Escaping Secrets
The Musketeers
d'Artagnan comes home to run his late father's store, he was not expecting to get involved with the very dominate Athos, Porthos and Aramis. He knew moving back home was a bad idea.
Modern and BDSM AU
Main pairing in this story: Aramis/d'Artagnan
Endgame: Athos/Aramis/d'Artagnan/Porthos
Disclaimer: I do not own BBC's The Musketeers
Chapter One
"Are you sure you want to do this d'Art?" Constance asked her best friend as he walked by carrying the final moving box.
"This is my father's life work Con, I have to carry it on." d'Artagnan swiped a piece of his long hair that fell out from his low ponytail behind his ear.
"You went away to Uni with me because you didn't want to work here for the rest of your life and now you're gun hoe for it? What happened to you in those two years after I graduated?" Constance slid off the counter of the shop, smoothing down her skirt.
"I just realized a few things about myself and besides it will put my business degree to work. I've know how to run this store since I was a kid and I've been helping you and Anne run your bakery for years. Con I can do this." d'Artagnan explained, hugging his best friend to wipe the worried look off her face.
"Alright fine, do what you want. Just come over for lunch or I'll hunt you down." She jabbed her finger in his chest.
"Understood ma'am." d'Artagnan nodded as she left the shop, her red hair trailing behind her like a stream of fire.
d'Artagnan let out a puff of air as he looked around the mostly stocked gun shop. The silence was almost deafening, d'Artagnan leaned over the service counter and fiddled with a knob for a few moments before the speakers crackled coming back to life and a low volume of music filled the shop. It wasn't the best music as the stations were set to his father's preferences still, but it stopped the silence from overwhelming him.
"Charles d'Artagnan, I heard the rumors but never in a million years did I think they were true." A deep voice came from the now open door.
"Captain Treville!" d'Artagnan walked over to the older man who was like an uncle to him while growing up.
"It is good to see you again my boy." Treville pulled the young man into a hug. "I am sorry about your father."
"Thank you Captain." d'Artagnan swallowed back the prickling of tears.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call." Treville told d'Artagnan as they parted form the hug.
"I will, but won't I be seeing a lot of you? Unless another gun shop and range popped up since I've been away?" The younger man asked curiously.
"No, you're right. My boys will be in here frequently. Some may not take you running the shop well." Treville warned.
"I can handle myself Captain." d'Artagnan reminded the older man as a rush of warmth went through his core at the obvious worry Treville still held for him after all these years.
"I know you can lad, just be on your guard. Oh I want to introduce you to my second in command. Lieutenant Olivier d'Athos de la Fere or more commonly known as Athos." Treville gestured to a man in black Musketeer uniform that had just joined them in the doorway, the silver Fleur-de-lis stitched on his right upper arm shining in the sunlight. Athos took off the uniform's hat once he was inside and d'Artagnan breath silently caught in his throat as Athos beautiful, piercing blue eyes looked at him from his handsome face that was framed by raven hair.
"A pleasure." Athos bowed his head.
"Likewise Lieutenant. I am Charles d'Artagnan, the new owner of this shop." d'Artagnan bowed his head and used all his willpower to restrain the urge to bare himself in submission to the clearly dominant man in front of him. That would not be a good first impression.
"Ah, Alexandre was your father then, my sympathy's." Athos said, studying d'Artagnan intently.
"My thanks Lieutenant." d'Artagnan forced himself to stand tall and still under those blue, blue eyes.
"I'm afraid we must be off d'Artagnan, do call when you get the shop up and running." Treville placed his hat back onto head with Athos following suit.
"Of course Captain," d'Artagnan agreed.
"Good day d'Artagnan." Athos tipped his hat at the younger man as he followed the Captain to their squad car.
d'Artagnan locked the door to the shop and slid down the wall next to it before he placed his head on the tops of his knees, breathing deeply to stop the feeling that had reared up when he had been introduced to Athos. This was the closet he had come to a drop in a good long while, maybe coming home hadn't been the smartest idea after all.
