I swear I'm trying to update more often I am just. Very bad at writing djdjjdjd
Anyways, can you believe this fic is like, 5 years old? I started it when I was 16, I'm a little bewildered people still read it
Owen looks from the neatly stapled stack of papers in his hand to the small group of people clustered in front of him.
Claire can't completely hide the apprehension on her face, but she certainly would have fooled Owen were he anyone else, someone a smidgen less observant. (Of course, it pays to be observant in his line of work, and studying human behavior isn't too far off course for him, even if he can't always get a grasp on it as easily as animal behavior. In his defence, he can't read human minds.). Somehow, Wu keeps his expression perfectly blank, like it's a skill he's perfected by practicing in the mirror every morning while the two lab assistants that flank him do nothing to hide the nerves on their faces. Owen decides it's because they're new and young, most of the others in the science division have mastered the art of looking at least partially disinterested when dealing in matters such as having to interact with people without PhDs.
"You want me...", Owen says very slowly, "to go to Isla Sorna? Again?"
Claire almost looks apologetic.
"Yes", says Dr. Wu. "With your raptors still in their adolescent stage, now would be an opportune time to send an expert in the field to do research on the behavioral differences between a carefully bred pack of raptors raised by a handler versus the pack of Isla Sorna, another man-made pack, except that it's had years to develop on its own."
Owen blinks at him, trying not to look too much like an idiot as he tries to fish for a response to that because wasn't that the exact reason he went to Isla Sorna the first time, before his first batch of raptors were born? He still has his notes from then, he can do comparisons between then and now without having to subject himself to the razorblade touch of their minds. He asks as much to Wu because having to go again doesn't make sense to him (and yeah, he can hear Blue strongly disagreeing with the idea of him going back in the back of his mind, chittering as if deeply offended. The rest of his pack isn't any happier, discontent spiking through their link until Owen quietly calms them down.)
Wu shakes his head and shows the clipboard he's holding to Owen; a copy of his notes from his first expedition.
"These are outdated", Wu inists. "While I respect that you did research prior to this first expedition and had a fair idea of what to examine from the notes of Dr. Grant, I believe a second expedition would yield much fresher and accurate results now that you've personally worked with raptors, something no one else has had the ability to do." Because they were either eaten or in danger of being eaten, none of them say, though it shoots an uncomfortable chill down Owen's spine.
Through the bond, Blue snaps and Delta snarls, the rest of the pack prickling again and Owen mentally soothes them further, promising that he knows they would never hurt him (purposely). And, well, okay, maybe Dr. Wu has a point, maybe he wants to test some sort of theory, whatever, but that doesn't mean this whole thing doesn't set Owen on edge.
"Do I get a choice in the matter?" Owen sighs, crossing his arms, uncaring if he looks a bit defensive.
"We want you to give it some thought", says Claire diplomatically. "I understand, as does Masrani, why you would be hesitant to return to Isla Sorna, but Dr. Wu is convinced that something could be learned from it, and InGen is willing to escort you with an outfit of its best men."
They really want him to go, then.
"Fine", he sighs, trying and barely succeeding to keep the modicum of hesitance out of his voice.
"Thank you", replies Dr. Wu, nodding his head to Owen, and then to Claire before disappearing back into the glass and marble depths of the science building. Claire gives him a grimace that kind of passes for a smile, points at him to please read the paperwork she gave him and then walks off through another hallway. Owen watches the bright red splotch of her hair until she rounds a corner and he's left alone, wondering if maybe he should have stuck to dolphins.
No, hisses Charlie moodily, and Owen aquieces. Dolphins are assholes anyways.
Going into the padlock these days is becoming a more and more dangerous affair, though more because he's worried of getting caught by people rather than for fear of the animals inside.
Thankfully, Barry's shooed away the guards for this shift and Owen can have Alone Time with his pack without the worry of being stumbled upon. He should remember to buy Barry something at Margaritaville sometime when their schedules aren't packed nearly back to back and Owen isn't trying to scrounge up every second with his girls that he can. God he can't wait for the park's quieter season.
Blue greets him first, big head fitting against his palm as he pats her down, warm hide pressing against his skin. Charlie whuffles as she shuffles up behind her big sister, followed by Delta and Echo, the younger of the two barking in excitement. Roma bumps him from behind, earning herself a warning caw from Blue (which she promptly ignores, electing to keep bumping him until she has both of his hands petting her great white jaws, lips curled in what one might mistake for a snarl). Venizia attempts the same technique but underestimates her strength and knocks him over, the breath puffing out of his lungs and Owen only just keeps his face from planting into the hard packed dirt, hands stinging with the impact of palm-to-small-rocks.
A flicker of something that could be considered the dinosaur version of oops crosses the bond making Owen huff with amusement, turning himself to sit on his ass, patting Venizia's flank in forgiveness.
