It Takes Time

5

Y/N was walking on eggshells. Not just at home where walking on eggshells was the norm for her, but also at her job now. She knew that Aizawa definitely suspected something and that wasn't good. Not that Aizawa would go out and tell lots of people about what he was thinking or suspecting or whatever, but mostly because Aizawa had a strange way of getting to her. Y/N wasn't sure what it was about him.

She didn't even know whether she liked him or not. True, he was nicer than she had expected after that first impression, but he seemed to be way too observant. And that was something that could put Y/N's secret at risk. And of course she didn't want anyone to know about this, not even Aizawa. She didn't want other people to look at her, as if she was somehow weak. She didn't want other people all over her business. Aizawa involving himself in her life was more trouble than she had bargained for.

Still, there was something about the way he was talking to her, about the way he was so worried about her, about the way he was looking at her, that she liked. It made her feel like she had someone she could rely on if things should ever get too bad. Like there was someone genuinely willing to help her, no matter what. And wasn't that what Y/N had been looking for all this time? Hadn't she said that she wanted to leave if things got too bad with Haruto and once she had some options?

So why was she still not sure about this? Sure, she had read enough about how it might be more difficult to leave than expected and all of that. But Y/N had always thought that it wasn't going to be her that was struggling with this. Maybe it was just because she didn't know Aizawa as well yet. Or Hizashi and Nemuri. She had barely known them for about a week. Maybe if she spent a little more time with them...

But that was the problem. When was she going to spend time with them? How was she going to make friends when Haruto expected her at home all the time? She only had her working hours, really. And during that time, she was busy with... well, work. There was barely any free time she could spend with other people, so it seemed like once again, Haruto had managed to undermine her plans.

Y/N sighed and looked at the pile of work right in front of her. She had been so lost in thought all this time that she barely got anything done and it was all Aizawa's fault for being so damn nice. Maybe she needed a break. A short walk, something to drink, something to clear her head. She could do with another cup of coffee if she was honest. Y/N grabbed the cup and got up from her desk, making her way towards the little tea kitchen.

It wasn't really far away either way. Y/N would be fine if she just took a short break. When she got back, she would hopefully be able to focus on her work again. As she got closer to the tea kitchen, she could hear laughter coming through the door that was half ajar. So, there were other people in there.

Y/N moved into the little room, without making any sound at all. There were Hizashi, Nemuri and Aizawa – Hizashi and Nemuri seemingly talking loudly about something and Aizawa just standing there, watching them with an irritated look on his face. Y/N put on her forced smile and nodded at Aizawa. The other two didn't seem to be noticing her, as they were completely engrossed in their conversation about some TV show or some gossip about other pro-heroes. Y/N wished she knew what they were talking about.

But she had no idea. She hadn't really been able to follow anything since she had started work. Working and doing all the chores at home was more exhausting than she had imagined, so she spent a lot of time napping whenever she could. Not that there were many opportunities with Haruto coming home drunk most days and being loud, or with the bruises all over her body that hurt all the time.

"Y/N! Hey, it's good to see you! You kind of left suddenly the other day." Nemuri said to her with a big smile.

"Oh, yeah, I... I just realised that I had completely forgotten something I needed to do, and it was already getting late, so I figured I'd make a run for it. Sorry about that." she replied, as she started up the coffee machine and placed her cup under the machine. She pretended to be busy trying to figure out if she wanted a mocha, an espresso, or a cappuccino, just so she didn't have to look at them as she was making up lies.