Revy slowly opened her eyes. Light was coming in through the thin blinds on the window. Rock wasn't there. In his place on her bed was a little note. She reached for it.
"Went for breakfast
Will bring some back
Love
Rock."
Revy smiled. Just reading his written words was enough to give her a case of the warm fuzzies. They'd kept talking for a little while after her big confession the night before. But, being both emotionally and physically exhausted they'd dropped off soon afterwards. Still, the events of the night made her smile.
Now he knew…
He knew everything about her now, even the bits that were darkest, even by her standards.
And he was still there…
He hadn't turned his back and run. Part of her still couldn't believe it, but the note she clutched in her hand was further proof. She wanted him. Even though she knew his absence was only temporary she wanted him there with her now.
She wanted to tell him she loved him again.
She wanted to do this properly. No more, "I'm just here for the free rent and sex" bullshit. For one of the few times in her life she allowed herself to play make-believe because it seemed like they might have a solid shot. She imagined them both on a beach somewhere. They'd walk hand-in-hand along the shore. He'd tell her all the sweet, cheesy-as-fuck things that made her smile and blush and fall for him. They'd stop by the shoreline, he'd turn to her, kiss her, and lift her in the air before they'd fall together in the sand.
Jesus fuck, she was horny!
She giggled. God damn it, she sounded like a damn teenager.
She checked the heart-rate monitor next to her bed.
Yup, still alive. Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the sliding glass door. Speak of the devil, Rock walked in carrying a tray.
"Good morning, beautiful!" he exclaimed when he saw her awake. "Breakfast?"
She smiled.
"Get over here."
He walked to her bed. He folded out the legs of the table tray and placed it in front of her. She could smell the bacon and eggs. She tried to sit up.
"Wait," he said.
She lay still while he pressed a button on her chair and she felt it push her into a sitting position. She smiled and watched him the whole time.
"I love you," she said again, as he sat down.
No prompt, no quid pro quo, just three words that meant more than anything. Rock started for a moment, then he smiled. He bent forward and kissed her, and she brought her free hand to his face as he did so.
"I love you too, beautiful."
The next hour or so was spent easily. As they ate Rock recounted the results of the fighting. The Cartel, Mafia, E.O. company, and Ripoff Church had all been defeated. The Triads, Hotel Moscow, and the cops were all on their side. But there was more good news as well.
"The cops searched the Church after the fight with Eda. They found a lot of weapons and drugs, but they also found a laptop we think was Edas. If it's an official CIA laptop, we may have hit paydirt."
"More than the guns even?" Revy asked.
Rock nodded.
"If we're going to stay safe from the CIA, we need another government to protect us. The National Intelligence Agency, that's basically Thailand's CIA, met with me, Saensak, and Dinali while you were still out. Dinali's my lawyer," he explained in response to her quizzical look. "He works for the firm but he's also handled some private business for me as well. Anyway, the Intelligence people were very interested to learn that the CIA had been selling guns and drugs on Thai soil without their knowledge. They won't declare war on the United States or anything, but they were willing to offer us both Thai citizenship and grant us sanctuary."
"Us?" Revy asked.
Rock smiled and nodded.
"I told them we come as a package. We're a couple, after all."
Revy blushed and smiled.
"I love you," she said again, more quietly this time.
Now it was Rock's turn to blush. He leaned forward and kissed her again. Kissed her breathless and happy until Revy forgot about everything.
They finished breakfast and Rock cleared away the tray. They lay together on the bed. They chatted and joked and talked and kissed. Revy forgot everything that might be happening outside. The blood and smoke she had previously cherished mattered as much as the dark, half-hidden face of the moon. All she knew was that she wanted to feel this good forever.
Suddenly, their rapture was interrupted by a sharp tapping on the door. Rock checked his watch.
"Crap," he hissed, and Revy giggled because she thought his swearing was unbearably cute.
Rock sat up and turned to the door.
"Enter!" he called.
