To Each His Own - chapter 2
May. 18th, 2008 08:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tirsden|| To Each His Own :: Chapter 2 ||
A Chronicles of Riddick movie universe fanfiction by Tirsden Frozenrayn.
Warning: Contains mature subjects, language, etc. Read at own risk. This is a slash-fic (male/male pairing) but the hardcore stuff has been left to the imagination. See Chapter 1 for all relevant background material.
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The first thing that entered Ashe's mind as he woke some time later was that he wasn't dead. He also hurt a lot less than expected. He sat up fast, ignoring the complaint from tender stomach muscles, and glanced around quickly. He was back on the merc ship, in the pilot's bunk at the back of the main cabin. Tight bandages on his lower chest were easily visible as his shirt had vanished someplace. His feet were bare as well.
And there, not fifteen feet away, was the large and intimidating figure of Richard B. Riddick. The escaped convict was sprawled across the pilot's chair, rotated to face into the room. And the deadly man was staring right at him. Well, Ashe couldn't actually see the eyes hidden behind the black goggles, but he could feel their gaze like lasers across his skin.
As the Furyan seemed content to observe in eerie stillness, Ashe decided to test the waters with a question he really only half cared about. "Where are we?" He kept his voice even, calm. He wasn't afraid. Glad to be alive, curious as to why, and somehow at ease in a situation that had potential for things that shouldn't leave him so peaceful. But Riddick hadn't killed him, and appeared to have actually taken care of him, dragged him out of the deathtrap the mercs were probably still stuck in, if they weren't all dead. Not your average cold-blooded killer behavior. But then Ashe only knew the stories. This was the first real encounter he'd had with the man he'd seen back in Ursa Luna. The man he'd tried (and failed) to follow when the chaos hit. The man who hadn't answered him yet.
"We.... are a long way from anywhere important," the Furyan finally replied, sounding even less interested in the answer than Ashe had felt about the question.
"Works for me," Ashe responded quickly. He felt slightly self-conscious sitting shirtless in a bunk with the most dangerous thing in the galaxy looking him over from so close by... but only slightly.
Riddick's attention was momentarily diverted by an indicator in the cockpit. He turned slightly and flicked a couple switches, then pressed a key on the console before dimming the lights considerably. He pulled the goggles off and rubbed his eyes tiredly before returning his gaze to Ashe.
Those eyes. The rumors were true then, but they didn't hold a candle to the real thing. Where iris and pupil should have been there was only silver iridescence. Ashe tried not to stare, but Jesus lemony Christ on toast...
The deep voice cut through Ashe's fascination. "Why'd you sign with mercs?"
"Biggest mistake I ever made," admitted Ashe. And he hated making mistakes. "Unless you count getting rehabilitated." He rolled his eyes at the word, then tested his luck swinging his legs off the bed and standing slowly. The drugs were only a tinge somewhere on the outside of his nervous system... and the big man took no obvious offense to his actions.
Ashe kept talking while he stretched and tested joints for further injury. "Should have told them all to go fuck themselves and done like you, bust out or die trying. Couldn't get a job... nobody wants to hire a con. And there are some things even I won't do." He let that thought hang for a moment, but there was no visible response behind the enigmatic silver gaze. Penny for your thoughts, Riddick. "Had a score to settle with that asshole Texan, and the mercs were going after him. So they said. I knew the bounty on you was huge, too tempting for the big groups to pass up. Turns out I was right."
By now Ashe had approached within a scant few feet of Riddick, those shiny eyes drawing him as much as anything else... why was he testing the limits like this? (Did he have a death wish?) No, he felt like something else was doing on here. Then again, maybe it was nothing at all. Perhaps the big guy had no real plan. Riddick certainly wasn't known for picking up strays.
The Furyan finally moved, purposefully, rising and heading past Ashe with something that could have been ease just as much as indifference. "I'm going to get some sleep now." He disappeared through the door to the back cabin, which housed the rest of the bunks; the door had been open and it stayed that way, though beyond the portal there was no light.
Riddick had actually sounded tired. He probably hadn't slept since the chase... whenever that was. Ashe sunk into the pilot's seat, still warm from its previous inhabitant, and tried to think for a moment. He'd thought volumes in the last few minutes, but his brain seemed to be paused now. Surprise. That's what it was... the good sort of surprise he hadn't felt in a long while. ... even if a bit of confusion and uncertainty hung off the end of it. Those things were old news... but the surprise... it entranced him.
