You've Got That Power Over Me
The early morning sun streamed in from between the blinds, casting bright stripes across the dim room.
V inhaled deeply as the rays warmed her awake, even where her natural skin gave way to synthetic layers. She gradually opened her eyes to the familiar sight of her bed cubicle and the mess that was her apartment beyond.
Realising that she probably wouldn't get back to sleep again, V gradually willed up the desire to sit up, swinging her legs over the side. Her long, black hair fell freely down her back, the locks pinched in where it was normally held in a high ponytail and a complete mess where last night's exertions had come into play.
She reached a hand up to rub some sleep from her eye. The quiet whir of the motors and servos in her augmented arm clawed at her attention in the morning quiet. V opened her eyes and gazed down at her hand, flexing the fingers experimentally. At a glance her arms didn't look out of place, the synthetic skin was the exact same shade of dark ebony that covered the rest of her body, but she knew fully well the hidden strength within them that could tear apart metal with ease. Likewise, her legs were augmented as well, she could run faster and jump higher than any normal human had any right to. All in all, she was kitted out with some pretty expensive gear, earned at no small expense from her time working her way up the Arasaka ladder. They had come in handy many a time, particularly since parting ways with the company, but they served as a constant reminder as well.
V turned her head back over her shoulder and a lazy smile crept up onto her features as she caught sight of her companion, still dozing away blissfully. V was tempted to just sit there and eat up the sight, but she doubted Judy would approve of being leered over. Instead, V leaned over and brushed a wave of green-pink hair out of the way before pressing her dark, gold tinted lips to a pale cheek.
A slight murmur as dark eyelashes slowly fluttered open to reveal a pair of ebony eyes. They lazily searched around until they found the loving gaze in synthetic silver.
"Morning." Judy drawled with a smile, her voice husky and tired.
"Hey." V's gold tinted lips quirked. "Sleep well?"
"Not really, thanks to you." Judy's brown eyes closed again as she rolled onto her back.
V chuckled. "Good, I'll take that as a compliment."
"It wasn't." Judy opened a single eye, alight with mischief. "I meant you kick in your sleep, like a donkey."
"I do not." V shoved Judy's shoulder to the sound of snickering. "You'd have complained before now."
"Well, maybe I just didn't want to hurt your feelings." Judy pulled her arms up above her head to stretch, giving V a good long look at her slim body.
"And now?" V asked, not even bothering to hide staring.
"Now I just don't care anymore."
"Well fuck you too." V shook her head with a smile.
Judy winked playfully back. "What're you getting for breakfast?"
"Are you an option?" V waggled her thin eyebrows suggestively with a smirk.
Judy levelled a somewhat amused glare at the former corpo. "Has anyone told you how much a horny fucker you are?"
"Is that a no?" V leisurely rolled her gaze down Judy's body again, only just covered by the bedsheets.
Judy snickered as she shook her head softly. "Get me something to eat. Then we'll see."
"Yes ma'am." V leaned in quickly to steal another kiss before jumping up from the bed with a chuckle to avoid the hastily thrown pillow.
V ambled over towards the fridge, wrenching it open to the meagre contents inside. After a moment of intense thought, she reached for a couple of yogurt cartons and grabbed a pair of spoons from the nearby drawer. She padded back over, finding Judy had now sat up in bed, resting her head against the wall of the cubicle. The brain dance editor eyed the offering with an amused look.
"Is this how you always start on a morning?" Judy asked, the fatigue had left her voice but that delicious huskiness was always present.
"Pretty much." V replied, handing over one yogurt and spoon as she took a seat on the side of the bed. "It's got nothing on the Konpeki Plaza, but it works for me."
"Funny, I just imagined that high flying corpo scum would be living it up. Eating caviar and drinking champagne, as you spit on the little people bellow your window." Judy teased as she slipped her yogurt laden spoon into her mouth suggestively, a gesture that was surely meant to tease.
"You know I'm not in any company anymore, Arasaka or otherwise." V frowned slightly. "That life's long behind me now, along with all the champagne, caviar and the rest of it."
"You don't say." Judy remarked between mouthfuls, gazing pointedly around V's admittedly messy apartment. The brain dance editor's gaze settled once more on the former corpo. "You do look the part still." She gestured at V with her spoon. "All that gold chrome, and all those fancy threads you like to wear."
"What's wrong with wanting to look good?" V smirked, sitting up straighter and splaying her arms out for Judy to behold her beauty. "I'll have you know, I look amazing."
"Eh." Judy shrugged, diverting her attention into her carton, before dragging her ebony eyes up and over V's form leisurely. "Your hair's a mess."
V half scoffed, half chuckled as she raked a hand through her locks. "I wonder whose fault that is? Little miss undercut."
Judy paused in her eating to level an incredulous look at V. "Oh, don't even pretend you don't love this." She pointed at the vibrant hair in question that swung over her head in a graceful arc, a few strands hanging free in front of her plush, smirking lips.
"You got me there." V conceded, nodding with a slight yet silly smile.
