#pre heist

"I promise, just one more run and that cool garage is waiting for you." Volya purred beside him.

Jackie watched them speaking affectionately to their car. His new partner in crime had their quirks. One of them was that they loved their ride but --at least with him-- never sat behind the wheel.

"Two things, V," he began, slotting the key into the ignition. "First, why is your car your only love interest? And second, why am I always the one driving?" Jackie started the engine, which answered with a deep and powerful roar.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Volya looking out the side window, hiding their face from him. So far, they had skillfully avoided talking about their love life. Usually, a sharp counter-question ensured the conversation shifted focus to him and Misty -- and madre mía, how he loved talking about his Misty.

"I just know you like to drive," Volya said casually, ignoring Jackie's first point.

Jackie pulled the car out of the backyard of the El Coyote Cojo and headed out into the streets toward the gym.

"And you just like being chauffeured around?" he asked, trying to bait them.

Volya remained unfazed by the hint of provocation and turned on the radio. The bass of the first track blended smoothly with the heavy purr of the engine. Jackie didn't know how they did it, but their playlists always seemed to vibrate in perfect harmony with the hum of the car.

"My chosen position has its perks, I won't deny that," Volya said, winking at him. "But there's more to it. Do you remember our first drive? You behind the wheel, me hanging halfway out the window? We shook three fully equipped Corpo units in no time," Volya said, their voice laced with pride.

"Dios mío, 'course I remember." He could never forget that adrenaline rush.

Volya nodded enthusiastically. "Stuff like that doesn't just happen, Jackie. We just clicked. Ever since that day, I've known how we flow. You might scream and cuss your lungs out, but your body is an unyielding rock behind the wheel."

"And you're a nimble wildcard." Jackie laughed, recalling the moment when, caught between fear and pure rage, Volya had seemed to possess four arms and three legs. "Didn't you even kick off a shoe to stomp the off-road button, while trying to shoot those Corpo gonks off our tail?"

Volya laughed heartily. "No idea what my body did, Jackster. I just know it worked. You know why? Because I trusted you instinctively."

Jackie nodded and braked to turn left into a parking lot in front of a concrete industrial building. "Chemistry," he said.

"Chemistry," Volya repeated contentedly. "And it wouldn't have worked the other way around."

Jackie parked the Thorton and turned to Volya.

"Pamplinas, V, you know how to drive, and I know my way around a gun." He watched a flurry of emotions dance across Volya's face. Then, they leaned halfway over him and pulled the key from the ignition.

Volya looked him in the eyes, and Jackie felt strangely touched.

"You know," Volya began, leaning back into their seat. "In my former life, with the way we modded our cars… we rarely drove alone. It was safer to drive in pairs."

V toyed with their keys, lost in thought. "I was always the co-driver. I'm good at managing the machine and supporting the person behind the wheel. On the way to the gym, that might just mean setting the temperature, loading a playlist, and having relaxed chats. But trust me, I'm ready to lean out that window at any moment."

"Ah, so it's some fancy nomad consejo that keeps my ass in this seat."

"Nobody could put you anywhere you don't want to be, you stubborn gonk." Volya gave him that look, the one that reminded him of Mama Welles.

"Still, we should be able to do both, V! On the way back, you're driving." He playfully punched Volya's upper arm. "Assuming your arms can still hold the wheel by then."

"I promised Pepe I'd unload the new beverage delivery. Please have some mercy on my noodle arms," Volya pleaded with mock agony.

Jackie looked past them out the side window and grinned. A sharp knock on the glass startled Volya. As they turned around, the passenger door swung open from the outside.

"Are you kids getting ready anytime soon? I'm not getting any younger out here," a deep, raspy voice greeted them.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. We're training with Vik today. By the time he's done with us, your noodle arms are gonna weigh more than your Thorton." Jackie laughed gleefully.

Volya turned away, but Jackie caught the faint flush spreading across their cheeks.

"Wonderful," Volya said sarcastically, stepping out of the car.

"Hey Vik," they greeted the former prize fighter. "Looking forward to torturing me?"

Jackie hopped out, grabbed his gym gear from the back seat and slammed the driver's door. Leaning against the roof, he watched the brief hug between Viktor and Volya.

"I brought a few ideas along," his old ripperdoc friend chuckled.

"Take it easy, Choom. Don't want them losing interest right off the bat," Jackie chimed in.

Volya eyed Viktor from the side. Once again, Jackie saw a flurry of unspoken emotions dance across their face, before they looked down at the asphalt to hide them. A suspission crossed his mind, one he decided to keep to himself for now.

"What are you smiling at?" Viktor asked, shifting his gaze from Jackie to Volya and back.

"Nothing," Jackie deflected cheerfully. "I just have a nice face."

"Mhm, sure," Viktor said, already losing interest.

Note: They never talked about their feelings for Viktor. Jackie, being a good friend, never brought it up with him either. He just kept their secret and took it to his grave. After his death, Volya continued to suppess those feelings for Viktor. There was neither the time nor the space to follow that road. Yet, mourning their friend together and opening up about their grief actually played a huge role in bringing them closer. And, you know, this proves Misty's point: that Jackie is still around. He keeps influencing the people he loved. :')

Volya met his eyes for a brief but intense moment. It was one of those nonverbal exchanges that lasts only a second but holds so much meaning.