Work Text:
Pepe was overjoyed to see Misty walk into the Coyote Cojo that night, much more so than usual, because now someone would be able to help him.
The bartender gave her a subtle nod as Misty ordered her drink, pointing to a young woman with her head down, elbows propped on the counter, hands listlessly clutching a half-empty beer mug. Her head was bowed.
“Gosh…Is that V?” Misty whispered.
Pepe nodded.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know,” Pepe said, “she’s been like this for a couple of hours, but when I asked her, she brushed it off.”
“Poor girl… has she drinked a lot?”
“Not too much, but enough that she’ll probably want to talk now.”
The bar was very quiet that day. Not many people went out drinking on Tuesdays, and those who did didn’t usually cause trouble. The music wasn’t too loud.
A kind but cautious figure approached the young woman’s shoulder.
“Hey, V?”
She looked up. Her eyes were a little unfocused until she recognized the newcomer.
“Oh, Misty, sorry, I didn’t see you.”
“It’s okay. Can I sit down?”
V blinked.
“Yeah, yeah, sure.”
Misty sat on the stool next to her with her drink in front of her, but she didn’t take a sip.
“Are you okay?”
“Mh?” V was distracted, and clearly a little tipsy. “Uh, yeah, don’t worry about it.”
“Something seems to be bothering you.”
“Yes, but it’s nothing. There are much more serious problems in this city.”
“Perhaps. But this particular thing is bothering you, and I’m worried that my friend isn’t okay.”
V smiled without looking at her. She loved Misty far more than she dared to say. There were few friendships left like hers or Jackie's in Night City. Someday she would tell them how much she appreciated them.
Someday.
“Thank you, Misty. For real. I just…I’m not sure you’re the right person for me to talk about this.”
Misty frowned momentarily with worry.
“Is this about Jackie? Has he done something?”
“No, no! It’s not about Jackie, he’s a sweetheart. Any problem I’ve had with him, we just talk about it.”
Misty relaxed her shoulders slightly, but a second later something clicked in her mind.
“Oh. This is about Viktor, right?”
V didn’t answer, but her eyes were even more lost in the wall of bottles in front of her.
Misty had seen Viktor that very morning, and he looked exactly the same as always, so she was reassured knowing he was okay.
"Is this what I think it is?" Asked the blonde.
V shrugged.
"Unfortunately, I think so."
Misty nodded and took a sip of her drink.
She couldn't say she expected it, but she wasn't surprised either. V and Viktor had gotten along very well from the moment they met a few months ago, but they were both so solitary that it was hard to tell if there was anything more between them.
"Has... anything happened between you two yet?"
"Fortunately or unfortunately, nothing. And he doesn't know anything, nor do I expect him to."
"I won't say anything, I promise."
V nodded, then sighed.
Misty took her hand.
"You can tell me anything."
V didn't answer.
"I've been friends with Viktor for years, and we work at the same place, but that doesn't mean I'm on either side, okay?"
V smiled shyly.
"Okay."
And then she sighed, exhaling all the air in her lungs. She took a swig of her now-warm beer and grimaced.
"I don't know what's wrong with me... I haven't felt like this in years, not since I was a teenager with raging hormones. But now?"
Misty chuckled.
"Viktor is a very charming man."
"He is, but not only that. He's..." V paused, searching for the words. "He's... everything a man has never been to me."
Misty, knowing him, understood what V meant. The merc continued:
“He’s kind, sweet, respectful. He sees people as people, everyone. He’s guided by his ethics and professionalism and never hesitates to help anyone in need.”
Misty saw a sparkle but also a lot of sadness in her eyes. She didn’t interrupt.
“He engages with each of his patients as if they were the only one. It doesn’t matter if they’re male, female, have a past, are poor or wealthy.”
Her words were slightly slurred by the alcohol, just a little.
“He doesn’t mind staying longer than his scheduled time at the clinic to help someone, or just keep them company. And he never, ever asks for anything in return.” V shook her head and lowered it again, pointing at his beer for a few long seconds. “Fuck.”
Misty bit her lip and began to affectionately stroke her back. V made a pitiful sound.