"Urgh, I think I'm gonna be sick." The sudden yet all too familiar voice of Johnny Silverhand crashed into the conversation.
V breathed deep through her nose and threw Johnny's avatar a cold glare. He'd chosen to manifest himself lying back on the windowsill, gazing out across the city with arms behind his head in a distinctly bored pose.
"Is he saying something to you?" Judy asked.
V turned her attention back to Judy, finding a concerned expression.
"Err, yeah. You can tell?" V winced.
"Well, yeah. Most people don't normally just scowl off at walls like you do all the time." Judy smiled, more of a smirk really.
"See, everyone thinks you're crazy, it's not just me." Johnny chuckled.
"Fuck off, Johnny." V snapped then turned an apologetic grimace back to Judy. "Sorry."
Judy shook her head softly. "No need. I can't imagine what it's gotta be like, having two minds in your head like that."
"Hardly any room in here at all." Johnny input helpfully.
V ignored him. "It's been … an experience."
"I'll bet." Judy half smiled. "You doing ok, V?"
"About as well I can be, I guess." V sighed, placing her half empty carton on the floor, not feeling anything of an appetite. "Can't wait to get this prick out of my head though."
"Can't wait to get out, bitch." Johnny murmured without heat.
V smirked. "We've got something of an understanding going on, though Johnny likes to push every boundary there is."
"What's the point of life if you're not living it?" Johnny put his hands up as if the answer was obvious.
You're not even alive, idiot, V thought silently.
"Well, if you ever need anything, you know I've got your back, V." Judy put a comforting hand on Vs shoulder. "I've no idea what I could do, but I'll do it."
V smiled back and put a hand on Judy's. "I know, thanks Judy."
Judy bit her lip for a moment before speaking again. "Does he … I mean, is he always-"
"Oh god." Johnny groaned.
"-aware when we …"
"No! No! Definitely not!" V protested strongly.
You don't, do you? V asked Johnny silently.
"I sign out whenever you get frisky." Johnny sighed. "As much as I can, anyway."
"You sure?" Judy raised a concerned eyebrow. "That seems like a boundary he'd definitely want to push, two girls and all."
Johnny snorted. "Don't flatter yourself, overalls. I've got taste, thank you very much."
V blinked rapidly as echoes of memories not her own suddenly danced through her mind's eye. Flashes of Alt Cunningham, Rogue and a host of other gorgeous women she didn't recognise in various compromising positions. Their moans, their cries for more, the stench of whiskey and sweat and the rush of pleasure all assaulted her senses in an instant. Then it was all gone.
Goddamn, V wasn't sure if she was more perturbed or impressed. What's more she wasn't sure if she could ever look Rogue in the eyes again.
"I know, right?" Johnny smirked in self-satisfaction.
"V?" Judy asked with a suspiciously raised eyebrow "Something wrong? What are you two talking about?"
"Sorry, he, err, let's just say he keeps himself entertained."
"Nice save, dumbass." Johnny snickered.
"Right …" Judy drawled slowly.
"I mean, he has his own- he keeps himself occupied elsewhere."
"Did he tell you that, or do you know?"
V glanced towards Johnny's avatar. He was still gazing out over the city with a bored expression. "I believe him."
"When have I ever lied to you?" Johnny asked innocently.
V thought of the times he'd taken control of her body and tore through Night City, whiskey in one hand and a gun in the other. She opted to ignore him.
Judy nodded slightly a few times before replying. "Ok."
"Is this whole thing too weird for you?" V asked quietly with a grimace.
"Oh, the whole thing's definitely fucked." Judy's lips quirked slightly. "But I trust you, V. After everything with Evie, Maiko and Clouds … I trust you."
"I'm glad." V smiled warmly.
"Even if you are a bastard corpo." Judy smirked playfully.
V sighed. "You're never gonna drop that, are you?"
"Nope." Judy leaned back against the pillows, seeing off the last of her yogurt. "Sorry, shouldn't have sold your soul to Arasaka."
"Finally, someone's talking sense." Johnny input helpfully. "Biggest damn mistake you ever made."
V stood from the bed and paced away. "You think I don't know that?" she snapped.
"V?" Judy asked after a brief pause.
V inhaled deeply though her nose, raked a hand through her hair before turning back to Judy. She offered what she hoped was an apologetic smile. "Sorry, didn't mean to snap."
"It's ok." Visibly concerned, Judy swung her legs out from the under the covers and got up from the bed, approaching V cautiously. "I was only messing with you. You know I wasn't serious, right?"
"I know, I know. I just …" V stopped with a heavy sigh.
Judy reached out to hold V's dark, powerful synthetic arms with her pale, slender hands. Even through the all the wires and circuits, V found her heartbeat skip a little at the gentle warmth of Judy's touch. "Talk to me, V. what's wrong?"
"You're right. I sold my soul to Arasaka."
Judy shook her head rapidly. "V, no. I didn't mean-"
V carried on regardless. "How many years did I waste climbing the corporate ladder? Licking boots and throwing other idiots to the dogs just to get to the top, anything to get that coveted promotion, one more pay raise. I've honestly no fucking idea how many lives I've ruined. And where did it all get me? I nearly get myself killed licking the wrong boot."
