Who: Athos and D’Artagnan When: 2nd Feb Where: Agency then their home What: Distractions Rating/Warnings: Low/Heavy petting Status: Complete
D’Artagnan hadn’t been able to look away from the news after it first broke. The explosion of the home in Huntington Beach had brought back unpleasant memories of the explosion of their own home. He’d tried to ignore it and distract himself with busywork, but it wasn’t doing much good. He’d bothered Porthos and Aramis for a little while but eventually they were both off work for the evening and went home. Part of him wished he’d told them to stay, but he hadn’t.
Instead he just waited on the steps of the building, watching various cars drive by but not really paying them much mind at all. He was looking through them in thought. He’d been attached to that place, to have it damaged like that had actually affected him more than he realized when he saw the news report. He leaned his head against a rail beside him while he waited, expressionless and indifferent to the world around him.
Athos had been on a late shift so he’d slept later than usual and when he woke had grabbed something to eat before sitting and reading with Grimaud on his lap. It hadn’t been until D’Artagnan text that he’d checked the television or net for information. As soon as he saw it he knew it would be stirring up old memories so had decided to go and bring D’Artagnan home.
It would hopefully serve to reassure him that they were okay with the safety of their new home around him. Grimaud was sat in the footwell looking up at him, he could sense something was wrong. Pulling up outside the building he got out and moved to tug D’Artagnan into his arms, “Hey you” he breathed, “You okay?”
He hadn’t even wanted to wait inside anymore, really he just wanted to get away from various news reports. Seemed like a few channels were covering it now, and D’Artagnan had a difficult time with it the first time around. He really didn’t want a trip down memory lane for this one.
When Athos arrived he was quiet for a moment as he just hugged him. His eyes closing as if an attempt to ignore all that stuff. Finally after a bit he nodded. “Yeah, sorry. I guess I got freaked out. It’s stupid.” He wasn’t quite ready to let go yet all the same.
“It’s not stupid, it’s perfectly understandable” Athos told him, hand stroking his hair as he held him. “I promise. We’re going to go home, order takeaway and snuggle together on the sofa for a while okay?” he asked. pressing his lips to D’Artagnan’s temple.
“It wouldn’t happen again would it?” The new place was a fair distance from all the chaos going on, but it was still on his mind. He gripped at Athos a little tighter than he meant to, explosions and him hadn’t had a great history so far. He nodded though. “I left some stuff in there..but I’ll get it tomorrow.” He didn’t want to go back in just for a jacket or something.
“No, it won’t happen again. We’re well out of the way sweetheart” Athos reassured him, squeezing him tightly. “We’ll come back and get it another time. It’s going to be safe in there” Because it was the Agency after all. “Come on, let’s go home. Look Grimaud is worried about you” he pointed out as the puppy was watching them through the car window.
“I know..I know. Logically I know all that I just..” He trailed off, he couldn’t stop thinking about it since it was everywhere. “I’m sorry you had to come out here like this.” He felt a little guilty worrying him again but he agreed. Looking over at the car where the puppy was he seemed to soften just a little towards him. He took Athos’ hand and followed him back toward the car.
“I know love, it’s hard to keep that in mind when the memories bombard you” Athos said, rubbing his back affectionately. “Don’t apologise. I wanted to come and look after you” He was happy to see that face soften as he looked at the dog, he knew they’d get along eventually. Athos linked their fingers as they made their way to the car. Opening the door he let D’Artagnan get in, smiling as Grimaud carefully sat on his lap and licked his chin sweetly before just settling on him. Grimaud could obviously tell D’Artagnan was upset.
When their other friends had been there it was easier to ignore the news stations, but without a distraction it was nearly impossible to put it out of his mind. He knew their new home was safe but he still worried. Seeing it happen live on the news hadn’t helped. He was a bit quiet as they walked to the car, his mind still dwelling on the incident. It wasn’t until they got in that the puppy managed to break his uncomfortable state. He wasn’t nearly as cold with him as he had been in the beginning, D’Artagnan was finally starting to accept him. "I thought I was okay with it all by now. But I kept worrying about the new place. I don't want to move again. " it had been traumatic enough the first time around.
Even Athos had to admit it had affected him too, bringing back memories of losing their home. It wasn’t a nice feeling to be reminded of. Though at least this time they were fairly sure it wouldn’t hit them. “We won’t. If I have it my way that will be our forever home, yeah?” he said, taking D’Artagnan’s hand and kissing his palm before setting off towards their home.
