Comforting warmth. That's what the shy sniper chooses to focus her attention on as she waits for lunch and after, her only class for the day. Her hands drawing the sides of her new cloak tighter around her frame relishing the body heat trapped beneath the fabric as she lifts her rifle again to look through the scope towards the forest from her perch on the stone work surrounding the school statue. Her eye not really focusing as she let's her mind wander.
It's Thursday, meaning tomorrow is the last day of her competition with the beautiful Ruby Rose. As of now May has managed to catch out Ruby twice giving her a two point lead in their little game. And while significant the red cloaked girl is becoming much more resourceful in trying to catch May out.
'Just two more days May. Four more targets and it's all over. Jeez this is so stressful. I really hope I can pull it off. This whole competition was a stupid idea. I should have just said something to her earlier... What do I do now if she's upset that I'm Longshot? Ooooh, Why did I have to kiss her?! Oum she didn't even react! Was I to forward? It was just on the cheek though it wasn't like I kissed her on the lips. I mean I know I wanted to but that would have been a bit far just to show my gratitude. Stupid May, stupid game, stupid not-a-date. I blame Dew for this.' May thinks to herself, putting down her rifle before tugging down on her beanie. Her gaze forlorn as she looks out over the academy lawn.
She sent Nolan into town with a list of baking supplies with the promise that she would make a few things for her team if he collected them for her. He only protested a little due to having his teasing interrupted, the promise of fresh and warm baked treats to great to pass up apparently as he headed out. Leaving her to wander off alone and think, the markswoman desperate to work out some of her tumultuous feelings.
'Well maybe she didn't hate it? I thought I would have been approached by her or her teammates by now. Did she not tell them? What if I did upset her and the only reason they haven't come after me yet is because they're busy trying to cheer her up? No, I'm sure NDGO would have heard if that were the case. Am I making to big of a deal out of it? Stupid question May of course you are.'
With that she forces herself to relax again leaning back on the stone work and letting her new cloak cover her like a blanket. The hood folded under her head like a pillow. Sun beaming down on her cloaked back providing all the warmth and heat she craves murmuring softly to herself as she considers a nap.
A tickling sensation, the hairs standing on the back of her neck, the paranoid feeling of being watched, and a momentary quickening of breath before the prone girl groans and sighs softly leaving her eyes closed and responding. "H-hello Blake, here to yell at me for kissing R-ruby yesterday?" She asks with the air of someone ordering their last meal. Her mind just waiting for the yelling to start. Instead, she's met with silence.
The one visible eye cracks open and May turns her head to face the cat faunus curiously. Surprise written on the black haired girls face. "What? Why would I do that? I was going to congratulate you. You thought we would be mad?" She asks seating herself cross legged a little away from May.
"Why w-wouldn't you be? I kinda... Overstepped didn't I? I m-mean I set up all the stuff as Longshot and then k-kiss her? It wasn't even a d-date. I'm sure she's upset." The shy sniper replies squeezing her eyes closed to hide her own emotions and the liquid she feels welling up.
"Whoa, hey May. We're not upset, not even a little. Yang is a little frustrated after I told her she can't tease Ruby about the kiss without giving away the fact we were following you two. But Ruby doesn't seem upset about it and we don't mind what you did. It was kind of cute really." Blake replies scooting herself a little closer so she can gently pat the girls leg.
"O-oh. Was there something you n-needed then?" May asks wiping at her visible eye and trying to be inconspicuous about it. If Blake notices she doesn't say anything though. However she does give off a little laugh.
"I knew you noticed us, Yang owes me ten lien. Not even a little surprise when I mentioned that we were watching you two." She replies with a little smug smile thinking over her later conversation with the blonde before answering the actual question. "But no, I don't really need anything May. I was just coming to check up on you. None of the others knew where you were. The only ones that weren't concerned seemed to be your team. Not to close to them are you?" Blake asks a small scowl forming on her lips until May rolls onto her back and sits up to engage Blake in a more appropriate position.
"Oh my t-team is great. They're not worried because I d-do this all the time. I spend a lot of time alone in h-high places." May replies defending her team and making sure to clear up Blake's misconception. "Th-they were worried at first but they understand now. I'm just more comfortable in p-places like this. Nolan will s-sometimes join me but h-he's in Vale right now. Well, he'll nap nearby in case I want c-company anyway. He's really nice like that."
"It sounds lonely." Blake replies with a note of kind concern in her voice.