"At last, you finally see it." Johnny murmured without heat to the side. "Most fools don't get it even when they're looking down the barrel of an Arasaka gun they helped sell."
"I'm sorry. I had no idea this bothered you so much." Judy murmured quietly.
"It's surprisingly easy to shut out, most of the time, with two brains in her and all." V's lips quirked slightly as she indicated her temple..
"Shit." Judy hissed through a sigh. "I'm sorry, V. all those times I gave you shit about it, and you were just taking it and … shit."
"It's alright." V smiled reassuringly and took Judy's hands in hers, synthetic fingers caressing living flesh softly. "It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does." Judy reached a hand up to cup V's cheek. "V, you know that's not you, right? That's not the V that helped me find Evelyn and carry her back to my place. That's not the V I fell in love with."
V's mouth lifted into a brief smile, before shaking her head slightly. "I'm still the same person I was in Arasaka. People don't really change, Judy."
"That's bullshit and you know it." Judy snorted. "Maiko did."
"No, I'm pretty sure she was always a bitch." Johnny said.
V was inclined to agree, but decided not to voice her opinion to Judy out loud.
"I can tell you disagree." Judy's eyes narrowed slightly but her lips were smirking slightly. She sighed. "I guess I can't blame you, you never saw her at her best."
"Well, she had the hots for you didn't she? She can't have been all that bad." V chuckled.
Judy sighed once more. "Only you would think that's a positive character trait."
"Well, I mean …" V leaned her head back to get a good look at the brain dance editor's form, "Have you looked in a mirror recently?"
Judy scoffed, though V could have sworn she saw a hint of rosy red in those pale cheeks. "Like I said: Horny fucker." She reached up to flick V in the forehead, earning her a chuckle. "I wish you'd internalise that instead."
"Don't worry, I'm fully aware of it." V winked.
Judy rolled her eyes then her gaze took a serious edge again. "I'm serious though, V. You're not Arasaka anymore. They don't have any power over you, you hear?"
"I hear you." V's lips twitched before snickering. "And you've taken over that privilege, right?"
"If I had, I'd have you stop doing stupid shit all the time."
"It's Night City, Judes. Stupid shit is par for the course here."
"I know, just don't get yourself killed, especially for a few eddies. I'll never forgive you if you do." The brain dance editor warned.
"I love you too, Judy." V smiled warm.
Judy's crooked smile and exasperated sigh was everything V wanted. "Shit, V. You can't do that when I'm trying to be strict with you."
"Then stop me." V smirked, pulling Judy in close in her powerful arms, their breaths colliding they were so close. "You've got that power over me, after all."
Judy hummed something in her throat, it could have been a rebuttal or a denial for all V cared, she was far more interested in how delicious the brain dance editor looked. Judy's attention fell onto gold plated lips. She slowly swept in and delivered a loving kiss. V leaned into the contact eagerly, happily ignoring the slight retching noises she heard come from Johnny's avatar.
"What was that about being strict?" V flashed an eyebrow teasingly.
"I had a better idea." Judy glared, though the look was more fire than ice. She turned her head slightly to glance at the bed. "Now, how about we finish breakfast?"
"Now who's the horny fucker?" V smirked, slipping her hands onto Judy's hips.
"What can I say? You're rubbing off on me." Judy bit her lower lip seductively.
Johnny sighed to the side. "So many jokes, but no, too easy, like you I guess."
V absently raised a hand to flip him off.
Judy eyed the gesture with a raised eyebrow. "Shouldn't he be … going?" She asked, a hint of impatience to her voice.
"Don't worry. I know when to make myself scarce." Johnny yawned and swung his legs over the windowsill, his back to the window. "Remember to use protection kids." With that, Johnny's avatar leaned back and fell through the window and out of sight. V could feel his presence recede deep within her subconscious, far out of reach, as though he was never there in the first place.
"He's gone." V assured Judy. As she said that however, one last memory flashed across her mind: The image of Alt, pressed face up against the wall of a shower cubicle, bare and drenched, panting heavily in the throes of a primal passion. The memories gave V more than a few ideas of her own.
"Good." Judy smiled devilishly. "Now you can have your second course."
V's smirk came easily. "Actually, I have a better idea."
Before Judy could provide a response more than a raised eyebrow, V leaned down a little and lifted Judy straight up in to the air in one fell swoop. She caught the brain dance editor and held Judy reverently with her lean stomach level with V's face. The enhanced strength of her augmented arms and legs made the feat effortless. Judy yelped slightly in surprise at the action, but wore something of a silly smile on her face as she gazed down at her lover.
"Well, ahem, you have my attention." Judy was seemingly trying her hardest to keep her face from smiling stupidly She wasn't succeeding.
"I hope I have a lot more than that." V smirked, pressing a kiss to Judy's stomach. Without further ado, V carried her over towards the bathroom to the sound of Judy's chuckles.