Her eyes were a rich almond in colour. Vibrant, warm, yet dangerous, mischievous, that colour of an attractive fire in a cold night, its colours flourishing on a reflective wooden floor, or the bark of ancient trees, sturdy, long-lasting, strong. He remembered those eyes. So well, staring up at him from a concrete floor glazed over while reading a book, brimming with tears, squinting in a smile. Those eyes cold melt right through him. Right now he was lost into Evey's eyes.
They stared wordlessly at one another for what eventually slipped into minutes. It felt like days. Thoughts raced through his mind. Crying! She had caught him crying! He simply counted himself lucky he hadn't taken off his mask to dry his face! CRYING! Of all things. He had, with few exceptions, never cried before. The feeling of dread surged through his body pumping like an organ, drying up his appetite and making him feel extremely ill of stomach. V reminded himself as he always did that what was done could not be undone, a reminder that had kept him going throughout all hard times. It was meaningless now. Completely without consolation. Nothing else existed now but burning tension, so strenuous he desperately wanted to look away. But he couldn't bare to.
Her expression, he later thought of with some tiny comfort, was of utter disbelief. She was just as lost in him as he was in her. Thoughts evaporated. Nothing could be though to remedy this. Nothing could be said. But it was impossible to walk away. Evey found that she wasn't breathing and it took her a moment to remind herself how to. She blinked.
V was screaming inside, a thrashing kicking ball of fury and regret locked up in a solitary form. It was all he could do to hold it back. But what would he do with all that energy. Absolutely nothing suited the situation in any way. Standing where he was forever seemed the only logical thing to do! Evey wondered, similarly, if there had ever been a moment this tense in history. She doubted it. A small noise escaped her mouth and, muffled by her teeth and lips, was barely heard by either of them.
V's ears barely made out the sound of the clock and he was brought back into reality slightly; enough to realise how long they had been standing there. He did the only thing he could do. He walked away. It took Evey a moment for her mind to catch up, and a little longer for her thoughts to meet her lips. Her words were quieter than intended. But he heard her:
"Do you love me yes or no?"
The masked man stopped in the hallway, just a few feet behind her. His mask faced the ground in complete thought. To be asked in such a way completely implied that she indeed loved him back, no matter his answer. All he had to do was say it. Three little words. His heart beat for her and only for her. She was his reason for living, a vision of beauty both inside and out. He would die for her. He had lived for her. He had convinced himself long ago that he wouldn't ever be worthy of her love. But maybe that wasn't for him to decide…
She would DIE for you.
He suddenly felt weaker and more feeble than he ever had before. He wanted to sink to his knees and collapse. No one had ever had this much control over him before. She held in her little body so much power. She created in him something that he had prevented ever thinking about before. She gave him fear. He was afraid because of her, for her, of her. He knew then that she could make him do anything. He was wrapped around her fingers. All he had to do was confirm and he would be hers forever.
And he didn't mind.
"Yes."