recommended story: "What Happens in Vegas" by Silently Watches - Harry Potter&Teen Titans cross
Mini-note: one small short thing, I'm looking for an artist to do the cover art for my stories. any suggestions or offers please PM me. commissions or not.
"So where are you thinking you'll have your date?" Dew asks watching as May standing in the guest kitchen carefully arranging the ingredients on the counters with clean empty bowls and tools. Her eyes moving over the room leaving room for more ingredients. Who knew fourteen people could have such a varied amount of favorites? Thankfully most wanted one form of cookie or other letting her bake them together.
"Hmmm? Oh, I w-was thinking maybe one of the clearings in the w-woods near the school." May replies absently looking over the list and smiling. Wondering just who her volunteers will be. Her thoughts are interrupted however by Dew once more.
"Really? What are you planning on postponing until tomorrow? I mean there's no way you'll finish here in time to do it today." Dew asks curiously her head tilted.
"N-no! If I p-put it off I m-might never get enough courage to do it. It has to be tonight." May replies the last part more to herself than to Dew. Her eyes closed to the thought as if that act alone could keep the temptation from effecting her decision.
"Absolutely not." Dew replies her tone firm and eyes narrowed.
"Wha? B-but it's my date, wh-why do you get to tell me I can't h-have it where I want?" May asks actually seeming to be a bit annoyed her idea was shot down like that.
"You're going to have that cute girl stumbling through the woods in the dark all dressed up? What if she trips and messes up all the effort she puts into her looks for you? Not a good way to start your date. Besides, two girls alone in the woods at night sounds like the start of a murder mystery not a romance." Dew explains actually comparing May's love life to a show directly. Confirming May's thoughts on why they all seem to be so interested in it.
May hadn't thought of the potential pit falls of such a location just the privacy it offers. She frowns and tilts her head. "How about an empty classroom?" The shy sniper asks only to be turned down again.
"Nah, for a longer date it would be a nightmare. We could turn away students to help but if a teacher came by we wouldn't be able to stop them from interrupting. I would suggest something in Vale but you're already nervous enough... How about the rooftop where you met her team? I mean you were comfortable there yea?" Dew asks as May starts pulling out the ingredients to make crepes figuring she can reward her helpers and make Nora happy at the same time.
Her hands pulling ingredients as she replies. "That would work I g-guess. Where is the rest of your team anyway?" May asks curiously. It's still morning yes, but she didn't expect Dew to be the first to join her in the kitchen.
"Oh Octavia and Gwen went into the city with your team only instead of hunting ingredients they're hunting clothes. How do you not own a dress? There's a dance for the festival and everything! What are you going to wear for it?" Dew asks with incredulity one brow raised.
Ignoring the question of the dance May's mind locks onto the implication as she turns to Dew. "Did you s-say dress? As in y-you want me to w-wear a dress? At night? On a roof?" May asks horror evident in her tone though Dew doesn't seem to notice it at all a shrug of her shoulders before she sets her elbow on the counter. Her other hand typing on a scroll.
"Well yea, you want to look your best right? We're going to make you look better than that." Dew replies putting the scroll down before turning her attention back to May.
"N-no! It's going to be freezing up there, it's a terrible idea." May replies.
"Then I guess you two will just have to sit close together won't you?" Dew teases her eyes narrowing as a smirk crosses her lips.
May can't lie, the thought is tempting. Ruby keeping her warm against the cold night air... 'No! Focus May!' With a shake of her head to clear the thoughts she turns to continue resisting when Dew speaks again.
"Besides, it's to late now, you already told her." Dew replies looking like the cat that caught the canary.
That sentence naturally brings May up short, her eyes narrowing in confusion before she notices Dew tapping the scroll on the table between them and turning to look at where she set hers. Of course it isn't there anymore. The sniper almost drops the mixing bowl in her hands in her rush to grab her scroll and open it.
'LS - Hey Ruby, how about the roof of your dorms tonight for the date? It's got all the room we might need and it's nearby.'
'RR - Sure! I'm looking forward to it Longshot. I can't wait to see you there.'
'LS - It's a date then!'
May groans and glares up at a far to happy Dew. All of her anger focused to laser intensity with all the threat of a kitten that just fell in a puddle.
'Longshot is right there in the corner May. All you need to do is pretend you're going for some filling ingredients from the fridge. She's not even armed. If you're fast enough maybe she won't get her aura up in time. No one would blame you right?' She ponders the empty threat to herself before sighing in defeat and closing her scroll and pouting and choosing to ask a different question. "What about N-nebula?"
"Oh she's just sleeping in." Dew comments waving her hand as if brushing her team leaders sleeping habits off.
"W-well go wake her up and let the rest of my helpers know I'm making them crepes for breakfast." May orders pointing out the door of the kitchen. Getting a shrug as Dew pushes off the counter, pulling out her own scroll as she moves towards her teams room.
