A/N: Hey ya'll, I've recently discovered some of my Mandarin is tragically flawed, will be doing my best to fix it from this point on so if some words and curses seem different that's why. When the story is completed I will go back into the older chaps and correct it, I just simply do not have the time and energy to do so right now.
Sabrina 1204- Everyone can once again thank you for the quick update, turns out I'm a sucker for a good review and after reading your last I got to work right away on this chapter squeezing in an hour of writing before work, so much luv chickadee.
As before, my imaginary friends are on vacation so I'm keeping busy playing with everybody else's, don't own a damn thing.
feel free to pm me for links to the Mandarin translator I'm currently using or the list of common firefly slang/curses.
River clutched at Riddick's hand as they walked through the busy market streets. The crowd seemed to part as the Red Sea did for the Moses is Book's flawed symbol for Riddick, making it much easier to navigate and find what they were looking for. The encounter with Bradshaw and the boy called Marcus earlier still had the beast angrily pacing, and Riddick scanning the crowd anxious for a sighting of the boy so he could haul his pig gu (ass) into a dark alley and rip his ruttin' throat out.
River and Kaylee exchanged meaningful glances behind the boys' backs; while River had not yet had a chance to talk to her Jie-jie (big sister, affectionate) Kaylee could sense her need as if she herself were a reader. Focusing as hard as she was able Kaylee tried pushing her idea to River silently, to ditch the boys for dress shopping after they were finished with the weapons. River caught Kaylee's eye and nodded agreeing and letting Kaylee know she approved, although she was a bit tetchy as Mal would put it about leaving her Ge-ge (big brother affectionate) and her beast unsupervised together given Simon's uncanny ability to put his foot in his mouth.
"In here River-girl," Riddick said tugging River's hand and leading them into a small discreet looking shop at the end of the avenue.
A tiny bell above the door chimed and River was assaulted instantly by the scents of gunpowder and metal, she inhaled deeply, knowing without looking Riddick was doing the same. A man who rivaled Riddick in size and looked as though he had no business being on this world playing the role of genial shopkeeper stepped out from the back room.
"Good after… cào dàn (damn it! Fuck!)," The man swore when his eyes landed on Riddick, "Thought you were dead boy."
"Oh good, a friend of yours?" Simon remarked, silently asking, Why God?
"Believe everything you read on the Cortex old man?" Riddick smirked strolling over to the counter and shaking the man's hand.
"What in the gorram hell are you doing on Antheia?" He asked and then after a quick look at River, "And with the 'verse's most wanted at that? Next to you 'course." He added with a smirk. Riddick growled low and the man took a step back, palms up and out, "Now Rick you know I didn't mean nothin' by it."
River stepped around Riddick's massive form, cocking her head to the side, "He will not tell, George S. Davids has a pretty, pretty, price on his head as well."
George quirked an eyebrow.
River continued, "Owes the beast a debt, and now he owes the girl as well, he just does not yet know it."
"So it's true, she is a reader, didn't think there really was such a thing." Riddick remained silent, the self satisfied smirk had returned to his lips, while Kaylee and Simon exchanged nervous glances. "And why 'xactly would I be owing the girl?" He asked.
"Bullet in the brainpan…" River said in a singsong voice, firing an imaginary gun, "Squish! Maria and Lizzie are avenged."
George turned a ghostly pale turning to Riddick for conformation. Riddick nodded, "Girl redecorated a hotel wall, using our boy Toomb's brain matter for paint."
"The girl does not like when others touch what is hers," She stated, tasting Riddick's own words on her lips and deciding she liked it she continued. "He had bad thoughts, had to clean them."
"Little girl," George said quietly, licking his dry lips, "I believe I do owe you than, come with me." George flipped the closed sign and locked the shop door, then leading the foursome to a shelf along the back wall, he clicked a hidden switch and the case slid aside revealing a small secret room. The room was stockpiled with every manner of weapon man had ever conceived and some that were not supposed to even exist. George tossed Riddick a large black duffel, much like the one Riddick already owned and then turned to River. "Girl, you need shelter, you'll find it here, you need weapons, you come see George, your money's no good here but you are yours are always welcome, take anything you can fit in that duffel and carry out."
