Beta Read by: Crescent Sunrise

Recommended story: "Damaged Property" by RadientBeam - RWBY oneshot

~MZ~

Stepping from the bullhead, May takes in the sight of Vale at night. Letting out a small whistle at the sight of tall buildings and lights shining in the night to announce clubs, restaurants, and 24-hour convenience stores. There seems to be quite the night life available here in Vale. Not to say that Vacuo doesn't have nightlife, it's just lower key than here.

'I guess they can build up since they don't have to worry about buildings sinking into the sand. And everything is so bright! Is it just this area trying to draw in business from students enjoying the evening?' May wonders letting her fingers widen to interlace with those of her date.

"So Little Red, want to head somewhere in particular or just wander and see where our feet lead us? I'm sure we have plenty we can talk about." May offers and is confused when she doesn't get a response. She turns and suddenly has to struggle to keep her amusement from her face as the shorter girl is blushing up a storm. If May wasn't all too familiar with having caused that particular expression she would be worried Ruby was falling ill with a high fever.

"Oh come on, I haven't even started flirting with you yet. How is it you're already this worked up? Or are your feet stuck? Need me to carry you Little Red?" She asks in a familiar teasing lilt. That gets a reaction.

"Sh-shut up! I've never been on a date before okay? Or held hands or-or any of this! How am I supposed to know what we should do?!" Ruby shouts huffing loudly and May sucks her lips into her mouth. Biting to hold them in place as her cheeks puff with the effort to keep herself from chuckling. She fails miserably. Her punishment being the heated glare from Ruby and a loss of the small hand she had in her grasp moments before.

The older girl regrets the loss immediately. "Look, Ruby. Just calm down. You don't need to do anything. We could sit on a bench right here and talk instead. It's a date and since I asked you out I want you to have a good time. If you don't then there's no point. So just relax yeah? If things go well we can do it again. If not then no hard feelings from me." May offers trying to get the younger girl to just relax a bit so they can move on.

It seems to work as Ruby gives a final huff and nods, putting her hand back into May's. "I think there's a park over that way?" Ruby says uncertainly as she points down a side street. Further down there are less lights on. With a shrug from May they head off.

The silence this time isn't awkward but it is a bit longer than is comfortable for two people trying to get to know each other. As both try to work out what to say first it's, surprising to no one, Ruby who starts by focusing back on her favorite topic: weapons.

"Sooooo, did you build her yourself?" Ruby asks only to explain further after getting a questioning look from May. "Your rifle. Did you build her? Me and Yang were at Signal before, and everyone there builds their own weapons. I helped Yang out on the more complicated parts but the idea for it and most of the work is her own."

'Silence goes on too long and her icebreaker is once again weaponry. It's an odd hobby sure, but she's so adorable talking about it.'

"Yes I built her. There were some stock models we could use instead but there was a stigma attached to using them. Kind of like. 'If you don't have the drive to put everything into making something to fight with you'll never make it as a Huntsmen.' So no one used them. Usually they were donated out to one of the villages every few years so it's not like the pre-fabs were out of date or anything." May answers easily. No one used the stock models for anything but getting a feel for what kind of weapon they might want to build for themselves.

"I've been wondering ever since I walked in on you in the training room, sorry for that by the way. Why doesn't your mecha-shift retract the blade? It would be quicker and safer than doing it manually like that." Ruby asks, the question had been burning at her for a while now and her curiosity finally has a chance to get sated.

The answer however leaves her a bit flat footed. "That's because it's not mecha-shift, its spring lock." May answers her expression brightening as she finds the park Ruby had directed them towards. The hand she holds in her own the only thing keeping Ruby from stopping to stare in shocked horror.

The park itself is filled with trees, a large map on display for visitors to read where the forks take them and May decides to head for the small pond in the center. Walking happily down the trail lit by Dust powered lanterns, hanging every so often to illuminate the way.

