Just Oscar

As Oscar trekked through the streets of Mistral, he rubbed his arm, still sore from the intense battle despite his aura having healed his injuries. The soreness was a constant reminder of the fight, as well as the silence from Orion, the voice that had been his guide and companion. He couldn't shake the feeling of unease as he recalled Neo's brief explanation about how it was Orion's idea to bring down the entire base, and he had no idea what happened in the fight.

The skies opened up, and rain began to pour down, soaking him. "Just great, could this day get any worse?" Oscar muttered, feeling the weight of exhaustion, soreness, and confusion.

After trudging through rain and mud, he finally reached the front door of the safe house. He stepped inside, dripping water onto the floor and shaking off the cold. As he closed the door behind him, the sound of a loud commotion reached his ears from the living room.

Curious and wary, Oscar made his way towards the noise. Entering the living room, he saw Team RNJR gathered, along with two new faces. One was clad in yellow, radiating a fierce and energetic presence, while the other had an air of discipline and precision, likely hailing from Atlas. Both seemed strangely familiar.

"Hey, Oscar!" Ruby called out, her voice filled with relief and excitement. "You made it back!"

The girl in yellow turned and flashed a bright smile. "Hey there, I'm Yang! You must be Oscar."

Oscar nodded, his mind still processing the sudden change of atmosphere. "Y-yeah, that's me. Nice to meet you, Yang."

"And I'm Weiss," the other new face introduced herself, her tone formal yet warm. "We've heard a lot about you."

Oscar managed a small smile despite his exhaustion. "Good things, I hope."

Jaune stepped forward, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay? You look like you've been through a lot."

Oscar sighed, feeling the weight of the past few days. "It's been... eventful. But I'm alright, just tired and sore."

Nora bounded over, her usual enthusiasm unhampered by the seriousness of recent events. "We've got a lot to catch up on! Come sit down, tell us everything."

As Oscar moved to join them, deciding to sit between Ruby and Ren.

Oscar ate the food Ren had prepared, the aroma and taste bringing a small measure of comfort. As the others talked, their camaraderie was evident, the ease with which they interacted a stark contrast to the silence in his own mind. He missed Orion's guidance and conversation, feeling more alone than ever.

"Oscar, are you alright?" Ren asked, noticing Oscar staring at his food for too long. Oscar snapped out of his thoughts and tried to play it off, "Yeah, sorry, it's just been a long day, that's all." Ren nodded, accepting the answer, and returned to the conversation.

Peace returned momentarily until Nora's voice pierced the air. "And this guy destroyed me with one punch and was able to take down Ren!" she exclaimed, hugging Oscar and parading him around like a trophy.

"So, it's true, Oscar? You were able to do that?" Yang asked, intrigued by the idea that someone without any formal training at a huntsman school could take down both Nora and Ren.

"Y-y-yeah," Oscar stammered, but Ruby cut him off enthusiastically, "Yup, sis, he's amazing! He might even be able to take you down."

Oscar's heart sank. "Oh no," he thought, "if this happens, I won't survive, especially without Orion to guide me."

"Well, I guess it's settled then," Yang said, standing up with a confident grin. "We fight right now. I've been itching for a good fight for a while."

Before Oscar could protest, Nora had already grabbed him and was dragging him outside. "Nooooooo..." he quietly lamented, feeling like he was being led to his doom.

Before the match, Oscar was preparing, he decided not to wear his jacket or shirt, since his clothes were pretty torn up from Orion's fight. Now only wears shoes, pants, and wrappings around his wrist. right before he left the house he looked down, and saw some bigger muscle growth on his chest and stomach.

I guess Orion's training did help a lot, maybe I can win this fight.

Oscar smiled a bit, a little more confident now.

Outside, the night air was cool, a slight mist hanging in the air from the earlier rain. The courtyard where they had fought earlier now seemed like a battleground again, and Oscar's anxiety only grew.

Yang cracked her knuckles and stretched, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Alright, Oscar, let's see what you've got."

Oscar took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. "I can't do this without Orion," he thought desperately. But as he looked around at his friends, he saw their encouraging faces. They believed in him, and maybe, just maybe, he could do this on his own.

Yang moved into her fighting stance, her fiery spirit evident in her every move. "Ready when you are," she said with a playful smirk.

Oscar took his stance, though he was more uncertain. He focused, trying to remember everything Orion had taught him. He might not have the voice in his head, but he had the lessons ingrained in his muscle memory.

The fight began, and Yang charged with her usual explosive force. Oscar dodged her initial punch, narrowly avoiding a hit that would have sent him flying. He countered with a quick jab, but Yang blocked it effortlessly, her experience showing.

"Not bad," Yang said, clearly enjoying the challenge. "But you're gonna have to do better than that!"

Oscar moved quickly, using his agility to avoid Yang's powerful strikes. He knew he couldn't match her strength, so he had to rely on speed and precision. The others watched, cheering him on, their voices a blend of encouragement and excitement.

