48) All The Right Moves and All The Right Faces

He'd come to realize during the 'pirate AI' episode that he and Carolyn and Jack didn't have any true understanding of just how smart River was. Coming onto the bridge to see her out programing a virus had been one clue. The way she scanned through code and determined what belonged to Serenity and what didn't was another.

The way she and Kaylee (with a little help from him) had come up with a plan on the fly (so to speak) had been a huge anvil shaped clue falling on his head. It took real genius to plot out and implement countermeasures while she was still outrunning (so to speak) a malevolent AI's code. And pilot at the same time.

When Serenity was back online, her normal posture resumed and it was safe to put the autopilot on again, River had badly needed rest. But she'd stayed on the bridge, running diagnostics and checks for another eight hours to be absolutely sure they were safe.

She'd wanted to go through the download log and see if she could determine where the virus/pirate AI had come from but Mal had put his foot down. She had the next three days off. She would rest, eat and sleep or he would know the reason why.

River hadn't had the energy to argue at that point and Mal had looked at Riddick and nodded. The Captain had taken him aside for a private word (or as private as it could get with a Reader aboard) and told him that he'd most likely need to carry the diminutive pilot down to her room.

He'd been right. The kind of exhaustion Riddick smelt on River was like an engine burning out or seizing up without oil. She'd been trembling with fatigue; eyes bloodshot and he had no doubt she was in a considerable amount of pain on top of that.

Helping River take off her boots and take down her hair had been a pleasure on his part, though he'd caught a scowl from Jack as she passed River's room. He'd traced a fingertip over her neck and nearly cursed at the tension he felt in her muscles. A quick trip to the infirmary for some warming ointment, with a quiet explanation to Simon, and Riddick had told her to put on something comfortable. He waited outside, not that he was thrilled about it, but since he hadn't even gotten that kiss he'd been promising her (and himself) he doubted seeing her naked would be on the agenda anytime soon.

One of her big tee-shirts and the clingy shorts she wore to sleep in pretty much covered her. Just as well. He couldn't remember (ever) being this fascinated with a woman and seeing too much of her skin wouldn't do anything for his self-control.

She slid the shoji door open silently and he'd nearly cursed her skin was so pale. Not the normal porcelain hue, tinted with delicate rose in her cheeks. This was the unhealthy pallor of exhaustion, death white; even her lips looked bloodless. If he'd had no sense of smell he'd still be able to tell that she was damn near burned out. "Lie down on your stomach," He ordered gently. "You'll never sleep if we don't get some of that tension out of your spine."

"Knows the placement of each vertebra," River mumbled as she lay on the bed.

"Yep," Riddick straddled her legs and rubbed the ointment on his hands. The smell of the stuff wasn't the prettiest, more harsh citrus than not but it worked. First cupping her neck in his palms and letting the heat of the ointment sink into her skin. Then light massage, pressing deeper with each pass over the muscles until he could feel the tension easing out of her. Up and down her spine under the huge shirt until he was pretty sure she'd fall asleep with another round. "Okay, let's get you set to sleep," He stood and helped her sit up, scooping her into his arms and tugging the quilt and sheet back.

"Hmm…" She almost fell into bed, and he chuckled as he pulled the blanket and sheet up over her. So that was how to make her clumsy, work her to exhaustion. He'd pass.

"Good night," Riddick slid the door shut behind him and headed up to the bridge. He might be tired but better him than Carolyn or River. Mal was on the shift after him so the Captain was grabbing what sleep he could after he arranged for another job now that they were finally back on course.


He probably should have predicted that River would end up being bored after two days of constant rest. She ended up awake and came to sit with him on the bridge, though she did still avoid the cortex screens while she was there. "Feel like sparring after this? Or something else?" Riddick glanced at her with a smile, maybe that dancing they'd talked about a while back. He still hadn't gotten that kiss he'd been wanting. Someone always interrupted them. It was getting a little frustrating.

"Would like that," River grinned. "Also thought perhaps he would like to learn to dance?"

Dancing… well he'd planned on asking her about it and then they'd sparred instead. Handy that she could see his thoughts and interest in the idea. "Sure," He shrugged. "If you want. Don't know how good I'll be at it."

"Simple things first," She smiled. "Waltz, box step…"

He had some vague understanding of what a waltz was, and everyone was pretty much asleep so why not. "Okay."


If anyone from any of the numerous slams from which he'd escaped saw him now, they'd think they were hallucinating. Riddick grinned as he and River waltzed around the cargo bay. The waltz was actually very easy. And the box step wasn't exactly hard.

River had shown him several dances on the cortex once she was able to look at the screens again (without getting a massive headache). There were a couple that he was pretty sure were massively tricky to learn and until he got the steps down, he'd look pretty ridiculous. The samba was one of them.

"If you hadn't shown me that recording on the cortex, I'd think you were making this up to screw with me," He admitted as the two of them practiced.

