AN: Hey everyone, I have the next main series chapter here. This one gives a lot of focus on Adam and Musashi's dynamic. I do give him a lot of context to his charecter here, including my own interpretations of some of his background elements, (I did the same thing with Cinder in Fates Collide). Personally, I really liked the conversations these two had. We also see two more members join the army for Apocrypha. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

Chapter 11 – Time to Think

Weiss.

At the main control deck of the massive airship, Weiss and Nobu entered to find Winter talking with Reines. Next to the Princess of El-Melloi was a maid. However, the maid's skin was grey with a type of silver liquid hair. Bubbles of the metallic fluid floated near her head, but her face remained tranquil with closed eyes, "Who is that?" Nobu asked as she and Weiss join the conversation.

"Oh, this is Trimmau." Reines clarified, "My multi-purpose maid golem." She said with Trimmau bowing. "She is my Mystic Code that has been passed down the El-Melloi lineage." Reines then looked back to Winter, "It is similar to your family and their semblance of Summoning Glyphs."

"I see," Winter said before looking over to her younger sister, "You may be able to advise my sister on her summoning ability."

"Wait, you still can't summon!?" Nobu said as Weiss' closed her eyes and looked down, "How can you make a giant suit of ice armor, but you still can't make a sturdy skeleton inside it to move?"

"Yes," Reines said with a smirk, "How is that possible? I thought Schnee's could learning the Summoning Glyph almost naturally."

Weiss sighed as she looked to Nobu, "I may have gotten over my fear, but not completely. It is still hard for me to create a summon that can walk freely." The white heiress then turned to the Princess of El-Melloi, her arms crossed, "Rest assured, I have mastered ever other glyph techniques known in my family. Even creating a few of my own to substitutes my lack of a summoning ability."

"Oh, interesting." Reines said before smirking, "Maybe it would be a good idea for us to have a little sparring match." She said before placing her right hand on her side.

"For once, we agr-." Weiss responded, but Reiss cut her off.

"Of course, that would be very childish action," Reiss spoke with a smirk, "Why would we waste time fighting each other in a pointless bout?"

"To gain an understanding of our abilities and limitation in a safe environment." Weiss responded with a scowl.

"You know…practicing." Nobu clarified.

"This mission isn't practice; it is the real deal. All of your training at Beacon and Chaldea should be put to the test here." Princess of El-Melloi before smirking at Weiss and Nobu, "Unless you are not confident in your current ability to rise to challenge."

"I'm about to rise my fist upside your head," Nobu said under her breath as she glared at Reines, who remained amused.

Weiss sighed before looking to her elder sister, "We're about to meet the General and Brigadier General, correct?" She asked with her sister nodding, "How long until they arrive?"

"We should be at their coordinates by now." Winter said as she looked out the massive glass window, "They informed me that a horde of Grimm was endangering a nearby village. So, they went off to exterminate the threat." Suddenly, Winter saw a massive lancer form in the middle of the sky, the size almost rivaling the airship. The weapon had a purple stone spearhead and appeared to be wielded by someone or normal size. The Atlas Military Specialist could not make the wielder out before the lance plunged towards the ground erupting in a pillar of blue and violet lights. The shockwave shook the entire ship, "What in the world was-!" Winter exclaimed, but then cut herself off. She then turned to Nobu, Reines, and Weiss; all of whom were unfazed by the display of power. The Atlas Military Specialist straightened her posture before clearing her throat, "Ahem, I momentarily forget how strong those from Apocrypha can be." She then moved her hands behind her back, "Adam and Musashi should already be near the loading bay, they can greet our new guests before we arrive"

"Oh, you put a lot of trust in those two," Reines commented with a smirk, "If I were the White Fang gentleman, I would see this a moment to execute the new General and take control."

"The thought crossed my mind, but I believe Adam already knows he cannot defeat this man." Winter responded, "From the Headmaster of Chaldea's recommendation, the General is considered the strongest Heroic Spirit in Apocrypha resent history. A title once held by the King of Knights." She said before the group walked towards the elevator, ready to descend.

Musashi.

A few minutes later at the loading bay, Adam and Musashi watched as a small Atlas airship was landing, "This must be the General and Brigadier General." Adam said as she crossed his arms, "If the report is right, they are both humans."

"And they are our bosses, so be nice." Musashi responded, "We're the ones making the first impression."

"Tsk," He scoffed, causing her to sigh, "The White Fang will not accept a human leader so easily. And neither will I."

