“It can do alot with it that others can’t do. It’s one of a kind tech. The closest thing that exists to it is an arm of similar tech, minus the quirk ability since that user’s quirk wasn’t affected by the loss.” It was strange to talk of his adopted father in this third person like that, but the less information given was better.
How he kept speaking about going for the kill, it still made a part of Rayder’s soul twinge. As he messaged, his words would’ve showed a hint of worry if he had a voice.

“... Then how many have you killed in these ideals? Because trust me, I’ve seen it with my own eyes… depending on the person, even one kill can begin the transformation from a man into a monster… And the more lives you take in the pursuit of a cause, the harder it is to remain a human.”

So the man wanted to truly fight each other, huh? It seemed like a pretty stupid decision for someone for the smaller man.

“Oh ho HOOOO! He has a fucking death wish, does he?!” Blaze had a mischievous smile on his face. “Don’t go too easy on him, Stringbean. Kick his ass goooood!” With a smirk, Rayder stood over the much shorter man, smirking. How did he intend to beat him, even without knowing the training that he had done? Grabbing his phone, he only glanced at it between staring down Yaguro.

“What you’re suggesting might end quite badly for you. With the experience I’ve seen you’ve had, you’ll wind up at work with some unexplainable injuries. If this is what you’d want, I’d kindly request you stay away from the face, this time. I don’t want a fucking pity party from everyone, especially my husband if I have any visible marks. Remember, the rest of this world thinks of me as a crippled sad sap whose only gift to society is to be a damn good cook.”

“Yes, but playing dirty with your teammates will only end with you being abandoned at the least. If you want a team that will last, then stop treating the members as low as the villains we’re culling from the streets, otherwise when there is a chance to escape at the cost of your life, your teammate will willingly take it.” He wasn’t holding back, letting him know the extent of what could happen with his attitude. The giant saw straight through the other man; he was someone willing to twist his personality to make people his tool, and it pissed the vigilante off. Still, he knew pride and stubbornness filled Yaguro’s head, and that his words might just be ignored.


Watching the other man grab the gun, he saw the excitement grow in the smaller man’s eyes as he used the high caliber weapon. The man acted like a kid on christmas morning testing out his new toys. A smirk spread across the giant’s face as he inhaled the smoke from the barrel before taking it back, dusting it off and grabbing his phone to message.


“Another weapon meant for the last resort. I believe in aiming for pure incapacitation instead of fatality. It's for many reasons. In our heads, it keeps us from falling as far as they do. Give into the urges to end someone, and we slowly evolve into monsters ourselves. However, in their eyes, it leaves more of a lasting memory in their heads. In the underworld, if one falls, then others will gather to replace them and treat them like some sort of martyr. However, leaving them with lasting marks… marks that will never go away, it is a haunting image to all; abandon your life of crime, or be reminded of the pain inflicted on them due to their ways. It also helps draw out more of the scum. Picture draining an infected wound; make that first cut, all the disgusting contents come out. Only here, I make more cuts until it's completely drained, as if it's the antibiotic.” Rayder pulled out the pocket knife, the one that inflicted so many scars and labeled the true evil of the world with their crimes. “A strong weapon like that may be fun, but something as simple as this holds more blood than any bullet I’ve shot in my life. I can’t count how many people’s blood still stains it, and how many more people will be scarred by it.” He stared at it, in his head remembering all the screams he caused with this blade… then remembering the silence that was released with the first scars in this terrible path were made… his own…
“... You may think I have fun marking these creatures of the underworld, but I don’t. I don’t feel happy that these people fell so far… Yet they deserve it, for they knowingly have committed these crimes, true crimes that harm others. I do this to make people who actually committed crimes have to look in the mirror, and maybe they’ll look and will be haunted by it, and deter them from continuing. Parents will tell their children to not become like these villains, lest they will be labelled with their crimes forever.” He turned the hilt and looked at Blaze’s name, and just stared for a minute. Rayder was innocent… Blaze was innocent… And yet they were scarred… now only one of them lived, and the other was bound to him forever without his own freedom or future.


“... Stringbean… Rayder… I’m here.” Blaze stood, wrapping his hand around Rayder’s. It felt like a faint grasp, as always, but urged him to close the blade and put it away before walking to the rocket launcher.

