Breaking Out

"Uhm, hi," Oscar said, reaching up to rub his chin and wincing as he did. "I don't think we've actually met, yet. I'm Oscar Pine."

Emerald stared at him like he had grown a second head before she shook it off and rolled her eyes. "Salem's boytoy, I know." She lifted a hand and Oscar felt the air around him change. He looked down at his hands, but they looked fine. Was the semblance up and running?

Yes, Ozpin replied, at his ear again.

"Come on," Emerald said, gesturing. "Let's get going."

"Oh, yes, thank you." Whoa, his voice sounded like… Oscar covered his mouth, surprised. "This will take some getting used to.."

"Not if you just shut up," Emerald muttered. "Hazel isn't exactly a chatterbox."

"Oh. Right. Sorry."

She rolled her eyes again, but she started walking, exiting the relic chamber and Oscar following suit. His hip was bothering him again, Oz's hand was still there but he could tell he was limping. He pursed his lips, trying not to. He rolled and stretched his shoulders, but the aches were still there. Now that they were escaping, shouldn't they be focusing on healing him up more properly? Oz?

There was no immediate reply, only intense concentration on the other side. Oscar left it for now.

The hallway curved around in a long arc. Emerald tensed whenever she saw the floating seers but kept her back straight and her gaze flat. Oscar tried to mimic it, but the more they walked the more his hip started to ache. He could feel his aura being pushed in a lot of different directions - he was still new to aura and the sensation was different, tingly in a weird way that was almost familiar. Probably an Oz memory? He couldn't feel Ozpin as much, meaning the headmaster was working really hard. The thought made him smile - he was trying to help, even though he didn't expect to be forgiven. Oscar patted his hip, where Oz's hand was, tried to offer a comforting squeeze.

"Hey, eyes front."

Oscar stiffened, snapping back to the present, and they walked some more. All at once his hip stopped hurting, and he almost hummed in relief.

Thanks, Oz.

… Yes.

Ozpin's voice was thin, uncomfortably so, and Oscar's eyes widened to hear it. He hadn't sounded that bad since Haven… "Are you okay?" he asked, jumping slightly at hearing Hazel's voice.

"Just peachy kid," Emerald replied, making Oscar realize what he sounded like. He turned inward again. Oz, are you okay?

Yes, Oscar. Sorry for worrying you.

Oz, you don't sound okay. What's wrong?

In the grand scheme of things, nothing, he assured quickly. I'm sorry for worrying you. I'm just a little worn down.

Worn down…?

But then Oscar realized: he had slept intermittently in the last… however many hours (days?) of their capture, but Ozpin probably hadn't. He'd been too busy trying to manage the aura healing. Probably reliving the past times he'd been tortured, too. And he had held back all that pain somehow, and all the while reassuring Oscar himself, keeping him calm, helping him where he could. Oh Ozpin, you stupid professor.

Rest, Oz, he said, I got it from here.

Thank you for that Oscar. I am truly grateful; but no. Not until we're safe. Not until we're assuredly away from her.

Oscar… couldn't blame him for that, and that made him tense slightly.

Then give me the pain, he offered instead. I can handle it for a little while.

I've no doubt you can, the headmaster replied. But if it's in my power I won't have you suffer that, either. Maybe when we have the Long Memory back.

Oscar nodded, glancing at Emerald as she guided him through the long halls. It had been a huge ask of Hazel, to have him get the cane. They'd been walking for a while, and Oscar started to wonder just how big this Grimm they were inside was. How long would it take for Hazel to find the cane, how long would it take to regroup, what if something went wrong…? He looked to Emerald again.

"You… sure he'll be okay on his own?" he asked in Hazel's voice.

Emerald looked down. "I don't know. We just need to get-" She stopped, arm out and Oscar almost ran into it. "Wait."

There was a click of heels, Oscar looked up the incline they were approaching, and felt his heart drop to his stomach.

Salem!

Everything in him tensed, his heart started hammering in his chest, and he could feel Ozpin grip his arms, once again having put himself between Oscar and Salem. What should he do?

Emerald grabbed his wrist and dragged him to the side of the hall, bowing her head. Oscar tried to take his cue from her, but he couldn't stop glancing at Salem.

