Chapter Text
Judy woke up with a start and blinked furiously at the door haphazardly left ajar. The whole house was under a thorough cleaning inspection and V was in a frenzy, vacuuming the place with audible vigor.
“Judy!”
The techie threw her covers off with an infuriated groan. “What?!”
“If you haven’t made the bed, throw it away, it’s too late now!”
More sounds of cleaning struggles echoed through the house. It was only fair that the woman was finally doing everything on her own to make up for all those months when she was bedridden, so she could yell all she liked — Judy would not lift a finger to help.
“…get rid of the couches. We can’t let people know we SIT!” Something thudded against the wall.
Shuffling her bare feet across the immaculately clean floor, Judy went to the bathroom and started brushing her teeth.
She peeked outside of the bathroom and saw the merc run around with a duster and a spray bottle, wearing a neat little apron, rubber gloves and a white scarf over her face.
“Mornin’,” she said sleepily with the toothbrush still stuck in her mouth.
V surveyed her puffy eyes and the single cowlick in her hair. “You better hide if you know what’s good for you.” She pulled out a candy wrapper from the small pocket on her apron and Judy ducked back inside the bathroom. “Told you not to leave this shit tucked inside of the couch.”
Judy locked the door and started the shower. The roar of the running water was enough to mute the worst of the merc’s angry muttering. “What was that? Can’t hear you, sorry!”
The woman gave up and went back to cleaning, finding her wife later when she was seated at the counter with her phone in one hand and a coffee cup in the other.
“Am I to do everything around here today?”
Judy pulled down the scarf around V’s mouth and gently patted her cheek. “Yep. You’re the cleaning lady of this household.” She gave her a small kiss and yelped when V pulled her out of her seat, lifting her up into her arms. “Put me the fuck down, dude!”
The merc took her to their small yard and set her down in the rocking chair. “Then at least get out of my way.”
The nerve…
Judy went after her, following her inside like an enraged bull. “Oh, you did not—“
V spun around and threw a dish towel at her. Judy caught it and glared bloody murder at her smirking face. “Make yourself useful and dry the dishes.”
The techie yanked her closer by the apron and bunched the dish towel up in her fist before she pressed it firmly against V’s face. “How ‘bout I slip into my muddy shoes and run around for a bit, hm?”
“I want a divorce!” V muttered into the dish cloth.
The doorbell rang and the two had to separate. V pushed her towards it and whistled at their robot companion to come and guard her. The small pug was Judy’s invention, at least for the most part. She was working on it in secret for months. Judy ordered the blueprints from the same guy who designed Octavia’s dogs and built it from scratch on her own, even adding some improvements regarding responsiveness and behavior. Her puppy was a cuddle monster though, only good for attacking ankles on command. V loved him. The day she brought him home the merc was reduced to tears. That was one fulfilled fantasy checked off Judy’s list.
She opened the door and found Mama Welles and her grandparents standing there with arms full of tupperware and fizzy drinks. “Oh, you didn’t have to—“
The bar owner clicked her tongue and brushed past her, smiling down at the barking dog. “Spare me, mija. You two would sooner burn the house down than cook a proper meal.”
Judy’s grandma went in for a clumsy half-hug and kissed her cheek. “Rub the sleep out of your eyes, I need help with the calzone.”
“Dios mío, anything but the calzone…” her husband commiserated, looking at his granddaughter for help. Judy knew they’d have too much food by the end of the day, so she assured him he would have plenty more options at his disposal soon.
As the family bullied her into waking up and getting ready, she stopped herself and stood in the hallway, listening to the clutter of plates and the arguments that went from English to Spanish with ridiculous speed.
She never thought she’d have this. A real home. An actual, tight family. Ever since her parents weren’t in the picture, this type of domestic bliss eluded her, making her feel like she was missing out. Now she knew what it was like to have it all. Except for one thing…
Kids used to be on her mind when they were with the Aldecaldos, but after spending nine months taking care of one idiot woman, she realized how unprepared she was for that. Not to mention, if they did adopt some day, she’d have to name the little gremlins herself. She had heard about V’s retelling of the first heist and she was not going to be stuck with a tiny Shmevelyn running around the house.
