Yo! Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed and followed the story, and thank you to those who just read it. It's appreciated!

So I changed the title to Threads of Fate because I realized my title was too similar to another fic I'm reading and I'm not trying to pirate or confuse readers. Must have been subconscious! The other story is called Another Choice and I highly recommend reading it, it's great.

I'll be using military time because I feel like V, as a merc, would. Just easier to avoid confusion when time is a factor on missions, etc.

I also do introduce an OC this chapter, it became necessary, but don't worry I don't plan on inundating the story with them. Lemme know what you think about her.

Other than that, thanks again! And on to chapter 2!

-Fateful

Chapter 2

V's Apartment, 0817 Hours - V's POV

V woke up, the sunlight beaming through the metal shutters onto her face made her wince. She stretched slow, wincing through the pain and stiffness of her body. The gunshot wound to her right side couldn't be ignored though, so she stopped stretching and sat up. V rolled her head, loosening her neck muscles. Her elbows rested on her knees as she looked at the case holding the flathead against the wall by her window. Her mind fluttered to Judy and Evelyn, and the worry of being burned nagged at the back of her mind.

She couldn't believe how stupid she was by telling them her angle. V shook it off, not much she could do to change it. She would just stay on her toes just in case, until some time blew over and she was sure she was safe. V grabbed her phone from off the bed. No new messages. Good.

V called Dex, running her free hand through her hair before pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.

The phone rang a few times before Dex answered.

"Ms. V. I trust you have something for me."

"Sure do. One flathead screwdriver and a clean bill of health regarding a specific client. Already took care of backing out with her myself, so you won't have to worry about handling that either."

"Yeah, I heard about that last night actually. I'll send you coordinates. Bring the flathead later tonight and we'll talk." The line cut out and immediately V received the coordinates from Dex.

"Fuck." V spat the word like venom and took a long drag from her cigarette. Either he knew because she told him, or he wanted to verify. It was risky. If she stuck with her story and Evelyn ratted her out, she was fucked. But if she told the truth and Evelyn didn't rat her out, she fucked herself. It was a 50/50 shot and V had to decide if she would trust Evelyn's word to not say anything. Actually, she would have to trust Judy to keep her promise. V's mind kept racing before she realized that she didn't really know how the meeting was gonna go, it could all be business as usual and she was winding herself up for nothing. V eyed the bottle of liquor on the table by her couch.

"Fuck it." V walked over and took a long drink. It was too early for this much stress. V finished her cigarette, ate a burrito from the in unit vending machine, showered, brushed her teeth and let her hair run free. V doned her black loose fit boot cut pants, steel toe rocker books, a white half shirt with fuck corpo's on it, and her black edgerunner jacket with the samurai logo on the back.

While she was doing all of this V checked the coordinates on the city map. It was the Afterlife. Why didn't he just say meet at the Afterlife? Well, whatever. V wanted to think that meant he wouldn't try to kill her, but the truth was if he knew she crossed him, he was leading her into the wolves' den. As good as V was, even she didn't know if she could fight her way out of a bar, filled with the city's top mercs.

After checking her weapons, grenades and other equipment was in working order V grabbed the flathead case and walked out the door. Today was gonna be a day. She could feel it. Now she just needed to figure out what she wanted to do to burn daylight.

Later that afternoon, Near Charter Street - V's POV

V huffed, her breathing heavy as she sat on the hood of a bullet riddled car. Bodies lay strewn on the ground around her. Limbs were blown off, heads sliced from their shoulders, or snapped in reverse, torso's with gaping bullet wounds and mangled bodies littered the parking lot. The scent of blood was heavy and the thick, slippery substance was pooled and splattered everywhere. Splatters and sprays of blood decorated V's skin and clothing. A cigarette hung loosely from V's lips, her eyes squinted as she reloaded her gun, the smoke from the cigarette mildly irritating as it drifted up into her eyes.

V sighed taking a drag of the cigarette and then holding it in her hand, letting her hand rest on her knee. Her forearms were covered in blood from her mantis blades. Thankfully, mantis blades cleaned themselves when sheathed, but the blood and grime on the outside still remained. It reminded V of the beast she let out just minutes ago and like it had been all day, her mind drifted back to Judy. If Judy was single, would she even accept her, the beast that she became every day? See, V didn't hate the beast she had inside of her. She accepted it, understood it had a time and place and embraced it accordingly. Everyone in this city was just trying to survive, including her. The city forced you to embrace the darker side of yourself to survive. In V's mind she just did a better job of it. But she didn't know if the beast in her would be something anyone could accept in a more intimate way.