"Ah, Hazel," Salem greeted softly. Oscar stiffened even further, knowing he had to play a part and he turned to her. How was he going to do this? "Have we gotten what we need yet?"

"I…" Oscar stuttered. "I, uh…." He could hear his own speech patterns in Hazel's voice, this wasn't going to work! He glanced to Emerald, who was was watching him closely from the corner of her eye and he could feel her own tension. How were they going to do this? Ozpin, still holding him close, rubbed a reassuring hand up and down his back.

Salem raised a brow.

Think of something!

Oscar, say that-

"Screeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Salem turned to look down the hall towards the horrible screech. "The Seers," she murmured. "Seems we have guests," she took a step and Oscar almost let out a breath of relief before Salem whirled around. "The Lamp! Find them!" she ordered, glaring at them, and then in a swirl of magic, she was flying down the hall.

Once she was out of range, Oscar couldn't quite stop stumbling down to his knees, gasping shallow breaths. All of his aches seemed to flare at once and he tried to hug Ozpin back despite what that did to his chest, because how had they survived that?

It's okay, Oscar, Oz whispered quietly. You're fine. Breathe.

A hand touched his shoulder, and Oscar shakily looked up to Emerald.

"... Thank you," he said softly, Hazel's voice making him sound… not soft.

Emerald frowned at him before rolling her eyes. "I'm not helping you for you," she said, straightening. "I'm doing it so we can get out of here."

Of course she is, Ozpin said lightly, and Oscar silently agreed. He took a deep breath, ignoring the aches and pains, and stood up.

"Sorry," he said. "Let's go."

"Sure, whatever," she said sourly.

Together, they stalked off again, back down the hall towards where the seers had screeched out their warning.

You realize, Ozpin said distractedly, once more focusing aura tightly towards injuries, that your friends are likely ahead?

Oscar certainly hoped so. With escape such a tantalizing possibility, he felt energized and twitching. It was only the acute awareness of where he was and the fact that Salem had been in front of him just a moment ago that kept him from just running down the hall.

"Thank you," Oscar said softly. "I know that Salem is scary. I know that escaping from someone like her is hard. The fact that you're helping, means a lot."

Emerald turned to him, her face looking oddly confused, but said nothing.

Give her time, Ozpin said. She's only just come to terms with leaving. Give that time to settle.

It's amazing that her Semblance was able to fool Salem.

Ozpin gave a distracted agreement, clearly more focused on doing what healing could be done. Oscar focused ahead. Conversations would have to happen when it was safe, for all that talking with Oz had kept him calm since their capture.

The pace was a little faster after that, Salem running to the lamp proved that Hazel was right to leave Jinn there for now, but that didn't mean something else would go wrong. Emerald looked particularly stressed now, there was a tightness in her face and her hands fisted on occasion in anxiety. The pair turned one hall and then another, and then:

"You."

Yang. Ren! Jaune! What luck! Ah, but they were drawing their weapons they didn't realize - "No, wait! Stop!" he said quickly, listening to Hazel's voice as he did so. The air shifted, Emerald had released her semblance, and Oscar watched as all three sets of eyes blew open at seeing him.

"Oscar!" Jaune dropped both his sword and shield, running forward and throwing his arms around Oscar, hugging him so tightly as to lift him off the ground and ooooow that sent pain through his entire body. He got the sense of Ozpin grunting, he had lost his concentration, but Oscar didn't even care - his friends were here and he could handle any pain that leaked through because now he was safe. He lifted his arms up and hugged back, Jaune swishing him back and forth slightly before lowering him down. Someone patted his head - not Oz, this was tangible - and Oscar looked up to see Yang attached to the gesture, a gentle smile on her face. Ren looked on, a quiet but potent smile crossing his lips. Oh, this felt so good.

"I knew I sensed some weak minds nearby."

All eyes turned back to Emerald, and Oscar realized he might have to do some very fast talking. Ozpin touched his arm in reassurance, leaving him to it as he started to pull the pain away again.

"What's going on here?" Jaune asked.

"It's a long story," Oscar said, holding his hands up.

Yang, of course, was impatient. "You're gonna have to try and summarize it," she said, stepping forward and putting herself between Emerald and Oscar. "Why should we trust you?" she demanded.

