"Corpse reviver?" Vila held out the glass, hoping his utter relief at Avon's return wasn't too obvious to the rest of the crew. He watched as Avon downed the liquid, rose to his feet and dusted his hands off.
"The rumours of my death…" he said to no one in particular.
"…have been greatly exaggerated," Tarrant finished for him.
He offered a slight twist of his lips in amusement. "Well, slightly exaggerated anyway," the tech corrected, replacing the teleport bracelet. He sent a quick glance in Vila's direction, then walked ponderously, wearily, to his quarters.
His thoughts were such a whirl, Avon knew he had to be alone to make sense of them, before making any decisions regarding his future. He resolved then and there to let the past die. He would bury it later.
Entering his silent cabin, he collapsed on the bunk and fell into a deep slumber almost immediately.
Avon dreamed. His dreams recalled the previous five pain-filled days, his revenge on the one called Shrinker and, finally, the horrible realization of his betrayal by Anna Grant. He awoke drenched in sweat, still feeling the cold metal against his cheek where Servalan had caressed him with his own gun.
His thoughts tumbled over each betrayal. One by one, they added to his mounting sense of failure and lingered deep within his soul. Briefly, he considered ending his own life but a sunny voice from somewhere called him back with words of love freely given, which he'd taken and rejected, which was then offered yet again, even in the face of unspeakable violence. Suddenly, he knew with analytical certainty where his future happiness lay. There was only one who had never, could never betray him. And that one slept in the cabin next to his.
With new resolve in his mind and a feeling his heart still refused to give name to, Avon stood at the entrance to Vila's quarters.
He signaled, asking, "May I come in?"
The door slid to one side for him and Avon stood unmoving at first, then entered the dimly lit cabin.
He regarded the figure reclining on the bunk and approached slowly, each succeeding step reinforcing the rightness of his decision. He knelt and reached to stroke the thief's warm face.
"What can I do to make it up to you, Vila?"
Vila sat up, startled by Avon's tenderness and the seriousness of his gaze. "Make what up to me?" Both eyebrows rose. This wasn't like Avon, at least the Avon he'd lived with for so long.
"All those others…Tynus, Anna," Avon lowered his eyes, "…and even when Blake and I…and you never abandoned me, never betrayed me."
Vila shook his head, trying to stop his friend from proceeding. He was almost sure Avon would regret saying these things. Almost. But oh, how he wanted to hear these words, had imagined them so many times. Still. "You don't need to do this, Avon."
"Yes. I do." The tech's fingers continued to stroke Vila's face, encountering moisture that hadn't been there a moment before. "I was the fool, Vila, not you, and I think it's time we stopped playing this game."
"What game would that be, Avon?" Maybe they weren't heading the same way. Maybe he was hearing only what he wanted to hear. Maybe, maybe, he was dreaming again.
"I'm tired of hiding behind the lie." Avon seemed to consider his next words very carefully. "And I think it's time we got on with our lives…together."
"Together?" Vila repeated. Could he mean…? After so long? After so many obstacles? After…everything that had happened between them?
"Yes, Vila. You and me…together." He waved a dismissive hand in the air. "But we'll discuss the details later, in my cabin. I think what we need is a witness."
"A witness? To what?" Just when Vila thought he knew what was happening, Avon threw in something he didn't understand. Typical, though.
Avon, all seriousness up until now, cracked a smile. "To make it official," he said, as though explaining things to a child.
Vila was confused at first, but daring to hope. "You mean...us?"
"I believe that is what I said." Avon held out his hand. "Come with me, Vila…please."
He stood, stepping into his shoes next to the bed. "Where are we going?"
"The flight deck."
"But it's late watch," Vila protested. "Cally's on duty alone."
"Precisely," Avon said with a wry grin. "We need a witness, not an audience."