The sliding glass door opened, and Balalaika swept into the room. Rock sensed Revy tense next to him, and he understood why. The last time these two fearsome women had faced each-other, their guns had been leveled at each-other's heads.
"Good morning," Balalaika greeted them. She faced Revy.
"Do pardon the intrusion, Two-Hands. I simply have to borrow your man for a moment."
Rock looked at Revy, who nodded wordlessly. She'd have to work on mentally transitioning between soft-as-fuck girly lover and hardened killer, she thought to herself. At present she couldn't even come up with a retort.
As Rock crossed to the doorway and Balalaika made way for him to pass, however, Revy found her voice.
"Hey! Sis!"
Balalaika stopped just before leaving.
"I want him back same way you got him. Ya hear? No bullet holes!"
Balalaika smiled.
"Really, Two-Hands, do I look like a nun to you?"
"Hey! Fuck you!" Revy laughed as Balalaika turned and followed Rock out of the room.
"Fuck you," she repeated without malice as the lay back and closed her eyes.
Balalaika and Rock strode down the hall to Chang's room.
"She seems well enough," Balalaika commented.
Rock nodded.
"The doctors say she'll make a full recovery."
"After a chest wound that's quite reassuring. And it looks like you came off lucky," Balalaika said, indicating Rock's bandage.
Rock held up his arm.
"Oh! This? I didn't get it in the fight. Revy lost a lot of blood. I donated. We're the same type. "
Balalaika nodded slowly, apparently impressed.
"The things we do for the people we love," she said, as much to herself as to Rock. They rounded the last corner and opened the door to Chang's room.
Chang was sitting up in bed. He was pouring over a tray strewn with papers and open ledgers. He looked up as they entered, and Rock bowed.
"Dai Lo," Rock said in a tone of deep respect. "I am so sorry for your loss."
Word of Chang's injury had spread like wildfire. Rock's network had informed him not long after Revy's surgery had ended.
Chang waved his hand.
"Chill out mastermind. I'm not dead yet. And we've got work to do."
"And the sooner we get started the better," Balalaika joined in, striding over to Chang's bed and seating herself beside him.
Over the next few hours Rock, Chang, and Balalaika fleshed out the details of their new regime. Three of the city's largest gangs had been destroyed, which meant there was a lot of market share to absorb. They planned out who would take what percentages of what properties and businesses. Chang would remain as boss of the Triads. Rock agreed immediately to Balalaika's proposal. A different Triad boss was an unknown variable at best and an overt threat at worst. They made the necessary plans.
When they were finally finished Chang leaned back on his bed with a groan and stretched out what was left of his leg.
"I might get a prosthetic," he said, indicating his stump. "I won't be as fast anymore, but I'll be able to walk."
Balalaika smiled.
"Some injuries you just have to learn to live with, sadly," she said. "But I have faith in you, baby."
Chang smiled back.
"Hey! With you two backing me, I'll be up and swinging in no time. Rock, how's Two-Hands?"
Rock told them about the fight in the Ripoff Church and Revy's resulting injuries. He chose to omit that Revy had been blackmailed, instead saying that he had sent her on an urgent errand that had pulled her away. Then he relayed the details of her surgery and held up his bandage to show evidence of his blood donation.
"Credit where credit's due," Chang said, nodding. "You're one hell of a boyfriend. You're not still asking about her past though, are you?" He added, looking suddenly suspicious.
"No." Rock answered. "We've covered all the ground we want on that front."
Balalaika looked curiously from Rock to Chang.
"What is this?" she asked.
Chang looked at her.
"Loverboy here and Two-Hands had a fight because he pushed for details about her past," Chang explained. "That's why she was with me at my gun range when the hit on me went down. She was blowing off some steam."
Balalaika looked disparagingly at Rock.
"Really, Japonski, you of all people should know that some things should remain buried."
"So I've learned," Rock nodded, graciously.
They finished discussing the last details, then said goodbye. Rock returned to Revy's room, Balalaika made her way to the elevator.
Rock knocked on the door before entering. Revy was still laying in bed, looking out the window. She looked over at Rock and smiled as he entered.
