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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
- 11
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Chapter 12

I, Like God, Do Not Play With Dice......

The shot rang in V's ears as he pressed himself into the building's side-----listening, waiting. It had come from a few blocks away-------he vanished from the shadows, escaping into the night.

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Shadow stood by Jazlyn as the men moved toward the still body. Powerful growls escaped her mouth, warning them not to approach her fallen mistress.

“ Take that son of a bitch out, now!” Jensen snarled looking at the large animal . Several guns went off, but Shadow still remained by Jazlyn. “ What the hell.....” The man raised his own weapon and fired off several shots of his own------still the black panther stood, its eyes glaring at the men.

A dull thud broke the sudden silence as one of Jensen's men was slammed into a nearby wall, the silver and black pommel of a knife protruding from his chest as he slid to the pavement.

“ Spread out!” Jensen ordered as he swung around , looking into the shadows.

Within a matter of seconds, four fingermen lay dead at V's feet as he hurried to Jazlyn's side, picking her up gently in his arms, her left shoulder, covered in a wet stickiness-----blood. V knew the smell of copper all to well. “ Come, Shadow.” He called as he carried her limp body into the darkness.

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He ran through the alleys hiding in the shadows as he made his way back to the gallery. V would glance at Jazlyn's face-----so still, her eyes closed. No, he would not loose her------not now, not ever! V swept into the hidden tunnel of the Shadow Gallery moving in a blur. Within seconds, he had reached the security system, entered the code, and headed for the media room, laying her gently on the couch. A soft moan escaped her lips as V took his hat, gloves and cape off. He unzipped the front of Jazlyn's clothing, and tried to assess the severity of her wound.

“ Jazlyn?” V spoke softly as her eyes fluttered open. “ My love, can you hear me?”

Jazlyn forced her eyes to focus on the mask. “ I screwed up......big.....didn't I?”

“ No, no..... “ He took the mask from her head gently as waves of black hair cascaded onto her shoulders. “ Jazlyn, I need to remove your arm from the sleeve so I can treat your wound. “ He paused, “ I can help you , or I can cut the leather off.”

“ No!” Her eyes widened, “ It took me to long to make......” She sat up with V's help.

“ I think.....” her voice faded away as a sharp pain ripped through her arm and shoulder, her lips clenched tightly until it passed, “ I can pull my arm out.”

“ I will get some pain medication for you. It will help you to relax.” He couldn't help but notice how pale she had become-----she had lost a great deal of blood, and unless it was stopped soon------V's face paled under the mask-----no! He wouldn't think of the possibilities----after all, he like God, did not play with dice. V hurried into his bedroom and gathered a bottle of pills along with the other necessities he would need to treat her----having second thoughts about the pills, he replaced them with a bottle of tonic-----his own mixture of herbs that would help ease the pain and make her sleep-----it would be better for them both if she slept through what was to come.

He returned to find that she had removed both arms from her top, her head resting against the couch, her eyes, closed once again. The white bra she wore was stained a bright crimson from the wound above her left breast. “ Jazlyn?” V placed his hand on her arm, his eyes catching the contrast of his scarred hand against her white, flawless skin. “ Jazlyn?”

“ I'm ok, V....” she whispered as her eyes opened.

He poured a small amount of the tonic into a glass and raised it to her lips. “ Drink this.”
He tipped the glass as the liquid ran slowly into her mouth and she swallowed Soon the glass was empty and V laid her down again on the clean towels he had placed on the couch. In a matter of minutes Jazlyn was asleep and V began checking the wound. Rolling her onto her side, he found it to be a clean shot. Working patiently, he cleaned the exit wound, stitched it shut, then bandaged and taped it.

“ Master V?” Shadow's voice spoke.

“ Yes, Shadow?”

“ Will Mistress Jazlyn survive?”

V stroked the cat beside him. “ Yes, dear Shadow, she will be fine.” He rolled her back onto her back once again. “ She just needs to rest. Once I am finished, I will put her to bed so she can recover.”

