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"Careful, hermosa. You keep talkin' to me like that, I might get idea you're in love with me or somethin'."
"I am in love you with, Jack!"
Misty giggled and shook her head as she pulled Jackie into an embrace. He grinned and leaned down to pepper her face in kisses.
"Jackie."
He held up his pointer finger towards V.
"Jack." She gritted out.
He rolled his eyes as he pulled back. "So, I'll see you tonight, si?"
"Mhm, 'course. Six o'clock, right?"
"Yep. And don't worry, should be pretty lowkey."
"I don't mind," Misty said, pausing to kiss Jackie's cheek. "The Mox girls like me anyway. I'll have to bring my deck with me."
"Ooh, good idea! Can't wait to see one of 'em freak out when they're drunk as shit and you draw Death!" He leaned in for another kiss.
"Jaquito Welles! Come the fuck on!"
He laughed as he finally released Misty and started towards the door. "See ya tonight, mi amor."
Misty waved as V dragged him out by his collar while he made kissy noises at the woman.
"See ya, V!"
The merc grunted in response as she hauled her choom outside. She shoved him onto the sidewalk and gave him a dirty look before striding quickly towards her parked car.
Jackie jogged a bit to catch up. "Y'know, ya could be 'lil nicer to Misty." He scowled.
"Why? Don't got a problem with her and she knows it. Who cares?"
Jackie tsk'ed as he pulled open the door of V's Caliburn and sat down. "Yanno, I'd be sweet as a peach to your girlfriend." He arched an eyebrow at her. "If, you had one."
"Don't need one." She said, starting the engine and pulling out into traffic smoothly. "Love is for gonks who don't realize that sooner or later they're gonna get stabbed in the back."
"Uh huh, that why you're doin' about eighty to José?"
She clenched her jaw. "I am doin' seventy three to José because that useless, scop-for-brains, dumbass was supposed to have that damn console a month ago!"
"Eh, he got busy." Jackie waved dismissively as he stared out the window. "Shit happens, chica."
"What he got was high and forget to order my shit. Fuckin' thing better be factory new, because now, I don't have any time to fix it."
Jackie grinned. "Awh, you want it to be perfect for your novia!" He cooed, sighing wistfully as he wiped underneath his eye. "I can already see the dress you're gonna wear at the wedding." He sniffled. "It's beautiful!"
The car jerked harshly as V stopped at a red light. She turned to pin him with a glare. "Jackie, you say shit like that at Lizzie's and I will duct tape your big mouth."
He beamed at her. "You wouldn't dare, not in front of," he paused to bat his eyes at V while cupping both hands over his heart. "Judy…"
He laughed as V sucker-punched him and kept driving. "Why are you so against it anyway, V? It's pretty obvious you like her."
"It is not obvious because I don't like her."
Jackie gave her a droll stare. It was so obvious V liked the Mox woman. And Jackie had the incredible idea of listing each reason he had that proved said fact.
"Okay, one, we both know that's just not true." V's hands tightened around the wheel. "Second, you always bring her lunch whenever you can, you two are constantly texting each other, you crashed at her place the other night after a gig, and! slept in her bed with her! Not to mention the fact that you spent months before her birthday researching where you could buy some retro gaming console so you could give it to her today."
"That's what chooms do for each other, Jackie. And her bed is the same size as mine. You're acting like I slept with my face between her tits."
Jackie side-eyed her. She glanced at him before turning bright red and looking away. "Shut the fuck up!"
"So you did cuddle with her!"
"No!"
"Liar!"
"Kiss my ass!" The car jerked to a stop as the mercenary parked.
Jackie howled with laughter as V angrily stepped out of the car and stomped into the little bodega.
She returned a few minutes later carrying a small canvas bag. She slid into the drivers seat and sighed heavily, dropping her forehead against the steering wheel.
Jackie patted her shoulder. "Busted tech, huh?"
A mumbled yes was the reply, and Jackie hummed in thought. "Okay, how about this, chica?" V turned slightly to look at him. "You gimmie the keys, just 'til tonight, and I'll run around and grab all the other stuff. Y'know, cake, food, whatever. You head home and start workin' at that thing, see if you can't get it runnin'."
V blinked at him and furrowed her brow. "You'd do that?"
Jackie scoffed. "Of course I would, V! I'm your brother!"
