I died for several months. Seriously. Working full time night shifts and being really sick and my friend's unborn baby is TRYING TO KILL ME! (With worry. Because she's been trying to be born for the last 2 months. Waaaay early. Hospitals are not fun.) Plus stuff and shit and I HATE EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW. COME LIVE IN MY WORLD OF HATE! IT'S BLACK.
Raptor
Chapter 10: Babysitter
Owen arrived at the docks a few minutes early. He'd run home again and quickly changed and cleaned up. He was the most presentable he could be. He didn't do suits and ties. But he was clean and unwrinkled and ready to attempt to impress whoever it was that Claire was throwing at him.
He could see the ferry on the horizon, steadily getting closer. He smiled and leaned against the railing. It suddenly occurred to him then that he didn't know anything about these VIP's, these Mitchell brothers. What they looked like or how old they were. Just their names. Probably a couple of gray haired grandpas. He laughed a bit to himself. That would be funny. Or maybe not. Threat of imminent death from a heart attack wouldn't make a fun trip. Hopefully they'd be young enough to be able to keep up with him.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
"Gray!" Zach snapped, literally having to haul the kid away from the railing. He'd been hanging over, trying to get a picture of the dolphins dancing in front of the ship. "Chill." He breathed out. But the kid didn't stop. The kid never stopped. Zach really wasn't looking forward to the next few weeks. They hardly knew their aunt. He knew she wouldn't be able to pick them out in a line up. So he had little faith in her actually being able to handle Gray. Which meant that job would fall to Zach. And Zach really didn't want to spend his so-called vacation babysitting his annoying little brother.
Gray was still bouncing as he looked up and his eyes hit the island. "Look!" He shouted, pointing.
Zach rolled his eyes. "Yeah. It's a giant island. I can see it. I'm not blind." He gaze settled on the island and he fought back the urge to gasp. It really was huge. And it was... pretty came to mind. But no. He wasn't going to say pretty. Or think it. He wasn't going to say anything. Any comment about the island would just cause Gray to ramble on and on, either about his excitement or about boring facts. Zach leaned on the rail and looked away. There were two girls, standing on the lower deck. He'd call them pretty. Though the blond boy behind them was really hot. The blonde's eyes were on the island.
One of the girls looked up suddenly. She smiled and tapped her friend. Both smiled up at Zach. He blinked and stared past them. Gray turned to him. He followed Zach's line of sight and turned back to Zach. "What do you think will happen if you stare at them?"
"I'm not staring at them." Zach said softly.
Gray leaned in closer. "What are you staring at then?" He turned to look again.
Zach turned around and grabbed Gray's shoulder to turn the kid with him. "Nothing." He said sourly and pointed. "Look, we're getting closer."
Gray turned back around and his eyes lit up. He held up his camera, the girls or whatever Zach was staring at forgotten.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Owen watched as the small ship docked. He eased up off the rail and stepped closer. He crossed his arms, smiled, and waited. He should have made a sign, he thought, as he watched the first few people start to disembark. He thought it again after 15 minutes. A million people must have gotten off the damned thing! Was it even big enough to hold a million people? He scanned all the people but he really had no clue who he was looking for. He started wandering through the people, politely asking if they were or knew the Mitchells. No one did.
Owen was about ready to give up and call Claire. She should know more. Or maybe she had a picture. Or something, anything, to let him know who the hell he was waiting for. Honestly, why hadn't she been more descriptive? Brothers. That was all she gave him. Why hadn't he asked?
He turned slightly and a light breezy fluttered past. Owen's lips curled in an involuntary growl. His eyes narrowed and he felt his pupils shift. His vision cleared, becoming sharper as he turned, his eyes scanning the people around. Then his spine tingled and he could actually feel his dorsal spikes trying to poke through. He quickly closed his eyes and tucked his chin against his chest. He took a deep breath and shook himself. He got control of himself easily. He had no clue why he almost lost himself.
Owen breathed out and straightened back up. Well... that was weird. There was something close by that had his attention. His other half's attention, at least. He'd never felt anything like that before. He'd never felt the shift come on before like that, not involuntary. He'd learned years ago to control it completely. He could go months without shifting and feel nothing anymore. Not like in the beginning, with pent of energy. Where he felt like he was crawling out of his skin every few days.
But something definitely had his other half's attention. Or maybe someone... He stopped. That thought stopped him. Someone. Someone. He quickly scanned the crowd again. He couldn't exactly tell what or why... he was certain it wasn't anger or violence related. Which was good. Very good. He'd learned to control that years ago. This was something else. Something new. It felt like... it was almost like... he took another deep breath as he felt the pooling heat. OH GOD THE RAPTOR WAS HORNY! That was fucked up. That was seriously fucked up.
