Chapter 10
Warning: Language, M/M Slash
Riddick is written by IceSamZero and is in bold
Johns is written by Furyan Goddess and is in standard
I wanna just kinda sit here an' pant awhile, enjoy the view, watch the shudders run up his spine, but Johns turns on me fast an' moves my hand away, still with one leg outta his pants. His shakin' hands tear open my fly, my cock springs out an' he's all over me. He swallows me straight down an' that's it, I'm comin' hard, moaning, emptyin' all I got, just for him.
Mind's white. Hear him rustle, then feel 'im tug at me, fix my pants. I realize I can see his hands an' my eyes are open, so I look up an' my eyes find his an' can't move. His look wet, hot, an' I just let my breath come back from where he stole it.
He reaches out an' hauls me standin'. He's leanin' in an' I know what's comin' an' I close my eyes.
My cheeks get hot cuz I sighed when he put his mouth on mine, felt him breathe me in an' sigh back. Fuck, but I could get to love this kissin' shit, the way he moves his lips, the feel of his tongue, the way he tastes. Somehow the flavors of me an' him just go, melt with the rest of the sensations that are new to me.
Feels good sometimes just to roll with it. Some stuff ain't worth fightin', an' it gets better when you let go.
He winds us down, moves away, an' I got a dangerous suspicion that I'm gettin' way deeper in somethin' I've never dealt with before.
Jack moves, an' turnin' my head to her is a struggle. Part relief, part resignation. An alert starts beepin' at the console, an' I know what it means.
Time's up. We gotta put on the game faces an' get shit rollin'. "Ship," I say, movin' to the cockpit.
My gut tightens in anticipation, as I wait for the class an' size to come through. Not close enough for anythin' but proximity scanners, so I turn back an' slide past Johns to grab my tank an' pull it on.
"Cargo runner,"Johns says, leanin' over Jack's chair. I put a hand on his side as I slip by him again an' settle into the pilot's seat.
Jack's stirrin', an' I'm gonna haveta get her sittin' up an' strapped in soon, dependin' on our benefactor's generosity or lack thereof. Not that we got much choice, sittin' here on a lifeboat with limited supplies.
I admit I'm relieved it's not a merc ship. Coulda winged it, but this'll be easier. Small crew, minimal weapons if any. What we can handle if things get rough.
Probably won't need to worry 'bout that, though. I hear Johns chuckle an' glance back. Lacin' up 'is boot. I grin an' turn back to the controls.
I pop juice to the maneuvering thrusters, just so we can move a bit. No need for the big engines, unless we need to make a getaway--not that a cargo bus is gonna chase a fly.Especiallynot a fly that's got nowhere to run.
Static, spacedust interference. Then: "Unidentified craft, this is the Nigata 17, do you require assistance." The voice was rough but civil. Probably just got popped outta cryo, still wakin' up. I triggered the comm. "Hey N, we're low on gas an' goodies, could use a lift. Three on board, where ya headed?" Behind me, I can feel Johns smirking.
I look over the kid's shoulder and feel a bit of relief, "Cargo runner," I say. Better than a merc ship. That would open a whole can a shit we ain't prepared for.
He touches me when he walks past, casual like, but it still gets a rise outta me, even after I'm spent.
Jack's blinkin' away and first thing she looks for is him. Can't say I blame her. He offers a center, a source of comfort and that gets me again'. What the fuck happened to me down on that planet?
Fix my clothes so it don't look like I just been fucked and sucked and suckin' and fuckin' for the last half a day. Lace my boot and I can't stop the chuckle that escapes. I see Riddick grin outta the corner of my eye and shake my head.
He's flippin' switches, movin' us a little bit, getting ready to make the get away, if we need to.
Static's loud, then the hail, "Unidentified craft,..."
Riddick, cool as always thumbs the comm, "We're low on gas an' goodies,"
I snort, we got lots of goodies, just don't got much to eat.
