black 5x14).
KRYCEK: You must be losing it, Mulder. I could beat you with one hand.
MULDER: Isn't that how you like to beat yourself? …If those are my last words I can do better.
Krycek refers to the loss of his arm, but Mulder is unaware of what happened and the subject is never discussed. Luckily the abundance of fic more than make up for the exclusion of this in canon.
KRYCEK: I'm not here to kill you, Mulder. I'm here to help you.
MULDER: Hey, thanks.
KRYCEK: You know, if it wasn't in my best interests, I would just as soon squeeze this trigger.
MULDER: What's stopping you?
Krycek tells Mulder about a planned alien invasion, and Mulder laughs. Krycek then tells Mulder that he must save a rebel alien. The tension and smouldering looks they exchange made many a fangirl squee.
Then Krycek leans over and kisses the corner of Mulder's mouth. He uncocks Mulder's gun and drops it in his lap as he rises. Mulder takes the gun in his hand and he slowly strokes the trigger. Krycek says, “Good luck to you my friend," in Russian and exits, leaving a dazed Mulder with gun in hand to ponder about the night's events.
There is much speculation about that kiss. There's the theory that it was a kiss of death, or a mind game, playing with an already confused Mulder. The one that makes the most sense to me is that Krycek lives in the moment; he knows the dangerous lives they all lead and he was simply taking something he wanted. Regardless, the most important factor is what Mulder got from the kiss.
Scully finds him, possibly hours later, in the dark, holding onto Krycek's piece of paper.
SCULLY: Mulder? What are you doing sitting here in the dark?
MULDER: Thinking.
SCULLY: Thinking about what?
MULDER: Oh, the usual. Destiny, fate, how to throw a curve ball. The inextricable relationships in our lives that are neither accidental nor somehow in our control, either.
SCULLY: Well, I've just taken a long walk and I've reconsidered that I may have been wrong about what I believed happened to me.
MULDER: I've been doing some reconsidering of my own.
Mulder follows Krycek's information and attempts to rescue the alien. Of course in real X-Files style he is mind-wiped and doesn't remember the incident, thereby cementing more distrust for Krycek.
In season six (SR 819 6x10), Mulder pursues a bearded man who is suspected of causing Skinner's near-death. He doesn't manage to catch the man, and Krycek, in disguise, is able to escape. Krycek is once again under the employ of the consortium since his patron, WMM, dies in a car explosion moments after he gives Mulder a vial of vaccine to save Scully's life (Fight the Future - Movie).
KRYCEK: That's why he put you on the X-Files. That's why your father sent you here tonight. You're protecting the project, Jeff. Making the sacrifices. So that you can be a great man, too.
JEFF SPENDER: (gets up and leaves the room angrily) I'll be my own great man.
Krycek is then partnered briefly with Jeffrey Spender, Mulder's half brother, who is currently in charge of the X-Files. Jeffrey loathes Mulder and is opposed to his beliefs. Krycek, who despises CGB, goes on about what a great man he is, and how if Jeff follows his example, he will also be a great man (Two Fathers 6x11). This comment has Jeffrey running to Mulder's side and giving up the X-Files to the other man, earning young Jeff a bullet to the face by his own father (One Son 6x12).
At El Rico Air Force Base the Rebel aliens have a massive barbeque, wiping out all the Consortium, sans CGB and Diana Fowley (Mulder's ex-partner and lover).
They next meet when Mulder is lying on a stairwell floor, writhing in pain caused by an artefact that has awoken dormant genes. Krycek looks down, and slowly steps over him, continuing up to the roof to conduct business regarding said artefacts (Biogenesis 6x22).
I've often wondered about this scene. Krycek appears to have no animosity toward Mulder. You'd think he'd at least want to get a kick in for all those beatings.
In S7, Mulder finally has some closure regarding his sister's disappearance (Closure 7x11). With the freedom this knowledge provides him, he is able to pursue his other truths.
KRYCEK: The Alien Bounty Hunter. Billy Miles. Teresa Hoese, her husband. He's eliminating proof of all the tests. We're asking ourselves, we're asking ourselves, "Where are they?" They're right there. They're right under our noses. I'm giving you the chance to change that, to hold the proof.
MULDER: Why me and why now?
KRYCEK: I want to damn the soul of that Cigarette Smoking Son-of-a-Bitch.
The next time they meet, Mulder goes for Krycek but is restrained by Skinner. Krycek tells him the location of a UFO, which immediately piques Mulder's interest, despite the identity of the messenger. He acquiesces too quickly and listens to Krycek's reasoning that he's only doing this to get back at CGB after the man had him set up and incarcerated in a Tunisian prison. In the boardroom Mulder and Krycek stand side by side as plans are made to find the UFO (Requiem 7x21).
KRYCEK: Listen, it is not going to be there forever.
There isn't anything particularly significant about this line, only that while it's being said Krycek is staring at Mulder's lips.
Mulder finds the ship and is subsequently abducted and Krycek pushes Mulder's biological father down a flight of stairs.
Months later, Mulder is in hospital, after being found dumped in a field, being buried and exhumed. Krycek, standing at Mulder's bedside in the hospital, gives Skinner an ultimatum.
SKINNER: What do I have to do?
