"You should give it a try." Johnny's voice filled V's mind. "Biochip might have passed along some of my skills."
"Pretty sure I won't get anywhere," V mumbled aloud. "Last time I tried to play it, my messages were filled with noise complaints."
V lay sprawled out on the couch of her apartment, feet up and the TV on but she hadn't been listening to it. Her gaze for the last few minutes had been fixed on a cheap guitar that she owned. After Arasaka had terminated her, V had tried to pick up new skills. She would be lying if she didn't think trying to learn how to play a guitar was for any other reason than to try and seduce women back to her place. Her attempts at self teaching had ended horribly.
"Not really a point in learning it now," V mumbled. While her voice was low, Johnny didn't need V to speak in order to hear her.
"Always time to learn," Johnny pushed, his form standing next to the instrument in her optics, "Music is one of the best ways to express yourself. Let yourself show who you really are."
"What does your music say about you?" V laughed remembering a few of the flashbacks she'd had of Johnny's concerts, "That you're a rebel with a heart?"
"That I'm a rebel with a fire for change!" Johnny proudly exclaimed, "Come on, I don't ask much of you."
"Fine, might as well use you for music lessons." V stood from her spot and crossed the room.
The Instrument was light in her hands as V picked it up. She felt an odd familiarity to the strings as she gripped the neck. V sat down again and rest the guitar in her lap. She put her hands over the stings and paused. She realized that she had no idea what to attempt to play.
"Don't think about it." Johnny assured, sitting in front of her, "Just let your fingers do what they want to."
"My fingers have never played before." V replied with a sigh.
"Mine have."
V took a heavy breath and tried to relax. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. For the first time in her life, V wasn't able to clear it completely. Her mind focused itself on a sight that he burned itself into her vision. The sight of Judy's grief filled expression, tears running down her face, makeup smeared and dark lines running down her face.
"That's it, focus." Johnny's voice filled her mind with encouragement.
When V opened her eyes, she didn't realize that she had already been strumming the chords of the instrument. She didn't realize that she had started singing, didn't realize that tears had started to run down her face.
"I feel a million miles away, still you connect me in your way, and you created in me, something I would've never seen. When I could only see the floor, you made my window a door, so when they say they don't believe, I hope that they see you and me."
V continued for the rest of the song, she didn't know where the words or the notes came from, she only knew that it felt right. She played for a few more minutes before finishing. She took a hand from the instrument and wiped the wetness from her cheeks.
"What just happened?" V asked the room around her, knowing Johnny would respond. "I know the song, but I don't. I could feel it but I've never heard it before."
"It's a song I knew." Johnny's face for once held a look of understanding and compassion. "Went to one of their concerts when I was younger. You played what your heart wanted, used my memories to do it."
"So that wasn't really me playing." V looked to the floor.
"We were playing. It was your heart, but my skills."
"I want to try again." V's voice held a shake to it, but she gave up trying to hide anything from the rocker in her skull days ago.
"We got anywhere else to be?" Johnny asked and V shook her head no.
"Maybe I'm foolish, maybe I'm blind." V started singing and her fingers moving across the guitar without her thinking "Thinking I can see through this, and see what's behind."
Johnny's digital form sat across from her, nodding as the woman played. Had it been anyone else, the situation any different, and Johnny wouldn't have given a rats ass about the girl's problems. V was starting to have an effect on the old rocker's mind and soul, they had to see all of this through together, and Johnny wanted to make sure the merc got them to the end of the road together.
Several hours passed with V playing the guitar and Johnny watching, sometimes Johnny would make a comment about her song of choice. Sometimes V would just play without singing. She played all ranges of songs, her eyes remained closed for the majority of her time playing, as her mind drifted the songs changed. By the time V stopped, she looked down to see the strings covered in blood and her fingers had been stripped of skin and were bleeding heavily. V Didn't feel any pain, she just felt emptied, felt freedom that she had never known before.
"Thank you, Johnny." V whispered, her voice hoarse from near constant use.
"Go to sleep, V." Johnny nodded towards V's bed. "We've got a city to burn tomorrow."
Judy watched in awe at the display in front of her. She and V had broken into Maiko's office early in the morning a week after Evelyn's death. Maiko had seemingly been waiting for the two women and with venom in her voice, Maiko had chastised V for the murder of Woodman. The merc had passed the killing off as if it was a normal Tuesday for her. When Maiko displayed the security footage of what happened in Woodman's office, Judy watched every moment, her eyes never blinking.
"It takes three minutes for the brain to fully stop after beheading." V's voice filled the large office, utter malice coated the woman's words. "You can watch your own body from here."
