second try [sxf x child! reader]

⋆ ᴘʟᴀʏ ᴀʟᴏɴɢ ⋆

Did Akira ever mention this? The fact that he absolutely despised and, surprisingly, avoided being high in the air.

Falling meant death. Crashing meant death. This and that meant death. 

"Woah," Anya peered out the window, both hands pressed against the glass. "Akira, look!"

Akira huffed, "I'd rather not." He was, in fact, more focused on not looking down at the watery grounds they were flying over. He didn't know if it was the ocean or his new least favorite lake but it really didn't matter. Whether it was lake or ocean, it still looked like a giant ink blob that would swallow  them up if the plane were to drop out of the sky for any reason.

"Careful," Loid called from ahead.

Anya ignored him, "Akira, you don't need to be scared."

"Who said I was?" Akira snapped back. He wasn't in the best of moods, lets say.

"Your mind," Anya drew a smiley face in the foggy plane window, her finger squeaking along the glass.

Akira stiffened, turning around to see if Yor or Loid had heard but their mother was swaying around with the movement of the plane and their father was busy up in the cockpit. If it could even be called that, anyway.

"Be careful with your words," Akira murmured under his breath, crossing his arms over his chest.

Anya shrugged, returning her gaze outside where her eyes quickly widened in shock. "LOOK!"

"Mind your volume," Akira turned the other way but caught the lights of a castle flickering in the distance. 

"Isn't this so exciting!" Anya pumped her fists in the air, reaching over and tugging on Akira's jacket.

Akira sighed, "Far from it." He pulled away from her, scooting to the edge of his seat so she couldn't reach him with her seatbelt still on.

Akira hid behind the curtains. What was happening? He could hear Loid's muffled voice announcing something about mission and help and Anya but he couldn't form what his dad was saying. Also, why was he on the stage?

He wasn't in the lights or even in the open but why was he here? Stagecrew was not the answer.

"Come on," Anya mumbled, taking his hand in hers. "It's almost time for our-"

"What?" Akira jerked backwards, throwing her arm aside. "Listen, I never signed a form saying I was going to speak or perform in front of hundreds of people!"

Anya peeked through the curtains. "Looks more like millions!"

"Same thing," Akira backed up quickly. "You will not make me do anything in front of an audience!"

Anya turned and gave him an evil smile. "Say-"

"No," Akira felt his back hit a hard wall and stopped. "C'mon! I agreed to come with you, is that not enough?"

Anya shook her head, tears already forming in her eyes.

Akira looked away, rubbing at his own eyes and frowned.

"Please?" Anya's voice quivered.

Akira sighed, biting his lip. "Well-"

"Thank you," Loid's voice concluded loudly over the microphone he was speaking in.

Anya tugged his jacket again.

"Fine," Akira relented. "Once."

Anya beamed and wiped away her tears, leading him out onto Stage B2 (how many places did these people need to perform on?) just as Loid finished his speech and the spotlight turned to them.

Akira pulled the hood of his jacket over his head.

"Hi!" Anya waved brightly. "This is Akira... he'll be my assistant!"

Come on, Akira thought. That's it? 

"He'll help me defuse bombs and stuff!" Anya added quickly.

"What!?" Akira couldn't help but blurt. "Since when was there supposed to be bombs? I thought this was a little celebration-"

Anya shrugged. "Over there is Mommy! She'll..." She paused, watching Yor stumble onto stage, clutching a bottle of wine. "She'll just be there!"

"Moral support," Akira muttered. "At least that makes two of us."

"And Papa! Erm...Loidman!" Anya turned in Loid's direction. "He needs to save me from, er, Mr. Franky!"

Franky nodded and appeared on one of the other stages. "Yep! I have kidnapped Princess Anya and Prince Akira! Their father must save them or else..." he paused and smiled. "They'll never see the light of day again!"

"Sounds fun," Akira supressed a sigh-with great effort, of course.

"Let's go!" Anya grabbed Akira's sleeve and they tumbled behind the curtains as they closed.

"What's with the rush?" Akira complained.

Anya grinned, "There's not a second to waste! Let's go find Franky so Papa can rescue us!"

"Best day ever," Akira grumbled dully. "Let's go."