Chapter Eight
1.
Ozpin pulls back together thinking, (at least I will meet with Qrow soon).
He resolves to feel better back with someone in-the-know. At least… he hopes.
(Thinks the last time he had a panic attack was back before Astrid found out; wonders if it's her collected countenance or Oscar's trust in her that has Ozpin using her as a pillar of support.
Never know what's missing until it's gone.)
One thing at a time.
2.
When Oscar pulls out his scarf, he pauses. After a long moment, he places it in the 'take with' pile.
("Oh?")
"I used to wear it all the time," he smiles fondly at the colourful item. "Back when we were worried the bandages would slip, and I felt… Well, I didn't like people asking about them. It's… it's my favourite gift."
Ozpin chuckles. ("I can see why.")
"Stop reading my mind," Oscar groans and gets back to sorting. "Hey, do you know how to swim?"
("I do.")
"Az will be happy to hear that," Oscar snorts.
("You mean you don't?")
"Unfortunately," hackles raised. "It's not like we have a lot of place to swim around here. Az tried to teach me when I was little, but I'm not good okay?"
("I'm sor-")
"Don't," it's a touchy subject. "Just, forget it. Sorry I asked."
("…I once jumped off a waterfall.")
Oscar splutters. "Wha- and survived?!"
Smug. ("Of course. It all started when-")
3.
Em knocks Oscar to the ground with no remorse. "Well done! You lasted almost half a minute!"
Oscar groans. The grass is nice and cool; he's better off catching his breath down here.
"Alright, time to give Dr. Ozpin a turn," Em raises her fists and waits for the other person to stand. Ozpin lasts… a bit longer than Oscar. "Congrats on doing better this time."
"Thank you," Ozpin says pleasantly, getting to his feet. "Again?"
Em never holds back. Oscar mourns the losses while Ozpin keeps rising to his feet. Finally, the woman calls it. Oscar takes control, getting thwacked by the bottle of water she throws. "Astrid has been taking it to easy on you both. And don't think I haven't noticed you not activating your aura, Oscar!"
"Easy?" he huffs, wishing to lay down and nap.
"At your age we were going toe-to-toe," Em smiles proudly. "She doesn't like fighting, of course, but it doesn't hurt to have the skills." Seeing the disbelief and question on the kid's face, she chuckles. "Really, it's not that unbelievable! Your cousin will never have the strength of a Hunter, so she made up for it in other areas."
("Redirection,") Ozpin hums in thought. ("We lose against Astrid when she redirects instead of taking our blows.")
Oscar grumbles, "And when we lose against Aunt Em?"
("She is better than you, and I am not used to being so short.")
Oscar thinks of as many curse words as he can.
("…Where did you learn that kind of language?")
4.
A flip. A twist away from claws. Oscar slams the pitchfork into the Grimm with unnerving accuracy. As it disintegrates, he's panting and dropping the weapon in shock. His hands come up in front of him, shaking as he fears. "What was that?"
("You appear to be starting to inherit my muscle memory. It is a side effect of our memories-")
"I'm inheriting your muscle memory?!"
("Well, yes-")
Oscar swears and groans, falling to his knees and running a hand across his forehead. "No! That's terrible!"
("…? Wh-")
"You were over six feet tall!" Oscar quickly swipes a finger in the dirt. "The calculations don't add up! I'm going to be- I'm going to miss! Everything will be off! How did I manage a backflip when I've never done it before and you used to a giant?!"
Ozpin chuckles. Oscar does not appreciate the old man's levity. The math on the ground tells a dreadful story of future slipping and sprains.
("Just because you're smaller-") Oscar squawks in outrage, ("doesn't mean I have lost the ability to do math either, Oscar. I have already made all the adjustments for your size. The muscle memory will come with time but worry not! It shall not be the reason you trip.")
Oscar groans again and stares indigently at the fallen pitchfork. "Why couldn't I inherit something cool from you? Don't you have magic?"
("Well- yes, I- how did you-?")
"Why can't I wingardium leviosa things-"
Oscar gapes at the hovering pitchfork.
Ozpin's just as surprised.