Finally Ruby seems to get her speech back. "Wh-what?! But why wouldn't you use Mecha-shift? It's far more reliable and durable. Won't your spring wear down after extensive use like that?" She questions, eyeing May's rifle, her horror turning to curiosity and May can tell she's already thinking of ways to 'fix' the perceived defect.

"Ruby, calm down a bit and let me explain. Spring lock is the best for me and if you humor me I'll explain why, but first an example. How many moving parts does Crescent Rose have?" May asks slowing her pace to keep the conversation at the focus.

"One hundred and thirty seven." Ruby shoots off right from memory. She doesn't even pause to think about it. The speed of her response makes May chuckle before smiling at the genuine interest on Ruby's face.

"Now I'm sure you maintain it really well, cleaned before and after every mission. But in Vacuo, missions are primarily out in the desert. A lot of that sand gets everywhere, and if it gets into the mechanisms it can cause gears to grind, and break all together. Something you definitely don't want to happen in combat. So most of us use spring lock or manual shifts. Only person I know who uses mechanized weaponry is Roy on my team and that's all internal to make his buzz saw chakrams spin." May explains leading the shorter girl to a bench next to the pond smiling at the beautiful sight of the moon shining over the water.

Ruby seems horrified at first thinking of what damage could be done to her Sweetheart in the desert, and already her mind is off pondering ways to avoid such an issue if she ever needs to go on a mission in Vacuo. She most certainly can understand the reluctance to use the more modern style of shifting weaponry with an obvious environmental concern like that.

"If you want we can stop by the school forge some time and I can show you how it all looks inside." May offers before blinking at the sudden intensity in Ruby's eyes as she shorter girl grins wide and nods.

'Yes she certainly likes her weapons. Dangerously adorable.'

~RR~

Ruby has to make a conscious effort to set aside thoughts of temporary plastic casings to protect her sweetheart from the elements to focus on their date and blinks when she notices where they've ended up. Her cheeks lighting up in a blush as she realizes that she hadn't been paying much attention to her surroundings while talking.

'And I defaulted to weapon geeking again. Gah, why do I have to be such a nerd? But she humored me about it too. Maybe she doesn't really mind?' Ruby wonders before her eyes move out to the water, following May's gaze.

"It's really pretty out here." Ruby comments getting a chuckle from the taller girl.

"Finally noticed huh?" May questions, chuckling more as Ruby's cheeks burn all over again with embarrassment with having her lack of spatial awareness pointed out so bluntly. "Hey, it's okay Little Red. You're passionate about weaponry. It's actually kind of endearing how you get all excited like that."

'Even now she does it. I'm not even sure she knows she's doing it anymore. Tease then compliment. But, at least she doesn't really mind. That makes me feel a bit better.'

Ruby blinks as a hand is waved in front of her face. "You alright Little Red?" She asks with clear concern as Ruby shakes away her thoughts.

"No it's okay I um- I was just caught up in my thoughts. So, tell me more about Shade? What is initiation like there?" Ruby asks curiously as she kicks her feet under the bench.

May accepts the conversation shift with a smile. "Well, applicants are air lifted to the Cracked Plateau. There's a legend that some massive Grimm shattered it once upon a time and made this huge maze of crevices. It's full of Grimm and dead ends. The legend is bunk though; the cracks don't follow any impact pattern. It's a common hazing ritual for later years to tell the newbies about the 'great monster' inside. It was a nightmare for snipers like me though. No clear lines of sight, tight corners and smooth walls to make climbing a no go." May continues with a broad smile gesticulating as she recalls the event for herself.

"That sounds difficult. What were you supposed to do in there?" Ruby asks.

"Oh that was easy. Everyone got a different entrance and you just had to make it through the maze on the other side. It wasn't so bad though. Previous years would leave marks sometimes to show the way if you knew how to read them. Most people just used them to make sure they weren't getting turned around." May replies her arms crossing as she leans back on the bench shivering for a moment as her back connects with the cool wood behind her.

"What about teams?" Ruby asks next, her expressive eyes letting May know she has the girls' complete attention, seemingly fascinated by the differences between the schools.

