Avon was stuck, or, more properly put, locked out. The larcenous object of his quest lay behind this private, locked door that unaccountably sported a new type of lock he hadn't a clue how to open. The dark, silent streets at his back made him feel exposed and vulnerable, even at this early morning hour. He sat back on his heels, considering – and was galvanized by a young-sounding voice from the shadows.
"Thought you'd be stopped by that," said a youth not much younger than himself as he approached Avon, moving with the still-gawky gait of adolescence. His grey jumpsuit blended easily into the blighted suburban landscape around them. Much better, Avon thought, surprised, than his own silver-studded black tunic and trousers. The young man's voice was quiet and conspiratorial, as though he belonged with Avon, trying to break into the secured building.
Keeping his own voice low with great effort, Avon ground out, "Who the hell are you, Delta, and why are you watching me?"
The Delta shrugged, taken aback by the Alpha's apparent anger. "Saw you casing this place days ago and wondered what you were up to, and I sort of…kept a watch for you. I was right, though, wasn't I?" He seemed awkward and worldly-wise at the same time. Avon was exasperated and frustrated, both by his own failure and this cheeky youth.
When Avon didn't speak but just looked daggers at him, the young man went on, "I see you found out about the new lock they installed today, huh?"
"What do you know about it? How'd you know about the new lock? Just who or what are you?" came the low-voiced questions, driven by his mounting frustration.
"I'm a thief, just like you," Vila said, surprised at his question. "Besides, I been casing the place, too. Saw 'em change the lock last afternoon, I did. I can still get in, of course, but it'll take longer."
"I'm NOT a thief. I'm a social protestor," Avon corrected absently. Then, more sharply, "You can pick this lock? I've never even seen one like this, but you think you can do it. How?" Avon said sarcastically, driven by his vanity and not a little by his curiosity about this strange Delta.
"Like this." He applied himself to the lock, pulling mysterious items from various places about his person, to Avon's bemusement. Shortly, with a flourish, the youth threw open the door, stepped back and waved Avon grandly in.
"Just like that, you opened the lock and disabled the electronic security system?"
"Electronic security system?" he quavered.
"You didn't…Let's get out of here. Now!" Avon said as he grabbed the surprised youth and tore away from the building into the shadows. Behind them raged sirens they didn't stop to investigate.
Safely away into more frequented, well-lit areas, the two strolled ever-so-casually down the street. Stopping abruptly, the youth turned to Avon and stuck out his hand.
"Vila Restal. Who're you?" he asked with an open smile. Except for the alarm, hadn't he just proved the equal of this slender man in black?
"Avon," came the terse reply, as he stopped, ignoring the proffered hand. He looked the youth over carefully, gauging how far he could trust this…thief. He was shorter than Avon, slighter of build, gangly and he hadn't yet come to terms with his body. Avon felt very superior in his new-come maturity. After all, he was 23, on his own and fairly well-employed for his age group. And that was all he was, to all outward appearances.
A peculiar look came over Vila's face. A look of recognition. Big-eyed, wonder painting his face, Vila exclaimed, "Of course! You're one of those Young Lions I keep hearing about. The way you brought down that Fed-loving councilman last month was sweet! You guys are famous in my crowd. Looked up to by my friends." He sounded somewhat in awe to find himself standing here, casually talking to so famous a person.
"Yes, well, that makes all the difference, doesn't it? To be looked up to by a bunch of Delta kids and thieves," was Avon's scornful reply. He walked on, with Vila scurrying to catch up.
"What're you gonna do about that building?" he questioned.
Avon gave him a dark look. "Well, I sure as hell can't go back there for a while, now can I?" he replied in disgust. "Not after you've alerted them to my intentions."
"Well, at least I proved I could open the lock, didn't I?" he protested. With some trepidation, he asked, "Do you think, you know, that you'd, maybe, include me in your next job? I'm good, I really am. Just try me, huh?" He juddered to a stop, because Avon was staring at him like he might be a newly discovered lifeform, aghast at the thought of joining forces with this…Delta thief!
"You want to…you're asking me to…you've got to be kidding!" If Vila could have seen into their future, he would have enjoyed this one instance when he'd rendered Avon speechless. As it was though, he felt affronted!
"I proved myself, I did! You couldn't have opened that lock in a million years! I'm good, I tell you. Just try me," he finished, with defiant lift of his chin.
Avon leaned his shoulders against the wall of a building and crossed his arms in front of him, his head cocked, considering for a long while. Finally, he shook his head, hitching himself forward off the wall with one elegant movement. "Nope. I don't think so. After tonight it'll be too dangerous to attempt anything like that for awhile." His eyes grew distant, as though wheels were spinning in his mind. At last, he continued, "I have in mind something even better. Much better. I'll be able to get back at society in a major way. All I need is the right level of access, then I'll have all the money I want and the power to go with it." His gaze sharpened onto Vila's face. "You just wait and see," he finished, arching an eyebrow.
Then, "Sorry, Vila, I just can't use you. But I do owe you for tonight, for what you tried to do to help me. I always pay my debts. If I can ever repay you for that, come to me."
Vila stared. He felt he'd missed something and hadn't a clue as to what. Well, he did have an Alpha in his debt, not a bad thing in itself. Trying to put the best face on it he could, to cover his disappointment, he said, "Well, that's it, I guess. See you around sometime?" He had to try just one more time, but all he got was Avon's frown and a shake of his head. "No, thought not. Well, it's been fun."
With a casual wave, he disappeared into the shadows. Avon stared at thin air for a moment, then shook his head again at the whole adventure and the unexpected participation of the young Delta. He wondered briefly if they'd ever meet again. He very much doubted it.
Of course, just this one time, he was wrong.