"I swear, how the utter fuck, in all of the history of fucks, did you convince me to wear this shit. I actually look fucking respectable, what the fuck," Revy was not a fan of business suits.
Despite the danger that was presented by her temper, half the passengers found the noises coming from the rear cabin amusing. True, Revy's attitude couldn't be hidden by the pale red suit, but it did hide her tattoo, and made her seem, less threatening, though she still exuded the desire to shoot someone in the face.
Ethan was currently helping Rock into a fake back brace that was going to be hiding Revy's Cutlasses, "Deal with it for the moment. As soon as we head back to Thailand you can wear your slut clothes again."
"Who are you calling a fucking slut? If I could do it with dignity I would come in there, jam my arm down your throat, and pull your cock up through your asshole. How the fuck were you even able to get my bra size, I don't even wear one most of the time, I don't even think I own one," She yelled back.
"Pigeon's girls. They had to measure you at some point when he managed to get you to do shows. Besides, would you let you into a professional meeting dressed like you usually do. Unfortunately women have a much more difficult time hiding a weapon as large as a 92 in shoulder holsters, which is where this contraption Rock is silently maligning at moment comes in. You can't find metal if the whole contraption is metal. You understand what you are to say your role is right?"
Stepping into the larger cabin everyone had to stare, and Ethan was barely able to speak, "Holy shit, Revy. I don't know if anyone is going to think you are Rock's attendant, they may think you are his boss."
"I am speechless, Two Hands. To think that a suit of clothes, and a decent hairstyle would bring out the woman in you so much. Hmhm, I think poor Rock has had his soul ascend, I have never seen his mouth open that much," Balalaika was rather impressed with the clothing choice that he male mercenary had made for the woman.
"Going over this again though. Revy, you are Rock's attendant. He suffered a major spinal injury in a light aircraft crash. He cannot bend over, and he cannot carry anything heavier than ten pounds. You will carry his briefcase, which will contain the files that Sofiya will need during the meeting. The back brace can be broken away in an emergency and contains your guns, and a spare for myself. Rock you know your job, and stay close to Revy, do not leave her sight. You two will be sharing the suite across from the one me and Sofiya will be occupying. The advance team should be waiting with the vehicles at the airport, and should have the hotel prepared. If they aren't there when we arrive the plane will do a touch and go, and reroute to Texarkana to fuel up. We will then return to a holding pattern over Dallas until we can make contact and establish new ground plans. Any, questions?"
Sofiya spoke up, "Why are you as paranoid as a KGB agent in a West German nightclub? I mainly wanted you here as you were a native of the state. Boris even commented that had you commanded the Soviet Army that we might have actually won in Afghanistan."
Ethan simply looked over, "My adopted father taught me that the more you planned out, the more places you had to say fuck it, and reorient to adapt to the situation. Also, I point out for the umpteenth time I have never been to Dallas. I never really left Abilene until I made my way to Mexico. I don't know my way around, and only have the map to know anything of a layout. I only know the situation in the US from the news, and only foreign sources, so I am keeping myself a little on edge. Still, there isn't anything wrong with over-preparing, and wasting those preparations."
"Well, Mag. Maybe I need to hire you for all my business trips. Usually I just rely on a battalions worth of paratroopers being a deterrent, but you seem to have everything thought out six steps ahead."
Revy was still fuming and fiddling with getting her suit to fit right, "Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck all of this. Why don't I just go around naked, that ought to keep things from going sideways."
"Revy, calm the fuck down. Take three deep breaths, and lightly tug the hem of the jacket down. Trust me," Ethan rolled his eyes as he finished the last strap of the torture implement he had Rock strapped into.
"Fine," Revy followed his instructions and was surprised when everything seemed to fit better, "Wow, where did you learn that trick?"
