ARAMIS + PORTHOS (+ ADORABLE TODDLER)
S FOR SAPPY | COMPLETE
Some mornings were far more hectic than others, with alarms going off late or cuddling happening and alarms being ignored, a mad rush through breakfast and getting to training on time, or just a cranky toddler that couldn’t be consoled. A lazy weekend morning was far more into Aramis’ wheelhouse, and he was never happier than when Louis sat in his booster and actually ate his oatmeal and yogurt.
It gave Aramis a chance to stand near him and watch Porthos cook, eyes trained on a few more southern regions of his lover’s body with a faint smile on his face. Louis jabbered away quietly, his own attention now torn from his breakfast to a nearby toy, giving the adults a break from communicating with him for a few minutes.
And it gave them a little quiet. Enough that Aramis was still staring across the room at Porthos, hearts in his eyes, thinking of how domestic this was, and fondly thinking about their grown children before blurting out things. “Anne and I want you to have equal guardian rights, if you’re interested.”
Porthos damn near dropped the bowl of pancake batter in his hands. He’d been spacing out to begin with - enjoying that domesticity Aramis had noted and the precious noises a happy toddler made - and probably smiling dopily to himself. There’d been a lot of that in the last month. Knowing Tristan saw him as a father had settled some of the anxiety that rested in his gut.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust that Aramis loved him, because he did. He just also knew Aramis had gone off to a monastery to protect the people he loved so love didn’t guarantee a future together. And it didn’t mean the baby would see him as family either. Now it was just a matter of getting there, he supposed. Without dumping pancake batter on himself.
“Christ, Aramis,” he laughed, setting the bowl aside. He had his “Mr. Good Lookin’ is Cookin’” apron back, but now there were bits of batter clinging to it. Grabbing a towel to wipe at it, he reached out to curl his other hand around the back of Aramis’ neck and grinned. “Give a bloke some warning next time you’re going to ask if he wants to be a father.”
Aramis leaned in for a kiss, keeping it light enough that they wouldn’t get carried away, but firm enough for his own pleasure. He laughed in the end, chuckling against Porthos’ lips as he pulled away. “If I did that, I wouldn’t keep you on your toes.”
He took the towel from Porthos and wiped up any little extra splatter, always good at cleaning up after his lover, and it gave him something to do with his hands that was appropriate for their toddler-aged audience. “At least I didn’t tell you I was pregnant.” With a grin directed at Louis, he kept his gaze steadied on his son for a few seconds, smile growing. “I can’t imagine not having you as a firm, documented member of our family, Porthos. You’re my other half.”
Porthos smiled into the kiss and pulled back to watch Aramis with soft eyes. His heart was full, there was no denying that, and there was no denying the answer he wanted to give either. But Porthos had a lifetime of skepticism to overcome and it was incredibly difficult not to look at the man in front of him and think this is all too bloody good to be true.
“You’re mine too, Aramis,” Porthos finally sighed, just the smallest of frowns burrowing between his eyebrows. He glanced at Louis, who beamed a grin at him and then went right back to playing. It loosened the wrinkle on Porthos’ forehead as he turned an uncertain smile back to Aramis. “I love you both. You don’t...I mean, you know that’s never going to change, even without a piece of paper, right?”
“Hey,” Aramis noted the wrinkle immediately, and his hand came up to brush against Porthos’ jaw, thumb smoothing a long line against his beard hair, hoping to soothe any anxiety away with just a gentle touch. He knew it might actually take more than that, but it was a start, at least. “I don’t want to trap you into this. I- we, this was Anne’s idea - thought it would be a good show of solidarity.”
He turned his gaze to Louis, the smile he had was something straight out of a cheesy movie, full of wonder and parental joy. “We’ve seen what that young boy is going to grow into, and that’s one-third of your doing. With or without paper, that’s your choice.” Aramis brought his hand down to rest on Porthos’ chest, across the front of the apron. “How you fit in with us won’t change because of it, to me. It gives a little peace of mind if something were to happen, though…”
Porthos absolutely did not want to think about anything happening and he was stubborn enough to shove that thought into a deep dark corner as fast as the words left Aramis’ mouth. It did help to hear the rest though. He covered Aramis’ hand on his chest and leaned in to press a kiss to his temple.
“Don’t be daft. Being a part of your family isn’t a trap. It’s a bloody gift. I just--” He huffed, embarrassed that some things about family still didn’t always come easy, even after years with the Musketeers, and this man in particular. “I just wanted to make sure you were sure. The pair of you.” Louis chirped and then babbled a few incomprehensible words. Porthos laughed. “You think that was support or should we wait until he can talk proper?”
“I’m just merging my two families, is all. And it’s everything I’ve ever wanted.” Aramis took a brief reprieve to talk right back, making his own list of incomprehensible words, along with some shared Spanish that he knew always got Louis grinning at him. It worked, and they shared a moment before both of them were laughing and looking at Porthos.
“We talked it over, and that was his full support.” Aramis wagged his eyebrows at Porthos, grinning a foolish, love-sick grin. “We can wait until he’s calling you dad, if you want, because I already know that’s in our future.”