"Roger, come about. Bay 3." The captain of the ship mutters over the line. He's still groggy. 'Remember the feelin', just shakin' off cryo. Course, mine was a bit hazy due to the crash and lack of drugs. Speakin' of, pack the shit, look at Riddick over my shoulder.
He's lookin' at me, eyes blazin' again, but this time it ain't for sex. How can I explain, I still need 'em. Not safe to go cold turkey out in the middle of fuckin' nowhere.
I shrug, "Gotta do it slow," I tell him. He seems to understand cause some of the heat goes outta his eyes. Then Jack's talkin'.
"Lotta questions, whoever we run into." Jack says as she looks at Riddick. Her eyes flick to me quick, then right back to him. "So, what they hell we tell 'em 'bout us?"
"Tell 'em Riddick's dead," Riddick turns and looked at me, straight in the eye, "He died somewhere on that planet."
"Ok, here's the fuckin' deal," I say. "Riddick ain't that easy to hide." I look at him, "Bald head, goggles, shined eyes. You don't blend in."
He turns the chair to look at me, "What you suggesting?" He gives me that smirk and cocks his head and I feel my dick twitch. Fucker knows it too cause the smirk turns to a smile. He's workin' back into himself. We all need to.
"I was thinkin' we change our names, pretend we're from the settlement."
Riddick jerks his chin toward Jack, "What 'bout her? She ain't old enough to 'ave been born then. There'll be an investigation by the freight company."
I rub my head. Still too fuckin' tired to think, "Fuck. Ok, say she survived the crash. Never reported who I had on board with me. Would'da drew too much attention. Just used my number and said I had a payday." I look at Riddick then, wantin' him to know that I'm sorry for how it went down before. I think he knows. Looks like he knows. 'S all I can do.
"What about the two of you?" Jack asks.
"We can say we're from the colony. We're brothers, he was a miner, I ran the equipment."
"Brothers? Not lovers?" Jack asks with a grin.
Riddick lets out a bark of laughter and I gotta fight it too.
I snap my head in her direction and glare at her. "Fuckin' kid," I mumble, "Shoulda left ya there." I know I don't mean it, we all do. For a kid, she got a mouth on 'er. Harder to believe that he's a she, talkin' like that. Wonder what her life was, 'fore she ran. What she runnin' from? Someone like me? Worse? Some fuckin' perv that likes to fuck with kids? Don't wanna think 'bout that. Not now. Too much other shit goin' down. Still, I'd like to know how she can read me and Riddick so well.
I just continue on like nothin' was said. Like I don't have a new rage starting to burn in my gut. "We're the only ones that lived, fuck that won't work either. We'd've been kids then! Guess we can both be mercs."
"I ain't no fuckin' merc!" Riddick growled.
"Well 'neither am I anymore, but we gotta fuckin' think of somethin'. Almost to the ship!"
Jack says, "What about Paris? You could be Paris," Jack said. I know my face makes me look like I just ate somethin' bad.
Riddick grinned. "Dunno if I can call you that with a straight face, Billy Badass."
Again, I grimace but it turned to a bit of a grin, and I said, "Yeah, might be easier if I'd died in the crash too, but if it's all the same..."
"Can't you just stay Johns? Say your prisoner didn't make it. Not that hard to believe, 'bout forty died there." Jack asked, "Riddick can be Zeke. He was kinda like a miner, right? Free settler? Could have a shine? Nothin' ever said he didn't. Besides, no one would believe a merc was fuckin' his mark."
"Watch your mouth," I say absently and look at Riddick, waitin' for his ok. His call, he knows how to hide in plain sight.
Captain tells me to head for the bay, an' I absently nudge the skiff towards the ship. Doors on the side're open, roomy. Won't be hard slippin' in. I hear Johns messin' around an' I look, see his hand on that fuckin' red box a' shells that ain't shells. He looks at me.
