They had an audience by the time Ruby retrieved Crescent Rose, with their two teams and Qrow watching curiously as the four fighters sparred with smiles on their faces.
They noticed that as they playfought, they increasingly used their auras and semblances, all except Oscar, who while used his aura defensively, didn't actively use his Semblance.
With friendly fire dust bullets loaded into Crescent Rose, all Jaune and Pyrrha needed to fear was bruising from the weapon, but even so, they dodged its bullets all the same.
Ruby lodged Crescent Rose into the ground on the far end of the courtyard to gain distance from both Jaune and Pyrrha, having taken Oscar with her when she backed off. Before she could fire, Pyrrha used her Semblance to push Ruby away from her weapon, not quite realising how close Ruby was to the edge, but noticing with the push, Ruby's aura broke.
Ruby was then flung off the side, with a yelp of surprised-panic.
"Ruby!" Several screamed out in terror.
Only to pause when an expression passing over Oscar's face as if he was suddenly far away. He acted much the same as he quickly ran over to Crescent Rose, and surprisingly to them all, was able to use it to shoot out a distraction bullet as he lifted his other hand in the direction of where Ruby had disappeared as his eyes seem to shimmer golden. They watched nervously as the boy seemed to struggle, and his footing seemed to drag into the dirt as if he was being pulled forwards.
"Come on, come on, come on, come on…!" Oscar near yelled, his tone more panicked and frantic with each mantra he voiced.
An unfortunate bird passed between the open space, and seemed to freeze in place once its path crossed directly in front of him, they watched in amazement as Oscar's feet seemed to drag more under more weight as he grated his teeth audibly.
Suddenly the bird moved backwards on itself, and Oscar seemed to pull his feet back faster than the bird which was moving backwards out the way, its trajectory changed then suddenly unfroze and flew away.
They were holding their breath by the time smaller red flower petals were moving erratically backwards towards Oscar who by now had his other arm gripping his outreached one.
"You're not allowed," He gasped, still pulling, several petals moved more than the others that had gathered from the cliffside. "I'm not letting you go…!" He growled, and more petals were pulled over the railing as he stepped back another step, but his feet dragged again making the boy hiss out. "You're not allowed!" He yelled urgently, and he yanked his arm back.
Suddenly Ruby reformed and fell from the sky into the dirt as Oscar fell backwards, losing his grip with a startled yelp.
Ruby, who was face up sprawled on the ground stared up at the open sky stunned, before she raced up to her feet and ran over to Oscar, ignoring her stunned silent teammates and family.
"Oscar!" She yelled.
She raced to him and skidded on her knees to his side.
"Oscar?" She asked nervously seeing his eyes were closed.
Frantic she checked his neck for his pulse, and found it there, even if it was erratic, from it she gathered him up close, and heard him moan in pain.
"Uncle Qrow!" She yelled, finally looking from Oscar to the others.
It spurred them all to run.
"What just happened!" Several asked, gathering around.
"How does he know how to use Ruby's scythe?" Nora questioned, seeing that Ruby was no longer frantic, she knew Oscar wasn't in immediate danger.
They all stared incredulously, they knew how hard it was to even attempt finding the release triggers, let alone firing a different round then what was already loaded, which was what he had actually done. While doing whatever else he was doing at the same time.
"Is he okay?" Ruby asked in concern.
"I think you'd find he just used his Semblance to save your life." Qrow told, and from what he had seen and seeing how Oscar laid himself out, he probably overworked himself.
"…So, he's going to be alright, right?" Ruby asked again.
"He should be fine, kiddo. How're 'bout you? You fell off the ledge." Qrow told her in alarm.
Ruby blinked. "Huh. I'm not actually sure what happened." Ruby voiced.
"I didn't realise how close you were, I'm sorry!" Pyrrha told her tearfully.
Ruby looked at her and grinned. "I'm alright!" She said.
"He might not be," Pyrrha muttered.
"I know," Ruby told her, looking back at the boy in her arms. "He'd probably be more comfortable in his bed…" She said.
Qrow helped her up, and they all noticed how she didn't use her Semblance either.
./.
He watched as she fell from the landing.
He watched as he stretched out his hand to catch her.
He watched as he missed, and she continued to fall.
No. Never again…!
Oscar woke up to sit with a horrified gasp for air.
Ruby…!
He looked around and felt relief shunt through him heavily.
She was there. Right there. He had gotten to her in time.
Oscar watched as she used his bed as a pillow and he wondered how long he had been under for. With her face facing him, he could tell she was at least peaceful for the moment. Though, he knew he wouldn't be able to wipe her terrified expression as she fell from his mind. He had nearly lost her, again.
He couldn't. Not again.
He needed to find a way to save her life, no matter the personal cost.
Oscar stalled and blinked in realisation: at least that way she wouldn't die.
