Chapter Text
On August 8th at three in the morning, the day of his eighteenth birthday, the most important year of Reki's life started.
“I'm sure he went that way,” He smiled at the sight of people giving out completely wrong directions to officers, resting his chin on his palm. “I swear I saw him!”
Reki sighed at the information, “I swear I saw him... Silly. That doesn't count for shit.” He sat up on the rusty vent at the corner of the alley he took a time to rest on and observe. Just a while ago, someone seemed to recognize him as he sneaked around the city at night, and now this lady is giving out all the crazy amount of (wrong) information she got just with a glance at the big, criminal, vile, Jester.
Truth is, he's in the middle of the mission he's been prepared for pretty much half his life. Not like it's a big deal, he's done this dozens of times. What's changed, though? This time it's his perfect revenge.
“Ma'am, we'll need you to calm down in order to continue this search.” Reki decided he's heard enough, once again making his way through the big shadow the night was. Where's he headed to? Kaoru Sakurayashiki's house. Like he said, his perfect revenge!
You see, Reki's privilege of being a child for at least a little longer was stolen at a young age, when his family died in a house fire and he was the only survivor. Or maybe, that's what he was told. He has a very faint memory of hearing screams and the very hot temperature barely cooking him alive. After that, all his next few memories were at the lab until he started going out again.
What Reki does remember very, very well, is his first few nights with Adam. Namely, the first where he was actually allowed to know the slightest bit.
Ten year old Reki snuggled in one of the four corners of the white, empty room he was shoved in. The only thing in this room is a bed and a TV that would occasionally light up with someone, usually the blue haired man whose name he doesn't know yet.
The lights never turn off, not even at night. By now, Reki figured it was so he'd lose track of time. Unfortunately it was working.
He dared to look up, his eyes instantly finding the camera always watching him. Wherever he'd go, the camera would follow him. Not that he had much space to walk around, anyway.
But Reki is aware of a few things, he was taken away on August 8th 2014, and the path mostly took way towards North. It will be easy to keep in mind, it was sort of traumatic to just forget that easily.
He wiped away his tears and changed his glare to the door. The thick, soundproof door that would only open for lunch and dinner. But he's forgotten which is which.
He lay down on the floor instead, propping his feet up on the wall. He knew the TV could light up at any moment now. It always happens between meals. At first it was only between lunch and dinner, but they seemed to realize Reki was relying on that to know how many days were passing, so now it's between every meal. He remembers counting three days before this change. However, it probably hasn't been long since he's lost track. Time just moves slower.
With a sigh, he looked back up at the ceiling, now used to the strong lights barely blinding him. As if on cue, the TV flickered before the image was clear again.
“Good morning, little red!” Reki turned his head to look at the TV almost instantly. Not because it was the man again, but because he now knows that it's morning. “What, shocked? I'm just being nice and letting you know if it's day or night! I'm sure you missed something as simple as time.”
He scoffed, “How simple.”
“Getting cocky, aren't we? Crazy to think you were shivering in fear just some nights ago.” The man propped his face on his hands, “I got a new routine for you. You'll start testing tomorrow, we'll see which ability you're compatible with! After ten years, I doubt you're ever getting one biologically, Red.”
“I'd pretty much rather stay powerless if that meant I could get out of here.”
“Oh, but you can!” Reki's eyes flickered away from the TV. No, no he couldn't. At least not on his own terms. “You will after this conversation. Instead of talking to you behind a screen, we'll meet eye to eye. How wonderful does that sound?”
“Really?” Reki put his legs back down and pushed himself off the ground. He listened very, very closely to ask all the right questions and fit the pieces together himself. “I'll go outside?”
“Of the room, yes, but not out of the underground.” The man chuckled, and Reki felt the urge to let his body slam on the ground again. “But don't worry, little phoenix. We'll train you a little, and soon you'll be outside for real. Working with us.”
“Working... How?”
“I'll keep this simple for you, songbird.” His hands fell down on what Reki thinks might be a table, “You're lucky I chose you. Here, you'll be acknowledged. You won't be a meaningless little nobody anymore. We'll give you an ability of your own as soon as we make sure you don't already have one, which I deeply doubt. But it's still important to make sure, otherwise your body might not be able to take it.”
“I don't think my body would take it if you randomly gave me an ability, either way.” He frowned. “Is that what you'll supposedly train me for?”
“Good observation, child.” He smiled wider, his eyes narrowed. Not very friendly anymore. “And after that, you'll help us with work outside.”
“What work?” He dared to ask. “You still haven't answered that.”
“Because you're not up to that knowledge yet!” Reki swallowed thickly. “What do you say, little phoenix? We'll give you a purpose, and in return, you simply do as we say.” His voice deepened. “Do we have a deal?”
“What if I say no?”
“Do you really want to find out?”
