A Kid Like Her (A Riddick - Jack Romance/Adventure Story)

Happy 14th Birthday, Jack!

One day out of Helion Prime

The past five days had flown by. Jack had finished her network plan for his ship, including some slight modifications to the interior, like sliding doors and updated bathrooms, and handed them over to him. She knew they would have to delay the upgrade, but she wanted him to have them, hoping he could go ahead and have a professional take a look.  He also finally took the time to teach her how to play chess. She found out he knew how to play over a year ago and it pissed him off because he never meant for her to know. It had slipped out and she had teased him mercilessly, calling it a game for geeks, even though she begged him to teach her. He beat her the first four games and she trounced him on the fifth. Beyond that, she also talked him into letting her pilot more. She hadn't flown in over three months and he let her have at it, including teaching her a few more moves as well. Piloting had become mundane to him. Her skill and enthusiasm for it made him remember why he had enjoyed it in the first place.

Although he may have been indulging her in every other aspect, Riddick insisted she work with her bad shoulder. He didn't want muscle atrophy to set in. It was painful, but necessary, and it was her least favorite part of the day.

"God, I hate you!" She winced as he made her work her arm muscles below her wound.

"Five more reps. Don't be a baby, Jack. You're only lifting a one pound weight!"

"That's fifteen ounces more than what you've got between-."

"Think carefully before you finish that sentence," he growled lowly into her ear.

"How 'bout I make it a multiple choice question and let you choose the answer? I'll repeat the statement: That's fifteen more ounces than what you've got between your A. ears B. legs or C. All of the above." He caught her by the elastic of her boxer shorts and started to pull up. "NO WEDGIE!" she shrieked, half laughing.

He released her, but grabbed her around the waist and backed her up against the side of his leg, poking her ribs on her good side. "Care to change your answer selections, Jack?" He poked her again and she squirmed but refused to laugh.

"Nope. All of the answers I gave you as choices suit me just fine." He tweaked her ribs that time and she squealed. "Hey, you're still running up a tab, right?"

"Hmmmm....gotta pay it off sometime," he growled and went after her again.

"But -. But this isn't fair! I'm still an invalid!" She busted out laughing tears stinging her eyes. Stop!"

He lowered his mouth to her ear and she shivered despite herself. "Don't think so, Princess. Say it Jack."

"Ok! C! My choice is C – all of the above!"

She heard a low menacing growl in her ear. "Wrong answer!" He poked a rib on her bad side this time and she screamed in pain. He quickly let her go and went around in front of her on his knees to quickly cup her face. "Dammit Jack, I'm sorry! I thought you weren't in pain there anymore. Shit!"

"Riddick?" She sounded weak.

"You okay?"

"I-I....can't believe you totally fell for that!"

He's on his fucking knees! I shouldn't be laughing. She sat down on the padded floor cracking up. Her hands suddenly went to the area around her wound. "Ow, ow, ow!" She rolled onto her back. "I gotta stop laughing...it really..ow! Shit! Hurts!"

She brushed the tears off her cheeks and opened her eyes and he was looming right over her. "SHIT!"

That little shit! She fucking played me and used her injury to do it! Not getting away with this one Jack!