A/N: Holy shit it has been a looong time since this has been updated. My deepest apologies for that. There are MANY factors as to why this is but the main reason is this: I had no idea what I was doing with it. I started this story on a whim at half past midnight about 15 minutes after the idea came to me, so I had absolutely no idea what to do after the first 2 chapters. Thankfully, however, I have recollected my thoughts and am now ready to continue the tale of one of my favorite RWBY character, so let us begin!


Chapter 3: Initiation Day Part 1

Adam woke the next day without much comfort. He had gotten little sleep the night before, worried about what the day will bring. If he and Blake didn't end up on the same team, there was no telling what may happen to the duo. He worried over what may happen to her if she was surronded by humans, especially when she still felt insecure about people knowing her faunus nature. He silently swore to himself he would help her get through this.

He stretched his arms and his legs, bending his back like a cat as he cracked the joints around his body. He straightened his mask and put on his clothes, buttoning a single button on his overcoat. He put his hand to his sheath and grabbed empty air.

Right, it's in the locker he thought. With a sigh he made his way to the door. Everyone was still asleep for the most part, a few snoring and some just beginning to wake groggily. He rolled his eyes beneath the mask and continued to walk. Waiting for him there was-

"Blake?" he said.

"You're five minutes late" she said. "Already becoming lazy are we?"

Adam smirked. "You're one to talk. You didn't even put your bow on right."

With a yelp she quickly readjusted it before anyone woke up. Adam sighed at this.

"Blake..." he started.

"Adam please just...we'll talk about it later okay?" she pleaded.

"But you shouldn't have to hide what you are. Be proud of it. Who cares about what those pathetic hu-" he stopped himself and breathed. "what people think of it?"

She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Let's just discuss this later. Please? For me?".

He wanted to protest but he knew she wouldn't let up. Blake always kept things to herself and wasn't much for self expression. She opened up almost no one, and even when she did she only opened a little. He hoped this school would change that.

After a long pause he finally nodded. "Okay. For you.".

Blake nodded. "Thank you". And with that they, turned and made their way to the lockers.

It had been another hour and a half before the other students filed their way into the locker room. Most had simply grabbed their weapons and headed out the door but some-like Adam and Blake-decided to stay behind and survey the remaining competition.

The Schnee-Weiss-was eagerly speaking to Pyrrah Nikos, a popular competitor in live gladiator matches. Adam was impressed. He had never seen a celebrity behave so kind and humble, especially to the blonde kid Juane who was now attempting to flirt with her. Guess even humans have their good apples...thought Adam. Meanwhile, Ruby was whining to her sister about not wanting to make friends. For a talkive girl, she sure was anti-social.

"I'm heading to the airship, okay?" said Blake from his left. He turned to her and nodded.

"Good luck" he said.

"Thanks, you too" she said. They looked at each other for a moment and a silent agreement passed between them. They gave each other a silent nod and Blake turned toward the exit, reassured. He waited for a few minutes before turning towards the exit but found his path blocked by none other than-

"Hey Adam, whats up?" said Sun. He was wearing the same clothes he wore on the plane, but at his side was a blue haired guy in a...suit thing?

"This is my friend Neptune Vasilias. I thought i'd have him say hi before we start initiation." he said eagerly.

"Wassuuup" said Neptune with a winning smile. From what Adam could tell, he was your typical cool-guy human. He wore a fine velvet suit that resembled a valet driver with a silver gun handle showing from behind his back. Atop his sea blue hair were yellow goggles.

"Hi. Um sorry but I need to go to the airship. Almost time to go and whatever." said Adam. He really wasn't in the mood for meeting new people. Or any people for that matter. Gosh I'm turning into Blake he thought.

"Oh yea sorry. We should get there too Neptune, let's go." said Sun. And with that, the three boys made their way towards ships that would take them to the Emerald Forest, to the begining of their tomorrows.


After a quick five minute flight, the students, along with professors Goodwitch and Ozpin, were dropped off at the peak of a plateaued hill. The students stepped one by one onto metal plates and listened as the professor explained how the initiation process works. Adam was barely paying attention.

"Your partners will be the first person you make eye contact with in the forrest" said Ozpin loudly, catching Adam's interest.

What...WHAT? he thought. The first person you see? But that means the odds of me and Blake becoming partners are so slim! His mind instantly filled with worry about whether or not him and Blake were going to be on the same team, let alone partners. What it mean would for their secret if they werent. What it would do to their friendship.

Adam shook that last thought off. No Blake is better than that. She would never abandon me for being on a different team, as neither would I he thought. I promised her as much. Still... it'd be whole lot better if stick together. I hope I'm able to find her in time.

"You will figure out you're own landing strategy. Now any questions?" continued Ozpin. Landing strategy? Adam looked down and grinned. Oh this is fucking perfect he thought. He took his stance with his body leaning forward and his hands on Wilt and Blush. He took one last look at Blake and winked beneath his mask. Blake, knowing his winks by his facial movements, smirked and readied herself as well.

"Good" said Ozpin. In a matter of seconds he heard the first sounds of the plates as students began catapulting through the air. In an instant Adam was airborne and in the next he was preparing his strategy, a maneuver he had done many times on missions for the Fang. He closed his eyes and began to focus his semblance, confident the amount of time in the air would be enough to charge it. He sailed across the treetops of the Emerald forrest as the dye on his hair and the symbols on his jacket began to glow white-red. Just and he was about to slam into the massive branch of an oak tree, he quickly unsheathed his sword half-way as the blade began absorbing all the energy of the impact, suspending him in mid-air. After a few seconds, he simply dropped to the floor and landed gracefully on his feet and resheathed the blade.

"Thank you very much my dear tree, but I can't walk around the forest looking like a lit candle. So," he said as he approached the tree. "I bid you, adue". He sliced the tree across it's bark as the energy from the impact flowed from Adam's body and into the Oak. At first, nothing happened. Then, as if the tree were a rose, the bark and the leaves and branches wilted into into a flurry of rose petals, flying off into the wind. He grinned and turned in the other direction, prepared to leave when he heard a loud thump from behind him.

"Owww" came a girl voice from behind him. He made the mistake of turning around. Sitting in the pile of rose petals was the bunny faunus from the plane ride. She looked up at him the stared at each other eye to mask. The realization of what had just occured to him hit him like a punch to the gut.

No...no no no no NO! he thought. It had only been 2 minutes in and he already found a partner. And it wasn't Blake.


A/N: Welp, I hope you guys enjoyed the long awaited chapter for The Wilting Rose! Hopefully updated will be more frequent from henceforth. Follow/Fave if you like the story and leave a review to let me know how I did!