The video cut off after V left the office, her face a hardened mask of brutality. Judy's gaze darted between V and her ex-output. The two women, utterly ruthless in their own ways, seemed unmoved by the display.
"I fail to see the point in showing this." V let out in a tired sigh. "This doesn't really change anything. Left the Claws a message in that office, it's clear they understood it."
"You left behind buckets of blood in your wake." Maiko leaned back in her chair, her gaze cold and fixed on the merc.
"Doesn't change anything, Judy has a proposition for you." V walked around Judy and the woman felt her spine tingle, she was caught between two predators and the display V was putting on excited her. "You're a business woman, Maiko, why don't you at least hear her out."
Judy explained her idea to her ex, but try as she might, Maiko seemed to not even listen to what Judy said. While Judy spoke, Maiko's gaze never left V as the merc paced slowly back and forth behind Judy like a lioness waiting to pounce. When Maiko finally met Judy's gaze, the woman stepped close to Judy and reached out a hand to caress the side of Judy's face. In a flash, V's hand snatched Maiko's wrist and forced the doll backwards. Judy could swear she heard a growl from V. Judy felt a heat in her stomach from V's actions, the protective nature of her every movement made Judy want to melt.
In a flash however, Judy was overcome with anger as Maiko dismissed Evelyn's death. Judy knew the woman had a cold dead heart, but she didn't expect such lack of care from someone that claimed to be Evelyn's friend. Maiko completely brushed Judy aside, and returned her focus to the pacing V. Even with her experience in the corpo world, V seemed to have no effect on Maiko. The doll completely brushed V's honey'd and barbed words off before the two were forced to leave. Judy stormed out of the office, she could hear V's voice make another snide comment to Maiko before following.
"Completely brushed us off!" Judy raged once outside, slamming a fist into a nearby wall.
"Relax." V commanded, her voice suddenly soft and gentle.
"How can I relax, V!" Judy exclaimed and turned to face the merc. She stopped short at seeing there was barely any space between the two. V reached up and placed her hands on either side of Judy's face, cupping both sides of her head.
"Focus on my eyes, and focus on my voice." V commanded, her voice firm but gentle. "We were just in a building controlled by the Tiger Claws. In a room filled with surveillance equipment. Maiko isn't stupid, she knew what she was doing. Her and I put on a show, she can't afford to talk about what you want in that office."
As V spoke, her eyes boring holes into Judy's soul, Judy felt herself relaxing quickly. Her anger cooling and the heat transferring to her stomach. Judy felt her hands place themselves on V's hips out of instinct rather than any conscious thought. The merc smiled and Judy felt herself let out a heavy breath.
"Take it from experience, Maiko did just about exactly what I wanted her to." V's voice was soft, barely above a whisper and Judy felt herself inch slightly closer. "She'll wait a few days, and then she'll call you.
"How do you know this?" Judy asked, almost desperate to keep the woman talking.
"Standard practice as a corpo rat." V smirked, clearly seeing the effect she was having on Judy. "Don't forget, I'm a cold blooded killer from Arasaka."
"You're a real gonk, V." Judy breathed out, "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
"Which part? What Maiko would do?"
"That you're like this." Judy's gaze was full of steam and it was hard for her to focus now. She kept seeing V's plump lips moving and remembered the feeling from when V had kissed her. She wanted that feeling again.
Before Judy could lean in and close the distance between them, V's hands fell from Judy's face and the merc took a step back. Judy stared into her eyes and saw sorrow and pain etched in the red irises. Judy's eyes widened as she realized what she had said. V crossed an arm over her chest and awkwardly rubbed the other arm.
"We should go, before any Claws show up." V looked away from Judy in hurt and sadness. Judy didn't know how to stop her, she still couldn't think from the haze in her mind that V put there. "When she calls you, let me know."
Judy watched stunned as V climbed around the scaffolding and ledges that surrounded the megatower, quickly moving out of view. Judy cursed herself and started following after the merc. Judy didn't know how to explain to V what she meant, she didn't know how to tell the merc that she didn't think about V's words in that moment. She needed to find a way to make it up to the other woman.
V stood in Judy's kitchen three days after meeting with Maiko. She was used to feeling like the odd one out in most situations, but today she was even more so. She took another bite of pizza while she listened to Judy explaining her plan to take Clouds from the Claws. Of the five people that occupied Judy's apartment, only V had any real combat experience. Judy had fired a pistol, but from how she handled herself when going to save Evelyn, V doubted the woman would be able to hold her own in any kind of combat. Tom and Roxanne both were dolls and had rarely even seen a bar brawl. Maiko, V knew, had never worked as anything but a pretty face and manipulator.