"I hate this fucking monkey suit, and I have to do that every time I put one on. A lot of it is just mental, not wanting to wear it, so you resist violently. Yet when you just relax, it isn't so bad. That said, it is a little off. Sofiya, I have no clue how to properly adjust a woman's suit, so you may want to help her on that. I will get on the horn with Boris, and check the situation groundside. I am hoping that we can get through this quickly so I can leave this god forsaken country behind, and go back where people act like actual criminals."
"I, don't know what to say. Mag actually has great taste. Granted I have never had a man buy lingerie for me, but I would not have expected anything of this quality. I must ask him where and how he managed to get... a... hol... These are Lise Charmel," the Russian mobster went slack jawed as she noticed how many of the packages there were, "There has to be over thirty thousand dollars worth of underwear here. Two Hands, is there something about Mag that you have been hiding from me?"
"What, that he is actually loaded? I don't think about it much, but he is. He keeps saying... I have more money in underwear, than I have in the bank now. What the fuck? Is all this shit really that valuable? And how do you know about all this," Revy was in the process of trying to unhook her bra to try to adjust her breasts in the unfamiliar piece of clothing.
"I own a few pieces myself. Maybe one or two sets, but not a full collection of matched bras, panties, garters, stocking, and chemise. If he had that kind of money and were not a mercenary, there would be quite a lucky woman, or women, in the world. You two aren't, engaged, in any specific actions, are you?"
"I'm not fucking Ethan. He's like my fucking brother. I may not have too many hangups in life, but I am not fucking family. That said, I have to admit that is really nice shit. So wait, you don't think... no he wouldn't. He has said more than once that he wouldn't stick his cock in anything that might take it off. Fuck it, I don't care, this is the most expensive shit I own, and I didn't have to pay for it," Revy was all smiles as Balalaika helped her properly put the article of clothing back on.
The older woman was silent for a moment as she thought, "So you haven't had any thoughts of trying to? He isn't bad to look at, and I can tell you for sure that he has gotten better with age. In both appearance and his personality. Were I younger, I might make a move for him myself."
"I already know that would only end in one of us dead. Probably me, unless I did him in in his sleep. I, like the relationship we have now. It makes me feel, I guess whole? I don't fucking know, I just don't want it to, I don't want to lose it. Why am I telling you all this, what the fuck is wrong with me lately? If this ever gets out, I will be a laughing stock in Roanapur. Eda would never let me live it down for sure."
"Two Hands. Revy, just because we are seen as monsters, doesn't mean that we cannot be women as well. In fact, I would say that it might make us all the scarier. Men do not like to have their manliness challenged, and I know how many in our home hate and fear me, simply because I lack something they have dangling there like a ripe target," she took a seat as Revy worked on buttoning up her shirt, "Have you never thought of what may have been if things had not happened as they have?"
"Why does everyone ask me that? Look Sis, I don't have any reason to think about that. If I make Ethan's age, I am going to think that I am an old fucking hag at that point. Besides, what kind of man would want to knock me up and stay? Should I go back further and ask what if my old man hadn't been an abusive, piece of shit drunk? If my mother had lived long enough for me to have known her? I don't have anything I want to think about. I don't ever think about falling in love or bullshit like that. I don't need it as long as I have rum and loaded magazines," Revy couldn't look Balalaika in the face as she spoke.
Honestly it was all a lie. It had been since Ethan had woke up after he was shot on the freighter. She didn't want to sleep with him, that much was true, but he was the only person she had known in the time she had lived in Roanapur that she had any kind of real kinship with. He had really become the brother she couldn't have ever had. Maybe if things had been different, and they hadn't lived their lives as they had, maybe she could have fallen in love with him.
She stepped back into the pencil skirt, and managed to get it pulled up and her shirt tucked in properly. She looked over at a dressing mirror that had been brought for this purpose, and started to see what the others had seen. She did look completely different, almost unfamiliar, but not in a way that she immediately hated. The red color of the suit went well with the tone of her skin, and matched well with her hair. Ethan had said he managed to find a tailor that was good enough to work off the measurements provided, and despite herself, she wanted to meet the man and have him make her more clothes like this. Maybe even some that were tailored to let her carry her pistols like Ethan was.
