"What? You invited me to join your team, and now you're having second thoughts?"
Alex blinked in surprise at Lucy's teasing remark. The slight grin on her face betrayed her amusement, and for some reason, Alex found himself caught off guard.
Lucy, trained as a netrunner since childhood and hardened by the harsh realities of Night City, had long grown numb to emotional swings. Since escaping the research facility years ago and surviving on her own, her life had been marked by cold calculation and survival instinct.
But talking to Alex stirred something unfamiliar—a lightness she hadn't felt in years. She smiled, genuinely, for the first time in what felt like forever.
"Lucy, you look even better when you smile. You should do it more often," Alex said with a grin, catching her off guard again.
Lucy's expression shifted to mild embarrassment, though she quickly masked it with a sarcastic scoff. Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. He had expected Lucy to be distant and guarded, like her cold demeanor in the stories he'd heard. But getting her to open up had turned out to be much easier than he'd imagined.
Just as he was about to say something else, his phone buzzed. A call from V.
"V, are you done with the deal?" Alex asked as he answered the call.
"Alex, you managed to shake off the NCPD, right?" V's voice came through, filled with concern.
"Obviously. Do you think I'd still be alive to call you otherwise?" Alex joked. "By the way, I've found someone who can help us—a master netrunner. We're at Dashan Ramen. If you're done, come meet us."
"A netrunner? Where did you find one?" V sounded intrigued.
Alex smirked. "Let's just say I have a talent for recruiting. Come over, and I'll explain everything."
After sending the location, Alex hung up.
Lucy had been silently observing him. When he put down his phone, she spoke hesitantly. "Alex, I'm not used to meeting a lot of people. I prefer to work solo. If you need my skills, I can just give you my contact info."
Her guarded tone reflected years of isolation and distrust.
"Don't worry," Alex assured her. "My team is trustworthy. Besides, it's better to know each other now rather than being forced to work together unprepared during a mission."
Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Forced to work together? What do you mean?"
Alex scratched the back of his head, realizing he needed to explain. "It's like throwing unprepared soldiers into war and expecting them to survive. It's a mess."
Lucy blinked, then chuckled softly. "I get your point."
She thought about his words for a moment. He wasn't wrong—teamwork required trust and understanding, especially in a place as unpredictable as Night City. Reluctantly, she nodded.
"Alright, I'll meet your team," she agreed, surprising even herself.
Alex grinned. "Great! You won't regret it."
---
As Alex finished his third bowl of ramen, a familiar voice boomed from outside the shop.
"Alex!"
Looking up, Alex spotted Jack and V standing near the entrance. He waved them over.
"Here! Over here!"
Jack approached with his usual jovial demeanor. "You're full of surprises, my friend. I can't believe you managed to slip past MaxTech."
Alex rolled his eyes. "You're making it sound like I'm some kind of cyberpsycho. I'd appreciate it if you didn't make me sound so… dangerous."
V glanced at Alex, her brow furrowing. "How did you find this place? It's not exactly on the beaten path for someone new to Night City."
"Lucy brought me here," Alex said casually, nodding toward the woman sitting beside him.
"Lucy?"
Alex gestured toward her. "Yeah, the netrunner I mentioned earlier. She's the one."
V's eyes shifted to Lucy, who raised her hand in a small wave before returning to her drink.
Jack, however, was less reserved. He leaned in, his grin widening. "Wow, Alex. I leave you alone for a couple of hours, and you find yourself a beautiful netrunner to join the team? You've got talent, my friend."
Alex groaned, shooting Jack a look. "Knock it off, Jack. Can't you be serious for once?"
Jack shrugged with a chuckle. "Hey, I'm just saying what's on my mind."
"Alex, I'll transfer your share of the payment now," V interjected, pulling out her device to handle the transaction. "I've already taken out my cut from the priest's payment."
Alex's interface flashed as his balance updated. Seeing the total climb by over 60,000 eurodollars, he couldn't help but feel a wave of relief.
---
The ramen shop bustled with the sounds of sizzling woks and chatter as the group settled into their conversation. Alex noticed Lucy observing the dynamic between him, V, and Jack. While she remained silent, her gaze softened slightly, as if the camaraderie intrigued her.
"So, Lucy," Jack began, leaning back in his chair, "how'd you end up in Night City?"
Lucy glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "Same as anyone else, I guess. Trying to survive."
Jack nodded. "Fair enough. But I gotta say, you're lucky Alex found you. Guy's got a knack for picking the right people."
Alex shook his head with a laugh. "Don't inflate my ego, Jack. We're all just trying to make this work."
Lucy sipped her drink, her lips curving into the faintest smile. She wasn't entirely sure why she had agreed to join Alex's team. Maybe it was his sincerity or his unconventional optimism in a city so devoid of trust.
For the first time in a long while, Lucy felt like she might belong somewhere.
And for Alex, seeing the balance in his account and the people around him, he couldn't help but think: Maybe this team could actually work.