Chapter 9
The entire galley seemed frozen for a moment as everyone stared at the Core doctor. The Furyan found himself mildly gratified by the fact that no one seemed pleased to see River's brother. The scent of hostility coming from the crew filled the galley. Even the Captain was displeased with Simon Tam for all that he'd gone to fetch the man.
Riddick growled and his arms banded around River protectively. His wife shuddered as her brother's eyes hit her. Jayne had his back to the Captain and Riddick felt almost grateful to the gun hand as the taller man rose and turned to glare at the doctor. Cobb put his body between Simon and the table, blocking the doctor's view of River and Riddick temporarily.
"Spirit of Furya," River told the Captain. Her voice had lost much of its cheer at the sight of her brother. Jayne was looming over the smaller man and the Captain absently patted his gun hand on the bicep as he passed.
"Jayne, I'd appreciate it if you'd take a seat," Mal said mildly. "I'm makin' coffee. Anybody want some?" As Jayne took the chair next to Riddick there was a chorus of assents, Riddick's voice among them and the Captain chuckled, "Shoulda known with you lot." He shook his head and began the process. "Kaylee, I'm cuttin' yours down with powdered milk. You have too much a this an' I'm gonna need Jayne to tie you down."
Riddick looked down at River who was turning pink with stifled giggles. Jayne had turned red and Kaylee was gaping at her captain in shock. Mal, who'd been oblivious to the effect of his words, turned around at the sudden dearth of conversation. "What?"
"Cap'n Daddy said there was to be no talk of sexin' in mixed company while he was around," River began to giggle. "Not fair to insinuate Jayne would play bondage games with Kaylee."
Riddick couldn't help the chuckle rising in his chest despite his anger over Simon being in the room. The Captain looked dumbfounded and began stuttering an explanation. His words were lost under the laughter of his crew though and he gave it up as a bad job.
Kaylee giggled weakly, "I ain't really gettin' the whole joke." She admitted. "I know it's somethin' to do with sex but I ain't gettin' what. Just knew from River an' Jayne's faces it was somethin' dirty. An' the Cap'n sayin' it was what made it funny to me. Cap'n don't make jokes like that much."
"I'm sure Jayne could explain it to you Kaylee," Simon's chilly voice made his opinion of such knowledge plain. "Or my sister's new husband might be adequate to the task."
Kaylee recoiled as if she'd been slapped while Jayne stood so quickly his chair fell over. "Lookee here Doc," The huge man snarled down at the smaller man. "I dunno what your problem is. Probably gorram hard to pronounce. But you got no call to go insultin' one a the best women I know. Kaylee's never been nothin' but nice to you. Now you take that back or we'll see how many teeth you can spit out with a broken jaw."
Riddick nodded his agreement and River left his lap to circle the table and tug Kaylee from her own chair next to Book. She quickly righted Jayne's chair and settled Kaylee into it. "Jayne," Riddick's little wife patted the huge man's elbow gently.
"Yeah," Jayne was still snarling but his hostile tone wasn't directed at River.
"Don't sit on Kaylee," Was all the slender woman said before she took her place back in Riddick's lap. Her scent was rife with satisfaction and more than a little irritation directed at her brother.
"Huh?" Jayne turned and saw the mechanic ensconced in his chair and shrugged. "Okay," He grabbed another chair and pulled it next to Kaylee as Simon took a seat slightly removed from the rest of them.
Riddick looked down to hide his smile as Kaylee whispered to Jayne. The pitch of a whisper always reached his ears easily, "Jayne, you know I don't hold anythin' you know 'gainst you right? You just got experience with the world is all."
"Aw, hell Kaylee, stuff I know, ain't a surprise the Doc looks down at me for it," Jayne muttered back. "Man's got such a stick up his pì gu it's a wonder he can sit down."
Riddick listened as River murmured to Kaylee in an attempt to ease the gun hand's chagrin. The smell of it was obvious to Riddick's nose, as well as the physical interest Jayne had in the cute mechanic. "Kaylee, Simon was referring to bordellos where one can purchase an experience in bondage. One is tied down and teased with pleasure until the one in control chooses to give it, or the person tied up surrenders." Her quiet murmur went unnoticed by anyone other than the four of them. Jayne's face darkened with embarrassment while Kaylee's eyes went wide and she looked at the big man for confirmation.