"Hey there, Rambo. How'd it go?"
Rock strode over to her.
"Great! Got everything done that we needed to."
He kicked off his shoes and rejoined her in bed. He placed his hand over her stomach. To his surprise, she nuzzled her face against his.
"Missed you, big guy."
"Me too, beautiful. Did I miss anything?"
"Naw. Doc came back in. Asked me some questions. I mentioned that I've been puking a bit these last few days and he asked if I was pregnant."
Rock felt his heart stop. Revy must have noticed because she elbowed him in the ribs.
"Chill. A prison doc checked me out years ago. I'm sterile. I dunno what caused it but he seemed sure."
"Oh," Rock said.
Something in his voice must have sounded off, because Revy suddenly looked concerned.
"Is that ok?"
Rock thought about it for a minute.
"I'd never really thought about it, to tell the truth. Roanapur isn't exactly disneyland. The best off kids around here are those who work for me, and even they don't have anywhere near what they need."
Revy rolled her eyes.
"Rock, if you'da offered me half of what you fork over to them when I first came here, I'da jumped for joy."
"Oh! I'm not saying that I'm unfair. By the standards of this town my kids get by just fine. Still, this isn't the place I'd choose for a kid, not mine anyway."
Revy shrugged.
"Well, it's not an issue. Doc just wanted to test my piss to check off a box on his chart. Didn't cost me any, so I gave it to him."
"Cool," Rock cooed as he pressed his face to hers again. "Cool, cool."
They lay there quietly for a while. Then Rock spoke up.
"What about you? Have you ever thought about kids?"
"Nope," she answered, shaking her head. "Told you before, all I've ever wanted to be is me, with more money. Besides, I barely had a mom as it is. I don't have a clue how to be one."
Rock nodded pensively.
"It's not for everyone. Right now, I'm just glad that you're here."
She looked over at him and smiled.
"Me too, Rock baby. I love you."
He returned her smile, then he brought himself to her mouth and kissed her again. Kissed her until he felt her mouth curl into a smile against his.
"Things are looking up," he thought to himself, as he drowned in her kiss.
After the kiss broke apart on its own they nuzzled for a moment, then Rock thought of something else.
"I will say this," he said, unable to resist the chance to impress her. "If we did have a kid, money wouldn't be an issue. Not anymore."
Revy's brow furrowed. She cracked an eye and looked at him quizzically.
"Why?"
Rock's lips curled into a smile that wasn't his own. It was a thin, rabid smile she had seen only twice before. It was the smile of a villain.
"Sometimes… information is more valuable than cash."
Revy was curious now and her face showed it.
"Before I tell you, I need your assurance that this will stay between us," he said, lowering his voice. "All the other players are professionally obligated to keep the secret. I'm willing to tell you any part of my private business, but only if I have your ironclad guarantee that no one else will hear it."
Revy nodded.
"I won't blab," she said. "I swear."
Rock narrowed his eyes.
"Also," he added. "No part of this can be written down. That email you opened didn't just contain that picture. It also contained a computer virus that was able to access my private email and search history. Benny's already scrubbed it but we're not sure how much they saw. Nothing about this can be written, understand?"
Revy gritted her teeth. She hadn't realized how much she may have been compromising Rock. She felt the iron grip of guilt seize her throat.
"I'm sorry," she gritted. "Nothing written, I swear."
Rock stared at her for a moment, then nodded. It would take a while to fully rebuild their trust, but for now they were ok.
"Well," he began, tentatively. "Do you remember when Feng came to the apartment to tell me about Ronny and Abrego?"
Revy nodded.
"Well, in her envelope was a little disk related to a separate, private business venture between her, me, and my lawyer."
Revy perked up, Rock elaborated.
"It really came due while you were still out, but I'll get to that. Do you remember how I first came to this city? How my company was selling nuclear technology to a U.N. sanctioned nation and I was the messenger?"
Revy nodded.
