Hello! I'm making up for the last "chapter" being so short by giving you all a nice LONG read. As you know, the characters aren't mine, I just happened to fall in love with them! Enjoy :)

V opened the door to his workout room, his muscles already anticipating the exertion to come. The vigilante smiled, rubbing his gloved hands together as he mused over which weapon to choose.

"Alas, what do you think my fat metal friend?" V asked, questioning his favorite sparring partner.

"Is it to be the sword or throwing knives to spell your demise?"

V paused cocking his head toward the suit of armor as if it has spoken.

"Oh, is that so? A challenge! Well, we shall see about that. Knives it is."

Faster than one would've thought possible, V had his knives secured to his waist and was circling the suit with a predatory gait. Little did he know that he had an audience other than the armor.

"Ha ha!" V surged forward and sliced the suit across the chest before springing back with agility so fast it was hard to follow his movements. He whirled in and out with the grace of a ballet dancer but with force enough to send grown men flying. As it was, the suit was ratting even though it was secured to the stone floor. After a particularly fierce "skirmish" that caused V to be flung toward the door and Evey to cover her mouth for fear of her laughter giving her away, V put his hands on his knees panting. Suddenly, he straightened and with lightening-like reflexes, he had brought a blade from some hidden place and flung it to where it now quivered from the visor of the suit's helmet. Rubbing his shoulder and breathing heavy, V muttered,

"That will teach you to jest of my injuries…"

Evey finally allowed herself to fully open the door. Crossing her arms and leaning against the door jam, she asked coolly,

"And what injuries would those be?"

V nearly jumped out of his leather boots, whirling to face her; Evey could not help but noticed that another blade seemed to have materialized in his hand. He bowed his head in embarrassment and quickly tucked it back into his belt.

"Ah, hopefully you were not fooled into thinking I was in peril..."

"Oh no," Evey smiled. "I came to be entertained."

V looked up, cocking his head as if trying to ascertain whether she was poking fun at him or being serious. As loath as he was to admit it, the woman was still nearly unreadable.

Evey suddenly turned shy under the power of his gaze, and tentatively stepped forward.

"Actually, I was going to ask if you would teach me to fight…"

Her statement caused V to be thrown off even further. Stepping forward, V gestured with his arm toward her,

"I assure you, Evey, you are safe here. Combat is no place for the innocent."

Anger flashed in her eyes and V immediately let his hand drop, wondering what he had said wrong.

"I'm not innocent," Evey said bluntly, glaring at his unchanging mask. "And I sure as hell don't want to be vulnerable."

Her stroke of forwardness gave rise to more questions than V knew how to answer, but the one reoccurring image was of the first night he had met her. She was right. He would never have her vulnerable.

"As you wish," V said, bowing his head as if somber.

Thinking she had won and that V would begrudge teaching her to spar, Evey was surprised when he suddenly jerked up his head though his upper torso was still bowed, to give her a predatory gaze that she knew no mask could ever cover. A chill ran up her back, but not one of fear.

Before she had to process the fact that he had moved, he was behind her, his hands on her shoulders, his tall lean form firm against her back and his masked face by her ear.

"But what is it you will learn, Evey?" he asked slyly, pushing her forward across the room to a section she had never noticed before.

Evey tried to focus on the vast array of weapons before her displayed as casually as one might mount pool sticks, but found she could not concentrate on his extensive ramblings of the dangerous blades for the acute realization of the slight contact of his body behind hers. And his smell. He smelled of clean dedication and spice, leather and masculine musk. Feeling her face smirk, Evey knew it was not an idea she smelled. She must have lost herself in her reveling, because she realized he had paused and was looking down at her suspiciously.

"Evey?"

"I choose this one."

Whirling from his loose grip, Evey turned so that she was braced against the weapons rack and stood facing him with a dagger. He was close enough that her arm had to be bent to point it at his chest. Evey smiled daringly.

V raised his brow behind his mask. Quite the little minx, wasn't she. He'd been enjoying taunting her with his presence, and her soft frame was enough to drive him mad. The small blush he detected on her face made him wonder if she was feeling the same.

Stroking a glove finger down the edge of the blade, V saw Evey's eyes widen. It was enough to make him smirk. Turning his back to her and half-wondering if she would try to stab him, V spoke as if giving a lecture.

"Yes, a fine selection indeed. You'll find the blade was crafted from only the finest of carbon steel in the Sagami Province of Japan, but most intriguing…"

Evey had let the blade fall to her side and was watching V browse weapon accessories when he turned and knelt in front of her.

"…it is worn on your leg."

V paused and looked up at her for permission. In his hands was a sheathe with straps to be worn on the thigh. Gulping, Evey nodded, not trusting her voice. V was quiet as he affixed the sheathe to her leg. Every time his leather brushed against her, Evey wanted to melt. When he was finished, his fingers lingered as he appraised the weapon with a tilted head. Whatever his thoughts, he did not share, as he quickly let his hands drop and stood. Evey exhaled, not even realizing she had held her breath.

V himself was trying to calm his heart. What was he thinking? It must be the adrenaline; it made him giddy. He was usually not so forward, but she was so…and her legs had felt…. V shook himself. He had to keep his thoughts in check. With his back to her he paused, and a wicked grin appeared on his face before he could master it. Betraying his inner gentleman, V spun to face Evey once more.

"Although, I do hope you realize we cannot begin weapons training until you have mastered basic self-defense."

Evey crossed her arms. It did not escape her attention that his demeanor had suddenly turned gleeful.

So that was how he was going to play it.

"Oh, because that's fair. Tiny ol' me against a man who can punch through walls and has super powers? Right."

V dramatically put his fist to his heart.

"Your words wound me! It impugns my honor to think I would take advantage of a lady."

Stepping forward and offering her his hand, V said with a smile she could sense,

"On my honor, I will not fight unfairly or use my super powers as you so delicately put it. What do you say, Miss Hammond? Would you spar with a masked man?"

Evey smiled as she took his hand, feeling a tingle run through her whole body.

"Only if he were the terrorist."

"I believe you're in luck," V chuckled.

And so they began. Over and over, V had Evey perform simple maneuvers, ensuring she had the proper technique by making her freeze so he could adjust her posture. Whether it was running his hand along her spine as he told her to straighten her back or lifting her arm with his hands, it was the most contact the two had shared since her arrival.

By the end of the two hours, she was the one panting, with her hands on her knees.

"And you do this… every day?" Evey asked between breaths.

V laughed jovially as he brought her a glass of water.

"Well no, not this exactly. My training requires a greater use of the steel variant."

Evey finished the glass before raising her brow at him.

"No wonder your arm is sore."

V grew still and Evey immediately sensed she had hit a sore spot, puns aside. With more rigor than she thought possible, V suddenly stepped forward and clapped his hands together twice,

"Again!"

Evey gave him an appraising look before smirking. She sauntered past him, pushing the empty glass to his chest for him to grasp as his head swiveled in disbelief at her retreating figure. Looking over her shoulder at him and wishing she could see his shocked expression, Evey smiled,

"You may have the endurance of a machine, but it is only my first day of training. After all, I'm going to need A LOT of practice."

As she disappeared from view, V immediately felt a distinct loss at her lack of presence. Damn his plans tonight.

"Evey?" He called out, hoping to catch her. "A movie tonight?"

V held his breath, hearing her footsteps pause.

"Of course, V. Let me just shower first."

V smiled, not even upset when his shoulder began to throb full force. Two hours extra training had been completely worth it.

Thoughts? Questions? Criticisms? I'll take it all! A special thanks to everyone who is faithfully following the story; you guys are awesome!