Then he was fidgeting. Too much energy in a confined space. He should probably meditate or work out some of the aches, test just how much damage he'd taken and work towards full recovery... but that door. The dark abyss beckoned. He found himself at the edge of it a moment later, framed in the doorway. Shit, but its dark in here. He shouldn't have so much trouble seeing since the front cabin was already quite dim. Ashe chalked up the reluctance of his eyes to adjust as an after-effect of the drugs. They'd be completely out of his system soon enough. "Riddick?"
"What."
Ashe turned his head towards the sound, but all he could see were indistinguishable dark shapes against deeper black. He had the distinct impression Riddick could see him just fine, however, and not because of the dim light behind the Asian. "Why'd you save me?"
The answer was a few moments in coming; Ashe didn't press. He just waited, his eyes adjusting slowly to the darkness but still not picking up a whole hell of a lot.
"I'm not sure."
Ashe figured there was more to it than that, and no doubt his guess was right on the money. But there had been an honest, almost uneasy note behind those words. He blinked in the darkness and decided to leave the killer alone with his thoughts. The Asian smiled slightly as he turned and went back into the cabin proper. He'd meditate after all. Clear his head, refresh mind and body. He stripped his pants off and threw them on the bunk, now down to black, skin-tight shorts that went almost to his knees.
With his back to the door he sat in the middle of the cabin floor, posture perfect in full-lotus position. It had only been a couple of minutes before there was someone behind him. Ashe hadn't heard anything, but he knew Riddick was there. The former assassin kept perfectly still beyond the inhale and exhale of breath. Another moment and there were soft lips at his neck, strong hands sliding across his skin just just below the protective bandages.
Ashe laughed and leaned back into the embrace. "I thought you were tired," he taunted playfully as he tilted his head to give those magic lips better access.
"That can wait."
Ashe had finally returned to his meditations. The cool water evaporating off his skin after a cramped shower made for a wonderful focus. He sat where he had before, if a little more gingerly, a towel spread beneath him. The bruising on his stomach looked worse than it felt; he'd rebind it later. He'd seek out all his errant clothing later as well.
The lingering effects of good sex mixed with inner peace made for excellent thought-clearing, but the former assassin found his mind wandering anyways. Former assassin. Who was he kidding? There was one thing he was good at... well, two things. He grinned at that thought before stilling his face again. No, if there was anything he should be considering for his future, he knew exactly where his skills lay. Fuck the System, he was a killer, and he was damn good at it. The money was good too. And if he got caught, he'd do like Riddick. Get out, or keep trying till he did, and run. Assassins could work under the most extreme circumstances; he knew that all too well.
It was good to let these thoughts back into his head. It seemed they'd been hiding there all along. But now he was himself again, all of him. It was the second most wonderful feeling he'd experienced that day.
Riddick had risen after only a few hours sleep, bothering only with pants before relegating himself to the pilot's seat, now faced forward into the cockpit. Ashe had been reading one of his favorite books, The Art of War, and Riddick didn't seem interested in social interaction for the moment, so Ashe read on. He'd opted for his shorts and pants by this time, but still hadn't found his shirt (not that he'd looked hard). The bandages were back.
A thin haze began spreading across the ceiling, Riddick making prompt use of a pack of merc cigarettes. Ashe was a purist, not wanting any foreign stimulants entering his body (privileged body parts not withstanding). He rose and abandoned the book, approaching Riddick's chair from behind. He leaned his arms over the chair's left side and watched the Furyan chain-light the next death stick. The big guy was either lost in thought or being extremely judicious in monitory the controls... although Ashe had no doubt Riddick was quite aware of the slim presence at his shoulder.
Ashe broke the silence. "Those things will kill you."
Riddick grunted in response, taking another drag. "Only things that have much of a chance these days."
Ashe couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. He ran his right hand up the Furyan's muscled shoulder and around the back of the neck, feeling tension beneath his fingers. He worked at it slowly, methodically, and a few moments passed while he felt the muscles relax under his touch. The cigarette between Riddick's fingers burned down, possibly, hopefully forgotten.
Ashe shifted a little so he could use both hands properly. He'd ask out loud this time... "Penny for your thoughts?"
Riddick took a deep breath and exhaled lingering fumes, stamping out the cigarette and not bothering for another. "You'd be overpaying."
"Aww, c'mon, I won't tell," prodded Ashe. "Assassin's honor."
