MTLNOVEL Chapter 116 Crush
Weeks passed by after the Vital Festival.
The scent of grilled cheese and coffee hung heavy in Beacon Academy's cafeteria, a comforting aroma that had become a familiar backdrop to Ruby Rose's endless energy.
She was, as usual, a whirlwind of motion, her silver eyes sparkling as she recounted a particularly impressive training session to her teammates.
Yang, Weiss, and Blake listened, each with their own brand of quiet amusement and pride.
"And then,"
Ruby exclaimed, her voice hitting a high note of excitement,
"Professor Arthur just flicked his wrist, and boom! The Grimm just… vanished! Like dust in the wind! It was amazing!"
Yang chuckled, a warm, rumbling sound.
"He's certainly got a knack for making things disappear, doesn't he? Remember that time he made all the cafeteria's mystery meat turn into actual steak?"
Weiss, who normally maintained a dignified air, allowed a small, uncharacteristic smile to grace her lips.
"It was a significant improvement. Though, I still maintain that 'mystery meat' was just a euphemism for… well, I don't want to think about it."
Blake, usually reserved, actually laughed, a soft, melodic sound.
"He certainly made things more palatable. But seriously, the magic he's taught us… it's incredible. I never thought I'd feel so… powerful."
Her gaze drifted, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"After Adam… I always felt like I was constantly looking over my shoulder. But now…"
Yang's smile tightened slightly.
"Adam deserved every punch he got. Seeing him go flying off that cliff… it was so satisfying."
She clenched her fist, a spark of the old fire in her eyes.
"I know he's probably not dead, the cockroach, but if he ever shows his face around here again, he'll regret it. My aura's like… what Arthur calls it again… Oh right, Captain America's shield! He couldn't even scratch me last time."
Blake nodded slowly.
"And even if he did somehow manage to be a problem, Professor Arthur would be there. He'd protect us."
A comfortable silence fell, punctuated by the clinking of cutlery and the murmur of other students.
The conversation had, almost without them realizing it, shifted.
Their professor, Arthur. The mysterious, powerful, and strangely young man who had changed everything for them.
"It's weird, isn't it?"
Ruby mused, swirling her milk around in her glass.
"He's our professor, but he's, like, our age. Maybe even younger than Yang."
Yang nudged her playfully.
"Hey! I'm still young! But yeah, it is a bit strange. He's got this… ancient wisdom vibe sometimes, and then other times he's just like, 'Oh, did I accidentally turn that Ursa into a teacup? Oops!'"
Weiss giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.
"He did do that, didn't he? Professor Oobleck was furious about the disruption to his lecture."
"But he's so cool,"
Ruby sighed dreamily, leaning her chin on her hand.
"And strong. And he always knows what to say to make you feel better. Like when I was upset about… well, everything, he just said, 'Ruby, you're a beacon of hope. Don't let anyone dim that light.' And suddenly, I felt so much better."
Yang hummed in agreement.
"Yeah, he's got that effect. And he's always looking out for us. Remember when he showed me that new technique for my gauntlets? He held my hands for a second, and I swear, I almost melted."
She caught herself, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. She cleared her throat, trying to sound nonchalant.
"I mean, it was just, you know, a teaching thing."
Blake, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.
"He's incredibly kind. And he listens. Really listens. When I talked to him about Menagerie and my concerns about the White Fang, he didn't dismiss it. He just… understood. And he said he'd help."
Her gaze grew distant, a soft smile gracing her lips.
"And he's so… handsome. In a quiet, powerful way."
Ruby gasped, her eyes wide.
"Blake! You think Professor Arthur is handsome?!"
Blake's blush deepened, matching Yang's.
"Well, I… I mean, he is! Aren't we allowed to notice?"
Weiss, who had been trying to maintain her composure, suddenly found herself stammering.
"Well, I… I suppose he's… not unattractive. For a professor, that is. But his intelligence! It's truly captivating. And the way he just… solves problems. Like when he made Penny human. It was truly… magnificent. And brave."
Her cheeks were now a delicate shade of rose.
"He's very… impressive."
Ruby, however, had connected the dots, her innocent façade cracking just enough for a mischievous glint to appear in her eyes.
She looked from Yang to Blake to Weiss, a slow, knowing smile spreading across her face.
"You guys… you all… you like him, don't you? Like, like-like him!"
Yang groaned, burying her face in her hands.
"Ruby, shut up!"
Blake looked away, fiddling with the hem of her bow.
"It's just… admiration, Ruby. For his abilities."
Weiss, however, straightened her back, a hint of defiance in her eyes.
"And what if we do, Ruby? Is it a crime to appreciate someone's… admirable qualities?"
Ruby just giggled, a bright, joyful sound that echoed through the cafeteria, drawing a few curious glances.
She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Me too."
Three sets of eyes, wide with surprise, stared back at her.
"What?!"
Yang exclaimed, lifting her head from her hands.
Ruby just beamed, her silver eyes sparkling with newfound honesty.
"He's just so… good. And strong. And he smiles at me sometimes, and it makes my stomach do flips. And he smells like… like books and fresh air and… magic!"
Another wave of silence descended upon their table, but this time it was different.
It was a silence filled with shared understanding, with unspoken confessions hanging in the air like dust motes in the sunlight.
The clinking of cutlery and the murmur of other students seemed to fade into the background as the four girls, members of the legendary
Team RWBY, sat in their own little bubble, united by a secret crush on their mysterious, powerful, and undeniably captivating professor, Arthur.
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