Ch.7: The Bargain
The clinic is small with only a few chairs in the waiting room. There's that distinct chill that all hospital type areas have. We rub our arms for warmth and look around for the owner of the place. A rustle of papers comes from a room behind the reception area then a woman appears through a door before us.
"I haven't seen you before. You must be one of the huntsmen." She says. She has shoulder length white hair, and an odor of cigarettes clinging to her like glue. "looks like the Grimm got one over on ya kid." She points at the gash on our leg.
"Yes, may I use some of your ointment to treat it before I bandage it?"
The lady laughs; just a short ha and a head nod. "You come into a clinic and ask to do it yourself? Do you go to restaurants and ask the chef if you can cook your own entree?"
"Actually, I've never been to a restaurant." Oscar says, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Then go to the Daily Bread." The woman gestures for us to follow her into the exam room. "Nice place to get bakery food. Well, when we actually had food."
We all walk inside the room. We sit at the examination table, the paper crunching under our weight, and she sits at her desk. I notice the doctorate from Mistral University. Ms. Loreen Bell, huh.
"So, was it one big tough Grimm or a bunch of different weaker ones that just attacked us?"
"You knew about that?" Oscar asks, surprised. "None of them got past us, did they?"
"No worries." Ms. Bell rummages through a messy pile on the shelf above her desk. "Nothing got through. I'm not far from the entrance ya know, I could hear all of you fighting. Here." She hands us a bottle of antibiotic ointment. "Figured you just need this since you got, you know." She taps a finger on her neck while staring at ours. We look down at our bandage covered neck.
"Yea, I always have my own with me. I used to always get banged up at my Aunt's farm so much that she used to tell me I should put bandages around my whole body so I wouldn't have to come running in every time I got cut. I took her only a quarter seriously." Oscar smiles at this nostalgic memory of his. I can see it too, a younger Oscar around six in age, running back to his Aunt with several scrapes he got from rough housing with some of the animals in the forest around the farm.
"You used to be a farm boy eh? Maybe you can help some of the farmers here make some food for us."
"There's nothing I would be able to do that they can't do. Since it's winter all they can do is store seeds from their last harvest. Crops can't grow in this kind of weather. Do they raise any cattle?"
"They're doing that but they said the pigs and cows can only reproduce so much. If they slaughter more then we'll be out of meat too." Ms. Bell says, reaching into her jacket pocket. When she came up empty, she clicks her tongue. "Dammit, where did I put my smokes." She searches through her drawers for her pack of cigarettes.
Oscar wrestles his hands together, a nervous habit that I'm used to seeing him do now. He must have something on his mind that he wants to say. I should check what it is so I can give him advice.
Should I ask her about the party? But she looks so preoccupied now, she'll probably just ignore me.
"Ask her anyway. She doesn't look like someone who would ignore a person."
A flash of anger invades my mind, not my own emotion, but his. I must have overstepped a boundary.
"Di–" He stops himself, looking up to see if Ms. Bell noticed him talking. Oscar then pulls out a scroll from his pocket, fiddles with opening it and turning on the messaging app, then types a message to me.
"Did you just read my mind?" He says. I've done it before and he wasn't bothered by it, but now things are different.
"I-I did yes, but you seemed nervous. I only wanted to give encouragement. It's a fine question really, I think you should ask her."
"I think I need to put some rules between us. No more possessions and no more mind reading. It's my body, not yours."
I wanted to tell him that it's our body and our thoughts, but I know he won't accept that. I felt all the fight drain out of me when I thought about how much arguing we would have to do just for me to get an inch. I really am not sure how to get along with Oscar. I've never had a host so at odds against me like this before. Well, not since Edward. I would rather not repeat that history again so it'll be better to follow his wishes. "Alright, it's your body. I'll accept your privacy."
Oscar smiles and I can feel the glow of his happiness, making me a bit happy too. I couldn't help but to feel his emotions since we share a body, but for now his body and his thoughts are his. I do wonder though, could he feel my emotions? Does he feel this sinking feeling too?
"Got something on your mind kid?" Ms. Bell asks, a cigarette pressed between her lips now.
"No, for once in a while I have nothing on my mind."
The next week goes by and nothing in Elsinore has improved, it's only become worse. Grimm attacks are daily occurrences now. We had hoped that the returning police could help but they have to deal with so many internal conflicts in the city that only team ARBN, Oscar and the best students and teachers from the city's combat school can handle the Grimm. They helped a bit, but none of them were huntsmen or close to that. With a higher population now, the storage of food is running low, and with that people's unease is getting higher. Lately the mayor has been getting impossible requests from his citizens because of this.