"Not by blood."
"Valerie!" He punched her shoulder and she laughed weakly.
"Okay, okay, fine, deal. Just promise you won't crash."
"Do my best, hermosa. Now, go! That fuckin' thing looks old as shit." He said, peeking into the bag.
V sighed as she got back out and summoned her bike from her HUD. "Tell me about it."
Jackie watched as she stored the gift in her left tank bag and hopped on, waving as she sped away to her apartment.
"Okay." Jackie muttered, cracking his knuckles as he slid behind the wheel. First stop was the cake, for sure. He could drop it off with Mama Welles and ask her to refrigerate it so it didn't melt. And, come to think of it…he did recall seeing Judy talk to V about missin' her abuela's cooking (and it definitely wasn't because he was reading over her shoulder as they chatted on the holo.) If he messaged Mama Welles now, which he was currently doing, he could bring homemade Mexican food and say it was all V's idea.
"Call me cupid." He smirked, pulling forward to stop at the intersection.
His eyes widened as a loud screeeech! of tires rang out and the sound of metal crunching together filled the air.
"Oof, poor cabrónes…" he shook his head at the crash to his left as he pulled out and turned right, smiling at the affirmative message from Mama Welles.
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"Fuck! That stupid mother!-" V cursed as she dropped the screwdriver down on her desk.
The console she had bought was called a Nintendo Switch. The second model, because apparently mindless consumerism won back then too, and the company made a second version to sell.
The issue with the one in her hands was, to José's credit, easy to fix. If, she had a battery for it. Which she did not.
Besides a little dust (and the fucked up battery), the console was actually in pretty good shape. Its joysticks and buttons were all basically brand new. The game cartridge slot was a little dirty, but the only real damage was a small issue with the hinge on the piece of plastic that protects the spot where the game sat while playing.
She slid her chair back and grabbed a box full of scrapped parts that was sitting underneath her makeshift workbench. She also grabbed a small, already wrapped present and sat it on the desk above her head. Inside was multiple story and action games that she had carefully selected.
Because she was Judy's best friend.
Not because she was in love with her.
It was just what friends did for each other… didn't they?
She paused as she spotted an old Rin3U Battery that was still in a case. She had klepped it from a gig a while ago and never did anything with it.
She glanced back at the Nintendo that was sitting open on her desk, the place where the battery sat already empty and cleaned.
Maybe…?
"Worth a shot." She mumbled, popping the Rin3U out of the small case and hunching over the circuits. She carefully attached each part and exhaled slowly as she turned the game over.
V pressed the power button down and waited. Nothing happened.
She bit her lip and tried again, holding the power button down for a few seconds this time.
She sighed as the screen remained black. "Damn…maybe I have another- Oh shit! Fuck yeah!" She whooped as the screen finally lit up with the manufacturer's logo. It flickered to life and she tested everything, grinning as all the controls worked as she wanted them to.
A few minutes later and the battery was secured, every part was back inside the small handheld, and she had screwed the back plate on.
She checked her HUD and relaxed back in her chair.
Three hours 'til I gotta be down there. Oughta check on Jack.
[V - 2:57P.M.] Jackie!! Got everything done yet mano?
[Jackie - 2:57P.M.] course i do!! Also, random question, but whats ur girls favorite food?
[V - 2:57P.M.] Not my girl.
[V - 2:57P.M.] but its empanadas…
[Jackie - 2:58P.M.] ha! Knew it
[V - 2:58P.M.] Why are you asking? Yk your just getting pizza right??
[Jackie - 2:58P.M.] too late. You had the amazing idea to ask Mama to cook for everyone, remember? •ᴗ•
[V - 2:58P.M] i WHAT?!?
[V - 2:59P.M.] JACKIE WELLES
[Jackie - 2:59P.M.] your a sweetheart V!!!
[V - 2:59P.M.] your fucking dead choomba
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Judy shifted from foot to foot as Evelyn looked through her closet. Her friend was there to help her pick an outfit tonight. Because it was her birthday, obviously. No other reason.
And definitely not because she wanted to look good for V.
"Jeez, Jude. Don't you have anything… stylish?" Evelyn clicked her tongue and shook her head in disbelief at the wardrobe.
"My threads are stylish, Ev. It's just not dressy-stylish." She mumbled, stepping over to stand beside her friend.
