Athos inhales softly, giving himself over to the embrace with a slight shudder, eyes slipping shut. He had given the rest of himself over to these two men years ago, that is the truth of the matter - in fits and starts then, too, often without even realizing it, until they were les inseparables, never seen apart. In the end, when he had thought, and wondered, and stared sightlessly at the ceiling on sleepless nights, he had realized what a small thing this was compared to all of that heart and trust. Small, but wondrous.

Tipping his head to rest against Aramis’, he slides his hand down Porthos’ arm to grip his elbow, more steadied and certain than he has felt in a long time.