After driving for about half an hour, Peter and the others finally arrived at their villa in the North Oak District.
North Oak was known as a haven for the wealthy, a stark contrast to the chaos of Night City. The area boasted lush greenery, an impeccable atmosphere, and a level of cleanliness unheard of in the rest of the metropolis. Even the air smelled fresher here.
Johnny stood at the villa's entrance, taking in the surroundings. He let out a scoff.
"This is definitely a rich man's paradise. Even the air is cleaner than in Night City," he remarked.
Peter turned to him with curiosity. "You were part of Samurai, a legendary band, and a top mercenary in Night City. Didn't you ever own a villa in a high-class district like this?"
Johnny smirked and shook his head. "Nah. Plenty of fans offered to buy me a place like this, but I preferred staying in the heart of the city. This?" He gestured around at the quiet, pristine neighborhood. "Too damn deserted for my taste."
As Johnny complained, Lucy and V pulled into the driveway—Lucy in her Sword of the Lake Lady and V in her sleek Mizutani Falcon. They parked beside Peter's car and stepped out, both taking a moment to appreciate their new surroundings.
Peter, ignoring Johnny's grumbling, approached the front gate. The security camera scanned him, and with a soft chime, the massive steel gate slid open.
"Welcome home, Mr. Peter," a sleek, humanoid butler robot greeted, bowing politely.
Stepping inside, they were met with the sheer opulence of the villa. The living room was massive, centered around a colossal television and an elegant, oversized sofa. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a breathtaking view of the cityscape. The walls were adorned with fine art, and a lavish chandelier cast a warm glow over the space.
The villa had been a gift from Ling Xiaohan, and it showed—every detail, from the furniture to the state-of-the-art automation, was top-tier. Even the robotic servants were the latest models from Kang Tao.
Peter turned to Lucy and V, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "So? What do you think of our new home?"
Lucy and V exchanged glances before breaking into excited grins. Without hesitation, they began exploring every inch of the villa. Meanwhile, Peter took a seat on the couch, pouring himself a drink as he waited for their verdict.
In just a few minutes, they had completed their tour and returned to the living room. Peter had already set out several bottles of expensive red wine from the villa's extensive collection.
Raising his glass, he grinned. "To our new home. Cheers!"
The three clinked their glasses together and took long sips. None of them cared about pacing themselves—they drank freely, letting the alcohol flow as they chatted and laughed.
A Night of Revelry
Hours passed, and the wine bottles gradually emptied. Lucy and V had both fallen into a deep sleep, sprawled out on the couch. Peter, still sober, sighed and picked them up one by one, carrying them to their respective rooms.
Lucy, as expected, didn't stir in the slightest. She was a deep sleeper when drunk.
However, as Peter carefully laid V down in her bed, she suddenly opened her eyes. Before he could react, she reached up and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Her flushed cheeks and hazy gaze made it clear—she was still tipsy.
Then, without warning, she cupped his face and pressed her lips against his.
The kiss lasted a full minute before she finally pulled away. She looked into his eyes, a hint of mischief playing across her expression.
"Did you secretly do something with Lucy?" she asked, her voice laced with feigned annoyance.
Peter blinked. "I—"
Before he could finish, V silenced him by pressing a finger against his lips.
"I already know," she murmured. "It's not like I didn't notice the sheets in the washing machine this morning."
Peter's eyes widened slightly.
V smirked. "Just focus on me right now, okay?"
Hearing that, Peter felt his self-control slipping. He answered her with actions rather than words.
Late Night Confessions
Hours later, Peter lay on the bed, holding V close. He couldn't help but feel a little dazed—had he really ended up with both V and Lucy?
Still catching his breath, he turned to her. "V, what were you thinking when you kissed me earlier?"
V rested her head on his chest, her fingers idly tracing patterns across his skin. "What else? Do you think I couldn't tell what happened between you and Lucy last night?"
Peter hesitated. "...Was it that obvious?"
V chuckled softly. "I could see it in her eyes. Lucy looked at you differently after last night—like she wasn't even trying to hide her feelings anymore. Then I saw the sheets, and it wasn't hard to put two and two together."
Peter sighed. "Then why did you do this? Weren't you afraid I'd reject you?"
V shot him a deadpan look. "Please. As if you would reject me."
Peter opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off with a smirk. "And besides..." she continued, "I wasn't about to let Lucy get too far ahead of me."
Hearing that, Peter couldn't help but smile.
"You're both equally important to me," he assured her, pulling her closer.
"Mm-hmm," V hummed. "So tell me, Peter... Do you have anyone else?"
Peter hesitated. Should he tell her about Sasha?
V arched an eyebrow at his silence. "Well?"
"...It was an accident," he finally admitted.
V listened as he explained his history with Sasha. He told her about how they met, Sasha's tragic past, and the connection that had grown between them.
By the end of his story, V let out a sigh, shaking her head. "Damn… That poor girl."
Unlike Peter and V, who lost their parents in dangerous missions, Sasha's mother could have been saved. She had only died because of Biotechnica's greed and corruption. And for ten years, Sasha had carried the weight of revenge on her shoulders.
If fate hadn't brought her to Peter, she might not have survived long enough to achieve justice.
V looked at him seriously. "Is she the only one?"
Peter scratched the back of his head. "...Maybe?"
V narrowed her eyes. "Maybe?"
"Possibly," he admitted. "Or, uh, maybe there could be others... later?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, V huffed and punched his chest.
Of course, to Peter, the hit was barely a tap. But seeing that he didn't even flinch, V doubled her efforts, repeatedly hammering her fists against him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Peter groaned, more out of amusement than pain. "V, if you keep that up, I might not be able to hold myself back again."
She stopped mid-swing, her expression shifting from irritation to something more playful. "Hmph. Serves you right for being such a womanizer."
Peter chuckled. "Hey, I'll make it up to you."
Before she could protest, he rolled on top of her again, pinning her down.
V's eyes widened slightly. "You—!"
Peter smirked. "Round two?"
V scoffed. "Screw you."
Her words lacked any real bite.
And just like that, the night continued.
---