Oscar opened his mouth to explain, but to his surprise Ren beat him to it:

"... Because she's scared. Just like us."

Oscar looked at his friend, a little surprised by the observation. Ren was always prone to being a little insightful, but not like this, what…?

Emerald rolled her eyes, pushing past Yang and continuing on. "Or maybe," she countered, "because I know how to get out of here. Anybody coming?"

Oscar followed happily, turning and watching Jaune pick up his weapons as Ren confidently followed, Yang glaring before deciding to follow.

"Look, you guys need to know, Salem already knows you're here," Oscar said. "Some kind of alarm went off and she ran to check on the lamp."

"Then speed is more important than stealth," Jaune said, clamping his shield to his gauntlet. "Are you up for a run?" he asked, worried eyes glancing over Oscar's myriad bruises.

Oz, can we do it?

Yes, Ozpin replied. His voice was thin again, distant, and Oscar looked forward to giving him the chance to rest. He turned back to Jaune and nodded, Ren watching intently, and as one they all broke out into a run. Jaune's long stride pulled him ahead. This time, however, he kept looking back, making sure Oscar was catching up. Ren, too, adjusted his pace to keep next to them, both of them fully aware of what happened last time they were running through a maze of hallways.

Emerald called out directions and Jaune and the others followed without question, too pressed for time to offer suspicion. Oscar's hip was starting to bother him, that meant Ozpin couldn't keep all of this up, but he could feel the bruising on his eye start to fade. He was prioritizing healing over psychosomatic aches. Oscar focused on his own strides as a result, forcing himself to run normally and shrug off the pain. Ren at his side looked over more than once, but Oscar didn't have time to explain, just grit his teeth and pushed himself. If they could get out…

The lighting changed, the ominous reds and blacks cooling as outside light was suddenly present. Could it be…?

"We're almost out!"

Emerald put on a burst of speed, but then everything rumbled. Oscar stumbling before he could control his hip and stay upright. Deep, deep inside the Grimm there was a low, unearthly moan.

"What is that?" Jaune asked tensely.

But Oscar already knew, and so did Emerald. Her eyes were blown wide, her entire frame beginning to shake. "It's her," she said softly, stepping back.

Then what could only be called sirens sounded - deafening and reverberating through everyone. Everyone in turn grabbed at their ears, and Ozpin, on the other side, tensed almost to the point of pain. There was an explosion, dark and purple, knocking Oscar off his feet and blowing him back. Ozpin grabbed at Oscar, invisibly putting himself in front if not in charge, and there she was.

Salem's eyes were doubled in size, her teeth bared, and one flick of her gaze locked immediately to Oscar, always able to sense her old lover, and in horror Oscar tried to back up. A vein pulsed in her head, and her dangerous gaze flicked again, seeing everyone and especially Emerald. Emerald of course tried to run but that was a study in futility, Salem stretched out her inhuman arms and grabbed her, closing the distance and pressing herself to the traitor's back. Emerald was shaking as Salem leaned in, uncomfortably close.

"You really have been honing that semblance of yours," she said in one of her dangerous voices.

The others had rallied by then, Ren firing as Yang shot forward. Salem twisted, lifting a hand and casting her magic. Jaune got in front, shield extended, but the strength of the blow blew both him and Ren back. Oscar and Ozpin were both shaking, they had lived through that blast at point blank range and their chest burned in memory. Oscar was shaking almost as bad as Emerald, and Oz was holding him, offering comforting nothings in his ear as he glared at her through Oscar's eyes. Yang finally closed the distance and landed a flurry of blows before jumping back and activating the charges she had set. Salem exploded in an arc of black and red, arching back at an unnatural angle and freezing for just a moment.

But only just a moment.

Not even fully regenerated, a wiry arm shot out and grabbed Yang. The witch's face was blank, contemptuous, dragging Yang back towards her while the blond struggled against it. Ozpin was almost hugging Oscar with a bruising force his intangible grip was so tight, and Oscar could hear images, too many memories to count, explaining exactly what Salem was going to do. No, no, no, let them go!

