Chapter 10
I stood there stunned.
That was Jack? The Jack? The street kid that worshiped Riddick and boarded the Hunter Gratzner just because of him? The witty girl that had a crush on him and shaved her head to make him notice her? The beautiful woman I was jealous of and in awe of at the same time?
The air on Morpheus was hot and still; accompanied by laughs and cries from all over the port. Merchants, dispatchers, colonists. Everyone making their way home in the afternoon heat after a day at work. The port was huge and loud, tall dark buildings enveloping it, staring down at us almost menacingly. I saw a bridge in the distance, with a train going over it, and a huge old times clock ticking away in the center of the port- the hands going the other way round. The port was crowded, and when I looked up, I saw the cloudless sky crowded as well; the ships circling above us like flies, waiting in their shipping lanes until the towers signaled them it was all right to land.
My shirt was sticking to my skin and my hair was damp on my neck, and I found it almost hard to breathe in the thick air. There was no wind, no breeze, just the everlasting feeling like I carried extra weight on my chest. I squinted my eyes against the suns, despite the shades, and watched as Jack finally detached herself from Riddick and roped one arm around his waist. Riddick wrapped his own arm around her shoulders and she rested her head against his barrel chest for just a second, closed her eyes, and let out a contented sigh. Then she opened them, and smiled up at him. It looked like they hadn't seen each other in a long time, because she didn't want to let go of him and she was laughing lightly, probably excited and anxious at the same time. She searched for Jerry with her eyes after a while, and she said hi to him, told him he looked better than last time, and they all laughed.
I wanted the ground to go and swallow me up. I felt like a fifth wheel on a car there. Like an intruder. They were family, obviously, knew each other well; too well to go and welcome and accept some runaway kid like me between them. I bit down on my lip and dug the toe of my shoe into the ground, fidgeting nervously, not knowing what to do with myself. And then Jack looked my way, and I heard her ask,
"Who she? Jerry's girl?" And she grinned, perfectly white teeth against her perfect tanned skin. Her voice was hoarse, deep for a white girl, throaty, but very nice, sensual. She was dark for a blond, and I did think her a natural, because she had fair brows and dark green eyes. She looked like she stepped out of a cover of a magazine and I immediately felt self-conscious; standing there in my black baggy pants and a simple white shirt, worn-out shoes, hair tucked loosely into a ponytail, hands in my pockets.
The pale blue cloth on thin straps, that was trying hard to pass off as a dress, fit her perfectly, revealing her strong shoulders and hard-earned muscles, and I wondered whether I'd have the courage to wear something like that, what would Riddick think if I did.
She looked far from being a ragged kid from the streets. Twenty, twenty-one, I couldn't tell, but she seemed younger for her age, but nonetheless interesting. Her life had to be one exciting adventure and she probably couldn't count the guys wanting to go out with her. And she had an intense inner glow about her, that, I noticed, everyone around her found intensely appealing. Whether the bypassing merchants, or business men leaving the port. There was this warmth in her, making her real.
I decided to at least go introduce myself and get to know the woman that Riddick couldn't keep his hands off. And he had a reason, because from close-up she was even more beautiful, confident and there was this cold self-assurance in her when she looked at me, with big green watchful eyes. Did she get that from Riddick? I wondered.
Her attention didn't immediately turn towards me when I walked up to them, so I decided to push through the invisible barrier myself.
"Hi.. I'm Ivy.. Ivy Chow," I said slowly, and she raised her eyebrow as I extended my hand. Her own hand was still wrapped around Riddick's waist and with the other she nonchalantly slid her sunglasses down her nose, as if to inspect me, and tell me 'So? I dun care who you are'. She held the shades down with her finger and looked me up and down through mascara-ed eyelashes, then grinned and drew them back up over her eyes, a lock of golden hair falling in her face. She looked sexy and casual at the same time, and I didn't know what to make of her, how to act around her. For some reason I felt Riddick watching me though, and I couldn't look up at him. I was scared that I'd see.. see.. what? Hell, I didn't know what I thought I would see, but I was sure I didn't want to see it. So I just smiled back at Jack, hoping she would say 'She's okay, I like her. She can hang around with us'.
