Chapter 11 - Dark secrets Revealed.
For the first few minutes everything seemed to be moving in slow motion from Revy's point of view. Rock had just been shot twice and was now unconscious and bleeding on the ground of the parking lot. However the real bomb he had dropped was in answer to Revy's yelling as to why he did such a stupid thing.
He had answered.
"I did it because I love you Revy" he said weakly then he passed out.
After that the slow motion began. In the physical world she kept pressure on his main bullet wound while Boris and a few soldiers arrived holding a foldable stretcher. One soldier then pulled out a bandage from a bag and wrapped it around Rock's side to stop the bleeding. It would need some stitching but wasn't the injury worth concern.
The other shot was high on the right side of his chest. His lung was the most likely organ to have been hit but it was likely to high for that. They turned him over slightly and saw the bullet had not gone through which was bad since that meant they would need to get the bullet out.
Balalaika was well versed in snap inspections of wounds on the battlefield. She saw that Rock was not immediately in danger but he would need attention soon, "Load him up into the can and let's get back we can see to his injuries once we've cleared this area" she said. Two of the men lifted him up and carried him into the van. Boris got into the driver side at the front, and to make room in he back Balalaika got in the front with him. As Rock was being loaded into the van Revy snapped out of her trance, put her guns away, and followed to stay next to him. Benny, Jane, and Dutch then climbed in and crouched down next to Rock who was still out cold laying in the middle. Revy was sitting next him on the other side. She looked at her own hand, her glove and fingers were stained with his blood.
The front seats were separated by a metal wall so they couldn't talk to Balalaika right away.
"I can't believe it" Benny said as they left the parking lot and started heading for the airport. A couple of the soldiers were also trained medics but they could not treat him here.
"What's that's Benny-boy" Dutch asked as he lit up a smoke. As always their leader remained calm but his glasses hid the worried look in them for the sake of the guy who was family to him now.
Jane said something about not smoking around an inured man. Dutch however reminded her Rock was just as heavy a smoker as the rest of them.
"When we were in the building I could not believe how Rock acted" Benny said continuing.
"Ya he's gotten pretty good as a gunmen" Dutch said.
Benny shook his head "that's not what I meant that colonel guy. I saw that look in Rock's eyes it was. Well it was like looking at you Revy who the fuck was that guy and how does he know you?" he asked looking up at Revy.
Revy didn't respond she was staring at Rock and thinking about what had happened. She saw the man in the doorway who had tried to shoot her and ended up shooting Rock. Seeing him confirmed what she feared. A thought crossed her mind about him being the person supplying weapons from the states, but that got pushed to the back by other thoughts. Some were highly unpleasant as they were about the history between her and that bastard. The ones at the front of her mind now though were about the man who had just taken a bullet for her and said he loved her.
Rock,,, loves me. He threw himself in the way to protect me from getting killed because he loves me, was the thought running through her head.
"Revy?" Benny asked again.
Dutch watched her carefully he heard her yelling at Rock when he hit the ground but did not her whatever it was he said the made Revy look like she had been hit by a train. He guessed what Rock may have said and decided now was not the time. Dutch got Benny's attention and shook his head telling him to wait.
"Well Rock sure saved our asses in there I gotta admit he's definitely got good instincts" Benny said.
Dutch nodded, he was glad to see that Rock was still Rock despite his harsher side he still had a good heart. The fact that he took a bullet for Revy was all the proof he needed.
Benny then put his arm around Jane to help calm her down after that rather tight situation. Jane leaned into him staring at Rock like he was a.
"That way he acted to that guy, he was like a monster in there" she said not fully aware of what she was saying.
Said words sparked something Revy. She drew her gun but did not point it since she was Benny's girl.
"Say that again bitch! He just saved you ass. What kind of monster takes a bullet for his girl?" she asked in a clearly pissed of tone.
"Easy Revy she's not in her right head right now" Dutch said.
Benny looked a little impassive but began to speak softly to Jane reminding her about speaking her mind on things she did not fully understand.
They were all then surprised to hear a groan. They all looked down and saw Rock's right hand twitch and his eyes open slowly. He groaned as he turned his head left then right to see everyone around him.
"Well that hurt" he said in a slightly strained voice.
"Rock" Revy said leaning forward. She took his hand despite the others watching as she was having a difficulty keeping up with reality.
"Revy you ok?" he asked looking up at her. He did not give a lot of sign that he was in pain but his face looked strained and Revy could feel him gripping her hand tightly.
It was the dumbest of questions to ask. Rock saw the look in her eyes that made him forget his pain and focus on her.
"Rock, you dumbfuck" Revy said eventually.
