Chapter Nine: Talking to Strangers

Another rainstorm had started before Oscar reached the shoddy wood and plaster building that passed as his region's only train station. Sheets of water hammered down. He stood beneath a wooden shelter, attempting to coax an ancient machine into giving him a ticket. With an irritating beep, a red error message flashed up on the screen.

"Stupid thing." He sighed. "I'm assuming whatever weird magic this is doesn't come with an infinite supply of money?"

"I'm afraid you'll have to solve this one on your own."

Oscar rolled his eyes and continued tapping at the screen.

"Be on your guard."

He looked up, head tilted. "What do you mean?"

"Here." A deep voice alerted Oscar to the presence of a tall, muscular dark-haired man. He trudged over to Oscar. Oscar realised the man towered above him, and promptly took a step back.

The man raised a huge fist. Eyes widening, Oscar flinched away and covered his face with his hands. There was a loud thud. Surprised nothing hurt, Oscar looked up. A fist-sized indent had appeared in the top of the machine.

He punched it? Oscar thought, bewildered. He slowly straightened up, keeping a careful eye on the tall stranger. Beeping, the machine spat out a ticket that fluttered to the ground. Oscar glanced at it, then back at the man, who nodded slightly. Cautiously, Oscar slowly crouched down to pick it up. Cradling the ticked in one hand, he watched the man with narrowed eyes.

"Don't let such a small obstacle block your path." The man growled. In his deep, rough voice, it sounded very much like a threat. Lighting crackled nearby and he walked away into the rain, fading from view.

"That man." Oscar said, standing up. "I felt..." He flinched a little, briefly closing his eyes. "Who is he?"

"Someone from my past. Someone who should not be taken lightly." Ozpin's tone was grave. Oscar looked up as a train thundered into the station.

"You know, this is better than I thought it'd be." Oscar sat on a soft red seat, gazing out of the train window at the countryside flashing by in an emerald blur.

"How come?"

"I've never actually been on a train before. I just kind of assumed it would be louder." Oscar fiddled with his backpack strap. "And it doesn't really feel like it's moving. I thought it would."

"Ah, the wonders of modern technology." Ozpin said dryly.

"Ouch. Sarcasm overload."

"I try."

"Can you keep a lookout while I sleep?" Oscar whispered, curling up on the seat. "I'm exhausted."

"I'll wake us up if there's any trouble." Ozpin promised.

"Okay..." Eyelids drooping, Oscar's head dropped to the table in front of him.

A door slammed. Oscar sat bolt upright, heart hammering.

"Easy Oscar, it was just a door. You're still on the train."

"How long was I out?" He asked, rubbing his eyes and trying to slow his rapid breathing.

"Roughly ten hours."

"So it's pretty early in the morning?"

"I believe so."

"I haven't slept this long in ages." Oscar stretched, rolling his shoulders.

The carriage door in front of him burst open, slamming against the wall with a loud bang. Startled, Oscar threw his arms up to protect his face and turned his head away. His breathing hitched. For a moment he couldn't move, couldn't think.

"Hi!" An enthusiastic small voice shouted. Oscar blinked. A little girl, about five or six years old, was beaming brightly at him, her black frizzy hair barely held back by a thin red ribbon. He opened his mouth, trying to speak, but no words came out. His heart raced.

"Oscar, you can relax. She can't hurt you."

"Are you alright?" Another figure had appeared. Oscar focused and the figure resolved itself into a young woman, a concerned frown creasing her face. She was holding the little girl back with one hand. He took a deep, shaky breath and curled his hands in his lap. They shook.

"Kid?" The woman asked, kneeling down next to him.

"I'm fine, thank you." Oscar mumbled, stammering over the words.

"You don't look it." She said bluntly, shifting her bag from her shoulder.

Oscar looked down and realised the state he was in. Mud spattered his boots and there was a tear in his trouser leg just below his knee. Small bruises and scratches peppered his arms, and dark specs of what could be blood were flecked across his shirt.

"Mommy!" The little girl tugged at her sleeve. "I'm hungry!"