"Gotta do it slow," he says quietly. I get a bad taste in my mouth, but he's right. Jack takes my attention an' I turn to her.
Lotta questions is right. She glances at Johns quick then back at me, an' there's somethin' in 'er eyes. "What the hell do we tell 'em about us?"
It comes outta my mouth, smooth. "Tell 'em Riddick's dead," I say. Makes sense. Then I look right at Johns an' my voice changes. "He died somewhere on that planet."
"Ok, here's the fuckin' deal, Riddick ain't that easy to hide." Johns says it sharp an' quick. It's truth. Spells it out. "You don't blend in."
I'm seriously tempted ta tell 'im no fuckin' shit, but instead I swivel the chair a bit, already grinnin'. "What you suggesting?" The grin's fuckin' with 'im, can tell, so I let it get bigger. Forgot how fun it was to mess with Johns, an' somehow I'm enjoyin' it more knowin' that there's not gonna be a gauge in my face or chains on my hands n' ankles.
Instead, pushin' 'im might lead to somethin' else entirely, an' I wanna see what Johns has got.
He brings my thoughts back to the important shit. Name change almost mandatory, got that. But Jack? Won't work. She's too young an' I say so. Freight guys'll investigate the crash, ship like the H-G hadda be worth a shit-ton with whatever it was carryin'. The paper-pushers'd be lookin' inta all sorts a angles, trackin' down their dough. A missin' survivor that didn't add up would mean missin' money ta them; they'd think she split with some kinda haul maybe.
Course, the fact that she's twelve an' on a tiny-ass skiff wouldn't cross their minds.
Figure Johns is still tired. Me too, but brain's in survival mode. Fuck, always is. He says we list her as a survivor, then drops the bomb. Says he never put me on the list. Looks at me, an' I feel that same fuckin' twinge a shit I felt in the ship, chained to the wall when he made me wonder, just for a fuckin' second, if he'd cut me loose.
Feelin' is hope.
I look at 'is eyes for a moment. He lets me read 'em, doesn't hide nothin'.
Dunno how long I woulda stayed starin' till Jack gives us an excuse to think again.
"What about the two of you?" Her eyes are big, like a doe's eyes. I feel a wave of protectiveness, like when I watched her sleep. Like she's also mine now, important to me. I don't question it, not like I question this thing with Johns. Makes me wonder.
Johns tells her we'll be brothers from the settlement, an' I'd laugh, ask 'im just how many guys our mom slept with but Jack floors me next.
"Brothers? not lovers?" Little shit's grinnin' ear ta ear an' the laugh comes out.
Smart fuckin' kid. Me an' Johns, we must be fuckin' broadcastin' right now. Gotta watch that, later, but now, it's funny.
Johns mutters some stuff at 'er we all know is a joke, but his face gets kinda tight. He's lookin' at Jack, an' I wonder what he's thinkin'. I know he's accepted her, accepted that she's a part of the deal, but his face shows some heavy shit grindin' in that twisty-fuck mind a his.
He offers then ditches the idea of us as settlers. He's right; we're too young to pass that off. Then he offers somethin' else an' I'm snappin' right back.
"I ain't no fuckin' merc!" My voice is louder than I expected, the anger flashin' ready as it's always been. Guess some shit doesn't change.
Johns spreads 'is hands an' looks at me, jaw tight. "Well neither am I anymore but we gotta fuckin' think a somethin. Almost to the ship!"
He's right. I start to turn the chair back, but Jack says, "What about Paris? You could be Paris," Jack said. Johns made a face like he was gonna puke.
I grinned. "Dunno if I can call you that with a straight face, Billy Badass."
Johns grimace turned to a bit of a grin, an' he said, "Yeah, might be easier if I'd died in the crash too, but if it's all the same..."
"Can't you just stay Johns?" Jack says. Lays it out, me as Zeke, miner with the eyes. Then she adds, "Besides no one would believe a merc was fuckin' his mark."