KRYCEK: Oh, it's simple, really. Make sure Scully doesn't come to term.
(SKINNER stares at him in shock.)
SKINNER: You're out of your mind.
KRYCEK: She can't have that baby.
SKINNER: No. The answer is no.
KRYCEK: We all have a life in our hands. I have yours... you have Mulder's... and Scully has her unborn child. It's who's willing to sacrifice.
Krycek knows that Skinner will choose to end Mulder's life, ultimately saving him, as taking him off the life support system prevents him from becoming a supersoldier (DeadAlive 8x15).
Sometime later, supersoldier Billy Miles pursues Mulder and Scully. Just when it appears as though they won't escape, a speeding car runs over Miles, and Mulder and Scully are doubly shocked when they discover their saviour is Krycek. He tells them to get in his car and Mulder slides into the passenger side. At HQ, Krycek tells everyone present that the supersoldiers are after Scully's baby, and then goes on to mention the alien invasion. Mulder once again believes.
KRYCEK: What do you want me to do?
MULDER: You're going to protect her.
This display of trust on Mulder's part was astonishing. Besides Scully, and to a lesser extent Skinner, Mulder has no trust in others. He knew Krycek wanted Scully's baby dead, yet he trusted Krycek to protect her at any cost. This action shocked both Scully and Alex, yet he did what was asked of him (Essence 8x20).
Next comes the eighth season finale (Existence 8x21), or the episode where CC lost his mind, as some of us believe.
Krycek orders a surprised Mulder out of his car and aims a gun at him. Mulder appears resigned and the two face off.
KRYCEK: I could've killed you so many times, Mulder. You've got to know that. I'm the one that kept you alive. (his voice cracks slightly) Praying you'd win somehow.
MULDER: Then there really is no God.
KRYCEK: You think I'm bad, that I'm a killer. We wanted the same thing, brother. That's what you don't understand.
MULDER: I wanted to stop them. All you wanted was to save your own ass.
KRYCEK: No. I tried to stop them. Tried to kill … Scully's baby to stop them. It's too late. The tragedy's that you-- you wouldn't let it go. That's why I have to do this. 'Cause you know how deep it goes. Right into the FBI.
MULDER: You want to kill me, Alex, kill me. Like you killed my father. Just don't insult me by trying to make me understand.
With a pained expression, Krycek's finger strokes the trigger. Was he going to shoot? We'll never know. Skinner shoots him twice, once in each shoulder. As Krycek tries to bargain with Skinner, telling him to shoot Mulder to save millions of lives, Skinner fires the fatal blow into Krycek's temple. Krycek turns slightly to look at Mulder before falling to the ground, dead. Mulder, apparently numb, continues as if nothing happened. There is no satisfaction, no sadness. He's just numb.
Forty-eight hours later he leaves DC and goes into hiding with the mind-reading boy, Gibson Praise.
In the final season of the X-Files and after almost a year of hiding, Mulder breaks into a secure military facility and discovers the date of the alien invasion, December 22, 2012. As he's being pursued by the supersoldier Knowle Rohrer, Mulder sees a figure is standing at an exit. He balks for a moment, and then makes a full run toward the doorway. It's Krycek.
MULDER: No! You're dead.
(KRYCEK looks at MULDER.)
KRYCEK: Go.
(MULDER doesn't move. KRYCEK turns to look at the door. He looks at MULDER.)
KRYCEK: There's others.
Mulder sees Krycek again later in his cell as he's being held for the murder of Knowle Rohrer, and asks why he is helping. Krycek softly tells him that he can't do this alone.
MULDER: I know what you want and I can't give it to you.
SCULLY: Make them a deal, Mulder. Guilty on a lesser charge. Maybe they'll go for it and they'll let you walk out of here.
MULDER: I'd rather die, Scully.
SCULLY: How can you say that? How can you say that, Mulder, to me?
MULDER: Because this is greater than you or me. This is about everything we worked for, for nine years. The truth that we both sacrificed so much to uncover and to expose.
This scene is significant, because even to the end, Mulder is not willing to stop believing in his cause. He's willing to die for it.
Later, at the faux trial, as testimony is given by Marita Covarrubias, a former associate of both Mulder and Krycek, a hand rests on Mulder's shoulder and he turns to see that it's Krycek. Alex tells him that they will kill her if she answers the question. Mulder stops her from doing so (The Truth 9x19 & 20).
As Mulder prepares his final statement at the trial, he sees Krycek a final time standing behind the panel with Mulder's former informant, X.
Mulder is later freed by Skinner, Doggett, Reyes and surprisingly with help from Kersh. Scully and Mulder end up in a motel in New Mexico after Mulder confronts his father for the final time.
SCULLY: You've always said that you want to believe. But believe in what Mulder? If this is the truth that you've been looking for then what is left to believe in?
MULDER: I want to believe that the dead are not lost to us. That they speak to us as part of something greater than us - greater than any alien force. And if you and I are powerless now, I want to believe that if we listen to what's speaking, it can give us the power to save ourselves.
Obsession: M/K be thy name.
When a green agent wanted to shake Mulder's hand, way back in the nineties when the X-Files first aired, I was hooked. They truly had me at 302. Back then, I didn't know what slash was, all I knew was that I was constantly preoccupied with thoughts of the two of them together. When Krycek's duplicity was discovered it didn't put a dampener on my fascination. If anything, the scorching looks that they exchanged every time they met up and the obvious way that Mulder just couldn't keep his hands off Krycek, made me fall for them even more.
