Adult-FanFiction.org : Comics

Shadowsteps	By : vsvigalante Category: DC Verse Comics > V for Vendetta Views: 912 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own V for Vendetta, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Chapter 11

Of Mice and Men

It had been four days since Jazlyn had brought V back to the gallery, and for two of those days, he had not emerged from his room. She had delivered his meals to the outside of his door------since he had it locked against her intrusion------- and, so far, nothing had been touched. Shadow was the only companion he allowed.

The hot water in the bathtub felt good to Jazlyn. She had been bruised badly last night from a roof top fall she had taken. Thinking about V, she had lost her footing and had plunged twenty feet into the alleyway below. Luckily, her fall had been broken somewhat by a pile of trash that had been piled along side one of the buildings.. She had been referred to as a human by product several times by Shadow on the way home, but she had survived the fall with no broken bones, and she was grateful for that.

Leaning her head against the tub, she closed her eyes and let the visions from the encounter she had experienced move through her mind. Had she pushed V to hard to accept himself as he was---- not the monster he thought himself to be? After leaving his room finally, he had become standoffish, not acknowledging her presence when he would enter a room she was in; he would politely answer questions she asked of him, but not give further comments except for what was expected--- even Shadow had sensed the change.

The water had begin to cool, and Jazlyn stepped from the tub, grabbing the towel she had laid nearby. Her reflection in the mirror caught her eyes as she vigorously dried her hair. The bruises stretched from her ribs, continuing down her left side. She flinched in pain as her fingers touched the discolored skin. She knotted the towel gently around her and reached for the hairbrush.

“ You should have those attended to.” V's voice broke her thoughts and she jumped, gasping in pain.

“ You scared me, V.” she spoke to the reflection in the mirror, then turned to him.

“ My apologies.” He bowed.

Jazlyn studied him. He was dressed as always----not one hair out of place, not one speck of dust anywhere.

“ I assure you Jazlyn, I am myself again.” he crossed his hands in front of his waist.

“ How much did you see?” She asked as a light blush crossed her cheeks.

“ I adverted my eyes quickly, I only caught sight of the bruises for a few mere seconds.” He answered, his head tilting slightly. “ I have some balm that would help ease the soreness.” He paused. “ I could bring it to you, if you wish.”

“ Thank you, V.” She smiled at him, “ Could you put it on please? Every time I move, it hurts.”

“ If you like.” He stopped to study her, and Jazlyn wondered what was going through that brilliant mind of his. “ Once you dress, please join me in the kitchen.”

“ All right.” She answered as he turned to leave. “ V?”

“ Yes?”

“ I'm glad you're here.”

V thought for a moment before answering her. “ So am I.”

She watched the retreating back and sighed.

-------------------------------

V laid out the supplies he would need to treat Jazlyn. He had removed the Jacobian jacket in exchange for a black poets shirt and quilted vest, while the gloves he normally wore lay beside the box on the table. As he waited for Jazlyn to join him, he tried to recall as much as he could about what had happened at Gordon's. There were bits and pieces he remembered but, somehow, he knew he owed his life to Jazlyn. His sanity had returned, and the monster had been banished----for how long, he didn't know. There were things that had been said that needed to be clarified, and he knew that he would have to face the answers she would give------but, was he ready to hear those answers?

“ Ok, “ Jazlyn's voice broke his thought process when she walked into the kitchen. V looked up from the table to find her standing beside him in the shirt he had given her to wear. She had tightened the strings around her wrist, but the one at her neck had been left open, revealing the valley of her chest to his gaze.

V rose from the chair. “ Please remove your left arm, and hold the shirt to your chest.”

“ You don't have to wear that, you know.” Jazlyn referred to the mask as she slowly slid her arm from the sleeve.

“ Yes, I know.” V paused, looking at her. “ Maybe in time.” He ran his fingers gently over the large bruise on her left side, feeling her ribs. “ There seems to be nothing broken as far as I can ascertain. You, mademoiselle, are quite lucky.” He reached for the jar of ointment and dipped his fingers in slightly, just covering the tips. “ This will hurt, “ he began, “ but it must be done. If there were another way, Jazlyn....”

“ V, it's ok, really....” She interrupted as she felt the first stabs of pain shoot through her side.

V watched as it etched across her face, her lips pulled taunt. Under his fingers, her skin felt like silk as he gently worked the balm into the bruise. He took a deep breath as quietly as he could, hoping Jazlyn had not heard. ' There is so much I owe to you------feelings that you brought to life, so long thought dead; unselfish love you offer so freely and--- my sanity---the will to live again. Oh, the things I long to do with you sweet Jazlyn. How I long to kiss you the way a lover would, to whisper the love sonnets of dear William's in your ear.....but alas, they are only dreams, for I have been robbed of everything manly, and it cuts me so deeply.....' He sighed softly.

