𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓. 𓃠 𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔

Stutter: Chapter 5

  "How long have you been working as a waitress {Y/N}?"

The two walked side by side, Asuma's shadow swallowing hers whole.

"A year-year-r-r-r."

{E/C} eyes followed the ground as they walked. She didn't want to look up, for, if she did he would see.

"A year? Really, the costumers seem to like you a lot. But aren't you underage?"

"I-I-I-I'm f-f-f-four-fourteen."

"You seem really young to be working there anyway. I'm guessing that's the only job that allowed you to work huh?"

"Mhm."

"Is something wrong? You seem... 'different'  if that makes sense."

{Y/N} halted in her tracks. Was he serious? He had to be joking, there was no way in hell he could care.

Her {H/C} side bangs lifted ever so slightly, revealing a tiny portion of her face.

"{Y/N}?" He called. She wasn't answering "You okay?"

Her breath hitched. He has got to be playing games right? Sucking in a breath of air, Asuma made his way over to {Y/N} and lifted her face with his forefinger and thumb. "Who did this to you?"

'He saw.'

His raven eyes glared down at the nasty bruise around her eye. "When did this happen?" {Y/N} didn't speak, her mind was foggy with confusion

'He saw. But he cares?'

"How long has it been going on?"

'How can he care? Nothing is wrong, it's what I deserve being the monster that I am.'

"{Y/N}." He saw her eyes were glazed over and his own softened in pity. "I'm sorry." He whispered, and pulled the girl in for a hug.

Her body went rigid. No one has ever touched her the way he did, not since he passed. There was no one else like him, so why did Asuma care? "You won't be going through with this alone. I'll help you and we'll make sure that everything from now on will be alright."

{Y/N} sniffled and nuzzled into his chest, eyes glazing with tears as her arms encircled his neck while his encircled her waist. A single tear slid down her face:

"Thank you."

The crack of dawn peeked through the open windows causing the {H/C} haired female to groan.

The night out with Asuma had been wonderful; he had taken her to the south side of the village to view the lovely lake that seemed to stretch on for miles and miles at a time, as they conversed until the moon was high and bright in the sky.

But for some reason, {Y/N} couldn't quite grasp the memory of when Asuma had comforted her. The longer she forced herself to remember, a headache would start to form. Then it hit her. She was never bruised on her face the day before... only her back. Which means it was only a dream.

Asuma isn't aware of her abuse... In fact, none of the Sensei's were --Aside from Iruka-- but even if they were aware, they wouldn't give a damn, just like everyone else! They would cast her aside or better yet, abuse her just for their own leisure. No one cares!

The room grew cold and so did her skin. Crystals of ice surrounded the bed and boarded the windows creating an ominous mask of darkness.

'Breath.' She thought 'Breath, just breath.'