"If you'd had a chance to go out in a blaze o' glory and die a legend, or live a peaceful life and be a nobody: Which would you pick?"
Those words were ringing through V's ears for some time now. If you had asked her a few months back it would have been a blaze of glory, easy. That's what night city made people after all; you were either bitten by the city or you bit back. There was no place for weakness, for settling. Yet here she was, under a cozy hut, making breakfast for her girlfriend.
She smiled to herself. Despite the circumstances being a nobody felt pretty damned good right now. She moved the food off the fireplace.
"Hey, Judy, foods ready!" She called.
The women in question was a ways away, lounging in a watering hole. Her head turned to look at her, flashing that warm smile of hers. The woman got up, walking over to her, and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Hey, food smells great."
"Thanks, We have eggs, synth bacon, and toast," V said, plating it all.
" Oh, how'd you cobble all this together, Huh?" Judy asked. "Knocked over a few trading posts?"
V chuckles, handing her a plate of food. "Nah, bought it from that farmer a day ago, the one missing a leg? Wanted two make something special, just for the two of us."
Judy dug into her food, relishing the taste. It was hard to come by good food when you don't settle down that much. V watched, a smile spreading on her face. It soon vanished however as she took a deep breath.
"Judy…" V called.
Judy turned to look at her, her face comically stuffed with food. She swallowed her food, coughing slightly. "Whats up V?"
"Ah, I'm not good at this…" She said, again trying to study her breathing. "When I was in night city, I felt that in order to thrive I had to be feared, I had to shoot first, take first if I was ever going to make in Night City. But meeting you, being in the situation I'm in…" V could feel the words get stuck in her throat. "It all just seems so childish now."
"I hear ya V. I never thought I would leave that city. I always felt I would spend my days in Moxy's, working on BD's for the rest of my life." Judy set her plate down, inching over to V. She rested her head on V's shoulder. "Just goes to show how much can change, huh?"
"Huh, Yeah." The two enjoyed the peaceful silence together, listening to the water slosh and splash. After awhile V gently sat Judy up. "Got a surprise for you."
Judy looked at her, positioning herself on her knees. "What is it." She asked.
"Close your eyes," V said.
Judy did as she was told.
She heard shuffling as V positioned herself behind her. Cool metal gently slid up her chest.
"There," V said. "Open your eyes."
Judy looked down and found a ring, secured by a metal chain around her neck. She lifted the ring to examine it. Brushed metal with a gold stripe going through it reading:
Judy X Valerie. Two souls looking for heaven and fighting like hell.
Judy's eyes fluttered, her mouth moved, but formed no words. She looked at V, eyes threatening to spill tears and V was no exception.
"Judy, I don't know whether or not we'll find whoever can fix me. But with the time I got left I plan to make the most of it, starting with this." She stated, gesturing to the piece of jewelry around Judy's neck. "Judy… I love you more than words can describe. I am so glad I met you."
The words were so simple, yet they were enough to open up the flood gets for both of them. Watered eyes spilled tears into the sand below. Judy kept hung her head low, gripping the ring close to her, sniffling and fighting back tears.
V Nervously scratched the back of her head. "S-Sorry about springing all of this on you during breakfa-"
V suddenly found herself tackled into the sand with Judy ontop, hugging her tight. " I don't care what happens, You will always be with me understand?" She stated. "You won't die, I don't care what we have to do fix you. I'd sooner leave this shit earth if it met being able to stay with you!"
V listened carefully, her barriers finally breaking. She hugged Judy back as she began to sob on her shoulder.
"Fuck, Judy…" She cried.
Neither knew how much time they had left together and even with declarations of using what time they had, there was always that inkling of fear that stuck in their minds. One day they can be like this; together, with not a care in the world, and the next V could die in her sleep with not even a chance to say goodbye. It was why V relished these moments. She cherished the heat, the weight of her partner on top of her. She cherished how smart she was, how caring she was, and how she wasn't afraid to show her emotions.
"Jeez, your the only one who can make me cry like a bitch." Judy joked.
"Heh, not one of my greatest talents."
"But seriously thanks, V.," Judy said. "Heh, Didn't know Valerie was your actual name."
"Only people close to me get to call me that."
"Mmm, I like V better." Judy joked, earning a laugh from V. "But, good to know I got the Okay."
"C, mon, Finish eating. The camps about to move soon. Don't wanna get left behind."
