When Neo stepped into the kitchen, the smell of sizzling beef hit him like a wave. Jackie Welles and his mother were standing over a cast-iron skillet, the steak inside hissing with fat and juice, sending wisps of smoke curling toward the ceiling.
Jackie grinned. "Bro, not to brag, but my mom's steak? It's the best in all of Heywood. People would line up for blocks if she ever opened a restaurant."
Mrs. Welles laughed, flicking him lightly with a towel. "Always running your mouth."
Her voice was warm, steady—the kind that could make any home feel whole again. Seeing her son back safe, alive, and bringing a friend along… that was worth more than all the eddies in Night City.
She turned to Neo, her eyes soft. "I don't even need to ask Jackie—I can tell you're the one looking after him most of the time. Thank you, truly. For keeping my boy safe."
Neo felt a little embarrassed at that. "You're too kind, Mrs. Welles. Jackie and I—we're brothers. And between brothers, there's no such thing as 'thanks.'"
He paused, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Though… in this city, maybe that word's starting to sound a little strange."
Mrs. Welles shook her head. "No, Neo. You're wrong about that. In any time, any place, the bond between friends, between brothers or lovers—that's still the most beautiful thing there is."
Her voice softened with pride. "Here in Heywood, we look out for each other. We help when someone stumbles, we remember kindness, we stay loyal. That's what the Valentinos taught us, and it's what I taught Jackie too. He's a good boy—and you, Neo, you're a good one as well."
Neo inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you, Mrs. Welles. I'll remember your words."
She smiled again, her eyes glinting like the light off warm steel. Then, taking the steaks from the pan, she plated them neatly and handed them to Jackie. "Take these out, mijo. Dinner's almost ready."
Turning back to Neo, she said, "Weren't you going to show off your cooking? Go ahead, the kitchen's yours now. I'd love to see what kind of food you make."
Neo smiled faintly. "Alright then. Let's see if I can live up to the hype."
Jackie and his mother stepped out, leaving the kitchen to him.
Neo scanned the ingredients on the counter—peppers, onions, garlic, leftover cuts from the steak. Nothing fancy. But to him, that was the beauty of Japanese cooking. You didn't cook around ingredients—you transformed whatever you had into something alive, flavorful, and whole. It was the art of making the ordinary divine.
Since the steak and red wine were already handled, Neo decided to balance it out with something bold and homey. Something that felt like a heartbeat.
Stir-fried beef with peppers.
He washed the green and red peppers, sliced them into ribbons, then heated the pan until the oil shimmered. Garlic and scallions went in first, releasing a rush of aroma that filled the air like a song of fire and spice.
Then came the beef—thin slices of Mrs. Welles's steak, tossed in with a clatter. They hissed against the metal, browning beautifully as Neo worked the pan like an artist painting strokes of heat.
When the color turned perfect, he added the peppers, tossing them high, fast, fluid. The scent of beef fat mixed with pepper sweetness, creating something both fierce and comforting.
By the time he plated it, the kitchen smelled like heaven.
...
In the living room, Mrs. Welles turned to Jackie, eyes wide.
"My goodness, that smells incredible. Does Neo always cook like this?"
Jackie scratched his head, honestly stunned. "Uh… no clue. I've never seen him cook before."
She smiled knowingly. "Then I suppose we're lucky tonight."
Moments later, Neo walked out, carrying the dish in one hand and balancing a small plate in the other.
"This one's yours," he said, setting down the smaller plate on the floor. The orange cat immediately pounced on it, purring and tearing into the scraps of beef like a tiny beast.
Dinner was warm, lively, perfect.
Mrs. Welles's steak truly was a masterpiece—but Neo's stir-fry? It stole the show. The spice, the color, the sizzling flavor—it wasn't just food. It was life itself, reimagined through his hands.
Even Mrs. Welles, who had cooked for decades, couldn't stop praising it. "This… this is beautiful, Neo. You must teach me sometime."
Neo only smiled. "It's all in the heart, ma'am."
...
Later that night, after the dishes were cleared and laughter faded into the hum of the city, Neo took the sky-train back toward Watson.
The neon outside blurred into lines of red and gold as he stared out the glass. By the time the train reached the North Industrial Zone, the night had swallowed the horizon.
He stepped off, walking through the familiar shadows until the Edgerunner base came into view—quiet, industrial, alive with the faint pulse of electricity.
Jackie, still in Heywood, had stayed behind with his mother for the night.
Neo stepped through the base doors.
"Neo! You're back!"
Rebecca's voice cut through the silence like a burst of sunlight. The short, pink-haired techie dashed out of her room, all energy and grin—until her eyes fell on the small bundle in his arms.
"Wait—is that a cat?"
Neo shifted the orange tabby slightly, his other hand holding the relic case. "Found it on the streets of Heywood. Guess it decided I was its new home."
Rebecca's eyes went wide. "A real cat? Like, breathing and soft and—alive?"
Neo smiled. "Want to hold it?"
"I—I can? I've never even seen one in real life before."
"Then try."
Rebecca stepped closer, voice soft as silk. "Hey there, little one… you wanna come to me?"
Her usual rowdy tone melted into something gentle, almost shy. The cat looked up, blinked once, then leapt from Neo's arms straight into hers.
Rebecca squealed in delight, spinning once on her heel. "Oh my god—it's so cute! It's so soft!"
Neo couldn't help but laugh. Rebecca with a cat… hell, that's a sight.
At that moment, another door hissed open.
Lucy stepped out—barefoot, wearing her usual tank and jacket, silver hair cascading like mercury under the base lights. She walked over quietly, eyes landing on the cat.
Rebecca beamed. "Lucy, look! Neo brought it back from Heywood!"
Lucy's cyber-blue eyes softened. "A cat… it's adorable."
The cat turned its golden gaze toward her, let out a soft chirp—"Mrrrow"—and tilted its head.
Lucy blinked. "Does that mean… it likes me?"
Rebecca nodded. "Try petting it!"
Lucy extended a careful hand. The cat leaned forward, rubbing its head into her palm with a happy purr.
Rebecca giggled. "See? You're a natural."
The scene was perfect—Rebecca's bright grin, Lucy's calm smile, the orange cat purring between them, bathed in warm neon light.
Neo stood there watching, a rare softness in his eyes.
"Yeah," he murmured. "This… this is nice."
For a moment, even Night City felt gentle.
Then Lucy blinked, remembering something. "Neo, before I forget—I needed to talk to you. Come to my room."
Neo gave a small nod. "Sure."
He ruffled Rebecca's hair lightly. "The cat's yours for now. Show it around. Make sure it feels at home."
Rebecca saluted playfully. "Aye aye, boss! You can count on me."
Leaving her to her new furry obsession, Neo followed Lucy down the hall. She didn't pull away when he took her hand—her cool, slender fingers fitting neatly into his palm.
In her room, she moved straight to her workstation, pulling up holographic screens filled with scrolling data.
"I've finished decoding Dexter DeShawn's bio-module," she said, her tone calm but proud. "I cracked the biometric locks and spoofed his neural pattern. That gave me access to his private accounts."
She turned toward Neo, eyes glinting like blue ice.
"These," she said softly, "are all his assets."