Johns tells her to watch 'er mouth, an' I kill a grin. Smart fuckin' kid.
Johns looks to me, an' I feel somethin'...warm at that. His blues are open, waitin' for my say. Trusting me.
"Just stay Johns," I said suddenly, quietly. Jack looked at me; musta been somethin' in my tone.
Johns eyes got kinda soft an' I looked back out the viewport. "Yeah," he said.
I'm saved from sayin' anythin' else or havin' ta look at 'im cuz the hangar's comin' up. I ease the skiff inta the bay, an' if the landin' is a little rough they don't say anything.
We got a couple minutes of decon while the ship's captain makes sure our little boat's bringin' only us an' no bugs.
Smart move, where we just came from.
"Get some rations an' water," I tell Jack. She looks at me an unstraps, goes to the back an' starts diggin'.
"Grab a medkit too," Johns says, still lookin' at me.
Jack puts together a full kit from the open ones, an' throws some rations an' bottles of water into the survival bag, makes a sack outta it.
Johns doesn't move as I slip by him again, an' I pause a sec, not lookin' at him. Jack makes a show of not watchin' us but I know she is. I go ahead an' look in Johns' eyes, an' there's just another silent moment. I blink an' we move again, back to the cabin. Besides the sack there's nothin' to grab, an' I wouldn't even wanna take that, but I dunno if the captain's gonna be keen on lettin' us use his shit. You never know, an' I ain't one ta trust the goodwill of humanity. I slide my goggles on.
Captain an' what I guess is either the first mate or some other crewie are waitin' when we walk down the ramp. Boots ring on the deck. Ship's painted light gray, the bay lit. I get an eyefuck, but I'm used to that, an' I kinda get that the captain an' crewie didn't mean it, just not used to pickin' up random, beat-up guys floatin' in the ghost lanes. Johns does the talkin', an' I just play the big dumb miner boy. Say "Zeke" an' stick my hand out with a grin at the crewie when he comes forward an' welcomes us on the ship, even while the captain still looks at me funny.
He tells the crewie to sort us with some space, an' I cut a glance to Jack. She looks tired as fuck, a little a the pain creepin' back in. The loopy juice is gonna run out soon, an' I'd rather I knew she was secure an' healin' than needin' another fuckin' shot a that shit.
"Need a place ta sleep," I say. Look right at the captain, towerin' over the short crewie in front a me.
The captain looks at us, even. "Do you require medical attention?"
"A kit would be nice," Johns says quickly, before I can. "Some food an' water would go a long way."
"A shower," Jack says.
"Food," I tack on, just cuz I can. I'm hungry.
The crewie looks back at the captain, who nods. "We have a stock of medical supplies, if you don't wish to be examined by the medic. I can offer a single locker--" Me, Johns an' Jack all shake our heads. No more fuckin' cryo. "I have no empty spaces in the crew quarters, however I can offer the staterooms. They're not furnished but for the basics and are being used to hold extra cargo, but they have heads."
Johns smiles, an' his easy manner works well on the cap an' crewie. "More than I expected, sir. We certainly appreciate your hospitality."
The captain shakes his hand, makin' the deal, an' says, "It's the least we could do. We can't afford to put you up for a long ride, but we can see you as far as the next system, Aquila Major."
I kill any expression on my face, an' the captain continues. "I imagine you'll want to clean up and get some rest. He looks at Jack. "If you'd like, you can clean up and then Parkson will show you to the rooms..." he waited for a name, an' Jack stuck out her hand and said in her 'boy' voice, "Jack." I kept the lips straight.
Jack looks at me, an' I can see how tired she is from her eyes. I look to the cap. "We could all use some washin', Cap." The captian nods.
"Of course. Jim, show them to the staterooms. We only have two," he added, "but both of you and the boy should fit just fine until we get in-system."
Jimbo P. Crewie clears his throat. "Follow me," he says, an' Johns leads the way, Jack in the middle, me bringin' up the rear.
