Part 2
V took Evey's hand, leading her down a hallway she had never been before. She was nervous about following him, afraid of what else he could possibly surprise her with, but was overcome by curiosity about the letter still held tightly in her other hand. Was it possible the letter was real, not a forgery made by V? And how was she supposed to trust him, after being locked away in his pseudo prison for so many months?
V opened a door and flicked on a switch, warm light bringing the hundreds of beautiful roses into sharp view. Evey's breath caught in awe, her eyes growing wide. V was grateful for his mask, smiling proudly at the open amazement on the woman's face.
Evey walked into the room as if in a trance, forgetting for a moment all trespasses V had done against her. "Oh, V…I've never seen so many beautiful roses…"
Staying near the door, V remained silent.
Evey bent over the blooms and inhaled deeply, the sweet scent warming her to the core. Dreamily, she murmured, "Valerie said she hoped there would be roses again. Did you grow them for her?"
"I grew them in her memory." He paused, considering. "But I give them to others, upon occasion."
A moment or two of silence past as Evey continued to study the roses. The colors were amazing, dark and rich, the deep red petals complimenting the sharp green of the stem that contrasted with the rich brown of the earth. She wanted to feel what Valerie must have felt every time she smelled roses. Security. Happiness. Love.
V allowed her a moment with his garden, secretly enjoying her unvoiced praises before stepping away from the door. His voice was quiet. "Evey, once you told me you would not kill, not even for me." Evey stiffened, still leaning over the roses, wondering where this conversation could be leading. V stopped beside her, watching her every reaction. "When I picked you from the streets you were about to kill a man. For revenge." His hand swept over the blooms encompassing them all. "There is a rose here for him. You only have to pluck it and hand it to me. Nothing else."
Evey straightened up as a gloved hand reached out to gently caress the stem of one of his roses. Softly, he continued, "To pick a flower is not a large thing. It is easy as it is irrevocable." V tilted his face towards his companion, his hand still holding the crimson bud. "Understand what is being offered here, and do as thou wilt." V lowered his hand and took a step back, allowing Evey some room to make her choice.
Evey stared at the rose V had been handling, emotions swirling inside of her. She knew what he was saying, knew what gift he was willing to give her. With the single twist of a stem, she could condemn the man who not long ago she wished to kill herself. A small hand reached out and cupped the bloom, the red contrasting sharply to the paleness of her skin. V watched as she gripped the stem between thumb and forefinger, thorns pricking the soft flesh, his head tilting slightly.
A long moment past. Then, slowly, carefully, Evey's hand moved away from the stem. Her fingers journeyed up the rose, caressing the soft petals gently. Then her hand dropped by her side. She slowly turned away to look back up at V. They just stared at each other for a long moment, a small smile playing on both of their lips.
Finally, Evey whispered, "Let it grow."