"We need dressy-stylish. If V won't make a move, then you have to look so good, she has no choice but to drown her desire in tequila." The doll paused and met Judy's eyes. "Then you can make a move and fuck her. Simple."
Judy's face turned bright red and she hid behind the curtain of hair that framed her features, thumbing idly at a jersey that was hanging in her closet. "I am not trying to fuck her, Ev. Not while she's drunk, anyway…" she mumbled the last part and groaned as Evelyn laughed at her.
"Oof, okay. How about this?" Evelyn pulled out a crisp white button up that Judy didn't recall buying.
"How about no. Tryna look good, Ev, not like some gonk corpo-rat."
"Okay…oh! This!" She grabbed a white t-shirt that had been fitted so it wasn't super baggy on her frame, and a leather jacket she hardly ever wore. "You pair these with… hm… ah-a! These jeans and your black boots?" She was holding an all black outfit, minus the shirt, smiling mischievously at Judy. "She won't be able to resist. Now matter how dumb the poor merc is."
Judy scoffed but took the clothes from Evelyn. "She's not dumb, Evie. She's just… a little shy."
Or, she didn't like Judy at all. What if she didn't even like women? There was that River guy that was blowing up her holo one time…
"Uh huh." Evelyn walked out of the bedroom, spinning on her heel at the door to point at Judy. "Get those on so we can do your makeup!"
The door slid shut and Judy mockingly saluted her as she rolled her eyes.
Black boots…
She glanced at the small shelf where they were sitting. They weren't terrible to wear, but the boots definitely weren't her favorite. Though, they were sitting beside her gray and white sneakers that did look pretty nova.
She quickly changed into the outfit, switching the boots for her sneakers, and stood infront of the mirror attached to her closet door.
Evelyn was right. Judy looked good. Real fuckin' good. If V could keep her hands to herself tonight, then Judy would finally accept defeat and go sulk somewhere in a corner with a drink.
She grinned at Evelyn as she stepped out into the hallway. Evelyn eyed her proudly and stood. "Alright, makeup time! Hurry up, only got an hour left!"
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Jackie pulled up to Megabuilding H10 and honked the horn a few times before stepping out and going around to the passenger's seat.
He looked up from his holo as V arrived a moment later and opened the door, sitting down behind the wheel. Jackie scowled at her outfit.
"Val, seriously?"
She scoffed. "What now?"
"That's what you're wearin' chica? C'mon! Judy's gonna laugh at you, not fall in love!"
V blushed as she steered towards Lizzie's. "Well, good! I don't want her to be in love with me, pendejo!"
"Right…" he drawled.
V's outfit wasn't terrible, but she was certainly repping the streetkid part of her. She had on a baggy black jacket with wings printed on the front, a plain white tee underneath it, black jean shorts, and some boots she had thrifted a while back called Timberlands. Clean white socks came up to just under the halfway point on her shin.
Judy's into that style, ain't she?
He looked up and scrutinized her face. She had done simple eyeliner that left her eyes ringed in a small line of black. She was wearing a bit of eyeshadow and topped it all with a small wing.
Her brown hair had definitely been styled with some kind of product. Her curtain bangs sat just slightly above her eyebrows, and her waves tumbled down around her shoulders.
He could work with this.
V shot him a suspicious stare as she parked in the lot of the Mox bar. "Fuck you gawkin' at? Misty is inside, dumbass."
Jackie shook his head as he stepped out and grabbed food from the trunk. "Hey, where's your present?"
V glanced at him as she grabbed a small gift bag that was very obviously for the party. "You didn't see me put it in the car?"
"Huh, guess not." He shrugged and walked to the door.
At the same time he got to it, it slid open and revealed Rita Wheeler, who usually worked the door as the club's bouncer.
"Jackie, V! Good to see ya dollface." She winked at V as the merc nodded at her.
"Reet. Good to see you, choom."
She snorted as she grabbed some of the food from Jackie. "Such a charmer. Hey, what is this anyway? Smells like fuckin' heaven."
Jackie grinned proudly and clapped her on the back with his free hand. "Homemade tacos, quesadillas, empanadas… whole buncha shit in there. Courtesy of mi mama."
Rita whistled as they walked inside. "I need to marry her then. God damn."