"Look, I think you just need to get to know them a bit." Musashi responded before she smirked, "After all, that's how I did it." She said before remembering all the bowls.

Six months earlier, bowl one.

In the Atlas Airship Prison block, Musashi extended a paper bag towards a chained-up Adam, "New deal now," She said with a smile as he looked at him in confusion, "One bowl for one answer." The swordswoman said before holding the bag to her side, "I ask you a personal question, and if you give me an appropriate response, you get noodles."

"Are you treating me as some dog now!?" Adam responded as he glared up at her.

"More like I still don't know you that well, even after visiting for the last three months." She responded, "Plus, think of this as the way you can pay off your debt to me for all the other noodles."

Adam turned his head away, "If that is the case, then just get lost." After finishing his sentence, his stomach made an audible growl. Musashi smirked as he tied to grit his teeth.

"Look, I'll just start easy." Musashi said, "So, what's your favorite color?" She said with him looking back at her in confusion, "My guess is either red or black."

Adam heard his stomach grown again, causing him to sigh as he looked down, "…Red." he said with Musashi then placing the bag in front of his eyesight. He was within reach to grab it. In opening the contents, the warm smell of noodles then filled his nostrils. His mouth began to salivate before remembering Musashi. But in looking up, the swordswoman had already left. He looked back down to his meal and began to eat alone.

Bowl two.

The next day, Musashi returned with a new bag, "So, why red?" She asked.

"My mother told me that red was the color associated with potential." He said while looking down, Musashi remaining silent, "When something is red, it means it is destined to become great." Adam said with a small smile forming, "She said that was why my father named me Adam. So that red would always be a part of me." He said before the smile faded, his fists clenched with the clinking of his chains, "But it means nothing to me now." After a few seconds, Musashi placed the bag next to him and left in silence.

Bowl three.

"Your parents," Musashi asked, her voice slightly serious, "What were their names?"

"My father was Wilhelm," Adam answered, "My mother was Gabriella." He said before sighing, "And to save you tomorrow's trip, they are both dead."

"I see," Musashi said before placing the bag in front of Adam, "I guess I need to bring two bowls tomorrow." She said before exiting the room, Adam remaining silent.

Bowl ten.

A week later, a certain topic came to mind of the swordswoman, "So, they have some titles for you around here." Musashi asked before looking up at the camera, "However, most of them I am not comfortable repeating." She then turned back to him, "But the most common one seems to be, The Beast of the White Fang."

"That's about accurate," Adam responded with a smirk, "Considering how many of their soldiers I have eliminated, a beast is an appropriate nickname."

"How many," Musashi said, her eye was cold in its gaze, "How many have you killed?"

Adam looked back at her, his eye matching in her hateful gaze, "In my service to the White Fang, I have eliminated thirty human lives." He said with her gaze remaining unbroken, "Those soldiers you pass on your way to see me, they like to remind me of each one of them: friends, brothers, even lovers." He said he could still feel his broken ribs and bruises, "They make sure I don't forget everyone I have killed." Suddenly, his gaze grew more hateful, "However, I won't let them forget all the faunus lives they have ruined for years." He said as his fist clenched, "I will not give then the satisfaction of thinking my sins outweigh that of the entire human race's." He said before smiling, "Because at the end of the day, I am just one faunus life to them." Musashi didn't say a word, rather placing the bag in front of Adam and leaving. This time, however, Adam only looked at the bag, not opening it. Over time, his smile started to fade.

Bowl eleven.

It had been over a week since the last day Musashi visited. She came in to see Adam's body had thinned out, his face more bruised than before. He looked up to her, his eyes slightly devoid of light, "You remember what I said before?" She asked.

Adam slowly nodded his head, "We don't get to choose what we're born into this life as, but we do get to choose what we do with this life." He responded before looking down.

However, he looked in slight shock as Musashi placed the bad in front of his line of sight. Moreover, he could tell she was leaning in front of him. As Adam looked up, he saw the swordswoman's face a foot away from his own, "Thanks for remembering." She said with a slight smile.

Bowl twenty-one

"Why a sword with a rifle sheath?" Musashi asked, "I seriously don't get how these kingdoms come up with those weapons."

"I wanted a faster way to ready Wilt. As well as a way to deal with range-based opponents. It's as simple as that." Adam responded with Musashi placing the bag in front of him. However, as she was about to walk out the door, he spoke up, "…You don't have to leave right away." he said with her pausing at the door, "I can explain more while I eat." He said with Musashi turning around, a slight smile on her face.

