A/N: This wasn't supposed to be this long, or come out now. This was just a side-thing I semi-started writing like a month ago. But, I started making more on a whim, and this just fucking exploded.

A lot of this is spawned from something I noticed in the base game. I could be wrong, but So Mi loses control of the Blackwall super quickly during the Reed ending. But, when you side with her, she seems to be able to keep the Blackwall at bay for far longer. She doesn't lose control. I headcanon that V, and So Mi's admission earlier in the DLC that V brought back memories of home, keeps So Mi being So Mi. She keeps her stable, and grounded in her own mind, and her presence helps fight off the Blackwall.

IT'S ROMANTIC, OKAY!?!?

My last So Mi fic actually did pretty damn good on AO3, so I hope you all enjoy this too.

I base V's appearance off of how I originally made her.

Black, messy bob, blue/green eyes (in this they're blue to contrast So Mi's Blackwall appearance), pale-ish skin, a dusting of freckles (or cheek make-up, as the game refers to it), and she's a Max Body/Max Intelligence/Max Technical Ability Netrunner.That was my latest build, and it's so much fun. She's busted.Anyway, I hope you like it! 

______CP:77______

"Agh! My fucking ankle..." So Mi growled down at the mud, the stadium wall behind her. They did it. They actually made it out of that Hellhole, almost entirely thanks to...

"C'mon, So Mi. Almost there." V reached her hand down to her, a strained, yet optimistic smile on the merc's face.

V...

She had quickly gone from Merc to Guardian Angel.

This must have been the first time someone came to their guardian angel instead of the other way around.

She was doing all this for her. Yes, V's own survival was on the line too, but the lengths of which she had gone to help a woman that popped into her head unannounced a couple weeks ago. V had said so herself that she was doing this because she understood So Mi; she truly wanted to help her.

She had just proven that by betraying Reed and Alex, people So Mi knew V considered friends, and took down a stadium's worth of Barghest soldiers, all to get So Mi to freedom. Freedom from Hansen, from the NUSA, and from death itself.

That strain on V's face, hiding behind her beautiful smile...

God, when was the last time she had slept? She looked tired as all hell. Not to mention V was slowly dying by the minute. All that, and still she fought for her. NUSA could have cured her, there was no way V hadn't already realized that.

If she had turned So Mi in, they would have used the Neural Matrix on her.

But, V refused to betray her.

...And how does she repay her? By betraying her.

So Mi grimaced, hoping her sprained ankle would act as a decent cover for the face she was making. V didn't deserve this, not a single second of it. But...But, she couldn't tell her. What would V do? Would she still help her? After all this? What a fan-fucking-tastic time to tell her. Then again, the right time to tell V the truth about the Neural Matrix had long since passed.

At that point it had gone far beyond getting nothing in return. Now, V had been manipulated and lied to for weeks. She had been given hope, and So Mi had to take it away.

So Mi looked up again, her gaze meeting V's. Bright Red met Ocean Blue.

Dazzling Ocean Blue...

V was everything So Mi had been yearning for all these years. Someone she could trust, rely on, who would see her for more than a tool, a teammate, a weapon.

She didn't see Songbird. She saw Song So Mi.

V was tough, powerful, had seen more shit than most would see in their entire lives combined. Yet, she was so soft when she needed to be. So caring, understanding, eager to help those who needed it, even if it meant she got nothing in return. She reminded her of home.

How the hell did somebody like that have a terrorist in their brain?

So Mi eventually took hold of V's hand, allowing the merc to raise her to her feet. V was so much stronger than she looked, and So Mi wasn't expecting it, being pulled right up into V.

"Whoa. Hey, you sure you're alright?" V asked, worry in her eyes. Neither had made an effort to move away from each other as they stood completely pressed against one another. V's hand was on So Mi's arm, gently holding her in place as she examined her features.

There it was again, that concern. She didn't believe in Myers, in Sol, in Alex, none of them had her best interests in mind. Not really. But, even with her own life on the line, the ultimate ulterior motive...

V cared. She truly did.

So Mi wasn't entirely certain why she did what she did next. Well, she knew why, but not why at that exact moment. Not that it mattered anymore, she had already done it.

Without answering V's question, So Mi leaned in and softly kissed her. She felt V tense up, not fully kissing back, which was understandable. Not a surprise many would expect. After only a couple of seconds, So Mi separated from V's lips, staring blankly at the wide-eyed merc. V was in such shock that she almost didn't notice that after the kiss, So Mi's eyes flickered until returning to their natural brown color.

...Oh fuck, what had she just done?

"I-...V, I'm so sor-Mmph!"

V didn't let her finish, cutting her off to give So Mi a kiss of her own. Her hand found So Mi's cheek, her thumb caressing it as the former spy's metallic hands found her hips.

V pulled back, but didn't leave So Mi's hold, and gave a nervous laugh while shrugging her shoulders, "Sorry for what?"

"I...Hehe, a lot of things, actually. But, definitely not that."

"I...I mean, when...? Sorry, that just totally came out of left field. Don't get me wrong, I've been dying to do that for a while, but I didn't think that you wou-..." V cut herself off, hearing a mass of whispers and mumblings. They both turned their heads, looking across the homeless village and all of its very confused residents. "Right, kinda forgot where we were. The fuck are you all looking at?!"

V's bellows shocked everyone, causing them to go back to their business and ignore the runaways. So Mi looked past the gate, seeing two cars pull up on the mud road.

"Those are for us."

"Alright, c'mon." V took hold of So Mi's hand, walking her through the small village, but stopped herself once she noticed So Mi's limp. "Fuck, I forgot. Your ankle."

"I'm fine," So Mi tried to wave it off. "C'mon, we're almost the-Whoa!"

Without warning, V picked her up bridal-style with ease and continued their walk to the vehicles. So Mi knew that she really shouldn't have been shocked by how V picked her up and carried her with minimal effort, even with all of the cyberware in her system. Her battles against Barghest, both when saving Myers and just ten minutes ago in the stadium, were more than enough proof that V was one-of-a-kind in terms of physical and combat prowess.

Those soldiers didn't stand a chance. V was so far above them all that So Mi almost felt bad for the poor gonks. Half of them she didn't even have to touch or shoot, just collapsing their systems or burning out their synapses.

A pretty damn good netrunner too? V really was a woman after her own heart.

V lowered her down into the backseat of the car on the left, kneeling down once So Mi was properly settled in. "You still in pain?"

"A little, but honestly it's tolerable. But, then again, I think you gave me a little high back there."

"Hehehe. Well, whatever I can do to help. When should I hear back from you?"

"Flight is scheduled a few days from now. Keep a low profile. I'll send you the sig on where to meet me, and we'll go from there."

"Got it. Stay safe, ok?" V requested, a pleading look in her eyes as she put her hand on So Mi's thigh..

So Mi nodded, her tone soft as she rested her hand on V's, "I promise as long as you do."

"Safe is my middle na-...Ah, even I can't joke about that. I'll do my best, I swear."

So Mi couldn't help but chuckle at that as she leaned in, "I'll take it."

As their lips met again, So Mi's heart soared and ached all at the same time. Doing this, being with V felt so perfect, and yet so horrifically wrong. Soon, she would betray V. She needed to just tell her flat out, right then and there, but her damn emotions made things so much more complicated. Now, the betrayal would be so much worse for the both of them, but she just couldn't help herself. V was just so intoxicating, it was damn near painful.

Her only solace in all of this was that these emotions seemed to keep her grounded, fighting off the Blackwall. V was like her shield against the inevitable AIs...

Fuck, there she went using V again. This couldn't get worse.

"What the flying fuck?!"

V and So Mi separated, their eyes wide as they turned to face the one who yelled.

...Alex.

She stood just beyond homeless village's gate, utterly slack-jawed, Hansen's gun and knife in hand, and she wasn't the only one frozen on the spot.

This was probably the first time So Mi had ever seen V so speechless. After betraying her, of course Alex had to show up at just the right time to see them locking lips.

V knocked on the top of the car, yelling to the driver, "Go! Now!"

"Wait, V-!" So Mi tried to hold onto her hand, but V slipped out of her grasp and grabbed onto the car door.

"I'll handle it, Song. I'll text you when I'm safe." She slammed the door, leaving the driver to speed off down the road. So Mi watched V get smaller in the back window of the car, seeing V and Alex standoff.

V let out a sigh of relief as So Mi's car made it a safe distance away, her focus returning solely to Alex. She put her hands up, doing her best to show she wasn't looking for a fight.

"Alex, please, I need you to listen to me. I don't wanna fight you. I can expla-"

"How long?" Alex scowled at her, her grip on the gun tightening. "How long you been fucking her, huh? How long were Reed and I fucked? She's been stuck with Hansen since we got here, so before then? This whole fucking time?!"

"...About five minutes ago."

"...What?!"

"Hahaha!" V shifted her eyes over, seeing Johnny sitting on top of her getaway car laughing his ass off. "Gotta hand it to ya, V. I'm real damn glad it's your head I popped into. You at least make everything interesting."

'Not now, Johnny. Please?'

"Just pretend I'm not here. I'm gonna sit back and enjoy my new favorite telenovela."

V rolled her eyes, but returned her focus back to Alex. If she had made it here, Reed couldn't be too far away. She had to deal with this now, one way or another.

"Alex, it's super complicated, and I'll explain it to you as long as you promise to just calm down. I didn't want to betray you. I care about you guys, I really do. But, I can't let you take her." V's heart dropped when Alex began to slowly walk forward, her Hansen's gun trained on her. "You know Reed! Do you really think he'll just let her go? He's too loyal, we both know it. He wanted to fucking kidnap her? I'm sorry, I really, really am. But, it's her choice."

"Put your weapons on the ground, V."

V kept walking back, her scan of Alex's cyberware complete. "Alex, she hasn't had a choice in so long. Don't you know what that feels like? You've been stuck in Dogtown for years, because Myers sacrificed Reed and didn't tell you! So Mi wants to be free."

"I wanna be free too. I'm sorry, for both of you. But, I don't get my freedom without Songbird on a flight back to Washington. You have three seconds, V."

"Alex-"

"One."

"Don't make me do this."

"Two."

"Alex!"

"I'm sorry, V." Alex pulled the trigger, but all she received was a quiet clicking noise. "The fuc-?"

