A/N: Thanks to my dedicated readers for your patience ... as always, I appreciate all of you!
"I'm telling you, this is total overkill," one of Santana's mercs named Falco groused. "What … eleven of us out here now? Should have been a four-man hunt … tops."
"You are jinxin' our jinx, man, and that ain't cool," his partner replied.
"Hey, I don't give a shit what they say … he's one guy!"
His companion studied the landscape uneasily. "Whatever you say … and there are two of them out there."
"Yeah but only one of 'em we gotta worry about … take out Riddick and the other guy'll probably surrender." Falco offered with a sneer. "The other one's just a portable fuck from what Santana says … maybe he'll give me a blow before I cut his head off."
Neither man saw the shadows flitting from cover to cover out in the dust-blown savannah.
That one is mine, Riddick, Vaako sent. He was getting tired of Santana and crew writing him off as just Riddick's lay.
Easy, beautiful … don't let it get personal.
I am not just your fuck-toy, Vaako sent sharply.
Riddick glanced over at his mate and shook his head slightly.
There's my vain beautiful, Riddick teased.
A rock missile shattered against the boulder beside Riddick's face. The force of the throw had pulverized it but the small chips stung. Riddick growled low in his throat. The dog echoed him.
Vaako. Riddick's sending was a warning that his lover ignored.
I commanded Necromonger armies that laid waste to entire worlds, Riddick … and apparently the entire universe thinks I'm nothing more than your whore, Vaako's sending was full of rage – Riddick hadn't felt that deep an anger from his mate in some time.
The Furyan pulled up his goggles and studied his lover.My opinion don't count in all this? Vaako remained silent. Riddick nodded. I see … so you're gonna let some waste of air spin you up because you ain't being recognized as the bad ass you are? That about it?
Before he could do or say anything, Vaako found himself pinned to the ground with Riddick's blade to his throat. Keeping that hand pressed down, Riddick indicated the crescent just visible at the neck of his shirt. Who gave me this?
Vaako pressed his lips into a thin line.
WHO? Riddick roared mentally.
Vaako winced. I did.
Did you or did you not mean it when you said I was your mate?
Of course I meant it … you know I'm with you.
Then why the fuck do you care about what they think? Buncha backstreet guns for rent talkin' shit we've heard a hundred times before ... and every time they learn their lesson on the edge of your blade, Vaako. Vaako continued to say nothing and Riddick pushed off him. Keep it up, beautiful – I'll find a lover who's a little less conflicted.
Vaako pushed himself upright and stared at Riddick. Their link always let Vaako know how his mate felt – but Riddick was blocking him. Vaako ran his own mind against the wall Riddick had erected ... not exactly begging for entry but close. Riddick's eyes narrowed and then his hand was closing around Vaako's braids and jerking him into a not-so-gentle kiss. Vaako tasted blood where Riddick's teeth cut his lip. When they broke, Riddick pulled Vaako's goggles up and met his lover's hazel eyes.
All we been through and you still doubt? Riddick's gaze was angry ... and something else Vaako didn't recognize. No one will ever know what you really are to me ... you know why? The Furyan leaned in close, his hand still gripping Vaako's hair. Because all that you are ... is for me and me alone to know. Get that through your thick skull, beautiful. They can think whatever the hell they want – you belong to me."
Vaako's lip curled in an angry snarl and Riddick's hand tightened even further on his hair. He jerked Vaako's head back, exposing his throat. Riddick closed his teeth over his mate's windpipe hard enough to actually make breathing difficult. A low rumbling growl vibrated through Vaako's neck. He responded with his own growl but he was getting lightheaded from the reduced airflow. Riddick held him a moment longer and then released Vaako.
Why do you have to make it so fucking hard, Vaako? Riddick snapped.
I … don't want to go back … Vaako sent, suddenly tired of trying to bury his feelings.
Riddick stared at his mate. Go back … you mean to civilization.
Vaako nodded, pulling away from Riddick and crouching on a nearby rock. The sun was beginning to set and the orange rays lit the highlights in Vaako's hair. He did not look up, pinching the bridge of his nose.
It's only been you here, Riddick ... your thoughts, your touch, your scent ... for once – it was just you. When we go back ... never mind. Vaako sighed heavily. It will probably be best that we do go back – obviously this rock is making me pathetically introspective.