Simon and Kaylee watched dumbfounded as George turned and left the small room without another word. "River?" Kaylee asked.
"The sunshine does not truly wish to know why the man is grateful the dog is dead, it will darken her forever. Know that the man heals now, though he regrets the dog was put down by another." River answered reverently running her fingertips across a pair of matching silver handguns with modified scopes and silencers.
Kaylee nodded with a sad glance in the direction the man had left and did not press further.
An hour later the foursome emerged from the back room and Riddick flipped the switch closing the secret door behind them. River was now wearing a chest plate which was as thin as cotton, one of the items that was not supposed to exist. It was nearly undetectable under the thin silk of her dress. Concealed beneath the dress were the matching silver handguns held in place by new thigh holsters, and she wore two armbands which ran the length of her forearms and concealed hidden shivs which would slide out with a particular flick of the wrist, the blades of the shivs where made of a plastic hybrid and would pass clear through a metal detector. To complete her new battle ready attire and to fully arm her quite literally from head to toe, were two snap on boot knives which when she kicked back on her heels would release another set of plastic hybrid blades from her beneath the soles of her boots. The glittering pink shiv which had arrived on her thigh holster was now nestled snugly in her boot.
Riddick sported a similar chest plate and new collection of assorted shivs hidden throughout his persons. The black duffel was bulging, loaded with all manner of shivs and guns, including chest plates for all of the crew, a new scope for Vera and matching shotguns for the captain and his first mate.
George looked up from the gun he was cleaning.
"The girl would like to thank you." River said sweetly.
George replied, "Ain't nothin' to thank girl, I pay what's owed and there ain't no way in hell I'll be able to thank you enough for what you done, whether you knew what you was doin at the time or not." He handed a folded piece of paper to Riddick, "That there's an encrypted frequency you can reach me on, might not be a good man, but I'm your man now." He looked back up to Riddick and shook his hand once more. "Havin' some trouble raising some of the channels on the cortex, might be nothin' considerin' how far we're out, but in case, watch your asses out there."
River smiled at George, "Be easy friend," she patted his hand, "Maria and Lizzie await you when you're time to comes, but they do not wish you to rush it."
George reached down and hugged her to him tightly. "Ren ci de Fo zu qing bao you ni (Merciful Buddha protect you.)"
"And you." She whispered.
"Don't need Buddha, she's got me George." Riddick spoke in his gravelly voice, his first instinct to break the man's neck for hugging their girl, was quickly suppressed by River's mental reproach.
"That she does Rick ole' boy."
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The somber mood quickly lifted as the foursome left the weapons shop and its grieving keep. Kaylee excited for some alone time with River shoved a piece of paper at Simon and snatched up River's hand. "Since Jayne stayed behind, you and Riddick go get me the big scary man discounts on the parts I need for Serenity so's me and River get some time to the girls to pick out some dresses for dancing."
Simon looked at the crumpled, grease-stained paper skeptically. He did not doubt the beast man's ability to scare up a decent price, he did doubt his ability to spend an entire afternoon with him and come out alive, though he hoped for River's sake he would not just shoot him outright. Riddick did not look entirely pleased with the idea either, but it seemed as though River was winning whatever mental argument they were having so Simon nodded with an aggravated sigh and pecked Kaylee on the cheek, "Okay Bao bei."
"The ballerina and the sunshine will return to the ship directly, but the beast and the Ge-ge must not try to spy or peek," River gave them both a warning look, tapping her head with her index finger, "The girl will know."
Riddick grunted and removing his dog tags placed them around River's neck. Ours! His mind practically screamed at River, who reached up on her tip toes and placed a kiss on Riddick's chin. The reaction was immediate, his body calmed and his beast purred. "Get some proper work gear too girl." He growled out handing her a cred chip. "Should have all you need on there."
