Beta Read by: Crescent Sunrise
Recommended Story: "Phantom Rose" by GateMasterGreen (I know I already suggested it but May's added to the pairing so it gets a double mention)
Quick Note: Important message about updates at end of chapter.
~MZ~
'Should have just said no May. Why oh why did you have to agree to inviting Pyrrha in?' The sniper berates herself as she waits with her team to find out who they would be up against that day. It's not that May doesn't like Pyrrha, the girl was nice enough and her interest in both May and Ruby is flattering. But real life just doesn't work by the law of wishful thinking.
'Who are you trying to kid? You know that the only reason you didn't shoot it down is because as childish as you know the sentiment to be. You don't want to spoil Ruby's innocent outlook.'
That was another thing May continues to remind herself. While she is eighteen and has had a few relationships under her belt at this point, her girlfriend is three years younger with absolutely no prior dating experience. For Ruby, the whole experience is entirely unknown. May can only sigh and do her best to cheer her girlfriend up when reality decides to step in.
She's drawn out of her thoughts when the match alerts are sent out displaying the ladder for the team and doubles matches. The first name she notices is her girlfriend's team going up against team ABRN in a few short hours, it being one of the first matches in the day.
She scans the line up before hearing Roy groan and shake his head. "So much for making it to the doubles matches." He comments before showing May his scroll, leaving her to blink in surprise as she takes notice of team JNPR as their first round opponents. It takes May a moment to navigate her own scroll before finding where it's listed. A later match taking place in the afternoon.
"We'll do fine, we just have to neutralize Nikos first." Brawnz states with confidence. At least, he sounds confident. None of his team really buy it though. "Just stick to the plan, cover May as she pulls back and keep them off her. We have to fight together to keep the three-on-four from overcoming us while May sets up. From there, she can take shots at will."
He pauses and May smiles at him noting just how far her team leader has come from the enraged youth lashing out at anyone and everyone only a year prior. Oh, they all improved, but the change was most prominent in Brawnz.
"Invincible girl or not, friend or not, she is only one person. Yeah she swept a whole team solo but honestly, from the showing they gave in sparring class I'm surprised they even qualified for the tournament at all. We can do this. Even if we fail we're going to show that we belong here. We have reputations to keep up now as Heroes of Vale." He comments with a grin while the rest of his team chuckles, May starts getting ready to head to the arena. Ruby's match would be starting soon.
The match was interesting certainly, team ABRN was handling things rather well until Reese fell for that trap and got knocked out. She was surprised though that Blake didn't immediately turn and start tipping the field more in their favor. four on three might not seem like fair play but it hadn't started that way.
'Oh well, they're still first years. Very impressive first years.' She admits to herself as she watches the team group up in the arena before using Yang to power through the remaining three opponents with one massive strike.
Shortly after, she's following along as they head to the fairgrounds with Ruby's team who're still elated by their victory. When Ruby slumps and asks if anyone else is hungry. May is about to comment when Blake's stomach growls like an angry Grimm, leaving her to cover it as a blush colors her face.
"Sweet Oum, Blake have you been starving yourself? With a sound like that I'm half afraid you'll start seeing us as food." May finally gets in with a chuckle before waving an arm around. "There's food stands all around, let's just find one and get something to eat, any preferences?"
"I know just the place." Yang comments leading the group on until a voice calls out behind them to get their attention.
"Might be hard to pay without this," a voice comments as they turn around and May spots a girl with mint green hair and red eyes holding out Ruby's wallet with cards of Lien poking out. It only takes a moment for Ruby to start having a minor freak out as she pats down her sides and pockets before walking over and taking her wallet back.
"Thanks Emerald, ugh, girl pockets are the worst!" she laments, taking the wallet back along with her money leaving May to snicker behind her before wrapping the shorter girl in her arms.
"No Little Red, just skirt pockets. Maybe you should try shorts instead?" She suggests before lowering her voice so only Ruby can hear. "I already know you look good in them, after all I've seen you running in the morning."
She can feel the heat building in Ruby's cheeks and knows that her adorable girlfriend is blushing to her roots. She doesn't even stop her this time when Ruby covers her head with her hood, but she also doesn't release her hold on the little reaper missing the smirk coming from behind her on the left from Blake.
