A/N: *SPOILERS FOR 2013 FILM* (See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction using characters from the Pitch Black universe. I do not claim any ownership over them or the world of PB/TCoR. This work is solely for entertainment purposes and is not considered canon (not by a long shot).
Mercifully, Vaako was unconscious when Riddick grabbed his good arm and dragged him across the landscape — otherwise Riddick suspected his mate might have fought him for most of it. It was no easy task — Vaako was dead-weight along with the armor that he and Riddick both wore. Still, there was no way in anyone's idea of Hell that Riddick was going to leave his beautiful behind to be gnawed on by the savage dingo-like animals bearing down on them now.
Riddick barely reached the water before the dogs anyway. Twisting, he held onto Vaako's arm and scooted backwards into the pool, pulling his lover in with him, back to chest. Riddick sucked in a deep gulp of air before sliding under the surface. His hand was clamped firmly over Vaako's nose and mouth to prevent his lover from exhaling what air was in his lungs. The weight of the armor pulled them immediately down into the cloudy water and Riddick looked up through it at the wavering images of the dingos looking down at him. Riddick held Vaako close and watched as their blood drifted in lazy tendrils through the water.
Vaako began to twitch against him. Riddick reached out and wrapped himself around their mental link. At the same time he tightened his grip on his lover. Vaako came awake with a jerk and immediately began to thrash, struggling to pull himself free of Riddick's grip. Riddick simply held on and sent soothing thoughts steadily.
I got you … relax, beautiful … relax … I got you … I got you …
Gradually, Vaako's struggles eased and his near-hysterical sending calmed into actual words.
Riddick … please … I cannot … I cannot do this … I can't …
You got this, beautiful … no sweat … relax … I'm right here … ain't lettin' go …
Vaako trusted Riddick with his life but that didn't erase the panic of waking up underwater and unable to breathe. Vaako forced himself to settle and stilled his limbs. Riddick pulled him into a kiss, but it was only to exhale air into Vaako's lungs. Vaako took the gift gratefully and followed Riddick's pointing finger up — he nodded understanding of what his mate was doing. Riddick released his grip and the two men slowly sank and became motionless. Vaako could hear his own heartbeat echoing in Riddick's mind. Letting Riddick's thoughts coat his own, Vaako was able to ignore the burning in his lungs and the agony in his ribs and never mind the screaming Hell that was his left arm. It faded to a dim ache in the back of his consciousness as he all but fell asleep.
It took everything Vaako had not to start thrashing again when the eels appeared and began to slither in and around his armor and body.
Riddick …
They'll make good eatin' later, beautiful, just think of 'em as sushi that ain't quit movin' yet.
Vaako would have glared if it hadn't required movement. As they gazed upward, the dingo outlines pulled away. Riddick gave them a few more moments and then gestured up. Vaako helped Riddick kick to the surface and lunge out of the water because both his legs were uninjured. Riddick then grabbed Vaako under the armpit and hauled him out of the water since he had use of both arms. The juxtaposition did not escape either man.
For a moment, they lay exhausted and soaked. Upon sitting up, however, they both heard the low growl from behind them. Vaako grimaced. Neither one of them had checked to see if any of the dingos were still in the vicinity. When he slowly turned his head, Vaako found himself staring into the cold gaze of a killer. It was a little too much like looking into a mirror for Vaako's taste.
The moment passed and suddenly the dog-beast was leaping over the pool and coming straight for them. Vaako quickly moved between Riddick and the dingo, throwing his arm up. His wrist guard saved his arm and he was able to block the next two lunges of the snarling demon with powerful kicks.
The beast backed off and regarded the two men. Vaako inched back until he was beside Riddick. Neither man moved until the dingo came forward again with a vicious snap.
Riddick's hand had closed around a bone fragment and he used that to smack the dog across the muzzle. With a sharp yelp, it fell back and then attacked again only to receive the same treatment. The third time, it was able to grab the bone and eventually tug it from Riddick's grip. The dingo gave it a killing shake and tossed it well out of reach.
Riddick, are we going to play with it or kill it?
Patience, Vaako … watch …
Riddick tore an insignia off his armor and held it loosely in his hand. The animal watched that hand intently. Riddick's lips quirked and he flung the shining piece of metal into the distance. To its credit, the beast debated attacking the two injured men before whining and loping off to find its prize. Vaako watched it go with a sigh.
Life with you is never boring, Riddick.
I do what I can — by the way, sorry about this, beautiful.
Sorry? Sorry for wha—
Riddick was on Vaako's left side. His beautiful could endure pain like no one else he knew but Vaako was avoiding the issue of his arm. Before his lover could be too stubborn about it, Riddick turned, grabbed Vaako's wrist and a place just before the elbow. He jerked the bones apart, then worked the arm until the bone slid back into the skin and notched into place. Riddick released the arm and caught Vaako, who was unsteady and very pale.
You bastard … Vaako sent. Riddick could almost hear the snarl. It is fortunate that we are bonded. I still might beat the hell out of you on principle.
Riddick chuckled, then met Vaako's gaze again.
I have to splint it.
Vaako growled but he removed the other arm guard and handed Riddick the locking pins while he fit the metal into place over the break. He took a deep breath and nodded to Riddick who drove the pins through the guard and into Vaako's arm. The only indication of the pain was the muscle twitching in Vaako's tightly clenched jaw. Riddick brushed against the block Vaako had erected in his mind and it came down a bit.
Still gonna beat the hell outta me? Riddick teased.
