Chapter Text
Every time General Ironwood mentioned Oz, Oscar fought not to flinch. He wasn’t sure if he felt some degree of offense at what General Ironwood said about them- him- or if it was just the nerves of the inevitability of having to speak up and tell him.
“-What is it?”
Oscar felt goosebumps climb up his spine as General Ironwood turned to him. Oscar… didn’t like lying. He was bad at it too. So when General Ironwood mentioned that Ozpin wasn’t around-
“Actually, Oz isn’t completely gone,” Oscar stepped out, trying to stay calm, stay level headed. He still felt cold thinking about how Lionheart reacted to finding out who he was and it make Oscar’s stomach churn to think about. But- he couldn’t just lie. Especially to General Ironwood who’s ambitious plans could destroy everything if he didn’t know the truth.
Qrow spoke up, “Oscar here… is the next Ozpin.”
Oscar looked up at General Ironwood, trying to gauge his reaction. But the look of relief and joy that came on the General’s face only made Oscar feel guilty.
He’s reaching for an old friend someone who’s not me-
“Oz!” General Ironwood moves forward quickly, kneeling down to get on his level, “I’m so glad you’re here I didn’t think-“
“Not quite,” Oscar quickly cut him off, the guilt that he was about to crush the relief on the General’s face was bad enough, better to do it now before he got ahead of himself. “He’s kinda, gone? At the moment.”
Ironwood’s face dropped, joy and relief quickly changed into concern, “that’s not normal. How did he-“
“We don’t know.” Ruby cut off the General, “we were… in a train crash and suddenly, Oz wasn’t there anymore.”
Oscar looked from Ruby back to Ironwood, seeing the concern melt into worry. “That’s the worst news yet.”
That hit Oscar right in the gut. It made him feel sick. Lying. Lying again. No, he wanted to be different than Oz but at the same time- Oscar couldn’t forget the way that the group had given him the cold shoulder after the ordeal with Jinn, how Jaune got upset, and Qrow- no. No. Oscar tried his best to quell the worry. He couldn’t let this affect him.
Ironwood had looked so happy to see that Oz had returned, would that be changed if he knew the truth, how would he react? Would it ruin him? But- he needed to know. His plan hinges on the idea that Salem can be killed. But she can’t.
Oscar tried to act as normal as possible. The lie felt dirty but- Ruby probably just didn’t want Ironwood to lash out. It wasn’t a safe time yet. But-
He was scared. Lying got them into this mess. Lying made them break apart. Lying made everyone mad at him. Lying made them forget he existed.
But do I really exist anyway?
Oscar tried to approach Ruby about it later, she was getting ready to leave- like all the others. Oscar felt hallow thinking about it. The whole group but him was leaving for a mission that he wasn’t allowed to go on. Ironwood had put him on a strict “no leaving the academy” rule. For his safety. Of course. So he was staying and watching everyone get ready.
Ruby handed the relic to Oscar with a smile. “I think it’s safer with you,” she finished.
Oscar glanced down at the lamp with a frown before glancing back at Ruby.
“Aren’t we… doing just what Ozpin did to us?” Oscar asked, gripping the lamp in his hands.
Ruby faltered and froze for a second before shaking her head. “We don’t know if Ironwood can be trusted yet. Not with what’s going on in Mantle and not after what happened with Lionheart.”
Oscar’s shoulders sunk. But he nodded.
“It won’t be like this forever,” Ruby promised.
Oscar tossed and turned inside the room he shared with Jaune, Nora and Ren. It was quiet without them. Sure, Nora especially, but still.
Oscar tried to keep himself busy. He hung in the library, he played games on the scroll Ironwood had given him, he even tried training by himself to pass the time. For one very long day, Oscar tried to pass the time by himself.
When the others returned, they seemed… focused and driven. Different.
Oscar felt like he was sinking behind as they took off in a sprint. They were Huntsmen now. Missions, training, meetings…
Oscar felt like a ghost following them around.
It wasn’t like they weren’t cordial. They smiled and teased and joked with him- but ultimately Oscar would turn around and they would be gone again.
Off saving the world without me, Oscar thought numbly.
Why did he care? Why did he feel like it was a slight against himself whenever he would hear that they had left.
It’s supposed to be my job, Oscar found himself thinking. As soon as it ran through his head, Oscar felt sick.
No. No it’s not. That’s not how it is.
Oscar paced around the empty room, the chill of thoughts running down his spine. It was Ozma’s job.
But aren’t you Ozma now?
Oscar shook his head against the thought. No. No. He was different and Oscar refused to be like him. Oscar didn’t want to lie and sacrifice. To isolate himself away from the world with his secrets, to fight a battle with half-aware allies who trusted him but he did not trust back.
“Oscar?”
The boy jumped. He was so lost in thought that he did not hear the door open.
James Ironwood stood at the door, leaning inside. “Are you busy?”
Oscar quickly shook his head. “No, just… lost in thought.”
Ironwood raised an eyebrow, “Not in contact with Oz I presume?”
“No, just me,” Oscar chuckled dryly.
“Sit, I want to talk with you,” Ironwood said, pulling one of the desk chairs of the room out and sitting on it. Oscar sat down on the closest bunk, clasping his hands in his lap.
“I wanted to know about… you,” Ironwood said simply.
Oscar frowned, “…me?”
“Yes,” Ironwood said, leaning forward, “I didn’t know Ozpin before and I feel a bit… disappointed in myself for never trying to learn about him as a person. I hope it isn’t selfish to want to rectify that with you. So I want to know. Where are you from? What do you like to do? What do you want to do, or did you want to do before all of this?”
Oscar paused. No one had really asked him about himself. Or what he wanted. They had all just followed what Oz had said and assumed that Oscar had wanted the same.
“I’m from Anima. Just a handful of miles outside of Mistral,” Oscar started, “I used to be a farm hand for my aunt.”
“I assume that’s were the ‘farm boy’ nickname the others came from,” Ironwood chuckled.
Oscar smiled, “heh, yeah. I uh… I enjoyed my work? I liked reading when I had free time. I also used to take pictures with my aunt’s old Polaroid camera.” Oscar squinted, thinking.
“And I… I wanted to do something more but I wasn’t actually sure what. I… I did think about being a huntsman. I always wanted to help people… but, I don’t think I was ever going to leave anyway,” Oscar’s face twisted into a wry smile, “I wouldn’t be surprised if my Aunt thought I was at Sanctum right now, though.”
“Do you… still want to be a Huntsman?” Ironwood asked.
Oscar sighed, “I don’t really have a choice now, do I?”