Oscar hesitantly lowers his hand, watching the tool thump to the ground. "Oh."
("'Oh' indeed.")
"So… magic."
("Well, as I was saying, I do have some magic. It has been… dwindling throughout the years.") There is something there Ozpin isn't saying, but Oscar's too shocked about the turn of events to focus on it. Honestly, the boy would rather not see any more of the man's memories, but dreams of dying did let him put two and two together about magic. ("Oh… I'm sorry.")
"Ozpin, we have magic," Oscar's face splits into a grin. He holds out a hand and, before Ozpin realizes enough to protest, calls out, "Lumos."
There is a faint, mild twinge. Then his finger tip lights up.
"This is so cool," Oscar breathes.
(Ozpin badgers, trying to reign in the magic. "Oscar. Oscar. That's great, Oscar, now stop! The power isn't limitless!")
"Nox," Oscar gasps, brief pain at Ozpin's insistence. "What was that for?!"
("I am sorry," mourns the man. "I didn't think- I'm sorry. But magic isn't a toy, Oscar.")
"I know!"
("It isn't limitless.")
"I-… alright. Alright. I won't use it again." Oscar stumbles to his feet, grabbing at the pitchfork and wishing there was something he could do to hide his disappointment from the world. Ozpin will always know.
("Thank you.")
"Whatever."
Because in those brief moments of using magic, Oscar had felt more whole than he had in years. Now, the faint splintering feeling is back. He stubbornly scratches at the feel of pins and needles fading away on his arms. Ozpin attempts to take his mind off it with stories but…
But Oscar tries to be helpful that night and pulls out old stories, memorizing the spells and jutsu for Ozpin to maybe try one day.
("…Thank you.")
Oscar smiles softly and mutters, "Whatever."
You're welcome.
5.
Ozpin had seen – sensed – the wells, but until the boy – Oscar – had preformed magic he thought they were nothing special. Maybe it had to do with his semblance. Likely it was nothing. There are always more important things to do than poke at Oscar's soul.
Except it hadn't been Oscar's soul. Once activated, the walls swirled and shifted. He hadn't even realized they were fading until they burst into life, swarming and coming from the cracks where their souls should have been merging. He could feel it pass over and, in the heart of Oscar's mind, Ozpin breathed in magic.
Pure, metaphysical energy waiting to assist and help Oscar the best it could. It surrounds like a warm hug, promising better times and healing from all pain. It is so, so different from the magic he knows. This is a gift, freely given and forever meant to assist Oscar where the boy's own abilities are not enough.
Ozpin's soul is always broken enough that he fits into the cracks of his next host. This soft magic is the reason he and Oscar's merging is practically non-existent. It coats Oscar's soul and keeps the child from struggling more than most hosts normally do. It obviously fades with time, and since Oscar does not know about it Ozpin can't figure out why it surged to life. It drew away from the cracks to fulfil Oscar's wish, and when the man convinced Oscar to stop it slowly fell back to protecting Oscar's soul from Ozpin.
(But that's not quite true.) Ozpin looks at the infinitely filling, fading wall and notes it cannot completely stop them from sharing space. Ozpin naturally fills in the pieces Oscar was missing, and that gives him some allowance towards the strange magic. He does not go near it, for the feeling of promise would be addicting. Would hurt to much when the walls do fade away. Ozpin hates going headfirst into soul merging, and that is the only reason he has not felt it before now.
Only once does he call upon it when Oscar is asleep. "Lumos."
A small light hovers over his cupped palms. Oscar stirs unhappily in his head, and Ozpin cuts away from the feeling safety, warmth, and promise, in order to send it back. Oscar sleeps on. Ozpin lets his head hit the pillow in hopes the tears won't fall.
Oscar had felt like he was put together. Like the world had righted itself. Ozpin-
(I felt like I could do anything.)
Ozpin gives a stuttering breath.
(An infinite supply of magic.)
The air catches in his throat.
(And no consequences.)
The hysterical giggle echoes in the barn loft.
(Let it fade and merge, or try to bring it back and split the magic with Oscar?)
