Edited by: Crescent Sunrise
May wakes the next day to Nolan staring down at her with a little grin on his face. The kind he usually gets before saying something that, were May a violent girl, would get him punched in the nose. Instead she just groans and pulls her blanketing higher, trying pointlessly to hide from him and his snarky comments at her expense.
"So, my shy lesbian partner gets a crush on a younger girl, starts hanging out with the all-girl team NDGO. Then has the drop dead gorgeous older sister of previously mentioned crush visiting her in the late of night. I swear May are you giving off some kind of pheromone? Are cute girls just really into the shy introverted ones? Or are you just wooing them in private with some hidden swagger you're keeping from me? Because I'm about to start taking notes if you surround yourself any further with attractive women." He points out with a smirk.
May only blinks before lowering her blanket to look at him curiously.
'Wait, what? I... Well... Wow. Nolan has a point... Sort of. I'm spending a lot more time around attractive girls than I ever have before. But that's not really hard considering I only ever used to hang out with my team which consists of three men and me. Huh, I never even thought about it.'
"G-getting jealous Nolan?" She asks finally peeling herself from the sinfully soft sheets and tempting warmth of her bed to sit up.
"Eh, not really. After all, the more cute girls that hang around my partner, the more cute girls I have the perfect excuse to hang around with myself." He replies with a wink getting a pillow to the face in return.
"Don't make me start warning away my f-friends on principle." the shy sniper warns taking her pillow back and fluffing it before setting it back in its place and crawling from the bed.
"So you going to do what the blonde girl asked last night? Cancel a day in the competition?" Nolan asks idly as he sits on the side of her bed while she starts gathering her clothing for the day.
"Well, yeah. I figure it's worth the s-small risk. She could be telling me for a good reason I won't regret. Or she could be telling me to put a gap between me and Ruby. She could a-also be telling me b-because she's trying to help me with something. If it's the first then great, if it's the last then at least I know she's t-trying to help." She replies.
"And if it's the second?" Nolan asks softly.
"Then I have a decision to m-make. Is pursuing my crush worth going against Yang? If I'm successful then it will strain Yang and Ruby's relationship, and any idiot can see how close they are. S-so it would also hurt any I'm trying to form with Ruby. So would it even be w-worth it at that point?" May asks, shuddering softly as the nervous tension in her shy mind comes crushing down on her. Her thumb worrying at her lip. Before it can get between her teeth though Nolan's hand lands on her shoulder.
"Hey, it was a dumb question. It's definitely option one or three." He replies, soothing her a bit with a hand gently rubbing her shoulder before grinning again. "So, good dreams? I don't think I've ever seen you drooling in your sleep before; and that look! It was positively perverted! A certain dark haired girl with red highlights? Should I warn the blonde?" He asks enjoying the dark blush creeping over May's face, clearly flustered as she shoves him off the bed her stutter returning full force.
"S-shut up! I-it wasn't p-perverted you j-jerk!" She shouts, only blushing harder as she realizes he was teasing her again. Made a certainty by the fact her partner is even now, curled on the ground clutching his gut as he laughs himself hoarse. She contemplates kicking him then but as previously stated, May is not a violent girl. Instead she gives him her meanest glare... Which only makes him laugh harder before getting treated to the pillow again as she stomps into the bathroom to change. Her scroll tucked in amongst her things.
'LS - Hey Ruby, I know it's earlier than usual and sorry if this wakes you. But I hope you don't mind if I cancel the game for today? I was told yesterday evening there's something I need to do today and I don't know how long it will take.'
She focuses on getting dressed and securing her beanie in place hearing a response hit her scroll before she re-enters the room proper and pauses to look at the message as she heads through the door.
'RR - Oh sure! I thought I might need to ask something similar myself a little later so it works out!'
May ponders that for a moment wondering what Ruby would be up to taking an evening off but ends up shrugging. It's not really her business in the end. She is grateful however that Nolan has gotten control of himself while it seems Brawnz and Roy have gotten a head start towards breakfast.
'LS - Alright then, I'll see you later Ruby.'
'RR - Oh haha Longshot, you're hilarious.'
May smiles a bit at that and closes the messenger her smile turning to one more warm and tender as she looks once more at the background image.
"By Oum, you are nauseatingly sweet on that girl. I might have to make an appointment with a dentist." He states as she blushes lightly and starts pushing him out of the room heading for the cafeteria until he starts moving on his own power again. This time however, she manages to avoid rising to the bait of his teasing causing him to pout a little.
