"Words are wind, it is the sound of steel and the sweet clink of coin I trust."
"Ah! The little lady has no trust in one such as I. I offer her my words and she looks to take my tongue!"
"Not so, for if I took your tongue, how would I know your prices?"
That brought a chuckle from the dealer and River smiled. Hercules Diveris was a mountain of a man; even without the aide of her gift, River could have seen he'd always been as such. Portly now, hard muscles turned soft with time while a rich diet had turned a hard stomach soft. It jiggled when he laughed and he laughed often, but his eyes and mind were always thinking. He was still a dangerous man. He had what she needed though. Coin and goods and plenty of each.
Back alley deals and black market sales had set Furya just ahead of Whitefall, but years from the beauty of Picon. The overabundance of volcanic activity meant the need for fast growing crops or tectonic stabilizers; the first was much easier to come by than the last. The trick now was getting more ships and equipment in between smuggling other people's goods from planet to planet.
"You are a flower with needles, not thorns," Hercules waved a finger at her. "Soft to look upon, but the truth will out if a fool would grasp you. I am not fool, so I shall ask you Robin Fey, what is it you seek?"
"I need a ship," River leaned back in the seat he'd offered her. Chiana was on her right and Asha, new to the crew, was on her left. "A steady ship, something likened to a Martell, or a Skylark."
"Ah, you have travelled in cryo often or have done much," Hercules nodded. "Else you are a marvel, for one so young does not often look for those which are old. I have what you seek, this is true, and you have what I need atop that. From here to my cargo, then on to it's destination where you shall find a package waiting from you. Return that package to me, and you shall have a good, dependable ship."
"With fuel?" River asked. "Or must I pay for that?"
"Ah, I cannot give a girl everything, can I?" Hercules smiled. "I could make a gift of it were you my lover, or a mistress, but a captain is not an easy thing to sway."
"A fairy has many admirers," River stood from her seat. "But there is a beast who grows cross whenever he scents another man has come near her." She gave him a smile and took a visplex file from his desk. "She makes an effort to hear him growl."
"Fey, you are a tricky woman indeed," Hercules laughed. The dealer leaned back in his seat and wove his fingers together on his stomach. "I am glad to be too old for you, else I would have too much trouble."
River laughed and waved farewell to the man as she and her crew left the den. Out of his private office into the main room of his business; farm equipment spread all across the showroom and parts displayed on every wall. Kaylee would surely squeal to see it and drag Simon into a closet soon after. Had a strange thing for engines.
"Cap'n," Asha spoke up once they'd left the business. "I know he's tellin' the truth and all, but I got a bad feeling about all this..."
"A man has many enemies," River led them towards a food stand. "Some were friends, and some he hopes to appease by way of fresh young slave girls."
"Already thinkin' on how to handle it if your husband comes sniffin' around," Chiana grinned. "So, when we takin' off then?"
"We're going to follow through?" Asha asked. Distressed and ever-worried, but Asha knew how to wear a warriors face when she needed to. Tried and often failed to live up to the expectations others had of her; expectations built upon the idea of what a headwoman's granddaughter might expect. So very far from truth.
"Need the ship and the coin," River nodded. "Slavers tend to carry both on board to avoid trobule with the lawman. Take the spare vessel, leave the captives with the transport and half the cash." Paused just long enough to order a meal for herself and the crew. The clink clink of cashy money and tic-toc until food was in their hands. "Good deeds are for our benefit as much as theirs. Cannot continue as the only captain, nor can she take on all who wish to explore."
"Morgan's gonna be plenty glowin'," Chiana leaned over to Asha. "See, Ariadne and her know how to captain their own boats, River worked it out to have four ships by the end of the year, assuming we get enough steel and girls."
"To serve with the khalakki is an honor," Asha argued with a shake of her head. "I cannot imagine that anyone would want to deny serving you."
"To be given a ship of one's own is a test of wit," River waved her kebab at the younger girl. "The Khalessi pushes strength, and the Dosh Khaleen speak of honor and courage, but I would rather you were clever. A servant falls under the steel of an enemy, but a warrior...that is what I want of you."
Asha fell silent and thought on it, only remembering she had food when Chiana leaned over and took a bite. This was the trickiest part of bringing girls into the black and away from the stoney clutch of the old ways. Words of wisdom were applied incorrectly. Too much faith in the return of the Beast, that he would lead them to salvation, not to say he couldn't, but the sight of her people left a bitter taste in her mouth and her husband would surely abandon them should they prove wanting. A difference between primitive and primal, and to see what they'd become as compared to what they were...Each she'd brought back was fighting against the council, the Dosh Khaleen who knew only what they'd seen and held but a single Sword Wife in their midst. Took three days of meditation for Grandmother to remember what was, the blood remembered but hers was thin and aging. Theirs was running hot and without direction until they'd seen the stars and fought against raiders. Brought pride to the council o know the ways would continue...until they remembered what it was like to have Sword Wives in their midst. Rebellion and rebuilding of an empire was never an easy thing. That was why River would focus on Furya before she sought out the Alliance.
"Still can't wrap my head 'round you bein' the Khalakki," Chiana bumped into her as they walked through the streets and down to the docks. They'd eaten and Asha continued to turn River's words over in her mind though she listened with half ears. "Compared to Khalakki Rhayne you're beyond functional."
"And modest atop that," River smiled.
"Modest," Chiana laughed. "In body only Riv, the rest of you brags more than any person I've ever met."
"Honest truths," River scoffed.
