Beta Reader: Crescent Sunrise
Recommended Story: "The Rose Thief - Redux" by TheBrokenBottle
~?~
'Why her?'
Eyes track the two dancing girls, zeroing in on the suit clad sniper and her awkward, yet adorable, duck-footed date. The balcony letting the figure stand and observe with few noticing unless the person were to act to draw attention to their self. But why would they draw attention to their shame?
'I don't get it. It should be me down there having fun with a date. And doesn't she know it won't work between them? They train an entire continent away and the festival only happens every other year.'
The figure ponders with narrowed eyes. Knuckles clenching the railing turning white with irritation as they turn away to stare at the wall behind.
'I'll be doing her a favor really. Better to help her realize the mistake she's making now so they don't end up hurting each other later when they realize just how difficult it will be to maintain their relationship. I'm sure she'll understand. They both will. I'm doing it for them and I'm sure they'll thank me in the end. Now I just need to right moment to approach her.' The figure comments internally before glancing back at the pair, watching as the shorter girl in red stumbles a step and blushes brightly while her older date just pulls her a bit closer and gives her a short but reassuring kiss. A touching scene and the blonde girl nearby seems to coo over it while taking a picture. The figure just grimaces.
Watching calmly as the two move around talking and dancing before parting the figure walks down the stairs to make its move before coming up short with eyes narrowed once again as once again her target is distracted with someone else, a woman with long raven hair and a bow.
'Maybe not this time. But soon enough. Just need the right moment.'
~RR~
Ruby hops from her bed down to the ground landing quietly but without a real need to as her team seems to have a similar idea this morning. Packing essentials and double checking to make sure they're ready for their first mission. She pauses looking over at Blake. They really need to talk but the little leader doesn't have the time at the moment.
"Hey team? I need to head over to the headmasters office. He and General Ironwood wanted to talk to me and May about what happened last night." She announces getting a curious look from the others.
"Didn't you already answer his questions last night sis?" Yang asks brush in hand as it slides through her hair.
"We did, but he said he wanted to talk to us. Maybe it was to give him time to come up with more questions he might not have thought to ask before? I don't know." Ruby replies.
"It makes sense. People don't always know the right questions to ask or give proper answers in the heat of the moment." Weiss agrees with a nod getting a smile from her nervous partner.
"Okay, just stay together okay? I want to be able to find everyone after when we go to sign up for our first away mission." The diminutive team leader offers and after getting a round of acceptance she heads out with a sigh towards the Headmasters clock tower office.
Leaving her dorm she finds May waiting for her with a wide smile on her lips. "Hey there Little Red." She greets pushing off from the wall and walking closer to take Ruby's hand in hers their fingers immediately twining together.
"Good morning." She says softly as she leans into May's side ever so slightly.
"Well Ruby since I didn't get the chance last night after everything that happened. I wanted to say it now. Thank you for taking me to the dance. You were beautiful and very sweet. I hope you won't be against dancing with me again in the future?" May probes gently.
"Oh um, you're welcome? I mean I wouldn't have gone with anyone if it wasn't with you and I would have been more likely to spend the night by the punch bowl or something until I could go sneak out and head back to the room. So it was nice to be there with you and thanks for dancing with me. How are your feet?" She asks wincing softly at the memory of just how many times she stepped on them. Only to blush magnificently when May laughs.
"My feet are fine Little Red. I'm training to be a Huntress after all. Aura healed it all right up, not even sore this morning." May replies letting themselves lapse into a small pause before she brings up something else. "Want to go on another date after we're both finished with our missions? I was hoping we could make it a more weekly occurrence now that we don't have the competition or the dance to occupy our time until the tournament."
Ruby hums thoughtfully trying to hide the squealing excitement inside as she looks over at her girlfriend. Their last date was amazing even if they hadn't done much beyond walk around and get some food while talking about themselves. "Well... I guess we could go do something. Okay." She replies trying to be smooth. The mumbling probably didn't help but thankfully May doesn't point it out this time.
