xvi. planning for the future

"Who is Deathstroke and why are you keeping this from me?" Julia questioned the group, growing extremely frustrated.

"Deathstroke is another vigilante. And he's pure evil."

"And why was I not told this? I am part of the team." Julia glanced at Mia, more frustrated knowing that Mia kept it from her as well.

"It's something much bigger than you." Mia insisted.

"Something bigger than me?" Julia questioned rhetorically. "But not bigger than you, right? Because I'm just an ant in all of your worlds."

"That's not what I meant-"

"Oh, god, it's just like John and Lyla all over again." Julia pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm out." She announced seconds after.

"Where are you going?" Mia questioned, now growing concerned by her girlfriend's short tempered behavior.

"Anywhere but here."

XXX

Julia's first instinct, and where she ended up, was the bar she had grown all too familiar with. "Johnny, give me a shot of something strong and keep them coming." He nodded obediently, lining up shot glasses while Julia was consumed in her own thoughts. 'Did Mia still not trust me? Why did she keep me in her life if she was just going to keep me out of everything? Why couldn't she just let me in?' Without even realizing it, hours had passed and too many drinks had come and gone. Quite randomly, as she took another shot, a bulky man with stubble consuming the lower half of his face, approached her.

"Can I buy you a drink?" He slurred lightly, propping his arm up on the bar.

"I'm gay and I have a girlfriend." Julia smiled sarcastically. "If she didn't beat your ass I would."

"Well, maybe you and your friend just need the right guy to straighten you out." He suggested, running his finger through her hair, tucking a strand behind her ear.

"Is that so?" He nodded eagerly, thinking he had won the woman over. Instead, she raised her fist to his face, leaving him unconscious on the floor.

"Johnny was it?" Mia's voice was heard from behind Julia. "My friend here should be tapping out by now." He took the cash she handed him and walked away.

Julia scoffed. "What do you want Mia?"

"To talk." She responded, crossing her arms over her chest.

Julia shrugged. "Not in the mood." She took a sip of the drink Johnny had put in front of her a few minutes ago.

"Well, if you don't want to talk you might want to find a new bar."

Julia rolled her eyes aggressively. "Whatever."

"Come on. Let's go." Mia grabbed her hand and pulled her girlfriend out of the bar.

XXX

"Why don't you trust me?" Julia asked her girlfriend, as the latter had practically dragged her back to her apartment.

"Excuse me?"

"Everytime I think you're going to let me in, you prove otherwise." Julia slurred, finally beginning to feel the effect of the absorbent amount of alcohol in her system.

Mia shrugged. "Well, it's not like you trust me."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Julia squinted.

"I went to get something from the storage room after you left. Safe to say I was surprised to see a bunch of your stuff back there. What happened?"

"My landlord tripled the rent." Julia blurted, not thinking of the aftermath at all.

"And why didn't you tell me?"

"None of your business."

"Actually it-you know what, just get some sleep." Mia muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.

XXX

The next morning Julia woke up in an empty bed. She made her way downstairs, quickly noticing the boxes of her stuff.

"Morning."

"Why is my stuff here?" Julia questioned, her hand on her head in an attempt to subside the hangover.

"You really think I wasn't going to let you stay there?"

"What are you proposing?" Julia questioned rhetorically.

"I want you to move in with me."

"You're asking me to move in with you? Even after last night?"

"Julia, I love you. And the reason we didn't tell you about Deathstroke is because we found out your former boss worked for him. And we knew if he knew you knew he would target you."

"That last bit made no sense." Julia informed Mia.

"I'm saying I'm sorry." Mia summed up.

"Thank you." Mia nodded. "So, are you ready to help me move in?." Mia placed a soft kiss on Julia's lips before there was a knock at the door.

"I got it." Mia opened the door, shocking both the girls as they saw who was on the other side.