“Sorry, Andrew… You know how it still hurts so much…”

Rayder decided to have some fun, clear the pity bullshit from his brain. He hit a button on his prosthetic before he grabbed the rocket launcher and ran to one of the trees. He began to run vertically up the trunk a good bit until the bond began to fail and quickly jumping to a thicker branch. He aimed the large weapon towards the bullet ridden machine below before shooting it and a large explosion occurring. It was a glorious site to him. Once the inferno started settling, Rayder simply jumped from the high branch, prosthetic first and landing hard on it, a crater forming under the leg before he walked to the smouldering shell of the washing machine, once again aiming to show off by kicking it at least 20 feet away, the frame caving into the intense impact from the leg. Sprinting after, he showed the speed he was given with this attachment as he beat the metal and stomped it once more. What remained was a crumpled ball of smoking metal at the man's feet. He twisted his neck with a loud crack before turning back to the other man, phone in hand.


“I told you I’d show off this thing. That’s only a small taste of what I can do with it.” Though, a slowly forming pain reminded him of the goddamn limitations he still had. For now, he just took a deep breath, hoping to try and let the phantom pain just go away fast as he began pacing and trying to stop it. This was a naive hope though, he knew as he went to a close by fallen tree and sat for a moment, taking a deep breath. “Both blessings and curses with it, though. Break time. Didn’t plan for the outing so I’m unprepared for this. If you want to keep playing, keep going. I need a minute.” He messaged as he hit another button on it before pulling it off and rubbing the end of his stump for a moment and taking a deep breath, pulling the shortening cigarette from his mouth and breathing a shaky breath.


“Really, dude? Of all times to take the fucking leg off?” Blaze crossed his arms before sitting next to him.

“Andrew, shut up. It goddamn REALLY hurts!” He said, his remaining part of his leg shaking as he breathed, bending his knee and rubbing it, praying for this to go the hell away. As strong and skilled as he was, he was still a human, to his own dismay, and had these weaknesses. It would look strange to Yaguro, especially seeing his remaining limb exposed when he desperately pulled the sleeve off and kept rubbing it. Usually Rayder would take necessary precautions to stop this pain before anything, never wanting to suffer this pain while patrolling, but unplanned trips have risks, and the risk became reality.

The giant man couldn’t help but smirk at Yaguro’s reaction to his accuracy. It gave him confidence that the time he spent training was worth it, going from school straight to training everyday for years. He listened to all the answers he gave, nodding as he let the man explain before responding. Blaze, on the other hand, looked like he was in agony from boredom, having to sit and listen to the technical part of this instead of getting to the actual fun. Rayder just ignored it, finally pulling out his phone to reply.

A day to himself, at last. Rayder had been on the schedule constantly, it seemed. Day after day in the kitchen, followed at least weekly with his all nighters on the streets. It was draining the giant man, at this point. Not to mention the additional vigilante thorn in his side that he was trapped with taking much of his mind and worry. Still, today, it was time to forget about it all. The only people around him were the ones he loved the most; his family.

The Silent Cartographer was in his own home, relaxed enough to even have his prosthetic removed, deciding to have a moment to close his eyes, a book covering them. It was peaceful, quiet, and calming for a bit. Trevor, their large dalmatian laid on the carpet, seeming like a guard dog for his sleeping master. Even with his leg hanging over the edge of the couch, he felt himself being able to drift off. Yet, it seemed a tiny person didn’t understand the meaning of “peace” for too long as the book was pulled from his eyes, and a freckled face stared down at the tall man before the girl began signing to him.

“{Papa, it’s not time to sleep! You tell me when the sun is up, we are up! Please put your leg on! I want to go outside to play with you!}” Dory Ruth ran over to her father’s leg, attempting to pick up the heavy device, only able to knock it over and stared at Rayder with a slight look of guilt and eagerness in her cocoa brown eyes. He sat up a bit, adjusting himself with his eyebrows raised and trying to hold his laughter as the spotted dog got up, sniffing around and licking the little girl before going to Rayder.

“{Dory Ruth, love, papa has worked alot this week and is very tired. He has done alot of work recently to keep a beautiful smile on your and daddy’s faces. Remember how I promised this weekend I’d take the morning off for us to spend together?}” A slightly sad nod was returned to him. “{Well, papa needs to have all the rest he can to give you the best day we can then. But always know, papa loves his little lady, ok?}” All he got was a pouting nod before she came to him, hugging him. This sweet girl… the reason for everything he did… the reason to keep this world safe and teach the monsters festering in it a lesson… all for his two loves… He would never let anything ever happen to them, even if it cost him his own life… Rayder kissed her head, holding her tight as another set of footprints came into the small living room.