The two lapse into a long but comfortable silence as they enter the tower and walk into the elevator. Where Ruby hits the button for the Head masters office.
And then every other button. Ignoring the amused giggling from her girlfriend behind her.
"Nervous much Little Red? What's up?" Comes the question as she refuses to look at the taller sniper only to blush deeply as May's arms slide around her waist until the bats them away so she can turn around.
"Nervous? What gave you that opinion? I mean it's not like we're meeting two of the most powerful men in all of Remnant the morning after failing to catch a criminal who invaded one of the most secure and definitely most important buildings in the entirety of Vale, and the world, in order to do who knows what." Ruby says trying not to hyperventilate. Glowering at May who starts chuckling right back.
"How can you be so calm?" Ruby asks her hands balled into fists at her sides as she stomps her foot with frustration that she seems to be the only one getting worked up.
"Oh that's easy Little Red. It's because I don't know what they want yet. I can assume it has something to do with last night. But it could be anything from a formal show of appreciation for our efforts, criticism on how we handled it, or a request for us to follow up on it. I just don't know and I don't see a point in getting worked up until I have some idea." May replies drawing Ruby in for a soft hug.
Ruby murmurs softly her nerves soothed by May's embrace. The older girl had been doing it more and more lately. And while Ruby is curious as to why, she's scared to ask and possibly have said embraces stop.
'They're so strong and gentle all at once. May's hugs are the best. I just hope she's not doing it so much because she's scared I'm going somewhere. That would be ridiculous.' Ruby thinks nuzzling her head into her girlfriends shoulder until the hug is broken and she nods her head towards the counting numbers climbing higher. This does not help Ruby's anxiety as it ratchets right back up. Every worst case scenario running through her head.
~MZ~
May gently rubs Ruby's shoulders to help her relax just a bit until the elevator dings its final time to announce their arrival on the Headmasters' floor. The sniper follows the shorter girl across the man's reception area to ring his office.
The ring does a little double beep twice before cutting off and the Headmaster calls out for them to enter. May follows her eyes taking in the three adults in the room before moving around the shifting and turning clockwork in the room. Barely listening as Ruby starts off.
"Sorry we're late, someone accidentally hit all the buttons in the elevator on the way up here." That grabs May's attention and she turns giving Ruby a distinctly amused look. Her eyes swimming with restrained mirth.
"... It wasn't me." She continues and May snorts in a very unprofessional manner her hand shooting up to cover her mouth as she turns away trying desperately to turn her chuckling into vaguely believable coughing. It doesn't work but thankfully the adults politely ignore her lack of decorum. The Headmaster shooting the older girl an amused look over his glasses before addressing them.
"Thank you for coming Ruby, Miss Zedong. How are you two feeling?" The silver haired man asks.
"I am fine sir thank you for asking." May replies before glancing next to her as Ruby can't seem to stand still. Her shoulders and hands moving as she gesticulates.
"I'm okay, I guess. I'd feel better if my bad guy catching record wasn't oh for three." The short girl comments. And once more May has to struggle not to lose her composure as three stony faces gaze back at the youngest person in the room. "Oh so that's the tone we're going for… got it." She murmurs softly enough to be heard by the entire room forcing May to squeeze her eyes closed to keep herself from collapsing in laughter.
After another pause it's Ironwood that responds next. "I just wanted to let you both know that I think what you two did last night is exactly what being a Huntress is all about. You recognized a threat, took action to see it dealt with and contained and did the very best you could in the process." He says and May watches her girlfriend relax just a bit as she catches her eye giving the younger girl a smile and wink.
'I told you it would be fine Ruby. Let's just see what they need. And then I'll get to play a little dirty by holding the threat of telling Yang about your little intro to get something fun.' May considers her eyes closing to hide the wicked gleam in them.
May is forced to shake her head to clear it as her mind catches up to the conversation that continued on without her.
"You think she could have been connected to Torchwick and the White Fang?" Ruby asks and everyone looks to Ozpin who lifts a hand to scratch at his chin considering the idea.