Apparently while she had been teasing her girlfriend, Yang had started a conversation with Emerald and it's during this they invite Emerald and her team to come along with them for some food. May's attention returning to them just in time to catch Emerald mentioning how her team mates are socially awkward.
"Well in that case they should fit right in with this wonderful little band of misfits." May comments ignoring the resounding sounds of "Hey!" from the team and a chuckle from the girl in front of them before she tries to continue the conversation.
"Looks like Merc and I will be moving on to the doubles round, what about you guys?" She asks waiting for an answer that Ruby doesn't seem inclined to answer with her hood pulled as far down as she can manage to hide her face.
"Well that would be telling wouldn't it? Why waste the surprise this little band of firsties is obviously going to bring to the tournament? Much more fun to wait and see." May responds first with a wink getting a smile in return.
"Fair enough, well me and Merc are going to catch a few more fights, see you later!" She adds over her shoulder as she's already walking away as RWBY and May turn the other way.
It takes a few more moments before someone speaks up and this time it's Weiss. "Why really did you stop us from telling her who we're sending to doubles?"
May chuckles as the rest of the team looks at her curiously. "If someone knows who they are fighting they can plan accordingly. Right now your team has four members, two of which are going into the doubles round which means six possible combinations. Ruby-Weiss, Ruby-Yang, Ruby-Blake, Weiss-Yang, Weiss-Blake, or Yang-Blake. Six combinations, six possibilities they have to plan for. However, if they already know who's moving on instead of one plan for each combination they can make six or more plans for dealing with your team. Better to let them wonder, yeah?"
At that they turn thoughtful until they get to the stall where Yang sits down and orders the "regular". In a flash that makes May wonder if this man and Oobleck are related, a frighteningly large bowl of noodles slides in front of the blonde followed by another for Ruby and a third for Weiss after the Schnee asks for one with low salt. Blake's takes a bit longer as a fourth arrives in front of her. Less noodles but large fish placed right on top that has her drooling faintly as she looks at it.
The man looks at May next and she shakes her head faintly. "I have a match still, I can't fill up now or I'll slow down later." He shrugs even as he takes Weiss' card and moves to run it. The heiress paying in celebration for their victory.
She was not however expecting the familiar old man to throw the card like a shuriken hard enough to embed it in the counter.
There's something off about him. How he seems to be all over the place, how he moves so fast and now he shows a surprising amount of skill and aim. That card could have done some damage if it hit a grimm somewhere unprotected. Probably just an old retired huntsman. Still, she shakes off her thought as Blake starts looking worried, holding her hand to stop the man from taking away the girl's precious fish bowl. She reaches into her own pocket and pulls out some money, counting off the cards before handing them over to a now satisfied old man.
"May we could have covered it…" Ruby whines faintly even as the rest of her team starts in.
"Yeah, but I've been looking for an excuse to pay for you." She replies with a cheeky smile as JNPR walks up and joins them no comment about their upcoming match is brought up until after they eat and Nora comments that if Jaune should feel the need to throw up he should aim it at her team making her grimace.
"Oh, please don't. At least not at me if you don't mind. I do not want to spend tonight trying to get the smell out of my clothes." She says completely serious even as everyone starts to laugh.
When Nora goes on to talk about the repercussions of potentially losing though May can only watch in amusement as she gets herself more and more worked up. Finally deciding to help take some of the pressure off her opposition, despite how much it might benefit her own.
"You do realize that just qualifying for the tournament is an achievement on its own right? Only the best get in and there's no shame in losing during the tournament, especially since you got in during your first year. Frankly it's really impressive all on it's own. We won't go easy on you, but no matter who wins we'll be satisfied and you should be too." She lets her words sink in as she sends a wink to Pyrrha.
That get's her a wide eyed, thoughtful look that shoots from her to Ruby and back before those eyes narrow in suspicion. Still, the fight is coming up so with a soft kiss to her girlfriend, May peels herself away from the group to grab her weapon and meet up with her team. It's going to be an interesting match.
