Chapter Text
Japantown, Night City
22 hours before the parade
Startled by the buzzing of her phone, V reached into her pocket. Trying to not dirty it with the blood dripping from her hands, she focused on the blurry screen.
Her mind was still in a haze and her heartbeat was the only thing she could hear in her ears. Perhaps Johnny was right–instead of doing all of these side jobs, she should focus on resting her slowly degrading body. But V always found it impossible to stand still, and even though she was beaten up and barely got out with her life (as she always did), it was yet another gig for Wakako done and dusted. The eddies were already being transferred into her account.
The parade is in less than 24 hours. Make sure you are not late.
Rolling her eyes with a chuckle, she shook her head. Oh, Takemura.
You thinkin’ I’ll forget or somethin’?
Johnny kept moaning about him but V trusted Goro. He was too good. To guided by principles to be lying to her. This suicide mission planned for the parade was important to him and it was no trap, at least not as far as Takemura knew. V was sure of that.
No, of course not. Only making sure you are still on board.
“Jeez, you’re smirkin’ like some teenage girl textin’ her crush.”
“How about you fuck off, Johnny?” V frowned and aimed a sarcastic grin at the man sitting across from her, dragging in a puff from his cigarette. “Don’t know why you hate Goro so much. He’s sweet,” she smiled.
“Yeah. Like a senile, confused grandpa you put in the home sweet. The one you never want to visit–sweet. Sure,” Silverhand noted playfully. “Just don’t trust Arasaka. He was Saburo’s bodyguard. Seems like you keep forgettin’ that little fact.”
“Yeah. Had his reasons,” V leaned back with a sigh, still holding the phone in her hand. She remembered the moment they shared when collecting intel on the parade. Johnny might have not paid too much attention to it but she thought about what Goro told her that day. He was not loyal to Arasaka, he was loyal to a man who gave him a purpose, a better life. Something told V Johnny could never understand that. He was too rough, too guided by his instincts–explosive, destructive ones, most of the time.
No need to worry, Goro. Might be a little hangover but I’ll be there. ;)
After she replied, V stood up, stretching her sore muscles and wiping the blood off her face. Those 6th street bastards really took her by surprise. Weren’t supposed to be so many of them–a quick, simple job, Wakaka said. Right…
“We can agree on that,” Johnny replied to her thoughts with a tired sigh. Wasn’t like his body just got put through the wringer, but V appreciated the sympathy. “One more reason to get drunk.”
In some things, the two really were alike.
Running her hands through her hair, V collected anything she could from the dead bodies and made her way towards her bike. She was just about to get on when her phone rang again, this time with a facetime notification. Confused, she accepted the call from Takemura and waited for the image to come in, resting her butt on the bike.
“H-Hello?” she drew her brows together into a confused grimace.
“V,” Goro’s serious face finally appeared in the corner of her vision. “Considering the stakes, I do not think it is wise for you to drink before the parade.” He sounded well-meaning, as always, and obnoxiously reasonable.
“You called me to permit me from gettin’ drunk?” V burst out laughing.
Bearing an all-knowing, ‘told you so’ expression, Johnny sat on the ground in front of V, taking off his glasses. “Still can’t see why I don’t like the guy?”
“I know I cannot permit you to do anything. You are your own woman.” Takemura seemed slightly taken back by the sharp response but kept his cool, polite face. “I simply… Considering your state and how crucial it will be for us to make sure everything goes according to the plan, I simply thought–”
“Listen, Goro,” V’s voice cracked slightly as she cleared her throat. “I get this is important to you, alright? And I fully intend to achieve what we’re tryin’ to achieve tomorrow but come on–Arasaka snipers, god knows how much other security… If anything changes or goes south, I’m toast. Get this is ‘bout avenging Saburo’s murder for you, but it’s my life for me. Considerin’ all that, I think I deserve the right to get shit faced, huh?”
Staring at her in the little camera, Takemura stayed quiet, while Johnny let out a low, slow whistle, followed by a chuckle.
“I… I understand,” he nodded finally and uncomfortably adjusted his shirt.
“I respect that you don’t drink at work, I do. It’s just a bit of a tradition for me, gettin’ wasted before a big job. Believe it or not, it clears my head,” V smiled, hoping he would understand. It wasn’t anything personal. He was just from a different world. A different time too, maybe.
“I understand,” he said again, but V could see the worry in his face. She felt bad for him–must have been a lot for the poor guy the past few days. A lot was at stake.
Imagining him sitting at whatever dingy little motel he’s staying at, all stressed out and alone made V’s chest tighten. Glancing at Johnny, who already reacted to the idea that barely fired into her brain with an annoyed eye-roll, she looked up into the camera again, facing Takemura.