And maybe she thought so, because she took my hand.
"Well hello there, Ivy Chow," she said amused, and I saw the muscles in her arm taut as she squeezed my hand(but not too much), and I wondered if the body was Riddick's work, too.
"Definitely a pleasure to meet you," she said, smiling. "I'm Jack. Just…Jack.".
I nodded, and then she gave me this look like what the hell I was doing on their ship. Riddick didn't let me answer though, because he stepped into our little debate, his booming voice making me look up at him. A smile started forming on his lips when he registered me staring.
"She stowin' away here, for the time being," he said, watching me with a lopsided smirk, and the deep rumble washed over me like a tidal wave, leaving me even more sweaty in the heat. I wanted to tell him I wanted to be more than a stowaway, but thankfully I kept my ridiculous thoughts to myself. Instead I nodded again, almost sheepishly. They looked great together, and, surprisingly, it hurt. Or maybe not that surprisingly, but I was scared of the feeling. Scared of realizing what I felt, so I just pushed the thought aside. I tore my eyes away from Riddick and Jack, and turned my head slightly to search for Jerry. Anything, but watch her try to fuse her body with his through her clothes. I had the feeling that whatever their relationship was, Jack wanted more. And I couldn't blame her.
Jerry came to stand next to me, and we both waited in silence, taking in the sights and sounds of Morpheus, the impressions and feelings of our little gang and Jack's small-talk. My gaze slipped back to Riddick momentarily and I found him smiling back at me, before he faced Jack's knowing eyes again, eased his grip on her shoulders, and let his arm slip to her waist.
"I'll tell you about her later, kid."
'Kid? She doesn't look like a kid anymore, Riddick. Haven't you noticed? And what exactly will you tell her? That I offered myself to you??' My mind was going into overdrive and for a moment, I panicked. I sucked in my breath, tried to calm down, not understanding what was happening to me. My treacherous eyes dropped to Riddick's arm on her lower back then and Jack, much to my surprise, didn't lean into him. She didn't squeeze him back to prove to me or to anyone else that he was her man. She didn't bother, and I knew why. She was certain his eyes would be on her. But for some reason I felt them on me.
Riddick gently nudged her then, drew breath to speak. "Come on, lets get our asses movin' and go eat."
Jack grinned, then focused her attention on adjusting the fallen bra strap in her dress. "Like finally, I'm fucking starving," she groaned.
The guys grinned and Jerry looked her over. "Something fall on your head, Jack? Since when did you start wearing dresses?"
Jack stuck her tongue out at him. "And when did you start noticing women?"
"Oh I do notice women alright, but you are not a woman, darlin'."
"Ha! I got the tits to prove it, boy," and she laughed, sticking out her chest.
"That a chest?" he chuckled.
"What, long time no see, huh?"
I was turning red just standing there and listening to their conversation. Jack noticed, and the broad grin on her face turned to an amused smile.
"Aw, Ivy, we making ya uncomfortable? Sorry, girl, but that's how it is around here. Me, the only goddamned lady and then these pigs," she waved off the groans and scoffs with her hand. "You'll learn to live with it."
I had to laugh. She seemed all right, and I was starting to like her. No wonder Riddick liked her, too… She was everything I wasn't. Confident, jovial and funny. She had the looks and a brain and frankly, she had to be an every man's dream. She had the guts to joke around with the guys and the ability to make fun of herself. And she didn't question me, didn't ask what the fuck I was doing there; Riddick's 'I'll tell you later' was enough for her. I didn't know whether I would be so nice to someone who was travelling around with my man out of the blue… and I hated myself for being so jealous.
"Where we eatin'?" Jerry asked, breaking my thoughts.
