Thank you for reading! I'd love to hear your comments! Thanks! Oh, and I don't own this :(
Jack had just returned from shopping and dropped off her purchases in her room. She changed into a new tank top and boxers and stretched, making sure the fabric wasn't tugging in the wrong places.
"Oh, this feels much better." She caught the scent of the clothing and brought the tank top's material up to her nose. "Hey, they smell like my new perfume. Wonder if he'll notice."
She put the larger clothes in the laundry basket to be washed since they were reserved mostly for when she went out. While on the ship she wore what she liked. She took his new pants, silk boxers, and socks to his room, and then brought their food to the galley.
"Riddick! Food!"
She fixed them both a plate of the Chinese take out and sat down to eat. He walked through the door a minute later. Wrinkled his nose and sat down to eat. He took a few bites and sniffed the air.
That ain't the food. Spices…flowers…some kind of wood?
He leaned closer to her and sniffed again. "Jack? What the hell is that smell?"
His comment stung and she became defensive. "Why?" He looked at her weird, took a bite of his food and shook his head. "Riddick, I asked you a question."
"Wasn't aware that I had to fucking answer," he grumbled.
She was getting angry and was put out by it. He had insulted her new perfume, and then wouldn't answer her question turning his attention back down to his plate.
Riddick reached for where his drink should have been and got a handful of air. "Get me a beer will ya?"
Prick! She stood up and grabbed her plate and drink. "Get off your lazy ass and get it yourself!" She stormed out of the room.
"Jack!" He watched her leave the room. "What the fuck did I say?"
Awareness hitting him he sat back in his chair and groaned. "Dammit!" Perfume…she was wearing perfume and I just acted like it stank. He finished his food and went to find her. It wasn't hard. All he needed to do was follow the blaring music.
Her door was ajar and he looked in. She was lying on her bed sketching something on her tablet computer.
Try not to fuck this up. She's already pissed. No idea what to say to her.
He opened the door and stood against the door frame, he smelled the perfume again. It was stronger this time. Not a bad choice Jack. She didn't look up.
"If I had wanted your company, I would have stayed in the galley."
"Jack…" He didn't quite know how to start.
"We all know that's my name. If that's all you came to tell me then you can get the hell out of my room."
Aggravation set in. Why does she have to be such a stubborn shit?
"Dammit, you're not making this fucking easy!" He took a few steps in the room and sat on the edge of her bed. She rolled her eyes.
"Making what not easy on you? How NOT to be a prick?"
"Jack!" He gave her his warning look and she glared at him and put her tablet down crossing her arms over her chest. "Look…that didn't come out right what I said in there…"
She sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. "Let me see, would that be What the hell is that smell or I wasn't aware I had to fucking answer? Maybe both? She had mocked him perfectly.
"You've…never worn that stuff before….perfume." Come on Jack! Cut me some slack.
"Since when is that a fucking crime around here? You acted like I had rolled in shit!"
"It was the last thing I thought I'd smell on you!"
Jack hit the bed with her fists, made a loud, enraged sound, and got up to walk out. He caught her wrist and she jerked at it but he wasn't going to let her go. He grabbed her waist and pulled her back to stand between his legs, and then he clamped them together, trapping her. She continued to struggle to get herself free, but he didn't budge. He simply leaned back on his arms and watched her work herself into a royal snit as she tried to get out of the grasp of his legs.
"Son of a bitch! Riddick let me the fuck go!" She was seething and he had started to enjoy her show of anger, even though it was directed at him.
Gotta keep a straight face. "Or what?" Come on Jack…what'cha gonna say this time? You got a flair for trash talk.
"You cock sucking ass muncher! Let me the fuck go or I'll sell that dick you love so much to the hash house down the street dishing up pickled goat balls. It would make a complete set!" He smiled and laughed.
She stopped dead still. Oh fuck…I can't let him see me laugh! Her face twitched, slightly, but he saw it.
Gotcha Jack!
He brought a finger up to her ribs and poked her she twitched away, he poked her again and she tried to pop his hands.
"Don't!"
He went after her that time tickling her ribs and she screamed because she was extremely ticklish and she couldn't move, her legs were trapped between his like a vice grip. She tried to fend off his hands but he was too fast.
