A/N: Okay I think I know how to take the burn out. I think writing less and spacing out the chapters. I was writing like 3000 words a chapter, I'm gonna cut down to half that probably. Anyway I'm on a long trip for some biz so I'm gonna pump out more chapters this week on my phone, sorry if the quality is shabby. Thanks for all yall understanding, love you guys, like a lot.. I could kiss yah… no diddy!
Beep… beeeeep…beeeeeep.
"Wake the fuck up, Teo. Your internal clock is malfunctioning, or perhaps your current blood alcohol level is impacting its primary functions. Assessment points to the latter." Fucker's voice cut into his head like a knife, crisp and annoyingly clear.
He groaned, forcing his eyes open, and the raw light from his underground window split his brain apart. Headaches… he was getting tired of fucking headaches.
"Ugh… when's the last time I got drunk?" Teo mumbled, trying to sit up. Only for him to feel a familiar, unwelcome weight on his exposed chest. He froze, every single neuron screaming. Oh fuck.
He glanced down, his green optics observing a familiar set of bright green pigtails splayed across his bare skin. Rebecca. He sat there, utterly paralyzed in shock. Did he and Bex…? No. No way.
The very thought made his already pounding head throb harder. She shifted on his chest, a soft groan escaping her lips, stirring, starting to wake up. He had to be sure. If he was naked then… well, you know what happened.
He risked a subtle movement, feeling for his lower body under the blanket. Oh fuck. Yep. Clothesless. She was too. He leaned back against his pillow, the soft material a fleeting comfort against the agony in his skull. He didn't want to wake her up, didn't want to face this. It would be too awkward, he felt too awkward right now as is. This was so fucked.
Her eyelids fluttered open, her pupils, bright blue even in the dim light, met his. She froze as well, the realization dawning in her eyes.
"Well, this is… awkward," she mumbled, her voice a little raspy, as she slowly sat up.
The blanket that had been covering both of them fell, pooling around her waist and revealing her… assets. Teo wasn't at all embarrassed, you saw crazier stuff on Night City's sidewalks.
"Yeah… let's not talk about this ever again," Teo muttered, sliding his legs from beneath her body and swinging them over the side of his bed. The cold concrete floor of his basement lair was a shock to his bare feet.
He walked over to the scattered clothing that littered the floor, a digital battlefield of yesterday's outfit.
He grabbed his underwear and slid them on, followed by a pair of black shorts. He snagged a large Tshirt and tossed it at her. She caught it with surprisingly good reflexes. "Thanks," she mumbled, pulling the shirt over her head, its oversized fabric swallowing her. She got up and stalked towards the rest of her scattered gear, bits of her tech vest and shotgun shell loops. Teo just pulled on his usual white wife beater and slipped on some white socks and worn slides.
She looked at him, her eyes still wide with a mix of surprise and vague embarrassment. He looked at her, his green optics giving nothing away but a shared, firm, silent understanding, don't tell anyone what happened here. "Have you seen my Carnage?" she asked, looking around the room's organized chaos.
He scanned the room. "Carnage," her favorite shotgun, was leaning against the bathtub in his bathrooms corner. Next to the shotgun, curled up tightly, was a sleeping German Shepherd.
He popped his head out the doorway at Bex, who was combing her bed head with her fingers, glaring at her reflection in his bedroom mirror.
"Found your gun… also a dog… the dog yours?" he said, his voice flat. She stopped combing her hair, her head snapping up. She stared at him, confused. "Uh… nah, choom. I don't have a dog."
Teo looked back at the dog, then at her, then at the dog again. It looked like a stray, but wasn't at all injured or diseased, just dirty. It seemed… remarkably well fed for a stray in Night City.
He squatted down to the dog's curled-up form. He scanned the dog with his optics, a burst of data pinging back. What came up was rather unexpected. "No Data Recorded: Error. Biological Signature: Canine. Estimated Age: 7 months. System Origin: Unknown."
The dog shifted, its nose perking up slightly, smelling the freshly woken human a few feet away. The dog's eyes opened, intelligent brown pools, and stared at him. The pup wasn't huge, still young, maybe 7 months old. It slowly got up to its paws and stalked over to Teo with an almost uncanny familiarity, its tail giving a tentative wag.
