Evey stared at the wooden door for a good minute before she decided to push it open. She'd been following the man through the tunnels,always away from his sight. He'd gone through the very door she was staring at five minutes ago and nothing odd happened since then. It was a plain door,hidden by old posters and spots of dried,peeling paint. Just like the door of the Shadow Gallery. It rose the hairs on her back. However,she'd went all the way here,risked her safety. A door wouldn't scare her.

It opened slowly and heavily,with a most unpleasant sound. So not very plain,though. Ahead of her laid a dark corridor,unlit except for the faint light at its end. The light at the end of the tunnel,she thought,nearly chuckling at the cliche. Evey pushed the first door closed,thinking it was best to keep her back safe for now and went forward,her steps steady,her heart no. It even seemed too short of a walk and perhaps she'd wished this could have lasted longer. Something in the back of her mind kept her back from being relaxed,from being…V. She had to admit it,she wasn't what V was,she would never be. And all of this had been just a silly plan she'd thought would work. But maybe this is what V had been relying on for so long. A silly,crazy plan which would eventually take shape. Just like hers.

The faint light coming from the room at this end felt suddenly welcoming. Evey went head first into it,like a moth,but alert and ready to reach the cold blades of V's daggers hanging to her torso. Hopefully she wouldn't need them.

What met her eye was a tall spiraled staircase,beautifully crafted in an intricate model which wrapped itself upwards around it. V would have admired it certainly. Evey began to walk up the stairs,making no noise at all,except the small rustling of the cape behind her. On the walls surrounding the stair were hung different paintings,all lit up by LED's from above. She recognized many of them : one was Picasso's 'Guernica',painted in 1937, illustration of the terrors that occurred after the Nazi bombing of Guernica, Spain; another was Aivazovsky's 'Battle of Chesma at night',painted in 1848 and depicting the 1770 fleet battle at Chesma in which the Ottomans were pitted against Russia. That particular one made Evey shudder lightly. The fire painted there was such a strong resemblance to the fire which swallowed the Houses of Parliament less than a couple of months ago. Her gloved fingers touched the red-orange composition,but only briefly. It wasn't as if V would step out of it,just as he did when escaping Larkhill.

She continued to climb higher,inwardly wondering how much was left to the top. Other paintings followed the previous exposed. A detail from 'The Coronation of the Virgin' hung at eye level,while a row higher,another detail,but this time from the 'Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry',stood proud under a protective glass. An old piece,Evey guessed. Whoever owned this place,was at least as interested in art as V. Oddly,the presence of paintings calmed Evey. The stair seemed to finish,finally,after what felt like two floors of climbing. She stood in front of another door,painted black. A faint music echoed behind it. This was it.

The door opened easily,as if it invited Evey in. She stepped inside,this dark figure in a bath of light. Even more paintings hung on the walls,but this time she couldn't focus on them. Evey stood frozen in the doorway,because in front of her stood a ghost,a remnant of her past she had been blaming herself for destroying.

"G-Gordon…you...how?" In the most reckless way possible she pulled the mask off her face,just because she needed to see him,to make sure none of this was a stupid dream of hers. The form stepped forward into the light. Yes,it was Gordon,dressed casually,in very comfy looking trousers and turtle-neck sweater. His ever charming smile was now warmer,more reassuring. He walked slowly to her,as if she was a scared animal afraid to be attacked. However,Evey didn't see it that way. She crumbled down against the door,V's clothes burning suddenly her skin. The woman pulled off the wig and threw it across the room,then undid the upper buttons of the outer coat which went snugly up below her chin. Even with that,she was short of breath. Her heart raced like the most magnificent horse on the racecourse. But there was nothing magnificent about her state. Tears flowed freely on her thinned cheeks,a bubble bursting loudly after months of buildup. Gordon knelt down to her and pulled the frail being clothed in black in an embrace.

"Hush,hush...you're fine,Evey. You're not alone anymore...breathe. I know you can do this,my dear. You're strong." He soothed,as he pressed a paternal kiss to her forehead. Evey shook in his embrace,totally lost,sunken into a wave of emotion. Gordon decided it was best to let her release it,while stood there to soothe her and take care she'd recover. An hour later,she was fast asleep on the sofa,wrapped up in a blanket.

