109. FOOL
In the early days of their friendship, Porthos learns that Athos isn't too fond of the Infirmary.
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Porthos and Athos:
"Get out of my way!"
"You ain't leavin'"
"I am not staying here."
"I ain't arguin'"
"You cannot stop me."
Athos took a step back and started to sway alarmingly.
Porthos reached out and grabbed his shirt, holding him up.
"Get your hands off me."
"If I do, you'll fall."
"Porthos," Athos snarled.
"Don't waste your energy gettin' all uppitty."
Porthos tightened his grip.
"If you don't see sense, Athos, I swear I will pick you up and drop you back in that bed, sick or not sick."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
"I need to get out of here!"
Porthos, though, stood his ground.
Much to Athos's annoyance;
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because you're my brother."
"That doesn't give you the right to keep me here."
"It's the best place for you."
Athos pushed.
Porthos continued to stand firm, not using his strength because he didn't need to.
But this was one stubborn man. Athos, damn him, was still on his feet.
"You're bleedin'"
"It doesn't matter."
"It does to me."
"Why?" Athos sighed.
"Because you're my brother. Like I said."
Athos swayed.
Porthos scooped him up.
By the time he had crossed the room and placed him gently back in the bed, Athos was barely conscious.
But he wasn't finished.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because you're my brother. And I care about you, you daft sod."
"Then you are a fool," Athos murmured, almost slipping into oblivion.
"Maybe I am," Porthos said. "But a fool understands foolishness."
And the simplicity of love.
Athos looked up at him, wide-eyed and feverish. His expression was confused but a spark of realisation suddenly shone through and he stopped struggling.
Porthos had to turn his head and look away.
Taking a breaath, he turned back and pulled the sheet up, as Athos continued to stare at him.
"You're my brother," he repeated, patiently. "Brothers look after each other."
He leant down until they were almost nose to nose.
"And if that makes me a fool, I'll take my chances. I've been called worse."
He took a cloth and carefully wiped Athos's face.
"You need to realise, Athos. You are part of our brotherhood now."
Athos felt tears spill from his eyes.
Porthos merely mopped them up.
"You don't 'ave to keep fightin' us," he whispered, unheard, as Athos finally succumbed to sleep.
If they had known Athos a little better, they would have understood.
Athos could not bear intimacy.
If, in those early days, they had known him a little better, they would have understood his need to remain remote. Untouched and untouchable.
Eventually, they learned that Athos had once loved deeply; he had opened himself up completely and had been the most intimate of men.
Eventually, they understood that that most precious of emotions, trust, had been thrown back in his face, as he had eventually thrown away the locket that had bound him to that time. To that love. Perhaps for a time, the locket had helped him to remain remote. Who knew? But gradually, things changed.
Porthos would have this battle with this stubborn man many times within these infirmary walls but he would always cherish the first, and as it turned out, the last time his brother had called him a fool.
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Thanks for reading! More soon.