She pulled the trigger again, but received the same result. She looked back up at V, her heart dropping at the sight before her. V was standing tall, her eyes glowing blue, and a fierce glare on her face.

God-damn netrunners...

Alex rushed forward, Hansen's knife in hand. She slashed at V, but the merc caught her wrist and kneed Alex in the diaphragm. Using her momentum from the attack, V rolled them forward, pulling her monowire out behind Alex's back and shutting off the thermal effect. In their tumble, V wrapped the monowire around Alex's torso and landed back on her feet, using the wire to throw Alex through the air and into the nearby gate.

Alex growled as she tried to stand up, spitting out mud as she grabbed the knife again. But, suddenly, her leg started spasming, her systems warning her of a major malfunction spreading throughout all of her implants. She couldn't move, her entire system was entering lockdown mode.

"Gah!" V was suddenly on her, a hand on her throat as she was slammed against the gate's pillar. She looked down to see V staring up at her, personal jack in hand.

"I'm sorry too, Alex. Tell the same to Reed."

She slammed her personal link into Alex's neural port, breaking through her Self-ICE with ease and collapsing her system entirely. Alex went limp, with V gently readjusting to hold her in her arms.

"Ah, fuck. Fucking fuck." V grumbled as she carried Alex over to her car, doing her best to ignore all of the curious eyes on her. She put her in the backseat, got into the driver's seat, and sped off.

Once near the highway, V called Jackie's Arch to her, waiting for it on the side of the road. When it arrived, she remotely drove the getaway car behind some bushes to the best of her ability. After using Alex's phone to ping the location to Reed, she made her escape down the highway, wiping the memory of any street cameras she passed.

______CP:77______

[One Day Later: Heywood Hotel]

So Mi sat on the windowsill, her eyes peeking through the blinds every few minutes and looking out at the evening cityscape. It wouldn't do much, and chances were incredibly small that the NUS was going to find her any time soon, but you never know.

So Mi groaned, her entire body flinching from a massive spike in pain. She reached over to the chair next to the window, pulling out another booster from her bag and jabbing it into her leg. She took deep breaths as she rested back against the navy blue wall, her irritation continuing to grow.

She looked around her little room, trying to think of something to do that would waste time or take her mind off of the pain. It was a decent little place. Single bed, cherrywood floors, desk, minibar, the usual. It was completely average, so perfect for blending in. Just another room out of the thousands in Night City.

She had programmed the registry to change the name of the occupant every day and put up every type of non-noticeable security she could.

The only thing she could think of was continuing to just sit there on the windowsill, trying to recapture the memories from her pad in Brooklyn. She was so grateful for that night in Dogtown on the balcony with V. She wasn't sure if she would still have those memories if not for that.

V...

How was it that the stadium coup was the least interesting part of that day? She could still faintly feel V's lips on hers, and she did her best not to let that feeling go at all costs.

V had texted her yesterday, telling her that she had incapacitated Alex and got away. Despite standing on opposite sides, she was relieved to hear Alex was alive. It showed how much V cared about her and Reed, and So Mi couldn't help but feel a little warmer at the idea that she still chose to help her despite that.

There it was again. The pain was subsiding, being replaced by that warmth. V helped her fight, keeping her grounded in her own mind. She helped keep So Mi as So Mi. It was like the plot of a cheesy romance novel.

Love fought off the evil AI and gave her humanity back.

Love was a very, very, very strong word for whatever they had, it was just a figure of speech.

But, if V could help, then...

So Mi closed her eyes, connecting to the Relic and pushing Johnny away for a little bit. Thankfully after a while he stopped resisting, just accepting that she was trying to come through.

"V?"

"Oh, hey! Good to hear from you. You okay?"

So Mi sighed, feeling the pain start to fade a little, "For now."

"Right. Don't worry, So Mi. I'm gonna get you out of this. Speaking of which, and not that I'm not happy you called, but why are you calling? I thought you said the flight was a couple days from now."

"It is. I just wanted to talk to you. Nothing important, just...I...I wanted to hear your voice, I guess."

"O-Oh...Yeah, okay."

A glitch-like noise suddenly came in, with Johnny's voice appearing, "Just fought my way back in to quickly tell you that V's blushing right now."

"Johnny!" But, her cries fell on deaf ears as he was kicked out of the "call" again. "I-! Uh, just ignore him."

"Hmhmhm, ignore him? I should be thanking him for telling me that."

She heard V mumble something about not needing a wingman before asking, "Are you alright? Wherever you're hiding out, I mean. Do you need anything? I can grab some stuff and drop it off somewhere you can get it."

"That's sweet, but no. Thank you, though."

"No problem, babe. If you-...Oh, uh, sorry. Kinda slipped out, um...Am I allowed to call you that? Too fast?"

So Mi chuckled, leaning her head against the wall, "No, no, I...I kinda like it, actually. Keep doing it."

"Hmhmhm, okay. Babe it is."

"Honestly I sort of figured you'd want to talk about it. You and I, I mean."

"I didn't think you'd want to, really. You've got a lot to focus on right now, and you'll be leaving soon, and..."

She heard V trail off, her heart aching as she heard the disappointment in her voice. Fuck, why did things have to be so complicated? She was a fucking idiot for kissing V.

Ah, but damn it, she couldn't find the strength to regret it.

V made her feel like so much more, like herself. Or, her old self. V made her feel like she was back in Brooklyn, sitting on her windowsill. Except, this time, V was sitting right there with her, listening to life go by outside. So Mi smiled as she closed her eyes and pictured the fake memory, reveling in how it warmed her heart.

And, she didn't know how to explain it, but the Blackwall was so much quieter with V around. V was like her personal source of opium; killing the pain and just as addictive. Even this one phone call kept her stable, the corruption of the Blackwall a mere afterthought in her brain.

You know what? To hell with it. All of this was about living her own life, her way, where the NUS could go fuck itself. She had a couple days until her flight, and she was gonna spend it the way she wanted to. She had already set up the necessary precautions, the NUS wouldn't find her.

Not yet, that is. But, today would be theirs.

"Actually, V, I do need something."

"Hm? Alright, what do you need from me?"

"First, I'm gonna send you an address. When you get there, you'll see a man standing at a counter. You'll ask him for a large classic. Then, I'm going to send you a second address. At the second address, you're going to head up to Room 554 and knock six times."

"This some super-spy thing? Is 'Classic' some code that'll get me access to some secret armory, or NUS files that don't technically exist?"

So Mi smirked, her eyes flashing blue, "You'll see. Flicking over the detes now."

She awaited in silence as V received the text and searched up the address. V saw the info, blinking a few times before responding. "...This is a pizza place."

"Uh-huh. Best New York-style pizza NC has to offer."

"Well, I contacted Reed from an abandoned Captain Caliente. Is this similar?"

"Not unless you ordered food for Reed."

"Wait, this isn't some Black Ops shit? I'm actually ordering pizza?"

"And then coming over to my little hidey-hole. That a problem?"

"Wh-? Uh, no! Nonono, I'll be right there," V quickly sputtered out. So Mi giggled, listening to what she assumed was V frantically getting dressed and grabbing her things. "Just gimme a bit, I'm sort of hiding out with some Nomads right now, just outside of the city. An hour at most, I promise."

"I'll be waiting...Babe." She cut off the call, hoping that she got a decent reaction out of that.

______CP:77______

V sat in the middle of the Aldecaldo's camp, denim jacket half-on as she stood frozen, waiting for her heart to start beating again.

"Klink."

V shot out of her stupor, looking over to see the now returned Johnny sitting by on a couch around the campfire. 'What?'

"That was the sound of her putting a leash on you."

'Ugh, fuck off.'

"Hey, I wasn't judging. Whatever you're into. I'll accept anything as long as you don't fuck that cop."

V grumbled, jogging towards her car and leaving quite a few confused Aldecaldos in her wake. As she reached her Quadra, her holo appeared in her optics. Her heart dropped once she saw Reed's name appear under the contact name.

"Fuck..."

Should she answer it? She made her holo untrackable years ago, so it should be fine, but...

Fuck it.

V answered the call, with both lines being completely silent. She leaned against her car, waiting for anything. Literally anything.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...I can explai-"

"You're a disgrace, V. A disgrace to the FIA, to me, to Alex, and to yourself."

"Pretty sure you can't dictate that last one, Reed. And, last time I checked, I'm not FIA. They can take their coins and oaths and shove it. If you'll listen-"

"Why should I? You didn't listen to me. We could have helped So Mi together, but now what are you gonna do? Now you're both at the top of NUSA's shitlist."

"I'm on everyone's shitlist, Reed. Trust me, the FIA doesn't scare me. Besides, I know that's not the reason you're calling me. You know. Alex told you."

Reed sighed, looking away from the screen. "Alex told me...She told me that she saw you and So Mi..."

V sighed, "Look, Reed, it's...complicated. I made my decision to help So Mi before we were whatever we are now. Alex just caught us at the worst time."

"That supposed to explain things?"

"No, just...Fuck, look, it-"

"She's playing you, you know? What did I tell you about her? So Mi is always a few steps ahead. She wouldn't have done this to you unless she knew exactly how to play you."

"You also said she's bad at judgment calls. Which one am I?"

"Are you really willing to take that gamble? All based on this 'you're one and the same' horseshit?"

V closed her eyes, banishing the doubt creeping into the edges of her mind. "...Yeah. I am. Playing me or not, I'm gonna set her free. It's nothing against you. I just can't stand the thought of whatever fate awaits her back at the FIA, because you and I both know that it's not a prison cell, Reed. It's not death either. For her, it'll be much worse. You may have died once, but you don't know what it's like to lose yourself entirely, become lost as your own mind turns against you, never to come back. I do. Maybe it's the Silverhand in my head, but I'm standing by what I believe in. I'll fight, even at the cost of my soul. A feeling, I think, you and Johnny have in common."

"..." She was met with silence, awaiting a response from Reed. But, when she got none, she decided enough time had been wasted.

"Reed, I'm sorry. I really am, I like you and Alex. I thought we were chooms; I still think of you as friends, no matter what you think of me now. Always will. But..." V sighed, but gave in to herself and tapped into the underlying, bubbling well of Johnny's hatred she had been fighting back for weeks. "But, if you come after us, if you threaten So Mi's safety— And not what you and the FIA consider safety!— then you'll force my hand."

"Really? The two-bit merc?" Reed scoffed.

