"Oh my god, Athos, there's a huge spider on your shoulder!"
Athos nearly jumped out of his skin, hearing Aramis' shout. The marksman burst out laughing, seeing his friend waving his hands around helplessly, as if trying to remove the disgusting creature without touching it.
"April's fool!" – Aramis grinned, stopping Athos' hands in their mid-tracks.
Athos frowned and was about to give a sharp reply, when he saw Porthos approaching them. The large man read the situation in one go and gave Athos an understanding look.
"You too, eh?" – Porthos asked, getting a nod from Athos and a shrug from Aramis.
"I can't believe he trapped me again. He's been fooling us for years and still we didn't learn our lesson." – grumped Athos, earning a wide grin from Aramis.
There was a brief silence, then Porthos exclaimed, that he had an idea.
"Tell us."- Sighed Athos, knowing it was definitely not rational idea.
"What about fooling D'artagnan?" – Porthos asked, looking at the two with eager eyes, like a child, who is about to get a candy.
"Not a bad idea". – Aramis finally broke the silence, - "It's his first April with us, so it's forgivable to have some fun, even for once."
Porthos high-fived Aramis and then both shot Athos a wondering look.
"I agree" – Athos said dryly, - "How are we going to trick him?"
It wasn't hard to think of something. Each of their heads were already swimming with possible ideas. After arguing about whether it was too much to play Treville's death or not, Athos suddenly found a solution.
"Porthos!" – He exclaimed.
The men looked puzzled.
"What?" – They asked in unison.
"You were a thief (forgive me for reminding about your past), so how about you "rob" D'artagnan?"
"Athos, I didn't know your mind was full of so nasty ideas". – Aramis giggled.
Athos rolled his eyes.
"So you agree, or not?" – He asked.
"I agree" – Said Aramis, rubbing his hands in excitement.
"So do I" – agreed Porthos.
"Now listen very carefully. Porthos, you go to D'artagnan. He is probably still sleeping in his quarters. You should wake him up and scare him by falsely trying to rob him. Tell him you decided to become a thief again and you have already robbed us. When you find a suitable moment for us to join in, shout "God damn it!" We will be nearby, waiting for your sign." – Athos finished, seemingly satisfied with his plan.
"No over-excitement, he is still a young boy." – Aramis added, although he himself would use every possible way to see a fear in his younger brother's eyes.
"Take my sword, you will need a proof that you have robbed us. Be careful, though, I love this sword, don't ruin it". – Warned Athos.
"Take my pistol too, as I have nothing else". – Said Aramis, handing him his beloved "friend" with a great wariness.
"Ok, so it's settled, right?" – Asked Porthos, making two heads nod almost in unison.
D'artagnan startled awake, As the door banged open and closed with the same noise. There were no candles shinning, so he found it difficult to describe his surroundings, or find out the reason behind so loud noise. Soon he spotted a large figure, roaming elbow-deep in his drawers. An alarming look appeared on the boy's face. Porthos was unaware of it all and kept doing his job for a few more seconds, before all the breath was knocked out of him, as something landed on him heavily, making him stumble back and land on the cold stone floor with a thud. D'artagnan raised his head to look at the uninvited guest and gasped in surprise, recognizing his friend.
"Porthos?" – He asked, not believing his eyes, - "What are you doing in my room?"
"I am robbing you" – Porthos grinned evilly.
"What? Why?"
"Because I am a thief."
"As far as I remember, you left that life long time ago" – declared D'artagnan, crossing his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow.
"You think so?" – murmured Porthos, trying to hold back his laughter, - "You are as fool as the others."
"What do you mean?"- Asked a very confused boy.
"You thought I joined musketeers to start new life? You are wrong, boy. I joined them to make more money and plus rob some wealthy ones like Athos".
"Do Athos and Aramis know about it?" – D'artagnan was still in shock, but couldn't help but question him.
"No, you are the first one to know. I robbed them this morning without waking them up, but as you woke up, I will have to prevent you from telling others."
D'artagnan's eyes widened in horror as he recognized his brothers' beloved belongings and before Porthos could say something, the younger man punched him so hard, that he landed on the floor for the second time.
"God damn it!" – He shouted, rubbing his jaw.
At that moment, the door opened and Athos and Aramis entered, hats in hands.
"What's going on here?" – Athos asked in his usual calm tone.
"He is a thief! He tried to rob me!" – D'artagnan shouted, pointing his finger violently at Porthos.
"He left that life." – Aramis chided him.
"We all thought so, but look! He stole your pistol Aramis and Athos' sword as well".
The men gasped in shock.
"There's no doubt it was him, who stole my 5 livres." – Said Aramis.
"And my expensive silver watch" – Athos added.
"See? He was robbing you all this time and you didn't know it! You disgust me." – D'artagnan shifted his gaze from the two men to Porthos.
Porthos' eyes watered, but he managed to hold himself back.
"Alright, alright, it's too much." – Aramis moved forward, wrapping an arm around Porthos' slumped shoulders.
"Are you guys mad?! He robbed you!" – D'artagnan exclaimed.
"April's fool!" – The three men shouted in unison, before laughing out loud.
"You fooled me?" – Asked D'artagnan, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.
"It's your first April with us, so we thought it would be fun to trick you." – Athos explained.
"Oh" –Was all D'artagnan could say.
"I fool them every year" – Aramis smirked, earning frowns from Athos and Porthos.
Porthos stepped forward, wrapping D'artagnan in a friendly hug.
"Sorry, lad." – He murmured against the younger man's neck.
"No, it's me who should apologize." – Replied D'artagnan.
Before Porthos could reply, Athos said:
"Stop it, you both are innocent."
D'artagnan and Porthos pulled away, both glaring at Athos.
"So, Porthos, could you please give me back my pistol?" – Asked Aramis, eyeing his pistol eagerly.
"Sure"- Said Porthos handing him his beloved weapon.
Aramis looked like a child with a new toy. He hugged his pistol tightly, whispering how much he had missed him, rocking it slowly. The three men rolled their eyes.
"Do you forgive us, D'artagnan?" – Asked Athos.
"Do I have any other choice?" – He sighed dramatically, getting three "No"-s.
They all hugged tightly. The three of them were relieved, that D'artagnan forgave them easily. None of them wanted to empty their pockets in taverns with him to make him forgive them.
"I must admit, D'artagnan", - Porthos said after a while, - "You look very cute, when you are angry. The red color suits you, you know?" – He winked at him, making the rest chuckle.
-Ok, gentlemen, let's go back to our work. Treville will start looking for us soon. Do take your time to compose yourself lad, we will wait for you." – Said Athos and the three musketeers headed outside.
D'artagnan closed the door behind them, preparing himself for a nasty payback.s