A/N thanks for your reviews and support.

a54321: thanks for your reviews and support. So glad you enjoyed it!

Requested by Desicat

...

Oscar felt as if his entire life had been turned on its head. According to the blood test, his father was Ozpin. Headmaster Ozpin who had spent almost two years in his head. Why had the man never said anything? Did he simply not care? Why had it not been in the memories they had been shown?

Then a thought hit him. What if Ozpin hadn't known either? If he didn't know then he wouldn't have been hiding it. Thus explaining why Jinn hadn't shown them. That brought out even more questions.

Why wouldn't Ozpin know about him? As the youngest Headmaster of Beacon, he didn't go out in the field very often. There had been a few missions here and there that had drawn him away. The few being longer missions that would give him some time to himself.

Oscar only had some of Ozpins's memories snippets. A few had missions in them but they had no rime or reason to them. There was no telling how old they were. To make matters worse the presence he had gotten so used to was gone.

Not just silent. But gone. At least when he wasn't talking Oscar could feel him if only faintly. Now he knew he was completely alone again. What was he supposed to do now? He knew what was going to happen but there was no way anyone would believe him.

Glancing up through the fringe of his hair he saw Roman watching him. The thief seemed to be assessing him again. What was he going to do with Oscar? From what Ruby had told him the man wasn't a kind person. Torchwick would do anything to ensure his plans succeeded. Even if that meant killing innocents.

If that were true then why had he made sure that Oscar was healed? Why did he seem to care more than anyone had in months? After what happened in the Vault Oscar no longer believed James ever cared. No matter what their early mornings and late-night talks said. It was just so Oscar would let his guard down.

In contrast, Oscar could see what he thought was genuine concern in Roman's face. He had thought the same before. What was this man going to do to him? Send him away to Ozpin? Kick him out onto the streets now that he knew who his father was? Give him to the creepy doctor?

Roman said suddenly, "Come on kid. We can't stay here any longer than necessary. The doctor as useful as he is is creepy as hell. On top of that, he has an unhealthy interest in you."

Oscar blinked in shock before asking quietly, "Where are you taking me?"

Surprise flitted across his face before Roman said, "Home with me. Until I can figure out what else to do. A Huntsman's kid or not I'm not about to abandon you."

For a moment Oscar's hazel eyes searched for something in Roman's eyes. What he was looking for he didn't know. Finally, he nodded and followed Roman.

...

Roman still wasn't sure what to make of the child. He was quiet as a mouse and his eyes glazed as he followed him. A part of him suspected that they would blaze with fire when something came up that angered him. Or brought out his protective feelings.

A few times in their walk he thought he caught Oscar staring at a few buildings. A look of nostalgia was the most common look on the boy's face. There was one point however he thought the boy flinched. Roman really hoped it was just his imagination.

The apartment was on the edge of the Red Light and other regular districts. It wasn't a building that anyone would look twice at. Most people would have simply walked past it. That was why he had chosen it.

Roman and Neo shared a two-bedroom, one-bath apartment. With the inclusion of Oscar, Roman would need to sleep on the couch. There was no way that he would allow the child to sleep on their couch. Even if it was only for a few nights. Somehow he didn't think it would only be for a few nights. Not unless he returned Oscar to his father.

As much as he probably should, Roman did not think he could do that. Not just yet anyway. He felt drawn to the boy. There was a need to understand him. Maybe Neo would be able to puzzle out the boy. She had an ability to puzzle out people who would rather hide everything behind lies and falsehoods.

The party of two went into the building and up to the second floor. At the second on the right was his door he pulled out keys and unlocked the door. Oscar shuffled in not looking at him when he stood to the side to allow him in. Then he walked in and could hear Neo moving about in her room.

Moving past Oscar into his sparse living room and said, "Neo! We have a guest!"

There was a hard flinch that ran through the boy. A frown crossed Roman's face. That had not been imagined. Neither was the wild-eyed look on Oscar's face. Even when he ran from Roman in the hospital his eyes weren't that wild. What could have possibly caused it?

Only a few seconds later he realized the boy was shaking. Shaking in fear. What the hell?

Roman opened his mouth to ask Oscar what was wrong. Only for Neo to step out and any color that had returned to Oscar's face was gone. For a moment he thought the boy would collapse. Hazel eyes were locked onto Neo and the shaking grew worse.

Slowly Roman moved so that he was in front of their door. If the kid decided to bolt he didn't want to chase him through the building. The kid was fast and no longer slowed down by sedatives Roman wasn't sure he would be able to keep up.

Neo looked from Oscar to Roman a question was on her face. He shrugged. He wasn't sure what was going on either. The only one who knew was lost in his own mind.

Roman tried, "Kid this is Neo. She is like a sister to me. Neo this is Oscar, the kid that fell from the sky on me."

Neo peered at Oscar who flinched and took several steps back. The shaking became so hard that Roman was afraid that he would collapse. Fear like nothing he had ever seen before. Roman had seen less fear in people facing down Grim.

Quietly he asked, "Hey kid what's wrong? Neo isn't that scary is she?"

He meant it as a jest. Neo gave him a glare but it returned to concern when she looked at the kid. She understood his reasoning behind looking after street kids. She had grown up rich but with shitty parents. In order to get out from under them, she had run away and joined him on the streets. It had been the start of their friendship. Like himself, she couldn't stand abusers. If she found one they would be begging for the police or huntsmen to take them in.

Oscar unsteadily took several steps back until he bumped into Roman. The ginger-haired man gently grabbed his shoulders. The boy silently shook his head his mouth opening and closing.

Neo signed, 'Do you know what is wrong with him?'

Roman said, "I'm not sure. Oscar, kid, you're safe remember. I promise you won't come to any harm under my watch."

"Where is Cinder? She works with Cinder!"

Cinder? Both Neo and Roman exchanged a glance. Neo for her part shook her head. She had no idea what he was talking about.

"When did this happen kid?" He questioned softly.

"Before I was shot," replied Oscar in a quivering voice, "She wanted the lamp and I was guarding it."

A lamp?

"She stole it," his voice went to a mere whisper, "Then I had to go and face Ironwood. He shot me. He shot..."

The rest became intelligible. Roman did understand the name though. There was only one Ironwood he knew of. He was going to murder a certain General. He didn't know if he believed everything the kid told him. To know that name though. Well, there was no reason for him to lie.