She surveyed the aftermath of her carnage. She had spent the first half of the day doing some gigs. The second half she just went out looking for crimes in progress that she could use to let off some steam and help some people just trying to go about their lives. The others were slave traders and other such scum that just needed scraping off the heel of the city. The eddies for the bounties from the city were a bonus. Those kinds of kills especially didn't bother her. Those she felt were doing a true service to the people of the city.

V finished her cigarette and put it out on the hood of the car. After sauntering over, collecting any weapons, mods or other such goodies she wanted from the recently deceased she then collected the evidence and sent the details to the collector line for NCPD. A minute later her eddie's came through. V grunted satisfactorily, it was more than she expected and made her way back to her vehicle. She dropped the loot into her trunk with the rest of the haul from the day and surveyed her surroundings in front of her. She parked her car with the back in a little nook between two buildings, so the only way someone could come at her would be from the front.

V opened a small leather bag and began using alcohol wipes to clean herself and her clothing off. Her jacket she had taken off prior to this side gig but her shirt needed a run through a washing machine. Her pants were liquid repellent so she wiped them clean easily enough. V took off her shirt, her chest bare, but she didn't care and no one was around. She finished cleaning off her upper torso and put on a black and red racer back top. After cleaning herself off V cleaned the blood off of her guns and ensured the chambers and magazines were clean and then hopped into the driver's seat.

It was only 1752. She had a few hours to burn. V still felt on edge and she couldn't explain it. She heard Jackie's voice in her head again about blowing off steam. Fuck. Maybe he was right. V's fingers thrummed on the steering wheel before she pulled off. She got on the highway and took the exit for Japan town and headed to Jig Jig street.

1920 hours, Jig Jig Street - V's POV

V pulled her pants up. She was alone in the room. The joy toy had left first, a few minutes prior. V felt two things at the same time; like she had definitely blown off some much needed steam and sort of dirty shame for resorting to using a joy toy. V had always been able to go out and flirt, do the whole song and dance, enjoy the hunt and satisfaction of a mutual one night stand. Having a go to fuck buddy was against V's rules. Shit, maybe she had commitment issues? Whatever. Something about paying for it made her feel dirty. She probably wouldn't do it again and would avoid ever speaking on it if she could avoid it. She was embarrassed just thinking about it.

V finished putting on her clothes and decided to just focus on the fact that she felt way better than she had an hour ago. She definitely needed and wanted a shower though. Bad.

V was in her car returning home when she got a call from Jackie.

"Hey V!"

"What's up, Jackie?" V set the phone on video so she could see him in her peripherals while she drove.

"You meetin Dex tonight at the Afterlife, right?" Jackie was in his usual excited fashion, but V was suspicious.

"Yeah, I am. Gotta drop off the flathead. Why?" V raised a curious eyebrow and hopped on the highway, weaving around slower cars.

"Preem. I just wanted to be sure! No way am I lettin' you go alone, choom. I got your back."

"You sure thats all?" V smiled knowingly, she knew he wanted into the Afterlife so bad he could taste it.

"I mean, I can't pass up an opportunity to get into the Afterlife. Who knows what we could see! Who we could meet? Opportunity amiga." Jackie put in his characteristic smile, like he knew how simple life was and it was all a game.

V shook her head with a small laugh, "Hah, alright Jack, I'll be there in about an hour. Just gotta head home and clean up. Busy day."

"Sounds good, Choom. Later." The line closed and V finished her ride home in peace.

2017 Hours - The Afterlife - V's POV

Freshly cleaned and in a fresh outfit V walked down the alley to the entrance of the Afterlife. V Saw Jackie leaned up against the stair railing. He hung up his phone.

"Hey, V. Took ya long enough!" Jackie tucked his phone into his back pocket.

"Sorry, there was some roadblocks I had to detour around. That Mama Wells?" V smiled knowingly.

"Yeah, she's worried about me. Makin' sure I'm not in a dumpster somewhere like most Welles boys. Hey, you seem in a better mood." Jackie smiled, examining V's face, his grin growing bigger by the second, "You uh, take my advice? Blow off some steam?"