"Very powerful, muscular man," River nodded. "Dance requires confidence. Knowing the steps, knowing you are able to perform them." That pretty mouth curved in a smile, "She has not taught him ballet."

Now that looked hard. He could admit that she was able to move in ways that he just couldn't. Yeah, he was fast, flexible and strong. But River could bend in ways that made her look like she was made of water. "Dunno if I'd ever be able to manage some of those steps," He admitted. "Sure is nice watching you though."

Nice wasn't really the word for it. He'd known River was graceful. But when he'd retrieved her toe shoes (for the third mā lege bā zi time) she'd decided to reward him with a dance. He'd been a little skeptical. The kind of dancing he was used to women doing wasn't exactly a reward, more like a tease. And if you paid you could have more.

But River… she'd twisted and bent and turned and he could almost see her turn into a bird, fluttering wings and graceful neck. He didn't have the words to describe her. Beautiful was…inadequate. Not that she wasn't. But seeing her dance was just so much…more…

"Appreciates how she is able to bend," River grinned up at him and turned on the music. It wasn't untrue.

For a while, he couldn't really talk, could only work his way through the steps, the hip swiveling and movement of his feet, the arm movements and taking River's hands in his. The dance called for them to mirror each other, moving in unison, hands together and separately. He had to wonder how ridiculous he looked, pì gu wiggling as he swiveled his hips.

He guessed fairly stupid from the amused grin on River's face. "Feels silly so he looks silly," She told him as they moved together. "Feels this is not a manly pastime?"

He stopped for a minute and stretched, feeling a kink in his back release with a click and a thrum of relief along the nerves. "That ain't it," He shook his head. "I'm a big guy, lotta folks'd say teaching me to dance is about as useful as putting a bonnet on a cow." He tried to think of how to say it, "It's fun, to have you teach me." He tried again, "But part of me feels like no matter what, I'm still gonna look like a steer wearin' a hat you know?"

The slender woman considered. He liked that about her. She didn't immediately dismiss his words or shrug off concerns, no matter how easily she could summon up an argument that would prove him wrong. She gave weight to his thoughts, "Cannot see how he appears when he dances with the girl." She tapped one slender fingertip against her lips. "Next time she will set up a capture, so he may observe how he looks."

"That's just what I need," He pretended to grumble. "My inept dancin' recorded for posterity."

"Not inept," River contradicted him. "Inexperienced." She gave him a sweet smile, "He will enjoy the tango more, very…suggestive."


Suggestive hell, the dance she showed him on screen looked damn near pornographic. Crisp movements like visual innuendo. Bodies rubbing against each other… if he didn't make a fool of himself yeah, River had been right, he would enjoy this dance.

The second time they managed to work their way through the whole thing she grinned up at him, and he just couldn't wait any longer. That slender waist, so easy to grasp in his hands, lift her body so her face was level with his. He didn't have as much experience kissing as he did other things, but he hadn't ever minded before.

The hungry almost desperate kisses he'd shared with Carolyn. Occasional barflies who'd brush their lips against his, almost perfunctory as they moved on to their real goal. Sweet soft embraces when he'd been sixteen. And now River.

He had a new appreciation of the phrase 'steal a kiss' because that's what it felt like he was doing. Like he really had no right to even be thinking about putting his mouth on hers, but he was a bad (well definitely not good if not downright evil) man, and he wanted her lips against his.

She didn't resist, didn't even stiffen up when he put his hands on her waist. Draped her arms around his neck and smiled like she'd been waiting ages for him to make a move. Could you steal something when someone didn't resist you taking it?

Experimental, brushing his lips over hers, soft, careful. Sharp inhalation, a whisper of a gasp, pulling his mouth closer, firm pressure and he looked into her eyes to be certain he hadn't gone further than she'd wanted.

Gentle fingers at his nape, pressing his head forward just slightly gave him her answer and he pressed his mouth to hers again, firmer now, heat flaring through him, a sharp sting of pleasure. More, cào dàn he wanted more, pulling her body closer, wrapping his arms around her, his forearm under her ass to hold her up, hand gasping her thigh. The other, parallel to her spine, fingers stroking her neck, keeping her breasts pressed to his chest.

More. The longer he kissed her the longer he wanted to kiss her. Wanted to devour her mouth. Slant his lips over hers and tease the seam of them with his tongue, coaxing her mouth open. Thrust his tongue into her the way he wanted to shove his cock between her legs, explore and taste and feel her tongue rubbing against his in response.

River, willow slender and steel strong, hot as a firebrand in his arms, rubbing against his chest, legs wrapped around his waist to rub her hips to his. Shit, she'd gotten him so tiān shā de hard with just kissing.

In the middle of the cargo bay. Tā mā de niǎo. Where anyone could walk in. And he wasn't exactly paying attention to anything but the woman in his arms.

River sighed against his mouth and when she pulled back a bit, he (managed to get hold of some self-control, however reluctantly) didn't chase her lips with his. "Hmm… finally gave the kisses he promised." She smiled up at him, her tone teasing.