"It's possible." He comments before the hand is lowered and he levels a knowing look on Ruby leaving May to wonder just how much he actually already knows or suspects. "Unfortunately we still lack the required evidence to link the two together." He adds.
'Unfortunate is right, without evidence it's hard to form a solid idea of just what exactly is going on in Vale at the moment. From what Ruby's said it seems like the criminal element here is building up to something huge. Wait what?' May shoots Ruby a shocked look as the younger girl comments about hearing the woman mention a hideout to the southeast of Vale. 'She didn't say that. She didn't say anything at all why would... Oh, clever Ruby.' May realizes recalling everything Ruby mentioned her team had uncovered about Torchwicks plans so far.
Mentioning the invader having talked about a hide out in that area points not just the Hunters of Vale but also the local Atlesian military in the direction of Torchwick and the White Fang. A known criminal threat with an unknown agenda and a frightening stockpile of stolen Dust and equipment. Giving the two leaders the opportunity to investigate the area and put a stop to whatever is going on there before it can become an issue. Hopefully Torchwick wasn't smart enough to move his hide out after catching Blake and Sun at his rally.
From the reaction Ozpin gives he's already realized what Ruby is trying to get across. That gets a smirk from the sniper even as Ruby is dismissed. May moves to leave with her but is held back. "Miss Zedong, if you would mind holding on for a moment I would like a word in private." May blinks at that before turning back to Ruby and leaning down.
"Wait for me outside the tower okay? I'll be there in just a moment." Getting a nod in reply May turns back to wait for Ozpin to speak. He doesn't right away waiting for Goodwitch and Ironwood to clear the room as well before motioning to a chair across from his desk.
There is a silence as May moves to take one of the offered chairs her rifle leaning against the side of it next to her.
"You have become quite close to Miss Rose lately. I could not help but notice you two at the dance together." He comments idly his eyes studying her closely.
"Yes sir, we are actually dating at the moment. Ruby was quite adorable when, after our first date, she asked if it meant we were 'together'." May replies using air quotes for the last word with a fond smile. "I find myself both glad no one else was around and cursing the fact no one could record the event. Glad because with an audience I doubt she would have been able to ask at all." May replies before thinking on his comment for a moment and smiling.
"Ah, of course you're keeping an eye on her." May continues, "Youngest student ever accepted into Beacon and personally accepted by the Headmaster himself. It only makes sense. I notice you tend to call her Ruby at times. It speaks of familiarity, a friend of her family?" She asks her mind racing as she starts bracing for the shoe to drop. While the headmaster doesn't really have the right to tell them they can't date he can make May's stay at the academy very uncomfortable or even short lived if he requests the Headmistress of Shade to bring her team back.
"It is as you say Miss Zedong. Her father, mother, and uncle were all on a team along with Yang's own mother while at Beacon. After they graduated they remained in touch for a long time and I consider them to be my friends. That is not however why Ruby was accepted early. It is entirely due to the impressive skill and fortitude she has displayed that got her through the door and the drive she has shown since then has only proven the decision to be the correct one." He responds with before standing and moving to an old coffee machine filling a cup with the dark fluid before moving back to his seat.
"So please understand why I feel the need to express a concern when one of the most promising students to enter my academy enters into a relationship with a young woman three years her senior and from another school. While usually I would not concern myself with such things as student relationships, Ruby is a special case and with her age being so young you are in a unique position to cause her some rather deep emotional strife." He explains in broad terms before staring at May as she works through it all.
"I think I understand what you are worried about sir. So I will tell you the same thing I told Yang and plan to tell her family and anyone else who asks. Any progress in our relationship at the moment I have placed firmly in the hands of Ruby herself. The way I see it, in a few years the age gap between us will stop having any meaning at all. When she graduates she will be nineteen to my twenty two and no one will give it a second thought. Currently, and for the foreseeable future, there are no plans for performing anything more intimate than kissing despite how I may tease her from time to time." She explains forcing herself not to gulp with just how nervous she's become.
