Revy...

The fog receded taking with it the strength of the memory.

Back to the present. Rock was calling her name?

Something warm and wet pooled in her ears. Blood? No. Water.

"Wake up, Revy!" He pleaded, sounding panicked. "Oh God! Beck, wake up. " In a quiet whisper, he commanded in a determined tone, "You hear me! I know you do!"

What the fuck? She thought.

The sound of rapid slaps made it pass the water barrier followed slowly by hints of touch on her face. Is Rock hitting me?

Everything was so muddled in her head. It felt like she was half asleep, aware of her surroundings but unable to open her eyes and there was a distinct numbness through her entire body. For some reason, none of her muscles were responding to the simple command of 'move', no matter how badly she tried to.

"Come on." Steel inked through the panic of his voice. "You're tougher than this, damn it!" Rock reminded her.

Revy opens her heavy lids with effort, surprised to find herself looking straight up at a very worried Rock holding her in his arms. She was in the shower with him? When did this happen? Why was this happening?

Warm drops of water danced on her face, a few made their way up her nose causing her to cough and splutter. She felt his hand on her naked back pushing her gently to sit up, rubbing her back as she doubled over in a coughing fit. A searing pain accompanied each heave of her lungs which made her coughing a torturous activity for the seconds it lasted for.

"Easy, " She heard Rock soothing, the warmth of his hand so markedly distinguishable from the heat of the shower.

Rock reached over her head to turn off the water. As he stretched, she barely made out a whispering relieved breath of, " Thank God. Oh, thank God!", almost drowned out by the water in her ears and the noise of racing droplets against the tiles before a turn of the nob killed the flow then she remembered. This was all his fault!

Deliberately, he'd used the information of her past to get her to lower her guard, manipulating his way under her defenses just so he could throw that shit in her face. Just to hurt her. And it had worked!

So right about him!

All that bullshit about him never doing anything to hurt her, all that trash about him being a gentleman. An act.

This betrayal would have been so much worse if she'd let him fuck her which almost happened too. She'd almost surrendered her body utterly to him, was about to trust a man for the first time ever, to share herself with one, and that for her was taboo to even consider.

Shoulda kicked him harder. Instead of his shoulders, shoulda aimed for his nuts.

From the way he was talking she'd suspected something was up but never would have guessed that Rock had figured out what she'd never told anybody and anyone who knew about it was either dead or too far away to worry about. Using what he knows, he nitpicked at her emotional scars as he played upon her weaknesses, going so far as to ask for her permission for fuck's sakes. Inside now, her emotions alternated from anger to sadness back to disappointment because she had answered him in her mind when he'd asked: "Do you want me too?"

"Yes, yes" she'd thought in reply because it'd felt so right when he touched her. So good to feel that yawning emptiness inside her grow smaller with each of his kisses, the gentle way he'd caress her; so unfamiliar and new yet so intense that she'd begged for him for more. She'd screamed his name uncaringly. But it was all an act on his part.

The pain in her chest was leaving as her coughing subsided. At once, Revy tried to lift her arms to push at Rock's chest and two things happened;

One: She couldn't lift her arms, in fact, they felt heavier than steel. Panic at this reality she started struggling, wiggling but barely able to.

Two: Rock held her tighter against himself. Actually fucking hugging her! Shocking her into silence and seizing her movement (the little she was managing) to a standstill.

"You scared the hell out of me," Rock told her, one hand supporting the other side of her head, his face in her hair, clothes soaking wet. "Don't ever do that to me again. You barely had a pulse. A heartbeat!"

The shock of the moment over she opens her mouth, " What the fuck is wrong with you? Get off me!"

"Can you stand?" He asked as if she had not said a word.

"Fucking let me go." She railed while thinking in a rapid chain, What the fuck is wrong with my body? Why can't I move? Oh shit! Shit!

"Can. You .Stand. Revy?" Rock asked again, demanding an answer from her. Those dark eyes scrutinizing her. She could almost see the wheels turning in his head as dark brows furrowed in conclusion to his own question, to which the answer was no.

Determined to prove that she was still in control and not - sss-screwed, she tries to get up. She wasn't one to play victim or helpless and everybody knows that. She couldn't look weak especially in the company of a two-faced bastard like Rock.

