A cold Paris night:

The lady pranced down the dark street, giggling as she held her lovers hand.

Then a sound made them both pause, it was such an odd sound, almost like someone kicking stones. But no one was there but them…

Then the lady saw a knife enter her lover's head, and before she could even scream in agony and horror, a hand clamped over her mouth, and with a simple twist, her lifeless eyes stared at the darkness surrounding her.

The next morning, the residents were greeted with the fifth noblewoman and her escort visiting Paris were strung above the city square, with a note written in blood on the wall behind them.

This is only the beginning

M

Rogue's POV:

When I walked out of my room, half asleep and still getting dressed (My belt and my jacket were trailing behind me. And yes, my belt had my sword), I was not expecting a large chest to be resting outside the door.

I tripped over it and flipped into the wall across from my room. I groaned in pain, and soon a pair of familiar boots met my vision.

"I hate you…." I groaned.

A laugh reached my ears, "No you don't. I let the messengers inside to deliver the package your sister sent you." Aramis crouched in front of me, humor dancing on his lips, "Would you like help getting up?"

He held out his hand to me, and even though I was mad at him, I accepted it and he pulled me to my feet.

I crouched down next to the chest as I slung my jacket over my shoulders. True to Aramis' word, the box said it was from Evangeline.

I wasn't certain what she could be sending me in a box this big, but knowing her, it would be interesting.

I looked up at Aramis, who was undoubtable as interested as I was, and asked, "Could you so graciously help me get this onto a table or something?"

He nodded and together, we moved the box into my room and onto my bed. It wasn't terrible heavy, but too big for me to carry on my own.

I looked under the bottom corner of the box, and produced a key to the main lock. Aramis raised an eyebrow at me for knowing where to look and I shot him a grin, "When we were kids we developed a code that each of us had to follow. Putting the key to a locked box under the bottom left corner of the compartment was one of them. And, because it's a cramped place, the key can't jiggle loose."

He shook his head as I unlocked the box.

I pushed the lid of the chest open, and what I saw made me sigh in frustration and yet smirk in humor. It made Aramis snicker from his place behind me.

Inside was a dress. A dark blue dress that flooded into black around the sleeves, the bottom of the dress, and low neckline. It would leave my shoulders bare, and the sleeves would flow over my wrists like water.

There was a dark blue corset too, and it also flooded into black around the top and the bottom. It was a bone corset, and would probably force what little chest I had upwards, and the low neckline of the whole thing would be quite suggestive, without outright being so.

Typical Evangeline….

A black cloak with dark blue edges shimmered inside as well.

There was also a fan inside, and when I opened it, I was greeted with sharp edges. The fan was literally a weapon with sharp steel just barely showing itself on the outside edges of the fan all around it besides the handle. It was dark blue, and faded into silver on the outer edge, so it was extremely difficult to see the glint of the cutting edge.

There was also a note attached to the whole thing.

I know you hate dresses, but I saw this one and couldn't resist sending it to you! I have included the fan as well because I know how fascinated you are with weapons.

Have fun darling!

With love,

Eve.

I sighed and shook my head, but allowed the small smile to light my features.

I pulled the dress out and held it up to my chest for scale; the bottom of the dress barely skimmed the floor, but was long enough that if I ever did have to wear it, I could conceal knives and the like on my legs, and I could wear my boots.

I turned to look at Aramis, and he was looking at me appraisingly.

"What?" I asked as the dress flowed with the light breeze blowing through the window. It looked like an incredibly light weight fabric that wouldn't cause me to overheat. Which was nice.

He tapped his chin and said, "You know, I think you would like quite beautiful as a woman."

I gave him a deadpan look. "Seriously? Wow. You can definitely tell why you're a hit with the ladies." I drawled sarcastically as I put everything back into the chest, locking it again and pushing it onto the floor.

Aramis just laugh and threw an arm over my shoulder as I secured my belt around my waist.

"How about we make our way to the Garrison?" Aramis asked, wisely changing the subject.

I rolled my eyes, but allowed him to pull me out the door, and together we waltzed down the stairs.

M

I collapsed onto my bed with a huff. We had spent the entire day looking for any lead on the murderers who had been targeting nobles and people of good standing, but had found nothing.

Porthos, D'artagnan, and Athos all went to the tavern for a drink, Aramis vanished off somewhere, probably to a lady friend, and I had spent a good amount of time shoeing my horse.

I was finally done with shoeing him, even if he was extremely patient, and much easier to shoe than other horses, he had very large feet, and as such, it made shoeing him take longer.

I had shed my jacket and my cloak, and that was as far as I had gotten.

Then I heard a commotion in the hallway, and it sounded a lot like 'Insolent pig!'

I groaned and stood up, for the most part, Aramis' house had sound resistant walls, thankfully, but I could still hear what went on in the hallways.

I opened the door just in time for a rough looking, half dressed, Aramis to get slapped by a feisty woman with a bright red face and a red dress that had a few specks of dirt on her back.

She spun around and began storming down the hallway, towards my room, and the staircase.

She paused when she saw me leaning against the doorway with a sarcastic smirk on my face.

"Rough night?" I drawled innocently.

She huffed in indignation, "Men!" She shouted, then she slapped me too.

I grabbed my face in shock as the woman pranced down the stairs.

She hit hard…

I cast a look at Aramis, who was padding softly down the hallway.

I leaned against the doorway and crossed my arms, "Something I should know, Aramis?" I asked him with a smirk. "Trouble in Paradise? What did you say to upset this one, oh great ladies' man?"

He scowled at me, "She fell, and landed on my muddy boots. I did nothing."

I rolled my eyes, "You didn't, oh I don't know, ask her if she was alright? Or did you just stand there with a stupid look on your face?"

He huffed and crossed his arms, he had a red mark on the side of his face, much, I expect, like I did.

He scowled and looked down, "I may have laughed slightly, then asked her if she was alright. I did not expect her to get that offended."

I softened my smile and patted his shoulder, "In the future, assume that every woman, besides myself of course, will be offended if you laugh at them first."

He lifted his head and glared at me without heat, "You know, before you came along, I was suave, and would never have laughed at a woman."

I snickered, "So sorry. Would you like me to leave so you can be 'suave' again?"

His face paled slightly, and he shook his head. "No. Do not even entertain the idea. You saw how your last attempt worked out." His voice was wobbly, but not obviously so. I only saw it because I had known Aramis for several months now.

I reached out and grabbed his shoulder, "Don't worry, Aramis. I don't plan on leaving. I promise." I patted his shoulder, then stepped out of my room and threw my arm over his shoulders, "Now, let's get you back to your room, so you can actually sleep. I can smell the wine all over you. What'd you do, swim in it?"

He shook his head and staggered slightly at the motion, but with my arm around his shoulder he stayed beside me. We were about the same height, so it was easy to do something like this.

I don't know how many times he'd taken me home after I'd had one good knock to the head. I really need to watch what I say to certain people. (Read, Red Guards. Or, otherwise known as Idiotic Morons.)

I brought him to his room, then pushed him down onto his bed. I pulled the blankets over him, then blew out the candle in his room.

I turned, prepared to leave, but a hand hooked around my sleeve.

"Stay for a bit. Please." A low voice asked me.

So I sighed and turned around, "Scoot over then." I said as I kicked off my boots.

He shifted and I laid on top of the covers next to him, crossing my arms and taking a deep breath.

I meant to leave as soon as I heard him fall asleep, but his bed was very comfortable, and soon, I was gone.