A/N: This begins Chapter Three of Thieves in Time: Unchained Melody. A rough road lies ahead for our boys.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I just enjoy messing with their lives.
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"Come on, Vila, try and understand." Avon pleaded with the man who had been his lover for the past two years. "You know I have to go away to complete my education. You've always known it."
"But it's four years, Avon! Four whole years!" The very thought of being separated that long made Vila sick to his stomach. He couldn't even imagine life without his other self beside him. They'd been together almost constantly since they were six, and lovers for two years. No one understood him like Avon. He'd even lost his family to follow this infuriating man!
Avon turned on him, trying to keep his tone reasonable. "Vila, I told you at the beginning that I couldn't promise…" He really didn't have a choice in the matter. If he was to attain his twin goals of wealth and power, he had to take the traditional path of advanced education. It meant learning, studying, networking, meeting new people who could further his ambitions. He couldn't do any of those things here. He had to go. Even if it meant leaving Vila and their life together behind him. And it was only four years. It couldn't be that bad. Could it?
"Damn it, Avon, I know what you said!" Vila spit out, his body rigid with anger. Then he shook his head, running a hand through his sandy hair, his voice softening. "I'll remember that night for as long as I live." He pulled his anger in, back from the brink of the yawning chasm he felt like he was powerless to avoid.
"So you understand then?" he said hopefully. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as he'd feared.
The young thief turned away, afraid he might actually break into tears. I won't cry, I won't! Not even for you, Avon, he thought fiercely, reining in his hurt. Try as he might, though, he couldn't put away his feelings. Something snapped inside him, his pent up feelings washing over him in a tidal wave. Spinning about, Vila stood, legs braced, fists on hips, eyes blazing, his face set in lines of anger and hurt and betrayal.
"Of course I understand! All those words you said, the way you felt about me, were they just words, Avon? Was I just a convenient stop on your journey to the top? Tell me, Avon, was I?" Vila took hold of the other's tunic with both hands, nearly pulling him off his feet.
Avon was so shocked at this uncharacteristic outburst that he stood wide-eyed for several seconds before reacting, but react he did, shrugging easily out of Vila's grip, then connecting his fist to Vila's jaw. The thief fell to the floor, barely missing sofa, and lay on his back looking up at his dark-haired companion. The pain in his jaw was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. He looked into the brown eyes he'd lost himself in so many times over the years, but the warmth, the caring, the desire he searched for now seemed to have vanished.
Seeing Vila lying there, looking so stricken, sliced through Avon's anger. What was he doing? He cared for this man, even perhaps loved him, and now he'd physically hurt him. He hadn't meant to do that; it was just an automatic reaction to a threatening situation, he told himself. Still…Stretching out his hand, he said, "I…I'm sorry, Vila. I didn't mean to lose my temper."
Vila stared at the hand warily for several moments before accepting it. "Well, I should know better than to grab you like that. You've warned me often enough." Vila stood and brushed himself off, then rubbed his bruised jaw. "Nasty habit, that," he remarked, his eyes still cloudy, his shoulders slumping.
"I'll try and remember," Avon said, ducking his head, suddenly ashamed of hitting Vila, even with provocation.
"But you're still going away, aren't you?" Vila's voice came flat and defeated.
Avon tried to take some of the sting out of the situation, though he felt his lover wasn't ready to accept reason yet. "Yes, but it won't be forever, Vila. Besides, you can come and visit whenever you want. It's not like I'm going away to prison, you know."
"It won't be the same, though," he mumbled.
"What won't be the same?" Avon was confused. They were talking about a physical relationship here, weren't they? That could be easily accomplished. He'd even help pay for Vila's transportation, if necessary. So what was so hard about that?
"When you're done learning all that…whatever it is," he waved his hand in the air, "you won't have time for me then, will you? I'll just be someone from your past, someone you'd probably be ashamed to acknowledge as a friend, just a thief, nothing more." Yes, he was feeling sorry for himself, Vila acknowledged, but it was the truth, however distasteful it was to him.
"What? Come on, Vila, snap out of it. You're making no sense."
"Well, it's true. You've always had the advantages your position gave you. I've had to work for everything." He set his jaw, though it still ached from Avon's fist.
Avon chuckled at the mental picture his words evoked: Vila slaving over an assembly line, swiping at the sweat dripping from his brow. "You never worked a day in your life, not an honest day, anyway," Avon said, smiling and rubbing the side of his face.
"You know what I meant, Avon," he said, exasperated. Why wouldn't the man see the truth of the situation? "I just get the feeling you're slipping away from me and there's absolutely nothing I can do about it."
Vila's words had the sound of a final judgment, Avon thought sadly. He took the other's face between his hands gently, mindful of the blossoming bruise. "Look, Vila, I leave tomorrow, but we still have tonight to be together. Let's not waste it arguing."
Vila found himself falling headlong into those brown pools Avon called eyes. He knew there would be no escape for him and was glad of it. "Yes, Avon, we have tonight and I intend to make it count." He captured his lover's mouth with his, thinking, And I'll make sure you don't forget me.
Avon followed him into the bedroom, knowing he was in for a night to remember. He began to undress slowly, his every movement calculated to leave Vila weak with desire. He watched the other man's face as the last item of clothing hit the floor…and watched that beloved face fill with raw desire.
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The speaker blared the first boarding call for the shuttle. Avon stood in the crowded terminal, having already bid a rather cold and unfeeling farewell to his father. It was not something he had wanted to do, but necessary, since the elder Avon was paying for much of his son's further education, not to mention his first class passage to the other side of Earth. He watched as his father left the boarding area, then cast a sidelong glance at Vila, waiting in the shadows.
"I thought he'd never leave," Vila whispered, coming to his side.
"Well," he said with a lascivious smile, "at least I'm departing from the Alpha sector, so no one will mind if I do this…" He pulled Vila into his arms and kissed him till the thief was giddy and totally embarrassed.
A final boarding announcement sounded. Avon touched Vila's cheek, scanning his face as if trying to memorize his features. "I'll contact you when I'm settled, I promise." With one last tender tracing of Vila's cheek, he turned and disappeared into the boarding tunnel.
Vila stared after Avon long after he had vanished from sight, then moved to the viewport. He watched the shuttle rise and depart for the outside. As the ship circled out of his line of vision, Vila felt as if the best part of his life had just come to an end. He brushed away a single tear, then squared his shoulders. He had things to do as well. Things that Avon would have had no part in even had he been there. He'd best get on with it.
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Avon was startled from his doze by the shuttle pilot's voice. "We will be docking in ten minutes. Please make sure all your carry-on luggage is collected."
Avon sighed and reached under the seat for his personal gear, the things he would have entrusted to no one but himself. He listened as the engines' vibrations lessened, felt the shuttle slowing, then rumble to its landing. He looked out the viewport and saw in the distance the compound that would be his home for the next four years. Suddenly feeling very lonely, he wished fervently that Vila were here to share this with him.
He undid his seat restraints and stood, waiting for his turn to move toward the shuttle's main hatch. At the gate, he hailed a ground transport, loaded his luggage, and asked to be taken to the University's Computer Complex. Settling back for the short ride, he stared out at the unfamiliar buildings passing by outside the windows, a whole new world for him to explore and conquer.
He only saw Vila's sad face.