Evening My Lovelies
Okay so this chapter is a little bit of a filler as I wanted to give D'Art a chance to recover from the conversation with Aramis before throwing him into a conversation with Athos, which will be happening tomorrow (should be good!)
Also I've just realized that there is every possibility that this story will reach 600 reviews tomorrow! I only need 11 more! *preemptive happy dance!*
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it, expect more emotional chapters coming up :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
KarenF (Guest): Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it. I was going to make it longer but I didn't finish it until gone midnight so I figured at that point it was long enough lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Its a cute image :D We've got some more emotional chapters coming up so be ready. Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Quite an appropriate song to come on when reading that chapter :D I think thick-headed is a bit of an understatement but worry not Athos is visit our pup very soon :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Glad you liked the heart-to-heart, unfortunately D'Art's not really going to accept things until Athos has spoken to him and cleared the air. We've got that conversation coming up in tomorrows chapter and providing I can write it well it should be another emotional chapter. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Haha I know, both of our boys are very stubborn, though they'll both be giving a bit today so hopefully there's some hope for our boys yet :) I absolutely love getting ideas and suggestions from reviewers so feel free to continue :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Worry not he'll realize that fairly soon :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked the heart-to-heart and don't worry Athos will be taking steps to make things right between him and D'Art fairly soon. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Hmm is it bad that I'm kinda happy that it made you cry? Worry not our pup and Athos will be having their conversation tomorrow and Athos will be trying to make things right between them. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha Our D'Arty is definitely quite the stubborn fool isn't he :) Though his stubbornness will wean a bit in tomorrows chapter when him and Athos get to have their heart-to-heart. I'm so happy that you're loving Aramis as he's definitely become a favourite of mine this story... I didn't want to jump straight into another deep conversation after finishing Aramis's one so Athos's chat will be coming tomorrow. Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha I love the idea of a tissue rating system... I'd say this chapter is one tissue, its got its emotional moments but nothing too tear jerking. Glad you liked the heart-to-heart but you're right in that D'Art and Athos need to have a serious conversation, which we'll be seeing tomorrow. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - We can put that down to D'Art's fevered mind, don't worry Athos will be trying to clear things up with him very soon. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked their chat, I was worried I wouldn't be able to get the emotion and they're subsequent reactions right. I still have plans to write a Savoy one-shot (just finding the time to actually sit down and write it thats the issue) so we'll see about adding that in when I get around to it. Athos is going to have some serious work to do in getting D'Art to believe him but he'll be taking the first steps tomorrow. Aramis probably isn't helping his recovery but our other boys are keeping an eye on him so don't worry too much. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Aramis pretty much had to approach D'Art like he was a wounded animal (which i suppose he technically is but that's beside the point). D'Art's quite withdrawn and its going to take some serious work on our other boy's part to get through to him. I'm not entirely sure where the apple bit came from but I couldn't resist adding it in when the idea came to me, the image was too cute! :D Haha Thumb circles are almost as cute as snuggly moments, one of which we might be seeing tomorrow between D'Art and Athos. I'm looking forward to writing the conversation between Athos and D'Art tomorrow so I'm hoping you're looking forward to reading it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Forty-Three: Time To Think
Over the next hour Aramis was forced to watch as D'Artagnan retreated back into himself again. The marksman had tried to explain, multiple times, that neither himself nor the other members of their quartet held any blame towards him for what happened, but it soon became apparent that his words were falling on deaf ears.
A little after noticing this the pair fell silent, Aramis hoping his words would sink in and reach the boy he considered a brother once he had had time to think about and process them. Whereas D'Artagnan was just trying to ignore the screaming pain both in his body and heart whilst sending up silent prayers that Aramis would leave.
Part of him rebelled against this thought, it was clinging desperately to the hope Aramis's words had brought him but the rest of him was firmly attached to the guilt eating away at him. Guilt that only grew with every pained wince or sharp hiss that escaped before Aramis could silence them. He didn't deserve any of the compassion the marksman was offering and he just wanted the man to leave him alone to wallow in peace.
"...A-Aramis..." murmured D'Artagnan, after noticing yet another wince of pain his brother couldn't quite hide, the third one is as many minutes if his brain was registering them correctly.