V tried not to let the heat rise to her cheeks at the unexpected call out and Jackie busted out into laughter. "Shit, is it that obvious?" V scratched the back of her neck and couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips. Jackie's laugh and carefree attitude was contagious. There went her plan to not talk about it. Fuuuck.

"Hehe, you just seem like you aren't wound as tight, chika. So, joy toy? Or did you go out?" Jackie crossed his arms, a shit eating grin splayed on his face wanting all the juicy details.

"Eh, Before I tell you, this never leaves us, ok?"

"Of course, Choom. It was a Joy Toy, wasn't it?"

"Joy toy." V begrudgingly confirmed his suspicions before rushing to continue before he could lay into her, "First and last. Did the job, but when I tell you no amount of scrubbing makes you feel clean.." V shivered, she already made an appointment to get tested to be sure she was ok. Never again.

Jackie busted into another fit of laughter, "So that's what took you so long!"

After a couple more jibes and shared laughter, V noticed the time, handed the flathead case to Jackie, and the two walked inside.

The bouncer stopped them, and after a quick verification they were there for Dex, were told to wait at the bar.

V and Jackie walked in happy to oblige a visit to the bar, both could use the liquid boost. As confident as V was being at the Afterlife, the top merc bar in Night City, was surreal and a tad overwhelming for a small time merc like her.

"Hey there, welcome to the Afterlife. Don't recognize you two. I'm Claire." The brunette woman behind the bar grinned warmly, leaning forward on both hands.

Jackie gave his winning smile and sat on the bar stool, "I'm Jackie Wells, nice to meet you."

"I'm V. Pleasure." V smiled back. She liked the easy confidence of the bartender. Jackie was proclaiming the shot recipe he would one day like to be named after him when the hairs on the back of V's neck stood on end. Trying not to draw attention to herself V, stood up to dig in her pocket for her cigarettes, put one in her mouth and patted herself like she couldn't find her lighter. She quickly scanned the area around her but couldn't see anyone looking at her.

"Need a light?" A woman's voice spoke behind her. She had a husky voice, in a pleasant way, one V didn't recognize. When she turned around there was a woman standing between her and Jackie. She was tall, lean but solid build, a long blonde mohawk with thick, cascading bangs framing her face, and tan colored skin. The woman's lavender colored eyes sized up V with a smirk. Two long, thin but jagged and intersecting scars ran from the woman's chin over her lips, cheek and eye onto her forehead. V was conflicted. She wasn't able to tell if the smirk was condescending or if the woman wanted to take her to a bedroom and have her way with her. It took a lot to make V feel uncomfortable or taken by surprise, but damn, this woman seemed to be doing it with ease.

Before V could respond the woman flipped open an antique zippo and lit V's cigarette. Not one to be outdone she used it, sized the woman up herself and leaned against the bar. "And who do I owe a thank you to for helping me in my moment of need?"

She earned an amused chuckle from the tall blonde woman. "Celeste. I'll take a drink over the thank you. Not much I can do with words."

Jackie hadn't said anything, surprisingly, but V could see him checking her out and looking at V completely amused at her being caught off guard. He locked eyes with V as he sipped his drink. He raised his eyebrows before gesturing to Claire for another drink for himself.

"Well that seems way more giving on my end for a simple cigarette light." V tilted her head. No way was she just gonna bend over for her. Even if she was extremely hot in a 'she could kick my ass without trying' kind of way.

"It is." The woman admitted matter of factly, "So you gonna buy me a drink or what?" The way the woman said it, and the look she gave V made her core heat up. Fuck. She just prayed her inner heat didn't rise to her cheeks and give her away.

V tilted her head in an acquiescing kind of way, feigning like she had nothing better to do. "Sure, why not.. Whaddya drink, Celeste?"

Celeste smiled looking at V's lips for an extended moment and then looked right up at her eyes, "Tequila, neat." Celeste subtly licked her bottom lip.

V flexed her jaw, thank god she had gotten a joy toy earlier. Gross-ness aside she'd be a puddle on the floor right now if it wasn't for that. "Claire, could I get a shot of Tequila for Celeste, please?"

Claire nodded at Celeste and smiled, "Hey, Celeste, not like you to talk to newbies."

