Beta Read by: Crescent Sunrise
Recommended fic: "Remnant's Reclaimer" by Hysterical Clerical Hijinks - RWBY fic
~MZ~
Day one of the competition May wakes up and shivers under the covers of her bed. Groaning weakly as she curls up, rubbing her arms. Her head throbbing softly as she reaches out to turn off the ringing of her Scroll alarm. The limb retreating back under her blankets, into the limited heat and blissful darkness.
Then some soon-to-be-dead idiot pulled her linen sanctuary away, exposing her to the harsh chill of the room.
"Oum, damn you Nolan! I will shoot you." The threat is immediate and hoarse from a throat that feels as if scoured by sand paper. While steel blue eyes open and glare at her partner who rolls his eyes in response, batting her hands out of the way before setting the back of his hand against the girl's forehead while the other meets his own.
"You've got a fever May. You've got another cold and you should take it easy." He comments getting out of her range as she draws her blankets up higher and shudders again still glaring at her partner as her hand reaches for the bottle next to her. She takes out a couple of small pills from an over the counter bottle and looking at her hovering partner pointedly.
He sighs and tosses her a bottle filled with thick green paste-like fluid. "Here you go, everything a body needs to give the immune system a boost. I put a little extra in it because I figured you were getting sick again, so enjoy that."
She grimaces but opens the cap of the bottle, popping the pills into her mouth and plugging her nose before chugging as much as the fluid as she can and trying not to gag. Plugging her nose helps with the flavor but does nothing for the conflicting textures. Chalky, slimy, thick and viscous. 'How can something be chalky and slimy?' But since she agreed to let him make the concoction for her she has gotten sick less often. Placebo Effect or not, she doesn't really care at this point.
"Finish it. Then you can ignore my advice and do what you want anyway." Nolan remarks watching her with his arms crossed until the drink is finished, tossing the bottle at his head letting him catch it.
May waits for him to finally go away before groaning and rubbing her temples. A low body temperature makes her a target for colds, especially when she lets her hair dry out without her hat on. Looking at her night stand she smiles at the picture in its frame. A little girl with dusky rose hair being hugged by an older woman, both of them grinning like fools.
"Morning mom, I'll try and call you later okay?" She comments before sitting up and hopping out of her bed, wincing at the weak feeling in her limbs as her body fights its latest battle.
'Eh, I'll sleep after the match is over. Then Nolan will relax I hope.'
She turns her shower up to near scalding temperature before stepping under the spray and relaxing her back against the wall letting the heat sink into her limbs with a small smile.
~RR~
"Calm down Ruby, what's got you so worked up?" Blake asks looking over the top of her book in curiosity. Her amber eyes shifting from the page in front of her to fall on the hyperactive team leader.
"I can't! Today's the first round and I'm going to show her up!" Ruby replies while clenching her hand into a fist in front of her in a needless display of determination. Which seems to cause no end of amusement in her sister grinning from her bunk like Cheshire cat… If the cat was blonde, busty, and muscle bound.
"Oh? Are you sure you want to dominate her so soon?" the blonde's eyebrows jumping lewdly, "Your victory won't look as impressive if she's all wrapped up in the early rounds." The brawler comments wrapping her words with insinuation that makes her sister blush brightly and sputter again. Yang's been doing this for days.
"The opinions of traitors are not to be taken into account." Ruby grumbles cutely, taking out Crescent Rose to look it over pointedly ignoring the giggling that comes from her sister.
"Aw don't be like that Rubes, I just made a new friend in the gym. She seemed nice enough to me, maybe you should give her a chance?" Yang comments dropping down from her bed and hugging her sister from behind making the smaller girl struggle to escape.
"Traitor? Are we missing something?" Blake asks pointing between herself and the heiress who seems determined to ignore the antics of her team. Bearing it with stoic silence.
Ruby gasps finally escaping Yang's clutches and holding the blonde away with both hands fully extended as she replies. "Yang has been hanging out with my nemesis!"
That gets a snort of amusement from the blonde, followed by a healthy chuckle. "Nemesis? Little sis you're taking this way too seriously." Shaking her head with amusement, "May is decent and we work out together in the mornings."
"May? The same May Zedong that Ruby threatened with murder?" Blake comments lifting her brow curiously. "That May?"
Something else they had made sure of was to make sure Ruby wasn't actually intending to try and kill someone after they returned from the festival grounds. Once they discovered she didn't meant it literally, of course the flood gates opened for her inevitable teasing.
"Blaaaaaaake!" Ruby whines, "You know I didn't mean it literally so don't encourage Yang! But... Yes, that May. She's fraternizing!" Ruby proclaims, boldly pointing at Yang, getting a laugh from the blonde who wipes at her eyes in response to the accusation.
"Me and May? Nah you got the wrong idea sis. She's just a friend," Yang seemingly ponders for a moment. "Not that she doesn't look good mind. I just know she's interested in someone else. We might joke and flirt but it's all harmless." Yang assures seriously, her eyes narrowing at her sister while her grin only grows.
