The city was beautiful at night. Not just the view… or not just the view. Without the cacophonic noise that never quieted, the smells sweet and foul, the gusts of exhaust and heat, it would've been a nice postcard. Untarnished. Fake. Dead.

{So…}

Static, soft and digital, filled the pause between her brother's sudden, warm baritone words.

{It's serious?}

V looked up from the neon-splattered ink that filled the bay languidly lapping at the concrete bank below her. She knew where he was, but from this distance even her optics needed some heavy trim to be able to pick him out — which is exactly why he was where he was. Venting heat all around him helped obscure him further, as did the comms blackout that left only an uninterceptible tightbeam connection between them. Not for the first time, she felt immensely lucky — and puzzled — that Militech had made the colossal mistake of discharging him.

{You need to be a lot more specific than that,} she said lightly.

The silent electric warble of a very simple ai trying to decide whether to pick up input went on for a short while.

{That'd be funnier if it was a little less true.}

The edge, quiet and even, cut her deep. Knowing that he did not mean it to was the acid coating the blade.

Van continued before she could say anything. Continued, though she could hear a hesitance so unlike him in his voice. The words being sought. {Seein' as it's unlikely we'll have time to sit down for that coffee tonight. It was obvious you were into her. But hearing you, mornin'? And the job. You changed your mind. You would've never ghosted that yesterday. Don't get me wrong, this is exactly how we should've played it. But we wouldn't have. So. It's serious?}

The disconnect between his observation and the total lack of her own awareness was startling enough that she felt her shoulders tighten as though her body was belatedly trying to feign the alertness she'd lacked before. He was right. She wouldn't have. She would've been right up there with him, like always.

Grateful as she was that he'd taken the pains to point out she hadn't compromised herself or the job, apparently the opposite, she was still taken aback… until the heart of his question engulfed that unease, as well.

She must've looked a fool smiling at the sea of neon.

{It's… more. More than serious. Haven't ever felt like this, Van. Didn't think you could.}

Silence. {She on the same page with you?}

The cold, rending fear hadn't left her. It had prowled around her all day, looking for a way in. Looking for a weak moment. Whispering into the darkest corners it could find. But it hadn't gotten through. On that little pier, for a little while, they'd been so raw, so exposed… so open, for a heartbeat or two, that it felt like they'd truly shared something. And that something was the ward through which not even her fears could snarl their way in.

{I—I think so. Yes. We… talked.}

{Okay,} Van said, the concern that had tinged his question gone, melted away by relief that gave way to a warmth she could feel reaching for her through the ones and zeroes encoded into light. {I kinda wish I'd waited, now. 'Cause wanna hug the shit outta you. You deserve a good thing.

{…One caveat, of course.}

V smiled to herself, able to perfectly picture the warm smile turning arch. The way his eyes crinkled. {A caveat?}

{Yeah. I mean, I still gotta vet that she deserves you. And I admit, she seemed nice enough at first… but to be honest, after what I have witnessed, and your testimony now, I think she might be a witch.}

V burst out laughing, just about managing to hide it from anyone watching by curling herself tightly over the railing as though she was trying to see something below.

{Or a dragon.}

{S—stop it—}

{Maybe a djinn. Judy. Djinn. Pretty suspicious.}

V shushed him, the effort of keeping herself from visibly shaking with laughter verging on physically painful until she managed to catch a few wheezing breaths to settle herself.

{You're such a fucking gonk,} she said when she finally trusted herself to talk again. She wasn't sure if a good laugh was exactly what she'd needed right now, but it felt really good. As did the real concern she knew lay behind the joking, the same protective instinct she'd felt flare up so many times for him. {I'll make sure to get you two—}

{Movement,} Van said sharply, cutting her off.

The clipped word sobered V right up. The muscles tight with the effort of containing her laughter tensed now to move, and the hands gripping the rusty railing switched position to quickly send her over the edge. She kept the juice on tap, still, the small flash of adrenaline in her belly enough for right now.