"La Plaza," Riddick answered, letting his arm fall from Jack's back to his side, while she searched for something in her handbag, bent in the waist.
"La what? I don't want a fancy restaurant, man. Something normal."
"What, don't you want to eat caviar and crack oysters?" Jack laughed from the bag.
"I don't want to eat food that's still live and kicking on my plate, Jack."
Riddick shifted a little and adjusted the goggles on his eyes. I saw him glance at his chrono. "Lets move it you two," he said. "I don't care what or where we eat as long as it's gonna satisfy me."
Jack gave him a knowing look then and straightened back up. "Satisfy, huh?"
He chuckled. "Oh yeah."
"I could think up a few ways of satisfying someone like you."
"I bet you could, kid. But Imam's gonna be there too and I don't think he'd approve seeing you in your lingerie."
Jack scoffed and punched him in the shoulder. "Ahh, you-" She groaned. " You are just unbelievable."
"Unbelievable, no. Insatiable, yes."
Jerry laughed. "Yeah, lets go feed the big guy."
"Feed? Me?" And Riddick threw his head back and laughed, just for show. Jack grimaced, rolling her eyes. I watched Riddick with new amazement though; I never saw him so at ease, so relaxed. The way he was with Jack… It was like he felt normal with her around. Like a person. Not a convict, not someone living on the edge, not someone with a bad reputation. He felt like a normal man.
"Cut it out, Riddick," Jack said, then nodded toward the ship. "You just let me throw my stuff in and lemme change, okay? As much as I love the looks I'm getting, I dun wanna get gang-banged on the way home."
"Looks you're getting?" Jerry put in, grinning. "From blind men I assume?"
"Very funny."
"Move your ass, Jack," Riddick rumbled, smirking. "Can't believe you women take so long at everything."
"Not at everything."
"Scram," he grinned, then sobered. "Imam's waiting, kid. Better be on time."
Jack looked at him then, with an almost sad smile in her eyes, that I never saw on anyone yet. A look of anguish, admiration and complete love. "It's good to see you again, Riddick," she whispered, rising on tip toe and brushing her lips against his cheek.
I watched the big, dark man let Jack kiss him. He stood there motionless, all in black, the afternoon suns making him look irresistible and somehow dangerous; unrestrained.
"I know, Jack," he said. "It's good to see you, too."
Chapter 11
I didn't know if I was welcome, or not.
Jerry's bed, which I was sitting on, suddenly disgusted me. The whole room disgusted me. What was I thinking? Thinking that I could be one of them with the snap of two fingers? Thinking that maybe Riddick would like me? Jack was the woman of his dreams, she was the one lucky enough to have his arm wrapped around her waist. I had no right to think about him.
And there was the thought again.
I shook my head, trying to get rid of it. Jack was making herself comfortable in the guest room which I didn't even know the ship had, and Jerry was checking something on the control panel of the ramp again. I didn't know where Riddick was, but everyone was waiting for Jack to change and then set out to dine. I looked down at my clothes at the memory of Jack's blue clingy dress. I wouldn't have had the guts to wear something like that and I wouldn't have the money for it, either. And La Plaza was probably the best restaurant on Morpheus. I laughed, mirthlessly.
'You're not going anyway, girlie, so stop bothering.'
I was going to kick something or maybe go punch the wall in frustration, when the door to the bedroom cracked open and Riddick filled the doorframe; deadly and gorgeous at the same time, in a black shirt and black pants, his goggles shielding his eyes. My heart jumped right there.
He rested one big hand against the door and arched a brow, watching me. "You coming, babe?"
"I can?" I asked when I found my voice.
"What do you think?" he said. "That I'm gonna leave you on my ship?" A smile formed on his lips. "Let you run around loose to check on my loot?"
My jaw dropped. "I wouldn't-"
He grinned, probably amused that he coaxed an answer like that out of me. "I'm fucking with you, kid."
I stared back at him defiantly, knowing, that whatever I was going to say was going to entertain him. So I didn't say anything.