The hardest part of bringing the girls into 'civilized' space was talking them into wearing something other than their leathers. Beads and feathers remained, clinking in neon lights and floating in the hot sun, golden wires strung along through their hair and already they were known for their work with the people who mattered. It was convincing them that pants were not such a terrible thing. That covering skin kept the law and the low from starting trouble they did not need. Use it when was wise, but use steel and wits at all other times.
Climbing aboard the Bebop was a relief in and of itself. Wordless commands to each and every girl and woman throughout. Morgan and Ariadne were giving liftoff to their students in anticipation of the new ships while River sent Asha to take inventory of the newly delivered supplies and the crew. Had learned quite quick that her crew was prone to wandering off or allowing strangers on board. Learned and scolded and drilled it into their skulls until she was sick of those who wouldn't listen. Left her first and second crews on Furya for failing her.
River pursed her lips when the ship wobbled during take-off. First launch off of a populated planet; warned the portmaster and all other ships to avoid claims. River was entering the bridge when they finally entered the black. Ariadne was trying desperately not to push them out of the seat and take over and her girls, Gilly and Tilly, were trying very hard to remain calm as they worked. Didn't know she was there and for that River was glad. Would have made things that much worse. Steady and on course some seconds later and River smiled at her pilot. Would hate to see her go, but there was a need to spread ones wings.
"Local girls done good," River sang to the twins. Made them jump and the ship tilted. "Must keep us steady for a while longer. Autopilot does wonders."
"Set it and come down for dinner," Ariadne told them before moving to exit. Needed to speak with River, find out what was going to happen before it happened. Hardly pleased as River told her, but agreed it was for the best. "I want the bigger ship. Morgan knows little and less of anything made for war."
"You will get what you fight for, this is known."
"Then I will take the bigger ship," the pilot smiled.
"And you will leave one of your pilots with me," River looked to her. "Twins work well together, but they must learn to work with others as well."
"Take Gilly," Adriane told her without hesitation. "She's the one more adjusted to the 'verse. Tilly still has issues being around you."
"She and many others," River sighed. "A foot in two worlds and fingers grazing the cheek of the old ways as she slips steel into it's belly."
"Said it yourself Riv, the old ways must change if we wish to be a part of the 'verse."
Made it to the mess before most of the others and took her seat at the head of the table. Would say good-bye to many of them soon enough. Run them back to Furya with ghost crews and shuffle everything about until they worked out just right. Keep running cargo while the other two worked on legit business. Chiana was staying with her though. Knowledge was proving to be invaluable when it came to finding the best worst places to go for business. Didn't always know how to bargain, and worse still at keeping plans secret from the rest of the crew, but knew what Nanomeds were and how to avoid the Casterly Company.
~!~
Simon whistled a cheerful tune as he set the timer. In exactly seven minutes, the shifts would change and the armory would be empty of soldiers. Even though the Alliance would have a new shipment on it's way within a few hours, it wouldn't reach Dunnigan until tomorrow at least. If they got a message out. The blast would take out the communications tent on top of blowing the armory and during the chaos, Mal's Madmen would come in and take control of the base. He didn't think he'd enjoy being a part of a rebellion, and it was true that the war was highly unpleasant, but being a part of something greater had fulfilled something he wasn't aware he'd been missing.
"Hurry the hell up Doc," Jayne growled around his cigar. Both of them were disguised as Alliance soldiers, Jayne as a grunt while Simon played the pampered core officer. It was beyond easy to do.
"Patience is not one of your virtues," Simon smiled as he sat up straight. "Let's go."
Simon made a show of fixing his hair as they left, Jayne looking just a bit more fidgety and pink in the cheeks as they went. It made for a decent enough show and none of them were likely to ask about it for fear of the punishment it might gain them. A commanding officer had dragged one of his grunts into a dark corner and that was all they cared to know.
"Don't make me wait next time," Simon snapped as the large man opened the door to the commandeered mule.
"Yessir," Jayne nodded, hurrying to shut the door once Simon was in. He hurried to climb in and drive too, as much for the appearance as to get away from the explosion that would surely come as they were leaving base.
When Simon and Jayne made it to the top of the hill, right back to where their crew was waiting, the base burst into a celebration of Halloween orange and sulfur yellow, highlighted with electric blues and acidic green as chemical agents reacted to the flames. Pops and bangs and booms that shook the ground and made Jayne grin.
"You sure there's going to be any folks left on that base Doc?" Mal asked.
"Enough," Simon nodded. Another explosion went off and Simon made a mental note to add less of one compound or other. "Once the communications has been repaired, we should have enough of our men in place to fool the drop-off crew."
"Good," Mal nodded. "Jackie! You make the call on up to the ship, get our boys in place and see if you can get Zoe on the horn, might need Monty to drop some more folk off."
"Didn't seem like a very heavily manned location," Jayne shook his head. "Monty comes 'round, like to get us all pinched for touchin' dirt after the explosion."
Simon sat and listened to the crew talk it over, keeping an eye on the curly haired young woman who'd dashed off to the ship. She was a bit like River at times; honest, smart-assed, fearful, but unlike River, she listened to him when he really needed her to. She listened to everyone really, but Simon felt that in Kyra, he might be able to find what River had lost. His hand went to his pocket where the data chip from her last vidgram was resting. He was less pleased with every message and increasingly upset when the contents played. Always hoping that she would announce her return despite the growing distance between them. Then her voice would come through and he'd see her smiling, glowing even as she told him of her adventures and the crew she was training. Those could have been false, faked, imagined, but the look in her eyes wasn't one of insanity. A look that made him feel useless and angry as much as it made him wonderfully happy. Her sanity meant he was no longer needed in her life.
He couldn't accept that.