"Riddick! Stop! Can't breathe!" Tears were streaming down her cheeks she was laughing so hard.
Stop? Hell no! This is the one way I can get to you no matter what. "You want me to stop?"
"Yes!"
"Say it Jack!"
"Hell no!" He didn't relent.
"Come on Jack…you know what you have to say…"
"Fuck you! I'm….not…." She could barely catch her breath and finally gave in. "Ok! Riddick, I worship the….ground you walk on! Now stop!"
He was smiling like a Cheshire cat, stopped his assault, and let her legs go. She punched his chest, which she was sure hurt her hand worse than it did him.
Lotta good that did…hate it when he gets to me like that!
Riddick pulled her in his lap. "Jack you know I fuck things up when I talk to you sometimes." She's giving me the eye. "Ok, more than sometimes. I put my foot in it. Just surprised that's all."
"Why? I'm a girl! Girls wear perfume."
"You sure as hell aren't like any girl I've ever met." She pulled her fist back to punch him again and he held his hands up even though she wouldn't have hurt him. "Hey, don't hit me, it's a compliment. I like it though. It's….spicy and it suits you. What's the name of it?"
"It's called Magie Noire…Black Magic. It's an old Earth fragrance that they're making again.
"Black Magic, eh? Then it really suits you." He squeezed her to him and she rested her hands on his shoulders. "Are we okay now?"
I don't want to get up yet. "Yes." She kissed his forehead. "We are now. Oh, Riddick?" She reluctantly got off his lap and took a step back. "I got the clothes you asked for. Maybe you should go check them out in case I need to return something…you know, before we leave tomorrow?"
She smiled sweetly and he looked at her suspiciously. What are you up to Jack? He left her room and she followed him. He found the socks, and the pants on the bed.
"Make sure those pants are the right size," she ordered from a safe distance.
He picked up the pants and beneath them was a pair of black silk boxers. He picked them up and turned around holding them up. "What the hell are these?"
She acted innocent. "Silk boxers. You don't like them?"
"Jack!" He drug her name out. She's going to pay for this!
She backed away from the door of his room while she spoke. "Gosh Riddick, and I was so hoping you'd model them for me."
He lunged for her, and she took off running back to her room, shut the door and locked it. "Can't get me now Big Evil."
It wasn't long before she heard loud knocking at her door.
"Yes?"
He was grinning. "You have to come out of there sometime….and when you do…"
"You'll do what?" Come on Riddick, what are you going to do.
"You'll get hungry sooner or later and I plan on cooking during this next jump and what was your favorite dish I make?" His voice changed into what she called his 'Big Evil' voice. "Oh, I remember…Butcher Bay Stew."
She felt herself get nauseous. That shit is disgusting and he makes enough to last for days! Make sure you sound sincere.
"You're so thoughtful…but really, I don't mind cooking."
I'll fucking starve before I eat it. A thought occurred to her. I'll go to the store tomorrow morning and pick up a few things for myself to eat in here before we leave. That will fix him. She went back to listening to her music and working on her design for a new computer network for the ship.
Riddick didn't answer her. He went straight to the bridge and powered up, asked for clearance, and took off. Jack rolled right off her bed.
"Oh fuck! So much for shopping! I need to hide some food and fast." She made her way to the galley, which wasn't easy with him taking off. She got to the door and it was locked. Then she saw the note
J,
Knew how much you love my Butcher Bay stew. Didn't want you spoiling your
appetite.
R.
Jack groaned and made her way back to her room. "This is not over Riddick!"
They were well on their way to picking up their next shipment. It was a two week jump and they were over half way there. True to his word, Riddick made his Butcher Bay stew but Jack never showed her usual signs of distress and he never saw her eating it…or anything else for three dinner meals.
She's hiding food!
He went to her room when while she was in the gym and found her stash. "Sneaky little bitch!"
"That's not a nice thing to say." He jumped up. He hadn't heard her, which was very unusual for him. She swallowed a giggle.
He showed her the food. "The galley has been locked. Just how did you get these?"
She bit her lower lip. "Come on Riddick, girl can't give up all her secrets." He pointed at her as a gesture of warning and left the room with her contraband.
"Not over Jack! Not by a long shot!"