Van had a much better view of the area around her, that was the entire point, but she felt a cold tingle run down her spine realizing she hadn't noticed anything herself.

Damage done, she did not want to lose what little edge she might have from seeming oblivious to anything happening around her, and first tried just switching the audio balance to enhance her physical hearing over the comms.

A shuffle, somewhere to the left and back. She tried to remember the layout of the little out of the way quay Takemura had chosen for the meeting place — and not for the first time cursed the complete security camera cover the bridge and the embankment afforded the spot. The old man was too good, outta water or no. Anything besides the sewer entrance or whatever it was, back there?

{Clear. It's a wino,} Van said into her ear, quiet and tinny with her local boosted enough to pick up the trash being pushed around by wind.

{Sure?}

{Looks it. Nothing picking up. Check if you wanna, looks like they haven't seen you.}

V gave it another few seconds, listening for any change in the trash-wading scuffs of shoe behind her. Whoever it was seemed to be moving unperturbed, if not very steadily.

{Zone's clear. Nobody else.}

She glanced over her shoulder. It took only a few microseconds for the optics to pick up the dark shape moving against the shadows just out of the dim amber glow of sodium, and another couple hundred millisec to run the basic scans.

Nothing. No real weapons besides something in a threadbare pocket that might've been a knife or a club, or neither. Basic 'ware only, ancient and barely functional. Stumbling along, not making any effort at stealth. Which, put together, might be why they'd gotten this close without tripping her params. She let her head hang between her shoulders, and exhaled slowly, purposely blowing the air out between her lips to unwire herself.

{Looks harmless. 'Less they feel chatty,} she added jokingly. {Good eye.}

Van grunted an acknowledgement. She imagined she could hear him shifting slightly as he scanned the zone, but knew there was no need for it — quite the opposite. Over a klick away, the entire area around her translated to only mils at the frankly unsettlingly gaping muzzle of the AMR's nearly two-meter barrel.

Van came through clearer a few seconds later, though she had left the local audio a little higher than it had been. {Got a couple minutes still. Bet he's a punctual motherfucker, isn't he?}

{In my experience,} V said. She paused, hesitating. The thought of sitting her brother down made her nauseous, but it the way it gnawed at her was getting too much. She'd already kept him in the dark too long. Lied to him, practically. He had to know something was going on, but he hadn't pushed her about it. Not once. {Listen… about the other seriousness. I owe you an explanation.}

{You don't owe me shit, V. I got you, always. No matter what.}

{I know. But I do. That's how this works. How it's gotta work,} she said quietly. She knew he had her, knew it so deeply that it ached. {Soon. Promise.}

The line stayed quiet for a few seconds. {Okay.}

Well, that was the easy part done. She wasn't quite sure how to round back to something less sensitive, and he said nothing more… so she flicked over to her messages just to give herself something to do, since even Johnny wasn't around. It bothered her how much it bothered her when she knew he was staying away purposely, not out of some synaptic happenstance.

She'd been running around all day, with barely enough time to even get remotely enough fuel into herself to recoup all the energy she'd burned up earlier, so she had only let through the few priority-listed people — Judy, Van, and Wakako for the moment. It took her a couple scans to get her bearings in the deluge of messages.

More fixers than she cared to think about, except the only one except Wakako that mattered right now: nothing from Mr. Hands. Rogue she'd have to get back to later. Panam would've called if it was anything urgent, so it could wait — though V loved their little idle chats, too. If idle was ever the right word with Panam.

Misty asking about dinner next week. Nestor's 'WCS' showed up in the preview and told her all she needed to know, he was home clear. BB's looked like a file drop, which left two at the top of her list. River, and… Meredith, from a couple hours ago. She flicked into that one.

[ stout: Same place, same room, midnight.]

It might've been the lack of a question mark that brought a little heat to V's cheeks.

Evidently whatever Militech business had taken the woman East for the last couple months was dealt with. And certainly hadn't instilled any kind of subtlety.

[→ Can't, sorry. Seeing somebody.]

[ → Back in NC?]