"Really? An' it don't hurt to use rope or nothin'?" She whispered in surprise.
"Nah, I heard they use soft stuff, scarves, special…things…" Jayne's voice was strangled and he took the coffee Mal handed him gratefully. It must have scalded his tongue as he took a sip but he still swallowed it like it was going to save him from the conversation.
Riddick looked at the couple beside he and River in amusement and wondered what the rest of the crew made of this. Zoe and her husband were talking quietly about things they needed to get on Beaumonde. Inara and Book had begun a conversation about Furya. Inara was very interested in whatever Book might remember about the lost world.
Mal was giving everyone else their mugs of coffee and took his seat at the head of the table. Riddick looked at his wife who was eying his mug longingly, "River, if you want a cup I can get you one." Kaylee offered as she too caught River's look.
"Not allowed," River sighed in resignation.
"Why not?" Riddick growled, "More stupid rules?" As if she should have to follow any rules besides the Captain's. She was his wife, not a child. Damned if he was going to have her feel like she couldn't eat or drink what she wanted. He did what he damn well pleased, there was no reason she shouldn't do the same.
"Chattering chipmunk is irritating to the fox and bear," His wife shook her head.
"She's not allowed to have coffee because it contains an abundance of caffeine," Simon informed them with a condescending look. "She's too excitable as it is and caffeine gives her false energy. She'll babble for hours about things no one understands. That was before the Academy destroyed her reason."
The wave of irritation that washed over the table came from every member of the crew stinging Riddick's nose. But it was Mal that did something about it. Fetching the pot and a mug he grabbed the rest of the milk he'd made and set it on the table. "Don't know how you like your coffee little one but I'd suggest startin' out like Kaylee an' addin' a lotta milk," He suggested kindly. "If it hypes you up like her, too much'll throw your sleep off somethin' fierce."
"They won't mind if she becomes the chipmunk?" River looked up at Riddick and then at the rest of the crew.
Riddick knew he didn't mind. After a day of silence while his wife slept in what had felt like a coma to him, she could talk all night and he'd be happy to hear it. He nuzzled the tender skin beneath her ear as he considered just how much he'd missed her sweet elegant voice. Zoe laughed though and spoke for the rest of the crew as Mal sat back down. "River if we can stand Kaylee's cheerful turned up to manic I think we can handle a little chipmunk talk from you."
The pilot nodded his agreement with a huge grin, "Chipmunks are cute."
"She can't have caffeine," Simon objected again like his was the last word on the subject. Riddick felt River stiffen and that hot smell of anger rise from her skin. The growl that rose in his chest was pure reaction to her fury, the Animal's willingness to support his mate. The Captain though, wasn't having any of Simon's posturing.
"Doctor, we've had a talk or two 'bout you givin' orders on my boat," Mal's voice had grown stern. He stared down the length of the table at Simon with a frown. "Now it seems to have escaped your notice but your sister is a grown woman with a husband. What she does or doesn't do isn't up to you anymore."
Simon began to interrupt and Mal held up his hand sharply, "Bì zuǐ! Now as Inara tells me you ain't got a legal leg to stand on, much less a moral one the way you been carryin' on. Did a little lookin' around on the cortex while River slept off the junk you dosed her with. You're wanted for kidnappin' your sister. Described as havin' an' 'unhealthy obsession' with her. Now you may have been savin' her at the start. But now? Now all it looks like is a controllin' hún dàn doesn't wanna let go."
Riddick nearly snarled as Simon opened his mouth again. River beat him to it, a furious little hiss escaping from her lips. "Nǐ tā mā de tiān xià suǒ yǒu de rén dōu gāi sǐ. Enough. Simon enough. I've had less than a week with my husband. I only got one night with him before you barged into his house and interrupted our honeymoon. You don't know him. You don't see him."
"I see him perfectly well," Simon retorted.
