Chapter 16

Gordon and I were texting each other back and forth for the majority of the day while V disappeared periodically into other rooms through out the day. To be honest I barely noticed seeing that I was putting the finishing touches on my surprise. After making a few adjustments I smiled proudly at my work before giving the clock in my room an anxious glance. It wasn't exactly early in the morning in fact it was around lunch time yet I still had many more hours until night fall. Carefully I packed away my present and walked into my bathroom. Later when I emerged I wrapped my arms around myself with a strange uneasy feeling. It was quiet, too quiet. I turned on some music to accompany me as I cooked and although I swayed to the beat I could not completely focus on the music or the food that was close to burning to a crisp. My focus did not stray too far from the ominous aura that clawed at my heart. Something bad was going to happen it wasn't a feeling at this point it was fact.

"V!" I called sliding the pan to a cooled eye on the stove and wiping my hands on my pants.

"V" I called once again.

"Is something wrong Evey?" A deep and soothing voice questioned making me spin around with a sigh.

I wrapped my arms around him burying my face into his chest inhaling his unique scent of gunpowder and sandalwood. I know I probably looked completely cookoo to V standing here with my arms holding him hostage as I smelled him but everything from the warmth of his body against my own to his scent calmed me.

"Good morning" I muttered into his chest.

V's arms wrapped around me pulling us apart enough to create a small amount of distance which I was not liking.

"Good afternoon Evey. Do you require anything?"

"I'm fine. Ok no that's a lie. Um what were you busy doing?" I rambled.

V's mask tilted.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine. It's just that I don't know much about your plans for your vendetta. If I'm going to help I should know about everything right?"

V did not answer he only continued to hold me as I watched his mask turn away from my gaze.

"V?"

"I do not mean to offend you Evey but I am preoccupied at the moment. Can this wait until later?"

"I guess so" I said slightly disappointed completely forgetting about the unsettling feeling for the moment.

I walked away from V and entered the kitchen to finish lunch. Leaving a covered plate for V in the frig and cleaning up I grabbed my own plate and quickly ate before disappearing into my own room. Ok so I know I said I would wait for V to tell me about his vendetta and what exactly caused him to pursue it but this waiting was eating me up inside especially now that I had this overpowering feeling that things would not end well. I yawned feeling exhausted so I decided to lay down in bed until it was late enough for V and I to leave.

Hours later I stirred awake stretching my arms over my head looking over at my clock which made me drop my arms instantly. It was later than I planned to get up so I covered a yawn and left to find something to eat before getting ready to got out with V on his patrol. V melted out of the shadows but I didn't even flinch.

"Hi" I said a little uneasy. Unsure on why this awkward feeling overtook me like we were seeing each other for the first time since a fight.

"Hello Evey" V said sounding unsure of himself. The corners of my mouth turned down from the sound. I didn't like V sounding like that.

Walking over I wrapped my arms around him since I couldn't find the words to say. V wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly to him.

"I am sorry" V said gently.

"About what?"

"I want to tell you Evey, I do, but speaking about...my past is like reliving it"

My chest ached from the pain in his words. Looking down I felt my heart lighten to see he was not wearing his gloves. Threading my fingers with his I stood as he rested the forehead of his mask against my forehead. We stood there in silence.

"I love you" I said gently finally breaking the silence.

"I know my Evey"

I smiled accepting the small declaration of his affection.

"You need to eat to gather your strength for tonight" V said removing his forehead from mine.

"Ok" I agreed looking up at him.

Releasing one of my hands he raised his burned and scarred hand to my cheek allowing his knuckles to skim the surface. I felt the breath catch in my throat as my skin tingled reacting to his touch. The next second I felt his body distancing further from me. So caught up in the moment I instinctively reached out for him but quickly lowered my arms reminding myself not to push him too much. Even though I craved for more I would have to be content for now. I smiled as I watched V give a slight bow before walking off in the direction of the training room.