Bowl thirty-three.

"Okay, let's see," Musashi said as she held her own bowl on noodles now, "Favorite food?" She said before slurping a mouthful of noodles, "I can't believe I have asked this sooner."

"Roasted tomatoes," Adam responded, "Red ones."

"Oh, interesting." Musashi said before passing him the bag.

Bowl thirty-four.

This time, Musashi handed Adam the bag before asking the question. He looked inside to discover the bowl of noodles. However, in taking off the lid his eyes widened. Accompanying the noodles in the bowl were a few roasted tomatoes. The scent of the grated parmesan and basil added to the savory aroma. He then looked up at Musashi, who smirked as she crossed her arms, "I had the cook make an addition to the order." She said before he looked down at the bowl. He then picked up the fork, piercing one of the tomatoes before he coiled the noodles. Adam then moved the combination to mouth, eating before it could get cold.

In one bite, his eye widened to a past memory. At the age of eight, a little boy walked through the rundown section of Atlas. He made his way to a small home, opening the door. Answering it was a woman with long red hair that ran down her back. At the top of her head were two back horns that pointed up. She looked down to see her son holding a small basket of mini red tomatoes. However, half of them seem to have crushed. In examining the boy, she discovered bits of tomatoes in his hair, one squished against his right horn. While the boy looked down, his cheeks puffed as he eyes filled with rage, but his mother placed her hand on his head. She brushed off the tomato pieces, looking down at him with a warm smile. He looked up at her, seeing her blue eyes calming his anger. The mother then took the basket as they walked towards the kitchen. The boy sat at the table, while his mother took out a box of dried noodles from the cupboard and began to boil water. After a bit of time, the mother places a plate of noodles and roasted tomatoes. The boy salivated as his mother smiled. He took his fork and pierced one of the tomatoes before he coiled the noodles. In taking a bite, his mind went to blank, forgetting what had happened earlier that day.

"So," Musashi said to Adam, "Do you like it?" She said without him answering. Rather, she had a look of confusion as he began to shake. Suddenly, the swordswoman's eye widened as she saw a tear hit the floor.

"It's good…" Adam said before preparing his fork for another bite, "Really good…" While his other eye was still branded shut, tears still managed to flow down his face. Musashi did not know what to say next, but she did place her right hand on his back as he ate his noodles with roasted tomatoes.

Bowl fifty-seven.

"Okay, here's a fun one." Musashi said, "Your first crush?" However, Adam paused in eating his noodles, "What's wrong?"

"… Her name was Blake," Adam said as he put the bowl down, "I was tasked with training her what I knew in combat, but our bond grew into something more." he said as the image of the black cat faunus came to his mind, looking over his shoulder, "Then…I started to realize the methods of the White Fang and her true nature could never coexist." He said before clenching his fists, "I tried to change her mind, even force her to see what we were doing was for the betterment of our kind."

"You…" Musashi said before gritting her teeth, know what he meant by force. She turned around and walked towards the door. However, she stopped herself, "I'm not coming tomorrow, so I'll ask you the question now." She said before turning back to him, "What you did to her, do you regret it?"

Adam looked back at her, "If you asked me that back at Mountain Glenn, I would have said no. She left me, and I was even considering a method of getting her back. Using that same force." He said with her having a look of uncontrollable anger, "But now…I just want her to stay away from me." Adam said, his voice devoid of energy, "She has her path to go down, but mine ends here. I couldn't save faunus from humans, but maybe she can." He then looked back at Musashi, "To that end, I wish I had treated her better. She deserves better." Musashi looked at him for a few seconds before leaving without a word. After the door closed behind her, she looked back with remorse.

Bowl fifty-eight.

A couple of days later, Musashi returned with a bag. She placed it in front of him before asking her question, "Did you mean what you said?"

Adam dug through the bag as he answered, "I don't have any reason to lie." He said as he took out the noodles, "Every question, I have answered honestly."

"Okay, bonus question then," Musashi said as she crossed her arms, "Do you know that Blake has a new boyfriend?" She said with Adam dropping the bowl of noodles. His eye trembling as his fist started to clench, "See, that's why I had to ask." Adam was unable to look up at the swordswoman.

"Musashi…" Adam said as he began to hyperventilate.

"Name's Achilles, they meet on the transfer program to Apocrypha." Musashi added, "I'll tell you; he is one of the strongest students at Chaldea." She then leaned in, "If you're thinking you could escape here, find him, even kill him. That's not gonna happen, he would beat you down like nothing. And like me, he's human." She then leaned in closer, mere inches from his face, "Besides, I would stop you before you could even get your hands on a sword." she then leaned back as Adam gritted his teeth, "Now, does this change your answer from before, knowing she already has found someone better?"