"Well, I was casting my mind around for a new profit-making venture some time ago, and I wondered whether or not I might be entitled to some compensation for all the pain and suffering they put me through. I asked Denali, but according to him we needed more evidence. Obviously I couldn't ask you, Dutch, or Benny to testify. So, I reached out to Feng to see what she could find. She agreed to hack into Asahi's systems for me. What she found was a gold mine."
Rock swelled. Revy cringed. She preferred lovable Rock to criminal Rock.
"It turns out that the country that Asahi was selling nuclear technology to is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea."
Revy could tell this should have been a big reveal, but she couldn't figure out why. Rock instantly read her muted reaction and elaborated.
"This goes beyond U.N. sanctions," he explained. "North Korea is an avowed enemy of Japan. Think about it, this is a country that has kidnapped Japanese citizens, that launches missiles at the Japanese coast, that routinely refers to my country as an enemy and regularly threatens it with nuclear annihilation. And a Japanese technology firm is selling them nuclear secrets for profit.
"In case you're keeping score," he continued, his face rising. "We're well past the point of, 'this would look bad in the tabloids' and well into the realm of, 'if the my government gets any evidence of this, it's quite possible that every member of the Asahi board will die in prison, nevermind what happens to the company itself.' That disk contains the sum of Feng's research. It shows exactly what Asahi sold to the D.P.R.K., when those transfers took place, and even has some direct communication between them and a known North Korean diplomat. If that evidence ever came to light, every manager at Asahi who knew anything about it and did not report it would be, to quote my lawyer, 'utterly fucked.'"
Revy's mouth fell slightly open. She'd had no idea this was happening, even through all that time with him.
Rock beamed at her response.
"That scenario becomes even more likely when you consider who I'm related to. Do you remember me telling you that my older brother works for the Japanese government?"
Revy nodded.
"Right, well what I chose not to tell you is which department he works for. I chose to leave that out because I thought there was a chance you and Balalaika might not want to keep working with me if you knew, at least while we were in Japan. Because he works for the kōanchōsa-chō, or the public security intelligence agency."
Revy had forgotten her mouth was still open.
"Now, it's worth noting that my brother and I haven't spoken in years. We had a falling out some time ago. Still, he and I have the same family name. And Asahi doesn't know that we don't speak anymore. I could convince them that, if I were to reach out to him, this would be taken very seriously.
"While you were still asleep, Denali called me. He emailed Asahi's general counsel, that's the head of their legal department, with a little taste of our case and our evidence. Within an hour, I had their CEO on the phone.
"Mr. Okajima," Rock said in a deeper voice, simulating the phone call. "I'll keep this short, how much will it take to make you go away?"
Rock laughed.
"I named him a number. It was not a small number. It was a number slightly above what I knew he'd instantly agree to. He hung up. An hour later, I got another call from the same number. All he said was, 'done.'"
Rock chuckled again.
"What likely happened," he continued. "Is that he called their liaison with the E.O. company and asked how much it would be to take me out. That would be one other option for them to ensure my silence. Or rather, it would be, if most of the E.O. company wasn't currently at the bottom of the bay, and their lawyers getting threatening calls from the Thai prosecutors office!"
Rock laughed again. Revy was stunned.
"So, yeah. If Asahi wants me to keep quiet, they're going to have to fork over a boatload. They'll probably end up paying me more than they earned from North Korea in the first place. But, that's not my problem."
He stroked Revy's cheek with his hand and smiled at her again. His own smile this time. A smile that whispered softness and kindness and all the things that Revy loved him for.
"We're talking about enough money to make a few civic improvements. A new school maybe. A new hospital. And a house for us to live in together."
Revy was utterly stupefied. Rock smiled at her. He brought his face to hers again and kissed her until she kissed back.
"I love you," he whispered.