She grabbed the pup and cradled him in her arms as she hummed and looked over the living room. Their house was small and old-fashioned. There wasn’t much furniture, and since V was a handful during her recovery, they focused on other things than décor. Still, there were minor things around. Judy printed a picture of Evelyn and her at the pier, laughing and being stupid. That day was one of the best ones in her entire life. Next to it was a framed wedding photo of her and V, their first one to be precise. And to the right, V followed suit and commemorated her departed best friend with a pic of him lifting weights and winking at the camera.
Other than that, V literally nailed a Samurai vinyl to the wall, saying it did not deserve better treatment but it still had to be there.
It was a cozy home, but something was missing. At the moment, Judy was too content to mull it over, but the itch to disappear from the house and from Oregon itself was definitely there. She could tell that V felt it too.
Within two hours, the kitchen was brimming with amazing smells and filled with so much food that made Judy question their decision to invite so many people in the first place. Even more of them refused to come and only did an obligatory holo call, like Zoe, River and Misty. Judy greeted the guy with a cheeky smile, waving at him with the hand sporting the tattooed ring and filling him in on their wedding night shenanigans before V could stop her. Misty had a much better treatment and she sent them a small dreamcatcher as a gift. As for Zoe, she refused to leave the clan unaided, especially in Panam’s absence.
The doorbell rang and V ran down the stairs with a big smile on her face. The solo pulled the door open and threw herself at the visitor.
“Jesus christ, kid!” Viktor said breathlessly as the impact of the hug knocked the air out of his lungs, but he couldn’t fight the relieved laughter that overtook him as he hugged her back. “You made it!”
Judy felt a pang in her gut upon hearing the sheer disbelief in his voice. V pulled him inside and introduced them. Viktor was a nice guy and even congratulated Judy for putting up with the gonk and being brave enough to put a ring on it.
“It was a struggle, not gonna lie,” she sighed, offering him a beer. They clinked their bottles together and watched V drag more people inside.
“GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!”
Judy smirked. Panam had been helping them during the first two months of V’s recovery and her absence was something that crushed both women like a damn steamroller. When the nomad chief made it inside, Judy noticed the new black Aldecaldo jacket and whistled appreciatively. “Lookin’ good.”
Panam rolled her eyes and closed the distance with three big steps. “Wanted to match with one of my best girls. Oh hey, Viktor. Night City treating you well?”
The doc looked at her as if she just told the worst joke. “With the war between Arasaka and Militech going on? Sure. Lots of bodies to pick up but no eddies in it. Think I really need a good vacation.”
Mama Welles brought him a plate of her famous chilaquelles and looked at the weary man with sympathy. “Don’t think about it. Put on a smile and get another beer.”
V rushed back in with Tam in her arms, raising the giggling child up as if she was a tiny airplane. “Incoming!” She ducked behind the counter with her, then raised her up just so her tiny head poked above it. Tam looked at Judy, said “Hi,” and then disappeared from view once again in a fit of more laughter.
Seeing this easy-going chemistry between the merc and the child, Victor dropped his spoon and even Mama Welles looked stunned. Judy noticed the demanding, or better yet, daring looks from her grandparents and pretended that she was watching a fly on the wall.
“What’s in that beer?” Viktor turned to Judy’s mother-in-law, his voice breaking.
More kids poured in, all of them zeroing in on Judy and V. The welcome was so heartwarming and wholesome that everyone who was not an Aldecaldo gawked openly as if they were seeing ghosts.
“I hate this neighborhood,” Rhea complained as she put her coat aside, revealing a black dress underneath. “Haven’t been catcalled even once since we got here.”
“Ew, mom!” Jolene made a face and kicked the merc. “Pay attention to me.”
Panam smirked at the confused Guadalupe and clinked their bottles together. “To your health! Aren’t they just precious? Hey Judy, you changed your mind ‘bout adoption yet?”
