This is like 95% copying the movie. _ But eh. Just means less effort, right?

Raptor Sides
Gold and Red... and Gray?
Chapter 2: The Mechanic

As it turned out, Grandma Odette had already fallen asleep in her rocker. With the TV on way too loud. She did it quite a lot. Gray grabbed the blanket off the couch and pulled it over her and tucked it in a bit. Then he quickly grabbed the few things the mechanic had asked for and headed back out to the garage as fast as he could.

"Did you seriously forget my sandwich?" Tony asked, staring down at the table.

Gray had simply rolled his eyes and ran back into the house. Once the mechanic was fed, he got to work. Tony talked a mile a minute. He moved from one subject to the next seamlessly and without thought. In one breath, telling Gray the difference between the wires inside the Iron Man helmet and asking about his brother to ranting about how he hated grape jelly and how he once fell out of a tree. Gray was able to follow, his mind moving just as fast. It was different, for the kid. Having someone older talk to him like he was on the same mental level, like he wasn't just some dumb kid. But Tony drew the line at questions about the Avengers.

"No." He said immediately and closed himself off.

Gray tilted his head, watching him for a moment. "I like strawberry jelly." He said.

Tony glanced back over at him. "Strawberry is good." He said. Then stood up. "Come on. Time to go." They headed outside and down the block. "The sandwich was fair." Tony said. "The spring was a little rusty, the laptop was weird, the cell phone was old, the rest..." He shook his head. "Just be grateful I'm so awesome."

Gray rolled his eyes as he followed the mechanic down the street. "You gave me like 5 minutes."

Tony smiled. "By the way, when you said you had a watch... I was kinda hoping for something a little more adult than this." He held up his wrist. The Jurassic World watch was hardly big enough to fit him. It had Rexy on the face, a tiny stegosaurus on the minute hand, and a tiny triceratops on the second hand.

Gray laughed. "I'm 9!" He said. "It's my favorite and it's a limited edition."

Tony rolled his eyes and pulled the old faded baseball cap lower over his eyes. Gray had found the hat in his grandpa's things in the garage. Tony had snatched it and put it on his head. And made some remark about it totally disguising him. "So how long until The Swan Princess wakes up?"

Gray looked up at him and frowned. "Who?"

Tony stopped walking. He reached out and touched Gray's shoulder. "Swan Princess." He repeated. "Classic '90's cartoon movie, based on the ballet Swan Lake. Princess gets cursed and turned into a swan. And then stuff happens or something. It's like a thing." Tony explained. "There was like 13 sequels."

Gray shrugged. Maybe the name was familiar. But he'd never seen it. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Tony started walking forward again. "The Swan Princess' name is Odette."

"Oh." Gray said. "You should have said that in the explanation."

Tony shrugged. "It's an unusual name is all."

"I didn't name her." Gray pointed out.

"Well due." Tony snapped. "That's obvious." He paused for a moment and tilted his head a bit. "Unless you're a time traveler. And you're your grandma's father. Which would make you your own grandpa."

Gray wrinkled his nose. "Gross, dude."

"You said it!" Tony snapped.

Gray rolled his eyes and shook his head. "When can we talk about New York?"

Tony shook his head. "How about... never."

"What about the Avengers?" Gray asked, bring it up again. But he really wanted to ask about them.

"I don't know." Tony breathed out. "Later, okay?"

"Do you like dinosaurs?" Gray asked.

"Kid!" Tony snapped. He sighed and stepped sideways. "Just... give me a little space."

Gray nodded and took off, leading Tony down the street. He hadn't been there before, but he'd read about it in one of Grandma's newspapers. And she told him about it when it happened. "Guy won medals in the army. Then people said he... just went crazy, made a bomb, and blew himself up."

Tony nodded stiffly as he walked about the rubble. Only a corner of wall was left. The rest looked like a crater. There were pictures, crosses, flowers, and other things littered around, left by loved ones. "Six people died." He mused, his eyes scanning everything. "Doesn't make sense." He breathed out, shaking his head.

Gray sniffed and nodded his head. "Grandma said she didn't believe it." He said. "She knew the guy. Was good friends with his mom."

"She a good judge of character?" Tony asked, his eyes staring at the burned shadow marks on the wall.

Gray smiled slightly. "She says your annoying."

Tony tilted his head. "She's right." He said.

The conversation trailed off a bit as Tony continued staring at the walls. Gray's eyes dropped to the weird, almost crater like depression in the ground. "You know what this reminds me of?" He asked after a few minutes, picking up a rock.

"I don't care." Tony said, turning to look back at him.

"That giant wormhole in New York." Gray asked, tossing the rock in the air and catching it. "Does it remind you?"

Tony blinked for a moment. "That's manipulative." He said. "I don't wanna talk about it."