Celeste smiled a full grin at Claire, "Hey Claire, well.. I have reason to vet this one."

This shifted gears for V, and she cheered her drink with Celeste before downing the contents. "And what exactly is your reason for vetting me?" V's merc edge had crept into her voice. She thought the woman was hitting on her, but if this was work related, that changed everything. Now V was sizing her up, going through scenarios on how she would take the woman down if it came to that. Her mind returned to the possibility of this being a set up from Dex.

Celeste seemed to sense the shift in V. "My, my, my. You do have some fire in you. Well alright then."

Jackie took this moment to butt in, "Hey, I think that's Dex's bodyguard, V. He's comin this way. I guess it's time for us to go." Sure enough, Jackie was right and V was ready for the reason to break away from this 'vetting'.

"Dex is ready for you now. Follow me." The bodyguard turned to leave, and to Jackie and V's surprise Celeste followed after him.

"Hold up, you're part of our meeting too? Why? Who are you?" V demanded more than asked, she had been completely played by this woman, albeit mildly, but she didn't like it. The realization that she was in a bar full of top dogs and she was basically a puppy, suddenly hit home for her. She had let something as simple as looks and a smooth opener completely disarm and derail her. Never again.

Celeste turned to look at V over her shoulder as she followed the bodyguard, one eyebrow raised, "I'm the one taking the job you were too scared to." The smirk returned to her lips. This time it made V's blood boil. She had definitely had enough of being called that. Jackie put a hand on V's shoulder, noticing her hands balled into fists.

"Let it go, V. Besides, a woman like that, can insult me aallll day long. Shiiit." Jackie shook his head once in disbelief at the woman he just saw and followed behind them. V breathed in and out deeply, following behind them. She wouldn't let them rope her into a dumb gig. Some vet merc wanted to take the job, fine. She was probably better suited to it anyway.

V was grumbling under her breath, this night wouldn't get any worse, hopefully. They followed the guard through back rooms to a large room holding several, separated pods for secret meetings like this. V was the last to enter and as she scanned the room her stomach dropped. It looked like this night was indeed going to get worse.

Jackie, T-Bug and Celeste sat on the left sofa. Dex sat in the center ahead, and on the right sofa was Evelyn, and dead center of the couch was Judy. Fuck. As soon as she saw Judy she had to pry her eyes away. But she was pretty sure she had stared too long by the look Evelyn gave her. As attractive as Celeste was, and how much of a dom personality she had, there was just something about Judy that was magnetic to V. Her earlier theory that she just needed to blow off steam to keep her composure around Judy was quickly proven wrong. V sat next to Judy, since that was the only seat left in the room.

Dex was making what appeared to be small talk to T-Bug, Celeste and Evelyn, so V took the opportunity to talk to Judy. She had to figure out why they were here. Emotions and hormones aside, this meeting could mean her life if it went the wrong way.

V leaned a little towards Judy and whispered, "Hey, what are you two doing here? I thought everything was, ya know..agreed upon."

Judy glanced at the others talking and whispered back, god V loved the sound of Judy's voice. "Evelyn said Dex wanted to have a team meeting and square things away, don't worry, we're gonna keep our word. We won't out you."

V breathed a little easier knowing that the plan was not to get her killed. "Alright, good to know." V hesitated, she knew how this would sound but she had to ask, "So..I understand why Evelyn is here, but why are you here?"

Judy seemed put off and V internally kicked herself, she knew it would sound bad but she was hoping Judy would understand where she was coming from, "I'm a grown adult, I can be where I wanna be. It's none of your concern."

V had to salvage this, fast. "True. Look I'm sure you can handle yourself, I wasn't trying to imply you couldn't.. I just wanna make sure you aren't putting yourself in danger too, ok? This whole thing is a time bomb."

Judy paused and then smirked, "Worried about me? Heh, you're sweet too. Don't worry. I can handle myself. I made Evelyn let me tag along, so I could make sure she wouldn't get into anything too dangerous."

V was taken aback. What did she mean, she was sweet 'too'? V let herself smile, leaning her forearms on her knees, her focus completely shifting to Judy and forgetting about the room. V was going to keep her promise not to make any moves on Judy, but she had to ask, she had to know, "I'm sweet too? What else about me have you been keeping tabs on?" V kept her tone to simple curiosity and tried hard to not sound like she was flirting.