Judy’s grandmother put her hands on her hips and froze her with a glare. “Yes, Judy. Have you? Don’t keep us waiting.”
Lucy barely got through the door with the huge tray of grilled synth-meat and cheese. “I have arrived, beware.” She stopped short as she sensed the clashing maternal energy in the room. Mama Welles spared her only a glance, but the brief eye contact was electrifying. “V, darling, come take this off my bloody hands. I need to get my shoes off.”
V was there within a second, putting the tray aside and hugging her for good measure. Then she turned to Rhea and did the same to her, but carefully. She did not trust the poisoner enough to be absolutely careless with her affections. “Welcome, welcome! I’ll put this on the coffee table.” She looked over at her friends and mouthed ‘Don’t eat that’ as she put it down.
Judy was forced to look back at her impatient abuela and fidgeted with her bottle. “Still not ready, nope. Sorry.”
In response, the senior Alvarez tapped at her wrists. “You are getting older, mija. Damn it, we are getting older. Tell ‘em, Guadalupe.”
“Don’t rush it,” V’s adoptive mother patted Judy’s hand reassuringly. “You already rushed the damn weddings, might as well take it slow now.”
Viktor asked to see the pictures and the couple had to hook the gallery up to the TV screen to show everyone. The second wedding was a small affair with just the family and Kerry. He would not be told off, no matter what V said. His band played a gig there and even Us Cracks showed up to photobomb them and have a very heated food fight with their wedding cake.
The ceremony was short and slightly uncomfortable. Judy knew it was not really for them, it was just to give their families a chance to be there for this big moment. As per her abuela’s request, they both wore traditional white dresses and prettied themselves up to the point when Judy no longer even recognized herself, let alone her actual wife.
“I’m gonna rip this veil off,” V said back then as they were preparing for the whole ordeal. Blowing it out of the way didn’t help, no matter how hard she tried. “Gonna get a mouthful of the netting if I don’t tape this to the top of my head.”
Judy watched her struggle and laughed when she inelegantly grabbed a hold of her own breasts to push them up because the dress was chafing where it was not supposed to. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You’re ridiculous,” V shot back and lifted her chin up arrogantly. “And I’m prettier than you.”
“It was a contest between us,” Judy explained as she swiped through the photos that showed the secretive, determined gazes. “No one won, obviously. Our guests didn’t wanna play fair and fed us the same bull. ‘You both look like angels’,” Judy said, imitating her grandfather’s deep voice. “And I did get to taste the netting. Had to do the kiss twice.”
Lucy dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a napkin. “You do look like angels.”
Mama Welles scoffed. “They had the cake smeared all over themselves the moment we were done taking photos.”
V cried genuine tears back then. Not because she was officially married, but because the only real cake she has encountered in a whole year ended up being used as a weapon against her.
Judy kept wearing the first wedding ring as well as the tattooed one; it held more thought and meaning, and come to think of it, even though their first wedding was born out of fear of losing precious time, it was ten times better than the stifling reality that now had them married in the eyes of God and the state. Valerie Alvarez did sound fucking amazing though, so it was worth the hassle.
As they all chatted in the living room, V positioned herself to sit on top of the couch behind Judy, posing like Elizabeth Paralez often did for her husband. It didn’t take long before she fell off and poured her drink all over herself in the process.
“A’ight, that’ll be them,” the merc rose up and went to the door to let more people in. The Moxes made a beeline to their ex-member and the bouncer squished her in an eager hug.
“She got hitched!” Rita yelled at Susie and raised Judy’s hand to show off the ring. “Girl wasn’t bullshitting. Look at that, our possessive kitten finally went and got hers.”
Susie looked her up and down. “I am disappointed. She doing marital duties at all, or what? Not a single scratch or a hickie. What is this whole house arrest good for if you ain’t fucking each other day and night?”
Judy hushed her and prayed that no kids or family members heard it. “Not here! C’mon, clearly can’t talk to you lot in the presence of decent folk.”
She rushed the two upstairs and sat down on their luxurious bed. “You two will never just settle for asking how I’m doin’, won’t you?”