He looked over at him with a bit of a smile at his affectionate kiss. "Forever home? " the idea was nice, but it made D’Artagnan wonder if Athos wanted to marry him or just live with him. It was a little confusing but he smiled all the same. "I like the sound of that. " He placed his hand down on the center console as Athos drove them back. His free hand occupied with the puppy in his lap. He hadn’t even realized he was finally giving it the petting it wanted from him. It didn't seem awkward to D’Artagnan this time to hold the small creature.
"I'm glad you do" Athos said, remembering what Aramis had said about whether D'Artagnan was really ready to be engaged. Athos had wanted to ask him on Valentine's but had been wondering if it was a good idea since that conversation. "Being tied to me isn't a bad thing then? Even if it was officially?" he asked, tone curious and trying for casual. He noticed how D'Artagnan was absently stroking the puppy and smiled indulgently.
“How could that ever be a bad thing?” He looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. He might have panicked a while ago, but being with Athos was all he wanted. He still enjoyed waking up beside him in the morning. There wasn’t any time that went by where he regretted living with him. He’d even nearly already seemed to be adjusting to the puppy fairly well now that he’d gotten to know him. “There’s no one else I’d rather be tied to. “ He hadn’t spent much time with the dog until now, but it just seemed so intent on giving D’Artagnan attention that the brunette couldn’t just ignore him this time. Besides, the distraction was nice.
His response reassured Athos and those plans he’d pushed to the back of his mind began forming once again, he had over a week until Valentine’s, he could organise something incredible he was sure. He smiled, “Good” he said, reaching out to link their free hands. Grimaud loved attention, he was never happier than when he was being cuddled or stroked and he adored D’Artagnan almost as much as he adored Athos. He would be a very loyal dog, Athos could tell and he was very sensitive to his owners moods which was why he was being so quiet and affectionate now.
D’Artagnan hadn’t even been thinking about valentines day yet, it wasn’t a thing he’d ever really had anyone to celebrate it with. It hadn’t quite clicked that he actually did this time. He looked down at Athos’ hand and then leaned back in the seat comfortably. “So, you promised me a distraction. I can think of a few things.” He couldn’t stay down around Athos too long.
“Don’t worry as soon as we get home I’ll distract you” Athos said, thumb running over the back of D’Artagnan’s hand as he glanced over at him and raised one eyebrow. “But I’m more than happy to try as many ways as possible to keep you occupied” he added with a cheeky wink.
“Oh really?” He smiled as he met his gaze and even gave a light laugh. “Well now I’m just curious. Tease. “ The touch was comforting, being in Athos’ presence even when he wasn’t at his best was calming. He didn’t feel a need to put on a show or pretend everything was fine when it wasn’t, but Athos made him feel like everything just might actually be okay. He closed his eyes as he let Athos take them home, his free hand still resting on the puppy.
“You’ll find out soon enough” Athos promised, leaning over to kiss him briefly before focusing back on the road and getting them home safely. He was glad he had such a good effect on him and that his simple presence calmed him down. He never wanted D’Artagnan to feel the need to pretend when they were together. Pulling up in the drive he came around to open D’Artagnan’s door and wrapping an arm around him the three of them headed inside.
He returned that kiss with a smile as he relaxed finally. He wasn’t nearly as pensive as he had been moments before, one of his hands continued to stroke at the puppy and it was oddly soothing. Why it had taken him so long to realize that he had no idea, dealing with new things had always been difficult for him. “I’ll stop prying then, for now.” He mused as he let the puppy run on ahead of them once they reached home. It was a nice thing to have, and it was still indeed standing up right, no cause for concerns anywhere as far as he could tell. Everything was stable, and he had an arm around him keeping him sane. “Heh, it’s still there.” He couldn’t help but to be a little relieved anyway.
“Still there. Still ours” Athos confirmed, kissing D’Artagnan’s cheek and smiling as Grimaud ran ahead of them and yapped at the door. “We’ll have to give him a key and teach him to open the door for us” he said with a laugh.
D’Artagnan breathed a little easier seeing the house still there. He wouldn’t admit to it but he’d nearly held his breath all the way home. He hadn’t realized just how much losing their first home was still playing on his mind, and it sobered him a little. He looked over at Athos and nodded. “Yeah.” Still he hesitated some when it came to actually reaching for the door. The soft kiss had broken his zoned out expression, but the stiffness in him remained.