The two men walked silently to the flight deck in search of their quarry. Even before they reached the entry stairs, the soft muted strains of Cally's harp could be heard. They knew she often whiled away late watch hours thusly. It seemed fitting as they walked down the stairs side by side.
They waited until she'd finished and laid the instrument aside. "Cally?" Avon called out softly.
"Vila…and Avon, shouldn't you be resting?" she accused the tech, frowning at him.
Avon grinned at her. "I was, but I discovered something that needed to be taken care of."
The pair walked towards the Auron. "What is it?" she asked, puzzled. "Is there something wrong?"
"No, Cally," Avon replied. "In fact, something's very right for the first time in years. We do need your help just now, though."
He didn't explain further. He turned to face Vila, taking Vila's hands in his, and began to speak very softly, looking the thief in the eye. "I promise to care for you from this day, Vila. I offer you my faithfulness and…" he hesitated, "my loyalty, beyond my life." He drew a deep breath. "I swear it."
Vila blinked back threatening tears. All those years, he'd dreamed of a day when he and Avon could make some kind of public commitment to each other. But it had always been a hopeless fantasy. Now he was suddenly confronted with reality in black leather.
"Well, Vila," Avon prompted with a tentative smile, "do I get a reciprocal promise?"
"Uh, of course." The thief reached inside himself, to that secret place he'd hidden the words he had always wanted to say to the man standing before him, words he'd thought would remain buried forever.
"Avon," he began softly, "I promise to be faithful to you, to stand beside you and…love you for as long as I live. I swear it."
Then, before an astonished Cally could recover, Avon leaned forward and placed a shy but lingering kiss on a surprised Vila Restal's lips.
Cally watched, silently fascinated at the spontaneous ceremony. Never in her wildest imagination could she have conjured something like this. She knew Avon would never admit his love for Vila in front of anyone, possibly not even to Vila himself, but he'd gone further than ever before with his vow of loyalty and faithfulness.
Avon broke the spell by turning away and handing her the discarded harp. "Sing something for us, Cally, please." He sat, pulling Vila down beside him, their hands till clasped.
She strummed the strings, remembering something she'd learned from a recording of ancient Earth folk songs. Avon recognized it and smiled.
The first time ever I saw your face,
I thought the sun rose in your eyes,
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the empty skies, my love
To the dark and the empty skies.
She saw the two men look at one another, then began the second verse.
The first time ever I kissed your mouth,
I felt the earth move in my hand,
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird,
That was there at my command, my love,
That was there, at my command.
Vila drew a deep sigh as he felt Avon put an arm around his shoulder, drawing him closer. He knew how the last verse was worded. He closed his eyes, letting the words flow over him.
The first time ever I lay with you,
I felt your heart beat, so close to mine,
I knew our joy would fill the worlds,
And would last till the end of time, my love.
And would last till the end of time.
Ewan MacColl, 1957.
She continued to play softly, though the words were done.
Not seeming to care that Cally was present, Avon pulled Vila close, kissing him softly, slowly. "I care for you, Vila," he whispered against the other man's lips. "So very much. I just can't seem to…"
Vila's fingertip stayed Avon's lips. "I understand, Avon," Vila whispered back.
Cally moved to the far end of the deck, allowing them to be as alone as possible without abandoning her watch.
After several minutes of sitting, holding each other close, they wordlessly rose and headed for Avon's quarters, knowing they could count on Cally to keep the secret between the three of them. Of course, Tarrant and the others would surely make ribald comments, should they ever decide to consolidate their living quarters openly. For now, though, it was just the two of them and they had the rest of the late watch to be alone together.
On the now empty flight deck, Cally picked up her harp and began to sing softly to herself. "The first time…"
B7B7B7B7B7
A/N: Yes, yes, I know. It's about time Avon came to his senses! This is a good start, but how will it play out? Boy's Night Out, the next chapter/story, is a bit of fluff that finds Vila unhappy with the way Avon is treating him and he resolves to do something about it, with the help of the rest of the crew.