Shadow laid her head beside Jazlyn on the couch as V cleaned and treated the entrance wound. After a half hour or so, he tucked her into her bed, cleaned up and resting comfortably in the linen shirt he had taken from his amoire for her to sleep in. With Shadow at her feet, V pulled up a nearby chair and sat, his mind being pulled in different directions. He took her hand in his, he leaned his head against the top of the chair and closed his eyes--------if only for a moment. He would stay with her through the night, until she was out of danger, administering her medication, antibiotics and changing the bandages.

The night passed slowly and Jazlyn woke several times, just long enough to be given the tonic and have her wound checked and the redressed. V had been dozing off and on for sometime when he felt the pressure on his hand. His eyes flew open and he found Jazlyn looking at him.

“ Are you in pain?” he asked sitting up straight, boots planted solidly on the floor.

“ No.” she answered, smiling at him.

Shadow raised her head from the foot of the bed. “ It is good to see you awake, Mistress.”

“ Shadow, “ Jazlyn spoke softly, “ My Shadow. You live up to your name, my love-----always attached, never disappearing....”

“ You should rest.” V's voice was almost a whisper, his hand holding hers.

“ Would you lay with me, V? Just for awhile........” she asked him.

The question caught him completely off guard. He suddenly wanted to take her into his arms, to hold her, to comfort her. He needed to rid himself of the feelings of utter horror and coldness that engulfed his body when he saw her lying in the alley, Shadow by her side. He wanted to feel her next to him.............

“ Please?”

V took a deep breath. “ If you wish.” He released her hand and rose from the chair. Jazlyn slowly shifted her position on the bed, making room for him. V sat on the side of the mattress for several minutes, his hands resting on his lap. “ I should re-dress your wound. again.” He tilted his head toward her.

“ You changed it, not even an hour ago.” Jazlyn said, watching him.

“ Maybe some more pain medication.....” His mind kept trying to come up with excuses for not lying with her---------which he was quickly running out of.

“ V, “ Jazlyn began, “ I'm fine. “ She smiled up at him, trying to make him feel more at ease. She just wanted to feel him near her--------she didn't want to attack him, and in her condition, she couldn't very well manage that any way. From his body language, he looked as if he was about to bolt from the bedroom, and from her. She was not going to loose this small battle! Reaching out, she took his hand and pulled him gently toward her.

Reluctantly, V stretched out beside her, the covers separating any body contact. His posture was stiff, tense.

“ V, I don't bite. You can relax.” Jazlyn said as she slid closer to him. Her movement was slow, but deliberate, and in minutes, she lay snuggled into the crook of his arm, her head resting on his shoulder. Sighing deeply, she closed her eyes, her fingers intertwined with his.

V tried to remain calm, as her fingers closed around his. Straining his neck to see , he looked down at her. How peaceful she looked, atop his shoulder as his breathing began returning to normal. The scent of the shampoo from her hair invaded the mask, and he breathed deeply of it. Her breathing had relaxed, signaling she had fallen back to sleep, and V's free arm encircled her waist, while his other, upon the one laying across his stomach.

Could he give her what she was asking for, then leave her alone to find her way in the new world he would create with his death, years from now? “ Ah, Jazlyn.......” He breathed deeply, the chin of his mask lying gently on her head. “ If only there could be a different outcome, a different ending that could be wrote..........how I would gladly lay down my gauntlet and surrender to your heart.” He pushed the mask up briefly and kissed her hair gently. There was no doubt remaining in his mind------he had fallen in love with this woman child, and his heart was breaking.

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Bishop Peter Lilliman admired himself in the mirror. The robe of his newly appointed position looked good on him, and he smoothed a few rough spots with his nimble fingers.

“ Your Grace?” A voice interrupted his moment.

“ Yes, Dennis. What is it?”

“ The young lady from the agency has arrived.”

“ Wonderful!” Lilliman smiled, “ Help me make ready, Dennis.”

“ At once, your Grace.” He quickly began unbuttoning the robe. Removing it from the bishop's body, Dennis hung the garment in the nearby closet of his grace's private quarters.