"You can't," Rock said slowly, scowling down at her. "Can you?"

Revy ground her teeth, her lips sealed shut, looking up at him with her most malicious try-anything-with-me-prick-and-you'll-die-slow face on when she felt like hyperventilating. But she'd be damned before she allows herself to fall apart and become one of those women who cries and begs for mercy. She'd fight until her last breath. She'd been in worst situations than this all her life with tougher people than Rock. If he tries anything with her, he'd better kill her if he wants to live ...no...not even then because she would haunt him from the fucking grave if she had to.

Bring it, fucker!

Seeming to consider his options, Rock sported a grim look on his face which did nothing to calm her down because she couldn't predict what he about to do next. All she knew was that she was stuck in this freeze mode with only bravado and stubbornness left in her arsenal.

While she kept her 'brave face' on, Rock stood and before she could take a complete breath to argue, he was lifting her all-princess-bride-style and stepping out of the shower stall. It occurred then to Revy just how very naked she still was at the feel of Rock's arm on her lower back and his other arm under her thighs not to mention the cool air in the apartment caressing her asscheeks. The only thing that covered her was a soaked version of Rock's office shirt, clinging to her breasts and stomach.

Her bravado fled and she started struggling again. This time managing movement from her shoulders and torso gaining some traction of mobility. She slipped from his grip a bit but that didn't stop him.

"What-what-what the fuck is your problem?! Put me down.."

Rock pinned her exposed hand with the hand supporting her back. Afraid that she would attack suddenly?

If she could move - Fucking A.

"Calm down now." He said sternly through gritted teeth which pissed her off again. Did he dare just talk to her like that? Like she was a brat or something?.

Oh, just you wait.

Adjusting her in his arms, he carried her out of the bathroom literally pinned to his body applying his full muscle strength to her arms to keep her from constantly struggling. However, the more she struggled, the more she felt the numbness inking out little by little. She was starting to get a pins and needles sensation in her legs slowly spreading to the rest of her. Actually able to kick (barely) at the air and turning her head from side to side by the time they reached the passageway, at which point Rock pinned her with a serious look then warned in a low voice.

" Revy, I swear to God, if you bite me..." He let the words trail off making her want to bite him just see where that threat leads to but stopped herself.

Best not to antagonize the fucker while I'm not at a 100%

Calling a time out of sorts, Revy decided to find out just what the hell happened to her. In a gruff tone, she said, "I was kicking your ass"

"Yeah, you were, "

"Then I can't remember what happened next," she admits.

"You passed out on top of me." He explained matter-of-factly. "Your eyes rolled over and I had to catch you before your head hit the floor."

Flashes came back to her in pieces while he spoke. Rock was under her shielding himself from her attacks then her fists started losing power on impact. The bits of what happened next was fuzzy. She heard him hiss in a breath as he adjusted her again in his arms. "Barely made it too since my ribs are still screaming from a savage beating and it's painful to move," he said sounding peeved.

"You deserved it." She spat.

His chest heaved against her as he inhaled deeply. A moment of silence followed before he continued to speak, pointedly ignoring her statement. "You must have really acted up your injuries. The fact that you're suffering from paralysis is a testament to how much. You need to see a doctor."

As they moved down the short passage, she couldn't help the upending thoughts echoing around in her brain- He knows and I can't kill him for it.

This man that she barely knew for the better part of a year, actually now knew more about her than anyone living or dead but she didn't know squat but a name and what he did for a living before she kidnapped him. He knows that she had been the victim of someone else in one of the worst ways possible. And now she was at his mercy too. Fucking being carried by him, someone she despised because her body betrayed her. Yet he's the same man that had her screaming just minutes before in pleasure like she's never known. How fucked up is that?

No! What they did together didn't mean diddly fuck to her. She had an itch and he scratched that itch (multiple times). She got what she wanted and he got nothing in return. A win for her.

It could be her vanity that kept her anger flame hot or the confusion that she was experiencing inside. A turmoil of feelings bombarding her made more so as they entered the bedroom. She knew how to react to violence, excelled in abuse and degradation and easily knew the play on both sides of the field but as usual with Rock, she didn't know what to think. She thought for sure that he would have tried something by now, hit her head on the door frame as an 'accident' but nothing like that happened.