"But you haven't even asked me about him. You asked why him but never let me answer," River snarled at him. "You are bái mù."
"How? River how?" The Doctor was livid. "Exactly what am I missing? He's crude. He's violent. He's a convicted murderer."
"But he's mine tā mā de niǎo," Riddick's wife spoke the truest words he'd ever heard. "Nothing he wouldn't do for me. I...I see yōu míng . Between the trauma to my amygdale and the drugs you gave me...speech is so hard for me. But he... he makes me feel so safe. And he..." She nestled deeper into Riddick's arms and her hands stroked his skin. Her fingers were soft and gentle, a sweet affectionate caress that warmed him through the cold anger burning through him and focused on her brother.
"Don't know if you'll ever see it," River said softly. "You think he is è guàn mǎn yíng. But you don't know how I feel when I'm with him. I know. I know him. I see him. He is mine. Mine. My zhàng fu. And I am glad. Pleased beyond measure."
"Nǐ zài jiǎng shén me pì huà," Simon burst out furiously.
"Hǎi shì shān méng," River retorted and turned so her cheek was resting against his neck. His pulse beat against her ear and Riddick lifted a hand and stroked it down her long still slightly damp hair. His beautiful little wife sure did know how to make him feel good.
"Beautiful wife, perfect woman," Riddick murmured into her ear. "Never letting you go." Her blush of pleasure scented her skin deliciously and he pressed his lips to her temple.
"Jiào nǐ shēng háizi méi pìgu yǎn," Simon cursed. "You don't know what you're saying. This, this... yú chǔn zì jiāo de dà zi ròu--"
"Pū jiē," Riddick's sweet wife spat back at her brother. "She is married to him and glad of it. You are acting like a fèi fèi gāng mén and foolish beyond measure. Married three times over. O swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb, lest that thy love prove likewise variable."
Riddick chuckled and kissed her temple again, "Sorry baby, you lost me on that one." He admitted. Every now and then his wife used language that he knew was from some old book. It sounded elegant as hell and usually he got her meaning. This time though he wasn't quite getting it.
River rolled her eyes but still pressed her lips to his neck, "Let not the wife depart from her husband." She sighed in pleasure and looked up at him, "On the night of their betrothal the wife shall open to the man as the furrow to the plow. He shall work in her again and again, until she bring him to his fall. And rest him then upon the sweat of her breast."
Riddick began to chuckle as the Captain and Wash went goggle eyed, "Good Bible." Jayne muttered shifting slightly in his seat. Simon was simply staring, aghast at what had come out of his baby sister's mouth.
"Yeah," The Furyan squeezed the back of River's neck and felt her shiver with pleasure against him. "That's a popular one when a girl wants to get a fellow's attention." He looked down at River and smiled, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
River pressed another kiss to his throat and looked at her brother, "My husband will never forsake me. Regardless of what you say or do Simon."
Riddick nodded, his palm was warm on River's neck and he felt her tight muscles relax a bit. Surprisingly enough it was Jayne who spoke up next.
"Ain't seen the man raise a hand to her," He said quietly. "There's times Moonbrain can be irksome as hell an' he don't seem to mind. My ma taught me a coupla things outa the Bible. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Dunno if the rest would be much to ya. But seems to me that Riddick is tryin' to follow what he was taught, best as he can. Takes care a her better'n you could Doc."
Book nodded slowly, his weathered face approving, "Jayne, however bluntly put, has the right of it I think." He looked at Mal and gave the Captain a one shouldered shrug, "It's plain that Riddick is not a publically demonstrative man but I don't think any one of us who saw him with River after he took her out of the infirmary would doubt that he cares for her."
Riddick took a deep breath and looked down at River and then at the Shepherd. Living on Triumph it had been near impossible to not pick up a few things from the Bible. He didn't have much use for God but the Bible had some interesting things to say about tolerance. "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her," He offered finally.
The Shepherd smiled, "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." He looked at Simon, "As one who is as impartial as it possible to be here, I must tell you, they are legally, morally and spiritually bound. I cannot advise you to continue on this course. To separate them would be an act of cruelty, which neither of them deserves."
