Chapter Text
A couple days later, they had arrived in the familiar suburb of Watson they both had spent so much time in separately. Night City hit the same as always; loud, bright, and just a little suffocating. Police sirens blared, the air musky with exhaust and the stench of garbage.
Tyger Claws and Maelstrom patrolled the streets. Panam wondered how she ever spent so much time here, she wondered if she ever recognised how disgusting the streets were before. But walking through it now, V acted like he owned the city, completely unbothered whilst Panam moved beside him like she didn’t belong to the city at all.
“Still ugly,” she muttered, eyeing the flickering neon ripperdoc sign. Trying to ignore the lunatic still shouting about Alpha Centauri and techno necromancers.
V smirked. “Just be happy we’re only here for one thing, then.”
They descended down the stairs, to a familiar basement shop they both knew. V pushed the door open, a small bell triggered to announce a customer had just come through.
“Vik?” he called.
The basement had low lighting, really the only strong light in the area was the one above the ripperdoc chair. A television blared with what sounded like a boxing match bell.
First V followed by Panam walked through the roller cage and saw the aged doctor, sitting in his corner, tinkering with the gadget on his arm, glasses slid half way down his nose. They saw him, before he saw them. But it only took half a second before he noticed them back.
“...Well I’ll be damned.” Viktor Vektor announced when he finally looked up to see who walked into his clinic. He immediately sprung to his feet, a grin spread across his face as he walked over, grabbing V by the shoulder. “You’re in one piece,” Vik said with amusement “That’s new.”
“Miss me?” V asked, matching his excitement. He greeted the ripperdoc in a half handshake, half hug.
“Like a bad habit.” Vik gave him a overall inspection on the spot. “You look good. Not half dead or bleeding out… I’m almost disappointed.”
“Well there’s always next time.” V chuckled, moving to the side to give space to Panam. Recognition clicked fast when Vik eyes landed on the nomad woman. He greeted her with a handshake only, not wanting to be too over familiar.
“Oh, I remember you,” he said, pointing lightly back at V. “You dragged this idiot in here.. what…” He paused for dramatic effect. “Barely breathing, covered in bruises, looked like he lost a fight with a freight train.”
Panam crossed her arms, a small smirk forming. “Good memory.”
“Hey!” V said sheepishly, slightly embarrassed.
Vik laughed. “Yeah, hard to forget.” He tilted his head, looking between them. “He called you his girlfriend,” Vik added, teasing. “But not sure if it was his drug induced state or the knocks to his head at the time that gave him the confidence to call you that.”
Panam turned her head slowly toward V, trying hard to mask a smile. “He what?”
V winced. “Okay, things were complicated.”
“Mm-hmm.” Her brows furrowed as she cocked her hip, resting her hand against it.
V breathed in deeply, like he had an announcement to make; shaking off that bit of embarrassment that Vik tried to impose. He sort of did in a way, clasping his hands together and straightening his stance, V started with “She’s not my girlfriend.”
Vik raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
V didn’t hesitate, a tint of pride resonating through his voice now. “She’s my wife.”
Silence, like Vik had to absorb the information he just received. His eyes darted between V who was smiling like a gonk and Panam appeared only enamoured by V.
Vik broke into a full grin. “No kidding?” he said. “You’re serious?”
“Yeah!” V sounded enthused.
Panam gave a small shrug, but there was pride behind it and her smirk formed into a smile she couldn’t hide. “We made it official.”
Vik clapped his hands once. “Well damn! Didn’t think I’d see the day.” He shook his head, his tone softened just a little. “You deserve something good, V.”
V nodded. “I got it.”
“Yeah,” Vik said, glancing at Panam. “Looks like you did.”
Panam had liked Vik since the first time she had met him. He took care of V, free of charge and it warmed her to know V had good people looking after him before she stepped into his life.
Vik chuckled. “Alright, so what brings you in? You didn’t come all this way just to make me emotional.”
Panam stepped up beside him. “We need something done.”
Vik folded his arms. “Alright. Let’s hear it.”
Panam held up her hand, the ring catching the clinic light. Vik immediately looked down at it, like it was something sacred. His face lightly shifted to one of pride. Like his own son had met the love of his life and put a ring on it.
“Rings don’t really work out in the Badlands and with these gorilla arms,” V said. “Too easy to lose and don’t really fit.”
“Yeah,” Vik nodded. “Seen fingers get taken clean off because of those.”
“Exactly.” Panam agreed.
“So,” V continued, “we figured we’d go with something permanent.”
Vik’s eyes sharpened slightly, cocking one eye brow. His sight shifting between the both of them suspiciously.
“A tattoo.” V stated.
Panam finished his sentence. “Initials on our fingers. His on mine. Mine on his.”
Vik smiled. “Simple. I like it, however one slight problem,” Vik said.
V blinked. “What?”
“You? Chromed and tattooed from head to toe. Where am I going to put her initials on you?” Vik waved his hand for emphasis.
