Author Note: Yo, this is the author. Thanks for reading this story! Here is chapter 5. Listen, I know that we're up to chapter five but I am going to need people to be patient. The story just began and there is still a lot more to go. Mateo is still on the journey and will have his character growth and decline. Though, it will take time. We are on chapter 5 but Anime wise we are on episode 3. There will be canon deviations and Mateo will have his moments of character growth and change. Just please bear with me the story just began. Remember to review, follow and favorite it greatly helps with my motivation. Thanks for reading again and have a wonderful day!

Chapter 5

Warrior…

The word drudged up through Mateo's head. The word swam through the confines of his broken mind as it maneuvered like a log down a stream. The clinks of Bulat's sword and Mateo's axe cut through the air as the sparks they created broke through.

Sweat flew off his body as he prepared an overhead slam against Bulat's sword. The weapons clanged but neither broke free, even then the boys didn't separate. Bulat broke through the lock and quickly swiped. Mateo used the hilt of his axe to take in the blade, the attack dented and shook his hands from the pressure the blow secreted.

Mateo was hardly able to keep up with each hit as his teeth rattled with each impact of the blows. He was so used to his armor when he was fighting, the advanced servos of power armor would soak up those hits. Sure, he was still at risk of getting hurt but he wasn't going up against guys like Bulat.

Mateo leveled the weapon behind himself, ready to cleave through his sword with another blow. Even then…Bulat was faster and knew what he was doing. The older man smirked as he didn't even drop his sword to block. Mateo hesitated, the weapon stopping…

Yet, Bulat knew Mateo fell into his trap. With a quick flick of his wrist the iron of the sword danced straight along Ben's upper arm as it cut into him. A shallow blow that stung but that wasn't the worst part. Bulat lifted his right leg, his bare foot slamming into Mateo's exposed stomach. Spit flew from the boy's mouth as he collapsed back first along the training room floor.

"Shit…" Mateo simply muttered under his breath. He laid there under the bright yellow of the rising sun as Bulat's pounding voice cheered for victory…another victory. It had been a week since Mateo's and Tatsum's first mission. The pair fully becoming integrated within night raid.

He didn't want to admit it but there was a small part of him…the part of which his father resided was happy to do this. Happy to help people and others…to end the empires reign of terror and put an end to tyranny.

Though, there would be those frequent reminders. Those dark thoughts and the nightmares that would haunt him, those dreams that would forever remind him of what he did. Now, he knew what must be done. He had to do what he must…he had to fight.

Sure, he lacked purpose and direction…and he doubted if he died that anyone would have cared about him. Even then, he still had to give it his all.

Mateo let out a gust of air as he sat up. His dark hair falling in front of his eyes as his axe was still to his side. "How many was that Bro?" Tatsumi ran up to Bulat like a child as he asked that question. The older man stifling a chuckle as his gaze went towards Mateo.

"Ten rounds…I won all, though Mateo was a very good combatant." Bulat said. Adding in the extra part to hopefully not to fully shatter Mateo's confidence. He was impressed with the boy; he had taken a good blunt of physical trauma and still had the strength to keep on pushing.

Akame followed. Her shoes clamping along the stone steps as she descended towards the boy. Her right hand held onto a piece of white cloth. Mateo, he didn't return her gaze. She kneeled down as she began to wrap the bandage along his wound. Mateo…

In Mateo's own head he was dealing with his own conflict. The young mans thoughts whirling like a storm. His right hand going to his face, his thoughts of conflict twisting and contorting in his bowels like poison.

He wanted to help them…though this loss. 'They would leave me behind, I would be alone again. I can't be weak and…'

His thoughts rampaged his head. Thoughts of inadequacy and fear of being left behind…thoughts of not helping or being too weak to stop any impending disasters whipped like a tornado. A part of him knew that something had to change quickly, that he had to get stronger. He knew he had to even the playing field.

His eyes widened as he remembered. A tree…three lines carved into it like a lion's paw. On top of it was uprooted dirt, a large steel crate with black streaks lined the box. It held his weapons…it held his broken armor; it held his father's armor.