The two men watched their women saunter away arm in arm until they disappeared completely into the crowd. "I really don't think that was a good idea." Simon groused more to himself than Riddick, who he knew really didn't give a gou shi (shit) what he thought.
"Relax Doc," Riddick grinned pulling a small black transmitter from the pocket of his cargos, "Tagged those tags with a tiny tracking device back at George's." He chuckled as he turned the transmitter on and a tiny blinking green light appeared on the screen.
Once again Simon felt himself begrudgingly reevaluating his opinion of the beast man. Perhaps a slightly psychotic possessive assassin was really the best possible man for his mei-mei.
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Eventually Kaylee and River made their way into a dress shop, having taken much longer to reach without Riddick parting the crowd.
"So mei-mei," Kaylee started as they fingered through the racks of dresses, "Tell me everything!" She gushed.
River knew exactly what Kaylee was referring to but couldn't resist the opportunity to tease her Jie-jie answered, "The girl does not know to what the sunshine refers, does she wish to know about navigation or astrophysics, it would take a very long time for the girl to explain all she knows."
"Oh stop it River!" Kaylee giggled, "You know 'xactly what I'm talkin' 'bout." She mock glared at her.
"The girl wishes to know what the fluttering means, everything is different than before, the same touches the girl felt at the Academy feel different now, the girl is confused."
"Awww," Kaylee cooed, "Does it feel like butterflies in your tummy?"
River nodded, "It feels like sometimes the artificial gravity was disabled and the girl is floating."
"Mei-mei that's the good fluttering," she blushed, "That's how Simon makes me feel. What does Riddick feel? I know you're up in his head and all, you have to know."
River frowned, "The beast is hiding behind walls, but sometimes something slips between the cracks, he is trying to not think about River the woman, and remember only River the girl, but the beast inside will not let him forget the girl has grown. Doesn't want things to be different, is worried he will hurt the girl, cause irrevocable damage." She sighed eyeing a red silk dress.
"Then you gotta convince him things will better different, otherwise," Kaylee shrugged, "well look at Mal and Inara or how long it took Simon to get his head out of his pig gu (ass)."
River frowned again, she didn't think she had the patience Kaylee had and realized she and Riddick would most likely kill each other if they reached Mal and Inara's level of frustration.
Kaylee took the red dress River had been looking at and several items for herself before dragging her back to the dressing rooms.
"The girl does not know how to convince the beast, she is afraid she will fail and ruin everything."
"Mei-mei love is all about taking risks."
"Cannot successfully calculate the odds, too many variables," She complained pulling the dress over her head and turning so Kaylee could tie the ribbons in the back.
"Sure ain't easy, but I don't think you'll have much trouble with that dress." Kaylee giggled.
River eyed herself critically in the mirror, "Is the girl pretty?"
"Ain't nobody prettier in the 'verse mei-mei, not even 'Nara." Kaylee beamed wrapping her arms around her mei-mei, "And if I'm lyin' I'm cryin."
River searched Kaylee's mind for any sign of falsehood and finding none decided, "The girl will wear this dress than."
"Trust me mei-mei, it'll be shiny, all of it."
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Riddick and Simon had finished their shopping much sooner than the girls, Riddick having gotten the parts for half the expected price, the terrified shopkeep had even thrown in free delivery so they would not have to lug it back to the ship. For the most part they had remained silent the entire time, talking only when absolutely necessary. They were nearly back to the ship when Riddick paused in mid step, his attention fixated to a shop window. Simon crashed into his back, and after smoothing his shirt and the little dignity he maintained he turned his attention to the focus of Riddick's stare.
"Just be a second Doc." He rumbled. Walking into the shop and for the second time in less than four hours Simon was once more forced to reconsider his opinion of Riddick.
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"Where's Albatross and Kaylee?" Mal demanded when the boys returned less the two women.
"Shopping for dresses." Simon answered.
"You let them go off by themselves?" Zoe asked the surprise evident in her voice.
