Standing up from the couch V curled his finger at Carly for her to follow him down a hallway and paused between two doors. He opened the door to their left to reveal a rather large domed room. Roughly 30 feet in diameter, it contained several busts and dummies in various poses and stances and weapons that lined the walls, all of which were ones to be used for hand to hand combat. Finally a circle in the center, just a few feet across clear of anything and covered with a large training mat.
"I won't be able to get very good if I fight stationary objects, no matter how human-like they look." Carly looked at the dummies and smirked at V as he leaned against the door frame. Shifting off of the wall V strode toward Carly. As he does, he grabs a set of daggers from the wall and quickens his steps. Carly's eyes widened in both fear and anticipation, only to meet V's when he paused an inch away from her. In a flourish V sent a dagger flying to meet the head of a dummy behind her, sending it back to the ground with a loud slap as it hit the mat. Carly shifted to the side to see the daggers end, he crossed an arm in front of her and let another fly to a far dummy which slid across the floor and stopped several feet away from its original position. Their bodies finally make the gentlest of contact for a moment after the dummy stopped moving, leaving them in a space of intense silence. V felt her warmth and she felt his protection. Carly's eyes pause my speech again, far too long to be dramatic. "Stationary is relative, Carly." he took a step back, "Excuse the invasion so quickly. But the art of space is knowing how to command it. It was once said that all the world's a stage and we are but players. Always intend on being the primary act, or else you will be removed from the stage" I flourish again and bow.
"Are you ready to learn?" V tilted his head, holding a hand out toward the dummies that remained standing. Carly wouldn't outwardly admit that she was impressed by his skill, by a quick glance she could tell that both of the injuries would be fatal, but cocked an eyebrow in appreciation before walking up to one of the dummies.
"Hmm if you hadn't blown up the old bailey I think we could have a career in entertainment and knife throwing." Carly giggled. It was remarkable that you had done everything that you had but stayed hidden so well.
"Noted." V chuckled before refocusing, "First things first, you need to understand two things. How to hold a weapon and what you seek to do with it. But I dare say we start with something that won't cause you more physical harm if you make a mistake." V looked over to the line of staffs. He picked up the one he trained with and favored, and it's twin out of habit but paused. Looking back at Carly and noted their vast height and wingspan disparity. V decided on a short staff that was 4 feet in length that barely makes a good cane for him and handed it to Carly. "A short staff is a lethal weapon that most don't realize or recognize. It is almost always available to you anywhere you go, be it a broom, mop, pipe or cane. With it you can keep your distance and direct your target."
V noted her grip as she brought it up in a similar fashion to holding a baseball bat, "A good grip, but it makes your intentions clear. We will start here, to get you used to it." He quickly slid behind Carly and guided her up to a dummy his height. Moving behind her, he placed his hands next to hers positioned on the staff and guided it to bring the other end of the staff to the head. "Striking anyone on the temple will cause one of two results, either immediate disorientation if done lightly or death if done with a strong force." V trailed off, realizing the last time he had a woman this close to him who wasn't trying to kill him. The scent of the shampoo Carly had used in the guest bathroom wafted into his nose, filling the air with vanilla. Shaking his head to refocus, he guided the tip of the staff down to the throat. "Here we have the easiest target space and most important. An assailant who cannot speak is useless to his company. Furthermore, when one is silent one is left in a weak position." V removed his arms from around her to retrieve a piece of chalk, and the absence of his closeness made Carly surprisingly sad and V returned to mark dummy's temple, and neck he pointed at them, "Now... adjust your stance and I want you to work on striking both areas. Start light till you have the focus points. Then work on stronger and stronger till you see the dummy crease when you strike it."
Her hits started off sloppy, landing in one area and then another in an inconsistent pattern but much to V's surprise, after a few minutes she accomplished what he had been looking for very quickly. Before he knew it, the blows from her staff had erased the chalk marks that he had made and she still hit the exact spots despite her markers being gone.