Riddick nodded to the door. "C'mon, Ivy, they're waiting." And he turned to leave.
"Riddick?"
He glanced back at me over his shoulder.
"When will I have to leave?"
I saw him tense, then turn around fully to face me.
"When I leave Morpheus," he said. "Alone."
"And when is that?" For some reason I was shaking when I asked, and I couldn't find a way to stop it.
"Three weeks."
I dropped my eyes and swallowed. 'Yeah, girl, lets hope you find somewhere to live by then'. "Three weeks.." I repeated numbly. "Okay." I whispered.
Riddick watched me the whole time, completely unmoved by my agitation. Then he ran a hand over the stubble on his head and took a few steps into the room my way.
"Checked with the Brigade here, Ivy. They're something like the police on Earth, but obviously they don't ask questions. Said that in three weeks they'll have a free place to take a person into their witness program." He looked at me with a sort of flat smile. "And you're on the list, kid."
My eyes went wide. "I am??"
"Yeah, you are. They wrote you down on it. I made sure. Three weeks and you'll have a life."
I gasped, my hand covering my mouth. I didn't know what to do. Jump, or cry. I felt so amazed by him doing this for me. So sad for having to leave him in three weeks. But at least I had somewhere to go. I wanted to hug him, and I already did on the ship a few days back when he told me I could stay, but I didn't want to make him feel awkward again, so I just hoped he knew how much it meant to me.
"Thank you, Riddick," I said. "You don't know how much it-"
He gave me a smile. "Hey, it's okay, all right? You don't have to thank me, kid. You're young, you deserve it."
I nodded, mutely.
"We gonna go eat now?" he asked, grinning again.
I smiled back at him. "Sure."
* * * * *
La Plaza was the nicest restaurant I had ever seen. Exotic, stylish and wild. And much to my surprise, there was no one in a tuxedo there, everyone was in their favourite pair of jeans, like me, or dress, like Jack. The restaurant was on the terrace of the tallest building surrounding the spaceport, and it was glazed all round, toning down the noise and dirt and smoke from the ships. The view was interesting, but not exactly beautiful. Everything on Morpheus seemed very high-tech, very end of the 21st century, but also very plain and very functional. All the buildings were much the same, dark and high, with neon ads on them, ships circled the air constantly, the train in the background came every three minutes and there was no nature, no plants outside, at least what I had seen of. And when you looked directly down out of whichever window, you would see the sewers, making their way under the buildings like small snakes. The air was thick and full of sand, and the two suns were making sure that the night never came. Only once I had seen a real night during my stay on Morpheus, during the eclipse.
The interior of the restaurant was nice, though. The terrace was of square shape, with wooden and glass tables set, together with white lit candles and pink rose petals on them, silverware ready and crystal clear glasses tempting to order the best wines. There were palm trees standing in each corner of the room, swaying to the light breeze coming through the air-conditioning. The air outside wasn't toxic, but you weren't encouraged to stay outside for more than an hour a day. Each building had to have air-conditioning, and there had to be a net-com terminal everywhere also. I had never seen a net-com system on Earth, so I asked Jerry what it was. He told me it was something like the internet back on my home planet, but more modern, and used everywhere in the Planetary Systems.
"You can watch sport, or films on it, listen to music, or log in to your account at e-banks," he said. "That's why it's located in every building. You have to prove you have enough money to dine at an expensive restaurant, for example, and together with that they check who you are. So it's something like your ID as well, when you log in. You can check on the weather forecast which is controlled by the Computers on here, pay for a subway ticket, or you can send a problem out to the Brigade. If someone's stirring up trouble, or something."
"The Brigade is something like the police on Earth, right?"
"Yeah. But they let outlaws move freely around here. They ain't gonna catch 'em and send 'em off to Slam, if that's what you mean. But they make sure they don't do any problems here during their stay. If they do, they ban them from here for life. So you can have murderers and rapists eating in the same room together with Mums and their kids, but nothing happens. Everyone acts normal. Everyone stays happy."