A plasma caster, his super sledge, a minigun, his father's laser rifle and his tesla armor. There were other items in there as well and if he was able to collect them the empire wouldn't know what hit them, he would turn his enemies into goo with his castor and rip through them with his sledge.

He wouldn't have to be too worried about being weak or being left behind. He would be able to protect those people that he was slowly growing to care for. He could become strong once again. The tips of his lips began to spread into a steady smile.

Though…

…Not…Yet…

The voices pounded into the sides of his head. His muscles tightened against the barrage of thoughts as they refused to leave him. His throat stiffened as he felt his fingers curl into two steady fists. The pit of disgust filled his mouth like bile…until.

He felt strands of jet-black hair across his face. His frosty blue eyes gazing into Akame's own crimson as he glossed down towards her side. He didn't realize how she was wrapping up that bandage around his arm. She wasn't wearing her gloves and for a second, he was shocked to realize how smooth they were.

His hands were full of calluses. Mostly along the edges of his palms where the finger and joint connected. Lumbering around large piles of wood…and pulling the trigger on a minigun does that to you after a long time.

Even then, Mateo was astonished. She had the type of fingers of a painter or a musician. 'Momma, she would of loved a girl like her…long fingers to play Pa's old guitar. How many times did you try and teach me Momma, I didn't want to learn. I always felt like I would break it, I would…'

Mateo shook his head once again. He had to stop doing it…he had to stop drawing on those past and bitter memories, once again he had to forget. "Bulat, he got you good." Akame spoke up. Not meeting Mateo's eyes as her strands of black hair tickled his skin.

"Yeah, I guess…" He shrugged his shoulders. Watching Tatsumi and Bulat speak as he couldn't help but smile. "He's a massive dude, if I had my armor. I would've thrown him off his ass. You too if we met back then."

"Oh really…" She narrowed her eyes as Mateo's eyebrows shot up. 'I guess I struck a nerve or two. Alright then, Akame.' He smiled at the girl as she finished wrapping up his wound. "Yeah, you bet. Even with that freaky sword…or teigu or whatever it's called. I would've won that battle a couple weeks ago."

Akame pressed her hand on her hip. Meeting Mateo's stare as he couldn't help but smirk at the girl. "You didn't put up much of a fight before. I didn't think of you much as an opponent."

Mateo was nearly about to flare up. Though, he could see the small tint of the girl's grin as she jabbed back at him. 'Oh fine, I'll play.' He felt his breath well up with air as he flicked his wrist, carelessly speaking as he parted his lips. "Let me put it this way, Akame. I was a heavy weapons trooper. By the time I got through with things, not much was left standing. Any morons who didn't run when they saw me coming got what they deserved."

Nothing was said after a second. Her eyes finally looking up at Mateo as locked onto the other. His gaze uncertain as this beautiful girl stared up at him. "I knew, that having you in Night Raid would be a good thing. If what your saying is true, then you'll make a truly wonderful addition."

Mateo heard it in her voice. The sincerity of it. The way her mouth parted, and her voice sounded like music and for a second he felt like everything was just going to be alright. However, right before Mateo could say anything or reply back…

Najanda's voice arose. The four going back into the hideout of night raid as they pushed through the massive doors. Najanda sat in her massive throne room chair, the other members following suit as Najanda began to explain.

Tatsumi and Mine were going to attack or assassinate some guy. He was being a real prick and he had to get put down like the rabid dog he was. Mateo and Bulat had a special mission that seemed lackluster towards Tatsumi and Mine's…escorting some nobleman. Najanda finished up her report, her eyes fixated on the pairs as they left.

Move

"What a damn waste!" Mateo screamed into the sky. His voice ripping through the forest lines as the young soldier had the axe strapped along his back, his cloak covering his front and the back like a poncho as Bulat disengaged his armor.

Bulat sighed, watching Mateo put one foot in front of the next. "Why…" Bulat asked. "We did our job. Night raid just doesn't deal with assignation, there will be some missions where we fight and some where nothing goes wrong."

Bulat was right…this whole mission or rather the whole time they were stationed with escorting this nobleman through the streets back to his estate, nothing happened. There was no battle or surprise attacks, for all they knew the noble could have walked by himself and everything would of have been fine.