It's just as she's approaching her locker that she finds a surprise when Nebula rounds the corner in front of her.
"Oh, hey May! I was looking for you. Figured I would check by your locker since your match was coming up. When you didn't show up I thought you must have already picked it up. You ready for your
match? Noticed you were going up against the Invincible Girl," moving her bangs behind her ear with a light smile on her face.
"Well as ready as I'll ever be I suppose. We'll see how it turns out. It'll be nice having friends cheering me on, though." May replies with a lopsided grin.
"Oh? So I guess I shouldn't ask you to take a dive so I have a sure thing putting money on JNPR, huh?" Nebula jokes getting a chuckle in return.
"Would be a fruitless endeavor I'm afraid, I don't plan on losing and especially not on purpose." May quips before walking around Nebula to move toward her locker. "Too bad, you'll just have to watch like everyone else."
"Ah, darn. Well it was worth a shot I guess. Good luck, I'm going to head to the stadium now and try and get a good seat." Nebula mentions before moving to leave the locker room.
May watches and shrugs before moving to her locker and putting in her code before pulling out her weapon. She runs her fingers over Myrtle's Bloom, once more familiarizing herself with her weapon of choice as she turns it in her hands. Snapping the axe blade out before retracting it again and looking through the scope.
Satisfied with the quick check, she shoulders the rifle and smiles to herself into the empty locker room until her scroll goes off.
"Yeah Brawnz… I'm just getting my weapon… sure, I'll meet you guys there, time to show the world what we can do," she speaks into her phone before closing it and heading for the airship docks.
"3…"
The speakers were loud and blaring throughout the colosseum as May and her team stood staring down team JNPR. Weapons in hand, fighting positions taken. They were friendly. Moreso with May herself than her team but friendship was for outside of the arena and had no place here. Thankfully JNPR seemed to understand that as well. She would feel bad if they held it against her should her team win.
"2…"
May found herself standing opposite Jaune in the lineup but when she looked a little to the left she spotted Pyrrha glancing her way. The girl seemed just a little contemplative so May couldn't help but try and throw her off her game just a little by giving her a flirtatious wink. The glare she got in response wasn't what she expected. She figured a girl with a crush would blush at her.
"1…"
May takes a deep breath. They got lucky with the field randomizer. Her team had a forest to back them up and She did love her trees. Plenty of cover and easy relocating should she get spotted. This would be a fun match if nothing else.
"Begin!"
Brawnz didn't give any orders. He didn't need to since they discussed the fight ahead. They would cover her retreat to a safe location where she would get setup and start looking for targets. Pretty bare bones she would admit, but complicated plans had a habit of falling apart quickly.
It was a quick shout of "May watch out!" that saw her looking over her shoulder with wide eyes as a round bronze colored shield spun in her direction aimed at her head. She was forced to dive and roll as it passed over her and bounced off the tree and back to it's wielder despite the odd angle.
She lifted herself and jumped using her axe to grab a limb and a push from her Semblance to help the swing up into the limbs. When she turned around her eyes went wide seeing the Invincible Girl sprinting her way having made it past her team and now rapidly advancing. May barely had time to fire from the hip and watch as the shot is deflected before she's forced to jump away to avoid the return fire from Pyrrha's rifle.
She hits the ground and spins behind a tree with a scowl. Peeking around the other side to try and spot her team. Watching Nolan square up with Ren while Roy spends most of his time trying to avoid getting creamed by Nora's hammer. Even Brawnz was having trouble as he rampaged and spent himself battering Jaune's shield.
'Looks like I get Pyrrha all to myself then.'
Turning back she was forced to block a sword slash from a xiphos that pushed her rifle into her chest with a grunt as it forces her back. At least it gave her enough room to switch her grip on her rifle to hold it by the barrel as a melee weapon with the axe blade out.
They watch each other carefully waiting for the other to make a move for a long moment. There's a twitch as May adjusts her grip and suddenly Pyrrha explodes into movement, her sword hilt extending into a spear and shooting forward from behind her shield. She's crouched low to cover more of herself as she advances step by step, her spear lunging for any opening she can find and May had a hell of a time keeping up.
