Chapter One: Edge of Life
Welcome chooms to the first chapter of Never Fade Away. So, like I said since I chose the Star Ending on Cyberpunk. The main focus is V getting the cure from my original character which I hope this shot will be a good job. I also decided to put a surname to V so don't kill me chooms. And I'll try my best to update since school's coming up. All the characters belong to Cyberpunk 2077 (although I made my own characters). Enjoy reading chooms! 333
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After reaching out help to the Aldecaldos V and Judy officially became part of the clan along with Panam and her friends. They're about to leave the Night City but before they do, V's about to reach out to Rogue since they've heard about this guy who has the cure for V.
JUDY'S APARTMENT, AROUND MORNING…
V felt arms wrap around her from behind as Judy wrapper hers arms around V and pulled her tight. V smiled softly as she looked out at the window looking at Night City for the last time before leaving with Panam and the Aldecaldos.
"Morn'n" Judy purred in V's ear, giving the red-head's neck a subtle kiss. The feeling of her lover's lip on her skin pulled V out of her trance. V placed a hand on Judy's cheek pulling her in for a soft kiss.
"Mornin', you." V says softly kissing her lover on the cheek softly and goes looking at the city for the last time.
"So, what time we're gonna go to Afterlife?" Judy asked as she kept her arms around V's. "Are you sure we'll be able to convince Rogue about her friend?"
"Panam's gonna pick us up, baby. Don't worry we'll be able to convince Rogue." V reassures her girlfriend turning around hugging her tight.
"V… I really wanted you to live." Judy whispered, feeling the warmth from her lover's touch. V kept hugging her tightly "Honestly- I'm so scared. I- I don't know what-" V looks at her and give her a passionate kiss "Mm-"
V breaks the kiss, and she looks at her lover deeply in the eyes "Rogue has contact. Her friend named Miguel can find a way for me to live longer."
"I trust you, V." Her lover says whispering softly and she placed her head on V's chest as they kept hugging each other. And then Panam came out of nowhere in the apartment.
"V? Judy?" Panam says entering the house breaking the lovers moments "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt both of you. But we gotta go to Rogue" she added with an awkward tone.
"Alright. We'll be at the car in a minute." Judy nodded, breaking the hug and she starts grabbing her stuff and then V helps with the bags.
"Hey Panam, when will we get to the Leortos?" V yawned, as she put the bags in Panam's Thorton pickup truck.
"Well after we talk to Rogue, we'll go straight to Leortos" the brown-haired girl answered as she hops on her truck. "We're leaving in 30 minutes, V." she added, starting the engine of her truck.
"Alright, Panam." The red-haired girl says giving her friend a soft smile and she saw Judy heading to the truck "Need help, Jude?"
While Judy is putting the rest of their stuff on the pickup Thorton truck. She is not onto herself, she looks worried, doubting and everything. Finally, Panam noticed and eyes her because she can tell something isn't right.
"I never get chance to talk to you personally, Judy." Panam smiled softly while she closed the car and looked at Judy. "I know you and I just met a couple days ago."
"Yeah, we just did." Judy nodded and she took a cigarette on the case "Panam Palmer, right? V talk about you and how you guys accepted her."
"I think you're a pretty nova person and a great match for V in all seriousness." The brown-haired girl says as she leans on the pickup truck next to Judy. "However, I keep getting the notion in the air just right now. What's going on? You know you can talk to me anytime."
Judy took a deep sigh and put away her cigarette from Panam. She bites her lip softly and stares at the ground.
"I don't know Panam. I- It's just… Agh! I'm such a gonk brain who can't voice how I feel!" Judy complained, throwing away her cigarette on the ground and looking at Panam "I've been wanting to talk to V about her condition cause when she and I talk before going back here. I saw her coughing blood a lot. But how? I can't even tell how I myself feel?!"
Panam wraps her arms around Judy's shoulder trying to comfort the best she could and break the silence "Judy, V loves you so much, and if you can't see that, you're truly a gonk. I think you should open up to her after we talk to Rogue. Before Miguel starts the operation. Remember we're all family here, and family resolves problems by working together."
"You're right Panam, I guess I'm doubting, or overcomplicating things. Thanks for the extra push. I will open up to her later." Judy finally took a deep breath and gave Panam a sad smile.
"No problem, choom. Come to me anytime if things don't go well. We're a family, remember? We got each other's back from now on. Besides, V lost Jackie and other people she cared about; you know that. Be there for V she needs you more than ever." Panam tapped her shoulder giving reassurance to her friend.