Rock gave a weak smile. Dutch then leaned forward to give him a pat on the shoulder, "nice work out there today Rock you got them out of there" he said.
"Ya. Hey Dutch does our union had a good medical plan?" he asked.
Dutch threw back his had and burst out laughing "well I guess that's a sign you gonna be alright if you can crack a dumbass joke like that" he said.
Revy really wanted to talk to Rock right now but this was not the time and she did not want the others to hear this right now. It was something between her and Rock before them. She just held onto his hand and kept a watch on him for the ride.
Rock could also tell she wanted to talk his little confession earlier was still on his mind, guess I really meant it when I said I would tell here when this was done, he thought. He knew now was not the time for a heart to heart talk, especially since he knew what Revy was like in those kind of talks. He did smile while she was looking to show he was thinking of her though.
"Benny, Jane you two alright?" he said slightly turning his head in their direction.
"I think that's the question we should be asking you right now Rock, but were ok" Benny said grinning slightly.
Rock nodded, he then tried to look down but the angle was too poor. It felt a little numb and sore as hell but not like the white hot feeling and sudden impact he felt before he had blacked out.
"How bad is it?" Rock asked.
"The one to your gut was a graze a few stitches and that's it. The one near your shoulder is still in were heading back to the plan before Balalaika's medics can get to work" He answered.
Rock nodded, "about what happened" he began but Revy stopped him
"Fuck that for now. You just been shot we can worry about this cluster fuck later" she said.
Rock looked over at her and smiled again. He then stayed quite for the remainder of the ride.
They reached the airstrip a short while later. When they got there the other van was waiting for them. Dutch, Benny, Jane, and Revy were asked to get out so the two medics could get to work.
They closed off the doors behind them and waited. A short while after they heard a groan then Rock swore loudly.
"Hm not bad for someone who's never been shot before, we could only give him a shot to numb the area" Balalaika said taking a drag of her cigar.
"So where do we stand now?" Dutch asked, he and most of the others also had a cigarette going, Jane didn't smoke
Balalaika took another drag before she answered "it's clear this was another trap. The mere fact that insect Kageyama was waiting for us is clear and it would appear we know have a lead as to who the American member of the leader circle is" she said turning to look at Revy.
Revy had been leaning against the van for now looking down and appeared to be brooding over something "ya I know him. He used to be a Major last I knew but I'm not surprised he got promoted. He was in often put in charge of mop up jobs but he's a really bloodthirsty fucker. I heard he had almost been cut out of the loop but since he got a shit load of dirt on some big shots like a couple senators they can't touch him. He's got a whole mercenary unit under his command and they seen some action too" She said telling them some of what she knew.
"Would these political cowards care much if he was taken out?" Balalaika asked.
Revy snorted "he's a fucking pain in the ass for them, they'd be more then happy to see him rotting under a tombstone somewhere. Now that we've seen him I pretty fucking sure he's the guy who working with your buddy Yuri" she said crushing her cigarette butt with her boot.
Balalaika nodded, she knew there was more questions to ask. However she could tell there was some darker history here and right now it was not the time for that. Now was the time for her to be with Rock.
"That will be all for now then. We can't leave till tomorrow. Dutch once the medics are done please take Rock back to the motel. We shall get to work on giving the police a false trail to follow in the meantime, and you will get a little extra compensation for your losses today. We can also discuss out plans once on the way back to Roanapur Chang should be back by then" she said.
Dutch nodded. Revy and the others were glad they would be able to rest of this.
Revy went back to brooding, why did it have to be him, why the fuck did Rock have to hear that now that were together, he told me he loves me, but I have to tell him now. Will he not want to be with me after he knows? Fuck am I gonna lose it after being given so much, she thought. She knew Rock didn't care about her past he had never tried to ask her he cared about who she was now. He had to hear it now thought. She would tell him he deserved that much.
She felt tears coming to the surface, something that had not happened in a long, long time.
The doors then opened preventing anyone from noticing until she would wipe them away quickly. Revy saw the medics climb out.
"How is he?" she asked
One of the soldiers looked first to Balalaika who nodded.
"He'll be fine just a flesh wound, no organs hit or major arteries exposed. Bullet retrieved successfully and should be no risk of infection. His arm is a little stiff but no permanent damage. The graze was not trouble either" he reported.
The other medic gave her a small bag with some pain killers and antibiotics for him to take for the next couple days.
