Right Hand

Disclaimer: Not mine. So sad...

AN: Last chapter had a warning for violence. This one should have a warning for... sap? Just a little...? Towards the end? *snicker*

CHAPTER FIVE:


He stared.

Kept on staring, while Riddick grinned at his astonishment.

“Y-you cannot be serious...” He tried, even as his memory dredged up something Wulia had said during her final screaming fit. ‘He has even taken a Lord or two...’ He hadn’t paid the slightest attention to that at the time. He looked back to Riddick, whose grin was getting wider.

“This... is not a joke?”

“Joking’s the *last* thing on my mind.” Riddick arched in a full-body stretch, arms reaching for the ceiling, showing off his lean, muscular form to full advantage. It put a few things in Vaako’s mind - he felt his face growing red *again.* Riddick’s grin turned smug. He leaned forward and cupped Vaako’s cheek in his hand, stroking his thumb along his cheekbone. “Like it when you blush.” He rumbled, his voice deep and low.

“Obviously.” Vaako tried to keep his voice dry while he felt his cheeks get warmer, but he wasn’t sure he’d kept the tremble out. The shine of Riddick’s eyes confirmed that he’d failed. The big hand shifted until Riddick’s fingers were drifting down his neck.

“How well can you feel this?” He asked, silver eyes watching Vaako’s face closely.

The hazel-green eyes that looked back were open and honest. “Not well. It is rather like wearing several layers of clothes.”

“Goes away after a while, huh? If you don’t go through that d*** Purifying chamber? You start feeling things again.”

“Yes. The effects fade with time. That is why the Law of Mandatory Purification was made, to keep us strong.”

“I don’t think stopping’s going to make *you* weak. Takes a month, right? You said the soldiers’ were relearning their basic emotions.”

“I... yes, for most it is a month.” Riddick frowned.

“But not for you. Because I can make you blush - and you just had a Purifying two days ago. So you must feel something.” He paused for a moment, frowning while he continued to stroke Vaako’s cheek and throat. As distant as the feeling was, his Right Hand couldn’t help but lean into it - it had been so long since he’d been touched with any kind of affection. Wulia - well, no one would call her touches affectionate. Devouring, maybe. Not the good kind of devouring, either. He looked at Riddick, who was studying a data pad now, calling up information with his left hand while the other continued its gentle caresses. He wondered what being devoured would be like if it was his Lord -

- and his brain came to a screeching halt again. ‘Idiot!’ He swore at himself. He was about to start putting too much into a physical situation.

“I was right - embarrassment is listed in the basic emotions. Three to four weeks to relearn. What’s going on, Vaako? Why are you different?” Gleaming eyes were fixed on him again.

Vaako wasn’t blushing now. He knew his face was ghost white. He gulped in a breath of air and tried his morning tactic again. It had worked then!

“W-where are the Hounds?”

Riddick scowled at him for a moment, his eyes measuring. Finally, “In the inner chambers. Not ready to wander around on their own yet. Why?” His voice turned amused. “You missing Protega?”

“Pro...?” Vaako was confused. Riddick got up and opened the door to the inner rooms. An instant later and Vaako was eye-to-eye with the female Hellhound who’d tried to fit in his lap that morning.

“Protega.” Riddick said, scratching behind her ears again. She started the deep rumbling purr- growl and nuzzled at Vaako’s arm. He put out a hesitant hand and rubbed an armored cheek, wondering that she felt it. But she did, the purr got louder. The Lord Marshal laughed. “She definitely likes you best.” Another of the Hellhounds had its head in Riddick’s lap and he turned his caresses to it. Protega didn’t seem to mind. She sat beside Vaako and put her head on his thigh. The other Hellhounds were milling around the room, investigating the corners and occasionally coming to sniff at Vaako or be petted by their master.

“I’m not going to let you keep getting away with that, you know.” The statement brought Vaako’s head up sharply.

“My Lord?”

“Always changing the subject when I want to know about your Purifying addiction. You don’t trust me yet, do you?”