Their volatile relationship and their complex characters just clicked for me. There's an almost chemical pull between them, and the only times I saw Mulder passionate for something other than the truth was when he was in Krycek's presence. Krycek was so obviously the dark to Mulder's light, yet there was a fine line between their roles. Mulder came close to crossing the line so many times and Krycek's motives were not always selfish. They met in the middle. Sure, blood often had to be shed and, let's not kid ourselves, Krycek could have taken on Mulder at any time. Yet he always let him take his pound of flesh.
Another main point is the trust issue. Mulder isn't capable of blind trust, and you'd think that he'd never again trust someone who's betrayed him. Yet he does, time and time again. Oh, I'm positive the internal struggle is a difficult one, but Krycek breaks through Mulder's defences every time.
This pairing lends itself to many genres: from angst-ridden plot-driven tales to passion-charged PWPs. The nature of their relationship within canon has also allowed talented writers to publish works of redemption and hope. Many novel length stories explore Mulder and Krycek with a depth I personally have not seen in another pairing. And these stories have in turn inspired graphic artists to produce an abundance of manipulated images and collages.
Fandom Life.
Highly Recommended Starter Fic:
'Departure' 1, 2, 2.5 & 3: An in depth look into both characters. Starts as NON-CON.
Frankie's 'After the Rain': A story told by letters, IM and phone calls between Mulder and Krycek.
Courtney Gray's 'How to Throw a Curve Ball': A story about Mulder's emotional turmoil as his involvement with Krycek becomes sexual.
Lucy Wu's 'Chemistry' & 'Echo Lane': Two beautiful AU stories. Echo Lane is about the path not taken.
Ladyluck's 'The Animal I Wanted': Mulder and Scully have a less than happy Krycek in protective custody.
Ursula's 'No Trouble Atoll': Mulder and Krycek become 'Lost'.
Imajiru's 'Quicksand': Hurt/Comfort, M/K style.
Ladonna King's 'Blood, Love & Rhetoric': A Toppy!Alex ::squees:: delivers Mulder to the truth.
WWW:
Archives and Fic sites.
The Basement: Slash Archive.
RatB: M/K Slash Archive.
The Red Light District: Slash Archive.
Things Are Looking Up Archive: M/K Archive.
Nick Zone: M/K archive at Nickzone.
Slashing Mulder: M/K archive at Slashing Mulder.
RATales: An old Krycek-centric Archive
Hegal Place: A collection of M/K sites.
Graphic Artists.
Theban Band: Brilliant Manipulations. I'm sure I don't have to sing the Theban Band's praises.
Marcia Elena's - Awake and Dreaming: A Beautiful manipulations and collages artist. Fic also available.
Strange Love: My pic-making sis' site. Great fic and amazing collages.
Tovarisch: My modest corner of the web, an archive of my m/k icons and fanart.
Awards.
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Author: literati.
Fandom: The X-Files.
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Alex Krycek.
Spoilers: All nine seasons.
Notes: Many thanks to darkhavens for her endless support and proofing. Thanks also to biani for fandom links and suggestions. ::hugs:: The views expressed in this essay do not, in any way, shape or form, reflect the X-Files fandom as a whole. The hyperlinks are visual accompaniments to the scenes being discussed.
The world as they know it.
Their world is one of conspiracies, shadow governments, threat of alien invasion, and an all-knowing, all-controlling syndicate of elders.
Alliances are often tested and disbanded as each individual searches for his or her version of the truth. The motto most appropriate for a world like this is ‘Trust No One'. Chances are, you'll live longer.
Of course, not every x-file leads back to conspiracies. Sometime's an incestuous family is just an incestuous family, complete with legless mum on pull out trolley. Vampires, ghosts and werewolves are of the norm when compared to the many other shades of paranormal the x-files office investigates.
Fox Mulder.
Special Agent Mulder is an Oxford educated psychology graduate who's on a crusade to find the truth about his sister's disappearance. The twist is that he believes she was abducted by aliens. He's a driven, passionate man who has an almost non-existent personal life due to his dedicated work on the X-Files. He's a just man who's been pushed to his limits on more than one occasion, yet steadfastly keeps to his principles. A brilliant profiler, Mulder is able to make intuitive leaps and is rarely one to believe the easiest theory. Sunflower seeds are his constant companions.
Alex Krycek.
Krycek, if that is indeed his name, in an enigma. A survivalist in black leather, his breathy tones and constant lip licking are enough to make anyone lose their train of thought.
He has agendas within agendas, and only he knows whose side he's on, or if he's on anyone's side but his own. He knows just the right buttons to push to get the people around him to help him accomplish his goals, when he isn't cleaning up other people's messes of course.
Interactions, Motivations and some Canon.
In (Sleepless 2x04), we find Mulder transcribing surveillance tapes. In the bullpen a handsome twenty-something guy with bad hair and an even worse suit is trying to get his attention. He talks about the case and introduces himself as Alex Krycek. Mulder ignores the hand he extends and makes it quite clear he's not interested in having a rookie, or anyone for that matter, as a partner.