River was his sister, the only real family he'd ever accepted. The one who'd held him after Paris and the one he'd kept safe from as many dangers as he could. Found clothes and shoes for her, fed her and entertained her, just as the old ways said, just as their mother pushed each of them to learn while their father stressed the methods of the new world. Osiris courtship melded with Furyan rites...
"Doc!" Mal shouted. "Get your gorram ass in gear and head down to their med tent!"
"Sorry, I was just thinking about River."
"Think all you want s'long as you're in position and payin' attention," Mal gave him a light push.
~!~
The survival pod had been loaded up with more than just protein, hygiene, and decent clothes. Riv had grabbed a bit of just about everything to keep him entertained. Tool kit, a real tanning kit for the hides he'd been collecting, a cleaning kit for the one rifle she'd left on board and some whetstones for his knives. He'd gone through every one of them in the first month. Then he'd made a schedule on how often he was going to use them and only after he'd found himself in the middle of a blizzard did he start flicking through the databanks. Music, movies, books, games...
The games were pretty fun. Vintage games, or rebooted versions of classics, but still damn fun when you were stuck in a snowstorm or just bored with hunting. Didn't have much reason to keep hunting if he was honest. Plenty of meat in the freezer, the hides had filled up the cargo box, and it wasn't as fun recently. Riddick was getting bored.
Bored was bad. River's visits had been happening off schedule, not that they had one to begin with. He understood the need to be subtle when smuggling cargo. Hiding from the law wasn't something that just happened and after...
"Fuckin' Filch," Riddick scowled at the screen. Vintage game, took maybe a day, two if he got up and ate, to beat any installment in the series. Funny though, and easy to play again. Always that one guy though, grabbin' him up at the parts Riddick was good at in real life.
He stretched when he finally worked past the level. Save, quit, power down and start working out. Whole pod was set up to act as a gym if he wanted. Pull-up bars, weights, even a punching bag that dropped from the ceiling. Made the time pass easier when a bad storm hit, few rounds, couple of sets, maybe a level or five. Course, the storms weren't the worst part of it. The worst part was being trapped in one place. Place of his own choosing, sure, didn't have much to bitch about either, way things were, but every night he'd wake up sweating. Fucked up dreams where the blonde braided bitch from before was trying to bust into his head and River was fighting with her, but nothin' ever worked out right. A shadow would come into the dream and River would be the smart one. She'd grab the blonde up and scream at him to wake up as he went closer to the thing. Then he'd find himself tackled to the ground and she'd stab him awake.
The inside of his skull was humming again. Did that whenever he thought on his dreams. Started the first time, right after he'd woken up. He knew it was just a dream, knew that she'd only struck him to save his ass, but she'd stayed behind. Wasn't until the hum of her mind in his brain started up that he'd calmed and figured that she was out and safe. Fucked up, avoiding sleep because you got a panic attack over a shadow. A shadow and the possible death of your girlfriend's spiritual presence.
If he'd gone back five years and told himself he'd be here, in this situation, Riddick would have laughed and possibly thrown a punch. But if he'd gone back ten years, to the day he enlisted with the Company...he'd have been just fine with it. The eighteen year old would have grinned and laughed to know he could sit at home all day, playing games and working out while his sugar mama brought home the bacon.
'Cept for one thing. He was two years and five days away from thirty and his wife was risking her goddamned neck for a rock that might as well be dead. Wasn't stayin' on this rock next time she flew in. Even if it meant wearin' a mask and never speaking on civilized rocks, he wasn't stayin' here when a shadow was floating through space with enough malice to scare even River. Crazy as fuck, but she had the sense to trust in that animal part of her brain. The instinct to protect and to save. Always had it, but until he met her, until he felt her skin and shared her breath, never had a direction.
He paused midway through a pull up when his comm began to ping. Riddick dropped down and walked over to the device, tapping at the screen to answer. He grinned wide and full of teeth when the girl who'd sent the call out turned bright red and turned away.
"New girl's skittish," he spoke to the other woman on the screen.
"First man she saw was less than three weeks past," River waved it away. She was smiling soft and sweet and leaning on one hand. "Sorry excuse and hardly comparable to mine. Shocked her. Thought to glimpse and didn't remember that beasts have little need for clothes."
Riddick leaned back just a bit to grab a stool before they continued speaking. She was coming in for his birthday and he was heading out with her, just like he said he would. The second part took a bit more convincing though. Convincing, bribing, demanding, pouting (on her part) and sulking (he'd never admit it) until finally it was agreed that they would discuss it further once she arrived. He'd bully his way past her god damned crew, stark naked until they passed out from blood loss at the sight of him if he had to. Sick and god damn tired of sitting on a rock.
"Beautiful, I gotta go, there's a couple quacks outside the door."
"Happy hunting my Beast." She leaned forward and pressed her lips to the screen before leaning back into her chair and shutting down the feed.
"Keep the Bebop in orbit," River told them as she prepped the Swordfish to fly. "Must growl in the dark and inform Richard of the pending situation."
"Best thing," Chiana agreed. "Let him in on the whole Shirah situation and all those stuffy ceremonies he needs to know."
Thoughts of ritual were shoved far back into her mind, thick with dust and mildewed from time. Mirrored the scrolls and banks in the Furyan Citadel, remnants of a greater library set upon a single stable plate. Destroyed now, death upon fleet wings. So many screams of rage and fury. The hunger for war and glory and for life! Morgan waved her up into the cockpit, finished speaking to the engine and quenching it's thirst.
"Ariadne, you're in charge until I get back."
"Aye Captain," her pilot spoke over the intercom. "We'll be waiting for the flag."