Oscar hasn't fared well either. After every attack, he ends up with scrapes and bruises so bad that he needs to go to Ms. Bell's clinic afterwards. His previous use of aura is gone, only rarely does it come up. Now he fights like a milquetoast, freshman from a combat school. It's one thing to have to look at him get beat up every day but I feel it too. Every claw cutting into my flesh, every bite wound on my leg, every headbutt cracking one of my ribs. Each time I yell at him to defend, evade, put more force into the attack but that only threw off his coordination. My attempts at conversation are ignored too. I ask him about his life before he started his huntsman's training, what he thinks of the current affairs of Elsinore or even the weather, all met with silence. He really wants the split to happen, and it very well may happen at this rate.
I've spent some time thinking about what may happen to me if it does. Would I simply go to another host? That could take ten, twenty, or even a hundred years. The process is completely random, I wish I had control over it. In that time, Salem could conquer the whole world. No amount of force I put up at that point would be worth it anymore. If I don't find a host, would my soul finally move on? That thought does give me semblance of peace. To finally be done with all this conflict of trying to reunite the world so that the Gods would deem it worthy to not destroy, I wouldn't want anything more in the world than that. But to be laid at rest without my mission being done, the countless centuries I've spent living in various times, various bodies, all of that gone and wasted. It infuriates me to give up like that. That's why I've decided that today, when Oscar goes to bandage himself up again, would be different.
"Ooh, they got you on the head this time. Any concussion?" Ms. Bell says, looking over Oscar's tattered body. He has bandages on more than just his neck now.
"I think? I did pass out when that Boarbatusk got me from behind."
"Just make sure you get plenty of water, we at least got that, and stay away from your scroll. Too much stimuli now can be bad for you." She hands him bandages and soap. "Restroom is out on the right. I'll have to refill on ointment."
"Sorry about that." Oscar sinks his head.
"No worries. It's more than just you visiting, I have the kids from the combat school here as well. You know, before you guys came all of us had to defend ourselves against the Grimm."
"That's awful. I didn't know it was so bad here for so long." Oscar says. He may have not noticed it but I've seen the battle axe slightly peeking out from behind Ms. Bell's desk for a while now. I had her pegged for a whip user or at least a common spear since that's easy to use. This however is overkill.
"Believe it kid. And before we all started doing that, we had the kids and teachers at the combat school defend us by themselves. The mayor stopped that since it was getting too hard on them. They only have one retired huntsman teaching there, the rest are military. We need more huntsmen, real huntsmen." She taps on her pocket for smokes, practically on instinct. "And I need an assistant to find my smokes for me." She looks at Oscar. "You gonna bandage yourself kid? You're getting blood on my table."
"Ah right!" Oscar quickly hops off of the table then makes way to leave the room. "Sorry about that Mam."
On his way to the restroom, I bring up what I've been preparing for a while. "Oscar, I want to make a deal."
"A deal? What do you have in mind?"
"You have reign over your body for everything else, in exchange let me take over during combat. That way you don't have to come back like this all the time."
"Then how would I learn?"
"You can learn by watching me."
"I'm learning now. Did you see me today? I handled that Creep by myself, even though I don't have a semblance and barely can use my aura. I can still fight."
"That can only get you so far. I'll admit you are getting better but unless you can control your aura then the Grimm will always have the upper hand. You could lose a limb Oscar, or even worse, your life."
"The answer is no Ozpin." He throws open the bathroom door. I could feel the fire of his anger now. I planned for a response like this, so I still have more he would want.
"Okay, then how about you allow me into your thoughts and memories again? I can be great tactical support in combat if you allow me to do this."
"Then I would have you in on my most private thoughts." I see Oscar blush in the reflection of the mirror in the bathroom. "That's way too embarrassing."
"That also may not be all that bad."
"Huh?"
"I've noticed the way you look at young Ms. Tora. Your eyes linger on her more than others and you always get hot under the collar around her. Especially that one time she helped heal you after combat."
"No, no,no,no!" Oscar's voice fills the room and he almost trips over the toilet in his embarrassment. "I don't feel that way about her. Even if I did, how could you help?"
"I've had plenty of wives throughout my lives. I've even met Casanova at one point. With my help, you can capture the heart of Ms. Tora."
Oscar turns the faucet on and touches the cool water, letting it run over his cuts, slightly stinging. He applies the soap and sucks in a quick breath. "And all I need to do is let you read my thoughts?" He says. "If I wanted that."
"Yes, exactly."
Oscar is quiet now, too deep in thought to make a response now. He's considering his options, that's better than a flat-out denial like before. At the very least, that means he considers me worth more in his head than out. Although, I shouldn't jump to conclusions. Oscar has been so unpredictable lately, as if he was a completely different person. My past that Jinn showed stirred something within him. If only I was a second quicker on getting to Ruby then none of this would have happened.