"Riddick tagged her," Simon shrugged, "In truth I wish I'd thought about it sooner."
Mal looked confused an occurrence that was becoming more and more common place and waited for further explanation.
"I picked up a small tracking device," He smirked pulling out the transmitter, "It's got a hundred mile radius, told ya, have no plans of lettin' the girl outta my sight."
It took Kaylee and River another two hours to make their way back to the ship, Mal, Simon, and Riddick hovering over the transmitter despite Zoe's pointed looks and Jayne's snickers. Riddick flicked the transmitter off and quickly pocketed it as the girls approached the ship.
"Boys we're spying." River shot Riddick a dark look, again tapping her head, "Girl is a reader." She added giving her the patented you're-such-a-boob look she normally reserved for Simon.
Kaylee snickered, "Lucky I talked her outta tossing the device onto a passing mule." She took River by the arm and led her up the stairs, "We'll be in my bunk and don't a single one of you gorram fools come a peekin' or a knocking 'til we're good and ready for ya."
"Wonder how Kaylee talked her out of tossing the tag?" Zoe asked after the girls disappeared up the stairs.
"Probably told her she wouldn't be able to go dancing, if we wasted an entire night chasin' someone's gorram mule," Riddick chuckled. River's distraction with their spying, while unplanned had diverted her mind from digging into his and he counted silently down from ten, when he reached one, an excited squeal erupted from somewhere in the ship and River came flying back down the stairs launching herself into Riddick's arms.
"They are perfect!" She whispered against his neck, cradled in her free arm was a pair of black silk ballet shoes, embroidered in red thread a Chinese dragon danced around each foot. Riddick drank in their girl's pleasure, inhaling her scent deeply.
He felt something shift deep within him as River's mental image of his beast which had always before taken the form of a monstrous wolf morph into that of a fire breathing dragon, as if her idea of him forced the change. Riddick had always felt the beast which resided within, but it wasn't until he had let the Academy tamper with his brain that the beast had developed a consciousness of its own. River had been right; by giving Riddick control of her they had given her control of him on the most primal of levels. It had been the ballerina which had shaped the beast and not the other way around.
River had been listening to his inner dialogue as his mind for the first time began to understand things she had always known. The man Riddick had lost control over the beast in the years of the separation because Riddick was not the one truly in control, River was, when River told him to stand down he did it because his beast bowed to her command, it occurred to Riddick and his beast that River wasn't really theirs, they were hers.
If she controlled his beast and then by default him, what did he control? Had she felt their separation as he had? Was she free to leave them at any time if they could not control her and make her stay? Would she leave him? Riddick was not accustomed to feeling unsure, a new sensation of fear gripped at his heart and his beast howled. Instinctively, he clutched her closer to them, truly afraid for the first time in his life, he had lived without her once and it had nearly destroyed them, what would be left if she was taken again, or worse left willingly?
River, still wrapped around Riddick's body and clutching her gift, felt the shift in his thoughts so clearly she could taste his fear, she needed to make him understand. The doctors reversed the flow of the River, let everything in, Riddick's mind, his beast were like guards at her mind's door, damming the onslaught of the outside world and keeping her protected. By separating the man from the beast the doctors had left a void inside Riddick's mind, but it wasn't a void like a black hole, it wasn't a vast nothingness. It was a cocoon, safe and warm where River could find silence and peace. She was strong but he was stronger, he was made to be her protector to keep the girl safe while she completed her mission. River kissed his forehead reverently, "The ballerina cannot dance without her partner, when she leaps he is there to catch her, when she falls he is there to lift her, and when the world is too much to bare she can find sanctuary within him, he is her protector. While there is breath in her body she will call him hers, and the world will know she is theirs. River belongs to Riddick, the ballerina belongs to the beast. Divided her into two parts when they cut away her brain, the man made three, an uneven equation, the girl would have devoured him, make him two and they are evenly matched, two by two not just for hands of blue, to everything there is an equal opposing force. The girl will never leave." All these thoughts and more she pushed to him ignoring the crew who had been trying to gain their attention for the past few minutes and had finally given up, Kaylee stomping back to her bunk to wait it out until they were done.
