V remained upon the rooftop for some time. Part of him wanted to go back down and find Evey, hear her say those magic words once more, perhaps even find the strength to say them back. But what seemed like a small step (small only because he had managed the words once already, surely it could not be that difficult a second time) was what he knew, to be the first of many steps, steps that would become larger and larger and carry him further away from the shadows, where he was comfortable.

Long, long years had be been alone. He had slept, breathed, cooked, showered, plotted, brooded and murdered alone. For the first time in his life that he could recall that might be about to change.

It was a feeling that the fearless man might have been forced to admit... actually might scare him.

He had already come to a personal decision that he must let her see his skin, see all of him. Far better that her reaction came now, quickly, than later. Later after he had started to settle into the routine of their life together, after he had fallen even more deeply in love with her, so deeply were she to turn away his life would be over as finally as if she had killed him herself.

But the decision was no easier for V for having been decided upon. Unbearable tension and despair filled him as he imagined Evey's possible reactions. It didn't matter in his mind she had already glimpsed his charred flesh when she tended to his wounds. She had no idea what was really wrapped under the layers of clothing. When she saw his body... or his face...

It had taken him over fifteen years to look into a mirror again after Larkhill. Fifteen years of his life coming to terms with what he looked like, with what he was. A fleeting thought passed, wondering what he had been like before Larkhill. All the old frustration and anger at the ones who had done this to him rose up. Why had they taken his life! Why could he recall nothing?

He had once thought if he were ever successful, if he ever did carry out his vendetta against those who had wronged him, it would bring him peace.

It had been a foolish thought.

The facts of the matter were still as they had been. He had still been tortured and experimented on, he had still almost burned alive, destroyed the laboratory, and killed people in the name of revenge.

But perhaps the hope was not all gone. Maybe it was never the vendetta that would bring him peace. Peace could end up coming from an entirely unpredicted direction.

Emotionally drained and still physically weak from the gunshot wounds, V allowed his head to lean back against the brick ledge and sighed heavily. Shade was still waiting attentively beside his Alpha, lying down now, eyes closed but one ear trained upon V. Suddenly the dog's head lifted and the dark canine studied his Alpha carefully with senses far sharper than a human. V's breathing had deepened but was rough and uneven, and his chest heaved slightly as he inhaled. Shade sniffed at the man's sleeve and gloved hand, but received no response. Standing up, the canine sniffed at V's mask and pulled back a little at the wave of heat radiating form the man, knowing instinctively something was wrong. He nudged V's shoulder quite forcefully. Still nothing. Shade glanced anxiously at the entry point of the lift and wished the Alpha female would come back.

Something was quite clearly wrong with the Alpha male.

I apologize for the shortness and the little cliffhanger - wasn't sure weather or not to incorporate this little snippet into the next chapter or not, and in the end decided to post it like this. I've also come up with something I'm quite pleased with plot-wise, which I hinted at here, and will certainly explore later in this story, or perhaps in the next one. Being the romantic sap I am, I'm wanting to finish this story on a happy note, and I've already started to think this one might be wrapping up soon, but with a sequel to follow:) Happy reading!