Hurt/Comfort has always been a popular theme in fanfiction. In M/K fic, the standard formula
for H/C is often used- the pain offers a conflict for the plot to be based around, and the
comfort is a sweet treat for the author and readers. But sometimes a new twist is put on the
old theme. Redemption through pain is commonly seen in M/K fic, and is used as a method to get
the boys together. Our finalists tonight are a mix of classic H/C, and redemption H/C. All are
lovely and enjoyable stories.
Admission IX: Recovering by Aries
He rose from the bed and started toward the door but before he could
reach it, Alex's voice, tinged with restrained fright sounded.
"Fox..."
Fox looked to the man on the bed, and the expression he read in the
glassy, green eyes sent wave upon wave of pain slamming through him.
He moved back toward the bed and stared down at Alex, waiting.
Alex turned pleading eyes up to the other man but was unable to ask
Fox not to leave him alone.
"What is it, baby?"
//Please stay with me.//
"Nothing."
"You called to me."
Alex opened and closed his mouth twice as if he wanted to speak, but
ultimately remained silent. He shook his head and turned his face
away from his lover's worried gaze.
Without a word, Fox sat down on the bed. "Alex, please don't do
this," he murmured, lifting a hand to the younger man's head. "You
want to say something. I can see it all over your face."
Avoiding the older man's eyes, Alex shook his head and turned onto
the side that wasn't wounded.
Fox adjusted the blanket and let his hand rest on Alex's shoulder.
Through the light cotton he could feel the tremors running
consistently through the prone body. Hesitating for just a moment,
he swung his legs up onto the bed and lay on top of the blanket,
facing Alex. He wound an arm around his lover, pulling him close and
tenderly stroking his back. The relieved sigh did not escape his
notice, and he pressed his lips to Alex's forehead.
"Close your eyes, baby. Try and sleep."
Alex melted into Fox's embrace, reveling in the warmth of his
lover's touch.
So gentle. So safe.
D.C. Rain by Aries
He finished cleaning Alex up, being especially careful around all of the
more tender areas, then slowly eased the temperature knob over to cool.
Alex became a bit more active, shivering and fussing as the spray grew
cold, and the hand that had soothed and comforted him now insisted that
he wake up.
"Alex." Mulder briskly rubbed the younger man's back and arms. "Time to
wake up. You're getting damn heavy, and this water is freezing." He
tapped the lightly stubbled face. "Come on, I let you rest for a little
while, but you gotta wake up now..."
That voice.
Not any of those Alex had last remembered hearing, but very familiar,
nonetheless.
And comforting. He liked this voice.
And he liked the arms folded around him. There was a warmth in this
embrace... in the body pressed against him, even though the rain was
freezing.
What the hell was he doing out in the rain, naked?
Had to be a dream.
But, God, it was so real.
He lifted his weakened arms and clung loosely to the body against him,
letting himself feel the sting of the water.
So cold. Felt almost like D.C. rain...
"... Very good... that's good... open your eyes..."
He was beginning to feel different. The haze was slowly lifting, and
reality had begun to creep in.
He wasn't dreaming about being naked in someone's arms in the rain. He
*was* naked in someone's arms... in a shower...
Mulder watched recognition slowly filter in and clear the glaze a bit
from Alex's eyes. He said a silent prayer of thanks then waited
expectantly as the sable head lifted a fraction from his shoulder, and
Alex looked around. His eyes drifted shut again, and he lowered his head
to Mulder's shoulder with a pained sigh.
"Jeez. Where am I?"
"You're safe."
Mindfield by Dr. Ruthless and Relentless
"Alex, I'm here. You're home, and you're safe." Mulder spoke softly against
the skin of his face, so Alex could feel his breath. Alex's extended his
tongue and gently tasted Mulder's skin, letting out a small sigh of
contentment at the familiarity. Mulder was again captured by this man's
singular difference to anyone else he had ever known. Had he expected a man
who could smell a foe, and react instantaneously but occasionally sucked
his thumb in his sleep, to conform? The enormity of his presumption was
becoming clearer to him each minute.
He had exactly what he wanted. He had the man of his dreams, fantasies and
needs and he had tried to change him.
Unbelievable.
"Alex baby, I love you. Stay with me, beautiful, don't ever leave again"
Mulder breathed to Alex.
As his eyes began to focus, Alex could see him now. He watched Mulder with
a flat, dull expression. *Yes,* Mulder thought, *you'll stay with me.
You'll let me destroy you. For all your strength, you'll let me take away
parts of you a little bit at a time. No more of that, I need you too much.