Oscar watched her and reached out for her hand, he wanted to at least have one memory that wasn't her in fear.
"Ruby…?" He voiced gently for her.
Ruby grasped his hand tighter and groaned a little. "…Oscar…?" She voiced.
It did make Oscar grin. "Hello, Miss Ruby." He responded fondly.
Ruby suddenly shot up and faced him. "You're awake!" She said a little louder.
Oscar blinked at her.
"…Was I out long?" He asked, a little worried.
Ruby shook her head. "No, I was just worried when I couldn't wake you. It's been a few hours." She told him.
Oscar sighed in relief and lent against the headboard of his bed. "That's a relief. Are you okay?" He asked, looking at her searchingly.
Ruby gave out a laugh as she moved to sit on the bed.
Ruby sided her head when he could barely look at her.
"Oscar…?" She voiced in concern.
Oscar flinched and hid his head. She was fine, she was going to continue to be fine. And damn his tears!
Seeing him only made her chuckle sadly as if she understood. "Oscar," She started, her tone soft, and it made him look to her. "Come here," She reached out to him.
Oscar was crawling down his bed and into her arms before she could encourage him.
"I nearly lost you, again…" Oscar hissed, failing to breathe properly as she enclosed her arms around him. "Not again, I swear!" He pleaded, holding her close, losing his battle holding back his tears for her.
"Oscar…" Ruby tried.
"No!" Oscar said startling her, as he pulled back, and he stared at her wide-eyed. "No!" He near yelled in fright and he held on to her, tears racing down his face. "What if you use your silver eyes on me? I won't run, I won't hide. I won't fight you like she would. I promise!" Oscar told her.
Ruby blinked in confusion. "Wait, what do you mean?" She asked, pulling back a little in her confusion.
"If you…If you use your eyes on me, the magic that holds us together, falls apart, Salem becomes a regular person, and can be hurt by usual means. There will be no more Grimm to fight." Oscar looked terrified. "But you'll…" He blinked and looked at her. "But you'll have to do it without me by your side." He told her.
Ruby's eyes swelled up unconditionally. "What do you mean." She demanded.
It caused him to flinch. "Just as you have the ability to kill Salem with your eyes, the reverse, with me, means the same thing." He told her.
Ruby froze, and she covered her mouth with both of her hands, absolute dread and devastation filling her entire being.
"With one look…I'll be gone, and you won't be," Oscar said, smiling sadly. "Then you'll be safe, and I won't need to worry anymore." He voiced calmly and as flat as ever.
"No!" She yelled as she raced off the bed to stand. "That'll be because you'll be dead!" She screeched in alarm.
Oscar looked at her and stood up as well. "I'd rather it be me over you." Oscar stated truthfully.
Ruby could now barely look at him, fearing her own abilities. "I can't hurt you…" She mumbled tears that swelled now spilling over her cheeks.
Oscar strode forward, and she quickly replaced his steps backwards. "And I can't watch you die! If I hadn't borrowed Oz's—" He cried urgently, holding onto her cloak as if he feared her leaving.
"And you think I can?! Just sit back and watch you die?!" Ruby yelled back, just as fierce.
Oscar paused for a second, to stare at her in disbelief, as she glared of to his side, not willing to look at him.
"You've—You've known this all along? That with one look…?" She questioned, glaring at the wall behind him.
"I've always known. Ever since I first met you." Oscar told her, his shoulders slumping.
He watched her blink. "All this time…And you've never…" She frowned and risked looking at him. "…Are you afraid of me?!" She asked fearfully, tears welling up again.
Oscar stared at her for a second, to his credit, didn't flinch at the question. "You can't help what's in my nightmares, Miss Ruby." He told her.
It didn't help her horrified gasp or stop her tears.
Oscar then sighed. "Once I knew I was in reality, no, you've never terrified me there, nor do you terrify me now." Oscar told her.
Ruby's look turned incredulous. "But I could hurt you! I have no control over it! Why are you here!" Ruby asked, wanting to take the boy's arms and shake them about in his foolishness. It was like attempting to stay near Grimm territory! "Why risk it!" She asked, kind of furious.
She could have at any time, lit up her eyes, and if he had been in front of her…
Oscar then gave out a chuckle. "I have always been careful, and you've now just said you wouldn't do it. Even if it probably is the—"
"No!" She interrupted. She recalled the several times she could remember when he was around when her elder lit up her eyes — he had always gotten out of dodge as if he could tell when she was about to use her abilities. "And don't you dare run in front of me!" She ordered.
Oscar blinked, then held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, Miss Ruby," He sighed. "If that is what you want." He said tiredly.
Ruby nodded her head. "That's what I want." She said.
Oscar blinked at her, then surged forward, heaving his grip on her cloak, still painfully afraid she could walk away from him.
"Then I beg you, don't use them on her!" Oscar pleaded.