“I...” Vaako paused, green eyes worried. “I am loyal, but...”

“Loyalty and trust are two different things. I’ll wait a few days, Vaako - but you’d better get ready to tell me.”

“Do you trust me?” Vaako wasn’t sure where the question came from but considered it only fair.

“The more I learn about you, yes. Funny, huh? Figured I’d have to kill you, thought you’d be after my hide for a rug.” Riddick grinned again, a predatory smile. He leaned past Protega and slid a hand slowly up Vaako’s arm. “Glad I had cameras on you. It woulda been a shame to kill something so beautiful.”

Protega purred. She seemed to like a blushing Vaako, too.


*


Commander Troan waited outside the door for the guards to announce him. When he was given admittance he stopped dead, facing a snarling Hellhound instead of the man he’d expected.

“Easy.” The Lord Marshal’s voice calmed the beast and it moved away, still keeping its glowing eyes on his face. He went forward warily, trying to watch all the beasts in the room.

“I thought there were six?” He asked, counting them.

“There are. One’s with Vaako.”

“Oh.” Troan was curious, but wasn’t about to ask. He might not have Vaako’s experience or quick mind but the other Commander had a personal naivete most Necromongers lost instantly. Vaako thought about himself so rarely that it always seemed to astonish him when *others* paid him any attention. If it hadn’t been for Dame Vaako he would have happily remained a rank Commander for all his days. Troan and Garen, however, had realized Riddick’s interest in the dark-haired man as soon as he and his former Dame had been called to the Judgement Chambers. “I was told you wished to speak to me about the invasion plans.”

“Yeah. Let’s wait for Vaako - I sent him to get cleaned up. His clothes were still bloody.”

“Ah.”

Riddick motioned him to sit down, then folded his arms on the table and studied him. “You known Vaako a long time?”

“He trained me. I was converted ten years ago and he was my first Commander.”

“What’s with this Purification record?” Riddick slid a data pad in front of him. Troan studied it and shook his head.

“I don’t know. I’ve wondered about it sometimes - Vaako has always been Purified at least once a week. He was taken as a child, I know that, but his homeworld records don’t exist.” Riddick raised a questioning eyebrow and Troan shrugged. “I was curious. I looked, but they’re just not there. There were only seven others taken on the same date as him, and they’re all dead. Lost in battle...” He paused. “Or died in the Purification chambers.”


*


Vaako felt infinitely better after a shower. Although there were several of the silk outfits hanging in his new wardrobe he chose to put on the simplest of his old thick clothing. It was a shirt and pants of a dull grey-black shade and gave him a comforting sense of normality. He felt in desperate need of it after today. Protega was lying across his bed and grumbled at him in greeting when he came out of the bathing room. She preceded him back into the Lord Marshal’s first chamber. Troan was sitting with Riddick at the conference table when he came in and both men looked at him sharply, like they were measuring him. He kept his face calm while wondering wildly if he’d done something wrong.

Neither mentioned any such thing - Riddick waved him into a seat and he picked up a data pad. They went over the final details of the invasion, then sat discussing matters of the army; number of soldiers, strengths, weaknesses and training plans. Vaako soon realized that Riddick was antsy about something - he was beginning to pick up on his Lord’s moods. He wondered what was going on, but the man apparently wasn’t going to mention it in front of Lord Troan. He wondered if he’d tell him once the man was gone.

Troan finally excused himself about thirty minutes later. Vaako waited for Riddick to speak, but he just sat staring into space, scowling slightly and stroking the head of the alpha Hellhound, a huge male that refused to let any other lay its head on the Lord Marshal’s lap.

“What is that one’s name?” Vaako tried to distract Riddick from whatever was bothering him. Right Hand of the Lord Marshal included companion, after all, and he wouldn’t be much of a companion if he let his Lord sink further into whatever dark mood was possessing him.

“Rage.” The word seemed to break down the walls of silence he’d built up. “I don’t want you going through any more Purifications. Understand?” Whatever Vaako had expected, it wasn’t that.