“ Take her into the sitting room, I shall join her there.”

“ Yes, your Grace.”

Lilliman once again turned to the mirror. He was still a fine physical specimen for a man being in his forty's. His dark hair was just starting to show graying around the temples, but that just distinguished him further by adding an air of authority about him. Quickly, he ran a comb through his hair, then left the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

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V heard the gallery door open while cutting vegetables in the kitchen. He pulled his apron off, hanging it on a nearby peg, and walked into the gallery's main room.

“ How is she, V?” Gordon asked pulling his coat off, laying it on the piano top, followed by his hat.

“ Sleeping.” V replied as he and Gordon walked into the kitchen, Gordon pulling out a table chair and taking a seat. “ Would you like a cup of tea?” V asked, always the gracious host.

“ Yes, please.” Gordon replied seeing V's mask laying within reach on the sink.

“ Jazlyn should make a complete recovery. Her wound is healing nicely, and no fever has appeared.” V handed the cup to him, then went back to his vegetables.

Jazlyn stood in the archway's shadow, watching V move freely around the kitchen sans the mask. She watched as he smiled, and sometimes laughed as he enjoyed the conversation with Gordon-------but he still did not trust her enough to give her his face freely. She watched as he smiled, perfect white teeth showing beneath plump lips, and she wanted to feel those lips so desperately against hers. She closed her eyes as dizziness swept across her body. Shadow sat, watching her mistress' face.

“ Mistress?” The big cat's purr-like vocalizations were caught by V, and he turned toward the archway.

“ Shadow?” He asked, “ Jazlyn?”

“ Oh great......” she sighed, “ he's gonna be really pissed at me now!” She pushed herself from the wall and stepped into the light. “ Hi.......” she smiled right before her eyes rolled up and she fell to the floor in a heap.

“ Jazlyn!” Gordon was on his feet in a matter of seconds, but V was by her side before he even moved.

Picking her up in his arms, he looked down at her. “ Jazlyn?”

Slowly, she opened her eyes and smiled into worried, silver-gold ones. “ Hi handsome.....” She slid her arms around his neck, and only then, did V realize he was without his mask. ' Bloody hell!' he thought to himself ---' this was not the way it was to happen....'

Gently, he took her back to her room, and returned her to the bed. She watched as he unlocked her arms from his neck, trying to avert his face from her sight. Slowly, her hand came up to touch his cheek, but he stopped her. “ V, not now, not ever again......”

His hand dropped as she touched his face, turning him to her. A solitary tear escaped her and she looked into those marvelous, mysterious eyes again after so long. The damage was done, and he waited for the sudden withdraw of her hand from the disfigured flesh. Instead, he felt soft lips capture his in a kiss that lingered forever in V's mind.

“ I love you.” Jazlyn whispered, her eyes locked with his, and he gathered her into his arms.

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V had no idea how long he had been asleep when he woke abruptly. He looked to his left to find Jazlyn on her back, her head turned away from him. He had taken leave from her as soon as she was asleep, going to set with Gordon for sometime, talking. V hoped his friend could quiet the nagging doubts that sometimes still surfaced. After showing his friend out, he had walked back to Jazlyn's room, pulling up a chair closest to the side of her bed, he sat with arms and legs crossed, just studying her, wondering how such a petite creature could invade his life and sanity in such a short time.

Time passed as he sat quietly, just watching her, but eventually, sleep did begin to overtake his tired brain, and he rose from the chair, stretching out atop the covers, next to Jazlyn, careful not to disturb her or Shadow from their slumbers. There, he had remained until awakening several minutes ago.

“ Shadow?” he called softly.

“ Yes, Master V?” Came the purr-like reply.

“ Remain with your mistress while I fix breakfast. I will return soon.”

“ As you wish.”

V stared at the large black shape on the bed. It was strange to hear his own words come from someone or something else.