V smiled behind his mask as he struck at the dummy in his training room. It would never cease to amaze him how Evey felt so at ease around him and how she allowed him to touch her in fact she encouraged the behavior. He could still feel the heat upon his hands as he touched her smooth caramel colored skin and the jolt that he could only describe as lightning that shot through his spine warming his whole being. Although he was focused on sparring with the inanimate object in front of him his ears easily picked up Evey's movements in the kitchen. She ate quickly and returned to her room once again more than likely to get ready for tonight.

At this thought V lowered his weapons. He had been struggling for days since Evey expressed her need to help him, to sacrifice herself for him and his vendetta. V's heart swelled with adoration for the young woman after her confession only to clench with fear. All he could see was losing her by the hands of Creedy or his men. For days he thought about a way to tell her that he didn't want her help and that she would only get in the way. The other half told himself that she needed to know everything but if he relinquished to his fears she would know the monster inside of him as well as where this vendetta would end. For years he thought about nothing else than his vendetta and he had made peace with the ending but now that he had Evey in his life it made him wonder if maybe things could end another way. His thoughts were at war with one another and he was so distracted that he missed Evey's soft foot steps leading to the training room.

"V? Are you ok?" Evey asked staring at V who stood with knives in hand not moving a muscle.

V's mask turned in her direction before the rest of his body followed. At first he could not move his mouth to form the words to let her know he was fine as his eyes were glued to her form.

Evey stood before him dressed in all black. The long sleeve scoop neck body suit dropped down just low enough to tease but still covered her breasts. The outfit could be described as form fitting but it did not hug quite tight enough to be a second skin. A utility styled belt rested low on her hips although it was void of weapons. The legs of her bodysuit tucked into her black boots that reached to her knees. The most eye catching part of her disguise was her mask that resembled a Ying Yang symbol but left her soft berry colored lips exposed. Her wig was similar to his own as far as the bangs went but unlike his wig her hair was wavy and cascaded down her back.

"So, what do you think?" Evey asked spinning slowly in a circle.

"You look wonderful" V answered honestly as his eyes continued to take her in.

"Really? I was worried you wouldn't like it" Evey sighed in relief.

"Do you mind if I borrow some of your weapons?" Evey asked trying to distract herself from V's lingering gaze.

"Not at all" V said still caught in a trance but motioned for her to have her pick.

Evey smiled and walked over to the wall of weapons. After selecting a few items and hiding them in her belt she smiled brightly with excitement and all but raced V to the front door.

The streets above seemed oblivious to the glow of moonlight but rather succumbed to the mystery of the shadows. V reached and grabbed Evey roughly pushing her up against a brick wall. Evey bit back a grunt of discomfort from being slammed into the hard surface. Evey turned agitated eyes towards V questionably but V's attention was focused around the corner of the alley. A large, black and unmarked van crept slowly down the street. Something that resembled a television dish spun around on the roof of the van along with other antenna type of objects. Evey held her breath like V trained her to do if she came into contact with The Ear. V kept a firm hand across her as he eyed the van slowly roaming down the street.

Evey released the breath she was holding once the coast appeared clear. V didn't exactly relax it wasn't in his nature when he was patrolling the streets but his shoulders fell as his head turned towards Evey. Putting a finger over the lips of Guy Fawkes he nodded in the direction of a fire escape. V glided up the fire escape barely making a sound while Evey tried to copy his movements but lacked the finesse of her partner. Once she reached the top V extended his hand helping her the rest of the way.

London always looked more beautiful from the rooftops and if you ignored the surveillance cameras, Fingermen and swoosh of black bags it's beauty could awe you. Evey looked over her city with a melancholy nostalgia. The vacant look in Evey's eyes worried him but he needed her to be on full alert.

"Evey" V called gently.

Evey was jerked out of her memories as she stared at V.

"Sorry"

"You need to focus" V insisted.

"Right. I'm good" Evey said with determination.

