An untold story
*Disclaimer* I do not own any of the characters named in this story.
** I have read lots of fanfics about Aramis, and a couple had interesting backstories for him, but I have not yet read any where they explain how Aramis bacame the best marksman in the country. I wanted to tell this story. And thought it might be a nice Whumptober issue. This will be the first chapter, more will come.
*** I became inspired by some songs by the band Muse. In particular: "Psycho" and "Won't stand down". I think (some of) the lyrics suit Aramis character and maybe his background. DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the songs made by Muse.
Love, it will get you nowhere
You're on your own
Lost in the wild
So come to me now
I could use someone like you
Someone who'll kill on my command
And asks no questions
I'm gonna break you
I'm gonna make you
A fucking psycho
Your ass belongs to me now
- Psycho, by Muse
I never believed that I would concede
And let someone trample on me
You strung me along, I thought I was strong
But you were just gaslighting me
I've opened my eyes, and counted the lies
And now it is clearer to me
You are just a user and an abuser
Living vicariously
Won't stand down
I'm growing stronger
Won't stand down
I'm owned no longer
Won't stand down
You've used me for too long
Now die alone
I've opened my eyes, I see your disguise
I will never see you the same
I know how to win, before you begin
I'll shoot you before you take aim
- Won't stand down, by Muse
Somewhere in between dreaming and awakening a faint pain in his side emerges. The pain seems to spread quickly and worsen until it forces him to open his eyes and confront himself with the situation he is in.
Through his blurry vision he seems to recognise a face in the distance. A flash of a time long ago speeds through his mind. And almost automatically a chill runs down his spine for remembering.
He is brought straight to consciousness by a hard blow to his jaw immediately followed by a slash in his shoulder.
Aramis moans in pain, tasting the bitter aroma of blood in his mouth. Sweat runs down his bare spine as he suddenly feels the pull of his arms above him.
Shackled to the ceiling of an old warehouse, barely touching the floor with his toes, he is strung up like a gutted pig, ready for the butcher, wearing nothing but his braies.
The person in front of him suddenly stops his torture and speaks with an low gruff voice.
'Ah, finally awake. It was about time. We were so glad to have found you, after all these years. How long has it been? Must be 18 years or so? Now it's time to repay your debt.'
Aramis does not respond to the words, instead he gazes at the man intently.
The man in front of him is about 5 years older than him, is wearing a black curved hat, a black cloak and fancy looking black leather boots. His face looks haggard for someone of his age, his beard growing freely, not trimmed at all, and his eyes deep dark brown like his own.
Before he knows it the man steps forward and releases the chains Aramis is hanging on.
The release feels like freedom and pain at once, finally being able to freely move his arms, but the strain on them had been far too long and too much to actually be able to move them. So there he was, lying on the floor, free from his shackles but still not able to do anything.
'Take him to the others.' A dead voice in the back of the room ordered.
The man with the black hat pulls him roughly up on his arms, dragging him along to some room next door.
The shackles still on his wrists are once again tied to a wall next to him. As Aramis pierces through the room he widens his eyes as they rest in panic on the bodies of Porthos and Athos sitting on chairs opposite of him, motionless. A sudden rush of adrenaline brings him to protest his bindings. He screams in anger as tears form in his eyes, seeing the red markings on the faces of his friends. But he is held down forcefully by the man with the black hat and his shackles are tightened.
A loud 'snap' from someone's fingers behind him sounds through the room, and a man in a distant corner steps from the shadows in obedience. He carries with him a bucket as he walks to Athos. He puts the bucket on the floor and grabs Athos by the hair, pulling his head back. He doesn't seem to react to it. Aramis shudders in fear.
The man then takes the bucket and splashes a big amount of water straight in Athos' face, who suddenly jerks in his bounds and starts coughing, to the relief of Aramis. The man with the bucket then moves up to his right and does the same thing to Porthos, who, like Athos, wakes up coughing and breathing loudly.
Porthos opens his eyes in anger and shouts out Aramis' name as he notices his friend in front of him, beaten to a pulp and in shackles.
"What do you want!?" He tries, but his voice still sounds croaky from the water or the beating he has had.
The man behind Aramis steps forward. The man is older, and scruffy looking, like the man in the black hat, but gray.
Aramis almost gags when he sees the man up close and memories, tucked away somewhere far and remote in his mind, take over his emotions and control.
