disapproval

/dɪsəˈpruːvl/

noun

noun:disapproval

possession or expression of an unfavorable opinion.

"Jill replied with a hint of disapproval in her voice"

In the courtyard behind the house, Oscar watched Team RNJR's sparring session with vague interest as he allowed himself to get lost in thought.

They only had a few days before Raven would send Yang and Weiss to Qrow, before that happened, he needed to build a stronger rapport with Jaune and more importantly- Ruby. he needed them to be on his side when Yang arrived, bringing discord and doubt to the group.

Jaune would be easy, the older boy was up most nights training rather than sleeping like the rest of his team, Oscar was sure he could take advantage of this occurrence to begin building a friendship with him- and considering his own sleepless nights it would give himself something else to focus on rather than the nightmarish memories that haunted his nights.

But Ruby… she would be a tougher nut to crack, not just because the likelihood of her turning on her sister was slim, but Oscar wasn't sure his heart could take being so close to her, to have her look at him like a stranger, while he couldn't help but look at her as if she was his entire world…

Ruby's heart may have belonged to another, but still he had still given his own to her.

Getting close to her again, loving her again while watching as she fell deeper and deeper in love with another… Oscar was certain that it would break him.

But, the mission needed to come first. Even if it hurt, even if it broke his heart and slowly killed him… The mission had to come first! He would find a way to get close to Ruby.

So long as she got to be safe and happy at the end… his own emotions be damned.

He would just have to find a way to be okay with everything he was doing. He didn't have any other choice but to be.

Oscar was eventually pulled back to the sparring session happening in front of him when he heard Nora's loud whooping cheer as she knocked Jaune down, destracing Ruby from her own fight with Ren- to which he took the opening and knocked her feet out from under her, causing her to fall into the dirt alongside Jaune.

"Don't get distracted. Any opening could be the difference between life and death." Ren spoke calmly, stifling a laugh of his own as he offered his hand to help Ruby back up off the ground.

"He's right. You get caught out like that in a real fight and you'll end up with more than just a face full of dirt." Oscar jumped at the voice coming from behind him as the rest of the group turned to see that Qrow had returned.

It had been a long time since anyone had been able to sneak up on him like that, figuring he must have been more lost in thought then he'd originally perceived.

Ruby let out an exasperated sigh as she dusted herself off, "Believe me, I know…" Her expression darkening for a split second before she shook her head and her smile returned, "let's go again, you won't catch me off guard again!" Nodding, Ren got back into a fighting stance before Ruby threw her first punch.

Rather than returning to their own training, Jaune and Nora stepped back and watched the other two, Oscar's attention on the other hand went to studding Qrow.

The other Huntsman was more pale than usual, and there was a slight shake to his hands… coupled with the fact that Qrow had left his flask in the kitchen the night prior and it was still in the same position not to long ago when Oscar had gone to get himself something to eat. 'It worked'

{What worked?} Ozpin questioned suddenly, no small amount of suspicion in his tone.

The old wizard had been silent since their talk that morning, Oscar hadn't expected him to come back out until after they'd retired for the night. [Nothing much, just a little something else I worked in when altering Qrow's memories.] he replied, thinking back to the troubles that Qrow's drinking problem would cause, easier to deal with it now then wait for it to escalate later.

Immediately, Oscar could feel Ozpin's disapproval seeping into his mind, {Oscar, that is a massive abuse of our powers, regardless of how you feel, playing with Qrow's head like that is a great violation of his trust.}

[Maybe so… doesn't matter though, what's done is done and everyone will be better off for it.] Oscar said simply, his gaze drifting away from the subject of their talk and off into the distance.

Ozpin sighed, {That's not the point, Oscar. You can't just play god like that! Everyone has a right to their own vices, to make their own choices in life. We don't get to make these decisions for them.}

{We're not Gods… Do not act as if we are above everyone else. I have stayed back and allowed you to enact your plans for now, but I will intervene if I feel that you are abusing our power and heading down a dark path.} Ozpin stated, fear and anger lacing his words.

Closing his eyes and shaking his head, Oscar searched for the right words to convince his partner that he was doing the right thing, but the words didn't come… he struggled to come up with a way to properly justify actions… [I'm trying to do what I think is best, I'm doing what I must, to protect the people I love. If I have to walk into the darkness to do that, then so be it.]

{I hope it won't come to that...}

[Me too]