Lilac Arc and the Bull (Revised and Final Version)
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AndrewJTalon
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Lilac Arc and the Bull
The White Fang's operations often involved taking hostages, and this time, Adam Taurus himself led the mission. He seized a woman from Radian, bringing her to their hidden headquarters with a clear purpose.
"Her mother is holding three of our agents in her hospital after they were captured," he told his guards right outside the cell in the abandoned building, his voice cold and commanding. "We use her to compel their release. Keep an eye on her, but do not harm her."
"Sir!" the guards responded in unison.
Adam departed for another mission, leaving the guards with Lilac Arc, who sat calmly in her cell, her demeanor surprisingly serene for a hostage.
One of the guards coughed harshly, the sound grating in the dim corridor. Lilac tilted her head, her expression softening with concern. "That sounds bad," she said gently. "I know a remedy for it, if you have a kitchen."
The second guard snorted, his eyes narrowing. "Ha! Nice try! What's the remedy, rat poison?"
"No, of course not," Lilac replied, unfazed. "It's too salty."
The first guard coughed again, wincing. "Ugh…"
"You can keep suffering, or you can feel better," Lilac said, her tone earnest. "I much prefer people to feel better. Besides, I would never poison someone."
The second guard's scowl deepened, but the first guard's pitiful coughing grew worse. With a heavy sigh, the second guard relented. "Fine…"
They escorted Lilac to the kitchen, where she gathered local herbs with practiced ease and brewed a fragrant tea. As she worked, she glanced at their meager supplies. "Hmmm… You all look like you could use a good meal," she mused, her face brightening. "Do you have any venison? I can make a great stew!"
The second guard scoffed. "Oh, please, like we're going to fall for that!"
The first guard, however, took a cautious sip of the tea. His eyes widened as he inhaled deeply. "Wow! It… I can breathe! Cough's gone! And… And it tastes great! Try it!"
"Oh, come on, you can't be serious!" the second guard snapped.
"Serious as a heart attack," the first guard insisted. "Besides, she's one woman without her Aura activated. What could she do even if she poisoned it?"
Grudgingly, the second guard sipped the tea. His skeptical expression melted into disbelief. "It… It's amazing!"
Lilac smiled warmly. "Old family recipe! Like this stew!" She was already stirring a pot, the rich aroma filling the kitchen. Other White Fang members drifted in, drawn by the scent.
"Oh! Hello!" Lilac greeted them cheerfully. "Grab a bowl, it should be done soon!"
The first guard hesitated. "Hey, hang on a second, even if it smells good, we should test it!"
"Come on," Lilac said, her voice light but firm. "I would never poison food! Then you wouldn't get to enjoy it."
The second guard's eyes narrowed. "You… Do realize you're our hostage, right? If you don't cooperate, we'll kill you."
"I am cooperating," Lilac replied simply.
The first guard nodded slowly. "She's got a point."
"Wonderful!" Lilac beamed.
When Adam returned, he found his guards noticeably relaxed, their usual tension replaced by an odd ease. "Sitrep?" he demanded.
"Oh! Lord Adam!" the second guard said, straightening. "Uh, everything's fine, sir! The hostage is safe and compliant."
"Good," Adam said, his tone clipped. "Her mother is proving difficult. We'll need to make a video to show how serious we are."
"Errr… I see, Lord Adam," the first guard mumbled, exchanging a glance with his partner.
Lilac approached, her demeanor as warm as ever. "Hello, Lord Adam! Let me take your coat. It's freezing out there, hm? Here, have some hot tea!"
Adam accepted the cup absentmindedly. "Ah, thank you." He took a sip, then froze, spitting it out. "Wha—Why are you out of your cell?!"
"Well, I couldn't finish my knitting in there, My Lord," Lilac said, presenting him with a red scarf. "Here you are! Goes with your hair."
The first guard let out an involuntary "Aw…"
Lilac turned to him with a playful wink. "I didn't forget you, sweetie!" She handed him a green scarf. "Goes with your scales!"
"Oh, sweet!" the guard said, catching Adam's furious glare. "I-I mean, um… Thank you, you pathetic human!"
"You're welcome!" Lilac said brightly.
A day later, Adam found Lilac in the kitchen again, cooking for the entire camp. She hummed a soft lullaby under her breath, unaware of his approach until he stood beside her, alone. "Oh. Hello, Lord Adam," she said, pausing. "Is there something you wish of me?"
