(no subject)

[somepoorsoul]

The night is damp and chilly for May, but that has not stopped the university’s young revelers from stumbling about in drunken celebration, even past midnight. Athos only ever comes this far north to visit the stables, and it is strange to be here so late at night, amongst the older, more scattered houses, stuffed full of students nine months out of the year. Outside the university, neighborhoods fall away to countryside fairly quickly; it is no surprise that so many could so easily go missing.

Athos has spoken little during their late-night trek to the edge of campus, thoughts focused, as best he can, on the task at hand. Is he glad that Porthos agreed to come along, or nervous? He still trusts Porthos with his life, and always will, but he fears that the man has been guilted or coerced into this venture. Believing what he does (knowing what he does), why would he follow Athos anywhere?

But they are here now. Athos leans against a lamppost that leaves him half-illuminated. Celebrants are now stumbling home in ones and twos, and fewer of them seem out and about. If the vampires intend to strike tonight, it will likely be soon, now that most students have gone home, leaving the more foolish (and the more drunk) to venture into the darkness alone and vulnerable. He glances at Aramis, their "bait" for the night, and then, briefly, meets Porthos' gaze. “Still up for this?" he asks them both.

Comments

[du_vallon]

Porthos steps out from the brisk shower, shivering a little but awake for it. He wraps his arms around his dripping self and nods over his shoulder to the running water that's sliding to warm now. He yanks a towel from behind Aramis and leans over to start running the tub's water, most of the dirt off him but for that they'll have to scrub.

"Don't tease him, I bet he already has plans drawn up."

[afineseamstress]

"I have plenty in my head," Aramis assures them both, content to wait his turn, and watch them traverse the bathroom nude in the meantime. Both men look bruised, but not terribly damaged, and Aramis feels no shame in taking in the curve of Porthos' arse, the pale expanse of Athos' back. They are remarkably well formed men. They deserve a bathroom that befits them.

[somepoorsoul]

Athos lets his trousers and underwear pool on the floor with the rest of his things. Then, with a brief backward glance and a smirk, he steps into the shower. He tips his head back, enjoying as he always does, the feel of the water running over his body. Athos refuses to enjoy most modern luxuries, but this he can get behind.

"Coming?" he calls to Aramis, inclined to linger a little longer, even if the plan is for them all to end up in the tub.

[du_vallon]

Porthos sits on the edge of the tub, giving Aramis an amused smile as he runs his fingers through the warm water below, taking its time to fill up. "He's going to use up all the hot water," he warns, and sinks into the hot water in the tub, scented oils easing the aches as he groans from pleasure at the temperature of the water.

It's more than he could've ever asked for.

[afineseamstress]

Eyebrows climbing, Aramis strips the last of his clothing in a rush and steps in behind Athos, pressing him deeper into the spray with a kiss. "I did promise your hair a good lathering," he says when they break apart, though Aramis does not go far, fingers dragging down Athos' ribs. "In the bath, I think, lest Porthos get lonely."

[somepoorsoul]

His arms around Aramis, Athos sends Porthos a sly, admiring look. “We would not want to disappoint him,” he agrees, lingering long enough under the spray to kiss Aramis again. He is feeling terribly grateful for all Aramis has done lately - for his gentle prodding, his encouragement, his assurances that brought Porthos back to him tonight. And, of course, for his bravery in the cramped basement.

[du_vallon]

"I mean, I want the both of you in here with me," he admits, but even as he does, he stretches out both legs and enjoys the luxurious stretch of space that affords him, "but don't rush on my account. I'm enjoying all this space," he guarantees, sinking into the warmth of the water until it starts to dampen his curls.

[afineseamstress]

Aramis chuckles, dropping his head to press a kiss to Athos' shoulder, his throat, whispering when he reaches his ear, "He'll fall asleep in there if we let him." Winding his arms around Athos, Aramis takes a fistful of soap and washes him free of the worst of the battle, pinching his arse when he's finished. The bar of soap is then set to his own skin, and Aramis starts with his neck where those teeth had dared to nip too close. He does love their shower, but he's never been moved more to rush when a tubful of the men he loves lies in wait.

[somepoorsoul]

With an appreciative hum, Athos tips his head to the side, grinning faintly at Porthos' words, and then at Aramis'. They are both clean now, or near enough, and Porthos does appear dangerously close to falling asleep. Athos tips his head under the spray once more, and then steps out of the shower, water dripping off his body.

"Is it too late to join you?" he asks Porthos with perfect innocence.

[du_vallon]

Porthos grins as he opens his eyes to the sight of a very naked, very wet Athos. It's practically the best thing he's seen in weeks (outside of Aramis' own very gorgeous form) and he splashes the water as he sits up and widens his legs to make room. "Who's going in the middle?"

[afineseamstress]

"Athos is," Aramis answers, turning off the shower, "But he's reclining against me first. I have a promise of being allowed to wash his hair and I mean to cash in on it." He steps into the far end of the tub with a sigh as the hot water envelopes him. "You can enjoy the display," Aramis says with a grin, "Before you cuddle him."

[somepoorsoul]

Athos shakes his head at them both, but his expression is full of fondness, and his eyes are bright despite his well-earned exhaustion. He has spent weeks under a haze of work and wine, but in the steam-filled room that cloud dissipates.

Carefully, he grips the edge of the tub and steps in above them both, and sinks down to let the water envelop him. The tub is a tangle of limbs, but Athos manages to fit his legs around theirs and sink back into Aramis’ embrace. Smile gentle, he leans his head against Aramis’ chest and closes his eyes.