Simon, predictably enough didn't care for that, and began another rant. Riddick tuned him out for a minute or two before he cradled River closer in his arms and looked at Mal. "All right, I've had enough of this," He forced his words to come out evenly. "Cap'n, I'd appreciate it if me and River could use your cortex."
"It gonna end this constant arguin' about your marriage?" Mal asked curiously.
"Might," Riddick shook his head. "Can't be completely certain." He looked at Book, "Unless you know the exact legalities and powers a man has over his wife on Triumph."
"I'm a little vague on the freedoms she'd be allowed," The dark skinned shepherd admitted. "I do know the husband has sovereignty over his wife. That's what the wreath symbolizes."
"Yeah," The Furyan male nodded. "Which means, technically she's supposed to do what I say. Not that I saw a lotta that back on Triumph." He shook his head, "No I figure Simon's next move is gonna be that River was in no position to choose me as a husband."
"Ah," Book nodded. "We could certainly compare River's life here with your experiences on Triumph. You're looking for a correlation between her living situation here and the Maiden house?"
"Yeah," Riddick took a sip of coffee and pressed a kiss to the soft skin under River's jaw. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for more talking. But if it shut Simon Tam up for good it would be worth the aggravation. "Girls, once they start womanhood, are sequestered in the Maiden house. It keeps them pure and protected. They're allowed out, but they're never alone with a man unless he's a relation or it's in a public space. The girls are pretty paranoid about it. To them their worth is in their purity."
"How are the husbands chosen for them," Zoe asked with a frown. "Because we know River chose you."
"Actually for all that Saffron was going on about girls being traded to awful men…not really true," Riddick shook his head. "The women wouldn't stand for it. You know how many men would have uncomfortable lives if one of those girls was traded for livestock?"
River grinned up at him, "Men pretend to hold the power but they are under the thumb. Like their happy, comfortable lives. Strut in public and are humble in private. Wives and mothers roll their eyes over the foolishness of their men."
"Yeah that's pretty much it," Riddick chuckled. "But basically the Elder might bring someone in, like me for instance. Someone who's proven a good person to join the village. And he'll put him in the way of the girls. Give the fella a little time to see the girls, hear some talk about personalities. And the young ladies get to hear about the fella."
"And then they what, draw lots?" Wash chuckled.
"Nah," The convict rumbled after another sip of coffee. "Too much fighting. Elder takes the girls aside, asks 'em real specific what they're lookin' for in a husband. Does the same with the man. Parents get together and they have to be honest about personalities. It's a little like an arranged marriage but with more choice about it."
River nodded, "Girls talk amongst themselves, determine who likes the man best. If two girls both do then they must compare who will best suit the man. Usually doesn't come to that."
Riddick grinned, "It can be interesting to be a man in that situation. Wasn't been the first time I'd been hunted but it was the first time in my life that I didn't mind. Had no intentions of being caught, lasted three years without getting interested in a bride."
"Took him by surprise," River smiled up at him. "Elder Gommen was very pleased. Did not like to see you alone."
"Talked to him before you talked to me?" Riddick hadn't realized she'd done that.
"Yes, of course. After he gave Jayne the rain stick," River reached for the coffee pot and poured herself a half a cup and filled the other half of the mug with milk. When the only objection came from Simon she lifted the mug and sipped happily. "Very good. Captain's idea was a sound one." She continued her explanation, "Had to speak with the Elder. He was your preacher even if you did not attend services. Asked if I might approach you. Was given his blessing after I promised that I would stay with you if you did not wish to leave with Serenity."
"And then you came and found me," Riddick looked down at her smiling face as she sipped her coffee.
"Well that explains a lot," Zoe shook her head. "Remember, Elder Gommen came by, askin' us if we'd object to one of our daughters being with a village man." She looked at her husband meaningfully.
Wash laughed, "Well, of the crew, we were the only ones available and not drunk. And we're sorta parenty if you tilt your head sideways and squint."
"We thought he was taking about Kaylee because she was dancin' with the girls and some of the boys," The First Mate recalled. "Said she was a grown woman and she could do as she pleased. Told him she had a good heart, wouldn't hurt a fly, sweetest, most loving girl we knew."