"Let them go!" Oscar shouted, arms up and reaching for some way to help. Green magic gathered and shot out of his hands. Warmth started to build, and the strings of light hit their mark, and Oscar starred in shocked wonder. That came from him…?

Oscar! Cool hands wrapped around his. You said you don't want to merge faster!

Oscar froze, realizing what he had just done. His gaze snapped to his hands as the light faded, shocked that he had tapped into… But then Yang was there in his face, and bowled him over from Salem's toss. Oscar was dazed for a second - the magic had pulled from him, and his body really wasn't ready for a large-scale fight. Ozpin was at his ear again, it's okay, it's okay, but black hands reached up from the floor, wrapping around him and pinning him to the floor. From the sudden grunts of the others Oscar assumed something similar had happened to them.

"What did you do with the lamp?" Salem demanded.

"N-nothing," Emerald stammered, and Oscar ached for her, knowing the danger she was in, how vulnerable she was.

"It's missing," Salem insisted, "Where is it?"

"I didn't do anything with it."

"Where is it?"

Then the hands holding Oscar down shifted, lifting him up but not upright, his hands locked behind him and keeping him at an uncomfortable seventy degrees. His line of sight now changed; he saw Salem looking at him and gave a deep, weary sigh.

Oscar, say nothing. Absolutely nothing. If you want to live through this encounter stay silent. Literally anything you say will mean your death and everyone else's. Any comment or answer will be wrong, all she wants is a sounding board.

"Look how you've diminished," Salem said, her voice that same soft, gentle, unsafe voice from his first round of torture. She walked forward, confident and putting on airs of indifference, but Ozpin knew better, and Oscar knew better from first hand experience. Oz was right, this was Salem at her most volatile. "How you've lessened yourself," she continued. "And for what? These children? This ruined world?"

She finally closed the distance, and Oscar had never felt more vulnerable, more scared. Her aloof face disappeared in the blink of an eye, her hands grabbing either side of his skull, thumbs dangerously over his eyes. Oz had predicted it, his hands were already there, gentle rubbing in soft circles, it will be okay; it will hurt but it will be okay; we can get through this; I won't let you feel any pain just breath focus on breathing just breath...

"Why," Salem demanded, "Do. You. Keep. Coming. Back?"

Say nothing, Oscar.

"Why do you?"

… What?

No, Miss Xiao Long…!

Oscar looked involuntarily to the side, but all he could see was the tip of Yang's boot, and Salem moved away from him, curious, as Yang continued. "All this endless death. Because something bad happened to you once upon a time? Nobody gets a fairy tale ending! Everything I've lost, every person I've lost, is because of you!"

"And who is it I've taken from you, girl?" Salem asked, bored.

"Summer Rose! My mom!"

"Hm. Her again."

Please, please, Miss Xiao Long stop talking never draw her attention let it stay on me at least I deserve the pain and I can keep Oscar from feeling it and-

Ozpin! Oscar was mentally shouting, listening to Ozpin's cavalcade of panicked thoughts. Look!

"Your Grace."

There he was, coming around the corner and looking for the world like this was all perfectly normal, all part of his day. He stopped, next to Emerald, his massive presence still.

"Ah. Hazel," Salem said lightly. "I found our guests." Yang grunted behind Oscar, he couldn't see what happened, and Salem walked back to Emerald, hand up and black magic gathering menacingly. "This one was helping them," she added lightly.

The Grimm arms holding Oscar disappeared, leaving him to collapse to the floor in a heap. Oz could barely be felt, but Oscar could feel pulls on his aura, soft touches here and there, the vague image of combat ready flickering on the other side.

"Take the boy back to his chamber," she ordered, and Oscar struggled to get up to his knees, knowing he had to be ready. Somehow. He had to be ready.

"Yes. Of course." Oscar looked up at Hazel's approach, winced when the mountain of a man grabbed him and lifted him back up to the air. Would he really take him back? Plan a breakout later? Or had their work failed…?

Something was placed in his fist, and Hazel leaned forward, his lips to Oscar's ear. "No more Gretchens, boy."

He let go, Oscar stumbling to the ground, and he looked to his ha-the cane! The cane!