May continues working setting aside powdered sugar before setting a pan on the stove top letting it heat up on a low flame as she sets out plates with an extra for the finished ones. After taking a moment to butter the pan she barely finishes the first one when she hears a heavy thudding growing louder from the hallway. There's a loud skidding sound before Ren enters the room wearing a much put upon expression as he's carried bridal style by the shorter Nora Valkyrie.
May smiles warmly at the two flipping the crepe in the pan as she moves the first one onto a plate powdering it lightly before setting it out. "Hello Nora, a-are you two helping me out today?" She asks before removing the other crepe giving it the same treatment as the first one and setting it on a separate plate setting it beside the first. She doesn't get an answer as Nora sets Ren down in a seat before grabbing her own and looking around.
"Where's the syrup? These are thin pancakes right? Pancakes need syrup!" Nora announces getting a sigh from Ren and a giggle from May.
"J-just try it like that first Nora, I'll be m-making quite a few different t-types and you c-can try any you like. If after you s-still think they need syrup I'll get you a b-bottle." May offers as she turns back after smiling in greeting at the quiet Ren getting a polite nod in return.
She made it as far as letting Nora try it drizzled lightly in red sap from Forever Fall before victory had been achieved. As the short girl conceded defeat.
The morning and mid-day passed in a whirlwind of shortcake, cookies, tarts and danish as May split her attention between eyeing the oven, what ingredients were going where, and directing her helpers. Her personal touches being added here and there sporadically. Occasionally taking over a task herself. Trays are built up, one for each of the four teams before being covered.
That said a lot of fun is had between them and no one leaves the room clean as bits of batter and flour coat clothing, arms and hair.
~That evening~
May saved the treats for her date for last the platter decorated with baked goods running in layers in the shape of a heart the very center however remains clear for a vase with strawberry roses all carefully carved and placed by May herself.
With that part out of the way comes the most harrowing part. Her outfit. The shy sniper stands in front of the mirror in NDGO's bathroom her hands tugging gently at the hem of it showing off her legs. It's a modest white piece covering her chest and shoulders with short sleeves and crossing strings to expose a thin line of her back along the spine. Thick red lines run vertically down the sides ending at them hem of her dress at her knees. Her calves are exposed with her feet tucked into small white heels.
She moves over to the door and shouts outside. "I'm not c-coming out. I'm not going. I n-need my hat." She declares before glowering back at the mirror.
"You can't wear the hat May, we all agreed it would clash horribly and that dress suits you way to well for you to not wear it." Dew counters firmly and Dew can just picture the crossed arms on the walking dust devil.
"Not a chance. I need it o-okay?" May tries to explain and is met with silence. "Oh wh-what am I d-doing. This was so s-stupid. I'm j-just going to c-call it off." She says reaching for her phone. A knock lands on the door making her pause and Octavia's voice can be heard from the other side.
"May can I come in? I won't look if you don't want me to. I just don't want to talk through a door It makes me feel silly." The motherly red head asks. There's silence for awhile until the lock clicks and she opens the door stepping inside before locking it again for May's comfort.
"May what's wrong? We all know you love that hat but I've never seen you so upset before. We had no idea the hat meant so much to you." Octavia asks her eyes closed as she feels her way to the counter and lifts herself up onto it.
"Y-you can look. And the h-hat's not really that special. I-it's just a h-hat, but I need it." May replies her head bowed as her hand once more covers her left eye. It occurs to Octavia then that she has never once seen that corner of her friends face. Even when May slept in her bed after getting locked out of her room she still wore the hat.
"May, you don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable. But does it have something to do with your left eye?" She asks gently. And May doesn't respond verbally just nodding. The shy girl seems to come to some kind of decision before lifting her hand. Her hair lifting with it exposing the mentioned eye. Octavia looks for a moment before nodding and unlocking the door.
May starts to panic and covers herself again watching as Octavia cracks the door open and pushes a hand outside. "Gwen grab one of my hair clips." She calls out and waits until it's in her hand before closing and locking the door again and coming closer to her shy friend.
Gently brushing May's hand away Octavia gathers her bangs together and moves them to the side so they cover the eye the way her hat used to before clipping it in place. She smiles warmly then and turns May to face the mirror. "Better?"
May looks at herself in the mirror turning her head left and right before nodding a little and turning to give Octavia a hug. "S-sorry." She apologizes but never elaborates on what she's apologizing for.
The red head smiles again and moves behind May and gently guides her to the door unlocking it and opening it before pushing her gently out and into the eyes of the rest of NDGO. She blushes under the approving looks they're giving her. When her eye lands on Dew again though she gives a tiny glare and walks over snatching her hat back and handing it to Gwen. "You don't touch my hat again." She warns, her eye narrowed.
"Well... Looks like you're ready May, go get'em. Anyone turning you down now are either completely straight or out of their minds." Dew replies after a moment giving the sniper tray of baked goods. She curses softly though as May does remember to shoulder her rifle before leaving the room.