"I can't do that." Oscar says.
"You don't want to like you?"
"No, I mean yes, I mean just as a friend, but." He sighs and drops his head, letting some of the water splash on his face. "If I use you like that then does she really like me or you? I couldn't respect myself if you won me a girl and it wasn't my own actions." With the wound clean, Oscar begins bandaging the cuts.
That makes sense why he would go into battle day after day with barely any training. He wants to know that he did it; that it wasn't someone else. I can understand that, I've surely felt that want before. But now I'm drawing a blank. There must be something I could give to Oscar. I could give my knowledge but so far, he hasn't listened to me at all. During our whole time together, I've always had access to his memories but now that he cut me off from them, I only have scrapes. Now I barely know him. I feel as if I'm losing control of everything here. To have my life stolen by Cinder, to be put back at Zero with Oscar after everything I accomplished as Ozpin, to be put at blame by Qrow, Yang and the rest of them for trying to save the world, it all is infuriating. I put my life at risk dozens of times and this is what I get? Put in a body of someone trying to get rid of me when all I'm trying to do is help.
Yes, I'm only trying to help.
I allowed my students at Beacon to break rules when I knew it would do good. If I left Oscar to do what he wills then where would that leave Elsinore? Where would that leave him? This is for the best, so what's one broken rule compared to saving lives.
At the depths of our minds, Oscar and I are separated by a border. On my side there's a war field with scattered bodies everywhere, and the ones that weren't dead were screaming for death. On his side, there is his Aunt's farm yard during a peaceful springtime harvest. I relish the chance whenever I get to escape my mind and enter his world that knows nothing of war or loss. I cross the border that separates us and dive into the world of his desires.
I'm on a wide, open farm yard. Animals roam around the field free and happy. Birds sing in the air, dropping fertilizer on the land. Pigs cut the wheat with scythes held expertly in their maws. Cats attack any rodents that get near the pumpkin patch and a cow is on a plow machine reaping the vegetables. I'm sure Oscar wishes that his Aunt's farm could be run like this. When I first met him, it was just him and her operating the farm. I could count the number of times he was able to take a break on one hand. He was never sad doing it though. Speaking of Oscar, I don't see him anywhere. I look around, and then the sweet smell of pumpkin pie wafts over to me. The smell comes from the house where Oscar's Aunt sits knitting on a rocking chair. I walk over to her with a smile on my face.
I can see a bit of resemblance in them. The same brown hair color and freckles. She is a well-toned woman that looks no older than forty. She greets me with a pleasant grin. "Hey there sugar, I'm Annette but everyone calls me Nettie."
"Hey there Ms. Nettie, I'm–" I hesitate, unsure whether to introduce myself as Oscar or Ozpin. I look down and see I'm wearing my old armor as Ozma. My height is the same and even my hair. Bewilderment takes a hold of me. I haven't been in this body, no, my body, for years. Whenever I would dive into the minds of my other hosts, they would think of me as whatever my voice sounded like to them. But since Oscar saw my past, he sees me like this.
"You okay sugar? You need a napkin?" Ms. Nettie asks. I didn't notice that my face became wet. I wipe the moisture away, tears of joy for being in my original body. I never knew how much I missed this.
"No thank you, I'm fine. I would like to know if you know the location of your nephew? I haven't seen him on your farm."
"Oh, didn't ya hear? He doesn't work here anymore. That's why he brought all of these wonderfully trained animals to take his spot for me. He's a big shot in the city now."
"And where might this city be?"
"Why you must be new 'round here. It's right back there down that road. Follow it and you can't miss it." I look to where she points at, a long road between a forest of trees. I couldn't see the end of it. However, once I pass two trees, I'm instantly in a city. Dream travel, really takes the magic out of actually traveling.
The city I'm in is Mistral, specifically the part we stayed in during our time at Haven. A crowd of people walk around a market, all chatting about various stuff but one word keeps popping up.
"Did you hear about the last mission Oscar went on?"
"Oscar slayed a raven by himself."
"I heard Oscar saved a baby from a burning building on his way back here."
Suddenly a drunkard comes in and parts the crowd. "Hey everybody?! Gueeeees, who, Oscar is about to get rewarded for best huntsmen ever." That voice, Qrow? He's completely drunk with a red face to boot. So, this is how Oscar sees him. If he saw him when I first met him, then he would be right on the dot. Everyone in the market including the vendors all amass to the courtyard in front of Haven. I follow them all in the back, careful to make sure I don't get trampled.
