Disclaimer: Don't own anything. 8D

Warnings and Notes: Gay things, language, some mild dinosaur related violence, implied sexual scenes but no graphic sex scenes. Just implied. I can't write porn. And if I did, it would make everyone laugh. Will also contain sorta... Wereraptors. 8D This will be updated slowly, since my other story, Raptor, is like my baby.

Pairings: Owen/Zach. Possible mentions of Claire/Zara.

Just a Scratch
Chapter 1: Scrape

He was a hunter, stalking his prey, waiting for the right moment to pounce. His eyes scanned the small room. And then his head started swimming. Oh yeah. He may have drunk a bit too much. Or maybe not enough. No one was jumping out at him. And he was really hard up. It was tricky trying to date when you lived on a resort island and worked with dinosaurs. He'd already tried all the women there. And some of the men, too. Why the hell did he think he'd get lucky at the employee bar?

He needed a vacation. From the vacation resort he lived on. Though he really had nowhere to go. This place was his whole life. And who was he kidding? He'd never leave his girls. He sighed heavily as he turned around on his stool. He leaned on the bar and picked at the label on his bottle. After a moment, he lifted his beer to his lips and took another swig as a shadow fell across the bar beside him.

"Hey." Said a soft voice beside him. A voice like honey and sugar and dripping with sex.

Owen set the bottle down and looked over slowly. There was a kid sitting on the stool beside him. Owen let out a snort and turned back around. "Hi." He mumbled out.

The kid leaned on the bar top, moving closer to him. "You uh... here with... anyone?" The honey kid asked, a touch of nerves in his voice.

Owen smiled and waved at the bartender. "Chris." He called out. "I'm leaving."

"It's John." The man said with a sigh.

"Yeah, John. That's what I said.

John the bartender smiled. "You need a ride?"

Owen laughed and slid off the stool. "Nah. I'm walking."

"Alright. See you later Owen."

Owen grabbed his half full beer bottle and turned. He made a graceful exit out the door, managing to stay perfectly upright. And then he sunk down on a bench outside. The cool night air felt good. Not that it was exactly cold. It was central America. It was always hot. But it was definitely not as hot as during the day.

Owen leaned back on the bench, putting his bottle to his lips. The door behind him opened and closed and a shadow fell on the bench. And suddenly, the kid from the barstool was leaning over the back beside him. "Soooo..." Honey said into Owen's ear, stringing the tiny word out. "You're Owen."

Owen rolled his eyes. "Yeah. You found out my big secret." Owen said, letting his arm drop to his side. "Now begs the question why you put so much effort into getting my big secret."

The kid smiled. "Because you're like one of the hottest guys I've ever seen..."

"One?" Owen snorted.

Honey smiled again. "Fine. The hottest guy. Satisfied?"

Owen shook his head. "No. But go on."

Honey pushed off the back of the bench. He slowly stepped around it, dragging his fingers along the top. "I saw you looking at me."

Owen leaned his head back. "I looked at you?"

Honey slid down slowly onto the bench beside Owen. "You were checking me out."

Owen tilted his head. "I was?" Honey smiled again and it was like magic. Oh yeah, Owen had looked. He had looked long and hard until his beer addled brain caught up and deemed the kid was... well... a kid. "How old are you?" Owen asked real slow, hating the way the words sounded in his mouth.

"25." Honey answered smoothly.

"25?" Owen repeated. He frowned and turned away. Maybe his beer addled mind saw Honey much younger. It had screamed barely legal when he spotted the kid earlier. Maybe barely old enough to order a drink at the bar. But certainly not 25. He'd been way off.

As if reading his thoughts, Honey reached over and grabbed the beer bottle from Owen's hand. He smiled and brought the bottle to his lips. He took a quick sip and leaned back, looking perfectly in place.

Owen changed tactics. "How long have you been here?" He asked, trying to sound casual. "I think I'd remember seeing you."