“It’s okay love” Athos promised him, arm around him tightly and he pulled D’Artagnan in for a cuddle. “I promise, it’ll be okay. We’re home” he smiled, kissing him sweetly on the lips this time before leading him inside. Grimaud was sat patiently waiting near the door to the kitchen.
He looked over at the house with a slightly worried frown, but Athos’ embrace was reassuring. He returned that gentle kiss and let himself be lead in. “I know. I’m sorry. I guess just everything going on has me a little paranoid lately.” All the crime was new, when they’d lost the house before it had seemed isolated, but D’Artagnan was bad at compartmentalizing those thoughts. He stepped foot inside and released a breath he hadn’t been aware he was holding in. “A drink wouldn’t be a terrible suggestion would it?”
“It’s okay babe, you don’t need to apologise” Athos didn’t want D’Artagnan to feel like what he was feeling was wrong. It may be a slightly paranoid feeling but it didn’t make it any less valid. “I think a drink is a good idea darling” Athos said, “Why don’t you and Grimaud get settled in the living room and I’ll bring a couple of glasses of wine through” he suggested.
The corners of his lips curved into a gentle smile at that, Athos never tried to stifle the things he felt even if they were ridiculous. He knew they were at this point, but he couldn’t stop them from going through his head. He gave his hand a squeeze and let him get into the kitchen while he did just that. D’Artagnan didn’t even have to tell the puppy anything, it seemed he was being followed whether or not he said anything at all. He curled up on the couch and pulled over one of the blankets. It was cooler in their house than inland since they lived by the beach, the puppy chose the blanket D’Artagnan had actually bothered to put down for him. He wasn’t always keen on having a dog in his lap, but he’d put thought into placing the blanket out for him near them both.
They may be ridiculous but obviously part of D’Artagnan was worried and Athos wanted to hear his worries and reassure him if he could. Entering the kitchen he grabbed the wine from the fridge, they enjoyed the odd glass or two with dinner some nights, then the wine glasses and took them through into the living room. Smiling when he saw Grimaud curled up on his own blanket on the floor, he put the bottle on the table and handed a glass to D’Artagnan before sitting down with him. “Are you cold love? Do you want me to turn the heating up?”
“A little. But it’ll be fine if you join me.” He didn’t need the heater with Athos near. And he was just mostly content in the blanket. But he’d choose Athos over the blanket any time. He took the glass. “Thanks.” and sipped at it, he’d developed a taste for wine since the dreams. It wasn’t a thing he got drunk on per say, but it was a thing he liked to have around the house now. He slid over a bit to make more room for Athos to join him. “You have good taste in wine.” He hadn’t picked this one out, but he liked the musky sort of flavor it had.
“Well that I can do” Athos said, wrapping his free arm around D’Artagnan and letting him snuggle close, while making sure the blanket stayed around him. “I have plenty of experience from the dreams, though I appreciate it more here than just it’s ability to get me drunk” he added wryly. They drank a lot of wine in the dreams, but the Athos there drank to forget while Athos here drank to enjoy. There was a fine distinction.
“I was hoping you’d be able to.” He was quiet, not necessarily in a bad mood now just a little worried. Being beside Athos helped, he settled against him contently as Athos got comfortable. Every now and then he sipped at the wine. “I don’t think this stuff is as potent as that stuff was.” At least he’d never tried to get drunk off wine, but he didn’t see it as a problem here. “I’m glad you’re not as..experienced as you are there.” He said with a bit of an implied tease, though he was glad. He didn’t have to worry about Athos off alone in some bar somewhere and how to get him home after as the dream them did. He rested his cheek against Athos’ chest. “Do you have any siblings?” He didn’t know why he’d been thinking about it, but he knew the dream version did.
Hopefully the longer they were together, taking comfort in the closeness, the more D’Artagnan’s worries would ease. “No, luckily it isn’t. This is easier to enjoy, I think it would take a lot to get drunk on it” he smiled, “I’m glad I’m not too” he chuckled, pressing a kiss to D’Artagnan’s lips. “No, not here. Not that I know of anyway”
That was part of the reason he wanted Athos nearby. He just felt better with him close like this. He idly toyed with his hand before reaching to take his wine again. “Yeah. I think I’ve woken up with a few hangovers from the dreams, but nothing yet from actually drinking it here.” He was starting to relax the more he got comfortable, the warmth also helped. He returned that gentle kiss and gave his lower lip playful nip before settling back under his chin, much like a cat. “Hm. Not all the dreams parallel then.” It was a little bit of a relief actually to him. Their dream selves had difficult lives at times.