~After May leaves~
"Damn, I was hoping she would forget the rifle. Well at least we got her without the hat. I'll take what I can get. I think if we tried to take the rifle too at this point she might actually attack someone." Dew comments turning back to her team as Nebula chuckles.
"If she did it would just be you Dew. You're the only one who pushes her like that." She comments shaking her head ruefully.
"Hey it worked out didn't it? She was so cute!" Dew replies grinning ear to ear.
"Yea, she was. I can't believe I missed my chance." A voice comments. Her hands holding up the snipers black beanie to her chest as she sits on her bed. Gwens eyes are clenched shut as she takes deep even breaths. "She looked so happy. Nervous, but happy."
"Gwen..." Octavia starts getting a shake of the head from the stoic girl as she lays back on the bed.
"No. Don't try to cheer me up right now. I'll have to deal with it. After all I was the one who took to long to say anything and missed my chance. No one to blame but myself on this. At least I got a sweet friend out of it." Gwen comments with a sigh. Only to glare at the Sunny disposition of Dew Gayl as the girl flops down on the bed next to her.
"Do we need to drag you into the city again? We could repeat Tuesday." Dew comments with a crooked grin. Reminding Gwen of when the team dragged her out telling May it was a team outing. Which was true, but the entire goal was centered around cheering up the knife thrower.
"That's okay Dew, I appreciate the sentiment but really. I need to deal with this on my own this time." She replies with a rare smile before speaking again. "I hope Ruby realizes how lucky she is tonight."
AN
I had everything nice and written out and ready and then I lost all of it when the page refreshed after accidentally hitting F5. I am... irritated. I was excited now I'm so skipping a bunch of the superfluous stuff. and right down to the nitty gritty because I don't feel like following every tangent thought this time.
CS is still performing wonderfully. If any of you have looked over the first few chapters you'll notice their name right up at the top as we work to make this story even more palatable.
About this chapter. I wanted a baker May, it fit her for a hobby, something sweet she could do alone or with help from her partner if he felt inclined but could easily accommodate more. Plus it made for a cute scene. I had to cut it a bit shorter than intended or I would have had to split May's Saturday into thirds. And That would have grated on me. Also, I'm so cruel hinting at that eye.
Poor Gwen. Now I had an entire little paragraph explaining Gwen and her attitude. but that's gone now so... yea Gwen is a thing. She's had a thing for May from before the events in this story. she never acted on them but they were there. I can explain the details in PMs with anyone who is confused by her actions. as I said I had a whole thing about it but the motivation to write it all out again is just something I don't have right now.
Though I do have a few alternate ending planned along with the rest of the bonus chanters so who knows?
Thank you all who didn't let the vanishing reviews stop you from sending them to me anyway. I assure you a read every one of them within half an hour of them being sent. with the exception of one. his slipped through the cracks but I'll get to him first. that said!
reviewer replies
Kevindynamite: Every other day? I don't really know I do know this is the last time I will attempt such an insane schedule. It's been draining on me more than I expected. I had a lot of fun but I wouldn't do it again. The schedule not the story. Still I have no regrets here. Glad you liked JNPR They are fun to write. and the new story is actually out. already. But you know that :3
Inkboy: Thanks it almost didn't happen for a few reasons one of which was that I had trouble finding a place to put one in. But May is absolutely the type to have nightmares about something like this. also, your wait is over :3
RatedRSuperstar:I refuse to comment on blah blah blah. spoilers, glad to see you're still around.
CinderBurn:you know, I'm actually glad to hear that? One of the biggest reasons that scene almost didn't happen is because I wasn't sure if Ruby's response would be believable. or that it would clash to heavily with the tone so far. Originally chapter 14 had a different ending but I had to abandon it because it would have clashed with the ending.
BrownTeddyBear: Yes it is. and yes I do know what you mean. glad you're having fun.
AntonSlavik: I know right? I have an internal fangirl squeal every time I notice the story has updated. I will drop everything just to ready it. it's that good. also MCU?
Archer1eye: Well Dreams can be fun or sexy or fluffy, I like to use them to give a glimpse into a character mental state. And nothing helps describe a character than showing what they're really scared of. Yea. it's melancholic. I'm so excited to write the ending but I kinda don't want to at the same time because then it's over. well except the bonus chapters but still.
Imoshen: Honestly up until last chapter while I knew who was going to win I could have changed it at any time if I had an idea that was to good not to roll with. however while I did have one idea get close to replacing what happened I abandoned it because while it would have made the last chapter better it would have diminished the ending and I wouldn't allow that for anything.
Lord Lock: Upset? Nah, not even a little. Not even slightly bothered. more confused now hehe, I certainly didn't mean to give that impression.
And that's it, now they next chapter I will be trying to get out on time. however I have no idea if it will be standard length or four times as long. I just don't know. I won't be cutting it down for anything I will write until it's finished. If that means I have to take longer than normal than so be it. I love you all, thank you for reading and I'll see you next time.