"That was before we knew you weren't crazy River," Wash leaned forward to reassure Riddick's wife. "If we'd known he was talkin' about you we'd a said you were a sweetheart too."
Riddick chuckled, "Just as well you didn't know." He looked at them, "Tell me how it was, the way River lived here, before me."
"Well she had her own room," Inara said quietly. "But she was locked in at night usually. Unless one of us went by to see if she was awake. Sometimes she and I would have tea in my shuttle at night. I'd lend her my books."
Wash nodded, "We didn't like to leave her alone too often. She'd play jacks with Kaylee."
"Watched Jayne lift in the bay," River said softly. "Simon always in the infirmary or the lounge. Sat on the catwalks and watched everyone go by. Like a ghost. Seen and heard but never touching. Never touched. Not allowed to take food without asking. No touching knives or guns. Made to ingest pills or have shots." Riddick didn't like how she sounded, tired and drifting away from him as she thought on those days.
Kaylee nudged River's arm, "Remember when we played dress up with Inara?" She had a sunny smile on her face.
He watched as his wife nodded, a happy curve of her lips forming at the memory. "Played with Inara's hair like she was our doll. Allowed to paint our faces and have tea ceremony. Read poetry to Kaylee and asked Inara about Sihnon."
Inara's smile was soft and affectionate, a rare look on a Companion as she gazed at the younger girls. "Kaylee painted my toes and River drew the prettiest design on them in white. She gave me henna anklets in the most exquisite patterns."
Riddick could feel the happiness beaming off his wife, "It was fun. Like to draw and did one for Kaylee too."
"So she was kept pretty well sequestered," Riddick looked at Book. "You agree with that?"
"As much as it was possible yes," The Shepherd nodded. "Often times when Jayne was lifting I would spot for him. River has only ever been truly alone when she was in her room. With the crew shifts for the bridge there's always someone awake. Usually Wash, a married man, the Captain, whom she regards as a father or Zoe, a married woman."
"Mal," Riddick looked at the Captain. "She looks at you like a father, and as her Captain you're in a greater position of authority than the Doctor. As her adopted dad do you have some objection to our marriage? Would you have stopped it if you'd known?"
"As I recall, not bein' as drunk as Jayne at that point in the evening," Reynolds began. "My only concern at the time was that you were kidnapping her. After that, I just didn't want you to take her away. The whole getting married thing… hell. Once I got a good look at the way you were holdin' onto her, didn't figure you'd do her any sorta harm."
"Though the way she was screamin' when we come up on yer cabin, Doc thought you were murderin' her," Jayne snorted into his mug.
The captain actually chuckled at that, "Yeah. He took a bit of ribbing 'bout that. But it was real obvious whatever was goin' on was mutual."
"You didn't seem thrilled at the time," Riddick reminded them.
"We had the Doc goin' on 'bout her bein' crazy. And we were tryin' to get into the sky. Hunting River down at six in the morning really wasn't on the to do list. And we were a bit hung-over." Mal added with a wince at the memory.
"A bit?" Jayne shook his head, "I was ready to stick my head in a bucket and breathe until I felt right again."
"That why you were dumb enough to come in without knockin'?" Riddick wondered.
"Mighta had somethin' to do with it," Jayne muttered. "Kaylee, why'd you let me drink that much anyway? You're usually the one that stops me."
"I was dancin'," Kaylee shrugged. "An' you were havin' fun with Mal, laughin' over his tree hat an' all. Figured Cap'n wouldn't let you get in no trouble."
"Amusing as this is," Simon's icy voice was like a wet blanket over the teasing mood. "The fact remains that my sister was not raised on Triumph and thus the marriage isn't legal."
"But Riddick had been living on Triumph, for the past three years," Book told the Core man unsympathetically. "And she didn't marry him as your sister. She told us plain as day that part of why Mal wouldn't do as a husband was that he is her father. Adopted, but her father nonetheless. Thus she was perfectly free to marry Riddick in the tradition of his planet of residence."
"She didn't know what she was doing," Simon argued.
