Chapter Text
January 2060
V sat alone in the bathroom of the Welles family household with her head resting on her hands. A positive pregnancy test was pressed between her forehead and the palm of her hand. Mama Welles had suggested she take one after V had woken up in a rush to throw up in a toilet a few days in a row, “Morning sickness, mija,” Mama Welles’s voice played back to her, “A telltale sign of early pregnancy.”
“It was just supposed to be a one-night stand,” V groaned as she sat on the toilet, contemplating what she should do next. She could just get an abortion, those were a dime a dozen in Night City, and it would be over so fast she could forget that she even had gotten knocked up in the first place. However, she felt the strange urge to keep it and continue the pregnancy.
It was completely illogical. V was only eighteen and had barely any eddies to her name, hell, she wasn’t even living in place. She didn’t have a reliable profession either, as a merc, she was liable to flatline on a job at any time, leaving the child without a parent. It’s not like she could find the father to ask to help raise the kid because she could hardly remember his face let alone his name.
But then again, V was probably in the best place she would ever be in to have a child. Mama Welles would probably stop at nothing to make sure the child had the best childhood possible, and would probably treat them like her own grandchild. V didn’t want to hoist another mouth to feed on her almost-adopted mother, but she practically plucked V out of the dumpster behind the El Coyote and brought her home to fill her stomach and give her a place to sleep.
With a sigh, V stood up, washed her face in the sink, and left the bathroom to deliver the news to Mama Welles and Jackie.
“Uh, are you sure, V?” Jackie asked upon learning that V was pregnant and planning on keeping the baby, “I respect the choice and all, but you’re only eighteen.”
“And you’re only four years older,” Mama Welles said before she turned to face V, “But, he has a point, mija. A child is a big responsibility, and as much as I don't like to think about it, you’re a merc, and risking your life on the daily part of the job.”
V sighed, “I know, but the more I think about it, the more unsure I am about just getting rid of it.”
Mama Welles hugged V, “Okay, mija. How about you sleep on it, and after that, I’ll help you no matter what you choose.”
“Thanks, Mama Wells, it means a lot.”
October 2060
V was lying down in the Ripperdoc chair at Vik’s.
“Jesus, Guadalupe. Why’d you bring her here, delivering babies isn’t exactly the kind of work I do here,” Viktor complained, since Mama Welles thought it best to bring V to a Ripperdoc than to a hospital.
“Come on, Viktor. You know it costs an arm and a leg to give birth at a hospital, at least with you V and I won’t leave with her newborn and empty wallets.”
Viktor sighed, “Fine, but I can’t give her any anesthetics, the stuff I use is too strong and she’ll be out like a light in seconds.”
“That’s fine!” V shouted, “Let’s just get this over with!”
Over the next twelve hours, V pushed, trying to squeeze the baby out of her. The pain was the main thing getting her through this ironically, the faster she got the baby out, the faster the pain would end.
Jackie was there too, having his hand crushed since V’s grip was that of a vice grip, “Christ, Hermana, could you cool it on the squeezing?”
“I’m sorry, are you on a ripper chair experiencing the most excruciating pain imaginable? No? Then shut the fuck up, Jackie!”
Jackie sighed, vowing to find the guy who knocked up V so he could break his hand.
Finally, a baby boy was born, “It’s a boy!” Viktor announced as he cleaned the baby off before handing him to V, “May this be the last time someone comes here for something else than chrome or boxing tips.”
“Thanks, Vik… ‘preciate it,” V said, in between breaths, exhausted from delivering her son.
“Ay, que lindo,” Mama Welles said as she put a hand on V’s shoulder, “Have you figured out his name yet?”
V nodded, “Yeah, Ren.”
“Ren Amamiya, eh? It’s gotta a nice ring to it,” Jackie said as he nursed his aching hand.
“Yeah, thanks, sorry ‘bout earlier,” V said, but Jackie just waved it off.
“Eh, ask gonk questions, get gonk answers.” V and Jackie laugh.
“Might as well close up shop for today, V’s not gonna be off of that chair any time soon,” Viktor sighed as he walked out of the room.
November 2060
V took about a month off before she began to take on gigs again. Her first order of business was to remind her fixers that she existed since she had to stop all merc work as soon as she had shown visible signs of pregnancy. Didn’t want some gang goon with a sandevistan to take advantage of her lowered mobility.