"That said, I'm not sure if or how we will work out after the tournament is completed. The current idea is that we meet up when we can by choosing missions that will bring us near each other. Still, that's something for the two of us to work out. Please understand that I don't want to harm Ruby in any way. I just believe that a relationship with her is worth pursuing. And if everything works out well? I know I will be a very lucky woman." May finishes lacing her fingers together in her lap and fighting to avoid the urge to twiddle her thumbs just to give herself something to distract herself from Ozpins stare.
After a long heavy silence Ozpin finally lifts his cup to take a long sip before swallowing and speaking again. "I see... Another topic then. My staff and I have noticed that other than the dance you tend to carry your weapon with you everywhere you go instead of using the schools lockers. I had thought after seeing their effectiveness you would continue to make use of them on campus. I see that is not the case." He comments his eyes glancing to her rifle and back again.
"Some Hunters and Huntresses are more attached to their weapons than others. You've seen Ruby with Crescent Rose, I'm sure. I don't like when Myrtle's Bloom is out of reach. It's not that I'm scared or plotting anything nefarious, it's just practical to me. Better to have and not need than need and not have when it comes to self-defense. I might have considered continuing to use the lockers but, well... The one night I put it away I needed it. That said, of course I will put it away during any formal functions where having it would be inappropriate. Besides, I'm not the only one who prefers to keep their weapon with them. Professor Goodwitch has her crop wand with her constantly and I'm sure the General keeps something on him as well." May finishes glancing meaningfully at the Headmasters cane before staring back at him.
A small smirk crosses his lips as he takes another sip before setting it down again. "Very well, there is no rule against such a habit of course. This is a school for warriors after all. I just wanted to satisfy a small amount of personal curiosity. Please continue to carry it as you wish. Have a nice day Miss Zedong." He replies with a small nod.
'Well if that wasn't a dismissal then I don't know what one is.' May thinks as she stands and bows picking up her rifle and slinging it before heading for the door. She pauses with her hand outstretched for the handle. Before looking back and giving the Headmaster a smile.
"Thank you for listening Headmaster Ozpin and, if you like, you can call me May."
"Very well, fair well on your mission May." Ozpin replies before she steps into his reception room and over to the elevator passing Glynda and Ironwood on the way as they head back inside.
'Well that went as well as I could have hoped for.'
~RR~
'I'm going to regret saying yes to that aren't I?' Ruby wonders as her and her far too smug girlfriend approach team RWBY's dorm room. On the way May teased her relentlessly on how she walked into the meeting they had and stumbled over herself trying to lighten the mood. But when Yang was mentioned Ruby had asked her not to say anything, her girlfriend got a look that made Ruby worry for her innocence. She promised not to say anything for the moment in exchange for something later. And Ruby leapt on it, agreeing to avoid the embarrassment looming right in front of her.
Before getting back to the dorm the two stopped by the library to use the CCT system to send the photos Yang took the night before to May's mother after flipping through a few first with wide smiles as they recalled the moments portrayed.
When she opens the door, the pair blink as her team shoot across the room to start quizzing her before she's even entered the room. Ruby starts to nervously shift and chuckle when May stepped forward.
"Well, I can't imagine he intends for you to keep it from your team Ruby. So long as they understand not to spread it further it should be fine. That said, maybe we should tell them inside?" She offers making her point by looking down the hallway in both directions. Thankfully the team gets the idea and lets the two inside before the door closes.
'Might as well get the really hard part done before they start in on me.' Ruby considers before holding up her hands a waving them rapidly to hold off the questions already on the lips of her team as May borrows one of the desk chairs to sit herself in.
"Okay before I get to that. Blake, what is your problem with May? 'Cause it's important to me that my team gets along with my girlfriend." Ruby asks bluntly watching as the Faunus girl shoots May a dirty look, to which her girlfriend responds by throwing up her hands defensively.
"Hey, all I said is that we met and that I don't think you like me very much. Was I wrong?" May adds shifting awkwardly in her seat as attention is drawn back to Blake.
