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Cowboy	By : Deb Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 5572 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing it belongs to Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. Written for pleasure not profit.

Chapter List
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Many thanks to all of you who are reading and warm hugs for the kind reviews! Your feedback is very much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, it belongs to Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. I just borrow the guys from time to time and return them a whole lot happier. I don't own the song 'Rodeo' either. It belongs to Garth Brooks and as such all rights remain his. This fic is based loosely on the lyrics. Written for pleasure not profit.

Pairing: 2x1x2, past 1xR (sorry!) 3x4

Rating: NC 17

Warnings: Angst, fluff, sap, yaoi, Lemons, Lime, AU

Summary: Heero is a rodeo rider, the best on the circuit and looks set to remain there until an up and coming young cowboy appears on the scene.

AN: This fic is based loosely on the lyrics of 'Rodeo' by Garth Brooks - although it is not a song fic.

Dedication: To my lovely beta; Sakura for giving me the plot bunny and for all her hard work in editing my stuff. (No easy feat!) Thanks hun! You're the best!

“Cowboy”

October 2010 ShenLong

Chapter 31

And a broken home and some broken bones

Is all he’ll have to show,

For all the years that he spent chasin

This dream they call Rodeo

Rodeo – Garth Brooks]

The morning after the trial was cool and overcast, rain a very real threat. Both men slept late, the previous day's events having taken their toll and the lie in didn't do either of them any harm. Heero made his way out to the barn to feed Wing who showed his displeasure at having had not only his dinner late the previous evening, but now his breakfast way past his usual time by pushing Heero out of the way to get to his food. When Heero scolded him and gave him a shove back, Wing turned and nipped Heero on the arm. That little stunt earned the paint a hard smack on the muzzle and threat of not getting his breakfast at all.

Lowering his head, Wing pushed his muzzle against Heero's chest and gave a couple of low wuffles by way of apology. Heero couldn't stay angry at his horse and with a sigh, petted the stallion, although his did remind the horse to watch his manners in future. Wing blew softly through his nostrils and with a smug feeling, went back to eating his food.

By the time Heero got back into the house, Duo had breakfast almost ready and the pair sat to eat at the kitchen table.

“What time are you planning on leaving?” asked Heero.

“I thought I'd head off early afternoon,” Duo replied. “That way I should be home just before dusk to bring Scythe in and feed him.”

“You're more than welcome to stay another night or ten,” Heero stated with a grin.

Duo chuckled. “I know I am, Heero, but you know what it's like, there's animals to be fed and tended to.”

“Yeah.” Heero knew alright. “Duo? Now that this is all over, can we... I'd like to, if that's okay with you, try maybe, ummm, dating?”

A warm smile lit up Duo's face. “I'd like that, Heero. I really miss you when we're apart.”

“I just wished we lived closer to each other,” sighed Heero.

“Look, how about we meet up in Stinnett again, maybe catch a movie or dinner or something?”

“That would be good. When?”

“What are you up to next Wednesday?”

Heero glanced across at the calendar that hung on the wall. “Nothing that I can see.”

“Then how about we meet up on Wednesday? I'll check the papers when I get home and call you to let you know if there's anything good on at the movies. We can go watch a movie and then have dinner, or if there's nothing good showing we can still meet up and just have dinner, or lunch if you prefer?”

“Sounds fine to me. I'll wait until you call and then we can make the final arrangements from there.” Heero finished eating his breakfast and took his plate to the sink to start washing up. Duo followed him a minute later.

Pressing himself to Heero's back, Duo wrapped his arms around the other cowboy and pulled him against his chest. He feathered kisses along Heero's neck. “I'm gonna start looking for some decent mares once I'm home. If I find anything that seems good enough, would you mind coming to take a look with me, sort of a second opinion?”

“Of course I'd come with you, but I don't know if my opinion would be worth anything,” Heero moaned and tilted his head to give Duo better access to his skin.

“I'd appreciate your input. You did say you and your dad bred some cow ponies for a while there so you would have an eye for a good horse.”