Flying the Swordfish was different than flying a ship. This was made for speed, for racing across ludicrous landscapes and hairpin turns in zero-g. For dogfights in the air and stealth in the middle of an enemy camp. Picked it for him but it answered to her. Took several trips round the planet before she settled on landing. Saw great storms and seas of bluegreen and herds of creatures running across icebergs as she flew low. Bright red in the sky and fearsome to behold for primitive creatures. River finally touched down near to the pod. Fast yes, but steady as well. Vertical landing and take off or traditional ascent at an angle.
"Look to be enjoyin' yourself," Riddick called from his front porch. Put together with bones and skins, gave him a place to sit when he needed freedom and fresh air.
"Did offer it to him first," she climbed out onto the wing. A hiss as the cockpit shut tight, annoyed that she'd left with so many more miles to go. Made to go, go, Go! "Might keep it now with the madness in his mind."
"Callin' me crazy?" he asked. Brows raised and a smile just behind his lips. Happy to watch her trudge through the snow while he held hot coffee in front of him. The trailing steam never rose too high, it froze before it got too far from the cup.
"Don't need to. The beast is certified, paperwork filled out by men in white coats while clocks tic-tock-tic-tock." River got to the porch and stomped the snow from her boots. "She doesn't want to take him home. Don't need to have his blood verified, I know he is her husband."
"Kinda wooly there Beautiful." He reached out and steered her into the pod. Warm inside, as warm as her ship had been, as warm as his arms on Hades.
"Unhappy, stressed, illogical behavior for a sound situation, I know, but this...Shirah is a sliver of iron in the bed of her nail." River began to strip out of the flight jacket upon entering. Boots kicked off moments later as she continued to think and ponder on how to speak without sounding completely mad. "Doesn't work in honorable places, cads and scoundrels, would be tricky to deal with and the crew would...the crew is half mad as it stands."
"River, you're in my neck of the woods. Nothin' Alliance or Blue Sun. How many folk you met even speak Chinese?" Was putting his coat up to hang now, still sipping at his coffee as he meandered into his den. Smelled of him, not calming but filled with testosterone; not much to be had on ship or on dirt. Not of the sort she could stand.
"Canto-Mandarin hybrid containing bastardized Taiwanese," she corrected automatically. Then she paused, focusing on the fact that he had tried to make things presentable for her arrival. Cleaned up, things packed or in place for a later time. Secured in case the pod had to go too. "Have encountered seven. All businessmen from Alliance Space."
"Exactly, and I bet that brain of yours has been going to the most likely places, hasn't it?"
"Her methods have worked well thus far and reputation is being established."
"Ain't questioning' that," he shook his head. "Just wonderin' how fast you want to get those girls off of that rock. How many of them got the potential to be captains of their own boats? How many want to leave? How many ships you got River?"
"Need the big scary man discount for the next job," she admitted. "Four, including Morgan and Adriane, Chiana will not take her own vessel, refuses to. Harbors feelings which can not be returned, knows they can not, don't understand it at all. Don't understand her or Simon."
"Your brother?" Upset now. Oh yes he was. Upset, unsettled, unhappy with the idea boiling in his brain. Like rancid meat boiling to a sludge.
"Had no option but to travel with him for many years. Running would have brought a chase and my mind wasn't ready yet. Unhealthy Obsession doctors have claimed," River admitted. "Wouldn't say more though she would. Has, often and loud though none would listen or believe. Ge-ge never acted, thought her too precious and too far above such mortal acts. Didn't always stop him from thinking it..." She couldn't help but pose like the ballerina she'd once been. "A china doll to be kept behind glass, looked upon as the mind hungered." The Beast huffed and snorted to clear the idea from his head. "Did tell him not to bring up family while they were fucking."
"I didn't, you did."
Truth enough in that. Getting flustered and frustrated in all sorts of ways by things beyond her control and past her point of perceptions or even reference. Let herself flop down onto his bed in a most undignified manner and released a groan of frustration. The Beast was watching now, thoughts creeping in and shaken out just as quickly as they came. Wanted to talk about Simon though he didn't want to hear it at all. Needed to know for safety's sake and to build up plans for the eventuality. Would meet the family sooner or later, be it through creative flight patterns or because she needed him to rescue her.
"Tired," she mumbled out. "So tired of being a part of the world."
"Part of why I left." His voice was to her left, higher above as he continued to lean on the counter and watch her back. Her back and all the things just below it. "One thing though. Every time I try, I end up bein' dragged back. Sometimes it's by a man who wants cash, sometimes it's by a man thinks I owe him somethin', and then there's you. 'Cept you ain't draggin' me back. Want me to stay put, keep my head down and my nose clean." Was closer to her now, taking steps closer throughout his monologue until he was right beside her. Close enough to touch her and run his fingers through her worries and cares and curls. "These girls you've been trainin' up, places you're going, can't really depend on them to make sure you're still alive. Put too much effort into keepin' your pi gu intact."
River turned and smiled. Learned just enough to make his point. Working very well truth told. Putting in effort she needed to reciprocate to make a marriage of chance become something stronger.
"Long term investments should be tended."
"Need a bit of direction at times too. I got contacts Riv, people you need." His hands were touching her now, eyes glimmering in the shadows all around them as it trailed down her spine to the edge of her garment. One creature to another right now. "Know where all the big guns are 'round here."
"Big guns for dealing with big problems. Big scary Beast for bad men." River turned onto her back and let her fee hit the floor. The better to see the picture to the words floating through her head. "Brought presents for him, sharp and dangerous and covered in fire. Fire, fire, all across the water and up in the sky. Ice burns and Home is intangible. Neither rock nor steel, nor glass domes or the icy depths."