"You are a quick study. Something I almost expected given the precision required for your profession. This isn't something that you will learn to perfect in a day, and certainly it will be a while before I expect you to be able to take on a live foe, so feel free to practice here as you see fit." V smiled and walked over to a table to grab a pair of gloves for her. "No need to have your hands damaged. Blisters and calluses are for Kung Fu movies, and their skills are needed to save lives. Much like the rest of you, they must be protected." V held them open and slowly aided in sliding them inside, and Carly couldn't help but blush, unsure if it was from V's compliment or the gentle contact and care of him assisting her with her gloves but her opportunity to ponder that was cut short as V stepped back and gestured back to the dummy, "Please continue."
After a few more minutes of watching her progress V held his hand up for her to pause, "You are still leaning in. If you keep that up you will lose your nose or your head."
V stepped back again and watched her do her best to correct her stance but not quite getting it. V realized that he was speaking from his perspective as an experienced fighter, and shifted his approach to one she surely had a better understanding of as a medical professional. Kinesiology. Walking away, V clicked on an old record player and set the needle down. Hiss and crackles start before a waltz plays out of the gramophone. He returned to Carly as her head turned to find him. Catching her hand and tossing the staff to the side, ignoring as it lands in a barrel with a few other sticks and canes. V gently took her free hand and brought the other to her waist. "Do you dance?" A moment later he begins to lead her around the space.
"No, I'm an awful dancer!" Carly exclaimed in surprise, slightly startled but settled into his hold, realizing that she was again enjoying the contact more than she would care to admit.
"Footwork is even more important. Moving with or against your foe is one thing, but finding the right timing and expecting what's next..." He dipped her slightly and took her into a turn. "...can mean the difference between a successful counter or a dark bag being put on a very sore body." V could tell that this was unchartered territory for her and even though she tried to follow his movements, her body was insistent on leading. "Remember that the art is to follow, not be dragged. Even if you are not leading the dance you have to follow, else you may miss an important movement." He paused as the song ended and released her. Without a second's pause she grabbed one of the knives from his own belt and quickly sent it whizzing through the air and into the chest of a dummy farther across the room.
"An important movement like that?" She queried, cocking an eyebrow at him with the biggest grin he had seen grace her face to date. The movement caught V by surprise and he felt his breath being taken away from his chest in awe. V covered his hand over the mouth of the mask, and his gaze shifted from the wobbling dummy to her.
"My dear, that was a friend." His voice was filled with shock and feigned lamentation, "But a fleeting friendship parted by a beautiful strike. I dare say you have speed and accuracy down. Where did you gather that skill?"
"I deeply apologize, I didn't realize you were friends with him. After all, he watched you murder his friends in front of him and I would put money on the fact that he'd soon be seeking revenge. Well I have an older brother who served in the military and worked in security. I was fortunate enough to have a brother that wanted to teach me how to do some things. Though, a staff was not his list of things to teach me." Carly shrugged.
"What other weapons did your brother teach you how to use?" V asked with a light smile, finding her more and more intriguing.
"He taught me how to shoot a gun, I'll admit I'm much better with those than knives and the only practice I had was on paper targets, pumpkins." Carly recalled. V tilted his head in surprise and gestured to her to follow him once more into the next room which happened to contain a shooting range. Wordlessly V gestured to one of the spots before grabbing two earmuffs and a pistol. To Carly's surprise, he gently tucked her hair carefully behind her ears before placing her hearing protection on and handed her the gun. Making sure he was a safe distance away, she turned off the safety and let out four efficient shots. Two that were lethal in the head and heart, and two that were less so, in the shoulder and abdomen.
"I dare say, good doctor. You are full of surprises." The velvet nature and respect in V's voice was near intoxicating even through the earmuffs. Taking off the earmuffs, Carly made sure the safety was back on and placed the gun safely down before leaning against the ledge that separated them and the area where the target's lay.
"Are you alright?" V stepped forward with his hands gently outstretched to catch her if she passed out.
"Yes, it was just a lot of physical exertion in one day." She nodded, "I may have overdone it."