Riddick's mental chuckle filled Vaako's mind. He looked over to see his lover crouching beside the dog, scratching it behind the ears. He always enjoyed seeing Riddick relaxed ... his mate's body at rest had a strange animal grace to it. The light was beginning to fade so when Riddick looked up at Vaako, his shined eyes flashed.
Love them long words of yours, beautiful. Fuck if I know why you can't just say you think too much, Riddick sent lightly.
Vaako grinned and looked up at the darkening sky. Does it bother you?
Riddick's lips quirked. Nah ... heard lots worse. Riddick turned his attention back to the milling mercenaries at the station. Can't stay here, beautiful ... not with what's coming.
I know.
And then I have a certain Necro to talk to ...
I know.
Riddick looked back at Vaako. After that ... who knows. Lots of worlds to get lost. For good maybe.
Here's to maybe, Vaako sent, moving to meet Riddick and devouring his lover's mouth as the sun sank below the horizon and night slid into place.
Vaako felt one of the white noise dots in his mind moving toward Santana. He slid into the merc's mind to listen. It was the head of the other team.
"So I guess that's what passes for a fuckin' moon on this planet. Gonna be a dark night. Advantage, them. Maybe he's gonna wear you down first … force you to go without sleep."
Santana did not look up at the man's word. He was calibrating Cyclops. "Can't you see I'm busy here?"
"I'm just sharin' my thoughts," the other man offered amicably.
Santana continued to adjust the controls for his scanner. "Well now that you have, can I politely invite you to step off my fucking porch!"
The other merc snorted with amusement. "You let me know, huh?"
"As soon as I have his head in a box, I will let you know." Santana answered.
Cocky asshole, ain't he? Riddick commented.
A corner of Vaako's mouth turned up. Riddick noticed that since the merc ships had landed, Vaako's easy smiles had faded. It was disappointing to see them go – yet Riddick knew why. They were back in the familiar fight – live or die. It left little time for anything else. Still … that didn't mean they couldn't enjoy what was about to happen.
With me, beautiful?
Always.
Let's have some fun.
Cyclops began a strange radar ping as it scanned the land surrounding the station. Shadows drifted across the screen and Santana watched carefully as it zeroed in on movement.
"Whatcha got cuz?" Diaz asked.
Santana gave a disappointed grunt. "Some dingo-dongo thing."
Diaz squinted into the dark. "Yeah, I see it now … want me to pop it?"
"Knock it down, one shot, suppressed."
Diaz fired. The dog jolted away from the round that struck the ground near it. Vaako enjoyed Riddick's mental laughter. At least the mercs were entertaining.
Santana frowned. The job that was supposed to be nice and easy was turning into an exercise in embarrassment. "Nice work, Diaz. Encouraging."
"Had somethin' in my eye," Diaz complained.
"It's called a scope. Better try next time." Santana sneered.
Beautiful?
Vaako shrugged. I'm bored.
Riddick's mental chuckle sent a shiver down the telepath's spine.
The other team of mercs were watching ... and smirking. Santana growled when their head man said, "You got this, right?"
"Will you get off my freaking frequency?" Santana barked.
Let's see if I can liven things up, beautiful, Riddick sent.
He clicked his tongue at the dog and watched it run back out into the night. A few moments later it carried one of Cyclops' sensors to them. Vaako's eyes flashed. Riddick's sense of humor never failed to amuse him. Taking hold of the sensor, Riddick slammed it against the rock he crouched on. Vaako sat nearby, one of his almost-smiles showing. Cyclops went haywire with every blow of the sensor against the rock. Santana was throwing switches and frantically manning his console. Vaako enjoyed the rapidly growing hum of fear that slid into the mind of each of Santana's men. He brushed over Riddick's mind, teasing. Riddick slammed the sensor down particularly hard in reaction. It took everything Vaako had not to laugh out loud when Cyclops stood straight up. Santana, at his wits end, finally pulled the power cable and Cyclops fell silent. Riddick glared fondly at Vaako.
Sneak attack, huh?
Just seeing if you were paying attention.