"Just stay Johns," He tells me. He'll never know how much that meant to me. How it made my heart jump. Don't want me to change, I can stay Johns. Billy Badass to him. Wish he don't have to change either, but bein' Zeke won't be so bad. Kinda liked that guy. He was a bit rough, a bit wild, like Riddick. Shit, even capped that guy from the ship, no hesitation, like Ridddick would'da done. So, it's not so much of a change. He'll still be Riddick behind close doors. Thats all that matters.
Riddick eases us into the hanger. Not as smooth as I expected from him but the skiff is beat to shit and so are we. He did alright in my book. We're still breathin' and that is something I'm grateful for. Check the ship for hitchhikers. Not that anything could really survive out there in deep space but it's better to be safe than sorry I guess. Life will find a way. Always does.
Jack starts gatherin' our shit, tell her to grab the med kit too. Who the fuck knows what they got on board this boat, 'sides, my shit's in there. Riddick and his eyes know that's why I'm really askin' for it. Shit, fucker got to give me some time to kick the monkey. Can't do it in a few hours, not after months of the juice.
Riddick stands and slips by me, but I don't move. Need that one extra minute of contact with him. Don't know what's gonna happen when the doors open. Just need to touch him, one more time before we risk our lives. Again.
He pauses and looks at me, looks me in the eye and I think he knows what I'm feelin'. Jacks doin' a shitty job of pretendin' she ain't lookin'. Don't really care if she does, don't bother me none. Let 'er look, let them all fuckin' look. I don't give a rats ass. Just been though too much shit to care what other fuckers think of me and Riddick? He's never cared. We blink and he's movin' again.
He slides his goggles on and I know it's game time.
Captain and his mate meet us. Introduce themselves. I tell 'im I'm Johns, Riddick sticks out his hand and grins, says he's Zeke. Sounds kinda funny but I'll get used to it I guess. Got to. Jack stays quiet and stays close. See Riddick lookin' over the ship out the corner of my eye. Know he'll take care of it. Know he'll let me know if we need to break out the guns and blades.
They're makin' space for us and it can't come soon enough. Jack's ready to drop. I wanna shower, some sleep. Food. And maybe, if I can move after that... some fuck time with Riddick.
Tell the captain that we need some a med kit. We can take care of our own cuts, just need the supplies. Some food and water would be nice too. Jack says she wants a shower and Riddick repeats the food request. Looks like we all got the same shit on our minds. Get clean, get fed and get some sleep. Still, it's a no go on the locker. Fuck that. Last time I woke up from cryo, shit was comin' apart 'round me. Sure the others feel the same way. Know Riddick hates cryo. Hates it more than just about anything, 'cept maybe the bit.
Feel a small stab of guilt there, not sure why I used the bit on him all the time. Standard procedure, but he's not a biter, well, not when you pick him up. Seems to like to bite while he's fuckin' though. Seems to have somewhat of an oral fixation. Fuck, got to stop thinkin' 'bout that or I'm gonna be gettin' a rod.
Smile, turn on the charm and thank them for their hospitality. In truth, they didn't have to pick us up. Could'da just blew right past. Don't need to be so nice to a few strangers that look as bad as they feel.
They offer us a ride to the next system, Aquila Major. Feel my breath catch at that. Did some nasty shit there, shit I'm not very proud of. Where I finally picked up Riddick. See him tense, all emotion wash outta his face. He's rememberin' too. Gonna have to deal with that shit later.
Riddick says we all could use cleanin' up. Damn straight. Want to shower for a few days. Hot water, running over my body. Workin' out the sore spots. Washin' away the blood, the stench of death. Sour scent of spent sex.