No, no he doesn't. Even if an ability isn't worth this, Reki doesn't want to discover any consequences. “... We have a deal.”
“Wonderful!” The man smiled with his happy atmosphere again. “Chin up, Red. Your time to fly has come!” He spun around on his chair and the TV flickered, “Get ready, you have an hour! I'll be kind and give you a clock this time.” The image of the man was no longer on the TV, replaced by said clock. But Reki could still hear his voice, which reminded him every single move will be watched. “We'll run a few tests and soon you're getting your dorm!”
“Tests? What tests? Like, put me in a room with an invincible alien and see how I react in situations of extreme panic?” There was no response. And Reki, for a moment, let himself believe it was okay to cuss even if he was being watched. “...Bitch.” Mom would have never let him say that. He misses her so, so much.
But still, Reki was relieved. It took him a moment to process what time it really was.
Eight thirty in the morning. He has an hour to get ready, which means they'll come get him at nine thirty. Probably.
He can't wait to get out.
Okay, now that at least this much has been said, rewinding just slightly will be needed. Reki's family died in a house fire, he was the only one saved, and Adam rescued him from foster care... Probably. Reki's never sure about anything, it seems. Thing is, why is he the only one alive? Well, it didn't really take much for Reki to put the pieces together. In the first week of knowing Adam, the man's hate for heroes just became more and more evident.
Adam had said — once Reki took the courage to give in, curl up in a ball and cry for hours — “Worry not, phoenix. It has never been your fault. However, I can tell you this much: You weren't saved, your family was just left to die. You could've walked out of that big disaster in your mother's arms instead of mine.”
And Reki had answered, in a very shaky and broken voice, “What?”
“You heard right, Reki. Kaoru Sakurayashiki became a hero that very same day your family died. While his best life started, you were about to start the most hurtful chapter of yours. Isn't that unfair? Even though heroes promise justice to whoever it may be?”
So... His perfect revenge is actually to kill Kaoru.
But he has a reason! Everything's right there, it's only fair to do to him what he put his family through.
Back to his amazingly well thought plan — which consisted in breaking in and not even giving the older man time to process before Reki kills him — Reki was this close to reaching Kaoru's window, his heartbeats having less and less time between them. He had to admit, it was weird that not a single soul had reported him yet. Adam was right, on this side of the building, the road is basically desert. And there is barely any light, so even if someone walked past, they'd hardly notice Reki climbing up to the last floor through window's parapets.
What he had to be careful with, thought, is not choosing windows with their blinds up. Which really wasn't much of a problem.
Another thing he needs to be is quiet, which is also barely a challenge.
Reaching the last floor, Reki peeked in to make sure this was in fact Kaoru's place. Adam had told him each floor held only a single apartment, but he figured he could still check. Just in case. He really is never sure.
This indeed is Kaoru's place. He can tell by the big portrait of all the important heroes hung up on the wall. Too bad important heroes are irrelevant to Reki.
He sighed to himself at the thought of these people being prized for something Reki's been doing for ages. The only difference is, he doesn't have any kind of mercy for the bad guys he stumbles upon. Which makes him way better, why should a horrible person live?
Reki then realized he was tiptoed at the window below's vent, still peeking at Kaoru's apartment with his elbows propped up on the concrete parapet, this close to getting lost in thoughts for hours.
He groaned detaching his handmade card-pistol from his tool belt. He had used mainly A's for this one, he's strangely proud of it.
Reki used the very thin edge of the gun to unlock the window, wasting no time and immediately jumping in completely unbothered by the noise he was now making. If anything, he wanted Kaoeu to know he's here. He stepped inside with a grin from ear to ear, unclipping the black cape he had protecting him from the cold.
He predicted Kaoru would've heard the strange noise, grab the closest weapon he had to him, and wait for Reki to attack. Because that's what heroes always do, they wait. But Reki doesn't have all night.
“Well, come out! Don't be shy.” He charged up the gun, “Ain't you happy to finally meet the one and only me?”
Reki eyed the place very, very carefully. His eyes pick up on the smallest of things. The kitchen and living room aren't separated, and the front door is right across the room. So, technically, he gets to watch three places at once.
There's an empty mug with a tea sachet still inside by the sink. It was drunk not long ago, for the rest of the boiled water is still steaming. Nothing to pick up in the living room area. However, a pair of shoes is scattered on the entrance floor as the rest is neatly placed at a fancy shoe holder. There is a bag that looks like it was thrown on the ground as someone made their way to the corredor. There are no lights on, at least from his perspective.
Which indicates Kaoru must have come home tired, hence the out of place shoes and bag thrown on the floor. He must've made his way to his room to change into comfortable clothes before coming back to have a cup of tea before bed. So, now, he was probably either getting ready to sleep or already sleeping. But now he's awake either way.