The quick replies sent, a little more awkwardly than she really thought she should've been feeling, V was just about to flip over to River's when another message appeared.

[ stout: Charge is per room. ]

V was not sure if she was more abashed or impressed. Maybe impressed by how abashed the brazenness got her.

Judy would probably get a kick out of this. She shot off another reply, resolving to switch off after.

[ → Afraid you're on your own tonight. ]

…But she lingered. Her thoughts having wondered to Judy had done nothing to help with the heat. She did not, fortunately, have to wait long.

[ stout: Your loss. Call you about a job tomorrow. ]

[ → K ]

V doubted River or any of the others' messages would have quite the same kind of an… impact, but given her current situation, maybe it wasn't a good idea to risk the distraction.

She really did mean to close the message view until a better time, but something about Stout's return, maybe, set off a small alarm somewhere in the back of her head, and it kept getting louder. She scrolled down until she found the last message from Sandra. Five days ago. And the woman had been pretty good about keeping in touch lately.

[ → Hey, how are you doing? ]

She waited for a moment, but there was no reply. She moved Sandra up into priority filtering, and closed the messages.

Her stomach growled, reminding her once again of its existence. And the amount of coffee and mealrep drinks she'd had on the go were probably going to start making her squirmy soon.

[ sandra: I haven't gotten any further. I'll call you when I have more info. ]

V frowned at the message — although at least hearing back, and quickly, was a good thing. She started composing a reply, but Van's voice cut her off.

{Vehicle approaching.}

Fuck. She knew she probably should've waited for a better time, but she did not like the… regression that this felt like. She shot off a quick reply before closing off the comms.

[ → I know you will. How are YOU doing? ]

{I see it. It's Goro,} V confirmed after her scan latched onto the man behind the wheel of the approaching van.

{Copa? Zone's clear.}

{Copa. Gonna DC now.}

"Last chance to delta, V. Get the fuck outta here before this deal goes sideways up your ass," Johnny said next to her, the ever-present aviators evidently no obstacle to glaring at the approaching van. Which they weren't, since it was her eyes he was looking through.

Guess who's back. "I know what I'm doing, Johnny."

She straightened up without moving away from the low wall, and waited for the old man to park the van with way too much care given the state of the vehicle, or the quay for that matter, before finally getting out and walking over to her in that strangely hunched, quick stride of his. That had to be recognizable a mile away, she idly thought to herself.

"It is good to see you, V."

Is it? It was an unusually direct greeting, she had to admit. "You too. Was beginning to think you weren't gonna show up. You were several seconds late," she said in what she hoped was an obviously joking tone. "Seems pretty secluded here."

"Appropriate for such a secret meeting," he said, unperturbed, and glanced around. "I trust you have made sure."

Joke understood, if maybe not appreciated. "I did," she said with a nod before taking a second to look him over. I mean, I missed a fucking civilian, but other than that. He sounded weary, and looked worn. The eyes were as sharp and watchful as ever, but even in the dim light she saw the lines a little deeper and a sheen on his skin. Even the meticulously careless-looking bun and silvered beard had a few stray strands. "How are you holdin' up? Looking a little rough."

The look he gave her was sharp… but maybe not insulted. He propped his elbows on the wall next to her, and looked out over the bay before turning back to her. "You see a man robbed of his implants, money, and dignity. Look well."

He paused to let her do just that before continuing.

"It is not all bad. I am mostly unnoticed in the streets."

"The offer still stands."

"I still decline. But I appreciate that you extend it."

V shrugged. She wasn't going to force him. Maybe he'd swallow his pride eventually.

Taking advantage of the lull in what passed for conversation between them, she quickly scanned the meeting spot once more before turning around to lean down next to him. And to power the tightbeam up for a few seconds.

{Clear?}

{Clear. The van blocks five by five, try to get everybody to stay on that side of it.}

V tapped the concrete nervously. She found she did not much like the idea that right now the target was firmly on Goro.

"So. Your friend? Gonna finally fill me in?" she asked.

