A young brunette ran across the docks that were built around the large city, while two other boys raced about ten feet in front of the child. There was a blonde with bright blue eyes, who was tailing closely behind another boy with spiky tri-colored hair and amethyst eyes.

The young one lagging behind had glistening amber eyes and dark brown hair that was currently flying wildly around his face as ran.

"Hey!"

The brunette cried out holding out his hand as he tried to catch up with the older boys. The two ahead though didn't appear to hear him and kept running.

"Guys, wait up!"

The amber eyed boys calls went unnoticed by the other boys; however. The brunette panted raggedly and tried to go faster, but his legs screamed in protest when he tried to.

"Guys-!"

The brunette's call was cut off when he suddenly lost his footing; tripping over a loose board. His tawny colored eyed widened and a pained cry ripped from his throat as he fell over. The impact made his knee's scrape against the rough wood of the dock, and his chest to collide with the pier.

The high pitched yelp caught the attention of the two boys in front, who stopped immediately and looked behind them. Their eyes shot open upon seeing the younger on the ground.

"Hermos!" they cried out in unison.

They turned and raced back toward the brown haired Atlantean. Both came to a screeching halt once they reached him, and quickly knelt down beside him.

"Hermos are you alright," the blonde asked. Hermos sniffled as he picked himself up on his scratched elbows, "Why wouldn't you guys stop?"

The amethyst eyed child frowned guiltily, "We're sorry, Hermos. I guess Critias and I were just having so much fun that we couldn't hear you."

The boy the other had addressed as Critias slowly began to speak up again, "You're just not as fast as we are," he trailed off informatively. Hermos sniffled lifting his fist up and tried to wipe away the tears in his eyes. "Come on, let us help you up, Hermos," The spiky haired boy proposed.

Hermos hiccuped, but nodded, and allowed the two to help him up from his spot on the ground.

Timaeus put his hand on Hermos's shoulder, "Don't worry, Hermos. Critias and I promise never to leave you behind." he said vehemently earning a nod of confirmation from the blue eyed boy across from him.

Hermos looked back and forth between Critias and Timaeus.

"...You promise..." he whispered uncertainly.

Both boys smiled at him and locked their pinky's together with the brunettes.

"Pinky promise."

...

Timaeus looked down at the brunette still wrapped in his arms, Hermos had grown silent and his body had gone limp against his own. Timaeus sighed softly with a shake of his head, "Oh Hermos.." he whispered.

He stood there a little longer, gently stroking the slumbering teens hair. Allowing himself to temporarily bask in the peace of mind at knowing that Hermos was here and he was safe with him. He forced himself to break the contact with Hermos; however, and slowly slid his arms around the amber eyed boys shoulders and underneath his knee's.

He swept him off the ground with ease, making a soft grunting sound at the added weight. Timaeus's gaze softened down at the brunette's sleeping face, he knew the notion was childish and..maybe a bit overprotective on his part, but he enjoyed having Hermos close to him. Ever since they were children Timaeus had always liked to keep Hermos close to him wherever they went.

He knew that Hermos didn't like to be babied ever because he always wanted to be viewed as an equal. But Hermos was younger then them, wether or not he wanted to admit it, so Timaeus and Critias in a way always liked to be overprotective of him.

He was just so...small sometimes. Sometimes Hermos looked so breakable...so vulnerable...so fragile that it drove himself and Critias insane. They grew extremely protective of their younger friend, maybe even a little possessive, because they knew that sometimes Hermos could come off that way. And they didn't want other people to try to pick on him or hurt him because of it.

"I bet you don't even realize it, do you?" Timaeus mused softly down at the sleeping teen. Hermos only murmured something sleepily and incoherently; resting his head against the older boys shoulder. This caused Timaeus to smile gently as he began walking toward the archway that they had entered through.

He silently strolled down the currently empty halls toward Hermos's room. Being their Master's most prodigious students, they were all given their own rooms. They were all rather nice rooms too considering that before the three of them had begun their journeys to knighthood they had been considered nothing but lowly peasants.

However, even though they all had their own rooms most of the time they liked to stay in each others rooms. It wasn't that they didn't like sleeping in their own rooms, they just liked being together more.

Timaeus walked into Hermos's room, and gently laid him down on the bed. He stood there hovering above him, silently brushing the others brown locks from his face. "So, what do you think this is going to be like?" a voice asked from the shadowed area of the other side of the room.

Timaeus didn't look over nor did he even flinch or jump upon the voice. He already knew that Critias was in here from the moment he walked in, part of being a knight meant that they were always alert and aware of their surroundings. That and because he knew that Critias wanted to be here as well.

It was a normal urge they all seemed to get when one of them was in trouble or going through a hard time; they all wanted to be around them. Often during those times they would all sleep in that person's room with them. So it was only natural that Critias would come in here.

"It will be hard." Timaues replied evenly. "I know that Hermos wants to be a Knight. It's all any of us ever wanted from the moment even before we all met each other." he said in a reminiscing sort of way. "He doesn't want to be hateful toward us...he just can't help himself."

"Of course he doesn't want to act this way. Otherwise he wouldn't be so remorseful," Critias agreed stepping out of his secluded spot toward the bed. "We're going to have to work him to the bone, and he'll get angry at us. He might even say that he hates us..." Critias said in a forewarning tone.

"I know this already Critias," Timaeus said sternly side glancing to look at the blonde haired teen. "Hermos needs us, he needs us to be there for him and take care of just like we always have. This time is no different then any other. We must be strong for him...and do what's best for him."

Critias nodded silently letting his azure eyes drift over to the amber eyed boys sleeping form. He slowly strode over to the bed and sat on the edge of it, by Hermos's feet. "It's going to difficult...for all of us," Critias murmured.

Timaeus sighed and took a seat on the same side, but at the head of the bed. "I know." he whispered. He reached out again, tenderly stroking Hermos's hair. The tawny eyed boy let out a soft moan alerting his two other friends that he was stirring. Both knights watched intently as golden pools slowly opened. Hermos let out a soft confused moan, his vision blurring a little as he looked up at the two figures.

"Timaeus...Critias?" he asked questioningly, blinking in a tired dazed sort of way.

"Yeah, it's just us." Critias whispered soothingly. Timaeus continued to caress the younger boys hair, "You can go back to sleep Hermos, Critias and I were just talking," he assured him.

Hermos, in response, closed his eyes sleepily, "Oh.." he hummed out turning on his side so that he was facing Timaeus. Partially burying his face into the material of the older knights tunic that covered part of his leg, and blindly twisting his fingers into the sea foam green fabric. The action appeared to soothe the dark haired teen, allowing him to relax.

"You did well today Hermos, rest. Tomorrow we have more training to do." Timaeus said. Critias let out a soft sigh upon hearing this. Knowing that all this training would not only take it's toll on Hermos, but also on them. Considering that Timaeus and himself now had to train with Hermos and adhere to their knightly duties.

"Please don't leave..." Hermos pleaded silently as he began drifting off to sleep. Critias and Timaeus both let out a gentle sigh at that and relaxed into their spots on the bed. "Don't worry Hermos..." Timaeus assured softly.

Glancing over at Critias who's sapphire eyes were glued to the younger boy, watching over him.

"I don't think either of us are planning on going anywhere tonight."

TBC

Hey...me again. Yeah I made another chapter finally! I got another review on my first knights fic and it made me start to continue this one. I realize that this won't be very popular considering not many people ever write for this pairing or even the Atlantis AU. Which also means that not a lot of people even think about this kind of universe meaning they don't look it up. SIGH! Lol well anyway enjoy! And please review!