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bafflement · 2 years ago

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Deaged Oz AU - The First Meeting

I was reminded that I'd never actually written this, so here it is. Better late than never, that pivotal scene where Oscar and Tip introduce themselves to the others.

Oscar looked rather intimidated, waiting in the room for Qrow's nieces and their friends to come together so he could meet them all. In contrast, Oz looked more or less unruffled, his small form steady, though his eyes seemed far away. Then again, these were his students, weren't they? In a great many ways he already knew them. Just, not as a ten year old. Oscar snickered slightly, amused at the sudden image that gave him. Though Oz had been teaching him for a month or so back on the farm, the thought of him in front of a class populated by these rather intimidating older teens was amusing to say the least. He knew, intellectually, that Oz had been an adult until pretty recently, but it was very hard to see his little brother as anything other than what he was now.

Oz tried to ignore the curious glances he was being give while they waited for Miss Rose to come downstairs and join the others. There was no way of knowing exactly how much Qrow had told them, though it was probable that he would need to explain at least a part of things in person. He was just glad that he'd already told Oscar as much as he could regarding matters. After all, it had never been his plan to involve these, his students. Not in this, not in this war. But then, if what Qrow had said was true and Leon really had betrayed them? They would have no choice but to trust that these children, his students, would be up to the task. He frowned internally, noticing that Miss Belladonna was missing. That might complicate things rather.

"So, who are you two, exactly? And how do you know Uncle Qrow?" Yang asked, sounding curious. Oz sighed at that, glancing over at the man in question briefly. Qrow just shrugged and saluted with his flask, so he wasn't likely to be of much help in the scenario.

"That would probably be best discussed with all parties present. I believe we're waiting on Miss Rose?" His voice was as steady as his form, Vale accent obvious. The others exchanged concerned glances, hands inching towards their weapons. After what had happened at Beacon, this random child coming looking for Ruby was not filling them with confidence. Qrow had bought them, but then Qrow's decision making seemed slightly suspect when he was drunk. Right now? He was smelling like a bar, but then again the kid had to be all of ten if that. It was unlikely he was any real threat. Oz blinked up at them, eyes wide, and they aborted the idea of attacking him. They were hunters after all, he was just a helpless child. They could take him pretty easily.

Presently, Miss Rose came downstairs, towelling off her hair and blinking at the new additions. Oscar stared at her, he'd never seen someone so pretty before!

"You... have silver eyes?" He breathed, unknowingly echoing Oz's own first thoughts on meeting Ruby. Oz blinked beside him, thrown by the similarity in the statement. Maybe the month they had spent together had rubbed off on the other boy? There was always the alternative to that, but he couldn't bring himself to think about it too deeply. If things had gone even slightly differently, would he have ended up as the voice in the back of his brother's head? It was a horrifying thought.

"Umm... who are you?" Ruby ventured, blinking at the two unknown boys that the others had let in. Uncle Qrow didn't seem worried to see them, so that probably meant that they weren't intruders? The smaller boy smiled, looking sad for a second. There was something about the smile that was familiar, but she was certain she'd never met the small, red headed boy in her life. She'd probably remember yet another redhead and, whoever he was, he was far too young for Beacon.

"I'm Oscar Pine." Oscar breathed, still lost in her eyes. Next to him Oz snickered slightly. After all the teasing Oscar had given him over Qrow, it rather looked like he might have some payback.

"I go by Tip Pine at present, though I do believe you all knew me by another name." Oz's voice was quiet, yet carried nonetheless. That had always been a useful trick to use when he needed attention and he certainly did right now. He twisted the head of the long stick he carried, releasing The Long Memory from its hiding place. All eyes were on the ancient weapon as he deployed it into cane form and looked around at them seriously.

"You last knew me as Professor Ozpin. Hello again, students." The silence that followed his declaration sounded rather shocked and it was plain by the looks on their faces that they hadn't been expecting him. He sighed slightly as he felt the first tremor in his hands. It had been nice while it lasted, at least?

"Told'ya he wasn't dead!" Qrow hollered from the couch he was slumped in, laughter in his tone. The glance he shot Oz was soft and loving, Yang paling slightly as she noticed it. Wait, did that mean that Uncle Qrow's mysterious partner had been Professor Ozpin? That was uncomfortable to think about even without the fact that he appeared to be a little kid at the moment. And how on Remnant had that happened, anyway?