Gently, as if she was made of delicate glass, he places her on the bed. Once she was securely laid, he supported her neck as he fluffs the pillow under her head asking in a soft voice, "Are you comfortable like this?"

When she kept her mouth shut refusing to respond, he sighed then left the bedroom. It was then that she noticed his shirt, threads were in places where the buttons should be as if he ripped it from his back to cover her body.

Did he?

What did it matter? She didn't care. He was only doing this because he felt guilty for what he said. Yes, that has to be what it is.

She heard his footsteps in the passageway. What was he going to do with her?

Not willing to just lay there and wait for the unknown, Revy strode to regain her mobility. Sitting up was a challenge since her body still felt numb and burning sensations had started in her arms. She must have messed her injuries big time! Revy dug her heels into the mattress as her back and head met the wall behind supporting her upward efforts. Wriggling and grunting before finally managing a seated position. As payment for her refusal to stay down, a lock of wet hair tumble on her forehead over one eye and the wet shirt covering her wrinkled down her torso exposing her breasts fully. She tried blowing the hair out of her field of vision but got as far her feet could carry her, which right now wasn't very far.

Rock returned then, his expression unreadable. She wasn't some shrinking violet, any inkling of modesty she could have possessed was drilled out by communal showers while she was in prison, her innocence taken long before that. No. She was more concerned with what Rock was planning. Would he try anything with her? She's never been more vulnerable. Brought so low. Then she spied what was he was holding in his hands and nearly choked on a cry.

In one hand, he held her clothes and boots. In the other, he held one of her guns and the magazines.

Bravado redoubled, she snorted derisively, "And what are you gonna do now?" She challenged him.

"I'm going to dress you," he announces in an all-business like tone as he empties his hands, depositing the mags and gun at the end of the bed along with her clothes.

He was joking. He must be! Right?

"The fuck you will!" She exclaimed laughing a little but stopped at Rock's impassive look. "That's not fucking funny, Rock!"

"I'm not kidding" Rock answered in a deadpanned voice as he laid out her clothes. First, her tank top then came her shorts and her panties. Watching him handle her underwear shouldn't feel so titillating. It shouldn't bring to mind how he'd drag them down so slowly, toe-curling kisses following their descent.

Inward shake. Focus. Remember. The reason why she was experiencing all of this in the first place. The reason she couldn't move. She fixed her eyes on her weapons instead. The other gun joined its twin on the bed during her short memory trip. Even if he didn't know how to use a gun, he could still damage her in some way. She'd crack pretty of skulls with the butts of her cutlasses alone.

"Don't you fucking come near me, asshole."

Rock stopped what he was doing to raise his face to the ceiling muttering something under his breath before leveling his gaze on her again.

"You just experience something possibly life-threatening. I'm not a doctor but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that what just happened shouldn't be taken lightly. You need to see a doctor. I'm taking you to see one right now. " Rock informs her in a tone that brokered no argument so naturally, she argued. Growling out the words she made it clear to him.

"I'm not going to no fucking doctor and you're not fucking gonna touch me. I don't want your filthy hands anywhere on me."

At that, a muscle ticked in his jaw. A cold look took up residence in his dark brown pools as they stared at one another for a long moment.

"Very well then. Do as you wish," he said finally in a tone she'd never heard him use before. Indifference? Yes. Cold, emotionless indifference. She recognized it because that's exactly what she uses when she kills by the droves. When it was just her self preservation versus a no-name -soon -to -be- deadman. That revelation made her want to bite her tongue off.

She turned her head to keep him in sight, tracking his movements with her eyes as he walked away. Rock's back was to her in the far corner of the room, his fingers on his zipper dragging it down.

Dread gripped her. Inwardly she commanded her body to listen to her. To move, fucking move! Nothing.

Revy is the Queen of Cacophony. She had a no-contract policy with long periods of silence. Noise killed the memories, distracted her. In the quiet lulls, past voices screamed at her, constantly bringing pain and suffering.

Now questions plagued her mind.

Why wasn't he saying anything?

Did he plan to take out his sick revenge on her while she was in this state because she said some shit...have been doing some shit (blue balls and breaking and entering included) to him?

"Why are you taking off your clothes?"

