I'm like... 95% happy with this chapter. But I can't seem to get that other 5%. I mean, it's like... okay, I guess. But this work thing, is killing me. Haven't been able to write anything much all week. And I may be doing it again next week. If only I didn't need money.
Raptor
Chapter 18: Assault
Zach waited a bit after they left. He flipped through the channels on the TV, not really paying attention to anything. Just killing time, making sure Gray and Claire didn't come back. He grabbed his phone off the nightstand and scrolled back through his texts with Owen last night. Claire had kept them out pretty late. After dinner, she rushed them to a late evening showing of Moe's tank. It was pretty cool. The sun had set while they were eating. The sky was pretty dark by the time they reached Moe's amphitheater. All the lights were off, save for the ones deep in the water, lining the bottom of Moe's tank. The chairs dropped and it was amazing! Zach had been so enthralled with the underwater dance that he'd missed Owen's first text. And his phone stayed in his pocket through the whole show and through the next show they went to after that. It wasn't until they were back in the hotel room, a bit past Gray's normal bedtime, that Zach pulled it out of his pocket.
She bore you to death yet?
Zach had smiled as he sat down on his hotel bed. Sorry. Was at the nighttime Moe thing. He texted back.
A few minutes passed before Zach got a response. I love the nighttime version of the show.
Too bad you weren't there. It's pretty romantic. Zach texted.
He didn't get anymore texts last night. And no more the next morning, either. Thought he couldn't really fault the man. He'd told Zach no. But Zach wasn't always the best listener. He scrolled through their brief text log again before texting the man again quickly. Text us when you're done doing your job. He dropped his phone on the bed and finally, he got up slowly. He stretched his back and rolled his spine. The muscles were still a bit sore. But he was fine. He lied. Of course he lied. To Gray, Claire, and Owen. He'd lied to them all. And he didn't really feel bad about it. Because he was going to see Owen in a little bit. Alone. And Gray would have more fun with Claire anyways, without Zach there to bring everything down. Because Zach knew, being forced to spend a day in the control room and he'd bring everyone down. He'd be bored to death.
Zach smiled to himself and headed for the bathroom. He showered and dressed quickly. Then grabbed something quick to eat on his way out of the hotel. It was almost 10. He could wait around until Owen arrived to pick him up. But Zach was afraid Owen would leave him behind if he found out Gray was with Claire for the whole day. So Zach's only option was to surprise Owen by showing up at the raptor paddock. But not until closer to noon. He had a few hours to kill. So he wandered through the park. There were a lot less people around. The attractions were still open and he walked by several groups of people dressed in business suits. Investors or not, did they all have to dress like it? They were on a resort island! Surrounded by dinosaurs! Who were they trying to impress with ties and high heels?
It was a quarter to noon when the raptor paddock came into view. Zach pulled his headphones off and turned off his music. Now that he was there, he wasn't sure how to proceed. Stay outside and wait? Go in and find Owen? Try to sneak in and see if he could figure out what Owen had been doing all morning? He bit his lip and turned away. Now, suddenly, this seemed like a bad idea. He ran his hand through his hair. This was a really bad idea. Owen was going to be mad. He'd probably call Claire or something. And then Claire would be mad. And Gray would be mad. And maybe he should just go back to the hotel and wait.
His phone beeped and Zach blinked. He pulled it out and stared at it. A message from Owen. You guys ready?
Zach swallowed as he stared at his phone, contemplating. He bit his lip as he typed a message back. Here already.
Where?
Zach breathed out again. Okay. He was doing this. Out front.
Awesome. Come on in.
Zach took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. He was doing this. He shoved his phone in his pocket and turned around. He made his way inside slowly, more slowly than he intended. But he was suddenly nervous. He had no idea what he was going to do, no plan beyond having Owen alone for himself for the day. Assuming Owen didn't send him home right away. Zach kicked at the ground a bit as he walked in. But a whistle stopped him and he looked up. Echo was at the fence, practically plastered against it. He smiled and waved at her. She stuck her tongue out at him and waggled her tail. Zach shook his head. She really was something. They all were.