Her Semblance played a big part, pushing her weapon when her reflexes weren't fast enough to get her axe in place and it was only a matter of time before she would take a truly punishing blow. So she took a risk using something she's noticed watching the amazon.
She jumped, bringing her feet up and together before kicking out at Pyrrha. May was counting on the shield being there to intercept her and she was not disappointed as she bent her knees and pushed off, staggering Pyrrha as the sniper finally got some much needed space.
There's no time to take a breath though as she spins her rifle leaving the axe blade out as she fires off a pair of shots and frowns. They were deflected, sure, but that wasn't what drew her attention.
'My shots were off. Is something wrong with my rifle? But I checked it just a few hours ago.'
With narrowed eyes May shifts her grip and brings her axe around horizontally to chop at Pyrrha's waist. Watching as Pyrrha is forced to hop back and avoid the blow. May advances in pursuit, letting herself take the offensive as she tries to push the momentary advantage.
She feels her momentum being lost when she can't even land a hit after creating a gap and her frustration rises as she clenches her jaw. Losing wasn't going to bother her, she wasn't even expecting to win this match up. But she would be furious with herself if she went down without even landing a hit.
It was then she noticed a faint black glow forming for just a few moments around the blade of her weapon as she once more barely missed the tall redhead. Her strikes were being altered minutely and she hadn't even noticed. She was being toyed with and that grated on her.
With hop May used her Semblance to send her body spinning, using the weapon to knock away Pyrrha's shield before stepping in and punching. Her fist slammed into the amazon's stomach and once contact is made May pushes with her Semblance, sending the redhead flying into the trunk of a tree.
This was where May should be capitalizing. Rushing in and pressing harder, but she's already spent so much energy on blows that never had a hope of connecting. Instead, she shifted Myrtle's Bloom into a one handed grip her right hand holding it near the base of the barrel as the left clenches in a fist. Her upper body heaving as she pants for breath.
People who talk about a good fight lasting for hours have never really fought before. Fighting is immensely straining and tires you rapidly. Adrenaline flushes the body and pushes it hard. Seconds feel stretched out and even just five minutes can leave one feeling like they've been in the gym for hours. Aura helps as it eases the strain, letting Hunters push harder for longer, but against another opponent with the same ability it doesn't help much. Especially with the added strain a Semblance can add and May had been pushing hers since the fight started.
She took the few seconds she had to look over her team and check their progress. Nolan had done well against Ren who had switched at some point to fighting Roy, the green clad first year was less fluid in his movements than before as he dodged the spinning buzz saws.
It looked like her team switched things up at some point as Brawnz now squared off with Nora, keeping her from helping her friends as he got close to the hammer girl and stayed there, refusing to let her get enough room to swing her hammer.
Jaune was the surprising one though. She expected him to have been knocked out early on in the match but he remained in the fight, his shield doing wonders to protect him as he focused on defense, lashing out with his sword only on occasion as if to remind Nolan that the weapon was still there.
May panted as she moved to put the side holding her weapon in front of herself while Nikos got back on her feet and brought her shield back up. Eyes narrowed and hardened as she advanced slowly.
The sniper had wanted to flirt and tease her opponent initially but at this point it would be pointless. Both far too focused on the promise of violence about to erupt between them in moments. There's a pause just as before when they started and this time it's May that breaks it. Rushing forward on the offensive only to force herself sideways awkwardly when Pyrrha throws her weapon in it's spear form and charging to meet the rushing sniper.
Off balance and unprepared, May greeted the bronze shield with an odd angled swing she couldn't get much power behind. It did enough to let the metal go over her but she could do nothing to stop the impact with the metal plated shin that followed when the redhead continued her charge.
May was sent rolling in the dirt as Pyrrha pulled her spear from the tree it was lodged in. The sniper pushed herself back to her feet as she glanced up to check her aura levels, only to grimace as she notes it nearing the red.
There's no time for rest though as the amazon is on her again, spear stabbing at any opening Pyrrha can find only to switch to her xiphos for quick swings at closer range.
