burden
/ˈbəːd(ə)n/
noun
1. a load, typically a heavy one.
2. The main theme or gist of a speech, book, or argument.
3. a duty or misfortune that causes worry, hardship, or distress.
4. the main responsibility for achieving a specified aim or task.
Sunrise came and went as Oscar spared with Jaune, he still seemed to have the skills he'd developed over time, but he lacked his reaction time and muscle memory, he was slower too, taking far too many of Jaune's hits then he should have.
Thankfully, he still had his Aura and magic to fall back on, those didn't seem to have suffered the same side effects he had been experiencing since his return.
Eventually Ren came down to join them, sitting off to the side and observing their fight and not saying much, just offering small pointers to both of them as they fought, until they decided to take a break, "I'm going to make breakfast, why don't you two go get cleaned up while I cook"
"Sure, sounds good." Jaune replied as he put away his weapon. "Come on Oscar, Ren makes the best pancakes! You're gonna love them."
An old ache began to build up in his heart as he was reminded of the last time he'd had Ren's cooking, of the last time he'd been with Team JN_R before everything began to fall apart.
"Yeah, sure thing. I'll join you guys soon, I just need a few minutes." he replied, probably a bit to quickly before rushing upstairs and back to his room, only just getting the door closed before he collapsed to the ground, tears beginning to form at the corners of his eyes.
{Oscar… are you alright?} Ozpin's calm tone questions, confused by his sudden turn in emotion.
"I'll be fine… I just need a moment to catch my breath and get myself back under control." He said wiping at his eyes and clenching his fists. "I'm fine! I can do this!" This time, the words were directed towards himself and not his soulmate.
Warmth enveloped him as Ozpin gave him the mental version of a hug, {tell me what happened, Oscar. Why did you suddenly get emotional over the idea of breakfast?}
Trembling, Oscar shook his head. "It's just… it's been so long since- since I lost them, I guess the idea of being together again, of sharing a meal and being happy was too much."
"But it's fine, I'm fine!" He reiterated, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself than the other.
{You know, it's alright to not always be okay, Oscar…}
"Not for me it not! I can't get emotional like this! I have to be stronger than this! The entire world is at stake if I can't hold it together. I have a duty, I've lost and suffered too much to screw things up again… I have to be fine… I have to be!"
Ozpin fell quiet once again, offering Oscar a moment of blissful silence has both gathered their own thoughts and steadied their emotions.
After he was able to calm the aching in his heart, Oscar picked himself up off the floor and went to check his reflection in the mirror, making sure his face wasn't red or puffy.
Once he was sure he was presentable, Oscar headed back towards the door, he rested his hand atop the doorknob as he took another final breath to ready himself.
{Before you go… I just want you to know that regardless of what you think, you do not have to be strong all the time. And you don't have to go through this all alone, you can rely on me to help carry your burdens… that's what being partners is about, Oscar. Sharing the weight of responsibility so that it might not be so heavy}
Letting out the breath he'd held as Ozpin spoke, Oscar gave a sad sort of smile, "thanks, Oz… but I'm not sure if this is a burden I want lightened."
With that, he opened to door and headed back towards the small broken family he was determined to protect at all costs.