The Gloves are Off

Untitled Part 1

V and you had been inseparable for as long as you can remember, growing up on the streets together, looking out for each other. No one else would have your backs, but you'd always have each other's. That's how Night City worked for kids like you, and as time went on, how it continued to work into your 20s.

Work got harder, pay got better, stakes higher... kinda got used to only being able to rely on each other. Didn't need anyone else anyway, your little family of 2 was more than enough to keep you happy.

For a while anyway.

As you got older, you admittedly craved more, wanted out of the hard life, but didn't wanna tuck tail and turn Corpo either... Unfortunately, there were little other options these days.

You and V had lucked out lately, running up a good rep with the local fixers, getting gigs done right, impressing the right folks. Made a name for yourselves, though, everyone knew you to be a package deal – you refused to do a job unless you both went together. Things were just easier that way, more reliable, less messy.

You knew each other's habits, didn't have to talk much to get the point across – perk of knowing each other so long, made jobs easier when a single glance across the room could convey so much to the other person without giving anything away to third parties.

One glance is all it would take.

You could read each other like a book.

Too well sometimes...

She started to see it, in both your eyes and your actions. You wanted out... wanted to find a slice of quiet life, whereas she wanted to be a legend in Night City. Sure, she wanted to share it with you, but only problem with that way, legends here are only made one way – going out in some kind of style or blaze of glory.

Wasn't worth it, not in your eyes. A life well lived seemed more and more appealing, even at the age of 27. V, being 23, wasn't too much younger, but still had her eyes set on what other people thought of her too much to see the value in 'fading into the background' as she liked to call it.

She'd all but scoff any time you'd bring it up.

Where she threw her Eddies towards new gear for new gigs, getting more wrapped up in the lifestyle, you put most of it aside, saving for the day when you could both get outta here and get away from it all.

You quit telling her your plans, knowing she didn't approve or understand – not yet anyway. But... part of you yearned for someone to talk to about it, someone who got why you did it all, got why you wanted out.

V jumped at every gig because it was a chance to prove herself; you only kept it up because it was great money...

She breaks the code though, goes on a gig by herself... gets knocked around by the fuckin' cops...

Worse than that, she gets involved with another merc: Jackie.

You're livid when you find out, seething white hot with rage and boiling just under the surface of a calm demeanor plastered falsely across your features like a mask. But... with some time... Jackie expands your view, expands your family, becoming like the brother you never had – 3 musketeers and all that jazz.

He's good people, starts working gigs with you and V, even bringing the 2 of you in on some of his own jobs, sharing the wealth, climbing the ladder of reputation even quicker working as a trio.

Things go smooth, you finally have someone to talk with, who seems to understand a bit more than V does. Jackie thinks about it too... getting out, settling down with Misty, living a quiet life where he knows for sure he'd be able to go home to her every night instead of finding himself dead in some dumpster.