Chapter Text
"Sleeping, I guess. How he manages after everything eludes me." The ripper points her to the back of the room, lifting his face from the usual boxing match. V just lies there on a dusty couch, his face peaceful for once, eyes closed, bandages around his neck.
"He hasn't rested well in a while. Now I just wonder whether the nightmares were Silverhand's or his own," Panam sits on the armrest carefully, trying not to disturb the man. "And that thing in his neck?"
"He agreed to remove the extra drive and some of the RAM enhancements in order to minimize the stress on the system. Combined with omega blockers, it should get him to a condition a couple of weeks back, maybe even at the start of it all," Doc's voice is apologetic, he even turns away to avoid eye contact. "All I can do for now."
"He told me you'd say that".
"It's the truth, I'm afraid," – Vik doesn't look at her, his eyes are focused on the wall of the basement. "Also, work with the basis of the spine takes a bit more anesthesia, so you better watch him for an hour or two. You know, talk so he doesn’t fall asleep on the go. I could've asked Misty but -"
"I'll manage, thanks".
"Your choice," Viktor shrugs as he returns to the screen. The commentator spews pure excitement as two men continue to trade in punches. The ripper watches for a few moments before starting tinkering with his arm. " Try to wake him up then, I' ve got another patient today".
Panam puts her palm on merc’s forehead, the leather of her glove cool against his skin.
"V, wake up," He stirs his head a little, but doesn't open eyes. Panam raises her voice and lightly taps him on the cheek. "Vincent, we need to go!"
That does it – merc opens his eyes, Kiroshis blinking as the system starts up. It takes a moment for him to take everything in, and Panam pushes on his shoulder. " Get up".
V' s unsteady, as if drunk as he raises himself from the couch. He looks at her grinning like an idiot. "Hey, Panam."
"Hey," she tries to keep a straight face, but eventually can't help but smile back.
"Are you free tonight? Never took you for dinner."
"With that head of yours?" she laughs. "I’m the one taking you home, remember?"
"Bummer, didn’t think that through…"
Vik chuckles as he approaches with a little packet of pills. "I've warned you, the meds might be taking out the filter", he hands the meds to V. "Here, one for today, one at the same time tomorrow. That, and the usual dose."
"Yeah yeah, I know the drill. Thanks Vik!" Mercs eyes light up with pink for a second – transferring the payment. "Plus the tip."
"Please, no need for --" Doc stops as his laptop shows the details of the transfer. "Ah, that tip."
The extra sum covers the set of Kiroshi optics: the real cost of the latest model, not the service fee V paid back weeks ago.
"You thought I wouldn't find out?" V sounds pleased. In truth, he wouldn't have, if not for Kerry and his yapping about partnership with Kiroshi, and how they insisted on him wearing the blue version "to appeal to the larger audience". That’s the least he can do after everything Vector got him through.
"Well, not like I bought them from an official supplier... But, that about covers it." Ripper closes the statement letter. "Thanks, kid."
"Don't mention it." V stands up, his movement slow and deliberate, eyes half closed from the drug.
"Careful now. I’ve used a larger dose on you this time, thought you’ve built resistance on account of.. Well, how often you took painkillers recently."
V takes a few shaky steps. Last time he felt like that was after a good bottle of Centzon, or two.
"Yep, definitely not going out tonight. We better move" Panam grabs his elbow for support, "unless you are going to sleep in the alley outside."
"Yes, mam. I mean no, I--" V gives up trying to find a logical answer and heads for the exit – by himself, mostly.
Viktor watches the unsteady walk of the duo from his seat, then lets out a sigh, going back to his arm. "Don’t be a stranger, V. Holo me sometime, tell me about how things are down in Arizona?"
V leans on the concrete wall as he turns around and manages a shaky salute. Panam catches on, tugging in the opposite direction so he doesn’t fall:
"I’ll make sure Vincent remembers," – she promises with a stern expression and hesitantly pauses at the clinic’s gate. She then speaks to Vector, genuine gratitude in hazel eyes. 'Thank you, really. For those couple of days and everything before that. And, say thanks to Misty from me too, will you?'
"Ah, it’s–-' Victor raises his arm to wave it off, but catches himself. It’s not nothing, V’s life and all. He simply cannot call it that, so he changes the topic instead. "Sure you don't want one of her reading for the road? "
She smiles, little devils in her eyes. The ripper recognizes the look, same as the merc had even before the Kiroshi’s. The mischief is either contagious, or they both are made from the same metal.