On a stage is team RWBY and JNR. Ruby is at the microphone, absolutely giddy to speak. I haven't seen her this excited talking to a large audience in, ever actually. She's good at speaking with her team but the comments from teachers at Beacon said she struggled at public speaking in front of a crowd larger than ten. Oscar must look up to her since she's the leader of a well accomplished group that has helped him out of danger plenty of times before. That's why she's on stage awarding him.
"Ladies and gents, you have all gathered today to congratulate the super amazing awesome and omg his weapon is just the best, Oscar!"
The crowd erupts into applause as Oscar walks on stage, waving at everyone. "We could give him a medal again but come on that'll be lame. So instead, feast your eyes on this." Ruby points dramatically over to a large object falling from the sky. It lands with a loud thud then the rest of team RWBY unveils it. It's a silver statue of Oscar in armor standing at attention. The glister on it makes it look like it's sparking, but what's shining even more is Oscar's own eyes. His face is absolutely at bliss at the sight of his accomplishment. The roar of the crowd, the acknowledgement of his fellow huntsmen in training and a statue to commemorate it all. It's obvious what he wants, now it's time for me to leave. I focus my attention on the wants and desires in my mind and teleport back.
"I can give you fame." I say to Oscar, now our arm is fully bandaged. "Allow my memories into you again and you would naturally get better at combat at a far faster rate than you are on now."
Oscar looks up suddenly at the mirror. His eyebrows arched and his eyes wide. I can feel his excitement bubbling up at the thought. "You would get all the credit, Oscar. Everyone will now you as the hero of Elsinore."
"A hero…"
"Yes, that's what you want right? Recognition from everyone, from your peers like Ruby and them. To be so well off that you could pay for people to work on Aunt Nettie's farm."
Oscar's face went from that of wonder, to concern. "How do you know about me wanting to help Aunt Nettie?"
I went too far. When I felt Oscar's excitement, I thought I was close. I wanted so much to sell him on this idea that I spoke too much, damn it! "I simply assumed–"
"You went inside my mind again didn't you?"
"It's our mind."
"No it's not!" His fists and teeth are clenched. No, our fists and teeth are clenched. "You agreed to not read my thoughts and not to possess me last week, didn't you?"
"And look where that has gotten us. Nowhere." I'm yell. "We are no closer to eliminating the Grimm problem in Elsinore, team ARBN cannot function without the right guidance and you are slowly killing yourself without the right instructor with you, me!"
"We don't need you Ozpin. I don't need you."
He's really acting like a spoiled child now. How many disobedient kids have I had come into my office in my previous life as headmaster? Wilfred, Aled, Eliza, Frank, Cardin and plenty more. They all put their own ego first before the mission or their teams. Now Oscar is doing the same. Does he understand this is my body too? Has he thought of what could happen to me or the world if we do? Salem could destroy the world while I'm gone. All because I let a child tell me what I can't do.
"I'm sorry Oscar, but this is for the best." I take control of my body. Oscar fights back immediately, causing me to fall into the bath tub.
"N-no Ozp-" He struggles to say. I grab onto Long Memory on my hip and stand up. Oscar Grabs onto the shower rod with my left hand, trying to stop me from getting out. I hit the left arm he's controlling with my cane, causing us both to cry out in pain. I step out then begin the hand motions that is required for the spell. "What are you doing? Stop!" He has direct control of my mouth now. "You promised you wouldn't do this!"
"Elsinore needs a protector." Green light and the sound of electricity fill the area. Sparks of blue emit around my hands. "When you grow up, you'll understand why you can't send a child to do a man's job." I slowly move my hands up to my face, Oscar trying to will me back down. "I promise once this is all over that I will let you out. But for now, please stay quiet!" I cover my face with my hands and all of my magic goes into my head. A swelling sensation fills me up, as if my head is about to explode. Once the pain abates, I catch myself before I fall onto the sink. I feel no more resistance. I hear running coming from outside of the door. Ms. Bell bursts through, looking worried.
"Are you alright kid? I heard a lot of noise coming from here."
"I'm fine." I say, rubbing the sweat from my brow. "I need to–" Those are the last words I say before I pass out.
Author's Note: Whew! That took a long time to write. I had to rewrite this chapter 3 times before I got something that I liked. I'm going a bit off my outline now, so I'm excited and nervous about where this is going. I've never had to deal with characters like these before and it's reminding me of, "God Game" by Danny Tobey. His characters are morally ambiguous, and that's how I feel about Oscar and Ozpin now.
Anyway leave a review if you enjoyed. I use them to bake a cake that I consume wholeheartedly. Make sure they're sweet and not something weird like sour. Who wants a sour cake?