Checking into Hotel Moscow

Greetings everyone. I've decided to go ahead and write another Black Lagoon lemon story, this time featuring our favorite mob boss woman Balalaika. This story is going to have chapters and more, well, story than my previous one-shot with Revy and Rock. Hope you guys enjoy this, and make sure to leave a review or favorite if you really liked the story/chapter! Any feedback is greatly appreciated, whether it's positive or constructive criticism. Thank you.

Rock took a swig of the alcoholic beverage that lay in front of him. It wasn't his first drink for the night, and it certainly wasn't going to be his last. He had a long night ahead of him.

Bao happened to pass by Rock while fetching a drink for another customer. He looked at Rock's facial expression and could tell he wasn't here for pleasure. He knows how to read his customers.

"Rock, you look like shit man.", said Bao.

Rock looked up at the Vietnamese man. "Yeah, you're telling me Bao. My mind hasn't been at peace lately."

After Bao had quickly poured one of his patrons a glass of cold beer, he came back over to Rock.

"Look, I know it's none of my business to ask what's bothering you, but, what's going on?"

Rock adjusted the tie around his neck. Not even telling Bao about his problems would help them go away. Why even bother?

"Well, ever since me and Revy returned back here from Japan, things just haven't felt right. I seriously fucked up back over there. Now I can't shake my mind off everything that happened as well as...as…"

Bao raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

After placing his hand over his head, Rock struggled to finish his sentence.

"It's...Balalaika. Yeah, Balalaika. Shit, I really almost blew it with her. I'm lucky to even be sitting here right now talking to you. If Revy hadn't been there with me I'd probably be lying in a dumpster or a body bag."

A deep sigh came from Bao. He knew how much shit you could be in if you were to step out of line with a mob boss, but he was never unfortunate enough to find himself in a situation like that. If you're gonna stick around in Roanapur, you've gotta know the rules, or else you're dead.

"Sorry for your troubles Rock. Try not to drink yourself to death. Last thing I need is you to get super fucked up in my bar. Careful, alright?", said Bao.

Bao was right, but like that was going to stop Rock from drinking his worries away. It's never that easy. Ever.

"Yeah, you're right. I won't be here much longer.", responded Rock.

After what seemed like an hour of more and more drinks, Rock was feeling pretty buzzed. It was time to call it a night at the Yellow Flag.

Rock left a few bills on the counter. "Here you are Bao, thanks for the drinks."

"Please, do come again. My doors are always open. That is, if this place doesn't get shot up and blown to hell.", said Bao.

Rock grinned as he began to turn away from the counter and make his way home, but he was stopped at the sight of a slender, blonde woman in a pink tank top. She wore sunglasses and a short caci skirt.

"Eda.", thought Rock.

Eda entered into the bar and lit up as soon as she noticed Rock.

"Rockie! Hey there baby, never thought I'd see you here all alone. Where's that dual wielding, femme fatale friend of yours at?"

Rock always got really nervous around Eda. Her constant flirtatious advances always made him shy. Though deep down, they actually made him feel pretty good about himself. Not to mention Eda was a bombshell of a woman.

After swallowing his nerves, Rock straightened himself up in his stool.

"Hey Eda. How are you?"

"Oh, I've been better. Thought I'd come down here and have some drinks since it's my night off. The business over at the church can be exhausting sometimes.", replied Eda.

Eda leaned her elbow down on the counter next to Rock.

"How about you Rock? How's your night?"

Rock eyed the ceiling as he responded to Eda's questions. "Ah, I'm ok. Not much going on on my end."

"Say Rock, care to stay and join me for a few drinks? I'll pay.", said Eda.

"Sorry Eda, but, I've actually had enough for the night. I've gotta get going back to the office. Maybe another time?", responded Rock.

Eda made a pouty face at Rock as she took in his answer.

"Ah man, just when I was looking forward to getting to know you better. Well, if that's the case, stay safe out on the streets Rockie."

"Thanks Eda. I'll see you later.", said Rock.

Right before Rock stepped out into the warm night, Eda called to him. "Hey Rock!"