Ruby calmed down seeing that they were literally back at the start. "Alright." She blinked in stunned as her comment literally made the boy lit up with pure happiness.
"Promise?" Oscar asked weakly.
Ruby nodded. "I promise. On one condition." She requested.
Oscar cocked his head at her. "What's that?" He asked.
Ruby grinned. "Find another way." She told him.
Oscar smiled. "You don't need to tell me twice! As long as you don't leave," He took hold of her chin to make her look at him. "And you continue looking at me. I'll be sad if you don't." Oscar told her.
And she really didn't know how to respond to that, her mouth was hanging unattractively open until he laughed and closed it for her.
Part 3 — Chapter 15
Oscar knew there was a problem when Ruby started to avoid making eye contact with him whenever she could.
And he wasn't about to take that standing.
Promises aside, he knew she couldn't bear to bring her eyes to him. Her concern really wasn't warranted. At the moment he probably knew when she was about to use her abilities better than she did herself.
At least he knew on a fundamental level she at least didn't hate him. Otherwise, he'd think she did.
And there really was only one way to fix it.
Which involved making cookies. …And introducing back the Cookie Hunt Day, (unfortunately, for everyone else).
./.
"Ruby!" Oscar called, making sure she stayed put and didn't run off again, and he ignored Qrow's chuckle.
He better get ready to run. Else he was about to get whacked. And not by him this time. Ruby would do it for him.
Ruby flinched but looked in his direction. "Oscar?" She responded.
Oscar threw something at her, that made her yelp as she tried to catch it and fumbled several times while doing so.
They all watched as she stared at the object he threw at her. "This is…?" Ruby tried, holding up a cookie. It was warm. "You can make these?" She questioned. It was edible. And chocolate chip.
Oscar nodded. "Better think fast. I hid one hundred." Oscar told her with a grin.
Ruby forgot everything as her eyes grew two sizes in her head, and a grin split her face. "Where?" She demanded, finally looking at him in the eye. She looked as animated as usual, and thankfully, that depressed look was washed away finally.
"This compound isn't getting searched by the rest of us, Ruby." He told her with a cheerful grin.
With a direction, Ruby combusted into rose petals. "DID YOU HIDE THEM ALL OVER?!" Ruby yelled.
Oscar chuckled as Jaune yelped out in surprise when Ruby ran him over since he was in the hallway.
"Maybe," Oscar told her.
They all heard her screech.
And this was how they were reintroduced to a Cookie Hunt Day. And found out, unfortunately, no one, but Oscar was safe. Not even Weiss, who was sleeping through its introduction. Weiss was thrown out of her bed when Ruby dived underneath it in her search. Qrow got a boot to the head as she raced over him that Oscar snorted at.
Qrow had laughed seeing rose petals race everywhere.
"Did you finally get fed up with her?" Qrow asked as he laughed.
Oscar pouted. "She promised." He muttered.
Qrow looked at him in amusement as Ruby started throwing cushions. He laughed further when he saw the pout. "What did she promise?" He asked, chuckling.
"To not avoid me. I know she's scared, but I know when she's about to use them. I don't have a death wish." Oscar grumbled as he crossed his arms. He was still pouting.
Qrow blinked at him. "You're not making much sense there, kid." Qrow told him.
Oscar just sighed. "It's much the same if she were to use her eyes on me if she were to use them on Salem. Just her life is spared because I'm not about to fight her." Oscar told him, sparing a glance to see that his expression was no longer joyful, but a little terrified.
Qrow blinked at him. "…Much the same? She can…?" Qrow asked looking from Oscar to the destruction Ruby had left in her wake.
"With one look. I asked her to do it last night, but she refused." Oscar told him, instinctively knowing Ruby had disappeared to the downstairs sparring court.
"What would it accomplish?" Qrow demanded.
Oscar looked at him. "Ruby keeping her life? Salem losing her powers, and returning to mortal strength?" Oscar questioned widely.
Qrow scoffed. "I still think you're forgetting you are a part of her life. Again." Qrow told him.
Oscar shook his head. "I know that." He said while sighing.
"Then act it." Qrow insisted. "She might never forgive you if you say such things." He continued.
Oscar just groaned. "I know that!" He hissed.
Ruby suddenly appeared at Oscar's back.
"Oscar!" She yelled.
Oscar gave out a blink of surprise but automatically lent forward to take her weight.
Qrow laughed.
"Oscar! Look! I found them all!" She celebrated. Naturally, there was no evidence of this, since she ate them when she found them, but it caused Oscar to chuckle all the same.
"Good job!" He replied happily. "You might want to apologize to anyone you inconvenienced during your hunt." Oscar advised.
Ruby's eyes widened before she raced off again, calling for her teammate.
Oscar looked back to Qrow.
"I need a favour." He started.
