Work Text:
J was looking through blueprints Khan had given her, a dissatisfied expression on her face. She had agreed to help fix things up outside of the bunker, in exchange for being allowed to stay inside of it. (As long as she didn’t attack anyone again). To be frank, a lot of it was annoying work to her, but it beat being locked out of the place alone. As much as she hated to admit it, she didn’t want to be on her own. A leader was only as good as her squadron, and lost without one, even if V and N had never been as dedicated to their work as she was. (And they were now refusing to call themselves a squadron again, but whatever. They all knew the truth.)
However, her annoyed reminiscing on her situation was soon cut short, as the door to her room swung open. A Worker Drone with blue hair stormed in, quick to lean against J’s back and wrap her arms around her, head burying into J’s shoulder. J turned her head, surprised by the motion- it wasn’t exactly odd for her girlfriend to want affection, but she usually wasn’t in such an obviously sour mood. Even when she was angry, she stayed somewhat externally calm.
Doll’s hand reached up, tangling in the strands of J’s left pigtail in her hand as she took a few shaky breaths, slowly steadying with each one. That was enough to spike J’s concern, and she spoke up. “What happened to put you in a mood like this?”
Doll was silent for a few moments, before speaking. “Lizzy.”
The imagery of Doll’s annoying, high-pitched pink friend flashed in J’s mind. “Her? What happened?” She questioned, feeling of displeasured irritation rising at the idea of her girlfriend’s supposed bestie doing something to hurt her.
“We got into an argument.” Doll frowned. “She’s upset with me because I told her that I didn’t want to be around V.”
Ah. Her and V. J had to admit, it was difficult for her to handle as well. In her mind, V was still her underling (no matter how much V denied it), but she also thought Doll’s disdain was well earned, given what V had done to her parents. Unlike the other Worker Drones who seemed almost desensitized by the constant losses in their community at times, Doll clearly took the trauma she had internalized seriously.
“She said it was hypocritical for me to not want to be around V while I’m with you. She may be right.” Doll exhaled again, slowly. “But I don’t know what else I can do. I won’t be comfortable around her. Ever. Not after what she has done to my parents.”
J’s hand moved to thread through Doll’s hair as the shorter spoke, conflict rising in her at how to respond. She didn’t usually try and push the limits on those who hated her for her past actions- On one hand, that was partially because you couldn’t force her to care about over ninety percent of the drones that lived here, even for all the money in the world, despite her tendency towards corporate greed. She understood why they disliked her, even if some were willing to give her chances. She couldn’t possibly try to pressure her girlfriend to be around V.
“I know Lizzy…” J grimaced, trying to think of what the right, ‘sympathetic’ words to say were. It was hard to spit them out and not just rely on her instincts to tell people to get over it. “Cares about V. Doesn’t mean you have to. She should get over herself and accept that.”
Doll was silent for a moment, before speaking up again. “You…are very bad at comfort.” She spoke, her tone amused. J spluttered, a fluster showing up on her visor. “I’m trying to help you!”
“I know. Thank you.” Doll smiled slightly. “You don’t have to force yourself to be sweet. You’re not N- thankfully. But to be with you calms me down.”
Her blush went away slightly, but not fully as J glanced to the side in embarrassment. “Good. You should stick to your guns, though! Any partner of mine isn’t going to be a doormat. Be strict with her about your limits.”
Doll nodded in affirmation, taking J’s hand and intertwining their fingers with an amused smile. “I will. I wouldn’t want to let you down.”
J smirked. “Good! But, uh… don’t do it right now. Khan’s blueprints are beyond unprofessional and impractical. You need to hear exactly how awful of a business decision they are.”
Doll sat down next to her, preparing herself for a long rant about the design flaws and unsourced materials necessary, though with an amused look. It’d be hard to date J if you minded those rambles much, and to her, it was more comforting than any forced sweetness from her endearingly comfort-inept girlfriend.