"Hey." Owen was there suddenly, smiling widely. He waved as he walked over. He slowed and started looking around. "Where's Gray?" He asked.
Zach was still watching Echo as he answered. "With Claire." He asked, not taking his off her.
"I thought you guys were coming here?" Owen said awkwardly, pausing midstep. "Echo's all excited."
Echo nodded her head and wiggled more, as if to punctuate that statement, and Zach smiled her again. "Claire took him to the control room to show him all the boring shit." He turned to look at Owen. "So..." He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged his shoulders. "Just me." He said slowly.
Owen crossed his arms and lifted his head. "Just you?" He asked
Zach nodded slowly and rocked back on his heels a bit. "Yep. Just me."
Owen took a step closer and tilted his head to the side. "You knew that the other night when you asked, didn't you?"
Zach looked at the ground. "Maybe."
"Maybe." Owen repeated. He sighed and shook his head. Then after a moment, he snorted and turned. "Fuck it. Whatever. Just remember what I said and come on."
Zach blinked for a moment, watching him. "Where uh... we going?" He hurried to follow Owen.
"My office." He said as he pushed the door open and stepped inside. "If you're gonna play with Echo, don't want it on camera. Hoskins would throw a fit and wanna try himself. And it would piss him and them off. And your aunt would probably get mad, too."
Zach smiled at that. Yeah, Claire would be very mad, he was sure. "You turn off the camera a lot?" He asked.
Owen shrugged as he pulled out his chair and sat down. "Not like... a lot, a lot." He said slowly and shrugged. He pulled out his keyboard and typed a few keys. "But yeah. Claire doesn't like when I'm in there. Years ago, Barry and I set up this system. We got hours of footage from all the cameras. Drills, sleeping, eating, whatever. And tracker decoys. So we can fool control into thinking they're right here."
Zach frowned as he stepped towards the desk. "Are they never not here?" He asked slowly, touching his fingers to the top of the desk. "Like you let them out?"
Owen's head shot up and his eyes widened for a moment. "No! No, of course not." He said quickly, shaking his head. "I mean... I uh..." He shook his head and looked back at the computer monitor. "Like uh... I can fool control into thinking they're just sitting around taking a break or something when I'm in there chasing them around or playing hide and seek."
Zach tilted his head. "Do you play hide and seek with them a lot?"
Owen shrugged. "Maybe."
Zach smiled and walked around the desk slowly, little his fingers drag along the desk. Then he stood behind Owen, looking over his shoulder. Owen leaned to the side, away from him, Zach thought. "So you hacked into the control room to override them?" Zach leaned closer, looking at the camera displays. "And aunt Claire has no idea?"
Owen let out a grunt and nodded stiffly. He was still leaning as far away from Zach as he could get.
"That's kind of cool." Zach said with a smile. He straightened up and moved away. He stepped towards the door and peered out, letting Owen finish with his cameras.
"Okay." Owen said after a minute, standing up. "We're good." Zach nodded and headed back outside. Owen caught up with him quickly and pulled ahead. He started for the catwalk and waved Zach to follow him up. Zach followed slowly and the two walked across the catwalk. They stopped about halfway across. "Echo!" Owen stepped closer to the railing and leaned against it.
Zach leaned against the rail beside Owen and waved at the raptor as she appeared under them. She tilted her head and watched curiously. "Hey Echo!" Zach waved again.
"No!" Owen reached out and grabbed Zach's hand, stopping him. For a moment too long, Owen held onto his hand. T hen he let go and cleared his throat as he looked back down at Echo. "They respond to hand signals."
"Really?" Zach asked. "I didn't see any hand signals before." Although honestly, Zach hadn't exactly been paying attention to Owen's hands before.
Owen tilted his head to the side. "Well... they listen to my voice, because I'm the alpha." He answered and glanced sideways at Zach.