The breeze picked up again and he felt another growl. What the hell was wrong with him? That part of his brain he definitely should have had under control. He wasn't some kind of prepubescent horny teenager, popping boners every time someone attractive was near. He shook himself and took another deep breath to calm himself. He could take care of that later. For now, he had people to find. That was what he needed to focus on. He blinked and turned to start looking again when a voice directly behind him stopped him.
"Zach, where's Aunt Claire?"
"Dude, I have no clue. I'm right beside you!" Snapped a voice. "I don't see her, Gray. Just stick close."
Zach? Gray? Claire? AUNT?! All other thoughts vanished as Owen focused on those voices. They sounded like kids. Oh shit. Kids? He turned, searching for the voices. A few yards away stood the sources. A younger kid, bushy hair, maybe 12. The other one, maybe 16, with dark hair. These were the brothers Owen was looking for. His mouth dropped open for a moment as it really sunk in.
Dark hair turned suddenly, his dark eyes scanning the crowd. He looked equal parts bored and angry. He had his hand on his little brother's shoulder, like he was trying to stop the kid from bouncing. He stopped, his eyes on Owen. And then the kid smiled. And pointedly looked him up and down.
Owen piqued an eyebrow. This teenage kid was clearly checking him out. And not even trying to hide it. Owen smiled. Yeah, he knew he was hot. But it was nice when others thought so too. Even if they were a teenage kid. A pretty cute teenage kid... Owen blinked and shook his head. No, that was a bad thought. He started towards them. Cutie's eyes widened a bit when he noticed Owen heading towards them. He grabbed his brother and tried to push the smaller kid behind him. That was protective and cute. Oh god! That was bad!
Owen smiled and held up his hands. "Hi. Claire Dearing sent me to the meet the VIP Mitchell brothers. You're them, right?" He stopped and thought for a moment, he caught the scent of whatever set him off. But he shook it away and focused on the kids. He had a job to do, even if he'd been tricked into it. Because he was totally tricked into this and he was going to have some choice words for Claire.
"Yes!" The little one said, peeking out from behind Cutie, who was now looking at him a bit apprehensively.
Owen smiled. Smart kid. He dug his employee badge out of his pocket and held it out.
Cutie took it and stared at the picture a bit longer than necessary. "Owen Grady?" He read, looking up at him.
Owen smiled again and took it back, slipping it back in his pocket. "That's me. And you are?"
"I'm Gray." The little one said, pulling away from his brother and stepping around. He started bouncing slightly as he looked up at Owen. Cutie rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Owen, still smiling, glanced up slowly. "That must make you... Zach..." The name rolled off his tongue. He felt like it physically did, like he felt it.
Zach narrowed his eyes a bit and turned away. He cleared his throat and nodded. "Yeah."
Owen stared for a moment. He did it without realizing. But he felt like there was just something about Zach. Something he couldn't quite put his finger on... "Right!" He said a bit awkwardly and pulled out his phone. "Let me just call your aunt and let her know you're okay. Just one minute." He turned and took a few steps away, out of earshot. He hit her number and put the phone to his ear.
"Yes, Mr. Grady?" She answered after one ring.
"You tricked me." He hissed into the phone.
"Excuse me?"
"Kids!" He snapped slightly louder.
"You've met my nephews." She sounded like she was trying hard not to laugh. And he had no doubts that that was exactly what she was doing.
"Your nephews!" He snapped. "I'm a fucking babysitter!"
"It's not like you actually have to do anything." Claire said. "The older one's... uh... well he's old enough, I think." She said slowly. "And the little one... he's like... a genius or something. They shouldn't be that hard."
Owen rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You don't know how old your nephews are?" Somehow, that didn't surprise him at all.
"Of course I do!" There was a pause. "I have to go." She said dismissively.
"Claire!"
"I've left some all-access passes and a charge card at the visitors desk for you." She continued. "Let them do whatever they want and get them whatever they want. I'll try to get done early and meet you guys for dinner or drinks or something."
He rubbed his hand over his face. It was hard to find something that surprised him anymore. But Claire's lack of involvement with her family was just ridiculous. "Kids don't drink." He stated dryly.
"Right... right." She said slowly and paused.
"I shouldn't have to tell you that." He said.
She let out a sigh. "Please, Owen." Her tone of voice changed. She sounded... worried, distressed almost. "Just... make sure they have a good time." She said softly. "It could be the last time for a long time."
Owen wondered exactly what she meant by that. He frowned as he turned to glance back at the kids. Was Cutie staring at his ass? He prompted turned back. "What does that mean?"
