RWBY: Moon Reflection-Chapter 97: Confession

Crimson stepped into the lively hall, where the sound of laughter and chatter filled the air. The group was gathered around a large table, their newfound Huntsman and Huntress licenses clutched proudly in their hands. Ruby noticed him first and waved excitedly.

"There you are!" she exclaimed, bouncing over to him. "Where were you? We've been waiting for you to celebrate!"

Crimson gave her a small smile, his usual calm demeanor softening. "I had something to discuss with the general," he replied, only to find himself being pulled by Ruby into the group.

"C'mon, no more serious stuff. Tonight, we celebrate!" she declared, dragging him into the fold.

The atmosphere was infectious. Crimson found himself smiling as he watched everyone's joy and excitement. Even Qrow seemed more relaxed than usual, a drink in hand and a faint flush on his face.

It wasn't long before Qrow turned his attention to Crimson. "Hey, kid," Qrow began, his words slightly slurred but still coherent. "What about that plan of yours, huh?"

Crimson raised an eyebrow. "Plan?"

"You know," Qrow continued, grinning slyly. "The whole 'find a wife and start a family' thing. Or did you forget that's one of the reasons you came to Atlas in the first place?"

The room fell silent, the merriment dimming as everyone turned to look at Crimson. Even the Ace Ops and Penny, who had been standing off to the side, were now staring at him with varying degrees of surprise.

From behind them, a deep voice interrupted the moment. "Find a wife?"

Crimson turned to see Ironwood and Winter standing at the entrance to the hall. The general had a bemused expression on his face, while Winter's eyes were wide with curiosity.

Crimson met Ironwood's gaze for a moment, then shrugged nonchalantly. "One of the reasons I came to Atlas," he said evenly, "was to find a stable life. That includes getting married and starting a family."

The room was still, everyone processing his words.

Crimson turned back to Qrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "And no, I didn't forget. I was just waiting until I turned eighteen so I could legally marry. It wasn't exactly a priority during the last few months."

Those who had known Crimson's plan from before weren't particularly surprised—they had simply forgotten about it. The Atlas group, on the other hand, was completely taken aback.

Elm, always the loudest of the Ace Ops, broke the silence with a high-pitched scream. "Isn't he way too young to be thinking about that?"

Crimson chuckled, crossing his arms. "Actually, I'm the oldest person in this hall. Maybe even in all of Remnant—except for Salem and Ozpin, of course."

The Ace Ops stared at him, their confusion plain. Qrow, meanwhile, burst into laughter, raising his glass. "It's true! Long story, involves a god. But yeah, Crimson here is over 500 years old. Mentally, at least."

Harriet folded her arms, narrowing her eyes. "You've got to be kidding me. Qrow, you should work on your lies—they're ridiculous."

Ironwood and Winter exchanged glances. They had heard Crimson's story about his encounter with the god of harmony, how he had spent years in a limbo-like realm while only a week passed in Remnant. At the time, they hadn't focused on the specifics, but now they realized just how long Crimson must have been in that place.

Ironwood's lips pressed into a thin line, his thoughts unreadable. Winter, on the other hand, seemed caught between disbelief and curiosity.

Crimson clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "We're here to celebrate," he said firmly, "not to discuss my future marriage plans."

The group slowly shifted back into a more relaxed mood, though it was clear the topic lingered in the back of their minds. Conversations resumed, though many glanced at Crimson now and then, their expressions thoughtful.

Ironwood, standing at the edge of the gathering, found himself watching Crimson interact with the others. His mind drifted to the young man's maturity, his calm demeanor, and the weight he carried with such grace. Then his gaze shifted to Winter, who stood nearby, her expression contemplative as she sipped her drink.

An idea began to form in the general's mind, one that made him smile faintly. Crimson and Winter... they were both strong, disciplined, and driven by a sense of duty. In many ways, they seemed perfectly suited for each other.

Ironwood's eyes glinted with amusement as he considered the possibility. Perhaps he could play matchmaker—after all, even a general could have his fun. For now, though, he would keep his thoughts to himself and let the celebration unfold.

___________________________________

As the celebration wound down, the group slowly began to disperse. The atmosphere was warm and content, a rare moment of peace after everything they had endured. With their Huntsman and Huntress licenses secured, tomorrow promised to bring even greater challenges, but for now, enjoying the moment was a priority.

Crimson stood near the edge of the hall, watching his friends leave in pairs or small groups. He felt a sense of pride seeing them so happy, their laughter lingering in the air. Just as he turned to leave, Pyrrha approached him hesitantly.

"Crimson?" she asked softly, her voice carrying a nervous edge.