Despite his best efforts, Yang's relentless attacks started to wear him down. He dodged another punch, but she followed up with a swift kick that caught him off guard, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Come on, Oscar, get up!" Ruby shouted from the sidelines.

Oscar groaned, pushing himself to his feet. He felt the ache in his muscles, the soreness from the previous battle still lingering. But he couldn't give up. Not now. Drawing on every bit of strength and determination, he faced Yang again.

This time, he remembered a technique Orion had taught him—a feint followed by a quick uppercut. He moved in, faking a left jab, and as Yang went to block, he pivoted and delivered a swift uppercut to her chin. Yang staggered back, surprised by the move.

"Nice one," she admitted, rubbing her jaw. "But I'm just getting started."

The fight continued, Oscar, using every bit of strategy and skill he had learned. But during the fight, he felt calm in a sense, like he had fought for decades already and knew what to do. As Yang launched another attack, he saw an opening and delivered a series of quick strikes, using this feeling to his advantage.

Yang grinned, clearly enjoying the challenge. "You've got some moves, Oscar. Let's see how you handle this!"

She activated her semblance, her eyes glowing red as she became even more powerful. Oscar braced himself, knowing this was the real test. Yang charged again, her attacks faster and more powerful. Oscar dodged and countered perfectly, but the difference in their strength was clear, he was starting to outmatch her.

Just as he was about to be overwhelmed, he finally understood this feeling during the fight, it's his muscle memory, and it feels like I've learned a new fighting style. Orion must have gotten it before he was gone." With a deep breath, he focused, waiting for the right moment. Yang swung a powerful punch, and Oscar saw his chance. He ducked under her arm and delivered a decisive blow to her midsection.

Yang felt this and staggered back, clearly winded and her aura getting low. She raised her hand, signaling the end of the fight. "Alright, Oscar, you win this round," she said, smiling.

Oscar huffed breathing heavily, exhausted but relieved. The others rushed over, congratulating him and helping him up. Ruby beamed with pride, and even Weiss gave him an approving nod.

"That was amazing, Oscar," Ruby said, her eyes shining with admiration.

Oscar smiled weakly, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He might not have had Orion's guidance, but he had proven to himself and his friends that he could stand on his own. As they headed back inside, Oscar felt renewed and a sense of independence.

The others still wanted to talk and hang out through the night, but Oscar was immensely tired from the day's events and the battle he had just fought. He decided to check out early and head to bed, needing rest more than anything.

"Hey, guys, I'm gonna turn in for the night," Oscar announced, earning a few disappointed groans and understanding nods.

"Get some rest, Oscar. You earned it," Jaune said with a pat on the back.

"Goodnight, Oscar!" Ruby called out cheerfully, her smile bright as ever.

Oscar smiled back, feeling a warmth in his chest from their support. He made his way to his room, opened the door, and jumped into bed. As he closed his eyes, he experienced the best sleep he had ever had. A warm aura enveloped him, comforting and soothing. It felt almost like a gentle embrace, reassuring and protective.

For the first time in a long while, Oscar felt truly at peace. He drifted off into a deep sleep, his mind free from worry, his body relaxed and healing. The warmth surrounded him, and he surrendered to the comfort, letting go of all the day's stress and exhaustion. This feeling of warmth felt like a golden aura protecting him if he were to describe it, but it felt nice as he slept.

Somewhere in Oscar's room, a shadow lurked, invisible to the naked eye but ever curious. It moved closer, watching as Oscar slept, noting the golden aura that surrounded him, repairing and cleansing his wounds. Intrigued, the shadow reached out, attempting to touch the protective orb. As its fingertip made contact, the golden aura repulsed it, sending the shadow scurrying back. This only fueled its curiosity further.

Elsewhere...

In an undisclosed location, Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury were gathered, plotting their next move. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing along the walls. Suddenly, a figure made of shadows emerged from the darkness, catching their attention.

"Daevor, what is it you want?" Cinder asked, her voice laced with irritation. "Aren't you supposed to be watching those brats?" She questioned Daevor's abandonment of his duties.

"I was. Those children don't know we are after the relic, but they still might get in our way. However, something... made... me... curious," Daevor said, his voice a blend of intrigue and malice.

Cinder raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. "So what is it?" she asked.

"A boy is with them. He can repel my darkness," Daevor replied, a hint of frustration in his tone.

Cinder thought for a moment, a slow smile spreading across her face. "So, if you have a hard time dealing with the boy, we'll take care of him."

With that, Daevor vanished back into the shadows.

Mercury turned to Emerald, a shiver running down his spine. "Damn, that thing gives me the creeps."

Emerald nodded, her eyes lingering on the spot where Daevor had disappeared. "Yeah, but if he's having trouble with the kid, we might be in for more than we bargained for."

Cinder's eyes gleamed with a mixture of anticipation and malice. "We have our plan. We move forward. That boy might be a complication, but we'll handle him. Nothing will stand in our way."