"Thanks, Panam, I truly appreciate it." Judy smiled and then Panam hopped inside the truck. "You can do this, Judy, talk to your girlfriend" she added to herself trying to give herself more confidence.
SOME TIME LATER, ALMOST AFTERNOON…
Panam parked her Thorton in front of the Afterlife. The three left the truck and they proceed inside the Afterlife to meet Rogue.
"Ah. V, Panam, Judy. Glad to see you three doing well." Rogue said, giving them a smug putting her tequila drink on the table.
"It's good to see you, Rogue." Panam said with a grumpy tone and sat on the table "V's dying, Rogue. You're the only one who can help us with this."
"I know. And I already contacted Miguel." Rogue said, giving the three a smirk "Miguel Delà Cruz is the one who can cure V. It's gonna be risky and very long process."
"Whatever it takes, Rogue." V said with a confident tone. Judy and Panam were looking at her bravery "I want to live longer for my friends and family. I'm willing to take this risk."
"Well. Miguel lives very far away. It's in the Badlands. Leortos. Panam knows that." Rogue sighed and gave Miguel's contact to Panam. "I trust you about this, Panam. Miguel's a mercenary and he's doing a low profile at the moment."
"Understood." Panam nodded and then she took V's hand holding it "We're gonna get through this. I promise."
"Oh, and V, if you get cured. Come back here to Night City" the old woman says with a serious tone "You got unfinished business with the Arasaka. Since you refused Yorinobu's offer you're the target and he will do anything to take down all of you."
"We'll lay low for a while, Rogue" the red-headed girl nodded taking a deep breath and looks her lover. "We're gonna be okay, I will protect you."
"Mhm. I trust you, V." Judy says holding her lover's hand tightly and she looks at Rogue "I won't let the Arasaka take V from me. Not ever."
"Your role on this Judy is to protect the people you loved the most" the gray-haired woman drinking her tequila "You're a Mox. And V's a mercenary. Are you willing to take this risk. You already got a good life-"
"Fuck with that!" Judy raged and then V tried to calm her down "This city is a nightmare! Because of this city I lost everyone I cared about! Everyone! I don't fucking care if V is a mercenary. I love her."
"Judy, please calm down." V trying to calm her girlfriend and then Panam gave Rogue a cold glare "I think we should leave, Panam."
"That's right. For fuck sake, Rogue. Enough." Panam says angrily as she starts walking away from Rogue.
"Whatever you say, everything comes with a price." Rogue smirked and the three left the Afterlife "Good luck, V."
V, Judy and Panam left Afterlife. They all hopped inside the truck. Judy is still furious about Rogue's insulting to V. Panam started driving away her truck from the Afterlife
"Next. Leortos." Panam took a deep breath and started driving her truck. "You two, okay?"
"M'Fine, Panam." Judy said sighing deeply looking at the truck window "When we will get there to Leortos?" she added, still looking at the window avoiding V's stare.
"Probably before evening. Hopefully." Panam answers looking at Judy from the rear mirror of her truck.
"Judy. Please don't worry." V says softly holding her lover's hand trying to calm her down "Talk to me."
"V, Are you hiding something from us? Rogue said that you should return here to face Yorinobu?" Judy asked, furiously giving V a cold glare "You didn't tell anything."
"I was planning to tell you this before we go to Leortos" she answered, looking away from Judy and looked at Panam in the rear mirror.
"V! Why are you putting walls in front of me? You're not letting me pass!" Judy yelled, and she smacks V's chest "What if one day you woke up and you wouldn't notice I left."
"It's not like that, Jude-" V says emotionally looking down and taking a deep breath. "Listen, I met up with Rogue a couple days ago. And went to Arasaka because Yorinobu wanted to talk to me."
"V, you're such a gonk." Panam says furiously and she parked her truck at the gas station, the three realized they're finally outside the City. "I'm gonna buy something at the convenience store. Gonna give you two some privacy" Panam says as she left her truck.
"V! I've been wanting to talk to you, about everything, about you, about me, about us!" Judy says, still furious and feeling emotional. "I'll be honest, V. You're not getting any better. Your condition worsens day by day! Honestly V, I'm so fucking scared losing you. I don't even know what's gonna happen if you get the cure and then you go back to the city confronting Arasaka. I'm so fucking scared that I'll lose you. I'm losing you little by little each day. It makes me feel so worthless- goddamn it V!"
