Porthos keeps his hold on Aramis as loose as he can, fearful that he'll tighten it and squeeze him to the point past breathing if he isn't careful. All he hears is that Athos doesn't care and for all that they love each other and have made such great strides, Porthos sometimes forgets the gap that exists between the three of them and all because of this. "It matters that you're in our lives. You matter," he says, hurt that Athos thinks otherwise.