The smell of freshly fried toast drew Evey to the kitchen like a moth to the light. It was a late morning,V being more than careful to not wake her up while doing his chores and followed his routine which began way before the sun would even shine. He thought some peace would do her well,especially now,when the time for his plans to be put in motion drew near and near. A pajama dressed Evey appeared from behind a corner,rubbing her eyes as she came close,bare feet lapping at the cold tiles. Julie London's beautiful voice echoed from the great hall of the Gallery. V was appearing very focused on the sizzling pan he was watching,so Evey was startled when he greeted her with a light tone of voice.

"Good morning,Evey! I do hope you had a restful sleep." He turned and much to her amusement,the flowered apron hung almost proudly on his muscly form. Actually,it was for the first time she noticed how well built the man was. There were parts where the apron was squeezing his torso a bit too obviously,sign that it was too small to fit. And the way it accentuated his narrow hips made Evey nearly burst with a blush. It seemed that she'd been staring for too long because in the moment she rose her gaze,V was only a few inches away from him. She wanted to say something,to form an apology,but his hand quickly rested on her forehead,checking for signs of fever. Words remained caught in her throat.

"I-"

"Hush. Mm..." He rested his bare hand there a moment longer,enough to make sure nothing was wrong with her. Unknown to her,this was the first and last time he'd ever touch her without gloves before their parting. His hand was warmer than it should have normally been and this made her wonder if he was the one not feeling well. However,she did notice how soft was actually his hand despite the terrifying scars and burns scattered all over the skin. His palm was far softer than it looked and far gentler,but Evey knew how much lethal power laid there,power held back through his own will. V took back his hand soon,only a vague warmth remaining to linger on her skin. "You seem to be alright. No fever at all."

"O-Oh...yes,I actually feel good." Evey stated,having gotten a better hold of herself. She hid a yawn with the back of her hand,then remembered why did she come here in the first place. It was the best chance to change the subject. "It smells amazing here! What are you cooking?"

It looked like V had been waiting to be questioned this. He quickly spun on his heels and took the pan off the stove. The toasted bread was golden and inviting. V took the two golden pieces out and placed them on a plate. He was smiling beneath the mask,something Evey sensed too. So she smiled as well.

"These is buttered toast,fried at the most delicate temperature for the best golden brown color. All for you,mademoiselle."

"Goodness,V,this is...wonderful. You are truly spoiling me right now."

"Ah,just a treat for a princess."

"A what?" Her smile sweetened even more. It was unbelievable how caring V could be when he wasn't in the vigilante's role. Evey took the plate from him and admired once more the toast. "Mm...it's missing something,though."

"I am certain it does." V added and gestured towards two eggs waiting to be prepared. "I was still in the process of cooking."

Evey's eyebrows arched a idea was forming in her mind,one she hoped V would agree with. She placed the plate gingerly on the table first.

"What if...I can show you a bit of my skill as well? I can make something my mother taught me when I was little. My brother used to love it." For the first time,she didn't speak of her brother with pain. It was a good memory,one of the few left of her past,something she'd cherish forever. V knew better than anyone how important memories were. He had none from before Larkhill and those following were not at all pleasant. At least until Evey appeared in his life. Those memories he'll take to the tomb. He found himself smiling under the mask,which rarely happened. With a rather dramatic step back,V gave her free reign upon the stove.

"Is there anything I can help with?" It was obvious that V felt restless and unable to just not consume his energy. He had to do something,anything really,or he was going ,Evey was willing to offer him that chance.

"Oh,sure! These are going to be eggs fried in bell peppers. Could you cut one for me in rings,please?"

"Of course,Evey. The pleasure is all mine."

With the plan set and ready,the two got to cooking. And it appeared they actually were quite a good team. V was swiftly making his way around Evey,without bothering even an inch of her hair in his passing,who was preparing what she named to be 'a secret mix' she was going to add over the eggs. She continued to be surprised by how agile and in the same time elegant he was,like a professional skater on the ice ring. Before Evey had the mix ready,V was already working on a salad. Smiling to herself,she took the bell rings cut so nicely by V and put them in the pan,with just a hint of oil. There were four of them. Then she added one egg to each bell ring. She waited a few seconds,enough for the whites to harden,then added the mix on top. A gentle,slightly sweet flavor spread in the kitchen. A deep hum came from V.

"I can tell you were lies a dormant chef within you,miss Hammond."

