Chapter 22

A loud ringing in Evelyn's ears forced her awake from her dreamless sleep. She whimpered in pain raising her hands to her head only to draw them back from a tender area by her temple. She opened her eyes looking through a blurry haze that were slow to focus.

"Don't be a ninny. It's just a bruise" A voice that sounded masculine but too high pitch to be V's huffed.

Evelyn turned towards the voice with a groan of annoyance to find Slick sitting in a chair next to V's bed, which she was currently occupying. Sitting up and rubbing her eyes to help them focus she looked at Slick with a smirk.

"Here. He said you need to drink it, all of it" Slick said pushing a cup half filled with juice into her hands.

"Thanks" She croaked even more thankful after feeling the sandpaper dryness in her mouth. Evelyn guzzled the cool liquid so quickly that she gasped for breath once the cup parted from her lips.

"You should lay down" Slick said eyeing Evey closely for any sign that she may pass out.

Evelyn only shook her head gently and pulled the covers from her body to see herself dressed in one of V's shirts and pajama pants.

"I'm alright. I just needed some rest"

"He ain't gonna be happy wit' you gettin' up and all" Slick grumbled crossing his arms over his chest as if that would intimidate her back into bed.

"Really? Well then, he will have to take it up with me himself" Evelyn teased when a deep voice came from the doorway.

"Indeed I will" V said stepping further into his room.

"I tried to warn ya" Slick smirked.

Evelyn only rolled her eyes at the two slowly beginning to test her balance. She felt a little dizzy like she was standing on a mountain top rather than the stone floor beneath her feet. Reaching back to steady herself with the comforting touch of the comforter she closed her eyes willing the dizziness to disappear and it must have worked because when she opened them everything was where it should be although V moved closer.

"I believe Agatha should be waking soon. I left her medicine on the counter. Give it to her just like I taught you" V instructed.

V moved closer to Evey reaching out to cup her face gently avoiding the bruise.

"Are you alright my love?"

"I don't know" Evelyn answered honestly taking a seat on the bed. "My head is fine though"

There was a growing silence between the two until she spoke again.

"So they know about me now, don't they?"

V simply nodded letting his covered fingertips slide across her cheek.

"I should not have allowed him to harm you"

Evey simply waved her hand as if waving the thought from his mind.

"Have you checked on Gordon? If they know about me then..." She said not wanting to focus on all the horrors that could befall her bestfriend.

"He is fine. He even threatened to destroy the phone if I contacted him again" V chuckled.

Evey threw her arms around V giving him a tight squeeze. If he were a normal man he would probably have a few broken ribs.

"Is something wrong Evey?" V asked in concern.

"Today is the fifth" A muffled response came from his chest.

"Yes. It is"

"The day you're going to die" Evey said taking a deep breath of his scent to try and keep herself from breaking down.

"You did not hear my speech" V sighed sadly.

"No. No, I heard it. Every word" Evey smiled wiping a stray tear as she faced him. "That is what confuses me. You asked London to join you a year from now but I thought...I know you wouldn't lie to them"

"No. I fully intend on putting on an...explosive...show" He said giving that bizarre giggle of his.

Evey untangled her arms from around his neck and let them slowly make their way down his chest. No words were exchanged between the two as she stared up at Guy Fawkes with lips pulling in a wide smile.

"Another year. You gave me another year"

V held her by the forearms nodding his head. Evey's smile widened as tears threatened to gather once more in her eyes.

"My thoughtful V"

V sighed allowing his hands to drift up and down her arms softly.

"I'm afraid I was unsuccessful in persuading my heart to bid you farewell my love"

"You postponed your revolution for me? V. I don't know what to say, besides thank you. I understand how difficult coming to this decision must have been for you"

My mind began drifting through a tsunami of thoughts. I knew that it was wrong for me to be happy about this. Everything that he could remember about his life had lead to this moment, this day. He was ready and willing to die for this cause and because of me plans changed. I wanted to relish in this moment and don't get me wrong I was incredibly grateful but how could I be entirely happy with the weight of more innocent bodies on my shoulders. All of the corruption, all of the torturing and lies could have come to an end tonight and yet because of me they would continue for another year. More blood would run down the streets of London and it would be on my hands, yet I would selfishly accept that burden and the consequences that came along with it for one more year to hold V and confess my love.

"You are upset?" V's voice caused me to flinch from the sudden sounds.

"No. How could I be upset with having you for one more year? I was just thinking but it doesn't matter. I'm very happy V" I smiled pecking his faux lips.

"How is Agatha doing?"

Leaning into V's embrace I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"She is healing faster than I anticipated"

"That's great" I said almost in an automatic reply although I was happy over the news but my mind was slightly preoccupied with trying to find a sliver of flesh that wasn't hidden behind clothing or gloves.

Taking my wondering hands in his own V placed them in my lap.

"Rest Evey"

"I'm fine. I doubt I could fall back to sleep anyway" I sighed giving a good stretch.

I know V was staring in wait for me to lose my balance or have a dizzying attack, but thankfully they never came.

V watched over me like a hawk even when I didn't believe him to be around he would materialize out of the shadows taking a plate of food out of my hands or pulling out my chair for me. Obviously he was intent on making sure I did as little as possible until he was certain I was completely healed and I lacked the energy to put up a fight nor did I find it necessary so I spent majority of the day sitting on the couch with Agatha watching cartoons while she drew on a table top art studio which sat on her lap. She and Slick both held a natural talent for creating art. I stared down at the fairy with ocean blue hair and sparkling sapphire eyes flying through a barren field. Agatha seemed deep in concentration so I held my tongue on how talented and pretty the picture was when I heard metal colliding against metal. A jolt of fear shot down my spine but if we were any real danger V would appear with guns blazing, so to speak. Pulling a spare hair tie from my ponytail I gently combed through Agatha's hair with my fingers and pulled it back into a ponytail. The small effort of continuously pushing her hair from her face was wearing the poor thing out.