"I know I would have remembered you." Honey said smugly, still smiling. "I got in today."

Owen smiled. "How'd you get into the employee bar?"

Honey looked down at his lap for a moment. "Sister works here. She dragged me here." His shoulders dipped for a moment in a slight shrug. "Wants to put me to work."

Owen piqued an eyebrow. "I'd like to put you to work." Honey's eyes widened for a moment. His cheeks reddened and he glanced away again. He looked really nervous for the first time. Owen's eyes widened as he slowly realized he'd said that out loud. "Uh... I didn't mean to say that... out loud..." He mumbled.

Honey looked over at him, that smile back on his face. "You want to come back to my hotel room?" He asked softly.

"Oh hell yes." Owen said quickly. "It's just..." Owen tilted his head for a moment. His head was already starting to clear. A bit of flirting sobered him right up. Honey held the bottle back towards him. Owen reached for it and their fingers touched. And shit, if that didn't go straight south. Owen met his eyes. "You sure you're 25?"

Honey stood up slowly, making a show of leaning forward and pushing off the bench. "I can show you my driver's license. Or my passport or my old college ID. Or any other piece of paper you'd like to see. Back at my hotel room. Because..." Honey shrugged, taking a step back slowly, a smile on his face. "Didn't bring my wallet with me."

Owen ate up every calculated movement the kid - young man - made. "You didn't bring a wallet to a bar?"

Honey shrugged again. "Never need one."

Owen tilted his beer bottle up and downed the last drop. He set the empty bottle down on the bench beside him. Then he stood up. Honey was still smiling as he turned and started down the sidewalk. Owen followed, a few steps behind. The older man kept his distance. It wasn't exactly out of fear of scaring Honey off. The younger man seemed pretty good at this. Whatever this was. And Owen really liked it. He followed Honey into the hotel and stepped up behind him in the elevator. Owen turned towards the doors and crossed his arms over his chest. He kept his eyes on those very interesting doors but every other sense way on the young man standing beside.

The door finally opened and Honey stepped out. He turned down the hall without a word and Owen followed. They stopped long enough for Honey to open the door to his hotel room. And it seemed like ages for Owen. He leaned against the wall by the door, watching. And then Honey pushed the door open. He turned towards Owen and smiled again.

Owen pushed off the wall and stepped towards him. No more waiting. He grabbed Honey by the collar of his shirt and yanked him inside the room. Honey stumbled behind him and managed to kick the door shut behind them. Owen turned and pushed Honey up against the door. He placed his palms against the door, on either sides of Honey's head. "Before this goes any further... you sure?"

Honey turned slightly and reached for the door handle. He locked the door and turned back, smiling at Owen.

Owen shook his head. "I'm gonna need verbal consent here, Honey."

Honey tilted his head and smiled again. "I can... give it to ya... in writing." Honey said slowly, reaching out to touch Owen's waist. "If that'll make you happy."

Owen let out a laugh and moved closer. "Just a simple yes will work."

Honey leaned forward and stood on his toes, brushing his lips against Owen's. "Yes."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"Owen Gray, this is Zach Mitchell." She said, her eyes never leaving her phone. "My nephew and your new handler. Zach, Owen's the head of the raptor program and your new boss."

Owen blinked as he stared at the honey voiced kid he'd met the night before. Because now in the light, in the middle of the front plaza, the kid looked very much like a kid. Honey-Zach was standing behind Claire, his eyes on the ground and his bottom lip between his teeth. He hadn't said anything and to Owen, he looked like he was about to pass out. The older male let out a snort and shook his head, looking nearly as feral as his animals at that moment. "Hoksins already hired me a new handler. And he fell into the cage."

Claire glanced up from her phone. "Which is why you will take him under your wing and teach him the correct way to do..." She waved her hand in the air. "Whatever it is you do."

Owen rolled his eyes. "I'm not a babysitter. He looks like he's 12."

