I am terribly sorry for the delay! I've had a lot of stuff crash down on me all at once, but I am back! I hope you will find this chapter long and rewarding! Happy reading! (As always, I own nothing!)
Evey tensed, breathing hard. All of her muscles hurt, her strength was failing her, but still, she refused to give into her smiling adversary.
It had been almost three weeks since their rooftop adventure and Evey had hardly spoken to or seen V since. At first, Evey thought it was her new council position as she was working late hours. Fight though she may, Evey always managed to fall asleep before V came to bed. That was, if he was even sleeping. Evey hadn't woken up beside V since that first morning and she was beginning to wonder if she had scared him off. It was wearing her nerves thin, not knowing if she was being avoided and even more so not knowing what hobby was taking all of his time. She barely saw him, and when she did, his only inquiries seem to be tailored toward getting her to train.
Evey had agreed at first, looking forward to her private lessons under his tutelage, but was quickly disappointed when the sessions consisted only of him showing her different paces to practice before leaving her to the cruel master of repetition. It had only frustrated Evey even more, leaving her training long hours into the night.
But today was different. Today she was going to prove just what she had learned during all of her hours spent alone. After hearing him walk in that evening, Evey had marched up to him and told her distant vigilante that she was ready to be tested with weapons. V had only paused for a moment as he took in her bristling determination before nodding and following her into the training room.
Evey let a smirk slide onto her face as much to taunt him as to gloat over having landed a blow on his shoulder only moments before. She kept her sword at the ready, not fooled for a second by the casual stance the man had adapted, his sword hanging loosely by his side. Her smirk brought an eerie stillness to his presence. This was it—he leapt at her, almost faster than the eye could track, but Evey's eyes were trained. She saw his boots leap from the tops of harmless crates, to light for seconds off the opposing wall, before launching a lethal aerial attack aimed right at her. All Evey felt was calm as his sword descended. She'd expected as much—grandiose tactics had always been his downfall, he couldn't resist giving a show.
Evey easily dove forward into a roll that brought her to her feet. She swung her sword as hard as she could at his exposed back, fast enough to render any normal man incapacitated. But V was no normal man. He whirled with unparalleled agility, sword coming up just in time to create a deafening clang with her own. The opponents stared at each other over crossed blades, both breathing hard. Evey knew she'd surprised her vigilante and a fierce pride blossomed in her because of it. She knew it would be her undoing but she couldn't help it—she was angry with V and the moment was too good to pass up.
"Reflexes not what they used to be, V?" Evey taunted.
With an imperceptible flick of his wrist, Evey's sword was sent flying upwards. Trying her best to keep hold of her weapon, Evey was sent spinning in a circle carried forward by the sword's momentum. V easily stepped forward, stopping her movement by capturing her and her sword against the wall. Evey inwardly growled in frustration. Every time she thought she had the edge, V proved her wrong. If she was honest, she knew V could've easily avoided her earlier nick to his shoulder.
They both paused for a moment, a pleasant shock coursing through their bodies after so much time apart. V couldn't help but languish in holding her powerless with her sword trapped above her by his own. With all of the hours he'd been pouring into surveillance, he hadn't realized how much he'd missed being close to her. He had told himself he was simply avoiding distraction, but looking into her angry brown eyes, he was beginning to question his approach to keeping Evey safe.
Regardless of intentions, V could not refuse an opportunity to teach Evey a lesson that might save her life in the future. He brought his mask close to her ear, loving the way Evey hummed in pleasure at his proximity even as she attempted to resist him.
"Pride must have a fall. I thought I warned you against taunting larger enemies?" He gently scolded. "I'm beginning to think you're not paying attention…"
Trying in vain to cringe away from him, even as he pressed her firmly to the wall, Evey had to think fast. She was NOT losing to him again. She was tired of V always having the upper hand. There had to be a way out, but how? He was obviously bigger, stronger, and more experienced than she was. How would she ever gain the advantage? But it was hard to think of a reason to escape when her heart and body betrayed her. No matter how angry she was, Evey had missed him.
As V pulled back, his mask only inches from her face, their sudden proximity charged the small space between them, betraying their sensibilities. It suddenly dawned on Evey exactly how she would best V—her body language changed, turning at once from defensive to demure.
