Love And Death Go Hand In Hand
Her gun was still aimed at Balalaika's back and Boris's head when the shot rang out. She didn't need to see, feel, or even guess whose gun it was. The sound of the Stechkin's bullet was unlike her own, or Boris's gun. She heard Rock's voice, gurgling. The sound was like something being smashed across her face, somehow painful and yet, she felt nothing except a deep, cold void around her, time slowing to a painful crawl.
She was frozen—of course, Balalaika knew she would not shoot her. Revy knew it to, deep down, too. She had seen Balalaika kill before, she had killed, too; she was no saint. She just never expected Balalaika to kill Rock, in front of her. She had tried to stop him, tried to stop her, tried to stop all of it. But now, the blood was smeared across the car hood as Balalaika stepped back and Rock's now-corpse slid down the hood slightly, and she looked at Boris, his gun pointed at Revy still, and ordered him quickly in Russian, looking irritably back at the body. Like she only now realized the inconvenience of disposing of a body in such a public location.
Revy's guns were still in front of her, utterly useless bits of metal in her hands, the slight shake even seeming to slow. Balalaika's eyes flicked towards her, and she wondered what she will say next. What else Balalaika has 'to say to her.'
Her breath felt heavy, her body was too hot, it was too quiet, the sound of her own heartbeat even fading. Balalaika was within distance and looking at her. She lowered her guns slightly as one hand grabbed her wrist, pulling it down. It wasn't aggressive, but Revy stood there, unmoving. She loomed over her, her frame growing larger as she came closer. She wondered how Rock managed to speak so confidently, staring up at her, waxing about his fucking hobby. And all of theirs; war to the predatory woman above her, and to her, dying in the gutter. The realization settled on her like a second bullet had been fired, bringing a fresh shot of pain to the old wound.
And then, Balalaika soundlessly wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close, and Revy knew she should push the murderous mafia boss, the fry-faced bitch, away. Far, far away. But she couldn't. She didn't want to, here with the woman locking her arms around her, forearms practically digging into her back, nothing could get to her.
The woman's breath was heavy, whispering close to her ear. "That stupid boy and his stupid hobby in getting involved in things that he shouldn't."
"S-sis…" She could feel Balalaika's body soften slightly and could see behind her now, Boris moving the body. His face did not portray the slightest bit of emotion–and Revy looked away, back into Balalaika's shoulder. She wished this was a nightmare, that she would wake up in Balalaika's apartment, in her arms.
Right To Be Mad
"His fate was always going to be that."
"Shit–" she cursed, like she couldn't do anything but stand here.
"It is better this way."
"For who?" she shook, unable to even cry, from fear or anger or sadness, she didn't know. Torn between two worlds, and Balalaika had made the choice for her; she had never had a choice but as Balalaika had said, it was nice to think that, for a moment to hope for a life like his. But she shook all the same, face unreadable as Balalaika's hand slid under her jacket to her back.
"For Roanapur. For you. With how easily he takes… people as weapons," her voice drew into a hiss on the last s, Revy's arms falling from her side. She grasped the sides of Revy's jacket, pulling her close again, breath heavy, "I did this to protect you, Rebecca."
Revy's eyes widened.
"What if I was someone else, who didn't care whether you lived or died? Hmm? Did he?" she pulled her close again as Revy stumbled back until her face was pressed against her again.
You care? Her mind spun, she wanted to hear those words so badly, but not here, over Rock's dead body in some parking garage in Japan.
Balalaika's hands clawed into her, tightly, once, "and don't think I don't know what happened. I see you have your cutlasses."
"I'm just fucking-was-here as his bodyguard."
"And how much ammo do you have left?"
Revy's lips parted again, but she said nothing.
"I know, which is why I don't blame you. Hotel Moscow has eyes and ears everywhere, Revy. We'll deal with her and her guard yet…"
"What about me, now, huh, sis?"
"You'll be with Hotel Moscow now." She pressed closer again, pump crushing a burned cigarette filter underfoot until Revy was hidden behind her coat and hair, where only Boris could see her back, whispering lowly,
"That said, there is business still to be done. We will discuss later." Her hand slipped down to Revy's hip, easily sliding the keys from Rock's corpse into the skirt's poor excuse for a pocket. Revy had not even noticed her grabbing them. "Do not run."
"Where the hell would I run?"
"I've seen you make more brash decisions. Boris will send you this evening's hotel."
"Shit."
Balalaika stepped back before Revy could cling to her, Revy glanced at the now-closed trunk of Hotel Moscow's car. "Where are you… What are you going to do with him?"
