The Gloves are Off

Untitled Part 6

You try to stay away from the clinic over the next 2 days, managing to find excuses to bail out any time Jackie or V mention swinging by, figuring you need some time to sort our your hormones and emotions – or whatever the hell was going on with you.

Honestly, all it does is make you miss Vik. Weird to admit, but you can't quit thinkin' about him...

The longer you go without seein' him, the more you crave being around him, even just to chat and joke around.

Whether it's fortunate, or unfortunate... you hadn't quite decided yet, but fate opts to bring you together again for one reason or another.

Job being what it is, you find yourself in need of some quality implants; new cyberware to match the new level of gigs steadily flowing in.

V already had some done, wouldn't quit raving about the quality and pushing you to hurry up to go get yours. Been running low on excuses, and time was counting down to when you'd really need them.

Going to someone else was out of the question for a variety of reasons, leaving you standing at the door to the clinic torn between feeling a bit annoyed at yourself and straight giddy that you're about to see Vik again...

Kinda makes you curious though.

Wonderin' what Vik thought of the time apart, if he'd mention it at all, if he'd noticed you staying away. Did he miss you? Did he think about you at all?

Doesn't really matter, at the end of the day he's a bit off limits, but it peaks your interest regardless. Makes your mind wonder, swirling with possibilities, playing out scenarios of what he may say when he comes out to see you perched along his counter visiting with Misty.

You'd scheduled the appointment, but made a point for Misty to keep it mysterious. Vik got no names all the time, didn't ask too many questions so long as they paid and behaved themselves, so didn't put up a fuss when she didn't name exactly who his last client of the day is.

Oddly enough, she didn't seem to question it either, just giving you a gentle grin like she already knew. Wouldn't surprise you though, all that energy stuff she's into sometimes turns out to be right on point, might be one of those situations.

Or maybe you're not as subtle as you thought, might be sendin' out signals all over the place without realizing it. Maybe Vik knows too, might be why he's so nice – might be tryin'a let you down easy.

Doesn't seem like it though, seems like a friendly enough guy, but also seems blunt and to the point like he'd sooner tell you than tip-toe around anyone's feelings. Not to say he'd be rude about it, but you're pretty sure he'd have set you straight already if he knew the thoughts you'd had about him...

Your chest tightens a bit as he walks around the corner, his gait faltering as he glances up to see you.

You'd swear there was a light pink flushing briefly across his cheeks, some hesitation as he walked forward before breaking out into a broad grin.

Sliding off the counter you meet him for a hug, you being the one to go in for the side hug this time, mostly seeing what he'd do, and being pleasantly surprised when he pulls you in by your waist for a flush full frontal like you usually would.

Feels good having his arms around you like this... squeezing you slightly, his warm body pressed so flush against your own.

"Where the hell you been, kid?"

You pull back, quirking a brow up at him to be met with his crooked smirk.

"Right, sorry," he chuckles and parts from you, motioning for you to follow him back towards his office and operating room, "forgot about the whole kid thing. Gotta cut me some slack though, it's been a while since I saw ya, got a foggy memory in my old age."