#how he doesn't even bother to mention takemura is there until he has to

[merge-conflict]

wip wunday

tagged by @streetkid-named-desire

<You told him your name,> Johnny said, quietly. <Your real name.>

<All names are real,> V murmured.

They were drowsing still, flirting with consciousness but otherwise content to lie warm and naked in bed. She was exhausted after their exertions, but too stubborn to fall asleep for more than a few minutes at a time, which suited Johnny fine. He’d missed her company, if not her bitchy temper, and it was just beginning to hit him how little time they had left.

<You know what I mean.>

V gave a small sigh, an admission that she did, in fact, know what he meant. Takemura’s thumb rubbed idly over her hip, and she yawned and put her hand over his. His quiet, pleased sound produced a little starburst of happiness in her chest. Gonk.

<I thought at best he’d tolerate me, you know?> She was tracing the outlines of his knuckles along the alternating patterns of metal and synth skin as she spoke. Johnny had expected her to evade with a pithy remark, or maybe clam up again, but instead she was just quiet for a while. Pulling together all the little threads of her mind. <Never had anyone do that for me.>

<Tolerate you?>

<Care if I was happy.>

Considering the usual caliber of rat bastard she attached herself to, it wasn’t surprising, but it still made him angry. He could feel, underneath it, V’s soft exasperation at the reaction. He sighed. <Breaking my heart, V.>

Her lips tugged into a smile. <Sorry.>