Evening My Lovelies!
We're finally getting to some proper whumpage now yay!
Also I've realized that the general response to last nights chapter was to simply facepalm at D'Arts actions lol XD
Even better than that is the fact that we're almost at 100 reviews! ALREADY! You guys are totally awesome!
Notes On Reviews:
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - In D'Arts defense he's not been there long enough to have Athos hammer in that head over heart lesson properly (though our 'Thos will be making sure it sinks in by the end of this story I think) There's definitely some pain coming D'Arts way. Enjoy the new chapter! x
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - They're a bit too worried to be angry but no doubt that'll come later :) Oh and we'll probably be needing hate-o-meter for Marcel's actions today :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - We're learning a bit more as to how all this is related to Marsac today. D'Art is trying to help... not doing an overall good job of it but his heart's in the right place. Enjoy the new chapter! x
romirola: Thanks for the review - We're starting the whumpage today :D Glad you're liking it so far. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I know, I'm so mean with the cliffhangers :) There's not really one today though so thats a good thing. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Deana: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it, D'Arts in for some more pain today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - D'Arts a quick study in everything but that lesson unfortunately, Athos will be stressing it again later in this story. Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Hmmm thats very true. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MoonlightTaylor (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you think so :) I'm always worried they might come across out of character, especially this story as they havent known each other as long and have the bond they gain so it's always good to hear they're in character :D We'll be finding out what Marcel wants today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the reviews - We'll be finding out what Marcel wants today, as for who Viv is... we've got one more chapter till we learn who she is but yeah she's still alive. You'll be finding out D'Arts fate straight away today, I wont keep you waiting too long. It's quite interesting you've asked about me writing a vadim fic as the idea has been growing lately, especially as I keep referencing it in this story, so absolutely I will definitely write it :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Zoe (Guest): Thanks for the review - D'Arts really not in any condition to be tackling a guy, but hey when has that stopped him before :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - I could never make you all wait too long for my updates, mainly as it counteracts my cliffhangers lol Gotta love D'Art getting himself in stressful situations and not quite thinking things through. Really glad you're liking the story so far, hopefully you'll continue to do so now the whumpage has started :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the reviews - You've caught up! :D I do so enjoy leaving you all guessing. I get the feeling I should be concerned about my state of mind considering how much I enjoy writing all the whumpage and torture scenes lol but yeah we've got some torture/whumpage moments on the way :D And yeah, you'd think by now he would have learnt that but fortunately for my evil mind he has not so I still get to write my evil whumpage moments :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - We get another instant of unconscious D'Art here as well, plus an almost snuggly moment (I can't quite decide as to whether it counts as a snuggly one or not) Glad you liked the chloroform bit, I wanted to do something I havent done before (which i dont think is much lol) Plus he's already been knocked out once, probably not good to have him knocked out again so soon. I love writing Athos's protective moments, especially as it's still early on in their relationship, though I kinda feel he was always fond of the pup, it just became easier to show it the longer he was with them. Oh his recklessness is definitely going to cost him mwhahaha :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Eight: Consequences Of Reckless Actions
The three musketeers were adamant that they would remember the sickening screams of their newest brother for quite some time after the boy's well meaning attempt to overpower their captor went horribly wrong.
In retrospect the plan had been a good one, as far as the Gascon had been able to tell no one had noticed him awake and free until he was running at the turned back of Marcel.
Unfortunately Marcel had been a solider and as such had many years of experience over his young attacker, allowing him to grab his wrist and twist it behind the boy's back with such speed and force that it ended up dislocating the young man's shoulder.
D'Artagnan screamed, his eyes scrunched in pain as he desperately tried to get away from the vice like grip on his arm without jarring the injured joint too badly.
"D'ARTAGNAN!" cried the three musketeers as one, their eyes wide with horror and worry.
"You're ten years to early to get the jump on me kid," growled Marcel, his mouth low towards D'Artagnan's ear so only the Gascon could hear him.
"I'll ask again Spaniard," said Marcel, his voice loud enough now to catch all of the room's occupant's attention though his focus was on Aramis and his grip on D'Artagnan remained crushingly strong. "What proof did Marsac have or find about Savoy that brought him back to Paris?"
When Aramis refused to answer, his eyes wide with guilt and refusing to leave the pale face of his new little brother, Marcel sighed. "Have it your way then," and with a precision that could only come from experience Marcel sharply twisted D'Artagnan's arm and before long the room was filled with the sickening snap of bone followed by D'Artagnan's harsh and heart-breaking cries.
"Te voy a matar a este hijo de puta!" (I'll kill you for this you son of a bitch!)
Once he was sure the boy wasn't about to pass out from the pain of his injuries Marcel released his bruising grip on the boy and allowed him to crumple to the floor, a small whimper of pain escaping him as he clutched his now useless arm to his chest.
Turning back to the medic he met the man's glare with one of his own. "I warned you things would get painful if you continued to evade my questions. I only wonder how many people you supposedly care about will have to be hurt before you stop playing games."
At his words Aramis's eyes once again filled with guilt, as they took in the shaking form of D'Artagnan who sat crumpled near his feet. The soldier in him wanted to give Marcel nothing whilst the medic and older brother part of him wanted to do whatever it took to ensure that no more pain came to his brothers.
Seeing this war going on behind the marksman's eyes Marcel said, "I'll give you a couple of hours to debate your options, but remember, continue to give me nothing and it will be they who pay for your silence."
"Why do you care about Savoy anyway!" screamed Aramis as his bloodied wrists once again fought against the chains.