He studied her for a long moment. "If they refuse to pay the ransom, your life is forfeit."
"I know, Lord Adam," she replied calmly.
"You aren't afraid of that?" he pressed.
She shrugged, her eyes steady. "I am."
"Yet you still persist like this."
"Yes, Lord Adam."
"Why?" he demanded, his voice tinged with irritation.
"Your men needed good food," she said simply. "Your men need kindness. Everyone does."
"We are holding you hostage," he snapped.
"Yes."
"We are criminals by your estimation."
"Yes."
"We are Faunus, and our goal is to overthrow your oppression and tyranny."
"Have I oppressed you, Lord Adam?" she asked softly.
He faltered, then glared. "You annoy me."
"I'm sorry, Lord Adam."
His patience snapped. He seized her long hair, forcing her to her knees with a yelp. Drawing Wilt, he pressed the blade to her throat. "I could end your life in an instant."
"Yes, Lord Adam… I-I know," she whispered, trembling.
"So drop the act," he snarled. "You're just trying to manipulate us with lies and deceit!"
"No, Lord Adam! I-I assure you, I am not—!" she pleaded.
"Then why this?!" he roared, the blade digging into her skin. "Why all of this?! You're trying to make us drop our guard! Allow you to escape!"
Lilac winced, her voice strained. "Even if I tried… I know I'm too far away from anywhere civilized to escape. I'd be killed by Grimm or brought back."
"Then why?!" he shouted. "WHY ACT LIKE THIS?!"
She closed her eyes, taking a shuddering breath. "Because it's the right thing to do!"
Adam froze. "What?"
"I firmly believe…" she said, her voice steadying, "that people in pain need help and kindness. That it's the right thing to do to help others, even if they want to—to kill me or hurt me. To try, at least."
"What makes you think I'm in pain?!" he growled.
"You are," she said softly. "We all are… It is why the Tablebreaker came, is it not? To heal the hurt of the world—?"
"That religion is nonsense!" Adam spat. "Just a means of control of the masses! It turns a Faunus into a martyr, just to try and pretend to be fair! All the while the church and governments oppress Faunus!"
"No… No, it isn't," Lilac countered. "Corrupt priests and churches can do bad things in the name of the Emperor Above, but it doesn't change the good at its core!"
Adam's voice dripped with venom. "And so you would do this? Be kind, even to your captors? Even if it meant your death?! All because of your belief?"
Lilac, shaking, met his gaze. "Y-Yes… Yes, I would."
Silence hung between them. Adam's grip slackened, and he pulled the blade away, stepping back. "You're confined to your cell," he said, his voice low. "You will not do anything else but sit and be silent."
"As you wish, Lord Adam," she replied, rising slowly.
Days later, Adam summoned her from her cell. Three Faunus escorted her to a small chamber where a camera waited. "On your knees," he ordered.
Lilac complied without protest. Adam turned to his guards. "The negotiators are trying to buy time. We need to send a stronger message. We have other hostages… We'll kill her to show we mean business."
The first guard hesitated. "S-Sir… Um, she is the most prominent. Maybe we need to—"
"Those are my orders," Adam snapped. "Set up the camera."
Reluctantly, the guards began preparing. Adam waited until the camera was ready, then spoke, his voice cold. "You have ignored our demands. This is the price you will pay."
Lilac's voice broke the tension, soft but steady. "Lord Adam… May I have a request, please? W-Well… Two requests?"
He glared at her. "What?"
She reached into her dress pocket, producing a small photo. Adam snatched it, his eyes widening behind his mask as he saw it. "You—!"
"My fiancé… Mercer," Lilac said, her voice trembling. "He… If you could return that to him…"
"You… You're engaged?! To a Faunus?!" Adam demanded.
"Yes, Lord Adam…" she said, wincing.
He glared, his jaw tight. "And the other?"
"May I please pray?" she asked. "Before you… You execute me?"
Adam gritted his teeth but stepped back. Lilac bowed her head, folding her hands. "Tablebreaker, merciful Lord… Please… Forgive them. They know not what they do… And… And please look after my family. I… I won't be there for them anymore…"
The room fell silent. One of the guards sucked in a breath. "Sir… Lord Adam, please," he said. "We-We don't need to kill her."
"Are you questioning my orders?!" Adam roared.
