Hey, y'all!
I did change my username. I figured that if I was going to write more than Avengers/Captain America stories, I should go with a more generic name. I don't know, don't ask me how my brain gets from Point A to Point E. It confuses even me sometimes.
Ok...this is my first attempt at an episode tag, so if y'all have a chance to leave a review, it would be much appreciated! This is as tag to S1 E2 - Sleight of Hand. I know, I know, its been done many times before. But have they done it my way? Nope! I got a prompt that went something along the lines of, "Character is badly injured and teetering on the edge of unconsciousness, but they're the only one who knows the way." Do I remember what the prompt says? No... I paraphrased, but its fine.
Little side note - it has been a bit since I last watched this episode, so if the dialogue is not quite right, I apologize. Let me know the correct lines and I'll fix it, although some lines I did insert that are my own.
I don't own any of these characters, and all mistakes are my own.
Anyways, thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy!
~AwesomeSauce2000
d'Artagnan groaned, opening his eyes despite the pounding of his skull, and sat up carefully, trying to be careful with his aching ribs.
I have to find Athos. I have to tell him it was a trap!
He struggled to his feet, ignoring his body's protests. Before he could warn Athos, he needed to catch Vadim.
The dust hadn't settled yet, and so as d'Artagnan came upon the thief, he decided to even the odds.
"Vadim! Behind you!" d'Artagnan warned.
"You are full of surprises," Vadim mused, spinning around to attempt to see the boy.
"I had a good teacher," d'Artagnan replied. "This way!"
The thief started to panic.
"Vadim, this way!"
d'Artagnan continued dancing around him, trying to ease his muscles before the inevitable sword fight.
"Over here!"
"Enough!" Vadim swung his torch, still trying to see his opponent.
d'Artagnan ducked and drew his sword. He may be injured, but Vadim's swordsmanship was poor, compared to d'Artagnan's training. d'Artagnan felt his sword enter Vadim's body, although the man had disappeared by the time he looked up.
The Gascon spun around at the footsteps behind him. Sighing in relief, he relaxed, hoping it would help his blurry vision.
"Athos."
"So, you are alive."
"I think so," d'Artagnan gave a slight nod towards Athos and Porthos. "You two look like you've bean to hell and back."
Porthos shrugged. "Just a little explosion. Nothin' we can't handle."
Athos put them back on track. "Vadim?"
d'Artagnan raised his bloodied sword. "Wounded. Badly. He can't have gotten far."
Aramis' eyes scanned the boy's body. "You don't look well either, d'Artagnan."
As much as he wanted to admit how much pain he was in, d'Artagnan knew he was the only one with the knowledge to get them out of the tunnels quickly. He muttered a quick, "I'm fine," before leading them forward.
By the time they exited the tunnels, he could hardly see straight, and wanted nothing more than to lean against the wall and sleep. However, Vadim was in sight and he couldn't let him escape a second time.
"Stop there, Vadim! Stop!"
d'Artagnan used what little strength remained to catch up with the thief. Vadim stumbled and fell.
"I should have strangled you at the Chalet, saved myself a lot of trouble."
"Why didn't you?"
"For the fun of it! It was a good trick. It should have worked."
"It nearly did."
Like a light snuffed out, it was over. Vadim was dead, the King and Queen were safe, and he could finally rest.
Athos, Porthos, and Aramis gathered around the thief's body. Athos gave d'Artagnan a nudge.
"You did well, d'Artagnan."
He tried to turn and answer the man before him, but d'Artagnan didn't have the strength to do so.
More musketeers came to collect the body and jewels, while d'Artagnan and the Inseparables headed for the garrison. The group made only half of the journey, before d'Artagnan's body would be ignored no longer.
"You should have seen the explosion, d'Art!" Porthos called back.
When he received no reply, the three musketeers looked back.
"d'Artagnan!"
He was slumped over his horse, unconscious.
Porthos caught the horse's reins, while Athos and Aramis dismounted to pull the boy down.
After a brief examination, Aramis said, "We need to get him somewhere I can treat him properly. Porthos, help me get up on the horse with Athos."
d'Artagnan was soon tucked against Athos, before they continued down the road.
"My apartments are closest," said Athos. "Let us take him there."
It was mere minutes before they were barging into Athos' room and placing d'Artagnan on the bed.
"Athos - warm water and a cloth, please. Porthos - I need my medicine kit from my horse."
Aramis started to carefully peel off d'Artagnan's shirt.
"What have you gotten yourself into, my boy?"
The other musketeers soon came back with the items Aramis had requested.
"What are the extent of his injuries, 'Mis?" Porthos asked.
"He has severly bruised ribs, a rather impressive collection of scratches and bruises, and his wrists are nearly shredded! He'll likely have a headache when he wakes, if this bump on his head is any indication. I'm surprised he was coherent as long as he was. It wouldn't have been easy."
Aramis bound d'Artagnan's ribs to ease his pain, and carefully cleaned each scratch.
d'Artagnan stirred as soon as the medic started on his wrists.
"'Mis?"
Aramis smiled. "It looks like you were involved in more trouble before we got to you, my friend."
d'Artagnan winced as he slowly sat up with Porthos' help. "It was a bit more action than I was anticipating. Being tied to barrels of gunpowder is certainly an activity I will attempt to avoid in the future."
"He did what?" Athos growled. "I would kill him myself if he wasn't already dead."
"d'Artagnan made it out alright, Athos," Aramis soothed. "He could very well have come back with more severe injuries. Let us be thankful he is safe with us now."
"Thank you for treating my injuries. I shall leave you for the evening, and-"
"Absolutely not!" Aramis interrupted.
"Stay the night, please, d'Artagnan," said Porthos.
The Gascon looked bewildered. "There is no reason for me to-"
"d'Artagnan."
He turned to Athos, meeting his eyes.
"It would allow all of us to sleep better if we knew you were here, and you were safe nearby. I have room to accommodate. Please. Stay."
d'Artagnan stared for a moment longer.
"Alright. One night couldn't hurt."
Little did he know, this was the first of many nights that he would share with his brothers. But that, my friends, is a tale for another time.