"If she talked to the Elder about the marriage then yes she did," Riddick shot back. "Gommen isn't a fool. He knows when someone's not right in the head. If he thought River was good enough to marry me, and that's just how he would look at it, then she was sane enough to do it. His concern would have been for me. Makin' sure one of his 'flock' was taken care of."
"He was trying to be fatherly to you?" Zoe raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"Yeah," Riddick chuckled. "Was always after me to socialize more, consider taking a wife. He wanted me to stay in the village yeah. But he also told me it wasn't good for me to be alone so much. Told me it was plain that I wasn't meant for a solitary life. If I were, the children wouldn't like me so much. That I wasn't cold enough for a life alone."
"He was right," River leaned up to kiss him affectionately. "Grateful that you waited for me though."
"Yeah, me too," Riddick smiled. "So River has been kept 'pure' as much as you could on a boat instead of a Maiden house. She talked to the Elder about marriage. Elder talked to Zoe and Wash. Then she talked to me. We got married and Mal made sure I wasn't kidnapping her."
"Don't forget bible verses," River reminded him softly. "Important. Spoken before witnesses."
"Forgot about that. That's the woman's part isn't it," Riddick smiled.
"What's this?" The Captain didn't quite remember apparently.
"From the book of Ruth," River said softly. "Ruth said: Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you."
Mal nodded, "That rings more'n a few bells."
"Spoke the words in front of the Elder. Declared myself bound to Riddick. Was given Elder Gommen's blessing the next morning. Union is sacred." Riddick watched his woman glare at her brother. "What God has joined let no man tear asunder."
"You weren't joined by God, you did the Triumph equivalent of jumping the broom," Simon argued. "God has nothing to do with this! And if you think I'm going to let you have children with this, this, lǎo píao, this monster then you'd better think again."
Riddick growled and only River's hands on his kept him from going for his shivs. That she was as angry as he only made him more determined to draw blood again. Surprisingly it was Inara that stood up. "I am sorry to do this but I will not tolerate this situation a moment longer," She stared at Simon coldly. "Simon Tam, I bind thee. As a Lady of the Temple and Companion of Sihnon. As Guardian of the Right of Woman to surrender or guard her virtue, I admonish thee. I bind thee from further abuse of your blood relation. I compel thee to leach thy tongue of its poison. I, and all my sisters, and all our mothers, abjure thee until such time as thy heart is cleansed."
Riddick blinked at the suddenly powerful and furious looking Companion and then looked at Simon. The Core man had gone from furious and ranting to deathly white and stuttering, the picture of shock. Inara sat down and gave the doctor a chilly look before she sipped her coffee again.
"Uh, not to…get myself bound or abjured or what have you, but what was that!" Mal wanted to know.
"Companions aren't whores Mal," River's voice was soft. "Companions are advocates of women. They undertake special training. Counseling, teaching and of course, the arts of sensuality. Arts of all kinds. But they are… like priestesses, Geisha often, but more than...bedmates. The worlds are all too often governed by men. Without the Companions men would attempt to restrict the rights of women. When people immigrated from Earth That Was…so many religions disagreed on the role of women in the world. Cultures were different. But the women of every race and creed…found a way to ensure the rights of women would never be stripped from us again." She smiled at Inara, "Thank you."
"Mal, you remember when I told Atherton that he'd earned himself a Black Mark in the Companion's registry," Inara asked as she sipped her coffee. Riddick watched as the Captain nodded. "That mark made it impossible to contract with a Companion, ever again. But it also informs everyone the Guild deals with, and that's everyone, that he is not to be trusted with a woman's safety or rights. If he was to marry his rights would be restricted so that he had no power over his wife. And the Guild touches every part of the Systems in one form or another."
"So what'd you do to Simon?" Wash asked in spite of Zoe's nudge to shut up. "He looks like death warmed over."
"He wouldn't accept that he didn't have rights over River any longer," Inara gave an elegant little shrug. "I'd been considering this since this morning when I learned what he'd planned to dose her with. But when he actually made the threat just now, to prevent River from conceiving I knew he wouldn't change his mind."