"What?" Claire's voice faded out.
"Claire?"
"I'll be right there! Owen, I have to go now. Thank you." She sounded genuinely appreciative and then she hung up.
He pulled the phone away from his ear and turned to look at the two kids. He slipped the phone into his pocket. He took a deep breath as he started forward. Claire's ominous words replayed in his head. He could do good time. He smiled and clapped his hands together. "Let's go drop your shit... stuff off at the hotels and then we'll go have some fun."
Zach rolled his eyes and shook his head. He didn't look surprised. "If Claire's too busy, we don't need a babysitter."
"Aunt Claire's not going to see us at all, is she?" Gray asked softly, his voice barely a whisper.
"No. No, no, no." Owen shook his head, looking down at the youngest brother. He could feel the change in demeanor radiating off the kid. He looked miserable. "You'll see her later." Owen promised. And he'd make sure she kept that promise. "She asked me to show you all the super cool secret stuff. Since I work here. I can do anything I want."
Gray looked back up at Owen and his eyes lit up. "Really?"
Owen smiled down at him and nodded. "Yep. I'm the head raptor trainer."
Gray gasped. "Velicoraptors?"
"Yep." Owen nodded again.
"That is cool!" The kid squealed and stepped closer to Owen. "How many are there?"
"I have four girls." Owen answered.
"You're in charge of all of them?"
"Yep." Owen nodded again.
"Wow!" Gray breathed out. "Can we see them?"
"Later. Right now, they're sleeping. I had them up late last night and they're cranky." Owen bent down to grab their bags, laying at their feet.
"Hold up." Zach said. "Stay there." He pointed at Owen. He grabbed the back of Gray's shirt and pulled him back a few steps, out of what he thought was hearing distance from the hot, but clearly weird, stranger. The guy was hot. The guy was very hot. Probably the hottest guy Zach hadd ever seen. Like ever. Totally hotter than his math teacher. Those arms, that chin, the defined muscles under that tight shirt... nice ass, big... uh... eyes. Just a few minutes with this guy... Zach felt his face flush and he shook himself. None of that mattered because this overly hot and weird and friendly guy could be just about anyone. Having a name badge that said he worked there didn't really mean much.
"Zaaaaach!" Gray whined slightly.
"Don't move!" Zach snapped as he pulled out his cell phone and dialed aunt Claire's number.
"Zach, what's wrong?" She sounded a bit annoyed.
Zach glanced at the guy, who was still smiling at them. Did this guy ever not smile? "You hired us a weirdo babysitter." He said bluntly.
Claire let out a sigh. "Owen works here. For me. He's a good guy, I promise. Honestly, you're probably more mature than he is."
Zach rolled his eyes. Oh great. "That makes it so much better." He said sarcastically.
"I'll see you tonight, okay?" She said, like she hadn't heard him. "At 5... uh... 7... we'll see. What time do you go to bed? Or do you go to bed... at different... times?" She asked slowly.
Zach rolled his eyes again and pulled the phone away from his ear. He knew not to expect anything different from the woman they hadn't seen in years. He honestly wasn't surprised at all. He'd been let down by her enough over the years to know not to expect anything. At all. He hung it up and shoved it in his pocket.
"What did she say?" Gray asked, looking up at him hopefully. Gray, on the other hand, hadn't had that much experience with aunt Claire that he could remember. He hadn't exactly been let down by her. He hadn't exactly been around her enough to really know the difference.
"He's safe." Zach breathed out, even though he really wasn't sure he trusted that statement. He kind of got the feeling that maybe the man had been tricked. He seemed almost surprised when he first saw them. And the quick phone call... Zach hated the feeling of not being wanted. "Let's go." He said sourly.
"Yes!" Gray jumped and bounced over towards Owen. Who was grinning like an idiot. "Can we see the tyrannosaurus rex first? Can we see the mososaurus first? Oh! Can we ride the gyrosphere?! When can we meet your raptors?"
Zach hurried to keep up with Gray and pulled the kid back a step. "Can't see everything first." He snapped.
"I want to go on all of them!" He whined.
"We can." Owen said, still smiling. "After we go in there." He said, pointing to the visitor's center.
"To drop our shit off." Zach said.
Owen nodded. "Exactly."
"You work here." Zach rolled his eyes. "Lead the way."
Owen hefted the bags up and turned. "Follow me."
Gray bounced over, following behind him and started talking a mile a minute, asking questions about everything. Zach lagged behind and tuned him out. Because there was an extremely hot older guy walking in front of him. And he had an extremely toned ass. And back. And shoulders. And damn, the man must live at a gym. Zach smiled, enjoying the view as he followed them inside. He wasn't exactly subtle and he didn't care. Gray was oblivious and their aunt wasn't around to notice and tattle to his parents. So who was it hurting?
