Claire was driving and Tony was in the passenger's seat. This meant Darcy was stuck in the back with Vic. She'd been in worse situations, so she just tried to sit very still and look anywhere but in his direction. She shouldn't have worried, though, he was too busy trying to make himself sound important.
She met Claire's gaze in the rear view mirror and rolled her eyes. Claire smiled and managed to hold in her laugh.
"Now," Vic was saying. "The velociraptors are the smartest animal on the island. We've had them working with the best trainer here. You should see it, they listen and follow commands." He sounded like a kid on Christmas morning.
"What Mr. Hoskins means is, our trainers have been working very hard to build a relationship with the animals. Much like you see at SeaWorld with the whale trainers. I wouldn't go as far as to say that they follow commands," Claire explained further.
Vic looked annoyed at the commentary.
"Didn't a trainer get killed at SeaWorld? Got dragged underwater, I feel like you should have heard about that," Darcy said, reaching forward to try and get between the seats.
"Yes, well, we employ the very best here at Jurassic World," was Claire's answer.
"Pretty sure SeaWorld doesn't hire amateurs," Tony said as he looked out the window.
Claire gave what Darcy figured was a very uncharacteristic snort. "SeaWorld is not the best example. We have a fundamental disagreement with the way they run their business. But, that's neither here nor there."
"Why are your practices with animals so much better?" Darcy retorted. SeaWorld was a sore subject for her. She'd gotten in a lot of arguments over it.
Tony slumped in his seat and put his hand over his eyes. "Please, I beg you. Don't get her started. The last time someone mentioned them, she went on a thirty minute diatribe. And it was only thirty minutes because I cut the feed to the video monitor."
Darcy harrumphed and crossed her arms. She'd get the information she needed later.
The rest of their trip was made in silence, and before long they were pulling up to park in front of a large cement building. Or what looked like a building. There was a break in the concrete in the middle and the space was fitted with what looked like a large metal cage.
Darcy gazed up at the structure as she got out of the car. Behind the building there seemed to be a large wooded area, and she could barely make out a fence extending from both sides of the building. She really hoped it was electric.
She remembered the stories from her uncle about what happens when raptors get loose.
Tony, Claire, and Vic were already walking ahead of her. They stopped beside two men who were deep in conversation.
"Owen!" Vic called, completely ignoring the fact that they were mid-sentence. Wow, this guy was rude.
Owen turned and Darcy nearly swallowed her tongue.
Holy shit this guy was hot.
Like, stupidly.
He had his sleeves rolled to his elbows, so she could see thickly muscled forearms. He was tan from working on a sun-drenched island, and, yeah. Darcy was starting to enjoy her vacation. With scenery like this, she could see herself enjoying it, indeed.
Claire stepped forward to do the introductions, "Owen. Barry. I'd like you to meet our guests for the weekend." She took a breath and Vic took the opportunity to go ahead.
"Owen Grady, let me introduce to Tony Stark of Stark Industries. He's out guest for the weekend," Vic said it as if it were his idea to invite them this weekend. Wow, he'd take credit for just about anything, wouldn't he?
Tony reached out and gave Owen a firm handshake. Okay, what was in the air on this island? Darcy would count on three fingers the number of times she'd seen Tony voluntarily shake someone's hand. The hand was usually female and flirty comments followed shortly thereafter. Something told her that this wasn't going to follow the normal formula.
She had to tell Pepper.
Owen nodded and looked to Darcy, waiting for the other introduction to be made. And, my, he had a pretty face. Okay, pretty probably wasn't the best word because this guy? Complete rugged masculinity. She wanted to nibble his jaw.
Vic turned to her and gestured. "This is, um…this is…" he paused, clearly trying to remember her name.
Darcy crossed her arm over her chest and gave him the look, the one she usually reserved for when Tony was being especially douche-tastic. She raised her eyebrow, not even helping him out a little bit.
"Uh, she's…Mr. Stark's secretary." Apparently he thought that was an appropriate introduction because he made no further effort.
She scoffed. "Are you fucking kidding me? You just met me."
Tony was failing at keeping his laughter to a minimum. "Oh, that's great."
Darcy sighed. "And I'm not a secretary. I'm a scientist wrangler. Huge difference, you asshole."
Tony snorted.
Owen looked like he wanted to laugh, too.
Vic pursed his lips and turned back towards Owen, but before he could say anything Darcy reached forward and shook Owen hand. "Darcy Lewis. Scientist wrangler extraordinaire." She looked at Vic. "I'm no one's fucking secretary, you gigantic piece of shit. I'm trying really hard not to tase you, buddy."
"Darcy, try not to damage the help," Tony said. The look in his eye told her a different story. And that story was, "I'm already making bets in my head on how long it takes you to do it and I'll split the winnings with you."