/
/
They knew exactly what was going down with their next mission when Oscar wasn't immediately stuck to Ruby's now anxious side but Qrow was instead.
Oscar wasn't able to. Not even if he wanted to. And he couldn't calm her anxiousness, or the many times the girl looked at him pleadingly. He couldn't help her. Not this time.
He could only stand behind her and hope to any gods left that nothing went wrong.
It wasn't exactly hard to find a pack of Grimm.
They just needed to hunt them all down, until there was only one that Ruby could practise on, and if she couldn't call her abilities, to harm it a little to call more.
Most watched Oscar's reactions, since he seemed to know before even Ruby knew herself, that if he got out of dodge, they knew they were going to be blinded for a few seconds.
Then the process would start all over again to find another pack until Ruby got the hang of calling up her ability without relying on chance that it would randomly burst out of her and controlling it and its strength.
Every time they watched as Oscar flinched before he bolted, only to look at Ruby in concern once the light show was over.
Each time they watched as he evaluated which Grimm to keep around, and which not to. He never left elders for her to practice against, which was slowly becoming a problem when they culled their surrounding Grimm population.
They knew they were in trouble when the ground started shaking — they had stumbled upon what looked like an elder pack of Alphas.
They came charging out of the surrounding forest, their ages ranged by their rank and spines.
There were enough of them to take out one per Huntsmen, in the chaos none had given a target to Ruby, who went after the one everyone left alone, having figured it was hers, seeing no age marking it as an elder.
Ruby got its attention on her and stepped back in length to keep its attention trained on her. She crouched feeling her eyes react in the now familiar tingle, before feeling panic run through her veins when she could feel herself becoming too overwhelmed. She had lost control.
Oscar stalled in reactive fear. "Ruby! NO!" He yelled, and acted, not caring for her eyes whiting out in colour, and rushed to her, knocking her off balance, as light burst from her Oscar hurried curled one hand around her, forcibly to make her eyes closed as he tucked her into his chest as they went flying with his other arm winding around her to keep her close protectively from the attacking Grimm.
They all heard the pained cry Oscar gave out even before he hit the ground.
The rest of JNPR and RWBY acted fast by taking down the remaining Grimm, Qrow ran over to slay the one gaining ground on Ruby and Oscar as they crashed into the dirt and slid further away.
Not one Grimm was spared this time.
"Ruby!" Oscar yelled, his tone full of worry and concern, getting up first, curling one hand in pain that seemed to be smoking and the other to shake her. "Ruby, get up!" He called to her, shaking her to get her to wake up faster. "Wake up!" He yelled, his tone changing to fear as the rest ran over. Ruby gave out a groan of pain and confusion. "Ruby!" He continued, his tone flooded with his emotions.
Most doubted Oscar even realised he was hurt anymore, with her being his sole focus.
Oscar sighed in relief once he noted she opened her eyes and they had returned to their usual silver hue and seemed to slouch in relief, before he locked himself back up when he hissed out in pain, forcibly being reminded that he had been hit by her. He shook his hand briefly as if he thought it would help.
"Ow," He muttered.
Ruby was then quick to react. "Oscar!" She yelled, sitting up, and piecing together what she hadn't seen but felt.
Oscar immediately hid his hand from her. But she reached out just as fast to grasp it as he retreated. Oscar hissed in pain, and Ruby immediately let go hearing him.
"You're hurt! I hurt you!" Ruby screeched in alarm.
They watched as Oscar hissed again, only to shake his wounded palm again.
"It's fine." He told her.
He was met with more than one set of incredulous eyes.
"How is this fine!?" Ruby screeched, pointing.
Oscar blinked at her and mentally praised her that she was making direct eye contact with him.
"You lost control," Oscar noted, eyeing his palm as he paused shaking it, the pain slightly dulled.
Ruby reared back. "How did you…?" She questioned.
Oscar yanked his glove off with his teeth and noted where her eyes must have met his palm by where it hurt more than the spanning spider web of pain that spiralled outwards by the time he had managed to close her eyes.
"Had you completely gone through hitting the Grimm, it would have resulted in a similar result as Beacon Tower." Oscar's voice sounded hissed coming out muffled around his teethed glove.
With the glove stilled in the air by his teeth, they could see it was ruined as if dissolved and burnt. Oscar seemed far more focused, more interested in his actual hand, feeling a breeze, he stilled his movements in his fingers to check for functionality, which unfortunately allowed them to see the scarring white-silver spirals starting to web onto his palm, to his fingers and as far down his wrist it began to scar up his forearm.
Ruby screeched out in fear.
"How is this okay?!" She yelled.
Oscar stilled, then got out his scarf to wrap around the scarring wound and stuff his destroyed glove away.
"Because I said it was?" Oscar questioned.
Ruby seemed stumped at that, but it didn't still her swelling tears. "I hurt you." She sobbed.
