Beastly Bonds
Chapter XIII
Thanks to these reviewers:
XinnLajgin – Well, if you ask me, it comes out in this subject of fanfiction particularly. Why? Because Riddick is the perfect character to embody such a characteristic that most males of today don't possess and probably never will. Nah, I'll doubt they'll ever get along, considering they're both watching over Jack.
ren3017 – Like I thought, Riddick might be able to kill a whole damn load of mercs but doesn't mean he is the best fighter against animals. Sorry about the not-the-next-day-update, there is an excuse a little farther down.
whitelite – Ooh! New reviewer! How very exciting for me. Yes, he did go through emotional swings, but yeah it does happen to everyone. Glad you liked it.
Iridescent Twilight – Calm thyself! No need to be so excited in such horrible weather like this. It's so hot when I go running out, so please, don't over exert yourself. Dehydration is such a nasty thing. Yay for cuddling and I'm sure Krent would give you the ok if you weren't male. I've got a list of ways not-to-die, that would be one of them. And being pecked to death by a seagull (which has actually happened). Update! Here! Yay!
Usual warning.
Why this update isn't the next day: Funny story, actually. Every time I sat down to write I would be interrupted. Today I was going to write after playing some ultimate Frisbee but when I jumped to catch the damn thing I fell into a fence resulting in numerous scrapes and scratches. Also broke the fence, but that's not my fault. Honest. So I couldn't write because I wasn't about to get my laptop bloody. So! With bandages I finished the chapter. Oh the things I do for you guys.
As the sun set, Litman, or Neil, set down his glass of ice water he had been drinking on the porch deck that faced out to the ocean.
He could live this life. He sat facing the water, the sun's last rays reflecting brightly off the clear water. Just then he realized he had yet to really thank Jack for getting him out of Crematoria.
His thoughts lazed from one subject to another, making up a list of mental points that he had to do, knowing somewhere in the back of his mind that it would be forgotten by tomorrow morning. Tipner and he had just had a conversation about the relationship between Krent and Meth.
Litman had been surprised to learn that the entire crew was more worried about his reaction then anything else. To him it was simple. You are who you are and if you are happy in that situation, so be it. The world was better off with happier people, that was the base of his life philosophy. He was fine with it obviously and was glad that they had found each other, one to learn from the other and the other to protected by one. He knew they would succeed long term.
He wasn't too fond of being outside in the early evening, so he got up in a few minutes and went back inside. Tipner was sitting on one of the couches, resting, his eyes closed. The old man had kept him alive at some points in his life, especially in Crematoria. Had saved his ass time after time, telling him what fights to back out from and which ones to fight. He was a good companion, no matter how grouchy either of them could become.
As the night winds blew in, Litman shivered slightly. He decided that regardless of how fit he might be for his age, it wasn't healthy for the old man to go without some warmth. Taking the blanket from the back of the couch and opened it and draped it over Tipner.
He wandered over to one of the other couches backed up against the wall and dropped into it, snuggling into the cushions. As he began to fall asleep, he heard a pained cry from farther up in the forest. At first he thought it just sounded female, maybe it was an animal or something.
He sat straight up and began cursing. There was only one female to his knowledge on this island and it was Jack. Pushing himself from the couch he shook Tipner awake, none to gently either.
"Fuck, wake up!" He yelled, shaking him.
"I'm awake! What in the name of-"
He was cut off by another cry, a little quieter this time.
"That would be Jack! Go! I'll get the others!" He pulled Tipner off the couch, running out the back porch and into the sand. His boots spraying sand everywhere as he ran across the beach. When their bungalow was in sight, he began to shout loudly. With not very elegant language, either.
-going back in time again-
Eventually Meth became hungry and woke up, making Krent rise as well. They were quiet, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence.
As the younger man was preparing food on the counter, arms wrapped around his waist and he felt Krent nuzzle his head affectionately. He leaned back into the strong body of the older man, now half-heartedly making something to eat.
Soon he was left alone at the counter, the other man needing to find something to eat himself. Silver clinked, plates made small clattering noises as the moved on the counter. They both drank water and ate in a companionable silence.
With that necessity done, hand in hand they went back into their bedroom, laying down on the same bed. Krent lay on the side closest to the wall, pulling Meth towards him. They weren't facing each other, but the older man's soft breath against the back of his neck made Meth feel at ease, his eyes closing shut. Krent protectively lay one arm around Meth's waist, pulling him closer, if even possible.
But soon he fell asleep as well and the sun set on the entwined figures, both in a deep rest. Neither heard the upset cry only minutes later, but when Litman began to shout, Krent sat up immediately.
"Krent?" Meth sleepily asked, turning around. The sitting man had one arm on each sides of him, his body shielding him from the window.
"Get up. Put on your boots, arm yourself. Now." He said, following him as he scrambled out of bed, obeying the orders without hesitation.
As he finished strapping up his second boot, Litman ran into the bedroom, looking a little winded. He didn't miss the formidable stance that Krent presented, standing in front of the youngest man in the room.
"What's wrong?" He asked, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.
"Jack…cry…forest…trouble…" was all he could get out, trying to catch his breath. After a few more heaves he was feeling better and watched as Meth armed himself, looking unafraid. He had already killed, so whatever happened here probably wouldn't bother him either.
"Let's go." Krent said, leaving no room for argument. "Tipner?" He asked, as the trio ran out of the house, heading towards the forest. Litman explained as they went deeper in, the rain forest looking darker and more threatening as night fell around them.
-back into present-
Jack had just caught Riddick's hand, thankfully belonging to the uninjured arm. It robbed her a lot of energy, pulling him up and securing him onto her back. Her bare feet weren't helping either, getting scratched as she climbed the trees, slowly making her way back to the porch.