Darcy glared at Vic and said with as much venom as she could, "In. The. Balls."
Vic visibly swallowed.
"Are you really going to let her talk to me like that?" Vic was astonished that anyone would talk to a man of his caliber in such a way. Where was the respect due his position?
"You have no idea, pal," Tony straightened up, adjusting his suit jacket. "I pay her for that kind of thing."
Vic looked like he was hit by an idea. "Ah, I see." Darcy was pretty sure that he did not see.
If the look in his eyes was any indication, he should be really fucking happy she was listening to her boss (for once). What? She liked Simon and was pretty sure jamming a taser into the testicles of his "security expert" would make a bad impression.
"Okay, no. Not even close. I have a Pepper," Tony explained, clearly understanding what Vic was insinuating. Wouldn't be the first time someone thought she was banging her boss, and it probably wouldn't be the last.
Suddenly Darcy realized she was still gripping Owen's hand. He didn't seem to be in a rush to take his back and he had a nice grip. Firm. Confident.
Ngh.
Even his hands were sexy.
Maybe she could salvage this vacation after all, she thought, giving him a wink. He just smiled in return, giving her a wink of his own.
Soon after, everyone except Darcy and Barry were involved in a heated discussion. She took this time to look around again while trying not to look too bored.
"Miss Lewis?"
"Hm, yes?" Darcy answered as she turned her head back around. "Hi, Barry."
He smiled and came to stand next to her, "Hi, Darcy. Would you like to get a look from above?"
She must have looked confused because he elaborated, "We have built a series of catwalks above the enclosure, only in the front. If you wanted, you can try and see if you can spot any of our guests." He smiled fondly as he spoke of the raptors.
Darcy's smile grew and figured if she wanted to get a good, safe, look that this was definitely the way to do it. Barry held his arm out and she put her arm through his.
No one noticed as they walked away, their discussion getting tenser. She even heard Claire starting to raise her voice. "That sounds like a fantastic idea, Barry. Lead the way."
He walked her a set of stairs just off to the side of the first set of bars. "Just go on up. Take your time. Something tells me our friends will be a while."
Darcy looked back in time to see Tony give a particularly violent set of hand gestures. She sighed. "Yeah. You're probably right. You're not going to join me, Barry?"
He smiled. "No, ma'am. I must get us ready for their next feeding. But please, take your time. They won't leave without you." He paused. "Don't mind the men with guns. They are here for our protection."
Darcy tried to stop her frown as she made her way. Men with guns? Yeah, that didn't make her feel any better.
By the time she reached the top she had decided that maybe guns were a good idea if one of these things got out. She smiled to one of the armed men as she walked passed him. He nodded.
Darcy made her way across the catwalk, peering into the enclosure below. There was an open space near the gates, but the rest was forest. Trees and ferns everywhere and, wait. Something was moving down there. She could feel her excitement build.
Her hands trailed across the railing as she moved towards the guy in the middle. And, okay, what was he twelve? Was he even old enough to be working there? Before she could greet him she heard a yell. "Pig loose! PIG LOOSE!" Was "pig" code for another kind of animal? Because if it was the oink oink kind she didn't really see the need for panic.
The kid next to her didn't waste any time reaching for a catch pole. Everything after that happened so fast she could barely keep up.
The pig came flying out of the tall grass (and yes, it was the regular farm animal kind). The kid reached the catch pole down and got a grip on it. Something hit the pig from behind, increase the force on the end of the pole. He was falling over the rail, he couldn't get a grip on anything
Shit.
Darcy reached forward trying to catch him. She managed to grab his ankle and fuck.
Good news: she had a good grip on him.
Bad news: she was not anchored to anything herself and she followed him over the railing.
She had enough time to hope she didn't land on her head before her back slammed into the ground.
Ow.
The fall knocked the wind out of her and she lay there for a second trying to remember how to breathe. She heard a snuffling and was pretty sure it wasn't the pig. The kid was lying next to her, a little worse for wear than she was. He seemed dazed. Shit.
Slowly, she rolled onto her side and tried not to scream when she looked up. Okay, she wanted to see the raptors, but not up close and personal. Somehow she would blame this on Tony. But only if she lived through the next five minutes.
She heard a commotion behind the gate as, she hoped, people rushed to help. She heard someone yell, "Don't shoot. Don't fucking shoot!"
Darcy wasn't so sure she agreed with that order.
She took a deep, fortifying breath. Okay, no. If she was going to get eat by a pack of raptors, it would not be while she was laying down with her eyes closed.
Darcy stood, slowly, keeping her eyes on the closest animal. It was a few feet back away and blinking at her, head tilted to the side. It hissed at her as she stood. Making biting motions.
Fuck this. This was supposed to be a weekend of relaxation. She was pissed. Reaching her foot behind her, she kicked the kid on the ground. It took a few, progressively harder hits, before she heard him groan. Except that when she heard him so did the raptor in front of her.