"Nothing happened, I bet Mine and Tatsumi had something to do."

Bulat took another deep breath. His hand stopping along Mateo's shoulder as he thrown the boy to face him. "Warriors don't seek conflict…they protect and act. Keep your head steady and trust me we'll be fighting soon enough."

The look and tone of Bulat's face made even someone like Mateo realize that something was up. "What's going on…why are you looking at me like that?" Mateo asked.

Bulat stared at him. "Mateo, you do realize that these missions have been strangely easy for a reason…Najanda wants to test you and Tatsumi, see how good you guys actually are. Sure, your impressive and same goes for Tatsumi but we got to know if you truly have the stomach for it."

Bulat was also keeping a major secret from the two boys. He was testing each of them, seeing how far they were willing to go. Tatsumi, he was young and idealistic. The empire murdering and torturing his friends powered him with a fierce fury for justice and revenge. His natural talent with the sword and his will to grow even stronger to protect those he cared for was amazing and appealed greatly to Bulat.

Though, the boy was far too green. His first kill was the woman that personally tortured his friends, he killed her in a fit of rage without hesitation. His second kill was a Sergeant that was overall a monstrous human being. Both kills shown that Tatsumi was willing to get the job done, though another question burrowed in not only Bulat's but in Najanda's head as well…would Tatsumi kill or hesitate against a person who was apart of the empire but was flawed?

He was too green…

Mateo, he was strong but apathetic. He kept to himself and never exposed anything about his past. He carried himself like a soldier and Bulat knew from his training with the young soldier that Mateo had a talent for fighting. He was strong, a fighter that was able to knock away Akame's sword and even held his own against a squadron of the empire's guardsman with a simple axe…though

'The fire within Tatsumi's eyes…that resolve to free the people from the empires tyranny, Mateo's eyes hold no such spark.'

The thought protruded in Bulat's head. Yes, Mateo was strong and was previously a soldier though there was something obviously wrong with him. The young soldier was suffering from something, a shadow that forever weighed him down. Bulat saw how much he drank; he could smell the cigarettes that were ingrained in his cloak. Akame…she was the one that told him of his nightmares.

They didn't need someone mentally messed up to fumble or break down in a crucial moment. Mateo, he wasn't even a warrior or soldier apart of the revolutionary army and was just instead bought as a mercenary. He didn't care for the empire, and it just seemed that Mateo was in it for the money and the promise of land after the war was over.

He could tell what Tatsumi was thinking…though Mateo. It was almost like a talent he had, more like instinct to remain undetected. Almost like he was wearing a mask.

"What the fuck is that…"

Mateo's voice arose. Shaking Bulat awake as the large man turned his head to the side. The clearing that that they were walking to. It was new and they haven't walked through this area of the forest before. So, it was obvious why the pair were shocked to see this.

It was almost like the ground was caved in. Uprooted dirt sprayed like a path; a couple of trees were caved in as well. "What could have done this and so close to the hideout as well." Mateo rambled on. He glossed over towards Bulat, both men understanding without any words as they trekked forward down the path.

They had sunk into the earth, as they continued down the uprooted path Bulat and Mateo began to descend downwards. It took less than five minutes until they reached the end. There reward was a massive hunk of metal that was caved into the very dirt.

Bulat was shocked. They made their hideout a long time ago, this wreck looked borderline ancient. He had no real clue what it was, though he could see the cracks of erosion and how the dirt sprayed along the grey hull.

"Mateo, help me…" Bulat was speaking until he was rendered silence. His upbeat tone voided as his gaze went towards Mateo. The boy was stiff, no that was the wrong word for it. He was frozen, his muscles tensing up as his fingers clenched and unclenched. His bright blue eyes erratically scanning the hull.

'No…' the single thought pounded into the side of his head. Almost like he was slammed in the face by a golf club itself as the young soldier felt his breathing turn hollow. His heart nearly beating out of his chest.

The smell of burning oil, the sores he felt from the gunshots along his power armor frame. His fathers blood smeared across his face as his 10mm pistol rested in his hands.

"Mateo!" Bulat screamed, slapping the boy across his face. The rhythmic slap echoing through the forest as Mateo quickly shook his head. He didn't retaliate or did his usual insult or call back. Instead, he approached the hunk of metal.