~~/~~
"What happened?" Aramis asked instantly as Athos placed his hat on his desk before he sank into his chair.
"What makes you think anything happened?" Athos looked at the Spaniard with a raised brow.
"I know you both far too well, so talk." Aramis rolled his chair over to Athos while Porthos leaned against the edge of Athos' desk, caging him in.
Athos was glad that the three of them had their own squad room to work; being the best of the Musketeers had its privileges.
"On our route today, the Captain introduced me to the new owner of the 'Gascon Gun'. It is Alexandre's son, Charles d'Artagnan." Athos explained.
"And?" Porthos prompted.
"…He's very pretty." Athos grumbled.
"Well! We will have to see this for our selves! Athos has never called anyone pretty, not even us!" Aramis decided as his interest had been spiked.
"He said he would contact Treville when the shop is up and running again. Do not go before, we don't want to scare him off." Athos gave his partners a look of warning.
"Hmpf fine, he must really be something if you're acting like this." Aramis huffed, leaning back as he crossed his arms.
"Something else is getting to you." Porthos prodded.
"I can't be sure, but there something in his voice when he called me Lieutenant." Athos admitted.
"This calls for research." Porthos rubbed his hands together causing Aramis to laugh and Athos to shake his head.
~~/~~
"d'Art! You look pale, sit down, sit down!" Constance fussed over her friend when he stumbled into the café and bakery 'The Queen's Guard' a bit after noon, just missing the lunch rush. She guided her best friend back to a two-person table near the back corner of the café, grabbing a cup of coffee for her shocked friend.
"What happened? Did you, you know, drop?" She lowered her voice to a whisper.
"No, you know I can handle drop's Con but this was a close call… I just met Lieutenant Athos is all." d'Artagnan sipped his coffee relishing the taste; Constance made the best coffee he had ever had in his life. It was the only way he survived his first year in Uni.
"Ah, I see now. He has quite the aura and those blue eyes, oh if only I was straight, or even bi." Constance fanned her face.
"Funny, but yeah it took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting someone like him here." d'Artagnan shook his head as Anne came over placing a slice of lemon meringue pie in front of him.
"You're brilliant Anne, thank you!" d'Artagnan praised her; she was the baker for a reason.
"Don't be silly d'Artagnan. I know how much you love this pie and no offence dear, but it looks like you need it." She winked at him before she walked over to deal with a customer who shyly handed her a flower.
"Louie still courting her?" d'Artagnan asked interested as he bit into lemony heaven.
"He's just so shy, but he's getting better and Anne is slowly warming up to him." Constance shared the gossip before she brought her mind back to the next point she wanted to make.
"You are going to need a lot more pie d'Art because if you think Athos is your biggest worry, then just wait until you meet his partners." Constance said wisely, patting his back as he choked on the piece of pie he was eating.
"There are more of them?" d'Artagnan looked at her with wide eyes.
"Aramis and Porthos. All three are utter gentlemen and if the rumors are to be believed then they are partners in and out of work. They are the cream of the crop of the Musketeers and are nicknamed the Inseparables. If you stay here long enough you will see Aramis, he's addicted to our Chai Mocha's." Constance filled d'Artagnan in, amused that he had stopped eating his pie all together.
She then realized that he was looking past her, she twisted in her chair to find Aramis himself leaning over the service counter giving everyone a great view of his shapely ass he chatted with Anne as she made his drink.
"Speak of the devil." She muttered before she glanced back at d'Artagnan who had adverted his eyes and was focusing on his pie and coffee.
"Oh Aramis!" She waved at him as he looked in her direction, his charming smile appearing when he spotted her and d'Artagnan.
"I hate you so much." d'Artagnan muttered to him.
"You'll thank me later dearie." She promised as he sauntered over to the two, looking more gorgeous closer up, the same aura that Athos gave off was there but it was muted.