"What was he gonna do this mornin'," Kaylee asked with dread.
"He was going to shoot her full of something that would abort any child she carried," Riddick couldn't help pulling his wife closer in his arms as he said it. It was his job to protect her and their children and he'd nearly failed. If he'd been five seconds later that poison would have been in her veins. River shivered in his arms, but she wasn't surprised and he knew that's why she'd fought so hard against her brother.
The roar of anger from Jayne rivaled Kaylee's shriek of fury. Wash was shouting while Book glared at the Doctor.
Mal smacked his hand on the table so hard that everyone's mugs jumped a bit spilling some of their contents but the noise finally stopped.
Inara sent the captain a grateful look and continued her explanation, "I stripped him of his rights. He has no more right to order River around than Jayne. And actually less since Jayne's job is to protect the ship. He's lucky I didn't strip him of his house and family name. As it is, he is related to River but he is powerless over her. She is her own person. And she chose to marry Riddick."
"But how?" Kaylee wondered, "I mean, not that I don't b'lieve you did it. Just wonderin' the how of it's all?"
"On Osiris, many Core planets but Osiris especially, choice is very important," Inara explained. "River was born to the Tam family. They're an old line. It is the family's sacred duty to prepare their children for the choices to come in their lives. A spouse of similar background or social level is encouraged so as to promote harmony but she might have chosen a shopkeeper if that had been where her heart led her."
The Companion gave Simon a hard stare, "River chose Riddick as her husband. She chose Mal to be her adopted father. Choice in this case is far more important that blood. Relation though he might be, Simon has no right to take away River's choices." She stood, "I'm going to make a record of it now. Coded of course, but any Companion will understand the meaning, and record it appropriately."
"Good," Riddick growled. "Now if you'll excuse us, I'm gonna show River the room we got now. Since she hasn't even seen it yet."
"Have a good night," The Captain nodded. "We should be reaching Beaumonde sometime tomorrow. You're at liberty from now until we've been dirtside a week."
Riddick grinned down at his wife who smiled happily at her adopted father, "Cap'n Daddy is very kind." She proclaimed.
"No'm not, I'm a mean old man," Mal argued. "Go on, get to bed now. Newlyweds." He shook his head and drank the last of his coffee.
Riddick shut the hatch behind him and locked it before he looked down at his wife, "Are you all right?" He wanted to know. "Head feel all right?"
"So grateful he married her," He could tell River's language was still a bit slippery in her mouth. The drug was still bothering her, her possessives were getting mixed up and she was dropping words. "His mind keeps her steady. His hands and body make her feel safe. Kept her from being purged. And Purified."
"That's what he was aiming for," Riddick growled and stripped off his cargo pants before he tossed them on top of his pack. Kaylee's pants were hung on one of the ladder rungs as a reminder to return them while the sweater River wore was set aside with his pants. "If you say so I'll gut the bastard and shove him out the airlock."
River shook her head and pulled the quilts back on the bed, "Clings to control because it is all he knows. Only way he understands to protect his sister. Doesn't see that he is trying to chain her down. Riddick lets her fly free and return to her mate."
The Furyan looked down at her before he climbed into narrow single bed and tugged her back into his arms. "Didn't know I could be afraid like that," He muttered as he covered their bodies with the quilts and pressed his mouth to her neck and face. "Like ice ran through me, hearing you cry out like that. Smelled how scared you were." He hadn't much liked the sensation and it just made the Animal more possessive and determined to keep her.
Her mouth found his and suddenly he didn't feel like talking anymore. His wife's hands slid down over his chest to his groin. One small hand cupped his balls, gently tugging at them while the other stroked his cock into aching stiffness. Riddick moaned into River's mouth and palmed her breast; his thumb rubbed her nipple into erotic tension. She was leaning back, encouraging him to cover her body with his, her thighs spread to accommodate his hips.
Riddick shuddered over her, he could feel how wet her thighs were, her curls were damp and slick against his shaft. He forced his lips to leave hers and bent his head to her breasts. He needed to hear her cry out in pleasure, needed to know she was ready for him. He loved how she sounded, tiny little cries of need, gasps of pleasure and moans of desperation.
