through the looking glass

“Uh, shit.”, his eyes widened suddenly. “They are, imagine if I lost the keys to my bar.”, he shook his head, he really had to invest in pockets with a zipper. Or buttons. “Thanks, you saved my ass this time. How are you doing?”

“I’m alright, Mr Collins.” She would never be able to get out of that habit, treating everyone that she respected like they were more of adult than her. “I heard you threw a right good party, I’m disappointed that I missed it. Who’d you dress as?”

“Well, it consists of keeping a low profile, dark clothes, sunglasses and shortcuts.”, she was smiling though she sensed Emma was genuinely interested n the answer. Natalia sat down in front of her then shook her head. “You really don’t. But tell me, how’s life? How’s college going?”

“Well, it’s a shame that I know all of those.” Her tone was joking but there was a slight disappointment. Any way to get under her mother’s thumb, she wanted to know. “It’s all... fine. College is fine, nothing new. Life is fine, nothing exciting.” She leaned back in her chair for a moment before she quietly admitted something. “I’d like some exciting, if I’m honest.”

“Right?!”, his face lit up, glad she understood. “Man, that’s the worst, you end up making a fool out of yourself in front of everybody. Not that I don’t do that shit on the regular.”, he chuckled, still staring at the floor. “Maybe I’m just losing my mental but damn, I swear I heard something.”

Emma glanced around before finding something glittering in the grass. A set of keys were laying there and she grinned, picking them up carefully. “Are these for The Wild Side?”

“I have ways of keeping things from her.”, she didn’t try to fight Emma once again, she just let the girl pay for the drink. “Your mother may have eyes and ears around town but remember I’m part of the eyes and ears.”, she gave Em a look then thanked the barista for the drink. “Let’s go sit down.”

“Mind sharing them?” Emma meant for it to come out as a joke, something along the lines of dark humour but there was something there as well. A wish that her life was her own. She took her own coffee, giving a small smile to Nat as she sat down. “Sounds like I owe you one still.”

Travis looked up from his drink to the girl, confused. A moment later, he laughed. “Oh. No, I’m fine. I’m just… trying to force my body to function like a normal human’s.” 

Emma blinked before chuckling. “Oh. Did someone have a bit of a long night? That’s the only reason I ever find myself putting red bulls away like that.”

“Yeah, well, it wasn’t too far out for me. So I’ve still got the memories of all the pain that I endured throughout it. When people say it’s blood, sweat, and tears? They usually aren’t joking.” She gave an empathetic smile. “Good to see you out and about though.”

“Well, some fresh air is supposed to be good for us.” She joked, running her fingers through her hair before rubbing at her eyes. “Any advice that I should know from a past graduate? How do I keep my sanity?”

Was this girl real? This was not at all how Max thought the conversation would go. Should he marry her – wait, what? Max, he told himself, you can’t marry every person who understands you. Stop that. “You – believe that dragons existed? Are you also in agreement with the theory that evolutionists in the nineteenth century killed the idea that dragons existed because they fabricated the existence of dinosaurs so they could push their agenda that evolution was real?” he asked curiously. This was such a rare topic to discuss with someone else outside of his friend group. “That’s okay, most people don’t know who she is. But she’s really cool! She’s Batman’s cousin. She’s a Jewish lesbian who was originally in the military until she got kicked out when she came out as gay. So she was inspired by Batman to become a crimefighter. Between you and me, she’s cooler than Batman,” he said the last part in a whisper. 

“Of course they did.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, slightly embarrassed that she actually admitted that. But then he added some scholar level knowledge to the conversation and Emma looked at Max in slight awe. “Are you really implying that dinosaurs have been invented in order to prove evolution? I’ve never even heard this theory before, tell me everything. I didn’t even know evolution had an agenda.” Her head tilted as he began to talk about Batwoman and her jaw began to drop as he explained who she was. “She sounds amazing! How does she not have her own movie at this point? Superheroes are all the rage, how can they have such an epic character and not have her on the screen?” Her fingers were itching to reach for the comic book but that wasn’t what she was taught. Her mother’s voice piped up in her mind. Comic books are for children, Emma. With that, her smile faded slightly. “Sorry, I mean... that just sounds good.”

Relatable conversation! Merrick could definitely get on board with this. Now hopefully her mother would show up within a reasonable period of time! “Yes! She like, greets you, and then pauses. It’s exactly like when she answers the phone, which is why it usually gets me. Your friends and my mom would probably get along rather well,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “Company would be fantastic, thank you so much! And you promise that I am not keeping you from anything?” There had been some phone-looking earlier, right?

