Disclaimer:I don't own "V for Vendetta" or any of its characters, wishful thinking aside.

Authors Note #1:My take on what happened after the credits rolled at the end of the movie.

Warnings: post movie, romantic tension, sexual tension, drama, romance, angst, post traumatic stress disorder, hurt and comfort, first time, emotional baggage, emotionally constipation.

Entheos

Chapter Three

"Do you like music, Mr. Finch?"

He thought that had been the end of it. After all, they'd made it to the roof in time for V's music to play. Watching Parliament explode like a promise kept. But then, as she'd led him downstairs when it was over, they'd stopped in the middle of large room.

"Do you dance, Mr. Finch?"

Whatever he'd been expecting, it wasn't that.

"Dance? Now?" he'd repeated, nonplussed. So taken off guard he accepted it immediately. Because nothing had made sense for a long time and maybe this was just wildly in character.

Her smile had been a living thing when she'd crossed to the jukebox and selected a song she seemed to know by heart. A crooning, sad jag about love that he'd liked immediately, but didn't know if he could bear to hear again.

The dance had been a funeral.

But it had still been a dance.

His first in a long, long time.

Dominic was still looking at him when he came out of the memory. He met his eyes easily this time. A smile twitching across his face as the ghost of her hand in his made its weight known. Like even now, hours after she'd politely shown him the door, she was still with him.

"She said a revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having," he mused softly.

V had said it first.

He didn't have to ask.

He just knew.

It was that feeling again.

"Doesn't seem fair she got a dance before me," Dominic posed, eying him over the rim of his glass with a veiled smile.

At first he thought the man was having him on. Wondering how he was going to push through the sudden ringing in his ears, let alone Dominic having a laugh at his expense. But Dominic was serious. It was all there in the set of his shoulders. The lack of a smirk or a chuckle. Showing a determined openness that was so unspeakably brave there wasn't a word to describe it.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Tongue painfully still against his teeth.

But Dominic didn't give him mercy.

He just stood there, waiting for him.

"We- we don't have any music," he finally rasped.

As far as protestations went it was weak and absolutely not what he meant to say.

Dominic's eyes glinted, softly amused.

"I can fix that," he said simply. Setting down his glass and crossing to the stereo.

The low hum of a jazz song filled the room. All sultry vocals and slow rhythms. It was nothing like the old song Evey Hammond had played. And he was glad of it. Thoroughly done with coincidences and ghosts. Still, it had its own troublesome heart. Because it was the type of music he could picture himself dancing to in another life.

"Come on then..."

Dominic took his hand. Slowly guiding him to the living room as they swayed together. Fingers caught with anxious tension - half paralyzed, half painfully alive - when they fell into the small of his back. Giving Dominic permission to do the same.

Christ.

Close like this, Dominic was a clear quarter-head taller. A year ago it might have made him feel self-conscious. Instead, he was focused on how their movements had gotten less and less stiff. On how when they both tried to lead – hips bumping – it was charming rather than embarrassing. Moving together in the same effortless way they always had. It was why they'd worked out in the beginning, as partners. Dominic had fit into his jagged edges. The only difference now was that they were swaying together, smoky piano music flavoring the air.

"What else did she ask you for?" Dominic breathed. Lips so close to his neck he could feel each word.

Evey Hammond hadn't asked him for anything after that. She'd merely wiped her tears as the song faded. Leading him up to the city street with determined eyes.

"I'll be in touch, Inspector."

That was all she said before the door rumbled. Leaving him alone just in time for the streets to start filling with revelers. It had been so perfectly timed, if he hadn't known better, he might have expected one of V's tricks.

He'd lost time after that, until Dominic found him.

"Nothing," he rasped, honest this time. Unable to help it as something more - something deeper - started to give. Feeling those old hopes and even older appetites unmasking themselves. Daring to wonder if they might be welcomed after all.

"Pity," Dominic hummed. Gaze lingering on his lips. Making him pull in a stuttered breath before-

The timer dinged.

He nearly went through the roof. So startled that the hand that'd been in Dominic's flew to his chest holster. Stopping only when the sudden shot of adrenaline settled into realization.

Christ on a bloody crutch.

Dominic huffed a laugh. Only realizing he'd grabbed the man's sleeve when Dominic started uncurling his fingers with an amused smile.

"Breakfast is ready."


A/N: Thank you for reading. Please let me know what you think! – There is more to come.