{I don't own Black Lagoon in any way. This takes place after the series (including the "Roberta's Blood Trail" episodes. Just a one-shot to cut my teeth. }


A couple months after the Roberta escapade, the Yellow Flag was back up and running – business as usual for Bao. It was a late night and all patrons had already left … except for two members of the Black Lagoon Company sitting at the barstools: Revy, the company's gunslinger (as well as the most temperamental); and Rock, the company's negotiator and a former salaryman.

Rock was lost in his thoughts as he nursed his shot of Bacardi, while Revy appeared to be asleep, one arm used as a makeshift pillow while the other still held onto her own shot glass. …

Much to the slight annoyance of Bao. "Come on, come on – move your asses already! This ain't a fuckin' flophouse you know!"

Rock made a hushing sound to the bartender/bar owner. "Bao. Please. Just … just give us a few more minutes. It's been a helluva day for both of us."

Bao cocked an eyebrow. "Another one of those shitty days, huh?" He then sighed. "Bah, fine – but don't go thinking I'm going soft on you." With that said, Bao went to the back, muttering something unintelligible (and probably foul-mouthed) under his breath.

Just then, Rock heard the door open and close behind him, but paid little heed to it until Bao came back.

"Look assholes," snapped the bartender, "just 'cause these two are here, doesn't mean I'm gon-!"

However, all anger drained from Bao, his mouth open in shock and fear, as he stared at a certain Russian woman and her right hand man.

Balalaika wore a thin smile when she came in, and still wore that same thin smile as she eyed the bartender looking at her with fear … and maybe a little bit of embarrassment. "Good evening, Bao."

Bao cleared his throat, trying to calm back down. "Erm, Ms. Balalaika. Ma'am. I … what brings you here?"

"A mere change of scenery, more than anything. Hope you don't mind I smoke in here."

"Uh … no, not at all. Could I get you or Boris a drink or-?"

Balalaika lit up her cigar and puffed a couple times as the bartender fumbled for words. "Tempting, but not tonight."

Boris nodded once. "Thank you, but no thank you."

"Oh," said Bao, "well, if you need anything, I'm gonna check up on the inventory."

Balalaika chuckled mildly to herself as she watched the bartender leave. Her sight then wandered over to Rock and Revy, before she hummed in interest.

Revy was still asleep, while Rock kept his head down and his sight set on his glass. He didn't even react when the scar-faced mob boss sat down next to him, while her second-in-command stood over them.

"Another one of those 'fucked up' days, as Rebecca would put it?" Balalaika smirked.

Rock groaned in slight annoyance. "Whatever you find amusing, I suppose."

The Russian mob boss snickered lightly. "Not as amusing as this little picture I see."

Rock finally looked up from his drink and stared at Balalaika. "… I don't understand what you mean."

"On the contrary, Rokuro. I believe you do understand. This appears to be the calmest I've seen you and Revy together in quite some time … given certain circumstances a few months ago."

"And?"

"And I'm confident to say you and her are back on good terms, if I'm not mistaken. The meek out-of-place stranger and the gun-toting cynic with a short fuse – it makes for quite a premise, don't you think?"

"You know, Balalaika, I've learned a few things from Revy – one of those being life isn't some shitty movie. … It's more complicated than that. I know how badly I screwed up, so I'm trying to give her space and let her forgive me on her own terms."

"Her own terms, you say? Hm-hm, I don't seem to recall you doing the same back then."

Little did anyone know was that Revy was listening to every word they were saying. She and Rock both knew what Balalaika was hinting at, however.

"Especially considering what all went down with … Roberta, was it?" smirked the Russian mob boss. "Mr. Chang told me everything you two spoke of – it was rather entertaining."

The Japanese salaryman tightened his grip around the shot glass as he made a slight growl of contempt and ire. "I'm not ready to hear that pompous bastard's voice, let alone his name."

"A 'pompous bastard,' indeed. Nevertheless, he does seem to know what he's talking about."

"I only wanted to make Roanapur a safer place! Is that a crime!?" snapped Rock.

Balalaika had herself a little laugh as she hand-motioned Boris to take his hand away from his gun. "Oh, I'm sorry, Rock. I just find it amusing you would ask a criminal what is considered a crime." She then took another drag from her cigar, let the smoke linger in her mouth in a thoughtful manner, and slowly blew it through her nostrils. "However, while making some place 'safer' isn't a crime, it certainly wouldn't do in the criminal underworld. … It certainly wouldn't be acceptable."

Hearing the shifting tone in Balalaika's voice made Revy nervous, as indicated by the widening of her eyes.

Rock narrowed his eyes in anger. "If I'm a threat, then why not just put the damn gun to my head and pull the trigger?"

"A magnanimous proposition," pondered Balalaika out loud half-jokingly with an impressed eyebrow cocked, "but much like the rest of the Lagoon Company, you've proven to be a useful asset."

Now the fake-sleeping Revy was tightening the grip around her shot glass. The Chinese-American gunslinger was both fearing for Rock and angered by Balalaika.