Rita threw herself backwards on the bed and chuckled in that rude, unapologetic way. “Rest of the house is a fuckin’ dump, but you two didn’t skim on the bedroom décor, ooh la la…is that a mirror over there? Knew you’d own a sex dungeon at some point, Jude.”
“It’s not a—“ Judy bit her tongue and tried not to mind Susie’s handsy inspection of her make-up case. “You both are pervs. That mirror was for V, she had to do exercises and watch the body react. Don’t fucking whistle, her torso’s pretty much plate by this point.”
Not that it was entirely chrome, thank god for that. The middle part of her chest was reinforced and done in a way that made it look almost invisible, safe for the missing roses that Judy worked so hard to put there. Only the one above her heart remained. No matter, it could be re-done.
“Know how that feels,” the bouncer said, running her hand underneath her top and going up. Judy watched, entranced but irritated.
“Can you not touch yourself in my bed?”
“I’m just feeling my oats.”
A box fell into her lap and Judy opened it to find a hot pink strap. “Already got one but thanks.”
Susie clicked her tongue in irritation. “Honey, you need a better model. This one packs a punch, even grows based on the—“
The techie shut the box closed and raised her hands up to stop the rant right there. “Enough. I can’t. She can’t.”
Rita sat up abruptly. “You abstaining or some shit? Suze! Grab her, quick. This idiot is gonna ruin her.”
If only they knew what V was actually capable of. Her wife did not neglect her during these past few months when she was actually able to please her without hurting herself. That being said, those were pure solo missions after dark; Judy could barely touch her without V flinching.
“She had a major neural surgery, if I put that toy on her and mounted her, she’d break like a twig.”
Not that she didn’t want all that. Sometimes she’d wake up next to her all hot and bothered, waking her girl up with nips and kisses along her neck, moaning and saying things so foul they surprised even herself. V would either freak out, roll away from danger, whine about her own arousal, or actually play along, giving her orders or a hand. Most of the time, she did not hesitate to get a taste of what she was missing.
But that wasn’t enough. Judy wanted to touch her wife without having to stop every time her breath caught in her throat, fearing she’d accidentally hurt her by overwhelming her. Luckily, these past few weeks the rippers became more lenient and it looked like the nine month break on proper sex was finally over. Still, the toy would not be used anytime soon.
The two ensured her that the Mox was doing okay despite the war, saying they came to Oregon for biz since they still lacked a proper BD editor to replace their prized techie. There was a talented girl in Portland, waiting to be picked up and dragged into the neon hell for a decent pay. When the debate turned to pointless marital stuff, Judy shooed the Moxes away and got back to the rest of her guests.
Once Judy returned, V excused herself and dragged Panam out to the porch. It got a bit late by then and the sun was beginning to set.
The Aldecaldo chief looked at her knowingly as they sat side by side on the stairs. “You hate it here, I can see it in your eyes.” She could also see it around her wrists – those glowing handcuffs were a clear reminder of how ‘free’ she truly was. Panam felt a stab of guilt in her gut for that. V took all the responsibility for the Arasaka raid and the reported murders at Octavia’s casino when they visited the first time around. The heist’s victims could not be pinned on her without evidence, but that still changed very little.
V took a sip of her lemonade, observing the quiet neighborhood. “I don’t hate it.”
“But I did give you a taste of true freedom out there in the desert,” Panam insisted. “Listen, V. Everything is ready if you two want to come back. I got the Bradors waiting by the borders, we can hop back south without anyone noticing.”
The pug came outside and woofed softly, asking for attention. V picked him up and placed him in her lap.
When she first heard the news about Leopold’s death, she felt devastated. His wife soon made contact and promised to keep the clan in line for Panam’s sake as a gift for motivating Leopold to at least try. Those last days they had together made the woman very happy, despite the circumstances.
“I can’t leave.”
The cuffs were just one part of it. Everyone knew she was here, struggling to slowly get back on her feet. Fixers buzzed in her ear, even bigshot corpos wanted to hire her. The word ‘terrorist’ was smoothed over by ridiculous amount of money she and Judy got as a reward for her patented BD tech, and V was now a walking guinea pig for docs and med students. Simply put, she was too valuable alive and everyone wanted a piece of her.
