Aramis glanced behind him, a feeling of anxiety creeping up as D'artagnan babbled on next to him. "That's why i think I'm in love with constance." D'artagnan stated, turning back to Aramis. "So what do I do?"
"You tell her you love her pup." aramis said, swinging an arm over D'artagnan shoulder as he resolutely ignored the feeling in the pit of his stomach that said someone was following him.
"But what if she says she doesn't love me."
"Then she will be an idiot of the highest order." Aramis finished with all the flourish a 12 year could muster.
"So your advise is ask her out." D'artagnan said, a frown on his face.
"Exactly." Aramis replied.
"Athos said I was too young to date and Porthos laughed." Aramis couldn't help the smirk that came to his lips upon hearing that.
"Our dear older brothers lack the comprehension of a romantic should little brother." aramis said, getting a rolling the eyes from D'artagnan.
"Because you know exactly what your doing. You're only a couple of years older than me."
"With age comes experience. Imagine what I'll be like when I'm athos' age." aramis said with a wink as a bang came from behind them. Aramis jumped, earning him a startled look from D'artagnan as the older boy swung around d to find a cat just,ping on a bin.
"What's wrong?" mdartagnan asked, never having taken Aramis as one to startle easily.
"Nothing." aramis said, waving off his younger brothers concerns. "Just realised I forgot something, meet you at the house."
"Athos will shout." D'artagnan said, reminding Aramis of athis' strange and annoying wish that their younger brother not walk home on his own.
"Indies Athos need to find out." D'artagnan rolled his eyes, sent one last worried glance at Aramis before nodding and leaving Aramis alone in the street.
As soon as he was sure D'artagnan was gone, Aramis walked to where the cat had jumped out from and glanced behind the bin. He sighed in relief when he found no one there. Maybe he was wrong, maybe no one was following him. Aramis was just about to run and catch D'artagnan up when a hand came down on his shoulder, causing the 12 year to will around.
"Marsac?" Aramis breathed upon coming face to face with the man holding him.
"Hello Aramis." Marsac said, going to ruffle the youngers hair but Aramis dodged him, still looking at the man in wide-eyed disbelief. Marsac was 7 years older the Aramis and the last time he'd seen the man was 3 years ago, before he'd gone to the home, during their parents funeral. "It's good to see you little brother." Marsac grinned and Aramis found his fists clenching before he could register it. He decked the older boy hard enough to send Marsac sprawling to th ground and Aramis knew Porthos would be proud of that hit.
Without another word, Aramis turned to leave but Marsac stopped him but saying, "Wait, Aramis please. Just let me explain." aramis turned around again, looking at his brother properly. Marsac was scruffy looking than the last time Aramis had seen him, with a half-moon beard long hair and clothes that looked like they hadn't been washed in weeks.
"You don't have the right." aramis growled, glaring at his brother. "You abandoned me the minute after we buried mum and dad. You haven't even called me since then. Where the he'll have you been Marsac?" Aramis shouted the last bit.
"I'm sorry 'mis,but I was in a bad place and I didn't know what to do. I just had to get away for a while."
"A while. it's been over 3 years. I was 9 Marsac. He I thought I'd lost you as well as mama and papa." Aramis said, unconsciously going back to the names he'd called his parents. "I thought you were dead." the last was said, quieter, Aramis having never admitted it to anyone before. But he had thought it, because it was the only way his younger self could comprehend Marsac never coming back.
"I'm sorry but I'm here now." Marsac grabbed Aramis' arm, who pulled away angrily.
"but I don't need you anymore so go away."
"Aramis, please." Marsac began but Aramis ignored him, instead running down the street, refusing to hear Marsac shouting behind him.
...
"I'm gonna kill him." Athos said when D'artagnan walked into their room alone. "Where is he?"
"He said he forgot something." D'artagnan said, a little guilty he was getting Aramis into trouble. "Anyway, I can walk myself home." Athos ignored him as Porthos walked into the room.
"He's probably hooking up with some girl." athis growled as Porthos lifted one eyebrow in question.
"No, he isn't." logically, D'artagnan knew he couldn't know that but hed been in the street when Aramis had said to go ahead. "He seemed off." D'artagnan said, frowning. He'd been surprised when Aramis had said to go ahead, even more so when his older brother kept looking behind him as if he thought someone was following.