"The two-bit merc that beat Alex. The two-bit merc that wiped out half of Barghest in half-an-hour. The two-bit merc that wiped most of the Voodoo Boys off the map. The two-bit merc that's gone toe-to-toe with 'Saka, Biotechnica, Militech, Kang-Tao, every God-damn gang in this city and around it, and put down every last motherfucker that stood in her way, and threatened the people she cared about, all while walking towards her deathbed. Don't make me add you to the list, Reed. It's the last thing I want, but you said yourself that you're a dead-man walking. Come after us, and I'll finish what So Mi started seven years ago."

V hung up before Reed could even respond, slumping against her car with her head in her hands. She looked up, seeing Johnny standing in front of her with the smuggest, shit-eating grin he had.

"Don't."

"Don't what? Say I'm surprisingly kinda proud of ya?"

"Yes. I don't wanna hear it."

"Don't care. That's the kinda shit I've been wanting to hear from you. Call Kerry, tell him to add some of that to his next album."

"Didn't you just say yesterday that you and Reed were one in the same?"

"Yep. Chew me out like that and I might actually shut up for once."

"Really?"

"Not a chance."

V rolled her eyes, turning away from Johnny and getting into her car, driving back to the City of Dreams.

______CP:77______

[Some Time Later]

*Knock-Knock-Knock-Knock-Knock-Knock*

Six times. Perfect.

So Mi remotely opened the door, smiling at the sight of V holding a large pizza box. She stepped in and shut the door as quickly as possible and sighing in relief to be out of sight. Stepping into the hotel room, she found So Mi on the windowsill clearly worse for wear, but holding up. She sat in sweatpants and a green crop top with a button strap to let her cybernetics breath. V could see a sweat-soaked shirt discarded on the floor, clearly from her last, and likely failed, attempt at sleep. V was honestly surprised So Mi could still sweat to begin with.

So Mi turned her gaze to her guest, a smile gracing her lips, "Hey."

"Hey," V parroted back, her own smile mirroring So Mi's.

"Oh fuck me," She heard Johnny groan. "You're so damn mushy. I'm gonna leave you to it, poke around your memories for a while. If you don't get laid I'll be so disappointed in you."

V refused to dignify that, allowing Johnny to fade away, leaving her and So Mi alone. He was being supportive, in his weird way. She put the pizza down on the desk in the front left corner of the room, moving to sit down on the other side of the window.

Placing a hand on So Mi's knee, she gave it a light squeeze, "I know this is a stupid question, but are you feeling any better?"

"Much better, now that you're here," So Mi smiled, putting her hand on V's.

V blushed, tentatively leaning in, but paused as she was unsure where their boundaries were. So Mi, however, didn't hesitate to take V's chin and bring her into the kiss. When they pulled away, So Mi lightly tugged on a strand of V's bob, "I've been thinking about doing that all damn day."

"Me too," V chuckled, practically out of breath from that. She pecked So Mi's lips again, pulling back and pulling out her personal link. "I've also been thinking about this. May I? I wanna run diagnostics. I'm familiar with most of your chrome, I think. I'm no ripper, but I know cyberware like the back of my hand. I can at least figure out what I can do to lessen the pain, or stabilize you. At least for a bit."

"Yeah, sure. I'll take anything at this point." So Mi brushed her hair back, allowing V to jack into her neural port, her eyes flashing red and V's blue. "Hm...You should probably deactivate a lot of this."

"Oh, wow. I never thought of that before. You're a genius," So Mi deadpanned.

"Sorry..."

So Mi shook her head, waving it off, "No, I'm sorry. Just frustrated, you know? I've tried deactivating it, but I've been overridden by my own systems. Blackwall keeps it up and running."

"Mm...I think I can switch all non-essentials to low power or rest mode. It won't be much, but it should reduce the pain. I can upload my own personal Self-ICE program. Blackwall will eat it up like it's nothing, but it should slow it down for a bit."

"Distracting the lion from the hunt by throwing a steak at it."

"More or less," V chuckled.

So Mi took a deep breath, but nodded, "I'll do it. I don't wanna risk anything infecting your systems."

"Eh, I'll be fine. I've touched the Blackwall before and came out okay. Then you connected to me and nothing happened. I'm already hooked up anyway."

"Wait. You've been to the Blackwall?"

"Beyond it, actually. Broke through to find Alt Cunningham." V looked back up, smirking at So Mi's stunned expression.

"That's why you needed the Relic. They wanted to use Silverhand to get to Alt."

"Yep. Thought you knew all about me? Don't you know I'm famous for being the reason most of the Voodoo Boys are dead?"

"Jesus Christ, who did I hire?"

"Clearly the right person. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here right now."

"Hmhmhm, a good point. I doubt anyone else would be as good a kisser as you either."

"Ah, well, that's just the Full Premium V Package."

"Oh? So you kiss all your clients?"

V chuckled, shaking her head, "Besides you? Just one. Although, if Evelyn had offered I certainly wouldn't have objected."

"Just one? Who?"

"Jealous?"

"Yes!" So Mi freely admitted, causing V to burst out laughing. "Who?"

"Meredith Stout," V answered, her laughs subsiding. "Okay, she wasn't actually a client, but we cut a deal to help cripple Maelstrom. Militech hardass that helped us before Konpeki Plaza. It was just one night, for fun. Haven't seen her since. Trust me, she's got nothing on you."

"How do you know? We haven't done anything yet."

V looked back up at her, a smirk forming on her lips, "...Yet?"

Finally it was So Mi's turn to blush, trying to play it off with a casual shrug. "Who knows? Play your cards right and we'll see."

"Is that right? Well, my dear So Mi, I should warn you that I'm a hell of a card player. Aaaand, done." V jacked out, rubbing So Mi's knee. "Better?"

So Mi breathed in deep, feeling the pain fade further until it was nothing but an afterthought. She knew the absolute best she could hope for was that it lasted until tomorrow, so she would revel in her relief for as long as she could.

"Phew," So Mi nodded, shutting her eyes with a sigh, "Yeah. Thank you, Doctor V."

"Of course, Ms. Song," V played along, standing up and reaching her hand out to her. "I'm recommending plenty of bedrest, and I'm going to prescribe one dose of Probably-Getting-Cold Pizza."

Taking her hand with a smile, So Mi nodded, "Of course, Doctor."

______CP:77______

[Some Time Later]

"And all I see in the rearview mirror is Jackie running down the street, that dude's detached chrome arm gripping his shoulder, and ten Maelstrom guys chasing him!"

Pizza box folded-up and discarded into the trash, So Mi clutched her sides in laughter as she laid down on the bed, listening to V tell her stories. They had been there for hours, resting against the pillows with So Mi pressed into V's side, the merc's arm around her shoulder.

"What did you do?"

"Popped the trunk and he jumped in. We drove away, but one sharp turn later and Jackie went flying into a shop window."

"Hahaha! Definitely can't say our team had anything go that badly. NUS are perfectionists."

"And they seemed to have rubbed off on you, Ms. Hates Wrinkles in Plans."

"Maybe so, but I can't seem to stop making wrinkles."

"I suppose, but in my experience wrinkles are useful. Keeps you on your toes, teaches you to improvise, make quick judgment calls. Which Reed actually told me you struggle with."

So Mi sighed, pushing back further into the pillow, "I can't deny that he has a point with that one. But, I guess that means it's really good that you're here. We balance each other out."

"You saying I'm bad at plans?"

"Executing them? Absolutely not. Making super in-depth, complex plans? Questionable."

"Hey, you don't always need complex plans."

"True, especially if you have the skill to back them up."

"Mhm. I have to ask, though. Was this, you and I, a wrinkle?"

"A wrinkle, yeah. But, a good wrinkle," So Mi smiled, holding V's hand that was on her arm. "I haven't been in a relationship in a very long time, V. Or, whatever we are. My last boyfriend was back in Brooklyn, and at this point I can barely remember his face. I don't even remember his name now. Hell, I haven't really had friends for a long time. None that were also teammates that you had to assassinate, or want to turn you over for high treason. Admittedly, a lot of fuck ups on my part in that case, but still. What I'm trying to say is, V, I-...I'm so grateful that you did this. I know you liked Reed and Alex, but I-"

V shook her head, kissing above So Mi's brow, "Don't worry about it, okay? You know Reed better than me, so you know things wouldn't have gone the best if I tried to use that ICE-breaker on you. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else other than here."

"But, I-...I'm happy we're here too, but I guess I'm just a little surprised that you chose me. Even after our talk on the balcony, I've done so much. A lot of people have gotten hurt and/or died because of me. I hid so much from you. When we were standing over the Neural Matrix, I have to admit I was fucking terrified. When you said that you were with me, I had never felt so relieved."

"I won't lie and say I wasn't conflicted about the situation, but I knew my decision was made a long time ago. Listen, I...It..." V tried to gather her thoughts, only rolling onto her side once she was satisfied. She propped herself up onto her elbow as she gazed down at So Mi. "I want you to be happy. I devoted my life to being a merc, a legend, but...it's cost me a lot. I know how it feels for your identity, your memories, to be stripped from you. I know how it feels to have your own fuck-ups thrown back at you, alongside everyone else doing their damndest to fuck you over at all times. I know what it's like to feel betrayed, and...I know what it feels like to betray. I've done so much bad in my life. I'm sure I've caused a lot of pain I'll never even know about. I like to help others when I can, but deep down I know I've lived a selfish life. I'm constantly around people who only care about themselves. Hell, before Johnny changed, I had the biggest example of that in my head. I just...In this shit fucking world, filled to the brim with people who only care about themselves, then...I...I don't know, I probably sound like a gonk, but..."

"Not a gonk at all," So Mi reached up as she heard V trail off, caressing her cheek as she listened intently. "Please, continue."

V covered So Mi's hand with her own, smiling a little, "If I do die, then I at least did something I thought was right. I saved someone from the same fate I'm going through. The thought of you out in the world, cured, free, I-...When it came down to the wire, I realized I had already made my choice. If I don't make it, and I never achieve my dreams, never become a legend, then at least I know I died doing good for once. At least, what I believe to be good, helping the people I care about. The world won't remember me, but they will. And...And, I think that's enough for me."

...Fuck.

Her pain returned, but it wasn't the Blackwall. It was the overwhelming torture machine that was her conscience.