"Oh, I prefer not to know. That's the charm of the crossroads," she pushes V toward exit. The gate clunks as it opens, a sound the merc got used to in recent months. He probably hears it for the last time.
"See you, Vik! " V raises his voice as the couple gets out of the basement. He then mutters to his partner." Wasn't it the junctions you've talked about? Something about the engine that... "
They walk upstairs, the conversation fading into the usual Night City hustle.
"Good night, kids," old ripper smiles to himself. Then sudden realization hits him. "Vincent? Huh.."
***
"Here," merc points to the back alley entrance. "Don't want Misty to worry more than needed."
"Didn't you say you were to give her a farewell present?"
"Ah, that," V waves his hand, his movement janky and excessive. "Already did, before the visit. Sides, it’s awkward to say goodbye twice, don’t you think?"
He's standing on his feet sturdily enough, so Panam just walks beside him, holding the elbow and steering for direction. They pass the few folks gathered around a barrel, smoke from the fire smelling of rubber and chemicals.
"Definitely don’t fall asleep here, " Panam nudges V along to the stairs as she explains. "Once Ellie decided to burn leftover scrap instead of coal and cacti. I had a headache for a day, and it smelled just like that."
"Well, no cacti to burn in NC, just trash", he chuckles and looks up at the small patch of sky behind the wire net. "I sneaked through this alley after the ofrenda. Gave Mama Welles her contact and thought… Thought Misty’s gonna be mad at me.'
'Why would she?'
'Dunno, wasn’t thinking straight. She told me later Mrs Welles almost adopted her. Treats her like a daughter, even gives the occasional scolding.'
Panam laughs, but quickly stops as she remembers:
'A little like Saul treated me. All the teens were like his siblings, used to police us around, so we wouldn't do some dumb or dangerous shit. But then he would go and do the dangerous thing himself, all for us to watch. That was before NC, before Biotechnica and--" sadness seeps into her voice. "I guess he completed the final dumb shit of his life".
"You know, I asked him about Santiago once. He said he followed a lunatic storming Arasaka Tower," –V regrets the moment he says it, but the meds don’t agree well with the ability to think ahead.
"And then he followed you. In true Saul fashion,' her voice is bitter as she throws the door to the street open.
'Panam, I –-" Vincent catches her arm, stopping at the top of the stairs. She notices the guilt in his look, she knows this one. They talked about it – otherwise the feeling was going to eat him alive. The feeling that it should’ve been him dead there, just him. "I’m sorry I brought that up."
There is a pause, interrupted by a police siren in the distance. The street is quiet for NC, only the chatter around the corner and muffled speech of another prophet spewing the tale about techno-aliens.
'Panam? ' V squeezes her arm. She nods, then takes him by the elbow again.
'We cannot just talk about the good parts. Come on.'
They make their way up from the stairs and towards the Warhorse, which is parked on the pavement.
'You said a while ago you almost lived with the Welles. So Mama adopted you too?' she breaks the silence first. V opens the door of her Thorton, holding onto it.
'No, I' m-- I guess I'm hard to reach out to. Before, and later with all the recent running around.' He shakes his head, looking almost guilty. He really should drop by.
"Yeah, I would know. I tried to holo you for two days, and you were in Dogtown of all places!" V grimaces at that." Get in."
Thorton smells of disinfectant and dust, his leather jacket creaking as Panam shoves V to the front seat.
"Not exactly gentle, Pan--"
She slams the door and circles to the driver's seat, her steps quick and stomping, and frowns as she gets into the car and turns the system on.
Vincent watches her with caution. "Are you mad at that? Listen, I would’ve texted were it not--"
"NUSA, FIA, cure, all that. We've talked. I'm not. " Panam sighs and relaxes a little, her mood a metronome in motion. "I know it’s a thing to get used to, but.. I just hope that was the last time you thought anything was unimportant to tell me."
Thornton's engine hums as Warhorse worms its way onto Watson streets. It's not far away, as Panam remembers. Enough to go on foot on a good day and take a drive on a bad one. Especially, if you're on meds.
A moment passes until Panam speaks again. She wants to offer something reassuring, because none of them are alone at this anymore – for now, at least. "V, listen --" She turns her head to the merc, but stops half a sentence. He's dozed off in the passenger seat, head pressed against the side window, his still short hair a mess. Panam turns back to the wheel, soft smile on her lips.
'Nevermind, princess.'