V turned his attention back down to the streets below. A pair of Fingermen were resting against a wall looking for an unsuspecting citizen to cross their path. One of the Fingermen lit a smoke and puffed large dark clouds before nudging his partner to tell him an obscene joke. V sneered under his mask as he felt Evey's shoulder brush against his arm as she came to stand beside him.

"So how are we taking them out?" Evey questioned with excitement.

"You tell me" V answered.

Evey gave him a surprised expression before turning back to the unsuspecting men.

"Well they're in a great spot, no surveillance cameras, so there's no need to lure them anywhere. On the other hand they're on an open street not an isolated alley and the Ear is circling. Even if we did take them out in the open street no one would care"

"You would think that but people are afraid Evey. Someone may call the authorities"

"Yeah" Evey said with a frown. "With the isolated streets it would take the cops no time to get here"

"Decisions Evey" V urged.

"Quick and fast it is" Evey smiled up at V.

V motioned his hands signaling for Evey to act on her decision. Evey turned away from V and shimmied down the fire escape making sure to stick to the shadows as she approached the men. Standing high on a roof a couple of buildings away made her oblivious to the fact that the building the men were resting against was a Fingermen bar plus two more Fingermen rounded the corner just before she approached.

"Shit" Evey muttered under her breath.

Her mind went completely blank as all four of the men turned their attention to her.

"Is it Halloween already love?" One of the men laughed making a few of the other men chuckle blindly following the one bold enough to speak first.

Evey did not speak as she sauntered up to the men with a deep twist in her hips. The men leered with lust filled eyes. Evey smirked and unsheathed her weapons making quick work of two of the men. The two remaining reached for their weapons. Evey had to think fast so she took off in the opposite direction before ducking into the alley she appeared from. The two men gripped their guns tightly calling for her to stop. Blindly they chased after the woman who slaughtered two of their friends. Coming to the mouth of the alley they found the woman standing ready with weapons drawn unfortunately she made the age old mistake of bringing knives to a gun fight.

"You'll pay for that" One of the Fingermen spat aiming his gun at her head.

Although Evey was posed in a confident and silently vicious stance, that she mastered from watching V, her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. She was completely out of ideas. Originally she thought it a good idea to lead the men to the alleyway so they wouldn't alert however many Fingermen happened to be in the bar.

As she stared down the barrel of their guns she silently shouted at herself to come up with something epic. What would V do? Speaking of which where was Mr. tall, dark and vicious when a girl needed him?

"Any last words?" One of the Fingermen sneered.

"Yeah. You guys talk to much"

This caused the men to clench their jaws as their index fingers pulled the triggers backwards but the last second before the bullets could leave the barrels V descended from the shadows knocking one of the Fingermen to the group as his knife swept across his neck. The second Fingerman jumped taken completely off guard and V made quick work of disarming him before plunging his knife into the man's sternum. The man's eyes were frozen in fear before blood spewed from his mouth at which time V distanced himself to keep from being covered in the blood of the Fingerman. Swinging his knives in one swift motion to clear them of blood he spun them rodeo style before placing them back into his belt around his waist.

"Now what have we learned?" V questioned.

Evey rolled her eyes.

"Show off" She huffed with a smile.

"What have you learned Evey?" V asked once again, his voice drawing darker.

"Ok so maybe I didn't realize it was a Finger bar until it was too late, and maybe I didn't plan on more coming but all is well that ends well right?" Evey smiled putting away her knives.

"You were hasty and devised no back up plans in case you were to fail" V scolded.

"Ok ok but didn't you want information out of them?" Evey sighed looking at the bodies lying in the alley and the two that were soon to be discovered outside the bar.

"They raised their weapons to you" V said darkly and Evey was glad he wasn't upset with her because his voice alone sent tremors down her spine.

Evey smirked as the tremors melted into a warm feeling that radiated in her chest. V killed those worthless Fingermen to protect her.

"That's actually really sweet V" Evey said placing a kiss on his inanimate cheek. "But we really need to get going. Bodies outside the bar, remember"

With a gentleman like bow he motioned for Evey to take the lead.

"After you" V said before the two disappeared into the night.