Chapter Text
Chapter 1 (smiles and worries)
It was just another day in camp, the sound of the Aldecaldos tinkering with engines, tidying their posts and the loud clank of cups and plates being set ready for camp breakfast!
Panams eyes open slowly as she finally awakes, she moves her gaze towards V who’s sleeping peacefully next to her. A small but genuine smile creeps across her face. She’s thinking how lucky she is to have someone like him, obviously she would never admit it but she felt the love grow stronger for him each day. She always felt the same flutter in her stomach every time she laid eyes on him.
She quietly snuck around to get herself ready for the day, looking through her outfit selections carefully before picking some blue jeans which hugged her legs a little tight around her body but not too tight. She then picks a green body suit which is definitely her favourite, all while putting her hair up in that signature bun. Taking one last glance at v.
V started to slowly open his eyes and a big smile appeared across his face as his eyes met hers. He sat up to which he’s met with :
“What you looking so smug about you gonk” she says while nudging his shoulder back into the bed
“I’m looking at my beautiful girlfriend, problem?” while still half asleep
She gives another light push but quickly wraps her arms around her merc and they slowly kiss for a few minutes, moving their mouths like one. until Panam broke herself away.
“We should go eat, you need to hurry up and get dressed” she says playfully as she’s looking his naked glistening body up and down while slyly biting her lip.
“Yes ma’am” he says cheerfully while running around trying to get ready as quickly as he could. He certainly would never leave her waiting.
Panam approaches the breakfast area
she arrived to a sight of all the vets sat down around the table smirking and whispering
Mitch and Cassidy broke the silence first.
“You and lover boy have a good night last night” Cassidy says with a snigger
“What do you mean” she huffs
“Pretty sure the whole camp heard you two going at it till all hours in the morning” Mitch chimed In
Just as Panam was about to respond V walks up to the table with a soft smile on his face not knowing what kind of conversation he was about to walk into. Panam turns to him, face now bright red clearly showing how embarrassed she felt.
“They all heard us last night”
V looks at her while quietly chuckling
“Panam it’s not like it’s a secret what we get up to in our tent”
Even though they was whispering everyone could hear what they was saying.
All the vets erupted with laughter. But before Panam could give them a piece of her mind she heard a familiar voice approaching.
“Leave them alone, you’re only young, dumb and in love once”
Panam gives carol a slight nod signalling a thank you to her without expressing the words.
“Right enough gossiping about mine and Vs private life, we need to get to work. I’m sending V, Mitch, carol, liam and Rebecca to steal some supplies from a millatech base about 2 hours from the Arizona border. I have someone from the inside who is going to assist us getting past checkpoints. She will supply you with milatech attire, I want this done quickly and quietly. Just be cautious l I’m not too sure who she actually is but contacted me about assisting us. V will lead the operation. I need to stay at camp to deal with other matters. The contact will meet you at an old motel about hour away from the base. As soon as you’re all ready it’s all hands on deck. Everyone agreed? ..”
There was no objections to the chieftess
When everyone cleared out to get ready for the mission ahead, V approaches Panam. He slides his hand up to her face to cup her cheeks. He then leans in for a soft but passionate kiss before pulling her closer. Hands now on her waist looking her directly in the eyes.
“I think we need to practice how to be quiet in the bedroom” he giggles
Panam glanced at him with a fiery look in her eyes like she was about to chew him out. Then V roared with laughter while Panam just rolled her eyes and gave v a cheeky smile.
“ it’s not my fault you can’t keep your hands to yourself” while pulling his face hungrily towards hers. They give eachother another kiss.
“You love it tho don’t you? Say it .. say you love it”
“… yes I do all too much”
“But seriously V I need you to be careful. This isn’t some small base of operations. This isn’t the usual gig, there will be at least 30 to 40 guards and six of you. Just make sure you come back to me .. okay?”
V immediately noticed the worries look that crept across her face.
“I promise no gonk moves I’ll make sure we stick to the plan just slip in and slip out with the supplies. Panam I know you worry but I’m a grown man I can look after myself”
“ I know it’s just …”
“Come on pan spit it out”
Just as Panam was about to continue they both heard Mitch shouting from a distance
“ready to go lover boy”
he chuckled to himself knowing this is gonna be Vs nickname for a while at least.
“Be right there Mitch gimme two minutes kay?”
“Fine just hurry up”
Mitch walks back to Vs car rearing to go. Car engines roaring at every rev, tires screeching across the dirt and the warm desert sun bouncing off the windows.
“You should go V they’re all waiting, just please don’t die on me… not now, not after all the shit that went on back in night city with Arasaka and Mikoshi. You got a new lease on life and I don’t want to lose you just as we are starting over again”
V grabs her by the waist looks her straight in the eyes like he’s about to say something. He hesitates then stops to just admires her for a while. Her face shows confusion but happiness.
“I’ll always find my way back to you pan”
He kisses her one more time before turning around and walking towards the cars ready to go.
V will be driving in his car with Mitch and Carol.
Liam and Rebecca are driving in liams truck.
As the cars started to drive away all that was left was a thick cloud of dirt in the air.
Panam watched until she no longer could see the cars in the distance.
She turns back to her Console trying to sort other gigs while establishing connections with other clans. the clan still needed money to keep moving around. That’s what nomads do move often and settle for a short while before moving again.
She couldn’t help but feel that all too familiar twang in her stomach like something bads going to happen.
It’s not a secret that Panam worries like hell every time V goes on a job. At least when she on the job with him she can keep an eye on him. You can see it in her sweaty palms, the shaking of her hands and the worry in her voice. Vs been on hundreds if not thousands of gigs and jobs before but she always worries the same. He’s a strong grown man who can look after himself, he has implants that can fry peoples brains in the matter of seconds, a large arsenal of very powerful weapons not to mention his strength is unmatched. His favourite weapon however is Jackie’s pistol, he carries it with him everywhere he goes like a good luck charm. Hopefully he’s took it with him today she thinks to herself.
As Panam is deep in her thoughts Cassidy comes up from behind
“You okay pan? .. you seem a little str-“
“IM FINE”
“ pan I know you like the back of my hand I know when you’re stressed or worried just by the look on your face”
Panam sits down on her chair head in her hands and a little tear shedding from each eye.
She clears her throat.
“I .. I just ..fuck”
“You can always talk to me and any of the other vets you know, we might joke and tease you and V but it’s only a bit of harmless fun. We actually quite like the kid”
“It’s just everything that happened before he’s already died once and nearly died a second time till we found that facility up north and I’m .. terrified of … loosing him again. I … love him” she says as tears fall drench her cheeks still sat in the chair but now facing Cassidy. It was obvious how much she deeply cared about V.
“Have you told him that?”
“Erm .. no no I haven’t and he hasn’t either even though I think he kinda knows it already”
“ you know me and the other vets have a bet on who’s gonna say it first”
“Screw you” she says but in a harmless way while letting out a little laughter.
Cassidy laughs and puts his hand on her shoulder “he’s a strong willed kid I’m sure he’s going to be just fine and besides Mitch and Carol will make sure no harm comes to him”
“Thanks cass I appreciate it” she mumbles.
“Anytime. He’ll be back before you know it”
Cassidy walks back to his tent to start working on other things.
Panam was still worrying like hell but she just couldn’t stop thinking about him. His green and blue eyes, the short buzz cut on top of his head, the light brown mousy beard he has. The tattoos that wrap around his body so perfectly. The way his muscles pop out of his shirt and his handsome face. She never thought this kind of love was possible and she’s never experienced a love like it. They couldn’t get enough of one another.
She keeps wondering to herself which one of them is going to cave first and just say “I love you”…..