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Fuck, what a day. Jill gave a deep sigh just because she could. She was still alive and breathing, that was something. Right?
She relaxed back onto the window ledge, one foot on the windowsill and the other dangling out onto the balcony-esque fire escape. Her back was pressed against a cushion she had shoved between her and the hard plastic.
Jill had changed into something more comfortable than her police uniform after a long scalding shower. A soft blue tank top and grey sweats that sat low on her hips. If she was in any way vain she would have spend more than a moment admiring the sliver of sculpted abdomen visible when she stood.
She watches the city bustling beneath her, everyone with their own lives - issues that don’t involve criminals or bioweapons. Laughable. That was all Jills issues involved. But she couldn’t complain. It was a pleasant night, late but the night sky was clear and a few stars twinkled above her.
Her right hand fishes blindly along the side table beside her, finding the half smoked pack easily among the rest of her scattered belongings piled high. She picked it up and played the cardboard under her fingertips.
Relenting to the terrible habit, she plucks out a cigarette and perches it between bitten lips.
Lighter… lighter… where the fuck? Jill shoves her hand all around the table to no success, where the fuck was it?
A thud at her side. A moment to think. She finds the gun settled beside her quick and draws it forwards.
In the haze of her panic she discovers none other than Ada. Lighter between her fingers and a very smug smile on her perfect face.
“Jesus Christ, Ada! I could have shot you!” Jill exclaims, dropping the gun back to her side.
“Need a light?” Asks Ada as she comes to sit opposite Jill on the windowsill. She holds the lighter out to Jills face where the cigarette still dangled from between her teeth.
Jill leans forwards to the dancing flame without resistance. She needed this. Ada watched the orange glow flicker over Jills features. So pretty, always so pretty. Even fresh faced and damp from a shower.
“Tut tut, Miss Valentine. I thought cops didn’t have vices.” Ada teases, trying to lighten the heavy air that surrounded the brunette.
“Thought you weren’t coming.” Jill doesn’t take the bait.
Ada sighs, she knew this would come up.
“I’ve been busy.”
“Haven’t heard that before.”
“Baby…”
“Ada.” Jill bites back, but eases when smoke billows from her nostrils.
Ada waits for a second. She knew Jill had things built up, that was how she worked. As fucking infuriating as it was, it meant that once she got going it put everything into the open.
“I just… are you staying?” Jill says quietly.
“I can. If that’s what you want.”
“I’d like that.”
Ada watches Jill smoke for a few minutes. She understood the habit, she’d tried her hand at cigarettes but despised the lingering smell afterwards. Ada had laughed at Jill when she’d first admitted that she only smokes at night to wash the smell off in the morning - but the smell of coffee and smoke wasn’t a bad one on Jill, mixed with her musky perfume she smelt like home.
“I never know with you.” Jill finally whispers.
Ada couldn’t play stupid, she wouldn’t insult Jill or herself like that.
“I know. I can’t offer you more, Jill. I never know when I’m working.”
“I understand…” Jill nods, playing with the drawstring of her sweatpants absently as the other hand brings the cigarette back to her lips.
“Did you have dinner?” Ada asks, knowing the habit Jill has of having instant ramen and calling it a night. “Yes…” mumbles Jill, eyes purposefully averted.
“Jillian.”
“Okay, no.”
“Right. Take it your cupboards are empty?” Ada guesses.
“…I didn’t go to the store yet this week.” Jill mumbles, slightly ashamed.
It wasn’t a good look on Jill - shame. It wasn’t natural in place of her strong demeanour.
“Hey. It’s fine. I know a good pho place. We’ll get you something substantial.” Ada says with a small smile, leaning forward to press a kiss to her girlfriends forehead.