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

Chapter 20: Preparing for Prom

The moment feels uncomfortably raw, more vulnerable than you'd ever thought you'd see from her. Still, your attempt to reassure her doesn't seem to have much effect. She quickly looks away, her usual mask slipping back into place.

You glance back at N, still silent in his corner. Whatever had happened to him—or to Uzi—was big enough to shake even him. And somehow, the heavy silence in the room feels even harder to bear.

V's fingers drum idly against the armrest of her chair as she studies N, her yellow eyes flickering with a glint of thought. Finally, she straightens up, her usual smirk creeping back onto her face.

"You know what, N?" she says, breaking the silence. "I've got something useful for you to do."

N perks up almost immediately, his radiant eyes snapping to her, hopeful. "Really? What is it?"

V leans forward, resting her elbow on her knee and pointing lazily at him. "I need you to grab me a couple of human skeletons."

N blinks, tilting his head. "Skeletons?"

"Yeah. Fancy ones," V says casually, waving a hand as if it's the most natural request in the world. "You know, the kind that are wearing those dapper outfits humans used to love so much." Her smirk widens slightly. "I mean, I know how much you want to look dapper yourself, right? This'll get you in the spirit."

N's face lights up, his earlier sadness melting away. "Oh, dapper skeletons! That sounds amazing!"

V glances at you, her smirk shifting into something a little more mischievous. "Actually," she adds, her tone almost too casual, "make it three skeletons. Trust me, we'll need one more."

Your eyebrows shoot up as V shoots you a knowing glance, clearly enjoying your confusion.

N doesn't even notice. He's already on his feet, practically vibrating with excitement. "Got it! Three fancy skeletons coming up!" he chirps, dashing toward the ladder.

The hatch clangs open, and before you can get a word in, N's already climbing out. The hatch slams shut behind him, leaving you and V alone once more.

V leans back, satisfied, her yellow eyes gleaming with amusement as she watches your reaction. "Well," she says, her tone dripping with smugness, "that should keep him busy for a bit."

As the sound of N's excited movements outside fades, you glance over at V, crossing your arms. "Okay, seriously, what's with the skeletons? You're not planning to start some weird art project, are you?"

V smirks, her yellow eyes narrowing slightly. "Wouldn't you like to know?" she says, her tone dripping with a teasing aura.

You roll your eyes. "Yeah, actually, I would."

Her smirk grows wider, but she leans back lazily in her chair, keeping her answer deliberately vague. "Let's just say it'll be important later. You'll see."

"Right," you say dryly, choosing not to be sarcastic in return, you instead try to catch her off guard. "Well, I hope N finds a good dress while he's out. If the colors match, it'd look nice with your brooch."

The words leave your mouth without much thought, but you instantly notice the shift in V's demeanor. Her teasing grin vanishes, replaced by an expression you haven't seen before: surprise, and something far heavier. Her gaze drops to her lapel, her fingers brushing the brooch lightly as that same melancholy, distant look crosses her face.

For a moment, you almost regret saying it. She stares at you with an unreadable intensity, her yellow eyes softened by something you can't quite name. Then she quietly murmurs, "Are you...?"