Author Note: This one was shorter than I would of liked it to be. Though, I think it still came out good. Thanks for those that have read, favorited, followed and reviewed the story. It greatly helps with my motivation with the story. There will be canon deviations and changes from the main story. I want to once again say thanks for doing this. Have a wonderful and awesome day and I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 3

Mateo's form shot up from the bed. His gaze, uncertain as he tracked around. The black darkness wrapping around him, chocking his throat as he gulped. His long dark strands of hair fell over his cyan blue eyes.

His breathing was the only sound in the room. His shirt was off, which he was thankful for due to how sticky his body felt from the sweat. It clung his hair to his forehead, his breathing the only sound in the room. His palm went to his face to wipe the excess sweat that was bearing down on him.

Days like today, days where he didn't drink or do drugs before bed this would be what happens…the nightmares. The monsters of the night would plague Mateo's dreamscape, reminding him of the monster he was and the atrocities he had committed.

No matter how far he ran…no matter how much he embraced his vices, he would forever be haunted by the lives he took. There dead rotten hands, grabbing onto him as they tried to further submerge him into the darkness.

They always started out the same. He would be in a warm pool floating in a riverbed; it would feel nice against the cold air of the dark sky. The stars the only illumination around, but even then, it would always begin. The rotting hands of the dead and the lost.

There rags would cling to their diseased skin, some even wearing the heavy black steel of power armor or others completely bare. They would rip into his skin, gouge out his organs and further drown him into that river.

He would see them…the innocent and his enemies. Those that deserved what they got, and those that he killed…merely because he was ordered to. "Good soldiers…follow orders." His sergeant would always tell him, and Mateo always followed orders…

Sometimes, it would be just that. Them inflicting wounds onto his body, scars that he would forever bear both mentally and physically. Such scars, they never fade…you could only try to forget. However, sometimes he would be turned over.

He would see into the abyss. The corpses of dead comrades, enemies and the innocent in pure view. There bloated and rotten skin in crystal clear view. The raiders he killed while spitting plasma were rippled with energy burns, his comrades power armors were full of bullet holes and lastly the civilians…

They were hardly held together, more like mincemeat of anything. There limbs were flayed and some barely even held together, he could see the grey of brains from there fractured skulls that would leak blood as they further dragged towards him.

His minigun…ripped through them. Orders were orders…they were always the second to last to come for him. They wanted him to see, they wanted him to get a good look at them. For killing them without hesitation, wearing that power armor helmet that shielded his identity.

The orange eyes of his visor that they saw right before they died, the way the minigun sprayed and the muzzle flair burnt into his retinas. It was a feeling…an image that Mateo would never forget, and finally the last one. The end of his dream.

His father…

His father would always sink below him, he would slide deeper and deeper into the abyss to the point where Ben could hardly see him through the pitch black of the abyss. His armor, that armor that he wore into battle. The armor Mateo saw every time he fought side by side with him. The same armor that saved his life, saved him in situations where he could hardly bear to pick up his gun.

The tesla coils of his father's armor…would always spark a light within him, and that light offered salvation. He would always wake up from that dream like this, riddled with sweat and feeling the weight of his sins.

After he came to the capitol…he was a wreck. Those dreams, for the longest of times plagued him and they still do. He was eating the barrel of his ten millimeters nearly every night, calling himself a coward for not pulling the trigger. But every time he nearly thought he had the courage to do so, he would remember those flashing auburn lights of tesla coils that hummed along his father's armor.

His life, wasted and controlled by the steel of armor and the crimson of blood. Controlled by conflict, and the burden of sins and penitence, banished from any hope of redemption or atonement.

That light…those sparks that would emanate from his old man's armor, kept him alive…it kept him tethered and possibly even gave him hope for something further ahead. 'Though, I don't know what's ahead…'

'Never stopped you from pulling the trigger before…murderer.'

His thoughts exploded in his head. His palm still over his face, he needed a drink…or a smoke to keep the demons and his thoughts at bay. He didn't want to deal with this anymore, yet that was when Mateo parted his hand away from his face and he scanned the room again.

"Where am I?" He asked himself as he observed the new surroundings. He threw his legs off the bed as he began to remember.

The frontiersman, the strange noble girl and finally that black haired assassin. His mind went to the prick in armor, but there wasn't time for that. He could see the faint moonlight enter from his window but…

"You know…you scream a lot when you sleep."

The cold voice, it lacked emotion. Still, Mateo recognized it. The light was flicked on as the girl came into view. The orange gleam of the desk light casting off the pair's shadows. With the freshly lit light Mateo was finally able to understand where he was.

It was a bedroom. It was standard size, he had smaller in Navaro. It was a medium sized bed with milky white sheets, pushed to the side when Ben woke up and threw it off himself. A large dresser which also had an ingrained bookshelf in the middle of it. Though, there were no clothes or books located in either.