The woman rolled her eyes and, smiling slightly, handed the girl the bag. "Only one, Amber."

Grinning, Amber clambered onto a nearby seat and began to devour a large biscuit. Oscar watched the simple interaction with unfocused eyes.

"You still with us?" The woman asked. After a few seconds, Oscar nodded slightly. His heart rate was slowly returning to normal.

"Sorry about Amber, she's a little boisterous sometimes." Upon receiving no reaction from Oscar, the woman tried a different approach. "I'm Kat, by the way. We're on our way to Haven."

"I'm..." Oscar trailed off, considering whether he should lie or not.

"Give a fake name." Ozpin advised.

"Lucas." Oscar said. "My name is Lucas."

"Okay, 'Lucas'." Kat shot him a suspicious glance. "When was the last time you ate?"

As if at the thought of food, his stomach growled.

"Yesterday." He lied.

"Would you like a biscuit? I'd rather Amber didn't eat them all, you know."

Oscar eyed the offered food with suspicious desperation. "Can I?" He asked, looking at the floor.

"They're not poisoned." Kat laughed, pushing one into his hands. He stared at it.

"Go ahead. It won't kill you."

Oscar slowly took a bite. His eyes lit up. Within seconds, the heaven-sent biscuit was gone, and he licked the sugary crumbs off his fingers.

"Thank you." He murmured, not quite meeting her eyes.

"Feeling better?" She asked.

"Yeah. I must have been tired, I guess."

"I hope Amber didn't give you too much of a shock."

"It's fine, don't worry." Oscar attempted a reassuring smile.

Kat tilted her head, raising one eyebrow. "Okay."

There was a brief pause. Oscar shifted in his seat. Amber, who had finished carefully disassembling her biscuit, wandered over and threw herself at her mother's legs.

"Ow!" Kat complained, rubbing her leg. "Baby, that hurt." She raised a hand above Amber's face. Oscar tensed. Amber stuck her tongue out. Breaking into laughter, Kat poked her daughter in the stomach gently.

"That was naughty!" She said in mock anger, unable to hide her smile. Oscar dropped his shoulders as the corners of his mouth slowly curled up into a cautious smile.

"She really loves her." He said quietly, barely above a whisper.

"Who wouldn't? She's adorable." Kat's smile abruptly faded. "Hey, are you alright?"

Oscar turned his head away, blinking fast. "I'm fine."

"You need to get better at lying."

"Sorry." Oscar mumbled. "I didn't mean to say that."

Conflicting emotions flickered across Kat's face. She frowned. "Where are your parents?" She asked hesitantly.

Oscar turned away, pulling his backpack into his lap and hugging it tight to his chest. "Not here." He set his jaw.

"I'm sorry." She reached out a hand, placing it gently on his knee. He pulled away.

"Don't be."

She sat back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm sure they loved you very much."

Oscar looked her straight in the eyes, anger suddenly hardening his gaze. "You don't know that."

Taken aback, Kat opened her mouth in silent shock. Frowning, she closed it again, at a loss for words.

"Mommy?" Amber's worried little voice cut through Oscar's anger. She reached out, seeking reassurance. Kat picked her up, wordlessly quelling her anxiety.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get... Like that." Some of the tension in Oscar's limbs faded, and he tried an apologetic smile. "I just don't like talking about it."

"That's perfectly understandable." Kat smiled softly. "I shouldn't have bought it up."

"Is everything happy now?" Amber interjected, trying to climb onto the table.

"Yeah. Everything's happy." A small smile flickered across Oscar's face.

"Thanks for the biscuit."

"No problem, kid." She smiled at him, then scooped Amber up and shouldered her bag. "Glad I could help."

With a last frantic wave from Amber, they left the train carriage. As Oscar watched them go, the weight on his shoulders lessened, until it felt almost comfortable.

"She was kind."

"You sound surprised."

"People are not often as good as they appear to be."

Oscar rolled his eyes. "You are the most cynical person I have ever met."

"Better than being dead."

"You can't die."