"Well most people grouped with the first bunch they came across. Rules going in said you couldn't group up with more than three others. Those that don't find a full team are usually shuffled around until they find one that works. Only takes about a week at most. Of course not all groups blend well but what can you really do? I lucked out with my team." May comments with a little grin.

"I found Nolan pretty early on. Lucky for us both really. He uses a super charged prod. It's great for stunning yeah, and prolonged exposure will cook a Grimm from the inside out. But it's weak in groups. So we got through with him stunning and me picking them off from behind him. A few close calls for us but we made it through. We came out alone in the end and ended up being grouped with Brawnz and Roy." May mentions turning away from the pond to look at Ruby while she talks.

"You and three guys huh? That must get awkward at times." Ruby comments blinking when May shrugs it off easily.

"It's easier than most would expect I think. They might seem like a bunch of idiot guys but they're really sweet underneath. We sat down the first night and laid the ground rules. My privacy is respected for the more 'girly issues' and I learned pretty soon after to just let most things go. It's not hard to ignore the occasional eyeful of man ass when it doesn't do anything for you one way or the other. Upshot is I'm pretty desensitized to the male body now." The taller sniper says before laughing at the look of distaste crossing Ruby's countenance. "Well, I guess you're not Bi then huh?"

Ruby blinks and shrugs in response. "I... guess not? I mean. I knew I liked girls but I've never thought about it you know? I have like, two male friends. Jaune and Ren and I didn't consider either of them that way. I don't really think about relationships much. Not enough time really to sit and consider it even. Between training, leading my team, playing catch-up being two years behind the other first years, and working on my hobby I've kept pretty busy."

"No one at your previous school?" May questions genuinely curious and frowning when Ruby shrinks back a bit.

"Well I had a few friends I guess. But I haven't heard from them since I let them know about my first night at Beacon. I get the feeling visiting now would just be awkward." Ruby mentions with a small frown.

"Well new school, new friends and you're already drawing them in from what I've seen, plus your sister. I don't think you'll have any trouble at all Little Red." May replies with a smile stretching for a moment with her hands over her head. The loose white shirt riding up to expose her toned stomach briefly.

'God she has to know how distracting little things like that are. And those jeans are so tight and... Great my mind is in the gutter now.' Ruby's thoughts must have been broadcasted on her face because May gives her a knowing look and that damned flirty wink again. Much as Ruby tries to resist she blushes all over again.

"So what was your initiation like?" May asks, her hands slipping behind her head, the motion doing something interesting to her chest. It takes a mental effort to ignore the shifting orbs and answer the question.

"We were launched into the Emerald forest and told the first person we made eye contact with inside would be our partner for the next four years. Then we had to get a relic from the other side of the forest and bring it back. Whatever other pair got the same 'relic' as you and your partner were your other two teammates." Ruby explains getting a blank look in return.

"No, seriously?" May questions.

"Seriously. That's exactly how it worked." Ruby replies lifting her brow as May twitches.

"But, what happens if not everyone makes it to and from? Or if only one pair gets a particular relic? And the pairing system! What happens when two people just can't mix? Like, and I know it's getting better these days, but you can't have a bigot paired with a Faunus and just expect things to be okay for four years. And in second year when you start taking small unsupervised missions there's a lot of potential for something to go horribly wrong!" May comments with blatant disbelief. "No, there has to be some provision for changing out of a bad environment."

Ruby can only shrug. Everything seemed to work out well for all of the other teams she's seen so far. She can see where May is coming from though. She hadn't thought about that.

May leans forward and pushes herself to her feet. Knowingly, probably, putting her rear on display for the younger girl as she straightens up. "Well that's a weird system your Headmaster's got there. Want to look around a bit more or call it a night?" May asks turning to grin back at Ruby as she shoulders her rifle again. The moonlight behind her silhouetting the taller girl to strike quite a sight.

'I swear she plans this. She's so beautiful.' Ruby thinks taking in the sight before pushing herself to respond verbally. "Let's look around a little more? I'm kind of hungry." Ruby replies standing up and she pauses only a moment before stepping closer and taking May's hand in hers again.