“Just let me know when you want me to come with you and I’ll be there,” Heero sighed. “Mmmm... that feels nice.”

Turning Heero around in his arms, Duo proceeded to kiss his boyfriend thoroughly.

* * *

Duo had returned to his own ranch and life seemed to settle back into a routine for the two cowboys. Heero continued to tend his cattle whilst Duo began his search for the mares he wanted to start his stud off properly. They called each other every day, sometimes twice and the longer they were apart, the more Heero missed his boyfriend.

Each day when he took Wing out for a ride to check the cattle, Heero did a lot of thinking. He missed Duo so much it physically hurt. Heero had never felt this way or this strongly about anyone in his life before. He'd thought he'd loved Relena, but the feelings he experienced with her paled in comparison to what he was feeling for the violet eyed creature that had so bewitched him.

The more he thought the more he knew he couldn't stand to be apart from his boyfriend. It wasn't enough to talk on the phone each day, he wanted more than a couple of dates a week. He wanted to be with Duo as much as possible. He knew he was acting like a love sick teenager, but he couldn't help himself. His entire world seemed to revolve around his new found, long haired love.

Yes, love, Heero realized with a start.

He knew he'd felt something deep for the other cowboy, but had been hesitant to call it love. Now, when he took a step back and looked at his situation, compared it to the few relationships he'd been involved in in his past, he knew instinctively that this was different.

What he shared with Duo went deeper than physical attraction.

Duo made him laugh, cry, made him happy and content. Duo lit his world up with that smile, made him shiver when he gazed shyly through his bangs, made him feel alive with his touch, set his heart racing with his kisses and ignited a fire deep within his soul with his gentle caress.

When Duo wasn't around it was like half of him was missing and he knew he couldn't continue to live this way.

Heero let his mind wander where it would, knowing there was a solution, but needing to work it all out in his head before he took it a step further. The rides on Wing became his time to think, to sort out what he wanted to do and work out all the aspects to achieve his goal.

Sitting at home one evening, he pulled out all the records for the ranch and went through them. He compared the prices he'd been getting for his cattle to what he'd gotten in the past. He sat with pen and paper, studied all the figures, his incoming and outgoing, what he owed and to whom.

Slowly but surely he worked his way through every aspect and came up with what he really wanted to do. Satisfied it would work, he took his paperwork and thoughts to his bank manager and their financial advisor and discussed it with them. The result was positive, the bank manager and financial expert agreed with Heero's figures and advised Heero to let them know if he decided to proceed. Now all he needed to do was to talk to Duo and see what his boyfriend thought. And more to the point; would Duo agree?

Speaking on the phone that evening, Heero requested that they meet up for lunch as soon as possible. He wanted to sound Duo out before the final rodeo; and that was just over a week away. Duo knew from the tone of Heero's voice that this was something serious and despite being a little worried, his curiosity was piqued and he agreed to meet for lunch the following day at 'Illusions'.

* * *

Sitting inside the cool interior of the bar, Heero twisted his hands nervously in his lap as he awaited Duo's presence. The glass of beer sat untouched in front of him, the moisture running down the outside as the liquid slowly warmed.

“Hey, sorry I'm a little late,” Duo apologized as he slid into the booth opposite Heero and tried to gauge Heero's mood.

Heero smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes; although his eyes did warm a touch as he took in his partner. Duo was dressed in his usual black, skin tight jeans, black shirt and black cowboy hat on his head. “It's fine, Duo. I haven't been waiting long,” he replied.

“Good.” Duo reached across and took Heero's hand in his own. “Missed you,” he said softly.

“I've missed you too, Duo.”

“You wanna eat first or talk first?” asked Duo.

“Let's order and I can start to explain things as we eat,” Heero returned.

The butterflies that had been present in his stomach before, now started to flutter madly. “Fine with me.” Duo could tell there was something a little off with Heero and he sincerely hoped it wasn't what his mind had been thinking – that Heero wanted to break up with him.

They ordered their food and sipped on their beers whilst waiting for their food to arrive.

“How is the hunt for the mares coming along?” Heero asked in an attempt to make small talk.

