ENIGMA

1. Stranger

"Aaron please, not now. I have to get back to work"

"I don't give a shit, I need the fucking money now, and I won't ask you again."

Groaning, I handed him the remaining cash I had left until my next paycheck. How I will pay for this month's rent is beyond me, but I guess it's my fault for picking a scum bag for a boyfriend.
Aaron and I had met during a class at university, he was different then, he was kind to me, he provided for me, but since he's gotten involved  with douchebags from some club downtown, it feels like I've been the one to provide for him. He's an addict. To anything you could name, drugs, gambling, sex, and so on. I stick around because each time I see him, I think he'll be different, I hope that every time I see him, he'll walk through that door with a bouquet of white roses, or greet me with a kiss, or even a compliment...

He doesn't.

"Aaron, I need you to pay me back by the fifth, i'm serious this time...please, I need to pay rent" I plead, hoping he'll be considerate enough to hand me back my money

He raises his hand to caress my cheek, it's rough. Regardless, I lean my head into his hand, desperate for any kind of affection I can get. His dark gleaming eyes meet mine, and I think he's going to do it, he's going to kiss me, give me back my money, hold me.

He doesn't.

His hand lowers from my cheek to my neck, slowly increasing the pressure his hold has, and I find myself starting to feel uncomfortable, struggling to take my next breath.

"I am so fucking tired of listening to you try to order me around, I'll give you back the money whenever I fucking want, is that understood?" He hisses

"A-Aaron, I can't...bre-, please." I try to push his hands off me, but it's no use

"Is. That. Understood?"

"Y-Yes..."

He lets go, and it's not until after I try to gasp for air, leaning on my knees for support, do I see someone has been staring at our exchange. I freeze.

The stranger is standing there, looking at me with sympathetic eyes, he looks like he's debating whether to help me or not, but I am glad he doesn't. As much as I hate how Aaron treats me, if a stranger intervened he would have their heads.

I think the stranger is well aware of that. In Gotham, intervening with the work of criminals may cost you your life, regardless, the debate in his eyes is enough for me to feel appreciative of his presence, because them Aaron looks at him then back at me, easing the tension at the presence of others;

"When is your break?" He sighs

"In 30 minutes..."

"Go, I'll wait for you out here." Aaron dismisses

I try to smile at the stranger to ease the tension, a way of letting him know I'll be alright, before he walks off...to my luck, into the diner where I work.

I grab my purse and apron from the floor and tie it around my waist, walking away from Aaron into the diner.

It's not the best job, but it is one of two of my current jobs, I need the money for rent, plus Michelle, the owner, has known me since I was a kid, so when she offered me the job at my lowest, of course I took it. It's usually calm anyway, we don't get that many customers as it's a grimy diner with a questionable health code grade...
The only bad days are when scumbags come into the diner and treat the wait staff like objects. Our uniforms are short sleeved tops with blacks skirts and a red apron around our waists, of course these scumbags see women show an inch of skin and think it's okay to start touching us, it's disgusting.