"The same as the rest. Find a place where he'll only be found by starving dogs," she said, mocking further at Revy's blank expression, "did you expect a proper burial?"
Revy said nothing.
"I will see you this evening then." She held out her hand, waiting for Boris to return her coat.
"Yeah, I fucking guess."
Give Me Mercy
Revy had in fact reached her limit. She had smoked all of Rock's cigarettes and then drank the remaining alcohol, deciding to go back to the hotel room—it had meant to be booked out for the duration of their stay– for one more night. Her guns hung heavy as she fidgeted with them, , begging to return to her hands and unleash her rage, and the remaining box of ammo left open. Waiting angrily for the call from Boris of where to meet them, making a mess of the hotel room as well.
Balalaika had made a mess, and she could pay to clean up hers. Rock wasn't coming back, damn it all.
She reached for the last bit of her drink, and then threw the last of the nice glasses at the wall, the empty plastic bottle of the overpriced hotel liquor falling to the floor.
And then the phone rang, "Fucking two-hands, what is it?"
"Revy, the hotel is located at the corner of 9th down the road from you. The Hyatt. Room 312. Balalaika would like to know your ETA."
"I dunno, fucking right now, I guess." She shut the phone.
Revy couldn't even be assed to find the car keys, deciding Balalaika or one of her men could deal with getting the rental car returned if they bothered, and she could steal something if it came down to it, tugging her jacket on and taking her few belongings in a plastic bag down the elevator and out the lobby, before drunkenly blinking at the night. It wasn't quite like Roanapur, but in the bleery neon night it seemed similar to stumbling out of the Yellow Flag.
She managed to get to the hotel, passing the many people returning from work and grimacing, fists tightening at her sides. And practically slammed the "3" button of the elevator, searching for another cigarette and lighting it as it opened to the hallway, making a right and knocking on the door.
"Come in."
There was no fear to swallow, only rage at hearing her voice, so casually. And she opened the door to see her sitting on couch with her legs crossed, cigar in one hand. She was still dressed.
"Come here. I only have a few left."
"Fuck you–" she started, and walked towards her, "why the fuck did you only tell me you cared when Rock was involved? Huh? Fucking jealous I was rooming up with him?"
"Revy."
"I fucking couldn't even do my damn job, did you want to see if I would shoot you, what the fuck–"
Revy found Balalaika walking towards her. Some voice told her to shut up before shit got bad for her, too. But she didn't care.
"At least he fucking gave a shit–" Balalaika grabbed her again, hard this time, pushing her towards the far end of the room with the bed and Revy gasped, pushing back, Balalaika grabbing for her hands.
"Fuckfuckfuck! Let me go!"
Balalaika backed her into the bed, shoving her back. A softer landing than Rock had, with her looming over her in the same fashion as she tried to find her guns, only to have her hands pinned.
"Gonna make me fuck you now, huh. Or you gonna kill me first, I told Rock you were into that shit—"
"Revy."
She pushed back against the hands, only to cry out and choke back another more pitiful one.
"I had no idea you were so upset–still. His death was his own choosing. Fate, I told you. Look at me, Revy. How drunk are you?"
"I trashed the fucking hotel room, too."
"And then you come here to throw a fit."
Revy shoved back against Balalaika, angrily cursing again.
"I will release you when you calm down."
"Just let me fucking go, let me go do what I came here to do, what the fuck I do best, sis—" she glared, arms shaking as she pushed back.
No More Tears
"Rebecca."
"Let me the fuck go, Balalaika–"
She fought back, hard, as Balalaika's deathly cradle on her body tightened.
"If I let you go back in the street like a rabid dog, you'll find yourself in the same place he did, and not by my hand. This is not Roanapur."
"I won't fucking run out, just let me go!"
Let him go, sis.
Balalaika regarded her, upper lip twitching almost imperceptibly. "Where are your guns?"
"No."
"No?"
Revy narrowed her eyes, looking Balalaika in the eye.
"Fine," she released her grip on Revy's wrists, only to receive a hard hit to the forearm, Revy pushing away from her, gasping for breath, hoping the air would bring her something to say. For all Balalaika had said to her, and in all her hurt and rage, Revy found herself wordless and staring at the woman.
She could not win against her hand-to-hand, or even by gun–the second battle would end with them both left on the concrete, only Balalaika's men taking her away for medical care or an honorable burial and animals and men coming to scavenge Revy's empty body for the nothing within it.