Silence.

"Answer me dickwad, what the hell are you doing." He just ignored her.

Earlier, she thought she was about to hyperventilate, now her breaths shallowed. Her guns were right there yet she was powerless to use them. Rock wasn't talking and the quiet in this place was so loud she could hear the whirl of the ac unit over-head.

"Rock, damn you answer me!" She wished her voice didn't sound so panicked, she wished she could shut up and play it cool but anxiety had her by the throat the more she was left in this quiet helpless state. "Is this some sort of payback? Do you think you can take advantage of me because I can't fight back? What are you doing?"

A long sigh followed. "That should be obvious," Rock said finally in a flat tone, pinching the hem of his marina then pulling it over his head.

" If you refuse to go to the doctor, I'm not going to catch the flu by staying dressed in wet clothes. And besides," he quipped, glancing over his shoulder at her, "If I wanted to take some sort of advantage of you, wouldn't the better opportunity be while you were unconscious for over five minutes?"

Revy blushed embarrassed.

Turning back to what he was doing, he left her steaming in her thoughts. He put his pants and marina over one outstretched forearm, leaving only his boxers on. From her position she could see the outline of his ding dung under the cotton as he bends, arranging his shoes against the wall, his clothes dripping water on the tile. He wasn't hard anymore but there was no mistaking just how hung he was. With a size like his, wouldn't it hurt like the first and last time?

Out of fear of reliving that pain she'd kicked him. Now she was curious?

Why the hell am I thinking about this? I don't regret it!

Rock straightened then turns in her direction and Revy snapped her gaze away. He passes her, heading to the door only to stop at the threshold saying,

"Don't worry, someone like me will never touch you like that again. Let's just forget anything ever happened." Then he walked out of the room leaving the door opened.

Why did that just cause a pang? It shouldn't because she didn't give a shit.

In fact, she was glad she didn't have to suffer Rock's attentions. Even though she's never been in a relationship per se, never felt stupid things like crushes or love, that didn't mean she regretted never experiencing them.

Yet her mind kept going back to minutes ago. It didn't help that she could see the kitchen counter from her where she sat. The same place where Rock catered to her pleasure, his touch on her body, her abandoned uncontrollable cries. His firm tongue and skilled fingers inside her. Just how many women had he practiced on to get that good? How many were in her shoes, trying but can't get his touch out of their skins?

Revy, added to a conquest list? What the fuck?!

Was he a closet lech? Farfetch but not impossible to believe. Rock is an educated handsome man, who spoke at least three languages that she knew about. Even she could admit that he has an unusual charm and persuasion about him and when it came to business, once he got you to listen, the deal was as good as done. She's witnessed this a couple of times. Shit! She'd witnessed him talk his way out of being capped point blank by Balalaika then made the ice blue-eyed- war-loving Russian laugh her ass off directly afterward for fucks sakes. That had to be some sort of skill.

Add his knowledgable profile coupled with his pretty boy good looks and any woman with a pulse would want him before they found out about the swinger's package in his pants and experience what his mouth and fingers were capable of.

What the hell is wrong with me? She thought irritated.

Moreover, the idea of Rock with another woman, him whispering desperately; "I need to be inside you," to someone else was making Revy feel homicidal. Which was bullshit!

She glances away from the kitchen determined to cut off those memories; they meant nothing to her. It was just a carefully constructed act. An act that brought her to cum again and again, each one more explosive than the last.

She wasn't used to this, that's all. This week had her up in a twister of new experiences but it doesn't matter. As soon as she got her bearings back on point she would feel like her old self again.

Which was?

Familiar, navigational and patterned. Lonely, empty- always on my own. Looking over my shoulder constantly. She gave a hard shake of her head. Suck it up. Don't pussy out. Don't pussy out.

Glancing down at her feet, she spied her cigarette pack peeking out from her shorts pocket taunting her. She desperately needs one or two or the entire pack right now. She tried flexing her fingers, they twitched but that's all.

She began the process of pinching and dragging the sheet with her toes and heel. Her body set to the task left her mind to wonder again.

Earlier, when a feeling of loss overcame her as Rock drew closer to the bed, Revy, the murderer, the cold unfeeling vanguard of the Lagoon Company was beset with an almost overwhelming sensation to loop her arms around his neck like in one of those sappy love movies.

