Chapter Text
“We’re closing up!”, V called towards the entrance of the bar, while her head was still under the counter, trying to remove the empty beer keg. Pepe had already disappeared and she lacked the strength to connect the new kegs. The Latino would have to do it himself today. When the guest didn’t respond, V huffed in annoyance, but also in tension. She still had her Malorian from Johnny under the counter, but that wouldn’t do much good if the Scavs or Maelstrom showed up to take revenge. Not that she believed any of them would dare to venture so deep into Valentino territory and, as a friend of Jackie Welles and the apple of Padre's eye, she didn’t have to worry about this gang. All the others? Tricky. She heard one of the bar stools being pushed back. A bead of sweat ran down between her breasts and she quietly reached for the pistol before slowly getting up again.
“Listen, I said we’re clo-...” Her words got stuck in her throat and she stared perplexedly at the big, dark figure who had made himself comfortable at the bar. Solomon Reed. FIA agent. For some, her saviour. Somehow. How long ago was that? A year? Yes. Almost exactly a year ago she had woken up. After two years in a coma. Not only had she lost almost all of her friends, like Panam or Judy. Even her great love, River Ward, had lost his footing due to her disappearance and now walked along an abyss from which he would not pull away. Not from her. And damn, it wasn’t Reed’s fault. And yet he was the only tangible part of this story. V pressed her lips together and stared at him in silence. A strange, uncomfortable silence while Reed also scrutinized her. He looked good. Healthy. Alive. And he exuded the confidence of a man who was at peace with himself.
“Hello, V.”, he broke the silence and looked into her eyes. “How are you?”
“Well, how should I be, Reed?” came from her mouth and she hated the trace of bitterness that colored her voice. His gaze softened. Why was he here? But before she could ask, he answered.
“That bad, huh?”
“I’m alive.”
“That's the question.”
“What?”
“Whether you're living.”
V grabbed a cleaning cloth and wiped the counter, trying to avoid eye contact with the agent. Her dark hair fell into her face and she hastily tucked a strand behind her ears.
“What do you want me to say? Haven’t spoken to each other in a year. 'm still trying to pick up the pieces that my ‘break’ left behind.” Viktor. Missy. Mama Welles. They were the only family she had left. Kerry and she kept loose contact, but the rock star lived in his own bubble, was on tour. Lived his life. And her? She existed.
“I'm sorry, V.”, Reed began and actually looked regretful as he scratched his shortly shorn scalp.
“I should have shown up much earlier. There were...things I had to take care of.” Reed ended and looked down at his crossed hands. She could imagine that these things were mostly related to Myers and his job in Langley. His duty. She wanted to hold it against him. Really. But instead, V sighed, threw the cloth in the sink and silently looked at her guest for a few moments. Then she sighed loudly. Screw it.
“Can you carry beer kegs from A to B?”
Half an hour later, as she was locking up the bar, Reed followed her. Ever watchful, she noticed.
“We're in Heywood. My home. And it's midday. Nothing will happen to me, you know.” She tried to reassure the agent, because he looked as if he would draw his weapon at any time and take down anyone who looked at her sideways. Reed walked next to her and gave her a sidelong glance.
“I still find it hard to accept that you can't defend yourself anymore.” He grumbled resignedly. Solomon Reed must have been aware of how delicate this topic was. After all, the NUSA was not entirely innocent of this condition.
“I'm breathing and I don't have a ticking time bomb in my head anymore. Should be grateful.” V replied with a thin smile.
“But you're not, are you?”
“It's not exactly the life I'm used to or that I would have chosen.”
“Come on, I'll drive you home.”
She wanted to refuse, but his hand was already on her narrow back, gently pushing her in the direction of his car. Her top was held together at the back by just two knots, Reed's surprisingly cool palm on her naked skin caused goosebumps on her skin. He held the door open for her and let her get in, before he himself got behind the wheel. He glanced at her and she suspected that he would ask for the address, but instead he pulled out and merged into the morning traffic of Night City. Sure. He was an FIA agent. Of course he knew that she lived in her loft in the Glen. He didn't need to ask.
It was a strange sight, having Solomon Reed in her loft, standing thoughtfully in front of the large windows looking down at the city. She had bought the apartment in Glen during her best times as a mercenary, after she had pulled off some high-profile gigs for Padre and Wakako. Her apartment in Watson had been terminated during her coma and Missy and Vik had cleared out the apartment. The thought of the two of them filled her with affection, while the man in front of her still evoked conflicting feelings in her.
“Can I get ya something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Beer?” she asked into the silence and Reed turned to her. His aura still radiated accountability and authority and if she were still fully equipped, she would shrug it off. But now it was...intimidating. And she hated it. Hated being weak.
“Coffee, please.” V turned to her coffee machine, while Reed moved to her couch and sat down to wait for her. As she came into the living area with two cups of coffee and sat down next to Reed, he put some sugar in his coffee and stirred it thoughtfully.
“How have you been able to settle back in?” he began cautiously and blinked at her from the side. V shrugged.
“I have a job, thanks to Mama Welles. Missy and Viktor and I visit each other regularly, although I still stay away from Watson. The...Tyger Claws are not too fond of me.” Reed chuckled, but became serious again when he noticed her lost expression.
“And your other friends? And...the cop? Are you back together?” Their eyes met and V slowly shook her head, her throat completely dry and painful.
“Panam is too angry to ever talk to me again because I just disappeared for two years. Judy is 'married' and now lives somewhere outside of Night City living her housewife dream.”, Her throat tightened and she blinked.
“And River...he's doing crooked deals with all kind of gonks and doing everything to keep his family afloat. Doesn't wanna see me.” she explained quietly and stared at the black liquid in her cup.
“I'm sorry, V.” she heard Reed's voice, much softer than she had assumed.
“I'm alive.” and he shouldn't say that all the time. It made her feel awkward.
“But you're not living.”
“No.”
“And if there was a way to change that?”