Ding ding ding !
The bell on the door rang. The man who's head was plopped on the counter slowly raised his head. His eyes were met with a youth around 16 years of age. His eyes were grey and his dreadlocked hair was shoulder height but tied into a ponytail. The cashier watched as the youth slowly walked into the aisles stopping momentarily to grab greens and fruits. The cashier after confirming that this was no robbery unceremoniously fell again to the counter, his eyes slowly closing. This was New York filled with thugs and villains. One could never be too sure
Ding ding ding !
The cashier's ears perked up but he did not raise his head again.
' Probably another customer ' He thought at first.
But then a horrible thought came into his mind. The kid had not paid, did he run away. His quickly raised his head. His eyes already ready to scan but what he was met with was the barrel of a gun. Pointed right at him.
" Is anyone else here ?"
The voice was rough and booming.
The cashier slowly looked at the man. Of course his face was covered but he could clearly tell the build, Tall and sturdy. He also noticed a tattoo running from his arm only hidden by his coat and gloves.
" U-uh no " The cashier said his words barely a whisper. His hands already raising to show submission.
" Good, Give me all your money " He said pointing to the cash registry with his gun before it quickly returning
The cashier hurriedly went to the registry and opened it. Stacks of cash were stacked. He removed all of it under the watchful gaze of the robber.
CLANK !
The robber quickly turned his gun to the source of the noise. His 5 senses now fully focused .
1 second
2 , 5 , 10
His expression slowly relaxed but then what changed later was anger as he turned to the cashier.
" You told me no one was here. "
His barrel of the gun touching the cashier's temple. He watched was as the cashier trembled, his eyes widening and streaks of sweat running down his palms and face
" N- No one is sir " The cashier doubled down on his lie.
' Come on kid run away or call the cops or something ' He thought.
Bang !!
' Huh ?' The cashier who's gaze never left the robber got the shock of a lifetime when a knee was planted on the robber. The gun flew away from the robber's grip to the cold and dirty marble floor. The quick witted cashier ran to the gun.
He picked it up and raised it to the robber but he was shocked to be met with a fierce fight. The robber was muscular and his hits packed power but the kid was quick footed dodging the robber's attacks seamlessly.
" You god damn bastard. !! "
He raged throwing a kick. The youth could not dodge so he blocked however the force threw him in the middle of the aisles.
The robber rushed in to the aisle and the cashier followed, his finger still on the trigger raised. Never leaving the robber. He watched the kid grab a can and throw it at the robber's head. The robber was caught unprepared and it hit him square in the head. The kid approached quickly and delivered another gut punch. The robber staggered . A jab followed to the head. His head twisted. The cashier watched in astonishment as the blows of the kid slowly became powerful. However it seemed the kid seemed arrogant on his strength and that proved to be his downfall.
The cashier watched as the kid was grabbed and thrown to the stacked aisle.
BANG !!
The force was strong enough that it made the aisle fall together with the youth on top of it. The robber jumped on the fallen youth delivering a powerful punch to his head. The youth's head bounced against the railing giving him double the damage.
The robber's gloved and sturdy fingers slowly wrapped on his neck.
" You are no hero kid "
BANG !!
There was silence before blood slowly dripped onto the marble flow.
" What ?" The robber staggered back. His hand unconsciously reaching to his left abdomen. He touched something warm and liquid he looked down to see his gloved hand. Blood it was his blood.
His body slowly gave out as he fell like ragdoll to the ground. The cashier slowly ran to the kid. Slowly lifting him up.
" Hey kid are you okay " The teen slowly stabilized himself. His head was ringing, he had a splitting headache but he would live.
" Yeah I am fine. " The kid looked at the dying robber who was gasping heavily. There was emotion, his eyes betrayed neither cold nor warmth in them. He then freed himself and walked to the aisle he had placed his groceries.
" How much ?"
" For you ? Free " The cashier said.
The kid had just saved him. Charging him money was borderline demonic. He knew his boss though would not care and would find a way to charge him. Thinking about him just made his blood boil but it quickly receded hidden by a small smirk. At least he was fucking his wife.
" Thank you " He nodded and started walking calmly to the door.
" Uh hey, we still have to call then wait for the cops. You can not just leave " The cashier mentioned.