“How ‘bout you tag along? Can watch me, make sure I don’t drink too much, and that I find my way home on time so that our suicide run can go on as planned. It's a win-win. Sounds good?” The devilish, playful grin on V’s face made Takemura pause.
He thought about her offer briefly, and to his surprise, it did seem like a ‘win-win’.
“Alright, I… I will hang back. Better to have someone watching your back.”
“I’m not a talkative drunk, so you won’t have to worry ‘bout me spouting our plans to everyone I see,” V let out a melodic chuckle that almost instinctively let Takemura’s eyes towards her. “But yeah. You’re right. Better be safe, right?” she smirked. It was just adorable seeing him all unsure and completely useless in social situations. Takemura was only accustomed to very specific, bizarre manners and the way things were in his little Arasaka bubble. Here, on the streets of the Night City, amongst regular people, he was almost like an alien. V was surprised he even survived that long on his own.
“Very well then,” she straightened her back and rolled her shoulders back. “I’ll send you the address. Come or don't come–no pressure,” she winked and ended the call the second Takemura drew a breath in to reply.
Satisfied with herself and with butterflies in her stomach, she smiled to herself.
“Jesus fucking Christ. Are you tryin' to seduce him? We're tryin’ to save your soul here, V, not screw half the Arasaka,” Johnny replied in his typically bitchy, sarcastic manner.
“Thought you liked fucking with Arasaka,” V shot back, making him pause.
With a chuckle, Johnny shook his head, resigning. “Fuck you.”
“Probably gonna get sniped, or fall from one of those stupid platforms. If things go well, we might even get to Hanako before we get mowed down. So give me a break, Johnny. I deserve the distraction,” she said before aiming a middle finger at Johnny’s projection. Turning her back to him, she seated herself on the bike and as she turned the engine on, a smile found its way back on V’s face.
✽
Anxious and not entirely sure how he felt about it all, Takemura shifted on his feet, standing at the back of a filled club where V told him to meet. He was early, as always, so he used the time to think and to scope out the room. Not that there was much to observe–it shifted every second, with more and more people filling it.
Though he felt exposed and like he had no control over the situation, it was also like hiding in plain sight. Amongst so many, he was invisible. No one paid attention, no one cared.
Goro knew it would have been better to stay in his room and meditate. To be in peace with his thoughts, to get a good night's sleep before the risky mission but… somehow, against his better judgement, he decided that he should watch over V instead.
He wasn’t sure what it was… What he felt when he was around her. At first, he suspected it was just discomfort caused by the fact that she was a thief, a mercenary. One that managed to get into Yorinobu’s home, steal the relic and survive long enough to get out. Then, she saved his life, and he saved hers. By the time they began planning the entire parade mission, his feelings had shifted. Instead of uneasiness caused by standing next to someone who he didn’t trust, it became a different kind of restlessness.
Her eyes always followed him.
Watched him behind his back; her glances were subtle and fast but he noticed them. Perhaps it was his way of life making him feel that way–Goro was always the one person in the room who was supposed to be invisible. A shadow lingering around, while all eyes were turned to the one he protected. It was never him people paid attention to.
That must have been why he felt so strange around the young merc…
“You turned up.”
The woman’s voice cut through the chaotic mix of chatter, loud electronic music, and laughing. Blinking rapidly and focusing his eyes on her, Goro straightened his back and glanced over V as she stood there, smiling at him.
“Y-Yes,” he nodded quickly, and as his eyes traveled back towards hers, he made sure to notice the unusual change of outfit. Usually, he would have seen her in her job attire–comfortable clothes that provided enough protection and movement for her line of work. This time, V wore something a bit more revealing, reminding him that behind all that running around, shooting, and hacking, there was a normal human being. A young, attractive woman, at that. “Y-You look well,” he blurted out like he suddenly lost all control of his own mouth. He regretted it the second those words came out and felt like a fool, but her playful smirk made him feel a little better.
“Thank you. Don’t look too bad yourself,” she looked him up and down, both of them aware of the fact that Takemura wore the very same outfit he did any other day. “Took a shower for me, huh? Sweet,” she gave him a wide grin before turning around and heading for the bar.
Takemura rubbed his forehead, sighing to himself while he followed.
Maybe it really wasn’t such a great idea to meet her here…
Moving around the people–too many of them for his liking–he finally managed to get back to V, already leaning against the bar and talking to the bartender.
Not even thinking, his eyes followed the silhouette of her muscular yet womanly figure all the way down to her plumb buttocks displayed in a tight, latex miniskirt. It has been a while since Goro looked at a woman in that way. Didn’t really come to mind the past few years; wasn’t a priority anymore. V, though, she did make his eyes wander…
He barely managed to look up in time as she turned to him again. “You sure you’re not havin’ anything to drink, Goro?”