"You got me there." Ozpin laughed lightly, and Oscar found himself laughing alongside him.

Oscar pulled at the seat cover absent-mindedly. "What do I do when I get to Haven, anyway?"

"Ultimately we will have to talk with Leonardo about a..." Ozpin hesitated. "A precious item I left in his possession."

"What precious item?" Oscar made air quotation marks as he said it.

"You may hear it referred to as a Relic."

"That doesn't answer my question. What's a Relic?"

"Sometimes, Oscar, you ask too many questions."

"Sorry." Oscar mumbled to the floor, not sounding particularly apologetic.

Heavy footfalls echoed behind him. He jumped, twisting to face the person behind him. It was the tall man from the station.

"Is this seat taken?" The man said, waving a hand towards the seat opposite him. Oscar's brow furrowed slightly.

"Oscar, I urge you, be careful. This man is dangerous." Ozpin sounded tense.

"I'll take that as a no." The man sat down. His seat creaked beneath him.

"Oh, yeah, sorry." Oscar looked down, stammering over the words.

"Lost in thought?" The man smiled a little.

"Something like that." Oscar couldn't meet his eyes.

There was a pause. Nervously, Oscar picked at a dried bit of mud on his trousers.

The man let out an irritated snarl. Oscar looked up to see him glaring at a poster on the back of the door.

"Haven Academy. Be a hero." The man read from the poster with a dark expression. Shifting so his back was pressed to the wall, Oscar edged quietly away from him.

"The Huntsman Academies are death traps. There's nothing heroic about the brutal deaths of children." Knuckles white, the man curled his hands into fists.

Oscar turned his head away.

"Did you see what happened at the Vytal Festival?" The man's voice was a low growl.

"I heard..." Oscar stammered. He felt his heart thud in his chest and his breathing hitched. "Professor Ozpin and-"

The man slammed a fist down on the table, making Oscar flinch. "That monster." He snarled. "He should pay for what he's done."

"Oscar, he's unstable. He carries a vendetta against me, and I do not want you getting involved." Ozpin ordered.

Oscar flattened himself against the wall, eyes screwed shut and face turned away.

"Hey, are you alright?" The anger left the man's voice as suddenly as it had appeared. He leant forwards slightly, brow furrowed.

Oscar opened his eyes slowly. He watched the man with practiced caution. "I'm fine." His voice was barely audible.

"Are you travelling with anyone?" The man's rough voice took on an edge of concern. "Your parents?"

Oscar's hands tightened around his backpack strap. "Not here." He looked down.

"I'm sorry to hear that kid." A surprising sincerity filled the man's words. "You got anyone looking out for you when you reach Haven?"

"I look out for me." Oscar looked him in the eyes.

"If you are, you're doing a terrible job." The man said, sitting up.

Oscar remembered the state he was in.

"Let me guess, it's not as bad as it looks?" The man raised an eyebrow. "Because it looks bad."

"I didn't notice." Oscar tried for a reassuring smile.

"Sure you didn't." The man reached into his bag. Oscar stiffened. "Easy kid, I won't hurt you."

Like no one's ever said that to me before, Oscar thought, eyes narrowed.

"Do you want something to eat?" The man rifled through his satchel. "I've got an apple, bread-"

Oscar's stomach rumbled. As delicious as Kat's biscuit had been, it wasn't very filling.

The man chuckled. "Bread it is." He pulled out a small loaf and tossed it over to him. Oscar caught it, head tilted slightly. It was the kind of soft, fluffy bread that seemed fresh from the oven. His mouth watered.

"I can eat this?" Oscar's voice was small and hesitant.

"Although I urge you not trust him, it is highly unlikely that he has poisoned the food."

"I gave it to you, didn't I?" The man pulled out an apple and began cleaning it on his sleeve.

Tentatively, Oscar pulled a tiny bit of bread off the loaf. He watched the man carefully. Nothing happened, so he slowly raised the piece of bread to his mouth and ate it. The man nodded encouragingly, bemused. Oscar ate faster, until abruptly there was none left.

"You were hungry." The man stated.