He finally finds a way to speak, painfully, and when he does his voice sounds nothing like his'. "You dare come into my life and take my friends!"
The man turns towards him and puts on a fake smile.
"You dare leave us like that and disappear without a trace! Traitor!"
Athos looks at Porthos in confusion, not understanding anything that is happening.
The man with the hat stands up next to Aramis and starts:
"It is time to pay for what you've done. Now, choose."
Aramis looks at him in spite. "Choose what?!"
"Who will live?" the other replies, walking towards Athos and Porthos.
"And who will die." he adds, as he carefully places the end of his pistol against Athos' head.
"Stop it! You will do no such thing!" Aramis shouted back.
"You will, you will know what it's like to lose everything you love. If you do not make a choice, we will be forced to kill them both."
Aramis looks at the older man, his eyes pleading. But the man just stares back at him coldly.
"Why are you doing this?!" Porthos yells, as he tries to get out of his bounds.
The older man turns to Porthos as he answers.
"He needs to pay his debt."
"Who are you? What debt?" Athos interrupted bravely.
The older man sighs deeply before answering.
"So he has not told you?" Not waiting for a response he continues, "Our René has not told you anything about himself? I'm surprised. I had thought he would have told his best friends, maybe you're not so close after all?"
"Told us what?" Porthos ads.
Aramis suddenly rejects. "Please, don't, stop…" He pleads, voice hoarse, as he gazes at the older man. But the man is relentless.
"You know him as Aramis, but his real name is René, René d'Herblay. And he is my son, and brother to the man next to me."
Aramis scrambles back against the wall, head low, eyes to the floor, as his father starts talking.
"René was born in a whorehouse, where I had met his mother a year before. I never knew she was with child, until I found out about it years later.
So I decided to get him out of there and raise him as my son, together with Jean overhere, he was still a boy at that time too, like René. I took him from that horrid place and gave him a home. After a while I started training him to be a marksman. And he was the best there was! But one day he screwed up and didn't kill the right person. It sent me into bankruptcy. We lost everything, our house, our clothes… and René never returned from the mission. Leaving us like that. 18 years it has been, and we've finally found him here in Paris! And now it's time for revenge, he has to know what it is like to lose everything."
"You turned me into a machine! I never asked for it!" Aramis had suddenly stood up, and found strength inside of him.
"Yes you did, you asked for it!" his father answered.
"Please, do whatever you want, but let them free! You can do what you want to me. I won't resist. Just let them go…please!"
"That is not how this works. We told you already. Choose!"
Jean cocks his pistol, still pointing at Athos' head. Athos gulps.
"I won't! I won't choose! I will not let you kill anyone!" Aramis rejects again.
"Like I said. If you don't, I will kill them both." Jean responds, a deep, unsettling grin on his face. "Now choose!"
"He will not choose!" a young and familiar voice rang behind Aramis, stepping towards the older man aiming at him with a pistol.
"D'Artagnan!" Aramis utters, as he watches how his young friend puts a pistol against his fathers head.
Jean drops his pistol almost immediately.
"Now release Porthos and Athos." D'Artagnan orders Jean, who starts untying Athos.
"D'Art at your left!" Aramis yells, as he spots the man from the bucket sneaking up on D'Artaganan.
But D'Artagnan is much too fast for him, and the man gasps as a dagger pierces his chest.
"And you," D'Artagnan continued to Aramis' father, "you untie Aramis!"
"You will not succeed." The man replies, and he holds his ground tightly. But not for long, as d'Artagnan cocks his pistol in response.
Finally the shackles are removed from his wrists. Aramis stands up, takes over d'Artagnan's pistol and keeps it aimed at his father.
"Go help untie them. I'll keep an eye on this one." He tells his brother, who reluctantly moves towards Porthos.
"Don't do anything stupid!" D'Artagnan beckons him as he unties a grumpy Porthos.
After a few moments the four of them stand together opposite of Aramis' father and brother.
"I should just shoot you now and be done with it." Aramis comments as he utters his disgust towards them.
"Aramis, don't…" Athos spoke, as he took over the pistol from Aramis' hands with some difficulty. And then turns towards the father. "Don't you ever come after him again! Or by God, I will put a bullet in your brain." He added.
And slowly they backed away from the pair. Leaving them alone in the darkness and shadows of the building they were in.
I hope you liked it so far. Please follow the story to find out about Aramis past. I will update asap.