She blinks for a moment though when May doesn't grip her hand in return, instead letting her hand go. Her eyes tilt upward to question the avoidance only to give a small squeaking sound when the taller sniper wraps the arm around Ruby's waist and draws her into the taller girls' side.

"I hope you don't mind. It's a little colder out than I can usually deal with." May comments smiling down at her with the easy and convenient excuse. It also benefits from being completely honest. When Ruby doesn't pull away she's rewarded with that wide infectious smile from earlier and finds herself grinning back before leaning into May as they walk.

~MZ~

They wandered through the brightly lit streets passing stores and occasionally pausing to look at or comment on something or someone. At one point, May's eyes pick up on a girl some ways in front of them sliding her hand into the back jeans pocket of her boyfriend. A wicked gleam entering her steel blue orbs as she gently jostles her short companion to get Ruby's attention.

With a nod of her head she points out the pair to Ruby and the shorter girl takes a moment staring in confusion before she realizes what she's seeing and blushes again. "Well that's a pair that won't be sleeping as soon as they get to bed tonight." She comments idly before chuckling when she looks over to see Ruby has drawn her hood over her head again.

'By Oum that is adorable. Is there anything she does that isn't cute? Well, there's the running. That's just plain hot.'

That wicked gleam in her eyes is still there as she leans down a little to whisper to her date. "You know, there's nothing stopping you from doing the same." The strangled yelp from the shorter girl is all May needs to tell her the shorter girl had been imagining doing just that. Likely why she has her hood up to begin with. As if the cloth will hide her thoughts as well as her face.

The taller sniper can't help but laugh, getting a pout and a huff from her date. "I should have known going on a date wouldn't stop you from teasing me." Ruby says with a little sigh only for May to bump the little reaper with her hip.

"Who said I was just teasing you? I know you've looked before and I find it flattering. Don't let me pressure you though Ruby, You go as slow or fast as you are comfortable with. I just enjoy getting a reaction from you. You're cute when you blush and it tells me you consider me attractive, so it's a win - win for me." The taller sniper says her arm tightening around Ruby's waist to draw her date just a little closer, enjoying the warmth coming from her. Not that she needs it at the moment. With all the people, shops, and tall buildings around the temperature is far more comfortable than it was at the park.

Ruby doesn't say anything, but May can feel the arm around her slide a little lower and hesitating before returning to where it was before, getting a little smile from her.

'It's fine. Still a bit early for that I guess. Maybe after we become a couple? If we become a couple? Well, a girl can hope.' May considers as they walk in a comfortable silence. Spotting a little noodle stand called 'A Simple Wok Noodle House' with an old man behind the counter.

"Want to grab something to eat there?" May asks pointing it out, getting Ruby to look up. It takes her a moment before she grins and nods her steps speeding up as she practically pulls May over to it. "I take it you like this spot then."

The young girl nods in response. "Yeah, it's got a great ramen bowl and I know the owner." She replies, smiling when May lifts her brow with an unasked question. "He also owns my favorite Dust shop. 'From Dust Till Dawn'. I always see him there so maybe the noodles are just a hobby of his?" She asks rhetorically. It's not as if May would have the answer.

When they order, the food smells wonderful and they both break from conversation to enjoy it for a while before May turns to face Ruby. "Okay. Now we both know Yang is going to give me some flak next time I see her in the weight room. Got any embarrassing stories I could use to throw her off if she gets too nosy?" May asks while waiting for Ruby to swallow.

"Well, I wasn't there for it of course and she would never own up to it. But when I got into my first Dust control class back at Signal, the teacher separated anyone with a fire based Semblance from the rest of the class whenever we were handling Red Dust. They were usually taught outdoors. I asked about it and the teacher said that a couple years before a student got frustrated in class and her Semblance activated, igniting the Dust and blowing a massive hole in the side of the school." Ruby says and May's eyes go wide at the implication.

"No way, she didn't." The taller sniper says in disbelief a grin growing on her lips.