"Yes. Oda. He is Hanako-sama's bodyguard."

"We are meeting Hanako Arasaka's bodyguard?" V asked, congratulating herself for neither punching his lights out, nor entirely losing control of her voice.

"Yes. And if he believes you, we will next meet with her."

Maybe a little premature on the congratulations. "Are you fucking joking? You've told the very top of Arasaka security where we are going to be, and we're supposed to, what, trust him not to glass us?"

To his credit, Takemura seemed to notice her distress. Or at least there seemed to be a calming tone to his voice. "He will not do that. He is a man of honor."

"My experience? Honor not in huge supply at 'Saka."

"Do not confuse true honor with the petty morals by which you live."

"Yeah, live is the operative word here. Survivin'. Not some bullshit honor code that apparently doesn't stop him from being disloyal to his employer," V said through a clenched jaw. Getting any more worked up wasn't going to help her. He wasn't trying to sell her out, she was sure enough of that — there would've been easier ways to fuck her over, and way earlier. But it didn't mean somebody wasn't using him.

A few seconds into the silence, he spoke up again. "Oda should be here soon. I wanted to speak to you first."

"What do I gotta know?" she asked. The plan was the same. Nothing had changed.

"Nothing. I will speak, unless I ask you to," he said before thinking better of stopping there. "It is a delicate situation. It is best if only I speak."

"Fine. Great briefing."

Takemura watched her intently for a moment, appraising something.

"He will be alone. He has been perfected to his duties, like I was. He will not fear us."

V furrowed her brow at him, until she got what he was not saying. She'd had to make some compromises because she couldn't gear up fully… but at his suggestion, she set to reconfiguring her deck to better support the quickest, most efficient cybernetic takedown she could risk without exposing her on other fronts.

Apparently it was not the done thing to be direct about what she guessed he might've felt to be dishonorable, and so she did not thank him for the hint, or reassurance, or whatever it had been. "I see."

Again he said nothing, but he did hold her gaze for a moment longer before he turned away from her, and walked up to the bent, rusted grating looking out toward Watson, and the ocean.

"There are corners in this city that almost make you forget what it is."

"Mhm. Night City grows on ya, doesn't it?"

"I hope this will not happen."

V shook her head, tickled by his stubborn refusal to like anything about the city she called home.

Apparently they were done prepping. V took the opportunity to line the tightbeam back up. He was not thrilled with the sitrep she gave him, either, but it was too late to change the plan — if there was anything to change. Didn't matter who or what this Oda was, Van would at least slow him down if she wasn't quick enough. And if it was a trap, they were no more fucked than they'd been earlier.

She was sending up a little prayer to whatever devils might prowl when a message came through priority. And then another.

[ jude: YOU ]

[ jude: HAVE ]

[ jude: A ]

[ jude: CAT ]

Despite it all, despite how tired she was, how wired she was, how desperate the situation was, V was grinning by the second one.

[→ Oh good, I was afraid he might not come out.]

[ jude: YOU HAVE A CAT ]

[→ Well, who's to say who really has anyone in this world?]

[ jude: how ]

[→ I pet him, and he followed me home.]

This time V's sensors picked it up too. She turned her head to scan the vehicle just turning to make its way down to them.

"He is by car. Good," Takemura said to her side.

{One car. One warm I see. Half cold, really. Fuckton of chrome,} Van confirmed what Takemura seemed to imply. Oda. Alone.

V nodded to herself. The panic that had crept up on her, threatened her focus… gone. Replaced by a somber, quiet confidence. She was prepared. She was ready. Van had her six.

She was going home to Judy. And the cat.

{Going dark, emergency comm only,} V said by way of goodbye before sending off one last message to Judy, and turning off even priority with the sole exception of Van.

[→ g2d]

A couple minutes later, it was all over.

V stared at Oda's receding tail lights. The meet had gone as badly as she'd expected. Or, well, they were still alive, and not hiding out at the bottom of the bay with… whatever the fuck lived down there. Something had to, right?