[du_vallon]

Porthos shifts up and makes a sound when his knees creak in protest. "Do you remember the very first time you and I got in this tub," he reminds Aramis with an overly-fond grin. "And you thought it'd creak and break and I thought my wings were gonna knock the porcelain to bits? Now, look at us."

[afineseamstress]

Aramis exhales. "I'd almost forgotten your wings," he says with a chuckle. "It was quite a sight," he tells Athos, reaching for the pitcher. He tips Athos' head even further against his shoulder and covers his eyes, dousing his hair slowly in the hot water. Even from here, he can tell that the man's long pale neck is quite inviting from this angle, and he smiles faintly at Porthos as he reaches for the shampoo. "Safer to keep your eyes closed," he says and he begins to work it into Athos' locks.

[somepoorsoul]

"Sangdieu," Athos exhales, startled by the contentment that courses through him as Aramis douses him with water. As instructed, he keeps his eyes closed - he is happy to do so - but he smiles crookedly at Porthos. "I am sad I missed your wings," he says, half teasing, for he knows it had not been an entirely pleasant experience for Porthos. "That must have been impressive."

[du_vallon]

"I'm sure Aramis has pictures stashed in an album," he guarantees, having recalled that Allison had managed her own fair share of album shots. He leans forward and strains at his core in order to do it, but gets himself snug with Athos, a sad look in his eyes as he cups his cheek and stares at him longingly. "I never, not ever, not once, thought you did anything wrong, in those memories."

[afineseamstress]

Aramis' fingers lose their rhythm, and he pretends it is because he's found the lump on Athos' scalp, and not because Porthos has sent them careening unexpectedly into territory where he can't be sure of Athos' reaction. Guiding Athos' soapy hair away from his face in case he needs to open his eyes, Aramis continues on in silence.

[somepoorsoul]

Though he does not move, Athos immediately tenses, his shoulders going rigid where they rest against Aramis’ chest. Even with his eyes closed, he clearly flinches, as though struck. Porthos’ voice is full of gentleness, but his mind cannot help but drift to the awful future he has been imagining since the man revealed his speculations. “Of course I did,” he says, voice a little raw, for what could be more wrong than leaving Porthos, leaving d’Artagnan, and Treville, and his king for her?

Athos takes a careful breath, desperate to stop the demons that have followed his step so closely drag him down now, just when he has begun to claw his way back. He opens his eyes, his expression entreating. “But that is not your fault, Porthos. Please, we do not need to speak of it."

[du_vallon]

Porthos nods, but some of the light in his eyes goes dull when Athos says they don't need to talk about it. That's the problem. They never talk about the things that fester and they get a chance to. "Okay," he says, but he's so tired of fighting and he misses Athos that, at this point, he's willing to give in. "Fine."

He keeps his palm firm on Athos' cheek and leans in for a kiss, one of the ones he's been missing, his other hand on Aramis' thigh as he slides it up that skin there.

[afineseamstress]

Exhaling slowly, Aramis resumes working the shampoo through Athos' hair, taking care to knead now at his scalp to help him to relax, but his free hand he threads through Porthos' at his thigh, squeezing it as he gives him an encouraging smile.

"I think we have had enough excitement tonight to live firmly in the present," he says, "Certainly for the evening. Now are the pair of you going to stop necking long enough for me to rinse Athos' hair?"

[somepoorsoul]

Athos exhales into the kiss, a tremble going through him as cups Porthos cheek. The man’s hand on his thigh is warm, even under the water, and he deepens the kiss for a moment, savoring Porthos’ taste, and all he has missed. When Aramis interrupts, he breaks away - just barely - and shoots the man a sideways look. With a sigh that is only half serious, he reluctantly lays back in Aramis’ arms and close his eyes.

“If you insist."

[du_vallon]

Porthos does ease back, but it's with a smug look on his face both from the kiss and for the look he throws Aramis. "Did you ever think this would be your lot in life?" he jokes. "Caring for your fellow Musketeers' hair on a constant basis?" Which reminds him, he needs to pick up more cream for his curls or just another bandanna to cover them up.

[afineseamstress]

"Not in my wildest fantasies," Aramis promises, chuckling as he refills the pitcher. Hand again cupped over Athos' eyes, Aramis rinses the soap from his hair in long, carefully measured belts of hot water, leaning in to kiss Athos' cheek when he is done. "Now you are clean enough for Porthos to dirty up."

[somepoorsoul]

The water, again, frees Athos of his dark thoughts, and when he opens his eyes, he offers Porthos a smile that is only a little tentative. Porthos may have given up his anger, Aramis may have insisted that they have no way of knowing what Athos did when he left the garrison, but Athos still carries the guilt of that damning possibility. Perhaps he did flee with his wife, his murderess, his Anne, that devil of his own making. If he did, he does not deserve to be here with these men, in the warm embrace of their arms, soaking in the healing heat of the water.

He does not deserve it, but he is weak. He craves comfort. And he seeks it now, leaning across the tub to capture Porthos’ mouth in a kiss.

[du_vallon]

Porthos is possibly a little more aggressive than usual, his hand working into the wet tangle of Athos' hair to hold him firmly and tip his head to the side for Porthos to get a chance to kiss him deeply, tongue insistent before he eases back, sliding one hand in between them to wrap around Aramis' cock before he settles back to kissing Athos, stroking Aramis in time with the rhythm.