A/N: I do not own Black Lagoon or any related materials.

Italics indicate thoughts

I've been having a stroke of inspiration lately... enjoy.

Rock's alarm went off at 7:00 am sharp, per usual. Instead of the usual slamming of a fist into the snooze button from the bed, a hand reached from the ground and turned it off. "34… 35… 36…" Rock continued his sit-ups. He had woken early, back in the mindset from his espionage work. Rock had let himself go a little over the years, and he needed to be in peak shape.

Rock moved on to pushups while he considered his plans for the day. "First, I need to check in with Dutch. After that, if we don't have a job, I'll go see Balalaika about obtaining ammo for my rifle. I need a lot of practice, I won't survive long unless I'm in top form." He thought over the remaining details as he finished his workout. Rock took a quick shower and made himself a protein shake. At 7:30 am, he was out the door with his briefcase and was at the office at 8:00 sharp.

He let himself in to the office and stopped dead. Bullet holes covered the walls and 9mm shell casings littered the floor. Revy was passed out on the couch, her guns still in her hands. Rock slowly edged out of the office and made his way downstairs. Dutch had just pulled up.

"We slept on the boat Rock." Dutch jerked his thumb towards the Black Lagoon's berth. "Revy was mighty pissed last night. Benny's still back there, terrified. I'm only here because I knew you'd come here. Revy try to shoot you?" Rock shook his head as he put his briefcase down.

"I'm sorry about all this… I'll quit if you want." Dutch laughed at that. "What's so funny?" Rock shouted.

"We find out you were the Japanese James Bond in your past life and you're still the fucking same as ever…" Dutch shook his head. "I don't know how you do it." Rock shrugged.

"I repress a lot of those memories. It's not healthy to dwell on the past." The thousand-yard-stare returned. Dutch snapped his fingers in front of Rock's face. "Wha-? Oh, sorry about that… Anyway, I just try to be the person I wish I was." Dutch nodded at that.

"Makes sense. Well, you have rest of the day to do that, no work today. Me and Benny have to do some maintenance on the Lagoon." Rock nodded and picked up his briefcase.

"I have some business I'd like to attend to today, anyway. I guess this all works out." Rock turned to walk away.

"Be careful out there, Rock." Rock looked back.

"Of course, Dutch."

"My, my, Rock. You certainly are full of surprises…" Balalaika examined the Vintorez in Rock's briefcase with a practiced eye. "May I?" Balalaika asked, following the ancient custom of never picking up some else's weapon without their permission. She carefully removed the main body from the briefcase, then secured the integral suppressor onto the barrel, and attached the scope. Shouldering the rifle, Balalaika racked the action.

Rock stood patiently. "I get it… I own a very nice piece of Soviet engineering. Can you please stop the nostalgia?" He thought, his face impassive. "Fond memories, Ms. Balalaika?"

"Why yes, Rock. I took part in a black operation in Chechnya and we had Spetznas support on that one. They carried these, and they punched through body armor like it was tissue paper…" Balalaika disassembled the weapon and nestled it back into the briefcase. "I take it you're here for ammo?"

"You would be correct. I believe you have the necessary connections."

"Of course we do, Rock. How does $300 US for 800 rounds sound?" She closed Rock's briefcase.

"If they arrive within a three days and are SP-5s, then we have a deal."

The shouting could be heard on the entire street. "The fuck, Rock! You lied to us, you lied to me!" Revy screamed. "I thought you were an actually good person in this shithole world. I guess I was wrong!"

"I'm sorry that I'm not your white knight! News flash: people aren't perfect! Do you know the nightmares I have? I relive the worst day of my life every! Single! Fucking! Night!" Revy fell silent.

"You see them? Everyone you've killed?" She whispered. Rock nodded in response.

"I remember 26 military officers and 174 innocent civilians and political prisoners. I can see every face… they all ask me 'why?' every night, and every night I don't have a good enough answer." Rock regained his stare.

"I guess you really are you, still innocent in a way. Killing isn't easy for you, you hate it. I guess I really didn't think…"

"Revy… can you promise me something?" Revy looked over at Rock.

"What?"

"If I start enjoying what is to come, put a bullet in the back of my head when it's over."