Chapter 7
Almost Eighteen
Two months passed and Riddick was still observing his target, he felt knowing what you were up against was a good plan. He didn't want to be surprised, not that that happened often. He felt he needed to be prepared, even though in his mind there was no chance he could ever lose. He, of course, didn't mention anything about it to Jack, despite her constant questioning his whereabouts. It was for her own good that he didn't tell her. There was no need in her worrying about him or trying to tag along.
Jack's eighteenth birthday was getting closer; it was only two more weeks away, on July the fifteenth. Riddick knew her big day was getting close but he never said anything to her about it. He would rather surprise her than talk to her about it. Though sometimes his surprises didn't end the way he would have liked them to. Most of the time they ended in him and Jack having to run to escape the law enforcement officials that he so loved.
As he rose from his seat at the table, on this the first day of July in the middle of the afternoon, he said, "Well, kid, I have things to do. You stay here and clean up. I will be back as soon as I'm done with my thing."
Jack sighed and rolled her eyes. Why did he refer to what he was doing as his 'thing'? What was all of that about? It just sounded wrong.
He had been leaving her at home alone more and more lately and she wasn't too keen on that idea. She hated being alone especially when Riddick had told her not to leave. And what she hated more was that he always told her to clean up...
Often she asked him why they didn't just hire someone to clean for them. His response was always the same, 'why would I pay someone to clean my house when I have you to do it for free?' She really hated that. She wasn't his maid. Then again, he did let her live there for free, which meant she didn't ever have to get a job if she didn't want to.
Five minutes after he rose from the table, he was goggled and ready to go. He bid Jack a quick good bye and reminded her to have the house clean then stepped out into the blinding sun light.
Jack plopped herself down on the couch and huffed. "Good, I get to stay here and have so much fun cleaning. Just what I love doing. Ass hole."
She wasn't speaking to anyone in particular, seeing as how she was alone. But she thought it was good to sometimes express her problems aloud. If nothing else, it made her feel better.
For about an hour she deliberately didn't move from the couch because she was trying to convince herself she was not going to clean just because Riddick had told her to. She was going to clean when she was good and ready to and not a minute sooner.
As it would turn out, she could not find anything to watch on the television and all of the digital movies her and Riddick owned, she had seen at least twenty times each. She crinkled her nose as she looked up from her place on the couch and around the house. It was evident that she would much rather be doing anything other than the things she was supposed to do.
'I would rather organize his sock drawer, or scrub the dirt off of his boots with a toothbrush, no… I would rather braid his arm pit hair… Okay, eew, that was just gross. Eesh, why do I think like this? Sometimes I amaze myself at my stupidity.'
She thought theses things to herself as she cleared away the dished from the table and threw them into the sink. It was one of Riddick's rules that she rinse off every dish before placing it into the automatic dishwasher. Jack often thought it was a stupid rule, which it was, but she knew better than to not do as he had asked. If there was one thing she knew for sure it was this, Riddick never makes up rules without a valid reason.
This meant he does not make up rules and regulations just for the fun of it. There is a reason for every rule he had set forth, be it stupid or not. Just like the dishwasher rule. She was positive there was a reason for this rule but for one reason or another she was having a hard time trying to figure out just what the explanation was.
But that was just her trying not to do the dishes, or any other chore.
Riddick's POV
I swear that kid is going to be the death of me. Sometimes I just want to strangle her, just grab her scrawny little neck and squeeze until I see the light leave her eyes. But then again that wouldn't be very macho of me now would it? Me killing a kid like that. Naw, I would never kill her I just want to sometimes.
Where is this dumb son of a bitch? I'm waiting outside his office and he is supposed to be here but I don't see him in the windows. All I see is this woman… Oh, yeah, I found him… Sometimes I think people should consider closing their blinds before engaging in acts such as this. Not every one wants to see what other people look like naked. At least, I don't care to see this guy naked, but I guess the woman is alright.
I'm just going to lean back against this building and watch from across the street. Not that I really want to see what these two are doing, it's just that I have to keep an eye on him. I would much prefer that I not see the guy I've been hired to … er… take care of having sex. I would prefer that I never saw this.
Look at this building, his building, I'm pretty sure it's a red brick but I can't really tell, seeing as how when I have my goggles on I see mostly blacks and grays... I still wouldn't be able to see the damn thing even if I didn't have the goggles on and it was dark, then I would see pinks and purples and grays. But that's beside my point, the point is, it's a big fucking building. I think he's an accountant or something along those lines. Shit, I don't know what he does to tell the truth. All I know is he's been marked for death and I'm the reaper.
End Riddick's POV
Jack had finished rinsing the dishes and loaded them all into the washer; she'd wiped down all of the counters and the table, and began vacuuming the floors. This was probably her least favorite of all of the chores she had. She didn't mind vacuuming while Riddick was home, but when he was gone it was a different story.
The reason she didn't like to do this when she was home alone is because if the vacuum is on and someone enters the house, she wouldn't hear them. So, someone could be watching her with intent on harming her and she wouldn't know it until it was too late. She always had this in mind when she had to do this so she was determined to keep her eyes on the door of whatever room she was in at the time.