V heard Jackie's muffled shout of what?! as the door closed. She exhaled slowly and turned to lean against the building.
It was pretty cold out, especially for Night City, and she could see her breath frosting in the air.
Her thoughts were a mess. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that did have a small, tiny, very little crush on Judy.
Okay, fine, she was in love. There, she said it.
But, god, Judy was… Judy. She was smart, and funny, and sexy, and so, so sweet. And hot. There was no way in hell she would ever be interested in V.
And now, she was standing outside Lizzie's while Judy was probably inside somewhere, having fun without the merc while V sulked with a bag full of old tech in her hands.
She dropped her head and rubbed at her brow roughly.
"Hey, V!" She looked at as Evelyn Parker and Judy walked into the parking lot waving at her.
Her breath caught in her chest at Judy's outfit but she quickly schooled her face and straightened, nodding at both of them.
"Hey, Judes. Happy birthday." Her voice was softer than she intended it to be and she saw Evelyn give her a knowing smirk.
"Thanks, V. 'M glad you could make it." Before she could process what was happening, Judy had her wrapped in a tight hug. She froze for a second before gently patting the woman's back and wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Okay, lovebirds. Save it for when you two are alone later? We've got food to eat and booze to drink." Evelyn said, strutting to the front doors. She paused and glanced over her shoulder where V and Judy still stood. "Unless, you two would rather stay out here and make out."
She smirked as both their faces flushed red and they mumbled some excuse, quickly walking to join the doll.
The party was already in full swing by the time they walked in, but everyone paused and started cheering as Judy was spotted.
"Woo! Happy birthday Judy! That's my fuckin' friend!" Roxanne shouted from across the bar as Tom clapped and whistled along with her, both of them obviously drunk.
Judy bumped shoulders with V and smiled before joining the two at the bar, leaving the merc alone with Evelyn.
They walked slowly towards a couple tables where the food was set up for anyone to grab when they wanted to.
"So, you gonna ask Jude out tonight?"
V froze as she reached for a taco, her hand hovering close to the food. "What?" She squeaked out.
Evelyn reached over and grabbed the taco for her, putting it and then another on her plate. "You and Judy." She said it casually, like they were talking about the weather. "You two would be cute together, you know."
"We… that's not… we aren't like that!" V stammered out. "Me and Judy are chooms, that's all." But she said it like she was trying to convince herself.
"Right. So," Evelyn said as they sat at a small table that was nearby. "What'd you get her?" She took a bite of the food and looked at it in surprise. Not bad.
V sighed and rubbed at her neck. "A, uhm, a Nintendo."
"Oh, no way!" Evelyn beamed at her. "She's been trying to find one forever! Where the hell did you get it?"
As V started explaining everything, Evelyn glanced over and noticed Judy watching them a little too closely. She looked between her and V and then smiled sweetly at her friend from across the room as she slid a little closer to V.
"Fuckin' thing's battery was shit, though. Ended up replacing it with one you use to power Gorilla Arms, and it actually worked." She chuckled and reached for her drink. "Pretty surprising, honestly. Judy can probably mod it now and make the resolution even better though, so win-win."
"You are a genius, V." She cooed, sliding her hand onto V's arm. "You should teach me sometime."
V blinked and furrowed her brow. "About circuit units and batteries?… I guess I can, sure, but I think Judy would be better to ask. She's the tech wizard, y'know?"
Evelyn hummed in agreement and pulled away as Judy walked over with her own plate, taking the empty chair to V's right side.
"Sup guys. What're we talkin' about?" She asked, moving her chair as close to V as she could.
Damn, that was easy. Evelyn thought.
Tom and Roxanne, who both worked at Clouds with Evelyn, sat down with the trio a moment later, their plates loaded high with food.
"Nothin' important, Jude. Honestly, it would it bore you to hear about it." Evelyn replied, feigning embarrassment at being caught so close to V.
Judy studied her for a moment and then turned her attention to V before she took a bite. "By the way, V, thank you. Was real sweet to get all this," she gestured vaguely at her plate. "Instead of just grabbin' pizza. Tastes 'xactly the way mi abuela makes it."
V slowly shifted her gaze to lock eyes with Jackie, who was watching the two of them with a shit-eating grin. "'Course Judes. Was no problem. Happy to do it for you."