"Go get ready bao bei, we have a promise to keep." He kissed her forehead with as much reverence as she had him and set her back down on her feet.
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"Well about time." Kaylee huffed half way through pinning up her hair.
"The ballerina had to make her beast see."
Kaylee turned away from her mirror and arched an eyebrow, "And?"
"Perhaps an understanding will not be so hard to reach, look at what the beast has given his ballerina to dance in." River proudly displayed the beautiful slippers.
Kaylee ran her fingers over the smooth silk, "Oh mei-mei, their beautiful and they'll be so shiny with the dress!"
There was a knock on Kaylee's hatch. "It's Zoe." A voice called from the other side.
"Come in." Kaylee called.
Zoe was holding a dress as she climbed down into Kaylee's bunk along with a bag filled with make-up and perfumes. "Been awhile since I've been dancin' and Captain seems to think we all deserve a night of fun, mind if I join you?" Zoe asked in such a way that was so unlike her Kaylee couldn't have been more touched.
"'Course ya can Zoe! Here help me twist up River's hair, 'Nara gave me her curling thingy 'fore she left, we'll do River's then we can do yours. It's gonna be shiny!" Kaylee gushed everything in her world was right and good as it should be and she couldn't have been happier.
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The men had been standing in the hold ready for nearly an hour, they had resorted to a game of poker to kill the time and when Zoe cleared her throat loudly at the top of the stairs all four heads jerked up in unison. Zoe was wearing a short dress which flared around her hips, the color of which blended almost seemingly with her skin tone and much to everyone's surprised she walked graceful down the stairs in a pair of five inches stiletto heels. Kaylee followed next, her dress pink with deep red flowers printed on it, and of course a fully ruffled skirt which came to her knees and swished pleasantly as she walked. River was the last down the stairs wearing the red silk she had purchased earlier. The short skirt clung to her hips and thighs revealing curves that had never before existed and the long kimono sleeves trailed out elegantly beyond her finger tips, the black silk ribbon of her ballet slippers tied to her knee and Riddick had to remind himself she could see his thoughts when she suddenly blushed a bright red, nearly the identical shade of her dress. What pleased him beyond anything though was the fact her only adornment was his dog tags, displayed proudly tied tightly around her neck like a choker, and laced on a black leather thong rather than the old metal chain.
"Well will you look at the ladies of Serenity." Mal let out a long appreciative whistle.
The feelings of the men varied as greatly as the men themselves. Mal was overjoyed by the look of excitement and anticipation his first mate and best friend was wearing, Wash's death had stolen a part of her, the smile that she was wearing now had not been since in a very long time. There was no lust in his eyes for his first mate only happiness for the one person closest to him. As for Kaylee and River he was a father proud of their beauty and the strong women he knew them to be, though as a father he heartily disapproved of the length of their dresses, but as their captain knew when to keep his gorram mouth closed on particular subjects, this being one of them.
Simon stared at Kaylee in a way that a girl truly deserves to be stared out, in reverence and admiration, the ridiculous ruffles on her dress only solidifying his love for her. He managed to tear his gaze away from her long enough to smile at his sister, though he would have agreed with Mal on the length of her skirt he was happy she was experiencing things for the first time any normal girl her age would take for granted, after all they were only going to a small assembly hall on a backwater farming moon, but River looked as happy as if she was about to walk into one of the lavish parties their mother had thrown so many of back home.
Jayne, for one of the few moments in his life had not a single impure thought, the three women were like his sisters and he felt as proud as any Ge-ge that they looked so beautiful. He was glad however they each seemed to have a man to look out for them, because just like any other Ge-ge would be he was seriously mistrustful of their hemlines. He resolved to keep an extra close eye on them and maybe even stay a little bit sober in case any hun dan (bastard) felt like steppin' out of line.
Riddick had no thought for anyone but River, their ballerina, his world and vision narrowed until it included only her and once more he wished desperately he could see her in color.
