The new improved reality

One of the pleasures of fanfiction is that it explores characters and themes that have been overlooked or slighted by the writers and producers. Sometimes these stories are so compelling, and ring so true, that they become real for me, and I'm then startled when I watch an episode that contradicts what I know to be true-- only to realize that my version of reality has been shaped by fanon rather than canon.

One of the great questions in X-Files fandom concerned Krycek. A fascinating character, but his characterization was inconsistent from one episode to another. Most fic writers had to pick and choose which bits of his televised behavior they wanted to include in their characterization of Krycek. But a few authors embraced the apparent contradictions and then tried to figure out what his backstory was. What could have shaped him into the person we were seeing, and how would this vision of Krycek act in the future?

Along these lines are two great series, both of which created a version of Krycek that was believable and compelling. And in both these series Krycek feels that he lacks some essential element of humanity, and is struggling to find his place in the world.

Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind series by Josan
Skinner/Krycek slash
http://www.squidge.org/terma/josan/josan.htm
Krycek tries to give Skinner a gift, and gets something unexpected in return

Exigency by Zoe Takashi and Louise Wu
Skinner/Krycek Krycek/Other slash
http://lzl.dreamhost.com/Stories/Exigency.html
Krycek doesn't realize how damaged he is, until he finds something he wants but can't have