So Mi wanted more than anything than to tell V that she wouldn't die, that she would get her through this. But, she just couldn't. After all this, if V knew the truth, what would she do? Would she abandon her? Try to take the Neural Matrix? Kill her?

Her heart and mind both told her V wouldn't do that, especially after her confession. But, her fear— No, her cowardice— kept her mouth shut.

Her heart was ripping her to shreds. How could she do this to the person who had done so much for her, even after only knowing her for a short time.

V was a better woman than her; she was so strong. She couldn't help but admire V more than anyone she knew. V had the strength to look Death in the eye and come to terms with her own mortality, finding at least some peace in the event of her possible approaching oblivion.

So Mi couldn't. She just couldn't. She was so afraid, petrified under Death's gaze. It was too soon, she was too young, she didn't want to go.

But, she needed to tell V what she was doing, expose her own lies.

V fought like Hell for her. V shed blood for her. V betrayed those she deemed friends for her. V became an enemy of an entire God-damn country for her. V was willing to sacrifice herself for her.

V fell...for her.

The growing problem was that she fell for V too. But, So Mi didn't deserve her. V definitely didn't deserve to go through this. She wished so desperately that she could have V's strength.

She wished that she had the strength to give her key to life over to save someone else.

"V, I-...I need to tell you...I-..."

But, she couldn't.

She gazed up at her, choking on her own words as she looked into V's eyes, feeling the warmth of her hand in hers. Why couldn't V have been a merc in Brooklyn? Why couldn't they have met years ago. If anyone could have talked her out of breaching that Militech Datafort, it was her. They could have worked together, been damn near unstoppable. At this point, she would take meeting V back when she was on assignment in NC. No Blackwall corruption, no Relic. Maybe they could have run away together...

But, it was too late now. All they had now was a couple days. She wanted to spend it as happily as they could make it, before they were thrown into Hell again.

If she couldn't will herself to tell V the truth she should hear...

Then, she would tell her the truth she wanted her to hear.

She rolled over onto her side, laying an arm over V's waist as she leaned in. "...I want you."

So Mi didn't mean to sound so out of breath when she said it, but she chalked it up to yearning for it even more than she had realized.

V felt like she was hit with whiplash with how sudden and blunt So Mi was. She felt So Mi wrap her arms tightly around her and nuzzle into her neck. She felt the former spy's warm sigh against her skin as she basked in the contact and affection.

Well, how could he deny her?

"How long has it been since someone held you?"

So Mi hummed as V's hand ran down her chest, over her abdomen, stopping to ghost just over her waistline. "Long time."

V kissed her neck, leaving tiny nibbles on her skin, "How long has it been since you've...been with someone?"

"I officially didn't exist, and on missions there was never any real downtime," So Mi brushed her lips against the top of V's head as the merc lightly bit at her collarbone. "No talking to anyone you didn't have to. No risks at any cost. Reed's direct orders. So, what do you think?"

V's head rose to rest her forehead against hers, the tip of her middle finger barely sliding under the waistband of So Mi's pants, "May I?"

So Mi grabbed V's wrist, sliding her hand all the way inside of her clothing, "Please..."

Their lips clashed together, So Mi's hand grasping the back of V's hair. Her hips bucked slightly, a sharp inhale as V's fingers pressed against her entrance and gently rubbed in slow circles. V's other hand reached back, unclipping the band of her crop top. It had to be annoying to need all of this specially designed clothes for her body.

What some might consider a first-world problem, V could only see it as another piece of So Mi's life that was stripped away from her.

So Mi put her hand over her chest, keeping her top from falling. "V, I-...It might not be what you think."

V didn't answer verbally. Instead, she pulled back to sit on her knees, gently pulling So Mi to sit up. She delicately caressed her sides, fingers brushing the hem of the top. Her hands dragged up and onto her shoulders, moving down to So Mi's cybernetic-fingers. She took both of So Mi's hands in hers, bringing them up to kiss each finger, keeping her gaze locked onto So Mi's as her lips moved down the metal. She kissed the underside of her arms, exposed wires and all.

She kept going, crawling around So Mi to kiss her back, her lips hungrily pressing against the cage that were meant to be her shoulder blades.

So Mi sighed, understanding that V was trying to say that she was obviously aware of her abundance of cybernetics. But, more importantly, she didn't give a single damn about them. She didn't just still find her beautiful, but still wanted her badly.

She moved away the hand on her chest, shrugging her shoulders forward and allowing the top to fall down her arms. V took the garment, dropping it to the floor, and moving back in front of So Mi to gaze at her breasts.

Or, what was left of them. Her breasts were now covered in a skin-colored shielding; soft to the touch, but not what So Mi wanted. They weren't quite as stimulating as they used to be, despite her nerve-endings being fully connected, but at least there was something. Perhaps when she was cured, she could get replacements.

But, despite voicing her reluctance to V, all she saw in the merc's eyes was lust as her gaze was fixated on her body. V leaned down, her hand delicately grasping So Mi's left breast, squeezing lightly.

So Mi let out a quiet moan, nuzzling her nose into V's hair. Okay, at this point she was convinced V was just fucking magic, cause that was definitely far more stimulating than her breasts had felt in forever.

V straddled her, letting her jacket fall off her shoulders and dropping it to the floor. So Mi unclipped V's belt, tossing it to the side as their cores grinded against each other. She reached up, taking her turn to grasp V's breasts through her netrunner suit. God, she was beautiful. So Mi unzipped the suit, opening it up to give her lips full access to V's modest chest.

Hearing V moan her name made everything in Dogtown worth it by a long shot. V made sure she paid her back in full with her own name by the end of the night.

For the night, the NUS didn't exist. Night City didn't exist. They weren't two dying women, grasping at every straw they could in hopes for survival.

It was just them. That was all they wanted, and needed.

______CP:77______

[Two Days Later: Northern City Center]

"V, I...I'm so sorry." So Mi looked back up to the small camera she had set up in the van she had acquired. V was out for the moment to get more boosters, but it wouldn't be long before she got back. So, So Mi took this time to let out the mental tortures her mind had been going through for the last couple of days. "This, it...it wasn't supposed to go like this. I'm so fucking stupid for kissing you, but...I can't say I regret it. It would just be another lie. By the time you're seeing this, you'll have known how our story ended. Gotta admit, I'm a smidge jealous. Maybe I'm on the Moon. Maybe you've handed me over to Myers. Maybe...Maybe you've just shot me. I don't believe you'd do the last two, but I'd completely understand if you did either of them. I've been chipping away at my fear, trying so hard to tell you about the Neural Matrix. I hope, at least by the time you see this, I'll have already told you. No matter what happens, you'll get an automated signal to this shards location. I-...I've tried to tell you about the Neural Matrix so many times, but I...I was just so scared you'd..."

So Mi lowered her head, clenching her eyes shut as she tried to push through her confessions. How could she do this? She should be saying this right to V's face, not some shit camera.

"Hiring you was the best decision I've ever made, even if we don't make it out of this. These last couple of days I've been dreaming about never joining the FIA. You don't move to Atlanta, but instead you move to Brooklyn. We meet, become partners, become so much more. It could be I'm speeding up the process of our relationship because we both don't have much time, but it's a nice thought, I think. Hell, at this point I'd even take still joining the NUS. Maybe we meet while I was on assignment here. Could've run away together, you and I. I...I don't know...I just hope you know that despite my deceit, none of what I feel for you is fake. It's all real. Every. Last. Second of it."

So Mi felt a spike of pain aching all over her body, clutching her side as she leaned back against the van wall. She grit her teeth, picking up the camera and looking straight at the lense. "I don't have much time left. You've extended it, but I've got days at best. Maybe a week, but...No matter what happens, I need you to know that you've made the last few days the best I've had since joining the FIA. Hell, probably even before then. You've made me feel like me again, after so long. I don't know how you do it, but you've kept me...Me. You keep the Blackwall at bay, and I...I wish I could've been more for you in return. But, all I am is a liar, a coward, a hypocrite, and worst of all I'm a traitor. I don't give a damn about betraying the NUS, but betraying you? I...Fuck, V, I know you understand me. You know how this feels; the crippling, never-ending fear, the loss of your identity, the never-knowing which internal attack will be your last. So, I know you can at least understand why I lied, did what I did, and I just hope...Whether I'm free, killed by the FIA or by you, I hope someday you can forgive me."

So Mi ended the recording, sliding over to the back door and peeking out. Once she confirmed she was alone, she tossed the shard over to a pile of trash, landing in a Chinese takeout carton.

So Mi moved back to the far corner, sighing as she rested her head in her hand. Where the hell was V? She didn't even care about the booster at that point, she just wanted to see her. So Mi just counted herself lucky that V's touch and presence were still effective methods of pain reduction. V had already playfully chided her for asking her to stay, despite being the one to suggest splitting up.

But, So Mi really didn't give a shit. After that call V got from Reed, she was fully confident the FIA wasn't close to finding them. She very possibly was on her last days in this life, so she was gonna spend it however the fuck she wanted to.

Even if V didn't suppress the corruption, she wanted to be with her.

Speak of the Devil...

The back doors opened, revealing a blonde woman with rosy cheeks and green eyes holding a small shopping bag. "Got the boosters."

She hopped in and shut the doors, her face suddenly morphing as V deactivated her Imprint-Synced Faceplate. Her pale skin, black, messy bob, and light dusting of freckles across the middle of her face returned.

"Much better," So Mi smiled.

"Aw, what? You don't like Alli?"

"Alli's gorgeous, but I like V much better. I still think it's weird that you named your fake face."

"You would if you could."

"Hmhmhm, yeah. Probably. I'll take a booster, please. I'll trade you a kiss for it."

V feigned a gasp, moving to sit behind So Mi. "Now that's what I call a steal."

After pulling So Mi back between her legs, V injected the booster into So Mi's leg, stroking her hair as the spy rested against her chest. "Better?"

"Mhm," So Mi nodded, turning into V's chest. "We've gotta move soon."

V sighed, dreading what was to come, but still hopeful. "I'll take the wheel."

"You have remote vehicle hacking, right?"

"Course, why?"

So Mi hugged V tighter, keeping her in place, "'Cause I'm not letting go."

"Hmhmhm, fine by me." V took control of the van, pulling out of the alley and heading towards NCX.

So Mi had finally told her that the clinic was on the Moon on their second day in the hotel. V asked to go with her, but she had told her that she was only able to negotiate one ticket now, one ticket later. If anyone else showed up on that rocket, things wouldn't end well.