"Wait here a moment." Owen said after they walked inside the visitors center. He walked over to the desk.
Gray turned and dashed over to the DNA display. "Cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine." The kid rattled off. "The same four things in everything that ever lived." He said as he glanced over at his brother. "Cool, huh Zach?"
Zach followed closely behind Gray. "Sure." He mumbled, his eyes still on the man at the counter. Owen smiled at the girl behind the desk and Zach's eyes narrowed into a glare. The spark of jealousy was stupid, he knew. But it still pricked at him in the back of his neck.
Then Owen turned, still smiling, and held the wrist bands out. Zach blinked and looked away quickly as Owen came closer. "Claire got you VIP, all access passes. And a credit card." He held it out as well and wagged it back and forth. "I assume you know how to use that." He said, smiling. Zach narrowed his eyes for a moment. Owen went on. "So you can buy whatever you want and don't have to wait in lines. Though with me... you wouldn't have to anyways. Because I'm awesome. Super awesome."
Zach piqued an eyebrow at him as he slowly accepted the passes and card. His fingers grazed Owen's palm as he took the items. He quickly snatched his hand back and tilted his head. The guy was clearly hot and clearly insane. And old. And his aunt was right. Zach was more mature than him. He turned slightly and looked back at Gray. "Hear that? No lines." The kid's eyes widened and he darted forward and peered at the bands in Zach's hands. Like they were magic. Though to Gray, Zach guessed, they were.
Owen stepped closer to them and smiled down at Gray. "Hey. What was the fastest dinosaur?"
Gray answered without missing a beat. "Dromiceiomimus."
Owen's smile widened and he shook his head and Gray frowned at him. "A prontosaurus."
Gray tilted his head to the side for a moment. Then his eyes widened and he smiled. "I get it!" He looked at Zach. "Get it? Pronto?"
Zach rolled his eyes and nodded. "Yeah. Funny." He said dryly. Owen directed his smile at Zach and the teen quickly turned away.
"Can we go now?" Gray asked loudly.
Owen nodded. "Yeah, yeah. I promise, it'll be great!"
The brothers followed him towards the back, Gray bouncing beside him and Zach lagging a few strides behind. Owen pulled out his badge and swiped it at the staff doors and elevators. A half hour later, they'd dropped off their stuff, put on their bands, waded back through the throng of people, and were finally standing down at the gates.
"Okay!" Owen said loudly, clapping his hands together and turning towards them. "Where to first? Like really first?" He asked. "We can see everything and whatever we done have time for today, we can do tomorrow. But we need a starting point."
Gray looked up at Zach and the perpetually moody teenager just shrugged. Gray tilted his head, thinking. "The T-Rex!" The kid said finally, nodding his head.
Owen flinched slightly. "Really?" He didn't try to hide the whine in his voice. "Rexy, huh?"
Gray nodded again. "She's the original, right? From the first park?"
Owen nodded stiffly.
"Don't like it?" Zach asked. He was vaguely paying attention as he pulled out his phone. Just enough attention to keep an ear on his brother. Owen may be their babysitter, but Zach knew from experience if anything happened, he'd be the one to be yelled at. He was always the one getting yelled at.
Owen tilted his head slightly and shrugged his shoulders a bit. "Not... exactly." He strung out. "She just... doesn't like me."
Zach rolled his eyes. "It's a dinosaur. Does it like anyone?"
Owen laughed and shook his head. "Not really. But she really doesn't like me."
"Why not?" Gray asked.
"Uh... too much time around raptors." Owen said, scratching at the back of his neck. "I tend to... smell like one of them. And she doesn't like raptors. Like a lot."
"Oh." Gray said softly. "So we can't go see her?"
Owen shook his head quickly. "Oh no. We're going. Just saying. She ain't gonna be happy I'm there."
"I thought it was blind." Zach said, glancing up from his phone for the first time. He wasn't actually interested in the conversation. Because dinosaurs were lame.
"They aren't blind." Gray said. "Their vision is based on movement."
Zach shrugged his shoulders and dropped his back to his phone. His friend Seth had posted pictures of some prank he pulled on the cheerleaders. He smiled slightly. "Whatever. It's in a cage, right?"
Owen nodded. "But she'll know I'm there." He sighed and then nodded his head. "Okay. Let's go."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Author's Notes: Good news? Chapter 12, where Zach and Gray meet the raptors, is completely finished. Bad news? Chapter 11 isn't even started. Now, I'm going to go back to my world of hate and die for a while.