As she ran her hands through the other girls' hair, Franziska wondered.

About a few things, actually. For example, how one girl could be so oblivious, so ifoolish/i, that she couldn't see what was right in front of her nose. And she wondered how on Earth she had gotten herself into such a position as she was now, too, because she felt weak and stupid and uncertain and she should hate that but she didn't and it made no sense god damnit.

And also about the hair her hands were raking their way through. It was long, black, impossibly straight and smooth and there was never a single strange out of place. Totally contrary to the girl it belonged to, who was all giggles and smiles and candy.

Maya was giggling now, laughing as Franziska just swept her hands through that perfect hair.

"How do you keep it like this?"

"I don't!"

"I'm not a fool. You must spend time on it."

"Nope! It just... falls into place. Funny how things work like that, isn't it?"

If only life was that easy. If life was that easy, then Franziska would just lean over and kiss the idiotic girl, and everything would 'fall into place'. They'd ride off into the sunset, or some other foolish, sentimental clich? and all would be well.

---

It was a week later that Maya Fey burst into her office, brandishing a hairbrush and some hair ties in her face. To Franziska's credit, she didn't blow up at her, merely stared patiently. And stared, and stared.

And stared.

Eventually, it became evident that the other girl was not going to elaborate, so she placed her pen down with a satisfying, precise 'click'.

"...What do you want, exactly?"

"Let's play hairdressers!"

'...Did a twenty one year old woman just ask if she could play hairdressers...?'

"Maya Fey. You are twenty one years old. I am no younger. I am working. You... actually, surely you should be at work as well? In that village? This is the single most foolish- What are you doing?!"

The last comment was accompanied by a great flailing of arms, as a cheerful girl-woman plopped herself in Franziska's lap, giggling as she did so. After a moment of worry, she regained her balance, scowling at the unmovable lump in her lap with the single most terrifying glare on Earth- regrettably, one that was wasted on Maya.

"Please?"

"...If I braid it, will you go away?"

"Yep"

With a sigh, she set to work. The hairbrush wasn't even needed- Maya's hair was as silky smooth, as glossy, as beautiful as ever. So she simply separated it into two, then each section into three, and stared braiding. Left over, right over, left over, right over...

It was really very therapeutic. After a few moments, she settled into a calm rhythm, gently teasing the hair into a gradually thinning braid. Then she started on the other, before tying it off. She gave it a gentle stroke before she could stop herself, before snatching her hand back.

"Come along then. I've done them."

Maya bounced up, twirling around, so happy over such a small mundane thing that try as she might, Franziska couldn't begrudge her a small smile.

"Thanks, Ziska! Oooh, they look so pretty!"

As Maya launched herself around her neck in glee, Franziska, stretched to breaking point, sighed, before pushing her back, tangling her hand in that perfect hair, and kissed her. The kiss lasted only a few seconds, before she sat back.

"Yes. they do."

Maya looked at her for a moment, then grinned as if Christmas had come early.

"Thanks."