"Home ain't something to worry about," He spoke. Leaned closer to her, noses touching and mint touching the air. "Gotta stay alive first. Part of that means going with you."
"Relents!" she cried out. River put her arms around his neck and smiled faintly. "She relents. Will second guess herself a thousand times over Shirah. Has a history of choosing blondes and a longer one of chasing the warrior, but she relents. Will be as it will be and-" She put her fingers to his lips when he began to make noises and words. "-she will work against societal insecurities. Centuries of belief do not leave easily, nor do the words of a mother fade from the child."
She brushed her thumb along his cheekbone. Smooth skin, moisturized and shaved, was warm to the touch and spread across the face of a warrior. Strong and independent, perfectly okay with wandering alone until Hades. Until she crawled into his lap and his life and decided not to give a damn about who or what he was. A man and a woman, animals in the sand, the sun, the snow.
"Steady plate on Furya, perfect for escaping the caves and playing in the moonlight. Dancing in the moonlight," River whispered. Not far for her lips to reach his ears. "Only sun above us now. Sun and glass for anyone to see should they wish to look."
"Beautiful, anyone gets a view of this, ain't gonna be pretty." Lips upon her skin. Soft and warm, contrasted the hard, cold words and actions he was known for. Nothing like the blizzard blowing outside or a walk in the black. Held her tight, anchored her to a world that appeared only between the two of them.
No. The two of them upon the bed was not pretty. It was not beautiful. It was not soft or dreamlike. It was a man and a woman who had been without one another for just over a year. It was desperate and needy as the beast pulled her clothes off without regard and the woman struggled to keep pace with him. It was hardly even human as his teeth bared against her skin and moans erupted from her throat. Blunt nails scraped her thighs when he pulled her pants off, mouth hard against her own, brought in hissing and gasping with his touch. River's hands were troubled by the belt at his waist, her mind annoyed by the fact he'd even worn it. Indignant even, but smug when they fell around his ankles and his breath and movements shuddered to a halt at her touch. She hadn't taken him back into civilization or lit a fire in his humanity. She much preferred to see him for what he was and what he made her.
Her hands flew to his skull when he moved to her breasts, nipping gently and suckling harder as he held her hips down against the bed. Always holding her tight as he assaulted her senses; keeping her from floating away. Down further along her body leaving trails of blue fire wherever he touched her, down to where she ached and hungered for him. River let out a keening whine as Riddick kissed along the insides of her thighs, circled around everything she wanted him to touch and teased the edge of trimmed curls with his nose. The blue of his hands on her hips left no room for her to wiggle and demand but when she sat up enough to look at him, the sight of hunger that had been roaring all around took her breath away. Aware enough to know her eyes mirrored his but now, in this moment, they were hardly human.
Fell back against the bed when she surrendered to him. All it was, all it would ever be. A struggle for power, for watching the other person fall apart first and rewarding them. A sound ripped from her throat when he finally touched her. Wasted no time. No more teasing but feasting and gripping as she bucked against him. Such wicked things his tongue was used for. Wicked delicious things as it curled inside of her and twirled around her clit. Being filled and teased and feeling the things he wanted to do before they left the planet. Hot and blue white as his movements grew faster and River's nails dug into his skin.
Another inhuman sound fell from her lips as he growled against her skin. Glad to have him holding her. To fall apart under him rather than alone in her cabin. Kissed his way back to her. Along her belly where he nipped lightly, between the breasts that he tasted and curving to taste her neck once more. Broad shoulders above her and muscled thighs and hips between her more delicate ones. Held between hers as his kissed her with thanks in his mind and actions. Thankful to be off the rock and out of this cell. To be in her arms and enjoying all of her tastes at once. His mind had plenty inside of it right now, watching her glow in his arms brought about the image of them in other places. Places he'd passed through and thought beautiful enough for those long buried fantasies of the boy he'd been.
Lifted her hips to his and paused when there was no feeling of polyisoprene.
"Make me lose my head sometimes," he grinned against her mouth. He pulled back enough to reach to the nightstand and pull out that last step. Birth control wasn't always enough; both knew it. Knew the last time she'd visited and chaos had visited her womb for 3 months. Riddick kissed her back into the present and she relaxed. Things that could have been.
"Miles to go Beautiful," he kissed her again. Hands busy dancing across her body as she slid the sheath over his skin.
"Show me," she breathed against his lips. "Make her pant for breath, sweating as he does, shaking in his arms."
Slid inside of her and made her gasp as he drew in a slow and deep breath of his own. Too long. It had been too long and now that he was within her, she remembered the length and girth of him. The stretch her body made to adjust and the feeling of rightness. Always a calm before the storm. Always catching their breath before his hips jerked and she cried out for the joy of it. River's cries stirred up the beast inside of him until he lost his humanity and took her with him. Tried to keep her nails from shredding the flesh of his back, but with every snap of his hips it was all she could manage to hold tight. Faster, harder, growling and kissing her all at once. River flexed her muscles ever so slightly as his manhood slid in and the sound of his roar was delicious. The feeling of his muscles quaking above her and breath hissing from between his teeth made her mind shake and rattle in time to their heartbeat. Another sharp thrust and River cried out; thought she might outlast him. Never could.
Her hands were running along his scalp almost an hour later. River had propped herself against the headboard while the Beast rest on her lap. Arms halfway round her waist and blowing on her stomach to get her attention for nothing at all. Didn't want anything other than what was right here, right now. Had before and it ended terribly.