"Wow."
Jerry grinned back at me. "Yeah, interesting stuff, I can tell you that."
We waited for Jack and Riddick in the lobby downstairs of the La Plaza hotel, while they argued with someone at the reception.
"We're waiting for Imam?" I asked Jerry, remembering Riddick had mentioned him. "He's the one who took care of Jack, isn't he?"
Jerry nodded. "Yeah, he took care of her. Something like her father, actually."
I flipped through a magazine, while we waited. Jerry ordered himself some orange juice and slowly sipped on it. My attention was drawn to a big screen on one of the walls in the lobby though, that suddenly flickered to life. It was a short 'welcome to Morpheus' film and it showed the sights specifically around this part of it. The town we were in was called New Rome and every once in a while you could see crumpled statues standing by the road, or next to a building. I wondered if they were real.
After a while, Riddick and Jack returned back to us. There was a satisfied smirk on Riddick's face, so he must have 'convinced' the receptionist that he was right. Jack rubbed at her temples and slumped down next to me into the lobby couch. Jerry placed his glass down.
"How did it go?" he asked.
Jack groaned. "Jesus, don't even ask. Never seen such a stupid receptionist like that guy over there," she said, kicking her feet up on the table. "I was telling him I was Jacqueline Al Fayed, and he just wouldn't believe me. So I told him I was adopted by Imam and that he could check on my ID, but he said he was 'sorry' and that he won't give out any information about the hotel's guests! Could you believe that? What a prick."
I turned around to look at Riddick and found him grinning. I wondered what he did to the poor receptionist guy to make him change his mind. I smiled to myself.
"Good thing I had Riddick with me," Jack said, laughing. "He kinda persuaded the boy I was right."
"I'm always good to have around," he said, the deep growl shaking me.
"Aren't we the hopeful," she said, smiling.
"I can hope all right, but you're the one dependent on me, Jack."
She scoffed, then played with the hem of her skirt with her fingers, and wiggled her toes. "God, I'm tired," she moaned, stretching. "That bell boy got me all exhausted."
I laughed lightly, and she turned to look at me with a raised eyebrow. "What?"
I shrugged, still grinning. "Nothing."
"Nothin', huh?" She asked, then smirked. "Sure doesn't look like nothin' to me. I can see puberty's making you think all sorts of sinful thoughts, Evelyn."
"Sinful?"
"Uh-huh," she said, taunting me. "How old are you?"
"Eighteen in a week."
She chuckled. "Shit, now I know why you laughed there when I said he got me all exhausted. Naughty girl."
I laughed, and she rolled her eyes. My attention snapped back to Riddick when I heard him clearing his throat.
"Well, look who we got here…" he said in a low rumble. "The holy man himself."
I followed his line of sight and my eyes came to rest on a tall man in a Muslim robe with a dark complexion, standing at the entrance of the hotel. He smiled at all of us.
"Hello to you, too, Mr. Riddick," he said, walking up to us. "Nice to see you that you haven't lost any of your wits."
Riddick chuckled. "Nice to see that you still call me Mr. Riddick."
Imam laughed, softly, and I watched as Jack caught sight of him and immediately sprung to her feet, and ran over to him. She was almost ecstatic when she threw her arms around his neck.
" Imam!! God, Imam, I'm so glad to see you again!!" She shrieked.
I watched as Imam patted Jack on the head and leaned back away from her. "Now, now, Jacqueline, let the old man have a look at you first."
Jack grinned and eased her grip on him, her hands covering his. "So? What do you think of me?" she asked, smiling.
Imam sighed, his eyes almost watery at that moment. "You have grown, Jacqueline, you have indeed grown into a beautiful young woman… I am very proud of you." And the moment he finished Jack shrieked again and wrapped her arms around him once more.
* * * * *
"Remember the time when I decided to play Ghost Story with Imam's robes?"