Another guard spoke up, voice shaking. "Sir, she—Please! Yes, humans are our enemy, but—Please, maybe she's one of the good ones—!"
"There are no good ones!" Adam snarled. "It's a trick! A deception! She's still trying to manipulate you for her life! SHE'S THE ENEMY!"
Lilac continued praying, her body trembling but her voice steady. A third guard stepped forward. "Sir, please! Look… I've known many a bad human, but she's done nothing!"
"Humans have done plenty to us!" Adam shouted. "Especially when we did 'nothing'! YOU THINK SHE ACTUALLY CARES?! YOU THINK THIS IS REAL?!" He struck Lilac, sending her sprawling to the floor. "SHE'S A LIAR! A TRICKSTER!"
He seized her by the collar, lifting her off the ground as she choked. "You're just manipulating us! You don't believe we're good! You don't believe a word! Say it! SAY IT!"
"N-No!" Lilac gasped. "I won't! And I won't stop!"
Adam's grip tightened, but he sensed the growing unrest among his men. They were on the verge of turning against him. After a tense moment, he dropped her to the floor. "Take her back to her cell," he ordered, his voice low.
"Yes, sir…" the first guard said, helping Lilac to her feet.
The next day, Lilac awoke in a forest clearing, the air cool and quiet. Adam stood nearby, his expression unreadable. He tossed a canteen at her feet. "You're a day's walk from Matron Village. There are no Grimm around. They'll get you home."
Lilac blinked, stunned. "… You're letting me go?"
"You're too disruptive as a hostage," Adam said coldly. "My men are threatening to mutiny. Your manipulations are too strong… You're too dangerous to keep. So… Go."
Lilac smiled softly. "Thank you, Lord Adam—"
"Stop that," he snapped. "I don't believe you for a second. This was all an act to get me to release you… And you won."
"No… No," she said, her voice gentle. "I mean… I'm glad to be free… But you're still in pain. And still lost."
Adam scoffed. "I don't need you to save me."
"We all need someone to save us," she replied. "We're all in this together, human and Faunus."
He stared at her, silent for a long moment.
"If more humans thought as you do…" he said finally, his voice quieter, "… maybe I wouldn't have to do what I do."
Lilac nodded. "I know."
Without another word, Adam turned and vanished into the woods, leaving her alone in the clearing.
The White Fang's operations often involved taking hostages, and this time, Adam Taurus himself led the mission. He seized a woman from Radian, bringing her to their hidden headquarters with a clear purpose.
"Her mother is holding three of our agents in her hospital after they were captured," he told his guards right outside the cell in the abandoned building, his voice cold and commanding. "We use her to compel their release. Keep an eye on her, but do not harm her."
"Sir!" the guards responded in unison.
Adam departed for another mission, leaving the guards with Lilac Arc, who sat calmly in her cell, her demeanor surprisingly serene for a hostage.
One of the guards coughed harshly, the sound grating in the dim corridor. Lilac tilted her head, her expression softening with concern. "That sounds bad," she said gently. "I know a remedy for it, if you have a kitchen."
The second guard snorted, his eyes narrowing. "Ha! Nice try! What's the remedy, rat poison?"
"No, of course not," Lilac replied, unfazed. "It's too salty."
The first guard coughed again, wincing. "Ugh…"
"You can keep suffering, or you can feel better," Lilac said, her tone earnest. "I much prefer people to feel better. Besides, I would never poison someone."
The second guard's scowl deepened, but the first guard's pitiful coughing grew worse. With a heavy sigh, the second guard relented. "Fine…"
They escorted Lilac to the kitchen, where she gathered local herbs with practiced ease and brewed a fragrant tea. As she worked, she glanced at their meager supplies. "Hmmm… You all look like you could use a good meal," she mused, her face brightening. "Do you have any venison? I can make a great stew!"
The second guard scoffed. "Oh, please, like we're going to fall for that!"
The first guard, however, took a cautious sip of the tea. His eyes widened as he inhaled deeply. "Wow! It… I can breathe! Cough's gone! And… And it tastes great! Try it!"
"Oh, come on, you can't be serious!" the second guard snapped.
"Serious as a heart attack," the first guard insisted. "Besides, she's one woman without her Aura activated. What could she do even if she poisoned it?"
Grudgingly, the second guard sipped the tea. His skeptical expression melted into disbelief. "It… It's amazing!"
