Hi guys! Sorry it's been so long! I've kinda been away from the computer for a while.

I'm so glad that so many people a reading this story! Thanks for your support guys!

Disclaimer: If only!

"Talking"

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Ellie had gotten quite used to having Evey around during the first week. She really liked her. To Ellie, she was the big sister the teenager had never had. She had become her best friend, someone she could relate to, someone she could rely on to be there for her when she couldn't talk to V, whether it was because he wasn't around or it was something she felt embarrassed about telling him, something she could only tell another female. V seemed to enjoy having the older woman around, too. It was different, and something that he was still getting used to. Ellie had been different; when he had taken her in, she was a young girl who needed someone to depend on in life. Evey was a young woman of, he would estimate, between twenty and twenty five. She already had a life, she was already independent, and she didn't need to rely on him all that much. Having another adult around was, in all honesty, rather weird. But he was pleased with how well Ellie was getting on with their new guest. She helped her to feel at home, almost, in the Shadow Gallery, helped to lessen the feeling of being a prisoner. Well, he hoped. But he didn't have time to dwell on it. Tonight, he had other plans, ones that he would never allow Ellie to be a part of. Tonight, his vendetta would be put into action. There was just one little thing he needed first.

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Their host had gone out for the evening. Ellie had wanted to go along, but a few soft words from her adoptive father had dissuaded her. She was sat reading when Evey came into the lounge area, a rather puzzled look on her face. Looking up, she cocked her head to the side, her eyes questioning.

"Elle? You haven't seen my ID, have you? I thought I'd left it in my bag, but I can't seem to find it." The blonde haired teenager shook her head, furrowing her eyebrows in thought. Marking her page, she sprang from the couch. She smiled to the older woman, pointing between them and pretended to search in a rather exaggerated way. Evey smiled. She'd gotten used to the girl's miming, finally beginning to understand what each gesture meant.

"Thanks Elle, I'd appreciate it."

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Two hours past and still there was no sign of the card anywhere. Evey stood in the middle of her room, eyebrows furrowed and hands on hips. They had practically turned the area inside out, being careful with the antiques and the books. She turned to the fourteen year old.

"Ellie? You haven't hidden it have you?"The teenager stood aghast, taken aback by the question. Why would she? "Sorry, Elle, I don't mean to offend you or anything, but I know what you're like when you play one of your jokes. Please tell me if you've hidden it?" Ellie shook her head, throwing her hands in the air before placing her right hand over her heart in a solemn promise. "Ok. Sorry sweetie." Ellie smiled and rolled her eyes, shaking her head at the same time. She beckoned the woman to follow her. Taking her mind of the missing ID would do her good. A movie would help.

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V silently swept through the streets of London, stepping so lightly that even the clack of his boots wasn't heard. It wouldn't be long before the body of the former commander was found by the authorities. He easily slipped into the shadows as Fingermen rounded the corner. They didn't even look in his direction. He could quite easily kill them now and stop them from searching the area. But no. Why waste the moment? No, tonight Prothero would be enough. Only if any tried to stop him would he kill again. He absently wondered what the girls were up to. Ellie would probably be in bed now. It was rather late after all. Evey, he wasn't sure about. He didn't know Evey, something he wished to remedy. There was something about the young woman that he found quite pleasant, though he really didn't know what it was. He then thought back to the 'meeting' he had just left. It went rather well, he thought. Once the realisation had hit the former commander of who the masked terrorist was, their little chat had almost come to its end. He remembered the pain that had crossed Prothero's face after he had forcibly injected his little concoction into him. The last of his death throes had not been pleasant, but at least the so-called 'Voice of London' had finally known what pain was. He had come to know a pain similar to the one he had bestowed on the masses that had been killed, all in the name of 'science'. V would have liked to have punished him further, so that the commander knew how the inmates had really felt. But no, there was no point. He had been given a taste of his own medicine, and now he would receive his punishment for all eternity. Shrugging off the thoughts, he focused on getting back home. It wouldn't do to have his mind wandering now and risk getting caught. He listened carefully before making his move. No sound. Good. He flitted across to a fire escape and ascended to the roof. It was far quicker than travelling the streets below. That, and the cool autumn breeze could serve its purpose of brushing away his dark thoughts before he returned to the Gallery. He would be damned if Ellie, or even Evey, was still awake and he re-entered his home whilst his dark, murky thoughts plagued his mind. After all, V had sworn to protect his little Ellie from the darker side of his personality, and he would do so at any cost.

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The Gallery was silent as he entered. His lightening mood softened further at the sight that lay before him. The TV was on, the end titles of a film playing. He laughed quietly as he stepped closer to the couch, discarding his hat and cloak and laying them on the chaise longue. Evey's head lay slightly to the left, some of her soft silk-like curls cascading over her throat. Her chest rose and fell steadily in sleep. Next to her, Ellie lay curled up on the sofa, her leg dangling over the side, her head resting on the older woman's lap, her mouth hanging open ever so slightly. Her pyjamas were slightly wrinkled from the way she was laying. He chuckled softly, kneeling in front of her, getting ready to lift her into his arms. She stirred, her light blue eyes flickering open, her blurry gaze falling on the white smiling mask of her guardian. Her face instantly lit up upon seeing him, reaching out and stroking his face affectionately. He leaned into her touch, resting the cool porcelain of his mask's cheek into her warm inviting hand.

"I apologise for waking you, Ellie. Come along, it's time to be in bed." She nodded, sitting up and stretching her arms above her head. She sighed as her joints cracked back into place. Standing, she looked to the older woman she had been using as a pillow. She was still fast asleep. The teenager smiled softly and followed V out of the room, her bare feet padding along the flagstones of the hall. She hooked her arm through his, causing him to laugh softly and rest his gloved hand upon hers. She smiled, resting her head on his arm.

"Now, my dear, I shall bid you a good night. Don't worry about our guest; I'll sort her so that she is more comfortable." Ellie nodded, stepping past him as he held the door for her. She hooked her arms around his neck and gave V a quick kiss goodnight before slipping under the covers and laying her head on the pillow. She was out almost instantly. V smiled behind his mask, pulling the covers up to her chin, smoothing her hair from her eyes and brushing the back of his hand along her soft, smooth cheek once, twice, three times. She sighed in content and drifted further into the realms of slumber, snuggling further under the covers. She didn't need to wake up to know she was safe. Whenever V was near, she felt like none could ever harm her again.

V quietly closed the door and once again entered the lounge. Evey hadn't moved, still sat in the same position, breathing deeply. He gently lifted her into his arms, careful not to wake her, and carried her to what was now her room. Gently, he kicked open the door and entered in, laying the sleeping woman on the bed. Pulling the covers over her, he resisted the urge to brush her cheek as he had done with Ellie. Pulling the ID out of his pocket, he slipped it back into her bag. She had been looking for it, he noticed. Things had been moved around a little. He sighed and replaced the bag, exiting the room and closing the door ever so quietly behind him. Entering the lounge only to turn off the TV, he finally retreated to his own room, ready for a much needed sleep.

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And that's chapter 5! Hope y'all liked it!

You know the drill, so I won't repeat it.