Panam snorted lightly, V looked at Vik with a confused expression.
“Alright… so what, no tattoo for me?” V asked.
Vik tilted his head whilst thinking then snapped his fingers when an idea dawned on him “Behind the ear.”
V’s eyebrows stitched into a frown. “Behind my ear?”
Panam’s eyes lit slightly as she stepped closer, looking at the spot Vik indicated. “…Yeah,” she said. “That works.” Her fingers now traced the bare patch of skin on V’s neck.
V smirked. “You just want it somewhere everyone can see it.”
“Yes I do.” She said staunchly, not hiding her intent.
Vik chuckled. “Happy wife, happy life..” he pointed to his ripper chair, gesturing for V to head over. “So the decision has been made. Romeo gets marked behind the ear. Bride gets the finger.”
The young couple walked over together, eyeing the chair.
“Romeo is up first,” Panam said with a teasing tone.
“Hey,” V muttered.
“Sit,” Vik pointed, sitting in his roller chair beside the machinery. He tapped away on the monitor beside it like he had no time for silly nonsense. V dropped into the chair, turning his head slightly as Vik prepped his tools.
Panam stayed close, one hand resting lightly on his shoulder. “Don’t be scared.” She teased, squeezing him.
“I’m not scared..” V stated, almost mockingly trying to match her tone.
“Uh-huh.” She quipped, unbelieving.
The machine buzzed to life within Vik’s hand, using his opposite to adjust his glasses sitting on his nose. “No marital bickering in my clinic.” Vik joked. “Have to keep these old ‘ganic hands of mine steady, cant afford the distraction.”
The needle touched down - sharp and precise. V hadn’t been tattooed in a while, especially without a numbing agent and the buzzing of the machine was extremely close to his ear to where all other noise became muted. V tensed slightly at the initial contact, then began to ease into it. Panam stood by him, hand now gripping his own as her eyes remained fixed on the needle branding his skin.
Within minutes, it was over. Panam leaned over the chair to look at Vik’s handiwork. “Not bad.” She complimented, eyes darting over the cursive ‘P’ behind V’s ear.
“You still alive, V?” Vik jested.
“Barely.” V mocked, with his best strained voice he could put on.
“Dramatic.” Panam jabbed, shaking her head. Eventually her expression softened, when she looked behind V’s ear again. The sentimentality of the moment sinking in. “Yeah,” she said, admiring the fresh ink again. “That’s… perfect.”
V practically sprung from the chair, he couldn’t contain his giddiness to be switching places with the woman he loved.
Vik gestured to Panam. “Alright, your turn.”
And Panam sat without hesitation, pulling the rings off her finger before placing her arm steady on the arm rest. Vik this time placed a gadget over it, locking her into place. “No backing out now,” Vik teased.
“You scared?” V mocked, mimicking her voice from earlier.
“Please,” she shot back. “I’m tougher than you.”
V didn’t say anything back, just smirked and gave her a knowing look.
Vik got to work, the buzzing filling the room again - this time his machine was doing all the work. V had seen it before, but this was all new to Panam. She barely had any ripper work done, only a charge jump she stated she previously regretted getting at 18 years old.
V watched this time, studying her face the entire time she was under the needle. The way she didn’t flinch. Her eyes stayed steady, focusing on something directly across the room.
A few minutes later “Done.” Vik said.
Panam lifted her hand, turning it slightly, looking at the small ‘V’ inked onto her ring finger. V stepped closer, their eyes meeting with unspoken words. An act of love and loyalty on display for both of them.
“Permanent enough for you?” Vik asked, snapping them both back to the moment.
V smirked, Panam nodded. “Yeah.” They both said in unison.
Vik leaned back, arms crossing, clearly pleased. “Gotta say, this beats the hell outta stitching you back together.” He was speaking to V directly.
“Glad we could mix it up.” V responded.
Panam opened her opposite palm to reveal her wedding ring and his mother’s ring. “What do we do with these?”
Vik couldn’t help but look, then pointed at the door suggesting. “Go see Misty, she’s in the shop up stairs. She’ll have an idea.”
V and Panam nodded.
“What do we owe you, Vik?” Panam asked, slowly crawling out of the ripper chair and rising to her feet like she had just sat 12 hours of surgery.
“For you kids? Nothing. Consider it a wedding gift.” Vik crossed his arms, another prideful grin adorning his face.
V only nodded in return. “Thanks Vik, good seeing you.” V said.
“Yeah, yeah.” The ripper waved, his attention returning back to the television playing loudly. “And remember, don’t get any dirt in those implants. A good ripper out in the Badlands is harder to find than a 4 star hotel. As a matter of fact, just comeback to me if you have any issues.”
V chuckled, as if he was getting a speech from his dad. Vik must have donated at least $21000 eddies to V’s chrome without expecting a single eddie back.
