Sunday, the 19th of July, 79AGW.

Malachite's dorms, Beacon.

Lima sighed for what must have been the fiftieth time that morning, wondering why his body clock had woken him up at such an early hour on the one day where he could have slept almost half the day away without concern. Teak, Lux and Claire didn't seem to have any of their own issues, the three of them in various states of sleep.

Claire had kicked most of her blankets towards the bottom of the bed during the night, one leg thrown half off her bed, and her shirt bunched up dangerously high on her chest. He watched her mutter something in her sleep again, the noise far removed from any kind of decipherable language.

It had been three months since they'd first arrived at Beacon, and for all of that time, they'd been smashed together in close proximity. At least full days were spent in their company every week, and then half the time, they'd spent the weekends running around together as well.

All that time spent together, and now, today, he was striking out on his own again, leaving the three of them behind in Vale for summer break. He wondered if it would even get easier, leaving people behind like this, or if he was doomed to deal with the whiplash between Midori, Sage and the rest of his team for the rest of his existence.

"Lima?" Teak said, "Are you awake?"

Teak sat upright on his bed until he was leaning against the headboard and then turned to look at him.

"No," Lima said, relieved that he wouldn't be trapped alone with his spiralling thoughts any longer. "This is one of your super steamy dreams—should I take my clothes off now, or should I get the study materials first?"

"I don't have dreams like that," Teak murmured.

"Ouch," Lima said, amused. "Did you sleep much?"

"I feel like I was awake all night." Teak admitted. "It feels weird."

Lima nodded at the comment, weird was a good way to put it, and it seemed to encapsulate everything he was feeling pretty well. They sat in silence after that, the shifting of blankets and changes in breathing making it pretty clear that the other two were awake now, if unannounced. That strange tension in the room seemed to hover over them.

"I've kind of gotten used to waking you all up every morning," Lima said, deciding to just get everything out in one go, "I know it's only six weeks, but I'm going to miss you guys, you know?"

"I'm going to miss you too," Teak murmured. "Can we work out a time to call? Mistral has a CCTS tower, doesn't it?"

"Two of them, actually," Lima confirmed, "Pick a date, and I'll sneak into Haven—shouldn't be too hard to make a long-distance call back here."

"Do you need to sneak in?" Teak said, concerned. "I'm pretty sure you can request access at one of the communication hubs—can't you?"

"That wouldn't be anywhere near as fun," Lima said, "Besides, I want to get eyes on our competition for the Festival—what better way to do that than plan a full-scale invasion of Haven Academy?"

"I'm just curious," Claire asked, fingers resting on her still exposed belly. "Do you think you'll miss us more—or less when you're in jail?"

"More probably," Lima guessed without pause. "You should probably imagine me crying in a cell all alone. Mascara running, snot dripping out of my nose, trembling lip—that way, you'll get so worked up that the three of you will have come to break me out."

Claire turned on her side to watch him, palm holding her cheek up off the bed.

"You're going to start wearing mascara?" Claire murmured.

"I mean, If I'm going to throw myself against the entire might of a Hunter Academy, I'm going to do it while looking my best," Lima said, folding his hands behind his head. "Think I can pull it off? Wait, what am I saying? Of course I can."

"I'll let you borrow my mascara when you get back," Lux said as she sat up. "So hold off on the invasion—at least until we can come with you."

"You got it," Lima nodded.

"I'm not sure we should be attempting invasions in the first place," Teak said, attempting to be the voice of reason amongst them. "Lima—you're coming back to Beacon, aren't you?"

Lima closed his eyes for a moment, the ache growing a bit tough to ignore.

"The four of us are going to be known as the best team that ever came out of this place, Teak," Lima said in answer. "I'm definitely coming back—besides, these two owe us a favour each, and I'm not letting them get away it that."

#

Sunday, the 19th of July, 79AGW.

Cafeteria, Beacon.