The pup stuffed his snout into Teo's crouched chest, nudging him affectionately. Teo wrapped his hands around the pup and started to scratch its fur, finding a soft spot behind its ears. "Oh, good boy, yes you are… are you a boy?" He leaned his head down for a closer inspection. "Yep, there's a peepee, you are a good boy." he murmured as the pup sat down and started to lick his face, its tongue rough but warm. Dogs were rare in Night City. A stray, let alone one this healthy and friendly, was even rarer.
Rebecca, hearing the commotion, stood in the doorway, Carnage now slung casually on her back. "OH MY… I THOUGHT YOU WERE BUSTING MY CHOPS!" she yelled, her voice vibrating with amusement and surprise. She grabbed the shotgun from the tub and handed it to her.
She looked up at him. "Okay… Thanks for the… night?" She smirked awkwardly, a pause lingering between them. "Even if both of us don't remember it." She then bent down and gave the sitting dog a quick, enthusiastic pat on its head.
"Are you keeping this chow?" she asked, stroking the dog's soft fur.Teo nodded, a faint, unexpected warmth spreading through him. "Yeah… I think I will." He decided, pausing for a moment and turning his gaze back towards Bex.
"Also, let's keep this hush. Don't want our compatriots starting nasty rumors." Teo said, slipping past her and walking towards the steel staircase that led to the bar. The pup followed behind him, trotting like a lost puppy, literally. Bex followed as well. As they reached the top, Teo punched in the code to the heavy door, and it slid open, revealing the familiar smell of synth coffee and sizzling food from the El Coyote Cojo bar.
Jackie was at the bar, nursing a cup of coffee and a plate piled high with food, chatting idly with Mama Welles. They both turned as the door hissed open, noticing Teo and Rebecca. Jackie grinned, taking in Teo's disheveled look, then his gaze set on Bex, who was not far behind him, and finally, the small dog trotting at Teo's heels. His grin grew, then faltered slightly at the pup. "Long night, Teo?" he said, taking a sip of coffee, a knowing glint in his eye.
Teo started to walk towards the bar, his head still pounding. "Shut up," he muttered, plopping down onto the stool next to Jackie. Mama Welles looked at him, then at Rebecca, who was still standing awkwardly a few feet behind Teo. "No babies, miho. You're too young," she said, turning around to hide her smirk as she polished a glass.
Teo glared at her back. "Not like that, Tia. You know that." He snagged one of Jackie's sausages, biting into it. Rebecca spoke up from behind him, saving him from further embarrassment. "I'm headin' out, Teo. Nice seeing yah, Mama Welles and Jack." She nodded a quick farewell before turning and heading out.
Jack slapped his back, a hearty thud that sent a fresh wave of pain through Teo's head, before getting up himself. "Hahaha! About time you got some action, was beginning to worry after your last breakup." He chuckled lightly. Mama giggled as well, speaking up. "I agree, that bitch did a real number on you." She placed a glass of water in front of Teo, along with a warm synth chocolate chip muffin.
Chocolate chip muffins after a hangover were pure bomb. "Ay, both of you, shush! A drunk hook up, that's all it is." He gulped the water down, the cold liquid a blessing, and rested a hand on his head, leaning it against the bar.
Jack stretched his arms up. "Ahhh! Well, gotta go to work, gotta jack this gonk's car for a client." He turned his back to Teo, and with a wave over his head, spoke. "Love you both, Teo, no more one night stands, alright? Hahaha!" He chuckled as he left, disappearing through the bar's main door.
Teo sighed, resting his aching head on the counter. The dog nudged his leg, then lay down patiently by his feet. Then, a sharp ping in his OS. A new message.
[From: Gloria Martinez]
[Subject: Maine's Referral - Wares]
[Message: Hello. This is Gloria Martinez. Maine gave me your line. Said you could help with my wares. I'll be in touch soon, have something Maine needs a scrubbing on. Sensitive wares. Discreet.]
He read it and sighed again. He responded with a thumbs up emoji. He closed his eyes.
Fucking hangovers.