Judy's eyes softened and she leaned closer to V, squeezing her knee before tuning back into the conversation everyone else at the table was having.
The small touch sent chills through V, and she covered it by taking a swig of her drink.
'Course, Judy noticed.
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A few hours later and everyone was completely shit-faced. Well, almost everyone.
Jackie was tipsy, leaning over Misty's shoulder and he placed delicate kisses against her skin while she read some of the girls tarots. She drew another card and sat it down, calmly starting to explain the meaning when a chorus of screams rang out. V was pretty sure one of the girls screamed "I'm gonna be pregnant?!"
She wasn't sure how they interpreted that from any of the cards, and wasn't interested in knowing.
She was leaning back against a booth with a small glass of hard lemonade in front of her. She had been sipping it for over an hour now.
She had muttered some shitty excuse thirty-minutes ago to escape and hide in the bathroom and pretend she didn't exist. She cringed as she remembered the event leading up to that.
It was about 8:30 P.M. and Judy had drank a couple shots by then. She had been essentially on top of V. The merc had finally shown Judy the present she bought for her and the Mox had squealed, wrapping her arms tight around V's neck as she leaned in. Her eyes kept flicking down to V's lips as she did, and V had totally freaked out.
She dodged the thank-you kiss by hugging Judy tight, arms wrapped around her waist, and then pulling back to awkwardly pat her shoulders. She had called Judy "Àlvarez" before sliding out of the booth and practically sprinting away.
She was deep in her thoughts when Judy walked up to her and stared. Her leather jacket was next to V on the seat. She could just leave it. It wasn't like it was cold in the bar.
Or…
"Hola, V." She said, slipping into the space beside V and pressing herself close.
V jumped a little but then relaxed, clearing her throat. "Hola, Judy."
The two sat in silence for a while, Judy resting her head against V's shoulder, before the merc finally sighed and sat up a little more.
"Judy, listen. I'm… 'm sorry, about before. I don't know, I panicked and… and it wasn't your fault at all, I just…"
Judy smiled at V's shy babbling and gently placed her thumb on V's bottom lip to silence her. " 'S okay, V. No hard feelings. And if there were, I think your present has more than made up for it."
V went bright red again as Judy stroked her lip, tracing the edge with her nail. "You like it, then?" Judy nodded.
The mercenary bit back a whimper as the Mox moved closer. Judy leaned in until they were barely inches apart and whispered, "Let's dance, hm?"
"Uhm, I'm not… I can't really dance, Judes."
Judy shrugged as she grabbed V's hand and pulled her up. "Neither can I, doesn't mean I don't want to with you, though."
She led V to the dance floor as Delicate Weapon by Lizzy Wizzy started playing. The few people who were already there stepped back, giving them the entire space.
Judy turned and wrapped her arms around V's shoulders, sighing when the merc's hands wrapped around her hips.
"Everyone's starin' at us…" V murmured, hiding her face in Judy's neck.
"So what? Let 'em."
V hummed and moved a little closer, her voice shaky. "Is this okay?"
Judy pulled back just enough to look V in the eyes. "More than okay, V."
"It's Valerie, actually." The hands resting at her hips tightened a little and pulled her even closer.
Judy smiled as she buried her head back into the warm crook of V's neck. "Valerie… that suits you. And to answer your question, Val, yes. I fuckin' love the games you got me. Plus, shit runs better than most of today's consoles do." She turned to whisper against V's ear. "What's your secret, merc?"
V's chuckle rumbled through her chest and she mimicked Judy's actions, her breath hot against the shell of the techie's ear. "Promise you won't tell?"
The two danced and quietly chatted until the song ended, and when they pulled away from each other the bar erupted in cheers.
"Fuck yea, V! Get your girl, chica!" Jackie shouted, clapping for the woman.
Judy blushed and ducked her head, catching V's gaze as she tugged the merc towards the door. V nodded and followed obediently.
"Use protection you two!" Was the last thing they heard before the doors slid shut behind them.
V laughed a little and scratched her cheek. "Haha, they're, uhm, pretty drunk, huh?"
"Val." V's gaze snapped up to lock onto Judy. She was pulled to her car as Judy walked backwards. "Take me home."
"Yes ma'am." She breathed, grinning as Judy bit her lip and turned to get in the car as quickly as possible.
Their night was just beginning.