Riddick had often told her it was a silly thing to worry about but encouraged her to always keep her eyes open. And since she was familiar with their house, she knew the exits and windows by heart, as well as, where all of his shivs and other weapons were and that gave her the advantage over anyone who would dare to enter their home.
By the time she had cleaned the floors of the living room, the dining area, her bedroom, and Riddick's bedroom, her work was only half finished. Now it was time for her to mop the kitchen and the bathroom. But the moping she didn't mind as much as the vacuuming, she just had to remember not to mop her self into a corner. It's a bitch to have to clean something you've already cleaned.
Jack continued her chores until there was only one thing left to do, laundry.
She walked through her room and collected her dirty clothes, or those that she thought were dirty, and dropped them in the hamper in the bathroom. Knowing Riddick's room would be spotless, she decided to check in there anyway, she couldn't remember seeing any clothes in there but she wanted to double check. It wouldn't be a good thing if he had dirty clothes in his room when he came home. If she did forget some, he could think she hadn't done what she was supposed to and that just wouldn't do.
Jack slid the door open and looked around the room before entering. Riddick's room had dark brown walls, almost a chocolate color, with a tan ceiling and carpet. His bed was an antique dark cherry wood, which was positioned on the wall opposite the door and was covered in a black down comforter, as were the two bedside tables and his dresser, which was directly across from the foot of his bed, against the wall the door was on. There was a full length mirror with cherry trim to the right of his dresser which had always made Jack giggle. She couldn't fathom the thought of Riddick actually looking at himself in a mirror for any reason other than to shave. Even when he did shave he didn't look in the mirror and she knew this from seeing him do it sitting on the couch. It was a nasty habit he had, but he always cleaned up after himself. And that, Jack thought, was a good quality he had, she sure as hell wasn't going to clean up his hair clippings.
Temporarily breaking away from the marvel that was his all too clean room, Jack looked around and didn't see any clothes, and decided to just leave his room. He hadn't ever said anything about her going in there, but for some reason she always had a nagging feeling in her gut when she was in there. It was like this was a place that was forbidden but she couldn't help but go there. She never touched anything or snooped, but sometimes she stood in the doorway staring at his dresser or at his bed. There wasn't anything to see in there because all of the walls were bare of pictures or wall hangings; it was just something she liked to do.
She shook herself from her daze and decided it was time to finish her chores and maybe have some desert… if there was any.
Jack's POV
I hate laundry. It's so pointless. You wash something just so you can wear it and get it dirty again. That doesn't make sense. And why do I have to do it anyway? Why can't he do the laundry? I do every thing else around here… Well except clean his room, and I don't want to do that.
This was the exact minute when I pulled one of my thongs out of the hamper and I realized that that is the reason I do the laundry. Which now that I think about it, I never see any underwear in here from Riddick…
"Oh my god!" Ugh, I shivered. I have just realized that Riddick doesn't wear underwear.
And I touch his pants! I'm going to have to go and bleach my skin later. Oh my, that's just gross. The thought of him walking around the house balls hanging. And he sleeps in my bed… with me without any underwear. This just keeps getting worse. I need to stop thinking about it…
Why am I thinking about Riddick's… package, anyway?
Okay, so… Laundry… I think I'll just do mine first. He only wears black and I have a few other colors so, I don't need to mix them. Why in the hell would I want my favorite yellow tank top to be made dingy by his black-ness anyway?
Ok… Done with that. Now I'm just going to go and sit on the couch and wait for this load to be finished. It's not so bad really; I think I've only for three or… seven loads of laundry.
I let out a long sigh, I'm going to have to wash seven loads of laundry; this is going to take me forever. I might be seventy-eight before I finish this… Then there's going to be all kinds of other laundry…
So… I wonder what's on the tube. Probably nothing as usual. I'm so bored. I wish I had friends… Wait, no, that would just be weird.
I can see it now. 'Yeah, Mary-Jane, this is Riddick, no not the murderer. He's my… He takes care of me. No, he's not my brother. No, he's not my uncle. He's not related to me, I just live with him. No! We do not sleep together… NO you can't sleep with him.'
Jesus.
Channel surfing can be fun, I guess. Let's see, cartoons… movie I've already seen… Cartoons… soap opera… news… commercial… porno… another movie I've already seen… more cartoons… news… I give up, this is pointless.
I decided to just turn the television off and sit in the comfortable silence that is my life. If it's not Riddick telling me to do something it's quite. What a great life I have. No friends, no boyfriend… and most of the time, no Riddick. If I wanted to be alone I'd be in slam.
Riddick doesn't wear underwear.
Oh God! Why did I just think about that? That's disgusting. I'm going to have to hit my head on the wall until I stop thinking about it.
Why in god's name would anyone ever want to not wear underwear? No, I don't want to know, I really don't. Especially when it's him. With his stupid goggles, and all that damned black, and that shaved head… and… and those rippling muscles… and the eerie feeling he gives off when he's looking at you… and his deep voice…and….
And that's when my thoughts were interrupted by the washing machine dinging, it was done, finally.
