Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

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V hummed quietly to himself as he flew silently down the hall. My lady is cold. I shall fetch her a blanket. This particular December had brought on a severely bitter chill, especially to the occupants of the Shadow Gallery. V tried to keep it heated to both their comfort levels but he usually adjusted to her frosty toes rather than to his own needs.

Some nights, however, it was so warm in the gallery that V could hardly stand it. The thought of Evey catching a whiff of his perspiration or seeing wet spots in the few areas he had sweat glands left disgusted him. Either way he made sacrifices for her. Tonight would be no different. He briefly stepped into his room to turn up the thermostat.

V smiled softly as he went, wondering how many times Evey had pled innocence and had used excuses such as the chill of the Gallery to distract his attention. I will cater to your request for now as long as you submit to mine later.

He returned to the room that Evey called the 'telly room' a few moments later, blanket in hand, to find that his companion had disappeared. The movie was still playing, the pillows where they had left them, a glass of water on the side table. V sighed and draped the blanket across the back of the sofa as he stepped around it. He sat on the edge of the seat and picked up the remote to pause the movie. He waited a few moments, listening carefully for any indication that Evey had simply gone to the kitchen or to use the loo, but there was nothing.

He stood and walked pointedly to her room. The door was open, darkness within but no indication of her presence. He stepped forward and rapped two gloved knuckles on the door as he peered in. "Evey?"

V heard a squeal of laughter and the door was shut abruptly in his face. He stepped back suddenly to avoid collision, a frown opposing the smile covering it. "Evey?" he asked again, leaning close to the door to hear her.

"Just a second, V," came her muffled voice.

"Is anything the matter?"

There was no response but the door opened a moment later. The lamp at Evey's bedside illuminated the room behind her, casting her silhouette in the doorway. "I was changing my clothes." V squinted against the shine of the light as he looked her over, affording no courtesies as he forgot to mask his indulgence. She had changed out of her usual blouse and skirt and had dressed down into her red silk nightgown, a gift from the masked vigilante that was a bit of a treat for himself as well. Yet, as to date, he had not seen her wear it, though he realized that she had on several occasions when he gathered her soiled clothing to be laundered.

He swallowed, unable to speak past the lump in his throat. It was only in her presence that he lost his words. He had quite openly given her a once over and now had lost all sense of direction in both words and action. Evey blushed under his scrutiny and crossed her arms over her chest. "Yes, I see that," he finally choked out, his voice not quite his own. He tilted his head as though to pose a question, unsure he was able to ask, but he recovered himself finally and he added, "Wishing to cut our evening short? It is only half past the hour of ten."

V was used to staying up until odd hours, Evey knew, and she tried to keep up. He was her only companion and he was busy most of the time. The only time she could pry him away from his work was usually in the morning and early afternoon. She had bribed him into staying in tonight by promising to watch any film he chose, just as long as he stayed with her. It was disappointing that she would turn in for the night already.

"I thought you had… Gone off to bed." Evey frowned lightly. It wasn't the first time that V had left abruptly, leaving her to herself for an indefinite amount of time. Usually it was something she had said or done that had upset him and driven him to flee. And tonight she thought she had done it again but that simply wasn't the case. V clearly wasn't upset at all, she could see in the way he stood and spoke to her.

"No," he replied simply, tilting his mask again, slightly to the left. His voice had softened, lowered an octave, addressing the topic gently. "I got up to fetch you a blanket," he added, bringing his hands together before him. He knew that it hurt her when he left without explanation, even more so when he didn't return.

He then held out a gloved hand to her and bowed his head lightly, "Would you care to finish the movie with me?"

Evey bit her lip, glancing down at the proffered hand. "Should I change back into my regular clothes again?"

She saw him hesitate, his form stiffening slightly. He was considering it. "That is for you to decide."

Evey nearly melted. His voice was wrought with such uncertainty and even a touch of sadness. Which do I choose?

"I'll be out in a moment."

V bowed again and walked away.