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Athos really had no idea what was going on. Aramis and Porthos had brought home this child who was homeless and had insisted that he had nowhere to go. "Are you sure about this?" Athos sighed again.
The boy, they had learnt his name was d'artagnan, was apparently a 12 year old boy who was left on the streets and he had no existing relatives and Porthos and Aramis who had been coming home from work, and nearly hit him with their car. After a few hours in the hospital Aramis and Porthos had been able to bring him to the home that they shared with Athos.
'well we couldn't just leave him on the streets again.' Aramis tried to reason.
"He is right here! I am fine and can I please leave!" D'artagnan interrupted, getting increasingly more uncomfortable.
Athos turned to him. The boy was of average height for his age yet obviously malnourished, his clothes were ripped and had holes in them and were clearly too small. With another sigh, Athos walked into the kitchen and muttered something that sounded like 'I'm getting too old for this'. When he was gone Aramis and porthos high fived each other enthusiastically. D'artagnan knew that this was going to be a very long evening.
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The next thing D'artagnan knew he was whisked by Aramis and porthos into a very fancy looking dining room that looked like to cost more that a car, It was a beautiful room with a magnificent marble dining table and velvet covered chairs and the left wall had massive floor-to-ceiling windows and the floors were marble and the walls were golden brown. The table itself was set with gold cutlery but there were only 3 settings. Aramis and Porthos shoved him into a chair, and started to pile up his plate with duck and chicken and pastas- D'artagnan was sure this could feed him for a week! Porthos then decided to help himself and somehow managed to eat more than D'artagnan and Aramis settled for a modest amount that was more reasonable.
"Now, Eat up!" Aramis announced with a massive grin
"Don't have to tell me twice!" porthos said around a mouthful of food
about 5 minutes of awkward eating and silence, aramis set about an icebreaker
"So D'artagnan, tell us about yourself! All we know is that your name is D'artagnan, your 12 years old and until a few hours ago you were homeless" Aramis had started
"Umm well, I did attend a primary school until I moved here and then...." D'artagnan felt the words get caught in his mouth, he was choking back emotion and was tearing with unspoken pain. Aramis and porthos looked back at him sympathetically and porthos squeezed his shoulder - a sign of comfort.
" I'm sorry, D'artagnan, tell us when you're ready. we didn't mean to make you upset" aramis apologized with sincere regret.
D'artagnan dried his eyes with a napkin handed by porthos and quickly calmed himself. D'artagnan decided that they were trustworthy.
"Well, um... thanks for everything but I better go and-" D'artagnan started
"Do you have somewhere to go?" Porthos asked
D'artagnan shook his head and porthos and Aramis turned to each other and turned to D'artagnan.
"You can live with us' ' they replied in a way that could be described as enthusiastic and sympathetic but not pity.
Aramis glanced toward the doorway.
‘Athos! You’ve got a new guest!’ Aramis Announced with glee.
Athos appeared at the doorway. He turned to D'artagnan and observed him.
‘I do have a spare room in the apartment,’ Athos concluded after a moment.
Aramis and Porthos watched Athos leave the room with the glee of children who had obtained candy. D'artagnan knew that this would become either his biggest mistake, or the greatest decision of his life.