“What are you two doing in here? I know the sound of that damn heavy leg hitting the floor too well.” David’s hand touched Rayder’s shoulder before signing to his daughter. “{What’s my little gem doing to her papa?}” The little girl ran to him, wrapping herself around his legs as he laughed, followed by the big dog sitting near him and waiting for his attention. “I guess there’s no rest in here today for you, Ray?”

“{Never expect to with this little tornado running and our spotted trail about, but I don’t mind our girl.}” Rayder silently chuckled, trying to sneak his signs to his husband without Dory Ruth seeing. This made David laugh more, picking up the curly haired girl and holding her close.

“I’m going to make some lunch, and I’ll take this one with me. Why don’t you go into the bedroom and rest. Want the crutch like the doctor said or are you going to hop like a damn pogo stick as always?” A humorous scowl spread on Rayder’s face as he gestured to Dory Ruth to cover her eyes, the little girl obliging before the giant flipped his husband off, David walking away laughing and Rayder staring after them with a bright smile across his face.

“God, you’ve ALWAYS been sickeningly sweet with your love, Stringbean! Even with me, you were like that!” Blaze had been sitting on the loveseat near Rayder the whole time, a smirk on his face. Rayder smirked back, flipping him off, as well. “Awwww, I get the finger, too? You do love me!” The two laughed, Rayder hearing his own voice with Blaze’s before he got up on his one leg, grabbing his phone. His smile and joy slowly faded away as an unknown number messaged him. Opening it up, the Cartographer nearly threw his phone across the room when he saw the message.

“What? Let me see.” Blaze ran and peaked at the message. “... that FUCKING DICK! You already know who this is, don’t you?!”


“Oh, gee, I WONDER! I can’t BELIEVE he picked today to do whatever the hell he is doing!” There was no time to waste, at this point. He quickly messages back to Yaguro.

“If you even DARE message something like that again, you know I won’t hold back on beating your ass. You’re making it sound like something COMPLETELY different. Don’t ever DARE try to say something like that to jeopardise my relationship! I gave you instructions before how to message me. I will delete this message chain again because of this. I will head there, but this better be important.” Sending the message before deleting the whole thread, Rayder grabbed his leg, attaching it before walking into his bedroom, quietly lifting the floorboards under the dog's bed, grabbing a couple weapons from it and putting them into his regular bag he always took with him before hiding the safe again. Then he quickly went into the kitchen and nodded to his husband as he grabbed his car keys.

“... Ray, what’s wrong? Where are you going? I thought you were going to rest.”

“{David, I’m so sorry… remember that guy that asked me for sign language lessons?}”

“Yeah, the one who you said is kinda… well, not all there and a bit slow?”

“{He has free time, and he said that he won’t be off of his job for a bit, so… I promised I would help him… I’m so sorry, David… I PROMISE I won’t be back too late, and I’ll make sure we have a good night together. Ok}?” Kissing his head, David nodded to him as Rayder kissed Dory Ruth’s head before running out. Once again… out the door… David straightened his face for his daughter, who had an equally saddened look as Rayder was gone once again…


The drive was quite long, leading Rayder to a large area of forest. He had stopped before to put his suit on underneath his clothes in case this was an actual emergency instead of Yaguro just dicking around. However, whatever that bastard was planning, it was meant to be out of reach of anyone. Kind of reminded the giant man of his time training with his father and grandfather, only instead of being with trained mercenaries, he would be accompanied by an idiot ex-con. Either way, it had some nostalgia out here.

Rayder went to the trunk of his car, grabbing his bag and pulling out a pistol, blade, and a cigarette, lighting it and heading further to the coordinates, a trail of smoke following the giant from the . What he came upon could only be described as a poorly made artillery range, and the other vigilante looking nothing but proud at his creation. The cigarette nearly dropped from his mouth in confusion and anger. He turned to the other man, the confusion clear on his face as he just shrugged his hands, his whole body speaking louder than words and asking “What the fuck is this?!” Meanwhile, Blaze’s face had a hint of eagerness on it as they were surrounded by these weapons.