V couldn't stand her agony anymore she hugged her lover tightly caressing Judy's back gently. She knows that Judy's very scared of losing her. The most hurtful truth is that her lover is right. Her condition is getting worse day by day.
"I'm so fuckin' scared losing the woman I ever loved." Judy wailed while being hugged by her lover
V pulled away, cupped Judy's face in her two hands, and touched their foreheads together. "Judy Álvarez, don't ever call yourself worthless. Honestly, this journey with you was truly memorable. I'm already getting cured. I know I still have unfinished business in Night City. But I promise you I will find a way to beat them. Even if I have to burn down this whole planet just to be with you, I will. I'll always be here for you. I'm not going to die. We will have a home, a future. I promise."
A tear slid down V's face, and Judy wiped it away. Starring into V's face was the one thing that made her feel happy, made her feel alive. Judy's response was a passionate kiss. Suddenly a song came from Panam's truck radio the acoustic beat and the drum came to tune.
Lips of an Angel by Hinder
'It's really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet.
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words, it makes me weak'
The song in the background, V knew that every time Judy calls her name makes her weak, she knows that its coming from the angelic lip. After their little heart-to-heart conversation, Panam returns to the truck, and she saw Judy resting peacefully in V's arms.
"How's Judy?" Panam asked, putting the shopping bags on the passenger seat next to her. "You two had conversation?"
"Yeah. We did." V nodded, wrapping her arms around Judy's, giving the warmth she needed. "Next stop…"
"Leortos. This is gonna be a long ride so try to get some nap." Panam says as she started to drive her truck again "Grab the iced coffee on that bag."
"Panam, thank you for everything. And for accepting Judy in Aldecaldos clan." V says giving a sweet smile to her friend "I don't know what to do without you."
"You won't lose any of us anytime soon, V." Panam says turning her wheel as she kept driving on the offroad "Besides you got Judy to take care of. You both will have a beautiful future and I know that."
"You're right. I've got lot of things to do." V says, calmly hugging Judy as much as she could.
"So, what's your plan after getting the cure?" Panam asked and V suddenly went silent because V knew that she needed to go back to Night City to end her nightmare once and for all.
"I'm going back to end this unfinished business" the red-headed answered looking at the window of the truck "So I could have my future with Judy."
"No matter where you go, we'll always be here to give the support you need. We're family after all, V." The brown-haired girl says as kept driving and drank some iced coffee.
"So, you and Judy talked?" V asked caressing her girlfriend's back gently and drank iced coffee "Saw you guys talkin' while I'm calling Viktor on the holo" she added, smiling to Panam.
"Yeah, we did." Panam nodded and she kept driving in the bumpy road.
SOME TIME LATER, AROUND EVENING
Panam pulled the Thorton up to a small house on the outskirts of Leortos, the sun was almost down. V woke up Judy and they both got out in the truck. Panam opened the back of her truck to take some bags for V and Judy.
"Here we are." V says as she wraps her Samurai jacket to Judy to avoid coldness "It's pretty cold in here." She added, with a worried tone.
"It's very cold in here at night." Panam answered, grabbing some things on the back of her truck. "You two wait here, I'll go talk to Miguel" she says and went in front of the door.
"V…" Judy whispered, holding her lover's hand tightly and V wraps her arms around Judy "Do you think Miguel will be able to cure you?"
"One can hope." V answers, smiling softly to Judy and she kisses her forehead to give some reassurance "Trust me, Jude."
"Miguel!" Panam shouted as she banged her fist on the door, making the couple shock. There was the sound of heavy footsteps from inside the small house before the door opened to reveal Miguel Delà Cruz. He is tall Hispanic man with a tanned skin and has a messy brown hair. His left hand was cybernetic like River Ward.
"Ah, Panam Palmer" he began as he looked at her with smug expression "I heard Rogue sent you here for the cure."
"Yeah. Rogue Amendiares." Panam nodded and then the Hispanic man looked at the couple standing and waiting "This is-"
"Valerie Jones and Judy Álvarez." Miguel smiles and he steps out from his home approaching the couple "I've heard lotta about you two. Valerie the one who attacked and killed Adam Smasher."
"Just V, only people who's close to me knows my real name." V says looking away from Miguel "So please just call me V."
"Alright, V." The brown-haired tall man says giving a worried expression on V "Judy the best braindance editor in Night City."
