Archive of Our Own

After talking to Vik and Misty, V was left alone again. Everybody moved on, hell what did she expect after ghosting everyone for 2 years, a welcome back party? V was lost, no house, no money and certainly no friends. She has to start over from the bottom but with no chrome to boost her, it’s gonna be challenge and hard one at that. Being a merc again is definitely out of question for her, well maybe the low risk mission is fine but V’s not gonna risk it. Why waste the second chance of life she got just for the adrenaline rush and her dreams of being a legend of Afterlife is definitely crushed. Speaking about Afterlife, V thought that visiting the old fixer and Claire might be a good idea, so off to the bar she goes.

Upon arriving, V breathed a sigh of relief in seeing a familiar sight. The bar looked exactly the same as it was back then. Passing through the people lounging at the stairs, V made her way to the entrance and was greeted by Emmerick— a look of surprise on his face, he studied V for a while longer than she would have liked and after a few moments, he let her in without saying anything but V definitely saw a small smile on lips. “Good seeing you too Emmerick” V said quietly as she walk pass the bouncer.

Claire was nowhere to found at the bar so V peeked at Rogue’s booth and there she was, V was more than happy in seeing a familiar face again and she took a sit at the bar while waiting for Rogue to finish her conversation with someone. A moment later Claire emerged from the back and was very surprised in seeing V that she almost dropped the bottle of tequila in her hand. Luckily for V, there wasn’t many customer at the bar in the afternoon so Claire took the opportunity to talk to V.

“V, what the hell? Where have you been? What happened to your hair?” she perched in front of V while the ex-merc quietly laughs and smiled at the bartender. “Long story short, I’m not dying no more. So uhh, how you been Claire? Business good?” Claire was confused by V’s change in behaviour but she did not press on it and continued the conversation as if V had not disappear for 2 years. “Yeah, everything’s great V. What brings you here?” the younger woman was smiled at that, she was more than happy that Claire treated her with same warmth she did years ago. “Look uhh, do you perhaps have an empty spot for another bartender? I kinda need a job right now.” She rubs the back of her neck awkwardly and refuse to make eye contact with her. Barging in the bar after a long while and asking for a job? Definitely not the best idea but V is out of option. With no chrome, she can’t do merc work and the leftover pride she has refrained her from becoming a doll.

After a short while Claire finally speaks, “You might want to talk to Rogue about that but I won’t mind, definitely will reduce my workload.” She said and pointed at something or someone behind V. She turned around to see Rogue already towering over her with suspicious look in her eyes, the fixer took a sit beside V and studies her.

A customer calls for Claire, leaving the ex-merc and fixer alone to catch up. “So, you want to be bartender here? What? Got tired of merc work and changing profession now?” She softly said and continued to study V—no visible chrome on her and her fit body is definitely gone, leaving only skin and bones much to her surprise. Something is definitely wrong Rogue thought, its unlike V to disappear for too long without a word and Rogue saw the sadness behind the girl’s eye, not visible to the naked eyes but she has lived for far too long to not notice stuff like that. Before V could answer, Rogue got up from the chair, “Let’s continue in booth, we’ll have much more privacy there.”

V shamelessly plopped down on the sofa, she was so tired she could literally fall asleep there and then. “So, where did you go? 2 years and no word, very unlike you V.” Rogue said as she sat down not too far from V.

V sighed before spilling the truth of her whereabouts the last 2 years— all the details about her little adventure in saving the President of NUSA, the promise of cure by Songbird and Myers, her short while of being an FIA agent and the coma. After the long explanation, Rogue groaned loudly. “Fuck V. You’re telling me that all this time you were in a damn coma? I thought you were dead in a ditch somewhere.” Rogue breathed.

V was quiet at that, the damage has been done and there was no turning back, all she could do was move forward like everyone else. “So the reason you want to be a bartender here is because you can’t use cyberware again and Johnny is gone huh.” The words spilled quietly from Rogue as if she was talking to herself and a few breaths later, Rogue finally spoke again. “I see no harm in having another bartender but you have to learn the ropes first from Claire. I don’t want you dropping stuffs and shit. You can start tomorrow if you want. I’ll talk to Claire.” V is relieved at that.