She reached to wipe her bangs from her face. "You brought me to the bedroom, you didn't answer the fucking question, or did you already get off on me struggling, huh?"
"No, I did not," her voice was crisp, but her posture failed to conceal her shock as Revy's words finally struck with their full weight. The hit to her forearm grew sore with regret. "We are not having sex."
"Fucking shit," Revy hit the pillow next to her, trying to push off the bed. As she stood, her mind spun violently as the adrenaline could no longer dull the alcohol. And one step came, and then another, until she stumbled into Balalaika, a weak shove leading. "Give me one of those damn cigarettes, at least."
There was a sigh, and Revy grasped for Balalaika's arm for stability. She hated it, the comfort it brought her for a second where the bloody fabric should have repelled her; that despite it all, she clung to her, asking for something once again. The cigarette was produced, Revy snatching it from her hands, searching for her lighter in her jacket once more, lighting it and sinking back into the bed.
"Try to rest, work will begin early tomorrow. We will discuss this…"
"You said we would talk later, later is fucking here," she gestured, ashes falling all over the bedding. "What is there to discuss anyway? You're fucking right, he's dead, nothing I can do about it." And where he had died, it seemed Rock's courage to speak out to Balalaika had lived in her loud as ever.
"Then that is all I have to say on the matter," Balalaika turned on her heel to leave, "You will understand, in time."
"Like hell." She pushed the cigarette into the ash tray after a final pull.
Would You Hold My Hand, They're The Same Ones That I Used
Balalaika found focus near-impossible, Revy's accusations too easily sticking. She was no stranger to accusations of cruelty, to a collection of affectionate nicknames. To eyes that stared at her in disgust or fear. But not Revy's. Brown eyes that carried their own horrors, dark pupils still holding reflections of memories of times gone by, of death. Her hands just as covered in blood, laying beside her in bed where their nightmares were shared.
She laid on the bed, staring mindlessly at the ceiling. She wanted Balalaika here, wanted Rock here, wanted something to forget the night. Rock's body haunted her, among all the bodies she had seen, sliding off the car's hood as she had turned to look at her. The room spun. She was too tired now. She wanted her to hold her again, block out the vision, the thoughts of watching Rock's body collapse to the ground, bloody and lifeless. Not have to think about the fact that she had done it.
She woke and saw Balalaika from the corner of her eye, half dressed and going through the small suitcase at the foot of the bed. Even in all the violence, she bothered with a change of clothes to sleep in. She blinked in the direction of the digital clock. 2:08 am. She eyed Balalaika sinking into the bed, checking her phone again and reaching to rub her forehead.
"Revy?"
She crawled over the bed. She grasped pink fabric, wrinkling under her touch and pressing her forehead to Balalaika's shoulder, "Fuck you."
"..."
"If you were any other fucker, I would–" could "–have killed you…"
"I know."
Her hand moved slowly, reaching under her jacket. And then paused.
She was right, and she hated it. Here she was, under Balalaika in her own way, that sharp gaze pointed at her head, awaiting for her to either bring her entertainment or somehow change her mind. Perhaps if she had waited a bit longer, she could have done it, thoughtlessly covered her face with the bedding, and not have to look at her as she had done, and run into the night. A scene so strangely familiar. She blinked, staring at the pink fabric.
Balalaika looked at Revy. She didn't regret it. But the way Revy's fist gripped her shirt, and pinched the skin lightly underneath as it tightened grew painful. Revy's body shook slightly as she pushed away finally, "Nothing to say, huh, Balalaika? You were fucking saying all that shit in the garage." She rolled her legs off the bed, "I got enough fucking sleep. Not like you'll let me sleep more than a few hours anyway. I'll be on the fucking balcony. "
"Revy."
Revy didn't say anything, her dark silhouette disappearing from the bedroom. Balalaika sitting in her silent shock. She plucked a cigarette from the carton, leaving it on the table and taking the carton with her to the balcony. Rock would have joined her at the other hotel room, talking about his life before here or the things the clans and businessmen had said to Balalaika as she stared endlessly into the Japanese nightlife below.
She had done it to protect Revy from him. The way he looked at her, used her, had always bothered her. To show he was to her first. The perfect plan, all within her control. But it destroyed something else, collateral damage. One day she would understand.
It twisted, though, that Revy now ran from her. She expected the half-drunk Revy to allow her to hold her, to comfort her. Even if she would curse and cry into her chest, she would have gladly taken it. But Revy had pushed her away. Angry, and after a moment, she realized, fearful. For the first time in so long, in their relationship, Revy was afraid of her, afraid of what held them together. It had perhaps not even been Rock's death, but Balalaika's words.
