Chapter 39: Toryanse
There ain't no other way it could have gone, you understand? You might want everything to play out how you see fit, but I'm done playing games.
Revy's words rang in Rock's head like a church bell. When she returned from her confrontation with Alejandro, he had to admit to himself that he was pleasantly surprised. Relieved, even, if he was being truthful. But he knew the true implication of her words. If she hadn't already cut herself off from him, he would be expecting as much from her now. This just cemented that fact even more. He had his head resting on one hand, his elbow on the table. He took his eyes away from the streetlights outside and instead his gaze fell on the seat across from him. He could still hear that domineering voice even now.
You're with Lagoon Company, aren't you? I know about you guys. Good crew you got there, Mister Japanese.
This was the same diner they had spoken in back then. It felt like ages ago, now, when Rock decided to bargain for the life of a young Chinese girl with her father's boss. If Hunter Woods could see what she was becoming now, he'd sooner have left her to die in this city. The Coterie were nothing as large or powerful as the Dead Men had been, but Rock got the feeling they had their ways. They had a more underhanded idea of warfare than most gangs.
It was almost funny where this path had lead Rock, to a cold and gentle place where all previous reservations had been stripped away entirely. There was no bargaining for the lives of others anymore. No empathy or compassion. There was only the game, and those still playing it. Rock had made one too many moves recently and the playing board was becoming crowded. It was time now to take a step back and wait for the next opening. It would present itself, soon enough. There was a storm coming. They could all taste it in the air; Rock himself, Revy, even Chang and Balalaika. They knew the balance of power was shifting. This time, all the players would not remain standing by the end.
Rock pictured the city of Roanapur like a chessboard, with the major crime lords as pieces. This had been true for years and years, but there were some unknowns lurking in the shadows, now, waiting to pounce and crown themselves Queen.
I wouldn't, Rock. It's never wise to dive down to where the leviathan waits in the dark.
Despite Eda's warning, it was time to take the plunge, even if that lead him right into the leviathan's jaws. Whether it was simple human curiosity or a ruthless hunger to take down any possible threat to the only real thing Rock still cared about, he knew it was time to bring her out of the shadows and force her to reveal herself.
"The real master of Roanapur," he said quietly to himself. That was what he called her back then, suspecting she had a hand in manipulating certain events, particularly Chang's actions to deal with the Grey Fox team. But he couldn't be sure exactly what that meant. "Who are you really, Eda?" There had to be some way to lure her into the light, but it was tricky. She had been clever and resourceful enough to pose as a simple weapon smuggler all these years. Pulling on her strings was not so simple. Rock had to be careful. In time, she would show herself, when the shit would inevitably hit the fan. That was when Rock would make his next move.
The door of the diner opened and Rock looked up to see who it was. Taking a moment to scan the room, the priest finally caught Rock's eye and smiled. He shut the door behind him and took the seat across from the Japanese man.
"This is a pleasant surprise," Pius said warmly. He was in a good mood, clearly. A pity it wasn't catching.
"What are you doing back here, Pius?" Rock asked. "Didn't you go back to Venezuela?"
"I did," he answered. "I had some housecleaning to do."
"The New Order?"
"That's right."
"Hm. You're a few days too late. Revy wiped out most of them for you."
"I heard," Pius told him. "By the time I pinned down Alejandro, he was already dead. The only reason I even knew where to look is because something had him spooked. He was always hiding, staying out of sight. But it looked like he was on the run. I assume your trigger-happy friend is to thank for that, as well?" Indeed, Rock's plan had worked flawlessly, though it was unexpected when Alejandro showed up equipped for war and destroyed the boathouse. There was nothing to suggest he had formed an alliance with Abrego. Rock had no way of knowing, that was the only thing he could not predict. But it was done now. He nodded to answer Pius's question. "It was Hawke's people I was really after, anyway. The few that were left…I don't think they really cared about coming after us since he was killed. But I couldn't take any chances."