Lilac smiled warmly. "Old family recipe! Like this stew!" She was already stirring a pot, the rich aroma filling the kitchen. Other White Fang members drifted in, drawn by the scent.
"Oh! Hello!" Lilac greeted them cheerfully. "Grab a bowl, it should be done soon!"
The first guard hesitated. "Hey, hang on a second, even if it smells good, we should test it!"
"Come on," Lilac said, her voice light but firm. "I would never poison food! Then you wouldn't get to enjoy it."
The second guard's eyes narrowed. "You… Do realize you're our hostage, right? If you don't cooperate, we'll kill you."
"I am cooperating," Lilac replied simply.
The first guard nodded slowly. "She's got a point."
"Wonderful!" Lilac beamed.
When Adam returned, he found his guards noticeably relaxed, their usual tension replaced by an odd ease. "Sitrep?" he demanded.
"Oh! Lord Adam!" the second guard said, straightening. "Uh, everything's fine, sir! The hostage is safe and compliant."
"Good," Adam said, his tone clipped. "Her mother is proving difficult. We'll need to make a video to show how serious we are."
"Errr… I see, Lord Adam," the first guard mumbled, exchanging a glance with his partner.
Lilac approached, her demeanor as warm as ever. "Hello, Lord Adam! Let me take your coat. It's freezing out there, hm? Here, have some hot tea!"
Adam accepted the cup absentmindedly. "Ah, thank you." He took a sip, then froze, spitting it out. "Wha—Why are you out of your cell?!"
"Well, I couldn't finish my knitting in there, My Lord," Lilac said, presenting him with a red scarf. "Here you are! Goes with your hair."
The first guard let out an involuntary "Aw…"
Lilac turned to him with a playful wink. "I didn't forget you, sweetie!" She handed him a green scarf. "Goes with your scales!"
"Oh, sweet!" the guard said, catching Adam's furious glare. "I-I mean, um… Thank you, you pathetic human!"
"You're welcome!" Lilac said brightly.
A day later, Adam found Lilac in the kitchen again, cooking for the entire camp. She hummed a soft lullaby under her breath, unaware of his approach until he stood beside her, alone. "Oh. Hello, Lord Adam," she said, pausing. "Is there something you wish of me?"
He studied her for a long moment. "If they refuse to pay the ransom, your life is forfeit."
"I know, Lord Adam," she replied calmly.
"You aren't afraid of that?" he pressed.
She shrugged, her eyes steady. "I am."
"Yet you still persist like this."
"Yes, Lord Adam."
"Why?" he demanded, his voice tinged with irritation.
"Your men needed good food," she said simply. "Your men need kindness. Everyone does."
"We are holding you hostage," he snapped.
"Yes."
"We are criminals by your estimation."
"Yes."
"We are Faunus, and our goal is to overthrow your oppression and tyranny."
"Have I oppressed you, Lord Adam?" she asked softly.
He faltered, then glared. "You annoy me."
"I'm sorry, Lord Adam."
His patience snapped. He seized her long hair, forcing her to her knees with a yelp. Drawing Wilt, he pressed the blade to her throat. "I could end your life in an instant."
"Yes, Lord Adam… I-I know," she whispered, trembling.
"So drop the act," he snarled. "You're just trying to manipulate us with lies and deceit!"
"No, Lord Adam! I-I assure you, I am not—!" she pleaded.
"Then why this?!" he roared, the blade digging into her skin. "Why all of this?! You're trying to make us drop our guard! Allow you to escape!"
Lilac winced, her voice strained. "Even if I tried… I know I'm too far away from anywhere civilized to escape. I'd be killed by Grimm or brought back."
"Then why?!" he shouted. "WHY ACT LIKE THIS?!"
She closed her eyes, taking a shuddering breath. "Because it's the right thing to do!"
Adam froze. "What?"
"I firmly believe…" she said, her voice steadying, "that people in pain need help and kindness. That it's the right thing to do to help others, even if they want to—to kill me or hurt me. To try, at least."
"What makes you think I'm in pain?!" he growled.
"You are," she said softly. "We all are… It is why the Tablebreaker came, is it not? To heal the hurt of the world—?"
"That religion is nonsense!" Adam spat. "Just a means of control of the masses! It turns a Faunus into a martyr, just to try and pretend to be fair! All the while the church and governments oppress Faunus!"
"No… No, it isn't," Lilac countered. "Corrupt priests and churches can do bad things in the name of the Emperor Above, but it doesn't change the good at its core!"