The cafeteria was a relative ghost town compared to the number of students that were usually present during lunch. Most of the ones who were still around, ironically enough, were those who were running down the clock waiting for transport. The students who lived in Vale, with a few notable exceptions, had already taken the Airship down to the city, ready to start their Summer break.

"You don't have to hang around and wait with me, you know," Lima said, messing with the straw of his milkshake. "Isn't your mum waiting impatiently for you to bring these two hangers-on down to meet her?"

"She already knows we're waiting with you," Teak said, hesitating. "I don't want to leave you on your own."

"Your mum hasn't seen you in months, dum dum," Lima said, reaching over and pulling him into a side hug. "Get out of here already."

Teak turned around and wrapped his arms around Lima's back in a proper hug, leaving him to look over the boy's head at his other two teammates. Lux was glancing away from the two of them, pretending not to notice, but Claire looked a bit more overwhelmed.

"You better call us," Teak said, "If you miss any of them, I'm going to be mad."

Lima hugged the boy back, squeezing him tight enough that Teak let out a muffled complaint as his face was pressed into his chest. When he finally pulled back, he patted him on the shoulder and then reached up to mess up his hair.

"I never miss," Lima said. "Tell your mum I said hello."

"I will," Teak murmured, rubbing at his face. "Bye, Lima."

He steered the boy back towards Lux and then dragged Claire into a hug when she was in range. Claire started to cry almost immediately, and the feeling of her shoulders shaking sent a stinging feeling up to the corner of his eyes. He closed his eyes, not wanting to cry in front of them, and then squeezed the back of her neck with his hand.

"I'm going to message you, even if it takes a few days to route it through the CCTS network," Claire murmured, "Check your scroll in a couple of days, okay?"

"I will," Lima agreed, "Stay safe, Claire."

Claire lifted her head and pressed a kiss on his cheek before pulling back from him. He made an attempt to touch his cheek in surprise and then aborted the motion before he could fully complete it. Claire caught Teak around the shoulders and then used him as a shield to hide behind. After that, she made no further comment to explain her actions, and he was left laughing awkwardly because he wasn't really sure what else he was supposed to say.

Lux eyed him for a moment before stepping forward and giving him a hug of her own. Belatedly, he returned it, squeezing tight for a moment. He caught the smell of his own shampoo in her hair and rolled his eyes for a moment.

"You stole my shampoo, didn't you?" Lima sighed.

"The entire bottle," Lux admitted, "I'm going to miss you too, got it?"

"Got it," Lima said, "Take care of them while I'm gone, brighteyes."

Lima let her go after that and then clamped his hand down on the back of his neck, the gesture an attempt to wash away the mixture of feelings growing inside. They hesitated for a moment longer, and he smiled at the three of them before shaking his head.

"Go on," Lima said, dropping back down onto the bench. "Before I start crying as well."

He watched them cross the room from his place at the table, hands folded beneath his chin. They passed through the doors to the cafeteria, moving out of sight, and he carefully let out the breath he'd been holding, teeth clenched to burn away the stinging in his eyes.

#

Lima, legs over the back of the bench, lying upside down with his head dangling off the edge, watched a familiar figure approach the landing area. Ozpin walked without rush, cane dangling from his fingertips and touching the ground with each step, but almost as an afterthought. Whatever purpose the man had chosen a cane to carry with him, it wasn't as a walking aide.

"Mr Morta," Ozpin said, coming to a stop beside the bench.

"Afternoon, sir," Lima said, "You're looking very upside down today."

"I suppose it's a matter of perspective, isn't it?" Ozpin said, nodding thoughtfully. "I was hoping to speak with you before you left."

As close as the man was, Lima couldn't see much more than his pants, and so he made an effort to slide his legs off the back of the bench. He sat upright in another movement, almost overbalancing as all of the blood that had rushed to his head caught up with him.

"I'm not sure if having the Headmaster of Beacon looking for me is a good thing or not," Lima said, wincing. "This isn't about the Going Away Tournament, is it?"