Judy's smirk grew into a half smile and V wasn't sure if Judy's tone was flirty or if that was just the way she talked, "That you're honest, probably to a fault, based off of the last time we talked. But, there are worse things to be."

V wasn't sure how to respond to that. Being an honest person isn't something she expected Judy to say, but in a way she was glad it was something she noticed about her. V prided herself on being a straight up kind of girl. Before V could respond Dex spoke up.

"Alright, let's get to business then, if everyone is ready." V looked up and noticed everyone was looking at them at that moment. Judy didn't seem phased, but the myriad of looks told V a varying story.

Jackie was completely amused by something and trying to hide it, V was sure she'd get an earful of questions and assumptions from him later. Celeste was looking between the two of them like a predator analyzing its prey. V didn't like the look she was giving Judy at all, and she was irked at the whole situation that was Celeste. T-Bug was her usual self, stoic and hard to read but aptly aware of everything going on. Dex was ready to get to business and was tired of being held up. And Evelyn looked like she wanted to skin V alive. Judy still seemed unphased.

V had to wonder about Judy and Evelyn's relationship at this point. Were they a thing or was Evelyn just protective of Judy and not wanting V to make a move? Or worse, they were a thing and Judy just liked to play with people. V really hoped it wasn't the latter.

V cleared her throat getting her mind back on track, "Yeah, sorry, ready when you are." V rubbed her palms together slowly as she leaned forward on her knees, so thankful when everyone's attention shifted to Dex. She breathed quiet and deeply once, shifting her mindset. It was time to work.

"Alright. I called everyone here to clear things up and get everything in order. First things first. V, Jackie, you both have something for me?" Dex lounged back, his face partially obscured in the haze of smoke from his near constant cigar smoking.

"Sure do, boss." Jackie piped up and set the case on the table opening it for everyone to see. The Flathead stood up in the case after a quick prompt on the control by Jackie before he set it on the table as well.

T-Bug sat up and looked it over, noting its functions. Surprisingly Judy did the same. V noted that Judy was into more tech than just BD's. She'd never seen a stranger speak to T-Bug and pick up her interest so quickly. If V wasn't mistaken she might have even seen a mutual respect form between the two before they sat back to let the meeting continue.

"Alright, I like to see it. I like to see it. Well done you two." Dex puffed on his cigar with a smile.

T-Bug spoke up next, "It's all in working order, this will help us get past security and into the penthouse sweet. Should be an easy in and out, relatively speaking, with this puppy."

"Good, onto the next topic." Dex took another pull of his cigar and sat forward as he exhaled, "I like to have honest relationships with my partners. So it's time to come clean."

The way Dex let that hang in the air made her uneasy. Not being able to see his eyes and where he was looking made him even more uneasy. V chanced a look at Evelyn and Judy, thankfully they both seemed unphased by the statement. V kept her breathing even and her face neutral. She just had to navigate this successfully.

Dex looked to Evelyn before speaking again, contemplating. "Ms. Parker. I had a difficult time securing info about you, the order to stop looking made me nervous, so I sent V to scope you out. Hope you don't blame a man for covering his bases. But, V said you're good to go, on the up and up."

V let the breath she had been holding slowly go. Her eyes shifted to Evelyn who leaned back and crossed her arms.

"I do understand, doesn't mean I like it though. She also told me she was out, unwilling to take the job. I trust you have an alternative body to do the job? Someone capable and not afraid to get their hands dirty?" Evelyn didn't look in V's direction as she made the statement, like she wasn't even worth acknowledging.

V clenched her teeth and let it go. She wanted to flip the table but they weren't blowing her cover on crossing Dex, so she had to eat the insult.

"I do indeed. Meet Celeste, a top tier merc usually tied up with work too far in advance to take a job, but once I spoke with her about this job she graciously cleared her schedule." Dex held his hand up in Celeste's general direction as he introduced her.

Celeste was leaned back, both arms up along the back of the couch. She inclined her head respectfully to Evelyn before sitting forward and extending her hand to shake Evelyns. "Celeste. Nice to meet you, Ms. Parker. It'll be a pleasure fucking a corp with you. Especially Arasaka. I can't begin to tell you how much I hate those motherfuckers. I'm fully capable and.. very willing to take care of this job for you." The way Celeste spoke those last words, she seemed to almost seduce the words themselves as she spoke them. V was also pretty sure she might have just propositioned Evelyn for sex too, but it somehow came across as a mix of professional confidence. What was with this woman? She wasn't sure if she liked her for her guts or hated her for her ego.