V tensed, noting the change as she pressed her body against him instead of resisting and leaned forward to kiss his mask. Catching him by surprise, Evey grinned when his grip on her grew lax and his weight shifted against her from a posture of restraint to one of acceptance. It was change enough to allow room for her leg to find its way between his. Oh yes, she knew exactly where his weak spot was.
In one swift motion, she'd brought her knee up between his legs. V let out a grunt of pain, immediately dropping his sword to instead double over in pain. Before he could even lift his head to present her with an accusatory glare, Evey's sword tip titled his mask up as she stood over him, sword pressed to the base of his throat. Her winning smile was enough to cut through even his aching pride. Evey winked at him.
"And you forgot the most important lesson of combat—never underestimate a woman."
She tapped him twice on the shoulder with her sword before sheathing it and striding away. Shaking his head at her audacity, V gingerly stood, grumbling to himself,
"Remind me to never let you fight outside of the Gallery."
Evey called over her shoulder, "I'll get you some ice."
Fretting over how he would once again gain Evey's good graces, V came to a singular determination: she was definitely still mad at him.
V was tired and cursing.
He had been tailing a trio of Fingers earlier in the night who he had determined to be the highest ranking "officers" outside of the mysterious Rich. If he could just trail them without detection he was sure they would unknowingly giveaway their final encampment. There were five sites in total, that much he had confirmed. He had found four after weeks of surveillance and he was sure that tonight would be his final sweep before putting the final touch on his reconnaissance mission. However, he should've known the Fingers wouldn't stay on the track, trouble was too tempting and London streets at night were still a dangerous thing to behold for the weak and weary.
"I promise... I promise I wasn't eavesdropping. I'm just on my way home, I swear."
"Oi, whattya think boys? Seems to me the lad needs ta be taught some manners."
There was a murmur of agreement.
"The Fingers don't get any respect anymore. Someone might start to think people are no longer afraid."
"Right you are, almost like blatant disrespect to higher authority."
V peered around the corner to see a teenage boy cowering in a corner, surrounded by the three large men. He didn't stand a chance. The boy put his hands in front of him, trying to placate the Fingers.
"I do respect you, I swear it. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time! I've really got to get home to my ma, she's sick ya know."
"Ah, like we haven't heard that before. You should've thought twice before stepping out after hours and listening in on conversations that aren't yours to be heard."
V was suspended in hesitation as he watched the men advance. If he stepped forward, his presence would be revealed. If he easily dispatched the men, he would never gain the last encampment and Rick would surely go underground at the loss of his top officers. When the boy cried out as one of the men grabbed him roughly by the front of the shirt and pinned him to the wall, V suddenly smiled a cold smile. There was an option he hadn't considered, an option he was quite fond of: theatrics.
V staggered into the alleyway, appearing for all intent and purposes as if he'd just stepped from a bar. He belted out an off-key melody:
Look at the black 'earse, bloomin' great 'orses.
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!
Look at the bearers, all in their frock coats.
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!
And look at their top 'ats, polished with Guinness.
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!
V swayed with each step until he was standing in front of three startled men, holding batons and knives at the ready. The third still had a loose grip on the boy. V recognized fear in their eyes before it was replaced with suspicion.
"It... it can't be. He's dead!" The smallest of the Fingers said, looking at his companions for support.
"Exactly!" V slurred, pointing upwards as if he had a point to make that he couldn't quite remember. "Ain't it grand to be bloomin' well dead?"
V burst into a grand fit of laughter, causing him to stumble enough to catch himself on the wall.
The tallest of the officer stepped forward dismissively.
"Nah, it just another nutter off his rocker. Who knows how many of those blasted capes and masks are still floating around."
"V wasn't a nutter! He died protecting London from scum like you." The boy said with conviction, straightening even as the Finger's arm still pinned him to the wall.
Even as V slouched against the wall, he winced at the boy's words, now was not the time for childish bravery. V suddenly perked up as if remembering something, stumbling toward the Fingers before they could deal out the intended blows for the boy.
"But I'm V! Can't you see. It's me, the caped crusader!" V giggled like a child with a secret, taking one of the Fingers shoulders as if in camaraderie and began singing in delight:
Look at the children, bloomin' excited.
