A V for Vendetta story, posted the day of the V for Vendetta DVD release. V sees no coincidences, do you?
"V…the world is changing," Evey said quietly as she crossed her arms over her knees on his sofa.
The masked man beside her nodded. "Yes, I know. You helped me to change it. Thank you for that,"
She smiled a little. "You did all the heavy lifting, I'm not going to take credit just for pulling a lever."
A slight tilt of the mask. "You must take credit where credit is due. All the same, I'm grateful to you, for everything you did for me."
"I wish you were here for me now,"
"I'm still here, just inside your Gallery,"
"You know what I mean."
"I'm where you want me to be. You only want me in the Gallery."
She tucked a caramel curl behind her ear. "I know, it just seems the best place for you."
"It is. I couldn't think of a better place to be remembered within. I want for nothing here, save for your occasional company, which is very pleasant."
"You said you fell in love with me." Her voice was soft.
"I did,but you must not dwell on that forever. I meant every word, and I took that love with me when I died. You granted me my last great wish, Evey."
Large brown eyes raised to the joyous squint of Guy Fawkes. "Your last wish?"
"Don't you remember? I wished to see you one last time before that 5th. Not only did you return, but you danced with me. You kissed me, you held me as I died. No man could have asked for more than to have your face be the last thing he sees on this earth." A black-gloved hand reached to take in both of her own.
A silent tear escaped the corner of her eye, she made no move to brush it away. "I think I knew before you told me, what was going to happen to you that night,"
"Death for me was only a matter of time. My body had been ravaged- torture, injections, the fire…I lived long enough to ensure the vendetta, it was my reason. You made the last year of my life somehow brighter despite everything. I was always alone, but never lonely."
"V, your hands!"
The masked man glanced down to find that his black gloves, so long a part of him, had disappeared; the ruined flesh corded over the muscles of his hands, angry scar tissue surrounding every finger. The warmth of his flesh touched Evey's heart. "Oh, V…"
"You see my hands now because you saw them then. I'll never be able to kiss you, Evey, you never saw my face. But always remember that you made a dying man very happy." The sadness in his voice was heavier than ever.
She reached totake his mask, and V made no move to stop her. The mask was removed, only to find empty air beneath it. The smiling Guy Fawkes grinned at her, happily as ever to be held in her hands. V was smiling upon her, as hehad every day since his death, only one year ago on the 5th. She sighed heavily and brushed away the tears.
The kissed his mask, the only kiss he would ever remember, and resolved to kiss it every November 5th. She replaced the mask on the table; the small alter she'd created for V remained untouched in the Gallery, all of his most beloved things, the things that had made him happy...
His copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, a book of sonnets, Valerie's roses, his gloves, his daggers…
"Remember, remember…I remember you, V, I could never forget...I'll make it my reason to be sure the world remembers you…"
Evey left the Shadow Gallery then, and stepped into the New World, calm, still and strong. Her one wish was only that she could make him proud.