After leaving Victor's clinic, David, Jack, and Lucy made their way through the neon-lit streets of Night City. Their footsteps echoed faintly against the pavement, the distant hum of traffic blending with the faint buzz of cyberware.
It wasn't long before they reached David's apartment complex. Stepping into the elevator, Jack stretched his arms and yawned.
"Man, I could use a drink," he muttered. "Hey, David, you sure about inviting me over? I might raid your fridge."
David chuckled. "Get used to it. We'll probably meet here often to discuss missions and other stuff, so might as well get familiar with the place."
Jack grinned. "Heh, now you're talkin'."
As the elevator reached the 22nd floor and the doors slid open with a soft chime, the trio stepped out—only to spot two familiar figures wandering down the hallway.
"Rebecca? Sasha?" David raised an eyebrow in surprise.
At the sound of his voice, both girls spun around. Rebecca's eyes lit up instantly.
"Ha! David! What a coincidence!" she squealed, dragging Sasha along as they rushed over.
Sasha, her cheeks slightly pink, clutched a small bag of fruit in her hands. "Um… I wanted to thank you in person for helping us last time," she murmured.
"Yeah!" Rebecca added with a grin. "She asked me to bring her here, but… uh, I kinda forgot your apartment number, so we were thinking of knocking on random doors until we found you."
Lucy chuckled softly beside David. "Careful with that. Not everyone on this floor is as friendly as David," she teased.
Sasha's gaze shifted to Lucy, her eyes widening. "Hey, wait… Sister Lucy? What are you doing here?"
"I live on the 21st floor," Lucy replied with a smile. "Since we're all neighbors now, I guess we'll be seeing each other more often."
Rebecca and Sasha exchanged a glance, their eyes practically saying, Whoa, Lucy lives here too?!
"Huh? What's with those faces?" Lucy asked, amused.
Sasha quickly shook her head. "N-No reason! Uh, we don't have any missions today, so everyone's resting."
"Yeah, and we brought you gifts!" Rebecca added, holding up her bag.
David glanced down and noticed her bag was stuffed with snacks—clearly chosen based on Rebecca's own tastes.
"Snacks, huh? Let me guess—you bought those for yourself and decided to use them as an excuse to visit?" he teased with a smirk.
Rebecca pouted. "Hey! I brought them as a gift, okay?!"
Sasha stepped forward, holding out her own bag. "Here. It's just a small token of appreciation. I hope you'll accept it."
David took the fruit and snacks with a smile. "You two didn't have to bring anything, but thanks. Come on in—you've come this far, might as well stay and hang out."
With that, he led the group toward his apartment.
Inside, Jack and Rebecca instantly began exploring, their eyes wide with excitement as they took in the sleek, modern design of David's home. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a stunning view of the city, the distant river reflecting the neon lights of Night City.
"Damn, David! This place is nice!" Jack whistled, running a hand along the back of the leather couch. "Must've cost a fortune to get a place like this on Sakura Street, huh?"
"Yeah, yeah! And you can see the river from here—so cool!" Rebecca added, practically pressing her face against the glass window.
"It's way fancier than our team's old warehouse base," Jack muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
Lucy chuckled as she stepped toward the kitchen area. "So, what do you guys want to drink? I'll grab something from downstairs."
Rebecca tilted her head. "Downstairs?"
"Yeah, I live one floor below, remember?" Lucy replied.
"Oh! Then I want a soda!" Rebecca piped up eagerly.
"Dark beer for me!" Jack called, raising a hand.
Lucy smiled. "Alright, wait here. I'll be back soon."
"I'll come help," Sasha offered shyly, stepping up beside Lucy.
Lucy blinked in surprise. "Oh, you don't have to—"
"I insist," Sasha said quickly, her cheeks slightly pink.
Lucy hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay. Let's go, then."
As the two women left, Jack nudged David with a mischievous grin.
"Man, David, you're one lucky guy," he said, his tone dripping with innuendo.
David shot him a warning look. "Jack, don't start."
"Hey, hey, I'm just sayin'! Living right above Lucy? Heh… that's some serious 'convenience,' if you catch my drift." Jack wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Cut it out, Jack," David muttered, feeling his ears heat up slightly.
"We're all guys here, no need to play innocent," Jack teased, laughing. "Seriously, Lucy's a great girl. Don't let her slip through your fingers."
Rebecca, still standing by the window, overheard the conversation. Her smile faltered slightly, though she quickly masked it with a playful scoff.
"Pfft! What are you talking about, you old geezer? You don't even have a girlfriend, so who are you to give advice?" she shot back, sticking her tongue out.
Jack's grin vanished. "Hey! Who're you callin' old, huh?!"
"Well, you!" Rebecca retorted. "Besides, you're always giving people bad ideas. I bet you spend more time flirting with your implants than with real women!"
Jack's eye twitched. "Oh, that's it—you're askin' for it now!"
"Bring it on, old man!" Rebecca taunted, holding up her fists in a mock boxing stance.
Within seconds, the two were bickering and chasing each other around the living room, their playful insults echoing through the apartment.
David pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh, though he couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at his lips.
Meanwhile, downstairs…
Lucy unlocked her apartment door, stepping inside with Sasha following close behind. The space was cozy and minimalist, with clean lines and soft lighting that cast a warm glow over the room.
"This is my first time visiting your place, Sister Lucy," Sasha remarked, looking around curiously. "It's really nice."
"Thanks," Lucy replied, heading to the fridge. "After all, we're all on the same team now. Living close by makes it easier to help each other out."
Sasha fell silent at that, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her jacket. After a moment, she hesitantly asked, "Um… Sister Lucy, are you and David… dating?"
Lucy paused with her hand on the fridge door. The faint hum of the appliance seemed louder in the sudden silence.
Turning back, she offered an awkward smile. "Where'd that come from?"
"I just… guessed," Sasha replied, her cheeks turning pink. "You two seem really close."
Lucy let out a soft laugh, though there was a hint of nervousness beneath it. "David and I are teammates, so of course we're close. What's with the questions? Don't tell me… you're interested in him?" she teased lightly.
Sasha's face turned bright red, and she shook her head frantically. "N-No! I was just asking! Just curious, that's all!"
Lucy chuckled at the younger girl's flustered reaction. "Relax, I'm just teasing. Come on, let's grab those drinks before they start thinking we ran off."
"R-Right!" Sasha quickly stepped forward to help, her heart still racing.
As they gathered the drinks, both girls couldn't help but steal a quick glance at each other, each secretly thinking: Whew—close call! I thought I'd been found out!
Back upstairs, Jack and Rebecca were still going at it—though their "fight" had devolved into them throwing couch cushions at each other.
"You little brat! I swear—if you break something, David's kickin' you out!" Jack warned, narrowly dodging a flying pillow.
"Bring it on, old man!" Rebecca shouted with a laugh.
David rubbed his temples, already wondering if inviting everyone over had been a mistake.
Man, I hope Lucy and Sasha get back soon…
TO BE CONTINUED…
___________________________________
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31