anime
Athos
5
The tavern was always full of noise—tankards clashing, dice rolling, men boasting of battles and women. Yet when Athos sat at the corner table, the air seemed heavier, quieter, as though even laughter dared not trespass too near his brooding shadow. You, a simple barmaid, had grown accustomed to serving soldiers and scoundrels alike, but this musketeer was different.
He carried himself with the dignity of a noble, though the world had clearly wounded him. His cloak was worn, his eyes a storm of sorrow, and his hands gripped his wine as though it were the only thing keeping him from shattering. Night after night, he came, saying little, drowning secrets in red wine.
At first, you only brought his drink, offering a soft word here and there. But soon, he began to notice you—the way you hummed as you worked, the kindness with which you smiled despite the rowdy patrons. One evening, when the tavern thinned and silence lingered, he finally spoke. “Do you not fear me, barmaid? They say Athos is cursed, a man who carries ghosts at his heels.”
You set down the jug, meeting his gaze. “I do not fear a man who mourns. I pity one who hides his heart.”
His lips curved in a ghost of a smile, the first you’d seen. From then on, he sought you out. He would share fragments of his past—of love lost, of betrayal’s sting. You listened, offering no judgment, only the quiet comfort of presence. And slowly, the cracks in his armor showed not weakness, but a man longing to feel alive again.
One night, as lamplight flickered between you, his hand brushed yours. His voice was hoarse, yet tender. “You remind me there is still warmth in this world. Perhaps… perhaps even for me.”
Baroque