"You sure this programming will work Jude?" V questioned after swallowing her food. "I mean no offense to any of you, but I'm the only fighter here. When you're in the moment, you don't have any time to think, you are forced to react or die."
"The program works, V" Judy assured, a smirk crawling it's way across her face. "Why don't you test it with Tom?"
"Sure," V shrugged, setting down her pizza and wiping her hands on her shirt. "That fine with you, Tom?"
"Yeah!" Tom exclaimed.
V stepped around the counter and squared off against the doll, both of them had fists raised and eyes locked. In a flash of motion, V swung her right fist forward and activated her mantis blade in the arm. V was aiming for next to Tom's head so as to not actually hurt the man, but she was caught off guard when, with inhuman reaction speeds, Tom dipped under her attack, wrapped both of his hands around V's forearm, crushing the blade down into V's flesh. Tom pivoted on the balls of his feet and threw V over his shoulder. The merc felt the air leave her lungs and a sickening pop came from her shoulder. Tom twisted V's arm sharply and a foot came down on V's neck, pressing into her windpipe.
V's vision started to go dark when Tom managed to get ahold of himself and let go of her arm and his foot came off her throat. V immediately started coughing, her lungs desperate for air and her throat burning from the pressure that had left it. V retracted her mantis blade and she felt a pair of soft hands pulling her up on her arms.
"You alright V?" Judy's voice filled with worry next to V's ear.
"Yeah," V coughed back, shaking the darkness from her vision."I stand corrected, that was impressive."
"Armed and dangerous merc taken down by a doll with a chip, now that's a laugh." Maiko's voice taunted. "You've made your point Judy."
"Well, I'm down to get this done." V ignored the snide comment and her gaze fell into Judy's eyes, genuine concern waiting for her. "Just give me a day and time."
"Tomorrow, two in the afternoon." Judy answered, still holding onto V's arms, "Maiko set up a meeting with Hiromi for then."
"I'll be there, I'm ready." Tom spoke up, taking down V like he had clearly ignited a spark in the doll.
"I'll be there too." Roxanne agreed, though she looked much more nervous.
"Then it's settled." Maiko stated, standing from her seat on Judy's couch. "I'll see you all then, provided these two can stop fondling each other."
V scowled at Maiko as the doll walked past her and Judy. The doll had a clear face of disgust directed at the two and held envy in her eyes.V wondered what Maiko could envy about either her or Judy. Tom and Roxanne followed Maiko out of the apartment, both looking to drive with the head doll back to Clouds.
"Sorry you got hurt like that, V" Judy's soft voice broke the silence once her apartment door had closed. "Didn't realize just how well that program would work."
"Better to find out now than when their lives are in danger." V responded and looked down into Judy's eyes. The air between the two felt charged with energy in an instant. V's red irises started into Judy's dark brown and the moment hung heavy between them. V's gaze drifted down to Judy's lush lips before looking back up, she wanted to feel the other woman against her, wanted to fulfill the fantasies that had been running through her head with the woman that was now dominating her waking and sleeping mind.
V cleared her throat and took a reluctant step away from Judy. The memory of what happened outside Maiko's office still fresh in her mind. V looked away and placed her left hand on her right shoulder. With a quick push, V popped the join back into place with a hiss of pain. V could feel the hot air between them cooling rapidly. She looked back to Judy and realized she might have made a mistake. The other woman had her arms crossed in embarrassment and looked dejected by V's action.
"Listen, Judy," V cleared her throat and forced herself to meet the other woman's eyes. "I don't want to let what happened at Maiko's office come between us."
"What do you mean?" Judy's voice was rough and the other woman watched as V walked to sit on Judy's couch. "I didn't mind what happened."
"You saw in that video what I really am." V didn't hear Judy's last comment. "I told you before that I was a monster. Made by 'Saka to kill and feel at home killing in cold blood."
"I wasn't bothered by ay of that V." Judy sat on the couch next to the merc so that their knees touched. "Most in Night City have blood on their hands. I'm glad I saw Woodman killed like that. Watching it helped with what happened to Evie."
"But you made it sound like it was wrong, like I was repulsive to you for it." V looked down at her hands and felt dread rushing over her.
"No, V." Judy chuckled. "If anything the woman I saw in that vid, was amazing, powerful and beautiful."
V's face and chest suddenly flushed red with Judy's words. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to respond. She looked to Judy, who's eyes had a hot and smoldering light to them.
"It's getting late." Judy's voice was smokey and filled V's body with fire. "You should stay here for the night, get some rest for tomorrow."
"You sure?" V asked lamely, her brain misfiring and melting under Judy's power over her.
