Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Battle of Beacon
Ozpin, age forty and feeling much too old, reaches into his pocket for the third and final crystal of green dust he's been given in this life.
He drops the vial on the ground. Staring at it is easier than staring at the holo-screens on his desk. Ozpin stands up. His face is blank, but he can feel desperation choke him. There is a little bit of relief, because it has been too long since he has seen her. He just wishes that meeting her again would be under better circumstances.
Ozpin's foot crushes the vial.
The white haired man watches the short woman look around. The twenty-six year old is alert, looking for danger. When she finds none, her gaze turns to him.
Ozpin struggles to stay in place. His cold mask is breaking as she stares at him with cold eyes. The screams from the holo-screens on his desk draw her attention, but Ozpin can't look away. Her Spring magic calms him. He wants to reach out and touch her, make sure she's real.
"What's going on, Ozpin?" Danny asks in a clipped voice.
Ozpin is taken aback by the ice in her voice. He continues to look like the embodiment of uncaring, while she looks ready to spit fire.
"I need you to gather Glynda, Qrow, and James to the base of this tower," Ozpin says. His voice is soft, but speaks with authority.
Danny grits her teeth. "No."
Ozpin raises his eyebrows and goes to reach for her. "No?"
Danny flinches and takes a few steps away from him. She looks wary. She points at the holo-screens. "What about them?"
Ozpin pretends that her hesitance around him doesn't hurt. He pretends that losing the feeling of her Spring magic, again, isn't tearing his heart into pieces. "James' troops will take care of evacuation."
Danny's shoulders slump. She stares sadly at him. "I won't leave them stranded on rooftops or in alleyways to be killed by Grimm. I have less than an hour, and there is a lot to do, Ozpin. Do you have my basket?"
Ozpin nods, his hands going behind his back to hide his clenching fists. "Locked in my bedroom."
Danny nods with a bittersweet smile. She swipes her hand through the air. The light seems to bend around her fingers. Her hand grasps a woven handle, and pulls the basket down to her side.
"Danny," Ozpin lets his plea leak into his voice. It causes her to pause, staring at him with sad eyes. He slowly reaches out a hand. "Please, let me try something.
Danny stares at his hand, and then into his eyes. Warily, she nods.
"Turn around," Ozpin begs softly.
Danny realizes he isn't commanding her and complies.
Ozpin doesn't move from his spot. "Please, let me see your back."
Danny sucks in a breath, but lifts up her blue shirt. Ozpin stills when he sees the large, black tattoo marring her back. He sees the black, clock hand move up, trying to slip beneath her bra strap. Taking silent steps, Ozpin stands behind her. He raises a hand, fingers glowing. Ozpin puts a finger to the clock hand and drags it down.
Danny screams. She lunges forwards, away from him. Her shirt has fallen, covering the tattoo, and she turns to stare at him with wide eyes.
The betrayal on her face will forever haunt Ozpin.
"It landed somewhere between one hour and six hours," Ozpin says, his voice steady and cold.
"Three hours," Danny spits at him, taking a few more steps back. "I have three hours."
"Find-"
"I'll give them the message if I see them," Danny hisses. She marches over to the elevator and hits a button to call it.
"Why are you taking the elevator?" Ozpin asks, confused yet sounding patient.
Danny sneers at him. "It isn't for me."
Ozpin blinks. He is left alone in his office, at the top of the tower.
The man turns back to his desk, placing his hands to steady him as he watches the camera. Ozpin watches as every now-and-then a woman appears in view of one of the camera, before disappearing along with the people that were struggling to escape to safety. His breathing borders ragged every time his young-looking friend appears on screen.
If the town wasn't being ravaged by Grimm, Ozpin would wonder how old Danny is. He would wonder how she never showed that betrayal to him when he was younger. He would pray that one day he could apologize for hurting her trust.
Ozpin stands there, tracking Danny's movements whenever she appears on camera. The old worry he had for her simmers. His Spring Maiden – how could he have missed it for all those years – is back for a few more hours. The not-so-ghostly woman is teleporting around his city.
When she catches the camera watching her, she gives a half smile, as if to reassure the viewer.
Then she is gone, and he can't find her.
There is at least another two and a half hours left for his friend. Ozpin stares at the screens - specifically the last one Danny appeared on - for a little longer. Then he pushes back, lowering his head to compose himself. Ozpin walks around his desk, grabbing his cane as he goes.
He eyes the elevator, swiping his cane to get ready for a battle he hopes won't come. Faintly, he wonders what Danny would think if she knew the fate of Amber… if she knew the destiny to be placed on the Fall Maiden he's chosen.
Buried in Ozpin's mind - hidden in the place he keeps his 'what ifs' - the man wonders what Danny would think of Pyrrha Nikos.
A rumble picks up and shakes the entire tower. Ozpin throws his arms out for balance, and recovers as the shaking fades. All thoughts leave his mind as he calmly walks over to the window. The creature flying through the air, towards the tower, is one of nightmares.
Ozpin looks at the dragon and feels old.
The elevator doors ding open from across the room.
A/N: Thanks for reading!
Thank you, xenocanaan, for your review! I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, Praetorianwarrior, for your review! I hope you enjoyed the chapter!