Aramis is an alcoholic. Sorry. (amongthebravest) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2014-04-20 13:28:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, aramis, athos |
Who: Athos and Aramis.
What: Starting a quick trip out of country.
When: April 11.
Where: Athos' home, then the airport.
Rating/Warnings: Low.
Status: Complete.
As much as Aramis would have liked to have retreated into his own world and gone off on his own, he knew that he would be better off with some help. And Athos was, by and large, the best choice. He knew Marsac, at least a bit, and he had good standing with the CIA that if anything should happen, Aramis knew he’d be in good hands.
Of course, then there was the matter of everything that had happened with D’Artagnan at an alarming pace. He’d have to tell Athos that, too, he supposes. There was no point in trying to be good friends that relied on one another if such things were kept hidden. And it would be easier for Aramis to admit it before the younger man did, anyway.
So he showed up at Athos’ home after calling, and knocked on the door, running a hand through his hair nervously while he waited.
Athos had known as soon as he saw Aramis’ post that all wasn’t as it seemed and he’d quickly been proven correct. But he was glad Aramis hadn’t argued that he didn’t need company, Athos felt better knowing he wouldn’t be going into an unknown situation alone. And he had to admit part of him was anxious to see if the lead Aramis had would lead to anything.
Hearing the knock he moved to answer the door, opening it and nodding at his friend, “Aramis” he said, moving to grab his bag, “How are you?”
Aramis gave Athos a grateful smile. Apart from the shared dreams, some talks via text and the network, and really only drinks a couple of times, they hadn’t ever done anything people would consider friends to do. For Aramis, the fact that Athos was so willing to just jump a plane for something that could be a dead end was something he’d forever appreciate.
“I’m all right, considering. I hope you don’t mind, I have a cab coming to get us.” Old habits died hard, after all. It was highly unlikely that anyone would try to follow them, but better safe than sorry. “And then we’ll be flying to DC, and from there drive a bit and fly out of another airport.”
Though Aramis might not see it as a friendship, and it wasn’t in the traditional sense, it was one of the closest things Athos had gotten to it for a while. D’Artagnan had managed to worm his way in pretty damn quickly it was true but Athos already respected Aramis and considered him a friend anyway. And as someone who had been called upon as a character witness he felt he should be there for Aramis anyway.
Athos nodded, “Standard protocol, sounds good. I’d expect nothing less” his lips curved slightly, “So do I want to know how you got hold of this information?”
Athos should expect nothing less, after all, he taught Aramis all the fundamentals. Aramis just glanced at Athos with an amused look and shrugged. “Let’s just say I know some people, and I know some things about some people, and it was time to call in some favours and settle some debts.” Aramis checked his watch and put his hands in his pockets, figuring the cab wouldn’t take much longer to get there.
“Look, before we go running off places, I just thought you should know. Our young friend D’Artagnan came by my place the other night.”
Athos nodded briefly, “All I need to know” he said, besides it wouldn’t really matter either way. If they found something they’d work out something and if they didn’t nobody needed to know they’d even been looking.
“Oh really?” he said raising an eyebrow as he looked over at Aramis, giving nothing away, “And?” he asked patiently.
Aramis glanced at Athos, hating, for a moment, that he was impossible to read. “He asked me what I was wearing. I thought it was a joke so we texted a bit and I told him I wasn’t wearing pants, and he wanted to come over, and told me not to put anything on. Well, you know I can’t miss the opportunity to one up anyone on a good joke. So I didn’t put on clothes. For the record, before you ask, I was in underwear,” Aramis added, holding up a hand.
Then he cleared his throat. “At the risk of embarrassing him, I won’t tell you what he said, but you can guess as to what he wanted. I told him not to rush into things lightly, he said he didn’t care, so I told him that I liked mindless flirtations and short affairs and that seemed to put him off. I suspect his pride will be wounded for a few days, yet.”
Athos would have protested that he wasn’t going to ask about the state of Aramis’ clothing but he couldn’t honestly say he wouldn’t have when he thought about it so he remained quiet.
“I see” he said, sighing a little. “Well as much as I would like to say I told you do I don’t think I really can” Even though he just kind of has, “He obviously encouraged your attentions and you were honest” he admitted, “But still. Be thankful you were as blunt with him then instead of the discovery coming later and it taking him more than a few days”
To his credit, Aramis did look guilty. Probably because he would have gone through with it if D'Artagnan hadn't changed his mind. But he shrugged. "I respect him too much to have not been upfront with him. I'm not completely heartless. If anything, I'm the opposite."
“I didn’t think you were” Athos corrected him, “However D’Artagnan is the sort to throw himself into something completely and utterly. He’d like to think he could handle it but he’s not the kind to be able to leave deeper feelings out of any encounter” He may not be a people person but he was an astute observer of people.
"We all are like that when we're that age." Aramis almost looked fondly nostalgic, but a distant look came over him. He shook it off and glanced at his friend. "It either works for you, or it doesn't, and I can't say it ever worked well for me. But I think that's our cab coming up."
Athos nodded, “I can’t say you’re wrong there” he agreed, “But I’m glad it’s all sorted now, even if D’Artagnan is a little touchy for a while. Maybe our time in San Francisco will help mend your friendship” he said before the cab pulled up.
“He’s young, he’ll get over it. I’m sort of just acting like it wasn’t a big deal, in hopes it will help him out.” Aramis held open the cab door for Athos and then climbed in next to him, setting his bag on the floor by his feet. He told the driver to go to the airport in Santa Ana, then sat back. “This is a bit like old times, hmm? Though we never really got a chance to do anything like this together. Making up for lost time, then.”
“Sounds like the best way” Athos agreed, knowing that Aramis was right D’Artagnan was young which hopefully meant he would bounce back fairly quickly. Entering the vehicle Athos put his own back at his feet and gave a wry smile, “Old times as they should have been perhaps” he allowed.
Aramis grinned a bit. “You’re right. We’d have made good partners, I think. Then we would probably be avoiding this sort of situation all together.” After a moment, he glanced at Athos. “By the way, you’re not going to tell D’Artagnan and Porthos about this little trip, are you? I’m sure you won’t, but it’s best they just not know about it all together.”
“I agree” Athos found himself saying, “But then it is what it is” He was pragmatic about not wishing the past different, he’d learnt to be. Though he had to admit it might have been good for both of them had things been that way. “Of course not. I may be accompanying you but it’s not my tale to tell. You can rest assured nobody will know”
“You’re a good man, Athos,” Aramis said with a nod, “a very good man.” Once they reached the airport, Aramis printed their tickets off and handed Athos his. He checked his watch with a nod. “Just in time to make it through security and board. Here’s to the start of a fantastic adventure, my friend.”