So, maybe as well as could have been expected.

The bodyguard had been useless. She'd gotten a good scan of him — and it was something to behold, alright — but that was it.

"Good fuckin' riddance. One Arasaka whackjob is already plenty. Told you."

"Helpful. Thanks, Johnny."

She'd wanted to punch the younger 'Saka from just about the moment he opened his mouth, and the urge to punch something had not driven off with his chromed-up ass. She clenched and unclenched her fist, trying to work herself down.

"Well, we tried," she said to Takemura, forcing her tone far easier than she felt. As useless this had been in terms of getting anywhere, she had to admit that the man had been right. Survivor bias, sure, maybe, but she couldn't help but feel that maybe the idea hadn't been as half-baked as it had sounded. And that maybe he hadn't rushed into it as recklessly as it had seemed.

"Yes. And we obtained something useful."

V raised her brow at him. It was getting way too late for detective games… although there was something nagging at her about the conversation with Oda, just at the edge of thought.

"I must think. It is late. We will meet tomorrow, if you are free."

"…I guess? Goro, what the fuck?" V asked when he set off toward his wheels.

"The parade. Hanako-sama will be there," he said, eyes just visible over the back of his collar when he glanced at her.

"You're leaving."

He might've nodded, but certainly didn't stop.

"You're actually getting in your car and leaving."

He paused, hand on the door handle. "Good night, V."

She was too tired, too exhausted, too done with the day to go after him, or even try to ask what the hell this all was supposed to do for them. She just stared at the stony expression bathed in the red glow of the interior lights before he swung the car around and drove off into the night.

"…And you're gone," she said to herself, rubbing her tired eyes with the heel of her hand.

The filthy, cracked pavement was starting to look pretty tempting for a quick little lie-down, so she dragged herself over to the wall, and propped herself on her elbows to line the tightbeam back up.

{All clear,} Van said the moment the connection was back online. {Everything ok? Get anything?}

{Not really,} V mumbled half into her hand before letting it fall by the other. She desperately wanted to lay her head down on them, but managed to just hang it to stretch out her neck a little. {Nothing that can't wait. Can we debrief tomorrow? I'm beat.}

{Sure. I'll swing by Vik's and head home,} he said, although he sounded a bit more reluctant than that.

{Thanks, Van. Tell Vik I said hi, and that Kolyachev is gonna win. And Misty, if she's still up. I'll call you tomorrow.}

{Will do.}

{Thanks for today, Van. Love ya.}

{You too. Stay safe.}

A few nights a month, the wind was just right to push inland the heavy, mucky smog that usually blanketed the city, and left an oasis of fresh air flowing through the bay.

Tonight was not one of those nights.

V flicked the tightbeam off completely, and let out a heavy, deep sigh of relief when the sharp heat of power draw at the base of her skull started to fade away. Not before almost assuredly seeding a hell of a headache to come later, but it'd been well worth it.

Unwiring herself had allowed the fatigue start settling in, muddying her mind as much as it made her body feel leaden — heavy and weak and still somehow tight. But the stress of the day lifting did almost feel like a physical weight off her shoulders.

She rummaged around the thigh pocket of her loose-fitting tac pants, and pulled out the single foil she'd been hoping she'd left in there. She inserted the straw almost reverently, but that only lasted until she nabbed the straw between her lips and ravenously sucked out every last drop of the nutrigoop. The energy would start kicking in in fifteen, and wouldn't last long, but it'd get her home.

She figured — and hoped, to be honest — that she'd need to be up for a good while longer tonight. She tried very hard to not make it a regular occurrence, but tonight she found all the right reasons to justify to herself the tiny dose of her ampdorph mix. To get her home.

It only took a couple seconds to feel her body start waking up. She pushed herself off the concrete, and headed for her bike. Three delayed messages came through when she turned her comms back on.

[ jude: Ok ]

[ jude: Can't blame him. Something about those fingers. Got two followed you home now. ]

[ jude: :) ]

CW: drug use, terminal illness

—

:)