Visitors in the Night
The Musketeers
Most couples don't move in together until later on in their relationship, d'Artagnan wishes his relationships with his Dom's were that simple.
Modern and BDSM AU
Part Three of 'Devotion' Series
Main pairings in this story: Porthos/d'Artagnan, Aramis/d'Artagnan, Athos/d'Artagnan
Endgame: Athos/Aramis/d'Artagnan/Porthos
Warning: gun violence, arson, injuries, canon character death
Disclaimer: I do not own BBC's The Musketeers
Chapter Two
Athos tapped the steering wheel restlessly as he did the usual patrol route; solo as Treville, Aramis and Porthos were off on other assignments that day.
His phone dinged loudly from its holder. Luckily Athos was at a red light so he swiped his finger across the phone's screen and his heart jumped up into his throat seeing the message sent from d'Artagnan.
S.O.S
That was all Athos needed to click on the lights and sirens. He yanked the steering wheel to the right, performing a 'U' turn. He sped towards the 'Gascon Gun', the wheel trapped in a death grip. He was right to be panicked as he saw a column of black smoke rising up from the GG's location. He pressed his gas pedal almost to the floor as he radioed the fire station and robotically reported the situation to them and the Garrison and other squad cars. He swerved into the parking lot, the shop ablaze. Athos leapt out of the squad car, blood freezing at the sight of d'Artagnan's car still in its parking space. He gave no thought to him self, he simply yanked his scarf up around his mouth and nose before powerfully kicking in the front door before crossing the burning threshold.
"d'Artagnan!" Athos bellowed out as he scanned the smoke filled room, his heart pounding in his chest as he shouted the man's name again. This time he heard a cough and he bolted towards the weak noise. He felt his knees weaken at the sight of a bloodstain on the once pristine floors that led to the collapsed form of d'Artagnan.
A bullet lodged in his calf that was seeping blood, his outstretched, but still bound hands were burned while a silver gun lay a few inches away. Athos was pulled off his jacket and wrapping it around d'Artagnan, batting off some flames that were attempting to get close to d'Artagnan's gasoline covered form.
Athos barely noticed the dead burned man with a bullet hole in the back of his neck as he bundled d'Artagnan up in his arms, wincing as d'Artagnan let out a weak cry followed by a harsh cough when his injury was jostled. Athos turned and high tailed it out of the burning shop; he waited until he knew they were out of range before he gently laid d'Artagnan onto the ground to get a better look at him.
d'Artagnan was drenched in gasoline, soot and smoke clung to him like a second skin. He was shaking, perhaps going into shock as he curled up on himself as he coughed trying to expel the smoke he inhaled from his lungs. His right leg was coated in blood, which Athos was now pressing down on with his scarf trying to slow the bleeding.
"d'Artagnan, listen to my voice. Focus on me d'Artagnan do not fall asleep. I will not allow you to fall asleep, do you understand?" Athos said in a firm voice, one he would usually save for Aramis when he was their sub for the night, but for some reason he felt this voice would be most effective on d'Artagnan. He was right as d'Artagnan looked at him with pain filled and confused eyes, but the younger man was clearly forcing himself to stay away, all because Athos had told him to.
"Lieutenant Athos, we can take over now." A female's voice came from Athos' side. Athos took his eyes off of d'Artagnan to see two EMS were kneeling next to him with a stretcher and other items they needed to help d'Artagnan.
"Yes, of course." Athos shook himself as he slowly stood up once he was sure that d'Artagnan's wound was being taken care of.
He watched as the two EMS worked over d'Artagnan's form, but the man's eyes never left Athos.
"Sir, please if your body is telling you to pass out, you can. In fact it would be less painful for you if you do." The woman said as she strapped an oxygen mask onto d'Artagnan's face. His lips moved and she had to bend down to hear his words.
"You can't?" She asked in confusion and suddenly it all clicked into place for Athos. Athos quickly knelt next to d'Artagnan's head and gently placed his hand on d'Artagnan's damp hair.
"d'Artagnan, if you need to pass out then do so." Athos said in the same voice as before and watched amazed as d'Artagnan's eyes slid shut and he was unconscious in moments.
"Thank you Lieutenant." The female smiled at him briefly as she and her partner heaved d'Artagnan onto a stretcher before lifting him up into the back of the waiting ambulance.
"Would you like to ride with us Lieutenant?" She leaned out of the back of the ambulance as she went to close the doors.
"Yes I think I would." Athos said surprisingly even himself as he stepped into the back of the ambulance and found himself gripping d'Artagnan's limp hand tightly, fingers feeling the soft but steady pulse under his fingers while he sent off a text to Treville, Aramis and Porthos with his free hand before turning his attention to d'Artagnan, smoothing back his long hair not wanting the younger man to feel alone even when he was unconscious.