We see Krycek confront Mulder after being ditched, (something Mulder is famous for) hinting at some serious hero worship. Krycek's actions, more than his words, convince us that he came to admire ‘Spooky' while at the FBI academy.
As they progress through their first case, Krycek covers for Mulder and asks for an explanation.
KRYCEK: Come on, you just about killed somebody back there. We both know I'm covering for you by keeping it between us.
MULDER: All right, what do you want to know?
KRYCEK: What's the truth? There are things you're not telling me that I need to know.
MULDER: It's just that my ideas usually aren't very popular.
KRYCEK: I told you, I want to believe. But I need a place to start.
MULDER: I think that Cole possesses the psychic ability to manipulate sounds and images to generate illusions that are so convincing they can kill. How's that for a theory?
KRYCEK: Puts a whole new spin on virtual reality but at least it begins to explain some things.
As soon as Krycek utters those words, Mulder stares at him as if he is a sunflower seed. He even pauses a moment too long as a police officer tries to get his attention. Foxy thinks he's found his soul mate.
In the end, Krycek shoots the suspect, convinced that the man - a master of illusion - was about to shoot Mulder. The man, Cole, was in fact pointing a bible at Mulder, but Mulder reassures Krycek that he did the right thing as the other man scrambles to find the gun he ‘saw' Cole holding.
Then Mulder's file on the case disappears from his car and if he suspects Krycek, he never lets on. Later we see Krycek discussing the case file with CGB and the rest of the Syndicate elders, and we realise that the partnership will be short lived. First Scully had been sent in to debunk Mulder's work, and when that failed a pretty boy was sent in. Do TPTB know something more about Mulder's personal life than what we have witnessed?
Through their short partnership Krycek is always by Mulder's side, quick to agree and so damn breathless. We learn more of his duplicity and also watch him struggle not to stare at a speedo-clad Mulder by the pool. Mulder seems quite comfortable in Krycek's presence and their initial awkwardness disappears as they spend more time together.
Scully's abduction (Duane Barry 2x05) has always been something linked to Krycek. He was a grunt in the consortium at the time, yet everyone assumes he was the one who gave Duane Barry her address. Duane was chipped and could be controlled via said chip. Being sent to Scully's location is not a stretch.
At Skyland Mountain, Krycek is under orders to delay Mulder. He cold-cocks the tram operator and stops the tram, but when Mulder begins to climb out, Krycek panics and starts the tram again. Despite Mulder's best efforts to save her, Scully is taken.
Krycek meets with CGB in his car after Scully's abduction, and he's firmly put in his place when he enquires what happened to her. When CGB reveals he doesn't wasn't Mulder killed, Krycek is visibly relieved.
A moment of pure squee was when Mulder called Krycek ‘Alex' for the first time and ran his hand from shoulder to elbow, only to gain the double agent's attention, of course. He asks for Krycek's car keys, and Krycek tries to dissuade him from taking them. Wistfully, he then watches as Mulder leaves with the keys, knowing their partnership is over as soon as Mulder finds the cigarette butts in the ashtray. Mulder is first confused then a look of hurt crosses his face as he holds a butt in his hand.
There is speculation as to why Krycek didn't remove the butts from his car. Most believe he wanted to be found out and confronted by Mulder, to see what he was up against before he left, while others believe that he merely forgot. The latter seems less likely as Krycek isn't the type to leave loose ends.
With Krycek gone, Mulder regains control of the X-Files, but with Scully's abduction and Krycek's betrayal it is a bittersweet victory.
When Bill Mulder is shot and killed, he leaves a grieving and extremely drugged Fox trying to understand what the other man wanted to tell him before his death. Krycek is lurking outside Mulder's apartment building and Mulder throws him on the hood of a car, and starts beating him and aiming his gun. He doesn't let Krycek speak, just lets his fists and accusations fly. He fingers the trigger, but before we find out if he was going to fire, Scully shoots Mulder in the shoulder and Krycek makes his escape.
They don't meet up again until Hong Kong, a few months later. In the meantime Krycek was with Luis Cardinale when the other man shot Scully's sister, Melissa (The Blessing Way 3x01), resulting in her death (Paper Clip 3x02). He, and two companions, assaulted Skinner to obtain a DAT that the AD had retrieved from Mulder's desk. The tape contained files stolen from the Consortium's computers (Anasazi 2x25). Krycek's bosses, obviously displeased by the Melissa screw-up, promptly try to assassinate him with a car bomb. Krycek, showing his first signs of pure instinct, escapes the car mere seconds before it explodes (Paper Clip 3x02). He calls his now ex-boss and threatens him with fame if he so much as breathes near Krycek.
With no patron, Krycek makes his way to Hong Kong where he awaits the arrival of his associate Geraldine to bring him information he can sell from the DAT tape.
When Mulder and Krycek meet up in Hong Kong (Piper Maru 3x15), Mulder is handcuffed to Geraldine, having followed her to discover her involvement with the ship and why she's selling information about what he believes killed the crew of the Piper Maru. Mulder is unaware that they were actually killed by a diver under the control of an alien entity. This ‘oilien' currently inhabits the diver's wife and has followed Mulder to Hong Kong.