Entering the cafeteria May smiles her team seating themselves opposite NDGO for her benefit so she doesn't have to pick between them. It's a small gesture that touches the sniper and she gives Roy and Brawnz a small, grateful smile. The knowing glint in her leaders' eye as he feigns nonchalance, giving him away immediately.
She grabs a slightly more filling breakfast with eggs and ham, as well as her usual toast before seating herself and looking around, suddenly noticing the three knowing looks and one bored from NDGO. Dew looks like she's struggling not to blurt out what's on her mind as May looks between them her face slowly flushing under the attention.
"Wh-what? Wh-why are you all staring at me l-like that?" She asks tugging on her beanie demurely. Her words helping to get their attention off her. Well, It gets Octavia and Nebula to stop staring at least. Dew doesn't seem to have the same compunctions.
"I'm so happy for you!" Dew finally says unable to help herself only to be immediately silenced by Nebula placing a hand over her mouth.
"Dew, no! It hasn't happened yet. No spoilers!" She chastises sending and apologetic look across to a now very confused May. A vaguely helpless look crossing the snipers face as she wonders what is going on and receives no clues. Thankfully though Gwen rolls her eyes and looks across the table at May.
"Don't worry about it May. They're snooping again and it seems those three and Ruby's team are talking back and forth to each other now. I'm helping to keep them from doing anything rash."
"Helping?" Nolan asks after swallowing a bit of his egg.
"Yes, it seems Yang mentioned it all to JNPR, and I've been getting help from Belladonna, Schnee, and a quiet boy named Ren. Oh yeah, expect them to talk to you at some point May." Gwen adds sighing as she looks at the mild panicked look on Mays face only to blink as the sniper groans softly and sinks lower in her seat. Her hands gripping her beanie.
"Why is my crush on her so interesting?" She moans shifting with discomfort and pouting softly ignoring the cooing sound coming from Dew and Octavia at the sight.
"It's not that the crush itself is that interesting. It's just that you two are adorable on your own and watching you two dance around each other is like... Watching a basket of baby kittens spilling into a basket of baby puppies and then they start to play with each other." Gwen replies with a soft roll of her eyes. Her face looks stoic but May can spot the flecks of amusement in her friends' eyes as she comments getting a glare from May that intimidates no one and only serves to cause Gwen's lips to twitch upwards.
Between Yang's visit and NDGOs staring, May is feeling very uncertain about today. Her nerves are starting to fray as she finishes her breakfast and listens to the small talk bouncing back and forth between the two teams.
Getting into the history class she pulls out her note book and pen to take her notes for the team and sinks happily into the task requiring a great deal of focus to just keep up with the rapid fire string of facts and knowledge poured forth by the profess- sorry, Doctor teaching the class. The scent of his coffee having filled the room after years of constant consumption in the space doing wonders for her state of mind as she is allowed to relax at least a small amount.
It's a once more smiling and refreshed may that starts putting away her materials at the end of class standing to stretch and blink rapidly at the sudden nearness of a certain cute, red cloaked, team leader standing next to her the girls hands behind her back as one her toes make small circles in the floor.
The sniper starts to panic. Ruby hasn't ever approached her before, and no the workshop didn't count. Looking around her team has already made their way out, as well as Ruby's team, JNPR, and NDGO. It screams set-up and May struggles to just speak and not lock up.
"H-hello R-ruby. How are y-you today?" She asks quietly forcing herself to finish packing her things. Before turning to face Ruby completely. Bag on one shoulder, rifle on the other. She does her best not to fidget too much… and starts a losing battle with her cheeks not to blush as her eyes are drawn into bright sparkling silver ones. The effort in looking away before her mind can get to distracted trying to memorize them is immense but necessary.
"Heya May, I'm fine. How are you? Wait that's not what I wanted to ask. I mean I wouldn't mind knowing of course, you're my friend and I always want to know if my friends are doing okay. But you don't have to answer that if you don't want to because it's not what I meant to ask. I just wanted to ask if you wanted to come into Vale with me today to see about getting you a cloak like you asked about. I mean you don't have to because you probably already have plans and stuff for today and I'm asking you kind of last minute and everything I know I said I would look around for you but I thought it might be nicer if we just went together to look that way I don't have to try and give you directions or anything if I do find something you'd like and there's no risk of you getting lost because you're not familiar with the streets or something. Cause you know if you got lost or something and it's because of the directions I gave you I would feel super bad and mrphmglprk?"