"You'll be glad to know the New Order are gone, then," Rock confidently. "Any of the cartel runaways that worked for Alejandro fled the city a couple of days ago. Any still alive, that is. Their allies have been taken care of, too."
"Allies?" Pius asked curiously.
"The cartel. Alejandro brokered an alliance with Abrego."
"Impossible!" Pius exclaimed. "The Colombian cartel have been hunting Alejandro for years!"
"It sounds like they found common ground," Rock elaborated. "Alejandro wanted to get to Revy for revenge. And Abrego wanted to overthrow the ruling factions. With the cartel's resources, the New Order came for Revy…"
"And they promised to help take out the other gangs in return," Pius added, suddenly understanding their plan.
"Abrego wanted to take control of the city, and he was willing to use the New Order to do it. But he didn't get the chance."
"I see," Pius said calmly. He seemed almost relieved at this revelation, but he was probably just happy to hear Abrego's plan had been stopped. Without the cartel's support, any remnants of the New Order would be helpless. But that was a given, anyway. They would not be seen again. The New Order had officially been destroyed.
"And Revy? She's alright?"
"She's fine," Rock said shortly. Pius sat silently as if expecting more to be said, but Rock had no more words to offer.
"Last I checked, you two were joined at the hip," Pius said boldly. "Where is she? Recovering from her wounds? I imagine the New Order gave her a hell of a fight." Rock had no idea where she was, and he did not bother to try and figure it out. After the boathouse had been destroyed, Lagoon had been forced to spend their time at their old office closer to the centre of the city, but Revy hadn't been there all day. Either she was at her own apartment, sleeping, or she was drowning her sorrows at the Yellowflag.
"I'm not responsible for what Revy gets up to in her spare time," Rock said coldly. Before Pius could respond, he opened his mouth and spoke again. "And the Lovelaces? How are your family, Pius? I don't imagine they were too thrilled about being left unguarded so soon after what happened with Hawke."
"I'm sure I don't have to tell you how capable Fabiola is," Pius explained. "They know there is no threat to them anymore, I only came here as a precaution. They are safe." Rock looked back out the window at the streetlights illuminating the road, but he gave no response to the priest. As far as he was concerned, their conversation was over. "Rock…if you don't mind me saying, you don't seem quite yourself. Is everything-?"
"I've heard this before," Rock interrupted him. "Too many times, from too many others. Don't you start, Pius."
"Touchy subject?" the priest teased. Rock glared at him. "Tell me I'm wrong. When we first met, you were quite a bit happier. More optimistic. If you ask me-"
"I didn't," Rock shut him down sharply. Pius clasped his hands on the table meekly as he considered how to proceed. Rock knew the priest was never one to hold his tongue. The conversation was not over.
"And Revy?" he asked. "You can't tell me she hasn't taken notice. Like I said, you two were joined at the hip. She'd have knocked some sense into you by now, last I checked. I guess you didn't let her."
"You think I care how she feels?" Rock spat. There was venom in his words, dripping from the anger and discomfort that really fuelled his words. "She does what she wants. She proved that when she went after Alejandro, despite my warnings."
"Ah. You tried to stop her, then."
"I told Balalaika about the New Order's alliance with Abrego. She would have seen to it herself. It didn't have to go the way it did."
Suddenly, Pius's interest was piqued. He sensed something more in Rock's words, some unclear investment in the events of the past having gone a certain way. It bothered him that Revy ignored his warning.
"Did he hurt her?" Pius asked.
"Why don't you ask her? She's the one who went after him."
"Show a little compassion, Rock. Lagoon Company…they're the only family you've got in this city. Why so quick to disregard them?" Rock internally wondered if Pius had been speaking with Garcia, about the boy's time as a hostage of the New Order. There had been a similar topic of conversation touched upon back then. The Japanese man unconsciously clenched his fists beneath the table.
"We work together. That's it. It's not up to me how they live their lives. And it's not my problem if Revy wants to get herself killed out there." Pius shifted in his seat and became a tad agitated.
