Mission: Jaws of the Jaguar

mission6

Mission: Jaws of the Jaguar Chapter SixAcclaimationThe couch, Fox decided, was not as comfortable as it looked. Not for lying on, anyway. He spent a while tossing and turning. Damn it, he had a hard enough time sleeping, but trying to sleep in a strange place, in a strange situation, was impossible.

He finally rewound the tape and clicked it on, turning the sound down to a bare murmur. He sat up and watched the two men as they made their way through their meal, completely oblivious to observation. Galbraith and Ballard weren't blatant in their relationship, but the signs were clear, if you looked. There was a lot of eye contact, smiles for no discernable reason. They touched each other.

That one leg squeeze was the only one that even the most prudish could call sexual, but the others were intimate. Daniel would lay his hand over Connor's to make a point. Connor would reach over and push Daniel's hair up off his forehead. Gestures that didn't pass between 'just friends.'

"Mulder?" Fox jerked. He'd been so absorbed in the tape that he hadn't seen or heard Ethan come to the doorway. He was leaning one hand against the doorframe, rubbing his face with the other. "What are you doing?"

"Studying."

"I thought I told you to get some sleep."

"Easier said than done."

Ethan sighed. "Do you want a back rub?" Fox stared at him. "Shit, I'm not trying to seduce you, Fox, I'm trying to help you sleep. Offering a back rub would be just a little too corny."

"Okay. That would be nice."

Ethan padded over to the couch, then frowned. "Well, for one thing, you might be more comfortable if you took off your pants." All Fox had removed before lying down were his shoes and socks. He couldn't say why he hadn't at least taken off his shirt. Now there didn't seem to be any excuse, because Ethan was right, and he knew it.

Fox stripped off his shirt, then reached for his belt, and hesitated. "Could you turn around?"

"Jesus, Fox! Just drop them, okay? I'm gonna see you in your shorts, anyway. We're supposed to be lovers." Fox undid his pants and stepped out of them. Ethan immediately gave a wolf whistle, then grinned.

Fox rolled his eyes and lay back down on the couch, on his stomach. He bunched the pillow under his chin, crossing his arms over it, as Ethan sat on the edge of the cushion near his hip. Ethan took a moment to admire the long sweep of back leading down to what he suspected was a very tempting butt. It was a shame he wore those baggy boxers. He was glad that he'd bought some silk briefs for the other agent.

He took hold of Fox's shoulders and dug in forcefully. Fox yelped. "Hey!"

"Relax. This isn't going to be some wimpy little petting session, Mulder. You're tied up in knots, and I'm going to work them loose if I have to leave bruises." He began to massage deeply. After a few moments, the pain eased as the muscles loosened. Ethan worked the back of his neck, pressing hard with his thumbs, then moved down. He put his palms flat on either side of Fox's backbone, heels facing. With quick, hard pushes, he moved down either side of the spine. Cartilage crackled, and Fox groaned. "You okay?"

"Yeah. damn, that feels good." Bridger wasn't a big guy, but he sure as hell had strong hands, and a lot of upper body strength. He continued massaging, working out the tension.

Fox started to feel drowsy. He also started to feel a familiar hot heaviness in his groin, which he studiously ignored. People often got erections when they got massages. It didn't mean anything. Ethan finally paused, hands resting on the small of Fox's back. "Fox?" His voice was a whisper. "You asleep?" Fox had his eyes closed. He didn't move, didn't speak. He was curious, and half afraid, to see what Ethan would do.

Ethan's fingers made small circles, brushing the waistband of his shorts. Then he shifted, and Fox felt the comforter settle over him. Ethan's hand rested in the middle of his back again for a moment, then he got up, and Fox heard him walk back to the bedroom. Fox was just a few seconds away from sleep, but somehow he had time to wonder why he was feeling vaguely disappointed.

He awoke to the smell of coffee and stumbled into the kitchen. A fully dressed Ethan was pouring a cup, and he glanced at Fox. "Good morning, merry sunshine."

"Hi." Fox scratched his head.

"How do you take it?"

"Just sugar."

"Like Daniel. Good." Ethan stirred a couple of spoonfuls of sugar into the dark brew and handed it to him, then poured another.

Fox closed his eyes and inhaled the fragrant steam. "Damn, I bet I can get a buzz just smelling this."

"It's pretty strong."

Fox took a sip, and sighed. "Perfect. You know, the ironic thing is that the people who most need a cup of coffee in the morning are the ones who are least able to function well enough to prepare it without a cup of coffee first."

"If you can function well enough to operate the toaster, there's bread. Or Pop Tarts, if you're feeling decadent."

"What kind of Pop Tarts?"

Ethan checked the box. "Chocolate Fudge."

"With or without sprinkles?"

"Damn, you're picky. With."

"Gimme." Fox ripped open a package, reading the box. "Fuck. Did you know that they consider a serving to be one Pop Tart, but they package them in twos? Like I'm going to leave one in the bag and clip it shut for tomorrow." He bit into one of the pastries.

Ethan's eyebrows rose. "Aren't you going to toast those?"

"Why?"

"Barbarian."

"You toast the brown sugar-cinnamon ones, then slather them with butter."

"Finish that disgusting nonsense and get dressed. We need to go outfit you with luggage and toiletries today."