“Not too bad. I did what Meiran suggested and called a few studs up in the local area. A couple of them have got some mares and young stock for sale and I’m gonna take a ride out to see them a couple of days before the final rodeo.”

“I hope they're what you're looking for.”

“Me too.”

The food arrived and both men began to eat. Duo wasn't feeling particularly hungry, his worry over what Heero wanted to talk to him about having robbed him of his appetite. Heero was also finding it difficult to swallow his food, his appetite waning with the thought of what Duo would say in regards to his proposal.

Having eaten about half the food and pushed the remainder around their plates, Heero thought he'd better get his mouth working before they both starved to death.

“Duo?”

Violet eyes instantly raised to meet with Heero's.

“I need to talk to you about something that's been bugging me for the past few days.”

Duo set his silverware down and gave Heero his undivided attention. Seeing the serious look on Heero's face and the way his partner avoided his eyes, Duo could only assume this wasn't going to be something he wanted to hear.

“Duo, I've been doing a lot of thinking recently, about us. I guess the problems with Relena and Dorothy and then the trial has opened my eyes quite a bit. I'm beginning to see things a lot clearer and understand where I want my life to go...”

Duo's heart began to feel like a lead weight in his chest. I should have known. After all the crap those two put us through, Heero's just not ready for a male relationship. Without giving Heero a chance to continue, Duo broke in, trying to save Heero from embarrassing himself explaining his reasons for breaking up. “It's okay, Heero. I understand.”

“Pardon?” Heero blinked. Surely Duo couldn't have guessed what he wanted to say?

“I know how difficult this has been for you, it's not easy to admit you like another guy. You did warn me you weren't sure about being involved in a relationship with me and after all the shit you had to suffer through, the public embarrassment and such, I don't blame you. Heero, it's okay if you want to call this off, I won't force you into a relationship you don't want.”

Heero blinked again, his cobalt eyes widening as his brain tried to grasp what Duo was saying. “Who said I wanted to call this off?”

“Isn't that what you're trying to tell me? That you want to break up with me?”

“No. Whatever gave you that idea?” Heero was really confused now.

“But you said you'd been thinking things over, about our relationship.” It was Duo's turn to look confused.

“Duo, you didn't let me finish.” Heero gave a low chuckle and grasped Duo's hand in his own before gazing deep into violet eyes. “Duo, what I was trying to say is these past few weeks I've come to understand that what I feel for you goes much deeper than I'd ever thought I could feel. You make me feel alive, important, wanted and needed. I hate being apart from you, I want to spend as much time with you as possible. I know you have your dream of breeding cow ponies and I have my ranch and cattle; but Duo, I can't bear to be apart from you for much longer. It's like half of me is missing when you're not there. Duo, I know it's taken me a while to figure out what I'm feeling, but I know now exactly what it is.” Heero paused and took a deep breath. “Duo, I love you and I want to be with you, always.”

Duo blinked, the air in his lungs rushing from his body and leaving him incapable of forming any words.

“I'm not about to ask you to give up your dream of the stud, Duo. In fact, I've always been interested in breeding cow ponies too, but my father insisted we stick with the cattle and breed the odd cow pony on the side as a sort of hobby.”

“But...”

“Let me finish, Duo.”

Duo nodded, wondering where all this was going.

“I've taken a good, hard look at things, my life as it currently is and what the future could hold. Duo, I spoke with my bank manager and a financial expert, I've done my sums, checked every angle possible and what I'd like to do is this. I'm still paying off a lot of the debts my father left me and it's going to take years to get rid of them at the rate I'm going. I want to sell off all the cattle, the prices are dropping slowly but steadily. There isn't as much money to be made in the cattle industry as there used to be. I'd get a fair price for them and be able to clear some of the debt. I'd also like to sell the ranch. Duo, I want to spend the rest of my life with you if you'll have me. I'm happy to sell the ranch and the cattle and the money raised from that should clear all the debts outstanding and still leave a tidy sum over. I'd like to join you in your dream and breed top class cow ponies. Become business partners as well as... life partners.” Thinking he'd said enough for the moment, Heero shut up and stared at his boyfriend, trying to read on Duo's face just what the cowboy thought of his proposal.

