King of the Zero Highway: Chapter 1
It had been a week since they slipped the border in the panzer and he'd gotten too ride off under the stars with his lover and new friends. He used the term friends instead of family because despite the jacket, and the cheers it came with, he still didn't feel like an aldecaldo. He wasn't expecting to be running anything, but he damn sure didn't expect to be sitting around waiting to die. Hanging with his girl was out of the question, Saul had her as a full time co-chief. Anytime he tried to help with anything, he was met with the same response from everyone. "You've done enough kid, just get some rest." He'd known immediately this had been a play made by Panam and Saul. They'd no doubt been trying to let him heal and that was nice, but at this point the boredom and inner child in him were begging for sweet release. He'd give anything to get out of the garage today, this had become his usual den. The only other occupant being Mitch, and while the guy was great and taught V plenty. If he had to hear one more war story or about the importance of vehicle maintenance, somebody was going to get shot.
No, that wasn't fair, his sour mood wasn't just due to the old balding vet, or the lack of danger, or even the treatment. While those were definitely big part's, they weren't what was really making this unbearable, that award went to the sex or lack these of rather that him and Panam weren't having. She would just be so tired from all her duties, and he usually preferred to stay in the garage even after she got off lest he wake her up as soon as she closed her eyes again. He'd been foolish enough to make that mistake once, she'd chased him all around camp with a wrench bigger than his gorilla arms. It hadn't ended until he hid under her truck for an entire hour.
He casted a sideways glance at the tent they share, he wasn't sure how tonight would shake out. Either he'd go in first and fall asleep before she even got in, or he'd go in about an hour or two after she'd gone to bed. Let's not even talk about the night's where he just slept in the tank, if asked about it he would just lie and say he was working on it and fell asleep. Usually seemed to stop all the questions. He spared one look at the tank and before he could even think about it, his thoughts were cut off by a resounding. "Don't even think about it." coming from mitch. Being that they saw each other everyday almost all day, with the exception of the older man being called out for other chores.
"I wasn't even…." he attempted to defend himself from the vet, but he was having none of it, before the mocha skinned, dreadhead man could prop an excuse. The vet shut him up soundly with a single gaze.
"I wasn't born yesterday, kid. No more using the panzer to escape your marital issues." He said using a rag to wipe the oil off his hands. Standing from his metal folding chair on the other side of the tent, he deposited the rag on top of V's head and grabbed a bottle of vintage whiskey that's been aged for a while. Dragging his chair closer and popping the top on the bottle, he immediately offered it to V who took a huge swig. "Why don't we talk about what's eating at ya kid."
20 minutes later
"Don't even get me started on the sex….. Or rather lack thereof." V said drinking more, at this point Mitch and him were both equally hammered. Both men had at some point become shirtless due to desert heat mixing with how warm the alcohol made them feel. "I mean Jesus Mitch, I didn't come out here to be a trophy husband, hidden in the background being taken care of. For god's sake I stormed arasaka and blew it to hell by myself. When did I need to start being taken care of like a flower?" V greaved, he started feeling like he was at his breaking point. But this talk with Mitch definitely made him feel better, it felt good to vent. Who would have thought.
"Take it easy V, I'm sure she means well, she's just got a lot on her plate right now as do you. This move wasn't a simple one for either of you. It takes some adjusting for two people to be on one wavelength. You should know that better than anyone." the older man said, taking the bottle and knocking back even more of the burning liquid, his face was flush and bright red. Clearly he was at his limit for the night, thankfully it was only a light dust storm going on outside. Looking at his holo he saw it was almost midnight, he knew his choices had dwindled down and he had to make one soon.
"You're right Mitch I'll give it some extra thought and think about the best move to make, but for now I think the best move I can make is to make sure you get back to ya tent safely old timer." V said lifting the vet with one arm, gorilla arms helping with most of the weight. He was surprised however when a voice came to the tent looking for the man. As the voice made itself known by poking its head around the corner, he almost couldn't make out who it was. Thankfully kiyoshi optics were worth their weight in gold. It was Dakota, she'd looked different though, maybe it was the clothes. It looked like she was ready for bed, hopefully they hadn't been too loud and woken her.