Rock then climbed out of the van. His shirt was torn open and he had bandage on the wound and another lopped around his shoulder and chest for added pressure. Another one ran around his waist over the grace to his side. He looked a little pale and tired but otherwise alright. His white collar shirt was soaked in blood but his coat hid it fairly well. He would change when they got back to the hotel. He carried his guns and holsters and they had to be removed for the surgery
"How ya feeling Rock?" Dutch asked
"Well I can say that was new, but I'm good now?" he said as he lit up a cigarette Revy passed him.
The others all grinned seeing his humour hadn't been affected. Balalaika give him a brief repeat of what she said earlier and told him he could give her a report on the way back to Roanapur tomorrow.
They were then driven back to their motel and dropped off. Rock even managed to walk with no obvious signs of having been shot earlier, if he'd been hit in the leg that might have been different.
It was almost five o'clock and the sun was starting to go down. They group decided to call it a night and would meet up in the mourning.
Dutch watched Revy and Rock walk off down the hall to their room. He could tell it was going to be a rough night for both of them. He then headed to his own room to order some food and a few drinks.
Jane informed Benny it was time for some relaxation.
Rock opened the door for Revy who passed by almost oblivious of him. She took a seat on one of the beds and looked him with an odd expression on her face, a mix of concern and something like foreboding. He quickly got out of his bloodstained top and slipped a black t-shirt on. Revy took off her holster and tossed it onto the second bed, Rock followed suit
Rock took a seat on the bed next to her "you ok Revy?" he asked. He took her hand as he did so noting it felt a little cold.
Revy looked down at his warm comforting hand, "I'm pretty fucking far from ok right now. Aren't you gonna ask me?" she asked him.
Rock knew what she meant "I didn't think you wanted to talk about it" he said.
Revy looked away "What the fuck rock! You just been shot after hearing that fucker say those things and your not even gonna ask if it's true" she said as she stood up and turned to look at him.
Rock sighed "I know how much your past seems to hurt you-" he began. She cut him off.
"Ya if fucking does, but you were straight with me about that bitch and your unpleasant history now that fucker pops up, shoots you, and you tell me you love me after hearing him talk to you about me!" she said trying to get everything sorted in her confused state.
"Yes I was going to tell you after we had finished this job I guess I stuck to my promise to myself" he said smiling at little and the poor humour.
"Rock how the fuck can you sit there and be so fucking calm!?" she shouted now starting to get mad and not entirely sure why.
"I just am Revy" he said.
"Were you serious about what you said, do you really love me?" she asked her anger starting to drain.
Rock gave her a warm smile and nodded "I meant every word" he said.
Revy hung her head so he couldn't see her face. She felt new tears trying to surface.
"Why" she said.
Rock was about to ask what she meant when she ran headlong into him. She wrapped both her arms around his neck and slammed her head against his chest nearly knocking the breath out of him as they both fell onto the bed. Rock was surprised by her sudden move but judging from how tightly she was gripping him she was in need of comfort. He put his arms around her and held her close.
"Why are you the only one who looks at me that way?" she asked after a few minutes.
"What do you mean" he said.
Revy then lifted herself up by her hands, and Rock was shocked to see tears starting to form in her eyes.
"You fucking know what I mean! Everyone knows I'm damaged goods I'm a killer and a thief. I've fucking nearly shot you more times then I can count and you still look at me like I'm still a woman and fucking tell me you love me" she sad her voice cracking slightly.
Rock stared up at her before he replied "I don't care about whatever's happened to you I realized I've loved you for a long time, it's how I feel you say your damaged good but I know somewhere under all that there's still a good side to you" he said.
Revy sat up and then shifted to sit next to him. She kicked off her boots then looked down at him. Rock stayed down as he could guess what was about to happen.
"You know I grew up on Mott Street right?" she asked looking away as she thought back.
Rock eyes widened "Revy you don't have to" he said. She put a hand up to stop him as he tried to sit up.
"Just shut the fuck up for now Rock. Now that you told me how you feel and after seeing that guy you have to hear this" She said.
"I was told my parents were both dead in some car accident when I was around 5 but I don't really remember that well. I lived in that shithole child welfare place for about 4 years. Then when I was nine I ran away. It was terrible dozens of other kids and all of us had no real bed or bathrooms or anything" she started her explanation, the tears in her eyes were not falling yet but it wouldn't take much of push for that.
"Even then I was quick to pick up survival skills. It a lot easier then most make it out to be in New York. One day a couple years later I was running from some fat ass cop who said he was gonna beat my brains out I got pulled out of the fire by this guy, Terry Buffalo" she said he hands clenched into fits holding some of the sheets.