“V, you’re back in business I presume?” Padre said over the holo.
“Yeah, gotta make eddies so I’m not just freeloading off of the Welles, especially now that I’ve got Mama Welles babysittin’ Ren for me,”
“And how is Ren doing?”
“He’s as fine as a baby could be, sleeps a lot, eats his food, and has the lungs to keep me awake through the night,” V said, causing Padre to chuckle.
“That’s good to hear, V.”
“So you got any gigs for me?” V asked, deciding it was time to move past the small talk and onto business.
Padre nodded, “Yes, I have something that should be a nice welcome back for you, V.”
“Great, let’s hear it then.”
July 2068
Ren was smart, that much was clear. He absorbed information like a sponge and had the top grades in his class. V couldn’t believe that he was her son, to be fair, she’d never had a shot of even going to school, since she didn’t have someone to even enroll her in school. She knew how to read and do simple math and that was enough for her to get by in Night City.
Mama Welles would always make a special dinner with as many organic ingredients as she could scrounge up whenever Ren came home with his report card, which had been all A’s and B's up to this point. Jackie even joked about giving him some Tequila to celebrate, which got him unamused stares from everyone at the table, including Ren.
“Even you Renren?” Jackie would say every time, causing the kid to blush in embarrassment at the nickname.
“Uncle Jackie!” Ren would always whine his name in response, causing Jackie to continue to call him by his nickname, which would result in louder pleas for Jackie to stop. Eventually, Mama Welles stops him and tells Jackie to stop teasing Ren.
V had to hold herself back from laughing every time at Ren’s attempts to be angry so as not to embarrass him further.
There were some things that V didn’t understand about Ren, like how he spent his time on the computer or using BD wreaths to study over summer break. V couldn’t talk, she’s never had a summer break.
“Hey, squirt, why aren’t you outside playing with the other kids?”
“Well, I always hear about how dangerous it is in Night City from you and Uncle Jackie whenever you two talk about your jobs so why shouldn’t I stay inside and study or play video games instead?” Ren asked.
“Well, when Jackie and I talk about the gigs we pick up, we’re always jumping into danger. As long as you’re always watching out for potential dangers, minding your business, and packing iron. It should be fine if you play outside with the other kids for a bit. Just don’t go too far home, or talk to adults you don’t know, stranger danger and all that.”
Ren paused to process V’s advice before taking off his BD wreath and handing it to V, “Okay, Mom. I guess I’ll try playing outside.”
“Great, how about we go shopping for a new iron for you, all the stuff Jackie and your mom use has too much firepower for your little baby wrists.”
Ren pouted, “I do not have little baby wrists! I-I have grown up wrists!”
V laughed at his retort before rustling his fluffy black hair, “Sure you do bud.”
December 2076
V was stunned, shocked, baffled, and maybe even bewildered when her son came home to their apartment to tell her that he got a full-ride scholarship to finish high school at Shujin Academy. Granted, V didn’t recognize the name of the school, but if they’re handing out scholarships then it must be a huge achievement that Ren was offered a full-ride.
“I’m just as stunned as you are, Mom,” Ren said, the excitement in his voice evident.
“Ren, that’s awesome, ‘bout time those corpo rats give the people at the bottom of the totem pole a chance,” V said as she hugged him. “How about you ring up Grandma Welles on the holo and tell her the good news.”
V was just as lost in the excitement as her son was when all of the memories of her interactions with Corpo clients and how every single one of them looked down on her came back. Before Ren could call Mama Welles, she grabbed his arm, “I know that this is very exciting, but I need to be the one to bring you down to Earth before you go to that school. Your teachers, classmates, hell, even the fucking Janitor will be rooting for your downfall, just waiting for the moment you drop out and even egg you on to do it. So, no matter what you choose, don’t let those Corpo rats get under your skin, keep proving ‘em wrong at every corner, and hey if any of your rich friends are looking for a merc to hire point them in your mom’s direction.”
“Will do, Mom,” Ren said with a confident smile.
April 12, 2077,
Ren’s first day of school at Shujin was here. He woke up, got dressed in his new school’s uniform, and met his mom in the kitchen for breakfast before he had to rush to the Metro because Shujin was in Corpo Plaza, and he and his mom lived in Watson.
“Hey, Mom.” Ren bought an XXL burrito from the vending machine.