"No need V I'll take him from here, thanks for keeping the old man company while I was away." With that casual tone and relaxed posture that she usually had, she sauntered up and took the old dog by his arm and helped him off into the storm to go get rest. It wasn't until she had already gotten around the corner, that he'd thought to even ask. "What do you mean while you were away." he yelled to what seemed like no one. Sucking his teeth and collecting his caldo jacket from the chair he threw it over his shoulder on his way out of the tent. Spinning around too close it up to make sure he wouldn't have to shovel sand out of it in the morning. He started to wobble his way to the tent when he bumped into his car. The type 66 cthulhu he'd gotten off a corpo loser who he let Claire zero, he was sure she hadn't been honest with him about the story but it hadn't mattered to him. Who was he to judge, he'd zeroed people he hadn't even known all for his selfish gain.
He ran his hands along the side of the car, Mitch had banned him from the panzer….. But he couldn't ban him from his car, sliding into the driver's side seat and leaning his seat back. He began to ponder what the old vet had told him, he wanted to help panam but her main focus had become making sure he never lifted a finger again. How could he help her when he couldn't even get the chance too. What if he didn't ask her though, everyone in the family had denied letting him help thus far, but there was one man he still hadn't asked. A man that he was sure would understand his plight and might even be down to help him cause some mayhem for the young woman. As a smile creeped on his face from the devious thoughts, his eyelids also began too close. All that whiskey was definitely beginning to take effect, throwing one hand in his pants and the other behind his head nestled into his thick locks he began to doze off into dreamland.
As soon as he felt his systems begin to slow he was reawakened by the sound of his holo going off, looking at the 1:30 AM, time he lamented even being conscious. Swearing a few obscenities, he answered the call and in a none too polite tone barked out "What." While rubbing his eyes.
"Is that anyway to talk to your favorite choomba." He heard the feminine voice of his dear friend call out to him, what was she ever doing up at this hour.
"Judy fuckin Alvarez, how you been choom." He hadn't heard from her since he left the city, tiredness be damned, she was his best remaining choom and he had to make sure she was okay at the least.
Letting out a slight giggle at his tiredness, yet changing in tune at realizing it was her, warmed her heart. She realized that though night city took a good friend of hers, it gave her one as well. "You look like you're enjoying nomad life, albeit that dust storm in the background seems pretty rough." She said with a grin, but V could see more. Like the ragged bags under her eyes, and the worn down look on her face. She wasn't doing well.
"Yea it's a bitch and a half, but I'm sure you didn't call me at 1:30 in the morning to talk about sand or my adjustment. What's up Jude." He'd asked casually throwing in her nickname to try and loosen her up, she looked on edge. Like she wasn't resting at all.
"Can I ask you a question V?" She'd asked, looking him in the eye's, he could see the seriousness in them. He could tell this wasn't a light hearted question, this was something much more serious to the ex Mox net runner. He took this moment to reach into the old cigarette case he'd gotten from the woman and light one of them, he knew this would be a long talk.
"Ask at your own risk." V said casually talking a drag right after, he'd never had anything to hide from his chooms. He was an open book cause he'd seen where lying could take someone, someone like his mother. But that's neither here nor there, right now he had to be here for Judy.
"How do you stop seeing their faces, the faces of the ones you love?" V almost let the cigarette in his mouth fall out before quickly closing his gob and catching the cigarette on his fingers. "Sorry V that's probably not a fair question to ask, I shouldn't have…." He cut her off by putting up a hand sensing the impending rambling.
"You can ask me anything Jude, but I don't really have the answers you're looking for. I wasn't really that close to Evelyn, so her face was never one I saw. But Jackie." He paused to ash his cigarette and take another much longer drag. After blowing out the smoke. "I've never stopped seeing Jackie in my dreams. All the dying and busy work in my life could erase my last memory of hugging his corpse in that limousine." He could see Judy looking down face in hands, if he had to guess, he'd assume she'd been dreaming of the woman nonstop and had been blaming herself nonstop for not being these.
"But…." He noticed her head perk up as he spoke. "I find that reminding myself that no matter what I do, my Mano would be proud of me. That no matter where I am he's riding shotgun with me, happy and proud of the decisions I made. Usually helps me rest just fine, especially talking to friends about it. Opening up to my caldo brethren usually helps a lot as well, something about other people knowing your pain and that you are in pain really helps. But I guess that's why therapist recomm…." His rant was cut short by what he was sure was some of the most gentle snoring he'd ever heard.