Oscar regarded her and brought up his other hand to caress her fringe away and back behind her ear, then placed it on her shoulder softly, feeling resistance, he didn't pull her closer: he was too aware that there could now be new boundaries she set up. He wouldn't push her. He just hoped he hadn't frightened her away.
"Is there a way to reduce it? The pain?" Qrow asked curiously from his crouch next to Oscar.
"Hmm…?" Oscar voiced, then frowned. "Ah, no. I'll be alright once the pain goes away," Ruby hiccupped as she whined, and he patted her shoulder in consolidation. "They'll stay there, I won't have hindered movement if that's your concern." Oscar said offhandedly.
He noted the many concerned looks from the two groups.
"Now, I suggest that we head back before the Grimm finds us." Oscar ordered.
They weren't about to disagree.
/
/
In the days afterwards, they noted that Ruby, while guilty, hadn't been able to distance herself more than usual, (and if she tried, Oscar ran after her). Oscar didn't seem to mind her closeness, all for it he looked even more confused when she wasn't next to him, he hadn't taken his scarf away from his hand once he tidied the wrap up around his palm and up his forearm as much as he could.
It only took that long for Oscar to get fed up, and stalk over to Qrow.
"Hey, Qrow?" He started, getting Qrow's attention. "Can I have a favour?" He questioned.
"What's up, kiddo?" Qrow asked.
"Have we any spare money? I need new clothes." He asked.
Qrow just groaned and threw out a few lien cards at Oscar. "Have at it kiddo, take Ruby with you. Sort this out." Qrow demanded, not wanting them to keep on acting as they had been.
He had trodden on too many eggshells by that point because of them.
Oscar nodded, getting the gist. "Miss Ruby!" He yelled and then the room was immediately swarmed by rose petals. "Get your scythe, if you've forgotten it again: we need to go shopping!" He yelled, she then raced out the room again. "She'll regret one day leaving it behind in her room." Oscar grumbled. He knew she would since he could remember the day when she actually did.
./.
Oscar knew exactly where to go for what he needed.
"So, where're we going?" Ruby questioned curiously.
"I need new clothes, and Qrow asked you come to." Oscar told her.
She understood that. "…You've done this before, right?" She continued, remembering when she first met him he had different clothes.
Oscar grinned. "Yep!" He cajoled happily.
It caused Ruby to grin.
Oscar knew which shop to duck into to find his clothing: a shirt he remembered wearing, and actually liked the feel and black colour. It didn't have such a higher collar as his current shirt, but he found he wasn't deterred much. The benefit of having memory of having done this previously, he didn't need to go through various sizes to find his own. Which saved time considerably. Which he wanted to limit since he needed to give Ruby his staff while he looked about and changed. This time, Ruby actually bounded around the shop with him, instead of waiting outside. With her in his thoughts, he knew this time 'round to have pants that actually had pockets since he remembered Ruby liked to give him various things to hold, that ranged from her lien cards to ammo packs and then proceeded to forget she had. He eyed a pair of copper brown cargo pants, that had pockets, ruffling through them he found his size and was off to the next idea in his brain.
As well, the other difference would be his gloves — he would need to change them, since one died spectacularly, as well as he wanted to hide his forearm in the hopes that Ruby would forget about the scars underneath. Gloves, if memory served, were by the belt accessories. Since he could remember he always had issues with his gloves sliding off his hands, so he normally secured them with smaller belts. Grasping a pair of gloves as well as some accessory belts of various lengths he added them to his pile alongside regular sized belts and braces he remembered having.
"Miss Ruby!" He called, having noted she had bounded away when her interest was caught by something on the other side of the shop.
She was immediately back at his side, with an open expectant smile. "'Sup!" She called.
He gave her a chuckle. "Going to change." Oscar told her, pointing to the private rooms behind him.
Ruby seemed to stall at that, but she nodded. "Good to know I won't think you've vanished!" She told him gratefully.
Oscar siding his head again. She had done that before. The stalling thing. It was normally followed by her face going red. He blinked as he walked into the stall and dumped his clothing into a basket once he kicked the door closed and locked it.
…Perhaps she wasn't as angry at him like he first thought.
Once he pulled the cargo pants on, he slammed his feet into new sepia-coloured boots and went about fastening them up before he went about his gloves and everything else.
Oscar pulled off his remaining glove and then turned to his scarf to pause as he thought. He unwrapped the scarf only to wrap up a stretch of white tape he had on him previously, the same likes wrapped around his collarbone and lower neck. Oscar then bound the scarf up into a thin line and tied it on his upper arm, that once his shirt was on only the scarf tails would be seen.