"Or the time when you decided to make Imam into a live walking mummy? Wrapping him in all that toilet paper while he slept, Jack?"
Jack snorted and tossed a cookie over at Jerry when Imam wasn't looking. We sat at a round table on the far end of the terrace of the La Plaza restaurant, having the nicest view of the port. It was ten at night, but it still seemed like daytime. Until an electronic voice announced: "The Computers have decided to start artificial night at 10.02pm Time Tonight. Have a good day."
No one seemed to notice, all the restaurant's guests seemed too preoccupied with their food, or dates, but I watched in a trance as the night claimed the sky and everything turned dark in a split second. I must have stared out at the view a longer time then seemed normal, because Jack paused, mid-bite and put her fork back down, smiling at me.
"Never seen an artificially controlled day/night system, Ivy?"
I shook my head, and everyone's attention turned towards me. I felt my cheeks heat up, felt uncomfortable with everyone watching my reaction.
"Where are you from?"
"Earth, LA," I said.
"Ah, that answers," she nodded, and got back to her food. "Earth is a hell hole," she told me, in between the bites. "All the people I know left the rock ages ago."
I shrugged, and dug my fork into the salmon on my plate. You can leave a place when you have where to go to. Jack munched away on the chicken and I watched in astonishment the quantity of the food we had ordered. And we had ordered a lot. Grilled chicken with caramelized onions and sour cream, smoked salmon, salads with orange segments and walnuts. Chocolate truffles, mocha almond fudge ice cream, great French cheese and grapes. Cakes with sliced bananas and berries, honey and whipped cream. We had half a bottle of Bordeaux and coffee and Espresso, together with three bottles of mineral water. I couldn't believe we were going to eat all this.
"How's school going, Jack?" Jerry asked, turning to look at her, sipping on the wine which was slowly vanishing away.
"Great." She said, enthusiastically. "I'll do my final exam next week. And then I can be a real pilot. Just like Riddick."
I saw Riddick tense at the sound of his name, and Imam watch his every move. Then Riddick looked up at us, momentarily pausing to look at me. I looked away, turned my attention back to Jack, but my throat and eyes were burning. She was going to be a pilot? Didn't he say to me a few days ago that it was dangerous? I wondered if he had said that to her also. She obviously hadn't listened to him though, just like I intended to… So she wanted to be just like him.
Like me.
I swallowed, and watched Riddick clearing his throat. He forced a smile. "Good to hear that, Jack."
Jack smiled back at him lovably, but she was the only one relaxed at the table. She reached for the wine. "Ahh, gone. Lets order some more, Riddick?"
Riddick nodded, set his own drink aside, and gestured over to the waiter.
"Shiraz, for old times sake," he told us.
They didn't let me drink though, because I wasn't eighteen, which made me feel like the kid Riddick thought I was. I tried to act like it was no big deal, but on the inside I was cringing. So when it came to the toast, Imam and me were the only people that had multivitamin juices in our hands. Jack was looking a little tipsy by the time she and Riddick finished on the Shiraz, and Jerry wasn't exactly sober either. Riddick on the other hand looked like he just started drinking and the fact that he drained six wine glasses did nothing to him. Imam seemed to be just enjoying Jack's and Riddick's company. He stayed silent most of the night, listened to Jack's stories from childhood with a sad smile on his lips and a proud glint in his eyes, overlooking that she was slowly getting drunk. He probably knew Riddick was going to take care of her, and he knew that she was an adult, so he didn't want to lecture her. And anyway, she was celebrating, wasn't she?
Imam excused himself from the table after he finished his juice and thanked Riddick for the nice night out. He never questioned me; who I was or what I was doing there. He probably thought I was Jerry's girl, just like Jack thought, or someone told him I was a stowaway running away from a murderer. I hoped it was the first one.