~Anything but that!~

“M-my Lord, I... I can not...”

“No more.” The words were sharp, a definite order. “I don’t care why you think you have to have them. I want you back to whatever normal was for you, before you got scooped up by this insane horde. Do you even remember what normal is?”

Vaako looked down, shaking his head mutely. Riddick scowled. “Didn’t think so. Gonna find out. Want you to *feel* it when I touch you. Want you to feel it right. How long does it take you to get over it?”

“About six days. Sometimes seven.” Vaako’s voice was low. Riddick looked surprised.

“Quicker than I thought.” He chuckled, relaxed again. “Gives you four more days to get ready, doesn’t it?” He quirked an eyebrow at the smaller man, waiting for his blush. He grinned when he saw it and just as quickly went back to solemn. “I really mean this, Vaako. Stay away from the Purification chambers. Don’t want you dead like the others.” Vaako stared at him. “Got a little more info about you. Do you remember your homeworld?”

“No.”

“Hmm. Remember the others who were taken with you?”

“No.” There was an odd quality to his soft voice, almost hopeful.

“They’re dead.” Riddick said, quiet. “You and me are a little alike. Last of our kind, whatever that is. Know anything about Furyans?” Vaako shook his head.

“Lord Zhylaw kept all information about Furya and its inhabitants closely guarded. I do know there were not supposed to be any males left, and that very few females still existed.” He gazed solemnly at Riddick. “Do you want to look for them?”

“Would they be on Furya?”

“I think the planet is uninhabited. Most of the people fled to escape Lord Zhylaw’s slaughter raids.”

“Why didn’t he just blow the place like he did everywhere else?”

“I do not know. I believe that he had hopes of any refugees returning, so he could discover them and have them put to death, as well.”

“Sounds like him. Come here.” Vaako’s eyes widened in surprise, but he obediently got up and moved closer. Riddick put two big hands on his slender waist and tugged him over until he was standing between his thighs. Rage snuffled in annoyance and stalked away, going to where Protega still lay by Vaako’s chair and curling up beside her. Riddick smiled up at his captive. “Wearing your thick shit again. Can you feel my hands?”

“Distantly.” It was still enough to make his heart pound.

“Tell me if you feel them any stronger.” Riddick ordered softly, and slid them up his sides, moving gently over the knife wound. He explored Vaako’s slim torso thoroughly, stroking his ribs, his flat stomach and sweetly muscled chest. He rested his hands on the broad shoulders and asked the question with his eyes. Vaako shook his head slowly. He was becoming slightly less upset about being denied his Purifications - he had *never* been touched like this and he desperately wanted to feel it.

Riddick’s hands slid higher, exploring his neck again and for the first time they brushed the Purification scars. A sudden sharp sensation, almost-but-not-quite pain flooded through Vaako’s nervous system. He gasped harshly and his legs turned to water. Riddick caught him and eased him onto his lap. He lay weakly against the strong chest and stared up at the silver eyes staring back down at him.

“Felt *that* pretty damn good! Hurt?”

“N...not ...really...” Vaako’s entire body was faintly shuddering. Riddick smiled and stroked his hair, a touch so tender that Vaako was shocked again. Tenderness was certainly unexpected. Riddick held him until he stopped shaking, then pulled another chair over and reluctantly set his Right Hand in it. Vaako swayed slightly.

“All right?” Riddick got a nod for a reply. The pale man visibly pulled himself together.

“What was that?” Riddick asked, tilting his head and watching him intently.

“I do not know. That never...” He went silent.

“Haven’t you ever touched your scars? Didn’t your wife ever touch them?”

“Yes. They - I do not feel...” Vaako was at a loss for words, and instead moved his fingers over the round scars, showing that he got no reaction when he touched them himself. “Sensation is a little stronger on them. I can feel touches more clearly here. But what happened now - that has never happened before...” His hazel eyes were cloudy with confusion and an emotion Riddick couldn’t quite put a name to. Before either could continue, there was a knock at the door.