"I'm 19." Zach said softly, still not looking up.

Owen tried not to react as his eyes flew to Zach. But hearing the number now made more sense. He knew the kid wasn't 25.

"He's 19." Claire answered, her eyes flitting down to her phone again. "I have to go meet with Mr. Masrani. We can meet for lunch."

Owen watched her turn around and he shook his head. "Claire! Wait a minute!"

She paused and looked back over her shoulder at him. "Look, Owen." She said with a sigh. "Give him a chance. His parents got divorced a few years ago and he barely graduated high school last year. He's been floundering. My sister's worried about him. I'm sure you can... turn him around and get him to stop... sulking and grow up."

Owen looked at Zach again. The kid was glaring at his aunt. She spared a quick look at him to smile and wave. And then her eyes were on her phone again and she was walking away. "I heard that." Zach called after her. "I'm standing right here!"

"Good!" She yelled back. "Then I don't have to repeat myself."

Zach crossed his arms and turned around. His eyes met Owen's and then dropped to the ground. "I'll uh.. .just go back to my hotel room." He mumbled, his face turning red.

Owen's eyes widened for a moment. He cleared his throat and shook his head. And then he let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, kid..."

"I'm not a kid." Zach snapped.

Owen rolled his eyes. "Fine. Whatever. Zach, right?"

"Yeah."

"Look, Zach." Owen started again. "I don't think this is a good idea, for various reasons."

Zach looked away, his face growing redder.

"But fuck it." Owen mumbled under his breath. Because yeah, he suddenly felt bad for the kid. And a lot of other really bad things, too. "Stay closer to me, do whatever I say, and pay attention."

Zach looked up at him. "What?"

"You're coming with me."

"Already did that." Zach mumbled, looking away.

Owen smiled. "Don't tell anyone about that." He added softly.

Zach shrugged. "Whatever."

"That's the spirit! Let's go!" Owen turned and stalked off.

Zach watched him for a moment and then ran to catch up. He fell in step with Owen. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and said nothing.

"So..." Owen started softly, stepping closer to Zach. They weren't exactly touching, but Owen swore he could feel a spark of electricity pass through them. Zach glanced up at him and then quickly looked away. Owen smiled. "25, huh?"

Zach shrugged. "If I'd said 19, you wouldn't have followed me back to my hotel room."

"I admit... I've never had a 19 year old ask me before." He said softly. "But yeah. I definitely wouldn't. I shouldn't have. Shoulda just gone back to my office and slept it off and then we could be laughing about all this right now."

Zach bit his lit. "Wasn't anything to laugh at..."

Owen sighed as he turned for the parking lot.

"You uh... snuck out... this morning." Zach said softly.

Owen shrugged his shoulders. "That's like... the definition of one-night-stand."

Zach slowed. "Oh..."

Owen stopped and turned slightly, waiting for Zach to catch up again. "You seemed so natural... at everything. Just figured that's what you expected me to do."

"Oh." Zach frowned and shook his head. "I'm not... I mean... I've actually never... done the whole... uh... any of this. I just..." He looked away. "I had a bad day and you looked nice..."

"Nice?" Owen snapped. "Just nice?"

Zach rolled his eyes and looked back at Owen. "Hot." He corrected. "Already established that last night. Get over yourself."

Owen smiled broadly despite himself. "You uh... not so... bad yourself..." He admitted softly, feeling a bit awkward.

There were silent for a moment. And then Zach stepped closer to him. "Since we've already... uh... do you... want to... again?"

Owen glanced away from him for a moment. He did feel iffy about the age thing. And about the lies. But there was clearly something happening here. And last night. And Owen was reluctant to let that go. "Maybe." He said softly, looking back at Zach. "Just... keep... quiet." He said and cursed how awkward it sounded.

But Zach didn't\'t seem to mind. He simply nodded. "I can do that."

"Good." Owen said, turning back around and heading towards his jeep.

"So... how about tonight?"