The teen paused. His head was hurting severely. He would rather not deal with the cops right now especially the Captain. His eyes darted around the small grocery store.... There was cameras , of course they were.
" Okay. Could you press the wound on the dying man. He won't survive without it. " The teen said before slowly walking to one of the unoccupied chairs. He used on of his arms to support his head and another to massage it. The ringing was getting worse.
The cashier at first thought that Grey was just dumping all the horrible work to him but his thoughts quickly went as they came.
' Those blows were pretty rough. That kid is pretty tough. If it was me on the receiving end '
He shuddered.
~~20 minutes later~~
The sirens could be heard around the neighborhood. The teen sat on one of the ambulance, a pretty black haired nurse tending to his wounds. Apparently he was bleeding from his head. It was a light cut in all honesty but the headache was too much for him to bear. The good news was that he did not have a concussion.
His eyes slowly wandered to what was happening around him. The robber was now unmasked growling in pain as he got dragged by a carrier to the ambulance. The cashier was being questioned by a cop as he slowly recounted his events.
" Hello, ma'am, is it okay if I borrow your patient ?"
The owner of the voice was a young man in his mid twenties, same age as the nurse. He was a bit handsome he could say.
" Not at all, I was just clearing him. He should be fine " She said as she walked away. The young man was momentarily dazed by her beauty, his eyes and head following her movement as she left. Suddenly she seemed to snap out of it and turned to the youth.
" So what's your name young man and age ? "
" Grey Wilder no surname. 16 years "
" 16 years ?"
The man raised his eyebrow.
" That was brave yet reckless of you what you did there. You could have gotten shot "
The man lectured.
" Oh trust me he will get a handful when I am done with him "
A voice appeared from behind. The police officer turned to meet what he already guessed was his boss.
" Captain "
" You are dismissed officer. Let me handle him " A man in his late 40s said.
" Yes captain. " The officer said before walking away.
The captain then turned to Grey.
" Are you okay ?"
" I'll live "
The captain nodded. Grey was never a person of many words.
" Okay let's go home " He gave Grey who then proceeded to walk to one of the police cars as the Captain waved his colleagues goodbye.
The road back home was short and silent. It is only after Captain Stacy switched off the car that he spoke.
" Grey.... I understand you wanted to help but that was incredibly reckless on your part. You could have called the cops and hidden. Stealing a few hundred dollars is not worth you life son " He spoke gently.
Grey did not speak for a moment but then nodded.
" I understand. I will follow what you said if something like that ever happens. "
He then proceeded to get out with the free groceries.
George Stacy stayed in the car, watching Grey walk away to the apartments. He let out a sigh.
He was really in a tough spot with Grey right now. He had adopted Grey by pure chance an year back. It was evident then that this kid had gone through so much trauma and getting to him was hard. At first he was purely quiet functioning emotionlessly. He did not object to anything he was told. He felt lifeless.
But he has been progressing. He is still anti-social but he talks more often. He actually refuses some stuff , like normal teenagers and has been getting closer with Gwen. Despite his many shortcomings, George has come to see him as a son he never hard. And today's event solidified his believe. Seeing Grey banged up made him want to just pull out his service pistol and shoot the robber dead then and there.
" At least he was not out with Gwen. God knows what would have happened then " He muttered to himself before getting out.
---
" Hey umm " The officer who had questioned Grey shyly approached the nurse who had tended to his wounds.
The nurse who was on her phone paused and looked up.
" Hey, you are the officer who questioned the kid. "
" Uh Y-yes that's me. So I was wondering if would you like to ..... Can I get your number ?"
The nurse chuckled a bit.
" Sure thing. "
She got his phone and typed her digits.
" By the way name's Mia. What's yours ?"
" Richard " He blurted out.
" Hey Mia, we are about to leave " Someone shouted.
" Coomingg " She responded.
She then turned to Richard.
" And yes I would love to go out with you. How does Saturday 7 pm sound "
" S-sure "
" It's a date then handsome "
She gave back his phone and walked away with a final wave to him. Richard just stood there , his eyes never leaving Mia's back. He slowly raised his hands waving at her retreating figure.
" Bye " He whispered to himself.