I'm just another aspiring author. I want to write a BL story that's targeted toward a more mature audience. I will try my best to avoid fan service and give you guys the real deal.
This story/arc picks after Black Lagoon 009 Roberta's Blood Trail. A mixture of reference from the Anime and the Manga will be used.
Legal stuff: I don't own Black Lagoon or any of its characters from the series.
Please leave comments and suggestions blah blah blah. I already have a good idea how's it going to end. I'm not doing any fan service. Yes, I want to make it frustrating for all of you. :P
More chapters to come.
The sea sat quietly on Sunday morning. It was too lazy to pull it self away from the pier, or to push itself onto the beach. It simply hung on today, like a tired beast, resting. The rhythmic churning sound of the water was interrupted by several splashing sounds. A flat rock flew from the pier and skipped across the tough hide of the enormous beast before being finally sucked down into its belly.
Rock threw another one and watched it sink. One moment it was skipping, not knowing where it's going, the next moment it sunk like lead, swallowed by the darkness of the water. He threw a few more rocks, each one skipping a few times and then sinking. When he finally got bored, he shook out a Marlboro from a cigarette box and put one in his mouth. He lit it and took a long drag. A gust of wind picked up and a curious pattern was drawn from the smoke lingering in the air. Like an artist, Rock tried to paint the thin air with smoke. The beautiful entwinement of smoke and air lingered for a second before becoming a greater part of nothingness. He took another long drag and let the smoke slowly escape, watching its progress as it slowly dissolved into the air.
Rock stood there and finished his smoke, his eyes focused on the gap between the wooden planks beneath him. When he finished, he tossed the butt into the water. His eyes automatically followed the trajectory. The cigarette butt stayed afloat, riding the waves. The water seemed unable to drag it down, and the butt lolled around stupidly on the surface. After a while, Rock put his hands in his pockets, gave the butt one last glance, and then started to walk away.
"Where's Rock?" Dutch asked he went to the coffee machine to pour himself a cup.
"He's at that pier again." A voice came from the couch. Revy was lying on her back reading a gossip magazine.
Dutch made no comment and continued to add sugar and cream to his coffee. The clinking of spoons on the coffee mug was broken by the sound of the door opening and closing. Rock went straight for the armchair and sank into it. Revy followed Rock out of the corner of her eye, and then returned to her magazine when Rock finally sat down. Rock was slightly uplifted by the scent of coffee that suddenly invaded his nose. Dutch sat down on a chair next to Rock's, and sipped his coffee.
Rock watched Dutch drink his coffee for a minute before taking in a deep breath and sinking his entire back into the comfort of the chair.
"Rock."
"Hmm, what is it Dutch?" replied Rock lazily.
"Did you finish the bookkeeping last night?"
"Yes, it's all done."
"How does it look? Does everything check out? Anything we need to look into?"
"It was alright. I sorted out the interest with the Indonesians. Hotel Moscow has paid up for the shipment. So no worries."
Dutch stared into nothing while continuing to drink his coffee. He took a few sips before slowly setting the mug onto the coffee table with a soft "ting".
"Rock, I feel like you've aged thirty years."
"What makes you say that?"
"What keeps you, yourself, from seeing that?"
"Well, there's only direction you can go once you are born, and that's to age. Some age gracefully, some age quicker than others. But we are all getting older."
Dutch considered Rock for a minute. Rock continued to gaze at the ceiling, breathing deeply.
"You've been going to that pier a lot lately." Dutch stated in a matter-of-fact manner.
Revy was staring at one spot on her magazine. Her eyebrows are furrowed and she listened intently to Rock and Dutch.
"One has to reflect, and get to know himself. Stuff happens in life, Dutch. You know that better than anyone. You can't prepare for them all. And sometimes they shake the core of who you are. So I choose to reflect, as a mean of coping if you want to look at it that way."
"Hmm, don't fry your brain too much. You are making me nervous. Don't forget I've got a pretty stocked bookshelf. If you need any self-help books, I could write you a prescription."
"Thanks, Dutch." Rock chuckled and sprang off from his chair to grab himself a coffee.
Revy finally sat up, and tossed the magazine onto the table and watched Rock pour himself a cup of coffee. She made a soft "tch" sound and took out a cigarette. After lighting up, she laid her arms across the couch and leaned back, looking into the ceiling.
The phone rang just as Rock came back to sit down. Dutch walked to the phone and picked it up.
