Prompt #7 - "Everyone keeps telling me you're the bad guy."
AU, where the Lancers are a freedom fighter group against an oppressive government
Yuya panted heavily as he ran through the trees, swatting branches out of the way. Right behind him, he heard the footsteps of the pursuing rebels, and, driven by adrenaline, pushed himself harder. However, Yuya only made it a few more paces before he was unceremoniously plucked up by one of those rebels' monsters (in this case some sort of mechanical bird) and taken back.
By the time Yuya had reached the camp, his face was white from fear. The bird dumped the boy onto the ground with a thump, before returning to its owner's weapon, a tall boy with a mask and goggles on.
"Glad to see you could rejoin us." the leader of the rebels (the group dubbed the "Lancers" by the High Council) said. The man was maybe a few years older than Yuya, but still showed great maturity and a calculating mind in his eyes.
"What do you want from me?" Yuya demanded, remaining unflinching.
"Want from you?" the man asked, sounding a bit surprised. "Well I'd say want is a strong term, but what we want is for you to join us."
Yuya blinked. He wasn't sure if he heard that right.
"Join…you?" Yuya asked, just to confirm what he heard. The man nodded.
"Your father was a great man." he said, his lip shaking for a brief moment before he forcefully stopped it. A small sign that most people wouldn't notice, but Yuya took note of it. "We were hoping you would help us continue his work."
"His work?" Yuya asked in confusion. "My father was a circus performer."
The man smiled slightly.
"Ah, yes, I recall that was his cover job." he said thoughtfully. "However, your father's true intentions and dream were to overthrow the High Council and free everyone from their grasp. To do so, he founded this group. The "Lancers", as the Council calls us."
Yuya shook his head and gripped it. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I understand this must be a shock to you." the man said, extending his hand. "My name is Reiji Akaba."
Yuya's head snapped up at the man's words.
"Akaba?" Yuya questioned. "As in, the esteemed professor Leo Akaba? The one whose son…"
"Ran off to join the Lancers?" Reiji asked with a faint smile. "Yes, that's me."
Yuya's jaw dropped to the floor. He took a moment to compose himself before speaking again. Yuya frowned, his eyebrows furrowed as he spoke softly.
"Everyone keeps telling me you're the bad guy."
Reiji nodded thoughtfully at the words.
"That is what they say about me." he agreed. "When your father was captured by the Council two years ago, I took leadership of the Lancers."
"Captured?" Yuya asked in shock. "But I thought he was killed after being caught-"
"In the middle of a battle between the Council and the Lancers." Reiji finished. "An unfortunate accident."
Yuya nodded, feeling faint.
"That was a lie they crafted," Reiji explained. "One of many they've used to keep the people in line all these years. But we're trying to put an end to it. So what do you say? Do you want to return to your poor paying job at that school and live under the Council's iron grip? Or do you want to join us, finish what your father began, and save him?"
Yuya pondered the choice for a few moments. The answer was obvious.
"I'm in."