Looking up at his friend, he could see she'd dozed off leaning on one hand listening to him. He couldn't help but attempt to fight the shit eating grin dawning his lips, bidding his good friend a goodbye and good night rest he hung up the call and threw the cigarette out the window. After rolling it back up, he leaned back again and attempted to doze off one more time…. Until he heard his holo… again.
"Fuck me what now." He bemused looking at the newly received message, it came from Mitch and started simply and shortly. 'Ya better not be in that tank.' Rolling his eyes and dawning his usual smirk he leaned back and chuckled off the old man's threat.
He pressed play on his cars AF player which was already loaded up with a bunch of music he'd found from MANY years ago, the life of a Nomad is a fun one he mused as the song Track Star by mooski began to play. He set the volume to low so as to not disturb anyone else, and finally drifted off too bed.
5 hours later
He was brushing his teeth at the cliff side feeling like absolute shit, unfortunately this was the time nomads got up, regardless of the time they went to bed. He'd avoided Panam and anyone else he thought might ask why he slept in his car, truthfully there was only one person he wanted to see right now. Luckily for him, that man also had to brush his teeth, so here they were. Brushing their teeth on the side of a steep cliff, close enough that it's awkward that they don't talk but not close enough to bump shoulders.
Spitting out what was in his mouth, Saul had about enough of this dance they were doing. "Alright V what is it that you want?" The man asked, he'd been alive long enough to know when someone wanted something, especially a gun toting maniac who was used to mayhem. He'd known eventually the man would reach his peak, Panam had been treating him like fine china, who wouldn't go crazy.
"A mission, a job, a responsibility, hell I'd take a puppy at this point." V all but whined. He was expecting to get the same answer he'd gotten from the rest, it's why he'd spent this entire time saying nothing and opting to instead think of exactly what he should say to convince the man.
"Camp's low on water and food, go pick some up in the resupply zone, it's not exciting work but….." he was silenced by the sound of an engine revving and tired screeching as V had already taken off. 'God help that zone.' He then contemplated what he'd do about.
"SAUL." There it was, the co headache he knew would come albeit not this fast. The man had just finished putting away his hygiene equipment when Panam rushed up and got in his face. "Did you send V somewhere after I specifically asked everyone to let him rest." She stood there arms folded, glare strong enough to halt a Lion, foot tapping so hard again Saul could FEEL each tap. He subconsciously gulped and started walking away while talking assuming she'd follow.
"He was driving me nuts going stir crazy, you keeping him locked up only made him annoying and jittery. He asked me for something to do so I sent him on a simple food and water run." He neglected to make eye contact with the short powerhouse, knowing that would only make his reasons feel like excuses and make his tone sound as if he was wrong which he most certainly….. maybe not. I mean what's the worst the guy could do in a zone getting supplies?
"Listen Saul I know you couldn't give a shit about my relationship with V or whatever, but right now isn't easy for either of us. Having him here till we sorted out some things was the best option for everybody, especially for his adjustment to this life." She knew the man she loved very well, and if nothing else he was kind and helpful beyond measure. But that was his problem, from what he told her 99% of V's life problems came from him being involved with someone else's business. He'd told her countless stories before they'd even slept together in the basilisk. His adventures in night city and the friends he'd made, how they'd literally all gone on these crazy shootout adventures. He'd risk his life without any compensation to help a friend, it's part of the reason she loved him. "Do you have any idea what the fuck could happen if Arasaka found him, or he has another fucking flatline." She was keeping In step with him perfectly as they walked around the camp managing the day to day tasks and setting some family members to work patrol for any raffin. Her eyes were like knives now and she was getting more aggressive by the step.
"Look if V doesn't show up in the next, idk two hours, the entire family will go looking for him how's that Panam?" Saul said stopping right in his tracks to finally look her in her eyes, she stopped on a dime with him and locked eyes staring him down making those snap seconds feel like minutes. Until she finally broke her gaze and began to walk off only to yell over her shoulder "Two hours Saul that's it, and never do this again."
The dark haired man held his gaze until he finally saw her interact with another family member, then released a breath he had no idea he was holding. Sweeping his hair back he took a few steps forward and muttered "Fuuuuuuuuckkkk me, don't do anything stupid V please." The man groaned in pain knowing he'd only barely one that argument, had she pushed that they go now. He'd have had no way to stop her. He could only pray that the terminator was on his best behavior.