It moved to the side to peer around her at the easy looking victim on the ground.
Darcy reached her arms out to the side, hands spread wide. "Get up," she hissed. "Get the fuck up right now and go to the gate."
She didn't hear anything behind her except someone yelling to get the gate open. She spoke louder. "Get to the fucking door."
The raptor lowered its body and Darcy swore it was about to jump. It was clicking its…talons and reaching forward slightly in her direction. The other three were watching it. This one must be the alpha.
Fuck this.
"No!" she yelled. "Fuck you, no!"
The raptor froze, eyes blinking, head to the side.
"I am not getting eaten by a fucking dinosaur, do you hear me?" She pointed at the animal as she yelled, her voice getting louder.
It tilted its head in the other direction as it straightened up a little, and Darcy noticed the nostrils flaring repeatedly. Great, it was scenting her.
"I am not your fucking food!"
She could hear the gate starting to raise behind her. About fucking time.
It took a small step forward, staring at her with eyes that were way too intelligent. It opened its mouth and made a series of chirping sounds.
Darcy didn't speak raptor so she continued with her tirade. "Back the fuck off. If Tony hasn't blown me up yet, you do not get a Darcy snack, do you understand me?"
She heard Tony make a squawking sound behind her but she was not taking her attention off this prehistoric Godzilla wannabe.
The raptor eased back and made another chirping sound.
The gate had to be open by now, right? Could she back away slowly enough and make it before it decided Darcy was food? God, she hoped that kid made it. He'd definitely be eaten.
She felt someone come up behind her and then her vision was obscured by Owen. Do not stare at his ass. This is not an appropriate time for ogling.
Owen stood in front of her, one hand up in a closed fist, the other out in from of him. "Blue! Stand down."
Blue? Just continued standing there, staring.
"Hey! Charlie! I see you. Get back." The raptor to her left, Charlie, took a low step backwards. Holy shit, he really was a raptor whisperer. That was kinda hot.
Not the time, Darcy.
"Blue. Eyes on me," Owen said as he clicked something in his fist.
Blue just blinked at him before taking a step to the side. The movement reminded her much of the way birds moved. It was eerie and graceful all at the same time.
The raptor made a noise at her. It wasn't a hiss or a growl, and it was hard to categorize, but it didn't sound threatening.
Darcy raised her hand and waved.
Blue clicked her talons.
Owen looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "Very slowly make your way to the door."
Yeah, Darcy wasn't going to argue.
It was the tensest ten steps of her life. For every move back she made, Owen followed, keeping the raptor's attention on him.
Well, all except for Blue. She had eyes only for Darcy, apparently.
Owen seemed to know the exact moment she stepped on the other side. "Close the gate."
What?
Her shock as his command was echoed by Barry.
"Just do it," he said, voice low. "Trust me. Delta! Back! Did you hear what I just said?"
Darcy wasn't sure if Owen was talking to the raptors or the humans.
The man hesitated and the kid screamed, "Shut the fucking gate!"
Darcy kind of wanted to kick him again.
"Owen," she muttered. "Please."
He just nodded. "Don't worry. Close the gate!"
The other man muttered a curse and slammed his hand down onto a button. The gate started to close. With maybe three feet left of clearance, Owen threw himself under just as the raptors rushed it.
Darcy flinched when they hit, her heart hammering.
Jesus Christ.
"Darcy!" Tony yelled as he threw his arms around her. Wow, he must have been scared.
"I'm okay, boss man," she said as she let her head rest on his shoulder for a moment.
She pulled away in time to hear Owen berating the kid on the ground. He was sitting up near the thick metal bars of the cage.
"Ever wonder why there was a job opening?" Darcy heard Owen ask him.
The kid didn't know whether he should laugh or not.
"And never have your back to the cage," Owen instructed, moving away.
The kid turned his head to look behind him and jumped away as much as he could from his seated position.
Blue had her snout pressed as far through the bars as she could, her claws curling over them, clicking against the metal. She snarled but stopped abruptly when she saw Darcy look at her. Blue straightened and stood away from the bars. She reached her neck forward slightly and made that strange sound again.
The four raptors turned and ran into the woods.
They were kind of cute when they ran, Darcy thought as she watched their tails disappear in the trees. Darcy turned her eyes and looked at Owen, who was looking at her with a peculiar look on his face. "I made a friend?"
Tony laughed, relief clear in his voice. "Yeah, you did, Lewis. I guess after tasing a god and being BFFs with a brainwashed ex-assassin, a raptor is no big deal."
"Tony?" Darcy asked, breaking eye contact with Owen. He was now looking at her with a sense of wonder.
"Yes, Lewis?"
"I want a raise."
"Okay, Lewis."