Good thing I couldn't move.

She's never been carried before and admittedly to herself; it was kinda nice? Maybe?

"Come on!" She urged her slow-boat-to-China progress. Heels to wrinkled sheets. Toes for snagging. By the time her shorts reached her ankles, sweat beaded her brows, her breaths labored. "Come on"

Where the fuck was Rock anyway?

Her heaving chest stole her attention from her need for nicotine. Chin down, her eyes widened as red marks of various sizes occupied both of her breasts. Love bites?!

That fucker!

Were they in other places where people could see them?! Horror dawn on her. Why hadn't she thought about this before? Her rep! Her street credit! People fucking targeted her on a daily basis, trying to uncover her weaknesses. It's the golden rule of any dangerous profession; you can't get hold of your target, you target someone or something he cares about. Classic smoke 'em out technique.

She knew she didn't have any weaknesses to speak of but perception is reality. Would her enemies believe that she has a boyfriend? A lover? Would they suspect Rock? No, she's never shown any affection for him. Didn't feel anything but confusion and hatred, possessiveness for his kisses, for the way he took his time caressing, stroking her needs. Insatiable for more even now after being satisfied again and again. Would some other woman get to know that side of him?

Again, thinking about Rock with someone else was causing an itch in her trigger fingers.

Annoying myself? Can't .think .straight!

Because every other thought was Rock. She wanted to kill him. She wanted him to hold her as he did in the bathroom. She couldn't even remember the last time someone invaded her personal space without malicious intent and Rock was relieved that she was ok. Was worried for her.

No, no, fuck no! I need a smoke. She thought, convincing herself.

Revy grunted, putting more effort into her task. Shorts at her shank. Rock strode into the room, scanning the situation. Wordlessly, he picked up her shorts, fishing the cigarette pack and lighter from the pocket. He took out two sticks putting one in his mouth then coming over to her. Revy parted her lips and he gave her what she was dying for. Two strikes of her lighter later and she was inhaling calming nicotine. Relief washed through her, thoughts growing more concrete with each draw and exhale she did. She felt more like Revy. She just needed a cigarette, that's all.

Then why were her treacherous eyes stalking the pale skin on Rock's upper back as he walked to the opposite side of the bed, lighting his cigarette? Why couldn't she stop watching those muscles flexed under black and blue bruises? Water droplets drip from black hair, racing down the length of his spine to narrowed tapered hips. She couldn't help following their trek with her gaze until they were absorbed into the waistline of his shorts. Did he take a shower? Why are her breaths shallowing again?

Eyes up. Gaze fixed on anywhere but him.

Again. What the hell is wrong with me?

She felt the bed dip on the opposite side but refused to look in his direction, her contract with silence activated. It didn't take long for her to break it.

"How long did you find out?" She asked quietly

"Recently"

"How did you know?" The words spilling from her lips.

"Do you really want to talk about this?"

"How the fuck did you know, Rock?" The octave of her voice rising yet it shook a little.

As if the words were pulled from him he told her. "I didn't" Revy turned her head to him and he looked back her. "but you gave me the clues to figure it out with your words and your actions."

Another silent break before he reluctantly continued "That conversation in the sunken sub is etched in my mind, Revy. I'll never forget it.

He'd gleam that much from that tidbit she'd told him about her life?

"So you wanted to use that against me?"

"No! If it were up to me alone, you wouldn't have known that I knew. I respect you too much"

"Bullshit! " Seething rage injected in her veins. "I bet you had a great time, eh? Having one thing over my head?" She gave a humorless chuckle, disdain dripping from every word as she continued. "Rebecca, the helpless victim turned badass motherfucking Two Hands. Bet you like that, huh? Good storyline? Good material for your hobby? Well, fuck you Rock. Fuck you and fuck your fucking respect. You can shove it up your ass."

He said nothing as she vented, feeling twinges in her fingers, arms burning but movement little by little coming back.

"Fucking safe bubble people like you couldn't begin to understand the fucked up hell my life was"

Rock chose that moment to interrupt her rant, "and just how long are you going to sing that same song, Revy?"

"You're a fucking dead man!' She leaped for her guns.