She knew Neunzhen followed at a distance, probably wondering why the hell she was saving the man that he had thought was a threat to her. As she carefully crossed the branches, she heard running footsteps through the forest and guessed that the crew had heard something or another.
Jack was thankful when she saw the edge of the porch in sight and pulled Riddick's unconscious body up again, hoping he wouldn't fall off. She watched her feet on the branches, precisely placing each step. So she was surprised when she looked up to see the confused face of Krent, he was standing on the edge of the porch, watching her progress with Meth, Litman and Tipner. As she reached the porch, he leaned over and easily lifted the convict's body off of hers, laying it down on the porch. He knew she didn't need help, but he leaned back over the railing and found Jack to be climbing up the wooden structure. Ignoring whatever protests she might've made, he easily wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her up and over the railing.
"Thanks, Krent." She said softly, after being put down onto the porch. He nodded in response, his eyes not drawn towards the famous silver-eyed convict spread eagled over the porch but to Meth, who was walking towards him. The younger man slipped his arms around Krent's waist, resting his head on his chest. He wasn't the only one unnerved by the new comers presence.
Neunzhen prowled on the railing, still obviously wary of this silver-eyed human who he smelled and sensed as a beast. But he also smelled his human, Jack, on him, so he had to assume he wasn't that much of a threat. Yet in his eyes, Jack was closer than any pack member and he could smell a very distinct attraction on the new male that he had towards Jack. Yet he willingly followed her as she picked him up, carrying him into the bungalow.
"Jack," Tipner asked, also following her into her living room, which she went right through and headed straight for the bedroom. "Do you think he is seriously injured?"
With a deep breath she lifted him from her back and carefully lay him down on the bed, showing a certain tenderness none of them had ever really seen, except maybe towards Neunzhen. He didn't miss the slight caress she bestowed on his leg as she turned to face him.
"No, I don't think so, I'll check. Hey, if you don't mind, tell Krent and Meth that they should stay in the living room. You and Litman are welcome to stay here as well, it's dark out and I don't want you all to be wandering about. We still have yet to map out the island. You know-"
"Really, Jack, you could've just said you wanted company until he woke up." He cut her off, smiling slightly. He saw how she looked shaken up, her eyes still a bit red and her breathing just slightly erratic.
"Thanks, I'm just going to give him a quick look over. Meet you in there." She said, turning back around. Neunzhen had jumped up onto a cushioned chair not far from the bed, watching Riddick's breathing. Tipner left the room, leaving her with Riddick.
How could I have known he felt that way? She wondered, sitting down next to him and laying her hand on his closest forearm. She sat closer to his head and gently took it into her hands, inspecting the back for any serious head trauma. Luckily, it looked like he had just been hit unconscious, no long-lasting damage.
As she stood up she saw that part of his shirt was ripped and looked to see that he had gotten a nasty scratch from falling through the trees. Jack was relieved that he didn't wake up as she removed his shirt, exposing his muscular chest and torso. Inspecting the wound closer she growled quietly. Another scar from Neunzhen.
"Neunzhen, he isn't a bad man. You've got to stop doing this." She said to the hellhound, whose guilt flickered slightly in his eyes. "I really do like him as well, so you may stay around but just be wary of him."
With a snort Neunzhen put his head back down on his paws and let his eyes flutter shut, knowing his human was confident of being safe and protected. Jack sighed as she leaned over to her bedside table, where Tipner had put down the medical supplies she had left out on the deck.
Soon he was stitched and bandaged, leaving Jack hands somewhat bloody if not in need to be washed. She had put a plastic sheet beneath him as she worked, so her sheets had received a miracle in still being clean enough to sleep in. She got up and went into the bathroom, where she scrubbed her hands clean of his blood. Padding back into the bedroom she watched him sleeping on the bed.
While he simply gave a presence of being strong and undefeatable, Jack felt a lingering loneliness beneath it all, not unlike a wolf who had not yet found its mate. She quickly walked to the living room, where she found Meth comfortably reclining between Krent's legs, his upper body resting on the older ex-convict's chest. Hands were entwined as were legs and she smiled slightly and turned to see Litman arguing quietly with Tipner about something. Some things would never change.
"Hey guys, if you want to go back to your bungalows you can. I'm heading off to bed, though." She informed them, yawning in the process. She really did need some rest.
"You're sleeping in the same bed as him?" Litman asked, sounding impressed and afraid at the same time. "Isn't that dangerous?"
"Maybe for you, considering I don't know if he swings that way." She smirked, her comment making both Krent and Meth smile as well.
"Very funny. Well, I'm not prancing through the rain forest in the dark. Goodnight, kids." Litman replied, settling himself on one of the other couches.
"Tipner?" She asked, knowing she had no need to ask Krent and Meth what their plans were. They seemed comfortable enough.
"The hammock will suit me just fine." He informed her, pushing himself up from his seat, walking towards the deck. With a tired nod to Krent, she turned around and went back into her bungalow.
Riddick still lay as he did before, if not a little more relaxed. Jack closed the sky light, knowing the sun wouldn't be kind to his eyes when he woke up. She slipped into the bed, laying down on the other half.
As she was about to fall asleep she felt the bed shift and suddenly Riddick's arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her close against his chest. The bare skin of her back exposed by her shirt came into contact with his bare chest and she had to close her eyes, trying her best to regain normal breathing.
"Don't resist, Jacqueline." He growled into her hair, making her eyes flutter in a sort of strange pleasure. Yet soon they both fell asleep, Jack protected by Riddick and the blue-silverish watchful eyes of Neunzhen, who lay awake on the chair. Two beasts protecting her was certainly better than one.