"I-it's not really. I don't know if you noticed or not but I'm not the m-most social person. Crowds make me uncomfortable and t-talking to most people leaves me feeling drained after. S-so I find places like this." May replies with a small smile to reassure the black haired girl. "I-it's my version of a quiet corner of the library." She adds with a knowing look.
"Okay okay, I won't let it worry me. But don't be afraid to call someone if you do want some company okay? It's an open invitation." Blake adds holding her hands up defensively for a moment until they both start chuckling. When they finish Blake pauses relaxing for a bit before looking around and finally eyeing May quizzically. "How did you get up here anyway? I used Gambol Shroud as a grapple but how did you manage it? It's a bit far to just jump."
May tilts her head and ponders for a few moments before actually responding to the question. "M-my semblance." She answers simply, not really wanting to disclose it with the tournament coming up. She's not sure how the information could really be used against her and her team but better to ask Brawnz first to see if it's okay before telling anyone. Blake seems to understand too and doesn't inquire any further.
May takes a moment to look around. Blake doesn't seem to be in any kind of rush and with lunch still a few hours out the sniper looks back and offers her friend a shy little smile. "W-well if you want you c-can hang around for a little while. If you want to of c-course." She repeats not wanting to pressure the girl at all.
Blake smiles back and pulls out two objects, a book and her scroll, sending off a little message before nodding and standing. She moves a bit closer before sitting, leaning her back against the snipers, and opening her book to start reading. Missing another smile growing on May's lips.
"I let the others know I found you and you're fine." She explains simply feeling the sniper shift behind her a bit to lean gently back. Their weight supporting the other from behind as May props her rifle stock against the stone under her to support her weight in the front incase she decides to go for that nap. A sense of comfort settling over the two.
"Hey Blake?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think I should j-just drop the game now? You know, end it now and t-tell her I'm Longshot and everything?" May asks quietly.
"May I'm not going to answer that. For a few reasons, One being that I don't know the answer myself. I've never tried anything like what you're doing so I have no experience to speak from. Another being, and don't tell anyone, that I'm enjoying this little dance of yours as much as Yang and the others. I haven't picked up a romance book since you started because watching you is so much better." She admits smirking to herself as she hears the groan from behind her.
"Gee thanks, I'm g-glad to hear even you're treating my awkward love life like a T.V. d-drama."May replies in a pout with an impotent scowl on her lips.
"Oh don't be upset May. I will tell you this though, Ruby is enjoying the game even if she is a little confused about her feelings right now. I don't think you'll regret any decision you make unless it's to walk away." Blake replies and while it's not the answer May really wanted it's enough for her to decide to keep going. 'If she's having fun I don't want to put a stop to it. Her smiles are so worth a little more unease.'
She ends that thought before pulling out her scroll and staring for a moment at the background image again. The chocolate coated lips grinning widely back at her never once failing to bring that fluttering heat to her chest. It distracts her enough that she fails to notice Blake shifting behind her to see why May fell quiet wanting to make sure the shy girl is alright. Spotting the image though Blake's eyes go wide.
"Oh wow, when did she send that?" Blake asks not recalling the scene herself.
May jumps and closes her scroll hurriedly putting it away as a blush crosses her face. Stammering quickly and looking down at the stonework as Blake starts laughing. "Calm down May. It's cute, I just didn't notice her do it. Don't worry I won't tell her or Yang. The former would get more conflicted about everything until she finds out you're Longshot and Yang... Well Yang would start bothering you to send it to her." Blake reassures her flustered friend before turning away again.
"She sent it t-to me after I invited her to play the game with me. I g-guess it was to show how happy she was with it?" May offers after finally getting herself back under control and pouting ineffectively before leaning back again.
'Maybe I can ask Ruby to teach me to pout like she does?' May wonders to herself before shaking her head ruefully. No one could pull it off the way her crush does. And if May tried Nolan would probably just laugh at her.
They sit quietly. Blake seeming to enjoy the quiet company as much as May herself does. The only indication they even have someone near them the pressure against their backs, the sound of the others breathing, and the rustling sound of a turned page or Long shot shifting against the stone. It's peaceful, quiet and genuinely relaxing. That said it's no surprise when May does end up taking that light nap.
She wakes up to a gentle shake from the faunus girl and blinks slowly before giving a little yawn and pushing off her rifle to stand. "Mmm, is it lunch t-time?" She asks slowly stretching out her limbs before wrapping her arms around Longshot and leaning back to stretch her back as well.
"Yup, want to have lunch with us today? There's enough room at our usual table for your team and NDGO if they want to come too. Usually we only take up half of one anyway." Blake offers and the sniper pauses to consider it before nodding. It means Ruby might talk to her again and while that makes her nervous after kissing the girl she just can't bring herself to avoid spending time with the younger girl.