V examined Evelyn and Judy. Evelyn, somehow, maintained a professionally approving face. Judy didn't seem phased other than a slight squint to her eyes. V wasn't sure if that was jealousy or a look of general distaste for the woman. Damn it. V still couldn't get a bead on their dynamic and she hated it. She had to know. Neither of them had confirmed or denied her statement of them being together back at Lizzie's so she still felt in limbo about it. V shook her head and looked over at Jackie by chance. He was agape at Celeste, and then..he opened his mouth.

"Damn, lady. You just wake up and breathe sex, huh?" Jackie's face was still a mix of awe and wonder at her with a smirk of admiration.

Celeste looked over at Jackie and smiled completely amused at his directness. "About the same way you wake up and immediately decide you're gonna put your foot in your mouth, kid."

"Damn, sharp tongue too." Jackie whistled appraisingly.

"Mm, among other things. Now, can we get back to business?" Celeste surprisingly wasn't annoyed by her tone or look. She took it all in graceful stride and looked back to Evelyn.

Evelyn is the one who shot an unamused look at Jackie before looking back at Celeste. "Good to have you on the team, Celeste. I can't stress the importance of this going off without a hitch. You cannot be seen, caught, nothing. It has to be like you were never there."

"Of course." Celeste nodded her head once, confidence radiating from every pore. V shook her head a little. This Celeste chick was an interesting one, after seeing more of her personality V was starting to wonder where the scars on her face came from. She clearly had an interesting story, and V wouldn be lying if she said she wasn't interested in finding out more about the woman. Judy crossed her arms and sat back on the couch, clearly unamused and unimpressed by Celeste.

Dex waited only a beat before continuing on. "Alright, now that that's settled. V, we know you're out, here's your payment for the work completed. You too Jackie." 7,000 eddies wired directly to V's account and she nodded their receipt, "All good, thanks Dex." V stood up. "Now, if that's all for me and Jackie. We'll be going."

"Before you go." Dex let the smoke roll out of his mouth slowly, and the way he said it had V's hairs standing on the back of her neck. "Jackie." He turned to look at her best friend. "V's spoken for herself, but I doubt she speaks for a grown man, such as yourself. You in for the gig? Or you gonna run with your tail tucked behind V?"

V's hand clenched into a ball. She wanted to speak up, but doing so would only prove his point and potentially push Jackie in the wrong way. She also had to admit he was a grown man. Best friends and gig partners aside, as much as she knew this was a gonk job, he had to make the decision for himself. She should have expected this, she should have-

V looked over at Jackie. The sorrowful look in his eye, something about it unsettled V. Then it all clicked for her. Earlier, when Jackie asked about coming with her to Afterlife, it was all a cover. He already planned on doing the job without her. He knew that if V knew, she'd never have let him come, had given him hell about it. Here, now, in front of everyone, he knew V wouldn't demean him, she was forced to accept his choice. She let her anger, her disappointment, show on her face completely as she looked down at Jackie. "You already took the job, Jackie. Admit it."

Jackie stood up, his eyes apologetic, and he kept glancing away like he couldn't stand to hold her disappointed stare. "I was gonna tell you, but.. I knew you'd be pissed and try to talk me out of it, choom. I really want this job. It's the chance we-...I have always wanted, needed, to make it big. You gotta understand, V."

V was still pissed, but also worried. She couldn't deny that she understood though. Jackie always wanted to be the big dog, and he wanted to get there fast. If he could pull this off, he'd achieve his dream. V sighed and let her shoulders relax. "I understand, Jack." She stopped before she got to emotional, too personal around this group of mixed company.

"Well, if that's all, the less I know about this the better. I'll see ya later, Jack. T-Bug, keep him safe."

"I'll do my best, but the rest is on him. See ya later, V." T-Bug raised a hand with a brief wave goodbye.

V turned and left, not even thinking about how she didn't acknowledge anyone else in the group. She was upset, and mostly worried about Jackie's well being. V walked the corridors and decided to wait at the bar. That way she could catch Jackie and give him an earful one on one before they all left. Claire got V her requested double shot of tequila, and leaned on the bar.

