Chapter 33: Sometimes, It's Okay to Slow Down
"Rhys, are you sure this is alright?"
"What's not alright? Rogue herself said gang business is gang business. She's got no reason to stop me. Besides, I didn't sell my soul to her. I just agreed to prioritize her gigs," Rhys replied to Maine's concerned question with a reassuring smile.
He respected Rogue, sure, but that respect came more from his experiences playing as V. He wasn't naive enough to actually like her. Anyone who clawed their way to her level couldn't be simple. Going into this with the starry-eyed view from the game, blindly following her? That was a good way to end up chewed up and spat out, with nothing left but regret. Rhys wasn't going down that road.
The world of Cyberpunk 2077 was vast. Most players only saw what the developers wanted them to see. The game was filled with data shards and background lore completely unrelated to the main plot. Rhys had spent time digging through analyses and deep dives into the lore after finishing the game. One video, in particular, had detailed exactly how Rogue survived all the "major events" she was involved in, emerging not just intact but as the biggest fixer in Night City.
The answer was simple: she cut deals with Arasaka. She betrayed people to save her own skin. As for why she eventually joined Johnny for one last run on Arasaka Tower... maybe it was her way of making amends? Rhys didn't know. But he knew you had to be careful, extremely careful, when dealing with players like her.
The sweet pastry laid out before you looks delicious, but the steel trap hidden underneath can snap your hand off just as easily. In Night City, there was no such thing as a free lunch.
Stepping out of the Afterlife—or rather, getting kicked out as the daytime hours weren't official business—Rhys stood on the streets of Watson and眯ed. Honestly, this place felt more like home. Watson had borne the brunt of the nuke decades ago, but after the rebuild, it somehow looked better than Santo Domingo. With its mix of industrial ruins and countless nightclubs, Watson was the primary entertainment district—at least, for mercs and street folk.
"Hey, how about we grab a few drinks? Still wanna chat," Jackie piped up beside him. He clearly didn't want to part ways with Maine and Rhys just yet and figured booze was the universal bonding agent. These guys were gonna be running with Rogue; getting in good with them was a smart move. Besides, he genuinely liked Rhys and Maine. They seemed like good chooms, and Jackie trusted his gut when it came to people.
Jackie's suggestion immediately resonated with Pilar. He swallowed hard and added, "Yeah, seriously. When Rogue was laying down the law, I almost pissed myself. Gotta replenish those fluids."
"You didn't actually piss yourself, did you?" Kiwi drawled, taking a drag from her cigarette.
"Drinking? It's the middle of the day," Rhys hesitated. Since meeting Maine, it felt like he was either drinking or on his way to drink. Why else risk your life on dangerous gigs? To afford better booze! But drinking every day...
"Well... how about we try something else?" Sasha suggested, pointing across the street towards Kabuki Market. "I've never actually eaten at a restaurant with anyone besides my sister. How about a change of pace today?"
"Doesn't look like the kind of place that serves alcohol," Dorio noted,眯ing.
Rebecca, ever the attention-seeker, threw both hands in the air. Her new optic whirred as she scanned the area, full of energy again. "One day without booze won't kill us! Hey! I want two synth-meat patties and two NiColas!" she declared loudly.
"I want pizza," Maine decided.
"Mano, why pizza? How about burritos? My treat," Jackie offered.
Rhys looked across the street at the restaurant Sasha had pointed to. It was called "MultiTaste." The flashing neon sign advertised a bizarre mix of cuisines—steamed pork buns, pizza, burritos, burgers... The menu was all over the place, but the place looked busy.
"Alright," Rhys said with a smile. "Let's go."
In his five years in Night City, he'd never just gone out to eat with friends. Sasha's suggestion sparked a strange feeling in him, like... reclaiming a piece of a normal, ordinary life.
"Okay, MultiTaste it is!" Maine declared. The leader had spoken, and no one argued.
The crew walked towards the street, bunching up at the crosswalk. As they stood waiting for the light, Kiwi's quiet comment made everyone pause.
