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Julia's long limbs are sprawled across her couch, lounging with her head in Jane's lap as she helps brush through the older woman's long, currently tangled hair. Julia isn't sure why it matters if her hair gets kept up with quite this much, the Rangers have put her on leave again so it's not like she needs to worry about cameras for a while, but Jane had offered to come over and give her a hand and... there wasn't any reason to say no to that.
"What are you smiling about?" Jane asks, but there isn't much bite to her words. That's how it is lately, especially when they're outside work, especially when they're alone.
"You," Julia answers, smirking at the way Jane splutters slightly and throws her a glare, the kind that makes her nose crinkle. Julia laughs. "You said it would never happen, but I did win you over eventually, didn't I? I mean you volunteered to come over."
It's strange, thinking back to those early days of knowing Sidestep, back when she didn't know her name, barely even knew the sound of her voice because she was so quiet. Even weirder thinking that a year ago, Julia hadn't seen her friend's face, it feels like those dark green eyes that practically glow emerald in the sun have lived in Julia's mind forever. Had there really been a time she didn't know them? Didn't know those bowed, too-pink lips that Jane is self conscious of? Hadn't mapped the secret freckles yet, the ones you couldn't see until you got close? Had never seen the way Jane's front teeth are still bumpy at the tips, like a kid's, probably because of that little overbite she hides?
"Come on, sit up Jules," Jane sighs, breaking Julia out of her thoughts, but she doesn't move until after tugs at her hair. "Gotta get it braided, I'm not coming back just to brush your hair out again tomorrow."
Pain shoots through Julia as she complies--shit, that last fight really did a number on her--but she tries to ignore it, doing her best to focus on the hands in her hair instead. It works unexpectedly well and Julia sighs as she melts into the feeling as those hands follow a now familiar pattern, the careful but firm grip weaving strands together. In her lulled state it takes Julia a second to realise Jane's done, because those hands still haven't let go, hesitating on the ends of her hair, smoothing it against the small of Julia's back. She can't help the unfamiliar shiver that sends up her spine.
"There's something I-"
"Everything alright back there?"
Julia laugh is a little choked as she accidentally cuts Jane off, she sits up further, ignoring the strange sense of loss as her hands fall away. Julia reaches for her beer, needing solid to hold onto, before turning to look back.
But Jane isn't looking at her, instead she's staring down at her owns hands with a frown, biting hard on her lip and picking at her sleeve.
"Sorry..." and Julia's voice comes out weaker than usual, making the growing discomfort in her stomach churn, "what were you saying?"
When Jane's eyes finally flick up to meet Julia's, the light catches them and it's like a punch to the gut. For a second she's not sure if she's remembering to breathe, before something else hits her, a fear that burns in her chest. Does Jane look scared too, is that why?
"I- it's nothing, nevermind." Unlike usual, Julia doesn't even protest as Jane gets up and walks out of the apartment.
Julia shakes her head as the door to her apartment snaps shut. The cool glass of the beer bottle against her lips helps ground her back to reality and she turns on the TV as she downs the rest in one go.