Which, in So Mi's defense, was only a half-lie.

They only offered her one ticket, and there was no way V could tag along without making the clinic angry, especially since this whole thing was supposed to be a secret.

But, she never exactly asked for a second ticket either. And, there wasn't going to be one.

So Mi felt her stomach churn, feeling sick to her stomach. It had been happening off and on the past couple of days, and it wasn't the Blackwall. It was guilt. So much overwhelming guilt. It should be winning, but fear had it in an unbreakable chokehold.

But, something slipped out.

"...V?"

"Hm?"

"I've...I've hurt so many people; wronged so many. Sometimes I think hurting people is inevitable."

V nodded, kissing the top of her head, "In life, yes, it is. We all do our best, but it's just a part of the process, even when you don't mean to. You have to help yourself sometimes. Your life is your responsibility to look after, and unfortunately other's might suffer for it. Just life. But, sometimes, you just gotta do your damndest not to hurt the one soul you care most deeply about. It might cost you...It...It might cost you everything. But, for them? You'd do anything, even give up everything."

Forget stomach churning. So Mi felt like she was just punched so hard that it took everything she had not to puke all over the back of the van. If there was a God, or gods, or whatever, then that was his idea of humor.

"V, I-...I'm so sorry."

"Hey, don't worry about it. Don't think too hard on it, okay? Others have hurt you too; manipulated you. Now we're here trying to fix it. Don't think I'm just trying to rationalize your decisions either. I'm just stating facts. If anyone here is trying to reverse their selfish mistakes, it's me. Just rest up, you'll need it."

"Yeah, okay...okay..." So Mi nodded, taking a deep breath as she tried to focus less on that and more on the arms around her. "I don't think you're selfish. Not more than anyone else in this shit world, anyway. In my limited time with you, you've been the most caring person I've known. You're good at this too, you know? Comforting and sharing worldly wisdom."

"Wisdom? Sure, let's go with tha- Shut the fuck up, Johnny. I can hear you laughing."

"Hmhmhm. I think I'm starting to like him."

"Eh, he's a piece of shit, but he somehow has that effect on people. He still thinks you have shit taste in music."

"Right back at him."

V's eyes flickered blue, craning her neck to look past the driver's seat and out of the windshield, "We're almost there. Are you ready?"

"Don't have a choice," So Mi sighed, moving up and turning in V's hold to look at her. "Remember the plan?"

"Leave my iron, head inside and don't talk to anybody. I sneak my way into Tycho Terminal and get you inside."

"Perfect. I already packed all your gear into the bag. I'll bring it with me."

"Got it. Don't be afraid to use anything in there. Johnny's very particular about who uses his Malorian, but he can suck it up. Keep it until we're done, I'll manage with Alex's pistol. I'll put the rest of the boosters in the bag, too. I should warn you, though. Last time I had to pull off something like this and leave my guns in the car, it didn't end well."

"Stop that. You're better than you were, in every way."

"True enough, I suppose. Besides, I'm fighting for a lot more now." V nudged her forehead against So Mi's, topping it off with a peck on her lips. "We've come a long way since you made contact."

"In a lot of very unexpected ways," So Mi agreed. "But, we're not done yet."

"Mhm," V nodded, feeling the van come to a stop. "...Final stretch."

______CP:77______

[NCX Helipad: Vents]

...So things weren't going exactly as planned.

"Just be sure not to shoot her in the head," they heard Myers spit out as she walked away. Hiding in the nearby maintenance vents, So Mi and V watched as the NUS operatives began to spread out across the rooftop, with Myers and Reed splitting up and vanishing from sight.

"This is bad," So Mi whispered, head in her hands. "We're fucked."

"Bullshit we are. She's not getting us, plain and simple."

"You don't know her. To satisfy her lust for revenge, she'd pull me outta hell."

"Yeah?" V scoffed. "Well, she doesn't know me. To those who try and hurt the people I care about, I'm the fuckin' Reaper. If they're looking for Hell, I'm standing right here."

V took her hand, hiding her smirk at So Mi's impressed expression.

'...You just put that all in my head, didn't you?'

"Maybe," She heard Johnny chuckle in her mind. "It's all true though. These politico-fucksticks got nothing on you."

'That's...strangely sweet, in your weird terrorist brain way."

"Hey, I'm not so bad all the time. Just a vast majority of it."

So Mi followed V through the tunnels, V's words echoing throughout her mind. She knew that V had never faced off against a small team of Black Ops soldiers, much less the small army of them that were there.

But, she had underestimated V's abilities once already. She'd believe in her this time.

______CP:77______

[NCX Tycho Terminal Bar and Lounge]

Yep, she definitely believed in V.

She had watched V completely decimate four dozen agents like it was a normal Tuesday for her. Sparks exploded out of neural ports, limbs were diced off with monowire, armor and helmets were completely blasted through.

It was like a nightmare out there. But, in terms of simply focusing on watching V move and fight, analyzing her skill, So Mi had to admit...

Pretty damn hot.

...That probably said a lot of worrying things about her, but she had no time to focus on that, especially with V finishing up and calling for her.

"So Mi! It's clear!"

Shaken out of her thoughts, So Mi walked down the hall and into the lounge. She sat down in one of the plush chairs, taking a quick breather before the next wave of Hell. And, of course, V was at her side in an instant.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, just catching my breath while we can."

V knelt down next to her, plugging into So Mi's neural port, "Lemme give you a once over."

"Just gimme access to my own bio. I'll figure it out."

"Mhm. There."

So Mi looked over the screen in her optics, sighing as she exited out, "I'll overclock the compensators. Hope they can take it."

"Ah, c'mon, you're a tough girl."

"You're a tough girl, V. I'm both an unlucky and lucky girl who's making a mess of things."

"Hey, you're doing pretty good, I say."

"For an extreme egoist?"

"Stop that," V knelt down, cupping So Mi's cheeks and forcing her gaze to meet her own. "When's the last time you had the choice to focus on your own self-interest? Now, let's get our shit together, and make it through this."

So Mi sighed, leaning into V's touch. "Okay. Let's go."

"Here, let me-"

"No," So Mi waved off her helping hand. "I think I can..."

With a grunt, So Mi got up onto her feet with little trouble. V chuckled, placing a hand on her back, "Look at that. Stronger already."

So Mi shook her head, hand on V's arm. "No...It's you. I don't know how, but you keep me up 'n running."

They walked to the metal gate at the doors, the wall between them and the FIA. "Like I said, the Full Premium V Package. Hmm, looking a little better too."

So Mi scoffed in disbelief as she leaned against the doorway, "You mean that?"

"Honest. Although, to be fair, I'm biased since I think you always look good. In fact, that's one of the many things about you on my mind constantly."

So Mi rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop a smile from forming on her lips, "What did I sign up for when getting with you?"

V grinned smugly, reaching down to lift up the gate, "I've got like fifty more of those lines in my back pocket, so you tell me."

Once the gate was lifted, and the sound of the helicopter returned, their battle raged on.

______CP:77______

[Tycho Terminal Monorail Station]

So Mi thought that V's assault at the lobby was impressive, but as it turns out, V made the surprise attack on her a surprise attack on the agents.

She peeked out from behind the pillar she was hiding behind, seeing V throw the last agent over the glass railing and into the water below.

"So Mi! Let's go!"

So Mi rushed to the tower. Once inside, she hooked herself up to the system as V came in behind her.

"The monorail is gonna be slow as hell," So Mi growled out.

"There's gotta be a subnet."

So Mi shook her head, "It's bound to be slower by eons."

"Not suggestin' you use it, suggestin' you gate it off."

"Outflanking maneuver? Possible. I'll drop an ICE-drape on the junction. Have I mentioned how much I find you being a 'runner incredibly attractive?"

"You could stand to say it more." A bullet suddenly hit the back window, thankfully stopped by the bulletproof glass. "Shit. Keep that train coming, lock off the tower. I'll keep them off of you."

"Be careful," So Mi reached back, taking her hand in hers.

"Do my best," V kissed her, separating to slide under the metal gate, getting back out into the fray. She overclocked her netdrive, blasting through every agent in front of her, vanishing out of sight with her optical camo.

Her battle with the FIA ran on for what felt like an eternity, but V held out strong. They didn't touch her, and they didn't get near So Mi.

...Until the helicopter came back.

"Fuck!" V lashed out her monowire at the group of agents she was on, leaping up to the tower and sliding under the metal gate as it shut behind her. So Mi was huddled behind the control terminal, doing her best to stay out of sight as agents began to pile up onto the bridge.

"You hurt?" V rushed to her side, yelling over the gun fire and the chopper rotors.

"I got lucky," So Mi nodded, but she turned to V with fear in her eyes. "But, I...I have to pierce the Blackwall. It's the only way."

"Fuck going in alone. Run it through me, Neural bridge. I'll be your backup."

"I don't know if that's sa-"

V cut her, already jacking in, "Don't matter now. Just do it! Focus on me!"

So Mi nodded, taking the plunge, already feeling the burn spread across her skin. Pain went coursing through her body as her back arched, her limbs locking up as she fell backwards.

Her vision went dark.

______CP:77______

She couldn't see.

She couldn't feel anything, except an overwhelming pressure.

Maybe that was it. Maybe that last dive was all her body could take, and she'd die. Not like she didn't deserve anything less. At the very least V could make it out, take the Neural Matrix. She had to have friends in high places that could use it for her.

V...

Her vision was suddenly filled with her apartment in Brooklyn. So Mi gasped as she took in her new surroundings. She sat at her windowsill, cherry blossoms outside, the sound of people hustling and bustling on the sidewalk, a party going on just down the street.

Celebrating a Thursday...

The memory she had told V about in Dogtown. V reminded her of home, after all.

The skies were turning black, red code darting across the void. She turned back to her apartment, seeing it all disappear into the same red code.

The Blackwall.

It was over, wasn't it? This was the last fragment of her memories that she had left, and it was about to be taken away. But, where was she? This felt too real.

So Mi turned back to the window, watching New York crumble away into darkness. She never found the strength to tell V the truth. But, if she died, it wouldn't matter anyway. It just wasn't how she wanted her story to go. If only she had V's strength, her loyalty, her faith in people.

V was born and bred in Night City. She didn't think people from NC could have that level of compassion and conviction, unless it was for themselves.

