I just had to elaborate on my one shot because there is just not enough Ziza/Riddick fanfiction!
This story is not a Ziza/Riddick pairing as he will be way to old for her. So! It is a purely platonic relationship sort of story, for those of you who were worried. ^^
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything
Chapter 1: The Promise
Riddick often wondered what it was about little girls that tamed him so. He didn't care about what adults thought of him. He didn't mind when they flinched away from his gaze or when they whispered horrible things about him. But in the moment when Ziza calls him a monster, Riddick knew he'd lose whatever humanity he had left. The ex-Lord Marshall wasn't in denial about the fact that the eleven year old girl was now the center of his universe.
Though it was evident that taking Ziza away from her mother would no doubt send more mercs after him, Riddick still entertained the thought of kidnapping the girl. Not that Ziza would mind one bit.
"When are you leaving?" The question was quiet but confident. Riddick turned his head to the preteen sitting cross legged in her father's chair. They had made it a habit of meeting in the Iman's old office once the sun went down.
Ziza shifted under his goggled gaze. "It's just that, I know you can't stay here forever. Even if I asked you to, you wouldn't. So that's why I wanna know." She explained.
Ziza was a smart kid. Riddick learned over the short week they'd reunited, that for an eleven year old, the girl was extremely intuitive. It surprised and almost irked him that the girl seemed to know his tendencies when they've only ever met once before, and that was five years ago. But Ziza's intuition was also a comfort that prevented Riddick from ever disappointing or hurting the preteen. If the girl already knew, then Big Evil would never have to say anything.
"I've got some things I need to take care of." He answered after a long pause. He wondered if he could bullshit his way through the conversation and not explain what he already had trouble trying to figuring out.
"Like what?" The curious eleven years old asked. Her eyes were wide and she sat up a little straighter as if waiting to hear the most exciting adventure of her life. Riddick hesitated. Seeing Ziza giving him all her attention like that reminded him of Jack. The Furyan peeled off his goggles and massaged the corners of his eyes. Five years still wasn't long enough for old ghosts to disappear.
"It's complicated, kid." He mumbled a moment later.
The preteen slumped back into her father's chair. "Try?" She asked timidly, still looking at the dark anti-hero with wide hopeful eyes. Somewhere, Riddick knew Aereon was laughing at him. The ex-Lord Marshal walked to the balcony doors and gazed out at the rejuvenating metropolis. He leaned against the wall, seriously considering calling it a night just to avoid answering the girl. She didn't need to know. It really wasn't any of her business. His shit had nothing to do with her…
"The Necros destroyed my home planet when I was just a baby." Riddick began, still not looking at the young girl.
"They're basically the reason I became Big Evil in the first place…I was left in the trash because of them. Now I've got to go ho—" No. That doesn't sound right. Richard B. Riddick didn't have a home. A pregnant pause stuffed the room and the convict instantly regretted revealing his intentions. The last thing he wanted was the girl's pity.
"Will you come back?"
Riddick turned to the young girl who was still beaming at him hopefully. Honestly, how could he deny her? Richard B. Riddick had gone soft—no, not soft—God knows what he'd do to anyone who even dared to lay a hand on her. Even the beast growled at the thought. No, Riddick wasn't soft.
He was pack less.
"Sure, kid." The ex-con replied with a small grin. The grin got a little wider as Ziza's expression brightened tenfold. Seriously, where was this girl ten years ago? She was way easier to please than Jack. The thirty-five year old man strolled over to his new pack mate, because that's what she was, pack. Ziza watched him approach her and hopped out of her father's chair so that protector could sit, because that's what he was, her protector. The ex Lord Marshal took the seat and allowed Ziza to plop herself on his lap. She leaned in to him as he instinctively wrapped his arms around her. And they stayed like that until the eleven year old fell asleep.
Riddick stood, carrying the sleeping girl back to her room and placed her on her bed.
"Five years." He whispered into her ear. "You've got five years to make something of yourself, kid."
The Furyan watched her until her mother came home and then silently exited through the girl's window.