Vaako leveled a glare at Riddick that had him laughing. He loved Vaako's facial expressions - every emotion he felt could be read there when he was so inclined to allow it. It had been disconcerting to say the least to see Vaako's flat and dead visage while he was still a Necromonger.
Laugh while you can, Riddick. It is now your turn.
Go easy on me, beautiful.
Vaako gave Riddick an annoyed look and proceeded to perform the same procedure on Riddick's leg. Much like Vaako, he gave no outward sign of what had to be agony. The telepath worked as quickly as he could to spare his mate the most pain. When he was done, he helped him stand.
Shall we take a stroll about the grounds?
There you go again … talkin' all formal like.
Vaako grinned. It had been far too long since he and Riddick had been in a position to rely only on one another. He could feel that his mate was enjoying the easy banter despite their rather dismal circumstances. He didn't resist when Riddick pulled him into a hard kiss. They released with a groan that sadly was not sexual in nature — their bruised and battered bodies were complaining loudly.
Still with me, beautiful?
Always, Riddick.
Together, they set out across the rocky desert. Along the way they figured out a makeshift strap for both of their goggles. Vaako sighed when the eye protection was settled in place again. The glare of the planet's sky cut to a muted glow, Vaako studied the rock formations they were approaching — a mountain range that stretched for miles in either direction. Riddick pointed and Vaako followed his mate's finger to see water pouring down the side of a cliff face.
The water was tepid but clean and clear. They both stood beneath the fall and sucked in handfuls of it. While they stood basking in the glorious moisture, Riddick examined the alcove. Pools of muddy water stood around but just across the largest one were a series of steps carved into the rock. He directed Vaako's attention to them.
Pass through the range maybe.
Vaako nodded absently. Something wasn't right here … he looked around and was bothered by the inordinate amount of bleached bone lying near the pools. He sent his mind out and jerked back in surprise. A loud growl echoed from the walls of the niche. Vaako and Riddick turned to see the three dogs that had attacked them coming over and around the rocks to where they stood. Backed against the wall, neither man moved.
Suddenly a strange tentacle-like appendage rose from the water beside them. It had pincers bracketing a central bone shaped like a dagger. Vaako was torn between watching the nightmare in the water and the dogs between them and escape. One of the dogs approached the water, sniffing. When two more tentacles emerged, it became fascinated with their slow swaying motion. What appeared to be nostrils on the flat shovel-shaped end almost resembled eyes — Vaako jerked again when his mind encountered what had startled him before.
"Damn it … no … get —" Vaako took an aborted step forward toward the dog when the tentacle reared back and the rest of the creature surged forward.
Riddick pulled Vaako back hard against the rock beside him with a curse. Distracted by the dancing tail, the dog never had a chance to avoid the lightning strike of the creature. It buried fangs deep in the dingo's flank. The dog howled and struggled helplessly. Vaako could take no more.
Animals were easier than humans … they kept no mental walls to break through, but their uninhibited emotional responses were much simpler and stronger. It was easier to lose concentration in an animal's mind. Vaako pushed deep into the beast's mind and was immediately hit with an overwhelming flood of pain and fear. Riddick clamped his hand down on Vaako's arm like a vise to prevent his lover from bolting. Vaako forced his way past the animal's instincts and severed its mind from the body, releasing it and ending the dog's misery. The dingo's companions fled back to predators and prey they understood.
Vaako took several quick steps toward the entrance of the niche before throwing up what little he had in his stomach. He dry-heaved for a few moments while Riddick looked around, noticing the same batch of bones scattered around the pools. He saw more of the dog skulls — apparently others had made the same mistake. Distracted by his musings, Riddick did not sense the tail rising out of the pool behind him until it was almost too late - it was larger than the others.
Vaako caught the movement out of the corner of his eye as he shook off the last of his nausea. Riddick was barely able to dive out of the way of the strike, but he could not avoid the creature itself. He grabbed the large leg bone of some unfortunate creature and used it to hold the scorpion creature at bay. Vaako held another bone grabbed from ground and used it to block the tail strikes. Riddick was finally able to jam the leg bone into the creature's mouth enough to force it back into its pool. Vaako grabbed Riddick and together they stumbled out of the alcove and back into the baking sun.
Try not to do something that fuckin' stupid again, Vaako. Riddick's sending was hot with anger but the edges rippled with intense worry.
I couldn't stand it, Riddick … it was in such pain …Vaako sent. He knew it was a weak excuse — it was simply the natural order. Everything had to eat and the dog would not have hesitated to kill him and Riddick had they been unable to fight back. The beast's suffering, however, had punched through his paper thin mental shields like they were not there. The day's injuries and events had worn them down to nothing. Riddick was apparently in no better condition as he rounded on his mate.
Ain't like I didn't notice, Vaako — but those things could have killed you, Riddick snarled in Vaako's mind. Reaching over, Riddick palmed the back of Vaako's neck and gently pulled their foreheads together. Don't you fuckin' dare leave me on this rock alone.
Vaako knew it was no fear of being alone … they were old hands at the solitary life. No, the plea under Riddick's words referred to their bond — to lose a mate was a Hell neither of them wanted to experience even though they were well-aware they led lives fraught with sudden death. Vaako simply sent regret and nodded. Riddick looked at the unforgiving mountains.
There are bad days, beautiful, and then there are legendary bad days. Riddick looked at Vaako with a wry smile. This is shapin' up to be one o'those.
Vaako could not disagree.
A/N #2: I'm a complete sap when it comes to animals - I hated this scene in the film. But Vaako is right - it's just nature. I still wanted to fix it so the poor thing didn't suffer.