"I care," snarled Marcel, a terrifying look of anger crossing his face, "because that 'training mission' cost me my brother-in-law. My nephew lost his father and my baby sister became a widow who sank so far in her grief she could no longer continue living, leaving her then two-year-old son an orphan. Savoy destroyed my family and I will do whatever it takes to find whoever was responsible and gut them like the murderous pigs they are!"
Once the outburst was over Marcel all but stormed out of the room and within seconds all the emotionless masks fell from the musketeers' faces, each of them now looking upon their newest member with mixes of guilt, sympathy, anger and concern.
Athos broke the silence first, "You with us D'Artagnan?"
D'Artagnan grunted in pain but lifted his head to look his mentor in the eye, forcing a rather tight looking smile onto his face the boy responded by saying, "I… don't suppose this is one of the times you'd believe me if I said I'm fine?"
Porthos who had been the only other one present when they had discussed this earlier chuckled lightly, his laughter only serving to confuse the other two musketeers further. "Thought I told ya we never believe those anymore," he teased lightly though the concern and worry were still brewing in his eyes.
D'Artagnan released a short breathy chuckle, only stopping when a stab of pain shot through him. "Worth a shot," he shrugged, "I-In that case… I'm really not fine at all."
"Glad you're being honest for once whelp."
"S-Sorry it failed," D'Artagnan grunted as he tried to move into a more comfortable position without jarring his arm too much, "Really thought I had the jump on him then."
"It was a good idea," nodded Athos as he silently took in the boy's expression to gauge how much pain the boy was actually in.
"Why are you apologizing?" Aramis whispered brokenly, interrupting any other words of comfort that might have been coming from the other two men.
"What?" sighed D'Artagnan tiredly, clearly the pain was beginning to affect him a bit more now.
"This is my fault. How are you not angry and screaming right now?"
"I think," stated Athos, pulling both men out of what promised to be quite the lengthy and awkward conversation, "the more pressing issue is to tend to his arm before it gets worse."
Athos felt slightly guilty for his words when he noticed the instant paling the young Gascon did at the mere mention of it getting worse.
"And how do you propose we do that?" snapped Aramis, guilt and grief making his words much sharper then he had intended.
Ignoring the medic's tone Athos turned his attention back to D'Artagnan who was staring at him as if awaiting instruction. "Can you move?" he asked gently, aware that what he was about to ask him to do would cause the boy a great deal of pain and most likely cause him to pass out.
"Probably not fast," admitted D'Artagnan with a slight smile that came out as more of a grimace, "what do you need me to do?"
Smiling softly at the boy's strength of will Athos began his instruction. "The position that Aramis is chained in means he'll be of little physical help for this but both me and Porthos have slightly more mobility in our arms so if you move to one of us we can see about getting that shoulder back into place."
"Oh joy," sighed D'Artagnan sarcastically before grunting in pain as he forced himself to stand, his good arm keeping his broken one tight against his chest. After a few minutes of quite colourful under-the-breath swearing D'Artagnan was situated in front of Athos with a slightly fearful yet completely determined look on his face.
"I wont lie to you," said Athos softly as he mentally assessed the best way to set the arm, "This is really going to hurt."
"Figured as much," grunted D'Artagnan through gritted teeth, though his fear was all too clear in his eyes for Athos to miss.
Placing a gentle hand on the boy's hair, startling him slightly, Athos offered him the most reassuring look he could muster before moving his hands to the Gascon's arm. "If you need to pass out, do it, no one will think any less of you."
Unable to talk through the nervousness that came from anticipating the pain D'Artagnan squeezed his eyes shut and gave one sharp nod in response.
Refusing to wait any longer Athos quickly forced the dislocated joint back into its socket before moving quickly to catch D'Artagnan who, true to expectations, had passed out, the pain of all of his injuries finally becoming too much for him. Thankfully Athos's chain gave the musketeer a fair amount of mobility so he was able to situate the boy so he was lying with his head resting in the musketeer's lap, an act that brought soft smiles to the faces of the room's other occupants, despite the situation.
"Aint there anything we can do bout the bone?" Porthos asked sadly as he took in the lines of pain on D'Artagnan's face that were still prominent despite being unconscious.
Aramis sighed, "Not without something to splint it with or without something to make a sling out of. We'll just have to hope we can get out of here before too long. I'm the reason that arm's broken anyway I really don't want to have to be the one to re-break it."
"We need a plan," Athos stated, his fingers absent-mindedly running their way through D'Artagnan's hair in such a soothing, familial way that both Aramis and Porthos would have questioned it if it didn't seem to be helping both men relax as well.
"Well I can't give him what he wants," Aramis sighed. "You heard what he wants to do to those responsible and while there are some involved I'd gladly let him have, there's no way to do that without giving up those I can't see harmed."
Neither man missed the obvious anger in their friend's voice as he spoke of the massacre though both were pleased to know that he didn't hold their Captain's actions against him, at least not enough to throw him to the wolves.
"Lie," Porthos stated drawing the attention of the group to him, a small smirk growing on his face had both musketeers confused and intrigued. "Say you're willing to give him the proof but that you have to be the one to get it."
"Why would he go for that?"
Athos, who had cottoned on to Porthos's idea smirked, "Where is one of only places where you can go freely but Marcel would be stopped?"
It took a couple of moments for the answer to come to Aramis who was still being overpowered by his grief and guilt but when it did he answered his brothers' smirks with one of his own. "The garrison."