'Fast, too fast. I can't keep up like this.' No sooner does May think it that her rifle is hooked in the half circle groove in Pyrrha's shield and yanked from the sniper's grip. The Invincible Girl's xiphos pointed at May's exposed throat.
There's a pause but May still has enough aura to continue and hasn't been rung out. With one final effort, she shifts to her right and ducks down, her fist clenched and aimed for Pyrrha's stomach. She never saw the shield drop from above as it hit the back of her head and she is left dazed while the buzzer sounds and a voice declares she's out of the match.
~RR~
Ruby was torn and confused. Part of her wanting to rush to JNPR and congratulate them on their win during the match. The other wanted to go see her girlfriend and potentially cheer the older sniper up should she feel down after the loss. Of course the latter won, living across the hall from JNPR would give her plenty of chances to catch up with them soon.
The confusing part was something she felt watching May flirt with Pyrrha just before the match. The young girl knew her girlfriend was an incorrigible flirt and actually enjoyed watching her do so with the knowledge that, despite the older girls confident and forward nature, May wouldn't take it further than words. But after what they talked about, that assurance was now in question where the leggy redhead was concerned. Ruby found herself feeling the same painful tightness coiling in her chest she last felt watching May with Yang back on Patch.
'I need to talk to May'
It doesn't take long for Ruby to catch up to her girlfriend after sending her a message through her scroll. Finding the older girl at the dock she approaches and hugs the slightly melancholy older sniper around the waist, drawing a chuckle from her as she turns to return the hug pulling Ruby against herself. The red cloaked girl feeling her cheeks coloring as her face is pressed into May's chest.
She feels the older girl sag against her a little and looks up at May's tired face, Ruby's silver eyes filling with concern. "Are you alright?"
That gets her a grunt and a stiff rolling of May's shoulder. "Yeah, or I will be. Tired and a bit down after that. The boys will bounce back soon enough. We just weren't ready for me to get singled out like that." She explains with a sigh before giving Ruby a small smirk. "At least we put on a good showing, yeah?"
But the younger girl watches as their embrace is broken so May can rub her shoulder with a wince. There's a pause before the takes the older girl's hand and starts leading her towards the ships soon to depart back to Beacon. Smiling as May follows without any form of hesitation.
"Where are we going?" She asks as Ruby turns around and gives her a smile.
"Your room, I'm not sure my bed would support us both." She says before tilting her head in confusion as May blinks rapidly.
"Wow Little Red, I know I'm a bit down but I don't need you to do something like that to cheer me up. Besides, I thought we talked about this. We're waiting, right?" May asks and it takes Ruby a long moment before she realizes where May's mind went when she talked about beds. She lets out a low groan as her face heats up. Her hood goes up as she resists the urge to pull away from her girlfriend.
"N-not that! I was going to give you a massage since you look all tense and sore. Not…you know…that." Ruby says wondering if her on the spot idea was really a good one or not. Still, the doubt is wiped away when her hood is lifted and May kisses her cheek giving her a grateful smile.
"I would love that. Thank you Ruby, I'll let the guys know to avoid the room for a little while." She says getting a small smile in return from the little reaper as the ship takes off.
'This was a bad idea Ruby. Why do you not think ahead?' She berates herself as she looks across the smooth, tanned skin of May's back. Not a stitch of clothing covering the tense corded muscles as May relaxes her head over her arms. Her rear covered by thin, black workout shorts that cling tightly to her curves. Even her eye patch has been set aside with her hair parted to leave her neck and shoulders exposed.
'But by Oum she looks so sexy all laid out li- no. Now is the time to massage, not ogle.' She firmly asserts to herself as she slowly climbs onto the bed. Straddling May's upper thighs as she leans forward letting her hands slide gently up along her girlfriends spine. 'Why can't we do both? I'm sure she wouldn't mind.' Comes the next thought that is immediately met with a groan and flush of embarrassment.
"Something wrong, Little Red? You don't have to do this if you're uncomfortable." May offers turning her head so she can glance over her shoulder at the red faced girl even as her body trembles a little when Ruby's small but strong hands contact her skin.