"Meeting didn't go well? Where's your friend, Jackie?"

V took a sip of her tequila, staring at the countertop, her eyebrows knitted together but otherwise appearing deadpan. Underneath the surface, she was a storm of anger. "He decided to take a gonk job, that'll probably get him that drink he wanted named after him so badly.."

Claire hummed in understanding, "Sorry, kid. Here." Claire poured her own drink, "Let's drink to their safe return from a gonk job, that the only thing to go down in history is their names, not their lives."

"Will you make another one for me? I'll get in on that toast."

V immediately looked to her right. Judy had taken the seat next to her. "What're you doin' here?"

V could tell her tone wasn't as nice, and leaned more accusatory by the way Judy raised her eyebrows and looked at V, "I'll let that one go, because I know you're just worried about your friend, and I sympathize."

V ran her hands over her eyes and face with a sigh, "Sorry. I've not been the best when it comes to how I've spoken to you."

Claire slid Judy her shot and she picked it up, "No, communication has been logged as 'needs improvement'. Don't worry, honesty still keeps you in the green." Judy smiled and winked before holding her shot glass up. "To your friend coming back alive, and this whole gonk plan working out."

V and Claire clinked glasses with Judy's and each other, all three of them downing their shots.

Judy sighed and V looked over at her. "I tried to get Evelyn to drop this job. I really did. All I can see around her recently is death. I'm scared for her and everyone she's involved in this." Judy looked up from her empty glass at V.

V hadn't realized how bright hazel her eyes were before. She could see a torrent of worry and anxiety behind her eyes. It calmed the anger in V's stomach, and left only her own fear as well. "Me too.. I'm afraid for Jackie. He's got a good heart but sometimes.."

"Just makes gonk decisions? Heh, yeah, Evelyn is the same."

Good heart isn't a way she would personally classify Evelyn, but she kept that bit to herself. The silence between them was surprisingly comfortable, but V still kept searching for a way to break the silence. Unfortunately she kept coming back to wanting to ask the same question. V chewed at the inside of her bottom lip a bit, "So, look, I know it's technically none of my business but..."

"But you're gonna ask anyway?" Judy smiled and looked knowingly at V.

"Is it just me or are you this good at reading everyone?" V couldn't help but smile when she heard Judy laugh a little.

"Nah, just good at reading gonks. Go ahead, ask your question, I can tell it's killing you to ask." Judy raised her glass a little at Claire, who nodded and got them all another round of drinks.

"Eh, now I don't know if I can, I feel so called out." V laughed, holding her hand to her chest in mock indignation.

This elicited another laugh from Judy, "Yeah right. What do you take me for? Go on and ask. Or is what everyone says about you true?"

V was puzzled but set her chin on her hand, "And what do people say about me?"

"That you're a coward." Judy smirked and took her shot.

"Ugh!" V pounded her fist on the counter and tossed her head back. "I swear to- if ONE more person calls me that!"

Judy and Claire started laughing and before V knew it she was laughing alongside them.

Wiping at her eyes and finishing her last laughs, Judy prompted calmly, "So what did you wanna ask, really?" Judy's elbows were on the counter, her fingers laced loosely together and leaned the side of her head on them as she looked at V. V swore she stopped breathing in that moment as she leaned on the bar and stared at Judy.

"Uh.." was all V could manage. Judy didn't say anything, she just smiled and raised a prompting eyebrow at V. V wasn't sure if it was the shots or what but damn, she'd never felt struck like this by someone. Sure, Celeste had hands down sex appeal but Judy.. Judy had something more that V couldn't put her finger on, but damn she wanted to find out. Her eyes, they just..drew V in, and she couldn't stop her eyes from looking down at those full, perfect lips. The silence and staring must have hung for too long because Claire cleared her throat loudly.

V jerked up, and shook her head, "Sorry. Shots must be getting to me."

"Sure, the shots." Claire mused, smiling warmly before walking away to another customer and trying to give the two some privacy.

V rubbed the back of her neck and turned to Judy who was looking at V expectantly at this point. "Well, now I have to know what you wanna ask, spill it!"

"Spill what?" Evelyn walked up behind V and walked past standing just beyond her, next to Judy.

V's heart dropped and her mood instantly soured, "Nothin. Not important." V shrugged it off and continued before anyone could try and pressure her. "Besides, if you're done with the meeting, that means I have a friend who's ass I need to chew."

