“Never again,” Athos agrees, feeling a lump rise treacherously in his throat. It is as though some vestige of the more volatile youth he had been still remains, forcing emotions he would prefer to keep hidden to linger near the surface. Both the younger man nor the elder one shy from Aramis’ warm words, and he bites his lip and bows his head, a small tremble dancing across his shoulders. Neither can he easily offer the easy excuses for his behavior in youth - that he had been frightened and confused, or young and stupid, or had not really meant it, though all those things were true in part. Instead, thinking of La Fere, and all the pain it has brought both him and those he loves most, he says, “If I could cut that part of my life free, I would do it in an instant."