In the end, the choice is out of his hands. Ozpin doesn't notice at first, but in the hours after Astrid's return the wall has solidified and mimicked Oscar's soul so well he'd almost mistake it again. It is not Oscar's soul brushing his when they swap places, but the freely given, no consequence magic.
(The irony is not lost.)
He wonders what exactly Oscar's semblance is.
-1.
*Discard - Note: Ozpin is confirmed traitorous, Sources: 6ybfe
Before she arrives home, this is how Astrid's day goes: an eight-hour train ride, lunch with an old student, and a fact she cannot check.
This is how Astrid looks: hair done up to appear messy and short. Contacts that make her eyes seem more acid green than a deepening endlessness. Glasses which make her eyes seem bigger, wider than they really are. Homely, dark clothes and a trench coat. On her forehead, hidden unless asked to see, is a drawn-on marking that – squinted at on an angle – looks like a small lightening bolt scar.
Astrid is cosplaying as Harry Potter, using it as an alias named Hazel Potter. Those who get the refence doubletake on first glace, and she knows. None of them realize it's not her real name or appearance. It's better – spinning a web of lies a single Spider could only hope to dream of making – that they think she, A, and many others are different people. The three people who understand the reference to its fullest all think she dresses up to find more of them.
Those who can, do it too.
This is the person sharing lunch on the train with Astrid: tall, lean, and pale from endless wells of aura strengthening and healing her from the day she was born. Fox ears, though on some meetings whisker streaks are drawn on cheeks with a mischievous smile. Friendly blue eyes, twenty years old, and five months pregnant. A degree in Remnant's version of political science and a certified, well respected lawyer.
Lief Kohana immigrated to Vacuo from Menagerie with the help of Astrid's network and is currently on this stupid train because her trip with her husband was interrupted when Atlas demanded he work on their relay tower that's all the way on the other side of Mistral.
Lief's adopted fathers are part of A's network, and she jumped on board after clueing into forcebewithyou. Astrid tutored her as Loulou Skywalker, and meets with her as Hazel Potter, never revealing the two are the same person.
"This is really good," Lief grumbles through a mouthful of noodles.
Astrid replies positive, humming with an easy smile. This is how I live, she thinks. This is what I've chosen.
Lief would have been a great friend.
"Thank you for all you've done," the bright ball of sunshine sighs, falling back into her seat with relief. "I'll be soooo glad to be back in Vacuo. I mean, Mistral's nice, but no place like home, you know?"
More than you'll ever. "Of course. I'm… I'm sorry I couldn't do more."
"Phsh," she gets waved off. "This is royal treatment. I got to go to a spa yesterday. A spa. I don't know how you pulled that, but holy fish sticks I haven't felt this good since before the tyke started kicking. There's no one back home certified to even do those yoga-couple things we had back on Earth!"
"Well, I have to admit," Astrid leans forward conspiratorially, "Skywalker did hint that I should bribe you for the job she offered."
"Yah, well, she didn't need to. I already accepted," Lief smiles proudly. "The least I can do. We all got to stick together, right?"
"You got it." Astrid smiles. Gives a small laugh. Expresses her relief at not being alone. "Thank you, for accepting. It's been crazy over here."
Crazy, trying to mitigate the loss of the CCT. Crazy trying to find people – to remotely train most of them – to replace the majority of work she does. Astrid could spend another year at this and never feel comfortable in letting go. Time is running out, and it's best not to rush but to chokehold and deceive.
"How were things in Vacuo when… well, you know?"
"We got the currently six-year old sent our way," here, Lief looks uncomfortable in her discussion of post-festival. "He was doing well! Wants to be a hunter, if you can believe it. Scared his new parents half to death when he tried finding his semblance by process of elimination."
Astrid makes the appropriate noises of concern.
Then Lief drops the metaphorical bomb. Leaning close, she whispers grimly, "He's been really firm in his belief that we don't trust Ozpin." As if saying the name is a curse, her fox ears twitch while Lief scans the room.
"Did he say why?" Astrid frowns appropriately. The walls go up, distancing herself to look at the information objectively. No panicking.