Ruby shakes her head rapidly before giving her girlfriend a broad smile. "Nope! I got this." She says for the moment pushing less than innocent thoughts from her mind as she focuses on exploring May's back her fingers finding knots of tension and kneading them gently until they release and with the first one, Ruby is treated to a low groan that sends a hot rush from her chest straight down to her core and easily doubles her blush.
May seemingly can't help herself from the low sounds of pleasure that make it sound like Ruby is doing far more than a simple massage. The sounds push Ruby to do more and she focuses on her task with a fervor eager to get more of those sensual sounds from her near naked girlfriend.
Getting to put her hands all over May's naked body had absolutely nothing to do with it.
'Nope, nothing to do with it at all.' She lies to herself biting her lip as her hands move further up May's back along her spine until she gets just under May's shoulder blades and working her way outwards. Using her wrists to rub slow circles and letting her fingers press around May's sides as she tries to both ignore and enjoy the soft flesh she can just barely feel at the tips of her fingers as they spread around May's sides.
She has to pull herself up a bith higher seating herself just above May's butt so she can effectively reach the taller snipers shoulders. She hesitates for a moment before letting herself lean forward so she can give May a kiss on the cheek, enjoying the pleasant hum that comes from the older girl in response, Ruby watches as May's lips curve upwards at the small sign of affection as she relaxes only to gasp as Ruby's hands get to her neck and shoulders.
"You've done this before." May states without moving her head. It's muffled but Ruby can hear her just fine.
"Yup, I massage my legs after each run and I sometimes help Yang when she's overdone it a little at the gym." Ruby responds with a smile, "though she usually leaves her top on," blushing a little as she mutters the last part.
"Well Little Red, It's not like you haven't seen it before." May comments and the little reaper can feel the little smug smirk her girlfriend is wearing even if she can't see it.
'Yeah and I haven't been able to get the image out of my head since. Not that I'm really complaining.' She admits in the privacy of her own mind before lifting herself so she can slide back again, moving all the way down May's long legs. She gulps as her hands approach dangerously close to the bottom of May's shorts so she can start massaging her upper legs. The muscles here as toned as the rest of her body.
Her time in the hospital bed had most certain not left her soft. That or she had worked really hard to get back whatever she lost once she was free to start working out again. The results were…tantalizing.
Ruby had to force herself to look up at May's hair or at her own hands to avoid the eye catching distraction of her girlfriend's butt.
"S-so what are your teammates doing?" Ruby asks and May moves a hand from under her head to wave dismissively.
"They stayed at the colosseum to watch NDGO's fight." May's trying to remain motionless as Ruby moves to her calves.
"We could have stuck around if you wanted to watch the match. I know Nebula's your friend." Ruby mentions only to get a dismissive grunt from May. She's curious about that but before she can ask, she finishes her massage and May lets out a satisfied sound while pushing her upper body up with her arms.
The taller girl's back pops a few times as she stretches before turning around not bothering to cover her upper body as she closes in and rewards Ruby's effort with a fervent kiss that silences the question and wipes the cloaked girls mind blank for several seconds after.
The next thing Ruby is aware of is that she's now laying down with May hugging her by the waist.
'Didn't I need to talk to her?' She wonders for a moment until May lets out a soft exhale and presses herself more firmly into Ruby's side and the arm trapped between them. Tanned breasts molding around the limb held between them.
'I'll worry about it later.'
AN
Okay so I lost a bunch of stuff apparently either when I was Editing the chapter or trying to upload it from my phone. The long and short of it is that I'm going to pause this story and most others for a bit so I can start handling the stories I have one at a time making it easier to focus. Since Jewels in the Rough and Whiskey Rose are much closer to completion than HDC I'm going to get JITR to a stopping point, then finish Whiskey Rose THEN I'll look back on HDC. Sorry to anyone that upsets but it's just what I have to do.
As always a special thanks for my reviewers AntonSlavik020, robyork1690,AyomiVendethiel, goddragonking, Brainwasher, TigerCritic, booman118800, MrFox7189, DshingisKhan, ReadingRainbow, and BlitzkriegHOSS. I don't require reviews for my work but it always makes me happy to recieve them and I read every single one.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this story. Thanks again to those who favorite or follow. I love you all, and I'll see you next time.