"Fuck me... this is the first time in my life I've waited for a crosswalk signal..." she muttered, staring at the red light.
"I haven't waited for one since I was thirteen," Dorio added, her expression complicated. Years ago, she'd traveled the world with her athlete parents, chasing prize money in competitions. The life of an edgerunner made you forget time, forget so much. But now, this simple red light had unexpectedly dredged up a piece of her past.
"Hey, maybe I should just hack it?" Sasha offered, looking thoughtfully at the traffic light.
"Don't! Just wait, it's not a big deal. I don't want the NCPD crawling up our asses over jaywalking," Rhys quickly intervened, putting a hand on her arm.
The netrunner blinked, smiled, and then leaned into him, tucking herself under his arm. Rhys felt his body tense slightly at the contact. Seeing his reaction, the mischievous glint in Sasha's eyes intensified.
The crew stood there, waiting. Other pedestrians gave the heavily chromed group a wide berth, creating a strange, empty space around them, dividing the crosswalk into two different worlds. A cluster of ordinary people nervously watching a group of dangerous-looking killers, while the killers themselves chatted and laughed as if they didn't have a care in the world.
BEEP—
The light turned green. Kiwi, bringing up the rear, instinctively looked up at the others already crossing. Maine and Jackie had their arms slung around each other's shoulders, loudly debating the merits of pizza versus burritos. Rhys and Sasha were walking close together, whispering about something. Rebecca was practically glued to Rhys's side, ears pricked, trying to eavesdrop. Dorio's gaze was fixed solely on Maine. Pilar was making faces and flipping off the waiting cars with his chrome middle finger.
Kiwi's eyes drifted. Her fingers trembled slightly. Smoke curled around her face as she眯ed. Something about the scene felt... wrong. Like a world she didn't belong in. This kind of simple, everyday moment... it wasn't meant for edgerunners.
Then, she heard their voices calling her.
"What's wrong? Not moving, Kiwi? You turning your nose up at street food? It's fine, just a quick bite."
"It's normal to be picky. This is kid's food, anyway."
"You wanna die again, asshole brother?!"
Jackie scratched his head, wanting to say something but unsure what, since he only really knew Maine and Rhys. He settled for flashing a goofy, bear-like grin.
Rhys looked back at the hesitant Kiwi. After a moment's pause, he suddenly broke into a run.
"Last one to the restaurant pays for everyone!" he yelled, laughing as he grabbed Sasha's hand and sprinted across the street.
Rebecca let out a whoop and immediately latched onto Maine's arm. Maine met her eyes, grinned, scooped her up under one arm like a football, and charged forward. Pilar and Dorio took off running too.
An hour ago, they were being hunted by 6th Street and the cops. Five minutes ago, they were being threatened by the most powerful fixer in Night City. And now? Now they were racing across the street like kids, arguing about who would buy dinner.
Kiwi's eye twitched violently. With a flick of her fingers, she sent her half-smoked cigarette spinning through the air. As it hit the pavement, showering sparks, her voice cut through the air behind them:
"MOTHERFUCKERS!"
Her red trench coat billowed behind her as she broke into a sprint, her eyes locking onto the back of Pilar's head.
"Aw, FU—!"
Pilar, mid-stride, suddenly stiffened, his body going limp as he crashed to the ground. He艰难ly lifted his head just in time to see Kiwi sprint past him, flipping him off as she went.
"Pay up, you worthless gonk!"
Seeing Kiwi resort to rage-hacking Pilar just to win a footrace, Rhys burst out laughing. That's what you get for chroming up too much!
He ran backwards for a few steps, grinning at the approaching faces of Maine and Jackie, and Rebecca giggling uncontrollably in Maine's arms as she watched her brother eat pavement.
In that moment, Rhys suddenly felt that not refusing Maine's offer, joining this chaotic crew... had been a really good choice.
Sometimes, maybe it was okay to slow down.