He couldn't help himself. He smiled and shook his head then went to check their navigation on the bridge. He sat down and his thoughts wandered to her.
She's definitely made my life interesting. Running with her has been different than what I expected it to be. She killed a fucking merc for me and I had to take her. Didn't have a choice. Now? She's here and makes my fucked up life…not so bad. Never would admit this to her but I've liked having her here. Just don't know how much longer this can go on. She's growing up…perfume? But she's changing, too. Baby fat is gone. She's not looking so much like a boy anymore. Shit! What am I gonna do with you Jack? What the fuck should I do?
Two nights later her terrified screams broke into his sleep. He ran to her room. Her eyes were wide open and she was fighting someone off of her and crying. Shit Jack….don't let that bastard get to you.
He knew he couldn't touch her. He had tried that when he had first seen one of her nightmares and she belted him and hard, thinking he was her attacker. Quiet and calm, Riddick.
"Jack. It's Riddick. He's not here. I won't let him hurt you. Jack. Wake up. Bastard is never going to hurt you again, no one is."
"I can't fight him! He's hurting me! Momma!"
Her words wrenched his gut. I can't stand seeing her like this. He spoke to her louder. "Jack. Come on! You are stronger than that mother fucker! I'm right here and he will not win!"
She became less agitated. "Riddick? Get him off me!" She was gasping. "Can't breathe!"
"Jack! That bastard is dead. You killed him! Wake up! You're safe."
Her eyes focused and she blinked, then looked in his direction. She couldn't see his face but saw his shining silver eyes and she started sobbing and curled her body up. He stretched out next to her, face to face. Her hair was drenched in sweat. He pushed her long bangs back off her face while his other hand was rubbing her back. She was calming down and he heard her sniff, then hiccup. He tilted her chin up. Looking at her, no matter how many nightmares she had, seeing her face like this never failed to affect him.
"Jack. He's dead. You know that."
She sucked in a shuddered breath. "I know."
"Then why? You haven't had a nightmare about him in months."
She shook her head. She didn't want to tell him. He got pissed and sat up to leave. Jack panicked. She grabbed his hand and pulled it to under her chin. "No! Please don't leave!"
"Then talk or I'm out of here." I hate doing that to her but she needs to talk.
"You're a bastard Riddick!" He pulled his hand away. "OK! Just please don't leave me." He lay back down next to her and saw the tension leave her. "I'm growing up."
"You're a kid, of course you're growing up." Where is she going with this?
"I mean…I used to look more like a boy…but not so much anymore."
Recognition dawned on him. Stupid Riddick, real stupid. I've noticed it, too Jack. "Oh, that kind of growing up. That got you scared? Why?"
"He did…he hurt me, and I wasn't even like I am now. Like I will be when I'm older. I can't be me out there, like I can in here."
"Jack you can't stop it. You were a child and he was a fucking pervert who got what he deserved. Look at me." He tilted her chin up again.
"Are you that same kid now?" She shook her head no. "Damn right. You are strong and you don't take shit off of anyone…that includes me. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you and you can protect yourself better now than you ever could then. You hear me?"
"Yes." Her voice was weak.
"You got yourself all in a sweat. Go wash up and get changed. You'll sleep better." He got up off her bed.
"Riddick?" She chewed her bottom lip. "Will you stay in here with me…please?"
Dammit Jack. She looked at him and sensed his hesitancy. "Please…just till I fall back asleep?"
He ran his hand over his head. "Just till you fall asleep."
When she had changed into fresh clothes she opened her door and he came in. He had not seen what she was wearing before but he saw it now and immediately regretted his decision to stay.
When the fuck did she start wearing those?
In the morning he never saw her in anything but tank tops or t-shirts and boxer shorts. He assumed she slept in those, too. She had on a long silky nightgown with thin straps and lace at the top. It wasn't a child's nightgown either. This one outlined her curves.
Never again after tonight.
She got under the covers and he lay on top of them. One arm arced over her head, playing with her hair, the other covering her hand that she had rested on the covers. She sighed and it didn't take long for her to fall asleep. Jack fell asleep thinking about how he could make her worst moments better. He quietly left when she was sleeping soundly. He returned to his own bed and thought of her.
You're not making this easy Jack.
She may be sleeping soundly, but he wasn't quite as fortunate.