We Are Fortunate
Chapter 1
"Athos, who is that?" Asked Aramis quietly as his eyes set on a beautiful blonde over in the history section. Athos looked up from his book on the English civil war to look at her. "That's Anne" Athos told him, adjusting his reading glasses and returning to his studying. Anne, Aramis contemplated, was intriguing. How had he never noticed her before now? "And..?" Aramis prompted. Athos glanced back up at him "Milady knows her boyfriend, Louis. He's a bit of a prick if you ask me". Milady was Athos's on-again-off-again girlfriend. They were currently off. Athos looked down at his book again. Boyfriend. Aramis's eyes narrowed slightly in interest "Are they serious?" he asked. Athos snapped closed his book in anger. "I don't know" he glared "why don't you ask her? I'm working Aramis!" By the way, Athos had a sour temper.
Aramis got up from the table and walked up to her. Anne, being so slight, was stretching on her tip toes, trying to reach a book on the top shelf. Standing next to her; Aramis reached for the book easily; pulling it down. Anne smiled as he handed it to her, his face laced with amusement. "Thanks" she murmured, her blue eyes flickering to his brown ones. Aramis chuckled "It was no problem" he said leaning his shoulder against the book case. "I didn't want you to dislocate your arm". Anne bit her lip, blushing. "Well thank you for that as well then" she laughed, bending down to lift a stack of hard backs from the floor. "Here" Aramis offered, touching her arm and taking the books out of her hands "where're you sitting?". Anne smiled, turning on her heel and leading him to a table. "I'm Anne by the way" she told him, taking a seat "I think I've seen you around campus". Aramis sat opposite her and smiled warmly, "I'm Aramis and it's a pity I can't say the same about you". He watched in delight as a light blush spread across Anne's face. She took the top book from the pile and opened it but kept her eyes on him. "I recently moved here" she explained, "I was on a student exchange programme in France for six months. It's good to be back". Aramis was impressed "six months is a long time. I bet you missed your friends, family, boyfriend..." Anne's lips twitched and she comber her fingers through her hair "I did miss my friends and family" she bit her lip, "My boyfriend-uh-" she smiled but Aramis noticed how it didn't reach her exquisite blue eyes. "What is it?" he asked softly. Anne leaned on her elbows and lowered her voice "It's complicated".
Before he knew it; twenty minutes had gone by and Aramis was still talking with Anne. Aramis had learnt that she was studying History, Economics and Art, and Anne had learnt that he was studying English, photography and Spanish. Apparently, Anne's family were Spanish and so she could speak fluently. Aramis also discovered that Anne loved to read, just like he did. "So, what're you reading now?" He asked her. They were leaning closer now than they were and their conversation was comfortable and actually interesting. Anne lifted the cover of the open hard back and grinned, "English Civil War" he read and she giggled, "Not exactly pleasurable I know". Aramis chucked. "In my free time though, I'm reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It's my favourite actually" she told him, "I've probably read it like fifty times" she confessed with a light laugh. Aramis liked Anne's laugh. "Childhood favourite?" he smirked. Anne nodded enthusiastically, "Absolutely! My father used to read it to me from my Spanish copy. That's back at home though." Aramis nodded with a smile, "My childhood favourite was..." he drifted off as a guy came up behind Anne. "...um, The Lorax." Aramis cleared his throat. Anne looked over her shoulder and Aramis saw her jaw tighten. "Oh, hi Louis". Louis regarded Aramis for a moment, looking him up and down with a smug kind of glare. "My dear," he greeted Anne, his hands moving to rest firmly on her shoulders. Anne turned her attention back to Aramis. "The Lorax, that's Dr. Sues isn't it? I don't think I've read tha-" As Anne was speaking, Louis had ducked his head and was now kissing her neck. "-um-" she stumbled on her words uncomfortably. Pushing him away; she stood up and smoothed down her dress. Anne looked pained so Aramis stood up next to her, not liking her discomfort one bit. "Was there something you wanted, Louis?" she asked. Aramis watched as Louis smirked and folded his arms "Only for you to remember who your boyfriend is." His tone was on the verge of sounding threatening. Anne looked at Louis for a long moment "Aramis and I where only talking, Louis. I can talk to other men" her voice was firm. Louis hummed "Indeed. Don't disappoint me, Anne" he warned. Anne was still as he walked past them; brushing Aramis' shoulder on his way. "I'm so sorry about that" Anne apologised, gathering her coat. Aramis picked up her books for her "You shouldn't let him treat you that way" he told her gently. Anne was quiet as they walked out of the library together.
...
Thank you for reading Chapter 1! I'm really excited about this AU and I've got a lot more of it down on paper so you can expect more very soon. Thanks again and Chapter 2 will be up soon.