A Heart in the Machine (Serial Designation V x Reader)

The hatch creaks open, tense silence weighing down the room as you watch a figure descend the ladder. You brace yourself for the worst, gripping the edge of your seat. A moment later, you let out a slow, shaky breath as the figure comes into view—N.

Relief washes over you, at least for a second.

Your eyes dart toward V, whose expression is unreadable. With a subtle movement, she shifts her leg and slyly kicks the severed chain link out of sight, making the restraint appear intact.

You aren't sure if N notices, but he doesn't seem to care. His yellow eyes are dim, his usual wide grin nowhere to be seen. That immediate relief is replaced by a growing unease as you realize something is wrong.

N climbs down and steps into the room, his movements slower than usual. He isn't his bright and excitable self that V had told you about—far from it. His shoulders sag, his blazer crumpled and speckled with dirt. You glance around, hoping to see Uzi, but the ladder remains empty.

Clearing your throat awkwardly, you ask, "Uh... where's Uzi?"

N freezes for a moment, then murmurs, "She's at the bunker," his voice so quiet it's almost a whisper. Without another word, he slumps into the corner of the room, sitting down and pulling his knees to his chest.

You blink, thoroughly confused, before casting a quick glance at V. She's already looking at you, her neon eyes meeting yours.

For once, there's no teasing or smugness in her expression—just genuine confusion and maybe a bit of concern. It's strange, but you figure she's probably just as thrown off as you are.

You both stare at N for a moment. His arms are wrapped tightly around his legs, his head bowed low. This is definitely not the N you'd heard about. From what V had said—and even from what little you'd seen of him—he was supposed to be bubbly, excitable, and relentlessly positive.

The awkward silence stretches between you all like a thick fog, each second dragging on longer than the last.

You shift uncomfortably in your seat, stealing another glance at V. She seems to be studying N, her usual sharp demeanor softened by what looks like curiosity. If she has any idea what was going on, she's not sharing it.

After a few long moments, you sigh, relieved at least that Uzi is apparently safe. But the room is still heavy with unspoken tension. You want to say something, anything, to break the silence, but you have no idea where to start.

So instead, you just sit there, caught between the odd presence of a subdued N and a disarmingly quiet V. The strange combination of the two leaves you more unsettled than you care to admit.

The silence is finally broken by V, though her voice lacks its usual sharp edge. She leans back in her seat, arms crossed, her tone a mix of mockery and frustration.

"This is worse than the usual torture," she said, her yellow eyes narrowing at N. "What's this supposed to be, huh? Punishment for something? Because if it is, I don't remember signing up for it."

Her words linger in the air, but N doesn't react. He stays curled up in the corner, staring down at his knees, completely unresponsive.

V's smirk falters. Her usual confidence seems to waver as she watches him, her expression softening in a way you don't expect. For a moment, she almost looks... sad. Concerned, even.

Her gaze flicks to you, but she doesn't say anything else.

You shift uncomfortably, then shooting her a reassuring look, trying to silently tell her that things would be okay. V's lips twitch slightly, like she wants to say something snarky, but she doesn't. Instead, she leans forward in her seat, her fingers absentmindedly brushing over the chain still hanging around her neck.