The red wooden floorboards contrasted with the light grey brick walls. It was a strange room, even stranger that there was a girl in his room. 'Not that strange, but I didn't get lucky with her.' Mateo thought as he turned his gaze towards her crimson eyes.

"Akame…"

He let her name roll off his tongue as she stared at him. The girl could have had killed him, but he was lucky that he was saved. Though, as he observed his surroundings, he was even more confused of where he was.

His left eye glanced quickly out of the window. He could see the long rows of pine trees that spread out like domino's or building blocks. 'Where the fuck am I, this isn't the capitol!' He thought as his gaze went back to the dark-haired girl.

"Come on…" She immediately commanded. She got up from her seat. Mateo heard a whisp in the wind as Akame thrown him a sweater. It was composed of grey fabric, he quickly grabbed it and put it on him as he got up from the bed. "Najanda, she wants to see you when you are awake. Come."

The request sounded more like a command as Mateo rolled his eyes. He pulled the shirt over himself as he followed her out of the room, the dim lights of the torches arranged onto the walls the only visible thing he could see.

The girl was silent…he was hoping for her to start a conversation. Though, she was dreadfully silent. The dark-haired girl simply voiding any conversation or any lack of interest. So, Mateo was the one that begrudgingly tried to start it.

"So, that's a pretty freaky sword." Mateo muttered, the girl not taking her gaze off the path. Though, she did open her mouth to speak. "My teigu?" She spoke up, wasn't aimed like a question but more that she was just addressing it.

"I'll hand it to you…I've crossed paths with many soldiers and warriors, but I have never gotten beaten by a swordswoman." Ben clicked his lips, a small sly grin decorating his face as he began to gloss down her frame. "For you to get that good, you surely had to dedicate a long time to training. Must be tough…not having many people to hang around with due to time dedicating with the sword…no boyfriend or husband…"

He strained out the final words to see if it would draw out a response. The girl's crimson eyes turned towards him as he saw a faint flicker of acknowledgement. "No tougher than enduring your false sympathy while you're staring at my chest." She callously replied.

"Hey, I was not!" Mateo quickly rushed to deflect, even if he was, he didn't want her to know that he was doing that.

As, the conversation was about to continue he was casted with bright orange light. He was surrounded by nearly a dozen or so people. The room he had just entered was large, a nearly ornamental seat was pressed against the wall. A woman…she sat down there, the leader that Mateo had to suspect was the person Akame wanted him to meet.

She had snow white hair, a long black suit that contrasted with the green of her metallic false arm and an eyepatch that covered one of her eyes. This one he could tell had fought in many battles, the amount of strength that resided from her.

Mateo held his ground as he observed the others around him. There strange attire and strange hair, he couldn't see the armored prick that fucked up his arm and his back but he saw a guy with a weird haircut with a similar build.

"You called, and I answered." Mateo said. Trying to grasp control over the situation. He was outnumbered and unarmed, if this was it then this was it. 'Getting killed by beautiful woman…didn't want to go out like this, but there were surely worse ways. It's like what dad always said, if we're called, we answer.'

If this was it…then this was it. So, Mateo braced himself. He braced his form and got himself ready as his hollow breathing reminded him that he was alive in this very moment.

Though, it was the very next couple of minutes that were confusing. Najanda, the woman began to explain to him and introduce the other members of "Night Raid" to Mateo. He learned their names; he also was informed of Teigu's and what they were capable of.

She educated him on the empire's corruption, even being able to learn about what happened with Tatsumi and the girl. He heard of the torture those poor people had to go through, he had seen such things before. In the waste…the raider groups there were nothing more than animals or mindless butchers.

Even then, for the empire to allow such things. It seemed obvious, they had to be stopped and the revolutionary army had to be the ones to do it. "Will you join us?" Najanda asked. The woman letting her right-hand rest, almost like she was hoping for Mateo to grasp along it.

Mateo stared down at her hand for a second. Then went back to her face, his gaze fixated along her features as he opened his mouth to speak. "Why me?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm a pretty heavy drinker and a smoker, I even lost to Akame. Why do you want me in your group?"

"Isn't it obvious. You carry yourself like a soldier, you were even been able to disarm Akame, a feat no one else has ever completed. Also, finally you went out of your way to try and save Tatsumi…a boy that you never met. Having you in night raid would be an asset."

She concluded her sentence. Even then, Mateo was sure that there was something she was holding back from him. Mateo went to his pocket to grab his carton of cigarettes, only to find his pockets voided of anything. Najanda, nodded as she tossed Mateo back his matches and his carton. He nodded thanks as Mateo strike the cigarette, he quickly waved the match around as the dying flame was quickly extinguished.

After a minute he spoke, his voice slightly muffled as the weight of the cigarette was in his lips. "No…" He simply responded.

"No?" Mine once again repeated. She stared at him, was he openly rejecting an opportunity to join night raid.