“What?” Riddick shouted, irritated. A guard opened the door cautiously and leaned inside.

“Pardon, Lord Marshal. Captain Yur is here.”

“Who?” Riddick continued to scowl.

“Captain Yur. He is Lord Vaako’s Honor Guard.”

Riddick looked questioningly at Vaako, who groaned softly and slumped in his chair. “The Honor Guard. The Captain I defeated today. I had almost forgotten about him.”

“What are you going to do with him?”

“I can not *do* anything with him. He will have to stay with me for now. Any less would be dishonorable in the eyes of the soldiers.”

“So - where will you put him?”

“He will sleep in my outer chamber for now. If I was still staying in my Commander’s quarters he would sleep outside the door.” Vaako was scowling enough to match some of Riddick’s expressions.

“Really don’t want him, do you?”

“Honor Guards are usually troublesome. Even if they are not, I have no desire for a shadow, for someone who goes everywhere I go.” Riddick was looking faintly horrified. “What?”

“Everywhere?!” Vaako was so annoyed by gaining his new servant that it began to be funny - especially that question - and for the first time Riddick saw him truly smile. Vaako didn’t notice the captivated look on the bigger man’s face.

“He will not follow me when you... when you want...” Even with the smile he blushed. He felt like a pitiful teenager again and he didn’t care for it. Of course, it wasn’t like he had much experience at being with a man - all right, no experience - but it couldn’t be *that* different. Could it?

Then again, remembering the faint feelings Riddick’s hands had caused, maybe it would be very different.

~Maybe... it would be better.~

He blushed again.


*


Captain Yur decided three things very quickly. He did not like the dim chambers, he did not like Hellhounds, and he did *not* like the Lord Marshal. Realizing that the smaller Commander had defeated him, and defeated him *wounded*, had caused an instant fierce devotion in the huge man. He watched jealously as the silver-eyed breeder stroked Vaako’s intricate braids with a possessive hand. The two men had greeted him cooly and then ignored him, discussing the need to replenish the ranks after the losses on Helion.

The Hellhounds had milled around him, clearly disturbed by his presence and snuffling at him. His scent seemed to make them all snarl with disgust but they kept coming back again and again. He really wanted to kill one of them. Maybe then the rest would leave him alone. When they got too pushy the Lord Marshal would call them off but he never ordered them to back down. Yur was sure he could - and that made him like the man even less.

Now the other two men seemed to be preparing to retire - they were speaking in very low voices but Yur’s hearing was sharp. It was a characteristic of his race, and even when one was taken by the Necromongers and converted, you didn’t lose your intrinsic abilities. He felt no guilt whatsoever at eavesdropping. Wasn’t he supposed to protect his Master at all costs? One never knew what information would become useful.

“Four days is going to seem like a long time.” Riddick murmured as he stroked the silky hair again. Vaako flushed and darted a quick look at his silent Honor Guard.

“If... if you do not wish to wait...”

“You won’t object? Obedient little follower, aren’t you?” He leaned closer, doing the ear thing again, knowing it drove his Right Hand crazy. “Want you to enjoy it, too.” He smirked as Vaako’s cheeks got redder - the shades of pink color on that delicate white face was a thing of beauty. He glanced over at Yur, who was lurking in the deep shadows. He wondered if the man thought he was hiding from him. He could see his expression even more plainly since he was in the dark - apparently Vaako’s Guard appreciated the soft blush, too. Riddick scowled. “Take Protega with you.”

“My Lord?”

“Take her with you. Want you to sleep well. Anyone sleeps better when they know they’re safe.”

“You don’t have to protect me.”

Riddick smirked again. He knew Vaako would barely feel it, but he put his lips softly against the man’s ear as he replied.

“Always protect what’s mine.”

Ah, yes. Who would have thought *pink* would become his favorite color?


***************************************************

AN: ‘Protega’ is pronounced ‘Pro-tay-sha’, a corruption of the French word for ‘protector.’