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“V?”
“Hmm?”
Judy sighed. “You’re fallin’ asleep on me.”
“Mhmm,” was all V could manage as she shifted her head on Judy’s lap slightly to get more comfortable.
Judy stared at drunken gonk who was sprawled across her lap. The outfit she was wearing had been torn along the sleeve, and there were several spots where the fabric had been stained. Her hair was a tangled mess and neither of them had a clue where her missing shoe had gone.
On any other night it would have been a sight which would have caused Judy grave concern. There had been more than a few sleepless nights since she had met V when the merc came home late with cuts and bruises upon her skin. After explaining whatever crazy episode had taken place, Judy would chide V for not having been more careful before helping her out of her clothes and patching her up. But this wasn’t any ordinary night.
Not even close.
Resigning herself to her fate, Judy leaned back against the couch in V’s apartment so she could get more comfortable before resting her hand upon V’s shoulder. As she gently rubbed her hand over the fabric of the white dress she wore, she suddenly realized she was now trapped in her own dress until V would get off of her.
“Was fun, huh?” V muttered even as her eyes remained closed.
Judy smiled. “Yeah V, it was a blast.”
V hummed in approval. “You comfy?”
Judy considered telling V the truth...that she wanted nothing more than to strip out of the dress she was wearing, which was beginning to itch along her collar bones, and soak her feet in hot water before spreading out as much as possible on their bed and falling asleep. Oh, and that V’s elbow was pressing uncomfortably against the inside of her thigh and pinching her skin slightly.
But the tone of V’s voice as she had asked had made it clear that it hadn’t really been a question at all.
At least we remembered to turn the lights off.
“Comfy like a tortilla.”
V breathed a small laugh before she raised her arm slightly.
“Hold me.”
Judy smiled as she wrapped her own arm under V’s and pulled her in close. Her hand rested on top of V’s before their fingers linked together. Judy felt the cool metal of the golden band which now encircled their ring fingers.
This’ll take some gettin’ used to.
“I like that,” V whispered as their fingers slowly glided over each other’s rings.
Judy leaned her head forward and kissed the top of V’s head. “Me too, calabacita.”
There was no reply from V so Judy laid her head back against the couch. Silence filled the room as she closed her own eyes and felt herself beginning to drift off.
“Judy?”
Judy’s eyes popped open as she drew in a sharp breath.
“Yeah, V?”
There was another period of silence and Judy had just begun to think that V had fallen asleep when she spoke.
“Tell me this isn’t a dream.”
Judy let out a small chuckle. “You’re not dreamin’, V. We’re back in your apartment after you got shit-faced at the reception. Told ya there wasn’t a chance in hell you were gonna drink Pan under the table.”
“She started it.”
“Yeah, and she finished it too. You really don’t remember Vik and Misty draggin’ you to the car for me, do you?”
Looking down at the side of V’s face, she could see a small smile spread across her lips though it quickly disappeared.
“Please just tell me this isn’t a dream, Jude. This isn’t somethin’ which is supposed to happen to people in my line of work. Not in Night City. And ‘specially not to someone who’s already flirted with death more times than I’d ever care to.”
Judy took a deep breath as she pushed her fists into the sofa cushion so she could sit up slightly. She then reached down and brought her hand to V’s cheek which was pressed against her lap. In a gentle motion she turned V’s face so her eyes would meet her own gaze.
“This isn’t a dream, V. This happened. We’re really here. Now. Married. Together, every day for the rest of our lives.”
V’s eyes were brimming with tears and as she spoke. A single one escaped and slid down the side of her face. “I love you, Judy.”
Judy felt her own eyes becoming moist as her face flushed. “I love you too, V.”
Despite the discomfort it caused her, Judy leaned forward and pressed her lips against V’s. It was incredible. No matter how many times she kissed her, each time felt even more exhilarating than the last.
When she finally pulled her lips away, she brushed the tear away from V’s face.
“You go to sleep now, calabacita. I’ll be right here with you when you wake up.”
V smiled again as her eyes quickly began to draw closed. After a few moments had passed, Judy could see the muscles in her face relaxing as her breathing slowly deepened.
“G’night, V,” Judy whispered as she rested her head against the couch and closed her eyes.
As she wavered on the cusp of falling asleep, Judy thought back to everything which had led them to this day. Konpeki. Evelyn. Clouds. Laguna Bend. Mikoshi. They had been faced with so many challenges and somehow had found their way past each of them. Together.
Tilting her head towards the table next to the couch, Judy managed to crack her eyes open and looked at the lease agreement which was staring back at her.
Seattle.
In traditional ‘V’ fashion, she had gone ahead and signed a lease on a new apartment as a surprise wedding gift. Her way of committing themselves to finally getting out of Night City for good.
Such a gonk.
No doubt the next day was going to be a stressful one spent packing and saying their goodbyes before they hit the road. But as Judy’s eyes closed, she found herself excited for the new journey ahead. A journey she wouldn’t be taking alone, but with the love of her life, now and always.
“My gonk,” she whispered as she fell asleep with V in her arms.