“ V?” Jazlyn spoke as he exhaled.

“ What? Did I hurt you?”

“ No, no....” she looked up into the mask's eyes. Oh, what she would give to see those wonderful eyes once again. “ Are you ok?”

He replaced the lid on the jar, and tilted his head toward her as she turned her back and re-dressed. “ I am fine. Would you like to watch a movie?” He asked softly.

Jazlyn grinned. “ Yes, I would like that.” She watched as he rose from the chair, the box in his hands.

“ I will join you momentarily....” Jazlyn watched his retreating form, remembering as he stood before her, nude, in her mind----all defenses torn away.

-------------------------------------------------

V put the box away, and took a deep breath. He had to learn to deal with the new emotions he found unleashed by Jazlyn, Now, with the monster under control, his resistance had all but crumbled. Would it be so wrong to taste one kiss? It would have to be in the dark----of course-----he still was leary of removing the mask in front of her, even if she had already seen his face. Why not get it over with? At least, he would know where he stood . She had said she loved the man that lived beneath the monster. Would she still if he came to her as that man-----a man that lived with a disfigured and burn-scarred body? A plan began forming in his mind. Tomorrow night would be the six month anniversary of Jazlyn's stay here in the gallery with him. He had grown to know her quite well---her moods, her feelings and her so called love for him----something she declared as often as she could to him. He walked through the main part of the gallery on his way to the armory's staircase------the movie would have to wait----he couldn't help it, the restlessness he felt was growing and he needed to practice before returning to the city. His strength had returned, and with it---- his vendetta. How Jazlyn had pulled him from the coldness of the abyss, he didn't know, and probably would never know, but he knew he did care about the girl. If it was love, he had no way of judging. He couldn't remember being in love-----so he didn't truly know what love was. He had to find out. Yes, tomorrow night, with the gods help, he would know.

----------------------------------------------------

Jazlyn studied the form before her, the sais twirling in her hands, she would be going out later this night, and she needed to keep her wits about her. When he had not returned to the movie room last night, she had gone in search of V, tracking the soft sounds coming from the armory. There, she had found him. He was moving around the training area at an unbelievable speed. She knew his abilities had been enhanced because of the experiments, but she didn't know how much until now. His entire body was so fast that the human eye could not follow it. She had sat on the steps of the spiral staircase, and watched in astonishment as she tried to follow him. After several minutes, she had rose quietly and made her way back to her room. Her mission tonight wasn't a dangerous situation she would find herself in------she was only on surveillance tonight, gathering all the information she could about the Norsefire black market gun runners she had found. She would turn everything over to V to deal with as he saw fit. She had no idea that the man she loved had been standing on the stairs, as she had been last night, watching her.

The way Jazlyn moved held V entranced, his breath catching under the mask as she attacked in a series of moves. Gordon had been right after all-----she indeed could take care of herself, and with Shadow by her side, they became a lethal team. His mind reeled so bad, he laid his hand on the railing just to steady himself before continuing down the staircase.

Sensing his presence she looked up, a smile on her lips, watching as he approached. She sheathed the weapons, then reached up and released her hair to cascade down around her shoulders.

" Hello.” V whispered softly, his eyes never leaving hers, his hands wanting to pull her into his arms.

“ Hello, yourself.” She answered, returning Fawkes' smile. “ Coming to workout?” She noticed the knives around his waist.

“ Yes....”

Jazlyn nodded her head. “ Give me a minute....”

V caught her arm. “ Stay.”

Jazlyn looked up at him as he took her into his arms. “ Please.” It was a request.

“ I can't V, not tonight....” She pulled away from him and hurried up the stairs.

“ Jazlyn!” He called after her as she disappeared from view.

Jazlyn leaned against the stone wall, her eyes closed against the tears she felt. Her heart was breaking. She knew she wanted V's love------but not out of gratitude. She wanted the raw power he was----she wanted the vigilante, the terrorist------she wanted the man who had rescued her all those months ago. Would she ever find him again?

----------------------------------------------------

“ Damn!” V swore as the knife flew across the room, embedding itself in the forehead of the dummy. Jazlyn had ran from him like a fingerman in fear for his life. All he had done was pull her into his arms------and she had ran. Has she changed her mind? It had to be------it was the only thing that made sense. His frustration was beginning to grow------he needed to get out for awhile. He grabbed the knife from the form and took the stairs two at a time.