"Ugh, you really sounded like my friend Evelyn." Judy says taking a deep sigh not letting go from V's hand. "Rogue told us you can cure V."
"I can. It's easy but according to V's situation its gonna be long night and bit complicated. Now come in." Miguel says, giving the two a sad smile and they all went inside the small house.
The three went to the other room next to the operating room. The room had a few crates of tech, parts from various robots and cyberware. A disassembled drone sat on the short table. The stained cloth and tools made it clear that Miguel's working on the device not long ago.
"You installed this chrome model all by yourself?" Judy asks looking at Miguel's chrome as she sat on the couch along with V.
"Yeah, it hurt like hell, but I didn't have a choice. I'm such a fucking gonk too." Miguel mused, putting the device and chrome on a plate that was needed for the operation.
"You know your stuff." V observed as she pulled Judy on her chest and leaned on the comfy couch.
"You two are cute together, I ain't gonna lie." Miguel offered as he walked over to them with a cup of coffee for Judy "Coffee?"
"Thanks, but no thanks." Judy responded, shaking her head. Miguel held it out to her again, insisting her to take it.
"Listen, choom. I'm going to be up very late patching V's brain back into working order. You won't be able to sleep. Drink the coffee. It will help" He says insisting. Judy looked at V who gave her a soft smile. Taking the cup Judy mumbled her thanks.
Panam came marching over and placed her hands on her hips as she looked at the three on the room.
"I need to go and contact the other camp. Miguel I am leaving this two in your care." Panam ordered the ripperdoc to point at him.
"Understood. I'll look after them like they're my own. Don't worry Panam, trust me." Miguel affirmed with a wave of his hand.
"V, get your brain fixed. Judy make sure she doesn't do anything funny or something gonk." Panam clipped, her voice was full of worry and her temper was up. The chief of Aldecaldos took a deep breath trying to calm down before heading out.
"Is she really like that?" Judy asks, letting out a soft giggle. V gave her a soft smile and leaned on her shoulder.
V took the plug and slotted it in, it stung a little as the foreign software started working on her system. Miguel was silent for a few moments, rubbing his chin as his eyes flashed. He mumbled as he observed the data that was being fed to him. After five minutes had passed, he grunted with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Well?" Judy pleaded hopefully "Miguel, would you be able to fix V?"
Miguel looked at Judy, his expression was neutral but gave a small nod. Judy finally calmed down and let herself be relaxed. Miguel turned his computer to let them see V's brain images with areas lighting up in reds over the blue background.
"When Rogue told me what happened to V, I called bullshit." Miguel started, taking a deep breath, and looked at the computer "Although after hearing the whole symptoms and the effects of that shitty Relic, I couldn't really deny it."
"Would have to." V responded as she leaned forward and looked at the display. There was a large area of roughly red stripe on the right side of her brain with tendrils coming from the chip slot. The other tendrils snaked out from the red mass into other areas of her brain.
"That is where Dexter Deshawn flatlined you." Miguel explained and looked at V worriedly "Thank god that Viktor guy managed to save you. The bullet ripped right through, then the relic did its thing." He added, still looking at V with a worried expression.
"So, what's the conflict, Miguel?" Judy asked, and she started to hold V's hand. She is still hoping for good news and wanting V to live much longer.
"Well, her body seems like a foreign invader and her immune is attacking it. The problem is now that the chip holds the proper. If it was Johnny in there, then the new cells would continue to integrate the blue until it was all Johnny. Your brain is a fucking mess right now V." Miguel shook his head and drink a cup of coffee
"So, it's like the two OS's trying to inhabit the same partition and they won't vibe." Judy explained, looking to Miguel.
"Atta girl." Miguel chuckled as he moved some stuff around the screen "Survive this one. You'll be able to keep her around."
"I plan to, Miguel. She's the best thing that ever happened to me in that city." V beamed, making Judy take a sip of her coffee as she gave V an affectionate glance.
"Now, the operation is very simple in theory but not in practice. I am going to have to run implant wires through these harmed areas into a processor, into your cyberware OS chip." Miguel explained, pointing his fingers on the screen "Then back to your brain. It will need to be a separate system, make sure it runs smoothly." He added, explaining the procedure of V's operation.
"Continue, Miguel." V says, with the sound of pleaded tone.
"For that I will add a few chips that are designed to combat autoimmune disorders, and code them to accept markers from your cells and these new cells. That will stop your immune system from attacking those areas." Miguel says, explaining the operation stuff to the couple.