"Yeah, no…I'm not doing this. I've fought in wars before, I've seen what that can do to a person." He motioned his hand aimlessly; he took the smoke from his mouth so he could speak more clearly. "I get that the empire is messed up, but I seriously don't want to die a horrific death. I would rather get drunk and smoke, let the alcohol kill me then get impaled with spikes."

"So, you would rather stand idly by…and not participate in the change." Bulat spoke. His words laced with bile as they were aimed at Mateo.

"Yes." Mateo simply responded. He nodded his head with Bulat's statement. "I've fought in the army before; I've fought for the remnants of my country. I have nothing anymore; I don't have anything else to stake my claim on anymore. Hell, don't get me started with Tatsumi."

"Me?" Tatsumi whispered.

"Yeah, you…" Mateo flicked the cigarette to the side as he turned towards the brown-haired boy. "Tatsumi, I am sorry for what happened with your friends. I've seen my comrades die, I've watched them die…hell, I've done what you have done before and gone for revenge. Though, I had good reasons to."

He pointed out of the window. The window which you can see the glances of the faint bright lights of the capitol. "Night raid killed her parents and you killed her. Your revenge is complete, you don't need to do this."

"Yes, I do." Tatsumi spoke with a fire in his eyes as he stared into Mateo's own blue. "To protect other villages, to make sure that this never happens again I will fight."

"God, Tatsumi we're both the same age…you don't know what you're asking for or what you are about to experience. You're talking a literal hell on earth; you've killed the girl. I get that your angry, and you're in grief right now…hell, them giving you this choice is fucked up."

"How so…" Sheele spoke up. Her glasses catching the gleam of the orange lights.

"Because…his friends died less than twelve hours ago, they haven't even been in the ground long enough for it to be two days. Tatsumi, I've been in the similar headspace that he's in right now. Gunning them down, slaughtering them all sounds really good…doesn't it Tatsumi?"

The brown-haired boy didn't respond, he didn't say anything. He hated the empire for what they did to his friends, he hated them for what they did to his village but now from what Mateo was saying he was beginning to realize the cracks in Night Raid.

Mateo stifled a groan. He sparked up another cigarette, pressing it to his lips as he let the smoke clean through him as he waved the smoke around, casting off smoke signs as his long dark hair flown in the cold wind.

"Tatsumi, this road isn't something you can turn back from. You embark down his road…you must take it to the very end." Ben said, he pointed his cigarette towards the open window. The lights getting stronger, almost like they resonated with there conversation. "I've been down such black roads; they lead to nothing but misery. Hell, it awaits those that walk down on it. Trust me, Tatsumi. Revenge…vengeance is an idiots' game, so make up your mind. You can go back home…go back to your village and grieve the ones you lost, be around those that you love and try to make money in other ways. Don't do this for revenge, if you end up going through with joining night raid…make sure that you do it because you want to help others, not for the memories of your comrades and your hate for the empire, but because you want to help others."

Mateo finished speaking, his breathing etched and ragged from talking too long. Tatsumi, he was now staring at the floor trying to understand and sort out his feelings. He knew that he had to figure it out soon and decide.

"How about you, Mateo." Najanda continued speaking. "You can't leave here, and I would rather your skills not go to waste. Though, you sound like you don't have much to lose."

"Yeah, I don't. I don't expect to grow old and die in bed…or on some porch of my farm or something along those lines. I'll die how I lived, being a fool."

His words were crude and unrelented. Coming out rough though Najanda could taste a hint of sorrow etched into them. "Then, maybe we could make a deal of sorts…you join Night Raid I will offer you that farm, I'll even pay for equipment and even some bonus money on the side."

Mateo crackled, his laugh going through the air as he turned toward her. He thought she was being sarcastic, though Najanda wasn't taking this as a joke. He didn't need to think, his greed and his lack of self-worth already made him give his answer nearly instantly.

"Sure, I'll do it…if you're going to give me that much, then fuck it." He sneered as he walked over towards her, Najanda's false arm still outstretched towards him. "Didn't expect to die old anyways, this is the path, so I guess…"

"Wait…you gave up that whole speech to Tatsumi about not joining, but you're instantly joining with the hint of a reward." Mine complained nearly rushing over towards him but was held back by Leone.

As their fingers interlocked and there grips each formed into a steady hand shake he spoke. "Tatsumi, he's got a whole village and a life ahead of him. He isn't like me, searching for the electrical currents of salvation. I've already lost what I am fighting for, I'll get you where you need me to go…I'm a soldier. I'll follow your orders without hesitation, just order me around and give me my pay."

"Good…" Najanda nodded her head. A small smirk over her face as she gazed at Mateo. He would make a good contribution and asset to their team; she could tell that he would make a mighty fine warrior. He needed some training and to kick his habits, but someone that lacked hesitation and had nothing to lose would be a great asset.

"Welcome to night raid…Mateo."