A/N: *SPOILERS FOR 2013 FILM*

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction using characters from the Pitch Black universe. I do not claim any ownership over them or the world of PB/TCoR/R. This work is solely for entertainment purposes and is not considered canon (not by a long shot).

Riddick awakened to pain — nothing new. Recall caught up to consciousness and Riddick began to process the data — calculating and assessing. Mentally taking inventory of injury, Riddick ignored the abrasions and deep bruising. His mind zeroed in on the big hurt … a badly broken leg. Riddick hadn't opened his eyes or moved since coming to … and the local scavengers were circling.

With a screech and a click of claw against the rocks that Riddick lay buried under, a vulture-like creature landed and cocked its head curiously at the hand protruding from the rubble. Approaching slowly, the beast examined the appendage. It was caked in rock dust and congealed blood. Instinct told the beast that no movement with blood meant a meal. It pecked hesitantly and hopped back a few steps — another peck. Growing bold, the vulture stepped closer and actually nipped away a piece of flesh. It was the last thing it would ever eat. The hand moved in a blur and suddenly the avian found itself without air. Wings beat uselessly in an effort to pull free. The struggles weakened but the hand never relaxed its grip. Eventually, the creature's eyes glazed and it fell still. Only then did the hand toss the carcass aside.

Riddick shoved aside rock and slowly managed to free himself. He studied the landscape and sent his mind to find the only other life-form on the planet he gave a damn about.

With me, beautiful?

Silence. Riddick tensed. He knew his own injuries were severe but he ignored them for now. Focusing his mind, Riddick sent again.

Vaako.

Silence.

VAAKO.

A presence brushed Riddick's mind. Weak. Faint. Familiar.

… riddick …

Riddick did not press — he simply allowed his mind to caress his lover's. The pain that filtered through their link was sharp — broken bone. Riddick guessed blood loss had weakened Vaako. Riddick's lip curled when he thought of the betrayal that had left them in this predicament … he made a mental note to repay that particular debt at a later time. For now he needed to focus on finding his mate.

Mate. Consort. Lover. Words Riddick had never in his life used or required until a telepath with shined eyes had saved his life in a dark slam. Vaako. His beautiful.

When the world came down around them, Vaako had been where he always was — at Riddick's side. Riddick cast his gaze around him.

Help me out here, beautiful.

Silence. Riddick's mind slipped along their connection and into Vaako's mind. He was dismayed to find the link weak — Vaako was the only man who could best Riddick if he chose. The telepath was his equal in strength and stamina — plus, he was a damn stubborn bastard. If the link was weak, Vaako wasn't conscious, which meant he was using precious energy to hold them together. Riddick sighed.

"Damn it, Vaako," he growled.

Let go, beautiful. I got this.

No words but Riddick got a spike of refusal. Riddick smiled thinly.

Vaako.

Riddick's mind conveyed the implicit command. His lover's mental grip on the link relaxed and Riddick gathered it up. He winced, he wasn't a natural telepath and taking control tended to give him a headache but he ignored it. He had to locate Vaako.

Squinting against the sun, Riddick scanned the area again. Then he saw it — one of Vaako's dark braids. Rolling to his stomach, Riddick belly-crawled along the ground, his twisted leg dragging behind him. When he reached the braid, he began to carefully pull back debris to reveal the beautiful face of his mate. Working quickly, Riddick unburied Vaako, taking stock of his injuries as he did so. Broken ribs for sure — his breathing was shallow so maybe a punctured lung. Riddick cursed when he saw Vaako's left arm — an open fracture. He continued to work and was gratified to see that at least Vaako's legs looked intact. He'd never been so grateful for the cumbersome Necromonger armor as that moment. It was probably the only reason either of them still lived. A deep gash ran along one side of Vaako's head … definitely a concussion. Riddick's fear burned into anger. If he lost Vaako, no force in the universe would stop him from finding the Necromonger fleet and wiping it out of existence. Transcendence? He would send each and every one of them to Hell.

Good to know … you care …

Riddick looked down into hazel eyes that shone like his own. They were unfocused and Vaako's conscious sending was uneven.

"Glad to see you ain't plannin' on sleepin' all day, beautiful," Riddick teased.

It earned him as much of a glare as Vaako could manage. "Where — ?"

"Bottom of the cliff your man Krone blew out from under us," Riddick explained.

Vaako groaned softly. "You keep what you kill … he always was a little … zealous."

Riddick made a non-committal noise. "Not really gonna question his religious leanings when I cut his throat, beautiful."

Vaako smiled weakly. He tried to raise his head and groaned again.

"Easy, beautiful. You got the worst of the elevator ride down … need to save your strength." Riddick urged.

The link pulsed with guilt and self-recrimination. Riddick shook his head while he moved the remaining rocks off Vaako's feet and legs.

Don't, beautiful. Ain't your fault and I ain't leavin' you here to become buzzard droppins, Riddick sent softly.

What do you propose, Riddick … will you drag my useless bulk all over this world with you? Vaako's sending was bitter.

Riddick leaned in close to his mate's ear. "You got my mark on you and I got yours on me — pretty much means we're stuck with each other," Riddick's breath was hot and his voice flat with anger. "So yeah, Vaako … if I gotta lug your fat ass around then I will and that's the end of the discussion."

Vaako knew Riddick's limits. His lover had a vicious temper if pushed too far. Vaako forced his concern aside and addressed something in Riddick's statement.

My ass is not fat, Riddick.

Riddick barked out a laugh. His Vaako would never admit it, but he was vain. Riddick's nickname had not bothered him nearly as much as he had initially professed.

No, but it is fine and mine. Are you done sulking?

I do not sulk , Riddick. I try to be reasonable.

Riddick looked at Vaako with an amused gaze and finished running his hands over the bruising on Vaako's side. Vaako jerked but he confirmed that he didn't feel winded or that a lung was perforated. Riddick grunted when a wave of dizziness flowed over him, disorienting him. Blinking, Riddick looked at Vaako whose eyes were clenched shut. He managed to get Vaako on his side before he threw up. He held Vaako for a moment before easing him back.

Sorry.

Just don't think that's gonna get you outta the hike.

Of course not. Why would I imagine you would make it easy , Riddick?

Vaako's sending was teasing but Riddick could feel the underlying pain and discomfort. He started when he realized it wasn't all Vaako's. His mate regarded him steadily. Neither man would easily admit injury but they both knew the folly in pretending it wasn't there.

Time to set bone, Riddick.

Yeah … I'll go first.

Vaako watched as Riddick removed several smaller rocks from a crack which ran down a large boulder. Carefully, he wedged his boot in the space and released his link with Vaako at the same time that he turned his hip to put the bone back into position. The rocks around them echoed with his pained shouts. Vaako's arm throbbed viciously and the telepath knew he was not going to enjoy it when Riddick reset the bones. His Necromonger conditioning was all that allowed him to endure this much without losing consciousness.

Riddick stood, heaving in gasps of air as he breathed through the pain. If he'd been stronger, Vaako would have taken the pain for his lover. Instead, all he could do was watch. Still, he couldn't stop the warm feeling he got whenever he watched the magnificent beast that was his mate. Riddick's name had been crossed off so many lists since his birth he'd lost count. Vaako's pride came from the fact that each and every time he'd just put his name back in blood.

Vaako could never say later what possessed him to try and roll over but he gasped when the bones in his arm shifted and his weight came down wrong on his injured ribs. The pain was immediate and brutal — Vaako's consciousness wavered. It deserted him completely just as he heard a strange howling sound in the distance and Riddick's head snapped around. All Vaako heard as he fell into darkness was, "Fuck."