With V
His car skidded to a stop outside of a nomad resupply zone. 'These are small established clans that no longer roam, but instead plant roots in a location so to speak. This allows them to help nomads that roam stay fed and hydrated in case they run low on supplies, but there few and far between so don't always expect one.' Or at least that's how Dakota explained it.
In 30 minutes he was stacking crates of food and water into the trunk, passenger and even the roof of his car. As he was tightening the ropes he began to ponder about what Panam was doing right now, probably giving Saul a beating of a lifetime. He did not envy the man right now. His girlfriend hit hard. He was drawn from his musings when he heard a sound he'd heard too many times in his life. A gunshot. Instinctively he got low, he wasn't gonna get zeroed in some random bullshit nomad zone over some shit he was pretty sure he had nothing to do with. His eyes widened at the thought of it being arasaka, they'd come after him, after Panam, after his whole new family. Quickly he pulled out Johnny's pistol, he'd kept it on him ever since he'd lost Johnny. He kinda missed the asshole every now and again.
Taking a brief look around he realized he saw no immediate threat, opting to be safe rather than sorry he rolled under his car to make sure to not be seen and potentially shot. Looking around he finally caught sight of two pairs of legs and a man on the floor two cars away. Unfortunately the man on the floor was the one who he'd bartered with for the supplies, making the other two most likely raffin scum. Without a second thought he got up from underneath the car and was back on his feet, putting a knife in one hand and freeing his other hand putting Johnny's gun away. He immediately circled around the cars and stabbed the first man in the neck, as he saw the second attempt to turn around to harm him he grabbed the back of his skull and twisted it in the opposite direction. A clean break thanks to the gorilla arms.
He threw him to the ground as the sound of air releasing from his arms fired off. He noticed the car the men came in, he also noticed the other nomads that had been held at gunpoint. After a profuse amount of thanking and even more supplies to tie down. He was finally on his way back to camp. He enjoyed the scenic beauty and managed to actually drive the speed limit, not wanting to risk his haul; he enjoyed singing along with the radio and being free from night city and the chains it held on him.
Finally reaching camp, V got out and began untying his load from the roof when he was suddenly slammed into by a red blur, he of course knew it to be his one and only love. She was clutching him so tightly he was almost broken in half. "I missed you to Panam, but there is no need to almost kill me. I need to finish unpacking these supplies." he said trying to put a little space between the two of them, his effort was met with double the resistance though. He quickly realized this was getting him nowhere and decided to let her finish, embracing her back tightly. Before she punched him in the chest as hard as she could.
"I will fucking kill you the…" she started but was quickly shushed by Saul who insisted that they go somewhere private and have that conversation, they may all be family but only those two need too hear that discussion. Having been practically shoved off to the side and told they should take the day off they decided to go to the other side of camp at the bottom of the cliffside. "V i know this probably isn't exactly what you had in mind when I said come with us, and I know you aren't some piece of glass that needs to be protected. But I need you to know how much I love you and how much you matter to me, I just got you back from you doing something incredibly stupid and risky but at least you bought yourself more time. Right now I just need you to be ok until I can get our goddamn family back on the road and then I promise I can really focus on us." She had begun crying somewhere in those words, V couldn't tell you which ones though because he'd hugged her the second the first tear fell. They clung to each other tightly, as if one would float away without every ounce of strength from the other. Inhaling each other's scent while she listened to his heartbeat. It was soothing.
"You have nothing to worry about Panam, I'm not going anywhere. Take as much time as you need, I'll always be by your side." He spoke in a low tone but as serious as ever, he needed her to know how much he loved her. "Does that mean you'll stop sleeping in the panzer and your car?" she responded not only verbally but also literally, jabbing him softly in his ribs. He had too have been insane to think she wouldn't bring up his hidey holes. "Yes your majesty O great queen on the highway." he muttered with sarcasm dripping, earning a bash on the head. His brief feeling of pain was replaced with a sudden pleasant stimulation as his Queen of the Asphalt rubbed his manhood. He was stiff within seconds of her touch, followed by a light trail of kisses down his neck. He responded by lifting her up and pressing her against the cliff wall, instinctively she wrapped her legs around his waist when he leaned in and whispered in her ear. "I need you Panam."
"I longed for you V, now fuck me right here against the wall." she said before biting his lip with her sultry seductive smile.