He went about putting on the on-the-inside braces, then went about fixing belts around his lower waist that hung lower on one side then the other on his hip, going through only one belt loop, one coloured a dark auburn colour had a magnetic strip on its back, so he could hold Crescent Rose if Ruby forgot to, since it would be free to do so. The others, a chocolate colour, were to hold ammo and dust cartridges since someone (mainly Ruby) somehow always managed to run out. Fixing them to his self, he was able to pull the black shirt over his head and smooth it down to see his scarf tails poking out aesthetically.
Oscar then could battle his gloves. Pulling the tawny coloured gloves onto his hands he dug around for the olive green accessory belts and wound them from his knuckles crossing them across his dorsal side, circling his wrist then crossing again up the middle of his forearms where the buckle sat. It kept the gloves on his hands and took away notice of his bandage.
He looked about himself in the full-length mirror, and seeing no error, he took up the receipts and his older clothes and left the stall.
Ruby wasn't about when he made his way out, or his way to the clerk manning.
The new additions to his attire hadn't cost much more then what the original had.
The man was kind enough to bin his other clothes again as well.
Oscar turned around to see Ruby, who had stalled, wide-eyed and mouth hanging open in astonishment.
"…Okay, I'm assuming that reaction is good… Because I honestly can't tell." Oscar told her.
Her face was beet red.
She was staring at him, enough he was glad she wasn't holding anything because she might have dropped it.
Oscar went over to her and noted her face got redder in colour, and she blinked several times as if in a haze.
—Not in anger. It wasn't in anger! Suddenly Ozpin's remark about the birds and the bees was…!
Oscar stopped functioning since he wasn't capable of processing that. It had…always been that way? How dense was he?! (How dense was she if she hadn't noticed either, or first?!)
Ruby shook her head out of the clouds.
"Uh, you, you look, good?" Ruby spluttered out.
Oscar fought really hard to keep his grin civil.
"Thanks!" He told her.
Ruby then looked thoughtful. "Is there any lien left?" She asked curiously.
Oscar nodded. "Sure, Qrow gave me a lot." He told her.
Ruby's eyes lit up with pure delight. "Here!" She started, literally shoving his staff and Crescent Rose at him, then combusted into a shower of petals that raced over to the other side of the room where the feminine clothes were stocked. "I'll change too!" She called.
That wouldn't bode well for him. He wanted to buy her something.
Oscar mentally groaned at that, but he could at least buy her something she wouldn't expect to buy herself, that way he could still say it was from him.
./.
Ruby mentally wanted to get back at Oscar, for disarming her like he had done with his new clothing choices. So, she raced over to the pieces she had wanted to wear herself but held back since at the time she wasn't sure of how much lien they had, but with Oscar showing her the lien left. She was able to afford them, and the emblem modifications she wanted. Ruby gave a glance over to Oscar, who had ended up coming back to her side, he had a soft bemused expression. She noted that Crescent Rose was at his back, probably snapped onto a magnetic strip, while his staff was at his back. His black shirt was rumpled up to make way for Crescent Rose to snap onto his first main belt.
Oscar noted the pile of clothes with the same expression.
"Having fun?" He questioned curiously.
Ruby grinned and raced down the next aisle, leaving him faithfully to come back to her side whenever he could catch up in his wanderings.
Ruby roped in an attendant to make the motif she wanted, a long-stemmed rose: with its petals, its stem and its leaves pure silver. Ruby also shoved into the attendant's arms, the piece of clothing she wanted it on, waving her lien card to make it happen.
She then rushed off to pick out accessories, such as the belts she would need. She needed a new support belt for Crescent Rose that could hold up the back case she had kept from her oldest lot of clothes since she hauled Oscar up a lot she found the belt she currently had been fraying with the added weight. Seeing a wide-rim cross-haired two buckled belt she grasped it to see if she could make it work with the others experimentally alongside several arm guards and styles. She grasped several other articles as well and raced back to a curious Oscar, who had stopped following her to stay by the private changing rooms, via the attendant who had finished the design.
Giving him a nod, she picked a stall and slammed the door shut by her foot behind her, and she could hear Oscar's muffled chuckling at her.
She frowned at the door and kicked it, and it made him break into peals of laughter causing her to grin.
Ruby placed her new articles on the seat and hung up her cloak on a hook.
Several articles of hers needed to go or replaced as a whole. She hadn't known what had gone through her head when she picked a white blouse, but she regretted it now, it was hell to get stains out of. So that was going and wasn't about to be replaced this time 'round. Several new items were experimental at best, but she wanted to try them and see what they looked like on her.
Unbuckling the separate support straps and untying her corset she took it and her blouse, skirt and accessories off to shove them to the side, to pull on a dark red thigh length skirt with inner red puffy lace, and pink sheer back-connecting side tails that ended just below her knees in length that had the faded silver rose motif on the right side.
Ruby then pulled on a new wide inset corset on to tie it supportively and redo her red support straps, its main was a darkish brown, its inner lining black with the inset a red that was the same colour as her support upper breast belt.