Rock's eyes widened at the name
"He the brother of that Will Buffalo, he was in the army like his brother, but he got booted for their illegal dealings and other shady shit. Terry was the on caught and they covered each other's asses on it. He rented out a decent apartment on Mott Street and with all the money he had made in the service didn't need to work, he said he liked my spunk and told me I could crash with him. His place was alright I thought to myself, some drugs and porn but I'd seen worse"
She was breathing a bit heavily like she was trying to hold back a lot of emotions. On the inside she felt slightly good to be telling this to someone, especially the one person she cared for in this shitty world, but she was also afraid of what he may think of her when she was finished.
"The abuse didn't start till I was 12, he wasn't a dumb as I thought he was. He waited till he knew I was dependent on him for food and a place to sleep. He would hit me when I made him mad, he had a closet he would lock me in for hours but I put up with it, I was better then being in the gutter"
Rock eyes narrowed in anger at how badly everyone seemed to treat the woman he loved.
"Then when I was 13 I finally met Will, he had been out of the country on merc work or something. He and Terry were close watched each other's backs and shared all they had. He was quite pleased with what he called his brother's new pet said I was the spunkiest and prettiest thing he had ever seen" she said continued her story, out of the corner of her eye she saw rock's fist his knuckles were white like a sheet.
"He never tried anything he said he wanted to wait until I was more of a woman. After that Terry was out more instead of drinking or getting high. When he as gone I started stealing gun's from his stash and learning to shoot. For 3 more years that how it was, between the smacking and occasional lock up I would sneak out when I could to shoot I got pretty good and pretty fast since I guess I knew what was coming and I was my way of being strong and ready" after that she paused and looked down ready to get to the part she feared might Rock turn away from her.
"On day a few months after I had turned 16 I was practicing and they found me. Will thought it was cute but Terry was pissed I had been using up ammo. He hit me so had then I wasn't sure where I was until I was back at the apartment. Terry said he was gonna put one in both of my legs for being ungrateful bitch and taking advantage of his kindness but Will said he would replace the ammo. In exchange Will.. He…. He said he wanted to make a real woman out of me" she said as the tears finally started to slide down her cheeks.
Rock felt his blood starting to boil again but the sight of the tear on her cheek made his anger drain so fast he wasn't sure he had been angry in the first place. He could not believe it Revy was crying, he never thought she was not inhuman and couldn't cry but it was still something he didn't expect.
Revy's shoulders were trembling, "He did it right then. After Terry even decided he wanted compensation. I tried to fight back but I couldn't. After Will left to make the order for some ammo Terry went to get high saying if I was a good little pet he wouldn't hurt me too bad when he was ready again"
Her voice was starting to tremble as she neared the end.
"That was the day I made my first kill. I barely remember it. After the rape I felt just broken. I picked up one of his favourite revolvers, and put a pillow over him face while he was passed out. I shoot him twice in the face. I was so scared, mad, and just broken was all I could feel then. After I shot him I knew Will would be coming back and then I started thinking straight I stole all the money I could find, whatever clothes there was and a gun and I ran"
Tears were rolling down her face and falling onto her skirt she was looking up and out the window determined to finish.
"I didn't get far. The cops found me soon after. I got the shit beaten out of my by them since a couple were old buddies of Terry and Will. I spent the next two years in juvenile prison. When I was 18 I got out and after a year of survive on killing and stealing I had to get out of the city to avoid arrest again. I bribed some sailors on a freighter ship heading out to sea. That boat was then raided by a pirate ship. It was Dutch with some dumb fuck sailors he had hired for on and off work. I snuck aboard the boat while he was busy, ended up killing his two enforcers when they found me. Dutch then say I was a poor starved kid with a gun, clothes and about five bucks. He decided if I would replace his grunts he would give me their cut. Turns out the others he hired were planning to steal his boat. That was the first time we teamed up in a fight. After that he gave me half the money for the job and told me I could work for him if I wanted, he even gave me my new name when I told him I was called Rebecca" she said coming to the end of her story.
Rock sat up without her noticing. He was looking at with sorrow in his eyes.
"So now you know. I really am damaged goods Rock, you've been so good to me, but -" she was cut off when she felt Rock's arm come around her from behind he pulled her against him an kissed her neck.
"Didn't you hear me Revy? Your past doesn't matter to me, I still love you. You thought I wouldn't still want to be with you after telling me but you're wrong. The only difference now is that I will be the person in your life to make up for all that's been done to you. I'll never leave you Revy" he said whispered into her ear.
Revy turned in his arms and looked up at him with tears still going down her face, "Rock-" she started but her covered her mouth with his and held her close still.
She slowly put her own arms around his neck and returned with force. After a few minutes the tears stopped and she leaned back then rested her head against his chest "Rock you saying you love me is the one thing I've been waiting to hear for a long time, but I don't know if I can change what I am or even tell you the same" she said a little sadly.