When Mulder and Geraldine arrive at their destination, Mulder asks where the lights are and a man replies ‘right here'. It's Krycek, looking the worse for wear. After exchanging a few barbs with Mulder, Krycek retrieves what he is after. He escapes through the window while the oilien is killing the people on the other side of the door, including the woman handcuffed to Mulder.
The next contact Mulder and Krycek have is at the Hong Kong airport. Mulder is pretending to speak on the phone when Krycek walks past. Mulder punches him and slams him against a bay of phones, pinning him as he fishes the other man's gun from his jeans. He uses it to demand the usual answers, about his father, the DAT, etc.
KRYCEK: No! I didn't kill your father.
MULDER: Now you tell me.
KRYCEK: It wasn't me.
MULDER: Oh yeah? Then who was it?
KRYCEK: I don't know, don't know.
MULDER: Either way, Krycek, you're a liar.
KRYCEK: Come on, finish it, Mulder. C'mon finish it, do it to me.
Technically, Krycek has never lied regarding Mulder's father. As we later find out, Bill Mulder was not in fact Mulder's biological father, CGB Spender is.
The atmosphere positively crackles with UST. Mulder releases Krycek and after agreeing to discuss letting him go if he delivers the DAT, Mulder tells him to clean up. As Krycek washes, the oilien follows him into the bathroom, slams him up against the wall, and when Krycek walks out and is asked if he feels better, he replies with ‘like a new man'. Cue the swirling oil eyes.
MULDER: Give me the key.
KRYCEK: When we get there.
MULDER: I wanna make sure we get there together, give it to me.
(Krycek hands Mulder the key: C.I. 517 is printed on it) What's "C.I." mean?
KRYCEK: When we get there.
They arrive in DC and Krycek drives while Mulder keeps his eyes on his erstwhile partner (Apocrypha 3x16). Mulder has no idea he's riding in the car with an alien and is sure to kick himself later. When they are forced off the road, oilien Krycek obliterates the Consortium goons while Mulder is left in the car with a concussion and the key.
While Mulder is recuperating in hospital, oilien Krycek makes a deal with CGB - the DAT tape in exchange for the location of its ship.
WELL MANICURED MAN: I'm curious. If you've encountered Krycek, why didn't you kill him then?
MULDER: 'Cause he has the tape.
WELL MANICURED MAN: Ahh yes, the tape.
This conversation is quite interesting. Mulder lowers his head and takes a moment before coming up with ‘'Cause he has the tape'. WMM glances knowingly at Mulder.
On the trail of the salvaged UFO, Mulder and Scully go to an abandoned missile site in North Dakota. Unbeknownst to them Krycek is there in an underground silo, behind a red door marked 1013, throwing up the alien, which is subsequently absorbed by the UFO. CGB prevents Mulder and Scully from finding the ship. They are forced to leave the site and as they drive away, Krycek is left screaming for help.
SCULLY: And what about Krycek?
MULDER: Oh, he was there, I know that.
SCULLY: You think they got to him too?
MULDER: I don't know, but if they haven't they will. I doubt it'll weigh on their consciences though.
Months pass and the usual cases keep Mulder busy. Then anonymously sent receipts lead him to Krycek. After the usual beating, Krycek tells Mulder that he's the one who sent the information (Tunguska 4x09). The UST between the two of them in this scene is palpable. Little else holds their attention when they are in the same room together. Again, Mulder believes Krycek can lead him to his precious truth.
Later on, when they reach the airport, Mulder keeps Krycek in his sights lest the younger man elude him again. He chains Alex to a railing and rushes off to apprehend a man with a pouch containing an oilien in rock form, and Krycek casually throws his jacket over the cuffs.
For safekeeping Mulder takes Krycek to Skinner's apartment, and the AD gut-punches Alex and handcuffs him to his balcony. While Skinner is at work the following day, the man with the pouch attempts to kill Krycek, who ends up dangling over the balcony by one arm. Krycek pulls the man over and onto the street below.
As the police are gathered at Skinner's apartment, Mulder slips in and tells Krycek they're leaving.
MULDER: We're going to walk out of here like nothing happened. If anybody speaks to us, you say nothing.
KRYCEK: I got no problem. You put me up here, man, I'm looking forward to seeing you get me out.
MULDER: (whacking Krycek's forehead) Stupid-ass haircut!
Now, although Mulder's mind works in a… unique way, it's completely out of left field when he admonishes Krycek about his haircut. It is a horrid military buzz cut, but, at the time, Mulder had other more important matters to attend to.
With the intense gazes from them both and Mulder's violence, this scene is charged with sexual tension. Mulder can never keep his hands off Krycek, be it to guide him somewhere or to smack him, and Krycek's continued passivity is a mystery, since he's currently not under any orders from anyone to keep Mulder alive.
It's awfully convenient that Krycek's heritage is revealed to Mulder just as he's on his way to Russia. He takes him along and they spend countless hours on an airplane, while we are left wondering about the mile high club.
Once in Russia, Mulder tells Krycek why they are there. They are pursued by men on horseback and consequently imprisoned in a gulag, where Krycek's uneasiness regarding enclosed spaces is shown. Mulder again attacks Krycek, pinning him to the cell wall. As Mulder is pressing close, the younger man utters the line that sparked many a story and set slashers hearts aflutter.
MULDER: What did you tell them?