And Revy, I have something to say to you as well…
"Forgive me…"
The empty room could not absolve her of it.
Revy dropped the filter to the concrete below, still smoldering as she lit another.
No Place Like Home, But There's No Home For Me
She found Revy, collapsed forward on her knees, a pile of cigarette butts in the ashtray and scattered around her. How she did not freeze in Japan's winter chill was lost on her.
"Revy," she said, reaching down to grab her arm, pulling her up as she was jerked to wakefulness, "We are going back to the boat. I am finishing business today."
She twisted out of her grip, cursing, "I can get my ass up myself, fucking–we're going back to Roanapur?"
"Yes," she said, "I am finishing the last negotiations. It won't need a translator, some things are best settled quickly."
I won't need a translator.
Revy reached for her forehead. It hurt, especially standing now. Everything did. Rock would have told her to drink more water, would have shaken his head, or groaned from his own hangover. Sleeping on the patio had left a chill she couldn't shake.
"Revy?"
"Get me back to the fucking boat."
"I'll have you transported."
Revy nodded, and followed Balalaika down to the hotel lobby, where they went outside and two vehicles were waiting. Balalaika stood closely, hand brushing her arm as she went to enter the car. "Take her back to the Maria Zeleska…"
Revy refused to make eye contact, sitting in the passenger seat.
Balalaika shut the door, turning to see Boris. "Was he dealt with?"
"Yes, Kapitan… he is already dead on Japan's records, so it was an easy matter…"
"Thank you, sergeant… Let's get this dealt with."
Balalaika boarded the ship quickly, clicking the remote, and the car exploded. "And with that, the last evidence they would have… is gone." She smiled, looking at Boris, "And we can return home. And whichever incapable moron they send out here will take over." She turned, sighing, adjusting her coat, "Where is Revy."
"Near the forward bow, kapitan."
"Thanks." She turned, walking towards the front of the boat. Revy was sitting, looking at the ocean and sitting on the hard metal deck.
She looked up, blinking, "Sis…"
She came closer, she looked pale, pupils blown wide. "Revy…?"
"Take me home…" she mumbled, reaching for her leg.
"Revy…" she reached down to pull her up. Revy's hand was cold when she touched it, "Idiot…"
She picked her up, Revy's body unpleasantly stiff when she did. She needed to get Revy below decks and warmed quickly. She pulled her coat around, trying to cover her, "Sergeant!"
Boris looked up, as well as Polanski and the other two. "Is she alright?"
"Hypothermia…" Balalaika said, looking down at her, "Get… some tea. Blankets. Come to my quarters."
She didn't even wait for them to salute, taking Revy straight below decks to her quarters. She peeled away the cold jacket and skirt, shaking her head.
"Sis…"
"Shh, Revy…" she shook her head, "We're going to get you warmed up."
"You said you would take me home…"
Balalaika shook her head, pulling Revy into her lap, as her men came in through the door.
"We got some broth," they set the tray on the table. "We had no idea, Kapitan…"
"She's not used to this weather…" Balalaika sighed, feeling Revy's hand grabbing for her.
"Sis…"
"I need you to drink this for me," she took the paper cup, "Revy."
Revy shook her head, trying to curl up into Balalaika's warmth, "I want to go home…"
"Spoon."
She snatched the plastic spoon from Polanski's hand, having him hold the cup, as she brought the spoon to Revy's lips, forcing it into her mouth and for her to swallow. It was hot and salty, and Revy nearly gagged. "I don't…"
"You need to finish this. It will warm you up."
"...Fine…"
Balalaika offered a second and third spoonful, Revy tiredly agreeing to finish them before trying to hide in Balalaika's shoulder. "Do you think we can get enough hot water to fill a bath?"
"Not right now, Kapitan…"
Balalaika shook her head, "It's fine." She took the cup again, bringing it to Revy's lips, "Now drink, Revy. That's an order."
Revy didn't have the energy to protest further, sipping it as it was tilted so she could drink. Balalaika was satisfied when it was half-finished, reaching for her coat and covering Revy in it.
"I think… she will be alright… could you give us some privacy?"
"Of course," Boris set down the blankets. "We will update you when we near Roanapur."
"Thank you, Sergeant."
Don't Try To Fix Me
Balalaika looked at Revy, taking one of her hands which were finally shaking in an attempt to warm up to rub them, and with her free hand, Revy reached for the corner of Balalaika's coat, trying to wrap it around herself, kicking the boots off, now wet from the thin layer of melted ice. She took Revy's other hand, doing the same, gently rubbing the cool skin.