Ain't it grand, to be bloomin' well dead!
Look at the neighbours, bloomin' delighted.
Ain't it grand, to be-
His song was quickly interrupted as the Finger delivered a sharp punch to his stomach. V forced himself to go down to his knees, knowing the blow should've left any man incapacitated. He feigned surprise as the three men converged on him and began kicking him from all sides. V grunted and internally checked his natural reflexes, instead settling for protecting his mask so as to insure they would not discover it was not made of plastic. After receiving a particularly nasty blow, he let out a dramatic cry, positioning his curled body so that he could see past the men to where the boy had been. Even in pain, V smiled at the knowledge that the boy had escaped safely.
When he had first went down, he had seen the boy hesitate as if wanting to help before logic caught up with him. He was outnumbered and there was no way to help. V hoped it would leave a lasting impression when the boy entered future encounters. When V stilled and began to quietly weep, the blows came to an end.
"That will teach ya to imitate bloody terrorist. Now piss off."
The smallest man leveled a last kick at V that caused him to lose his breath and bridled his anger in a dangerous way. The men laughed before walking away. After a few moments, a dark shadow rose slowly, no hesitation in his movements or hitch to his breathing. The air seemed to crack with anger as he strode forward into the night, trailing the unsuspecting men once more. His movements were efficient and his very presence screamed danger.
The Fingers had no idea what reckoning they awaited.
V gingerly stepped onto the Gallery's rooftop, wondering just how many ribs the Fingers had managed to crack. He had found the final encampment, but his pride was far from satisfied at the cost. Wallowing was not something he found easy, especially in the face of the very regime he had fought so hard to destroy. He just about to head to the lift when he sensed her presence.
"Where were you?"
V slowly turned to see Evey leaned against a wall, her arms crossed tightly across her chest, her eyes hard. Ah, lady luck was not smiling on him tonight. Maybe his theatrics could manage once more?
Stepping forward with both his arms out wide in a gracious manner, V turned toward her as if in surprise, ignoring the fact that the motion pulled at his injured sides.
"Ah, Evey! I didn't see you there. I do hope you weren't waiting up on my account?"
Evey stepped forward, her eyes narrowing.
"You know very well it's on your account. I know I said I wouldn't ask, but I'm asking. Where have you been?"
V dropped his arms, too tired to keep up pretense. He sighed, steeling himself for the storm in her eyes.
"Evey... I wish I could, but I simply cannot tell you. Just trust that I am-"
"Trust?!" Evey interrupted, taking a threatening step toward him. "How can you expect me to trust you when I've hardly seen you for weeks? Trust would imply communication, V, and I hardly see how we can do even that when you're never here!"
V's mask turned away, unable to withstand the pain in her tortured expression. The bags under her eyes made him immediately regret every night he had kept her waiting, but his pride clung fiercely to the idea of keeping her safe. She needn't worry about being a target or the building resistance, she had enough on her plate and her safety was best left in his hands. It gave him purpose, isn't that what she said he lacked?
"You don't understand," he said quietly, sidestepping her and pushing the lift button with more force than was necessary.
Evey's eyes became desperate.
She stepped forward and tried to pull his arm so that he would face her.
"Then help me understand, V."
Evey was surprised when V gasped and clutched his side. She dropped her hands from him as if burned. Her eyes frantically searched for blood she did not see.
"V, are you hurt?" Evey asked, her eyes full of concern.
"I'm fine," V snapped, stepping quickly into the lift as the door opened.
Embarrassed that she had noticed his injuries, V nodded at her in dismissal before pushing the button that would take him to the Gallery.
"Goodnight, Evey."
Evey stood in shock as the doors closed and felt tears welling up in her eyes. How could he be so cold? Why wouldn't he trust her? The tears flowed freely now as turned and looked out over the city. She had no idea how to get through to him anymore and began to doubt all of the decisions that had led them to this moment. Had she been right to save him? Was he that miserable? Was there someone else in his life? Full of confusion, Evey lowered her head into her hands. Suddenly, her life felt very complicated.
Thoughts? Let me know what you think about how the story is progressing!