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Night City is a tree that only bears rotten fruit. It’s roots deep in radioactive waste that stretches deep down into the heart of what’s left of America. From that rotten fruit comes legends. The best of the best, but also the best at the worst. From the lowest scop sucker to the highest board member, they’ve worked for and against them all. V is no different, just a different fallen fruit that has stumbled a bit farther from the tree.
A home where the ads never stopped scrolling up into the heavens, V struggled to sleep. Always struggled to sleep even when she left Night City and joined NUSA population. Sirens, trauma team shoot outs, the sounds of Valentino’s hanging outside her window, it all played in her mind again and again, now there was something else adding to the playlist. Jackie’s laughter, T-Bug’s chatter, static and then…
“Savannah, think I fixed it.” He said from the couch, hard to believe she had to purchase back her apartment in Corpo Plaza. It felt less lived in than she remembered, didn’t feel like home but when he was here it was different. V was sitting on the counter top, cigarette in hand and snapped her head in his direction. He was working on the television, trying to get something besides ads to play, then Bushido started to play.
“Took you long enough.”
“Hush.” He said and she hopped down from the countertop, tucked the cigarette in the corner of her lips and carried the bucket of popcorn and the two Abysos bottles. She handed him one and took a seat beside him. “So, why did you call?”
“Who else is going to fix my TV?” V questioned and he scoffed, she loved getting under his skin. “Maybe I missed you.”
“When did you decide on the new place?”
“Not sure if I’m feeling it or not, just, thought it was something I wanted back but maybe not. Maybe I’ve outgrown it.”
“Outgrown me too?”
“Maybe one day, but no, not yet. Maybe not ever.” She said and cracked open her drink. “This is better than the movie theater, right?”
“Less tigers. More privacy.” He said and she rested her head on his shoulders.
“Why’d you come?”
“How can I deny the best Netrunner in Night City?”
“Still full of shit, I see.”
“Hey, you said it, not me.”
“That’s true.” She said. “Think you got me beat, but keep that between you and I, can’t let Night City know one of it’s legends may have been wrong.”
“A self appointed Legend? Seems there’s nothing you can’t do.”
“Hush and watch the movie.” She said and scooped up some popcorn and pressed it to his mouth and they both laughed, then gunfire from the film rang out. Perhaps it’s his warmth, or that this is the first time she’s had someone here who she wanted to stay, but she found herself drifting off to a peaceful sleep and when she woke up Nix was carrying her to the bed.
“Hey. It’s okay, just taking you to bed.” Nix said, she didn’t realize she was already halfway out of his arms but he righted her and placed her down on the bed. “You put on some weight.”
“Oh, fuck off.” She said and laughed, rolling onto her stomach, “Enjoy the movie?”
“I’m more of a Bushido four man.” He said.
“Looks don’t account for taste.” She said. “Coming to bed?”
“Duty calls.” He said and shrugged his jacket on. “The net is alive and buzzing and my chair is waiting on me.”
“Figured something like that might happen.”
“That why you haven’t been picking up the holo?” He asked.
“Gotta afford this new rent.” She said, “Been busy. Don’t tell me this is you punishing me, making me sleep alone.”
“You sleep alone?” He asked, popped a cigarette between his lips. Bastard.
“C’mon, don’t make this something it don’t gotta be.”
“That’s up to you. What’s it gonna be, V?” He said.
“Don’t do that, not now, not here.” She said and sat up in the bed. “We’re good together.”
“We are.” He admitted.
“And despite your personality I still like you.”
“Sounding less and less like a compliment by the second, V.” He said.
“Do you really want to complicate that?”
“I’m a complicated man, V.” He said.
“And I’m dying, Nix.”
“I know.” He said.
“You know? How the hell do you know?”
“Best runner in Night City, remember? Whole city was buzzing while you were out cold.” He said and leaned back against the wall, “Will you give me a say in this?”
“In what?”
“Our last moments together.” He said, and she’s silent because she needs to think, doesn’t need the noise of night city or the TV, just moments because lately she’s been tired, so tired and ready to throw in the towel. Give Johnny the body or just wake up to the dark nothingness of death. But this meant fighting and she wasn’t sure if she had any fight left or if she should even try. “Because I want to try, and I know I’m worth it.”
“Yes.”
“Yes?” He questioned, one eyebrow cocked.
“Yes, I want to try, want to enjoy this time with you.” She said, “We can talk about it later, I know you have biz.”
“We will talk about it later.” He said and pushed off the wall, coming around to her side of the bed. “Get some rest.”
“I’ll try.” She said. “I sleep better when you’re here.”
“Truly after my heart.” He said, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“I’ll hold you to it.” V said and watched as he made his way to the door and once it closed behind her Johnny materialized at the far end of the bed.
“Smart guy like that likes you? Don’t gonk it up.”
“Are you programmed to be against me?”
“I’ll remember that the next time you purposefully walk into a scav den.”
“You never say anything remotely encouraging.”
“How about this, you’re dying and we need to get Mikoshi, move quickly so there’s a V to save.”
“Ah, well, at least you tried.” V said and rolled onto her back staring up at the ceiling. “If something happens…”
“Jesus, V, not going to leave the guy out to dry. Don’t I always clean up your messes?”
“Some of the time, yeah.” She said, she’s not sure when she falls asleep just that when she wakes up to the morning sun it doesn’t feel like corporate hell and she’s not alone, Nix is asleep next to her and she's never slept better.