A smile tugged at the corner's of Zach's lips. He loved when Owen called himself that.
Owen looked away again. That had probably been a mistake. Owen just needed to focus on something else. "Echo." He called out. "Echo, eyes on me. We're gonna show Zach some of the hand signals." Echo snorted and nodded her head. Owen turned slightly, angling himself towards Zach. This whole thing was probably a mistake. Because Zach was standing really close and Owen could smell him. He could feel the teenager in the air around him again. And it was clouding his head. But he couldn't really step back or ask Zach to step back. Because he had to stay close, so Owen could show him. Yeah, sure. That was the reason, his clouded brain reasoned. Owen lifted his hand and balled it into a fist. "This means hold or stop."
Zach stared at him a moment. "Seriously? The first one is stop? When she's not doing anything?"
"Just do it!" Owen snapped and Echo snorted loudly, as if to agree.
Zach rolled his eyes and mimicked the simple signal.
"This means down. Right, left, front, back." Owen went over the basic signals and Zach copied them exactly. Echo watched with interest and let out a squeal when Zach messed one up. But for the most part, Zach caught on quickly and preformed them all perfectly. And it warmed Owen's heart, as he watched. He smiled as he held up his hand, holding two fingers together. He twirled them in the air in an odd twist.
Zach mimicked it and frowned for a moment. "What's that one?"
"Dancing." Owen answered with a smile.
"Seriously?"
Owen nodded. "Yep."
"You taught them to dance."
Owen nodded again.
"Why?"
Owen shrugged and leaned sideways against the rail. "It was fun and I was bored."
"When are you ever going to use it?" Zach asked.
"When I want them to dance." Owen glanced down at Echo and twirled his fingers in the air. "Dance, Echo!" Echo straightened up and then twirled around in a circle. Owen smiled. "Good job."
Zach smiled as he stepped closer to Owen. "So... I haven't seen anyone." He mused. "You give them all the day off again?"
"Not exactly." Owen breathed out, still looking down at Echo. "Everyone had a pretty intense morning with boss fat ass. Let them all off for a long lunch. Barry left like 10 minutes ago. He's bringing pizza back and then I was gonna go get you." He paused and looked back at Zach. "Which I guess... now I'm not... because you're already here..." Owen trailed off awkwardly. He pushed off the railing and scratched at the back of his neck.
Zach nodded slowly. "So then... we're all alone..."
Owen shrugged. "Sorta, I guess. Barry'll be back soon."
"And there's no cameras..." Zach said softly.
Owen stilled at that comment. He swallowed and Zach took the moment to step closer to Owen. But the man shook his head and stepped around Zach. He continued to shake his head as he headed for the stairs. He had to get away from Zach before he did something he would regret. Because his clouded brain only seemed to be getting worse.
"Wait!" Zach called, turning to follow. "Owen!"
"No!" Owen spun around as he reached the bottom of the steps. His voice came out in a low hiss. "I told you. Don't."
Zach tilted his head slightly as he stepped down off the last step. He shoved his hands in his pockets for a moment and rocked back on his heels, looking entirely too innocent and cute. He lowered his chin and looked up at Owen through his dark lashes and batted his eyes a bit. Again, entirely too innocent and cute.
"Zach..." Owen's voice came out low. "I told you..." He repeated. "Don't." Owen turned around, intent on walking away, and Zach grabbed his arm. "Stop." Owen snapped but Owen was the one who stopped moving. Zach loosened his grip on Owen's arm, until just his fingers grazed the alpha's skin. He slowly walked around Owen, dragging his fingers down Owen's arm as he went. "Zach..." Owen suppressed a shiver at the contact. He tried to look away but found that he couldn't. He physically couldn't move. He needed to move. But a voice in his head told him not to. Zach was circling him. And Owen really liked it.
