Chapter 2

Eine Kleine Nachmusik

Closing the door, Evey let out a long sigh. As she rested her back against the wood, she took a minute to meditate on her evening with V. She wanted to tell him how much she cared about him; thought of him; how much she enjoyed their conversations; and how she lamented every day that she was without his him. V was a relatively busy man, it seemed like every other day he left in the evening and did not return until the next morning. He'd sometimes be gone days at a time. That was when she really felt the most desolated and depressed. Music, books, movies, and fine art could not fill the black void that festered within her when V was gone.

This vexed her immensely. What was she going to do without V? She felt too dependent of him; this was going all wrong. Gathering all her strength, she pushed herself off the door and lazily walked over to her dresser and pulled out a silk nightgown that was a soft pink in color. Discarding her day clothes, she slipped the nightgown over her head as it fell delicately on her small shoulders.

V had given her that nightgown as a gift and it was her favorite to wear. It was two weeks ago and it had been the longest time without V she ever endured. He was gone that entire week, out on "business" of course. The day he returned, she had found a thin white box that was sealed elegantly with a red lacy bow in front of her bedroom. As she went down to pick up the gift, she saw V standing a couple of feet away. Exited and out of breath, she had rose quickly. Her heart was overfilled with joy and happiness as she gave him her best smile. And even though she could not decipher his facial expressions, she knew he was pleased to be there and that he was smiling back at her.

Walking slowly, V picked up the box and in the most vaudevillian way that only he could perform, he presented the gift to her. "A present for ma dame," V proclaimed, bowing slightly. "'Tis only a small token of my apology for my long and unexpected absence this week." Evey was taken by surprise, two weeks without him had heightened his character and at the moment he never seemed more charming and enticing. Poor girl couldn't help but blush uncontrollably.

"V…you shouldn't have," she said, still not recovered from his unexpected, but happy arrival.

"I insist," V said firmly, but with a hint of mischief in his voice. She took the white box in her shaking hands and admired the bow.

"No really V, you shouldn't have," she said again looking up at him.

Closing the gap between them, V stood close beside her and spoke softly, "I insist that you accept my gift, it was the least I could do."

Evey turned her head to smile at him. "Well, if you insist," she teased. Slipping the lace off and lifting the lid of the rectangular box. There in her hands rested the prettiest nightgown she ever cast eyes on. The light pink gown was fashioned of silk and pink lace outlined the bust and lower regions of the nightgown. V held the box as she lifted the gown up by its thin straps. Evey gasped softly, "Wow…V…this is…"

"Beautiful? Stunning? Exquisite?" V questioned proudly. His pride swelled as he saw Evey's expression, she really did like it. When he saw it himself, he couldn't imagine anything better to suit Evey. He could just imagine how it would look on her… V cleared his throat softly. While he did not buy the nightgown for that purpose, he couldn't help but let his mind wander. "Then you like it?" V asked, trying to concentrate at the situation at hand.

Evey held the gown close to her body, picturing what it would look like when she wore it. The nightgown fell a few inches above her knees "Oh yes V, I love it."

V nodded in approval, "since you cannot venture outside, I found it best to give you something that you can enjoy inside." Evey smiled at him, "thank you V."

Coming back to reality, Evey hit the night switch off and quickly jumped in bed, wrapping her small frame in her comforter. "That was a good day," said as she drifted off to sleep.

Just outside V was walking around his gallery. Looking at all the things that made up his home; his books, his jukebox, the wonderful works of art, and even his cooking apron. But what were these things if he had no one with which to enjoy them? Evey was the only thing that really made the Shadow Gallery his home. "After all," V thought. "Home is where the heart is." And his heart was slowly settling on Evey. This is was all relatively new to him. Before his body would ache with revenge and justice, his mind set to kill. Though he never lost concentration on his mission, his body now ached for her too, in more ways than one.