The attack began with an absolutely brutal uppercut, Hazel in perfect form and with enough strength to send Salem flying. The violence broke the witch's concentration, and the Grimm arms holding Emerald and presumably everyone else evaporated, leaving them free. The burst of surprise gave pause, and Hazel ripped his shirt off, grabbing crystals of dust and shoving them into his shoulders. "Go! Now!" he ordered.

He was… he was…

He won't survive this.

Emerald knew, too, looking up at Hazel, the tiniest shake of her head, but he turned back to Salem, igniting his hands with fire dust. "I'm doing what Gretchen would have done!" he shouted, and ran into the fray.

Oscar watched, wide eyed, at the sacrifice. It wouldn't work, it wouldn't work, Salem came back so quickly, he was only going to buy them seconds, at best possibly minutes, and there was no way Jaune and the others could handle… It would be such a waste, and what was he supposed to do? How could he stop Hazel from sacrificing himself in vain? How were they going to survive this…?

Stop, Ozpin said, hand on his shoulder but not trading places. That's my thought, my doubts. Oscar, you have always made a decision when times were dark. You always gave yourself agency when hope seemed lost: when James lost his way, when I selfishly abandoned you, when you disagreed with my secrets, even when you fought with Hazel at Haven. You are not helpless here, neither of us are. So tell us: what do you want to do?

"I want to stop it," Oscar murmured, hands fisting around the handle of the cane. "I want to stop her. I want to give us time to get away. I want…"

Hazel was lifted into the air.

"I want…"

"Come on everyone, out!"

Hazel used the earth dust to create a huge boulder to knock Salem down so that he could just pummel her.

"I want to win this fight," Oscar said grimly.

Two unseen hands squeezed his shoulders, a supportive gesture that wrapped into a loving hug.

Then use the Long Memory.

Oscar stiffened, eyes snapping down to the handle of the cane, the ivory casing and the embossed design, the curve of the pommel and the simple handle. Oscar had a complicated relationship with the cane, feeling it's comfort but knowing deep down it wasn't his. He used it in battle, trained with it, but it wasn't his. It had been given to him like some kind of proverbial passing of the torch, carrying all the weight and responsibility and destiny and identity and it wasn't his. He wasn't Ozpin, he didn't have a destiny, he didn't have so much responsibility. The cane… everything that went with it… it wasn't his. It wasn't… it wasn't… he didn't deserve… he hadn't earned...

Hands covered his, invisible and intangible. You may not consider it yours, Ozpin said, voice gentle, but believe me when I say you have most certainly earned the right to use it. And in it, is a way to pause her for several hours, enough time to make our escape.

But…

I trust you, Oscar. You will use it well.

How could he say that? How could he say that when Oscar knew how deeply attached Oz was to the cane? How could he trust Oscar with something so personal, sentimental, identifying?

Because, Ozpin said, and his voice was soft, proud, and still so thin and tired, you have made me trust you.

And… that was everything. Ozpin, so afraid to trust, so afraid of being hurt, so afraid of being betrayed, so afraid of the truth; a man who thought to little of himself and hated himself so much, was willing to risk being hurt again, willing to risk being failed again, to give Oscar the right to use the magic in the cane. When had that happened? When…?

"Oscar?" Jaune called.

Right, there was no more time left. He had a job to do.

Oscar turned, looking back with grim determination. "... She'll just come after us," he said by way of explanation. Jaune's face turned to horror but Oscar didn't have time, he extended the cane, and he ran toward the fight.

Hazel had lost his advantage, was thrown across the room, and Salem was on him in an instant, pounding his face repeatedly into the ground.

Oscar stopped short, adjusting his grip on the cane, the Long Memory, and thought about his fall through Atlas - the memories that had appeared in his mind, and how to tap into the power stored inside. He looked down at the cane, feeling the magic in the hilt and watching the glow softly appear. Anxiety was flooding his system, he looked back up at Salem, sensing how big a risk this was, terrified that it would go wrong. This was desperation, there wasn't another card to play.

Ozpin squeezed his shoulders, a deep well of reassurance and supportive confidence. The magic swelled, building, the soft glow growing to a brighter light, smaller flecks of gold and green wavering in and out as Oscar pulled more and more out the Long Memory.

Salem noticed immediately. Letting Hazel go and turning slowly to him.