"Fucking preem! Rogue says you're the best." V smiled as she looked to Miguel who didn't look all that excited "Wha? But there's a glitch, isn't there?"
"I won't lie about this, V. This procedure is going to be very dangerous and intensive." Miguel looked away and took a deep breath. "We're not talking about your simple optics or mantis blade installation. This… has a significant chance of you dying on that table. Provided you survive that. The recovery will be long for you, and you may need to relearn basic things such as tying your shoes. Memory damage won't be an issue. And then finally certain… subconscious accepts of Silverhand will mostly like develop." He added, and Judy almost raged out again.
"What the fuck? I thought that asshole was gone?!" Judy says furiously standing up causing Miguel to hold up his hand in process.
"Judy- c-calm down. He's gone." Miguel says with a calming tone as Judy gave him a death stare "her personality won't ever change to be more like his but some of his addictions, talents even may manifest as these… Patches take hold."
Judy slowly sat back down on the couch with her eyes on Miguel. V put a comforting hand on her leg, Judy took a deep breath and scooted closer to V and nestled herself under V's arm.
"What's this going to cost in eddies?" V ventured to the ripperdoc. Miguel smirked in response to the question before standing up and walking over to V.
"Choom, no need." Miguel offered her a sad smile and gave her a small head pat "I'm here to save you. I already failed to save someone. That's my son Andres" he added and looks at his family picture "Used to live in Laguna Bend, after we forced to evacuate, they killed my son with no reason."
"I see, can you give us a minute?" V asked quietly as she looked at Judy who was looking down at the floor. V could see emotions pulling on Judy as she processed what Miguel had told them.
"Of course, I'll give you some privacy. I'll prep the op room." Miguel nodded and he started preparing the things for V's operation. "This carries very risky and lifelong implications. You will need meds, mostly likely minor seizures, and headaches sometimes."
"How much longer, doc." V broached in hushed tone.
"I don't know but I will do my best, Judy." Miguel responded as he walked over the door near the hallway that opened onto the staircase that led down to the op room. After the door closed, Judy sighed before looking to V their gaze meet and a silence had formed for some minutes as each studied each other. Looking for some answer to say.
"You gotta say something." Judy says, breaking the silence around the room. Her eyes grew wetter as she waited for V to give her some answers.
"Well… I guess it's cool knowing how to play guitar." V offered quietly.
"How to play the guitar?" Judy sputtered before she shook her head "Fuck V, this is now not the time to make crackin' jokes! This is fucking serious! You could fucking die on that slab if you do this"
"Judy." V coaxed as she took her girlfriend's hands in her own. Judy let her take hands as the tears that we forming began to leak out of the corner of eyes.
"Baby… I…" The woman let her cry on her shoulders collapse as a weight returned. Judy hugged her lover very tightly. "When you called me that night before Arasaka tower, I literally tried my best to calm. I couldn't sleep or eat or focus on my work!" She gulped as tears started to drip down on her cheeks "Fuck V, what if you didn't survive this?!"
"Baby, I will not die on that table." V declared as she put a hand on Judy's cheeks.
"You fucking don't know that!" Judy roared as tears soaked her face looking up at V "I can't do it! I'm not strong enough!" her breathing becomes shaky "I can't fucking live with you!"
V suddenly pulled Judy to her lips kissing her passionately and trying to give the best reassurance to her. The kiss was wet as both women were in tears, the idea that this could be their last moment together. Judy rested her forehead against V's, with a deep shaking breath.
"I will not die." V says and she looks at her girlfriend in the eyes deeply.
"Okay." Judy replied, taking a deep breath.
"I'll have to go now." V says and she got off on the couch and walked to the op room all by herself.
AROUND 4 IN THE MORNING
Judy stood on the patio, a cigarette between her fingers, as she waited. V had gone under for surgery hours ago and Miguel had yet to come back upstairs. She took a long drag letting the smoke burn her lungs a bit. She tried to close her eyes. Miguel was right, sleep was impossible. She felt a grasp on her shoulder, she opened her eyes and turned to see Mitch giving her soft smile and holding a beer.
"Hey, Judy, you doing alright?" He drawled in his unique accent. He could tell the answer through from the puffy eyes and streaks of makeup that graced Judy's face. Judy took the beer and cracked the top; Mitch held his beer up to make a toast. "Did I ever talk about you how I met V?" he asked drinking his beer.