Adam waited a few seconds before responding, his trembling slowing down as he relaxed his hands, "…No." He said with Musashi remaining unfazed, "I still feel the same way about my answer." Adam said as he looked up to her, "She deserves better than me, and it looks like she already found it." He said with a forced smile forming, but then looked down.

Musashi then knelt as she placed her right hand on his back, "Because of what you did, you're not allowed to hate Blake." She said before smiling, "But what you said now, it means you still do care for her in a genuine way." She said before taking her hand off him, "If all you want if for her to be happy with someone else, I don't have any issue with that."

"That's all I want for her," He said, but his voice was long on energy, "Now, please leave."

"You sure?" Musashi asked with him nodding, "Okay, bye." She said before walking away, moving to the door. As she exited, Adam reminded silent. A few feet away from the door, Musashi sighed, "Yikes, I think I went a little too far there in the middle. I was expecting him to snap and hoped he wouldn't." She then looked back to the door with a remorse, "He did though, just not the way I thought." She said before her gaze grew sadder, "Adam, you can let yourself be happy too." The swordswoman said before leaving, "Even if you don't think you deserve it."

Bowl fifty-nine.

For the next three weeks, didn't eat a thing. His body thinned to an unhealthy level; his eyes were slowly devoid of light. The Atlas soldier seemed to stop visiting him for revenge. For them, it now felt like beating up a corpse now. Musashi still came when she could, but with every question she asked, he did not say a word. Despite his quiet response, she still left the bags. However, the food went uneaten.

At the last day she thought she would be able to see him alive, she asked another question, "Do you want to die?" the swordswoman said in a serious voice.

"…" Adam did not say a word, until this time, "…If I'm dead, nothing will change." He spoke before looking up at her, "I have nothing to live for anymore, no one will miss me if I am gone."

"Yet, you're still hanging on." Musashi said before kneeling to look at him at eye level, "Maybe you forgot, so I'll remind you." She said with a smile forming, "We don't get to choose what we're born into this life as, but we do get to choose what we do with this life." She said before holding up a bowl of noodles, "Nowhere in that phase do I talk about giving up on life." Adam looked at the bowl, but saw a look of sadness in Musashi's eye, "Adam, please." She whispered with him eventually nodding once. He tried to move his arms but lacked the strength. Instead, Musashi opened the bowl for him, "Here, I'll help you." She said as she took the fork and pierced the roasted tomatoes before coiling the noodles. He reminded shock for a second before opening his mouth, letting Musashi feed him.

Bowl eighty-one.

They resumed their normal routine of questions and answers. After almost a month, Adam's body returned to a self-manageable level. Visiting every day or so, his conversations with Musashi reached an interesting revelation, "Really, you're still a-!" Musashi said with Adam's face turning red.

"Would you be quiet! I would rather not let that be heard thought the walls." Adam responded before sighing, "Why did I even answer such a question?" He thought to himself before reaching for the bowl of noodles, "The only one I ever told about that before was my lieutenant." He then noticed Musashi was giggling, causing him to scowl.

Suddenly, the door to the cell opened. Adam and Musashi watched as Winter entered, who was accompanied by two Atlas guards, "Mr. Taurus," The Atlas Military Specialist spoke to him, her hands behind her back, "I have come to talk with you about an opportunity."

"Whatever it is, no deal." Adam responded, his gaze fierce as he glared up at Winter, "You have no right to ask me of anything, Schnee."

Winter did not say a word, rather focusing on the branded symbol on Adam's face. She then closed her eyes as she talked, "I'll have you know; I am no longer associated with my father's company." She then opened her eyes with a cold gaze, "As far as he is concerned, my Schnee name is worthless to his business." Adam remained enraged as she remained focused, "My life is now dedicated to the military, but on a much grander scale, the safety of all residents of Remnant. That includes humans and faunus." She said while kneeling to look at him at eye level, "And to achieve that goal, I need your help on a mission." She said before standing up, "If you decline, I will not force you to accept. If you wish to spend the rest of your days in this cell, so be it." Adam remained silent as he looked up at Winter, "Now, can we discuss this opportunity further?"