"Thinkin' about goo again." Richard's voice rumbled up through her chest and calmed the thoughts that had been chasing one another in her head. Easier to quantify as goo than as human. Human meant they'd failed.
"Thinking of many things. Not the least of which is introducing you to the crew."
Introductions would need to wait. Sat upright at the trickling thought that ran trough space and time into her earholes and bounced around in her skull. The beast began to grumble, scowling as caution edged it's way into her scent and snarling outright when the threads formed into a canvas. Limited number of folks who knew where he was; most of them on the other side of the 'verse and preoccupied. Not even Simon was so foolish as to call a bounty hunter.
"Toombs." River got out of bed hardly a half second after Richard. "Coming for you with...an insulting crew." She paused and her own face curled at the very idea he'd bring so few along with him. "Does he wish to play now or later?"
Riddick looked up at her, stars flashing as a downright bloodthirsty smile spread across his lips. His pants continued to hang from well defined hips as he came over to her, hands brushing bare skin seconds behind the journey his eyes made. His mind whirred with the same thoughts she had as to who had turned him in. Could only be the one. Needed to find out the Why of it. Betrayal blossoming in the brain; boom! Splat! Silence...terrible terrible silence. River caught his hands just under her bust and listened to it, looking for the sound and the fear. Fear and greed, closer and further as they waited.
"Think I'll take care of them now." He was waiting. Was she mad once more? Was something worse coming along?
"She will wait in orbit should he fail to take the ship."
"Makin' me work to get off this rock, aintcha?" Hot hands on hips, fingers in places they knew well as the rough denim pressed against her skin and her sex. "Need to stop doubting me Riv."
"I do not doubt him." She went to her toes and kissed him lightly, teasing as she pulled away a half breath and kissed him once more. "Merely enjoy watching you work oh famed artist."
She laughed and ducked out of his arms to grab up her flight suit. Things to do, people to kill. He'd resigned himself to the title as an Artist nearly two years back; something ridiculous she'd heard Shirah use to attempt to discredit them. Fool.
"See you in the black Beautiful." He caught her once more, dressed in thick and heavy furs with one to cover his head, and kissed her. Rough and marking. Scent for scent and shaking knees still.
"A kiss for a Beast."
River landed in the dock with a scowl marring her features. The swordfish was echoing her displeasure, unhappy that it's boy was running across the land instead of flying through the black with the rest of them. More annoying, River's crew was waiting on the edges of the bay, some hanging up higher and others leaning against doorframes. More traditional thoughts were flickering in and out. Why hadn't she brought him back? Had he sent her away? Did he even know? River tossed her helmet to the newest one, and scowled even further.
"Chiana! Got some mercs zeroing in on us and the Khal wants to hunt. Get Tilly to swing us round to the other side of this rock." River turned on the new girl and raised a brow. "Does she not have something to do?"
"Uh, sorry, Khallakki."
"Do not be sorry, be busy. Go!"
Knew she was in a foul mood, but who would not be when her playtime was ruined? Had planned many things for this evening and now had to make due with the cabin's limited space and thoughts of her crew all around. Jealousy and steel were not as good as burning ice. The joyous blue would be lost in the Black and the Silence was coming after their screams...
"Riv?"
Looked up to see Chiana and Asha looking at her. Had been speaking to her for some time now; knew she wasn't like the rest, knew her ears would always reach further and deeper than theirs but to see was always a shock to them. Always tinted with fear.
"Many things to do my lovelies, must sneak and scurry and hide to keep the Silence at bay."
"Leave the plannin' to you and Riddick then." Chiana offered her a cup of tea and waited for River to take the lead. "Hercules wants you to know he's got some other cargo waitin' if we still feel like dealing with him after all of this."
"Is he awaiting our reply?"
"Ai Khallaki," Asha nodded. "He is being most patient until you have finished with the Khal."
"The Khal will be joining us once he's finished hunting." River ignored the near standstill her crew fell victim too and continued up to the bridge. "Get Hercules back on the horn, his weakness will be exposed soon enough and he shall prostrate himself to the Fury."
She did not speak up again. They would follow her rules or they would leave. Rule 1: keep up and shut up. Chiana was shouting enough for her and Asha had flickered up to the bridge. The entire ship was a flurry, filled with furies, glittering and twinkling, feathers flying in the lowered gravity and leather shuffling with lace. Like a band of gypsies though far more deadly. Take anything and everything for nothing truly belonged to anyone. If freedom was given, then it was never truly there to begin with.
"Hercules, my husband shall be watching the homestead and counting coins." Straight to the point, no need or desire to hear a counterfeit demi-god prattle on. "Has agreed to take on her more adventurous ventures, though I wonder what it is you would speak of and which breezes you wish to come my way."
"Ah, Fey, your tongue is sharper than your blade, and your mind puts both to shame," he smiled half heartedly. "Mayhap it is this, or perhaps the furies you fly with that I come to you on my knees, shameful."
"You are sitting Hercules," she reminded him. "Your wrong is shining brighter, though to see what it is I must hear you say it."
"There is...a complication, my dear one."
"You mean a trap." The was no question about this, and his silence and shock was merely an annoyance at this point. "I am well aware of this trap, but they are not aware of me and mine, nor shall they be until my blade slides into their necks and bellies. You agree with me, of course."
"O-of course, Miss Fey," he nodded. The fat in his chin and cheeks was jiggling as he nodded. "I shall, remain here, silent and watching for your lights in the sky."
"And I shall come with bells and smiles to see what new jobs you have for me." River leaned and flicked the feed off. He was too fearful and old to try and disobey. She would arrive or she wouldn't and he would continue to follow whomever held power. The trick would be getting him to fear Fury more than he feared paperwork and money.
