December Desolation Chapter 8
A/N: Chapter 8 everyone, enjoy! A little bit of Athos whump this time :D
Athos slumped against the closed door at his back, palms flat against the wood and head hanging miserably. Shame coursed through his body in overwhelming waves as the image of his beloved brother flinching from his touch played itself on repeat behind his eyelids. Tears began to prickle at the corners of his eyes, Aramis' words filtering through the oak and piercing his heart like a gunshot knowing that this was his fault.
The sound of a throat being cleared snapped him from his self reproach as his head jerked up in shock, hair flying chaotically around his face.
"Captain" he breathed in surprise, Treville having reached the top of the staircase and cocking his hip to lean against the balustrade next to him.
"Athos" Treville responded in kind "what are you doing out here?"
"Aramis is... Aramis is awake" Athos smiled tremulously, meeting his Captains eyes rather bashfully, seeming to be veritably ashamed of his show of emotions.
"Well that is good news" Treville smiled, raking his eyes subtly across his lieutenants trembling form, concern flaring within him as the usually stoic mans' mask faltered.
"It is indeed, you must excuse me Captain I have much business to attend to" he nodded stiffly to his Captain and made to move past him, stopped in his tracks by a sudden movement as Treville placed a hand on his breast.
Wordlessly Treville altered his grip, wrapping one hand around the other mans bicep and steering him gently into his office, pressing him down into a chair and dragging his own over to sit with knees almost touching. Resting his hands lightly upon Athos' knees he gazed softly at him.
"Athos, talk to me"
The younger man turned away, shifting slightly in discomfort "I have nothing to say Captain, and I really must be going" he made an aborted attempt to rise, slowly sinking back in the face of his Captains' threatening glare.
"He couldn't even bare for me to touch him" he whispered in anguish, covering his face with his hands in despair "and I can't even blame him for it"
"No you can't" Treville reiterated harshly his own anger at his subordinate showing through, his face softened however and he continued "but nor can you blame yourself entirely Athos"
Athos' raised his head and stared in disbelief at his Captain "how can I not? If I had not been so... so..." he growled angrily and fisted his hands in his hair, aggravated with his inability to formulate the words he had been utilising for so many years.
"Athos" Treville chided gently, pulling his hands away from harming himself and grasping them between one of his own, raising the other to cup his face "I know you, I know what kind of a man you are. It is inconceivable that you would have neglected to care for Aramis had you known the extent or indeed the truth of his condition. Therefore I can only conclude that you were similarly incapacitated in the mind at this time."
Athos laughed mirthlessly in the face of his Captains' measured words "you do know me too well indeed Captain, and as you well know I am not what one would call a model human being."
"You are too harsh on yourself Athos, you are a good man, one of the best I know. Give Aramis time, explain to him why it was you treated him so harshly and I have no doubt that he will understand and forgive you."
"You do not understand Captain" he cried, tears beginning to spill from his eyes "for he has already forgiven us! But he cannot begin to trust us and that is my fault! There is nought that I can do to fix that" he dissolved into sobs the loss of his brother so reminiscent of the death of another that his fragile psyche could no longer stand the thought of it.
Treville gathered the overwrought man into his arms, seeking to provide comfort to the most steadfast man he knew, another of his precious sons falling apart at the seams.
A/N: Sorry this is all I have time for at the moment with school having started up again! Hopefully the next chapter will be longer and I hope you enjoy the glimpse into Athos state of mind! As usual please let me know what you think and if you have any ideas for me, let me know :D