Dutch sat alone in his office, pouring over a ledger. Rock had given him a generous bonus for his help in the battle. Too generous. Dutch had briefly felt bad about taking it. Compared to the other combatants, his contribution had been relatively easy and risk-free. Still, the captured soldier had confirmed that they were members of the E.O. company. He'd confirmed that they'd been sent there with orders to kill Rock, and any others who got in the way. Dutch supposed the intel had been worth it. Now Dutch was focused on advancing his business. He'd marked the location of the E.O. wreck on a map. All he needed was Revy, and the salvaging could begin.
With the hand not holding his cigarette Dutch was about to take another shot of Rock's whiskey, but suddenly he heard a knock on the door.
He stood up, strode over, and opened it.
Revy was standing on the landing. The look on her face made Dutch's skin prickle with the preternatural warning of an unwelcome change.
"Evening, Revy," he began. "How's it going?"
Revy looked up at Dutch.
"Eh. I'm okay, partner. I got bad news for you though."
"Oh?" Dutch asked. He took a draft of his cigarette to cover any possible hint of disappointment.
Revy dropped her gaze to his chest.
"Yeah. I'm out, Dutchy. I can't work for you no more."
The news wasn't welcome, but Dutch supposed he should be lucky to even get this much. After all, when Chang had come for her, she'd walked out of the office without a word or a backward glance.
"Sorry to hear," he responded. "Any chance of a two week notice? There's plenty to salvage off that E.O. wreck."
Revy shook her head.
"Fraid I can't Dutchy, sorry."
Behind his glasses, Dutch put a leash on his temper.
"Any reason why?"
Revy met his gaze again.
"I'm pregnant, Dutch."
Whatever answer Dutch had expected, it wasn't that. His mask of cool indifference slipped as his eyebrows jumped over the rims of his sunglasses. After a few seconds his eyes flitted furtively to the cigarette in his hand. He dropped it to the ground and stamped it out with his boot.
Revy dropped her gaze back to his chest.
"We found out a few hours ago. They checked me out at the hospital. I never thought it could happen. A prison doc years ago told me I was sterile. But, fuck me I guess. That said, I talked it through with Rock. We want it, so I can't be your heavy no more. Rock says I gotta tell you all proper like. So… here," she held out a folded piece of paper. "I'm real sorry, partner."
Dutch felt every ounce of anger and annoyance fall away. He took the paper, scanned the three lines, refolded it, and put it in his pocket.
"We're cool Rev. You wanna come in?" he asked.
"Yeah," she answered. "Gimme a sec."
She pulled a cell phone out of her pocket and turned away. Dutch strode back into the office, leaving the door open, and took a seat on the office chair. He emptied the rest of his whiskey glass down his throat. Through the open door he could hear Revy on the phone.
"Heya babe. Yeah, I just told him. We wanna talk about a few things. Can you hang out for a bit?"
Silence.
"Yeah. I'll call you when we're done. Thanks babe."
She hung up and strode inside. She flopped down on the sofa opposite Dutch and looked at him with a sad expression on her face.
"I'm sorry," she said again, and Dutch could tell she really meant it.
Dutch nodded.
"All good, Rev."
A moment of silence passed, then.
"I was looking forward to being back, Dutchy," she said. "Riding the waves with you? Best gig I ever had, easy. I know I ain't always been perfect, but we made a killing together, partner. We had a lot of good times."
She fished in her pocket and drew out what looked like a packet of cigarettes. She drew one out with her teeth, but instead of lighting it she took it completely into her mouth and chewed.
"Candy smokes," she explained, holding up the box so Dutch could see. "Addiction shrink says the best way to kick a habit is to replace it with something else. They say the cravings should go down in two weeks. Probably bullshit, but I'm gonna try."
Dutch nodded.
"Are you staying in the city?" he asked.
Revy shook her head.
"Nope. The wrong people find out about this, and it'd put a target on my back. Rock got us a little place outside Bangkok," she explained. "Bought it in a rush job. I haven't even seen it yet, but it's got a pool out back. Rock says he wants this to be the easiest pregnancy ever. I don't have a fucking clue what that means, but I think I'll like the pool."
She sucked on her candy for a moment. Dutch was tempted to offer her a shot of whiskey, but decided not to risk it. If she was giving up smoking, it made sense she was giving up booze as well.
