I See you, Y/N. (Emily Prentiss X Reader)

-1- Can you hear me?

TW: abusive Home/ Parents
      
                                                                     

"God, why are you so stupid? How many times do I have to tell you how to do it right? Get out. I don't want to see you anymore today."
I heard the usual screaming above me, followed by quiet crying and small footsteps hastily disappearing upstairs.

What a lovely way to wake up.

I sit up slowly and rub my eyes. My head feels heavy and my eyes throb. As I tried to stand up, I felt a sharp pain in my left foot. I sit back onto the bed and breathe through my teeth to try and drive away the pain.

Shit, she really got me this time.

I tried to lift myself up a second time, shift my weight onto my right foot and take a quick breath. I'm cold, as always, and my body feels stiff. I can't remember the last time I felt warm or comfortable. I tied my hair up, tug at my oversized sweater and make my way to the stairs.

Today will be a good day. Today she won't hurt us. Today I'm doing everything right.

I repeat this mantra over and over in my head as my foot drags painfully with each step of the stairs. When I get to the top I'm so tense, that I can no longer feel the pain.
I open the door silently and briefly check the surroundings before I scurry into the room and close the door behind me.
The TV is running in the next room and silver clouds of smoke from a cigarette are hanging in the air. Otherwise it's quiet. I take a few steps forward, avoiding the creaking floorboard, and walk to the refrigerator. One look inside and I see the problem. I pick the three beer bottles from the side door and put them on the table behind me. I scurry to the pantry, grab a sixer of the right brand and drop two apples into my hoodie pocket on my way out. Back in the kitchen, I open the packaging and put the beer bottles in the fridge so that they are cold and easy to reach. I grab a piece of cheese (she forgot about it long ago) and let it disappear in my pocket.
One last checking look, then I grabbed the three bottles from the table and the packaging and go to the back door. The sun is shining outside, but it is still so cold, that my breath forms into little white clouds.
I throw the bottles and packaging in the trash and briefly turn my face to the sun. I close my eyes and breathe out. For a moment I allow myself a break and the tension in my body eases. The stabbing pain in my foot immediately returns and brings tears to my eyes. I look up and take three deep breaths, then turn around and limp back to the house.
After I closed the back door, the smell hits my nose. I only notice it, when I've been outside for a moment. The smell of cigarette smoke and stale beer. Of unwashed clothes, bleach and Sadness, the smell of fear.

So this is what home smells like?

I listen briefly, but the television is still running in the background, coupled with loud snoring.
Reassured, I make my way up. With my bad foot it's much more difficult to avoid the creaky steps, but I still make it up unnoticed. I open the pink bedroom door and close it quietly behind me before sinking to the floor. I crawl on all fours towards the unmade bunk bed and remain seated in front of it. My fingers drum carefully on the floor in front of the bed before I place my hand flat and wait. A quiet whisper can be heard under the bed, then a rustling and hesitantly two small hands emerge from under the bed, followed by a curly blonde head.

"Hey little princess." I whisper and put on my best smile. The little Girl slowly pulls herself out from under the bed, her eyes full of fear. I helped her sit up and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She looks around uncertainly and listens.
"It's okay, sweetie. The dragon is sleeping. You're safe." She relaxed a little and breathes a sigh of relief.

It breaks my heart to see the fear in her eyes. She shouldn't even know anything like that.

I reached in my pocket and place the apples and cheese between us.
She hesitantly reaches for an apple and after an encouraging smile from me, she starts to eat.
I break the cheese into two pieces and place the larger piece in front of her. Then I bite into the last apple. Only now do I realize how hungry I am. I can't remember the last time I ate something.