Meaning, Kaoru is somewhere further into the house.
“Oh, someone came back tired.” Reki kept his guard up as he made his way inside. Walking past the portrait, he decided to take the time and rip it with the same thin point of the gun. “So tired you won't even greet your guest?”
Taking a first step inside the corredor, he closed every door he walked past, deciding to start by his room first. If Kaoru was somewhere inside them and tried to run out, Reki would hear it.
He grinned as he closed the last door, holding the pistol down as he took a peek inside the bedroom. The bed is still made, so Kaoru hasn't had the chance to lie down yet.
Reki looked under the bed, inside the closet, behind curtains and in the fancy bathroom. Kaoru isn't anywhere in this room.
Walking out, Reki closed the door. So when he looked inside other rooms, Kaoru couldn't sneak in this one.
Moving to the guest room, he went through the exact same process. Even the part of finding absolutely nothing.
Reki complained, “Come on, I wasn't planning on playing hide n' seek. If I was, I would've made it a lot more stressful for you.” He stopped in front of the bathroom, only twisting the doorknob. “Are you here?”
Reki waited for an answer. He didn't exactly know why, no one is stupid enough to answer. He was starting to think Kaoru isn't home at all.
He pushed the door open with disappointment, already expecting to find the last room to be searched empty. When his predictions were proved right, he groaned in frustration as he unclipped the walkie talkie from his belt. He gripped at the press to talk button, “Adam, it's Reki. Kaoru's not home. Over.”
He let go of the button and waited, leaning at the bathroom door's frame. When there was no quick answer, he rolled his eyes in frustration and got ready to leave.
“Well, what do you expect me to do about that? In fact, have a little fun with the empty place. It's weird he's not home, so the chances are that he'll stay the night out are high. Over.” He frowned at the other's suggestion, bringing the device up to his face again.
Reki made his way to the couch, eyeing the place for a second time as he did so. He then pressed the same button as ever, “Fun? Tell me where to start. Over.”
He turned his back to the couch and let himself fall over it. Holding the walkie talkie in the air, Reki stared at his reflection on the TV awaiting Adam's answer.
“Get creative, Jester. Out.”
Reki barely choked on his spit. Get creative? What the hell is that supposed to mean? “Not out! Tell me what to do, or else I'm leaving. Over.” He awaited for the answer that seemed to never come. “Fine, I'm leaving! Out.”
Reki gripped strongly at the walkie talkie, hoping that it would release at least that much frustration. It didn't. So, subconsciously, he threw the gray object at the wall opposed to him. He didn't exactly realize what it hit when there was a sharp noise, like a nail falling to the ground. Next thing he knew a whole shelf collapsed and loads of documents were scattered all over the floor.
Reki sat up immediately after the confusion was over, peeking at the mess with only one eye open.
“Shit...” He got up from the couch and made his way to the crime scene. The walkie talkie doesn't look damaged despite the entire mess it made.
Squatting down to take a closer look at all the paper sheets escaping multiple binders, he wondered — what is he gonna do with this? Obviously not tidy it up, but there must be useful stuff here somewhere. Adam will be proud when he returns home with all this new information.
Now with a smile, Reki attentively read all the titles in every folder: bills; recipes, for some reason; academy.... Missing children.
“Huh.” He let himself fall to his knees, predicting it would be a long search. To start off, why would a Hero acquire such information? This surely should be owned by the police, or something. Not a hero.
Reki expected anything to be in here. Anything but a whole list of people he knows really well, because they're all inside with him at the lab.
Every single kid on this list was reported missing on their 10th birthday, and all of them lack an ability. Just like Reki.
Luckily for him, they're sorted by name. He didn't waste any time and started flipping through the pages until he reached the letter “R”.
“Reki Kyan, ability unknown...” He mumbled the written stuff to himself, rushing to get to the important part. “Reported missing on August 8th by Masae Kyan.”
At this point his eyes were filled with tears as he grabbed another folder, this time titled “Photos”.
As he predicted, the photos of each respective kid were there. Half flipping through the pages, half reading his report, Reki searched for the information of his case.
Once he reached his page — filled with theories where he might've gone, why and how — the first tear that shed from his eyes that night landed right over his fourth grade picture. At the bottom right of the paper sheet, was a really bad quality photo of him crying alone to himself, hidden behind a trash can. It looked like he had been accidentally captured in someone else's photo, and it was titled “Last Seen”.
After being blinded by shock for several minutes, Reki was only finally aware of his surroundings when the moonlight helping his sight was blocked by a humanoid shadow. By the time he turned around, the last thing he could process was Kaoru holding a pan over his head with his eyes still somehow glowing in the dark.
And that's how Jester was knocked out by a fucking frying pan still dirty with old oil in the middle of the most important mission in his life. Great.