"It's really good bread." Mumbled Oscar, his mouth full.

"I'm Hazel. What's your name?"

Oscar swallowed. "Umm..." He hesitated.

"Lie." Advised Ozpin. "It is better that he knows as little about you as possible."

"I'm Lucas." He managed, twisting his hands in his lap.

"Why are you going to Haven?" The man's expression and tone were neutral.

Oscar stayed silent, wary again. He felt like he was being interrogated.

"I heard you talking before I came in. Was there someone else here?" Hazel leaned forward.

"I-" Oscar stammered.

"Get out Oscar. Now!"

Oscar flinched. "I was just thinking out loud," he mumbled.

"Are you going to meet someone in Haven?" Hazel's eyes narrowed.

"Please leave me alone." Oscar whispered, looking away. Every muscle in his body was tense, waiting.

"I won't hurt you, kid. Talk to me."

What should I do? Oscar thought desperately, hoping Ozpin could hear him.

"Hey." The man laid a hand on Oscar's arm. "Talk."

Oscar closed his eyes tightly. "What do I do?" His voice was barely audible but Hazel saw his lips move.

"Speak up."

"Just take your bag and run!"

"I can't." Oscar said in a small voice. His hands shook.

Hazel sighed heavily. "Let's try this again. Why are you going to Haven?"

"Say you're going to meet some distant relatives."

"Family." Oscar stammered. "I'm going to look for my family."

"I thought you said your parents were gone?"

"My parents are, but..." Oscar took a shaky breath and looked up. "My dad's family is from Haven. I want to find them."

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" Something like a smile flickered across Hazel's face.

"Why did you want to know?" Oscar tried to put some distance between himself and Hazel.

"You intrigue me."

Oscar swallowed, mouth dry. "I'm not that interesting."

"Funny." Hazel's gaze never wavered. "Uninteresting people generally don't have to say that."

"You have to get out Oscar! Right now!"

"What are you trying so hard to hide?" Hazel murmured.

"Now, Oscar!"

"Get away from me." Oscar looked Hazel straight in the eyes.

Hazel sat up. "What?"

"Get away from me!" Grabbing his backpack, Oscar stood up on his seat and jumped over the table to the comparative safety of the corridor. He sprinted for the door. As he reached it Hazel's hand slammed down next to him, holding it closed.

"Oh no you don't." Hazel towered over him.

"What do you want from me?" Oscar pressed his back against the door.

"I heard you say Relic. What do you know about the Relics?" Hazel's voice was a low snarl.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Oscar tried to pull away, but Hazel grabbed his wrist and pinned him against the door.

"Don't tell him anything about me." Ozpin warned, speaking hurriedly. "He'll kill you if he thinks you have something to do with me."

"How do you know about the Relics?" Wrapping a hand around Oscar's neck, Hazel forced him to look him in the eyes. "How?"

A tear slipped down Oscar's cheek and trickled down Hazel's hand. "Please..."

Hazel tightened his grip. Fighting for air, Oscar clawed at his neck with his one free hand.

"I could snap your neck in an instant, so when I ask you to tell me something, you tell me!" Hazel let go of Oscar's wrist and punched him in the chest. It was obvious he was holding back, but his fist hit Oscar like a brick and he gasped.

"Hey, what in Remnant is going on here?" A woman stood at the other end of the carriage; a pistol worn at her hip. She wore a dark blue coat, embroidered with the Mistral Police Force's coat of arms.

With a snarl, Hazel dropped Oscar. He crumpled to the floor.

Hazel turned to the woman, fists clenched. "Mind your own business."

"If it happens on this train it's my business." She reached for the gun at her side.

Hazel glanced over his shoulder at where Oscar lay slumped, back pressed against the door. "This will only take a minute."

"Step away from the kid." The woman raised her gun, eyes narrowed.

Hazel's scroll rang. Brow furrowed, he fished it out of his pocket and answered it. "It's Hazel." A pause. "No, I'm well aware of-" He sighed. "Yes, I understand. I will." He replaced it in his pocket.