"Lagoon Company, Dutch Speaking… Mr. Chang. I suppose you have a job for us?"
Dutch listened as the other side talked.
"Ok, sure thing Mr. Chang. The price sounds good. With any luck we should be able to get the goods back to the port in three days….Yeah, mm hmm. Alright, my pleasure."
Dutch hung up and said to the other two, "We got a job from Mr. Chang. He wants us to receive a shipment. We will head out this evening. I will have to plan out a route and check the whether. Revy, I want you to pack some extra weapon and ammo. Mr. Chang warned us other Triad groups in Cambodia might try to take the goods forcibly away from us, so we have to watch out for them. This is a simple job for five grand. Mr. Chang will reward us more if we can get the goods back in perfect condition. Try not to get shitfaced before then."
"Alright Dutch. I will be a good girl." Revy snorted, "What a fucking waste of time. Too bad we need the get-by work."
Dutch went over to the radio to let Benny, who is working on the boat, to let him know what's going on.
After preparing for the trip, which took all morning, the entire lagoon company went out for lunch in the market. Dutch ordered some noodles and brought them back to the table. He drew curious glances from a few youngsters walking past on the street who has never seen a black man before. Dutch sat down and took out a Newport.
"Damn, I'm running low on these." Dutch said. Rock noticed there are only two cigarettes left in the box. "I think I spent a better of my income on imported goods."
"Why don't you just smoke Marlboro? You are about the only one in this town who smokes Newport." Revy said as she prodded the noodles with her chopstick, trying to find the weakest link to attack first.
"I'm just playing up to my stereotype. If I was the mayor of this town, I would get rid of the shitty counterfeit cigarettes on the streets. That would do everyone some good. Evan a villain deserves a good cigarette." Dutch replied.
"You'd have my vote." Benny said.
Rock took occasional bites but the noodle tasted rather bland today. He wasn't very interested in the conversation the rest were having. He sighed and rested his face in his palm and looked out onto the streets. He prodded his noodles absent mindedly without looking. The noodles got submerged and bounced right back up like a struggling man trying not to drown. Revy drew her attention away from the conversation and noticed Rock's chopsticks mutilating the noodle. She caught Dutch's eye and gave him a look, she then pointed her eyes to the hot sauce and then to rock's bowl. Dutch grinned, and nodded.
A small child was on the street pretending to a beggar to make some money. Rock watched the child's futile quest as adults shooed him away. It was very entertaining. He brought the bowl back to his face and started gulping down the soup. Revy, Dutch, and Benny looked intently at Rock, trying their best to hold back their laughter. Rock stiffened up suddenly, and then brought the bowl quickly down onto the table. His face was red and his eyes watering. After a few seconds, his tongue finally came out and he started to hyperventilate like a dog.
"Get… me… water…" Rock coughed.
Revy, Dutch, and Benny started laughing and banging on the tables. Their commotion caused a few tables around them to turn their heads. Rock found a glass of water offered to him from Revy.
"Oh man, Rock. You should've seen your face! Man, that was gold! Wished I had a camera. Fuckin' hilarious!" Revy laughed and gave Rock a light punch on the shoulder, "You feelin' alright there, partner? Paying more attention to your food now?"
"Thanks a lot guys. That was absolutely hilarious. Fuck. Need more water." Rock took another swig of water and said, "I can't wait till I get back at you for this."
Revy watched Rock as he cooled down and started to laugh with everyone else. The expression on her face softened. She studied the man like an art critique studying a painting, taking in everything from the light reflecting from the sweat on his sideburn to the perfect creases on his shirt arms. She suddenly found Rock smiling at her. Disarmed, she automatically smiled back. Then she suddenly turned away from Rock, and started to eat her noodles with a pensive look.
The company finished lunch after Rock had ordered a new bowl of noodles (sans hot sauce). Revy avoided looking at Rock direct on for the rest of the meal. The crew walked back to their car. Rock noticed Revy's usual hardened expression return to her face after they got in. Benny started the car and drove off for the port. The sunlight pressed heavily down upon them, making them feel slightly drowsy. Revy had her arms crossed and stared resolutely out of the window. Next to her in the backseat, Rock is enjoying the scenery, looking relaxed. The radio played Teresa Teng, filling the car with her honey sweet voice. Normally the three Americans would switch the station as soon as she came on, but everyone is too lazy today. After a while, Dutch even started humming to the tune. The lagoon company all sat there, seemingly enjoying Teresa Teng, as they headed for the comfort of AC in their office.