Jackie leaned back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head as he watched V struggle with a stubborn zipper on their duffel bag. "Choom, you fight Arasaka guards like it’s nothin’, but a zipper? That’s where you draw the line?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "Lemme see."

Before he could get up, Mama Welles bustled in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. "Mijo, you should be helping instead of teasing," she scolded, then turned to V with a warm smile. "Ay, pobrecito, always working so hard. Sit, sit! I made tamales. You need to eat!"

Jackie grinned. "Ma, V’s gotta save up eddies, not gain weight."

Mama Welles scoffed. "And what good is money if they waste away? Besides, a strong partner needs strength, si?"

Jackie groaned, running a hand down his face. "Here we go..."

"What? It’s true! You need someone who takes care of you, mijo. Someone smart, brave—"

"—Ma."

"—someone who understands this life. Someone who’s already here, under our roof—"

"Ma!" Jackie gave V a look, as if to say help me out here, but Mama Welles was relentless. She slid a plate of tamales in front of V with a knowing smile.

"Eat, carino. You need energy for all the nights you stay out with my son. Always watching each other’s backs, yes?"

Jackie groaned again, but there was no heat to it. "V, don’t listen to her. She’s just—"

"—telling the truth," Mama Welles finished, patting V’s shoulder before moving back to the kitchen. "Love starts in the home, mijo. Don’t be blind to what’s in front of you."

Jackie let his head thud against the table. "I swear, V. One day she’s just gonna plan the wedding without even askin’."

From the kitchen, Mama Welles laughed. "Only if you keep dragging your feet!"

Jackie sighed, lifting his head to smirk at V. "Guess you’re stuck with us, choom. Hope you don’t mind."