Similarly, now every enemy she’s ever made knew exactly where she lived. Security measures had to be taken, and now she relied on protection from the state of Oregon. This was not marital bliss, it was a trap.
“You totally can,” Panam blew her off. “I know you, these cuffs don’t mean shit against your netrunning and Judy’s tech skills. By the way…heard about Octavia?”
V yelped and pulled her finger out of the pup’s mouth. “What? Is this about her casino?”
Panam shook her head. “No. The bitch survived, I don’t know how, but she appeared on the news and is trying to maintain order in Phoenix after gangs tore it apart in her absence. That kept her off your ass for a while, but now? She’s going to want a rematch, V.” She scooted closer and whispered, “Come with me. Come on. You know you want to.”
V refused to look at her and kept her attention on the empty street. “Leave me alone, I won’t be baited.”
The chief huffed out a laugh and pulled away. “Suit yourself.”
She hugged the pup closer to her chest and said, “We never…spoke of me going behind your back. With Leopold, I mean.”
That one betrayal should have had much bigger consequences than the nomad’s angry yelling. In the end, she let V off the hook.
“Sam told me you’re a gonk who spews out wisdom but never abides by it,” the nomad complained bitterly and gently kicked her best friend to make her stop pouting. “Remember how you told me I shouldn’t compare my idiot, impulsive self to Kylo because I challenged Saul when I only wanted to help? That’s what you did with old Leo — you weren’t stabbing me in the back, you were kicking my ass to do better. Now shut up about it, V. You were my right-hand woman for a reason.”
V scoffed but smiled at that. “Were? Think it still applies, chief.”
Panam smiled back and scratched the puppy’s head. “That’s what I wanted to hear.” She looked down at the robot and marveled at the likeliness to the real animal. "What did you name this one?"
"General Barkotron."
The chief raised one eyebrow, expecting V to tell her it was a joke, but the woman held her gaze with the seriousness of a judge announcing a death sentence.
The moment was interrupted by a black Quadra rolling up to the lot. A single figure in a baseball cap stepped out, nervously looking around for paparazzi. Her bodyguards sat inside of the vehicle and observed her like living statues.
The singer pulled her cap down and beamed down at the two nomads. “I’m so sorry for being late! Hi, I’m Blue Moon.” She took Panam’s hand and shook it.
“Pleasure’s all mine,” the chief trained her voice into a confident lilt. V’s gaydar was immediately ticked off.
“Come inside, we shouldn’t be seen out here.”
When she entered the house, there was a small fire and Lucy and Mama Welles were in the middle of a heated argument. Viktor and Judy put the fire out, but the table was already singed. Someone was setting their shots aflame. Perhaps it was the very drunk Mox bouncer who was making eyes at Rhea, obviously missing the signals and ignoring her child who stared at her with murderous intent.
V sighed as she observed the chaos around her. “I’m not even going to ask…”
Blue Moon had proposed a deal to pose as her bodyguard in the future. She’d have to travel, but at least it would get her and Judy out of the house and keep them on the move.
As the hours went by, V and Judy kept sneaking off to make out and gossip. One time, they found Panam leaning against the wall while facing the singer who was all giggles and smiles. Judy quickly excused herself and dragged her wife away.
“It’s happening!” She couldn’t believe it and neither could V.
“Holy shit. What if they’ll want to stay for the night?”
The techie shrugged. “Dunno. Do we take the couch?”
When they heard the suggestive drawl in Panam’s voice from the inside of the pantry, they both had to take a moment to compose themselves.
“We take the couch.”
No one wanted to stay, though. Mama Welles was welcome at the Alvarez residence since the in-laws became quick friends, and everyone else hurried back to their respective hotels or to their camp.
Although they left quite a mess behind, Judy was not willing to waste her or V’s time on it. For all she cared, all that food could go to waste.