Evey chuckled,deeply flattered. She gently stirred the frying eggs in the pan,giving it a minute or two before she turned off the stove. She took out another plate,which she set on the table,then she took the pan. However,she didn't realized that the oil was still rather hot,so when a rather big speck of it jumped on her wrist,Evey whimpered and lost grip on the pan. Luckily,V was close. He caught the pan and the eggs before they became a disaster on the floor. Just as quick he moved the food onto the plate. Then his attention was full on Evey. The mere knowledge of a burn stirred his emotions. He studied the reddening skin with a critical eye,even though his voice expressed genuine concern.

"Are you alright,Evey? Does it hurt?"

"N-No,it doesn't hurt that much anymore...it just burns a little..." She murmured,her eyebrows furrowed softly. "Darn it,I'm so sorry...I am so clumsy sometimes..."

"You're not clumsy,Evey. It was unpredictable. As most things are in life. Let me help you out."

The man made her take a seat on a chair,then left,only to return with a band aid and a white tube. V sat in front of her and gently took her hand in his own. He squeezed a small amount of the transparent gel in the tube on her burn and proceeded to massage it in with his thumb. Evey felt immediately its soothing effect. Her eyes drifted on his still bare hands. A question rested on her tongue,one that might have hurt V. But she was curious."Does it hurt?"

"Mm?" The mask tilted upwards,sign that he was looking at her. Then he hummed,understanding what Evey meant. "Not anymore. It's been a long time ago,Evey. All that is left are scars and remnants of what used to be normal skin."

V's calm tone suggested for how long he'd been living with these scars. Evey would have been terrified,but of course,she'd never lived such terrors,not of this kind. This was the first time V was speaking freely about his wounds,so Evey tried to push further the subject. She wanted to know more about him.

"And will I get a scar?"

A little muffled chuckle. "Ah,no. Not at all,my dear Evey. It will be red for a little bit,but you shall be better soon." He assured her,while he finished applying the cream. A band aid came right on top to cover the burn. "There you are. Does it hurt anymore?" That last sentence held genuine worry and actual softness. Evey wondered if there was something wrong with him.

Her face lightened with a smile. "I wouldn't have minded if I had a scar. They remind us of growing up."

"Not all do,Evey." His voice grew suddenly serious. Evey felt as if she had stepped on a mined ground now. One wrong step and she'd be gone. "When someone causes you scars that will live as demons to haunt you forever,you can not consider it growing up."

"And what if you get over it,if you are the one to chase those demons in return and destroy them? Wouldn't that mean growing up? We can't let fear take over us anymore...it's been too much already,V..."all of this revenge,the past...you're clinging so much to the past..." Her fingers reluctantly reached out and touched the cold enamel mask,right where his cheek was. V flinched away,as if a fire burned him again.

"This is not a game,Evey..." A heaviness dropped in the light tone of voice he'd held until now. "You will understand it as soon as my plan will be put into motion."

His plan. Evey couldn't imagine for the world what plan was that and how will it affect her,the country. She was afraid to ask,especially now,when V seemed so peaceful and...normal almost. And it appeared he had hinted it,for he cheerfully sat up and put their combined work on a plate.

"Voila! Here is your breakfast,miss Hammond. I am certain you will be delighted by it. I heard a very good chef cooked it especially for you. Her fame will stretch far and wide into the country!"

Evey chuckled,finding her cheeks oddly warmer because of such words. "I do hope so. I have also heard she can be quite clumsy too. She can not make masterpieces by constantly burning herself!"

Their combined laughs echoed through the Shadow Gallery that morning,like the song of two birds in spring,blessing the grimness of the walls with light and warming the cold stone and earth with joy. For the first time,it was...home. And later that day,from a corner,Evey watched his soft shadow slip into the bedroom,carrying a tray of delicious breakfast.

Evey felt the subtle,yet wonderful flavor of fried buttered toast and internally chuckled. V was at it for sure,she told herself,as her eyes fluttered open. The plate was there,full and tempting almost,but this wasn't the Shadow Gallery and the form dozing on the recliner wasn't V's. A blanket rolled off her as she pushed herself in a sitting position. V's clothes were still on her,loose and silky. Ah,yes...she remembered now,her little crazy plan. The tunnel,the almost silly man with chestnut hair,Gordon...Gordon! Evey looked around,but couldn't see him. She rose further,then moved towards the recliner. The chestnut mop of hair didn't move,so Evey had the time to look at the man better. He certainly looked less like a jerk when sleeping. It seemed he was around her age,maybe a year or two older. A light scar was right under his lower lip,while a bright new cut,still red,was on his forehead. Evey assumed it had been hidden under the hoodie,so she didn't see it back in the tunnel. She would have continued to study him closely,but Gordon's voice echoed suddenly in the room.

