“for once, i need you.” & ozcinder because i will never stop being garbage.
I hope you like it! Thanks for the prompt, buddy.
It had been close to four years since Ozpin had been slain in the vaults of Beacon Academy. It had been two years since Cinder had managed to distance herself away from Salem, and it had been incredibly difficult over the course of the last few years.
And yet, Ozpin was going to her because they had no other choice. Despite it all, Cinder had the power of a maiden, and that was something that Ozpin needed, desperately. She just needed to be willing to lend her power and her time to them.
They found her in an inn in Western Mistral, where Cinder was alone.
Ozpin approached her, glad that Oscar’s trace had been finally taken over and that they could finally do their job. They approached her and seated themself beside her at the bar. “Hello, Cinder.” They greeted her, not bothering to order a drink.
She looked over at them out of the corner of her remaining eye, and she looked angry. “Ozpin.” She greeted them. “Is there some reason that you’re here?”
“There is.” Ozpin responded. “You know that war is still being waged between myself and Salem.” They hesitated for a long moment, Cinder’s past transgressions not at all going forgotten. “And that your power is still needed.”
“I know.” Cinder sighed, swirling her drink in her glass without looking over at them. “So why not go to some other maiden?”
“There are only four of you, and I will need all four of you.” Ozpin explained, staring at the wall across the bar from them. “For once, I need you, and your choice is going to be crucial.”
Cinder turned finally, letting herself face them directly with an expression on her face that Ozpin couldn’t place. The burn scars didn’t help at all. “You need me.”
“The world needs you.” Ozpin answered, locking their eyes with Cinder’s remaining one. “The choice is yours.”
She stared them down, frowning before she finally spoke up once more. “This better be worth it.”
“I assure you,” Ozpin smiled at her. “It will be.”
“I’ll help you.” Cinder finally said, her eyes snapping forward so that she was staring at the bottles on the bar wall. “But you need to promise me that I’ll be left alone after this.”
It was a hard bargain, Ozpin thought, but the least that they could do was go ahead and try to make that offer to her if they could. With the way that the battles between Salem and themself, Ozpin was sure that Cinder would have at least a little bit of time where she was left to her own devices.
“I can’t make you that promise,” They said calmly. “But I can guarantee that you’ll have some time away.”
“And if I decide I need you?”
“Then I will be there.” Ozpin answered. “It’s for the best that this is a reciprocal relationship.”
Cinder nodded slowly. She understood. “I’ll help you.” She finally said, toasting Ozpin with a sly smile before taking a sip of the amber liquid.
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