"He saw up to season four," Lief breathes. A rarity, to have seen past the first season. Even fewer from Earth have seen the show at all. Astrid pretends to look surprised; the one person to claim to have seen season five died in Vale before they could pass along information. "Says Ozpin ends up in some boy's head. Convinces him to go to Mistral, but it's mega shady." She shakes her head. "I've been trying to be a look out while here, but I can't even picture the kid so…?"
"Thank you for telling me this," thank goodness Oscar hasn't left the farm since Ozpin's appearance. Astrid believed the whole thing to be a karmic accident brought upon by her involvement. Somehow, this is worse. Learn who knows that Oscar has Ozpin, and deal with them before word can spread. "I'll be sure to keep an eye out. Do you… have a description or any details that might help?"
Lief is very helpful.
Astrid gets off three stops before her town. She runs to the next village, changing back to normal off the forest path. She enters and buys a ticket to continue the train adventure alone, finishing off plans and realizing she cannot check the given fact of 'Ozpin is untrustworthy' without revealing too much.
She already has an eye on her cousin and the old man hitchhiker. Can't do much more until Ozpin trusts her a little better. The former headmaster may not be truthful to her, but eventually he'll have to confide in Oscar. Astrid counts on that more than she likes.
6.
It is the largest fight they've ever had. M and Astrid go at it until dawn, each trying to convince the other as it goes from calm arguments, to screaming matches, to finally exhaustion weighing them down.
M does not concede without tears. Maybe one-day her mother will forgive her, but Astrid tucks the woman into bed and prepares to intercept Oscar before he starts the morning chores.
"Breakfast," she tells him with a smile she doesn't feel. After, she brings him in front of the cellar's trapdoor and hides her shaking, tired motions opening it. "Welcome to the dooms-day shelter."
Her bedroom.
"M never wanted you to see this," Astrid explains wearily, sitting on the last stair. Her arms are crossed over her knees, shoulders hunched and watching her gaping, stunned cousin walk up to the wall of weapons. Bookshelves of normal bullets and broken tool pieces line the sides of the display. A weapon for everyone.
On the other side of the room, books and books filled with everything. The only volumes missing are her diaries and unrecorded notes, tucked under the floorboards beneath the small mattress and stack of blankets. In between supplies are canned foods, dry ingredients, and boards with pins and strings. There are flashlights in every corner and one, lonely lamp beside the mattress.
No one would ever call this a bedroom.
"Take whatever you think we'll need," Astrid tells them.
In the meantime, she gathers her strength to fend off another discussion she doesn't want to have. Once they get over their shock…
Well… it takes a lot of energy to convince herself this is better in the long run.
7.
"And this one is if Atlas wants to declare war on the world. And this one is in case of Branwen's tribe cutting through here. This is in case you get bored and want something to do. Oh, and if you want to start dating again, this is how you can vet them thoroughly."
"I'm not going to start dating," M rolls her eyes, smiling at her daughter's preparedness.
"You never know," Astrid shrugs. "Just… it's there. If you want."
It clicks in for the eldest woman how much work her daughter has put into taking care of them. That's rather touching. The Big Book of Plans will keep her busy just leafing through it. With a fond sigh, M puts her tea down and slides a chair next to her daughter. "Where's the one for world domination?"
Astrid perks up and proudly gives the options. M smiles tenderly. When her two children eventually return, she'll have the best family-bonding plan picked out so they can s̢͘ę̸̶͢͠ȩ̷̸̢̕the world together.
8.
Ozpin watches Astrid pick up Oscar's scarf. She cuts off mid-question to smile fondly. He decides then, falling back into Oscar's mind and encouraging the boy to use magic.
"But you said not to?"
("I know what I said," Ozpin wishes the boy would stop turning when they talk. He knows she's curious and wants to see it. "But a few tricks won't hurt. Why not show her something special?")
Oscar sighs and waves off his cousin's inquires. "I'm gonna show you something. So, just… don't freak out?"
(Well, Ozpin thinks, I didn't mean to make her on guard.)
As watchful as he is, he doesn't miss Oscar's thoughts. How they turn to- (Oh.)
"Expecto patronum."