"Do you not recognize who you see in the mirror," Balalaika asked as she observed the young gunslinger.
"I have so much in my head screaming to tear it off, that I should hate this. I don't. I, like it. It, once I stop resisting it, feels good. I always thought you looked like a self righteous cunt dressed up like that, but I, now I am actually appreciating it," she approached the mirror and placed her hand against the reflection.
The older woman chuckled, "In truth that is the point. A self righteous cunt presents more of a threat than a simple woman. However, there is more to me. Let me tell you an interesting tid bit involving Mag. The night he rescued me, I made him search through a bunch of rifles to find mine. It bothered him so much, and in his grumbling he made the remark that he should call me Mrs. Balalaika. I don't think he spoke Russian at the time so he didn't hear me say I kind of liked it. After I got back, I started to call my rifle "My Dear Balalaika" which, despite me not wanting them to, my soldiers started calling me Miss Balalaika. I eventually gave in, partly because I did have some attachment to the scruffy young mercenary I apparently wasn't good enough to screw."
"You have to be shitting me. Ethan gave you that name?"
"No, as I said, my men did. He only gave me the initial seed that led to me accepting it. At the time, he was the closest I have ever been to romance. Believe it or not, female soviet soldiers were not popular even in the Soviet Union. I never had a real relationship, mainly just having flings with whatever man was decent enough looking in whatever bar I found myself in after I left the military. Honestly, I will not even say how long it has been since I have slept with a man," she said as she lit a cigar.
"I have trouble believing that the Great Balalaika can't get laid. Surely there are more than a few of your men who would jump at the chance. Don't tell me you never thought about jumping Boris's bones," Revy said as she sat down next to Balalaika.
"My men place me on a pedestal. I am like their version of the Madonna. The other issue is the fact that I AM Balalaika. Fry Face. That Russian Whore. They wouldn't even want to screw me out of hate, they only see me as an obstacle they can't wait to see out of their way. Have you ever envied my position?"
"Not really. It always looked like it would be way to much work. Why?"
"You are not wrong. There is so much more to the misery o f the position, and I truly would not wish it upon anyone. The phrase that it is lonely at the top, does not truly capture the reality."
"Da. We have had no issues. Customs were, resistant. Eventually they confirmed that we had diplomatic credentials. The frigate that came into the shipping channel caused some concern, but it was simply coming in for some emergency repairs to an engine," Boris replied over the satphone.
"The issues with customs is actually a good thing. I would be worried if it was too easy. Were there any issues acquiring the vehicles."
"Three black GMC Suburban K2500 SUVs with 454 cubic inch engines. That is a very specific request, but it was much easier than I had anticipated it would be. What is the significance of this, particular, vehicle?"
"Nothing in particular. Good suspension setup, heavy build, and a powerful engine. I have run similar ones in the past, and they always did well. You are at the airport now?"
"Da. Hanger 33. Three Suites reserved on the tenth floor of the The Adolphus. The route to the meeting has been staked. All should be prepared."
"Forget the route you staked. We will be deciding it in the morning before we leave. More secure that way. If they think they know where we will be, they will put more effort into that, and less in where we actually will be."
"Who? Are you expecting trouble?"
Ethan chuckled before answering, "Of course I am expecting trouble. As for who, I am hopefully just being overly paranoid."
Boris replied, "Just because you are paranoid, does not mean someone doesn't mean you harm."
A/N: It feels good to put another chapter up. It is a unique challenge to work with a continuing media. At some point I will need to introduce new characters from the manga, and that is not going to be easy. I look forward to the challenge though, especially for this great story that Rie Hiroe has given to us. I really look forward to reviews. While I will continue working to finish this story, I have times that I hit burn out, and don't know where to go with it, or any of my other fics. I thank everyone who has continued to come back to this story over the past decade, and I hope that it doesn't take another to see its conclusion.