Rayder partially listened to the smaller man as he searched through the files on this man’s phone for any signs of the messages or anything else. Their message folder was empty, recycling emptied, nothing downloaded about it. It seemed clean… too clean, in the giant’s paranoid opinion. Glaring at the man, he handed him back the device. He wouldn’t just destroy his possessions like that. He took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose to calm his nerves before pulling his own phone out to message Yaguro again.
“What you did compromised potential plans that could’ve been carried through to make this ‘team’ a well oiled machine. It will be much more dangerous if we are seen anywhere together now. My work life does stay away from my home life, so I can still pull off a cover story with my husband.” He didn’t give a damn as he pulled out a cigarette, lighting it and taking a deep breath. He let himself relax for a moment before going back to the device.
“I do apologize for my reaction earlier.”
“DON’T APOLOGIZE! His ass deserved a beating!” Blaze scolded the large man, glaring at Yaguro before Rayder continued.
“One thing you have to understand is I have to protect my life. I can’t lose this. My life was a living hell since my first breath. I have fought so hard to get where I am. I have lost so much. I’m haunted everyday by my past. Seeing you there, a connection to activities I do that are believed to be criminal and unforgivable, made me imagine everything crashing down if those activities were discovered. Losing my dream, being arrested, my love and child leaving me. I’ve lost enough in my life that losing anything else would be my end. It may be too much I’m sharing, but I need you to understand why I was so upset, and what my limits are.” Rubbing his face, he took out the box of cigarettes again, this time holding it out to the other man. A reluctant peace offering before he continued his messages.
“It will take a bit to trust you, especially after you destroyed the sanctity of one of my safe havens so recklessly, which I have had only a few ever, the ability to trust has been diminished further. I hide things for a reason, such as… this burden.” He tapped on his prosthetic, almost staring at the missing limb angrily and with embarrassment in his eyes. “I have weaknesses that are hidden for a reason, as do you. As my boss so eloquently put it, I am essentially quirkless, and it’s only with this that I can use the rest of my quirk. That is something I didn’t want you to know. It can cause many problems if we are discovered. They can take it away, leave me not only crippled, but quirkless as I am put on trial. I’d be trapped in a fucking chair again with no one and nothing but shame.”
“Shut up, you dick! Look at who you’re venting to! You’re saying far too much! What, you’re going to say “Oh, and by the way, I have my dead friend and first love stuck in my brain for all eternity?!” Quit opening up!”Blaze made Rayder come back to reality a bit, him realizing how much he was sending. Straightening himself up and clearing his face to its former emotional state, he resumed.
“This is something to save wherever you hidden everything else; You were interested in being taught sign language. You didn’t have money for lessons. I already help with people wanting to learn it and saw you, so I offered my services for free. We have to work with your schedule since you can’t miss any work with your finances, so you message me when you want a “lesson”. When you message when we need to meet, it will be referred to as lessons. This will be the story we keep up from now on, understand? We need a fake story to continue this damn partnership you wanted. Whatever team building you want, it will be our “introductory lesson”. Now, whatever else you needed from me today, tell me now. Whatever information or resources you gathered, tell me." Taking another puff, he knew he'd get chewed out for smoking in his uniform both by his boss and husband, but he didn't give a damn. His nerves were scrambled, and at this point, he felt he would have a breakdown with all the emotions bottled up, withering away at him. A curse of having no voice, no way to open up or release the agony as it snowballed constantly as he hid half his life from everyone around him.

The anger inside Rayder was immense, but he tried to relax. It would be bad if anyone else saw him like this. They wouldn’t believe just a bum customer would bring out this much rage in the giant. Taking deep breaths, the man listened to his so-called “partner”. The hushed tone that Yaguro was speaking back to Rayder in had a hint of… Something. Confidence, maybe? The giant’s mercenary grandfather taught him to notice these little details, no matter how small. He raised an eyebrow to him as he listened, knowing he had some sort of info, and would decide to use it against him. He truly had to contemplate working with someone so intrusive and reckless. At this point, he had been gone too long because of this bastard. He needed to think of something, quickly messaging the man.

“Before we can even continue this conversation, we need to take care of something. Scratch me, really bad. Make it bleed. It would be suspicious communicating this long with you. We need to make it look like an assault. I'll make sure they don't call authorities. After you do, run a few blocks to the pharmacy there, and turn in the alley. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Rolling up his sleeve to reveal his tattooed arm, he held it out to the man, waiting with a straight face. “Don't worry, it won't hurt me. I've been trained to take worse pain. The kitchen, however, has no idea, so it'll give me a good amount of time. I will also be clearing all my messages after this one. You better clear them, as well. I will check your phone once we meet back up, so you better not have anything on there. You're no longer to be trusted, so I'll have to goddamn monitor you like a rebellious teen. Let's get to it.” The giant said, hitting the message folder and deleting all the messages he sent. There needed to be no connection between them anywhere close to his job.