"Let's get you somewhere comfortable, can't have you passing out. It's only our first adventure, what will people think?" V chuckled and held a hand out for her to hold on to before guiding her back to the couches where they started before grabbing her a glass of water. "In your eagerness to train I think you may have exhausted yourself." V patiently waited for her to catch her breath. She would surely be able to assess how she was recovering better than him.
"I'm alright. I'm still a little malnourished and my body is a little weak but that will correct itself in time." Carly nodded and took a sip of her water.
"Allow me to remedy that. I will have to go out for provisions soon, so if there is anything that would be beneficial for your recovery you only need to ask and I will procure it the next time I go out." V offered.
"Thank you." Carly smiled and noticed the suit of armor in the corner of the room "How did you wind up with a place like this?" she asked. V hesitated, wondering how much he should tell her. She had been very transparent with him when he asked, and now it was only just to reciprocate.
"The best I can tell you is that I too had an ordeal of sorts." I think back to the facility and the fire. "It was hard to say where it started or how long I was there, but the entire time I was changed. Both in mind and body. There were others who were put through the same trials and subjected to horrors. In the end, they did not survive. I am unsure when the facility fire broke out, but it caused a great explosion that tore it apart. I emerged from the wreckage and made my way back into the world. Although scared and burned, I survived my situation and was forever altered." V took a deep breath upon finishing all that he was capable of sharing.
"I'm sorry that happened to you V. In spite of all of that, it looks like you've made quite a life for yourself down here. I know that it's probably not too much of a comfort to you...but I'm not sure anyone would be okay after being in the hands of our government. I'd be somewhat frightened if someone was the same. Sadly there are a lot of us that now understand what you must be feeling but that fact also means that you're never alone in that." Carly gave him a supportive smile. V found her compassion truly something to be marveled at.
"Thank you..." V murmured quietly, realizing that she was the first person to offer an apology about what happened to him.
"You'll need food as well. I'll be back with something shortly." V cleared his throat gently to alleviate the discomfort that he was feeling about that fact. The step of vulnerability that he had taken made his knees shake slightly as he walked toward the door. Once he shut the door behind him, he found himself almost stumbling in the dark catacombs. He took deep breaths and paused before making his way to street level. He felt it was wrong of him to dash out and was determined to make amends. The dark moonless night granted him all the cover he needed to gather something unique.
A little later he returned through the giant metal door with full bags and what looked like a toting bag. His bag is much fuller and heavier than before plus what seemed to be toting a bottle. Coming out of her room Carly paused with a concerned expression and adjusted the oversized sweater that she had changed into after her shower. Her mildly disheveled but comfortable appearance caused V to pause in appreciation of her beauty. He realized that it was one of his, and he realized that she may have run out of clothes and that he had neglected to show her where the washer was. His clothes draped gently off of her, exposing her shoulder and rather beautiful tattoo work that she had done that started at her shoulder that continued down her arm.
"Are you alright V?" Her voice snapped him back to reality.
"I wish to apologize for my previous reaction..." He paused and thought about his next words. "It has been sometime since someone has asked about me, it was even more that someone reacted with such compassion. So please, join me here for some food... won't you?" He asked.
"I understand V" Carly nodded and sat down at the table. Moments later he turned holding two plates of chicken parmesan, on beds of noodles. "It doesn't look like much, but I assure you that it is quite authentic." Setting the plate before her and across I return to the counter. "As tradition would dictate, basket wrapped Chianti. It's dryer and far more table quality then I would wish, but it's said to bring out the flavor of the sauce." He set down two glasses and brought the bottle over before raising his to her. Carly took a sip of the wine and paused to taste it. While she enjoyed sweeter wines, he was correct in that it complimented the flavors of the food.
"Tell me, before you were picked up, do you remember the last project you were working on? Perhaps something to do with a media relations member in China that went missing it may be hard to recall considering the situation, but try for me." V prompted as gently as he could. Knowing the truth of the situation is not always the best thing.