Musashi looked over to Adam. He was still scowling at Winter. A look of worry was in Musashi's eyes at the prospect of him breaking his chains and assaulting the Atlas Military Specialist. At that moment, Musashi asked herself what she would do if such an event were to happen. However, she did not need to make the decision. Adam smirked as he gave his answer, "Get me out of these chains, and we can talk more." he said with Winter smirking back.

Musashi let out a sigh of relief before smiling, "Well, I think I should get going." She said to Adam, before waving with a wink, "Good luck with your life." She said before turning around and walking away.

However, one of the Atlas soldiers was blocking her path out the cell, "Not so fast, Miss Miyamoto." Winter said in a cold voice as she turned to the swordswoman, "You have a debt to pay."

"Eh?" Musashi responded as a line of sweat ran down her forehead.

Present time.

Musashi sighed as she finished her reflecting, "After just a month of training, you regained your fighting technique." She said before smirking, "Still, you're not as strong as me." The swordswoman said with Adam not responding. Musashi giggled before looking slightly up, "You know, I asked you all those questions." She then glanced back at him, "But you never asked me anything."

A silence fell between the two, followed by Musashi sighing, "…What is your favorite color?" Adam asked.

Musashi smiled, "Pink," She answered before closing her eyes, "The shade that matches cherry blossom trees in bloom. That's the one I like." She then opened her eyes to look over to Adam, who did not make eye contact with her.

The two then looked over to see the hatch of the airship open. Walking out were both and man and a woman. The woman wore a black schoolgirl-like outfit with a skirt. Her long hair was a white, its shape resembling wings, matching her blue headdress. Of the same material as her headdress, she wore a type of blue armor on her arms and legs.

The man wore a black outfit, almost matching Adam's in designs. However, this man's hands and shoulders were armored with steel plaiting. At his sides were multiple steel daggers, but their size rivaled that of some swords. The center of his hair was a blueish-green, while the sides were white. On his face as a black metal mask with teal eyes.

The two walked over to Adam and Musashi, with the White Fang swordsman speaking to the swordswoman, "They're from your kingdom, do you know them?"

"Not really," Musashi answered before remembering something, "Wait, I think I remember hearing that two were sent to defend the opposite end of Apocrypha. They were meant to protect the villages that Chaldea Professors couldn't get to without weeks of travel."

"So, these two are meant to be the equivalate of an entire school of warriors?" Adam responded.

"If I remember right," Musashi said as she looked at the man, "That man earned the title, King of Warriors after he won Grand Order during his time at Chaldea." She then looked over to the woman, "And from what I heard, she has some crazy strong abilities as well." The swordswoman then looked back at the man, focusing on his mask, "Well, at least you two have something in common." She said with a smirk to Adam.

The man then stood before the White Fang swordsman. He then pressed a button on the left said of his black metal mask. The eyes went dark as it radiated steam. He then placed his left hand on the mask, removing it to reveal his face. His eyes were also teal but of a lighter shade. On his face was a set of glasses. He looked to Adam with an emotionless expression, "You are a member of the White Fang."

"What was your first clue, human?" Adam said before noticing the man extended his right hand.

"As long as you are not evil, I will not oppose you." He said with Adam having a look of confusion, "Please, don't worry, I'm your ally before I am your General."

"Tsk," the White Fang swordsman responded with a smirk. He then extended his right arm to shake the man's, "I am Adam Taurus."

"Reporting, Sigurd," The King of Warriors responded, a similar smirk on his face. He then turned to the woman next time, "This is my wife, Brynhildr."

"Hello," Brynhildr said with a bow, "Once the relations with the White Fang are met, I will be assuming the role of Brigadier General in the Apocrypha army."

Sigurd then looked over to see Winter and the others walking over, "Allies sighted. I'll begin to intercept them now." he said before walking over, Adam following.

Musashi had a look of confusion as she looked at the King of Warriors, "Huh," She said before turning to Brynhildr, "He has an odd way of talking about things."

"Yeah," the beloved woman said with a smile, "He's kind of a big nerd in that regard."

Musashi had a slight giggle, "Still," She said to herself before looking over to Adam, who had a small smile on his face, "This worked out better than I thought."

AN: There you go, you get a lot more of Adam's background here for the context of this story. I really liked a lot of these moments and showing how his character is here as compared to the path we went down in the cannon. For me, adding these elements to characters like him, Cinder, and especially Mercury from Fates Collide have been the most fun I have had with these stories. You also see two new additions to the airship in Sigurd and Brynhildr, both being amazing characters I can't wait to write more of. Next chapter, we return to Clockwork to check in on a couple of the teams. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.