End Jack's POV
Riddick stood leaned against the same building for thirty minutes, and the man and woman were still going at it. He finally got fed up with watching this flesh show and decided it was best that he go ahead and leave. He wasn't going to get in any surveillance time today, as it seemed.
It had taken him an hour just to get to the town this man's office was in. Then the walk was twenty-five minutes to his building and he'd been there for half an hour, so it was best that he get home to Jack soon. She would be expecting dinner and he knew she wouldn't cook for herself.
He wasn't sure if she could cook, she'd never offered before, so he was almost positive she didn't even know how to boil water.
He pushed off the wall slightly agitated and began his walk toward the subway, hoping it wouldn't be as busy as it had been on his way down. He didn't really like having to be packed into a car with a hundred or so other people who all talked too loudly and stared at him. It wasn't that he was self conscious or that he was shy, because he isn't, it was just that he would rather not have to be that close to disgusting ass holes and or mercs. His life had been pretty good since he and Jack left that planet because he hadn't seen any mercs he knew, or heard that anyone was looking for him, but he didn't want to press his luck.
Riddick's POV
I really hate subways. No, it wasn't as crowded as it could have been, but there were more people in that car than I think should be legal, but who am I to be concerned about laws? I've never given any regard for laws before, why should it matter now?
The ride wasn't so bad, yes there was the loud talking and the staring and the rocking of the car and the sudden stops and jolting, but all in all, it was alright. I need to just get a move on and take care of this guy, that way; I don't have to worry about the damned subway.
I wonder if the kid has done what I told her to. She better have if she wants dinner. Look at what I've reduced myself to. I cook and clean and take care of this kid. I've gone soft. What happened to the bad ass Richard B. Riddick that once lived? I've become a lap dog. To be more precise, her lap dog. It's disgusting.
I can't help it though. What was I supposed to do? Leave her with the holy man? I've heard all about what those holier than thou people are capable of when it comes to young children and that is enough to make me want to kill every damn one of the mother fuckers. That's just sick. I may be demented but I'm not sick. Anyone who would do those things to a child should be killed a thousand times over...
It should only take me about ten minutes to get from this subway station to my house, then comes the cooking. But I'm hungry anyway, so I'm not really cooking just for her.
End Riddick's POV
Jack was just putting her third load in the washer when Riddick opened the front door and let it hit the wall with a loud bang.
She jumped and whipped her head around toward the door. "What the hell? Riddick! You scared the shit out of me!"
Riddick gave a chuckle, "Yeah, kid, I'm the boogie man and I've come to get you! Now give me all of your cookies or I'm going to eat you."
Jack didn't recognize the perverse words he had used, mainly because she was still shaken by the entrance he had made. Riddick on the other hand immediately regretted his words.
'Not exactly the right thing to say, Dickey.' He thought as he quietly shut the door behind him and headed into the kitchen, which is where Jack was because the washer and dryer are in there as well.
"Ha ha, you've such a funny guy." She said with sarcasm dripping from her words.
Riddick gave a short smile then opened the fridge and crouched down so he was at eye level with the shelves.
Jack turned back to what she was doing, which was putting a load of Riddick's clothes in the washer, and automatically thought about the fact that she was touching his pants. And these are the pants he didn't wear underwear with… She hurriedly dumped the clothes in, poured the detergent in, and slammed the lid shut.
Trying to get her mind of is pants she said, "So, what are you making for dinner? I'm starving."
Riddick sighed. "I don't know kid, what do you want? How about hot dogs?"
Jack smirked and her cheeks turned a light shade of pink as she thought about what he had just said and her previous thought. Clearing her throat she said, "Sure… whatever you want is fine."
Riddick wasn't sure why Jack's voice had wavered when she answered him, but he did know it was probably something he didn't want to know anyway. He decided it would be easier to just throw some hot dogs in a skillet and fry them and open a bag of chips that to actually cook a meal. So that's what he decided on. It was quick and easy.
He stood from the fridge with a pack of hot dogs in his hand and laid them on the counter beside the stove and pulled a pan from the counter above it. Jack took this as a sign to leave the kitchen. She knew he would try and show her how to cook and she didn't want to be there to whiteness those hot dogs rolling around in the frying pan. It was just too much for her.
Yes, as it would seem, Jack is a normal almost eighteen year old girl, and she does find many things humorous that Riddick would not. Like the fact that she had just been thinking about him not wearing undies and then talking about hot dogs. For some reason, this made her day.
She didn't leave her room once until Riddick called her for dinner. Despite her hunger, she couldn't being herself to eat her hot dog with him watching, so every time he would look away, she stuffed as much of it in her mouth as possible. But when he was looking she simply snacked on potato chips.
Most people would find this behavior childish, which it was, but in reality, Jack hadn't had much of a child hood and what eighteen year old girl wouldn't laugh about something as perfect as that?
A/N: Okay, sorry about the long wait. I do hope this chapter isn't as disapointing as I think it is. But when I was writing it, I thought some humor could do it some good. Sure, there are serious points too... I swear... Ok.. Just review, please? Sway
