A/N: I don't own these Blake's Seven characters, but I do like to play around with them, usually to their discomfort!
"Vila!" He heard his name cried from far, far away. At first, he didn't even connect the name to himself. Finally, with the last of his will, he pulled his fogged mind back to focus blurrily on the face hovering above him.
"Avon? You came."
Shock held Avon in place only a moment before he was cutting Vila free of the wreckage, carelessly tossing pieces of debris in every direction. Soon Vila's torso was free, but Avon found he hadn't enough strength to even budge the beam that had fallen across Vila's hips and legs.
Knowing there was no help in reach, he could only make Vila comfortable. Disregarding the danger and debris, he sank heavily onto the floor of the rubble beside Vila, easing himself under to create a lap for Vila's head and shoulders to pillow on. Through it all, Vila lay silent, the only sign of life his rising and falling breast and his too bright eyes following Avon's every movement.
They sat in silence, Avon idly stroking Vila's hair with gentle fingers. Vila closed his eyes wearily for several minutes, then opened them again, shifting his head slightly to look into Avon's face.
With infinite weariness, he asked, "'m gonna die, aren't I?"
Avon tried to hush him, but Vila demanded the truth with his eyes.
Avon sighed and nodded. "Maybe, if Liberator doesn't come back this way very soon."
Vila was silent, conserving strength, Avon thought, until he spoke again.
"If I have to die, I'd rather it be in your arms. 've loved you since I first saw you…in that cell." His voice got weaker toward the end and Avon had to lean closer to hear him. Vila's words sent lances of shock through his whole being.
"But…" he protested, "you never…I didn't know…" Vila smiled softly at having nonplused Avon so thoroughly.
Avon swallowed, trying to regain his composure. Finally, he said quietly, "You never indicated an interest, Vila. You had to know I was bisexual. Why keep it a secret from me?"
Vila turned his head, dropping his eyes in discomfort. "'cause I'm Delta and you're Alpha. Not right," he mumbled.
"Idiot," Avon cursed sharply. "Class never meant anything to me. It was always the person inside."
Vila looked up again, hope shining through the pain filling his eyes. "'s true?"
Avon smiled one of his rarely used genuine smiles. It lit up his dark features and reached all the way up to his warm brown eyes. "Yes, Vila, It's true. You've never been just a Delta to me."
Happy now, Vila sighed and passed out.
Avon blinked in alarm, reaching one hand to check for a pulse. He found it, but it was weaker than before. He cursed then, as his inability to help his friend came crashing down on him. Despair threatened to blanket him when heard the familiar sound of the teleport.
Blake and Cally wavered into view, searched the ruins a moment, then picked their way through the rubble to Avon and Vila, the only living beings amidst a sea of destruction.
"Cally, help him! I think he's dying. I couldn't get that damn beam off to examine him."
Gently disengaging Vila's head, Avon rose and, with Blake's added strength, hoisted the offending beam and threw it aside. Taking the teleport bracelets Blake handed him, he secured one on Vila's wrist, and the other on his own. With Cally still crouched by Vila, Avon snarled, "Teleport NOW!"