Gray gripped the rock tightly for a moment. He looked down again and swallowed. "Are they coming back?" He asked softly. "The aliens?"

"No clue." Tony snapped. He walked back towards where Gray was sitting and dropped down on the ground beside him. "Can you stop?" His voice shook a little. "I'm having anxiety issues." He leaned forward a bit.

Gray turned slightly towards him. "Oh... does that make you edge?"

Tony nodded his head and leaned forward even more. "Can I just catch my breath for a second?"

"Are the bad guys here?" Gray leaned forward, his voice barely a whisper. Tony didn't answer right away and Gray shot out another question. "Do you need a bag to breathe into? Do you have medication."

"No." Tony leaned back, his eyes wide.

"Do you need to be on it?" Gray asked.

"Probably." Tony breathed out. "Cap'd say yes."

"Do you have PTSD?"

Tony shook his head. "I don't this so..."

"Are you having a panic attack?" Gray asked. "Do you need me to stop? I can stop."

"Then stop!" Tony snapped loudly. "You're gonna freak me out!"

Gray shut his mouth. He tilted his head to the side and blinked at Tony. But he didn't say anything.

"Oh!" Tony jumped up suddenly and stepped back. "You did it!"

Gray stood up and watched as Tony paced back and forth. "What did I say?" Gray asked. Tony shook his head and then started running back down the street. Gray watched him for a second. "Wait! Tony!" Gray called after him and started running.

Tony hadn't ran very far. He was barely at the end of the street. He was bent over, breathing deeply. He looked over as Gray ran up behind him. "Your fault." The mechanic said, pointing an accusing finger at Gray. "You spazzed me out."

Gray looked down at the ground and shrugged. "Sorry." He mumbled out. He realized he was still holding the rock in his hand. He stuffed it in his pocket. He'd return it later, he hadn't meant to take it. Grandma always said you shouldn't disturb the dead. "Are you done with your panic attack?"

Tony glared at him for a moment. Then he straightened up and brushed himself off. "Yes. Now. Back to business. Where were we?"

Gray stepped closer, smiling. "You were going to tell me what your favorite dinosaur was."

"Not now." Tony shook his head. "The guy that died. The army guy with the bomb." He breathed out, his voice still a bit unsteady. "Your grandma was right. He didn't kill himself. I think someone used him. As a bomb."

Gray's eyes widened slightly. "You really think so?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah. He have any relatives? Mom or something?"

Gray shrugged. "I don't know... I think... maybe. I think Grandma goes to church with her."

"Church." Tony repeated. "Yeah, that's not gonna help me at all."

"Well she used to." Gray continued talking. "Grandma said Mrs. Davis doesn't go anymore. Cuz she just drinks every night."

"She drinks." Tony repeated. "Like with people?"

Gray shrugged. "I think."

"Where's the bar?" A few minutes later and they were standing just outside the local bar. Tony glanced in and the place was packed. He turned towards Gray. "You wait out here." He said. "I'm gonna go see if she's in there."

"You don't know what she looks like." Gray said.

Tony glared at him. "Do you?"

Gray shook his head.

"Which is why I will ask someone." Tony said. "You stay out here." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small, oval device with a button on one side. "Here." He tossed it at Gray. "Don't press the button!" He warned quickly, as the kid caught it. "It's a bully deterrent, in case someone comes after you while I'm in there. Non-lethal, just to cover your ass while you run. Point it away from your face and run." Tony finished and turned, hurrying inside the door.

Gray blinked for a moment, his eyes wide. Who would come after him? He quickly shoved the thing in his other pocket, the one without the rock. He frowned a bit and sighed. He took a few steps away from the door and leaned against the side of the building. But he didn't have to wait long. Suddenly, someone screamed. Then there were gunshots. Gray pushed away from the building and turned towards the door.

Screaming people ran out. Then suddenly, Tony stumbled out, his hands cuffed behind his back. "Hey hot wings!" The mechanic yelled. "You wanna party? You and me. Let's go." Tony turned and there was a man with a gun blocking his way. "Shit." Tony turned and ran the opposite way, across the street.

The man with the gun lifted it and aimed at Tony's back. Gray pulled the rock out of his pocket and threw it, as hard as he could. It hit the man in the back and he stumbled slightly. Just enough to throw off his aim and the bullets flew into a car instead of Tony.

Gray ducked down as the gunman turned towards him. He waited a moment before peaking out. The guy was gone. So was Tony. Gray glanced around at the people running. Then suddenly, there was an explosion in the diner across the street. Gray's eyes widened. He stepped out into the road, watching as the flames licked the darkening sky and died out quickly. "Tony!" He called out loudly and stepped forward.

The gunman was suddenly behind Gray. He grabbed the kid roughly and put a hand over his mouth. "Hello little squirt. We're going to go find your friend."