"Big scary man discount," she looked up to the ceiling. "Asha."
"Ai?" The younger girl had been there for nearly the entire conversation. Idol worship turned to respect much quicker with this one.
"Make sure there is bathwater enough for us. Richard and I shall bathe last, but ensure all who have not are clean for his arrival."
Some traditions did not fade so easily. These she learned quickly with grandmother. Clean and unclean, such strange things and views were held. Close to godliness. A wife and husband might meet covered in blood and mud and cleanse one another of worries and fears before joining their clan. Never bring the scent of death into the den lest it twist life before it began. Other times would have brought a third to bathe; little and tiny, seeing what was truth and lies as they played in the bubbles and bathwater.
Shook her head. Lost was lost and never really hers, theirs, to begin with.
"We have incoming," Tilly spoke up some minutes later. More than minutes later. She'd crept up in the silence as Asha fluttered about the ship. Chiana was double checking clean linens and laundry, ensuring their pantry was full and dinner was on it's way for his arrival. Crew was waiting in the mess for food and feral feelings. "Single life-sign aboard."
"Clear out the dock and open the bay." River hummed. The bath was still waiting for them. A converted safety shower and emergency med-bay. Gutted the room and the storage closet behind it to make a communal bath. Another med bay on the other side anyhow. Felt the ship shift and the added weight of a stolen ship come into contact with her own. Closed the bay, refilled it with a simile of the Furyan atmosphere. Didn't know how terrible it was to breathe the breath of another rock until she'd gone home. Trained in boiling jungles and scorching volcanic landscapes and the ship insisted that it become near as humid and warm as the land of their blood. Her Beast would not like it so much at first.
Then again, he did like warm and wet things...
River rose from her chair on the bridge and began back to the bay, stripping down as she went. Nothing they hadn't seen before. Wouldn't see her husband unless he wanted them to.
The hiss of the bay doors opening stood out in the chilled air of the dock. He was already sitting on the ramp, stripped out of his furs and watching the door for her. Stars in the dim light of the bay. Wondering for moments how many others had seen her before remembering there weren't any men to punish for the sight. Only women. Only one he might have to have words with, but right now, as he watched her stroll through the steel cave, he thought only on what they hadn't finished. Thoughts that made her sway and sigh until she found purchase against the wall and held his shoulders tight. Legs entwined with his and feeling naughty as his pants kept themselves up around his hips. Fully clothed to her bared skin and wishing he'd taken off more than his fur.
"It is time to wash the blood from our hands and faces," River breathed out as his hands slid down to cup her flesh. "Time to bathe her Beast in sacred waters." She reached behind herself and the soft sound of the shower doors opening echoed through the halls. Carried only a few scents, would soon be filled with theirs, lit by the fire in their veins.
Didn't speak, merely shut the door and carried her further into the bath chamber. Hands gripped tighter, leaving bruises upon her flesh while his lips mimicked the claiming force he'd brought onto her ship. Closer, tighter, until he set her down upon a bench and began to peel the bloodstained clothing off. Gave her but a few seconds to turn on the water and fill the room with steam. The clothes made wet sound as they struck the wall beside the door and River knew her Richard was watching her move around in the hazy room. Watching as she pulled him closer and began to run her hands across his skin. Slow, so slow, but with purpose beyond cleansing. Fingers along his neck along his jaw until her hands framed his face before her.
"Had it wrong," she whispered against his lips. The barest quirk of a brow. "Not an artist at all."
"Pretty as a picture?" Riddick gave her a half grin.
"Prettier. Not a beast, but the king of beasts. Her king of Beasts, come to the fairy waters to bathe."
There was something intimate about bathing with one another without other intent. His mind was still filled with the images and ideas of bending her across the bench, pushing her against the tiled walls as he'd done moments ago, but even her beast knew it was best to get rid of the scent of merc that clung to his skin. Would kiss him, would feel his hands, and her thumb would brush against a drop of blood and distract them both. A time and place for blood and sex in the mud and flames; was not this time. Was the time to run soap across his skin until there were no others in the room with them.
Took her place astride his lap and began to wash the blood away. Hands were firm on her waist, pulling her closer as she ran hands and soap across his skin. Along his neck, behind his ears, leaning forward so her breasts pressed against his chest and her nails could scour his back from behind the cloth. Made him hiss and twitch as his hips jerked up. Never time for shower sex before this. Always something coming or going but now, as he sat upon the tiled floor and the last bits of merc went down the drain, River was beginning to see the upsides of it.
"Will he merely sit there?" she asked him, taking the edge of his ear in between her lips.
"Thinkin' about it." The Riddick was coming out from behind the mist now, leaning back on his hands to see what she could do. To see if the frantic couplings of the last few years were all she had. "Wanna see if there's a captain on this boat."
River nearly walked away, nearly pouted, nearly told him many things, instead she narrowed her eyes and smiled upon his lap. Felt him hard against her pi gu, pressing and throbbing against her own flesh.
"Your khalakki would take you between her thighs, hear you growling as she screams into the black." could hear him now, hear his mind growl and grin until she put a hand on the back of his head. "Wants much more to feel his lips and his kisses, wants his wicked tongue dancing across her flesh as he holds her still and feasts."
Was on her back quicker than she'd expected, a beast growling and nipping his way down his skin, suckling for bare moments upon her breasts before continuing down. A mind filled with wicked thoughts as she exhaled and felt him touch her. Rough hands grazing her skin until they gripped firm and brought her hips up to his mouth. Just enough stubble to speed her heart as lips kissed the insides of her thighs and deep breaths spread across her skin. Riddick's tongue darted out, slid up and pushed ever so lightly before slipping back inside of his mouth. Chuckled until her heel attempted to dig into his back.