“Isn’t it strange to find a man like that right now, in this city?”
Misty nodded. V chuckled gently.
“Is it too teenage to say that when he looks at me, ‘he sees me’?” V laughed, and Misty smiled.
“It is, but it’s fine.”
“And the best part is, he doesn’t just do it with me. I see him look at everyone, and he does it with the same amount of respect, interest, and even admiration for each single person.”
Misty smiled; she'd noticed that too. That was why Viktor was so easy to deal with.
"He's turned my life upside down, Misty. I think about him every day. When I have to go to the clinic, I get so nervous and have to force myself to breathe and calm down before I go in because I start sweating like a pig."
Misty laughed.
"And he always speaks with that deep voice that sounds so sweet, and when he laughs with that chuckle in his chest, I'm so grateful to hear him happy. And I'm so grateful when he looks at me without his glasses because I can see his beautiful green eyes." She paused for a moment, stroking the rim of the glass with her fingertips. "It's been a long time since something like this has happened to me, Misty... especially not since what happened."
Misty remembered ‘what happened’. There was no need for her to say anything more. She hadn't said much about it at the time either—V didn't want to talk about it more than necessary, and Misty wasn't going to pressure her. All she knew was that a man she was seeing had abused V over a year ago. She never spoke of anything else, and she didn't talk about it with anyone else, but ever since, Misty had felt the heavy aura of pain and silence that V carried.
“I spent a long time thinking this wouldn't happen to me again, because I was afraid, and because men have been showing me these past few years that they have no respect whatsoever,” V continued, “and after all the suffering, the fear, the isolation… Viktor appears in my life. A man who respects me without wanting anything from me. Who listens to me, who helps me, who is kind and sweet. And suddenly it feels like a gift from heaven.”
Misty shifted in her chair and lowered her hand from her back to V's hand, taking it gently and rhythmically stroking her fingers with her thumb.
“It makes perfect sense that you feel this way after everything you’ve been through these past few years, V. You do deserve that respect, and you deserve affection, and love, and to be cared for.”
“But until now, I hadn’t found anyone who made me understand that I didn’t have to be afraid anymore.” She paused. “Damn, he’s the first man in all this time I haven’t felt fear around, but rather a sense of… serenity.”
Pepe came over to replace V’s jar with one of cold beer and stepped back to give them some more space.
V took a swig and placed it back on the counter with a loud thud. Then, she laughed.
“You know what the worst part is?” She shook her head. “That I don’t even know if he likes me, but I’m pretty sure that even if he did, he wouldn’t do anything because he’s far too respectful and professional to get involved with a patient, much less someone so young.” She frowned in pain.
V thought that made her feel even more attracted to him, but she didn't say so.
Misty stood still for a few moments, thinking about it, and realized that it was probably true. And that it was highly unlikely that this could turn out well, and that V already knew that. Because V cared about Viktor, as a person, as a Ripper, and as Misty's partner. And she knew it wasn't worth jeopardizing all of that for yearning.
She felt pity. Then, took a sip of her drink.
“I find him incredibly attractive, Misty… Damn, really attractive. I lose my speech when his arm muscles bulge, or when he spreads his legs on his stool. But you know what I dream about?” She paused and chuckled. “…Damn, it's so sad; I haven't been with anyone for so long, but you know what I fantasize about? Viktor tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. Or him gently kissing my forehead while I close my eyes.”
Misty had never seen V so vulnerable, always with that armor of dominance, that cool tranquility that makes you think she has everything under control even if she doesn't. She had never seen her talk about her feelings, or allow herself to show sadness in front of anyone.
“…I know what you're thinking.” V said with a grimace.
“Me? I'm not thinking about anything, I'm just listening.”
“I know, but I know you can’t help thinking that I barely know Viktor, that we’ve only known each other for a few months, and that I know almost nothing about his life. I don’t know about his past, or if he has a girlfriend… hell, I don’t even know if he likes girls.” She took a long swig of her beer. “And I’m aware of it. I know my crush is with the idea I have of Viktor.”
She shook her head slowly and her voice broke.
“But I’m hopelessly in love with that idea.”