"Well he never said the students' name. But I learned later that Yang got the nickname the 'Blonde Bombshell' her first year. That was before she started to really, ahhhh... Develop." Ruby adds bringing her hands to her chest and mimicking holding a pair of larger assets.

May has to set down her chop sticks as she laughs. Her head tilting back as tears of mirth fall from her eyes. She can see it. She can absolutely see it from her temperamental gym partner. Getting Yang worked up isn't exactly a difficult thing to do, and when she does, it's plain as day with her eyes shifting color. But the image of her getting all fired up and causing an explosion is too much to hold in.

When the laughs die down, May turns to Ruby with a smile. "Alright, let me give you a little ammo on some of my team mates." She says with a smile before starting in on a story involving Roy Stallion and a very effeminate boy called Clarence. Or as Roy had thought at first, Clarice.

~RR~

The little red reaper pauses in from of her dorm building with her date next to her. It's late. Their date lasted hours but it was all kinds of fun. The talking after they ate didn't hold much substance but it was fun and that was the goal. Still, once they separate here it will be over, so Ruby hesitated. The toe of her boot sliding in little circles on the pavement.

She looks up to see May waiting patiently for what she wants to say with that warm and honest smile Ruby had seen more and more of this evening. It was her favorite smile to see on the face of the flirtatious May. It made her blood pump harder under her skin, giving her pale flesh a warm flush of pink.

Screwing up her courage she wraps her arms around May's waist and lifts herself onto the tips of her toes, giving the taller sniper a peck on the lips. It's not really a kiss. Pecks don't count; it was simply a physical affirmation of the words that came next.

"I had a lot of fun tonight May. Thanks for taking me out." The short girl says getting a very pleased grin in return from May.

"Does that mean you want to do it again some time?" The taller sniper asks hopefully, her more defined frame reaching around Ruby's shoulder to hold her closely.

"Definitely. So um... does this mean we're dating then? Like we're, together?" Ruby asks uncertainly. For someone who's never been on a date before, all of this is new ground and potentially dangerous territory. Proceed with caution.

May lowers herself a little to look in her eyes. Those steel blue orbs causing a shiver to run up Ruby's spine. "Do you want it to?" The taller girl asks carefully.

Ruby can't respond. Not with words anyway. Only the meekest nodding of her head as that damned blush colors her face all over again. It was easier to control as the night went on but all of that tolerance for the older girl seems to have been wiped away at the moment, making Ruby wonder if there's any blood going anywhere else in her body.

The response is almost immediate as May draws her in and kisses her. A real kiss this time, Ruby's first kiss. It's soft and lingering, sending a shudder through Ruby, like her muscles didn't know how to react at all. Slowly their eyes flutter closed and they relax into each other before it's slowly, reluctantly, broken. It feels like it both lasted forever and was all too short for the girl in red.

It takes Ruby a moment to get her bearings afterwards and she blinks before looking up to May for confirmation. "So, um- was that a yes?"

That gets a laugh from May, leaving Ruby blushing a little from embarrassment as the taller girl wipes her eyes and grins down at her. "Yes Ruby. I would be delighted to be your girlfriend. Might want to call it a night though before your sister gets worried and starts looking for us in an effort to protect your innocence." She states giving Ruby a wink and another, shorter kiss before turning and walking away humming happily to herself as silver orbs follow the sway of May's hips.

'My girlfriends' hips! I have a girlfriend! And it's May!' Ruby's mind starts turning over and reverberating the thought ad infinitum within her brain as she glides back to her dorm in a haze. She just can't stop smiling, and even the good natured ribbing from her sister isn't enough to break her smile.

Well it wasn't until Yang started to insinuate they did more than kiss and cuddle on their date. That got a blush and a sputtered denial that set her entire team off chuckling. Even Weiss the Ice Queen, much to Ruby's chagrin. Still, the night was marked in Ruby's mind as the best date she's ever had. That it was the only date was neither here nor there and entirely irrelevant.


Omake by: Crescent Sunrise

Title: And the War continues, with a hint of BDSM… wait what?