"The girl's dress is colored like a rose, tastes like the witch's apple." She pushed into his mind pleased beyond measure at his thoughts, even the ones he had quickly shoved away. Kaylee was right, sometimes it was all about one's feathers.
Riddick closed his eyes behind his goggles and pictured a rose, his mind calling up the memory of its scent, his remembering its touch, beautiful and yet dangerous to the unwary, he knew she would be wearing the armbands she had gotten earlier, they were her thorns. The witch's apple, delicious but poisoned if you bit from the wrong side. A smile curved around his lips.
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The assembly hall was brightly lit with garlands of flowers hanging from the rafters and petals strewn about the wood floor, the dancers kicked them up and crushed them beneath their feet releasing their essence into the air. A stage was built off to the far right of the large open room and on it a band was setup comprised of a guitarist, two drummers both playing congas from Earth-that-was, a bass guitar and a trombone. As they entered flower crowns were given to the women and garlands to the men. Mal hesitating for a moment remembering the disaster that was Saffron much to the crew's delight and after River explained it to Riddick he even chuckled himself.
River did not give him a moment for a drink as the other crew had moved to do before dragging him out to the center of the dance floor. Jayne watched eagerly expecting a hysterical display from the giant assassin, what he got however was something much to the opposite. The man everyone aboard the ship had started referring to as the beast was just as graceful as River.
The music was fast, an onslaught of drums and their feet moved together in perfect unison. He dipped and spun her, lifting her and tossing her as if they had been built to dance rather than to kill, but then again killing was just another kind of dance, take away the weapons and the blood and you have a series of control yet chaotic moments, a rhythm and a beat. The other dancers quickly cleared room for the couple some even stopping entirely to watch. Kaylee beamed at the couple the sunshine she emitted warming the room and spilling over to the others around her, vaguely River felt it from across the room on the dance floor and smiled brighter.
The rest of the world was quickly disappearing behind her, everything faded except for her beast and the joy she felt at the long awaited fulfillment of a promise she never dreamed could be. The years of torture at the hand of the Academy were forgotten, the pain of a fracture mind dissipated, as four separate consciousness merged into one being as they were designed to, but this time not to deal death but to celebrate life and the blessing of freedom.
The crew drank and danced late into the night and for the space of a few hours the misery and loss of the past years no longer matter, they were simply a crew, a family and enjoying all the benefits' of being so.
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The crew wandered off in pairs as the night progressed, even Jayne finding a pretty little local lass to hang of his shoulder, until only River and Riddick remained, they had paused only twice during the evening and now as the band completed its final song the world began to drift back into their perception.
Riddick dipped her low with the final note of the song, his eyes hungrily taking in her lips, there was no denying their River was a woman now and in truth the man no longer wanted to. He pulled her upright and tight into his chest, inhaling her scent deeply. Almost on their own accord his hands found their way into her hair, mussing up Zoe and Kaylee's careful design. One by one the pins which had held it securely in place were dropped to the floor and he ran his fingers through it, awed by its softness.
Tenderly he tugged it back, forcing her to look up at him, the lights in the hall had long since dimmed and as Riddick pulled her head back she lifted his goggles from his eyes which poured out his devotion to her. His lips descended upon hers gently, tasting, savoring.
A small moan escaped River's lips as she felt her knees go weak and her legs threaten to give. Riddick chuckled softly and swept her up off her feet tucking her in closer to his body, never releasing her lips which parted slightly now, granting him access. A loud whooping from the stage almost painfully ripped Riddick's focus from their girl, and muttering a curse he whisked her out the door.
The alleyway between the assembly hall and the post office afforded a semblance of privacy and Riddick leaned her against the brick wall, greedy for another taste of her. He fully intended to explore every part of her body before the night was over, not doing so was unimaginable at this point and also utterly impossible. He knew however, the alleyway was not the place to do it, but in order to take her some place more suitable he was going to have to stop kissing her, which in that very moment was also impossible, and so he resolved to give himself a few minutes of stolen kisses in the dark alleyway before forcing himself away to continue elsewhere.