Jack wanted Imam to stay longer, but he said he had to wake up early tomorrow and wished us all a goodnight. Jack told him she would go see him in the evening, and he looked very happy to hear that. It seemed to me that they always met up like this once a year. Jerry would help Riddick get his cargo from Earth to Morpheus, then they would meet here with Jack, then Imam, live together for a few weeks and then say goodbye again. I wondered how hard it had to be for Jack, and for all of them, really.
"Jack? You sure you wanna drink all that?" Jerry laughed, reaching over the table to snatch the drink away from her when Imam was gone. "Lemme have that."
Jack frowned. "Noo…it's mine, jerk."
Riddick chuckled. "Come on, lets pack it up. You had enough, both of you."
They didn't listen to him though, and I smiled when Jack wanted to pour some more wine into her glass and couldn't find the hem with the liquid, pouring it all over the table.
"Ah, damnit. Someone- stop the glass from- moving," she cursed, and Riddick just shook his head, grinning. He turned to look at me, smiling knowingly.
"Wanna go see me pay so you don't have to sit around here with the drunks?" he asked, and I nodded, laughing.
He made his way up the bar in the front of the restaurant, next to the elevators, and I followed him through the tables and then came to stand next to him at the bar.
"I'll pay," he said, and the guy behind the bar nodded.
"Yes, Sir. With the card, yes?"
Riddick reached into his back pocket and took out his wallet, then placed it on the bar. "Wrong. I'll pay with credits."
The guy looked a little shocked, but nodded, nevertheless. "Of course, Sir. But I will need your card for the ID."
Riddick tossed him the card, and the guy picked it up, muttering something under his breath about impolite customers. Riddick grinned at him, leaning against the bar.
"Could you be a little faster, over there? I need to get them home," and he nodded over to table number nine, where Jerry and Jack were almost passed out.
"Yes, Sir," said the guy over gritted teeth. "But you have chosen to pay with credits and that is a little slower. So you will have to wait."
I heard the tone in the waiter's voice, and I knew he was losing his temper. I wondered what kind of a crime you had to commit around here to have the Brigade come on you. I wondered if the waiter was going to call the Brigade on us.
"Here you go, Sir." The waiter motioned to the change, glancing at the monitor of the net-com, checking on Riddick's ID. "And here is your card, Mr…Riddick."
The guy looked up at Riddick then, his voice cracking. There was a smug smirk on Riddick's face, and I got a perfect example of what usually had to happen on Morpheus. A murderer dining in the same restaurant as 'normal' people.
Riddick grinned. "Thank you. You were very helpful." And he shot the pale waiter a broad smile. He turned back into the room then, shoving his wallet back into his pants, when a man with a trolley passed us. There was a large glass vase on it full of water, with a dozen or more roses of all colours floating on the surface, and the man in a white tuxedo smiled at Riddick and gestured over to me.
"A rose for the lady?"
I turned red like the flower, and felt the need to explain that Riddick and me were… well, that we weren't… frankly, that we didn't want any flowers. The tuxedo guy looked confused, and Riddick chuckled, his eyes traveling over the roses, while I thought I would die of embarrassment. His smirk suddenly disappeared though and he looked- for a moment- like he found something he liked. He stepped over to the trolley and reached in for one rose, taking it out the most beautiful blood red rose I had ever seen, and then…then he turned to me. My heart skipped a beat. I wished I could see his eyes, because he was expressionless and I couldn't read him, didn't know what he was thinking and that was making me nervous and excited and unsure. But he was looking at me and that alone was making my pulse race. And then a smile crossed his lips, and I swallowed down on the lump in my throat and watched him pay for the rose. The man took the credits and said, "Have a lovely night, Sir. Ma'am," and then pushed the trolley past us, until he disappeared somewhere in the back, lost to my thoughts.
Riddick sucked in his lower lip, then grinned. "A rose for the lady?"