It didn’t feel like that long ago that Porthos would’ve been at least partially immune to the charm of a handsome man babbling at a baby, even if it was less true with Aramis. He’d wanted a family of his own someday, sure, but he didn’t always have the easy connection with kids that Aramis had. It had often left him feeling big and graceless around children at home. Out of place and unwanted. Now, he watched with his breath held and the sharp sting of emotion behind his ribs as the man he loved and his son grinned up at him.
“No. No, I don’t want to wait,” he murmured. He brushed a gentle hand over Louis’ soft hair and then reached to pull Aramis to him with urgency. “I’ll sign whatever I need to sign. Twenty times if they say it has to be so.” His grin bloomed fast and bright, and he stole a quick kiss. While his grin didn’t full disappear, it did waver as he thought out loud. “I have to wonder if they even have forms for this kind of thing…”
Aramis laughed against Porthos’ lips, joy radiating from him as they clutched each other to an almost inappropriate level in front of the kid. He couldn’t stamp down the grin even if he wanted to, though, even as he pulled away reluctantly as Louis threw his arms up and started to wiggle out of his booster seat. Aramis swooped him up and placed a kiss on his temple, throwing him around like only the Musketeers seemed to do.
“I have no idea how many papers are involved, but they’re all worth it.” He grinned at Porthos again. “I really only think it’s like two, but it’ll fall under guardianship, which they do around here a lot. But,” Aramis took a second to level a look on Porthos. “It may move us into the same house, I know it has with others. You’re not obligated to….” He waved a free hand unhelpfully, the other being used as a jungle gym.
“I’m not obligated to what?” Porthos teased, stepping in closer to hook an arm under Louis and swoop him away for a moment. “Live with my family? What a horrible fate!” Louis squealed as he was swung up and then pulled into a hug. Porthos blew a raspberry into the side of his neck and let the resulting giggles accompany his grin as he moved in closer to Aramis again.
“It’d be nice,” he murmured. Shrugging, he tugged Aramis into a threeway hug. “I hate this your place or mine business anyway, but I won’t be holding my breath. Letting me be a second guardian will probably be asking enough, even of this place.”
Aramis laughed against Porthos shoulder, his arm wrapping around the larger man and the toddler on the other side. Porthos so readily agreeing to live with them - which would include Anne - was something that made his face flush in pleased warmth. He knew it might be too soon, that Porthos might not be ready, but the room was joyful at the moment, and he put worries aside. “We need to check on Anne, to see if she’s still a bird. And switch off on showers. Then go fill out paperwork, and…” He trailed off and let out a happy sigh.
“We’ll make it work, no matter the decision.” Aramis promised, leaning in to steal another kiss. “If we could will the Garrison to arrive and live in the Village, that would be optimal, but until then…” They’d make do. They always did.
Porthos nodded along with the plan for the day, smiling lazily at Louis. Louis grabbed at his beard and rattled off a list of sort-of-words that sounded a lot like what his father was saying only in toddler speak. It was an adorable distraction. He didn’t want to think too much about whether living with Anne would be awkward or if Anne and Aramis living together would fan a banked flame between them. He knew too well his paranoia and insecurity got away from him sometimes. So he gave Aramis a crooked smile and shook his head.
“Only if the Garrison’s been upgraded with running water and proper kitchens. I’m good and spoiled now, Aramis! Don’t give Atlantis any ideas!” Laughing, he kissed the side of Aramis’ face. Louis took that as a cue and puckered up his lips too. Porthos thought his heart might come right out of his chest, but his smile softened and he gave the toddler a little kiss, muah sound included since it always made Louis laugh.
Oh, good God, his face flushing at the sight of Louis and Porthos was most certainly attributed to his heart bursting from his chest, Aramis was certain of it. His knees were getting weak and he was halfway tempted to drop to the floor and start praying to God. .. In a purely platonic, actually religious way, given there was a toddler in the room with them.
The thought inspired a laugh that brought his head down to Porthos’ shoulder. “I concede. We can’t give up our hot showers, after all.” He ran a hand through the blonde curls on Louis’ head, keeping his own snuggled up against Porthos. “Beginning to think I’m the luckiest man on the planet.”
Louis leaned over to mirror his father by resting his head on Aramis’ shoulder. Porthos felt his smile might break with the strength of it so he buried it in Aramis’ hair. “Likewise,” he murmured. “Now how about I hand this sweet little terror over…” He switched Louis over into Aramis’ arms and turned back towards the stove. “...And finish up these pancakes. My heart may feel overfull but my belly is decidedly empty.”
Aramis tossed Louis over his shoulder and stole another brief kiss from Porthos before heading to the doorway. “We’ll go make ourselves smell beautifully, steal all the hot water, and come back for pancakes in a few.” He tossed a grin over his shoulder as Louis giggled their way out of the room. “Don’t go anywhere.”
Porthos saluted with his spatula, eyes gone soft and adoring and utterly obvious even from across the kitchen. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”