Roman stared at the results in front of him. The results that should have been impossible. Everyone knew the Headmaster of Beacon rarely left his school. He pretty much ignored the underground in Vale. As long as they didn't attack his students or cause too much trouble they were beneath his notice. Yet somehow Roman ended up having the man's kid land on him. The only thing it didn't have was a name.
He was half tempted to take the kid up to Beacon and leave him there. Then his mind remembered the gunshot wound. He wanted to believe that Beacon's Headmaster wouldn't allow that to happen. He had no love for the man but he thought he knew him better than that.
Still, his hand was stayed from giving the order. Another look was given to the sedated child. The slow rising and falling of the child's chest were comforting. It was easier than it had been when he first arrived. He was healing and that in itself was a relief.
The doctor questioned, "What do you want to do with him? No doubt Ozpin has security measures in place. He will know that someone has run his blood against another's."
Roman glanced at the child. Then he said, "Until I have more information he will stay with me. I'll take care of any issues when it comes to Ozpin."
"If that is your wish, Torchwick," reluctantly replied the doctor, "But be careful. That man is cunning and rarely will give full truths. He would have made a good crime boss."
Roman questioned his eyebrows rising into his hairline, "Really? That man is as straight-laced as they come."
"Ah but that's what he wants everyone to see. Ozpin has surrounded himself with the strongest children in Anima. He has allies in all four academies yet plays things close to his chest."
Roman simply nodded. The doctor took it as a dismissal. His green eyes were focused on the kid as he waited.
After twenty minutes the child began to stir. Blearily the boy blinked up at the ceiling. He was young-looking even younger as he was once again dwarfed by his clothes.
Roman said softly so as not to scare the boy, "I know you're an awake kid. Want to try things again?"
"Who are you?"
Sighing Roman said, "I am Roman Torchwick. Now, what is your name?"
"Oscar," replied the boy and he slowly pushed himself up, "You can't be Roman Torchwick. Roman Torchwick died two years ago during the Fall."
The Fall? What was that? Why did Oscar believe he was dead? Oscar's head looked up and met his gaze. There was a flicker of fear and uncertainty.
Oscar questioned uncertainly, "Where are we? It doesn't feel like Mantel."
Mantel? This was getting curiouser and curiouser. The boy had a story to tell that he was sure of.
Roman answered as he stood and moved to stand next to the bed, "You're in Vale. We are in an abandoned apartment building I had revamped into a hospital. This is where those of the underground go if they are hurt."
"I'm not a member of the underground," he said in a way that sounded more like a question, "How did I get here? The last thing I remember was being shot by J... I..."
Oscar trailed off. Someone had shot him this was already known to him. Someone with the initials of J and I. There were too many people that could be.
Roman questioned after a moment, "You fell from the sky on top of me. To me, it did not matter if you were a member of the underground or not. You were an injured child and I do not allow for children to be harmed under my watch. It is why I brought you here."
Oscar asked his eyes narrowing in suspicion, "Fell from the sky? What do you mean?"
That look did not belong on the boy's face. He was too young to be so suspicious of those around him. To be so suspicious of someone who had saved his life. What had happened to this child?
Roman said kneeling so that they were eye level, "So suspicious. Someone has hurt you quite badly."
Oscar swallowed. Now that Roman got a good look he saw the kid had hazel eyes with just a hint of amber. Looking close he could see the signs of the Headmaster in the child.
"Trust has gotten me very little more than pain," admitted Oscar, "What do you want from me? If you are who you say you are then you wouldn't be doing this out of the good of your heart. I've heard what role you played in the Fall."
The last bit was muttered almost petulant. What in the world? Another mention of the Fall? He wasn't sure what the kid meant as he hadn't played a part in any falls.
Roman asked, "What do you mean by the Fall?"
Oscar leveled him with a cold look, "Beacon's Fall."
Excuse him, what?
...
Oscar's head was fuzzy. It took all of his concentration just to focus on the man. Sedatives never sat well with him. Nero, the doctor from home always ensured he was given the smallest dose possible. Just enough to keep him asleep but not enough that he wouldn't be up and fight right as rain. The only exception had been when his parents died.
Tears sprang to his eyes against his will. There was no reason that they should have done that. They had been dead for almost half his life. No matter how he looked now he was sixteen.
Forcing himself to focus on the man in front of him. He was trying to understand why this man was claiming to be one of the biggest reasons Beacon had fallen. There were many who would kill for such claims.
The man had reddish-orange hair with the greenest eyes he had ever seen. He was young Oscar realized. He couldn't have been older than 18 or 19. Everything about him fits exactly as Ruby had described. Just younger down to even his clothes.
Oscar's mind was beginning to catch up with everything. He and Torchwick were young. Too young for what should have been.
Oscar asked his voice choked, "What year is it?"
Torchwick replied something dark on his face, "XXXX. Now tell me something. What did you mean, Beacon's Fall?"
Oscar swallowed uncertainly how to continue.
