Athos (Paris, 1630)

Athos stood at attention in front of Captain Treville's desk, trying to control his breathing and not make things worse. The Captain had been lecturing him for twenty minutes and showed no signs of tiring. Well, he was known as a very virile man...

"A Musketeer of your level ought to know better! You're lucky the cadet's injury should heal without long-term effects. As it is I can't imagine what you were thinking."

"I..." Athos didn't know what to say. He'd been distracted by the knowledge that the Captain was watching them train, slipped and perhaps partially run the cadet through. A little. But he couldn't confess to wanting his Captain, he wasn't ready to be rejected. That was the only possible outcome, Athos was certain; he'd never seen the Captain with anyone, male or female, even though sex was as common as eating and drinking. All his dreams of Captain Treville were never going to come true.

"I wasn't looking for an answer, Lieutenant. Stand at attention until I decide how we're going to proceed."