She let V take her hand and lead her up to their bedroom. They switched on the pink neon lights and left the room in a sexy gloom as V led Judy in a clumsy, heated dance. The music she chose to play was seductive and dark. Not a single word was uttered as their hands roamed over the swaying hips.
Judy felt intoxicated by her presence. The merciless lack of proper release and her own, visceral desire for the woman made it impossible for her not to push it further. “All the way tonight?”
V bent down to kiss a path across Judy’s neck. “Hands only. Go slow.”
That was honestly more than she even hoped for.
The music was left on as they began discarding their clothes and crawled onto the bed. V pulled Judy on top, kissing her again and again, tasting her out and smiling against her lips.
Judy’s hand traced the smooth material between V’s breasts, sliding down to her navel. The fake skin was still sensitive, but there was no mistaking it for what it was. It didn’t change a thing. In fact, it made Judy want to trace it with her fingers and draw lucky charms all over it. Inside, there was more tech working like clockwork to support the abused lungs, steady the heartbeat, and purify the last remains of the poison left by the engram.
They made it. This night, V’s recovery would be in the last, definite stages if she handled the soft, careful lovemaking.
Judy’s hand dipped lower, and the sensual mouth stopped its conquest to take a shuddering breath. She watched her for any reaction that would tell her to stop, but V seemed composed and lost in the sensation. “All good?”
“Amazing,” V breathed out and caressed Judy’s hips in additional, silent encouragement.
Judy kissed her again, rubbing gentle circles against her. The merc was bucking her hips into the contact, breathing in and letting out a soft, broken curse.
She was perfect like that – vulnerable and somewhat mesmerized by the intensity and intimacy of the moment, giving herself over to Judy in complete submission and absolute trust.
V missed the pleasure of a complete release, but it wasn’t the primary thing she craved to get back. She yearned for what happens in the mind, not so much in the body itself; the lust-addled thoughts, the jumbled, fuzzy feelings Judy stirred within her – that was the real high she was missing.
Leaning close, she brushed her lips teasingly over her wife’s, looking up at her with a clear dare in her eyes.
Make me yours. Remind me again, V thought, whimpering and tilting her head back. Remind me how little control I have when it comes to you.
Judy slipped inside of her, carefully and slowly, making V’s body bend like a taut bow. For a moment she was scared it was too much. The hand gripping her free forearm squeezed gently, telling her to keep going, so Judy set up an easy pace. The moans pouring from the merc’s mouth sent a jolt of pleasure down to her center, and she watched her break apart in awe, drinking in the sight of dilapidated pupils and kiss-swollen lips.
She helped her ride the aftershocks and peppered kisses all over her chest and neck, feeling powerful and smug. It was immensely difficult not to throw herself at her again and let her rest.
“Finally…” V sighed and sank into the pillows. “I missed you.”
“Girl, I was here the whole time.”
She messed up Judy’s hair in response, pissing her off and nearly earning herself a playful swat. “Well, you weren’t there, and the absence was felt, believe me.”
Judy cuddled up to her and pecked her bare shoulder. “Mind if we kiss some more? Can’t get enough of you tonight.”
V pulled her into a sweet kiss and the two entangled themselves together, rolling in the sheets, kissing and laughing. The cuffs around V’s wrists sometimes dragged across Judy’s skin as her wife caressed her body, the red glow around them casting shadows of slender fingers towering over the exposed flesh.
Eventually, the fingers dipped below the cat tattoo and started a teasing dance there. Judy was so worked up that even the smallest of touches made her gasp into the merc’s mouth.
She was soft and careful, as if her own wife could break into thousand little pieces if she pushed a little too hard. “Love you, Jude,” she whispered against her lips, looking into the hazel depths as if she wanted to drown in them.
Judy would have replied if only the fingers sinking into her allowed her to think. Instead of saying it back, her lips parted to let out a strangled moan as the fingers curled up and gave her more.
She fought against her body and held herself back with every fiber of her being, wanting to linger in that moment as long as possible. “V…” she pleaded, wrapping her arms around her neck to hold her close.