Aramis's head shot up at the sound of his name and D'Artagnan couldn't help but feel even more guilty for the strained smile the medic sent his way.
"...You should go," he said quietly, his head once again lowered so he wouldn't have to look his friend in they eye, something he couldn't do without nearly breaking down at the pain he saw contained within.
"W-What?" asked Aramis, surprised that the first words his brother had said to him in over an hour were to tell him to leave. "I'm not leaving you alone D'Art," he added sternly, though his expression softened as he added, "I can't leave you alone mon ami."
"I want you to," admitted D'Artagnan, keeping his head down so his hair covered his reaction to the flash of hurt that appeared on Aramis's face.
"Oh..."
D'Artagnan hated the tone of Aramis's voice then and desperately wished to say something to make things right, but he knew this was what had to be done. So with gritted teeth he forced his aching body to turn away from his friend, not so subtly telling him how he was done with the conversation.
Knowing his brother could be as stubborn as anything when it counted Aramis made the decision to follow his wishes and leave the room, stumbling slightly as he tried to force his exhausted body to walk and not know how much restraint it took for D'Artagnan not to beg him to come back as soon as he started walking away.
"'Mis," called Porthos softly as soon as he noticed the man approaching. Both he and Athos had wanted to stay close in case they were needed, yet far enough away that they weren't able to accidentally eavesdrop on a private, personal conversation. As such the pair had found themselves camped out in the hallway between the two rooms for the duration of Aramis's time with D'Artagnan, the pair having passed the time by playing cards and doing everything in their power to avoid thinking of what was going on in the room down from them.
Seeing the medic stumble slightly on his shaking legs Porthos wasted no time in sweeping the man into a bridal hold before moving towards the now empty room the man had been using since his injury.
"I can walk you know," grunted Aramis as he pouted up at his friend, glaring slightly at the smug grin on the man's face as he slowed his pace to accommodate Athos's injury.
"You're a 'princess' aren't ya?" teased Porthos, laughing brightly as a deep red tinge settled on his brother's cheeks. "Can't let the princess walk, 'specially not when injured."
"Ergh," groaned Aramis as he turned his head into Porthos's chest, "Remind me to kill Remy when I next see him."
"I think it's rather fitting," mused Porthos, thoroughly enjoying teasing the man. "I can think of several times you've collapsed into my arms like a swooning maiden."
"I hate you," grumbled the medic, his voice slightly muffled from being pressed against Porthos's chest.
The larger musketeer merely laughed at his brother's petulance while settling him in the bed, fussing over him while Athos grabbed one of the pain draughts the physician had left out for them. Once the medic was settled though it became apparent that the swordsman's curiosity and worry would not be held back any longer, as he all but demanded to know how the conversation between the two went.
"I'm not entirely sure I'd class that as a conversation," muttered Aramis, his heart clenching once again as he memory of his little brother turning away from him after asking him to leave played on repeat in his head.
Athos's head tilted to one side as confusion settled over his features, "You were in there for over two hours, how can that not count as a conversation?"
Aramis sighed, running his hand through his hair as he tried to ignore the pain from his wound whilst also praying that the pain draught kicked in fast. "A conversation usually involves two or more people talking… I think I got about ten words from him the entire time I was there."
Porthos muttered a curse under his breath, his head turning to look over his shoulder at the door, temptation to go back to his baby brother's room burning strongly inside him. "How bad is he 'Mis… honestly?" he asked quietly, despite being almost convinced he didn't want to know the answer.
"Bad," admitted the medic, hating the look of pain that one word created in his brothers' eyes. "I thought I was getting through to him for a while there but…"
Athos shifted in his seat, his eyes continuously flickering over to the door as he too tried to ignore the urge to race to D'Artagnan's side. "But?" he asked curiously, his eyes narrowing as he noticed how uncomfortable Aramis had suddenly become.
"Aramis?"
"He called me a liar," whispered Aramis, a strained bitter laugh escaping him as soon as the words left his mouth. "One of the only things he said to me the entire time I was there and he called me a liar…"
Both Porthos and Athos shared a concerned look, that didn't sound like D'Artagnan.
"What did he think you were lying about?" asked Porthos, curious both as to what he had said to set the boy off but also what the pair had talked about during their time in the room.