May blinks as her mind finally connects with her actions. One hand gently held over Ruby's mouth to dam the flood of words and give the sniper a chance to figure out what was said. Well, more like to stop the flowing river of sound leaving Ruby's lips that moved too fast for her to even keep up. Sometime during the third or fourth sentence the words all started to run together. After that it was just varied sounds she couldn't make out. It's adorable to May but also frustrating because she can't figure out what Ruby is trying to tell her.
"R-Ruby you w-were doing it a-again. I'm d-doing well, w-what was it y-you wanted to ask?" May replies with a small soft smile trying, and failing, to hide her blush again. That was when she noticed Ruby also blushing darkly and a few muffled sounds and the feeling of the smaller girl's lips moving against her hand before realizing she never removed it, and doing so rapidly when she realized that. Hiding the offending limb behind her back while her palm burned with heat where it had been placed against soft lips.
"Umm, I just wanted to know if you wanted to go into Vale with me today. Sparring after lunch is short today so we'd have plenty of time to look around for a cloak for you?" Ruby answers, this time at a speed the shy sniper can understand. It doesn't help her blush though and she blinks noticing the pieces clicking together.
'Yang last night, NDGO this morning, Nolan and the guys leaving me behind. They were setting me up for Ruby to ask me on a date? Wait, is it a date? What about Longshot? Does Ruby not like Longshot? But Longshot is me! If she doesn't like Longshot and finds out we're the same person she might not like me either! Oh stupid Dew, stupid plans, stupid date! Wait Ruby said she would give Longshot a chance. So this can't be a date. Just her trying to help out a friend... Why is she waving her hand in front of my face?'
"May? Hello? Sorry to spring it on you like that. I should have known you'd be busy or have other plans or something." The cute ravenette comments before turning around to hide her own embarrassment. Her Semblance activating and almost carrying them both into a wall when she feels the sniper grab her arm.
"N-no! S-sorry, I was j-just lost in thought. I w-would love to go into V-Vale with you." She says and it's half true. She would love to spend time with Ruby. But, she's not looking forward to going into town at all. To exposed, to many people, too much noise. But one look at the shorter girl and there's only one thought crossing May's mind.
'Worth it.'
"That's awesome! Okay so, meet in front of the statue an hour after sparring class?" Ruby asks then all excitement and energy before taking off rapidly after getting a nod from the quiet girl. A trail of rose petals left in her wake.
"I'm going to strangle NDGO." May states firmly to the empty room before heading to lunch spending the entire trip trying to convince herself to make good on her empty threat and completely unaware of the huge smile breaking out across her face.
AN:
Hello again everyone! This chapter, unlike last chapter, I really enjoyed writing! It was genuinely fun and I'm super excited already to write the next one which I'm sure you can all guess what it will contain. I got to be fluffy, have Nolan teasing May some more, and show off another Rambling Ruby Rose. fun times all around. I... actually I don't have much more to say at this point. So onto my favorite part of the notes!
Oh, The poll is still up. If the result becomes any more clear than it is currently I'll take it as a hint and close the poll because I don't see a point in leaving it up when you can see the winner and there's another I want to replace it with.
NOW onto reviewer replies.
RatedRSuperstar: Ah, yes I see what you meant. and here's more of that fantastic little aspect of that drama point.
demonknightalex: wait no longer, update is here! glad to have you with us.
CinderBurn: In the show? No they never did. In this story? Also no, it's one of the little things I'm keeping close to my chest. I'm sure some people know or can guess but eh. always happy to hear you're enjoying yourself reading this.
Ezrakett: Thank you, I don't know that I would say new pairing considering there is artwork and stuff out there for it. and so far the trend has been 9 chapters in 18 days. or one every other day. it is not a schedule just the way everything turned out. I would like to reiterate to everyone that I do not have a schedule for my writing or when chapters go up. but if It does have to been awhile ie, a week or longer, I will try to say something. either in an authors note like this one or on my profile. i'm glad you like this story. It is a shameless fluff piece and it makes me smile when i re-read what i've written so that's an awesome sign I think.
So thats it! please visit the poll on my profile if you have the time, I love you all and I wish you well. Until next time!