“Thanks Rogue, dunno what I’ll do without you.” she beamed, at least she got a job so there's that but another issue arise, V is basically homeless. Her apartment is gone and all of her stuff, she could technically ask Rogue if it’s possible to crash at her place but she has given her a job and V don’t want to feel more indebted to her. There’s Kerry but he’s somewhere touring right now so V is left between Claire and Vik. She decided to try her luck with Claire first though so she went out the booth and talked to Claire at the bar.

“Hey, Rogue approved of my position as your apprentice and I’ll start tomorrow.” Claire nodded and smiled while cleaning out a glass. “Don’t think I’m gonna go easy on you rookie.” V let out a small laugh and her face quickly changed as she remembered the reason she’s here. It took V a few moments to ask, “Hey Claire, is it possible for me to stay at your place for a little while? Just until I get my first paycheck tho, my apartment is gone.” Again much to Claire’s confusion, V did not look her in the eye. What happened in the 2 years she was gone that the once confident V is left with only a fraction of her former self. There was so much question Claire wanted to ask but she thought it’s better to leave it for another day, all she saw is vulnerable girl that needed a shelter and who is Claire to refuse the request. V has helped her so much in the past in getting closure about her husband’s death and it’s only fair that she help V back. “Yea sure, you’re lucky I got a guest room or you’re gonna hurt your back sleeping my sofa.” V chuckled and for the umpteenth time that day, she felt relieved.

Few months later, V has a place of her own and a stable job of being a bartender. The new place is not as nice as her H10 apartment but hey, who is V to complain. Some days, V definitely missed her glory days of hunting down cyberpsychos and putting bullet in Maelstroms’ skulls but this current life is not that bad. In the morning she lounge in bed reading or watching tv and at night she works. It’s repetitive sure and V gets lonely. She often finds herself thinking about the people who are gone from her life—Jackie, Johnny, Judy, Panam and the ‘caldos and So Mi.

The thought of the netrunner made V smiled. She wondered what is So Mi doing these days. Netrunning on Tycho or is she back on earth? V will never know. Myers is certainly not happy with losing So Mi so the president might still searching for the netrunner and So Mi is probably on the run. V often find herself staring at the moon during her days off, trying to maybe catch a glimpse of a certain magenta haired beauty.

She chuckled to herself then, what a stupid thing she did, in the time she worked with So Mi, the older woman’s voice brought peace in V’s erratic mind and slowly the puppy crush turned into a heart wrenching pining. V longed to be in So Mi’s embrace, to feel her touch and caress her worries away, just like So Mi did with V. Even though So Mi didn’t tell the whole truth about the cure, V would’ve helped her anyway. Maybe it’s something to do about giving another person a second chance at life even if V never could. She never regretted her decision of helping So Mi, she wanted her to live a life that was taken from her. V would do it all over again as long as So Mi lives, that’s all that ever mattered to V and she wondered if So Mi feels the same. V shook her head, there’s no way that So Mi will return her hopeless crush. It was strictly business after all to So Mi or so V thought.

A deep sigh later, V decided to take her mind of the ‘runner. It’ll make her heart ache more if she keeps thinking about her. V lounge on her bed, scrolling through her phone and decided to catch up with her chooms and so she works down her list of people.

The holo rings a few times before Judy answered and V is happy to see and hear her. “Hey Judy. I know it’s been a while, just wanna catch up a bit. How you doin?” Judy scoffed in disbelief at her, amused by V’s newfound awkward nature but she let it slide, this time. “Yo V, doin good. Bianca and I just adopted a kid, would love to introduced her to you but she’s sleeping now so I don’t wanna disturb her. What’s going on with you? Hair grown I see, not bald anymore.” And for the first time in while, V actually laughs.

It took V some moments to collect herself, “I’m doing not quite bad either, got a job at the Afterlife as a bartender, pays well so there’s that. A quiet life is not so bad after all but it does get lonely not having you by my side- I mean not romantically, as chooms you know.” She might have stumbled her words in the last sentence as to not give Judy a wrong idea. V is happy that Judy is out of Night City like she always wanted to and she is also very happy that Judy found her wife. She has come to terms that Judy will never be hers and that’s okay for V. As long as her chooms are happy, she is happy. Since Judy is married and V’s heart already belong to another, it doesn’t hurt as much as she would’ve thought. V felt guilty enough for catching feeling for So Mi while she was still in a relationship with Judy. They parted on good terms and that’s all V could ever ask for.