Taking another drag and blowing a plume of smoke in the salaryman's face (much to his annoyance), the scar-faced blonde stared at him with half-closed eyes. "May I give you advice, Rock? Quit while you still can."

"Quit what?" Rock hissed.

"Everything you thought you knew. Finding morality and idealism in Roanapur is nothing more than a fool's errand. You've already seen this city's true form, so-"

"If you think for one minute I'm going to throw my values away because change is hopeless here, then you're wrong. Revy has proven to me that Roanapur can't be saved, but it doesn't mean I can't have hope for a brighter future."

"Hope for a brighter future for yourself, I take it?"

"For me and everyone I care about."

Balalaika hummed in thought as she processed all this. "Hmm, I thought so. … Well, as much as I enjoy our tête-à-tête, the night is still young. Come, Boris."

Boris saluted. "Yes, Capitan."

As she was about to head out the door, Balalaika turned toward the two Lagoon crewmates with a smirk. "I look forward to hiring your services again soon. Dasvidaniya, Rock. You too, Revy."

With that, Balalaika and Boris left the Yellow Flag.

Now turned around, facing away from the bar table in his stool, Rock fumed as he seemed to bore holes through the door that the Russian mob boss just went through.

Without warning, Revy spun around from her spot and threw her shot glass at the door, shattering it.

"FUUUCK!" shouted Revy. "God-fucking-damn that cunt! I wanna send that fucking bitch's smug shit-eating smirk to fucking Russia where it fucking belongs! Fuck that self-aggrandizing whore to hell!" Her gaze then shifted over to a now-surprised Rock. "And what the hell are you gawking at!?"

"I'm sorry Revy," Rock replied shakily, "I-I-I thought you were asleep."

"I was resting my fuckin' eyes, you dumbass! Why the FUCK do you put me through that kind of shit, you stupid bastard!? First Japan, now here!? You got a goddamn death wish with her!?" A moment of silence followed – probably for the best for both of them – as the gunslinger calmed herself down. "You know what? Let's just fricking leave already – I'm done here."

The salaryman pulled out some cash to hopefully cover for the shattered shot glass. "So am I."

Having heard the commotion and the two Lagoon crewmates leave, Bao came back and saw the debris and the Bacardi stain, before looking through the extra cash left behind. The bartender/owner grumbled in approval after having counted it out.


Meanwhile, Rock and Revy took a long walk from the Yellow Flag to the gunslinger's apartment. The two remained silent the entire time, as they both had a lot on their mind. Having heard everything between the salaryman and Balalaika, Revy knew what his intentions were and, while she would still get upset with him, she couldn't deny that he did care for the crew – and for her especially. As for Rock, the more he thought about it, despite how much he tried denying it, the more he realized that yes; he especially cared for her, not because of friendship, but more than that.


As they reached her apartment, Rock cleared his voice awkwardly. "Well … I guess I better take off, then. Big day for all of us tomorrow."

"Right," Revy said curtly, "sure." As he turned to leave, she had to say something. "You know the difference between you and me?"

There was a brief pause before the salaryman returned to the gunslinger. "What's that?"

"All that crap you were telling Sis. About hope – and I mean real hope. That's something neither I nor anyone else in the city ever had. Except you. Despite all your screw-ups in trying to bring that hope, just … just do me one thing."

"What do you want me to do?"

"… Don't ever lose sight of that hope. Don't let the hellhole that is Roanapur get to you like it did to me. Please don't ever lose sight of what makes you who you are, Rock."

Listening to her now, hearing that imploring tone and genuineness in her voice, it helped open his eyes more so than ever before. "I will take it all to heart, Revy."

"I know you will. … Listen, I'm … I'm sorry for lashing out at you back at the Yellow Flag."

"It's okay, Revy."

"No, Rock, it's not okay. It's just that … the truth is … I … I care for you, too."

"I know."

Revy rose an eyebrow, not sure what to make of it. "You knew? For real?"

Rock shrugged his shoulders. "Action speaks louder than words, right?"

"… Solid argument."

"Err, if you don't mind me asking … that conversation I had with Balalaika … how much of it did you overhear?"

"I've heard enough – that's all you need to know."

"Ah, right then."

Revy then thought of something after a moment. "Oh, one more thing before you go."

"Yeah?" Rock asked.

"Thanks for being patient with me tonight … and for hearing me out."

"You're welcome."

Just then, Revy placed a soft kiss on Rock's cheek. The last thing the salaryman expected from the gunslinger was any kind of affection toward him – but a kiss of any kind, that never even crossed his mind. And yet, as Revy did so, Rock found it nice and found himself pleasantly surprised. Did she share the same secret feelings for him as he did for her? Was it possible that Revy, one of the toughest women in Roanapur with the shortest fuse, actually cared for Rock, the Lagoon Company's pacifist, in that way?

Rock didn't have time to ponder as Revy walked into her apartment … but not before flashing him a small heartfelt smile – the same one she had back in Japan.

"Goodnight, Rock." With that said, the gunslinger closed the door behind her.

As for the salaryman, he sighed in mild happiness. "Goodnight, Revy."