"V, do you think Alex can escape?" Jack frowned as they hurried down the dimly lit streets of Night City. Truth be told, Alex was far more dangerous and unpredictable than a cyberpsycho or even the NCPD.
After all, taking down a cyberpsycho with ease was a feat even the elite officers of the Maxtech Squad couldn't manage without overwhelming numbers and heavy firepower.
"Alex will be fine," V replied, though the unease in her voice betrayed her. She was clearly more worried than she wanted to admit.
Jack and V were making their way to find the Padre. They had spent so much effort securing this ridiculous lizard in the package they were carrying that they needed to finish the job as quickly as possible. Jack had already shared the Padre's address with Alex. If Alex managed to escape, he'd know where to find them.
Meanwhile, Lucy stood amidst the dispersing crowd, her gaze fixed on the public rail car. She had left before Maxtech stormed in, unwilling to risk being scanned by NCPD. If her tracks, hidden so carefully all these years, were discovered now, it would all be over.
She didn't get to see Alex crush the cyberpsycho beneath his foot, but she couldn't shake the memory of him saving her life. For some reason, her usually composed heart was unsettled.
"What are you looking at?" a familiar voice asked, startling her.
"Ah!" Lucy spun around, clutching her chest, and saw Alex leaning casually against a nearby pillar, a small grin on his face.
"N-Nothing," she stammered, trying to regain her composure. "I'll be on my way now."
"Wait," Alex said, stopping her in her tracks.
Lucy hesitated. She didn't know what he wanted, but for some reason, she felt compelled to listen.
"I saved your life, didn't I?" Alex said, his tone playful yet firm. "You're not just going to walk away without saying thanks, are you?"
---
Lucy took Alex to a small ramen shop in the Heywood district, one of her favorite spots. She sat across from him, sipping her favorite carbonated drink, while Alex devoured the steaming bowl of ramen in front of him with unrestrained enthusiasm.
"I didn't expect Heywood to have such good ramen," Alex said with a satisfied sigh, finishing a spoonful of broth.
Lucy rested her head on one hand, watching him with a mix of amusement and disbelief. "So, is this good enough to count as a thank you?"
"More than enough," Alex replied with a grin. "Thanks for the meal."
He wiped his mouth and extended his hand. "The name's Alex. Used to be a nomad, but now I'm just trying to make a living in Night City."
Lucy stared at his hand, caught off guard by his straightforwardness. Life in Night City had taught her to be wary of everyone, yet here was Alex, laying his cards on the table like it was no big deal.
After a pause, she shook his hand. "Lucy. There's a saying in Night City: never reveal too much about yourself to strangers."
Alex chuckled. "Fair enough. To be honest, this is the first time I've shared my story like this. Guess I figured I could trust you."
Lucy's eyes narrowed slightly, trying to read him. Trust wasn't a currency Night City dealt in, but Alex didn't seem like the typical city dweller.
Alex leaned back in his chair. "So, what's your story, Lucy? You were doing something back in that car, weren't you?" He mimicked her earlier movement when she had stolen the corporate chip.
"Hey! Keep it down!" Lucy hissed, grabbing his hand to stop him. Her eyes darted around the shop, ensuring no one was listening.
"Oh, relax," Alex said with a grin. "It's not like I'm going to rat you out."
Lucy sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Fine. I'm a netrunner, alright? I've only been in Night City for a month, and I stick to stealing from corporate scum."
Alex smirked. "Sounds risky. But hey, as long as you don't get caught, right?"
Lucy's lips pressed into a thin line. "Risk is part of life here. You should know that by now."
Alex shrugged. "True. As long as the NCPD doesn't grab you on the spot or you don't piss off some corpo bigwig, you're good. Even if you've got a bounty on your head, they usually outsource that work to mercs."
Lucy studied him for a moment. His casual demeanor felt so out of place in a city where everyone was either paranoid or out for blood.
"You seem pretty skilled," Alex said, breaking the silence. "What do you say about joining my team?"
"Your team?" Lucy raised an eyebrow, her tone skeptical. "Didn't you just say you're new here?"
Alex grinned confidently. "Doesn't matter. You saw what I can do. Took down that cyberpsycho and slipped past Maxtech like it was nothing. I could use someone with your skills."
Lucy couldn't help but feel a bit surprised by his enthusiasm. Most people in Night City kept their cards close to their chest, but Alex was an open book.
"Why me?" she asked, her tone softening slightly.
Alex shrugged. "Because I think you're good at what you do. And I trust my instincts."
Lucy stared at him for a moment longer. There was something about Alex that felt different. Maybe it was his honesty, or the fact that he didn't fit the mold of the typical cutthroat Night City resident.
"Alright," she said finally. "I'll join you."
Alex blinked, surprised by how easily she agreed. "Wait, really?"
Lucy smirked. "Yeah. But don't think I'm doing this out of charity. You'd better prove you're worth it."
Alex laughed, his excitement evident. "Deal. Let's make this city ours, partner."
As they left the ramen shop, Alex couldn't help but wonder: Was it really this simple to earn someone's trust in Night City?