Evey stared out over the rooftops, her breathing carrying the heft of her thoughts. She couldn't really remember how long she had been up here, she only knew that she had needed air. Even after what were possibly hours, she still hadn't gotten enough. She heard the lift doors open behind her and a pair of leather boots clopping softly across the pavement towards her. Although she knew a it was rude, she ignored them. She missed the silence desperately. This was not what she needed.

The masked man leant over the balcony next the her, his arms crossed in a lazy fashion, not making eye contact, but staring strait ahead just as she was. London was packing up for the night. The lights clicking off one by one like little eyes. Cars pulled into driveways and up to curbs, resting. The warmth drained from the streets below as the sun stared to set. It was almost romantic. V thought so. Evey didn't, or at least tried not to. He reached out a gloved hand and set it lightly on top of hers. She payed it little attention for a moment and then spoke.

"Why?" she said. His head tilted a little. Still, they did not turn to one another. But she hadn't retracted her hand, that brought him some relief.

"Why what?"

"You know what I'm asking." V looked down to the street below. He did indeed know what it was she was asking.

"Because I love you too much." This caught Evey off guard. The sound of 'love' coming from him was both enchanting and hurtful. She felt the strange urge to comfort him but he frustration overcame it.

"You love me so much you want to see me suffer?" It almost wasn't a question. There was silence while V thought about this. Their hands still remained together. Both looked at the horizon, silent. His voice broke in, a little more hoarse than before.

"No."

"And yet you do…"

"If your small suffrage were to lead you away from me," he said, "…into a better life." This caused her to finally turn to him. His head turned to face her as well but his mask still looked at the ground, almost shamefully. "I don't deserve you love Evey." She had nothing to say to that. Silence returned.

The clouds turned a vibrant violent pink. The rising heat from the ground hovered over the rooftops before disappearing, morphing into the sweet cold of night.

"No," she said, "You don't."

The mask's eyes met hers before falling down to the street again. His hand slipped from on top of hers and back across to concrete handrail. But before reaching its place in his folded arms, it was caught. Evey had set her own hand on it. He stared for a moment.

"But you need it." she said. He smiled inwardly. So did she. They watched as the sun sank behind the earth and London became a quiet black and blue trail of moonlit outlines and tiny yellow lights. They stood for some time before Evey spoke.

"Take off your mask." Now it certainly wasn't a question. Well, V thought, it was dark and she had seen him before. What harm could it do? He obliged. There was a soft clink as the metal was set on the banister. She turned to look at him. V's expression was solemn and sad. She slowly leant over to him and kissed his forehead. "I know you think I'm crazy for loving you," she said, her lips still pressed against his twisted puckered skin.

"It only makes sense," he said. She smiled, for the first time in a very long while.

"I think I am too." He hesitantly turned to face her and saw the grin on her sweet face. Her pale skin glowed in the moonlight. V was captivated. She moved closer, close enough to make his muscles relax of their own accord. His heart melted in his chest. Evey pressed her lips to his. Her skin, hot wet silk on his sandpaper lips. His shoulders sagged completely. Without his permission, he leant into her, deepening their kiss. Evey wrapped her arm behind his neck as V slipped a hand around her waist. His hand turned to cup hers. Their fingers intertwined.

The End