He turned to her, curious. "What is it, Pyrrha?"

She hesitated, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her jacket. "Can... can we talk? Privately?"

Crimson tilted his head, noting her nervousness. "Of course," he replied, nodding. His curiosity grew—Pyrrha was usually composed and confident. What had gotten her so flustered?

As they walked toward one of the quieter meeting rooms, Nora, who had been observing the exchange, nudged Yang excitedly.

"Did you see that?" Nora whispered, practically bouncing in place.

Yang's eyes sparkled with mischief. "You think she's finally going to confess?"

Nora nodded vigorously. "Oh, absolutely! She's had a crush on him forever."

The rest of Team RWBY and Ren overheard the exchange and gathered around, intrigued.

"What are you two talking about?" Ruby asked, tilting her head.

Nora leaned in conspiratorially. "Pyrrha's got a crush on Crimson. Haven't you noticed how she always looks at him? It's... different."

Yang grinned, adding her own commentary. "We think she's going to confess now. After what Crimson said earlier about waiting until he's eighteen, Pyrrha's probably feeling like time is running out."

The group's eyes widened in surprise.

Ruby blinked. "Wait, Pyrrha likes Crimson? How did I not notice this?"

"Because you're oblivious, Ruby," Yang teased, smirking.

"We should follow them!" Ruby suggested eagerly, only for Weiss to hold up a hand, stopping her.

"Absolutely not," Weiss said firmly. "You know Crimson's eyes don't work like ours. what if he notices us, and it'll ruin everything for Pyrrha. Let her have this moment."

Ruby pouted but relented, while the group shared a collective sense of anticipation, wondering how the conversation would unfold.

___________________________________

Crimson and Pyrrha reached a quiet meeting room. The door clicked shut behind them, and Crimson turned to her, his expression calm but curious.

"What did you want to talk about, Pyrrha?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Pyrrha shifted uncomfortably, her usual confidence nowhere to be found. Her hands clenched and unclenched at her sides as she avoided his gaze. Crimson said nothing, giving her the time and space she needed to gather her thoughts.

Finally, she took a deep breath and met his eyes, her voice trembling. "Crimson, I... I've been meaning to tell you something for a while now."

He nodded, encouraging her to continue.

Pyrrha's cheeks flushed as she pushed herself forward. "Since our time at Beacon, I've liked you. A lot. I've always admired how strong, calm, and wise you are. You inspire me. And... I was wondering if you'd be okay with... maybe starting to date me?"

Crimson blinked, genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected this, least of all from Pyrrha, who he regarded with respect. His expression turned thoughtful as he processed her words, and the silence stretched between them.

Pyrrha's heart pounded in her chest, every second of his silence feeling like an eternity. Her mind raced with worst-case scenarios.

Finally, Crimson spoke, his tone steady. "I agree."

Pyrrha's eyes widened in shock. "You... you do?"

He smiled warmly, his calm demeanor as reassuring as ever. "Pyrrha, you're among the best people I've ever known. You're dependable, strong, kind, and beautiful. It's hard to find someone like you. And I've always gotten along with you well. I don't see any harm in trying."

He paused, his expression growing serious. "But I'll warn you—I don't know the first thing about dating. This... this will be new for me."

Pyrrha didn't let him finish. Overcome with emotion, she stepped forward and kissed him. It was sudden, impulsive, and filled with all the feelings she had kept bottled up for so long.

Crimson's eyes widened in surprise as she pulled away, just as quickly as she'd leaned in, and pushed with all over strength .

Visit freewebnoveℓ.com for the best novel reading exp𝒆rience.

"S-Sorry!" Pyrrha stammered, her face crimson. Without giving him a chance to respond, she turned and bolted out of the room, leaving Crimson, who kept himself from falling, stunned.

For a moment, he stood frozen, trying to process what had just happened. Slowly, he brought a hand to his lips, his mind replaying the kiss.

He has been married before, but that was... different. It was a traditional arrangement: do your duty, raise a child, nothing complicated. But dating? He realized it was going to be far more complicated than he'd anticipated.

___________________________________

As Pyrrha ran down the hall, her heart pounding, the group—who had been waiting nearby despite Weiss's earlier warning—caught sight of her flushed face and wide-eyed expression.

"Well?" Nora asked eagerly. "What happened?"

Pyrrha didn't stop, muttering something incoherent as she disappeared down another hallway.

Yang grinned, crossing her arms. "Judging by that reaction, I'd say it went well."

Ruby looked confused. "Why is she running away, then?"

Yang shrugged. "Because emotions are complicated, and so is love."

Back in the meeting room, Crimson finally chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "This," he muttered under his breath, "is going to be a challenge."