"Ain't exactly had opportunity," He reminded her with a smile in return. Damn he liked this woman. "You wanna try this thing again?" He jerked his head at the little speaker and recorded music.

"Yes," She nodded. "All dances are…expressive… once dance was the only acceptable way for the opposite sex to touch. Polite society could be very restrictive."

"I'll keep that in mind," Riddick grinned.


He should've known the minute Jack heard about it (thank you Carolyn for telling Mal in detail how sweet Riddick was being to River within earshot of his teenage little sister) that she'd have a problem with the dancing. That she'd stayed awake to spy on him and River (like they didn't know she was there) and then walked away in irritation wasn't much of a surprise. Her attitude (and oh yeah, she had one) wasn't anything he could understand, but then he wasn't a teenage girl and never had been.

"What're you doin'?" Riddick found himself appreciating more and more the lower tones of the adult women of the crew. Sure, Kaylee could get a little chirpy and disturbingly cheerful, but she kept her voice to a reasonable volume. And even irritated Carolyn never got…strident. Jack however… for all her semi-possessive hero-worship (or whatever the hell it was) of him, didn't seem to understand, or remember if she did understand, that his hearing was as exceptional as his sense of smell. Loud voices did nothing for him. "Dancing? You?"

Now he could really take offense at her tone, or her wording, or he could turn it around on her, and he was just sick enough of her attitude that he was willing to go on the attack. "Why not me? You think I can't manage it? That I'm just some big dummy with muscles instead of a brain?"

"That's not—" Jack floundered, caught off guard.

"Because I couldn't pull off half of what I've done if I wasn't smart enough to make the most of my opportunities," He snapped.

"Of course, you're smart enough," Jack got the words out. "But why would you want to?"

"Why not?" Riddick stared at her, "What's wrong with it? You think it's just for girls or sissies or a tóngxìngliàn zhě?"

"It's like she's trying to turn you into this Core version of you," Jack exploded. "Like you've gotta jump through hoops for her. What's so—" She took a breath, "I don't see why you're bothering."

"Oh, wèi le cào yuán gù," Riddick rolled his eyes (something visible now that he didn't need the goggles). "Is it so tiān shā de hard to understand that I might like learning something that isn't strictly needful to survive? That I might like learning from River?"

Jack's expression told him all he cared to know of her opinion on that and he shook his head, "First of all. River didn't bring this up. She dances for relaxation; something she enjoys that had nothing to do with the cortex or flying. She's danced since she was little."

He folded his arms, "She offered to teach me a while back. I brought it up again. Thought it'd be fun." Still nothing. Fine then, "It's also something that helps me fight. There's a reason River's so good, and part of it is dance. Dancing makes you pay attention to each muscle in your body. You have to be aware of how you're moving, what to change to make it look better. How to land, how to move from one thing to the other."

Now Jack looked openly skeptical, and Riddick shook his head, "You know what? I don't give a damn what you think of it, Jack. You're my mèi mei, not my mother. But I don't do anything I don't want to. And I don't owe you an explanation for anything. Carolyn and me, we care a lot about you Jack. But that doesn't mean I'll just take whatever gǒu pì you throw around and smile."

"Ever since we got here you've been different," Jack grumbled.

"I've been different ever since that rock that nearly killed us all," He shot back. "And if you don't like it, you'll have to suck it up and figure out some way to deal. Because I'm pretty satisfied with how things are. Sorry you're not but that don't mean I'm gonna bend over backwards to be what you want." For the first time in his life since he'd been twelve years old, he was getting so he liked who he was. Liked his life pretty well. His ladies had a lot to do with that but so did Serenity and River and the rest of the crew.

Riddick shook his head, "You're my little sister Jackie girl. That ain't gonna change. Wish you could just be happy with that." He headed for the bridge, passing Mal on the way and shrugged when the Captain gave him an inquiring look. Likely the man had heard a lot of the discussion (such as it was). Nothing Riddick could do about that. He wasn't (for once) doing anything wrong and he didn't have to explain himself any further.


Author's Note: So Chisza and I were sending PMs back and forth and she thought the idea of Riddick learning the Samba with all the butt wiggling would be hilarious. I don't think I quite captured that much humor, but I did want these two to have some dance lessons. And I also had the thought that Jack would completely misunderstand.

Chinese Translations:

mā lege bā zi (fuck! / motherfucker! / fucking)

pì gu (butt)

cào dàn (damn it! / fuck! (vulgar) / Satan (loan) / devil)

tiān shā de (Goddam! / goddamn / wretched)

Tā mā de niǎo (goddamn it /lit. 'His mother's dick')

tóngxìngliàn zhě (homosexual / gay person)

wèi le cào yuán gù (for fuck's sake)

mèi mei (little sister)

gǒu pì (bullshit, nonsense (lit. "dog fart");)