Her hands had long since lost their aim, fluttering and stroking over his shoulders and scalp before her fingers pressed hard on the back of his skull. Her body bowed upwards under his mouth, pushing her flesh against his lips and he growled and pushed a hand under her back to hold her in place. River cried out as her spine arched over his arm, white flesh stretched erotically across their bed and quivering with need.
He couldn't wait any longer to have her. The worry, the fear, and his need to know she was all right, that she was with him, all combined to destroy his control. He could only be grateful the same circumstances had stripped her of all order or reason as well. When he slid inside her, River simply moaned in welcome and met every thrust.
His Wife, his Mate, his Home. The words pounded in his brain until he was thrusting into her with the same rhythm. Riddick covered her mouth with his and sucked on her tongue, devoured her lips and forced her to keep up with him. Her shriek of rapture echoed in his skull and he moaned hotly into her mouth as her body squeezed and milked him until he had no choice. His body capitulated, gave up his seed in several long near painful bursts of pleasure.
Panting and striving for breath they lay twined together and Riddick pulled her closer and kissed her hair. "I won't lose you River," He promised her quietly. "I can't. Not to anyone."
"Husband won't lose me," River sounded content and certain. He couldn't seem to help the smile that spread his lips then. Tomorrow they'd deal with organizing the bunk. For now... he wanted his wife in his arms as they slept. He didn't want to let go of her, ever again.
Author's Note: So…a little tension there at first. And if you're thinking Riddick just really wants Simon dead you wouldn't be wrong. But Riddick always struck me as someone who knew when it was better to bide his time. He's made his point to Simon, and now his little wife is feeling clear headed enough to stick up for herself. So it's more of a wait and see attitude. Because satisfying as it might be to get shiv happy with Simon, the doctor is his wife's brother and he is the crew's only medic.
We did get to see Inara putting her foot down, which I'll admit I had in mind for a while. She's not entirely convinced that Riddick is great for River, but she will stand by River's choices. And I've been trying (not entirely unsuccessfully I hope) to hint that Companions aren't just high class escorts. So we got a glimpse of that here.
What did you guys think? I really wanted River to finally speak up. She's been quiet mostly because her brain has been acclimating but I did want her to finally tell Simon to shove it. After all, if she doesn't stand up for herself she's not much of a partner for Riddick is she?
And I just did all the quote sources…my we had a very Bible-like chapter didn't we?
I'd love to hear what all of you think. So by all means let me know. After all, reviews are love!
Chinese Translations:
pì gu - butt
Bì zuǐ - Shut up!
hún dàn - bastard
Nǐ tā mā de tiān xià suǒ yǒu de rén dōu gāi sǐ. - Fuck everyone in the universe to death.
bái mù - stupid / Lit. white-eyed, blind / not understanding the situation and reacting in a wrong way as a result
tā mā de niǎo - goddamn it /lit. 'His mother's dick'
yōu míng - the hidden and the visible / that which can be seen and that which cannot / darkness and light / night and day / wisdom and ignorance / evil and good / the living and the dead / men and ghosts
è guàn mǎn yíng - lit. strung through and filled with evil (idiom); filled with extreme evil / replete with vice / guilty of monstrous crimes
zhàng fu - husband
Nǐ zài jiǎng shén me pì huà - What shit/the fuck are you saying
Hǎi shì shān méng - to pledge undying love - idiom; oath of eternal love / to swear by all the Gods
Jiào nǐ shēng háizi méi pìgu yǎn - May your child be born with an imperforate anus
yú chǔn zì jiāo de dà zi ròu - stupid inbred sack of meat
Pū jiē - fuck you
fèi fèi gāng mén - baboon's asshole
lǎo píao - lit. old frequenter of prostitutes
Quote Sources:
O swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb, lest that thy love prove likewise variable. – Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare
Let not the wife depart from her husband - 1 Corinthians 7:10
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. - Genesis 2:24
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. - Colossians 3:19
Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her - John 8:7
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. - 1 Corinthians 1:25
Ruth said: Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you. - Ruth 1:16-17