Glancing up at the mirror and turning to her sides she noted its look, before grasping the light brown broad waist-up cross-hair support belt that had two buckles either width, one buckling over the corset ends to keep it in place and the other buckling over the skirts. Tying the green waist pincher middle tie, she went about slipping up two corset-like upper arm protectors that had the same brown colour as the corset, her secondary ammo belt that was black and rimmed red, then went about shoving her shoes off.
Once all the buckles were unbuckled, her shoes off, she took off her socks and the torn thigh stockings, to replace them with high-thigh dark coloured black ones, she slammed her feet back into her socks and shoes.
She then fit Crescent Rose's back case onto the support belt.
"Hey! Oscar!" Ruby yelled so he'd hear her.
"…Yeah?" He responded.
Ruby blinked at the cautionary tone.
"Could you chuck Crescent Rose over the door?" Ruby questioned.
"…What?" Oscar asked.
Ruby chuckled. "Just gimme!" She replied happily.
She eyed the door. "…Alright, incoming!" He told her, she saw his boots, then saw Crescent Rose's handle above the door, she took hold of it.
"Thanks!" Ruby yelled.
"…You better give it back soon; else wise the lady here might hurt me." Oscar told her.
Ruby snorted in amusement.
Ruby put Crescent Rose in its holster to see its look and tested the weapon's store. It held, and she hoped that with the extra support the belt had, it wouldn't deteriorate as the ammo belt had. Not that she could fully test it since she couldn't haul Oscar onto her back at the moment. Not without a high probability of scarring the boy. No matter her amusement or want on the matter — she wasn't about to scare him off.
Seeing as much as she could, she held Crescent Rose back above the door, and she felt Oscar tug it back.
"Hey, Oscar?" She asked.
She must have stalled him in moving away. "Yeah, Miss Ruby?" He asked.
"Do you have any more of that white tape?" She asked.
"…Why?" He asked, his tone now concerned. "…How on Remnant did you hurt yourself in there!?" He continued to ask, his tone concerned incredulous.
Ruby laughed. "I didn't hurt myself! I just need to use it as a base!" Ruby yelled.
Then a bit of spooled tape hit her in the head, causing her to yelp, and Oscar to laugh since he could guess where it landed.
Ruby went about bandaging up her left arm, so she could put on a black arm guard to help her when she was in fights that needed her to use her hands.
She then stared at the black choker she picked out, and ultimately struggled to put on, having not being able to see the back of her head, she struggled for a few minutes before the clasp decided to work for her. It clung to her neck tastefully, and with that it, she was finished adding accessories and her get-up as a whole.
Pulling her cloak over her head and gathering up her unused clothing, she unlocked the door and left the stall.
Oscar wasn't quite sure what he was in for, but hearing the door unlock, he turned to greet her nonetheless.
But whatever it was…
It wasn't that.
As she stepped out, his entire being shut down: he couldn't think, couldn't move, or talk.
He was pretty sure his mouth was hanging open too. And then she grinned.
Yep. He pretty much knew she was getting him back for something. Deserved or not, it was going to begin to be a problem.
His stomach could stop doing the flip-flops any time it liked. And his temperature. That could go back down to normal too.
Ruby bounded over to pay, the man again took what she hadn't used and offered to bin the clothes she had previously worn. Oscar wasn't sure how, but he followed her in any case of his mental shutdown.
Her getting annoyed at her fringe returned his focus to the norm and made him turn on his heel and wander back into the part of the store they had left from. Since he doubted she would cut her hair anytime soon, she needed a way to keep it out of the way while fighting. And as much as he enjoyed putting it back behind her ear, it wasn't conducive in a fight.
Not that he knew what he was looking for. He hadn't done shopping for a girl before.
"Uh…" He voiced, looking around.
"Do you need help?" An attendant asked the same one Ruby had roped into helping previously.
Oscar looked at her. "Uh, yeah, um, my friend," Oscar pointed to Ruby who was giving out the receipts for what she had put on. Oscar also noted the suspicious look the attendant gave him when he said friend. But he ignored it. "Um. She needs something to keep her hair back from her eyes…" Oscar said a little lost for words to describe what he wanted.
The attendant sided her head, then looked as if she understood. "Right! This way!" She said and made him follow her to the other side of the room, where Ruby hadn't ventured.
She led him to a wall that had all sorts of knickknacks on hangers.
"These here can hold hair back." She added.
Oscar blinked, then nodded her off. He could hopefully deal with this.
…Not that he knew what she liked, in the way of hair pieces, since he had no memory of her wearing anything in her hair. Not even when she had that prom dress on, back before Beacon Fell.
Oscar sided his head as he took in the many styles and versions. They ranged from huge things, that wasn't exactly practical for a Huntress, to smaller things that he wasn't exactly sure would hold anything back.
He chose one style at random to try and figure out how it worked. Turning it around he noticed the latch, and that the receipt went through it. Snap? Did it snap open?