Evelyn put her arm around Judy's shoulders in such a natural way it made V's stomach turn with jealousy, the defeat settled when Judy didn't shrug her off or seem like it was weird at all. "Bad news. Jackie and the others figured that'd be the case, so they left out the back and went to set up for the job. Jackie told me to tell you 'He's sorry, choom, but he hope's you understand he has to do this. When he makes it you'll both be livin' large.'" Evelyn shrugged with a seemingly genuine, yet somehow still shallow apologetic grimace.

V clenched her jaw and her fists, her anger resurfacing, the tension in her shoulders almost causing her muscles to spasm. V held up her hand for Claire, "Hey, can I just get the bottle of Tequila?" Claire looked at V for a moment before nodding, "Alright, but don't puke on my bar."

"Won't. Promise." V poured herself a shot and downed it immediately. If she called Jackie, she'd make him doubt himself, and she knew he needed to focus to be at his best. V sighed and pulled out her phone.

V pulled up her texts to message Jackie.

V: Hey, choom. I know I was upset in the meeting room. But I want you to know I believe in you. You got this. Just be sure your ass makes it back to me and Mama Wells ok? Don't make me kick your ass.

Jackie: ;) no worries, choomba. I'll do this for all of us. Thanks for believin' in me. And sorry about goin' behind your back. I'll make it up to you. See ya on the other side, V.

V: Be safe, brother.

Jackie: Always.

V looked at the exchange with a sigh before turning off her phone and pocketing it, Evelyn spoke up, "Well, you are just a bleeding heart after all aren't you?" She leaned back, clearly having read the exchange. V didn't try to hide to conversation, but the balls of this bitch and invading her privacy irked her.

Judy elbowed Evelyn in the ribs a little and gave her an annoyed look, "Don't be an ass, Ev."

V took another shot and rolled her eyes at Evelyn, though very happy that Judy defended her, sort of. "Yeah, you can add it to my resume, right next to coward." Oh no, she was self depreciating. Sure sign the alcohol was hitting her at this point.

Surprisingly, Evelyn laughed a little. V was taken aback a bit, "Holy shit, she does have a soul. And it likes dark humor, go figure. Was wondering what Judy saw in you. I think I see a speck of light in the dark tunnel at the end of your soul."

Evelyn looked at V annoyed but V spoke up before she could chime in, "So, you gonna drink with me or just stand there all night talkin' shit?" V leaned forward, eyebrows raised expectantly and held up the bottle in her hand. Evelyn sighed and seemed to pull back her dagger eyes, "Can't. Got job stuff to handle on my end." She looked at Judy, "You ready to go?"

Judy nodded once, "Yeah I suppose, got some BD's I gotta finish up tonight anyway." Judy stood up and smiled at V, "See ya later, V. We'll call if shit gets sticky and we need help."

V leaned heavy into the bar, she was feeling the back to back shots and let the next sentence spill, "You mean you will." She pointed at Judy with the hand holding the shot glass as she poured another one, "She hates my guts." She nodded her head to Evelyn and took the double shot in one go. She winced a bit and shook her head, "Don't worry though, I'll still come help you two if you call Judy, but only for you." She smiled looking at Evelyn and held the bottle up in a mock cheers.

"Oook, we'll uh, we'll just be going. Come on, Ev. Not worth it. She's drunk." Judy stepped in front of Evelyn. V wasn't sure what she said, but she had clearly gotten under Evelyn's skin based on the look on her face. V was pleased with herself. She scrunched her nose and waved at Evelyn, who was looking over her shoulder glaring daggers at V, as Judy ushered her outside. Worth it.

V turned and went back to drinking. The rest of her night was a blur of drinking alone, with strangers, laughing and joking with Claire and other strangers and then hazy memories of street food and flopping down in her bed. Thankfully she was alone and she passed out into sweet, sweet dreamless oblivion, unable to worry about Jackie, just like she planned.

VVVVVVVV

Alright! So what'd you think? My biggest concern with this chapter was the first two parts dragging a bit, so I tried to keep it short while trying to give insight into V as a character. As readers, how do you feel about these moments? Do you love them? Hate them? How did you like the pacing and story overall? I really enjoyed writing this chapter, lemme know! Cheers.

-Fateful