Can I use your razor?"

Ethan watched as Fox chewed, his strong jaw flexing. He reached over and stroked the other man's jaw, feeling the bristles. "Nah. Leave it till we get back. Makes you look sexy." He plucked an apple out of the fruit bowl on the counter, snapped a bite out of it, and strolled into the dining room. Fox stared after him, then swallowed the mouthful of pastry he'd been holding, shrugged, and followed him out.

Ethan went down to check the mailbox. Once again there were envelopes, and a package. All of them without address, return address, or postage. He went back upstairs and removed the contents, then put the packing through the shredder.

One of the papers that came in the mail listed preferred brands of personal care products, and Ethan scanned it before folding it and stuffing it in his pocket. Fox came out of the bedroom, buttoning up a navy linen shirt. His eyes caught and reflected the color, looking more blue than anything else. Ethan watched as he stuffed his shirt tail down into his jeans, trying to make it neat. "Didn't your mother teach you how to dress, Fox? You're supposed to do that before you zip up."

"It's not my fault if these things are so tight I can't get my hand down the back."

"Daniel wears them tight. Connor likes to look at his butt. Hold still." Ethan had gone behind him. Fox jumped as his hand smoothed down his back and slid, flat, under his waistband in back. "I said hold still!"
Fox felt a tug on the back of his shirt, and the wrinkles smoothed out. "There." Ethan slid his hand out and patted Fox on the back. "Let's go."

All right, Fox, technically speaking, the man did have his hand on your ass. But nothing happened, it didn't mean anything.

"Fox!"

"Keep your shirt on, I'm coming."

They had to go to four luggage stores to find the exact right bags. The sales clerk just couldn't understand why he couldn't argue Ethan into one that had more features for a lower price. "Well," he said, ringing up their purchases. "It's nice to have someone who's so sure about what they want, anyway."

Ethan watched Fox, who was examining a display of wallets. "I know exactly what I want."

At the local Macy's, they went to the men's section in cosmetics. Mulder was scowling. "I'm not gonna have to wear makeup, am I? Daniel didn't look femme to me."

"No, you're not. I wouldn't put it past him to start using some concealer in a few years, though. No, we're just here for you usual toiletries."

"We can't get those at a supermarket?"

"Please. Daniel would probably break out in hives if he went anywhere near a Safeway." So, once again, Fox watched in silence as Ethan wore out the credit card purchasing luxury items that would keep him in style.

"L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme All Over Shampoo? All over?"

"Moisturizes the skin."

"Forty dollars for less than seven ounces? Geez. And Grabazzi Shave Cream? I could buy a six months supply for that price."

"Nag, nag, nag. Are you really such a cheap date, Mulder, or is this protesting for form's sake? It's not like you're going to be expected to pay for any of this. Just relax and enjoy being pampered." Fox muttered something. "What's that?"

"I said it's funny how I can get all this expensive stuff, but I still feel cheap."

"We'll need to discuss that attitude over lunch."

"Can we have pizza?"

"I don't see why not."

Later Mulder sat back in a comfortably padded chair, staring around at the elegant restaurant Ethan had chosen. "This is not a pizza place. No oilcloth tablecloths, no plastic grapes hanging from the ceiling, and not a single wine bottle with wax dripped all over it."

"We can get pizza here, don't worry."

When the waiter came, he ordered, in Italian. "Don't I get any say in this?"

"No." Ethan calmly drank a little wine. "Look, Fox, we need to start getting into character. Connor controls things. He gives Daniel some leeway, but basically treats him like a spoiled child. And let's be frank, that's how Daniel acts most of the time. You're just going to have to get used to deferring to me. It's all right to tug on the leash occasionally, they'll expect that. But they'll also expect me to slap you back into line if you go too far. You've seen that sort of relationship before."

"Yeah, with women. I never could understand why they didn't leave."

"Some people have dependent personalities. Daniel's the sort who needs a `daddy'. Connor's younger than they usually are, but he's very top. And you need to stop thinking of Daniel as using Connor. This is a two way relationship. Connor knows that money and luxury are important to Daniel, and he's perfectly willing to provide them. In return, Daniel gives him the companionship and passion that Connor craves. If there's any using goin, it, it's mutual."

The food was brought to the table, and Fox eyed it suspiciously. Ethan helped himself and began eating. "Go on. You wanted pizza."

"It looks funny."

"This is a gourmet restaurant, Fox. Were you expecting Geno's?"

"It has green stuff on it. What is it?"

"This has a pesto sauce, topped with grilled chicken and shrimp, Portobelo mushrooms, and five cheeses: Feta, Fontana, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Romano, on a whole wheat crust. Try it."

"You sure they aren't trying to slip broccoli or spinach in there?"

"Why haven't you gotten rickets? Eat it."

Grumbling, Fox took a slice and bit into it gingerly. Ethan watched him, and saw him make a face. "Well?"

Fox took another bite before answering. "All right, it's good."

"Told you." Ethan took a soft bread stick outl f the basket on the table and broke it in half, dipping it in the melted butter/garlic sauce that had accompanied it. "You've got to trust me, Fox." He ate a few bites, then licked his fingers and smiled at the other man. "I'm going to know what you'll like." ">