She felt her soft lips on her own again, in a kiss that could rot her teeth. The sweetness and gentleness made her head spin. For a moment, she forgot about the building pleasure between her thighs and felt overwhelmed by a new feeling making her heart beat like a war drum.
All this love from a woman who was stronger than anyone she’s ever met before. She’d faced down corporations, gangs, legendary deckheads, meddled with powers beyond her reach, fought against her own demons and death itself. Judy knew it wasn’t entirely just for her anymore, but she loved her for it all the more. V has learned how to carry herself with an unshakable confidence. Even in her recovery, she was still brave and smiling through the pain, thankful for each and every day.
And yet behind all that power was raw vulnerability. V has shown her more and more of that ever since they got married. Even now, she was painstakingly loving and patient, allowing Judy to take a breath from all that intensity and just bask in the moment, kissing her and whispering ridiculous but salacious things that made her giggle and call her a gonk for making her laugh during sex.
Taking that as a cue to finally bring the game to a close, V picked up the pace of her thrusts and bent down to trace open-mouthed kisses across the techie’s neck and her collarbone. Judy let go and allowed the pleasure to wash over her like a tidal wave, quivering in her wife’s arms until she rode out the last remains of her climax.
“Fuck, that was good,” she said with a big, dopey smile, and couldn’t believe that her body craved this more than a rough battle for dominance.
V snuggled up to her and kissed her cheek. “Will totally wake you up like that in the morning. Just throwin’ it out there.”
“Perv.”
“Says the woman who has been consistently trying to ravage me in my sleep ever since I got the heads-up from the ripperdoc ‘bout the pleasure tolerance.”
“Mhm.” Judy rolled over to lie on her side and face the merc. “In my defense, I have a really hot wife.”
V snorted and began caressing Judy’s hip, then trailing her fingers all the way up her arm. “Bet mine's hotter.”
Already sleepy and just about ready to pass out, the BD expert forced herself to blink away the exhaustion. She loved it when they just talked. V has already shared all kinds of secrets when they were lying in this bed at night, baring wounds and happy memories in equal measure. Those moments were far too precious to pass up.
“You’re falling asleep,” V said and pulled the covers over them both.
"Nooooo..." The weak protest died on Judy's lips the moment V started caressing and scratching her back.
Judy resisted it valiantly, but her eyes kept closing on their own. Eventually, V’s pampering ministrations lulled her into slumber. She wanted to say more, ask about how V was doing with the Us Cracks contract, but V’s touch worked like magic, and she was too starved for it to stop her.
Once her wife was fast asleep, V pulled the covers over her gloriously naked body and let the pug inside of the room, helping him up onto the bed to snuggle into Judy’s side.
Out of some strange compulsion, she went to her desk and rummaged through the photos they took while on the road. She turned the music off and lingered on each polaroid, smiling at her pics with Tam and Judy, even the ones taken before the heist. They were untainted by the terrible mistakes they couldn’t have foreseen, full of naïve hope and optimism.
She put those aside and looked longingly at the two Aldecaldo jackets hanging outside of their closet. They would not admit it out loud, but they needed to have them in sight, to touch the leather at times to make sure it was real because this long, domestic dream was playing tricks on their minds.
All this time, she was anxiously awaiting the symptoms of cyberpsychosis. Consistent therapy sessions kept her in check, but V decided not to risk it and used her free time during the recovery to make a daemon for Judy. For emergencies. All she had to do was activate it once to immobilize her, second time to kill her if necessary. As V’s attention turned to her sleeping wife, she wondered if she’d ever actually use it.
Her phone buzzed. Better yet, Judy’s went off at the same time. Intrigued, V pulled on a shirt before she answered the holo.
“Took you long enough,” she teased, recognizing the blazing golden eyes in the darkness around the woman. She was like a beast lurking in the shadows - and just like a starving beast, Octavia would not stop pursuing the prey once she tasted its blood on her tongue.
“You and I have a score to settle,” her voice came out in two different pitches at once, sending shivers down V’s spine. “I’ll be in touch.”
The call disconnected.
The merc looked over at the jackets and felt the unmistakable pull of the open road.