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Red. One of the three primary colours, used almost everywhere in Night City. The colour of love, passion, carnal desire. And the colour of anger, rage, the blood staining his hands.
Jackie grimaced in pain as he tried to fight off the haze settling in his mind. He flexed his fingers, the tips numb and cold, soaked in his crimson river. It oozed profusely from where the bullets had hit, causing pain, pain, pain . Fuck, what had gone wrong? Everything was supposed to go smoothly. Get the chip, bring it back to Dex, get some sweet-ass creds, and live life like there was no tomorrow.
What was it Misty said? Avoid the colour red? Heh - shoulda listened to ‘er.
“Jack? Stay with me, choom.”
The urgency in the voice next to him brought him back to the present. The Delemain cab was cruising through Watson like it owned the streets. Everything outside was passing by in a blur.
“Don’t worry, V. Won’t,” he grunted in pain as he shifted to look his best friend in the eye, “won’t lose me that easy, chica .”
The concern in V’s eyes betrayed the shaky smile she gave him. Glancing out the window, she inhaled deeply.
“Lookin’ pale as anything, Jackie-”
“Mr Welles requires medical attention,” the cab chimed in, unhelpfully.
“Then take us to a ripperdoc!” V shouted back, brows furrowing and mouth downturned. “Stupid fuckin’ AI.”
Jackie closed his eyes. They felt heavy, as if all his energy had been drained suddenly.
“Jack, no! Keep your eyes open! Stay with me!”
Images flashed through his mind. The day he met V was first, in less than savoury circumstances. The sting of the electric baton still resonated where it had hit him. The look of betrayal on V’s face as the cops walked away. The stern talking-to they’d received from the NCPD, and then later, the one he’d received from his madre . She’d been disappointed more than anything, and that hurt worse than if she’d been angry.
Bringing V to meet his family was next. Mama Welles greeted V with open arms almost immediately. She doted on V, treated her like her own child. The daughter she’d always wanted but never got the chance to have. If the tears that filled V’s eyes that day said anything, then Jackie was sure she’d be a fine addition to the Welles family.
The day V bought her own apartment was mixed with bittersweet memories. Mama Welles had sent her off with a smile and a crate of beer, but behind that she’d been devastated. Nothing could bring her out of a constant state of near-depression for several days until he’d convinced V to visit for drinks at the Coyote. The smile on his mamá’s face had been worth it, though.
Jackie opened his eyes with a gasp as he felt small fingers prodding at his wounds.
“Jees-uss, Jack. Thought I’d lost you there, for a moment. Shit,” V choked out. She tried to keep it together, but there was no mistaking the fear keeping her rigid in her seat.
“Heh - sorry, V-” his words were interrupted by a coughing fit and string of half-felt curses. He felt the trickle of blood down his chin.
Lifting an arm to his neural port, Jackie pulled out the biochip, leaning forward with another gasp and slotting it in V. A tear slid down her cheek as Jackie smiled softly.
“Go complete this job for me, chica . Tell Dex… tell Dex we did it.”
As he closed his eyes for a final time, the only thing that filled his vision was Misty. Her smile, her scent, her witty comments when he’d come back bruised and bloody after a scrap in the streets.
Jackie hissed as Misty held the cloth to his cheek, the ethanol burning the wound as it cleaned away any filth lurking.
“Hold still, babe,” was the calm response to his babyish behaviour. She didn’t chastise him, didn’t make fun of him. She simply accepted this part of him, the not-so-tough Jackie that was only brave enough to rear its head around anyone but her. He admired her for it, knew he had to do whatever it would take to keep himself in her good books.
The room was silent save for the occasional hiss and grunt. It was a comfortable silence, one Jackie didn’t mind. He was with Misty, they were both safe, and they were both happy - relatively speaking. She didn’t like seeing him like this. Hurt. Bleeding.
“Hey,” he broke the silence, “Misty.”
“Hm?” Misty paused what she was doing a moment when she heard her name, glancing up to look her input in the eye.
Jackie took a breath, two, taking time to find the right words.
“Is something wrong? Because, like I said, always avoid the reds.” Misty asked as the silence grew longer. She carried on dabbing the wound.
“Huh? No. No.” He scratched the back on his neck, smiling to himself about the reminder. His aura was off, she’d said to stay away from mean reds. He didn’t know what that meant, but if it made her happy, he’d do it. “Uh, no. Look, uh, Misty. I’ve been thinkin’. This job, the one with Dex-”
“You’re having second thoughts?”
“No, no, nothin’ like that. I was thinkin’ uh, after I get paid that sweet mon-ay… Well, I was thinkin’, me an’ you, say we get away from this place, move somewhere nicer in the city. Kid or two, maybe.”
“Jack?”
“Look, what I’m- what I’m sayin’ is,” he took in a breath. “What I’m sayin’ is, when I get paid, would you want to get married?”