"You told me something, once," she continued. "You said, 'whatever's eating you comes from deep inside. That no amount of killing is going to make that pain disappear.' You were right, Dutch. It didn't. It still hasn't. But, I've got a better line of sight on it now. Truth is, for a lot of my life I just wanted more money and power. More money and power so I could kill whatever fucking asshole I wanted to, and I wanted to kill a lot of them. I…" she paused here, thinking. "I had to meet a guy who I didn't want to kill. No, a guy who I couldn't kill, to make me see that I want more than that now.
"You want me to be honest? I'm pissin' my pants over here. Me? A mom? Are you fucking kidding me? I barely had a mom myself. I don't have a clue how to be one. But, Rock seems to think I can do it. And me? I'm just dumb enough to buy it.
"I can't give her much," she continued, suddenly sounding bitter. "I don't know how to raise a kid. And I'm gonna have to do a full one-eighty on a bunch of shit."
"Her?" Dutch asked suddenly.
Revy's eyes jerked up to meet his.
"Well, we don't know yet," she said, leaning back and placing a hand on her stomach. "I'm just saying what I'm hoping for cuz… ya know."
Dutch nodded. After a few seconds of silence, she continued.
"Level with me on something, Dutch. Do you think Rock'll ever hurt his kid?"
"No," Dutch answered.
Revy dropped her gaze to the floor.
"You think he'll let her drop out of school? Or have to steal to eat?"
"Never."
"Think he'll let her have a gun before she's seven?"
"Not unless you give her one."
Revy laughed.
"Ya got me there!" She chuckled. "I won't though. No way."
She met Dutch's gaze again.
"I can give her something I ain't never had, Dutchy. I can give her a dad who gives a shit. A full blown loving family. That's what she's got waiting for her. And I'll be damned if she doesn't get it because I didn't have the balls. And I'll be damned," she looked down at the floor and spoke in a near whisper. "If I hurt her daddy because I wanted more money."
She looked at the ground for a few more seconds before turning her face to Dutch with an expression of hard determination.
"I can pull this off, partner. I got Rock, we got money. But not if I keep going the way I was. What'd you call it once? Whitman fever? When we get a new crewmate and I shoot up a place? Well, news flash, if everything goes well in about nine months we'll be getting another crewmember forever, and I can't fucking do that no more.
"And between now and then? I can't be dodging bullets if I weigh an extra fifty pounds. Nevermind all the other medical shit. So, yeah, this is the way it's gotta be. And from the very ass-pit of my heart I am sorry. I'm gonna miss riding the waves with you partner. I just… gotta go a new way now."
They sat in silence for a moment, then…
"For what it's worth," Dutch said. "I'm in awe of you."
Revy smiled at Dutch and he smiled back.
For the next hour or so they chatted about good things. They took a few trips down memory lane, with some stops at bullshitting avenue and future talk court. Finally, Revy decided she couldn't keep Rock waiting any longer.
They stood up.
"Come here," Dutch said, holding out his arms.
Revy came and hugged him tight, smiling into his chest.
'Ya know," she said as they broke apart. "Rock and I haven't talked about a godfather yet. Ya interested, partner?"
Dutch grinned.
"We gotta talk compensation and job duties first, but I'm open to it."
Revy's face cracked into a grin. They hugged again and she called Rock.
Revy pulled another candy cigarette from her pack and chewed it as Rock drove. He wasn't wearing his tie. Night was falling, but they should be at their new place within the hour. Rock had chosen it specifically because of its location. He'd be able to make the commute to Roanapur every day, and Revy would be safe.
She propped her feet up on the dashboard. She didn't know how to feel. She could see the bridge marking the city limits coming up. The symbolic noose, hung by some prankster or someone trying to make some statement about the city, still hung from its support beams over the road.
"Hey," she said. "Pull over here."
If Rock found this instruction confusing, he didn't say so. He pulled the car to the side of the road and turned it off. Revy stepped out. Rock followed.