"Oh? W-well who is she interested in?" Ruby questions trying not to sound too interested herself as she turns back to her weapon.
"Oh? Why do you want to know Rubes? I thought she was the enemy." Yang says before faking a dramatic gasp. "Ruby Rose, do you have a crush on your competition?" She ribs, grinning widely all the while.
Ruby blushes bright, red coloring her face in a dark shade as she whirls around to see not just her sister looking at her but also Blake from over her book. Even Weiss had turned in her seat to see the reaction. Her hands shoot up waving back and forth rapidly in an effort to physically dismiss the accusation.
"Wh-what?! No way, I don't have a crush on her she- and- yeah! I don't have a crush! I just think I should warn whoever she's interested in so they know what they're getting into with her." Ruby replies with a firm nod her eyes closed, missing Weiss' roll of her eyes and Blake's small smirk as she goes back to her book.
"Sure, sure. Makes perfect sense to me. Warn them who May is so they don't have a chance of getting in the way of you and her." Yang replies nodding along with her sister as if agreeing with her.
"Exactly! I- Hey!" Glaring at her sister, "I don't have a crush Yang!" Ruby shouts turning back to her weapon and huffing.
'I'll show them. And her, Stupid Yang, stupid May.'
~MZ~
"Did she bring extra ammunition? If she did she could build up quite the kill count out here today. I mean, it's not like May is the type of person that would ever shoot at people. But if she were..." Roy starts up and it's only the grace of having Nolan and Brawnz between them that stops a physical retort from the sniper.
"Roy, I swear. I have all kinds of patience. But that patience is cut in half when I'm sick. And while yes, medicine does help, it does not stop me from feeling some symptoms." She gives him a mock-sweet look, "And I will get my revenge if you start this up today." May replies, cutting this round of teasing off at the pass. Her hands tugging at her beanie as she ignores the cold shivers and weariness in her muscles, stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets to warm them.
"Never any fun when you're sick." Stallion grumbles folding his hands behind his head as they walk towards the back of the fair grounds.
May ignores the grumbling and focuses instead on moving towards the booth to check in. Her team breaks off to observe while she's given a number and pointed to the prep location. She's number eight. She wonders if the set up slots are ordered by order of sign up or check in. She doesn't wonder long though.
When she gets to her place there are two setups for shooters to use. One for shooting from a prone position and another for those shooting from a knee. The platforms meant to neutralize the advantage bringing a bi-pod might have given. Clever.
She ignores the kneeling stand for the moment and moves to lie down on her mat after pulling her rifle out. She shoulders it and looks down the scope. She sights the targets down field with her safety on to avoid accidental discharge. Once she's finished she glances at the empty seventh slot while nine is an older gentleman with an old model that makes her blink. It's mostly wooden and by the polish cared for meticulously.
The man notices her looking and grins over at her his gray hair cut short and body built like a farmer. "Hey there little lady, huntress-in-training are ya?" He asks shifting to offer her a hand.
She takes it with a shake and gives a cheeky smile in return. "Yup, say there old timer. That's a relic you're shooting. Sure it shouldn't be in a museum?" She asks with a teasing lilt that draws a chuckle from the man and a rueful shake of the head.
"Kids these days, no respect for the classics."
"Oh I've got plenty of respect for them. But what will impress me is if that makes it through the competition without exploding." She teases again getting a laugh from the older man who grins once more. Before she can keep going however she hears a voice she's growing more and more familiar with.
"Seven... which is slot seven?" May perks up and rolls onto her back, hands slipping behind her head grinning widely at Ruby.
"Heya Little Red, ya looking for your mat? It's that one. I'm slot eight and since the old timer hasn't introduced himself yet I'm just going to call him Nine." She comments tilting her head to Ruby's slot and the older man in turn. Ignoring Ruby's adorable growl at the unwanted nickname.
The older man starts chuckling again, catching the way May perks up when talking to the younger girl. His head shaking as he considers this competition to be one of the more entertaining ones he's been in.
~RR~
Ruby sets up grumbling to herself as she looks over at May next to her, she blushes bright red all over again watching the confident sniper shifting on her hips making her derriere move in interesting ways.
She is certain May is doing it intentionally. Never mind that May has her hat on covering her left eye again and can't see in her direction. That habit of covering her left eye, it's odd enough that Ruby can't help but speak up. Curiosity fighting against her stubborn attempt to ignore the other girl and eventually winning out. "Okay, why do you wear your hat like that?"
"Huh?" May replies shifting to look at Ruby again. "Oh you mean how it covers the eye?" She clarifies getting her own answer when the scythe-wielder nods. "Well it's just a silly superstition my mother told me once when I signed up for hunter training. She said, 'May, Hunters see a lot more than just the Grimm. They see all manner of terrible things people do to each other. Always remember to keep one eyed closed to the evils of man.'" She replies with a shrug before smiling at the shorter girl and looking away again. Her arms folding on her mat to give her head something to rest against.
