"V, you mean to tell me you took out an entire Beast Gang squad, alone, with just a sword?" Jackie Welles slapped the steering wheel, laughing so loud it shook the car's dash. "Damn, hermano, that's too chooming good! Too damn good! I can't believe I passed out drunk last night and missed that!"
He groaned dramatically. "If only I'd stayed sober—could've seen it with my own eyes! You really know how to make a guy regret a hangover, cabrón!"
The car hummed down the cracked streets of Watson. Jackie was at the wheel, humming to the beat of a bass-heavy song. Neo sat in the passenger seat, his green hair catching flashes of neon from outside.
In the back seat, David Martinez sat stiffly, barely daring to breathe.
Understandable — for all his small-time hustling and backdoor dealings, David was still just a 17-year-old student at Arasaka Academy. He wasn't built for rides like this. Sitting beside a legend like Jackie was already surreal. But the man in the front passenger seat — the one who'd torn through the Beast Gang like a storm — that was something else entirely.
David had seen what happened. He would never forget it.
One man. One blade. Dozens dead.
He had grown up in Night City, a place where chrome meant power, and flesh meant weakness. But this man… this "V"… had shattered that truth.
A man with no cyberware, no implants — and yet, he'd done what even an Adam Smasher might hesitate to do.
No wonder the boy sat silently, afraid even to breathe too loud.
…
"Hey, kid," Jackie said suddenly, glancing at the rearview mirror. "You said your name's David Martinez, right? Student at Arasaka Academy?"
David straightened in his seat. "Yes, sir! I—uh—I mean, yes, Mr. Welles! That's right."
Jackie chuckled. "Señor, huh? Dios mío, that's too formal. Relax, chico. Just call me Jackie. Por favor."
David nodded awkwardly. "Right… Jackie."
"Good man." Jackie grinned and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "You look like you're about to choke from holding your breath. Relax, you're safe here. Unless V decides to slice the car in half for fun."
Neo raised an eyebrow. "I don't do party tricks."
Jackie snorted. "See? Totally safe."
David smiled nervously, his eyes flickering toward Neo again — that unreadable expression, that quiet aura. There was so much he wanted to say, to ask… but the words stuck in his throat.
Jackie, ever the instigator, caught it immediately.
"V, I think our young friend here's got something to say."
Neo looked into the rearview mirror. David froze under that calm, razor-sharp gaze.
"Well?" Neo said simply. "Spit it out."
David took a breath. "V… sir, I still want you to take the money. My mom asked me to give it to you. It's not much — two thousand eddies — but it's what we can afford. Please."
Neo shook his head. "I told you before. I didn't do it for money. You and your mother don't owe me a thing. Keep it."
"But—"
"No buts." Neo's tone softened. "You're a good kid, David. And your mother… she's stronger than most people I've met in this city. People like you two are rare in Night City. Don't lose that."
In Neo's mind, a familiar sound chimed.
[Roleplay Synchronization: 22%]
He blinked, mildly surprised. That counted?
Apparently, yes. Even compassion earned him progress now.
The car fell silent again.
Jackie could not stand silence.
With a grin, he flicked the music player on, flooding the car with fast-paced rap, the kind that thumped through bones and chrome alike.
He started bobbing his head to the beat, then grinned sideways. "V, you're way too damn humble, hermano."
Neo sighed. "How's that?"
"You say you just happened to be there last night, but come on, you don't 'accidentally' slice up a Beast Gang convoy while half the city's watching. That wasn't 'helping out.' That was a statement, bro!"
Even David leaned forward now, voice hesitant but burning with something fierce. "V… I know it's crazy to ask, but—please, let me join you!"
Neo blinked. "Join me?"
David's hands clenched into fists. "I know I'm young, but I'm not useless! I've been working side hustles all over Watson — I know the alleys, the fixers, the crews! I can handle myself in a fight, too — I've trained, I've shot, I can move."
"I won't drag you down."
Neo stared at him, quiet. "You want to… follow me?"
David nodded, almost desperately.
Neo's voice stayed even. "I'm a wanderer, David. I've only been in Night City a few weeks. You've lived here longer than me. What exactly do you think I can teach you?"
Before the kid could reply, Jackie burst into laughter. "V, stop acting like you don't know what you are. You're a legend in the making, hermano. It's only a matter of time. Let the kid tag along — he's got guts. Reminds me of me when I was younger. Smaller, maybe, but the same fire."
Neo sighed. "This is what you call me being 'tsundere,' isn't it?"
"Exactly!" Jackie grinned.
David leaned forward again. "Please, V. Just give me a chance."
Neo hesitated, glancing out the window. Then he said, "We'll talk about it later. We're here."
…
Jackie's car turned into a cracked industrial lot in northern Watson. A half-collapsed warehouse loomed ahead — the kind of place you could pass every day and never think twice about.
Neo's eyes narrowed. "This is where we're meeting?"
"Yup," Jackie said cheerfully. "The crew I told you about."
Neo caught sight of the figure leaning against the warehouse wall — tall, muscular, with cyberarms glinting faintly under the floodlights.
He froze for half a second.
"…Dorio?"
Jackie raised his brows, impressed. "Hah! So you do know your merc circles. Didn't think you'd recognize her on sight."
"Which means," Neo said slowly, "this must be…"
Jackie's grin widened. "You got it, choom. The one and only Maine's crew."
He parked the car and shut the engine off. "Apparently, Maine called me this morning outta nowhere, said he wanted to meet. Normally, I'd tell him to piss off — our styles don't mix. But when he mentioned you, V…" Jackie gave a low whistle. "Well, I figured this might be worth the trip."
Neo glanced toward the warehouse door, where muffled music and laughter drifted from inside.
"Looks like your reputation's spreading faster than you think," Jackie said, slapping him on the shoulder. "And between you and me — I think Lucy's already waiting."
Neo's eyes flickered with something unreadable.
Then, slowly, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.