Aramis looked uncomfortable again although this time there was a slight glassiness to his eyes that spoke of tears, something that deeply worried his brothers.
"I… I told him we were with him whether he liked it or not, that we did not hate him."
Porthos frowned, "Surely he knows that's the truth, we wouldn't have rescued him if we didn't care. Why does he think you're lying about that?"
"Ask Athos," snapped Aramis as he blinked back tears, they would do none of them any good right now and he was too angry to let them fall, memories of the pain in D'Artagnan's voice as he sobbed against his chest to powerful to ignore.
"Me?" blinked the swordsman, though there was a flicker of guilt in his eyes that betrayed the man's suspicions as to what had happened.
"Your voice carries mon ami," stated Aramis through gritted teeth. "He heard you."
"What are you talking about 'Mis?" asked Porthos
"He heard Athos when we were fighting and now he thinks we hate him!"
Athos blinked, the guilt he had been battling was now rising to new heights as he took in what Aramis was saying. At the time of their argument the swordsman had cared little about who heard them as he was too focused on trying to get Aramis to see reason and to understand where he was coming from, but then ever since entering D'Artagnan's room earlier he had been praying that the Gascon hadn't heard anything as it would only make his job regarding apologizing to the boy that much harder.
"I'll talk to him… Explain and apologize," he stated and was about to get out of his chair when Aramis's hand latched onto his arm, speaking only when he noticed the quizzical look Athos was sending him.
"He needs time Athos," said Aramis softly, his earlier anger gone at the sight of the pure guilt and shame in Athos's eyes. "I gave him some things to think about but I think he needs some time to take it all in before he's ready for another visitor."
With a frustrated sigh Athos nodded and sunk back into his chair, all three men unaware that their little brother was already receiving another visitor.
"Good to see Antoine didn't kill you," mused a voice, startling D'Artagnan from his darkening thoughts, though the appearance of the man now sitting on the open windowsill did little to improve his move.
"W-What are you doing here?" croaked D'Artagnan, though he was too tired and drained to put any real emotion into his words.
The man shrugged, "After how worried your friends got when I told them who you were with I was curious as to what condition they'd find you in."
Despite not wanting to say it the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them, "T-They were worried about me?"
Remy blinked, surprised by the surprise in the young man's voice. "From what I've gathered that's a common reaction for you lot when one of you is in trouble… Aramis was about to sprint after you, wound and all, when I gave him the information and the grouchy one? I don't think he lowered his weapon the entire time we were talking, though I'm surprised he didn't break something with how tightly he was gripping the hilt of his blade when I mentioned Antoine's name."
As D'Artagnan listened to Remy explain just how all three brothers had reacted to the news of him being with his uncle, Aramis's words about them not hating him were playing on a loop inside his head.
He didn't want to believe them, his brothers had every single right to hate him and to leave him alone… he didn't deserve their worry…
But there was a part of him that wanted it, badly. He wanted to believe what Aramis had said, that Athos's words had been driven by fear and concern, not hate and anger. It wouldn't have been the first time Athos had reacted in such a way and D'Artagnan hated that that fact helped grow the small flicker of hope he had inside him.
"Tha-That still doesn't explain why you're here," stated D'Artagnan, wanting to move passed the conversation that was causing him such internal turmoil.
Remy's head tilted to one side, "I told you, I was curious… Though now that I've seen you I had best be going. Your grouchy friend only let me off last time because I had information on your whereabouts… I have no desire to test my luck a second time."
Without saying another word or waiting for a response Remy slipped back out of the window, escaping into the city while D'Artagnan's focus was elsewhere.
"I'm going," stated Athos some time later once Aramis had drifted off into a medicine-aided sleep.
"You sure?" asked Porthos, worry and concern clear in his voice. "'Mis said to let him have some time…"
"And I have," retorted the swordsman as he stood; glaring at the crutch he was forced to use as he place it under his arm. "The longer I wait the more his mind focuses on the negative. I wont leave him thinking I hate him any longer!" and with that the musketeer all but stormed out of the room, not noticing the smug smirk on Porthos's face as he left.
Once he was at the door to D'Artagnan's room however Athos felt the confidence he had in his ability to make the younger man see the truth fade and it was only the determination he had to make things right again that moved him to open the door, not even bothering to knock.