Evening My Lovelies
So at the same time we've reached chapter 70 we've also reached over 50k views!
Notes On Review:
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm from the UK so we don't have thanksgiving here but thank you for the well wishes regardless and the same to you :) D'Art's humor was a nice thing to bring back, even more so the way his brothers responded to it. We've got a little bit more before D'Arts plan gets put into motion but I'm really looking forward to when get there. Enjoy the new chapter! x
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - They're cute to write :D We've got a little bit before we get to D'Art's plan but it'll be happening soon. Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Corbett and Corinne are adorable to write so I'm glad you seem to be enjoying reading them. As for D'Art's miracle... it may or may not happen, we'll have to wait a few more chapters before we see that. Enjoy the new chapter! x
KarenF (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm really happy you're liking so far. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Our boys are not going to be happy about the plan but there's not going to be any talking him out of it I'm afraid. Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Our boys definitely suspect something is going on but D'Art's being cagey. Corinne and Corbett are just plain adorable and I'm loving writing them :D We'll be seeing D'Art's plan in a chapter or two's time. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Athos is going to be pissed regardless but we've got a little bit more before D'Art puts his plan in action. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha Don't worry we'll be seeing D'Art's plan before too long, with what I've got planned I'm thinking you'll enjoy it. D'Art's stubbornness is definitely worse than bandits lol :) Enjoy then new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Yep cute young love that's a lot of fun to write :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Couldn't resist D'Art teasing them :D I wasn't going to have D'Art tell anyone but I felt he needed to open up to someone. Our boys definitely aren't going to be pleased when they learn the truth. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - We'll see D'Art's plan being put into action soon. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - I'm glad you liked it, it gave me so much trouble to write so you have no idea how much relief your words gave me :D D'Art may not have visibly grieved yet but he definitely needed the time alone with his cousin. D'Art being all big-brotherly with Corinne was so great to write and I love their relationship. I was tempted to have D'Art keep the whole thing with his arm to himself but I figured he needed to open up to someone lest her accidentally tell his brothers. The rest of our boys aren't going to be happy when they learn what D'Art's planning I can promise you that :) I loved bringing D'Art's happy side back by having him tease Corinne, and our boy's reaction to it was adorably cute to include as well :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Seventy: Brothers
"Come on D'Art," pleaded a slightly annoyed and yet equally desperate sounding voice, his request making the Gascon's inside squirm with guilt as he shook his head, instinctively cradling the injured limb closer to him.
"It's already been looked at Aramis, I'd rather not go through that more than I have to."
Aramis frowned, torn between wanting to check how the burn was healing and hating the idea of causing his baby brother extra pain.
The burn itself had healed enough that it no longer needed constant wrapping and covering, though it concerned and saddened the three senior members of the inseparables that D'Artagnan had taken to wearing long sleeved tunics and jackets all the time now so he would not have to look at the disfigured skin that now covered his sword arm.
What was worrying the men more however, was the fact that D'Artagnan had flat out refused to let his arm be examined by anyone since Reynard last checked it after the whole Marshall incident almost over a week ago.
Aramis had tried of course, the marksman had been practically relentless with his pleas and requests, yet D'Artagnan had turned him down and denied him each and every single time.
"Just let him look D'Artagnan," sighed Athos, his unbroken hand moving to lay over his eyes as he tried not to get frustrated with the medic's persistence.
As D'Artagnan's wounds were older than anything either musketeer had, the boy was further on in his recovery then they were and as such had been allowed, rather begrudgingly, to leave the infirmary, whereas both Athos and Aramis still had to remain there for a few more days at least.
This had given D'Artagnan the advantage over Aramis's hounding and as such the inseparables had become used to seeing D'Artagnan simply getting up and walking out of the room whenever Aramis requested one time too many.
This was however, the first time Athos had put his own voice to the matter and the demand that lay beneath his words was not missed by any of them and had hope flaring in both Aramis and Porthos's chests, both men knowing how loyal D'Artagnan was to Athos.
"No," stated D'Artagnan with an air of finality in his voice before he rose to his feet and all but stormed out of the room, leaving three surprised men in his wake.
"Well…" breathed Porthos, a mix of worry and surprise on his face as he tried to absorb the fact that D'Artagnan had just refused a request from Athos.
"He was well within his rights to refuse," said Athos dismissively, though his eyes never left the now open door their youngest had just left from.
"Yeah… but… It's you 'Thos!"
"My words can't make D'Artagnan do something he doesn't wish to do," refuted Athos, though there was a ghost of a smile that flickered across his face. "He is his own man after all."
Aramis snorted, a teasing glint appearing in his eyes as he turned his head to look at the swordsman. "Really Athos? What about the other month on that mission where D'Artagnan wanted to scale that ridiculously high wall to get into our target's estate? Both Porthos and myself shot the idea down but he still persisted and even began climbing until you stepped in and told him no."
Once again a faint smile flashed across Athos's face at the memory of the look D'Artagnan had sent him when he had dismissed the younger man's hair-brained scheme.
"Maybe we should take a different approach?" suggested Porthos. "Something's going on and we all know how the whelp's mind gets when he thinks he has to deal with something alone."
Grim looks settled on both the other musketeer's faces as they nodded.