Revy strode to the back of the car, back in the direction of the city. Rock met her there. The road was quiet. They looked out at the city for a while.
The lights had begun to glow. In the growing darkness they made Roanapur look like a massive, multi-colored jewel. Chang's high-rise was visible overlooking the city. In the distance the rock that contained the giant buddha rose like a dark monolith out of the bay. Revy stared for a few seconds, then spoke.
"The first time I saw that city, I was sixteen," she began. "I'd just gotten off the ship I'd stowed away on, after I ran away from the orphanage. After, ya know. I was hungry, I stank, and I needed a smoke like a motherfucker. But even then I thought that sea looked beautiful.
"I tried to get a job with some fishermen. I dove into the water so they could see I could swim. None of them hired me. I spent the next few months hustling with the small timers. Picking pockets, odd jobs. Even danced in Rowan's club for a bit. That is until he asked me to do some shit that I fucking wouldn't. Then it was back to being hungry again.
"Eventually, I got picked up for a murder. Some stupid street vendor. I didn't do it, but they chucked me in prison anyway. That was hell."
She paused for a moment, then continued.
"About six months later, Chang bailed me out. Taught me how to use my guns. Set me up with Dutch. That's how we met," she added, turning to Rock for a moment before casting her gaze at the city again.
"Through all that, I guess the city felt like home. As long as you don't let your guard down it's a good place. I did what I wanted so long I had the bullets or the cash to do it. Feels, I dunno, just weird leaving it."
"Do you regret this?" Rock asked.
She looked at him for a moment, then.
"No," she said finally. "I don't."
She came to him then. She pressed her body to his and wrapped her arms around his back. She kissed him under the light of a nearby street lamp, until the kiss broke apart on its own.
She looked into his eyes.
"Hey," she said, with an expression bordering on desperation. "You gotta level. Do you think I can pull this off?"
If there was one thing Rock had learned from Revy, it was that action beat words every time. He smiled and drew her in for another kiss. When they broke apart, he knew exactly what to say.
"Revy, if I did not think that you would be a good mother for our child, I would not be standing here."
She looked at him for a moment, instinctively searching his face for the lie, but finding none. Then he smiled at her. That wonderful, warm, loving smile that she loved so much. And as before her vision blurred as tears flowed down her face. She pressed herself into his chest and cried, partly from sorrow for leaving the city she loved, partly from joy at finding something she was willing to leave it for.
A few minutes later they got back in the car and drove over the bridge.
They got to their new place after dark. It was a one story house with a yard and a garage. It was easily the nicest place that Revy had ever lived in, though she knew there would be some things she'd have to get used to.
Rock pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. They both got out and grabbed the meager things they'd brought. Really it was just a pair of sleeping bags and some overnight supplies. They'd buy what they needed starting tomorrow.
They strode up to the front door. Rock unlocked it with the key they'd picked up from the rental office on the way there, but didn't enter.
He turned to Revy with an eager expression on his face.
"What?" She asked.
Rocks eye darted furtively to the open door, then to her. And suddenly Revy remembered.
She scowled and rolled her eyes.
"Oh, fine!"
She quickly scanned the street. When she was satisfied that it was empty she dropped her bags and held up an arm. Rock gently lifted her into his arms and carried her over the threshold. Despite herself, Revy closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder for those few feet. She almost didn't notice when he set her feet down on the floor. She wobbled slightly and he helped steady her.
She opened her eyes.
"You gotta get the bags now," she said, jerking her head towards the landing.
He nodded, smiled, and went to get the rest of their things while Revy set off to explore the house.
It was the first proper house she'd ever lived in. Revy couldn't help but feel slightly overwhelmed and out of place by the sheer amount of enclosed space she could now call her own. Every other living space she had occupied had been tiny by comparison and purely functional. This place had more room than she knew what to do with. She took in the three bedrooms, the kitchen, living room, two bathrooms, and closets. She also peeked out back and took in the spacious backyard with a pool and a patio. It was too dark for her to step outside and explore it properly now, so she resolved to come back in the morning.
