You really, really wish you hadn't finished off your bottled water so quickly earlier and hadn't brushed off your assistant's offer to take over for a while so you could catch up on a little sleep, because you could use something to wash the taste of bile out of your mouth and some more sleep.
But the gross filth seems forever imprinted on your mouth and the walls of your throat, every intake of breath a sickening reminder that prompts the desire to puke all over again. And something tells you that even if you'd had all the sleep in the world, you still wouldn't be prepared for what's about to be unleashed.
Almost like that day when the Indominus nearly brought the park to its knees, except not quite, because you decide that you'd much rather face the Indominus than this. And despite everything, you feel the ghost of a smile pass over your lips, as you wonder whether or not Owen would appreciate being thought of as more threatening than the fearsome Indominus.
It looks like you're not the only one to share this idea, either, judging from the sounds that Freckleface is making: pained cries interpersed with howls of terror and the unmistakable thump of heels clicking against the enclosure's bars. You refuse to look, not wanting to see, until a new 'voice' joins in, a hauntingly familiar series of clicks and brrrr and ssssss. Like Owen, you'd recognize that voice anywhere-Blue.
She sounds so near, almost as if she's in the corral with them and terror compels you to turn around before you can think better of it. The scene that greets your eyes is both reassuring and not.
Owen has the intern by the throat, holding him in place against the bars, easily despite Freckleface's struggles. On the other side of the bars is the dreaded velociraptor, evidently unable to restrain herself from taking part in her Alpha's wrath. She punctuates whatever threats Owen's whispering into the teenager's ear with promises of her own; a forelimb shoved through the bars and wrapped around Freckleface's thighs, serpentine tongue flickering against his opposite ear as he quaked in terror.
You look on in mute disbelief yourself, helpless to do anything but watch as Blue withdraws her head only to poke it through one of the spaces between the lower bars and, unbelievably, she sniffs at the intern's groin.
Even Owen takes notice of his beta's strange action, drawing back to observe with brows furrowed in a frown. "Blue, what're you-oh, shit. The kid pissed himself?"
As if to offer confirmation, the velociraptor cocks her head to the side-and then laughs. Fucking laughs. Owen joins in, shaking his own head disbelievingly.
Honestly, you're surprised that you haven't peed a little yourself, just watching the whole thing. You're pretty sure Freckleface passed out the moment he felt Blue's scaled snout draw near his groin; his eyes are closed and he's gone limp within Owen's steely grasp.
The humiliating discovery seems to placate the trainer and he releases his quarry, though not before delivering a vicious kick to the collapsed kid's midsection. Then he steps away and it's your turn to bear the weight of the amber-eyed scrutiny, as Blue redirects her attention to you. A chuffing noise, a clink as she withdraws from the bars entirely-and then she's gone, disappearing into the foliage of her enclosure.
You're left alone with Owen and his-kisses?
Kisses that leave you feeling lightheaded and peaked, as if you have a fever. His arms wrap around you tight, lifting you off your feet like he lifted Freckleface by the throat and like Freckleface, you make an inarticulate noise, surrendering to the embrace and its entailments.
He tries to speak first but so do you and the two of you stumble over words before you barrel over him, raising your voice.
"Owen," you start. "I'm so-"
"Sorry, I know," he cuts you off. "So am I."
Wait, what?
Seeing your stunned disbelief, he takes charge, pressing a calloused palm to your cheek. "We both fucked up. Let's just leave it at that, alright? You almost fucked Freckleface, I fucked his face-"
You feel your mouth crimp at that, unsure whether to admit laughter or be disturbed and Owen cringes as he realizes how his last statement must've sounded.
"Okay, that didn't come out right. The point is-just, forget it, okay? All of it. I'm willing to forgive if you are. Freckleface made me realize .. I don't want to lose you just because I was a bullheaded idiot and-"
"You're not going to pursue custody of the velociraptor eggs?" you ask hopefully before you can stop yourself.
Owen's grimace deepens and he uses his free hand to scrub at his stubbled jaw, like he always does when he's nervous. "I didn't say that .. but I might be willing to compromise on some things if you are?"
The relief and joy that fills you is almost tangible and you nod, unable to speak. He grips you tight in a hug and the two of you are about to kiss until you belatedly realize something, your hand flying up to cover your mouth as your eyes widen in horror.
"Owen, I threw up and you-you kissed-"
His poker face is stellar. "I'm willing to forgive if you are."