"Your coat is warm."
"Good."
Balalaika grabbed the cup from the tray, holding it out, "finish it."
Revy took it, chugging the remainder of the now-lukewarm broth, reaching her arms out to grab onto Balalaika for warmth. "Sis…"
She pulled Revy into her embrace, grabbing her head to hold it to her chest after several seconds, "Revy…"
She hid her face there, nose edging up to her collarbone and hands grasping at her suit jacket. She hid an ugly sob there, too. She could feel Balalaika's strong hand on her back, the warmth of being pressed there.
"S-sis…"
She wasn't sure if she shook from the cold or the feeling in her chest. Balalaika's hand soothed it anyway, hand in her hair pressing her there again, and a ghosting of warm breath near her forehead, hushing her.
"Do not do that again…"
"Wasn't on purpose…" Revy mumbled, pulling the coat over her shoulder as it fell off.
Balalaika's grip on her tightened again, "I should have checked this morning…"
"It's not your fault…"
"I should have, Revy," she said, "when did you last eat?"
"I dunno."
Balalaika sighed, letting her hand fall and preparing to release Revy, but Revy stubbornly kept her face hidden.
"Revy…?"
"I'm still angry."
"...I see."
Revy blinked away the tears, looking at Balalaika, "I'm never going to fucking understand… I knew he would fucking die… but doing it in front of me, sis…"
"I do not ask that you understand. I believe one day you will. I do not regret it."
She hid her face back in Balalaika's shoulder, wrapping her arms around her. "Sis… I gotta fucking ask…. Did you really think I would run off with him?"
"I had my doubts."
"But not that I wouldn't blast your ass to pieces, fucking shit, sis… I fucking talked about trust, but can't you trust me…?"
"I trust you… I did not trust him."
"I didn't want him, either, shit, sis, he was fucking obsessed with that damn Yukio girl, stary-eyed and shit, she fucking drove me insane… oh, shit–" she said, "I–sis…"
"Revy…"
She had completely forgotten in her drunken, confused haze. She had helped Rock work against Hotel Moscow.
"You were fucking right, I–" she pushed herself off Balalaika, shakily. She was still cold. "Damn it–you're gonna shoot my ass, too… I fucking helped him with Yukio… she got kidnapped and–"
"And he asked for your help to rescue her?"
"Yes–the fuck? Did you know?"
"A little."
"I…" she blinked.
"All is forgiven," she crossed her legs, "I assume whatever desire that was has died with him."
"I'm not your gun, either, sis–"
"Which is why I did not have you shoot him," she stood, walking towards Revy, "I know what it is to be a mere gun," she grabbed Revy's hands, forcing her to look at her again, "you forget that is once all I was, a gun. The dragunov , the Balalaika . You will never be that to me, and I will not allow anyone to treat you as such." Revy backstepped and felt the wall behind her.
"I'm not a fucking whore either, I didn't fuck him."
" That I did not think," Balalaika chuckled, "he couldn't handle you."
"And?"
"I can–I do, " she grabbed Revy's hips, pressing against her and grinding until she pressed back, letting out a low noise. "You are my Revy..."
" Fuck –" Revy groaned as she was dropped back down, "I'm fucking warm now–"
"No you are not," she said, pressing a kiss to Revy's forehead before pulling her up for a soft, nearly-chaste kiss.
Being Kind To It
Revy nipped at her lip. It had been too long, being separated like this in Japan. Balalaika released her from the kiss, "You need to eat."
"Fine…" Revy said, "What the fuck do you even eat on this ship?"
"Quite a lot, actually," Balalaika sighed, "Come with me to the mess hall…"
Revy tugged the coat farther up her shoulders to keep it from dragging on the floor, pulling it around herself. Even if she had warmed up, she was not quite ready to return it, and Balalaika hadn't attempted to remove it from her as they left her quarters, down the hall, passing two of Balalaika's men in the hall. Balalaika tugged Revy into the mess hall, nearly empty, she passed through the doors to the kitchen, Revy following after, looking around the large kitchen. She was always impressed by how clean Hotel Moscow's quarters were, both in Roanapur and on this ship.
"Here," she handed Revy a bag containing several cans and packets.
"Military rations?"
"Yes."
"What country are these even from," she pulled out the package, looking at the metallic packet.
"Wherever was least expensive, or from our recent raid. Could be either."
"Damn."