"I don't... It's not that I dislike you really. I just think you're a distraction we can't afford right now. We can't afford to think about relationships while the White Fang and Torchwick are out there plotting and preparing." Blake responds stepping back to separate herself from her team.
'This seems like a conversation Blake might run from.' Ruby ponders before putting thought to action rushing around the room rapidly blocking all the doors by bracing them with chairs and standing between the cat girl and the window. The rest of the room is left blinking for a moment before noticing the sudden changes and looking at her oddly.
"Hey, I didn't want her to run away again, this is important!" Ruby deflects getting a shrug from the rest of the room and an embarrassed blush from Blake.
"Back on topic, Blake don't you think you're being more than a touch hypocritical?" Weiss asks joining the conversation. "I mean you have Sun, why shouldn't Ruby date May?"
Blake blinks rapidly at that before replying. "Sun isn't my boyfriend. We're just friends. We went to the dance sure, but that was after I realized you all were right and I was driving myself into the ground. He just asked and he's nice enough that I didn't mind. I also had my first dance with Yang, does that mean we're dating?" She retorts.
Without skipping a beat Yang slides in next to the Faunus girl wrapping her arm around her partner's waist. "Do you wanna?" She asks waggling her eyebrows before laughing as Blake pushes her away.
"I'm serious. Sun and I are completely different from May and Ruby, there's no relationship between us." She states, firmly looking at everyone else oddly when they wince. "What?"
Ruby and the others move awkwardly feeling bad for Sun. It's May that puts their feelings to words though.
"Poor monkey boy, have you told him that?" She asks tilting her chair back to balance on the back legs "In any case, I don't have any problems with you either. And there's nothing saying that Ruby can't do both. I might distract my pretty girlfriend but do you really think she can't focus on something when it's as important as this? Besides, I already agreed to help much as I can. I'm sure the boys will help out too but I can't promise for them." She comments.
Blake frowns and opens her mouth to retort before pausing and thinking on her response before sighing. "Okay, okay. I don't like it, I think we should be more focused, but I have been reminded recently how sometimes a little distraction can be a good thing." She says leaving the topic of Sun behind entirely. "But don't expect me to keep quiet if I think it's becoming a problem."
'I think that's the best I'll get for the moment.' Ruby considers before shaking her head.
"Now that that is handled I think it's time you informed us of what went on at your meeting with the Headmaster." Weiss states before looking at May who begins chuckling suddenly as if reminded of something very amusing. Before Yang can get distracted Ruby shoots over and uses her foot to push up on the elevated front legs of May's chair sending her crashing to the ground.
Potential teasing thwarted with that and a little glare that makes her girlfriend give her the 'you're being adorable' eyes, the little reaper launches into an explanation of what happened in the office while skipping right over her embarrassing entrance. She explains how they were congratulated for their initiative, asked for any additional information and how she dropped a hint about the southeast hideout.
"Actually May, what did he want to talk to you about?" Ruby asks after she's finished detailing the meeting. May hadn't brought it up on their walk back and she is curious.
"Oh you know, he just wanted to make sure I wasn't corrupting the innocence of his youngest student with my lecherous ways." May teases back with a wry little smile having corrected her chair during the conversation, "Really though, he asked about my habit of carrying my rifle around with me everywhere because it's unusual. There's no rule against it so I wasn't in trouble or anything, and he didn't give me any grief about it. Besides, all the teachers and himself keep their weapons with them. When I pointed that out he seemed to understand my reluctance to part with Myrtles Bloom." She explains.
'Oh good, it would have been super embarrassing if he had been grilling her about us...' Ruby thinks before getting another thought and voicing it aloud.
"Oh! I still have to introduce you to dad!"
Now May looks nervous. 'Hah! Serves her right for teasing me so much.' comes the next thought even as Ruby pats May's hand in comfort.
"While this is all fascinating. I think it was a bit risky to let that information out like that." Weiss adds bringing the conversation back on topic.
"Actually, I think it was a good move putting them on the trail. It gives them the chance to devote some real resources to investigating the area. You handled it well Ruby." Blake counters.