But Owen wasn't the only one. The raptor really liked it. Owen could feel him perk up, in the back of his mind. He could feel the raptor brush up against his subconscious. Then he could hear something, almost like... purring. Owen could feel the soft rumble. Was he purring? Oh god, he hoped he wasn't really purring. But he would think about that later. Because Zach was still circling slowly. Oh so slowly.
Zach looked cast his eyes downward again for a moment so he could look up at Owen again through his lashes. He finally lifted his fingers from the man's arm and grabbed a handful of his shirt, gripping the fabric tightly. "I love when you say my name." He whispered as he stood on his toes.
"Zach." Owen's voice was low and hoarse.
"It's okay." Zach whispered, pulling on the much older man. And Owen let him bring their lips together. It was just a gentle touch, a gentle brush between them that seemed to linger. Zach's lips were soft and sweet and timid. And then they weren't. Owen's arms were around Zach's waist, pulling him closer possessively. And Owen's lips were on his, harder. Zach gasped and Owen's tongue slipped past his lips. Zach's arms were around Owen's neck, holding him just as tight and close. The kiss turned messy, sloppy, lazy. Owen's hands moved higher up his back and Zach jerked away from Owen's mouth, panting slightly. Pain shot up Zach's spine and he cringed. Maybe he was hurt more than he thought. He sucked in a breath and bit his lip. Stupid fucking back!
Owen's grip immediately loosened and he lifted his hands. But he didn't step away. "Back?" His voice was low.
Zach nodded his head. Yes, it hurt. But he didn't want to stop because it might not happen again. Owen's hands lowered again, back on Zach's waist. The pressure was lighter than time, barely touching him. Zach locked his arms around the man's neck again. And it was so much better than Zach ever imagined. The feel of Owen against him, around him. Owen captured his lips again and it was magic. Zach felt like he was floating and the only thing keeping him anchored was the large hands on his waist.
Owen's lips were suddenly on his neck. Zach couldn't help the moan that escaped his lips. He fisted his hands into the short hair and he held on tightly. Owen let out a growl, deep in his throat. Zach felt the vibration against his neck. Shit, it was hot. And then Zach felt Owen's tongue on his neck, tracing the muscle up to his ear. Zach pulled his body flush against Owen and let out another moan when he felt the teeth on his earlobe.
Owen abruptly pushed him away, harder than he meant. "No!" He said loudly, his eyes wide. He waved his arms and stepped back. "You can't do that!" He snapped.
Zach blinked in shock. He breathed in deeply for a moment, trying to catch his breath. Then he smiled and stepped forward. "Why not?" He asked.
Owen stepped back again, shaking his head. His eyes were still wide, almost wild looking. "Because you'll get me fired." He whispered. "And I really can't get fired."
"Fired?" Zach stopped moving and frowned. "I'm not telling anyone. I swear."
Owen shook his head again and held up his hands. "Your aunt is my boss." He said with a sigh. "And you're like 12."
Zach crossed his arms and glared at him. "I'll be 18 in like 5 months."
Owen's eyes darkened and he stepped towards Zach. "You give me a call then." His voice came out low.
Zach smiled. "Really?"
Owen's eyes widened and he turned away. "Can't believe I said that." He mumbled under his breath and shook his head. This was bad. This was really bad. Because he wanted nothing more than to grab Zach again. To grab him and hold him tight and never let him go. "I gotta go."
Zach's face fell and his eyes widened. "Wait... Owen..." He reached out to touch him.
Owen shook his head again, not turning. "I gotta go now... before I do something I regret." He mumbled.
Zach bit his lip and pulled his hand back. "You said... you said I could work with Echo today."
Owen stopped and turned back to the fence. Blue was there now, looking at him, her head tilted and confusion on her face. "Not today, Blue." Owen said. Echo stepped closer, wiggling excitedly. "No, Echo." The youngest raptor immediately deflated and collapsed on the ground, in a rather dramatic fashion. Owen rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I said no, Echo."
Blue glanced at her sister. She darted forward and snapped at her. Echo jumped up and dashed off. Blue snorted and shook her head. Then turned back. She opened her mouth and let out a loud series of whistles and clicks, like she was talking.