...Perhaps she had been projecting.

So Mi closed her eyes, leaning her head against the cool glass. If the Blackwall gave her one thing, it did allow her to be in the one place in the world she wanted to be when she died.

She just wanted more time. More time here, more time at home.

...More time with V.

"Hey, babe."

So Mi's eyes shot open as she felt arms encircle her body, warmth pressing firmly against her back. She craned her neck, finding V sitting behind her, a warm smile on her face. V kissed her temple, nuzzling into her hair.

"H-...Hey." So Mi didn't fight back. She merely leaned back into V's touch, hugging the merc's arms closer to her.

The Relic.

She was in the Relic.

The Relic had been copying pieces of her when she linked up to it. This was the thought she had before, about her and V in Brooklyn together. Her memories were taken, merging with a fragment of V's mind in the Relic.

Or, maybe it was a fragment of her memory of V. She didn't know, nor really care.

So Mi looked back out the window, seeing the Blackwall had retreated. Both Brooklyn and her apartment had returned to normal. Back home, no pain, in the arms of someone she deeply cared for...

It was perfect.

V hummed, and So Mi loved the vibrations she felt on her back. "What are you thinking about?"

So Mi scoffed, shaking her head as she felt her eyes well up, looking out at home one last time. "...I want to stay here forever. With you. But, I know I've gotta go back. You're still out there, and I can't leave you alone. You would never leave me alone, and...and I have to tell you the truth. Far too late, I know, but...it has to be me. Face-To-Face, not some shitty recording. Whatever you and I have become deserves so much more than that...You deserve so much more than that. I gotta get what's comin' to me."

"V" rested her chin on So Mi's shoulder, holding her tighter, "...What are we gonna do then? What's gonna happen?"

"I don't know. But, we have this, and I...I think that's enough for me."

~So Mi! So Mi, wake up! So Mi! So Mi, c'mon, wake up! So Mi!~

______CP:77______

So Mi's eyes shot open, the cold rain smacking against her face as the screams of FIA agents rang out into the night air. To her left was the monorail, and in front of her were dozens of agents spasming and yelling as red sparks blasted out of their eyes. She turned her head, seeing V's hand reached out towards them, the Blackwall at her will.

Of fucking course V could handle it.

"V?" V's gaze shot over to So Mi's, her eyes lighting up.

"He-? Hahaha! Thank fuck!" They made it inside the monorail, the doors sliding shut behind them. As the train took off, V sat them down and turned So Mi by the cheek to look at her. "I thought I lost you there. Are you okay?"

"Physically? Better than I expected, worse than you'd think. Mentally? I...I'm not doing so hot?"

"Blackwall?"

So Mi sighed, shaking her head, "...No."

V knit her brows together, scooting closer and putting her arm across So Mi's back. "What are you talking about?"

"I-I...um..." So Mi felt her chest clenched up, her stomach running in circles as tears welled up in her eyes. Fuck, she could do this. "I used to have the same damn nightmare about Reed. That same night, same damn train. Three shots ring out in my mind."

V nodded, rubbing her back in circles, "Reed's probably having the same nightmare. He told me about it."

"I regret it, I do. I didn't want to, but I...I can't go back now. But, these last few days I've been having a different dream. The most beautiful dream I've ever had. I'm back home, in your arms. And, the best part about it is whenever I woke up I was in your arms. It was amazing...and yet it was torture."

V was taken aback, nervously scoffing, "Jesus, was I really that bad?"

"No, not that. You were perfect in every way. The problem was me. All I could think about was how much you had done for me, continue to do for me...and all I've done is betray you."

Nothing felt worse than the feeling of V's hand leaving her body, moving to grip the back of the seat they shared. She lowered her head, looking up at So Mi with drastically increasing worry in her eyes. "...What do you mean?"

"I-...I-..."

"So Mi?"

"V, I-...The Neural Matrix, it...it's a one-time use." She could practically hear V's heart stop, even over her own beating wildly in her ears. She held back sobs, her diaphragm clutching up as she tried to choke the rest out. "I'll release the captured AI, it'll run its course, and it...it'll fizzle out. Irretrievably."

V was frozen before her, mouth slightly agape, eyes wide, not breathing. Fuck, this hurt so much worse than she even anticipated, and that just meant V's pain was infinitely worse.

So Mi blinked tears out of her vision, feeling them trickle down her face as she tried to reach out to V. "I-I'm sorry. I tried to tell yo-...I wanted...I'm so, so sorry-"

But, as her hand came out, V backed away out of reach. She slid out of the seat, stumbling back until she hit the other row of seats. She slid down to the floor, staring at nothing.

"V? V, please say something?" So Mi meekly cried out. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"...How long?" V finally responded, her eyes not meeting So Mi's. "How long have you known?"

"I...I started looking into Cynosure, and I-"

"Whole time?"

"...Whole time. I-It wasn't supposed to be like this. I didn't mean-"

"But, you did." V cut her off, her voice completely monotone. "You did mean it. Whole time, I was fucked, and that was all a part of your plan."

"I-I didn't mean for this, you and I, to happen. I'm so, so happy that it did, but...at the time, when I didn't know you, I didn't care. But, I do now. I was just so afraid you'd leave-"

"I wouldn't have," V seethed out.

"I didn't know that. But...I do now. And, I...I think it's time I correct my mistakes for once." So Mi lifted up her transparent green shirt, tapping the left side of her abdomen, opening up the compartment with the Neural Matrix. Using her free hand to fruitlessly wipe away tears, she carefully pulled it out, her hand extending to V. "Take it."

"So Mi-"

"Take it, V. Make a deal with Reed, or get on the rocket yourself, or find someone who can use it on you, but I'm begging you to take it. I've done too much, I don't deserve this." She watched V sigh, getting back up and sitting down next to her again. "Just leave me here. They'll find me. Myers doesn't care about you, it's only me she wants. Just take i-Mmph."

She couldn't finish, as much to So Mi's surprise, V pressed their lips together. When their lips separated, V kept their foreheads together as she placed her hand over So Mi's, and pushed the Neural Matrix away.

"V?"

"Sshh, it's okay." She could see so much pain behind V's eyes, but she still wore such a soft smile as she brushed the hair out of So Mi's face. "I'll be alright."

"No, V, take it."

"I can't."

"V-"

But, she wouldn't hear it. She gently pushed the Neural Matrix into its compartment, closing it back into So Mi's side.

"So Mi...it's okay."

"It's not," So Mi spoke through a sob. "You have to-"

"The only thing I've gotta do is get you on that ship. That's all I care about."

So Mi sat completely stunned, not able to find any more words to say. What was she doing? V was angry for like, twenty seconds, and then just seemingly banished it all away. Before she could find anything else to say, the monorail stopped, the rocket before them.

It was time.

"Alright," V hooked her arms under So Mi, picking her up bridal-style. "Let's get you to the moon, baby."

So Mi was still in stunned silence as they exited the train and made their way inside the waiting area. She could see that V was still holding back so much hurt, but kept it down. "V, I-I...I don't understand."

"Anything for the one soul you care most deeply about. Even if it costs you everything. Remember?"

"But, I... I wanna do that for you. You don't deserv-"

"What I deserve? So Mi, I don't deserve anything more than you do. I don't care what you say. I'm happy that you want to save me, but that's what you get for being too late, babe. I'm in the position to save you, and you can't stop me. I'll find another way."

"V-"

But, she was cut off again with another kiss. "So Mi...It's okay."

V was right about one thing. She couldn't stop her. She was much too weak at this point, her body was basically limp in V's arms. V had done all of this to set her free, to finally give her a choice.

And, now, this was V's choice.

So Mi buried her face into V's shoulder, trying to hold on to the feeling, hoping she could commit it to memory.

She felt the rain hit them again, signifying that they had made it to the walkway. They made it...

Until she heard V mumble, "Shit..."

"Put her down, V!"

So Mi instantly recognized the voice, not turning around to look.

Reed.

"That an order?" V scoffed, yelling over the rain.

"Put. Her. Down." V internally sighed, really wishing it didn't end this way. She looked down at So Mi, finding her eyes closed and her body motionless aside from soft breathing. Had she fallen asleep? V did as she was told, slowly putting So Mi down on the ground and pulling Her Majesty out from her denim jacket. Reed walked up to them, his own gun in hand. "So, how are we doing this?"

"The question is: Do you really wanna do this? The fact that I'm here means you know what happened to your army. Really, after all this, you think you stand a chance, Reed? I don't wanna kill you, man. Please don't make me."

"It's gone too far to let you go, V. Death is all that awaits her on the Moon."

"And what awaits her back at the NUS?! Huh?! You're doing this for your fucking self, to make you feel better, cause you think you failed her. Yeah, well, Reed, you are fucking failing her. Right now! But, no, Reed the Human-Being was beaten by Reed the Soldier. That what you want to be remembered as when they drape a flag across your casket?

Reed grimaced, shaking his head, "You'll never understand."

"I do understand. I definitely understand loyalty, even when you're loyal to those who fuck you over."

Reed raised a brow, squinting at her, "What do you mean?"

"...You were right. So Mi had a play in mind. The Neural Matrix only works on one person."

"Of fucking course. Then why are you still doing this?"

V chuckled dryly, shrugging her shoulders, "You know why. Devotion to something, a person or principles, is overwhelming. Just can't shake it. Difference between you and I though, Reed? She might've betrayed me, but...what we had together was real. I at least have that comfort, and always will. You're just a toy. But, you don't have to be. Just let us pass, man. Please? No one else has to die."

She watched Reed analyze every word she said, hoping with all she had that the conflict she could clearly see on his face won out in both of their favor. However, her hopes were dashed as Reed raised his gaze back up, steely gaze returning.

"I'm sorry, V. You've got three seconds."

"Reed..."

"Three."

"C'mon, Reed! Listen to yourself! Listen to your fucking heart for once! I know you got one!"

"Two."

V tightened her grip on her pistol, her heart already growing heavy. "...I'm sorry, Reed."

Three gunshots rang into the air. None of them came from Reed.

...They didn't come from V either.

V stood shell-shocked as she watched Reed fall to his knees, hand on his chest as he looked down at the three holes piercing his torso. She looked down, seeing So Mi lying on her back, Johnny's Malorian aimed directly at Reed. Her arm fell down, pain in her eyes as Reed's gaze met her.

