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[somepoorsoul]

Though he has spent much of the last week imagining Aramis and Porthos’ return - in anticipation, and joy, and a bit of fear - now that he knows the moment draws near, he finds himself teeming with uncertainties. There are things he must say - now, before the opportunity slips through his fingers forever, and all he has left is the memory of those moments in the stables, the press of lips against his and hands blissfully burning his skin. Athos still does not trust himself, and perhaps he never will, but he trusts his friends, more than he has trusted anyone. And so, there are things he must say.

But first, he must welcome his dear friends home. Athos has not attempted to make a meal for them, knowing that no meager fest he could concoct would match Porthos’ skill in the kitchen. But he has procured a few bottles of fine wine, one of which sits already open and half drunk on the kitchen counter. The steadying of his nerves has taken one, and then two, and three glasses. Now, shamefully, he pours himself a fourth.

He has never been very good with words.

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[somepoorsoul]

Athos trembles slightly into the kiss from Porthos, briefly covering his hand with his own. He still wonders at the idea that he could be the source of any spillover of joy, especially when he brings so many burdens with him. “What I intend to tell the others?” he clarifies, frowning at the hesitation in Aramis’ expression. Admittedly, a man of sparse words as he can be, Athos might not have thought to do so without prompting. “Of course. If you would like.”

“It is not that I do not know what you are to me,” he adds after a silence. “Only that it is not an easy thing to articulate.” Surely they, of all people, understand how he struggles with words to express his innermost emotions.

[du_vallon]

Porthos blushes at the reminder of his newlywed state, given that he feels a flush and a swirl in his stomach at the reminder of it, no matter what's happening. "And I'd like," he says, to Aramis and Athos' questioning. "I know he would, too. There's something firm and comforting, knowing in words what we mean to you, even if we already know in our hearts," he says with soft assurance.

"And besides, then we can picture your pretty little flush when you say the words," he teases.

[afineseamstress]

"They are nice to hear when volunteered," Aramis agrees, even as he nips at Athos' throat, "Though we are not averse to dragging praises out of you by other means." He grins. "Or begging." Whether begging for praises or making Athos himself beg, Aramis doesn't clarify, for of course he means both.

[somepoorsoul]

Athos makes a soft, pleased sound, barely more than a sigh, Aramis’ mouth on his skin proving an easy distraction. He arches his neck, a tiny smirk curving on his lips. “Ah. I should have expected you would have an ulterior motive.”

[du_vallon]

Porthos is momentarily dazed, struck by how simple and happy that Athos looks and it's all because of them. The shock gives way to something a touch softer and he nuzzles in against Athos' neck, tightening his grip on Aramis' hand because he doesn't dare let go of him or where he moves their hands to his own hip, brushing the hem of his briefs. "Part of me thought I'd only ever dream this side of you," he confesses, feeling raw to say the words. "That I'd never know if you sighed so happily or if I could ever make you laugh."

[afineseamstress]

"We have still yet to hear the latter," Aramis murmurs, watching Porthos' face with a brief ache when he can do no more than squeeze his hip. He nips at Athos' skin again, hoping to treat Porthos to another sigh, and shifts until he can insinuate his other hand against Athos' ribs. "I discovered a very interesting laugh of Porthos'," he says, pushing experimentally, "Whenever he's touched just here."

[somepoorsoul]

Athos’ expression crumples a little, Porthos’ words making him ache with guilt and gratefulness. Oh, that he knew how to stoke these embers of contentment always, for his own sake, and for those he loves. He thinks he would do anything to see that beautiful hope in Porthos’ eyes, much as it frightens him.

Aramis does win himself another tiny sigh, though it turns to a sound of disgruntled surprise when Aramis pokes him. “No reason to try it on me,” he huffs.

[du_vallon]

Porthos glowers darkly at Aramis when he brings up that particular weakness, giving a low huff and knowing what's coming next. He sighs and resigns himself to his fate, giving them both a look as he reclines back to lie flat on his back. "Go on, then," he allows. "It was bound to happen eventually."

[afineseamstress]

"I live in hope," says Aramis, leaning over Athos with an unrepentant grin. He kisses his mouth and then the tip of his nose, then clambers over him to answer Porthos' invitation. Straddling his hips, Aramis leans down to kiss his nose, too, beaming at him with delight. Just the thought of Porthos' high pitched giggle is enough to undo him, and Aramis is already laughing when he drags his fingertips down Porthos' ribs.

[somepoorsoul]

Athos watches amusedly as Aramis clambers over him to poor Porthos, who already looks resigned to whatever fate he is due. And when he inevitably emits an entirely un-Porthos-like high-pitched protesting squeak, Athos grins.

“Well, well."

[du_vallon]

Porthos braces himself, his nose wrinkling up after the kiss before he closes his eyes and surrenders to the tickling touch, gasping and giggling with ridiculous, unmasculine gasping laughs, twitching and only pinned down by Aramis holding him. He swats at his hands eventually when it becomes too much, huffing.

"You'd better not abuse it the way he does," he says. "He only found out by accident, too, thinking I was liking it," he accuses of Aramis.