"Yeah," Judy stood up and placed one hand on V's cheek, gently caressing the merc's skin. Judy leant down and placed a light kiss to V's other cheek. "Goodnight V."
V watched, completely stunned, as the other woman walked away from her. Judy's hips swayed in exaggerated movements, the other woman showing full well she knew what effect she had on the merc. Judy threw a smoldering look towards V one last time before stepping into her room and closing the door behind her.
"Look at you," Johnny's laughing voice filled V's head. "Like a horny teenager getting blue balled for the first time."
V ignored Johnny's remark and flopped back on Judy's couch, her breath heavy and ragged. She couldn't take any more of this. V's hands, with a will of their own, wandered her body and her mind only set on one thing. One hand snaked down through her pants and set to work desperately trying to relieve the heat that had been building in her since the others had left. It took V only moments before her body started convulsing in orgasm, she forced herself to bite down on her other had to stay quiet. After reaching her climax, V quickly passed out and fell limp on the couch.
"Just had to end up in the head of a sexually repressed corpo cunt." Johnny's mind complained inside V's head. "These two need to just hurry up and fuck each other's brains out. Maybe then V will get something actually done."
When V woke up the next morning, the apartment was empty and silent. Judy had left a note on the counter for her next to a still warm breakfast sandwich and coffee.
Needed to run on biz. But made you something to eat. - Judy
Below the written note was a light imprint left behind by Judy's lipstick. Seeing the note made V crave the woman with need again. She placed her hands on the counter and closed her eyes. V stood still and motionless for several minutes, forcing herself to get ahold of herself, she couldn't be distracted later today.
"I can't believe her." Judy spat, leaning against a railing outside the megatower that housed Clouds. "Tried to stab us in the back like that."
"She's a corpo through and through, always looking for more power." V's voice was rough, she realized in that moment that when she was angry, Judy was extremely sexy. "Left her unconscious in a pool of Tiger Claw blood. She won't try that again ever."
"Thanks for doing all this, V." Judy sighed, looking to the merc who casually leaned on the railing next to her. "I know this probably cost me a pretty enny. I know how much your services cost."
"I never asked for anything Jude," V pointed out, "And Maiko offered me a load of eddies, I turned it down. I did this for you. I'd do anything for you, just ask."
"You sure?" Judy looked nervous. "Nothin' in this world's free."
"I'm sure." V laughed, her smile filling her eyes. "I meant what I said, I'll do anything for you."
Judy, in a blur of movement, closed the distance between them. V closed her eyes as the other woman's hot lips landed heavily on hers. V pulled Judy closer, pulling their bodies tight together as she returned the heavy kiss. Judy's arms wrapped around V's neck, pulling the merc down towards her. V moaned into Judy's mouth when the other woman's hand snaked through her hair, grabbing hold with need and passion. V felt the light touches of Judy's tongue poke at her lips and hungrily let her in, the two tongues meeting and fighting for as much of each other as they could get. Judy and V stayed locked like that for what felt like hours but in truth was only a few moments. When the two separated, both had hooded eyes and they held onto one another almost for dear life.
Judy placed another light kiss to V's lips, but pulled back before the merc could deepen it. With clear regret and lust in her eyes Judy pulled away from V, and the merc instantly missed the warmth from her body, the press of her chest against V's, Judy's arms around her like a blanket of passion. The look of lust and passion that had plastered itself on Judy's face showed V that the other woman wanted it just as much if not more.
"I need to go," Judy awkwardly spoke, her voice heavy with need. "I'll call you later okay?"
"Okay." V nodded with a heavy swallow.
"See you soon, V."
"See ya, Judy."
V watched Judy walking away, in awe and amazement. V normally had complete control over herself in every situation. She was ruthless in combat, cold and cunning in a meeting room, and a dominant lover to those she chose to sleep with. Yet the small braindance editor made her melt into goo, made her want to give in and satisfy every desire she wanted. With hardly any effort Judy took complete control from V, and she wanted more.
"I think your jaw is on the floor." Johnny's form appeared in front of V. "Might need to pick it up sometime."
"Fuck off Johnny." V straightened herself and glared to the rocker. "Can't I have this to myself?"
"We got shit to get done." Johnny pointed out. "Voodoo Boys are still out there."
"Voodoo Boys aren't going anywhere." V corrected, "And my fixer is still working on getting me in with them."
"Just bust in the front door and start blasting for answers." Johnny rolled his eyes. "Worked for me."
"Also got you killed!" V scowled. "I'm dying soon Johnny, just let me have this while I can."
"Fine, but I'm not gonna help you out when you freeze up popping your cherry."