"Umm, Professor? How are you a child?" Weiss sounded suspicious, her eyes on his hair. "...and why do you have red hair?"

Oz grinned at her. "Hair dye can be a wonderful thing, Miss Schnee. As for why I am a child, well what has Qrow told you so far regarding certain fairy tales and their basis in reality?"

"Well, we know about the maidens. And apparently the witch is real and called Salem? There's something in Mistral we need to find, though he refused to tell us exactly what. Where does you being... sorry, how old are you, anyway?"

"Physically I appear to be ten years of age. However, that is rather misleading. In most ways that count I am still your Headmaster, Miss Schnee. If Qrow has told you as much as he appears to have done then that makes things rather easier. The maidens do indeed exist, as does Salem. Unfortunately. She is a danger you must not underestimate! Too many people have done so and paid the price.” There was a deep pain in Oz’s voice, which itself served to underline the danger far better than mere words ever could. The children were used to him being untouchable, emotionless, but whatever he was right now none of the previous labels applied. There was a strange glint to his eyes that looked almost like tears and beside him the boy who’d called himself Oscar lay one hand on his shoulder comfortingly. Oz leaned into the touch without really realising he was doing it and Ruby and Blake exchanged rather alarmed looks. Nora started to coo, making Oz glare at her, but she was the only one. Having confirmation of what Qrow had told them was not a good sign but at least now they knew the monster they were facing? Or at least the overarching one? In some ways it was almost a comfort, having a single person they might one day be able to defeat.

“Professor? You still haven’t explained why you’re a child right now.” There was a note of something strange in Weiss’ voice though, a look in her eyes that she only really got when she’d worked out the answer to a riddle. Oz sighed.

“When Miss Fall attempted to kill me, things backfired rather. Instead of outright killing me, I woke up like this. I’ve been recovering over the last month since almost dying did not leave me in the best health.” There was a humorous note to his voice, though that made the declaration no less terrifying. Cinder had killed Pyrrha after all and they had all heard that Professor Ozpin was missing. Had that been meant to be his fate, too?

“What does that have to do with the maidens?” Yang broke in, sounding impatient. Oz grinned at her, too, tipping his head in her direction.

“Cinder Fall is the current Fall maiden, as appears to have been her design all along. As for why her powers backfired when used on me, it would appear to have something to do with the fact that I am the current incarnation of the wizard.”

“… of course you are.” Yang sounded fed up now, the warning Raven had given her still ringing in the back of her brain. But even if Professor Ozpin was somehow untrustworthy, what danger could a ten year old really pose? Especially one that had been limping as heavily as this one had been when he first entered the house? Ozpin was dangerous, sure… but at ten he was many things, none of them the least bit intimidating.

The mood seemed slightly more relaxed now and none of them seemed particularly interested in seeing him prove that he had magic. Did that mean…

“Qrow, did you turn into a bird in front of them?” Oz was curious, though the relief very much showed in his tone. If Qrow had done that then it certainly would make things easier. He just hoped the children wouldn’t ask to be turned into birds too.

“Well, yeah, Oz. The story’s kinda unbelievable without some form of proof.” Qrow smirked at him, taking another swig from his flask. Oz blinked at that and opened his mouth to ask something else but ended up yawning widely. He winced even as Nora started to coo again.

“You, Are. Adorable!” She squealed, Oz turning a tired glare on her once more. He doubted it would have that much affect though since even on the journey to Mistral several people had taken time out of their schedules to tell Oscar and he both just how cute they looked. Neither one of them had appreciated it, but it didn’t look like it would be stopping any time soon.

Qrow got up, noticing just how tired Oz appeared. “C’mon, you two. I think you need to be in bed, I’ll show you up to the spare room we set up for you. Might need to grab an extra bed for Pipsqueak, though." Oscar looked vaguely offended at the term for a second, though it raised an interesting point. Qrow seemed to like giving people nicknames, he wondered just what he would come up with for Oz? Speaking of… he really was going to have to get used to calling him Tip, wasn’t he? For his own safety, they all were.

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