#but oz is smoller

[bafflement]

Deaged Oz AU - The Farming Daze

Oz stretched, moving into a set of warm up exercises that felt as familiar as a second skin. He was still slower than he'd like, but the reflexes were slowly coming back. He glanced over at Oscar, who was watching, sighed and stopped.

"We really do need to source you a weapon, Oscar. At least temporarily. You stated you wanted to learn, after all?"

"Yes, of course I do! But... I don't have anything. You're really certain we can find one?"

"Anything can be a weapon, if you believe in it. However, if we can find something to use as a base, I may be able to alter it for you. It would be better with a workshop, but that can come later. Is there anything in particular you'd be interested in attempting to learn to use?"

"Something with an edge. That or a gun, do you think we could find a gun? Sorry, I know you're more comfortable with the cane, but... I don't think I would be?"

"Different people find different weaponry preferable. You don't have the training yet to use a blunt object as well as you might one day be able to. I do, but... hmm. Maybe we should ask your aunt if she knows of anything? Or at least if she knows of any tools that might help? I rather doubt we could locate a gun, however that's always a thought for the future?" Oz sounded amused, even though it was obvious that he wasn't a massive fan of guns.

"Maybe. Oz? You promise that you'll teach me to be a real huntsman?"

"Of course I will. It would be my honor to help guide you, Oscar, even if you only ever use it to kill the local Grimm."

"I. Okay. Thank you." Oscar looked like he wanted to say something but bit it back. Oz looked concerned, but decided not to press the issue.

Going back inside to find Oscar's aunt, Oz considered. As a farm, there might be something in an outbuilding, but... part of him wondered about Oscar's parents, whether they might have had anything. There was no guarantees that Oscar would want to use something like that, of course, but it might be an option if there was nothing else available.

Aunt Em looked confused for a second. "I... I'm not sure, honestly? There might be something in one of the further barns? Back when Oscar wanted to go to Signal, the plan was always to let him make a weapon there..."

"Understood." Oz said. "Oscar? Could you show me where the barns are located? If nothing else, we could take the time to explore a bit?" A very brief grin crossed his face at the thought and his eyes lit up behind the goggles they'd found as a temporary measure to shield his eyes from the light.

Aunt Em smiled at that. Oz had almost acted like a ten year old in that moment. Almost. Ah well, small steps...

Oscar looked worried as they both scrambled over the rough terrain towards the barns. Oz's limp was more noticeable the further they walked, but he seemed to be coping well enough.

"Are you sure you're okay, Oz?"

"I'll be just fine, Oscar. If I need any help, well, the cane does work as a walking aid as much as a weapon for times such as these."

"You shouldn't need the cane for that child, I'm sorry..." Ozymandias' voice echoed in his mind and Oz froze in shock. He hadn't heard that voice in years, why would he now?

"... Ozymandias?" He thought back, tentatively, but there was no response. Shaking his head, he grinned up at Oscar and kept walking.

"I'll be alright. Besides, I think we can see the barns from here. My, they are in bad shape, aren't they. Maybe you should stay outside, just in case it's dangerous in there."

Oscar stared at him for a moment, visibly comparing their physical statures, a strangely protective look on his face and Oz sighed.

"Then again... maybe not. I am not actually a child, Oscar, I can look after myself, you realise?"

"You're tiny and you limp. Besides, what if there's something on a high shelf?"

"Then I doubt either one of us could reach it, you are not really that much taller than me, after all."

"Hey! I'd still have a better chance than you would!" Oscar sounded wounded, but the smile he gave Oz was fond. "Hey, I wonder if this is what it's like actually having a brother?"

Oz's eyes were soft. "From recollection, it does feel rather similar. Well, well. That is rather interesting, isn't it?"

"If I'm your older brother, then there's no way I'm letting you leave here on your own, okay?"

"You may be something approaching a brother, Oscar, but you do realise you are not, by any measure, actually my elder?" There was a laugh in Oz's voice.

Oscar rolled his eyes and entered through the broken door, turning to quirk an eyebrow at Oz. "Yeah, yeah. Are you coming or not?"