Riddick grinned at the Asian reflection in the cockpit glass. "Welcome back to the dark side."
Ashe returned the grin and then faked a pout; Riddick hadn't answered him. He stopped massaging Riddick's shoulders, paused in mid-motion. "I'll quit!" he threatened mischievously.
"Suit yourself," came the smug reply.
"Ass." Ashe liked touching Riddick... the threat held no water and the massage continued.
A distant "Mmm," was the only response Ashe got. The Furyan was definitely thinking about something.
"All right, " Ashe mused, "I'll make it up and see where I get." He kept his hands moving as he talked, feeling further tensions melting away under his care. "You're wondering: What do you do now? You've got a nice ride, a hot little number in the back seat, " he grinned at his shameless self-reference," and you really aren't sure what comes next. What do you do with yourself now?"
Riddick didn't answer, and Ashe realized there was probably more going on here than just that. If it was anywhere in the ballpark... Riddick's silence was more a confirmation than denial. Ashe'd bet money Riddick would be quick to shoot down any completely screwball guesses. Ashe had no real idea what sort of things the other killer had been through. Maybe the Furyan had been in this situation before, or something similar. Maybe it had bit him in the ass.
"Ah yes, " the assassin added thoughtfully. "Insert personal drama here, shake well, and serve. Am I far off?"
Riddick rotated his much-relaxed neck, cracking it, and leaned forward, giving those magic hands better access. "You sure you're in the right profession?"
"What, masseuse? Or psychic?" There was a grin in his voice; it sounded like he had hit close to home. "Could be I picked up more from Mother than I thought. She's the one who taught me how to do this." He pressed firmly into the muscles below Riddick's shoulder blades, eliciting a low sound of pleasure from the badass in the chair.
After a few moments of silence, Riddick spoke again. "If the 'hot little number' keeps this up much longer, the back seat is going to get full again."
Ashe laughed at the double dose of innuendo bordering on extremely bad pun. He bent over to kiss the virile back as his hands moved lower, completely undaunted by Riddick's threat. And he new the big guy would make good on it.
Ashen was right. He was also asleep at the moment, well-fucked and passed out cold. Riddick lay on an opposite bunk in the dark cabin. He could use a smoke but ignored the thought for the moment. There were enough things crowded into his head right now. He took a deep breath and shifted, putting his hands behind his head.
Yeah, what do you do with yourself? The personal drama ingredient didn't help any. He'd been bit in the ass for trusting people before. And the only things he was good at were killing, busting out of prison, and running. He was very good at running. You could run from a lot of things. Like the quandary of what do to with yourself once you stopped running. It was so much easier to avoid questions like that with mercs hot on your ass. When the world was still and quiet... those questions came back with a vengeance. There was an archaic term for depressed thoughts such as these. Emo. Riddick smirked in the dark, then rose and dropped to the floor, one arm behind his back as he began a long set of push-ups while soft snores floated above him.
Hot water ran over his tired body, and the yet more tiring thoughts still lurked. Riddick leaned an arm against the tight shower stall and put his head against it, eyes closed, water streaming down the back of his neck. It felt good. Ashen's touch would feel better. Riddick could get used to that. But to what end?
The Furyan had never held any real interest in the assassin career. He took orders from no one. He killed who he wanted to kill. Plus, assassinations could turn into setups far too easily. There was an unproven rumor that Ashen's last job had been one such scam. The Asian had been caught, sentenced, but since the kill had been foiled and there was no actual evidence linking him to the other killings under his belt, the prison term had been relatively short. If Riddick ever went back to jail, it'd be forever, meaning until he escaped again.
The money wasn't worth the risk. Not to the Furyan, anyways. Hell, money itself wasn't worth much to him. He was worth a lot of money. He and Ashen could scam the System... the "bounty hunter" could turn Riddick in and the killer could escape again, two cohorts millions of credits richer. Riddick laughed out loud at the thought, a dark sound that echoed around him. The whole idea was preposterous. Highly amusing, but out of the question. He had better things to do than break out of prison again.
Like what?
Riddick sat cross-legged on the bunk across from Ashen, gazing at the sleeping figure well-illuminated in shades of purple, the special "gift" of night vision he'd grown so used to. There was an idea floating around his brain... he wasn't sure just how workable it was, but it was something to throw back at the other thoughts. And he didn't know if Ashen would go for it... but then the assassin had been the one pushing Riddick to think.