"Let's give him some time and then try talking to him again, maybe we can make him see why we want to examine his arm."
"Are you sure about this Charlie?" asked Maria softly as she took his good hand in her own.
During the week that followed Antoine's execution the older woman had not left her infirmary bed due to the pain of her healing wound, however both D'Artagnan and Corinne visited enough that the older woman never felt alone.
On one of Corinne's last visits however she had hinted at some trouble D'Artagnan was having, not telling her the whole story but enough that Maria would press the Gascon for it when she next saw him, which was what she was in the process of doing.
"I don't see any other option mémé," sighed D'Artagnan as he all but glared at his sword arm, hating that in trying to do the right thing he had all but destroyed his own life.
"You need to speak to your friends," instructed Maria sternly, hating the pain this decision and plan was putting on the boy she considered a grandson.
D'Artagnan shook his head, "I don't want to worry them. There's nothing they can do about it… it's my own mess to deal with."
Maria sighed, pushing herself up a bit with a small wince. When she was able to she cupped the younger man's face in her hands, lightly stroking each of his cheeks with her thumbs as she did so.
"Oh my boy… Do you truly not see the worry your current attitude is causing them?"
D'Artagnan blinked in surprise and was about to open his mouth to speak with Maria continued, effectively cutting him off before he had even begun.
"If you truly decide to go through with this then I will not stop you but your friends… they are good people and they deserve better than you pushing them away and you know it."
D'Artagnan sat in silence for a moment, thought whirling around in his head… He had never realized he might be causing his brothers pain with his constant refusals and now he knew he was causing it, it made the guilt in his gut grow to near overwhelming standards.
Staring… that seemed to be all he was doing of late and Favier couldn't help but sigh. He had hoped that there would be some sort of improvement in Issac's condition by now, that he might be awake and tormenting him with those bad jokes he seemed to create whenever the two were on missions together.
It was not all bad, he supposed. Issac was definitely healing and both doctors were now significantly more confident in the unconscious man's chances of making a complete and full recovery without losing his leg and while that had brought the whole regiment no small amount of joy, the man himself was still unconscious, something Favier hated very much.
"Please Is," he whispered, his voice full of sorrow as he forehead rested against Issac's bandaged covered hand. "Please wake up…"
He had no idea how many times he had repeated that request over the last week or so but it got harder to ask each time it got no response, so much so that he had started to imagine what it would be like for Issac to respond.
"…Fav?" croaked a tired voice. God how worried am I that I've started hearing his voice in my head, sighed Favier as he forced himself to sit up and stretch out his aching back muscles.
...Only then to have the fingers of Issac's hand tighten their grip on his hand.
It was some time later that saw D'Artagnan returning to the room currently housing his three brothers.
Initially he had intended to go straight there after speaking to Maria, but the words she spoke to him had caused his thoughts to go haywire and he knew he could not see his brothers until he had made sense of them, least he let something slip he would rather remain secret.
So, instead of going to them he had found himself a secluded spot in the courtyard where he could watch the men train without being spotted himself. It was a cruel punishment he was forcing upon himself but he found himself unable to tear his eyes away, his whole body aching to get up and fight despite his inability to do so.
At one point he had finally given in and moved to pull his blade from its sheathe, intending to simply work though the most basic of maneuvers, only to nearly cry in frustration and pain when he couldn't get a secure enough grip on the hilt to swing it without dropping the blade.
This had confirmed the doctor's words to him and served to strengthen his resolve to go through with his plans… but Maria was right. If he was going to do this then he wouldn't… couldn't do so on bad terms with his brothers.
"D'Artagnan!" exclaimed Aramis joyfully when he spotted the boy entering the room. His joy faded slightly at the look on his brother's face and without saying a word he gestured for the young man to join him.
"What's going on D'Artagnan?" he asked, fully aware the rest of their brothers were now watching them
"…I'm sorry," whispered the Gascon, his voice thick with emotion as he tried to stop himself from braking down and telling them exactly what was going on with his arm and what he was planning.
Porthos smiled fondly at the boy as he moved to ruffle his hair. "Ain't got nothing to say sorry for whelp. We all know 'Mis can be demanding when he wants to be."
"Hey!" exclaimed Aramis, huffing dramatically as he glared at the larger man, making Porthos chuckle at his antics.
"But I didn't explain," sighed D'Artagnan, knowing he would have to give them something if he ever wanted Aramis to stop asking about his arm… He knew it was only a matter of time before the medic forced him to let him examine it and them everything would come to light.
"So explain now," said Athos softly as he moved from his bed to the chair next to D'Artagnan, meaning the three men were now surrounding him, offering him both comfort and no escape.
"I don't want you to check it because then I'll know," he admitted quietly, not looking any of his brothers in the eye.
"…Okay," drawled Aramis, "Because that makes sense."
Chuckling somewhat bitterly D'Artagnan continued. "If you don't check it then there's still the hope it'll heal properly and I'll eventually be able to return to duty – "
"Of course you will," interrupted Porthos, sounding almost offended that the Gascon would think otherwise.
"But if you check it," continued D'Artagnan as he ignored Porthos's words. "…If you check it and it's not healing…I don't know how I'd handle that."