He managed to fight off the rush of blood enough to raise his gaze to the man's face—he was smiling, however faint, which was somehow less reassuring than he might have hoped.

"Not at all," Ozpin said, "Glynda was actually quite impressed with the situation overall."

"That's a relief," Lima admitted, "I engaged in a bit of strategic retreating afterwards, just in case."

Ozpin reached up to settle his glasses further up his nose as he considered the words.

"If a detention is issued, but nobody is around to hear it, must I go?" Ozpin said, raising his cane slightly as he spoke, "Something like that?"

Lima laughed at the comment.

"You've got me figured out," Lima said. "Sir, I think that's my airship coming in now—just so you're aware."

Ozpin glanced sideways, gazing over the top of his glasses at the speck of grey that was growing closer by the moment. There was a distinct change in the atmosphere around the two of them that had Lima sitting up straighter as he noticed it.

"Then I shall speak quickly," Ozpin said, turning his gaze back to settle on him. "I'm going to ask you to do something potentially dangerous for me. In exchange for your cooperation and your complete discretion, I am willing to avail myself to you in any singular matter by which you should need my assistance."

The man was offering him an exchange of favours, and something like that immediately struck him as completely unequal. Anything that Lima, a hunter-in-training, could do for a man like this would be invariably less than what Ozpin could do for him. The man had sought him out in particular, which meant that there was something about his circumstance that would allow him to do something that Ozpin couldn't. Given that Lima had to write and sign an application detailing his destination for Summer break weeks in advance, Ozpin had likely chosen him for that reason.

The Airship was growing bigger by the second, the sound reaching their ears, and then a moment later, a gust of unnatural wind followed. Lima wondered if the man had deliberately chosen to ask him this at a time when he was in such a rush or if it had been a last-minute decision.

"You need me to do something in Mistral," Lima said, standing up.

"Astute of you to figure that out so quickly," Ozpin said, watching him. "The details of my request will be sent to your scroll, should you accept, and you will have several days before anything needs your attention. If you decide, now, that you do not wish to involve yourself, there shall be no repercussion for your declination."

The fact that he wouldn't be able to decline once he'd agreed was left unsaid, but it was perfectly clear to him that he was supposed to decide now. The Airship reached the cliffs a moment later, the wind whipping about and sending their clothes into brief disarray. The entirety of Team Juniper past the two of them without looking, apparently relieved to see that the Airship was arriving and not leaving them behind.

"I'll handle it," Lima agreed, meeting the man's gaze. "Sir."

Ozpin smiled, and his cane tapped down on the ground between them.

#

Beacon fell away from them as the Airship lifted up into the air, and through the window, Lima watched as Ozpin remained in place long after they'd left, content to watch the cliffs by himself. The vibration of his scroll told him that he'd have a message waiting for him, but he was content to wait until he had a moment of privacy to check it over.

He turned away from the window and took in the interior of the Airship, scanning the people aboard. Almost immediately, he spotted Jaune, hunched down on a bench in an attempt to enter the fetal position while seated, fingers clutching at his sides—it was a far cry from the brilliant smile that had crossed his face as he stood at the edge of the arena, staring down at the laughing Pyrrha Nikos.

"You were looking a bit rushed out there," Lima said as he approached. "You spend all night partying?"

Jaune managed to look up, hand clenched tight around the bench and then managed a pale smile.

"Not even a little," Jaune said, wincing at the turbulence. "I kind of lost my scroll, and it took us most of this morning to actually find it again."

Pyrrha stepped out of the bathroom, scanned the interior of the Airship for a moment and then spotted the two of them.

"Rough start, huh? It happens," Lima nodded, "Nora and Ren didn't get on?"

"They're staying at Beacon for the break, actually," Pyrrha said as she joined them. "Hello, Lima—I didn't get a chance to speak with you after Jaune's decisive victory."