------------------------------------------------

Jazlyn and Shadow heard the gallery door open, then close moments later. Reaching up, she tucked loose strands of hair under her skull cap as she prepared to leave. She shouldn't be gone to long, tonight would be an easy night compared to some others she had been out on. Shadow would accompany her as always, and with the sais by her side, she made a sight to be reckon with. She sighed as she fastened her weapons about her slim waist, then fastening the cloak around her shoulders, headed for the roof lift. She had actually become fond of moving across the rooftops of London's buildings. It was easier for both of them to move about the city.

Walking to the roof parapet, she looked out over the city. V was down there somewhere-------dealing with the most dangerous of Norsefire's members. She wondered who it would be tonight.

“ Mistress?”

“ Yes, Shadow?”

“ Is Master V truly returned to himself?”

Jazlyn sighed, “ As far as I can tell, yes, he has.” She climbed to the edge of the roof, and pelt to the adjacent building some distance away.

“ I am glad.” Shadow replied, landing silently next to her.

“ We'll move to the ground from here. The building is just a couple blocks away .” She looked from the ledge to the alley , her eyes searching for any movement. Stepping onto the ledge, she closed her eyes and raised her arms-- slowly descending onto the pavement below. “ Shadow!” She called, right before the big cat landed at her side. “ This way.”

---------------------------------------------------------------

V sat perched atop one of the buildings adjacent to Parliament. In his hands, a notebook and pencil, being put to use. Inside his head, a hundred calculations were being made----- everything from how much explosives would be needed to bring the seat of Norsefire's power down to how long it would take the train to reach its final destination. He still had plenty of time to make the gelignite-fertilizer bombs he would need to bring his vendetta to its conclusion. .He still had rails to move and clear at the old Victoria Station line too. He had already began rewiring the line and had moved about 30 feet of rails, still, he would not rest until everything was finished. Tomorrow, he would began clearing the debris from the line between Whitehall and St James. Finished with his notes, he slipped the notebook and pencil back into the lining of his cloak, he pulled out a small pair of binoculars and scanned the area for suspicious activity. It looked like it was going to be a quiet night, but he scanned the area once more before his instincts calmed down. Pulling the watch from his jacket pocket, he checked the time----2:30 am. It would be an early night for him, as he rose and walked to the roof ladder. There were a couple of remaining areas he would check on his way back to the gallery. V reached up adjusting his hat, the wind was beginning to pick up, and he didn't want to loose it---it was his favorite one. Taking hold of the ladder railings, he slid to the alleyway below and disappeared into the shadows.

-----------------------------------------------------

Jazlyn watched from the rooftop as the second car pulled up to the abandoned building. This was the second car to arrive in the last five minutes. She seemed to be in the right place at the right time, and being on the roof gave her an advantage point. She pulled the digital camera from her cloak and began snapping frames once again. Waiting for several minutes, she moved from the roof and disappeared with Shadow into the darkness cast by the building.

------------------------------------------------------------

Two men stood outside the doorway, their guns at the ready as the final car arrived. One hurried to open the door as a large stout man stepped from the car, nodding his head as the door was opened and he disappeared inside.

“ Jensen, you copy?” A voice cracked through the headset.

“ Jensen, here. Go head.”

“ All points have checked in. We're good to go.”

“ 10-4. I'll let Creedy know.”

“ 10-4. Out.”

He looked over at his partner. “ Let Creedy know, all is secured.”

Nodding, the man stepped inside.

Jazlyn made her way to a window in front of her, so she could see inside. “ Shadow, patrol the closest buildings and keep watch.” She ordered as the panther turned and padded away.

“ What are you guys up to?” she whispered softly, once again taking pictures.

“ Nothing that you will find out about.” A voice broke from behind her.

“ Shit!” She swore as she turned around to find five of Creedy's goons surrounding her, guns drawn and pointed. Closing her eyes, she summoned Shadow to return. “ Hi boys, nice night, huh?”

“ Not for you when we get done.”

Jazlyn's hands moved slowly for her sais.

“ We'll have none of that now.”

She heard an assault rifle hammer drop into place. “ Get you're hands up missy.” The gun barrel moved closer to her face just as Shadow leaped from the shadows taking two of the closest fingermen out. Jazlyn let go with both sais, taking two more out as Shadow headed for the last man. Hurrying over to the two still bodies, she pulled the first sai from the chest of the dead man with a sickening slush sound as blood gushed from the wound.

“ Don't move.”

Jazlyn raised her head to find three more taking up positions around her.
“ Shadow!” she called as she pulled the other weapon from the still body.

From the roof top of the next building, an eye blinked as it lined up the shot. The man took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger gently, the shot echoing into the still night.
- 10
- 11
- 12
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Shadowsteps