A sudden cry of kid brought V out of her thought, “I’m really sorry V, wished we can catch up more but my kid is awake. Hey, why don’t you come to Pittsburg sometimes? I want you to meet my wife and kid.” Judy looked hopeful but also afraid that V will say no. “Yea sure, I’ll catch a flight someday.” Judy smiled one last time before ending the call, V sighed, she wants to talk to Judy more but alas, duty calls. V chuckled to herself, never in a million years she thought that Judy will be a mother, well it does suit her.

Moving on to another , V tried reaching out to Panam but it was immediately declined. Maybe Panam did hate her for ghosting them she thought and just as she was about to dial for Kerry, a call went in from Mitch. V expected that Mitch might say something along the lines of ‘don’t call for Panam again’ or ‘she really don’t want to talk to you’. V braced herself for the rejection and picked up the call.

“V, how you doin? Listen, the ‘caldos is back in the badlands for a few weeks. Come over to the camp. Drink some beers and catch up?” Mitch waited no time in cutting straight to the point, just how V like it but going to camp? Pfft the badlands is called bad for reason. V has done hella good job in staying alive as a chrome-less citizen, what if some Wraiths jump on her but hell, she really wants to see the Aldecaldos again. Setting aside the worries of getting ambush, V cleaned herself up and took Jackie’s ride for some adventure in badlands that evening.

It didn’t take her long to reach the camp and the Aldecaldos is the same as it was before if not better. The rowdy sounds of laughs, kids playing and the music, V chuckled to herself. Before she could get off the bike, a certain familiar figure walked over to her. Panam. The nomad looks exactly the same as she was back then save for the look of anger and frustation on her face but other than that, she’s still as beautiful as ever.

“Coming back after disappearing for so long? That’s rich V.” She scoffed and rolled her eyes, arms folded on her chest. V could not say anything —it’s not her fault she was in a coma, it’s not her fault Panam didn’t answer her call, it’s not her fault everything went to shit. Before V said something she will regret, Mitch appeared like a knight in a shining armor, saving the damsel in distress which in the current situation, V.

“Christ Panam, let the girl explain first. Come on.” Mitch interrupted the tense atmosphere. The trio walked to the bar and drank some cold beer to soothe the raging fire within Panam. She then turned towards V with a scowl, “Spill.” Panam ordered.

The sun was long gone when V finish explaining and Panam looked guilty—she felt bad and regretted declining and ignoring V’s call when the ex-merc needed her chooms the most at her lowest. Panam sighed before she spoke.

“Look V, I’m really sorry for ignoring your call. I know you needed us but I was not thinking straight. I was beyond mad when you disappeared without a trace. We searched for you for months, we follow what small lead we have and we ended up in DC but by then your trail’s long gone cold. It has been like that up until a few months ago when you called me. I admit that I was not clear in the head and refuse to answer so Mitch did on my behalf. I mean you came back out of nowhere and so suddenly. I was more angry than surprised, I thought you died. I thought that you ran out of time and we weren’t there for you. When I found out that you’re back in Night City working at Afterlife, we quickly came back from Arizona. I’m really sorry V. I’m not mad anymore though, you’re always welcomed here.” Panam confessed softly, leaving V glass-eyed at the confession. Heavy drops of tears streamed down her face and she did a fuckass job in hiding it.

Panam was concerned, her browed furrowed as she saw a peculiar sight of a crying V. Fuck, V thought, wiping the steady stream, showing no signs of stopping. After waking up from the coma, V noticed a change in her own attitude and the people around her do too. She has became much more sensitive and a little awkward nature as if her brain was rewired. It could be a possibility though, since getting the relic out is a delicate work, the docs might have messed up something in her head. Best doctors my ass. She sniffled a little before finally looking at Panam in the eye and smiled.

“Thanks Panam.” V uttered before remembering something. “How did you know I was back?” she asked—there was no way the nomads knew about her return to the god forsaken city. She did call her contacts when she woke up from the 2 years sleep but she didn’t tell them where she would go.

Upon hearing V’s question, Panam smiled, ear to ear. “A little birdie told me. Said that a damsel in distress is alone and might want to see a familiar face.” Panam eyes didn’t quite reach V, she was looking and something behind her and instinctively, V turned.