KRYCEK: That we were stupid Americans lost in the woods. (They stare at each other.) Mulder, you're going to need me in here. (Pushes Mulder's arm away from his throat.) Don't touch me again.
'Don't touch me again', yet his whole demeanour is an open invitation to the contrary.
Sometime later a guard appears at their cell door and Krycek speaks to him in Russian. When Mulder asks what he said, Alex tells the truth. The guard agrees to let Krycek see his superior and as he is leaving, Krycek's eyes linger on Mulder and he softly says ‘Dos Vidanya' (until we meet again).
Mulder is then experimented on with the black oil (Terma 4x10). Later we see Krycek schmoozing with a commandant and this spurs Mulder, shiv in hand, to lunge at Krycek, punch him, and throw him into the back of a truck as he escapes the gulag. Unfortunately the truck's brakes have failed and a now roused Krycek flees. A mistake he pays for dearly as he's surrounded by a band of one-armed peasants. While he sleeps by their campfire, they grab him and, with no anaesthetic, start hacking at his left arm to ‘protect' him from the black oil tests.
Before they meet again, Mulder loses his belief in extra-terrestrials and Krycek begins working for the Well Manicured Man, but only after he is ‘persuaded' to hand over the vaccine against the black oil which he stole from the Russian gulag.
Mulder is certain that the consortium was behind Scully's abduction, yet she now believes in the existence of extra-terrestrials. Try as she might she cannot pass that belief on to Mulder. Then things start to look up.
Mulder leans over to read the little square of paper on his apartment floor and is tackled and pushed to the ground by Krycek, who holds Mulder's own gun on him (The Red and The Black 5x14).
KRYCEK: You must be losing it, Mulder. I could beat you with one hand.
MULDER: Isn't that how you like to beat yourself? …If those are my last words I can do better.
Krycek refers to the loss of his arm, but Mulder is unaware of what happened and the subject is never discussed. Luckily the abundance of fic more than make up for the exclusion of this in canon.
KRYCEK: I'm not here to kill you, Mulder. I'm here to help you.
MULDER: Hey, thanks.
KRYCEK: You know, if it wasn't in my best interests, I would just as soon squeeze this trigger.
MULDER: What's stopping you?
Krycek tells Mulder about a planned alien invasion, and Mulder laughs. Krycek then tells Mulder that he must save a rebel alien. The tension and smouldering looks they exchange made many a fangirl squee.
Then Krycek leans over and kisses the corner of Mulder's mouth. He uncocks Mulder's gun and drops it in his lap as he rises. Mulder takes the gun in his hand and he slowly strokes the trigger. Krycek says, “Good luck to you my friend," in Russian and exits, leaving a dazed Mulder with gun in hand to ponder about the night's events.
There is much speculation about that kiss. There's the theory that it was a kiss of death, or a mind game, playing with an already confused Mulder. The one that makes the most sense to me is that Krycek lives in the moment; he knows the dangerous lives they all lead and he was simply taking something he wanted. Regardless, the most important factor is what Mulder got from the kiss.
Scully finds him, possibly hours later, in the dark, holding onto Krycek's piece of paper.
SCULLY: Mulder? What are you doing sitting here in the dark?
MULDER: Thinking.
SCULLY: Thinking about what?
MULDER: Oh, the usual. Destiny, fate, how to throw a curve ball. The inextricable relationships in our lives that are neither accidental nor somehow in our control, either.
SCULLY: Well, I've just taken a long walk and I've reconsidered that I may have been wrong about what I believed happened to me.
MULDER: I've been doing some reconsidering of my own.
Mulder follows Krycek's information and attempts to rescue the alien. Of course in real X-Files style he is mind-wiped and doesn't remember the incident, thereby cementing more distrust for Krycek.
In season six (SR 819 6x10), Mulder pursues a bearded man who is suspected of causing Skinner's near-death. He doesn't manage to catch the man, and Krycek, in disguise, is able to escape. Krycek is once again under the employ of the consortium since his patron, WMM, dies in a car explosion moments after he gives Mulder a vial of vaccine to save Scully's life (Fight the Future - Movie).
KRYCEK: That's why he put you on the X-Files. That's why your father sent you here tonight. You're protecting the project, Jeff. Making the sacrifices. So that you can be a great man, too.
JEFF SPENDER: (gets up and leaves the room angrily) I'll be my own great man.
Krycek is then partnered briefly with Jeffrey Spender, Mulder's half brother, who is currently in charge of the X-Files. Jeffrey loathes Mulder and is opposed to his beliefs. Krycek, who despises CGB, goes on about what a great man he is, and how if Jeff follows his example, he will also be a great man (Two Fathers 6x11). This comment has Jeffrey running to Mulder's side and giving up the X-Files to the other man, earning young Jeff a bullet to the face by his own father (One Son 6x12).
At El Rico Air Force Base the Rebel aliens have a massive barbeque, wiping out all the Consortium, sans CGB and Diana Fowley (Mulder's ex-partner and lover).
They next meet when Mulder is lying on a stairwell floor, writhing in pain caused by an artefact that has awoken dormant genes. Krycek looks down, and slowly steps over him, continuing up to the roof to conduct business regarding said artefacts (Biogenesis 6x22).