Santana grabbed a new sensor and tapped on his comm-link. "Rubio, coming your way now … gotta swap out a bad sensor."
Vaako moved out into the shadows with Riddick. They wanted a better view for what was coming. Vaako entered Santana's mind to listen to the comm chatter. The other team's leader ... he was a sharp one. Vaako heard his tinny voice through Santana's hearing.
"Hey, Santana ... you did sweep the area before I got here, right?"
Santana frowned and rolled his eyes. He hadn't but he wasn't concerned. "Sweep for what?" He looked at the ground illuminated just before him, trying to find the faulty sensor.
"I just wanna be sure no one's set any traps for us ... you understand what I'm saying?"
Santana sighed. "Traps? What kind of traps?"
"The kind with jaws."
Santana froze as he heard a metallic clang. He looked over to where his man had stepped on something that glinted in the light. His blood ran cold. His first thought was mine ... and he was standing pretty damn close. The merc glanced down and tugged at the object. Santana stared in horror.
"Don't touch that fucking thing!" Santana yelled.
The merc straightened and stared at his boss like the man had gone insane. He held up a metal plate from a mess hall. He tucked it into his uniform while Santana listened to the thudding of his heart. Then he moved off into the shadows.
Vaako counted silently to himself as the merc walked into the field of traps they'd set earlier. Had anyone been paying attention, they would have seen three sets of shining eyes watching. Waiting. When the trap closed on the man's leg, Vaako chuckled. The merc's ragged screams echoed into the night. Riddick nudged Vaako's arm and pointed. The telepath huffed out a laugh. The wounded man was mad with pain and pulling himself tortuously along the ground ... farther away from the station. Vaako watched coldly. He'd dealt with mercenaries for most of his adult life and he would deliver no coup de grâce.They could fucking die however they would.
Santana had frozen in place. He saw his man dragging the trap on his leg out into the shadows and he had a very sick feeling he knew what was coming. "Stay put! Stay put! Stay put!" Santana said wildly.
His pleas went unheard by the dying man and then the screams stopped in a wet gurgle as the man tripped jaws that closed over his head and torso. Vaako felt Riddick slip out into the shadows and he remained where he was with the dog beside him. He grinned as he listened to Santana's voice and watched the mercenary boss start taking careful steps backwards, following his own path out.
"Nunez ... break out the sweep gear," Santana said softly as he moved in reverse. "Figure out how many of these big-ass traps we got out here, ok? I'm thinkin' the whole upper left quad is some kind of fucking minefield. Do that now, ok Nunez?" Santana heard no response.
Vaako looked out into the dark and spotted his mate making short work of the one called 'Nunez'. The body was quickly discarded. Vaako smiled and slid his own blade out of its sheath. He needed to talk to one of the remaining mercs.
Falco's partner was berating his boasts from earlier and Falco was inclined to agree with him at the moment. They'd moved in on Nunez' location and found nothing ... just a broken comm and a lot of blood. Back to back with the other man, Falco looked out with wide eyes at the darkness surrounding them. He strained to see movement ... to see anything.
Suddenly, Falco saw a pair of eyes regarding him coldly. It wasn't Riddick. Instead, a man with his hair carefully braided moved silently to stand right in front of the merc. Falco opened his mouth to scream but no sound came out. He willed his partner to hear something as the man's hand closed around his neck. Falco realized he was staring at Vaako ... the one he'd written off as an effeminate fuck. He felt a sudden sharp pain near his groin and then a hot wetness spilling down his leg. Femoral artery. Falco had a moment to think that Santana was going to be unpleasantly surprised when he met Vaako. Then he was dead. Riddick moved in to walk beside his mate as they disappeared into the darkness dragging Falco's corpse behind them.
Maybe need to clean out a few more so they all fit on one ship, beautiful.
Sounds prudent, Vaako replied.
They took cover from the wild shooting that erupted. When it was clear, they made their way back to the warren of caves they were using as shelter. Vaako dropped the body near the entrance for now. He felt the low burn of arousal sliding into his mind from Riddick. It had been a while since they had hunted and killed ... his mate's blood was running hot. Vaako turned in time to be slammed against the rock wall of the cave. The dog huffed in annoyance and curled up to sleep elsewhere. Vaako didn't even notice.