Ashen could take contracts. Riddick could back him up, unseen, unheard, except by those unlucky enough to be targets. It'd be much harder to double-cross the Asian with Riddick covering him, and the Furyan wouldn't give a shit about missing out on credit for the kills. It would be critical for people to think he was anywhere but with Ashen.
There was one quickly glaring hole in that plot, however. Ashen would have problems explaining how he'd managed to get away from where Garret and crew had left him. Not only had the Asian vanished without a trace, but so had Riddick, along with the merc ship. The math wasn't hard, especially if Ashen showed up alive and well.
There was one solution to that problem. Kill Garret and his loser posse. The Furyan regretted not having done so already, but it would potentially be more fun with Ashen in tow. The energetic little thing owed Garret & Co., after all. Yes, Riddick was beginning to like this idea more and more. Taking out the mercs would make an excellent test run for any grander ideas and at the very least rid the galaxy of a few more dead weights.
He grinned wickedly in the darkness. Hunting bounty hunters. Full circle.
Ashe woke to the sound of music blaring in from the front cabin. He stretched and yawned mightily, wondering just how long he'd slept through the noise. Riddick sure knew how to wear him out. He smiled at delicious memories and hopped off the bunk, slipping into his shorts and moving out into the light. And those lights were on full now. Riddick had the pilot's seat locked in and wore his usual all-purpose attire. The Furyan sat there with fingers tapping out the beat of the current song. The Asian was pleased to see no signs of smoking; the air was clear enough that there may have been no more cigarettes since the massage session. Ashe also noticed that all his own clothing was waiting for him on the pilot's bunk, minus the vest his brain told him probably hadn't made it to the ship. He opted to venture over to Riddick instead, tracing a gentle finger along the line of the goggles around the bald head.
Ashe spoke first. "Apocalyptica. An artistic choice for the true metalhead."
Riddick grinned and jabbed a thumb towards the bunk. "Get dressed, we've got a calling for our particular brand of skills."
"Oh?" Ashe moved to the pile and started donning his gear. "Someone wants to film porn?"
The Furyan chuckled darkly before answering. "Rumor has it that Richard B. Riddick has been spotted in the R-12 system, fifth planet out. A dry, barren sort of place, a nice place to hide. If only some jackass hadn't spoiled the show."
"And that jackass would be...?" Ashe laced up his boots, a smile in his voice.
"Me." Smug, the Furyan keyed in the next set of coordinates as the outer planets of R-12 came into view.
Ashe grinned and set about rifling through the merc stores and personal baggage for something to replace his vest. He flicked on the lights in the back room and kept searching, finally lucking out on a worn but well-fitting leather jacket. It reeked of its previous owner. Ashe threw it in the auto-laundry and had it back within a few minutes, which he spent industriously filling a pack with various useful items that had once belonged to other people.
As he reappeared in the main cabin he threw Riddick another question. "This rumor, would it be common knowledge or special delivery? For, say, a bunch of assholes who thought they could set up the little guy?"
"Get out of my head, woman," retorted the big guy, receiving a fake gasp of insult and a punch in the shoulder for his words. He only grinned in response, not even looking back at the other man, reaching up to flick a few switches above him. "Buckle up, princess. The ride's almost over."
Ashe laughed as he strapped into a nearby seat. I think he likes me. And since they were apparently going to be taking out Garret and friends, that meant there'd be no direct witnesses left from Riddick's previous escapade. The Furyan had been doing some thinking. Ashe was quite intrigued, eager to see just where this went. But for the moment, he was just as interested in getting even with the mercenary trash who had no idea what was coming. That group was dumb enough to chase Riddick the first time... they'd be here. And they'd get to find out what really happened to Ashe the hard way.
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Deviation description copy/paste from where this is posted at deviantArt:
Chapter 1 | | Chapter 3 (in the works)
Innuendo for the WIN! >D Yep, this is chapter 2, the long-middle-section of working stuff out (it's twice as long as chapter 1 =O ). *pets Riddick* Man, who'da thunk the guy's biggest issue would end up being... boredom? (Well, okay, this idea's been present in my mind for some time.) Excuse me while I run from certain shiv-related doom now. xD At least the next chapter should give Goggles something to take his angst out on. ^^
Riddick (c) Universal / Vivendi
Ashe (c) me
Weapons of choice: inspiration of teh Riddick variety, WordPad, Firefox's auto-spellcheck, LiveJournal's spellchecker, dirty mind
A Chronicles of Riddick movie universe fanfiction by Tirsden Frozenrayn.