I've often wondered about this scene. Krycek appears to have no animosity toward Mulder. You'd think he'd at least want to get a kick in for all those beatings.
In S7, Mulder finally has some closure regarding his sister's disappearance (Closure 7x11). With the freedom this knowledge provides him, he is able to pursue his other truths.
KRYCEK: The Alien Bounty Hunter. Billy Miles. Teresa Hoese, her husband. He's eliminating proof of all the tests. We're asking ourselves, we're asking ourselves, "Where are they?" They're right there. They're right under our noses. I'm giving you the chance to change that, to hold the proof.
MULDER: Why me and why now?
KRYCEK: I want to damn the soul of that Cigarette Smoking Son-of-a-Bitch.
The next time they meet, Mulder goes for Krycek but is restrained by Skinner. Krycek tells him the location of a UFO, which immediately piques Mulder's interest, despite the identity of the messenger. He acquiesces too quickly and listens to Krycek's reasoning that he's only doing this to get back at CGB after the man had him set up and incarcerated in a Tunisian prison. In the boardroom Mulder and Krycek stand side by side as plans are made to find the UFO (Requiem 7x21).
KRYCEK: Listen, it is not going to be there forever.
There isn't anything particularly significant about this line, only that while it's being said Krycek is staring at Mulder's lips.
Mulder finds the ship and is subsequently abducted and Krycek pushes Mulder's biological father down a flight of stairs.
Months later, Mulder is in hospital, after being found dumped in a field, being buried and exhumed. Krycek, standing at Mulder's bedside in the hospital, gives Skinner an ultimatum.
SKINNER: What do I have to do?
KRYCEK: Oh, it's simple, really. Make sure Scully doesn't come to term.
(SKINNER stares at him in shock.)
SKINNER: You're out of your mind.
KRYCEK: She can't have that baby.
SKINNER: No. The answer is no.
KRYCEK: We all have a life in our hands. I have yours... you have Mulder's... and Scully has her unborn child. It's who's willing to sacrifice.
Krycek knows that Skinner will choose to end Mulder's life, ultimately saving him, as taking him off the life support system prevents him from becoming a supersoldier (DeadAlive 8x15).
Sometime later, supersoldier Billy Miles pursues Mulder and Scully. Just when it appears as though they won't escape, a speeding car runs over Miles, and Mulder and Scully are doubly shocked when they discover their saviour is Krycek. He tells them to get in his car and Mulder slides into the passenger side. At HQ, Krycek tells everyone present that the supersoldiers are after Scully's baby, and then goes on to mention the alien invasion. Mulder once again believes.
KRYCEK: What do you want me to do?
MULDER: You're going to protect her.
This display of trust on Mulder's part was astonishing. Besides Scully, and to a lesser extent Skinner, Mulder has no trust in others. He knew Krycek wanted Scully's baby dead, yet he trusted Krycek to protect her at any cost. This action shocked both Scully and Alex, yet he did what was asked of him (Essence 8x20).
Next comes the eighth season finale (Existence 8x21), or the episode where CC lost his mind, as some of us believe.
Krycek orders a surprised Mulder out of his car and aims a gun at him. Mulder appears resigned and the two face off.
KRYCEK: I could've killed you so many times, Mulder. You've got to know that. I'm the one that kept you alive. (his voice cracks slightly) Praying you'd win somehow.
MULDER: Then there really is no God.
KRYCEK: You think I'm bad, that I'm a killer. We wanted the same thing, brother. That's what you don't understand.
MULDER: I wanted to stop them. All you wanted was to save your own ass.
KRYCEK: No. I tried to stop them. Tried to kill … Scully's baby to stop them. It's too late. The tragedy's that you-- you wouldn't let it go. That's why I have to do this. 'Cause you know how deep it goes. Right into the FBI.
MULDER: You want to kill me, Alex, kill me. Like you killed my father. Just don't insult me by trying to make me understand.
With a pained expression, Krycek's finger strokes the trigger. Was he going to shoot? We'll never know. Skinner shoots him twice, once in each shoulder. As Krycek tries to bargain with Skinner, telling him to shoot Mulder to save millions of lives, Skinner fires the fatal blow into Krycek's temple. Krycek turns slightly to look at Mulder before falling to the ground, dead. Mulder, apparently numb, continues as if nothing happened. There is no satisfaction, no sadness. He's just numb.
Forty-eight hours later he leaves DC and goes into hiding with the mind-reading boy, Gibson Praise.
In the final season of the X-Files and after almost a year of hiding, Mulder breaks into a secure military facility and discovers the date of the alien invasion, December 22, 2012. As he's being pursued by the supersoldier Knowle Rohrer, Mulder sees a figure is standing at an exit. He balks for a moment, and then makes a full run toward the doorway. It's Krycek.
MULDER: No! You're dead.
(KRYCEK looks at MULDER.)
KRYCEK: Go.
(MULDER doesn't move. KRYCEK turns to look at the door. He looks at MULDER.)
KRYCEK: There's others.
Mulder sees Krycek again later in his cell as he's being held for the murder of Knowle Rohrer, and asks why he is helping. Krycek softly tells him that he can't do this alone.
MULDER: I know what you want and I can't give it to you.
SCULLY: Make them a deal, Mulder. Guilty on a lesser charge. Maybe they'll go for it and they'll let you walk out of here.
