Chapter 9 – An Exercise in Proximity
Evey Hammond stood in the center of the "training room", holding a sword in each hand. She appreciated the symmetry of it – if was very much like the way she fought with daggers, but on a larger scale. What made the symmetry even more perfect, was her elegant masked opponent. He too was holding twin swords, ready for the attack.
Two dark clad figures standing in a room. Evey knew that V too would appreciate the aesthetics of it.
It was Evey who struck first, and what followed was a strange of battle choreography. Four swords were flying through the air with admirable grace, hitting one another with genuine ferocity, while never losing their elegance. Steel hit steel in an almost rhythmic fashion, the clinging of metal against metal was almost a melody. The warriors themselves were exquisite dancers – spinning, turning, jumping, ducking – their bodies moving in a strange reverse harmony while avoiding the attack of the other.
In the heat of the battle Evey realized her body was tingling with anticipation. It was not just the adrenalin. Or the fatigue. It was not even the subcutaneous fear of the task that lay ahead of her. It was, quite simply, the excitement of being in proximity of the man she was in love with. She had never spoken the words – not even when V had as he lay bleeding in her arms – but inside she had known it all along. Lips can stay silent, but the heart cannot. And now her heart was beating overtime. Every blow of her swords was a touch – a touch that made the little hairs on her arms and neck stand upright. Every time their bodies brushed in battle, she felt a shiver through her spine. And then, their strange dance ended.
He won.
He crossed his blades over her neck, pinning her against the wall. And to Evey's great disconcertment, she could not care less about the sharp steel digging into her flesh. That was entirely bearable. What was unbearable, was that in this position his mask was only a few inches removed from her face. She was overcome by the desire to kiss him…a desire so strong it clouded the rest of her mind.
V saw her inner turmoil.
"Evey, are you all right?" he asked as he lowered his swords.
Then it happened of course, as it inevitably would. A soon as the metal no longer stood in Evey's way, she placed her hands alongside the mask and brought her lips to the inanimate mouth. While pressing her lips against his, her arms locked around his neck, drawing him close to her. Even though he could not reciprocate the movement of lips, Evey Hammond could honestly say this was the most wonderful kiss in her lifetime.
She could tell he was a bit taken aback by it, and he only dared to touch her ever so slightly, placing his gloved hands on her upper arms. This however, was not from a lack of want. When Evey Hammond released him from that kiss, V's breathing was ragged underneath the mask - a clear signal to Evey that he was indeed not unmoved by her actions.
Afterwards he just….looked at her, saying nothing. Finally, she decided to break the tension.
"I'm a sore loser," she said. "I needed a consolation price."
Still he did not react.
Oh well, it was not for a lack of trying…
"I should shower", she said as she started to walk away.
I was then that she felt a gloved hand clutch hers.
"Stay". It was a whisper, barely audible. Like he was afraid of how she would respond.
Was he?
As she turned to face him she wondered what expression lay on the face behind the mask. He did not move, and his head was tilted slightly downward. It quite possibly could be fear, Evey supposed, or even shame – judging from that pose.
How long since he loved? Could he even remember?
"I'm not going anywhere, V". She stepped closer again. She released his hand, wrapping her arms around him, laying her head on his chest. I took a moment, until V could bring himself to react. Then, finally, Evey felt his arms lock around her and she was drawn into the warmth of his embrace.
She literarily heard his hear skip a beat. And then…a sob. Evey thought she might have imagined it, but then….another.
She pulled her head away from his chest and looked up at his ever grinning face. Never had it bothered her so much as now – now the contrast between the grin and the distress V was so obviously feeling was simply unbearable, a cruel mockery to both their feelings.
"V, are you all right?" she asked, completely redundantly, but unable to find any words that would be right.
He nodded his head. "I'll be fine in a minute." He tried to compose himself.
"I wish I could be more eloquent, my dear Evey, but I fear my speech has abandoned me."
"It's ok, V." She placed a hand on each side of his masked face. She stroked his cheeks softly – even though she knew he could not feel it, it somehow felt like the right thing to do. He responded, pressing back against her touch ever so slightly.
"V, I want you to know something…" Evey paused.
He looked at her expectantly. "Yes, Evey?"
"If something goes wrong tomorrow when we take on those ex-Norsefire men…"
"Nothing will go wrong. Everything is meticulously planned. And we will cover each other," V interrupted her.
"I know." Evey nodded. "But on the off chance…. Firstly, I'm still mad at you for letting me think you were dead. That was a horrible thing to do."
She felt V cringe under her touch again.
"That being said….I love you too, V"
V took in a sharp breath. He was not expecting her little confession. She had not expected to say it, either. Yet here it was, spoken out loud and irreversible. Not that she wanted to take it back.
"I never did say it the first time, when you…but it's true…" Her voice trailed off. She did not wish to bring back those particular memories. V held her closely, offering her the comfort of his own living, breathing self.
"Evey, I'm afraid that this is the second time today that I am at a loss for words," he whispered in her ear.
"Then don't speak. Just…be." She replied.
He understood. She knew from the way he held her, from the way he breathed. She allowed herself this moment of indulgence and melted into the false safety of his arms. However, part of her knew that neither of them was safe and come tomorrow, things could easily change for the worse.