Athos liked the closeness himself, it was comforting and he was sure he slept better when he was snuggling with D’Artagnan. “Mmm I’ve had a couple of those instances too” Athos said, which wasn’t surprising considering how often his dream self got drunk. “Nope, not all of it. Which is another reason why our lives will continue as they are, we won’t turn into our dream selves. Not when it isn’t Halloween anyway” he added.
“You? Never.” He grinned a little as he nursed his wine, just enjoying the company. It was starting to distract his frayed nerves and be exactly the thing he needed. Just a little affection and Athos’ familiar scent was soothing. “No wonder we’re always poor there.” He rolled his eyes some, and then hesitated. “I think one Halloween is enough here. Duno if I want a repeat next year. Not that stealing a horse wasn’t thrilling and having to explain it the next day wasn’t fantastic..” The look on the ranchers face had been rather hilarious though. It wasn’t entirely bad.
Athos chuckled at the teasing. Affection and company were offered easily and openly to D’Artagnan, Athos was a simple man really with simple needs. “Mmm different times then, things were less complicated in a way” he said, before nodding, “Yes, as much as I love the uniform” and D’Artagnan knew first hand how much Athos liked him in the leather, “I don’t wish to actually become a musketeer again. One horse theft is enough for me” they had been really lucky that the rancher simply found them more amusing than anything else.
He gave him an amused look. “Really? Not even a little? I might if it were a thing here. I duno.” He’d thought about the musketeer thing, in comparison to their current jobs. The current wasn’t nearly as thrilling as he expected it to be but not much was after being one of the Kings Musketeers. “Even with the promise of more leather?” He gave his collar a playful little tug. “I think a lot of that was you being there.” He just laughed at it. Athos could be intimidating when he needed to be.
“The job would be fine but I mean turning into the musketeer from the dreams” Athos clarified, “The job would actually be fun but times are so different I doubt it would really work, it would probably be more like the agency” which was a shame. “I do love you in leather” he said pressing a long kiss to D’Artagnan’s lips. It was true when he needed to Athos could be quite forbidding but that only ever helped him out so it worked for him.
“Ah. Yeah if it meant things could stay the same but we change job titles I might take it. Mhm. No real king to protect.” For better or worse, there's often acted like a giant child. His lips tugged into a smirk at the leather comment. He returned that kiss and shifted into a bit more of comfortable position, his arm wrapping around Athos’ neck gently his fingertips toying with the back of his neck.
“That might not be a bad thing, Kings tend to be silly people” Athos said because theirs was definitely a child sometimes. Athos sighed happily into the kiss and his arms held D’Artagnan close as they kissed. Now this was a nice way to pass the time, making out on the sofa lazily together.
“Putting it lightly.” He chuckled as he leaned into the kiss. He was starting to loosen up a little finally. He brushed his tongue against Athos’ lip and moved again so he was nearly sitting on top of him now. Now he was distracted.
Distraction was the key and this was the nicest way to distract D’Artagnan, it worked in both their favours. He hummed into the kiss once he deepened it and let his hands slip down to cup D’Artagnan’s ass, squeezing it gently.
Athos’s kisses still had that same intoxicating quality they had the first time they kissed. It just made the rest of the world fade into a sea of white noise. His tongue brushed against Athos’s own while his fingertips teased the skin at the back of his neck. D’Artagnan straddled him, a soft content sound escaping his throat at his touch.
It felt good to be so close, as it always did when they were together. It was natural and relaxed as they kissed, of course the feelings between them intensified but there was always that sense of right underneath it all. Like they were meant to be together like this, no matter what. Pulling back slightly he smiled, “Love you” he said rubbing their noses together in an eskimo kiss before actually kissing him again.
Athos made him feel sexy and wanted when he was focused on like this. The corners of his lips curved into a small smile as the kiss broke temporarily. “Love you too.” And gave him enough time to catch his breath before another kiss fogged his brain. The world around them was quickly forgotten, only Athos mattered to him now.