Unmasked

Chapter 15

Just Skin

V thought that he might never have been as thankful for the mask as he was at that moment.  He knew many things about Evey then, as he was able to stare at her and see every emotion written across her face, while still being able to hide his own feelings. His embarrassment that Evey had seen his scars, his anger for still being here, his sadness at the look that she was giving him right now.

He thought that after he had revealed to Evey that he was her captor all that time that felt both long ago and so very recent,  he thought that after the look that she gave him then... he didn't think anything could break his heart more than that. But this look. This one of relief and sadness and exhaustion.  Evey looked utterly wrecked as she stood before him as she had asked him that question and he had given a truthful answer.  No more lies, he had said. Only truth. And he would stay true to that statement.  There was no more lying to Evey, whatever she asked he would tell.

He noticed then, as he searched Evey's face that she was trembling. Her arms wrapped protectively around her middle, around his shirt which, being several sizes too large for her small frame, made her look more like a child than ever before though he had to admit he loved seeing it on her.

"Evey? When was the last time you had something to eat?"  he asks the question out of genuine concern and was a bit surprised when she laughed.  No, it was not a real laugh. The sound was short and abrupt and sounded more like a sob.

"You just came back from the dead and you are worried about my blood sugar?" she exclaimed.

He wasn't sure how to respond as Evey laughed again, glancing at the grandfather clock.

"70 hours and 26 minutes. That is how long I sat by your bedside and watched you breathe. Hoping and praying to anyone who would listen that you made it through the night. So no. I haven't eaten in quite a while," she stated, her tone becoming more crazed but still holding its sharp edge.

V had a very hard time deciding if she was mad at him or just delirious. "Can I make you something to eat?" he asked while still trying to process her words.

70 hours. He had been unconscious for 70 hours and that whole time she sat vigilant by his bedside. The thoughts were overwhelming. Evey must have been similarly overwhelmed because she simply turned and walked towards the kitchen, with V  following close behind. As they had so many times before,  Evey took her place at the table where she could watch him cook and V begin gathering supplies.

"Promise me you'll eat something too, V," she said as she watched him, she seemed to have come down from her delirium and now sounded mostly exhausted. 

oh my dear Evey, he thought as he nodded.

"And the apron," she requested softly.

V smiled behind the mask and put on his apron,  throwing a cheesecloth over his shoulder. Evey seemed pleased with this and silently watched V cook. He thanked the mask again, as he had many times since he met Evey, for allowing him to watch her without her knowledge; as well as hiding the varying emotion playing across his features.

Evey said nothing as he chopped vegetables and stir-fried them in a pan, apparently contented to watch him work. When he was done, V scooped half of the dish onto a plate and left the other half covered in the pan as he set the plate and a fork in front of Evey on the table.

"Please. Eat with me, V. You've been unconscious for.. for a long time."

He didn't miss the hitch in her voice as she said it.

"Evey. Please. You've already seen what is under these clothes, what is beneath this mask is no better."

Evey studied V for a long moment before speaking, "Yell at me."

This startled even V, "What?"

"Yell at me. I deserve it. I violated the privacy I know you value so highly and here you are, acting like a perfect gentleman and making me food and sitting with me while I eat like you're not the one who just had eight bullets removed from your body, not even three days ago. You should be angry. I thought the moment you woke up and realized..." as her voice trailed off and she looked.. ashamed. V was astonished at the realization.

"I wasn't sure you'd ever speak to me again," Evey concluded.

"Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one," V replied.

Evey cocked her head to the side and gave him that questioning look that he loved so much.

"Benjamin Franklin." he said in explanation, "You are correct, dear Evey, I could be angry at you but that would be very out of line. You were merely trying to save my life, and I can do nothing but thank you and apologize for putting you in a position where you had to see that," V bowed his head in shame.

"Oh V," Evey sighed, reaching out and taking both of his gloved hands in hers like it was the most normal thing in the world to touch him. His heart skipped a beat.

"It's just skin. It doesn't bother me, V," she did not break eye contact with the mask as she slowly removed one glove, "this is just a part of you," she said, taking his now bare hand back into hers, running her fingers along the burned skin there. His heart sped up. "It's just skin, V," she said again, saying the words with so much conviction he thought she may be trying to drill the words into his subconscious.

In one quick movement, V stood and pulled his glove back on and turned, "I'm very tired Evey, I must bid you goodnight," he gave a quick bow and headed in the direction of his room, ignoring Evey as she called his name from behind him.