“Hey, squirt.” V looks her son up and down, “Never thought I’d see the day that my kid would be wearing a school uniform, people like us don’t usually shoot as high as you have.” She smiled, pointing at the door with her thumb, “Get outta here, you’re gonna be late on your first day, go break a record or something.”
“Alright, Mom. Love you, bye,” Ren said as he dashed for the door.
“Love you too, Ren,” V said as Ren exited the apartment.
Ren must’ve missed the rain outside his window when he left because it was pouring by the time the elevator reached the bottom of the Megabuilding. He couldn’t go back up to the apartment to grab an umbrella or else he’d be late so he booked it to the metro station, boarded the train, and got off at the stop closest to his school. There was still a bit of walking to be done as there was about half a mile between the station and Shujin. So he ran until he bumped into someone standing on the sidewalk.
They were both knocked to the ground on collision, “Oh shit, I’m so sorry, should’ve watched where I was running.” Ren immediately apologized to the girl in front of him as they stood up.
“No, it’s fine. I shouldn’t have been just standing in the middle of the sidewalk.” The girl said. She had blond hair that was tied up into pigtails and blue eyes. Also, she had the same uniform as Ren, a bit modified, but the same.
“Ren Amamiya.” Ren held out his hand for a handshake.
“Ann Takamaki, nice to meet you.” Ann returned the handshake.
A car pulled up to them. The window rolled down and inside, there was a man with dark brown, curly hair and a massive chin, “Good morning, you want me to drive you to school? You’re going to be late.” He seemed to only be addressing Ann and not Ren.
“Um, sure. Thank you.” Ann got in the car and the man’s attention turned to Ren.
“Is he a teacher? A relative? Who the fuck just pulls up on a group of teenagers and asks one of them to drive one of them to school.”
“Oh, would you look at that, you go to the same school I teach at, wanna hop in?” All of Ren’s warning bells were ringing, for all he knew this guy was going to bring him and Ann into an alley and mug them. He wanted to just get that girl out of the car but who knows what kind of iron or chrome this guy’s packing.
“Um, no thank you.” The car window rolled up and the teacher drove off. Soon after another blond in the Shujin uniform runs up to Ren from behind.
“Dammit… Screw that pervy teacher.” The boy grunted.
“Pervy teacher?” Ren asked in confusion.
The boy turned to face Ren, “What do you want?” He asked as he walked up to Ren, causing him to back up on instinct, “You plannin’ on rattin’ me out to Kamoshida?”
“Kamoshida? Is that the guy Ann got in that car with?” Ren asked, causing the boy to raise an eyebrow at him.
“Isn’t that a Shujin uniform? He’s all anyone in our school ever talks about, it’s like he’s the king of the castle or something, how do you not know about him?”
Ren’s optics glitch out as the boy is talking, causing him to blink a few times to make it go away before answering, “It’s my first day, I don’t know anything.”
The boy’s face softens, “Oh, uh, sorry ‘bout that. Ryuji Sakamoto.” He holds out his hand for a handshake.
Ren shakes his hand, “Ren Amamiya.”
“Cool, gonna be late at this rate, come on, I know a shortcut.” Ryuji leads Ren to the school.
“So, how’d you end up at this shithole halfway through high school?” Ryuji asked.
“Got an academic scholarship, full-ride.”
Ryuji whistled, “Right, what part of the city you from?”
“I grew up in Heywood but my mom moved us to the Megabuilding in Watson about a year ago, you?”
“Yo, I live in Watson too! I got a scholarship a year back because I was pretty fast with my ‘ganic legs so the school offered to fit me with some preem chrome, and in return, I’d run track for ‘em.” Ryuji paused as he kicked the sidewalk.
“So, how’s it going now?” Ren asked.
“About as well- What the eff is that?” Ryuji shouted, pointing at a castle. A castle was a very out-of-place thing to build in the middle of Night City, especially since the surrounding buildings still looked the same. Oh, and the sky was red too.
“Ryuji, where’s the school?” Ren asked.
“It’s supposed to be right here, not this weird ass castle.”
“Right, so what do we do, go in or delta on home to try again tomorrow?” Ren asked.
“I say we go in. Ma would kill me if I skipped on the first day.” Ryuji said, causing Ren to nod before the boys walked into the castle.
To be continued…