When Ruby seems nervous still Yang clapped her hands excitedly. "I know just what will cheer you up Ruby. Dad sent us something! I thought you'd like to open it with me." She says picking up a small tube.
Ruby's eyes go wide and she lets out an excited sound before using her Semblance to shoot quickly across the room. Climbing Yang's back to try and reach the package. Ignoring her girlfriends sniggering as she waves her arms trying to get a hand on the container. She just manages to hit a latch when it opens and a black shape slides out and falls on the ground.
Everyone blinks and leans in towards the small black thing as it stars shifting around before tiny legs seem to push out as the little corgi stretches and shakes itself out. The five girls stare in silence until it barks twice wagging its tail. Then the team reacts, Ruby and her sister both with cheer the younger shouting out 'Zwei!' before picking up the Corgi. Weiss reacts with plain shock and disbelief at the absurdity of the situation while Blake seems more afraid. Leaping away putting Weiss between herself and the small dog in Ruby's arms.
"He sent a dog?" The Faunus girl asks with plain irritation.
"In the mail?!" Weiss responds with the incredulity the situation requires.
Yang seems completely unsurprised by the fact the dog was sent simply proclaiming, "He does stuff like this all the time." While Ruby fawns over the tiny dog. Blake having moved to the safety of Ruby's bunk asks whether she means her dad or the dog and is summarily ignored.
Before anyone else can speak though Ruby turns towards the final girl in the room intent on introducing her pet to her girlfriend and blinks.
'What's with that look?'
"Um, May? Are you alright?" She asks the sniper who has remained seated throughout the excitement. Leaning forward and staring at the spot where Zwei hit the ground. Her team draws their attention to her as well in concern for her wide eyed expression. There's a slight twitch to her that makes her seem deeply unsettled by something but Ruby can't for the life of her figure out what it could be.
When Ruby gets closer, Zwei leans his head out to sniff her girlfriend before letting out a bark and licking her cheek which seems to snap her out of... whatever that was. There's silence in the room save for Zwei's panting as the older girl closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before exhaling and opening them again with a smile.
"For the sake of my sanity I am not going to try and figure out anything about the how's and why's of your dog's arrival Ruby, as a matter of fact. I'm going to pretend he was just always here." She states before reaching out to scratch the dog's ears. Getting another happy bark and plenty of tail wags.
"Will all first year students please report to the amphitheater?" Comes the voice of Goodwitch over the intercom speakers placed all over the school.
"We can't leave him here all alone for the week can we?" Weiss asks bending down the pet the adorable little guy after he jumps from Ruby's arms to the ground.
"Hey there's a letter!" Yang calls out before reading it allowed basically informing the room that their dad had to leave for work and asking them to look after Zwei for a while. She then turns over the cylinder letting the small mound of food fall to the ground followed by a can opener. This gets another twitch from the sniper and a concerned look from Ruby.
"May are you okay?" She asks prodding her girlfriend who stands up slowly while Ruby's team leaves the room.
"I'll be okay Ruby. Let's just go to the amphitheater, I'll have my team meet us over there. I know we're not first years but I don't see why we wouldn't be allowed anyway." May replies and they start to leave before Ruby turns to look at Zwei and back to her bag next to the door…
Ruby gives a thoughtful look at Zwei before gasping and smiling happily.
"Ruby... What are you thinking about?" May asks cautiously and is immediately ignored as Ruby sets about getting Zwei and some of his food into her bag.
'No reason to leave him behind, and Blake did ask that we keep him away from her stuff.' She rationalizes.
~MZ~
May is nearly over her almost catatonic shock at the sheer impossibility of Zwei's arrival when she meets up with her team waiting for them just outside the amphitheater. Having thrown the sight of his ejection from the shipping tube along with the mound of food into a small corner of her mind and deleted it for her own sanity. Because surely that way lies the path to madness.
"Hey Ruby it looks like everyone is divided up into schools so we'll hang around our juniors while you meet up with your team. We'll head over to you after the formalities are over okay?" She asks grabbing her bag from Nolan.