"Nothing." Owen said, turning around and putting his back to the cage. She made a louder noise. "Drop it, Blue." He said, walking off. She did it again and Owen flipped her off as he headed for his motorcycle.
Zach turned to look at the raptor. Blue was standing as close to the fence as possible now. Zach jumped back a bit. She looked like… she looked like she was… glaring at him. She bared her teeth and growled loudly. Zach's mouth dropped open. Yeah. She was definitely glaring and growling at him. He swallowed nervously and turned a bit.
"Hey Zach." Barry was walking towards him.
Zach turned and his eyes widened. The man was smiling and holding two pizza boxes in his hands. How long had he been there? Did he just get there? Had he seen anything? Zach swallowed again and looked away, hoping he wasn't blushing. "Uh... hey... Barry."
Barry stopped and glanced around. "Where's Owen?"
"He… left." Zach said slowly. "Said he had something to do." He muttered, suddenly glad Owen had stopped them. He should have listened when Owen said Barry only stepped out to get lunch.
Barry frowned and looked around again. "He wouldn't just leave. He was excited about you and Gray coming."
Zach shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "Gray couldn't come." He mumbled. Then turned and pointed at Blue. "Blue seems upset." He said, lamely trying to change the subject.
Barry turned to look at her. Blue looked back at Barry. She blinked and bobbed her head. Then she turned back to Zach and growled. "Wow. You did something to piss her off."
"I didn't do anything!" Zach snapped, turning to the raptor. "I didn't do anything." He repeated. She growled again, louder this time. Zach flinched and stepped backwards. "I'll see you later." He kept his eyes on Blue as he backed up. Never turn your back on the cage. Owen's words were in his head as he moved. Although that's exactly what Owen had done. But the man was clearly the exception. Barry let out a laugh, watching him and Blue huffed and snorted and shook her head. Zach got the impression that she was laughing at him too.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Riding his motorcycle had been a mistake. It was hard to ride his motorcycle. It was very hard. Oh god, so hard! He pulled up in front of his trailer - bungalow, he was such a dork - and slipped off. So. Hard. Fuck! He needed a cold shower. A really long, really cold shower. He was not going to jerk off to some 12 year old kid. Who was 18... in 5 months. He was fucked. He was seriously fucked. He was almost twice this kid's age. He was old enough to be his father! Technically. If he'd sexed up some chick the moment he hit puberty. He certainly tried. A few boys, too.
Owen rolled his eyes at himself and shook those horrible images from his head. Because that wasn't the fucking point! The point was the fact that he couldn't control himself. Why the fuck couldn't he control himself about this kid? What the fuck was it about this kid? KID!
And the raptors! Why did the kid have to attack him in front of Blue and Echo? Blue was not going to drop this. She understood the concept of mates and reproduction. But dating? Flirting? Age differences? These she didn't understand. And he didn't want to explain. And Echo... He sighed and headed inside. He just wanted everything to go away. Just get the kid off... uh... off the island. Keep him off... the island... for 5 months. Then he could come back. Because it would be legal then.
Owen rolled his eyes again and shook his head. He'd never had this much problem with self control before. Never in his whole life! He could still feel Zach, still feel him against his body, still feel his lips. He could still smell him. Owen hurried to the bathroom and jumped in the shower. He turned the water on full blast and set it to cold. Then lathered up his whole body with way too much soap. He just needed to rid himself of Zach's scent before it drove him crazy enough to jump back on his motorcycle and track him down.
Owen stepped out of the shower and threw on some clothes. Then he sunk down on his couch and let out a sigh. He leaned back and ran a hand through his hair. He shouldn't have called the kid the other night. Shouldn't have let him come today. Should have thrown Zach's ass in his jeep when he showed up alone and taken him back to the hotel. He should have listened to Claire in the first place, when she said he couldn't take the brothers again. He should have never gone into their hotel room.