V slowly walked around his gallery pondering. His feelings could prove to be dangerous to his mission if he were to exploit them in any way possible. He could not, no matter how much he loved Evey, let his feelings overcome his master plan. "Hah," V said out loud. "Why that would be immensely selfish and outrageous of me." He turned another corner and walked into another room that was tastefully furnished extravagant sculptures of all sorts, odds and ends of things, such as an old telescope and 50's movie poster, paintings, and long Victorian curtains. In the middle of the room was a dark stained oak table, surround by two velvet arm chairs. "Then and only then," V laughed, "would I succumb to the madness that they have so impetuously and virulently labeled me." V stopped in front of a marble terminal bust of Homer. V lifted his arms in full height, "For it was once spoken that 'Love that is not madness-"

"- Is not love at all."

Hands falling to his side, V quickly turned around only to witness one of the most handsome sights he ever had the privilege and honor to see. This visage of beauty before him left him speechless, but only for a moment. There she was, leaning easily upon the door way frame; her champagne curls were pulled loosely into a bun. Only but a few ringlets manage to escape the hair tie and framed her small face.

Her amber eyes glowed with the reflection of the dim lighting in the room; her lips looked marvelously soft and full and irresistibly delicious. And she was wearing the nightgown he gave her. Though ingeniously hidden underneath a simple white robe, he could see a hint of pink lace defying its satin cover up and showing off its own splendor against her ivory thighs. He was now sure of only one thing. "She is a siren out to seek my ruin," he mused silently.

"Pedro Calderon de la Barca," Evey said softly.

V hands clasped together as he gave a small chuckled, "Ah yes it is." Taking a few steps closer towards her, he tried to control his breathing. "I hope that I did not wake you," V said, his tone very apologetic.

"No, no not all! I was going to get a glass of water, I heard you…though I see what you were still doing up," Every said hastily as V nodded in understanding of her explanation. They stood there looking at each other and silence fell upon them. "Oh! I…um hope I wasn't disturbing you," Evey quickly added.

V let out a heavy sigh; "not at all Evey – I am not the sort of person who would turn away from an opportunity to discuss anything with anyone. In fact Agnes Repplier once said 'It is not what we learn in conversation that enriches us. It is the elation that comes of swift contact with tingling currents of thought' and that my dear, I believe, still holds true today. So I dare say I enjoyed our brief interlude."

Evey smiled happily. "He has such a way with words. They alone could sweep any deserving girl off her feet," she thought. Pressing the glass against her lips, she took a sip of water. "Well I'm going back to bed V, see you in the morning." And she quickly removed herself from the doorway. There was a heavy feeling in her chest as she walked back to her room suppressing any sort of feelings she had for him. She was in pain, it hurt to keep such feelings of love inside. Was it even 'love' that she was feeling? "No," she reassured herself. "Love is not this painful…is it?" She did not know the answer to this fibrous question.

V watched her leave with a stout heart. In truth, he was sorry to see her go so quickly. He walked slowly to the edge of the doorframe and leaned upon it as she so casually did just mere moments ago.


Author's Commentary: Wow, I must admit I had REALLY fun time writing this. I am slowly getting the hang of this and I hope I did a better job at portraying V! Even though it is AU I don't want it to seem too outlandish. Please feel free to critique on me my writing style and how I illustrate any of the characters or scenes. This is my first writing for V for Vendetta, so patience is required , but much help is also required if you wish to see me improve. I can only improve so much by myself, but I need an audience to help me even further. Most you who have reviewed have already helped me so much! Thank you! And once again I must give credit to my excellent beta, Ellina Hope, for proof reading this!

Works Cited: "Eine Kleine Nachmusik", a Serenade for string quintet that was written by Mozart. The name means "a little night music" or a little nocturne. And therefore is not mine, I am merely using it as my title for this particular chapter and in no way am I making any profit from this. To read more on "Eine Kleine Nachmusik" please visit (www)(dot)carolinaclassical(dot)com/articles/Mozart(dot)html

"Love that is not madness is not love" is quote by Pedro Calderon de la Barca and if you wish to learn more about him please visit (www)(dot)poetry-archive(dot)com/c/calderondelabarcapedro(dot)html, but I took the quote from BrainyQuote(dot)com.

"It is not what we learn in conversation that enriches us. It is the elation that comes of swift contact with tingling currents of thought" is another quote I took from BrainyQuote(dot)com and is by Agnes Repplier. If you wish to know more about Agnes Repplier then please visit en(dot)wikipedia(dot)org/wiki/AgnesRepplier.