"No." Judy answered shortly as she followed the gaze on the stars.
"V's a street kid. Honestly when Panam showed with some merc couldn't trust her at first." Mitch chuckled and gave Judy a sad smile "I could tell she is a merc, but I guess not anymore."
"How could you tell?"
"Simple." Mitched sipped his beer and shook his head "I feel what she's going through. I decided to accept her in Aldecaldos. I even let her drive on my van. She ignored the traffic law and its really good seeing her happy. And now look at her she belongs, with us, with you."
"She's truly a gonk." Judy grinned and then Mitch let out a soft chuckle again
"Don't worry Judy, V is a tough one. She will pull through this shit." Mitch patted her shoulder giving the best reassurance.
"Thanks, Mitch." Judy murmured as she sipped her beer.
"It's nothing. Your V's woman and V is a damn good friend of mine." He says proudly drinking his beer "You are as much an Aldecaldo as she is now, you're a family. The both of you."
Judy pondered that, looking back to the stars "That truly means a lot. The Mox's were the closest thing to a family I had in NC, but this feels really different, Mitch."
"Is that good?" Mitch inquired as he sipped his beer again.
"It is." Judy nodded, looking at Mitch once again "What I love about V, is how brave she is. And she will do anything for me even though its dangerous and risky. I can always count on her even in the darkest times.
"You have the whole clan now, Jude." Mitch said smiling to her Judy.
The two stood in silence for a long moment, both anxious but neither one wanting to give voice to those concerns. Judy formed a small smile to Mitch before heading inside.
"Save that smile, V will want to see it when she wakes up." Mitch says before heading inside the small house.
Not for a long moment, a small door opened causing Judy to jump to turn slowly. Miguel stood up in the doorway and waved to her to come inside. Judy took a deep breath dreading the worst as she stepped into the room. V was nowhere to be seen, she looked at Miguel frantically pleading for good news.
"She survived. Although she's sleeping, the anesthesia won't wear off some time yet." Miguel offered in comfort as he walked over to the kitchen "She's a tough kid, a strong one. I know realized she got something worth to fight for."
"Hell, she is." Judy says and she collapsed on the floor, the weight had been lifted from her shoulders and legs gave way. She knew that V would survive, the one idea now filled her head. V, the love of her life.
Mitch helped her off the floor and led her to couch to calm her down "She did have to share brain with this Johnny fuckin' Silverhand." Mitch remarked with a grin "that would toughen anyone up."
"Indeed, but that's done now." Miguel replied feeling exhausted as he walked over to Judy and crouched down in front of her "Judy."
"She- She survived. I- th-thank you!" Judy wailed and her tears started to form and rolls to her cheeks.
"V will be fine, but me and you need to go over somethings." He coached as he held out a cup of water to Judy.
"Like what?" Judy asked, still processing what's gonna happen to V.
"Your role in her recovery. Like I said hours ago, it won't be easy." Miguel instructed Judy's role for V's recovery. "The operation was really dangerous but thank fuck its over. She lived, and her brain activity is normal, as normal will get" he added, offering a cup of water to Judy.
"So, what do you mean?" the girl asked as she took the cup of water drinking it a lot.
"She will need to heal, but also adjust to the new way her brain functions. There will be latency between her thoughts and her body's response." Miguel yawned, trying to fight his sleepiness. "You guys gotta have long patience for V's recovery, don't give up on her."
"H-How we're gonna repay you for this?" Judy stammered, as tears welled up and a large smile lit her face up.
"No need, choom." Miguel says, tiredly and he gave Judy and Mitch a sad smile "I did what I have to. I may have failed to save my son Andres, but I know he's proud at me."
"You said you used to live in Laguna Bend? Why are you so far away from Night City." Judy questioned looking at Miguel's tiredness.
"I rebelled and attacked the people who forced us to evacuate in Laguna Bend. They killed Andres for a reason after the rebellion." Miguel answered, and he took the picture frame of his son. "I became wanted guy and still hiding."
"We're sorry about you had gone through, Miguel." Mitch says sincerely tapping Migue's shoulder.
"That's okay. I've heard things about you Judy, Rogue told me. She wouldn't even shut up about it." Miguel smiled and he stood up from the couch "Come on, the first face she should see should be yours, Punchin' Judy." He added as he held out a hand to Judy.