Warning: Contains mature subjects, language, etc. Read at own risk. This is a slash-fic (male/male pairing) but the hardcore stuff has been left to the imagination. See Chapter 1 for all relevant background material.
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The first thing that entered Ashe's mind as he woke some time later was that he wasn't dead. He also hurt a lot less than expected. He sat up fast, ignoring the complaint from tender stomach muscles, and glanced around quickly. He was back on the merc ship, in the pilot's bunk at the back of the main cabin. Tight bandages on his lower chest were easily visible as his shirt had vanished someplace. His feet were bare as well.
And there, not fifteen feet away, was the large and intimidating figure of Richard B. Riddick. The escaped convict was sprawled across the pilot's chair, rotated to face into the room. And the deadly man was staring right at him. Well, Ashe couldn't actually see the eyes hidden behind the black goggles, but he could feel their gaze like lasers across his skin.
As the Furyan seemed content to observe in eerie stillness, Ashe decided to test the waters with a question he really only half cared about. "Where are we?" He kept his voice even, calm. He wasn't afraid. Glad to be alive, curious as to why, and somehow at ease in a situation that had potential for things that shouldn't leave him so peaceful. But Riddick hadn't killed him, and appeared to have actually taken care of him, dragged him out of the deathtrap the mercs were probably still stuck in, if they weren't all dead. Not your average cold-blooded killer behavior. But then Ashe only knew the stories. This was the first real encounter he'd had with the man he'd seen back in Ursa Luna. The man he'd tried (and failed) to follow when the chaos hit. The man who hadn't answered him yet.
"We.... are a long way from anywhere important," the Furyan finally replied, sounding even less interested in the answer than Ashe had felt about the question.
"Works for me," Ashe responded quickly. He felt slightly self-conscious sitting shirtless in a bunk with the most dangerous thing in the galaxy looking him over from so close by... but only slightly.
Riddick's attention was momentarily diverted by an indicator in the cockpit. He turned slightly and flicked a couple switches, then pressed a key on the console before dimming the lights considerably. He pulled the goggles off and rubbed his eyes tiredly before returning his gaze to Ashe.
Those eyes. The rumors were true then, but they didn't hold a candle to the real thing. Where iris and pupil should have been there was only silver iridescence. Ashe tried not to stare, but Jesus lemony Christ on toast...
The deep voice cut through Ashe's fascination. "Why'd you sign with mercs?"
"Biggest mistake I ever made," admitted Ashe. And he hated making mistakes. "Unless you count getting rehabilitated." He rolled his eyes at the word, then tested his luck swinging his legs off the bed and standing slowly. The drugs were only a tinge somewhere on the outside of his nervous system... and the big man took no obvious offense to his actions.
Ashe kept talking while he stretched and tested joints for further injury. "Should have told them all to go fuck themselves and done like you, bust out or die trying. Couldn't get a job... nobody wants to hire a con. And there are some things even I won't do." He let that thought hang for a moment, but there was no visible response behind the enigmatic silver gaze. Penny for your thoughts, Riddick. "Had a score to settle with that asshole Texan, and the mercs were going after him. So they said. I knew the bounty on you was huge, too tempting for the big groups to pass up. Turns out I was right."
By now Ashe had approached within a scant few feet of Riddick, those shiny eyes drawing him as much as anything else... why was he testing the limits like this? (Did he have a death wish?) No, he felt like something else was doing on here. Then again, maybe it was nothing at all. Perhaps the big guy had no real plan. Riddick certainly wasn't known for picking up strays.
The Furyan finally moved, purposefully, rising and heading past Ashe with something that could have been ease just as much as indifference. "I'm going to get some sleep now." He disappeared through the door to the back cabin, which housed the rest of the bunks; the door had been open and it stayed that way, though beyond the portal there was no light.
Riddick had actually sounded tired. He probably hadn't slept since the chase... whenever that was. Ashe sunk into the pilot's seat, still warm from its previous inhabitant, and tried to think for a moment. He'd thought volumes in the last few minutes, but his brain seemed to be paused now. Surprise. That's what it was... the good sort of surprise he hadn't felt in a long while. ... even if a bit of confusion and uncertainty hung off the end of it. Those things were old news... but the surprise... it entranced him.