Ruby stumbles as she's dragged along by an ever vigilant Blake Belladonna. Her eyes scanning the walkways and shadowed corners of the tall buildings surrounding them.

"Blake st—gah, stop! Slow down and talk for a minute!"

"There's no time Ruby, we have to hurry!"

Ignoring her pleading for an explanation, Blake pulled Ruby to the Dining Hall. Blake quickly glanced inside for a moment before pulling Ruby in behind her.

"AH!" Ruby stumbled but managed to keep her footing. "Alright, now will you please tell me what's—" Ruby stopped short as she turned to look at Blake.

The Faunus girl stood in front of the Hall's door, having sealed it shut with a random beam which had no reason for being there.

"Blake?" Ruby asked as she began backing away.

Blake was sporting an incredible blush, her hands seemingly holding something behind her back. "Ruby, the Shipping War has started. You know you like dark, mysterious, and intelligent girls." Blake said as she tried to close the gap with calm and measured steps. "And besides," Blake pulled out what she had been hiding behind her back.

It was a copy of Ninja's of Love.

"I know you are a kinky girl on the inside. And I really, really wanted to try out this scene from my book."

Ruby looked a little scared, "You have got to be kidding me." She looked in a random direction, "What the hell are you playing at Author!? I am SOOO not kinky, and this is NOT happening!"

"Come on Ruby, We can even use the ribbon from Gambol Shroud. I promise that I won't make it too tight. And you're flexible, it'll be fine." Blake reassured the little redhead (not really).

Just as Ruby was about to pull Crescent Rose on the Faunus, the Dining Hall doors were blown open, the beam holding the doors shut splintering under the force of the blow. Smoke and dust billowed for a moment, only to be swept away as the curvaceous figure of Glynda Goodwitch walked imperiously into the building.

"Oh dammit, no! Hell no! There will be no Hoodwitch going on in this Omake!" Ruby screamed as she threw and table down as some form of barricade and readied Crescent Rose in it sniper form, resting on the edge of the table for greater stability.

As she was about to go Rambo on the pair of would be shippers something strange happened. Glynda didn't even so much as look at Ruby as she marched up to Blake. The young Faunus cowered slightly under the older woman's gaze.

"Miss. Belladonna, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"I-I'm sorry Professor. I couldn't he—"

"Excuse me?" Glynda said with an arched brow.

Blake looked away with a small blush, "I'm sorry Mistress."

Glynda tutted, "Not good enough." She said simply, pushing her glasses back up her nose. With a waived of her riding crop, a banner was torn from the wall and ensnared Blake, lifting her from the ground. "We are going to have to discuss proper… punishment for your transactions."

Glynda walked form the Hall, with a trapped Blake floating in tow. "I'm sorry Mistress, it won't happen again!" then the doors of the Hall flew back together, repairing themselves in the wake of the telekinetic Huntress. The last words heard from the blonde teacher being "I'll show Ozpin what a real Teacher's Pet pairing really means."

Ruby just stared at the now closed door, her jaw having literally fallen to the floor like this was some kind of anime, only to snap back up. "What in the actual fu—" *Expletive deleted until rating has been bumped up*

Beta Note: Thank you to all you wonderful folks for reading! Please be sure to review and give my man (woman? I haven't asked) some feedback on their story!

AN:

Well that's all for the date. Not counting our notes the chaper is one of the biggest yet being over 5k. I do so love writing the first dates. They make me smile. I could have broken this story up but I didn't want to make you readers have to wait for the second half after already failing to deliver it last chapter. I kept it simple and if anyone is curious the hunter prepatory school in Vacuo is called "Oasis" like Signal in Vale and Sanctum in Mistral. And like in Beacon, Shade accepts not just hunters from the prep schools but from other walks of life as well. So long as they pass enterance exams. (the ones Jaune faked his way past in his transcripts)

Special thank you to my reviewers: Crescent Sunrise, and Doomzoom. Yeah one of them is my beta and gives me feedback directly but it's still nice to see.

That's all for this time. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, I love you, and I will see you next time.