V walked into the kitchen, grabbed his apron and tied it around his waist. He took several boxes from the nearby cupboard along with mixing bowels, milk, eggs and a large container of purplish, thick liquid. He took off the black gloves and laid them on the counter within reach, while he fixed Jazlyn her favorite breakfast-----crepes with raspberry sauce. He was also quietly arranging today's iternary in his mind as he took some of the sauce and poured it into a nearby saucepan, turning the heat on. First, he would carry her out to the kitchen for breakfast, and then from there, to the sofa in the media room ( as V referred to it ) where they would watch movies or the telly for the rest of the day. V was not a religious man, but today was Sunday, his day of rest, and he intended to spend it with Jazlyn.

Breakfast was almost complete when he took the crepes from the stove-----he didn't want them to burn while he went to fetch Jazlyn. Laying the apron on a nearby chair, he checked his clothing to make sure that nothing was out of place, continuing upward to his mask, and wig. Finally he started down the hallway to her bedroom. He rapped on the door gently.

“ Come in.” a sleepy voice from the other side answered as he pushed the door open slowly.

“ I hope you slept well.” V spoke softly as Jazlyn looked up at him, a shy smile appeared on her lips----then disappeared when she realized that the mask was in place once again.

“ Yes, quite well. “ She answered, remembering the warmth of his body radiating through the covers to hers. Sitting up slowly, she leaned back against the head of the bed.

“ Are you hungry?” he asked, one hand coming across his waist, the other at his side.

“ Yes. Starving, actually.” she smiled as he approached the bed.

“ May I?” he asked extending his hand toward her bandage, rising under the shirt she wore.

“ Of course.” She untied the strings around her neck and slid the large shirt carefully away from her injured shoulder. V's fingers loosened the tape gently as he started to pull back one edge of the tape that held the gauze in place.

“ This may hurt.....” He spoke, looking at her----giving her enough time to steady herself against the sudden pain he knew that was to come. Jazlyn nodded her head as V peeled the tape away.

“ Ouch!” she exclaimed as the bandage came loose, revealing an angry red mark on her skin, several stitches embedded within it.

“ I'm sorry.....” V began to apologize, but Jazlyn stopped him.

“ I'm ok, really.....”

“ Your wound is healing quite well. No seepage around the edges, no discoloration.....”
He paused as he once again put the bandage back in place. “ I think you shall have a full recovery, and I will change the dressing after breakfast.” He pulled the shirt carefully back up and tied the strings loosely, then pulled the covers back and picked her up effortlessly in his arms, left the bedroom and headed for the kitchen.

“ I can probably walk, you know.” Jazlyn smiled as her arms went around V's neck.

“ After the incident last night, “ he began, “ I do not think it wise to try again so quickly.” He pulled a chair out with the toes of his boot, and sat Jazlyn down gently, pushing it up the table. He retied the apron around his waist, and placed several crepes on a plate before her. “ Tea?”

“ Yes, please.” She sighed deeply, then continued, ” V, we need to talk about last night.”

It poured the warm sauce into a serving bowl, and set it before here. “ Yes,” he replied, pouring the steaming water into the cup. “ I suppose we do.” He sat the kettle down, then took a seat across from her.

Jazlyn pushed her food around on the plate with her fork hesitantly. This was one conversation she was not looking forward to. “ V........ when are you going to trust me? When are you going to let me in?” She looked into the black eye slits of the Fawkesian mask.

V head moved downward. His shoulders had slumped forward, and his strong presence had all but vanished. She reached over and took his hand. “ I love you, V.” Jazlyn began,
her fingers caressing the scarred ones. “ I love the man, not the idea. I love the flesh and blood that exists under the idea. “ She rose slowly, coming to stand behind him, her arms circled his neck, her hands laying on his chest---- her voice, a whisper in his ear. “ I need that man......I want that man.” Her face nuzzled into the black hair until she found a spot of open flesh that the collar did not cover, and she placed a soft kiss there. “ But, I will not wait forever.”

The last sentence was a warning, more than a statement, and V felt a numbing cold wash over him.
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Shadowsteps