The young couple now walked hand in hand. Their boots echoing on the steps up, the noise of the street bleeding back in the higher they climbed. They entered the back alley between Viks clinic and Misty’s store.
V pushed the door open, entering the store from the back door.
A faint chime echoed through the space, and the young couple were immediately greeted with the smell of incense. Shelves were lined with crystals, worn books, and small handmade trinkets.
Behind the counter, Misty looked up from her laptop. Her expression brightened instantly. “V,” she said gently, like she’d been expecting him. “It’s been a while.”
V gave a small nod, “Yeah… figured I should come up for air. Vik said you might have something for us.”
Misty’s gaze landed on Panam next and recognition clicked just as quickly for her as it did with Vik. Her eyes warm and her voice just as soft. “Panam.”
Panam paused mid-step, like she hadn’t expected to be remembered so easily. Then she gave a small, almost awkward smile back. “…Hey.”
Misty tilted her head slightly, a knowing look forming. “I remember your reading.” Her voice comforting and confident all at the same time.
Panam exhaled already looking slightly embarrassed, her eyes looking at V for reassurance but he only appeared confused. “Yeah…” her shoulders sunk, hoping they weren’t about to hash over Panam’s moment of weakness so long ago. “..I was hoping you didn’t.”
“The cards were very clear.” Misty continued calmly; closing her laptop to provide the couple her full attention. “You pulled The Star last.”
V glanced between them, slightly amused and shocked that Panam and Misty were already well acquainted. “That good or bad?”
Misty smiled faintly, repeating the words she said to Panam so long ago now. “Hope. Renewal. Finding your place after hardship.” Her eyes flicked between the two of them. “I told you things would work out.”
Panam shifted her weight, rubbing the back of her neck. “Yeah, well…” A small, smile broke through despite herself. “Looks like you were right.”
V raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. “You got your future read and didn’t tell me?”
Panam shot him a look. “You were passed out in the clinic.”
“Mm,” Misty hummed softly, sighing with approval at the young couple. “The cards are always right.”
Panam was chewing her inner cheek, looking slightly embarrassed at the exposure. Barely anyone saw her at her most vulnerable, now she was surrounded by two people that had seen her at her worst.
Putting Panam out of her misery, V cleared his throat and changed the subject, “So,” he said, stepping closer to the counter and resting against it. “We’ve got a bit of a… practical problem.”
Panam held out her hand, the faint redness around her fresh tattoo still visible, the small ‘V’ inked neatly along her finger. In her palm, she had two rings - her wedding ring, and V’s mother’s ring.
Misty’s eyes dropped to her hand, studying the tattoo first, then the rings. Her expression softened even further, something quietly approving in it. “A permanent bond,” she murmured. “Marked in ink… but you still want to carry the symbols.”
V only nodded. Something about talking to Misty he always felt like he was about to breach the fourth wall and experience spiritual enlightenment. It was just the way she spoke and carried herself. He could tell Panam wasn’t easily as convinced as he was in this sort of stuff. She stood with her arms crossed; eyeing the trinkets they were surrounded by. Probably questioning it all like it was some hoax.
Misty stepped out from behind the counter, moving toward a small display nearby. Her fingers hovered over a few items before selecting something simple - a thin chain. She returned and held it out between them.
“Then don’t wear them on your hands,” she said. “Wear them close to your heart instead.”
Panam’s brows lifted slightly. “A necklace?”
Misty nodded. “The meaning doesn’t change. Only the form does.”
V took the chain, turning it slightly between his fingers. “Practical and symbolic,” he said. “You’ve been hanging around Vik too long.”
A faint smile touched Misty’s lips. “Or maybe he’s been learning from me.”
Panam huffed a quiet laugh at that, stepping closer. “Let me see.”
V passed the chain to her a she threaded the rings onto it carefully; first his mother’s ring, then Panam’s. The metal clicked softly together, a small sound that somehow felt heavier than it should have.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then V reached out, taking the necklace from her hands. “Turn around.”
Panam blinked. “What?”
“Just do it.” V responded.
She frowned but obliged, turning her back to him. V stepped in close, lifting the chain and fastening it behind her neck. Once it was secured, he let his hand rest briefly against the back of her neck before pulling away.
Panam turned back around, glancing down at the rings now resting against her chest.
V gave a small nod. “Thanks, Misty. For this… and, uh…” he jerked a thumb toward Panam “..for calling it, apparently.”
Panam only responded by rolling her eyes, Misty smiled, returning to her table. “The cards only show possibilities,” she said. “You’re the ones who made it real.”
Panam looked down at her tattoo again, this time something soft resonated through her as her thumb brushed lightly over the fresh ink. “…Guess we did.” She agreed.
The chime above the door jingled softly as they turned to leave, the city noise creeping back in.
“Til next time Misty, and thanks again.” V said, as he paused in the entrance. Misty only smiled back, giving him that knowing look of hers.