[afineseamstress]

"You do like it," Aramis informs him, soothing Porthos' indignance with another kiss. "I had hoped that might be enough," he admits, and leans down to speak in Porthos' ear, voice pitched quite loud enough for the three of them, "We will finally hear that laugh of his."

[somepoorsoul]

Athos huffs indignantly, but any effect is lost in his smile. This is not the first time they have teased him about his dour moods, or attempted to make him laugh, but there’s a softness to their antics now that makes his heart tighten. Athos rolls on his side towards them, a soft look in his eyes lingering as he absently runs his fingers through Porthos’ curls.

“You have not even unpacked,” he realizes all at once in wonder and amusement. Thinking back, Athos realizes that he had barely welcomed them in the door when he made his announcement.

If it were anyone else, he might have been accused of being overeager.

[du_vallon]

Porthos breathes out slowly when the tickling is done, slinging his arm around Aramis' waist as he angles him towards Athos, happy and softly sighing for the touch to his hair. "I really like people touching my hair," he says to Athos, as he'd once said to Aramis, a dazed and giddy look in his eye.

His smile is still lazy, though, not meaning to leave bed. "Unpacking can happen later. He cups Athos' cheek to lean in and kiss him fondly, arching up to steal a kiss from Aramis, too, not wanting to be inequal.

[afineseamstress]

Aramis hums his agreement, amenable to nearly anything when Porthos is kissing him, but as soon as he breaks away he shakes his head. "No, I want something," he says, peeling from them to stride naked into the living room, searching out the bag of chocolates they'd been working their way through at Kagura.

Reentering the bedroom, Aramis nods towards Porthos. "Our pillows are very fine, but I suggest you make use of him," he tells Athos.

[somepoorsoul]

“He does make a good replacement,” Athos agrees, shifting close to Porthos to rest his head on the other man’s chest. Making note of Porthos’ approval, and the breathy way in which he had expressed it, he continues to tangle his fingers through his hair. His gaze settles appreciatively on Aramis himself, and though he flushes faintly at his boldness, he does not look away.

[du_vallon]

"I've got plenty enough room for the both of you," Porthos rumbles, patting his other side for Aramis, grinning as he closes his eyes and gives over to the bliss of Athos' fingers in his hair, his happy sigh tinged with a moan that comes out so genuinely happy, he isn't sure he recognizes himself as the source of the sound. His breaths are deep and even, but he smells the chocolate soon enough. "More of that? And you say my cooking will render you fat. It's the sweets," he protests.

[afineseamstress]

"It is both," says Aramis, crawling next to Porthos to curl around him, occupying whatever space Athos is not and some of that, too, fingers carding through his mussed hair. "Be nice or I won't give you sweets," he tells Porthos, proving himself a liar in the next moment when he places a chocolate in his mouth. He retrieves one for Athos next, but this one he sets between his lips, neck stretched to put his mouth near Athos' own.

[somepoorsoul]

Athos looks at Aramis with faint bemusement, not because he does not understand, but because taking the chocolate from his very lips seems silly, overly romantic - and utterly tempting. It is the sort of thing better suited to fresh-faced young lovers, and isn’t Athos beyond that?

Or is he merely still afraid of embracing love fully, in all it’s ridiculousness?

In the end, Athos rolls his eyes, but pushes himself up to meet Aramis’ lips and take the chocolate. “You are absurd,” he says as the sweet melts on his tongue, his voice soft in a way that implies he doesn’t actually mind.

[du_vallon]

Porthos works the chocolate slowly over his tongue as he watches his beautiful men before him, smiling with genuine pride as they kiss right in front of him. He curls them both in, happy for the comfort and the joy he's indulging in, right now. "You hardly sound like you mind," Porthos teases fondly.

[afineseamstress]

"Fed chocolates from his lover's lips," laughs Aramis, placing another chocolate in Porthos' mouth. "Such horror." He grins and hands Porthos the bag, mouth open expectantly. They'd made a habit of feeding each other these throughout their honeymoon, and Aramis has no mind to break from tradition now.

[somepoorsoul]

“I said nothing about horror,” Athos protests, laying his head back upon Porthos’ chest. He watches them with a soft expression as Aramis drops chocolates into Porthos’ mouth. “So this is how you spent your week away."

[du_vallon]

Porthos laughs heartily and warmly as he shares a glance with Aramis, popping a chocolate onto his lower lip and leaning in to give it a nudge with the tip of his tongue, kissing Aramis' chin afterwards as he strokes his fingers over Athos' back. "When we weren't fucking each other silly into dehydration, yeah," Porthos agrees, smirking for the crudeness he now feels free to share.

[afineseamstress]

"I only fainted the once," Aramis points out, letting the chocolate melt on his tongue before he swallows it all in one go. "And you had me bent like one of your terrible yoga tangles. Never," he tells Athos, "Let this man get your legs any higher than a foot over your own head."

[somepoorsoul]

“I mentioned that you were both ridiculous, did I not?” For all his attempt at a blasé attitude, he cannot hide the renewed flush that creeps over his face. Hearing them speak so, while entirely new, has gained a new kind of power, now that he knows that he plays a part in their fantasies.