~~/~~
Aramis sighed as he leaned against the wall, surveying the room. He had been sent by Treville to a coffee shop close to 'Headspace' than to the Garrison to visit a man who had called with a tip about one of the cases they were working. Aramis checked his watch as he waited. He had a gut feeling about this meeting, it was odd because Treville said the caller insisted he be the one to come or else he wouldn't show.
So here Aramis was, leaning against the exit only door of the coffee shop in civilian clothes waiting for the information to show his face.
"Aramis." A far too familiar voice rang out and Aramis's heart pounded in his chest, he whipped his head around wide eyed.
"Marsac?" Aramis asked, voice shaking and he had to fight with him self to stop him self from falling back into the nightmare that had been the last time he had seen Marsac.
"It's been a long time Aramis, thank you for coming out to see me." Marsac stood in front of Aramis, hands shoved in the pockets of his jacket. He looked like he hadn't slept in days and Aramis didn't feel bad about it.
"If I knew it was you, then I wouldn't have showed up." Aramis growled, fingers curling around his phone, fighting back the urge to call for Porthos, the big guy would come and cheerfully beat Marsac's face in.
"That's why I didn't give my name, I knew you would never willingly coming to meet me." Marsac waved his hand at an empty table, but Aramis firmly kept him self planted at the wall by the door. Marsac sighed but stayed standing up as well.
"Do you even have information for the Musketeers or was that a lie too?" Aramis snarked as his phone start to vibrate nonstop, the setting he used for 'urgent' messages. He fished his phone out and swiped his thumb across the screen, his heart pounded against his chest as panic started to well up at the message from Athos.
"I don't have time to deal with you right now Marsac." Aramis growled not waiting for an answer, pushing off the wall heading towards the exit door.
"Even if it involve your precious lovers?" Marsac called after the Musketeer who froze, anger rising up to the surface.
"If I find out you had anything to do with what happened to him, I will end you. Stay away from them or I will make you regret it." Aramis threatened, glaring at Marsac who held up his hands looking surprised at the wrath and anger that Aramis was emitting right now.
Aramis glared at Marsac once more before he fled from the coffee shop, yanking open the undercover car door that he had taken from the Garrison and peeled out of the parking lot with a screech and smell of rubber burning.
~~/~~
"Athos!" Porthos called out, slightly jogging to where his lover was sitting on an uncomfortable looking plastic chair, head hanging down so he could stare at his blood stained hands while his skin, hair and uniform were streaked with soot.
"Porthos." Athos looked up, eyes unreadable but he allowed himself to be pulled into a reassuring hug from the larger man.
"Are you okay? What happened? Where is d'Artagnan?" Porthos asked in a rush, seeing Treville speaking with a nearby doctor and nurse.
"I'm fine, I got a S.O.S text from d'Artagnan. When I got there the shop was ablaze… d'Artagnan has a bullet wound in his leg. It looks like he had been attacked in his store and fought back." Athos explained allowing Porthos to guide him back down into the chair and let Porthos pull his head against his chest in a soothing manner.
"Captain is getting an update on d'Artagnan then?" Porthos eyed Treville and felt Athos nod against his chest.
"Yes I believe so…" Athos muttered.
"Are you okay?" Porthos pressed knowing that Athos needed prodding.
"Physically I'm fine…" Athos trailed off, swallowing hard. "Every time I close my eyes however I just see him lying there in a pool of blood..."
"He's a strong lad Athos, d'Artagnan will pull through. He will have to deal with us otherwise." Porthos rumbled, completely honest about that. d'Artagnan was very good at following directions and there was no way he would give up that easily.
"Something else did happen, I told him not to fall asleep and he didn't… However when the EMT told him he could, he said he wasn't allowed too and only passed out when I gave him permission." Athos explained in a confused, yet awed voice. Porthos heart may have skipped a beat at Athos' words and what it implied.
"He's good at following instructions then?" Porthos offered up weakly, relief filling him when Athos just hummed as Aramis tore into the hallway, looking un-eased.
"Good timing Aramis, d'Artagnan will be fine." Treville approached the three.
"Thank god." Aramis sank into the chair on the other side of Athos, gripping his lover's arm.
"Do you know what happened?" Porthos asked their Captain who frowned deeply.
"We accessed the security camera's and ran facial recognition. His name was Vinnie LaBarge, he has a long list of previous offences and he was the one who threatened d'Artagnan those many weeks ago." Treville glanced at Porthos whose face was like thunder at the reminder of how the two met.
"He shot d'Artagnan in the leg before setting the shop on fire, from what we could get before the camera's cut out d'Artagnan tripped LaBarge and reached for the fallen gun. From what the coroners said LaBarge had third degree burns on his face, neck, shoulders and hands, the cause of death was the bullet wound in the back of his neck. It was clearly done by d'Artagnan in self-defense. When he wakes up we will need to get his statement before we can wrap the case up."