“I am sure,” he nodded with a firm, decisive expression on his face, though at that moment, he would have welcomed some sake. The entire situation was making him extremely anxious.
“Ugh. Don’t know what you’re missin’,” V turned back to the bar with a grin and went right for the shots waiting for her there. She downed two of them right after each other, making Takemura worry about how the rest of the night was going to go. It was only getting started, after all
Perhaps it was a good idea to come, to make sure she didn’t go overboard.
In the following hours, V managed to get admirable amounts of alcohol through her system without completely blacking out. It was probably the dancing, he thought as he saw her leave their table situated at the back of the club to go enjoy herself on the dance floor, after getting another shot in.
He watched her from there as she danced with anyone and everyone who would. Goro envied her, almost… Might have been a hasty, youthful decision to get drunk before such an important mission but she looked so free and happy on that dancefloor.
Of course, the alcohol played a part, yet it was almost like V simply decided that no matter the obstacles life was throwing in front of her, she would enjoy this night.
He saw her steps from death, lying amongst the trash in the landfill. He watched her barely pulling through in Vik’s chair yet… here she was. Full of life, like she had no care in the world, throwing her hair back and forth, moving her hips from side to side as she danced. Running her hands over her breasts and down to her butt, then lifting them back up as the song’s beat dropped.
She noticed his glare. Thought something told him she has been noticing it the whole night and purposefully ignored it.
Smiling at Goro while he embarrassingly averted his eyes, turning his attention to the half-empty glass of cola in front of him, she made her way back to the table, to the dislike of her dancing partners who seemed to have expected her to go on with them all night.
“My, my. You really seem to be havin’ fun,” V mumbled, voice overflowing with sarcasm, and just barely managed to grab the table for support. At that point of the night, she wasn’t very steady on her feet. Then again, Takemura was shocked she hasn't passed out yet.
“I am okay. Glad you are enjoying yourself, V,” Goro tried his hardest to not be as awkward and boring as he felt. He wondered why she even asked him to come. Surely, she would have rather been here with someone else. She must have known this was not his scene, yet… he said yes.
To his surprise, V scooted next to him on the couch instead of reaching for another shot and returning to the dance floor. She was nearly radiating heat as she got closer to him. Sweat from the non-stop dancing ran down her chest and between her breast, snuggly pressed together in the tight top she was wearing.
“You like what you see?” she asked bluntly, staring right at him.
Blinking rapidly, Goro drew in a sharp breath before looking away. “I– Forgive me, I did not mean to–” He completely lost his trail of thoughts again.
What was that woman doing to him?
“Do you not?” she drew her brows together with a frown and something about her drunken voice mixed with that expression made her look like a sad little puppy just then. “Not into women, maybe?”
Completely unprepared for the sudden shift her attitude took, and the raw honesty of it, Goro became speechless for a moment. He might have been always ready to deflect any physical danger and trained to not fear any enemy but this was something a little out of his comfort zone. “I, um… That is not the issue, V,” he desperately tried to make his voice sound firm and confident again but her gaze was driving him crazy.
“Is it somethin’ about not having fun when you’re workin’?” she kept pressing, a smirk growing on her face as one of her hands slowly found its way on Goro’s knee under the table. “Or… Can just tell me if you don’t find me attractive. I’ll survive.”
Wasn’t that, he thought. She was attractive, that was the problem.
This just wasn’t part of his life. Like she said–they were only working together. Only helping each other to achieve their own goals. V only needed someone to get the implant out of her head, to save her life. Their partnership… it was nothing but a business transaction.
Even if this ever was anything more than that, which it wasn’t, he couldn’t. Not like that.
“You are drunk, V,” he finally looked her into the eyes, softly touching her hand and guiding it away from him. Placing it into her lap, he gave a faint smile. “I’d prefer not taking advantage of anyone in such a state. Besides, it is late,” he glanced at the digital clock above the door. “We should leave soon. We both need a good night’s sleep before our mission tomorrow. Remember?”
Something shifted in V’s eyes as she studied him. There was this playful fire behind his eyes somewhere as he said it.
Usually, getting turned down by someone she was interested in would be a blow to V’s ego but this time, she felt different. “Is that it? Is it only because I’m drunk?” she stared into those eyes, feeling the growing pressure between them.
“I–” Goro paused, considering simply ignoring the topic but at the last moment, he decided against it. “Perhaps…”
“You’re right,” she blurted out suddenly, surprising him. “It’s late.” Grabbing his glass and gulping the rest of the cola, V stood up and clumsily got out of the booth. “Could you drive me home, please?” As she looked over her shoulder at him, she seemed content. Even though Goro was surprised by the sudden shift, he smiled and nodded.
It was for the best. After tomorrow, who knew how things were going to turn out. It was better for both of them to not get distracted any further.
“It would be my pleasure.”