I laughed, softly, and he slowly stepped closer to me and, still smiling, entwined the rose into my hair. I couldn't breathe, he was standing so close. And then, then almost hesitantly he leaned forward, his mouth by my ear, and I could feel him taking in the scent of the rose, his breath ruffling my hair as he exhaled. I shudder ran through me and I was frozen to the spot there, completely unable to move, or speak, and all the time he never once touched me, but still I could feel the heat coming from his body. I was shaking. Then he stepped back and fixed his eyes on me. I was gazing back at him, my chest heaving like I'd just been running. My face was hot and my throat was dry. I couldn't believe the effect he had on me, and I was fighting my feelings hard. Repeating to myself silently that it didn't mean anything. Not to him.
His eyes left mine and he searched for table number nine, chuckling when he registered it. "Shit. We gotta get them out of here while they still walk," he said, smirking. "Come on, kid."
My heart sank. Lady, kid… What was I to him? The spell of the rose was broken- if there ever was any- and I gritted my teeth, trying to act normal again as much as I suddenly felt the stinging in my eyes.
'Don't you dare cry now, you big baby.'
Riddick made his way to the far end of the terrace, and I followed him, my head pounding. Table number nine was absolutely crashed out; Jerry was making himself a juice/Shiraz mix with the tip of his tongue sticking out, trying to concentrate on it, and Jack was switching between resting her head on the table and giggling like a little girl. Riddick hovered above her for a moment. When she noticed him, she smiled up at him, tipsily.
"Anyone ever tell you… that you are.. so tall, Ririddick?" she laughed, stuttering on his name. Riddick sighed.
"Can you get up yourself, Jack?" he asked her, with a raised eyebrow. She squinted her eyes, focused on the voice.
"What-what do you think?" she giggled, and he shook his head, his hands going to her waist to help her up.
"No…" she groaned, squirming away from him. "I whant to stayh!"
"No, you won't stay. You're drunk already. You wanna get more drunk, you can- but in the ship. Ivy, check on Jerry. Seems like he'll need some help, too. Now move your ass, Jack."
Jack reluctantly let go of her Shiraz and let Riddick help her up. She giggled again, almost falling over, but he caught her, roping one arm protectively around her waist.
"Thank you vhery much…you're help..helpful."
Riddick smirked, and watched me help Jerry up. Jerry was in a much better condition than Jack though. He could walk alone, and he didn't wobble. Much.
We left the La Plaza restaurant safely behind, taking the fastest elevator down to the ground floor, to the lobby. The elevator was glazed, too, so you could see the city of New Rome underneath you, the shining neon lights and the vapors coming from the sewers. The night was throbbing, sort of like Jack's head, I thought, because she leaned her forehead against Riddick's chest and moaned.
"Riddick…? I think..I think I'll throw up," she muttered. Riddick nodded, a flat grin on his face. He stopped the elevator at the closest floor and we got out. The floor was empty and dark, full of offices, stashes of papers and cigarette trays on each desk. Riddick led Jack to the toilets and for a second, stopped to look at the sign on the door reading 'women'.
"Fuck it," he hissed, and pushed the door open with his boot. Jack threw up the moment he let her lean against the toilet.
* * * * *
The ramp to the ship opened and we got inside. Riddick helped Jack into the couch in the living quarters, but she was pretty much sober by then, still feeling a little sick, but already holding a beer can in her hand. Jerry was okay, too, searching through the cabinets in the kitchen, looking for some chips. Obviously he didn't feel full after our dinner. Riddick popped a beer open himself and took a long gulp, before draining it in three short ones. We all came to sit on the spacey couch, easing our tired, worn out bodies into it, Riddick and Jerry kicking their feet up on the table. Jack and I were sitting on the far ends and the guy between us, and I figured we were going to watch something in the TV.
"We always do," Jerry said. "Watch it."
"Watch what?" I asked, curiously. Through the corner of my eye I saw Jack lean against Riddick's shoulder once more, her hand slipping around his waist, while her other played with the front of his shirt. Riddick made himself comfortable on the couch and rested his arm around the back of it.
Jerry chuckled. "Porn."