She made her way back to the kitchen where Rock had gathered their things. He looked around as she entered.
"So?" He asked. "How do you like it?"
Revy's face cracked into a massive grin.
"I love it!"
Rock beamed at her.
"Great! There's just one other thing I wanted to cover… "
He got down on one knee, reached around to his back pocket and pulled out a small box. Revy felt her mouth go very dry.
"Revy, you are the most incredible woman I have ever met. We've been together for so long. We've been through so much. I want to take what we have to the next level."
Revy clapped her hands to her mouth.
"I want our child to come into the world into as secure and loving a family as we can be."
Rock opened the box, and the shimmer of the diamond on the white gold gold band made Revy's eyes go wide.
"Revy, I love you. Will you marry me?"
Revy's heart felt like it had gone from a complete stop to going a hundred miles per hour by the time he finished speaking. She lowered her hands to answer, but while she nodded, no sound came out.
"What?" Rock asked.
Revy drew a deep breath and cranked the volume to eleven.
"YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!" She bellowed so loudly the windows rattled. She pumped her arms as she shouted and bounced on her feet. "FUCKING YES!" She finished in her signature style.
Rock smiled and drew the ring from the box. Instinctively, Revy moved forward and held out her left hand.
Dinner that night was delivered pizza, breadsticks, and soda. They set up their sleeping bags in the master bedroom. Rock talked plenty, but Revy often found herself staring at her ring. In all her sad collection of hard-edged years, she'd never seen anything so beautiful.
"I bought it as Issac's shop, while you and Dutch were talking," Rock explained, referring to an antique store in Roanapur they both knew.
"Hmm," Revy answered, not really listening.
Rock lay down next to her and shifted uncomfortably on his sleeping bag.
"We'll get a proper bed tomorrow," he continued. "In no way are you going to sleep on a floor longer than absolutely necessary."
Revy chuckled. She took off her ring and replaced it in the box. Then she rolled over onto his chest and snuggled against him.
"Don't matter to me," she responded. "We could be under a damn overpass right now. I've had worse. Right now, I'm right where I want."
Rock put his arms around her. She tilted her head back and kissed him.
"I've got a story for you," she said. "Once upon a time, there was a girl. She was unlucky as shit. Like she was cursed. Because everything and everyone bad in this world found her out, no matter where she tried to hide, and everything good took one look at her and ran off in the other direction."
Rock swallowed. He'd heard this story before. It ended with her sticking her guns in his chest.
"One day, this girl met this guy. She thought he was cute, she thought he might be worth some money. So she took him the same way she took everything else she wanted, with her guns."
Rock relaxed. This story was new.
"But this guy had a gift. He could make her feel things she never felt before. He took her to places she'd never been before. Eventually, they hooked up. She didn't think anything would come of it. Nothing good ever did for her. But for some fucking reason this guy stuck around. He told her he loved her. He showed her what that meant. He lived with her, he asked about her, and when she told him honest he didn't run from her. Not even when he found out about the worst thing she'd ever done. And then one day the girl found that he'd knocked her up. So, what does the girl do then, Rock?"
"I don't know," Rock answered.
Revy looked him right in the eye.
"She walked away from everything she knew, everything she thought she wanted, so that she could be his. So that she could be his, and give his little girl everything she never had for herself. That's what she did."
She bent forward and kissed him.
"I love you, Rock."
Author's note: Thank you to everyone who has read, followed, favorited, and/or reviewed this story. Your feedback is what keeps me writing. There will be one more chapter after this, after which I may do a Q&A session about this piece and the writing process in general on Reddit. If that interests you, please let me know on r/blacklagoon. My reddit username is u/LeroyJ12.
A special thanks to u/RevyLee44 for creating the cover art to this story. Follow her on twitter at Revy_96 for more excellent digital art.
Thank you to Illicitaction for beta-reading this piece. Please check out his stories A Hard Way to Fall and Cat's Game for more excellent black lagoon fan fiction content.