Then she was flying at him so fast too fast he wasn't ready this was going to hurt-! He winced, bracing in preparation for the hit, Ozpin once again having thrown himself in front, back to Salem and hugging Oscar as an intangible shield.

Before Oscar could blink, however, Hazel grabbed Salem from behind, his massive arms that were thicker than the bones of the Grimm they were in, straining against Salem's struggle. Oscar focused on the magic as Grimm tentacles surged up from the floor to grab Hazel, slowly starting to choke him. But the mountain of a man bit a shard of fire dust, igniting both himself and Salem.

The magic was gathering, starting to bend to the purpose for which it had been called, making dots of multicolored light sparkle around the cane. Hurry, hurry, Oscar didn't have a lot of time this had to work this had to work and Hazel...

Hazel sensed the hesitation, in obvious pain, and he looked right to Oscar.

"Do it!" he growled, even as his lack of air was weakening him.

With Ozpin in front of him to protect him, Hazel holding Salem still, Oscar clicked the knuckle guard, with a different grip that the one that extended the cane, and simply felt the magic. Ozpin's hug squeezed, Hazel started to fall, and the world went white.

"Oscar!"

"Oscar!"

"Os-I found him! Jaune! Over here!"

"Oh, my gods, is he okay? Oscar!"

"Yang - see if you can call someone, we need…"

He was semi-conscious.

His eyes were open, he could sense that, but he couldn't really see, everything was a blurry mess. Green and black, the sensation of being rolled over, someone saying his name but he couldn't…

Oz. Oz, where are you?

He was still being hugged, he could feel it. He tried to reach up and touch it, hug Oz back. Oz…?

I'm… here…

His elevation changed suddenly, and everything hurt, a moan bubbling up inside him.

"It's okay, Oscar. We've got you. Jaune! Is your aura back? We need your semblance…"

Oscar swayed a little, but the colors made more sense now. Sort of. Ren was kneeling beside him. It wasn't blurry because of himself, it was blurry because of the fog, the Grimm mist of the destroyed… whatever they were in. He lifted shaky hands up to his head, trying to process… that had felt so… his entire body was shaking. There was nothing left in the proverbial tank.

It's… alright… I've… got you…

"Oscar, Oscar look at me."

He did, his eyes pivoting over to Jaune as he leaned into his field of vision. The hunter smiled, nodding his head and straightened. Hands were on his shoulder - not Oz's shaking hug but something else, and there was a soft glow of aura. Strength filled him almost immediately and he hummed in relief.

"That's it. We've got you Oscar, you can relax."

"No… Salem…"

"She's gone Oscar," Yang said, leaning down on her knees. "You did it. We're good."

"No," he clarified, feeling Jaune's semblance flow through him, revitalizing him. "We're not... She'll come back... We need… to get out of here…"

"Don't worry," Jaune said quickly, turning to Yang. "We'll figure out a way out of here."

Yang nodded resolutely. "I'll call Blake, see if we can rendezvous somewhere." She straightened, pulling out her scroll.

The hurt was going away, the pain receding, and Oscar was gaining still more awareness of everything around him. He looked inward to the dwindling pain, noticing it felt different. Jaune's semblance then. Oz…?

...keep… you safe…

Oh, Oz… We're safe now, Oscar replied. We've bought our time. Jaune and the others are here. We're safe.

But…

You can rest now. I've got it from here.

He heard a silent hum, and the shaky hug slowly slid away, Oz slipping back to the other side and fading to the farther reaches of Oscar's mind. The pain he held in check returned, but Jaune's work was making it miniscule. Oscar felt almost normal. He winced, looking up to see the gold sky above him, obfuscated with the Grimm dust as the disintegration continued. The destruction was… they had caused this…? He grimaced as he stood, gripping the cane and taking in everything.

Slowly, he took a breath, feeling the strength back in him, feeling the safety of being near his friends.

The worst was over, for now.

His eyes fell to Emerald, staring off at nothing, traumatized with the loss of Hazel.

Now it was time for the next step.

End

Author's Notes: ...and it's all wrapped up nice and neat, Oscar with a new objective for the next episode. We'd offer final reflections but the end of the school year (T-20ish days and counting) has left us deader than dead... Hope you enjoyed.