She watches Ruby walk over to her team with a smile before glancing back at her own. All three boys grinning back at her. "Okay, get it all out now."
"Her team arrived a good fifteen minutes before you two did." Brawnz starts innocently with a small grin forming as they make their way to stand behind the first years.
"Yeah, and you had this odd faraway look in your eyes when you showed up." Roy adds, seamlessly setting the order as Nolan speaks next.
"Together less than a month and already robbing the poor girl of her innocence May?"
"You should be ashamed of yourself." Brawnz says this but without any real heat, that insufferable grin still on his face. The one that tells her no matter what the truth is. It's not going to derail the teasing remarks heading her way.
"Indeed. She's only fifteen May, she had years left to discover those kinds of things but your corruptive influence has surely tainted the poor girl." Roy notes, only missing the tears to match his fake sorrow.
May rolls her eyes at their antics before just telling them what took her so long. "I was just stuffing a corgi into Ruby's backpack."
There is a long pregnant pause that follows before Roy replies with. "... I don't even want to know what that is a euphemism for."
Nolan opens his mouth to continue when Glynda calls for silence but they all hear her 'Oh thank Oum' and cover their mouths to hide their snickering as Ozpin moves over to stand before the microphone at center stage.
The speech is passionate and draws in everyone within the crowd as he explains in broad terms the reasons behind the last Great War eighty years prior. And how in its wake to this very day, people are still honoring the memory of those who fought for their freedom of expression by naming their children after colors. This part draws May's eye to land fondly on her girlfriend.
He goes on to highlight their first missions and the reason why today was chosen for them to set out on them. The three general mission types listed out. Leaving May to smile. Something her team had discovered starting the second year was the third mission type. 'Search and Rescue' is usually comprised of searching out a vehicle that had to be abandoned while carrying some item of some import between towns or cities. But occasionally, it involves trying to find civilians who have gone missing. Those missions rarely end well.
Finishing his speech Ozpin moves aside and May and her team approach team RWBY. They catch up in time to hear Blake mention how a search and destroy mission sounds like what they're looking for. May moves to stand next to Ruby as the younger girl inputs her team name only to be denied.
"Wonderful." Weiss comments with irritation at being kept from the mission before Blake asks if they have any other ideas. Here May smiles and wraps an arm around Ruby's waist.
"We could have a look for you. We were going to do a mission anyway and I did say I would help out however I can. So long as Brawnz doesn't mind, we can go check out that area for you. I've got experience scouting so it shouldn't be too hard for me to spot it if anything is up in the area." May comments smiling before looking back at Brawnz in silent question.
Her team leader looks at the mission and shrugs. "Sure, why not? We wanted Search and Destroy anyway. The hard light projections are great, but they just don't compare to reality." He comments and everyone turns to Ruby waiting for her input.
"Just, be careful okay? If you come across them I'd rather you get away and call it in than risk getting hurt." Ruby comments getting a winning smile from the happily grinning May who wraps up the smaller girl in her arms only to give her a long, albeit gentle, kiss.
"Of course I'll be careful. You still have a promise to make good on and we have a date after. I wouldn't miss either of those for the world." May replies, happy to see that Blake seems to be pleased with her offer when she glances over.
It's just a few more moments when Brawnz puts in their team name and they're accepted for the mission while May points out a promising escort job for her girlfriend and team. "It should have us getting back around the same time so we can swap stories. And getting supplies like that to and from the villages around the cities is important work."
None of them notice the Headmaster step back from where he had been about to interject before a small smile appears on his face. Shaking his head lightly at the joy being expressed by both Ruby and the older sniper whose eye she drew so easily...
Leaving the building the two teams find their light conversation interrupted by a student pointing out loudly team CFVY's return.
'Wow, I haven't seen Velvet since just before round two. Didn't they leave right after that? Must have been a rough one.'
They hurry their steps to catch up calling out for Velvet and checking up on her to make sure she's okay while May's team hangs back with the onlookers. The Rabbit Faunus looks to be in a bit of a hurry to get back to her team and assures the worried girls that the only reason they were so late returning was that there were a lot more Grimm than initially reported.
