...

Morning came with the scents of coffee waking Oscar. Bleary eyed Oscar got up, reflexively grabbed Long Memory, and shuffled out of the room. He wasn't quite awake as he bumped into several walls and the couch. He still felt drained from the revelations of the day before.

A rumbling laugh escaped Torchwick, "You are not a morning person are you?"

In answer Oscsr flipped the man off as he sat in the nearest chair. A cup of coffee was slid across the counter so that it was in front of him. Cautiously he sniffed at the cup. Still not fully trusting the thief.

In response Torchwick sputtered, "It's not poisoned if that's what you're worried about."

"I wasn't sure if you knew how to make a proper cup of coffee," quipped Oscar as he took a sip.

Pure disgust filled him as he tasted the too sweet drink. It was as if Torchwick poured a cup of sugar with only a little actual coffee. He slipped off the chair and headed for the sink. There he poured out the nasty concoction and poured himself a new cup. A sigh of contentment escaped him. Torchwick stared at him in shock as he sipped the black coffee.

"So you don't take your coffee like Neo does," commented Torchwick, "Good to know. She insists on being the one to make coffee in the morning. She says that the way I make coffee is a crime against humanity."

Oscar raised an eyebrow and asked, "How could you possibly screw up coffee? Its a staple in most sane people's lives."

Torchwick muttered something he didn't quite catch. As Oscar took another sip of his coffee and looked around. Neo was on the otherside of kitchen watching him with curious eyes. He turned his head to the side showing his own. For a moment she did nothing.

Then she signed, 'He make coffee grounds soup.'

"You do what?!"

"I grew up on the streets," retorted Torchwick defensively.

"That's not coffee! That's soup."

"It is coffee!"

"You heathen!"

The two continued like this for for nearly half an hour. In this time Oscar had drank two cups of coffee. Neo was pouring him a third as he argued about how even on the farm they had proper coffee. It was surprising how easy he was able to talk to these thieves. Even talking to Neo who he had been wary of.

After awhile there was a lull in the conversation. It was a companionable silence that Oscar never expected to have with such people. Especially after his last runin with Neo.

It was Torchwick who broke the silence, "What do you plan on doing Oscar? I assume you have a plan of some kind."

Nervously Oscar replied, "I don't. This wasn't something I planned nor had been planned for."

Torchwick hummed contemplatively for a moment before saying, "You have a couple of options here. One you could go home. I understand you have an aunt in Mistral. I could have you on an airship heading home in a few hours."

"How?"

"Called in a few favors. He got everything he could find on you," Torchwick paused and sounded truly regretful, "I'm sorry to hear about your mother and adoptive father. That's where you got your scars right?"

Oscar was surprised by the sincerity in the green eyes. No matter what Ruby had said about Roman Torchwick before. He could not believe this was heartless. Those eyes did not belong to the monster she had described.

"Another option," continued Torchwick, "Is to turn you over to Ozpin. I'm sure the old Headmaster has security alerts set up on his blood being run. Which will mean he at the very least knows you exist."

Oscar winced. If Oz knew he existed he would be searching for him. Thankfully he wouldn't know what the now eleven year old looked like. Otherwise he might truly be in trouble.

One issue was that Oscar knew who Ozpin would likely send. Qrow Branwen. As close as he was to Qrow in Mantel the man wouldn't know him in this time. That and he would be back to drinking an unholy amount. No better to avoid that issue in its entirety. A drunk Qrow was not a fun Qrow.

Torchwick looked mildly uncomfortable as he said, "There is a final option. You could stay here."

Oscar's mouth went dry, "What?"

Was he offering what Oscar thought he was? Why would he offer to let Oscar stay? That didn't make any sense.

Torchwick scratched at his chin and wouldn't meet Oscar's eyes, "You could stay with us. I don't let kids get hurt in my city. The underground knows my rules and you would be protected here."

And maybe, just maybe he would be stop the Fall from happening. He could save so many people he never knew. His eyes turned to look at his hands. Unconsciously they flexed with his thoughts.

Silence permeated the air around them. Torchwick didn't push him into an answer. He couldn't go back home. His aunt loved him but she wouldn't be able to understand what he was going through. Not this. Not when he knew what was coming.

The option to meeting with Ozpin. Would the man believe him? Maybe if Oscar revealed everything. Especially that he knew about Ozma.

In his mind he could see Ozma. A flicker of pain burst from his chest taking away his breath. Without his consent his aura flared weakly to life and the world tilted. Blackness soon overtook him.

...

Roman was not fast enough to catch the kid as he fell from his chair. Fortunately for the kid Neo was much closer and was able to catch him before his head hit tile. In seconds Roman was kneeling down next to Oscar his fingers pressing into the kid's neck searching for a pulse.

Praise the Brothers he had a pulse but it was thready and weak. Aura was flaring on his chest again. Almost as if it was searching for something. What the hell? The kid had just been fine. What was wrong?

Neo tapped him on the shoulder grabbing his attention and signed, 'What is wrong with him?'

"I don't know," he answered honestly, "I'm going to take him back to the bedroom and call the doctor."

Roman moved to do just that when Oscar's aura lashed out. It was like a biting snake and he had to retreat. Neo and Roman shared an uncertain look. Many things could be ignored and passed off as unusual occurrences. That was not one of them. Something in the child's aura was reacting and it was causing this.