Judy took the offered hand, being pulled up to her feet. Miguel led her to the staircase going to the second door on the right. He nodded for Judy to open the door, which she did with a shaky breath. V was laying in the large bed; her head was heavily bandaged from the rise and fall of her chest.
"I had to mouth the processor on the side of her head. As well as a new plate for piece of skull I removed." Miguel began as he checked the monitors "you're welcome to stay here although be careful around her head. If you need me, I'll be on the couch" he added
"Thank you, Miguel." Judy said, looking at him. The look at her must have moved Miguel as he gave her a big smile for the first time all day. Miguel simply left the room, closing the door gently.
Judy wasted no time she took off her shoes before crawling onto the bed next to V. She carefully rested her on V's chest and closed her eyes. When sleep took her, it was without a worry or care for the first time in a long time.
"Thank you for saving V, Miguel." Mitch said as he looked at him sitting on the couch, he can know how tired he is "V means a lot to the Aldecaldos and to Judy of course."
"You're welcome, choom." Miguel says giving a tired expression to Mitch but at least he gave him a soft smile "I did what I have to. Hey, you can sleep on the couch if you want."
"Nah, I'll have to head out and tell the good news to Panam." Mitch says as he scratches his head "See you 'round, Miguel." He added before heading out.
"hasta la vista, Mitch." Miguel smiles speaking Spanish fluently. "Finalmente hecho." He added before falling asleep.
LATER THAT DAY
V groaned as she finally started waking up, everything was sore, and her head was pounding with a deep ache. She felt the familiar weight of Judy next to her, an arm draped across V as she dosed away, head on V's chest. V smiled and brushed the hair from Judy's face whose eyes opened slowly before they jumped open and looked at V.
"Mornin' sleepyhead." V chirped, Judy beamed as she leaned up and Gave V a long kiss. V wrapped her arms around Judy hugging her tight and close to her. Judy melted into the embrace savoring the moment. Judy knew that her girlfriend would survive the risky operation. "Better morning?" she added, breaking the hug and looks at Judy.
"Much better." Judy's reply as she gave V another kiss. The following moments the two spent simply enjoying a morning that wasn't a countdown anymore but rather just another start to a normal day "let's get the bandages off" she hummed starting to unwind the gauze from around V's head.
V winced a bit as Judy bumped her head with her arm, but other than that the bandages came away. Judy sat back studying V's new appearance.
"Looking good, mi calabacita." Judy grinned, observing her lover's new appearance. The hair on the right side of V's head had been shaven down giving her the inverse of Judy's own haircut. A new implant was mounted on that side of V's head, sleek but still standing out a bit.
"Do you not like the new hair cut?" V smirked and Judy laughed out a bit and she held Judy's hand.
"No" Judy beamed once again holding back her lover's hand. "I think I love it."
Miguel suddenly came inside the room interrupting the lovebird. He knew that Judy was finally happy because he managed to save V's life. The two looked at him when he entered the room.
"Ah, you're awake now." Miguel says yawning as he closes the door behind him gently "Thank you, Judy for taking off the bandages."
"Yeah." She nodded, still holding V's hand.
"I got a call from Panam." The tall Hispanic man yawned again, stretching out his body and looking at the monitors. "She's on her way here and she's very happy about the operation. That's hella risky and scary to be honest. You're a tough one, V."
"Thank you for saving my life, Miguel." V says happily, and Miguel gave her a small nod smiling back at her "After the recovery I have to end some unfinished business in Night City."
"You're gonna take it easy, kiddo." Miguel warned with a worried expression to V "You can't just go back fighting Tyger Claws and some shitty gangs on that city. You need to make a full recovery. Also, I told this to Judy, and she will be the one to take care of you."
"Alright." V nodded giving Miguel a small smile
"I heard that this Maiko became an associate of Arasaka." Miguel spilled out and Judy looked at Miguel with a shocked expression. "They're trying to track down the Aldecaldos and you two."
"What?!" Judy gasped and looked back at V "That gonk wants me to take down huh. Well, I'm not afraid of her."
"Baby, calm down." V says, and she took a deep breath "she failed to take over the Clouds so she's doing her revenge."
"Exactly." Judy says furiously and she looks away from V.
"I'll leave you guys to it, if you need anything lemme know." Miguel says as he offered breakfast for Judy and V before he headed out. Not for a long moment, Judy breaks out the silence "I'm scared of this V." Judy says with a shaky breath and then V took her hands trying to calm her down.
"We will take them down together, Jude." V reassures leaning in kissing her lover softly.