"Off how?" Porthos asked. Whenever something was wrong with Aramis, Porthos would immediately demand to know details, just like Athos was with D'artagnan.
"jumpy. He kept looking behind him and I don't think he was really listening to me. A cat made a bang behind us and Aramis practically jumped 10 feet." D'artagnan wanted Athos and Porthos to reassure him but the look they gave eachother didn't reassure him in the slightest.
"Where did he go?" D'artagnan shrugged in answer to athos' question.
"I think I might." Porthos said, grabbing his shoes as athos did the same. D'artagnan wanted to ask what was wrong but hensaw Porthos and Athos weren't about to pause and explain so he instead grabbed his own coat and followed them out of the room.
...
Aramis' mama had always brought him to this church whenever they stayed in Paris. She said she liked it better than the note dame or any of the other churches because it was simple and it reminded her of the church back home in Spain. Aramis agreed with her. He always liked the peace and quiet and the way the priests all knew everyone by name. It was more personal somehow.
Whenever he was upset, or when he was missing his mama he came here. He would sit in one of the pews, clutching the small cross necklace that his mama had always worn around her neck. None of the priests minded, sometimes they'd come over with coffee or busicuits but mostly they left Aramis in peace until either he left or someone came to find him.
"Over there." he heard someone say so he wasn't surprised when Porthos, Athos and D'artagnan climbed into the pew next to him.
"Haven't been here in a while." Porthos stated, looking around the place.
"Needed to think." Aramis said, refusing to meet his brothers eyes. He had been thinking about Marsac about how his older brother used to be always there for him and how he couldn't help but miss him even after he'd left.
"you going to tell us what's wrong or..." Porthos trailed off, unsure how to continue.
"I saw Marsac." aramis ignored the way Porthos' fists clenched and Athos stiffened at his side as he said this.
"You need a minute." Athos asked instead and when Aramis nodded, he was thankful when the three boys he called brothers got up and left him be.
...?..
"Who's Marsac?" D'artagnan asked as Porthos paced back and forth outside the church. The older boy was fuming, angry that Marsac had come anywhere near Aramis after what had happened.
"Marsac is Aramis' older brother." Athos said, calmly though Porthos knew the older boy was as mad as he was. When Aramis had come to the home, still traumatised over the death of his parents and disappearance of his brother Porthos and Athos had worked hard to bring him out of she'll. Even now, the ounger of would sometimes crawl back into it but it happened so little now, Porthos and Athos could let Aramis have some quiet time as they called it. Except if Marsac was back god knows how Aramis would react to it.
"I didn't know Aramis had a brother." D'artagnan said.
"Marsac is the piece of shit that disappeared when their parents died." Porthos growled.
"Why?" D'artagnan asked, obviously shocked that someone's family, especially a brother, wouldn't try to be there.
"No idea, all we know is after the funeral Aramis never saw his brother again." Athos replied.
"How did aramis' parents die?" D'artagnan asked. It was rare D'artagnan heard anything about Aramis' life before them. Porthos would talk about certain childhood friend, child homes he'd been in, families he'd liked. He'll, even Athos would sometimes give storied about himself and his little brother Thomas; but Aramis kept his past hidden.
"They were killed. Burglary gone wrong, that's what the police said. Aramis was at home found them dead." Porthos said, grugfly. "Doesn't talk about it, only know that much 'cause of the nightmares." D'artagnan wanted to ask what nightmares but at that moment Aramis walked out, a fake smile plastered on his face.
"So, what's for tea I'm starving." he joked, clapping Porthos on the shoulder who grunted. D'artagnan wanted to say something, wanted to ask Aramis why he wasn't a complete mess but Athos stopped him with a look.
"Aramis copes in his own way. We all do." the older said as they let Aramis and Porthos walk ahead. "Don't push him, it won't help anyone."
"What about Marsac?" D'artagnan asked, getting a frown from Athos.
"We find out what he wants and we keep him away from Aramis." he said it like it was the most simple thing in the world, but D'artagnan wondered if it was really that simple.
Right, a little morbid but I find I can't actually write focus that arent so...please don't hate me.
Anyway, why do you think Marsac back and as always please review and thanks for reading :-)