'Jim' leads us to our room. They're big, but they don't got shit in the way of comforts. Not that it matters. Better than the skiff. Just a shower, a head and a bed. Fuck, what else do we need? Well, other than food? Jim gives us some clothes, cryo warm-up suits, but they're clean, that's all that matters. Jack's gonna swim in hers. After Jim leaves, she clears her throat, flushes beet red and tries to speak. Comes out a bit of a squeak and Riddick and I share a look.
Fuck! She had to be a girl, didn't she? Riddick and I take off in different directions. I head to the bathroom, search the cabinet there while he searches through the kit they gave us. He comes up empty, but I find, way in the back, a box of somethin' that'll work for her.
She's almost purple at this point, ready to die and none of us say anything as I toss her the box and she runs from the room.
Riddick and I look at each other and grin, but we hold our laughter. Don't want her to hear it, in case the walls are thin.
"Why couldn't she just have a cock like the rest of us?" I ask absently as I begin to strip. Feel Riddick's eyes on me, but I don't think it's cause he wants to fuck. I look at 'im, raise a brow, "What?" His jaw clenches and I throw my shirt at him. "I might be a fuckin' piece a shit, Riddick, but I don't fuck kids. Male or female, got that?"
I turn and storm from the room, pissed off as hell. What the fuck's he think I am? That hurt. Bad. Richard B. Fuckin' Riddick just cut me without utterin' a word.
Turn the shower on and I feel the air move. He's naked and behind me. His eyes are odd when he looks at me. I don't say anything, just watch him as he bends and helps me with my boots.
Look at his back, slide my eyes down to check out his ass. Fuck, it's nice. Can't wait to get a piece of that. His words break my mood though.
"She's been hurt, Johns. Think some sick fuck...got to 'er."
I take a deep breath, let it out, "Yeah, I know." I say. I know now, he knows what I was thinkin' back on the ship. We both think it and that can only mean one thing.
He stands up quick, locks eyes with me and growls. "Never again."
I give him a nod and toe off my boots and pants. Now we're both naked.
Don't want to waste anymore water so I step in, followed closely by him. I sigh when the wet heat touches my skin. He does too. Fuck if this doesn't feel good. I grab the soap, he hands me a rag and I soap up and scrub down. Before he can take it from me, I start cleanin' him.
His chest, his back. Lower, his ass and cock. Legs and feet. He grabs the rag, scrubs his face and head and then rinses off, steps back from the water and I watch as it slides down his body.
My eyes are drawn back to his chest, his nipples. They're hard again and I lean forward and lick one. Feel the small pebble get even harder when I nip at it. Hear him suck in a sharp breath. Lick again, then suck. Bite. I gotta bite them. Not hard, just the right amount.
Hand on his pec, other 'round his lower back and ass, pullin' him closer. Flick it. Switch sides and he's movin' his hips gently against mine. This time, his hand tangles in my wet hair, holds me close and just when I'm 'bout ready to drop to my knees, the door opens and Jack's standin' there, grinnin'.
I curse, try to hide my naked ass. Riddick just laughs and shakes his head. "Get the fuck out." He tells her, but without the heat I'd've put behind it, even has a bit of a smile in the words. No reason a twelve year old girl should see two grown men goin' at it in the shower.
She don't move. "I'm hungry."
Riddick grunts and shuts off the shower. "Yeah, me too."
I just roll my eyes and realize where I stand on the social ladder that is our fucked up family. Riddick, Jack and then me. Whatever, I can take it. Grab a towel, step out and snicker when I see her outfit.
"You look like a drowned rat." I tell her.
She just wrinkles her nose at me. "Yeah well, least I ain't fuckin' a guy."
Riddick snorts again and I shake my head. "Better clean up that fuckin' language. What kinda girl you gonna be, talkin' like that?"
I'm learnin', nothing much can stop Jack's mouth, once it gets goin'. "A girl that has a merc and a murderer for brothers."
Well, fuck me sideways, that made my heart jump too.
Riddick and Jack. They ain't gonna make life easy, but they'll make it tolerable. Finally got something to live for.
Finally got a Reason.