Then he was fidgeting. Too much energy in a confined space. He should probably meditate or work out some of the aches, test just how much damage he'd taken and work towards full recovery... but that door. The dark abyss beckoned. He found himself at the edge of it a moment later, framed in the doorway. Shit, but its dark in here. He shouldn't have so much trouble seeing since the front cabin was already quite dim. Ashe chalked up the reluctance of his eyes to adjust as an after-effect of the drugs. They'd be completely out of his system soon enough. "Riddick?"
"What."
Ashe turned his head towards the sound, but all he could see were indistinguishable dark shapes against deeper black. He had the distinct impression Riddick could see him just fine, however, and not because of the dim light behind the Asian. "Why'd you save me?"
The answer was a few moments in coming; Ashe didn't press. He just waited, his eyes adjusting slowly to the darkness but still not picking up a whole hell of a lot.
"I'm not sure."
Ashe figured there was more to it than that, and no doubt his guess was right on the money. But there had been an honest, almost uneasy note behind those words. He blinked in the darkness and decided to leave the killer alone with his thoughts. The Asian smiled slightly as he turned and went back into the cabin proper. He'd meditate after all. Clear his head, refresh mind and body. He stripped his pants off and threw them on the bunk, now down to black, skin-tight shorts that went almost to his knees.
With his back to the door he sat in the middle of the cabin floor, posture perfect in full-lotus position. It had only been a couple of minutes before there was someone behind him. Ashe hadn't heard anything, but he knew Riddick was there. The former assassin kept perfectly still beyond the inhale and exhale of breath. Another moment and there were soft lips at his neck, strong hands sliding across his skin just just below the protective bandages.
Ashe laughed and leaned back into the embrace. "I thought you were tired," he taunted playfully as he tilted his head to give those magic lips better access.
"That can wait."
Ashe had finally returned to his meditations. The cool water evaporating off his skin after a cramped shower made for a wonderful focus. He sat where he had before, if a little more gingerly, a towel spread beneath him. The bruising on his stomach looked worse than it felt; he'd rebind it later. He'd seek out all his errant clothing later as well.
The lingering effects of good sex mixed with inner peace made for excellent thought-clearing, but the former assassin found his mind wandering anyways. Former assassin. Who was he kidding? There was one thing he was good at... well, two things. He grinned at that thought before stilling his face again. No, if there was anything he should be considering for his future, he knew exactly where his skills lay. Fuck the System, he was a killer, and he was damn good at it. The money was good too. And if he got caught, he'd do like Riddick. Get out, or keep trying till he did, and run. Assassins could work under the most extreme circumstances; he knew that all too well.
It was good to let these thoughts back into his head. It seemed they'd been hiding there all along. But now he was himself again, all of him. It was the second most wonderful feeling he'd experienced that day.
Riddick had risen after only a few hours sleep, bothering only with pants before relegating himself to the pilot's seat, now faced forward into the cockpit. Ashe had been reading one of his favorite books, The Art of War, and Riddick didn't seem interested in social interaction for the moment, so Ashe read on. He'd opted for his shorts and pants by this time, but still hadn't found his shirt (not that he'd looked hard). The bandages were back.
A thin haze began spreading across the ceiling, Riddick making prompt use of a pack of merc cigarettes. Ashe was a purist, not wanting any foreign stimulants entering his body (privileged body parts not withstanding). He rose and abandoned the book, approaching Riddick's chair from behind. He leaned his arms over the chair's left side and watched the Furyan chain-light the next death stick. The big guy was either lost in thought or being extremely judicious in monitory the controls... although Ashe had no doubt Riddick was quite aware of the slim presence at his shoulder.
Ashe broke the silence. "Those things will kill you."
Riddick grunted in response, taking another drag. "Only things that have much of a chance these days."
Ashe couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. He ran his right hand up the Furyan's muscled shoulder and around the back of the neck, feeling tension beneath his fingers. He worked at it slowly, methodically, and a few moments passed while he felt the muscles relax under his touch. The cigarette between Riddick's fingers burned down, possibly, hopefully forgotten.
Ashe shifted a little so he could use both hands properly. He'd ask out loud this time... "Penny for your thoughts?"
Riddick took a deep breath and exhaled lingering fumes, stamping out the cigarette and not bothering for another. "You'd be overpaying."
"Aww, c'mon, I won't tell," prodded Ashe. "Assassin's honor."