"Mission, hah...Accomplished," She panted out, her tears disappearing into the rain. "No risks...at any cost."

Reed coughed up blood, staring in shock at So Mi. But, a smile twitched onto his face, a weak chuckle escaping his lips at So Mi's words. Reed's weak laughs eventually faded away, his body going limp.

Johnny appeared at the railing with his own baffled look at the scene before him, "...Fucking Hell."

"Fuck," V mumbled out, shaking out of her stupor to pick So Mi back up and head towards the shuttle, trying not to look at Reed.

So Mi breathed heavily as they got into the shuttle, "I-I...I didn't want you to have that burden. I know you liked Reed, and I...I didn-"

"I know," V shushed her as she put So Mi in her seat, fastening her seat belt. She caressed So Mi's cheek, smiling for her. "Thank you. I would've done i-"

"I know," So Mi mimicked V, cutting her off. "But, do anything for the one soul you care most deeply about, right?"

V chuckled dryly, but nodded. She hooked So Mi up to the shuttle's life support system. Her vitals weren't what one would call good, or even passable, but she'd make it to the Moon.

"Okay...This is it, So Mi."

So Mi's eyelids were growing heavy, a few more stray tears falling down her face as she held V's cheek. "V..."

"Yeah?"

"...Please don't die. I wanna see you again."

V chuckled, turning to kiss her So Mi's palm. "Wouldn't dream of it."

She brought So Mi in, sharing a long, deep kiss, both knowing it was the last one for a long time.

Maybe forever.

As their lips separated, So Mi felt consciousness begin to slip away from her again. But, it wasn't a painful shock like before. It was...nice. Soothing.

The last thing she saw was V's beautiful eyes gazing into her own, hoping it wouldn't be the last time she ever saw them.

She dreamt of Brooklyn, in the arms of the woman who gave her everything.

______CP:77______

So Mi went limp in her seat, V's heart aching like Hell. She pulled out a data shard, slotting it into her chip slot, her eyes flashing blue.

"What are you doing?" she heard Johnny ask.

"Making some edits...Done." She pulled out the shard, slipping it into So Mi's pocket. She took her Malorian back, placing a kiss on So Mi's head. "See you in the stars, So Mi."

She left the shuttle, walking over to Reed's body and kneeling down next to it. She placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently, wishing she had something to say. But, she walked away, promising that she would remember him fondly until her own time came.

V got back to the waiting area, sitting down on one of the chairs, bringing her knees to her chest as the rocket engines fired up outside.

Johnny appeared before her, looking out the window with her. "You gotta admit, that chick had more follow-through than anybody I've ever seen. I respect her."

"Mhm..."

"And, Reed...He was-"

"Johnny," V stopped him, her voice quiet. "We can talk later, just...Not now. Please?"

Johnny turned back to her, sighing through his nose as he vanished and reappeared next to her as he took off his sunglasses. "You know...I feel what you feel. Right now, it's a fucking nuke of emotions from anger, fear, sadness...Don't gotta hold back around me. In a way, I know how you feel, I guess. Alt and I weren't exactly similar to you two, but feeling's are all the same."

"Johnny..."

"And, hey, you've still got me. I'm not leaving ya."

"Johnny, you can't leave me."

"True, but..." Johnny reached out, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Even if I could, I still wouldn't."

"Hm...Thanks, Johnny." She looked back out the window, seeing the light of the rocket engine grow smaller and smaller. "I hope she's happy, wherever she ends up."

"You mean back in your arms?"

"What?"

Johnny stood up, putting his glasses back on smiling down at her, "You forget? I'm gonna save your ass, and then you're gonna get her back."

"I doubt she'll wanna be found."

"If she really cares, then she'll find you."

"Yeah...Guess so. But, right now, I think...I think I just wanna sit here for a bit."

He watched V lower her head to her knees, silent sobs racking her body as the dam finally broke.

Johnny didn't disappear, vanish back into V's mind. He simply sat down next to her, remaining silent as he let her cry in peace. He was fully aware that he wasn't any help at all in situations like this, but he hoped his presence would be enough.

______CP:77______

[One Year Later : Luna]

[Hey, So Mi.

I'm not good at this poetic shit, but I'll do my best and keep it short.

I'm changing this note in the shuttle, you just fell asleep. I wrote this note hours ago, but due to some enlightening information you shared ten minutes ago, I gotta make some changes, hehehe.

So Mi, I know what we had was short-lived, and I know we were both on a timer, sharing our boat to oblivion and all that.

But, if I really am on the last grains of sand in my hourglass, then I just want you to know how happy our time together made me. No matter what happens, I'm glad I got to be with you.

Don't worry about me now. Just focus on you. When you're cured, I hope that when you look up at the Earth, you think of me. In my time left, I'll be doing the same for you when I look up at the Moon. If you find out that I didn't make it, promise me something, okay?

Remember me.

That's all I ask. Just remember. Please?

Okay, I'm running out of time. I've gotta go, get you launched.

Whether I live or die, I want you to know...

I forgive you.

-Valerie.]

So Mi had read that note one-hundred seventy-three times since she had woken up from her final surgery. She had kept count.

It kept her company during each and every recovery period.

She felt her back, feeling the replacement skin that covered it. Going back to real arms, fingers, skin, it was still so strange to her after spending so much time decked out.

She sat in her provided room, bags packed. She never bothered decorating, never wanting to stay a second longer than needed. Plain gray walls, a red Victorian rug, red blankets on her single bed, and an empty desk with a computer she never turned on.

She never looked V up. She never looked up any news from Earth, blocked every channel. Most days she simply looked out her window, watching Earth rotate for hours.

She was keeping her promise.

She heard her door open, looking back with a not so pleasant expression.

Mr. Blue Eyes stopped at the door, pursing his lips as he put his hands behind his back. "I'm sorry. I didn't know it was a bad time. I'll come back later."

"No." So Mi stopped him, standing up to face him. "I wanna know what they said. Now."

He nodded, deciding not to comment on her commanding tone. "Doctors said you're completely cured, and you can leave whenever you wish. Our deal is done, but are you sure it has to be our last?"

"Yes," So Mi nodded sternly. "I'm done with all this. I don't even want to know what you wanted with the Neural Matrix."

"I am simply going to make sure that more people like Kurt Hansen don't have access to what they'll never understand." Blue Eyes hummed, albeit a little disappointed. "With that said, you've brought me something incredibly valuable. So, I'm a man of my word. Everything you requested is ready for you to take whenever you please."

"And my ticket back to Earth?"

"Ah, yes," He pulled out her ticket from his breast pocket, handing it over to her. "One-Way, never expires, at any time you desire to return to our dear homeworld. Truly that eager to go back? I thought Earth would be the last place you'd want to be."

So Mi sat back down, returning her gaze back to Earth floating above. "...I left someone behind. Someone I don't even know if they're alive. I'm afraid of the answer."

"Mm. If I may, Ms. So Mi? If you're referring to your, er...companion, then I think it would be wise to point out that fear is what got you into that situation with her in the first place."

So Mi turned back to him, brow furrowed. "You know, don't you? About V, whether she's alive or not?"

"...Check the net. Look for news reports from August of last year. You'll find what you're looking for."

So Mi didn't get up. She connected to the computer remotely, finally pulling the trigger after all this time and searching up what he told her. Her eyes went wide as she read through the reports, watching the footage in stunned silence.

Blue Eyes walked over to the window, looking up at Earth, "Walked right into Arasaka Tower, fought a small army's worth of soldiers, out-hacked every runner they had, an-"

"Holy fucking shit, she killed Smasher?"

Blue Eyes nodded, admittedly just as impressed as So Mi, "Your friend is quite the combatant. It's only a rumor, but apparently after she walked out of whatever underground facility she broke into, she took Smasher's head and strode up to the top floor where not a single guard dared to step in her way. She walked right to the Arasaka's board of directors, with Arasaka Royalty company present, and threw it on the table, commanding that they left her alone. She gave her testimony against Yorinobu as a peace offering, with the backing of Hanako. They couldn't exactly say no."

Even after watching V take on half of Barghest solo, and then nearly one-hundred highly trained NUS Black Ops operatives, she still highly underestimated her.

Smasher? Fucking Smasher? ALONE?

...Was it safe to say that she landed (and hopefully still was together with) the most dangerous woman alive?

...Was it bad that she was kind of proud of that?

"Ms. Song?" So Mi disconnected from the computer, looking over to Blue Eyes as he turned away from the window and walked back to the door. "There's a flight back to Night City scheduled in one hour. If you want to leave today, I suggest you go now."

So Mi watched him leave, the door shutting behind him. Motherfucker gave her the creeps.

But, that didn't matter anymore. She hastily grabbed her bags, making her way to the door.

She was going home.

______CP:77______

[Two Days Later: Watson: V's Apartment Building]

So Mi smirked as the door panel to V's apartment flashed green, the door sliding open and the security shutting down.

"Sorry, babe, but I still got it...If I can still call you that." She did have to hand it to V, though. The security was pretty top-notch, and she could tell V modified it herself. She was proud, and she could help modify it. "Jesus, pump the brakes, So Mi. Talk to her first."

She stepped into the apartment, leaving the panel's display messed up. V would notice that, and hopefully at least give her some warning that someone was in her apartment. The last thing either of them wanted was for So Mi to jumpscare her and catch a swift bullet or monowire to the face.

As So Mi walked through the main foyer, she was shown how well a Night City Legend was truly paid.

Even for Watson, V's apartment was fucking nice.

It wasn't gaudy like anything in Corpo Plaza, it was definitely very V. Movie posters, big U-Shaped couch for all of her friends in front of a big TV, trinkets and memoirs lining the bookshelves, different pieces of tech strewn about with left behind bowls and cups. She had a great view of NC, with an entirely (probably very thick and bulletproof) glass wall to the right, and on the left of the apartment was a glass-encased kitchen, which despite all of its odds and ends, looked barely used.

Maybe she could fix that.

So Mi mentally slapped herself again, keeping her expectations in check.

There was one Hell of an indoor jungle habitat on the far wall from the front door. It stretched across the entire wall, and went back at least ten feet. For some reason, one of the glass panels was left open. That had to be an extremely expensive custom job to do.

What was it even fo—There was an iguana on the couch.

"Jesus Fucking Christ!"

