Athos bows his head. He crosses himself out of sheer reflex.
He can feel Laflèche watching him. “You still believe?” he asks, sounding sad.
“Shouldn’t I?” Athos says, quietly. “Why should I let them take anything else away from me?”
“Good for you,” Laflèche says after a moment. “Hold on to that belief, if you can. Not many of us do. But maybe it’ll help you.”
Athos doesn’t answer. After a moment Laflèche sighs and pushes back his chair.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have told you after all,” Laflèche muses. “But I’m getting old now, and I don’t think somehow I’ll ever get any younger. I thought someone else ought to remember. And you’re the first one to actually ask.”
He feels a warm hand on his shoulder for a moment, Laflèche’s grip tight and firm. Then the other man goes off to bed, leaving Athos alone with the rest of the wine bottle.
He reaches out for it, then stops. Maybe Laflèche’s right. Maybe he should stop.
He’ll stop soon, Athos tells himself. But tonight, he doesn’t want to have nightmares.
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timeasmymeasure
Fill: Ye Heirs of Glory 3c/? [Athos/d'Art, Porthos/Aramis. Dystopian A/B/O, full warnings in part 1]
Date: 2014-12-09 03:35 pm (UTC)He can feel Laflèche watching him. “You still believe?” he asks, sounding sad.
“Shouldn’t I?” Athos says, quietly. “Why should I let them take anything else away from me?”
“Good for you,” Laflèche says after a moment. “Hold on to that belief, if you can. Not many of us do. But maybe it’ll help you.”
Athos doesn’t answer. After a moment Laflèche sighs and pushes back his chair.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have told you after all,” Laflèche muses. “But I’m getting old now, and I don’t think somehow I’ll ever get any younger. I thought someone else ought to remember. And you’re the first one to actually ask.”
“I’ll remember,” Athos says quietly. “You’re right. Someone should.”
He feels a warm hand on his shoulder for a moment, Laflèche’s grip tight and firm. Then the other man goes off to bed, leaving Athos alone with the rest of the wine bottle.
He reaches out for it, then stops. Maybe Laflèche’s right. Maybe he should stop.
He’ll stop soon, Athos tells himself. But tonight, he doesn’t want to have nightmares.