After that brief conversation, the walk resumes in silence until Yang decides that Ruby and May have had enough peace and quiet and speaks up, looking at the couple. "Soooo last night, you two got a bit handsy with each other and thought no one would notice huh?" She comments, leaving the two to look at each other and back at Yang in confusion before May replies.
"What do you mean handsy? I don't remember anything like that happening."
"You mean you didn't notice when your hands slipped down? I even caught a few pictures of it look at the ones I sent you this morning before your meeting." The blonde replies her eyes twinkling with mirth as May freezes up, her head turning in a slow jerky motion to look at Yang.
"You mean the photos I asked you to take?"
"Uh huh."
"The very same photos that I sent to my mother this morning from the library on the way to your dorm?"
There is a long pregnant pause from members of both teams that is slowly interrupted by the low agonized groan of a mortified Ruby as she draws her hood over her head to hide. This time May can't blame her. If anything she would rather like to join her Girlfriend under the red fabric.
Then the flood gates open and the two are subjected to loud rambunctious laughter from the entire male portion of BRNZ and Yang all pointing at the pair even as Roy struggles to breathe. Even Blake and Weiss are not immune, covering their mouths to hide their own more subdued giggling.
'At least those two are being polite about it.' May thinks before sighing in resignation and turning to her team fixing them with a cold glare.
"You three can laugh all you want about it. It would be pretty funny from your perspective. But say a word, and I will make sure you regret it." She threatens them one finger pointing at them. All they can do is wave away her threat, themselves too busy trying to get their amusement under control to respond verbally. Finally she turns to Yang giving her a withering look. "I will have my revenge for this Xiao Long. I won't say when, but when it comes I will remind you of this exact moment."
Her warning delivered and ignored by the blustering blonde, May wraps up her girlfriend and leads her away. "If you need us we have twenty minutes before our mission is due to leave, and I'm going to spend that time productively. I'll let her go in time for her to join up with your three." She comments leading Ruby away from both them and everyone else heading for the woods surrounding the school.
'Might as well enjoy the time we have together now because it's the last we'll see of each other until the missions are over.'
~MZ~
May returns to her team looking far too pleased with herself as they wait for the Huntsmen assigned to their mission to arrive. Her thoughts turning over how her relationship with Ruby was developing. Their kissing and cuddling evolving at a wonderfully slow pace. Enough to keep both interested in continuing without making the younger girl feel any kind of pressure. Exactly what May was hoping for. Spending the last twenty minutes in a tree with Ruby perched in her lap didn't hurt either, the two shifting against each other occasionally to re balance and get comfortable again.
One of the schools' professors dashes up to them announcing himself. "Hello team, I'm Doctor Oobleck. Who's ready to fight for their lives!?" He asks with a swing of his arm and a slightly crazed smile on his face.
It's Roy who then of course had to add to the doomed nature of their mission by dropping his head down and palming his face saying. "We're going to die, aren't we?" Having said that, he absolutely deserved the punch he got to the back of his head from their team leader.
'Well, at least it won't be boring.' Not noticing the sweat drop forming on her brow.
Beta Note: *Bowing repeatedly toward all of the readers* I apologize. I was just far too lazy and getting ready for school to get back to Blacsparrow sooner. So be nice to them and give lots of reviews!
AN: Yes, it is clearly CS's fault and not at all mine despite dropping over 7k words in their lap followed a few hours later by the 11k consisting of JitR's first chapter. Clearly it's my beta's fault. That said it will likely be awhile before JitR is ready to go since, well, it's a lot to go through. be patient. It may be as early as this weekend. it might take longer. I am working on it.
Once again a big thank you to my wonderful reviewers. I am always grateful when people take the time to comment on a chapter. so a special thank you to: AntonSlavik020, Yaksher, kevindynamite, and imoshen88 thank you all so much.
That's all for this time. I hope you've all enjoyed this chapter. I love you all and I'll see you next time!