River mewled like a kitten when his tongue parted her lips again, the delicious fissions of electricity he was causing were unlike anything she could have imagined. River was very much an innocent in the ways of kissing and sex, she had a practical knowledge and knew the logistics but nothing not even the bombardment of hormones she had felt from the crew over the last six years could have prepared her for the pure ecstasy such a simple thing as a kiss could provide.
She cried out in protest when his lips left hers, but the loss was only temporary as they rejoined her body along her neck and collarbones, taking exquisite pleasure in his attention to the base of her throat where her collarbones met, she moaned in pleasure.
Riddick was drunk off her scent different now, his breast purred in pleasure knowing he was responsible for the change. This new version of her smell laced with desire seared its way across his mind. Once again a chuckle interrupted their private world.
"Sǐ wáng bā pí (Son of a bitch)!" Riddick swore resting his head against River's trying to steady his breathing before River's sudden alarm had his beast roaring. Riddick jerked his head around, pinning River between him and the wall, his goggles still raised, his eyes glinting deadly silver.
"Looky here, Lee, it's that shiny little thang I was talkin' 'bout." Marcus along one other man were strolling toward them.
Riddick growled low in his throat, it was vicious and feral, the men had they not been drunk would have taken it for the obvious warning it was and the pain it promised and ran, being as they were not it only caused them to laugh.
"You a man or a dog?" Marcus sneered
"Take a step closer to my woman and you'll find out." Riddick lifted a shiv from thin air. "Care to find out if I bite boys?"
Lee wisely decided than he didn't care whether or not the man spat fire so long as he didn't do it at him. His momma did not raise fools and even if she had any fool could see a growling man with a shiv was best left alone, "Aww Marcus come 'on, don't want no trouble just another drink." He made excuses not wanting to confess he was more than a little afraid of the man who had since pulled a second shiv, both were curved and mirrored the colored of the growling man's eyes.
"Run along then boy, go get your drink, I'm gonna convince this little thang she wants a man and not a mangy dog."
Lee shrugged as if to say, 'your funeral' and headed as quickly as he could while trying to maintain his dignity out of the alleyway.
River placed a calming hand on Riddick's back between his shoulder blades and pushed through her mind to him, "If you kill him, Captain Daddy will lose the job and we will have to run. Please jù lóng (giant dragon), do not mar the evening with blood, allow your ballerina to deal with her insult."
Riddick's beast growled in protest, but the man stepped aside, the crew might not have trusted River to look after herself but Riddick had trained her and he trusted her if no other person in the 'verse, he at least trusted her.
River demurely stepped toward Marcus, who smiled stupidly at her, his thoughts were so vulgar and loud she inwardly flinched against them, but rather than panic as she had been known to do, she stretched out for Riddick's mind and drew strength from it. She was close enough for Marcus to touch her now, and she could feel both the beast and man behind her vibrating in rage. "The girl does not think the boy can handle her." She remarked sweetly.
Marcus went from grinning stupidly to scowling, "I can handle whatever you got sweetness." He retorted grabbing her wrist.
It took everything Riddick had to not tear the boy's arm off and beat him to death with it.
River smiled, and in one quick movement she adjusted her grip and snapped Marcus' wrist, the resounding crack echoed in the alleyway for a moment before the boy drown out the noise with a scream.
"You ruttin' bitch!" He bellowed and moved to back hand her with his good hand. River easily sidestepped, spun and dropped the boy with a kick to his head. River didn't have a moment to fully enjoy the sight of the crumpled Marcus before her, as Riddick swept her back up and against the wall of the assembly hall, gone were the gentle kisses of minutes before, this kiss was rough and hard, probing and demanding. This was desire, wanting, need.
"Ship. Now." Riddick growled seductively and River giggled as he wrapped her legs around his waist and he took off at a run back toward Serenity.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Endnote: Mwahahahahahahahahahahahah! How's that for a tease?
