Finding Red

Authors Note: Hello everyone and welcome to a new fanfic! This will mainly focus on found family and renga. TW for abuse, exploitation, and other sensitive topics! I hope you enjoy and please feel free to comment, I love reading them!

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"Look at the crowd, Red. They love you." Adam traced a slender finger across Reki's back. The young teenager shuddered under the man's touch and batted his arm away. Reki spun his body around to face the man, his hands clenched into tight fists. "Don't touch me." His voice came out weaker than he wanted, but he couldn't blame himself for faltering under Adam's presence. The fear he felt was tangible, and Adam knew it. The older man's mouth thinned into a sly smile, one of warning and contempt, Reki knew this face well.

"You seem fired up tonight, if you put that energy into this beef you may do good for once." he said hollowly and turned his heel away. Reki watched as Adam paraded away, likely to talk to some business partner or Tadashi. Once the man was out of view Reki's breathing started to calm down, whenever Adam was around his whole world seemed to distort. He mentally spewed several curses out at Adam, things that he wouldn't dare say to him outloud. His situation was quite unsavory, but there wasn't anything he could do about it. What power did an orphan with no connections other than Adam have in this world? He was naive back then, he had let himself get into this situation. For years he had replayed his life in his head, he could only wonder what his life would be like if his family was still around. A twinge of sorrow made his fiery anger dissipate, and a familiar feeling settled in his chest. In the distance he could hear the cheering of the Crazy Rock goers grow louder, it was almost time for his race to start. On the ground in front of his feet laid a porcelain fox mask. No matter how many times he wore the mask he always found it alluring. It was a gorgeous mask, Adam definitely commissioned some rich Japanese artist to make it for him. The mask covered his eyes and nose and resembled something akin to a fiery kitsune. Of course, Adam had chosen an extremely fragile material.

When Reki had first started skating under Adam's guide, Adam had forced him to wear that mask. Maybe it was some way of torturing Reki further, but if and when that mask fell to the ground and shattered to pieces Reki was sure to be punished. To Adam's credit, Reki was probably one of the most balanced skaters in all of Japan thanks to his rigorous training. The teenager picked up the familiar mask and looked bitterly at it. It was heavy in his hands, like a weight that dragged him to the ground. With a soft sight he pushed his unkempt red hair behind his ears and tenderly put on the mask. With his mask on he really did resemble his fox, his hair added to that. It was spiky and spilled over his eyes. Adam always nagged him about his hair but he would ultimately leave Reki alone if he performed well at Crazy Rock.

He ran his hands through his hair in a sorry attempt to flatten it, even marginally. To his annoyance his hair bounced right back up the moment his hands left his head. "No point in trying." He straightened up and walked out to the crowd. Instantly the unwelcoming smell of smoke engulfed in, no matter how many times he smelled it his nose would always wrinkle up. The moment he entered the crowd burst into hushed murmurs. Reki had accumulated a reputation in his years here. A small part of him glowed as he gazed out on all the eyes staring at him. He did like being admired, no matter how much he hated what he had to do to get here. A slim girl with her hair tied into large, unruly braids approached him with his skateboard in her hands.

"H-here you go!" she said meekly and jutted out the board into Reki's chest. Reki raised an eyebrow, this girl was new. Adam must've fired the old girl for whatever silly reason.

"Thanks." Reki took the board and traced a finger down the grip. Everytime he raced Adam had prepared a new board for him. It really was unnecessary. Reki much preferred the one he had sitting in his room, the one worn down by years of skating. This one was unfamiliar, with not an ounce of personality in it. Now he had everything he needed, he looked up at the sky which was clouded by plumes of smoke. "Time to go." He made his way to the starting line where people were already talking excitedly. Today Reki would be facing off with one of the prominent skaters here. This man definitely stood out. Standing besides him was a ridiculously well-built man, with muscles that seemed to pull people in like a magnet. His tanned skin provided for a nice contrast with his forestry green hair and he wore a confident smile. A group of girls were screaming the name, Joe. Reki fought the urge to plug his ears as the women screamed and obsessed over the man, who seemed to be happily soaking in the calls. Adam had briefly talked to Reki about Joe earlier, he seemed to have some history with this man which made it important that he beat Joe.