"What about his injuries?" Aramis pressed after he absorbed the information Treville provided them.
"Smoke inhalation, burns on his hands, wrists and bullet wound to his right leg. He'll recover, but it will take time for him to be able to walk without aid." Treville parroted back what the Doctor had told him, knowing that the medic in Aramis needed to know the injuries.
"Can we see him?" Porthos asked seeing the plotting look on Aramis' face.
"He's in room 217, just try not to wake him up." Treville sighed, knowing that if he said one at a time they would all somehow manage to go in together.
"Thanks Captain." Porthos smiled briefly at Treville as Aramis all but fled down the hall, leaving Porthos to help Athos to his feet.
"Let's get you cleaned up first, don't' want to be kicked out because you were trailing soot and blood everywhere." Porthos scolded Athos, leading him towards the men's room. Athos was staring after Aramis' fleeing scene with confusion.
"What got into 'Mis?" Athos asked as he allowed Porthos to sit him on the edge of the white porcelain sink, cleaning his face and hands off. He knew that Porthos liked taking care of his lovers and fighting against him was pointless (as learned from previous attempts).
"No idea, I know he is very close to the whelp as am I, but something seems wrong." Porthos frowned as he rubbed at d'Artagnan's dried blood on Athos' hands, trying not to dwell on it too much.
"Hopefully seeing that d'Artagnan is alive will calm his mind." Athos suggested, eyeing Porthos with a thoughtful look.
"What is on your mind?" Porthos tilted his head to the side as he dried Athos' hands off, deeming him presentable.
"I truly believe that d'Artagnan is a sub, but I don't want to approach that topic right now, not like this." Athos said, voice firm in his belief.
"If he is, do you think he would want you to know? He doesn't show it often but it's obvious he idolize you Athos and he doesn't like showing weakness, which is what he might think being a sub is." Porthos said quietly, trying his best not to panic at Athos' words.
"…You're right Porthos, I don't want to scare him off. I want him to feel safe around me, around us." Athos blew out a puff of air as he raked his now clean hand through his hair, streaking the pale skin with soot making Porthos rolled his eyes and throw in the towel.
"Come on then, let's go see the pup." Porthos held his arm out to his lover; Athos took the offered arm and allowed Porthos to lead them into room 217.
Aramis was sitting on a plastic chair by d'Artagnan's beside, rosary clutched in his hand, head down and lips moving silently. His other hand was gripping d'Artagnan's tightly as the younger man slept on aided by drugs and the oxygen mask attached to his face.
"We're here 'Mis and the pup is strong, he wouldn't dare die on us." Porthos gripped Aramis' shoulder in support once he saw Aramis' prayers had stopped.
"I know, just seeing him like this and not being able to do anything about it… I hate it." Aramis leaned back, dropping his rosary over his neck, tucking it under his shirt; he ran both his hands through his hair.
"We understand 'Mis." Athos spoke up, voice gravely as he leaned forward on his knees eyes trained on d'Artagnan.
"If it wasn't for you Athos, d'Artagnan wouldn't even be here." Porthos pointed out and Aramis hummed his agreement.
"It was all d'Artagnan, he saved himself by killing LaBarge and by sending me that text." Athos refused to take credit for something that had been all d'Artagnan's doing.
"We'll let d'Artagnan decide when he wakes up, in the mean time I had a thought I wanted to run by you two." Aramis turned the chair so he was facing Athos and Porthos, but he never removed his hand from d'Artagnan's.
"You are thinking we should bring d'Artagnan home with us while he's recovering and that the fire burned his flat so he doesn't have anywhere or anyone to look after him anyway?" Porthos rattled off easily as he had the same idea.
"Always reading my mind." Aramis tapped the side of his nose and Athos blinked in surprise. It had taken quite a while for the three of them to work up the effort to have the conversation to move in together and yet deciding to have d'Artagnan move in with them was the easiest thing in the world.
"I don't see why not, it would make it easier to keep an eye on him." Athos said after a moment of thought and was almost blinded by the beaming smiles he got from his lovers. Athos coughed and turned his eyes back to d'Artagnan's sleeping form.
"Excellent, I'll make the needed arrangements, see what I can salvage from his flat and call Constance and so forth." Porthos smoothed d'Artagnan's limp hair out of his face in an affectionate gesture before he left the room.
"Are you okay Aramis? You look shaken up, more than just what happened to d'Artagnan is bothering you." Athos pulled his chair closer to Aramis' allowing Aramis to grip his thigh in support.
"Just someone from my past, I know he didn't have anything to do with what happened with d'Artagnan, but I can't help but think…" Aramis trailed off, shaking his head to rid himself of that thought line.
"We'll be careful, this person won't get near any of us." Athos said firmly gaining a grateful smile from Aramis.