Notes:
Thanks to:
TotallyRiddickObsessed – see? Updating!
NightmareWeaver – yes, I couldn't resist. He is described as all tan and sexy, so he has to get it somewhere.
Future note: Work is going to kill me this week, so updates will be not as many. Apologies. So…savor it.
Chapter XIX: A Dive Into Riddick
Riddick felt his heart stop when he saw Jack and Liege almost stumble into the courtyard. They looked exhausted, but he knew it was just from walking around. They didn't have the panicked look of an intense chase in their eyes.
Slipping off the balcony, Riddick went back to his room, knowing Jack would join him eventually. Deciding for a light nap before she entered, he shut his eyes and let his senses pick up sounds he couldn't hear when he was fully alert because he wasn't nearly relaxed enough.
"No!" A scream ripped through the entire ship, causing Riddick to sit straight up in his chair. Yelling at the holy man to man the ship, he was at the girls door in seconds. Kicking it open, he growled when he saw her thrashing on the bed, entagled deep in a nightmare.
Quickly walking towards the bed, he tore the sheets from her and wrapped his arms around her twitching frame, wishing it would work. As if his prayers were answered, she fell limp in his arms but soon woke, in a state of complete shock.
"Fuck, kid. Anything but shock." Riddick cursed, loosening a shiv from his boot. Not wanting to do this, but not wanting to leave her in shock, he held his shiv and counted the bumbs of Jack's spin. Finding the middle one, he slipped his armed hand up underneath her shirt and made a quick 'x' over that part of her spine, causing her to instantly wake.
"Riddick…" she groaned, holding onto him as he cleaned and sheathed his blade. Wrapping both arms around the gangly frame, he leaned against the wall, which served as the backboard of the bed. Completely on his lap, Jack began to fall asleep, but he could still smell her fear of falling back into those nightmares.
Holding her tightly, he freed one hand and rubbed the fuzz that adorned Jack's head, making her smile very slightly. He felt relieved by this, but he wasn't quite sure why.
Soon her breathing evened and he continued to stay. Imam could handle the ship, besides, they weren't even close to any systems whatsoever.
Breathing in the scent of Jack, he growled as he felt her twitch against him, but soon her body was at rest. Still rubbing the fuzz that was her hair, he frowned and watching the door the entire time, wanting to protect this confused kid from anything that might come though it.
Still, he didn't know why he felt that way.
'Shithead,' he thought to himself as he put away the memory. 'Cause you care for her. No, it's more than that. Much more.'
Growling in annoyance, he pushed himself up off the bed and went towards the balcony, hoping the fresh breeze would clear his head. Sure he liked Jack, and he was pretty sure she liked him too, but where the fuck was it going to go?
What would happen after he completely claimed her? He knew he would willingly do it now, but one huge factor held him back. If he were tied down by another person, what happened to his freedom? His absolute freedom, just moving when he wanted or, in some cases, because he was being chased. He had the entirety of the universe when he was alone, but would he have it with Jack?
Riddick was Riddick, but could he also be Riddick and Jack? He knew if he were to truly bond with Jack, they would almost have to be one in the same person, because if something happened to her, he would blame himself entirely. So, it was obvious he cared for her, but could he really cope with caring more? Could Jack adapt to his lifestyle where she would be just as important as his freedom, but not more?
These questions plagued Riddick as he closed his eyes, cursing at the damn feelings that bothered him as well. Deciding to rest, he didn't realize he was drifting into another memory until he saw a smaller version of Jack, head still fuzzy.
"Jack, one more time." Imam instructed. He was teaching Jack math equations and he believed that repeating them aloud would help her remember them.
"Imaaaaam. This will be the fifteenth time!" Jack whined, looking up from her seated position on the floor. Imam crossed his arms over his chest and clucked his tongue in displeasure.
"Once more, then you are free to go." He compromised, glad to see Jack's face light up with joy.
Riddick was watching from the doorway, amused at Jack's antics, but also impressed by her quick learning skills and remarkable memory. He observed how Jack repositioned herself, getting ready for the last repitition.
"X equals negative b, plus or minus the square root of b squared plus four times ac, all divided by two times a." Jack recited, never faltering once.
"Very good, Jack! Now you are free to wreck havoc upon my house again." Imam applauded Jack, glad that she was such a bright student, although a little rebellious at times.
Jack jumped up with joy and turned to run into the kitchen, absolutely starving for some food. She immediately stopped when she saw Riddick's large frame in the doorway.
"Hi." She greeted, feeling her entire body tense with his presence. Riddick noted Imam slip out of the room, not wanting to be a part of the conversation.
"Evening, kid." He gruffly replied, crossing his arms over his chest like Imam had done minutes earlier. Jack was angry with his casual attitude and snarled like a wildcat.
"So will you let me through or are you going to just there, just to spite me!"
Riddick was taken back by her verbal attack, not knowing where it had come from. He moved to the side, as if letting her go through. Moving swiftly past, Jack barely had time to blink before she felt her wrists being grabbed and her body slammed into the other side of the doorway. Riddick held her wrists above her head and stepped close enough so her lower body was immobile.
"Got a problem with me, kid?" He growled quietly, amused by her useless struggles against his grip.
"Yeah, you bastard. I've got a name and I can take care of myself, so stop treating me otherwise. And don't pretend I don't exist, because if I was ever kidnapped-"
Jack was cut off by her body and especially wrists being shoved harder against the frame, this time to a point where it hurt.
"Don't you ever fucking say that, kid." He snarled, ignoring the look of pain on her face.
"Then don't fucking treat me like a kid." Jack snapped back, fighting against his grip.
Riddick suddenly smiled and began to laugh, a deep-hearted laugh, as if someone had just told him a hilarious story. Jack growled and took the opportunity to twist free and push him back. He kept laughing until she reached back and tried to back hand him.
Laughter gone, he caught her hand mere centimeters away from his face. Lifting his goggles with his other hand, he stared Jack down.
"You're fast, Jack. Not fast enough." He said quietly, trying to judge her emotions, but finding it near impossible. Letting her hand go he rested it on her head, feeling the growing fuzz that was her hair. "You're a good kid, Jack. Don't mess up."
Riddick snapped awake when he felt another presence in the room. Focusing his vision he was graced with the tired form of Jack, who dropped down on the bed and sat on the edge, her back facing him.
"Riddick, something happened today…" Jack quietly admitted, looking away, not wanting to see his I-told-you-this-was-dangerous stare.
Instead she was turned around and silver mixed with concern met her. Sighing, she dropped against him, circling her arms around his neck, feeling exhausted.
"What happened?"
"Liege was on edge all day today. I think she thought someone was following us. She kept turning at random corners and holding me back from walking past corner buildings sometimes." Jack further explained, feeling calmed by his heartbeat in her ear.
"You will not go outside without me from now on." Riddick ordered, leaving no room for protest. Jack nodded against his chest and her eyes fluttered shut, feeling the exhaustion once more.
Pulling her closer to him and laying down with her body molded against his, Riddick smelled Jack's hair and wondered if he could smell this for the rest of his life.