"I'll ask Brawnz and Nebula to see if they want to come but I don't mind if they don't." May replies before hopping off the side of the side of her perch, her climbing axe catching the branch of one of the small trees letting her swing to the ground harmlessly. She waits for Blake to slide down using the ribbon on her weapon before turning towards the main building continuing their companionable silence as they make their way towards the cafeteria.
Entering there's a flash of rose petals that stops in front of Blake forming the object of May's crush that then begins to speak. "Oh Blake! I haven't seen you since breakfast is everything alright? I tried to find you earlier so we could play world of remnant with you but Yang and Weiss said you were with a friend. Is your friend okay? Where are they? I wanna meet... Them..." Ruby trails off of her usual ramble as she takes note of the shy sniper next to her team mate tugging down on her beanie.
Ruby looks at May bashfully, the tip of her boot sliding in little circles on the floor before she gives May a small wave and a quiet "Heya May".
With a far to amused smirk Blake looks between the two and clears her throat addressing her diminutive team leader. "Hello Ruby, I think you actually know my friend May?" The cat girl says with a teasing tone.
The three stand in silence for a moment before Blake rolls her eyes. "Come on Ruby, May's eating with us today after she talks to her team and some friends. Let's get our food and get to our table." She says leading the smaller girl away ignoring the "Really?" Ruby squeaks out.
It's only after leading both her team and NDGO to RWBY's usual table that she realized something she had forgotten about completely. Their friends. The blonde guy looks friendly enough, Pyrrha Nikos actually giving the guests a curious smile while the boy with pink eyes looks at best neutral. It's the last girl, the one with the orange hair and green eyes that worries her.
The girl in question only seems to have eyes for May and they are full of suspicion. May watches nervously as they narrow when she sits down and before any introductions can be made she speaks up. "You're May Zedong right?" Simple enough question but her look is still making May all manner of nervous.
"U-um. Yes that's m-me."
"Oh good, because I've got a very important question for you." Nora replies her voice low and harboring a dangerous edge. The effect makes May very nervous about what will happen if she answers wrong.
AN:
Okay I was a little late putting up the new poll but it's up now. I felt really bad about it because I said I would do something and didn't. But my job isn't very forgiving all the time so I passed out when I got home. But please have a look at it.
This chapter was actually fun to write. and It's about time I introduced May to JNPR I think. And we get to see more Blake. Everyone loves seeing more Blake right? I certainly do. I'm... well really I don't have that much to... OH okay this story hit 100 favorites! I'm so happy To have hit that mark I can't tell you. It's the little things that let me know you wonderful people enjoy my work that make it all worth it.
Ah, I mentioned May's semblance. I actually have three different ideas for her semblance one I'll use here, the second in "MK:MZ" and the last in "After Dust". Her semblance has been something i've been avoiding so far for various reasons. I didn't have an idea at first, then I didn't have anywhere to fit it in without it being forced, and then I just didn't want it to be a big focus. But It's a thing now so there we go.
Now! It's reviewer response time!
RatedRSuperstar: it was both together, I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear enough.
CinderBurn: I'm glad you liked it. It was really fun for me to write. I could have played up Mays crowd aversion more but decided against it. I felt it would be distracting.
Archer1eye: yes, ammo loading will be a post story addition. I plan on writing it. I'm going to enjoy it along with the other later additions I have planned.
imoshen: Yes you did hehe. one thing I didn't mention last time. is that Longshot has always conversed with Ruby via text and notes. and tends to have an eloquency that May can't produce in social situations. There's a discrepency that makes it more difficult to see the shy May as the charming Longshot. as fr the ammo teaching. you'll get the chance to see it. Once the story is completed I have a few extras I plan to add later.
Lordnodroglock: for the epiloges... yea I did plan on showing that in one of them. more the adoption itself than anything else. I wasn't really planning on having the child be a horrible shot. I can't even imagine May or Ruby being bothered by the fact if the kid wasn't a great shot like them. More I think Ruby would just be to excited to help her kid make their weapon. "I blame Dew for this" Is a running gag through this story that I've kept going because it makes me smile. and it makes sense really. May wouldn't have to deal with half of this if Dew hadn't convinced her to do something big in the first place.
Inkboy: i'm glad you're enjoying this! and will do, I'll try to keep up my not-a-schedule until the story is over. the epilogues will come as I find time and motivation for them.
and that's everyone! I love you all, thank you for your support, and enjoy the story. See you next time!