"You don't know what that girl has been through," he explained. "She needs you, Rock, more than she wants to admit. Would it be so terrible to show her some kindness?"
"Kindness?!" Rock growled. "What has showing anyone 'kindness' ever gotten me before?! What has showing Revy 'kindness' ever done for me?! I spent a long time reaching out my hand to those who needed it, only to have my compassion thrown back in my face!" Rock looked up from the table and locked eyes with the priest. "I'm done caring about anyone else. What's the damn point?!"
Pius slammed one fist down on the table.
"Don't be so goddamn selfish! You're not the only one who's suffered. The people closest to you have their own stories to tell, if you'd just lend them an ear. It's not all about you." Rock's temper exploded like a volcano and all reservations fell away. The only other people in the diner at this hour of night were the staff, all of which begun to peek out from the kitchen when they heard the commotion.
"What do you know?!" Rock snarled. "You haven't spent a second in the filth of this world. All you do is pray to your god and hope it all gets better. But where's your higher power when you're drowning in a sea of shit as far as the eye can see?! You could never know what it's like." Pius stood up and reached across the table, grabbing Rock's necktie and lifting him up off of his seat until the two of them were inches from one another.
"Oh yeah?! I could tell you things that would turn your stomach. Even you, the man with blood on his hands who's never pulled a trigger. So quick to cast your friends aside, but you could never know what they've been through! Did Revy tell you about her faith in God, lost in one night? Did she tell you about that cop who forced himself on her?! Or her father, who didn't want to hear about it?! 'A bullet was too fucking quick for him', that's what she said! You're pathetic, Rock. How far from grace you've fallen." Pius released the Japanese man, then, and the two stood across from one another breathing heavily. Rock was looking down at the ground and his eyes were obscured. But something had changed, that much was as clear as daylight.
Yeah, I believed in God right up until that night the cops beat the hell out of me for no reason at all.
Revy, Rock thought to himself privately. A wave of emotion and misery washed over him. He would be lucky if he didn't drown in it.
I'll say this once. Next time you decide you're gonna tell me what's proper, you'll no longer be one of us.
He didn't realise at the time, but Revy kept that promise to him. He pushed her and pushed her only to find she didn't like being pushed around. When he told her the way things were and expected her to go along with it, she cut ties with him and left him to fend for himself.
…you'll no longer be one of us.
And now he no longer was.
He lifted his head from the ground so his eyes were no longer obscured, but he did not look at Pius. Instead, he sat back down and stared at the table, his cold, dead eyes unmoving.
"Revy isn't some delicate little flower that needs to be watered," he said quietly. "She can look after herself." If Pius had any room behind him, he would have taken several steps back, reluctant to spend any more time in close proximity to Rock. Perhaps it truly was hopeless, to think he might shed this shell of pain and apathy to return to his old self.
"You disgust me," Pius said finally. "Master Garcia prayed for you, hoping against hope your soul was not lost to this city. But I see now it was a fruitless endeavour. You are one of the walking dead after all." Without even giving him time to respond, Pius went for the door and exited the diner altogether, leaving Rock alone with his thoughts. The Japanese man considered what had been said, unreactive for the most part. Then, without warning, his hand went to this mouth and he retched loudly, his stomach on the verge of emptying itself right here in the diner. He broke out in a cold sweat and sat there, saliva seeping out through his fingers as he absorbed what the priest had told him. Everything he thought he knew, everything he had based his recent decisions on, shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. Just another beautiful day in Roanapur.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: And that's the end of Act 2! Sorry it's late going up, a lot of real life/work stuff has gotten in the way recently and I haven't had as much spare time to write. Which is exactly why there is going to be quite a long break between this chapter and the next one. Very sorry, friends. Act 3 is going to be a good one, but it might be January before it starts going up. Again, I'm very sorry. But I promise it will be worth the wait. All of these plot points and character arcs I've been setting up will get resolved, along with some new stuff as well. I hope you all like what I do with the story. Until then, stay safe. I'll see you for the next one.