"I was doing my best to avoid a detention," Lima said before scratching his cheek for a moment. "Sorry about ganging up on you, Pawpaw."

Pyrrha laughed before shaking her head.

"That's quite alright—If I'm being honest, that might be the most amount of fun I've ever had in a tournament," Pyrrha said, smiling. "Jaune explained your plan in great detail—you're very observant, Lima."

"It was under duress," Jaune managed, clenching his eyes shut. "Ugh, how long is this ride going to take again?"

"Brains, brawn, beauty," Lima rattled off, "I'm the whole package, honestly."

"I'm starting to see it," Pyrrha laughed.

"I said something like that to Weiss once," Jaune groaned. "She hit me with a 'return to sender.'"

"Coldblooded," Lima grinned before tilting his head a Jaune. "I thought I saw luggage earlier—did you decide you're going to head home after all, hero?"

"Not exactly," Jaune admitted, catching the reference to their previous conversation. "I'm actually going to stay with one of my sisters—in Argus."

Lima tilted his head at the revelation.

"Yeah? I lived there for about half of my life," Lima said, humming. "Never met someone with the last name Arc, though."

Lima turned to look at Pyrrha, the unasked question passing to her.

"I'm returning to Argus as well to stay with my mother; I missed her even more than I expected," Pyrrha admitted, "Are you just visiting Vale or going somewhere else?"

"I'm headed back to Mistral," Lima nodded, raising an eyebrow. "You're both taking the Vale-Port Line-Mistral-Argus route as well?"

Jaune gave a groan of agreement before hunching over as they hit some turbulence.

"Yes, I suppose we'll be travelling companions once again, Lima," Pyrrha said, eyes crinkling slightly as she smiled. "I'll admit that I've found myself very interested in the strategizing the two of you used to defeat me."

"Jaune didn't elaborate?" Lima asked.

"No, he up and vanished right after you did," Pyrrha laughed, "Apparently, a conversation with me is scary enough to warrant sleeping in the Library."

"You were laughing at the time, but I kind of freaked out afterwards," Jaune admitted, managing to sit up a bit. "I thought you might be upset with me—we were kind of underhanded about it."

"A friendly competition, with no official standing involved? You're acting like I've never lost a spar before," Pyrrha said, amused. "I'm not actually invincible, Jaune; I'm just very good."

"I know that," Jaune sighed. "I just—I don't know."

Lima shook his head at the pair of them.

"Jaune was worried that he wasn't improving fast enough and that you were trapped as his unwilling sparring partner," Lima said, throwing him under the bus. "The tournament was his way of showing you that he was improving, and you weren't wasting your time on him. What do you think, Pawpaw—are you feeling trapped?"

Jaune gave a groan that was more equal parts motion sickness, and betrayal as his internal state was wrenched out into the light.

"Jaune," Pyrrha said, taken aback. "I've never felt trapped helping you—did you really think that way?"

"I wasn't getting any better," Jaune said, tightening his hold on his stomach. "It started to feel like I was just running in place, and I'd somehow tethered you to me in the process."

"That's absurd," Pyrrha said, "You've grown so much since we first started; I don't understand how you couldn't have seen that."

Jaune looked like he wasn't sure what to say.

"When the measuring stick is the size of Vale, and you're the size of a Jaune, it's hard to see the improvement," Lima said, shrugging. "You could try being less big?"

Pyrrha sent him a look at the interjection, clearly reading the situation as something more serious, and Lima nodded at the unspoken reprimand. He'd probably overstayed his welcome then, and they'd need to sort this out between them.

"I'll leave you to figure it out," Lima said, pushing off the wall. "I'll catch you both on the train—don't miss it, or I'll probably end up dying of boredom."

Jaune looked hesitant at being abandoned in the conversation he hadn't quite signed up for, but the expression on Pyrrha's face softened at his sudden departure.

"Thank you, Lima," Pyrrha said.

Lima tossed them a two-fingered salute and headed for the front of the Airship.

#