Pulling it between his fingers, he figured out how to open it, it snapped. He noted the hair extensions and strode over to it, to see if it would work.
It seemed the better option, and it might not fall out if it snapped in place.
He paused when out of the corner of his eye he saw something golden glinting in the sun, left and forgotten. Oscar thumbed it out of its hiding place and stared.
On the receipt, there were several pins of one design: a golden rose. And in the middle of the rose, was a little green sparkling gem. With it, also came bundled together with another receipt — ribbons in the same green colour that the gem was.
Some part of his brain noted that it was his colours. …And not something Ruby needed to ever know about.
…But he did kind of want to see her wear it.
So, he went about trying to figure out how the pin worked, and if it would be practical. It was of a different design in the snap hair pieces that he wondered if it would fall out. While trying to pry it open he noted the little graspers and clasp at the end once he figured out how to open one of them. He stuck in the hairpiece and noted how it sat and moved — it kept hair away from unwanted areas, and the ribbons seemed to wrap around the hair it was pulling together.
Pulling it away from the piece of hair, he ran back to the counter to slap down the receipts before Ruby could finish paying.
"These too!" He cried happily.
Ruby blinked at him in confusion, but the man manning just added the receipts to her total, and he added the extra lien.
"What are they?" She questioned.
Oscar just grinned.
Ruby turned to him. "No, seriously?" She questioned.
Oscar blinked. "…Don't hate me for it? And close your eyes?" Oscar pleaded.
Ruby blinked at him in confusion but shrugged, and to his amazement, closed her eyes.
Seeing so, he grasped the pins, her hand and pulled her gently out of the way in case anyone else wanted to pay.
Once they were out the way, he stopped her gently, and she gave out an amused bark of laughter "Oscar…" She chided in amusement.
"No, hang on, don't open your eyes!" He insisted, breaking open one pin, to hold it on his finger as he gathered one side of her fringe to move away from being directly falling into her eyes, he kept it there by pinning the opened pin on his finger and added an extra underneath it and tired up the ribbons to keep the rest from her face.
He did the same for the other side
By then she was giggling. "Oscar, what are you doing?" She questioned as she felt him fiddling with her hair, not knowing he was tying ribbons or fixing pins.
"Shush…!" He voiced in mirth as he fixed pins.
Oscar fiddled until he was satisfied the pins wouldn't move or distract her eyesight.
Taking a step back, he noted the surge of emotions that it caused him to see the pins.
"Can I have your scroll for a second?" Oscar asked.
He watched the confusion paint her face before she shuffled about reaching her "girly pockets", which were "the worst", apparently.
It wasn't just apparent, from the amount of stuff he needed to hold for her, those pockets of hers did crap all.
Ruby took out her scroll and held it open to the air for him to take.
"Thanks," He told her as he took it.
He had never personally owned a scroll, but he knew hers. And Ozpin had memories of how to work them.
Oscar couldn't help the chuckle at noting her passcode was still the same.
…Not that she knew that.
"Oh, wait, the pass—" Ruby started, she stalled when Oscar laughed.
"I remember your passcode, Miss Ruby." Oscar told her, as he scrolled through to find the camera profile.
"Oh. Right…?" Ruby ended up questioning.
Oscar looked at her. "Alright, open your eyes," Oscar told her.
Ruby immediately knew there was something different.
"Wait, what?" She questioned, not quite understanding what was different, or the fond expression he had on his face. To her knowledge, she hadn't done anything to warrant the expression returning. But him returning to that default expression really did mean he hadn't faulted her for his arm injury.
Oscar just pulled up her scroll.
Ruby now knew what was different as she silently took the scroll from him in reverence.
"They're pretty…" She voiced in awe, seeing the gold roses pinning her fringe out the way. "How did you…?" She asked astounded at his thoughtfulness.
"…You're not mad?" Oscar questioned oddly.
Ruby stared at him in incredulousness.
"Why would I be mad? I didn't think to do anything about my fringe!" She told him.
Oscar smiled at her. "Well, good, I kinda wasn't sure what to do about it, since there are so many things to put in hair, …apparently. I hope they aren't too small and are actually helpful." Oscar told her, with a little lost shrug.
Ruby stared at her reflection in her scroll. She actually wouldn't care if they were useless, she would keep them all the same. …Not that it was because he thoughtfully gave them to her, or anything.
"They're really nice, I think they're doing their job, since I can see," She moved her head a few ways to see how they worked. "And they don't get in my eyes!" She celebrated.
Oscar just ended up chuckling. "Should we get back to Qrow and the others? I think we've been here for a long time." He told her.
Ruby nodded and bounded off and out the store.
Oscar felt himself pause when the setting sun reflected off a golden rose and made the green gem sparkle when she looked at him and smiled.
…Totally worth it.