I need you as you are, want you as you are.*
"I promise you beloved, from this day on, things will be different." Mulder
vowed, and heart in his mouth, he willed all that was inside him to reach
forth to Alex.
The flat eyes changed just a bit, and for the first time ever, Mulder saw
fear in them.
"It's all right, baby, you don't need to be afraid anymore. I'll protect
you as you've protected me," he promised. "I won't hurt you anymore. You
were right, it kills me to see you in pain."
This admission was rewarded with the ghost of a smile. *Oh, Alex,* Mulder
thought, *You know me and I haven't even tried to know you. I've studied
you, pushed and prodded and probed like you were a *thing,* but I never
tried to understand you. I never *did* use any restraint with you. I took
all I wanted when I wanted and you gave, you always gave and you tried so
damn hard to understand me.*
"Beautiful," Mulder whispered, "I think that I have the most wonderful man
in the world, and getting to know him will be my greatest joy."
Not on My Watch 4: Remember Me by Aries
Fox continued to squeeze Alex's hand, moaning occasionally as the pain
surged. A few minutes later, his grip loosened, and his body went slack.
"Baby?" Alex called softly. "Fox..." He stroked the perspiration-slick
forehead.
"Hmmm..."
"Does it still hurt?"
The older man released a long sigh and pulled automatically to his left,
blindly seeking the comfort of Alex's arms.
Alex held Fox to his chest, casting a wary glance toward Mrs. Mulder.
"These episodes take everything out of him," he explained, stroking the
older man's back. "I don't know if I can get him upstairs to the bedroom.
Can we just put him down here?"
"Of course," Mrs. Mulder answered, quickly getting to her feet. "I'll get
him a blanket."
As the woman hurried from the room, Alex laid Fox on his back and gently
hoisted his legs up on the sofa. He sat on the floor by his lover's head,
tenderly caressing his hair. "It's okay," he crooned, kissing Fox's nose
and forehead while the other man fought to breathe evenly. "Easy..."
Wild Justice by MJ Lee
When he finally opened heavy sweat-soaked eyelids it was to find himself
looking right into Krycek's amused face. The younger man had slithered
himself around Mulder so his elbow was resting on Mulder's chest, chin propped in
it as he studied his lover, a mischievous grin lifting the corners of his
mouth.
"Welcome back," he murmured. "Was it good for you too, honey?"
Mulder felt his face break apart and suddenly he was laughing and gasping
and choking. He pulled Alex into his arms, rolling around the bed until they
ended up with Krycek on his back, still laughing up into Mulder's face. At that
moment there were no shadows, no sign of wariness in his eyes.
Abruptly Mulder sobered, one hand came up and slowly stroked the fine skin,
fingertips tracing the nose with it's slight upturn that gave the man an
eternal illusion of youth and innocence. Then they moved to the firm, full
lips. He watched and shivered as the lips opened, and Alex gently sucked
the fingertips into his mouth, biting down gently, worrying them lightly with
strong white teeth.
"I'm sorry, Alex," he said simply, eyes somber.
"I know," was the soft reply. Long black lashes swept up as he met Mulder's
look steadily. Mulder unconsciously held his breath, praying that tonight
was the first tentative bridge across the chasm of blood and hatred and
betrayal that separated them.
The quiet, husky voice continued, "I'm just sorry, we couldn't have ended
up on the same side. I think I would have liked being your friend, Mulder."
"You are and more," Mulder bent down and kissed him. "Still, it's over
now." He closed his eyes, breathing in the fresh, spicy scent of the body
in his arms. "We'll figure something out. I'm not letting you go ever again."
Krycek opened his mouth then closed it again as a strange expression slid
across his face. He said nothing; he just pulled down Mulder's head for
another kiss, sliding his fingers through the short brown silky strands.
Then he began to move again, languidly and sensuously, stretching and
rubbing himself against the firm expanse of smooth planes and wiry muscle that
comprised Fox Mulder. He felt Mulder's cock twitch and harden against his
hip. Alex smiled and turned around, his leg sliding between Mulder's. His head
bent to a pale shoulder, kissing it, lingering to taste the sleek softness as he
licked his way across the curve.
"This is how it should have always been between us, Mulder," Krycek
murmured against his skin, his voice slightly slurred, flowing like thick, sweet
honey over exposed nerve-endings. "All naked and vulnerable, skin against skin
..." he laughed low in his throat. "Now, whatever happens, you'll never forget
this night." His warm breath ruffled Mulder's hair, as he looked up and kissed
his temple, "or me."