I walked towards the training room expecting to see V practicing on his own but to my surprise I found Slick lunging for V with a small sword in hand.

"Straighten your back" V instructed although he did not slow his attacks.

Metal ground against metal while my heart pounded in my chest.

"Evelyn!" An authoritative voice that I knew all too well shouted in frustration.

My head snapped in the direction while Isaac grinned nicking my arm in my distraction.

"Ow!" I cried snarling at him.

Spinning his sword with a smug grin we both turned to find our dad walking down the stairs to the basement of our family store.

"Very good Isaac" Dad smiled proudly at his son before turning a disappointed gaze to me.

"Do you know why you failed?"

I opened my mouth to answer but shut it quickly taking a minute to think about exactly how I wanted to choose my words.

"I became distracted"

"No. You failed long before you were struck" He answered taking the sword from Isaac

"It is said that failure is the best lesson. So I will give you one last chance to correct your mistakes" Father said calmly. His feet planted apart, shoulders back, sword forward and an emotionless gaze.

I tried to hide my hesitation but I had the sickening feeling dad could see straight through it. He waited patiently for me to make first move and once I attacked there was no going back. I struggled to fight through the fatigue of training with Isaac but my responses were sluggish and I paid for them. blood flowed down my arms from various shallow cuts. My ribs were bruised making me wince with each breath uncomfortably. My feet were kicked out from beneath me and I slammed into the concrete with a heavy thud. I gasped painfully riddled too greatly with pain to give a proper cry of pain. A could feel a bruise developing on my shoulder from my ungraceful fall. Isaac winced from the condition of his little sister before his eyes shifted in fear to his father hoping he did not see. Thankfully his prayers were answered since his father was completely focused on teaching his daughter another one of his many lessons. Jonathon Hammond stood over his daughter's beaten form reflecting disappointment with a huff.

"You failed because you weren't in the proper stances. How many times do I have to tell you Evelyn to straighten your back?"

"I'm sorry" I apologized trying to keep the tears at bay but they refused and fell down my cheeks. Isaac lowered his gaze to the ground sympathetically knowing his sister made a mistake in showing weakness. It was one of their father's most important rules.

Jonathon said nothing as he took the sword from Evelyn's hands. Placing them securely on the holster's mounted to the wall. Jonathon silently walked over to a large wardrobe which was responsible for holding various training equipment. Reaching inside he removed a thick bo staff along with a few weights attached to cords. Tying the cords around either ends securely he returned in front of Evelyn handing her the staff. Evelyn grunted fighting through her pain and fatigue to keep from dropping it which she knew would only result in further punishment. Jonathon ordered her squat while balancing the staff.

"You will remain this way until you are sent for. If you come down to assist your sister in anyway you will be given twice the punishment" Jonathon scolded seriously.

"Run along. Your mother will need help starting dinner soon"

Isaac spared Evelyn a brief glance before spinning and stepping up the stairs letting soft groans from the wood planks echo from his foot falls.

Jonathon soon followed his son shutting the door leaving Evelyn in complete darkness struggling to keep herself upright while trying not to lose her grip and disappoint her father further.

"Aye! I said what are you looking at?" A lighter masculine voice yelled.

"Slick a man never speaks so harshly to a lady" V scolded gently spinning his blades and throwing them at the dummy.

Slick rolled his eyes and pulled he knives out with difficulty as V ventured closer to Evelyn. Her eyes were lost in a time before, a look V was more than acquainted with.

"Evey?"

Evelyn blinked staring at V as if he appeared out of thin air.

"Sorry V, Did you say something?"

"I merely wished to confirm you were well"

"Oh yes I'm fine...um" Her thoughts became distracted as she watched Slick struggling to pull the knife out of the dummy.

"Yeah I'm fine. Don't worry" Evelyn smiled giving a quick peck to Fawke's lips.

V wrapped an arm around her waist keeping her from running off.

"Oh no. I've been captured by the terrorist V whatever shall I do?" Evey feigned fear before wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Get a room" Slick muttered before leaving the room not bothering to remove the knives.

Evey looked around.

"I'm sure this room will do" Evey suggested with a heavy gaze. Leaning forward she pulled down V's collar with her teeth before catching it with her finger. Gently her tongue grazed the multi textured skin beneath. After getting a few moans from V she placed a kiss and released his collar helping to push it up in place.

"Looks like you could use another partner" Evey smirked releasing V so she could take her pick of weapons.

"Evey"

"I don't wanna talk about it right now V. Please"

"The weapon you choose matters not for you are assured to be beaten" V called playfully swiping his knives through the air even throwing in a trick or two.

Evelyn's eyes lowered as her hand stilled just above a Bo staff.

"I'll never be enough" She whispered.

"Evey" V's gloved hand tucked a stray coil behind her ear gently brushing her cheek while her back pressed against his chest. V wished he could say the right words that would erase those shadows from eyes brought from memories past but nothing came to mind. Unfortunately Evelyn would have to work through these trials on her own.

"Perhaps we should save our sparing session for another time"

Evelyn smiled and nodded in agreement turning her eyes away from the case of weapons.


Author's Note: This Chapter has not been edited but I have been working on it for a while and I'm going through writer's block with this story so I just wanted to get it up here. I welcome any and all constructive criticism and or suggestions. I will be editing not only this chapter but revamping this entire story because after reading it a few times I definitely see the need for improvement. I will keep you guys updated as those changes take place.