Disclaimer: I own no characters. Another part will be coming soonish, also this is my first time writing a real fanfic so pls bear with me
"It's time we head back to the far-away tree…"
V's voice floated from behind his mask, sifting through the air as he spoke. He sat on an old wooden chair beside Evey's bed, legs crossed. 'What a gentleman,' Evey thought, 'he tries to be all proper even when I am in bed and half asleep…'. She opened her eyes ever so slightly as to see him. His masked face was buried in the book he was reading to her, his onyx hair tilted downwards, divided in two neat halves.
Several rooms away, the fire crackled in the gigantic hearth of the main of the Shadow Gallery. It was such a cozy, warm sound...and combined with V's gentle, deep voice, it may as well have been a lullaby.
He was so absorbed in reading the book that he had become oblivious to his surroundings. After a few moments, he noticed something crucial: he had not heard a sound from nor seen Evey move in the past few minutes. Or had he? It was difficult to tell. His voice fell silent, he closed the book softly, and stood. Holding the book under his arm, he made for the doorway, trying to be as quiet as he could. Before he exited, he turned back one more time. His eyes fell upon the bed in which Evey lay.
As he gazed at her, he came to a strange realization.
'How odd,' V thought to himself. Every detail was meticulously laid out for his plans about Parliament. About Creedy. Surridge. The Chancellor. Every step and precaution. Each method. Backup plans as well...each with their own intricacies and backup plans. It was all drawn up. And yet, despite that….
V hadn't planned on her.
Even stranger still, he was not overly upset by her presence. Normally, if something threw a hitch in his plans, he would do all he could to make it right again, no matter the cost to his mood or mental state. But this was not the case with Evey.
Still standing in the doorway, V stared at the strange woman in his bed. He couldn't help but bask a little in her natural beauty, and felt a strange feeling rise in him. Her golden hair spread out on the pillow, like sun-kissed waves crashing on a beach...the subtle blush on her cheeks reminiscent of so many aphroditic portraits...and the gentle curves that her body made under the blanket-
No.
His usual logical self overrode the flair of attraction. It was wrong. She was a guest in his residence. What right did he have to want her? She couldn't help it. But he could. The strange feeling faded.
V turned away and started toward his study, his mind squirming restlessly. He sat himself down in a gigantic oak chair, put his chin on his clasped hands, and pondered his feelings. He had never been good with feelings. He knew what attraction was, of course, he had read countless stories that used it as a plot device. But to experience it firsthand…? That is different. And strange.
A voice sounded in the back of his head. An irrational, annoying one that he had learned to talk down. But this time, it spoke up.
'Is it...love?'
Immediately, his logical self retaliated. No. It couldn't be love. He had barely known her for a few weeks. But during that time, he had noticed she was nothing if not a kind and curious young woman who was always eager to assist and learn.
As far as he could remember, he had never been in "love" with anyone, if that is what this feeling is. Nor had he ever...gotten physical with anyone at all. He had several great strengths, but love was not one of them. Or women. For better or worse, he was a virgin.
V had read about the act, though. He knew how it worked biologically. He had, ashamedly, thought about it too. But he would never admit this. One shouldn't talk about such things with a woman one had just met! He couldn't bear to make her uncomfortable, especially since she was going to be stuck with him for a bit less than a year. The wisest course of action would be to do nothing, and wait for her to make the first move if she so chose.
Best to distract oneself from such confusing feelings, V thought. He picked up one of the many withered tomes in his collection, and began combing through them. He tried to focus on the words in front of him, but his mind was stuck in a nervous loop about his feelings. Sleep began to take hold of him, and his body slumped forward over the desk. As far as his half-asleep mind could tell, the book was something about alchemy...
V woke to an aching back and a soft voice calling his name.
Evey stood beside his desk, shaking his shoulder gently. Her eyebrows were bunched together in concern, as if she sensed something wrong.
"V? Are you all right?" She asked.
"Oh yes, yes I'm fine," V said hurriedly, not wanting to worry her.
"You don't look fine," she said. "You fell asleep at your desk. I've heard that can be really bad for your back."
Ah, how she cared for his well-being. V was not much used to that, but then again he had never lived with anyone before. As far as he knew, Evey was the best roommate one could ask for.
~later that night~
Little did he know, Evey was thinking along the same lines, albeit not knowing such lines came from V. She had been for a while now. He cared so much for her. He read her to sleep, cooked her food, watched movies with her...what is not to like? He was so thoughtful and kind...
To her.
She knew what his plans entailed, and what he would do to achieve them. It all goes back to the question of whether the ends justify the means, but that was far too deep a question at this hour. There was something else her mind wanted to focus on.
Him.
Her thoughts became less about what he did, and more about...what they could do. And the things he made her want to do. His voice was smooth as the finest silk, his hands, albeit scarred, looked so gentle and kind, his torso slender and elegant under the doublet…
But she had to consider his side of this too. What if he didn't want her like that? What if he did not like women at all? He might rebuff her advances, which would make things awkward for the year or so that she was stuck there.
But still. She knew she couldn't stifle her feelings for him that long. Sooner or later, she had to try. She would collapse inwardly if she didn't.
Better sooner.
She got up, got dressed and was off.