Riddick grinned at the Asian reflection in the cockpit glass. "Welcome back to the dark side."
Ashe returned the grin and then faked a pout; Riddick hadn't answered him. He stopped massaging Riddick's shoulders, paused in mid-motion. "I'll quit!" he threatened mischievously.
"Suit yourself," came the smug reply.
"Ass." Ashe liked touching Riddick... the threat held no water and the massage continued.
A distant "Mmm," was the only response Ashe got. The Furyan was definitely thinking about something.
"All right, " Ashe mused, "I'll make it up and see where I get." He kept his hands moving as he talked, feeling further tensions melting away under his care. "You're wondering: What do you do now? You've got a nice ride, a hot little number in the back seat, " he grinned at his shameless self-reference," and you really aren't sure what comes next. What do you do with yourself now?"
Riddick didn't answer, and Ashe realized there was probably more going on here than just that. If it was anywhere in the ballpark... Riddick's silence was more a confirmation than denial. Ashe'd bet money Riddick would be quick to shoot down any completely screwball guesses. Ashe had no real idea what sort of things the other killer had been through. Maybe the Furyan had been in this situation before, or something similar. Maybe it had bit him in the ass.
"Ah yes, " the assassin added thoughtfully. "Insert personal drama here, shake well, and serve. Am I far off?"
Riddick rotated his much-relaxed neck, cracking it, and leaned forward, giving those magic hands better access. "You sure you're in the right profession?"
"What, masseuse? Or psychic?" There was a grin in his voice; it sounded like he had hit close to home. "Could be I picked up more from Mother than I thought. She's the one who taught me how to do this." He pressed firmly into the muscles below Riddick's shoulder blades, eliciting a low sound of pleasure from the badass in the chair.
After a few moments of silence, Riddick spoke again. "If the 'hot little number' keeps this up much longer, the back seat is going to get full again."
Ashe laughed at the double dose of innuendo bordering on extremely bad pun. He bent over to kiss the virile back as his hands moved lower, completely undaunted by Riddick's threat. And he new the big guy would make good on it.
Ashen was right. He was also asleep at the moment, well-fucked and passed out cold. Riddick lay on an opposite bunk in the dark cabin. He could use a smoke but ignored the thought for the moment. There were enough things crowded into his head right now. He took a deep breath and shifted, putting his hands behind his head.
Yeah, what do you do with yourself? The personal drama ingredient didn't help any. He'd been bit in the ass for trusting people before. And the only things he was good at were killing, busting out of prison, and running. He was very good at running. You could run from a lot of things. Like the quandary of what do to with yourself once you stopped running. It was so much easier to avoid questions like that with mercs hot on your ass. When the world was still and quiet... those questions came back with a vengeance. There was an archaic term for depressed thoughts such as these. Emo. Riddick smirked in the dark, then rose and dropped to the floor, one arm behind his back as he began a long set of push-ups while soft snores floated above him.
Hot water ran over his tired body, and the yet more tiring thoughts still lurked. Riddick leaned an arm against the tight shower stall and put his head against it, eyes closed, water streaming down the back of his neck. It felt good. Ashen's touch would feel better. Riddick could get used to that. But to what end?
The Furyan had never held any real interest in the assassin career. He took orders from no one. He killed who he wanted to kill. Plus, assassinations could turn into setups far too easily. There was an unproven rumor that Ashen's last job had been one such scam. The Asian had been caught, sentenced, but since the kill had been foiled and there was no actual evidence linking him to the other killings under his belt, the prison term had been relatively short. If Riddick ever went back to jail, it'd be forever, meaning until he escaped again.
The money wasn't worth the risk. Not to the Furyan, anyways. Hell, money itself wasn't worth much to him. He was worth a lot of money. He and Ashen could scam the System... the "bounty hunter" could turn Riddick in and the killer could escape again, two cohorts millions of credits richer. Riddick laughed out loud at the thought, a dark sound that echoed around him. The whole idea was preposterous. Highly amusing, but out of the question. He had better things to do than break out of prison again.
Like what?
Riddick sat cross-legged on the bunk across from Ashen, gazing at the sleeping figure well-illuminated in shades of purple, the special "gift" of night vision he'd grown so used to. There was an idea floating around his brain... he wasn't sure just how workable it was, but it was something to throw back at the other thoughts. And he didn't know if Ashen would go for it... but then the assassin had been the one pushing Riddick to think.