V was stunned, mouth slightly agape and speechless. The certain someone who has been haunting her dreams is right in front of her. Everything around her blurs as her eyes is fixed on So Mi, looking more beautiful than V remember. Tears are threatening to fall from her eyes again as she finally greet her. “Hey” V ‘s whisper is barely audible but So Mi didn’t miss it, her smile growing wider at hearing the younger woman’s soft voice. So Mi wasted no time in hugging V and all hell let loose. V let every walls down and allowing herself be consumed by the warmth and comfort which is So Mi. “You’re alive. You’re here. You’re cured.” V breathes in So Mi’s neck as the ‘runner tightens the hug and presses a kiss on V head.

“I’m here V. All thanks to you. I can’t thank you enough. You gave me a second chance at life.” So Mi presses her forehead to V’s, wiping the tears on V’s cheeks. Panam and Mitch was long gone, leaving the two in their own world. V laughs softly, not wanting the moment they share to end. It felt good. Her touch, her body heat, her voice, hell even her entire existence. After a few more moments of silence, Cassidy emerged and broke the two apart.

“Fuckin hell, get a room you two.” He barked and V heard So Mi laugh. What a beautiful sound. V could listen to it on repeat, envy bloomed in her heart, she wanted to make her laugh too. At the feeling of So Mi pulling away from their embrace, V almost whine at the lost of contact but So Mi was quicker in taking her hand and pulled her away from the prying eyes and into her own tent. The younger woman took a sit on the bed and So Mi on a chair across her.

“How did you know where to find me?” V started, it was weird, sure but it’s So Mi, the best netrunner in NUSA. She shifts slightly on the bed, trying to find a comfortable position on the thin surface. So Mi took her time in answering V’s question, as if pondering whether or not she should answer at all. An exhale later she finally responded in the simplest form possible, not wanting to burden V’s mind more than it should.

“After getting cured, I was in rehab for a few months. Taking my time. I was offered refuge there on Tycho but one day a letter came in for me. It was an offer from the American Shorthair herself, to come back to FIA. But don’t you worry, Mittens specifically said that this time, no Blackwall involved. It’s stupid I know, coming back to the ones that hurt me but there was a line on the offer that left me with no choice but to accept. If I were to become an agent again, they would continue to monitor your coma and if I don’t, they’ll leave you to die. You know I wouldn’t do that to you, not after what you said back at NCX. You’re too precious V. The city don’t deserve you. It took everything from you yet you still give and give until all that’s left is a husk.” So Mi held V’s hand in hers the ex-merc stared at the soft hand— no more cyber hands, or maybe it is hidden under the skin and V took the moment of silence they share to study So Mi. Her once exposed chrome body has been rebuild with a combo of real and synth-skin much to V’s delight. It made So Mi look human and not some agent at Myers’ disposal.

“Seeing that I’m here, does it mean you’re back with the FIA?” She squeezed So Mi’s hand. She finally look up from their entwined fingers and stare at the netrunner’s face. V took her silence as a yes and sighed in defeat, she’s only here because So Mi was forced to choose to let her die or return to FIA.

“Hey, don’t worry. My work condition is better than before. 9-4 and weekends off. I still work as Myers’ right hand but she treated me better. She treats me as a human V and my pay is higher than before too.” So Mi chuckled at her last words,no doubt Myers’ attempt in apologizing and not wanting her to run away again.

V softly smiled at that, relieved that Myers’ is coming to her senses and not be the cause of her songbird’s suffering. “I take it you’re here to say goodbye? That you have repaid the debt of me saving you by saving me? I guess the score’s settled then.” She rasped and So Mi frowned before gently pulling V into her lap and pressing their lips together, much to V’s surprised but she did not pull back, returning the kiss with the same heated vigor. V had been wanting for this for so long and without V’s knowledge, so does So Mi. She fell in love with V the moment the merc became an FIA agent to save her from Hansen in Dogtown. After what felt like eternity is savouring each other’s taste, So Mi pulled away and admired V’s swollen lips and flushed face.

“V, I’m here with a proposal.” That seems to bring V back to reality, a confused look on her face. “I want you to come back to DC with me, to live with me and be my girl.” She caressed V’s side, loving the reactions she brought out from the merc. V was dumbfounded— So Mi asking her to move away from Night City, who is V to refuse the tempting offer and her past self would have outright reject but there is nothing left for her in the city. Like So Mi said, the city took and never give anything back. She nodded softly, a grinned on her face and she pressed their lips again.

And so that very same night V left Night City and never look back. She has lost so much but she is indebted to the city. Without it, she wouldn’t have found her songbird.