“No, no.” Emma reassured. In all honesty, any excuse not to talk to her mother was an excuse that she would take. “Besides, given the current climate, I don’t think anyone should be left alone.” She smiled softly, being the perfect example of a model citizen. Her mother wouldn’t question her too hard if this were the reason that she wasn’t calling her back. It was her training after all. “It’s Merrick, right? You work in my mother’s building, if I’m thinking of the right person. If not, I apologise.”

“Don’t tell that to Mrs. Walker. She might throw her typewriter at you. And from what I hear… Those things are pretty damn heavy.” She chuckled before nodding at the other woman. “Congrats though, I hear double majors are tough as hell.”

“Oh, I know. I keep my mouth shut when it comes to being around her.” Emma smiled but there was a humble nature to it, her head bowed and she pulled her hair back behind her ears again. “Thank you. It’s not often that people actually acknowledge how hard college can be. I think most people blank it from their mind once it’s over.”

“I’m pretty sure I cheated the system. Mine wasn’t four years, thank God. I’m not really a books and tests and papers person. I think that’s why I enjoy being a paramedic so much. Hands on.” She said with a waggle of her fingers before clearing her throat. “So what is it you’re going to school for again? Or are you one of those, triple major kind of gals?”

“Yeah, I definitely couldn’t do that. I’m too content behind a desk, just working on my own thing.” She smiled, shaking her head. “Not a triple, just a double. Communications with a major in Political and Social Science. Although I’m really enjoying the social media aspect of my current course. Times are changing and it has more impact than people think.”

Jules didn’t have the heart to explain how really only her family called her Juliana, how out of everyone, she most remembers her mother using it. Jules was fine. Jules was enough. “I’ve been pretty good. I guess. Can’t complain.” She could complain. She could complain a lot. But not to Emma. Definitely not to Emma. “What have you been up to lately? I feel like I haven’t seen you around in the last couple of months.”

“Oh, you know. College.” She tucked some hair behind her ear. “Exams, papers, studying, all that complicated stuff. I’m very much looking forward to graduating. I’m hoping that piece of paper will be worth it in the end.”

Jules sighed and nodded, she was just very much off as of late. Second-guessing herself had become her new normal after… Well, that she didn’t want to think about. “Oh okay, well that’s good to know. I just thought that I had and… Also–Emma, you really don’t have to call me Juliana. Everyone calls me Jules.”

“If you’re sure.” Emma always thought it was good manners to call someone by their name but then again, if Jules had chosen it, it was probably better manners to call her that. “So, Jules, how have you been?”

“Oh! Uh,” Mags stalled, too surprised at having been noticed in her observations to immediately come up with an explanation. “I was just wondering if you’re alright? You looked… concerned,” she finally said, referring to the expression on Emma’s face when she’d been looking at her phone. “Did you see something unusual?” she ventured.

“Oh, I’m fine. Perfectly fine, thank you. I just realised that my phone was on silent and I have missed an abundance of calls that may or may not have been important. Nothing unusual, trust me.” She looked behind her for a moment. “Why? Did something unusual happen?”

Max scratched the back of his head, his anxiety off the chain right now. “Uh – yes maybe that’s for the best. Hi, my name is Max. I’m a Sagittarius. My favorite color is purple. And uh, I believe in the social, political, and economic equality of men, women, and individuals who do not conform to either labels,” he rambled before he finally managed to stop himself. He was just thankful she didn’t ditch him at this point. Anyone else would have. “Hm?” He looked down at the comic in his hands. “Oh, yes, yes it is a comic. You are correct.” He held it up for her to see. “Batwoman. Do you know her?”

Emma’s smile widened. “Hi, I’m Emma. I’m a Libra and my favourite colour is gold. I believe in everything that you just said while also believing that at some point in time, dragons must have existed because there is too much evidence in different ancient cultures to believe otherwise.” If Max thought he could ramble, Emma could give him a run for his money when she got going. Emma did think of herself of something like a Chameleon, her mannerisms always changed to suit the person that she was talking to. It would always make them feel more comfortable, that was what her mother taught her. “I can’t say I know Batwoman. I’m not exactly a comic book person but I definitely appreciate the art of it.” 

Jules halted, having just been walking to clear her throat. It wasn’t her fault that she ran into the one and only Emma Quincy. Everyone knew Emma. And if they didn’t, they sure as hell knew her mother. “Oh hey, Emma. I was just getting some fresh air to clear my head. Don’t mind me, I’ll let you get back to uh–Looking at your phone.”

Emma tilted her head. This was new, someone seeming almost wary of her. “Are you alright, Juliana?” She inquired politely, her brow furrowing slightly. “You know you haven’t interrupted me, yes?”