The wells pull away, leaving trails of infinity in their place. From Oscar's fingers, the magic turns white and creates a creature that startles a happy laugh from Astrid. Oscar's too focused on the animal that he can't see her face, but the wells are stronger and refill faster. Only when Astrid says something, hesitantly reaching up to pet the apparition, does the boy turn.
Her face is full of wonder. "That's amazing."
Magic.
Her semblance is not making it fade away, instead strengthening the magic Oscar holds within. (Physics, Ozpin thinks while the cousins talk and Oscar shows off. The only conclusion he can come to is energy transfer, and still that would not make sense.
Where did the stories come from?
What is Oscar's semblance?
And, he relaxes as the bright promise stays within reach, are we at greater risk staying with Astrid?)
In the near future, none of these will likely matter. For now, he lets them be. It is not probable Astrid will remember who she heard the stories from, not when she's already answered she does not know. Oscar's semblance will eventually be found, and nothing short of his family's death will let Oscar and himself go forth from the farm alone.
They leave in a few days.
(I'm coming, Qrow.)
9.
"If either of you want to leave, we leave," Astrid stresses. "Don't fight each other on this. Don't try and hide this. I will find out and I won't even give you time to pack if one of you keeps the request quiet."
Oscar is still unsure to the rules they're hammering out but agrees to this readily. Ozpin takes his time trying to counter it. "If it is a panicked wish to leave, then I think there should be a day or two to truly see if the problem instigating the want to leave can be solved."
"If it's a panicked wish to leave, we're out of here."
Sensing it going nowhere, Ozpin sighs. "What else?"
"If I deem it too dangerous, we pull out." Her gaze is flat and unmoving.
"That seems unfair."
"I will tell you my reasons," she folds her hands together. "If either of you can come up with a solution, then we stay. But, if I determine the threat is too big and will risk yours or Oscar's life, I will do everything I can to remove you from the situation."
"Reasonable enough," he nods, weary. "I don't believe you'll take my word that I won't let Oscar go into situations like that without backup?"
Oscar grumbles.
"You can try, but things always happen," Astrid slants him a look. "We get out as soon as one of us says, or we don't go in at all?"
"Agreed," the males say.
"Alright. Then here's what I think should happen if we're separated-"
10.
They hug and say heartfelt goodbyes. M waves them off.
Oscar carries a retractable baton and his scarf in his pocket. His backpack holds everything for a trip.
Astrid has knives and a baton hidden in the folds of her clothing, a staff strapped to her back, and Scrolls hidden everywhere else. Her pack holds all the essentials, plus extra. After five minutes down the dirt road, she pulls out one of her scrolls.
"Ozpin wants to know how many you have," Oscar smiles a bit.
Astrid clicks her tongue with an amused huff. "Too many."
The usual answer.
A/N: When a world is built with old stories, much more falls through the cracks. Astrid lies to everyone but herself – because she knows the power of belief. (6ybfe –currently a 6 year old boy from earth)
Thank you, Shioh, for your review! I'm glad to hear! Up next, the journey to Mistral! I really hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you again for reviewing!
Thank you, RandomShtScinceWhenever, for your review! The backlash from Ozpin's past was… interesting. I'm crossing my fingers that it won't get worse in Atlas. You can bet Oscar grew up listening to the tunes of a lot of fairy-tale themed songs! Thank you so much for your review, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, Blaise Welshman, for your review! It is Mulan that's mentioned, though a story for Joan of Arc is also something Ozpin reads in the book. I really hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you again for reviewing!
Thank you, TheParadoxicalOxymoron, for your review! That is a Goal I am working towards; volume 6 was a lot of hurting and no supportive hugs for the guy who probably had one of the worst flashbacks of his lives. If this fic doesn't fix that, it's definitely going fix the lead-up. I'm so glad to hear that! Thank you so much for your review, and I really hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, bwburke94, for your review! I've been going off of the Wiki, which at the moment has Oscar age 14 for volumes 4-6. I'm taking liberties with his age (and whether or not he's a Faunus) in the fic for plot reasons. I really hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you again for your review!
Thank you, xenocanaan, for your review! I'm glad to hear! I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you so much!
I hope everyone is having a great day. Thank you for reading!