Ashen could take contracts. Riddick could back him up, unseen, unheard, except by those unlucky enough to be targets. It'd be much harder to double-cross the Asian with Riddick covering him, and the Furyan wouldn't give a shit about missing out on credit for the kills. It would be critical for people to think he was anywhere but with Ashen.
There was one quickly glaring hole in that plot, however. Ashen would have problems explaining how he'd managed to get away from where Garret and crew had left him. Not only had the Asian vanished without a trace, but so had Riddick, along with the merc ship. The math wasn't hard, especially if Ashen showed up alive and well.
There was one solution to that problem. Kill Garret and his loser posse. The Furyan regretted not having done so already, but it would potentially be more fun with Ashen in tow. The energetic little thing owed Garret & Co., after all. Yes, Riddick was beginning to like this idea more and more. Taking out the mercs would make an excellent test run for any grander ideas and at the very least rid the galaxy of a few more dead weights.
He grinned wickedly in the darkness. Hunting bounty hunters. Full circle.
Ashe woke to the sound of music blaring in from the front cabin. He stretched and yawned mightily, wondering just how long he'd slept through the noise. Riddick sure knew how to wear him out. He smiled at delicious memories and hopped off the bunk, slipping into his shorts and moving out into the light. And those lights were on full now. Riddick had the pilot's seat locked in and wore his usual all-purpose attire. The Furyan sat there with fingers tapping out the beat of the current song. The Asian was pleased to see no signs of smoking; the air was clear enough that there may have been no more cigarettes since the massage session. Ashe also noticed that all his own clothing was waiting for him on the pilot's bunk, minus the vest his brain told him probably hadn't made it to the ship. He opted to venture over to Riddick instead, tracing a gentle finger along the line of the goggles around the bald head.
Ashe spoke first. "Apocalyptica. An artistic choice for the true metalhead."
Riddick grinned and jabbed a thumb towards the bunk. "Get dressed, we've got a calling for our particular brand of skills."
"Oh?" Ashe moved to the pile and started donning his gear. "Someone wants to film porn?"
The Furyan chuckled darkly before answering. "Rumor has it that Richard B. Riddick has been spotted in the R-12 system, fifth planet out. A dry, barren sort of place, a nice place to hide. If only some jackass hadn't spoiled the show."
"And that jackass would be...?" Ashe laced up his boots, a smile in his voice.
"Me." Smug, the Furyan keyed in the next set of coordinates as the outer planets of R-12 came into view.
Ashe grinned and set about rifling through the merc stores and personal baggage for something to replace his vest. He flicked on the lights in the back room and kept searching, finally lucking out on a worn but well-fitting leather jacket. It reeked of its previous owner. Ashe threw it in the auto-laundry and had it back within a few minutes, which he spent industriously filling a pack with various useful items that had once belonged to other people.
As he reappeared in the main cabin he threw Riddick another question. "This rumor, would it be common knowledge or special delivery? For, say, a bunch of assholes who thought they could set up the little guy?"
"Get out of my head, woman," retorted the big guy, receiving a fake gasp of insult and a punch in the shoulder for his words. He only grinned in response, not even looking back at the other man, reaching up to flick a few switches above him. "Buckle up, princess. The ride's almost over."
Ashe laughed as he strapped into a nearby seat. I think he likes me. And since they were apparently going to be taking out Garret and friends, that meant there'd be no direct witnesses left from Riddick's previous escapade. The Furyan had been doing some thinking. Ashe was quite intrigued, eager to see just where this went. But for the moment, he was just as interested in getting even with the mercenary trash who had no idea what was coming. That group was dumb enough to chase Riddick the first time... they'd be here. And they'd get to find out what really happened to Ashe the hard way.
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Deviation description copy/paste from where this is posted at deviantArt:
Chapter 1 | | Chapter 3 (in the works)
Innuendo for the WIN! >D Yep, this is chapter 2, the long-middle-section of working stuff out (it's twice as long as chapter 1 =O ). *pets Riddick* Man, who'da thunk the guy's biggest issue would end up being... boredom? (Well, okay, this idea's been present in my mind for some time.) Excuse me while I run from certain shiv-related doom now. xD At least the next chapter should give Goggles something to take his angst out on. ^^
Riddick (c) Universal / Vivendi
Ashe (c) me
Weapons of choice: inspiration of teh Riddick variety, WordPad, Firefox's auto-spellcheck, LiveJournal's spellchecker, dirty mind
