Blake paused. This wasn't going to be easy. "Avon, have I done something to upset you?"
The imperious tech glanced at Blake with what appeared to be contempt.
"I haven't really given it a moments thought," he answered.
The ragtag group had been together for less than three months but they'd already started to pull together. Avon had gone along with the situation - in a way - but his sullen manner had really started to bug Blake. He had a feeling he knew why Avon was behaving this way.
"Is it because I'm leader? Is that why you're behaving like this towards me?"
"You're not the leader Blake, you just think you are. It suits me to let you take all the risks - and you seem to enjoy it. It amuses me."
The resistance fighter was stunned Avon's answer. He had thought he was beginning to build a grudging respect from this particular crew member. But now...
Blake looked questioningly at Avon, he started to speak, stopped to think and then began again, "You think you could do a better job - is that it?"
Avon laughed disparagingly, "Blake, Blake, why would I want to lead such a pathetic crew? More to the point, what makes you think there needs to be a leader. 'Each man to himself' has always been a motto I've held particularly dear."
Blake wasn't sure how serious Avon was. He had after all proved a valuable team member - he really wasn't as selfish as he pretended to be. "If that's the case why are you still with us?"
"I have my reasons."
"Which are?"
A slow smile crept onto Avon's lips, "I'm not sure you really want to know," he said.
Blake looked at him with a serious and intense expression, "What makes you say that?"
"Do you answer everything with a question?" Avon said, still smiling sadly.
"Do you?"
"Oh please are we going to play this silly game all day - I have work to do." Avon turned away and started to tap at a console, pretending to be busy.
Blake grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to turn around.
"I can see through you, you know. There is no point for you to keep pretending you have no feelings, you donut care. If that was the case you wouldn't have stayed with us for a second after we escaped from that prison ship."
Avon went to reply, but Blake was determined to continue, "And do not give me all that stuff about self-preservation. You need us as much as we need you."
Avon looked confused, "You need me?" He said quietly.
"Well of course - you've got one of the most brilliant minds I've ever come across. There is no way we could have got this far without you."
"No. That's not what I meant," Avon turned back to the console. He knew Blake would take his words at face value - deliberately ignore any deeper meaning, but it still stung.
Blake wasn't going to leave it there though. "Avon - what is wrong with you?"
Avon took a deep breath to prepare himself for what he was going to say. What he had to say. Now or never. "You're right I do need you. Not the others Blake. You."
Blake was stunned. His mouth opened and he gawped at the confession. He hadn't expected this. Not really. Maybe he'd misunderstood. "I..." No he couldn't think of anything to say. He turned and left the room.
Avon clenched his fist. Well that went well.
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Jenna was concerned. Blake had said very little all day and was wandering about the Liberator in a state of virtual catatonia. Not even Vila's chirpy inanities had roused him.
"Blake - if we don't do this soon it will be too late." She insisted.
"Wha... I'm sorry Jenna, were you talking to me? I can't seem to think straight for some reason."
"Well you'll have to try - if you're going to set yourself up as leader the least you can do is lead." The blonde was beginning to lose patience. She was also starting to question the wisdom of allowing Blake to use them in what was, after all, his war. The Federation was a corrupt and unpleasant institution, but what could such a small group really do to oppose it? And to ally themselves to such a high profile resistance figure was surely not a good idea. If they were caught the punishment would surely be far worse because of Blake's presence.
"Lead? Yes of course, I'm sorry Jenna, you're right. We should act right away." Blake got up from his seat and left the room.
"But Blake..." she called after him, but he took no notice. "Act?" she said to herself. She shrugged and braced herself to give some orders, "Vila, Cally, Gan you're going to have to go down to the planet and gather information," she paused for a second, "Has anyone seen Avon?" No one had.
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It took a while for him to track down Avon. The Liberator was so vast - if
someone wanted to stay hidden they would be impossible to find. Then again Avon didn't really want to stay hidden.
"I thought I'd find you here," Blake smiled.
"Really - how long have you been looking?"
"Oh - only about two hours." Blake smiled in spite of himself.
Avon sat among a vast pile of valuable jewels, absent-mindedly fingering a diamond necklace.
"Were you thinking of leaving us - grabbing some of this treasure and going?"
Avon looked up at his extant leader, moving his eyes but barely raising his face. "I was thinking about it. But if I'd really wanted to I would have gone already."
"Yes, I suppose so. What made you decide to stay?"
Avon looked down. But didn't answer.
"Avon - I asked you a question."
"I'm not a child Blake - there's no need to talk down to me."
"I wasn't..." Blake sighed. Avon could be so infuriating.
"I'm sorry."
The curly headed resistance fighter was stunned. Avon apologising?
"That's... all right. I suppose I'm sorry too."
Avon's head shot up, "Why are you sorry?"
"For not understanding, for not thinking about how all this might affect you, for... I don't know I just am."
Jewels fell to the floor as Avon stood up. "Blake I... shouldn't have said anything. I will leave if you want me to."
"But I don't want you to. I think..." Blake nodded his head, "Yes, I think I might need you too."
"You don't mean that."
Blake surprised himself, "I do," he gasped.
"As long as you're not doing this just to keep me from going." Avon warned.
"But of course I am. I don't want you to go - I'd do anything to keep you here," Blake grinned. Avon couldn't help joining in - a huge beaming smile that lit up his whole face.
"What now?" Blake whispered. The two had been staring at each other, not daring to speak for what seemed like forever. Avon moved closer. Blake let out a breath as he was embraced roughly. "Steady," he laughed.
"I'm sorry - I..." dark-lashed blue eyes met Blake's. The next few words were left unspoken. Several minutes later a deep, full kiss was broken as the two paused for air.
"We'd better be getting back," Avon said, "We'll be missed."
"What will they say when we tell them?"
"Why tell them?"
"I think they'll notice," Blake said, "Especially the disappearance of your utter contempt towards me."
Avon laughed, "Blake, I will always enjoy baiting you. I don't think my attitude will ever change that much."
Blake looked at him with a strange half-smile. "It could be fun."
end
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