Owen rubbed a hand over his face. Hotel was a bad word. This was all Owen's fault. For whatever sick and twisted reason, he'd encouraged Zach. He hadn't meant to. He just... had no control. He had no idea why. But he just had no control. He was so thoroughly fucked.
His phone rang and he ignored it. His luck, it was Zach. He really should have told the kid it was very inappropriate to get Owen's number from Claire's phone. It was actually kind of creepy. Well... really, it was kind of cute. But creepy. Owen was going with creepy. He should delete the kid's number. And his phone's history. And block the number. And call Claire and tell her he was busy the rest of the week, catering to investors and Hoskins. He didn't have time to play babysitter for her. She should have asked her little girlfriend anyways.
Owen let out a sigh as his phone rang again. He reached for it, fully prepared to throw it against the wall to stop the incessant noise. He glared at the display. It wasn't Zach. That was good. It was Barry. And that might be bad. He hit the talk button and pressed it to his ear. "Yeah?" Owen said with a sigh.
"I've been trying to call you." Barry said with relief. "What happened?"
"Sick." Owen breathed out. And it wasn't a lie. He was sick. Very sick. A very, very sick man.
"Are you okay?" Barry asked, his voice full on concern.
"Yeah." Owen breathed out again. "Just... something I ate, I think."
"You didn't eat anything." Barry pointed out. "All day."
"Well it was something." Owen mumbled.
"Do you need anything?"
Owen smiled and leaned his head back against the couch again. "Nah, man. Already feeling better." He said. "Did uh... Zach... leave?"
"Yes. Right after you."
"Good." Owen said.
"He do something?"
Owen blinked and lifted his head. He looked down at his lap. His leg started bouncing nervously and he bit at a fingernail. "No." He said slowly.
"He did something, Owen." Barry insisted. "Blue's been agitated since he left."
Owen sighed. For like the billionth time. "I said he could try to boss Echo around and Blue didn't like that. She's still mad at him. And I think she's a little mad at Echo for forgiving him so quickly. And probably upset at me, too. For letting him come back. Or for spending do much time with the brothers the past couple days." Owen said and let out a laugh. "There. Pick one."
"Alright, alright." Barry said with a laugh. "Don't bite my head off, man."
Owen breathed out and ran a hand through his hair. "I'll be happy when this week's over." He said, for more than one reason.
"Until Hoskins shows up again to try." Barry said.
Owen narrowed his eyes, glaring at the ceiling. "Screw you." He snapped into the phone. Barry laughed, louder this time. There was a beep. Owen pulled his phone from his ear and glanced at the display. "Barry, I'll call you back. Claire's calling me."
"Uh oh." Barry said in a warning tone. "You're in trouble."
"Maybe. I never know with her." He hung up, took a deep breath, and answered. "Hello?" Fear nagged at him. Zach wouldn't tell her. Would he? No, he wouldn't. Zach had kissed him in the first place. He wouldn't say anything to her. He said he wouldn't. But would he? The worry kept going around and around in his head.
"Mr. Grady."
Owen rolled his eyes. "Owen." He corrected. "Do you hate all first names or just mine?"
"Owen." She said. "I have a favor."
He snorted and shook his head. "Already did you a favor." He mumbled.
"Have dinner with me."
Owen sighed. "I have a feeling someone wouldn't be happy with that."
"What..." There was a pause. "Oh. No! I really mean just dinner. It's not a date."
"Fine." Owen breathed out. "Sure. Whatever." He just wanted her off the phone so he could go back to trying to not think about her nephew.
"Alright." Claire said. "I'll text you where to meet us."
"Us?"
"My nephews and I."
Owen ran a hand through his hair. "Okay. Let me know." He pulled the phone from his ear. This was bad. This was very bad.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Author's Notes: I have like... almost none of the next chapter done. 8D Like only 500 words. Which is NOTHING. So I have no clue when the next update will be. Sorry. Now I shall go back to being killed by work.