Adam's voice dripped with venom. "And so you would do this? Be kind, even to your captors? Even if it meant your death?! All because of your belief?"
Lilac, shaking, met his gaze. "Y-Yes… Yes, I would."
Silence hung between them. Adam's grip slackened, and he pulled the blade away, stepping back. "You're confined to your cell," he said, his voice low. "You will not do anything else but sit and be silent."
"As you wish, Lord Adam," she replied, rising slowly.
Days later, Adam summoned her from her cell. Three Faunus escorted her to a small chamber where a camera waited. "On your knees," he ordered.
Lilac complied without protest. Adam turned to his guards. "The negotiators are trying to buy time. We need to send a stronger message. We have other hostages… We'll kill her to show we mean business."
The first guard hesitated. "S-Sir… Um, she is the most prominent. Maybe we need to—"
"Those are my orders," Adam snapped. "Set up the camera."
Reluctantly, the guards began preparing. Adam waited until the camera was ready, then spoke, his voice cold. "You have ignored our demands. This is the price you will pay."
Lilac's voice broke the tension, soft but steady. "Lord Adam… May I have a request, please? W-Well… Two requests?"
He glared at her. "What?"
She reached into her dress pocket, producing a small photo. Adam snatched it, his eyes widening behind his mask as he saw it. "You—!"
"My fiancé… Mercer," Lilac said, her voice trembling. "He… If you could return that to him…"
"You… You're engaged?! To a Faunus?!" Adam demanded.
"Yes, Lord Adam…" she said, wincing.
He glared, his jaw tight. "And the other?"
"May I please pray?" she asked. "Before you… You execute me?"
Adam gritted his teeth but stepped back. Lilac bowed her head, folding her hands. "Tablebreaker, merciful Lord… Please… Forgive them. They know not what they do… And… And please look after my family. I… I won't be there for them anymore…"
The room fell silent. One of the guards sucked in a breath. "Sir… Lord Adam, please," he said. "We-We don't need to kill her."
"Are you questioning my orders?!" Adam roared.
Another guard spoke up, voice shaking. "Sir, she—Please! Yes, humans are our enemy, but—Please, maybe she's one of the good ones—!"
"There are no good ones!" Adam snarled. "It's a trick! A deception! She's still trying to manipulate you for her life! SHE'S THE ENEMY!"
Lilac continued praying, her body trembling but her voice steady. A third guard stepped forward. "Sir, please! Look… I've known many a bad human, but she's done nothing!"
"Humans have done plenty to us!" Adam shouted. "Especially when we did 'nothing'! YOU THINK SHE ACTUALLY CARES?! YOU THINK THIS IS REAL?!" He struck Lilac, sending her sprawling to the floor. "SHE'S A LIAR! A TRICKSTER!"
He seized her by the collar, lifting her off the ground as she choked. "You're just manipulating us! You don't believe we're good! You don't believe a word! Say it! SAY IT!"
"N-No!" Lilac gasped. "I won't! And I won't stop!"
Adam's grip tightened, but he sensed the growing unrest among his men. They were on the verge of turning against him. After a tense moment, he dropped her to the floor. "Take her back to her cell," he ordered, his voice low.
"Yes, sir…" the first guard said, helping Lilac to her feet.
The next day, Lilac awoke in a forest clearing, the air cool and quiet. Adam stood nearby, his expression unreadable. He tossed a canteen at her feet. "You're a day's walk from Matron Village. There are no Grimm around. They'll get you home."
Lilac blinked, stunned. "… You're letting me go?"
"You're too disruptive as a hostage," Adam said coldly. "My men are threatening to mutiny. Your manipulations are too strong… You're too dangerous to keep. So… Go."
Lilac smiled softly. "Thank you, Lord Adam—"
"Stop that," he snapped. "I don't believe you for a second. This was all an act to get me to release you… And you won."
"No… No," she said, her voice gentle. "I mean… I'm glad to be free… But you're still in pain. And still lost."
Adam scoffed. "I don't need you to save me."
"We all need someone to save us," she replied. "We're all in this together, human and Faunus."
He stared at her, silent for a long moment.
"If more humans thought as you do…" he said finally, his voice quieter, "… maybe I wouldn't have to do what I do."
Lilac nodded. "I know."
Without another word, Adam turned and vanished into the woods, leaving her alone in the clearing.