Disclaimer: Though I would give my spleen to own V, sadly, I don't. Please don't tattle on me to the court.
V crouched behind a rather large stack of books in the far corner of the room like a panther ready to pounce. He couldn't resist watching Evey as she strode purposefully over to a long white table to pour herself a cup of tea. To her, he had been death for almost eight months now. But what she didn't know was that her beloved was alive and well, merely coaxing her to spread her wings and leave the darkness by remaining absent from her new life. Yes, that was it: her new life. A life in the golden sun of the world above; as far away from the abyss of the shadows of his world below. But it didn't mean that he did not follow her from time to time, trying to convince himself that it was just of assure her safety.
She seemed content with her life. The bright smile on her face made her as beautiful as ever as she eagerly took on her new career as a professor of the arts. Not only that, but she had finally reunited with her two old best friends, Kate and Danäe, and was absolutely adored by everyone—especially her students.
Yes, she seemed happy. So why did it hurt so much?
Evey stood before the tea tray, pouring the steamy amber liquid into a small cup, her back toward her two friends.
"Hey, Evey," Kate began with a smirk, "I think that Chris is quite taken with you."
V's breath caught reflexively. Yes he had seen the man Kate was referring to. Tall, brown hair, brown eyes, and an angelic face—the very definition of handsome to most people. V had seen them together chatting a few times, his gut wrenching every time Evey smiled or Chris gazed unknowingly upon her. They looked so perfect together, so…normal.
'It's for the best,' V would think. 'I want this to happen. I want for her to have a normal life.' But he knew that that was only half true.
"Is he, now?" Evey responded in a hollow tone that abruptly caught V's attention. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of hope. No matter how many times he tried to convince himself that Chris was just another happy addition to Evey's life, a small part of him loathed the man and tried to think of a way to keep him as far away from his love as possible.
The silence stretched for a moment while Evey reached for a lemon wedge and a small spoonful of sugar. Kate listened to the soft clink of the spoon against the sides of the porcelain cup before she spoke again.
"Evey," she hesitated for a moment. "He would want you to move on, to see someone else, to be…happy."
Kate grimaced as the spoon clattered painfully back onto the silver tray and Eve went stock-still. She was already regretting her words.
"It doesn't require another man to 'move on,' nor bring me happiness," Evey said coldly.
"Evey—"
"No!" Evey spun around. Sorrow, agony, and rage blazed in her eyes as she glared at the shell-shocked woman.
"I don't want someone else! There is no one else," she shrieked as tears began to flood her vision. "That chance came and went with…" her voice broke, and she swallowed. Quickly, Evey turned and picked up her tea, mustering all of her energy to retain her composure as she headed in agonized silence to the door. But then she stopped just before the threshold and released a shuddering sigh.
"I'd rather live with the pain than the illusion of happiness," she said softly, then left the room.
Kate and Danäe sat silently, just staring at the door. From his hiding place, V didn't even move. He had never felt so hopeful and yet so sad in his life. Could it be that she truly loved him—that is, if they were in fact referencing him? And, if it really was true, how much pain had he been causing her by staying away?
Danäe's voice brought him out of his reverie.
"Well, saying that she's over him would be the understatement of the year," she quipped in a humorless tone.
Kate let out a heavy sigh and raked her palm over her eyes before she spoke.
"Danäe, I just don't know what to do anymore."
They both sat in heavy silence for a few minutes before Kate inhaled deeply and stood up. "We have class. Let's talk about this later."
The two exited the room leaving V to contemplate his plan.
There was one way he could find out about Evey's feeling without revealing himself….
Should he…there were risks….
V sprang from his hiding place and raced out the window and down the fire escape.
Yes, he should…only because he might have a new reason to live, another chance at happiness.