"You look lovely as always fair Constance." Aramis bowed his head.
"Always the charmer." She laughed, used to him by this point in time.
"Only to those who deserve it." He said honestly.
"Its cute that you still think your charms will work on me. Aramis I would like you to meet my best friend and new owner of the Gascon Gun, Charles d'Artagnan." Constance patted his arm fondly before waving her free hand at the brunet across from her.
"It's nice to meet you Officer." d'Artagnan held his hand out with a smile on his face, trying his best to resist the soothing aura Aramis seemed to radiate.
"It is extremely nice to meet you d'Artagnan." Aramis' smile was blinding as he took the offered hand and dropped a light kiss to the olive skin. d'Artagnan felt his face starting to burn and the urge to keen was building up. Constance was giggling at her best friend's shock before she bid them adieu when Anne called her over.
"May I?" Aramis gestured to the empty seat across from d'Artagnan.
"O-of course." d'Artagnan nodded, swallowing as the charming man sat down across from him.
"I'm sorry to seem rude, but I do not believe I've seen you in town before." Aramis said as he sipped his drink.
"It was not rude. I lived here with my father before I left for Uni with Constance a few years ago. She came home to start her business when she graduated, but I was in a… relationship so I stayed. It didn't end well and then my father died so coming home and putting my business degree to work seemed like the best thing to do." d'Artagnan explained scooping the last piece of his pie up into his mouth to stop the spew of words, he had no idea why he was telling Aramis this there was just something about him that told d'Artagnan that he could tell him anything and not be judged.
"I understand, my apologies for bring up old wounds." Aramis dipped his head, understanding all over his face.
"It's fine, I just hope I can run GG as well as my father did." d'Artagnan waved it off.
"I have good instincts and they are telling me you will do perfectly. I personally cannot wait to see how you do." Aramis encouraged and praised him and a sly smile appeared on his lips when d'Artagnan turned bright red and ducked his head.
"Thank you Officer." d'Artagnan stammered out, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Aramis, please."
"Aramis then." d'Artagnan beamed at the Spaniard who surprisingly looked away, pink dusting his cheeks.
"I ah, best be off before Porthos comes in to drag me out." Aramis cleared his throat.
"Oh, of course. Be careful on your patrol Aramis." d'Artagnan nodded in understanding.
"Sorry, you just have something right… here." Aramis reached forward, his thumb gently caressing the corner of d'Artagnan's lips. It came back with a little bit of white custard and Aramis stuck his thumb in his mouth the lick the bustard off, his thumb coming out of his mouth with a soft pop.
"Delicious. I do hope we see each other again soon d'Artagnan." Aramis winked at the frozen and blushing d'Artagnan before he waltzed out of the 'The Queen's Guard'.
d'Artagnan let his head drop to the table top letting out a groan as he shifted on his chair, glaring at his crotch that had taken notice of Aramis and his actions.
"I knew coming home was a bad idea."
"Okay I'm seriously considering becoming bi again because hot damn that man." Constance whistled as she patted d'Artagnan's head.
"Not helping Con."
"Sorry, sorry."
~~/~~
"You took your sweet time." Porthos grumbled as Aramis slid into the passenger seat.
"That dear Porthos is because I just had a chat with the darling d'Artagnan." Aramis grinned.
"Huh?" Porthos looked at his partner confused. "Athos' d'Artagnan?"
"The very same. He is very pretty and you should see him blush." Aramis sipped his Chai Mocha smugly.
"So much for not scaring him off." Porthos rolled his eyes as he pulled off into traffic.
"I did not scare him off. I may have turned him on though. My judgment is almost perfect, but Athos is right. There is something about him that I can't put my finger on." Aramis tapped his index finger against the side of his cup.
"I feel left out now." Porthos grumbled, his interest at an all time high now.
"He's a gem Porthos, a little dusty but a gem." Aramis said looking out the window.
"Stop rubbing it in." Porthos said annoyed only to get a cheeky smile from his partner.