Rhythm of my Heart: A Mericcup Anthology

Monsters

Jurassic Park AU written for Mericcup Month 2021, Day 9: Monsters.

----

"This isn't right," Merida said, her ears and freckled face flushing almost as red as the mane of curly hair that was barely contained under her pith safari helmet. "These are living, breathing creatures, not inanimate objects. This won't be enough for them, they all need proper enrichment."

"Stay in your lane, Mrs Haddock."

"Doctor Haddock," They corrected in unison.

"She's right," Hiccup said, nodding as he slid his hand down his wife's wrist to her closed fist, hoping that it might be enough to keep her from trying to make her point with them instead – not that he'd think her in the wrong if she did at this point, but it certainly wouldn't help their case. "This isn't humane."

"Not humane?" Doctor Grimborn scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh please. They're being fed daily, their enclosures are kept in immaculate condition and there's a whole team of veterinarians on staff to ensure they're all kept in good health. I wish I had a team as dedicated to my enrichment as these monsters do. Now, if you're very much finished, there's a whole stack of paperwork on my desk that won't finish itself."

Hiccup felt his wife tense beside him as their expedition leader and supervisor swept past them out of the room, but she didn't lunge for the dark-haired man. Her shoulders tensed, and for a moment, he thought she might scream, but then she crumpled against his chest with a long sigh. "The arrogance of that man is goin' ta get someone killed."

Wrapping his arms around her shoulders and tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, he felt her slide her arms around his waist. "You know, it's funny – when I decided to become a paleontologist, I never in sixty-five million years would have expected this to be one of the occupational hazards."

Merida sighed again.

"Right, not that funny," Pulling back her pith helmet with one hand, he planted a kiss on her forehead and tilted her chin up with his other so he could look her in the face. "But either way, we're not quite out of options yet."

Merida gaped at him, her eyes wide. "Viggo will end both our careers before they've even had a chance to begin."

It was Hiccup's turn to sigh. "I know, but the alternative..."

"A know. If he's not going to warn Once-Ler about what's going to happen, someone's got to. And if the park doesn't change how things are done, someone's going to get badly hurt," Merida said, her gaze wandering from him to the colourful park opening brochure pinned to the bulletin board on the back wall of their office.

Hiccup nodded grimly. "Or worse."