Rock turned around to Eda to face her. She then blew him a kiss and waved him goodbye with her fingers. How sweet.

"Nice to have someone in this city who wouldn't point a gun at my head.", thought Rock as he entered into the Lagoon Company office building.

Rock climbed up the stairs and entered his bedroom. He undid his tie and undressed himself into something comfortable, that being a plain t-shirt and some boxers. Once he was in some comfortable clothes, he grabbed the computer chair from under his desk and laid himself in it, stretching his arms out and letting out a yawn.

As Rock sat in silence for a good minute or two, he looked around the room. The Hawaiian shirt that Revy had bought for him on his days off was still hanging in the closet, unbuttoned and unused. Maybe he should wear it someday just to satisfy Revy.

After a long while of just staring at everything in his presence, Rock threw himself onto his bed and began to fall asleep. Then, it started happening again. The images that have been haunting Rock's mind ever since the Washimine incident. The moment where Balalaika throws him down onto the hood of a car, her Stechkin APS ready to pop a cap right in Rock's brain.

Rock could hear Balalaika's cold, cruel voice in his mind. Like a broken record, it kept repeating and repeating again until it was sewn into his head.

"There are two things to remember when you're begging for your life: one is to try and entertain the person holding the gun to your head and the other is to give that person...mmm. A convincing reason why they shouldn't kill you."

The scene kept replaying itself over and over again. Rock felt like his mind was about to snap in two. It was too much for him to handle.

With a startling awakening, Rock rose up from his bed completely drenched in sweat. He rubbed his face and sighed. Was every night from now on going to end up like this? Damn it all.

Rock got up from the bed and made his way to the bathroom. He flipped on the light switch and looked in the mirror. All he could see was a mentally disturbed man. Or, at least, he thought he was mentally disturbed. Maybe he was actually feeling...a passion? In the heat of the moment, with the Russian mob woman threatening his very life, he felt something.

"No, what's wrong with me? How could anyone enjoy having a gun pointed at their face like that? It's fucked up. Fucked...UP.", said Rock quietly to himself out loud.

Rock sighed and stared into the sink.

"Dammit Rock, get a hold of yourself. You have nothing to worry about. You've made it out of Japan with your life. There's nothing to worry about anymore! Just because you pissed Balalaika off a little doesn't mean it's the end of the world. You're still alive and in one piece! Pull yourself together."

As Rock looked back up in the mirror, he was startled to find Revy standing behind him.

Revy stared at Rock's face through the mirror. "Are you talking to yourself? Is everything alright in that head of yours Rock?"

Rock turned around and faced Revy. He knew how messed up he looked physically, and his mental ramblings didn't make his situation look any better.

"I, um, just had a nightmare. Just needed to get my head together, that's all.", said Rock.

Revy rolled her eyes at Rock. "Well, hurry it up you baby. I've gotta take a piss and you're just stalling here in the bathroom!"

"Yeah, r-right, sorry. I'm fine now.", said Rock.

Rock scurried out of the bathroom and back into his bedroom. Revy looked at him as she passed him, wondering just what in the hell that was all about. She was a little worried if she was to be completely honest. With all the different jobs and events that have happened to Rock over the past several months, it wouldn't be surprising if his mental state starting to take a turn for the worse.

As he hopped back into his bed and stared at the ceiling, Rock couldn't help but think that the events in Japan really fucked up his head. First, the visions of Balalaika nearly killing him. Now, the feelings of excitement that he found in that same moment. Despite being close to death, Rock could feel a passion like no other burning inside of him when Balalaika pointed that gun his face.

"What was it? Her authority? Her killing intent? Maybe a bit of everything?", said Rock. "Agh, what's happening to me?! God damnit!"

Rock slammed his pillow over his face. Nothing was helping. The alcohol, talking to someone else, nothing. He couldn't shake these images out of his mind no matter how much he tried.

"Maybe I'll have a clearer head in the morning.", thought Rock as he closed his eyes and began to relax.

After what seemed like hours, Rock finally managed to find sleep once again.