The woman stared blankly, gun still in hand.

Hazel turned to Oscar, who tried to scramble away. He knelt. "It's a shame I never got my answer, huh?" Oscar's eyes were wide as Hazel reached for him.

"That's enough!" The woman yelled. "Hands up!"

Hazel sighed. He grabbed Oscar by the shirt, throwing him to the side. Oscar collided with the table and cried out. Pulling open the door, Hazel glanced over his shoulder at the woman. "Don't follow me."

She held her gun steady, pointed at his retreating figure. He wrenched open the outside door in the partition between the carriages. The ground raced by. He jumped, and quickly disappeared from view. The woman walked over and closed the door, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Is he gone?" Oscar's voice was barely above a whisper. He knelt on the floor; one hand wrapped around his aching chest.

"Yeah, don't worry, I've got you." She knelt down next to him. "Are you alright?"

"I don't think I have any broken ribs, so that's good." Oscar attempted a smile.

"I'm Viridian, by the way. " She smiled softly, a worried frown creasing her forehead. "Did you know him?"

"He bought my ticket at the station, but..." Oscar trailed off, shrugging.

"Be careful what you say. You do not know if she can be trusted."

"Do you know why he was hurting you?" Concern filled her voice.

"No. He just snapped." Oscar wrapped his arms around himself.

Viridian frowned. "You don't have to worry now, okay? I'll stay with you until we get to Haven, if you want."

"Please." Oscar's voice was small.

"Are you travelling with anyone?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Right." Her concern deepened. "Are you meeting someone in Haven?"

Oscar stiffened. He pulled away from her, trying to stand up.

"Hey, easy!" She caught him as he stumbled. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, okay?" She lowered him onto a nearby seat.

"Don't tell her anything."

"Okay." Oscar shifted on the seat. "Can I have my backpack, please? It's over there." He pointed.

"Of course." She smiled and turned away, moving to get it.

"Oz, what in Remnant was that about?" Oscar hissed under his breath once Viridian was out of earshot.

"I told you he was dangerous. I meant it."

"That's not an answer."

"Once we get to Haven, I'll explain more. Now is not the place or the time."

Oscar narrowed his eyes.

"Kid?" Viridian frowned. "You okay?" She handed him the backpack. "You were talking to yourself."

"Oh, right. Sorry."

"Are you sure you're alright?" She sat down opposite him.

"I do that sometimes, sorry. Just thinking out loud." Oscar smiled nervously.

Viridian raised an eyebrow, but didn't question him further. The radio on her belt crackled. "Viridian, come in Viridian."

She shot Oscar an apologetic glance and brought it to her mouth. "Viridian here."

"Saffron here. What's your status? Did a man jump out of the train?"

"He did, but trust me we're better off without him. He attacked a kid."

"Dear gods. Is the kid okay?"

"He's not badly injured, just bruised." Viridian glanced at Oscar. "He's travelling alone, so I think I should stay with him for a bit."

"Copy that."

"Over and out." Viridian smiled softly and replaced the radio on her belt, turning to Oscar. "That was Saffron, the driver."

"Oh, right." Oscar fiddled with his sleeve.

"I should go and check on the other passengers, but I'll be back in a second, okay?"

He nodded. "I'll be fine."

"Awesome." She got up and walked to the door. With a last glance back at Oscar, she opened it and stepped through, disappearing from view.

"Now can we talk?" Oscar hissed at Ozpin.

"I don't see what there is to talk about."

"Hello? I was just attacked? By a guy you know?" Oscar gestured to the door, eyes wide.

"Knew. Past tense."

"Something tells me he doesn't think that. What aren't you telling me?"

"I'm telling you exactly what you need to know. You ought to pay attention."

"I've followed you this far. I've given you my trust. The least you can do is trust me!"

"Careful, you're speaking loudly."

Oscar sighed. "I'm never going to get a straight answer from you, am I?"

"When the time is right, you will learn everything."

"You just proved my point for me."

Ozpin stayed silent. Rolling his eyes, Oscar settled down and waited for Viridian to return.