Carly leaned back in her chair and fought hard to remember but everything was blurry. "Well the Chancellor and the leader of China were talking far more than they had been in previous years. However I was switched from the case half way through whatever negotiations they were making. They were very cautious of me after my brother went missing." I thought back. She had gone from being in different meetings and directly interpreting to sitting at a desk and translating letters for people. After about two weeks after that they had come for her.
"Nothing less than I suspected. I am sure the Chancellor and leadership there were discussing individuals talking between media outlets. Apparently someone had figured out how to transfer coded messages among normal news broadcasts. This allowed the message to disseminate wherever and however the transmission was sent. Regardless of the redistribution method." V tilted his head slightly "I am sure you can see how this would upset the balance of power if they had no idea what the message said and it couldn't really be stopped. After all, even the Chancellor uses public media broadcasts."
"When they came for you, did they question you about a man named Won Kim? He also went missing just before you were interrogated." His voice clearly showed ire when speaking of their methods. Although logical for their point, reckless and masochistic when applied without direction or purpose. Like using a shotgun to clear a corner simply suspected to be harboring a spider.
"Yes. I do remember him. I think we were processed together but he has moved somewhere else." Carly frowned. He was a kind man who told me not to be afraid.
A group of people being processed for interrogation were herded through the drab halls of Stone Hill.
"What is going on? You can't do this!" Carly spotted a guard who was making his way up the line and demanded desperately. She was only met with the stinging sensation of his hand colliding with my cheek.
"Keep walking." The guard growled coldly.
"Come on, let's go." An elderly man ushered her forward, offering gentle hushing as he rubbed her arm in an attempt to calm her "You mustn't let them see you cry, understand?" He whispered as we walked down the hallway and were separated, stripped and given what little clothing was theirs for the time being. From that day on, she hadn't shed a tear. Carly would see him sometimes when they were transported to different interrogation rooms but slowly she saw less and less people, and the halls were filled with silence...
V watched Carly close her eyes. It slows to a mumble before he can tell that she was having a flashback. V had the knowledge of how to kill a man in less than ten seconds, and was prepared to do it but he found himself clueless in this situation and an almost primal sense of anger and helplessness struck him in his chest like a brick as a tear slipped down her cheek. He would have left that very second to end the life of whoever's actions made her cry, had he not already killed every guard in that building.
"Carly...?" V's voice was barely louder than a whisper as he leaned over and reached out to touch her hand, hoping that would bring her back to the present moment. Carly snapped back to reality and before she could process what she was doing, her hand held the butter knife that she had been eating with to the side of his throat. V sat very still, locking eyes hers. They were wild with fear, but he could already tell that her mind was working on processing through the terror coursing through her veins. He sat still, knowing that she was not a danger to him despite the impressive speed of her movement and the dull knife against the tall collar of his shirt. Carly knew that her reaction was one of survival but she was more disturbed by its occurrence. She was not a violent person, nor did she have the desire to harm people.
"Shh. You are safe, I will not let anything happen to you here." V shushed her reassuringly and gently reached between them to move the knife away from his neck and out of her hand. Her eyes welled up with tears and a gentle sob racked through her chest at the realization at what had just happened before she felt V's arms wrap around her in a hug. Without hesitation she returned the embrace and for a moment V thought he had made her feel worse as more violent sobs came from her mouth. It wasn't until he felt her fingers grab fistfulls of his shirt to hold him tighter that he realized he hadn't. Unsure of what else to do, he looped an arm under her knees to carry her to the couch. Sitting down in a more comfortable spot he placed her gently in his lap and stroked her hair, rocking her back and forth soothingly. The closeness was foreign, but the act filled him with a level of sadness and sympathy that he hadn't felt in quite some time. After a few minutes her breathing returned to normal and her muscles relaxed against his hold. Looking down at her to confirm if she had fallen asleep, and gently carried her back to her room. After placing her down on the bed and pulling the blanket over her, he paused before exiting the room and gazed at her with a small smile as she lay curled up like a kitten. In her fear she had shown courage and fight. If she would let him, he was ready to give her the liberation to never have to feel that fear again.