Chuckled again after delivering a swat to her backside. Only person to ever spank her and now his mind was filling with something else, something that made her want and he knew it.
"The khalakki will get what she wants, if she can behave." his tongue darted out once more, into her depths and wriggling before pulling out again. "On the bench."
Swatted her again when she wasn't fast enough for him. Like an errant schoolgirl late to classes. Purred with satisfaction when she lay back down, knees apart and peeking to see what he'd do next. Knew, had a color and a sound to it, but not the same.
"Further." Riddick gestured to her knees and starlight eyes were watching as she did so. "Further. Good. Those feet better not move again." River nodded as he leaned in and jumped a second later. "Knees either."
Ducked between her thighs for a second time and River had to remind herself not to move her legs as his tongue swirled about. Her feet shifted, rising to her toes when he gave a long, hard pull and his hand came up once again. Couldn't set it down again, not until he'd spanked her twice more and her nails began to bite into the wooden bench. Dove deeper, fingers thrusting and her hands went to his head. River yelped for that one. Harder than the last and again until she was whimpering beneath him, holding tight to the bench as her eyes lost focus. Faster, deeper, growing hungrier and spanking her again for every second her leg was wrapped around his shoulders instead of on the ground. Too much, too delicious for her to put it back until finally the sound of his growls and skin on skin was drowned out only by her scream to the black. Her pigu was red and hot from each strike, swelling as his hand brushed across it and her Beast, her Riddick rose up from the depths to grin at her.
"Had a feeling about you Beautiful." Kneeling between her knees still, but more aligned with what he wanted. "You alright?"
"Boneless," she breathed. "Never spanked before she found him."
"Not going to be by anyone else either," he grinned. Half beast, half man. "Want to turn round for me?"
"Always," she smiled. Slid off of the bench and down to her hands and knees before him. Too frenzied to try anything else. Always hit a point where the Beast would well and truly take over. Always made her cry out with the first thrust. Not for speed or depth, but for all else. For the spill of his beast over into her form as his hips snapped forward and left her gasping. His fingers had found their home on her hips as his grunts and growls echoed off of the walls in time with her cries. Deeper, harder, until her face was buried in her arms and she could do little else but cry out as he pulled her closer and lost himself inside of her. A single hand slid around to press against her flesh, circling and pressing against her clit until she felt herself fall apart beneath him. Not too far gone to make her scream again before his roar joined hers. Felt it spread inside of her, blue and hot as the room lit up around them. Still diddling as she collapsed under him and he went to the side. Made her shudder again, longer and deeper as Riddick kept on, biting her gently when she tried to push his hand away.
"Need," She breathed.
"Need to sit still," he breathed against her ear. "Let me take care of you." A low moan escaped her when Riddick's lips began to explore her neck and he delved deeper. "Just one more Beautiful. One more."
Managed to twitch her hips enough to take him into her again and would have smiled to know she wasn't the only one moaning. Slower, deeper, attentive as hips met and and drifted. Lips upon lips as they shared more than breath with one another. Never so slow before, never so delicate before. Never more like a bound pair. Mates. Chosen out of all the others. Was thinking the same way when it came upon them again, Riddick following close behind as she exhaled blue joy.
Sat upon the tile for a time, in one another's arms under the spray of water gone lukwarm. Nothing but the two of them and their thoughts. Only moved again when the water began to grow cold. Only when they needed to move to keep limbs from growing pained and numb. Left the frozen wastes behind for cold steel and warm beds.
"Time to meet your crew then?" Riddick asked as he helped her to stand.
"Long time coming, can not put it off any longer."
"I dunno, we could probably hole up in here for a while." He leaned forward and kissed her for no reason other than he desired it. Desired her. It made her smile nearly as wide as he was. "Hungry for something other than River though."
~!~
Inara pursed her lips at the display before her. It wasn't that she didn't understand it, more that she didn't have quite the grasp on it that others might. Wash for example. Their pilot was down for the count thanks in no small part to a bottle of whiskey with everyone's favorite crew, a crew largely responsible for the pending mob that was heading their way with pitchforks and torchs. Quite litterally.
"Jack!" Inara called over her shoulder. "Jack where are...wow."
"No good?" The soon to be sixteen year old asked. She'd come onto the bridge only a half second after her name was called wearing a pair of skinny legged cargo pants and some kind of gypsy tunic. She'd gone shopping with her saved cut of their jobs and no one had seen her since she'd come back. Partly because they were passed out drunk after the latest independent victory.
"It suits you very well meimei," Ianra smiled. "The flight controls however...they do not suit me."
"That's because the shuttle controls are opposite ship controls for some reason." Jack took the other seat and hit to comm button until it whined. Then she released it with a grin that made even Inara worry. "Like they don't deserve it."
A few buttons and switch flicks later they were in the black and far from angry mobs.
"Does Mal know you can fly his ship?" Inara asked as they sat in the silence and waited. For an angry pilot, an angry captain, or maybe just a wave from an angry Shazza, no one knew for sure.
"I think he suspects," Jack settled on saying. "Better that way though, isn't it? I mean, the war needs pilots as much as it needs ground troops."
"I suppose it does. But it also needs spies." Inara gave Jack a smile. "I think you'd be better at that."
~!~!~!~!~
So...there's that! Haha, it took a while, yeah, but for plenty of very good reasons. Read, Review, and rock on ^_^