"Dumbass, I don't expect you to change, and I know how you feel telling me doesn't matter" he said.
Revy smiled and closed her eyes, so there is a place for me with him, she thought as she looked back into his eyes and saw everything he said was the no shit truth.
She leaned forward to kiss him again. He met her halfway and the fell back together on the bed. When they landed Rock let out a painful groan.
Revy then sat up and saw her shoulder had hit his wound, "guess we can't have some fun just yet huh baby?" she said sounding a lot like herself again.
Rock made a face, just then both of their stomach's made loud growls. This caused them both to burst out laughing.
"I'll order something from room service and get us some drinks" Rock said sitting up.
Revy gave him a warm smile she only saved for him, "I'll go take a shower" she said getting up and started stripping her clothes.
She saw Rock was watching her with the phone in hand his gaze was filled with admiration and love nothing that made her feel unsafe or anything else bad. She smiled and looked over her shoulder
"Rock, thanks" she said.
He just smiled at her and she strolled into the bathroom.
"Hello room service" said a pleasant female voice when he called the lobby.
"Yes this room 313, I'd like to order a deep dish pepperoni and cheese pizza, and a bottle of Bacardi" he said in a similar tone.
"Yes sir will that be all?" the woman asked.
"Yes thank you" Rock replied then hung up.
Revy meanwhile let out a sigh of relief as the hot water hit her. She was partially still in the shitty mood from having to do back to that dark chapter of history, but she was also feeling a little relieved after having share this with her man. The fact he had said he loved her now multiple times was still new and pleasant to her. No one had ever been this good to her in her whole life.
She felt a pang of regret because she could not say the same to him. However she felt she was beginning to mend from those old wounds and maybe some day she could return those three little words. For now she was really happy to know he was still with her.
"That fucker is gonna pay for hurting you Rocky baby, we'll take him down" she said as let the warm water sink in.
When she walked back out wearing nothing but panties and a towel around her shoulder she saw Rock just closing the door. He had a tray with a large pizza on it, and was holding a bottle of Bacardi in his other hand.
"Fucking A now that's a Kodak picture" she said laughing at the face he made.
Rock then set the food and booze down on a table. He then took a seat in the only chair in the room and poor a glass for each of them.
Revy grinned and instead of sitting on the bed, she planted her firm fine ass in rock' lap and put her feet on the corner of the bed then leaned back in a slice of pizza in hand. Rock was a little surprised and rather liked her sudden move. He put on arm around her slender waist enjoying the feel on her muscular but warm body.
They enjoyed the sizzling pizza and some drinks. They also flicked over some TV, getting a laugh out of a news channel and Rock translating when it showed the story about Kageyama being arrested for illegal gun shipping.
A couple hours later Rock was having trouble keeping his eyes open. He figured the combination of the fast pace today along with the wound and no some food and drinks was fast catching up with him. His head began to drop back onto the chair.
Revy looked over her shoulder to see him start to fade. She grinned and shook her head. She then ran her hand down his thigh so slowly she felt the bodily reaction. He opened his eyes and looked down her fiendish grin.
"You thought I would try carrying your ass to bed?" she asked innocently
Rock made a face as Revy got up and retrieved a spare tank top for the night. Rock dropped his pants then staggered into the bed their guns weren't resting on.
As he got in Revy hit the lights and the TV then got into bed next to him. She snuggled up next him and rolled onto her side, she was a fan of sleeping on her side. Rock then followed suit and shifted so her back was resting against his chest and he put a protective arm around her waist.
Despite not having and "fun" Revy was actually in a really good mood as she dozed off. In way she did feel safe with Rock, in an emotional way he protected her.
She could now tell he was already dead to the world. She lay in bed next to him and simply smiled as her own lights went out.
A/N: wow that was going fast at first then I hit a snail pace at the dark history moment. As I've said before I am a fan of dark tragedy but I like the whole light at then end of the tunnel symbolism as well as happy endings, not a Hollywood riding into the sunset kind of thing, but a happy ending nonetheless. I also hope you don't mind this chapter was a little shorter but I wanted to devote it to a Revy and Rock bonding moment as they become closer. Also as many, many of you have expressed your opinion's on the Colonel's future fate I assure you he will meet it. I would also like to take a moment to thanks other skilled authors such as JustmikeG22 for some suggestions which helped me get past chapters out fast as well as Jim1681 for his knowledge of guns.
Please R&R and I hope you all enjoy this little bonding chapter. Enjoy and Stay Tuned! : ).