Work Text:
Roses
That last job was exhausting. V pressed her wrist up to the scanner and the house door opened. She was ready to get out of her dirty, bloody, shredded clothing, take a shower, and get into bed. She would have skipped the shower altogether if it wasn’t for all the blood. Plus she had to make sure none of it was hers.
The adrenaline was wearing off, and she knew that often after a job like that, the pain would kick in. A shower and a bath would be ideal.
As soon as V crossed the threshold, the door closed behind her and she started to undress. Jacket, torn tank top, boots, socks, synthleather pants, bra and panties all came off. She didn’t want to track any mud, filth or blood through the house, so immediately after V stripped, she went to the front bathroom. She turned on the light and checked her reflection in the mirror. She had blood spatter on her face. She turned on the faucet, put her hands under the water stream, and splashed some water on her face. Memories of the night of Konpeki plaza flashed in her mind as she closed her eyes, letting the cold water rinse the blood off her face.
V knew that Dexter DeShawn was dead. Objectively, she knew he wasn’t waiting outside the bathroom door. She knew he wouldn’t be standing behind her, gripping his pistol Plan B in his golden chrome hand. V knew he didn’t have a bullet waiting for her. She knew this, because Dexter was dead. She watched Goro Takemura execute him.
But memories are harder to remove than bloodstains.
After she checked her face, neck, and chest to make sure she didn’t have any slashes or open wounds, V spun around and checked her back for any lacerations. She wasn’t totally certain, so she got into the shower to clean up.
V pressed her hands onto the wall and breathed in steam from the hot water.
She scrubbed herself down, washed her hair, rinsed off and shut the water off. After the shower, V checked herself in the mirror to make sure she didn’t have any wounds that needed to be cleaned. Satisfied that she only had a few bruises and small cuts, V toweled herself dry. Then she wrapped the towel around herself and walked out of the bathroom.
V wanted to get into a change of clothes. If she was really being honest with herself, what she really wanted was Judy. She wanted to kiss her lover, to take her to bed, and to cuddle with her and fall asleep. V always slept better when Judy was in bed with her, especially when Judy’s back was pressed against V’s chest, her arms tightly wrapped around Judy. She loved kissing Judy’s neck, breathing in her scent, and falling asleep with Judy’s hair tickling her nose. V smiled, thinking about how comfortable and safe she felt with Judy.
However, V was certain that Judy was working, and she knew not to bother Judy when she was editing braindances.
As V walked toward the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, she noticed that there was a slender glass vase on the kitchen counter with a single red rose. When V got closer, she noticed that there was a tag on the rose with one single word written on it.
Upstairs.
V looked at the rose, and then looked toward the stairwell.
Suddenly, V felt rejuvenated.
V took off the towel and tossed it into the pile with her clothes in the entryway. Then, she headed toward the stairwell.
There were tealights on each of the stairs, and each stair had a rose with a little note tied to the stem. As V walked up, she read each note and held them in her hand with the roses.
All together, the notes read I have been expecting you and I want you to come find me upstairs
V was glad that she cleaned herself off already. Neither of them were overly fond of blood, especially after everything they had been through.
V looked at the roses and notes in her hand as she stood on the upstairs landing. Then, another red rose caught her eye. It was by the bedroom door. She walked toward the rose, picked it up, and read the next note.
Bath
When she walked into the bedroom, it was softly illuminated by an orange-yellow glow of candles, spread all around the room.
All the stress, the worry, and the exhaustion from the job melted away.
She was ready to be with Judy.
V opened the door to the bathroom and there were candles in there, too.
There was also Judy.
Judy was laying in the bath with her feet on the edge of the tub. The water looked milky-white.
“Hey beautiful,” Judy said.
“ Mi amor, ” answered V as she stepped closer to Judy.
Judy then asked, “Wanna join me?”
V thought with you, I have everything that I could ever possibly want . However, words escaped her. Instead, she got closer to the bathtub and sat on the edge.
Judy said, “Put the notes aside, but bring the roses in. I wanna pick them with you and lay in the water with the petals floating all around us. It’ll make the bath smell lovely, too.”
V dropped her legs into the bath, and Judy sat up. As V slid into the warm, opaque water, Judy shifted and made room for V to sit behind her.
Once V was in, Judy put her hands on V’s. “Didn’t wanna bother you while you were workin’, but I’d be lyin’ if I said I haven’t been waitin’ here a while for ya.”
V sighed and kissed Judy’s neck. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Judy leaned back against V’s body and nuzzled her head in the crook of V’s neck. “You ain’t ever gotta be sorry for workin’, V. I understand. I get it.”
“Would you like to help me pull the petals off?” V’s fingers caressed Judy’s hands.
“Yeah,” Judy answered.
Together, they pulled the petals off of each rose. Red petals floated on the milky surface of the bathwater, and V relaxed further. The milk soothed her skin, the roses smelled wonderful, and the warm water eased V’s aching muscles.
V discarded the rose stems and put her hands on Judy’s. Then, she crossed Judy’s arms across her chest and pulled her closer.
“How do you do it, Jude?”
Judy asked, “How do I do what?”
“Make me feel so loved.”
Judy stroked V’s hands with her fingers as she nuzzled against V. “Comes naturally. With you, it’s always been easy.”
V pressed her forehead to the back of Judy’s head. “I love you.”
“I love you,” Judy said softly.
Completely relaxed, surrounded by the warm glow of candlelight, soothing bath waters, and their loving embrace, Judy and V held one another, enjoying a moment of contentment, love, and bliss.