Oz followed him in, watching his steps carefully in the gloom. There was no way of knowing if the floor was entirely level, but thankfully both boys had packed flashlights.Switching his on, he swept the area, looking for the telltale glint of metal. Ahead, Oscar sounded triumphant.

"Hey! Look, I found something!" The scythe he held up, however, was rust pitted and heavily corroded. Oz pulled a face.

"I'm sorry, Oscar, I do not believe that is rescuable without either a replacement blade, maybe the handle, too, or some sort of minor miracle."

"Can't you... you know? Magic it?" The scythe's wooden handle took that opportunity to start leaving flakes on Oscar's gloves and he pouted, seeing Oz's point.

"Magic cannot fix everything and, even if I were to use it on that, I doubt it would stand up to any serious usage. No, we need to keep looking. Maybe one of the other barns may be in better shape?" He glanced up at the roof, or more accurately the hole in it, looking doubtful.

"Yeah, maybe." Oscar left the barn, Oz in tow and went to look at the next one. At least the door to this one seemed more sturdy, surely a promising sign? It was also locked. Oscar looked discouraged but it was Oz's turn to raise an eyebrow. He also raised his cane and proceeded to open the door via the other route. The way the hinges creaked definitely made them both think this barn was certainly a better option than the last. Shining their torches upwards, they could find nothing wrong with the roof and though it smelled musty in there, at least it didn't smell damp. Definite improvements.

There was a sound in the corner and Oz went into a fighting stance. He relaxed it a few seconds later as what was probably a cat streaked past them, obviously startled by their entry. That made both of them chuckle a bit, though they might need to work out just how it got in, since the place had been locked up.

Moving along the walls, they could find plenty of tools. They were even still in good shape, though most of them were just hammers, screwdrivers, spanners, that sort of thing. Maybe, if they could find enough other items, they could build something? Again, though, that would depend on Oscar. Whose sudden excited yell ahead sounded rather like a very good sign.

Moving to join him, Oz watched as Oscar happily swung a short axe, unlike the scythe in the other barn it looked spotless and more than sound enough as a practice weapon. He wouldn't necessarily recommend using it to kill Grimm any time soon, but at least Oscar was happy with it.

"Do we wish to keep looking, or will that do for now?"

"It's perfect! Maybe a longer handle later, but... I have a weapon all my own now!"

"I wonder if we should inform your aunt as to this barn and the state of the other one? There are things here that she would probably have mentioned had she remembered them, I'm curious as to just how long this has been here?"

"Ages! The farm's old, been in the family for generations. I thought Aunt Em told you that? But yeah, it's full of places like this. There's a well and old farm buildings and all sorts of things scattered around. We can go look at some other stuff tomorrow, maybe? If you're my brother now, that makes this your home, too!"

Oz looked poleaxed at that statement. "Oscar, you... you even sound like you mean that."

"Of course I do! I've always wanted a brother!"

Oz was mostly quiet on the journey back, Oscar's words had given him a lot to think about. If he couldn't stop him from going with him and, he was beginning to suspect the futility of that, then how would he ever protect him, out on the road? There had been so many things, even in the barns, that were too high for him to reach. What if he was too small, now, to fight the Grimm properly?

What if this war was one he really could never win?

[bafflement]

The 'Huh, you're smol' scene

Qrow stared at Oz, who was beginning to feel very uncomfortable dressed in some of Oscar's old castoffs. Orange was far from his favorite color, but ah well, needs must after all. "What is is, Qrow? Why are you staring at me like that?" "It's just... you've been taller than me for almost two decades Oz..." "Ah. And now that I'm not?" "It's... hilarious. You're so small. So delicate." "Qrow... I'm far from fragile. I know what I need to do and I'm fully capable of doing it." "Oz, you're like four foot tall... nobody's going to be the slightest bit intimidated. You're even more a pipsqueak than Oscar is..." "This is why I need to train myself back to a level that I'm comfortable with. You stated you were willing to help, so if you could please stop laughing at some point soon, I would appreciate it. Or... not" Qrow broke into guffaws again.