Gray let out a grunt as he attempted to squirm away. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The man let out a laugh, his grip on Gray tightening. "You just do as your told and be quiet and you don't have to get hurt." He man stopped at a tiny two door car just behind the diner. He tried the hand and it was locked. But that didn't stop the man. He wrenched the hand completely off and nearly tore the door open. Then he threw Gray in and slammed the broken door. He ran his fingers around the door, the metal melting together under the glowing hands. He walked around the car and melted the other door. Then he turned and stalked off.

Gray watched, transfixed. The moment the guy stepped away from the car, Gray touched the door. But it was hot and he wrenched his hands away. He blew on his burnt finger tips for a moment. Then he breathed out and looked around the car. It was tiny. And it was empty. And there was nothing inside he could use. He was still looking around when he heard a crash and a rush of water. Gray pressed his face against the glass of the window, trying to see. But he couldn't see much.

And then the man was back. There was a vile smile on his face as he punched his fist right through the window. He gripped the frame, his hands red again, and the car seemed to melt under him. Then he reached inside the car and grabbed Gray. He hauled the kid out and threw him over his shoulder and turned.

"Let me go!" Gray yelled, straining against the guy. But the man's grip was tight and his hands were glowing and hot.

"Help me." The guy yelled in a fake, mocking falsetto. He walked back to where he'd just melted one of the legs of the water tower. And brought the thing down on Tony. There was a discarded chair on the ground. The guy bent down and righted it before sinking into it. He twisted Gray into his lap, like a sick, twisted Santa. "Hey kid. What would you like for Christmas?"

Gray stopped struggling as he looked out at the rubble of the water tower and saw Tony. "Mr. Stark! I am so sorry!" He called out.

The guy shook his head quickly. "No, no, no. I think he was trying to say... I want my goddamn file."

Tony ignored the man and looked at Gray. "It's not your fault kid." He said, his eyes wide. "Remember the button?"

Gray's eyes widened. He'd actually forgotten. Gray silently cursed himself as he managed to slip his hand in his pocket and pull out the small device. Why hadn't he thought of it the moment the guy grabbed him? He pulled it out and took a deep breath. Then in a fast, fluid motion, he turned his head one way and held the device up to the man's face. He pressed the button. There was a flash and a loud bang. And the man stumbled back, falling out of the chair. Gray stumbled for a moment before he started to run.

Gray darted around the back side of the destroyed diner. He pressed himself to the wall and tried to hide in the dark. He could just hear Tony's voice.

"That's the thing about smart guys." Tony said lightly. "We always cover our ass."

Then Gray heard a blast. He thought it sounded like the Iron Man's repulsor beam. Gray turned and ran, back out into the street. He pulled the hood of his jacket up and ducked behind a car. The kid tried not to shake as he waited. It seemed like it was forever before Tony walked out into the street. Gray jumped up and ran over, smiling. His fear was suddenly gone and he smiled up at the mechanic. "You're welcome."

Tony's eyebrows piqued. He turned slightly and looked down at Gray. "For what? Did I miss something?"

Gray smiled again and shrugged his shoulders. "Me saving your life."

Tony shook his head quickly and looked away. "A, I saved you first." He started walking down the street, Gray right beside him. "B, thanks. I guess. In a way." He shrugged. "And C, if you do someone a solid, don't be a yutz. Just play it cool, otherwise you come off grandiose." He held up a pair of keys and hit the unlock button on the key fob as they walked.

"Unlike you?" Gray said with a smile. "Admit it. You need me."

Tony turned towards the car that unlocked. He pulled open the door and turned towards Gray.

"We're connected." Gray said with a serious nod.

Tony glanced back at him. "What I need... is for you to go home, be with your Swan Princess, keep your trap shut, practice making sandwiches that don't suck, guard the suit, and stay connected to the telephone because if I call, you better pick up, okay? On the first ring. Feel that in our connection? Cuz we're done here. Move or I'm gonna run you over." He said, slipping into the car and pulling the door shut. "Bye, kid."

Gray stared at the car for a moment. He blinked and stepped back. He let out a sigh.

Tony started the car and rolled the window down. He leaned his head out. "Sorry." He said. "You did good, kid."

Gray smiled slightly and nodded. Then he sighed and looked down at the ground. "Was just starting to have fun. Now I have to go back to Grandma's boring house with the cat who keeps trying to kill me."

Tony nodded. "Yep. Don't try to guilt-trip me."

Gray stuck his lower lip out and wrapped his arms around himself. "I'm cold." He said softly.

"I can tell." Tony said. "We're connected." Then he put the car in gear and pulled out of the parking spot.

Gray lowered his hands as he stepped back. He watched the car drive down the street and shrugged to himself. "Worth a shot." He mumbled. He turned around and started back towards Grandma's.