"Ah,I see you're awake,Evey!" He said,on his always cheerful tone,but with a rose eyebrow. The sleeping man opened his eyes and yelped out at the sight of hazel eyes gazing down at him.

"What in the-Christ!" Quickly he sat up,only to be hovering over Evey. He was clearly much taller,even then Gordon. Perhaps almost like V. Evey looked away,embarrassed. Now he will have even more reasons to mock her. In order to avoid that,she walked up to Gordon. A warm smile appeared on her lips instantly.

"Yes,I am. I am terribly sorry for...earlier. But you must guess how terrified I've been. I...I've been blaming myself in this whole time for your 'death'. Thought I've been so stupid and such...such a coward. My parents have been taken away in the same way and seeing you disappear in one of Creedy's black bags...I hated myself for not taking a step forward."

"My dear Evey,you have nothing to apologize for." A reassuring hand laid on her shoulder. "It was inevitable. I have been equally fool for airing an episode that was sure to bother Sutler in more than one way. Especially when England was boiling."

"B-But how did you escape? I thought that once they took you,they'll certainly kill you? And why didn't you contact me earlier?" There were many other questions burning on her tongue,but these were the most important. Gordon sighed,obviously regretful.

"V helped me. He intercepted Creedy's men on their way to the prison. Or so I hope that was. Who knows where were they taking the people they arrested..." A horrible thought. "Of course,in the moment he'd saved me,I wanted to talk to you,let you know I'm well and safe. V told me to lay low,though. To have no contact,not even with you. That it was better for you to know me dead."

Evey knew why. At least hinted at it. V wanted her to have no bonds that could keep her fear tied to her. He knew that she would want to go to Gordon if she escaped that place,that she'd do anything to contact him from prison. That Gordon would be in danger if Creedy or the Ear would have caught news of any little messages sent out. V didn't risk it. She appreciated that. And this is why she wasn't angry on Gordon for it. Her hand laid on his forearm gently.

"Words are easy,like the wind;faithful friends are hard to find."

"I count myself in nothing else so happy as in a soul remembering my good friends." Gordon retorted,in the words of Richard II. They both laughed,in a relaxed manner,one only a friendship could create. At a respectful distance from the two,the young man watched their reunion silently. Never had he seen someone so close and bonded,carefree. But of course,he'd rarely been in such pleasant and kind company until a few months ago. It took a while to get used to it. He'd nearly considered himself momentarily forgotten when he heard Gordon's voice beckoning him.

"I must introduce you to our dearest friend. His name is Adrien. Adrien,meet Evey Hammond. Evey,this is Adrien,a good friend and self proclaimed bodyguard of mine. I promise I didn't ask him to be."

Evey chuckled softly. She stretched a hand,even though inwardly she was being ashamed for the scene from earlier. "It's a pleasure. I,um...apologize for that. I shouldn't have invaded your personal space like this."

The man shook his head and accepted her hand,his own engulfing it fully. "Nah,it's quite alright. Dealt with weirder people in my life. So you are the one who flipped all the tables of this country. Never thought I'd get to see you in person,even though I've heard from Gordon of your little meetings at the Saint Mary's monument."

"It was not me. It was all V. He deserves the praise." Her expression was slightly more serious now. "Saint Mary's incident was something that took my brother's life. I could not let it perish from people's memory. None of this must happen again."

A mutual agreeing silence. Indeed,nothing of that,nothing of what the government did had to be repeated again. It only had to be remembered,constantly,so people to never come back to it. Gordon was the one to break the silence.

"Well,since now we know each other,I believe we can sit down and talk. There is a lot I want to hear from you,Evey." He offered her a seat and the plate of food,which brought back her dream. A good dream. The three settled down,in the warm and cozy living room and Evey began her tale. A couple of streets away,a form wearing the Guy Fawkes mask headed back to his friend's apartment,relieved and frightened.