second try [sxf x child! reader]

⋆ ɢʀᴏᴄᴇʀʏ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ⋆

Anya wore her uniform outside, despite Akira's protesting, when Yor brought them to the supermarket to get a restock of groceries. 

As they enter, Akira spotted some thug-looking adults hanging out in a clearing, watching them while smoking ciggerattes. 

"Hey," Akira whispered to Anya, "might want to be careful. I told you not to where that flashy thing everywhere you go."

"But it's pretty!" Anya protested. "And cute!"

"I don't care if it's amazing or beautiful," Akira snapped back, "just be careful. There are people watching you... probably thinking your some pitiful rich girl's daughter or something. Stay on guard."

Anya straightened and saluted.

Akira hurried her into the grocery store behind Yor who was picking out some pumpkins.

"That one looks nice," Akira pointed to a bright orange one hidden under the pile of vegetables.

Yor nodded, "Thanks, Akira."

Akira whirled around, "Hey, Anya-"

She was gone.

"Oh crud," Akira growled. He glanced quickly around the grocery store and found no sign of his pink-haired sister. Of course she had to wander off somewhere and she had to be wearing the fancy little rich girl uniform. "Mom," Akira turned to Yor. "I'm going to... um, I'm going to go to the fruit section?" It came it more as a question than he'd intended and he coughed. "I'm going to the fruit section."

Yor brightened, "Alright, thanks. Take Anya with you, alright?"

Akira nodded and slipped away. Before he exited the store, he found a small basket of pocket knives that were selling for a dollar each and quietly threw one into his pocket. "I'll return it," he promised. "It's just in case I need it."

When he stepped outside, there were no signs of the thugs or Anya. Figures, no one was stupid enough to kidnap a little girl in front of a place everyone could see... that left... Akira bolted forward and towards the back of the grocery store where he found Anya surrounded by large male adults with her mouth taped shut.

"Strip off the uniform and sell it," one of the thugs grumbled. "Easy cash, right there, ay?"

"Aight," another one agreed. "Do it quick so we can get outta here."

Akira felt around his pocket and pulled out the knife. "Hey!" He shouted. "What are you doing? I can call the police you know!"

Thug #1 whipped around to glare at him, storming forward. "Don't you say another word, you little brat. Go back to your mommy and we'll leave you family alone, eh? How 'bout that?"

Akira gritted his teeth, "Leave her alone."

Thug #2 raised an eyebrow. "You her nanny or something?" The others burst into laughter and Akira tightened his grip on his knife.

"Try me," he offered.

Thug #2, who seemed to be the leader, waved his hand at Thug #1 who reached forward and grabbed Akira's wrist tightly, hauling him up-

And his eyes widened suddenly, a cough building up inside him as he found a knife buried deep into his stomach. 

"Let her go!" Akira leapt away as his grip loosened and he glared at the others. "I have more," he bluffed. He gripped the shaft of his knife that was embedded into the thug's chest and pulled it out with some effort.

Thug #2 hesitated, then backed up before motioning for the others to do so as well. They dissapeared behind the corner a few moments later.

Akira cleaned off the knife by rubbing it on the inside of his jacket before carefully taking off the tape covering Anya's mouth and beckoning for her. 

"Hey," he said gently. "Are you alright?"

Anya nodded, "Thanks." Her voice was croaky.

"Alright lets get back to Mom," Akira mumbled, his voice shaking. He looked down at his hands. 

They were clean.

Blood, splattering the edges of his fingers. 

Akira shook his head quickly and dragged Anya hurriedly into the grocery again where Yor was frantically looking around.

"There you are!" She let out a relieved breath. "Are you okay?"

Akira nodded, "Yeah, we couldn't find any apples that were-"

"It's alright," Yor gave them a tight squeeze. "Just glad you're safe."

As Akira passed by the basket of pocket knives, he slipped his back in, grateful that he'd brought it along but also scared of what he had done...

If he was still able to hurt people... did that really mean he was changing? Or was he still the same old murderer everyone at Ketsueki was scared of?