MULDER: I'd rather die, Scully.
SCULLY: How can you say that? How can you say that, Mulder, to me?
MULDER: Because this is greater than you or me. This is about everything we worked for, for nine years. The truth that we both sacrificed so much to uncover and to expose.
This scene is significant, because even to the end, Mulder is not willing to stop believing in his cause. He's willing to die for it.
Later, at the faux trial, as testimony is given by Marita Covarrubias, a former associate of both Mulder and Krycek, a hand rests on Mulder's shoulder and he turns to see that it's Krycek. Alex tells him that they will kill her if she answers the question. Mulder stops her from doing so (The Truth 9x19 & 20).
As Mulder prepares his final statement at the trial, he sees Krycek a final time standing behind the panel with Mulder's former informant, X.
Mulder is later freed by Skinner, Doggett, Reyes and surprisingly with help from Kersh. Scully and Mulder end up in a motel in New Mexico after Mulder confronts his father for the final time.
SCULLY: You've always said that you want to believe. But believe in what Mulder? If this is the truth that you've been looking for then what is left to believe in?
MULDER: I want to believe that the dead are not lost to us. That they speak to us as part of something greater than us - greater than any alien force. And if you and I are powerless now, I want to believe that if we listen to what's speaking, it can give us the power to save ourselves.
Obsession: M/K be thy name.
When a green agent wanted to shake Mulder's hand, way back in the nineties when the X-Files first aired, I was hooked. They truly had me at 302. Back then, I didn't know what slash was, all I knew was that I was constantly preoccupied with thoughts of the two of them together. When Krycek's duplicity was discovered it didn't put a dampener on my fascination. If anything, the scorching looks that they exchanged every time they met up and the obvious way that Mulder just couldn't keep his hands off Krycek, made me fall for them even more.
Their volatile relationship and their complex characters just clicked for me. There's an almost chemical pull between them, and the only times I saw Mulder passionate for something other than the truth was when he was in Krycek's presence. Krycek was so obviously the dark to Mulder's light, yet there was a fine line between their roles. Mulder came close to crossing the line so many times and Krycek's motives were not always selfish. They met in the middle. Sure, blood often had to be shed and, let's not kid ourselves, Krycek could have taken on Mulder at any time. Yet he always let him take his pound of flesh.
Another main point is the trust issue. Mulder isn't capable of blind trust, and you'd think that he'd never again trust someone who's betrayed him. Yet he does, time and time again. Oh, I'm positive the internal struggle is a difficult one, but Krycek breaks through Mulder's defences every time.
This pairing lends itself to many genres: from angst-ridden plot-driven tales to passion-charged PWPs. The nature of their relationship within canon has also allowed talented writers to publish works of redemption and hope. Many novel length stories explore Mulder and Krycek with a depth I personally have not seen in another pairing. And these stories have in turn inspired graphic artists to produce an abundance of manipulated images and collages.
Fandom Life.
Highly Recommended Starter Fic:
'Departure' 1, 2, 2.5 & 3: An in depth look into both characters. Starts as NON-CON.
Frankie's 'After the Rain': A story told by letters, IM and phone calls between Mulder and Krycek.
Courtney Gray's 'How to Throw a Curve Ball': A story about Mulder's emotional turmoil as his involvement with Krycek becomes sexual.
Lucy Wu's 'Chemistry' & 'Echo Lane': Two beautiful AU stories. Echo Lane is about the path not taken.
Ladyluck's 'The Animal I Wanted': Mulder and Scully have a less than happy Krycek in protective custody.
Ursula's 'No Trouble Atoll': Mulder and Krycek become 'Lost'.
Imajiru's 'Quicksand': Hurt/Comfort, M/K style.
Ladonna King's 'Blood, Love & Rhetoric': A Toppy!Alex ::squees:: delivers Mulder to the truth.
WWW:
Archives and Fic sites.
The Basement: Slash Archive.
RatB: M/K Slash Archive.
The Red Light District: Slash Archive.
Things Are Looking Up Archive: M/K Archive.
Nick Zone: M/K archive at Nickzone.
Slashing Mulder: M/K archive at Slashing Mulder.
RATales: An old Krycek-centric Archive
Hegal Place: A collection of M/K sites.
Graphic Artists.
Theban Band: Brilliant Manipulations. I'm sure I don't have to sing the Theban Band's praises.
Marcia Elena's - Awake and Dreaming: A Beautiful manipulations and collages artist. Fic also available.
Strange Love: My pic-making sis' site. Great fic and amazing collages.
Tovarisch: My modest corner of the web, an archive of my m/k icons and fanart.
Awards.
The Spooky Awards: A collection of award winning stories. Het and Slash.
Mailing List:
Mulder/Krycek: Velocity: "This is an adult based Mulder & Krycek-centric community where we love to create and discuss all things relating to the chemistry between these two dynamic characters."
LJ:
mk_apocrypha: *The* Mulder/Krycek community on LJ
krycek_lives: Krycek community with fic and art, all Krycek pairings.
slashingmulder: Mulder slash community. All slash pairings.
x_files_slash: All X-File Slash Pairings Community.
nick_daily: Nick Lea Daily community.
dd_daily: David Duchovny Daily community.