At least she's stop shifting around so the young team leader can focus on preparing herself and not the well-toned behind. Even if her thoughts aren't cooperating. She frowns, watching May shudder a bit next to her as if cold.
They stay like that until a whistle is blown drawing everyone's attention to a woman standing behind them.
"Alright snipers! Targets are numbered and down range, we have spotters for each of you. Today is easy. Land four out of five shots inside the target circles to move onto the next round. You hit someone else's target and you're immediately disqualified. You can fire at your own pace but only five shots. No more, no less. When the whistle is blown you will put your safety on and ready the kneeling platform. You will wait for my signal to begin firing again. Fire early and again, you're disqualified. On the whistle you may begin!"
Ruby shifts setting Crescent Rose on the platform and looking down the scope to wait for the signal. Her hand flipping off the safety and loading her first round. She watches as May lines herself up making small adjustments on her scope while Nine seems to be taking his time putting in ear plugs. Must not have aura to protect his ear drums. Which should be obvious. He's not a hunter, after all they aren't allowed in the competition, and he's too old to be a trainee like herself and May.
When the whistle blows Ruby pulls the trigger. Punching a hole just to the left and below the bulls eye. She then shifts her scope and does it again this round hitting to the right. She makes small corrections like this using the provided tracer rounds until her fifth shot slams dead center and she puts her safety on. She then looks at May's target and blinks at the tight grouping around the center.
During the kneeling portion, the round goes much the same, save the last shot from May. She shivers again and coughs lightly blinking before looking through her scope and firing, the round hitting just inside the top of her target. She clicks her tongue at that and flips on her safety.
Four contestants are dismissed out of fifteen. Round one complete.
Before Ruby can leave though she catches one look at May watching her lift her beanie to give her another wink that sends her blushing and growling again. Only made worse when she hears the delightful laughter of the taller girl as she walks away, a little too much sway to her delightful hips.
'Not delightful! It's shrill and piercing and not at all pleasant! Or her butt! I'll beat her I swear!'
AN:
I'm done with long notes. I mean it. Unless it's important I'm cutting these down it's getting ridiculous. Unfortunately that means I'm cutting out the reviewer response section. reviewers will still get PM's in response to questions or comments I feel the need to respond to but I'm done padding chapters with overly long Author Notes.
that said my reviewers are still getting recognized because I love you. so special thanks to Crescent Sunrise, CinderBurn, AntonSlavik020, and Goofy Wolverine
On OMAKES: You write it, you get it to me (preferably through PM) and I'll put it in. My Beta added this after giving it a look over and I just had to let you all see it.
OMAKE by Crescent Sunrise,
Title: Are You Not Entertained?
Ruby slowed down as her morning run was coming to a close. Pulling the blaring headphones off she leaned over, panting quietly. After catching her breath, Ruby began a simple cool-down walk before she planned to head back to the dorm for her shower before Weiss or Blake could wake up.
Yang will have finished her own work out and be back in bed before then anyways so she went at a decent pace, not wanting any of her muscles to tighten up too badly for the rest of the day.
Heading past the gym though she heard some interesting noises. Curious she followed them around the side of the structure to see one person with an immense mane of blonde hair pinning another figure to the wall. Diving her face into the girls' neck if the, now very obvious moans of pleasure, signified her as.
Ruby watched in interest as the make out session continued, a massive blush that would put her cloak to shame adorning her face. Taking in the scene though, Ruby recognized the blonde woman's outfit…
"Yang!?" she gasped, only to cover her mouth in horror as the blonde jumped back to reveal the dusky rose haired girl leaning dazed against the wall with an interestingly glazed look on her face… "May!?" Ruby shrieked again.
"Ruby!?" Yang yelped. Staring at her younger sibling with wide eyes.
"Wow." May coined in, that dazed look not clearing in the slightest.
Ruby looked between the pair, her heading looking like it might pop off should she move any faster. Then, her head lowered, her bangs concealing her eyes from view.
"Ruby?" Yang asked tentatively, "Are you alright?" Yang stopped her approach as Ruby began toi tremble.
"Yang…" Ruby spoke with an eerily calm voice.
"Ruby?" Yang asked.
"Why did you stop?" May whined pitifully to the blonde.
Ruby's eyes snapped up, glowing in righteous fury, "This. Is. LONG DISTANCE!" she bellowed, moving in a flurry of rose petals, only to stop in front of her sister with a powerful Spartan kick which sent her off into the horizon. A twinkle in the sky as the redhead lost sight of her older sibling.
"Where did she go?" May whined again.
Ruby looked to the sweaty girl, "That isn't important." She walked over and threw May on to her shoulder in a fireman's carry, "This is a Long Distance relationship!" Ruby declared as she carried May off to a nearby equipment room, slamming the door behind them.
It wasn't long before May started moaning because of a different sisters' ministrations…
As always, I love you. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and I'll see you next time.