So Mi nearly jumped out of her own skin at the four foot-long lizard staring at her as it sat on the couch. She stood frozen, not sure if it would attack or not. Herpetology wasn't exactly her strong suit.

"Uh...H-Hi, um..." So Mi's optics zoomed in on the collar around its neck, seeing the name engraved into the little medal. "Jackie. Yeah, sounds about right. Uh...Your owner and I are...might be...hopefully are dating, so does that count me on your friends list?"

Jackie made a couple clicking noises in response before hopping off of the couch, lazily crawling his way across the living room and towards his jungle room. So Mi watched him climb inside and walk towards his auto-feeder, a bowl of fruit awaiting him.

So Mi quickly sped over to the glass wall and shut the door, "Nice meeting you, I think?"

Okay, V had a pet iguana. That was...a thing.

"Mreow..." So Mi slowly turned around, finding a hairless cat at her feet, staring up at her with big yellow eyes.

And a cat, apparently. That one she could handle.

"Hi, baby," So Mi cooed as she got down on her knees, slowly putting her hand out for the cat to sniff. She saw the cat's collar, rolling her eyes a little at the name. "Nibbles. Real original, babe."

"Hiss!" So Mi's eyes went wide as Nibbles hissed at her, her expression becoming an unamused deadpan.

"What I meant to say was that Nibbles is a beautiful name." Nibbles seemed to accept that answer, making what So Mi could only deduce as a grumble as she finally nuzzled into her hand. So Mi chuckled, stroking the back of Nibbles neck. "Yep, you're definitely your owner's cat. A real sweetheart, but I probably shouldn't fuck with you. Wanna look around with me?"

So Mi gently hooked her hands under Nibbles, bringing her up to her chest as she stood up. She smiled as Nibbles curled up in her arms and they made their way out of the living room and through the back hallway passed the kitchen.

She passed by photos on the wall, many of them with her friends that So Mi had never met. Even if things went well, she wasn't sure if she could. Being a fugitive just doesn't go away, but their situation wasn't exactly standard.

She kept trying to think ahead, her training coming back to her. But, this wasn't something she could plan for. It had been a year. The only form of communication they had was the one-way message she had all but forced Blue Eyes to send V while she was half-conscious between surgeries. The Tycho Pin was something she nicked from the station on the moon as the doctors had wheeled her away. The Quantum Tuner they had pulled right out of her.

V may have forgiven her, but there was no guarantee that things could just go back to the way they were in that hotel room.

Okay, she needed to stop beating around the bush. Her fear was that V was in another relationship.

As much as So Mi hoped that V was truly happy, a part of her was hoping that she hadn't moved on yet.

So Mi stopped in the hallway, her eyes catching three pictures on the wall. One was V sitting in a wetsuit on a dock with a gorgeous hispanic woman with rainbow hair. The second was V in a group photo with what looked to be nomads, her arm around the waist of an incredibly beautiful dark-skinned woman. Finally, there was a photo of her and a stunning, fluffy blonde-haired woman in a purple sweater leaning on an Arch bike with their heads leaning against each other.

...Okay, she really was hoping V hadn't moved on.

"Thanks for the confidence boost, Universe."

There was one thing though. So Mi looked closer, and in every photo V's light blue and gold denim jacket were on display. She wore it in each photo except for the one where she was in a diving suit, but it still sat next to her. In each photo, So Mi could see the Tycho pin worn proudly on the breast of the jacket. The dates on the photos were all different, with the one with her leaning on the motorcycle being the most recent, only dating back a couple of months.

Which meant, at least from what So Mi could deduce, was that she never took it off.

"Okay, feeling a little better about all this." As they continued to talk down the hallway, So Mi looked down at Nibbles as she nuzzled into her chest, "This isn't stalkery behavior, right?"

"Mreow."

"Yeah, you're right." She walked into V's bedroom, finding it basically matching the description of the rest of the house, outside of the change in furniture. Nice big bed, large, blue bean bag in the corner, shelves of books and memories, and... "No way."

On the row of drawers lining the windowed wall, So Mi found a record collection, a guitar signed by Kerry Eurodyne and all three US Cracks, every Samurai album (of course), and a record player that looked exactly like the one So Mi had back in Brooklyn.

It was one of the small handful of items the Blackwall let her remember. It had to be a coincidence, right? There was no way V knew the exact same model and color record player she had.

V had records from over one-hundred years ago in her collection.

So Mi just decided on the record that was still on the player, giving in to her curiosity to see what V had been listening to. She let the record spin, reading the words in the center.

"Nina Simone- Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

As it played, So Mi had to admit it wasn't what she typically went for, but pretty damn good.

But, over the music, the sound So Mi had been waiting to hear for over a year rang through the apartment. Perhaps not the words she wanted to hear, but that didn't matter.

"Buddy, either you have the shittiest luck in the world and broke into the absolute most wrong apartment you could have. Or, you're just extremely stupid, because if you know who I am then you know how this ends. However, I really don't wanna clean up blood, so I'll give you one chance. Also, if you've hurt my pets, you're in for a lot worse than a bullet."

Nibbles perked up at the sound of her owner's voice, eyes wide at the door as she wanted to greet her. So Mi took a deep breath, and made her way down the hallway.

There she was.

She was standing in the middle of her apartment, staring directly down the unlit hallway, Johnny's Malorian in hand. So Mi couldn't help but smile a little as she saw the Tycho pin still on her chest, Johnny's dog tags dangling next to it.

"I dunno about you..." So Mi walked out of the dark hallway, her heart pounding in her ears as she revealed herself, "but, I'd say after all I've done, I'm pretty damn stupid."

V lowered her pistol, her eyes going wide as she locked eyes with her intruder, "...So Mi?"

"...Hey." So Mi set Nibbles down and took a step forward, but V flinched back, gun coming back up slightly.

"You don't look the same."

"Oh, yeah! I had everything used for the Blackwall taken out. It was a shit ton of surgery, but I-" So Mi froze as V fully trained her pistol back onto So Mi, steely gaze unwavering.

"For all I know you're an FIA agent using a behavioral imprint. The day after we escaped the stadium, what did So Mi tell me to do?"

"I told you to go to the pizza place near Lele Park, the best New York-style pizza NC has to offer. You came to my hotel room; Room 554, you knocked six times. You came in, we sat on the windowsill, you...Heh..." So Mi slowly smiled, lowering her hands as she thought back to the memory so fresh in her mind. V did the same, her eyes wide and her gun slowly lowering to her hip. "You put your hand on my knee, asked me if I was okay. We kissed, and it was far from the last time that night. You ran diagnostics, helped me feel better. You told me stories; adventures of you and Jackie. And, then you...I told you that I wanted you, and...you gave me the best night of my life."

"S-...So Mi?"

"...Hey, babe."

"...He-...Hahaha!" V threw her gun to the couch, rushing to So Mi, an action the former agent reciprocated. They met in the middle of the room, arms thrown around each other. So Mi buried her face into V's neck, feeling V's arms squeeze her so hard she felt like she was going to pop. V nuzzled her shoulder, sighing against her, "Holy fuck, it's actually you."

"I should be the one saying that to you."

"Hmhm, true. But, I don't think Johnny would've done this..."

Any fear of V moving on was eradicated the instant V's lips found her own. So Mi smiled into the kiss, hugging V even tighter. Once their lips parted, So Mi pressed her forehead to V's, "I missed you."

"I missed you too. Jesus, I fucking missed you."

"A sentiment I'm so happy you share, cause I'll be honest, even after your note I was afraid you'd rather not see me after..." So Mi trailed off, moving back, but not out of V's hold. "...How'd you survive, V? I gotta know. Especially, and I'm sure you get this question a lot, but...Adam Fucking Smasher?"

V grinned, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly, "It's not that big of a deal."

"Wh-? V, I heard about the whole attack on Arasaka, that all sounded like a pretty big fucking deal."

"I'll tell you about the fight later," V shook her head. "When it comes to how I survived...You saved me."

So Mi furrowed her brow, peering confusedly at V, "...Excuse me?"

"Long-Story short: I broke into Arasaka to reach Mikoshi, which is essentially a big prison for constructs that Soul Killer took in. Alt Cunningham got inside, split Johnny from my brain, copied me, and merged my construct back into body, merging with my brain and filling in the spots that the Relic destroyed."

"Okay...?" So Mi signaled her to go on, waiting to see where she came into this.

"But, there was a problem. Or, well, there should have been a problem. Johnny was taking over my mind too fast. My own body would have seen me as an intruder, just like before, and I still would have died. Maybe a little later, but still. But, Alt said something slowed down the process. An unforeseen anomaly...Your memories."

"My memories?"

"When you linked into the Relic, it started taking in your memories too. She showed me an image of you, sitting on your windowsill in your apartment. But, there was one that shouldn't have been possible, because I was there with you. Alt said that memory, and your memories of me, essentially lodged itself in the cogs of the Relic and kept my presence active."

"Distracting the lion from the hunt by throwing a steak at it..." So Mi mimicked V's words from the year prior.

"Exactly," V smiled, pecking So Mi's lips. "I'd say that makes us even, don't ya thinK?"

"No," So Mi replied sternly. "You intentionally saved my life after everything I've done. I saved you by accident, as deliriously happy as I am about it. I'm gonna be in debt for the rest of my life."

"I disagree, but we're not gonna see eye-to-eye with this. But, you know what? You're here now, which is a start. And, I can think of quite a few ways you can keep making it up to me..."

So Mi smiled at V's tone as she began kissing her jawline. "Easy, Tiger. We'll get to that soon enough."

"Not soon enough. I wanna see how that Black Clinic fixed you up."

So Mi sighed as V's teeth tugged on her earlobe, "...I guess we can save the rest of our catching-up for pillow talk."

She didn't have to tell V twice, as she was immediately picked up and walked back towards the bedroom, leaving behind very confused Nibbles.

They probably had a couple things to work out still, sure. So Mi wasn't sure she would ever truly forgive herself, no matter how persistent V was. Deep down, there was probably a piece of V that would have trouble fully trusting So Mi again, at least for a while. They were a couple soaked in a million sins.

But, it would work out, they were sure of it.

Finally, after all these years, So Mi was home again.

______CP:77______

A/N:Don't care if the explanation for V's survival doesn't work. Fucking fight me.

Also, the title isn't meant to be a reference to either the book, movie, or song.Just trust me, it fits. At least, in my head it does.