"Thought you were supposed to be working with the world's smartest dinosaur hybrid, not a pack of overexcited dogs", Barry jeers from the catwalk, a black cap he'd taken from the souvenir store protecting his dark eyes from the glare of the sun. Not so much from the glares of the six raptors below him, nor their trainer
Owen retorts with a few very eloquent French expletives as he stands up, wiping the dirt off his jeans, which in retrospect was kind of useless when he wipes his dusty hands on them afterwards.
"Delta thinks you're full of shit", he calls up after a particularly loud screech from his emerald girl, and Barry guffaws, throwing his head back in amusement.
"You're full of hot air!" says Barry, whose eyes follow Charlie as she tracks the shiny scales of a yellow lizard, already distracted.
Owen ignores him, turning back to his girls and letting himself settle in the warmth of the bond, the island buzz quieting down until it's just him and his raptors. Blue trots away to curl up in a neat ditch she'd dug in and Owen follows her, resting his head on her gray-blue flank, closing his eyes to blot out the over-brightness of the sun reflecting off the metal walls. Venizia comes to lay atop his shins- or more accurately, lay her large head against his shins. His I-rexes are starting to grow much, much faster and in a few weeks the raptor paddock will be hard pressed to contain them. It's not a problem for Owen, but no one's supposed to know how much influence he has over these creatures so it's vital they finish the I-rex enclosure soon.
Venizia chitters, and Owen drags his thoughts back to the present, smoothing his hand over her neck, right under one of her jutting spikes. The other girls are a gentle hum in the back of his head, Charlie and Delta racing each other back and forth from wall to wall, mere flashes of emerald and jade rustling through the vibrant green foliage.
Echo's taken up the chase on the lizard that Charlie had abandoned, snapping her jaws at the little thing she's cornered between tightly packed rocks, sharp talons scoring the earth with her jumps. She warbles with excitement, and Owen mentally notes that he should take them on hunt some time.
Roma's off staring at the construction equipment, her hide shifting from startling white to murky gray and alarming yellow, trying to match the colors- a sort of practice for her that on occasion Venizia would join in on, though less often.
He's allowed to indulge in a small nap for a good twenty minutes before Charlie and Delta get bored of chasing each other and elect to have Owen play with them, Delta fetching the soccer ball from the depths of the inclosure that had somehow survived their pointed teeth and claws for several months now- frankly, Owen's convinced it might actually be magic.
"Keep away!" Barry hoots from above and Charlie barks in agreement, bobbing her head like a curious bird in her excitement. Owen sighs fondly, resigning himself to spending the next three hours trying to outsmart his very intelligent pack.
"Keep score, Barry!" Owen calls up before rushing into the jungle, knowing he has five minutes before they descend upon him.
It rains that night, again.
It starts just after Owen gets to his bungalow, wind smothering its ghostly voice against his windows, needles of cold rain pounding like so many hands against his walls and he winces at the force of it, because while he knows his home will hold, it's hard not to worry about the thunderous waves that shake it like a child's toy, eager to spill the contents inside. Barry's staying for the night with him, taking the couch since the rain's gotten to the point where it would be nigh impossible to drive through, and mud slides were a very real concern.
He's staring out the window into the downpour, the lightning lighting up the worried, pinched lines of his face, reflects in his dark eyes the turmoil he feels inside.
"So you agreed to go back to the other island", he asks soberly, still not looking away from his reflection. He sees Owen there too, transparent and pale, his blue-green eyes meeting Barry's brown through the reflection.
He nods, then says quietly, "I did, yeah." He sounds tired and Barry doesn't blame him. Isla Sorna had been… draining, to say the least. He still remembers the migraines Owen would get, so overwhelmed by the wildness of those ancient, born-again creatures.
"When should I pack my bags?"
Owen does a double take, as if he hadn't expected that response, and Barry snorts, turning around to give him a proper smirk.
"I went with you before, it only makes sense I go with you again. Who else is going to keep your sorry ass out of trouble?" he drawls, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. And it should be, really, he's surprised Owen hasn't outright asked him to go because not only would Barry be familiar with the other island, he's the only one who'd understand what it was doing to Owen's head. He's surprised when Owen shakes his head, a flash of lightning bleaching him white, hair flame bright.
"I need you here, actually", he huffs, lips twitching with a smile, and Barry raises a brow, wondering what he's thinking.
"Barry", Owen explains, "I need you here because the girls aren't going to listen to anyone else. You may not have my ability, but they'll listen to you because they know I trust you, and I really, really need someone I trust to keep the girls from getting out and hunting Hoskins like a pig."
Barry blinks and Owen grins properly.
"You son of a bitch", Barry grumbles with no bite, and Owen laughs, patting his shoulder and moving off to get ready for bed, bones aching for a long, long rest.
Song title from Friends Will Be Friends by Queen