"Do you know what this is…you froze up back there." Bulat said.

Mateo pushed on. He stopped in front of the hull of metal, his right hand going towards it as he slid the dirt from it. The imprint clear for Bulat to see. It was a strange imprint, one that he had never seen in the Empire or in any of the countries he fought in as a soldier.

Thirteen stars and in the middle an E. "Enclave…Vertbird, XVB02 variant. It was a prototype, but the enclave finished it's production after the end of the war."

"Enclave…" Bulat repeated the strange word. Mateo was still staring at the insignia refusing to meat Bulat's eyes. "Enclave, is that where you came from…it sounds strange."

"Yeah, I was enclave. Heavy Weapons Trooper. I didn't fly in these, though my momma was a pilot. She got real sick after I was born and couldn't fly anymore. She missed it. My poppa was a tesla trooper, worked with energy weaponry. Ever since I was born, all I've ever known was to pull the trigger and to destroy my enemy."

Bulat didn't respond. He was finally getting Mateo to open up. Though, there was a sadness etched within Mateo's words. A remembrance that wouldn't go away. "You were truly a soldier, I don't understand…"

"I don't think you would…the Enclave was a military organization. Formed after the destruction of my country, I'm not from…the empire destroyed them. There all gone, I am the last one left." Mateo spoke.

Bulat heard the dip in the sentence. Mateo was going to say something different. Bulat, he knew that Mateo was lying. This strange object in the middle of the woods and was so close to base, though Bulat didn't think Mateo was a spy or something along those lines.

Mateo was quiet…he could tell that he didn't want to talk about this anymore. He could understand on some level, there had been battles and wars that he would never dare to tell anyone. So, he took a deep breath.

"Bulat, I am going to stay here for a little bit. I want to check what's inside." Mateo spoke. He didn't wait for a reply as he wedged the door open. Fitting his large frame inside as he kept the open shaft of the door open.

As he entered Mateo struggled to find an equilibrium. The young soldier nearly falling to the floor and needing to use the walls of the upturned vertibird to gain a balance. Spiderwebs and dust littered all around, Mateo coughing up the nasty air as his blue eyes scanned around the cramped area.

It took him a second to see the body…

It was nestled at the very end of the vertibird. The man or woman was fitted with power armor. Mateo approached as the corpse remained silent and unmoving. Mateo took a knee as he stared at the armor. It was an Advanced Suit, maybe Mark II of advanced power armor.

The spiderwebs and dust clung to the shoulder pads and boots. It's orange eyes fixated in front of Mateo as the young soldier stared into them himself. Those eyes, those eyes that had butchered both enemy and innocent alike…

Those sparks that were created when a gun is fired or the red beam of a laser rifle that scorched into the air. He lived for those things; he was an animal…a soldier…a bloodthirsty monster. That was him, he fit right in there.

Though, something changed…but Mateo knew. That people…they never fully change; they can act like it. Though, to just deny who they once were…

He just couldn't do it anymore. He emptied the air in his mouth as he got up from his slouch. He turned away from the corpse, though he could not turn away from his past. Mateo scanned the area again. His eyes curling into a smile, an unsavory sneer as he fixated on an object in the far corner of a room.

Bulat was about to go in there. He was about to interfere because Mateo had been in there for a long time. Though, right before he could. A large box, a steel box with black strips lining the cover was thrown from the opening. Nearly slamming into Bulat as the large man had to dive away.

It was riddled with dents and scraps, there were even some spiders crawling from there webs as they met the harsh glare of the sun. "What the hell, Mateo what is wrong with you!"

Mateo climbed from the opening. Though, Bulat could tell that there was something different. The young soldier in his right hand held something. It appeared to mirror a rifle though it was different. The whole weapon was compromised of metal, the curved handle was integrated with a stock like a Winchester rifle. There was a long tube that was under the gun that reconnected back to the top. Long electrical wires riddled the weapon and snaked around its skeleton. The boy held it with his right hand, his fingers tightening along the laser rifle.

He smirked as he threw it over his shoulder like he had done with his axe only a couple hours ago. "I found my weapon…" He smirked.