Revy dug around for a fork, before Balalaika handed her one, ripping the packet open. It was some kind of noodle, and she started to eat under Balalaika's watchful gaze. She leaned on the counter, sighing.
"I'm eating, alright. You were the one insisting on this shit."
She looked at Revy, "I did. You should have eaten yesterday."
Revy glared, and Balalaika didn't give any acknowledgment of it. "When the hell will we back in Roanapur?"
"A day's time. We've hopefully cleared the reach of the Japanese Navy by now… truly a mess left behind, but all our remaining targets were dealt with quickly.
"What about that girl and her fucking body guard, Bondo-man."
"Dead."
Revy ate the last spoonful from the packet, "Do I have to eat another one?"
"Yes."
"You should fucking eat one too."
"I didn't… drink heavily last night nor did I spend my day in the cold."
Revy pushed one of the packets towards Balalaika, "And you hardly ate anything the whole goddamn trip."
Balalaika took it, tearing it more neatly than Revy had, taking a spoon, "Since you insist."
"Good."
"I'm almost done, shit," Revy dug in the packet. She had been quite hungry, and was gradually feeling more awake, although more and more aware of the soreness from the chill. "Thanks… for finding me."
"I should have noticed sooner."
"I wouldn't have let you done shit, I was pissed."
"Rightfully so… still... I could have forced you inside. It was an unnecessary risk."
"Seriously, it's fine, sis," she chucked the packet in the direction of the bin, "I'm… fucking pissed still, but not for that. I didn't fucking die or anything, just got cold. I didn't even notice, shit."
Balalaika sighed, setting down her own packet, "Hopefully this is not a re-occurring set of circumstances."
"Hell, I hope not, shit," Revy inched closer to Balalaika, reaching for her arm.
Balalaika turned to face Revy.
"And… I think I understand now, a little…" she rubbed Balalaika's clothed arm.
"Good…"
"I want to go home, with you."
"Where is that, Revy? Roanapur isn't there, and I can't take you back to the Russian–"
"With you," she said, "Like, I don't know, hell, like… I want to be with you, like… I don't know, sis, not just fucking a casual thing, I want to talk more."
"You can have that."
Revy reached for Balalaika's other arm, gripping it to stop herself from shaking as Balalaika looked down at her, pressing closer. She backstepped slightly. "Sis–"
"Yes?"
"Then say it, fuck, please…"
"I will take you through hell with me, Revy, you know that," she said, "What do you want me to say?"
"That you want that?"
"Of course I do," she pressed into Revy's space, "I–"
There was a noise of metal on metal, and Balalaika sucked in a breath, and Revy swung her head to locate the source, clinging to Balalaika's arms tighter even as they tensed. Several seconds passed with no sign of anyone.
Balalaika looked at Revy again, and this time her gaze so intense Revy almost looked away.
Revy blinked.
And Balalaika kissed her, hard. She breathed on Revy's cheek as she pulled back, nose brushing as she spoke, "Oh, my dear Rebecca..."
"Sis..."
"I do love you."
Revy's head spun.
Revy's eyes were wide, looking at Balalaika. Her hands tightened on Balalaika's sleeves. Love?
She could feel Balalaika's breath, warm on her cheek again. "S-sis…"
She hadn't expected the reaction, the shock on Revy's face. She thought it had been quite obvious with the way she treated Revy.
Revy pulled Balalaika closer, hiding her face in her chest, not saying a word.
"Do not cry."
"I'm not crying… I just… I… Maybe I will, fuck, I love you, too, I think, I fucking can't seem to stay away."
"I know," she said, reaching to pull Revy's chin up to look at her. She wasn't crying, at the very least. She had missed having Revy this close, the whole trip to Japan. It hadn't been like Roanapur where she could easily call the mercenary to her office or cross paths somewhere. She leaned down to kiss her again, Revy's mouth initially slack on her own but quickly becoming needy once more, hands grabbing for Balalaika and trying to somehow bring her closer.
"Mm…mm… please, sis…" she let out a whine as she was pressed back against a nearby wall.
"What is it?"
"I–" she knew she would not convince the tall blonde to fuck her here, "Back to your quarters?"
"Yes," she said, but Balalaika didn't pull away just yet; she pressed closer to the brunette, pressing a kiss to her neck, pushing down the turtleneck, hiding her heavy breathing in Revy's neck.
"Miss me?"
"Yes…"
Revy gloated for a moment, before Balalaika pulled away, tugging her coat back over Revy's shoulders, "I will need that back at some point."
"Maybe I'll steal it."