Heero's words were racing around in Duo's head, tripping over themselves as Duo tried to sort them all out into some sort of sense. He went to speak, opened his mouth and then closed it again. He blinked, shook his head and tried to voice words once more.

“Ah, Heero, bear with me for a moment. This is all a bit of a shock and I'm not sure if I've understood you correctly.”

Heero felt his heart start to plummet and he lowered his eyes. “I know it's all a bit much to take in and I suppose I've put you on the spot. I'm sorry, I didn't stop to think how you would feel about all this. I guess I shouldn't have assumed-”

“Heero, shut up.”

“Ah, okay.”

“Yes, it's all a bit of a shock, but it's a nice one.” Duo smiled and grasped Heero's hand, rubbing his thumb across the back of it. “I never said I wasn't okay with the proposal, but I need to know if I've understood you correctly. You want to sell up all the cattle and your ranch and join me as business partners in breeding and selling cow ponies?”

Heero nodded, biting his bottom lip.

“Heero, that's a really big step to take.” Duo took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He needed to choose his words carefully here. “Before you go making any sort of commitment, let's look at this logically. Heero, I know that I love you too, you're everything I've ever wanted in a partner and I'd like nothing more than to have you share the rest of my life with me. I hate being apart from you too and I'd even thought about selling up my ranch so I could move closer to you.”

“You have?”

“Yeah,” Duo chuckled. “I'd be more than happy to have you as a business partner in breeding cow ponies and a life partner as well, but I can't ask you to give up your ranch and cattle to chase a dream with me, that's not fair to you. What if we don't succeed, what if we decide a few years down the track that we simply aren't compatible?”

“Hn. I don't think that will happen.”

“I hope it never does, but we have to look at every possible scenario. If we did break up after a few years you wouldn't have anywhere to go if you sold up everything and moved in with me. Not that I don't want you to move in with me, I'd love to have you with me all the time.”

“I know what you're saying, Duo,” Heero said slowly, “and I can see your logic there too. What about I sell off the cattle and rent out the ranch? Then if we do discover we can't stand each other I have somewhere to move back to.”

Duo had to admit, that sounded like a much better proposition. “Now that's not a bad idea at all, if you really want to do this.”

“I do, Duo. I want to be with you, I can't stand being apart from you.”

“I'd feel much better about all of this if you do retain your ranch, Heero.”

Thinking hard on those words, Heero could see Duo's point. The other cowboy wouldn't feel guilty if things turned out the other way and they did split up; not that Heero could ever see that happening. “Then I'll speak with the bank manager, see about selling off the cattle and advertizing the ranch for lease.”

“Okay. I'll speak with my solicitor and see about getting legal papers drawn up in relation to a business partnership. If we are going to do this, Heero, we need to do it properly.”

“I would expect nothing less,” Heero returned.

“Actually, this could work out really well, and I'm not referring to the sharing our lives part, although that’s going to be a dream come true for me anyway,” Duo began and gave Heero a warm smile. “No, what I'm talking about is the breeding side of things. I know Scythe is a good stud and should pass on his better traits to his offspring, but with having Wing too, just imagine the quality foals we should get.”

That took Heero by surprise and he frowned.

“Heero? Have I said something wrong? You would be prepared to let Wing cover mares too, wouldn't you?”

“Actually, I hadn't thought about that at all,” Heero replied sheepishly. “I was too fixated on working all the other stuff out and worrying how you would feel about the suggestion that the thought of using Wing at stud never crossed my mind.”

“Somehow I don't think Wing would take too kindly to Scythe being the only one to have the females,” Duo chuckled.

“No, I don't think he would, especially seeing how the pair of them act towards each other as it is,” Heero snorted.

“Heero?”

Heero looked up at Duo's soft tone. “Yes?”

“I can't tell you how much this means to me. For as long as I can remember I've been searching for the right person to share my life with, my hopes and my dreams. To have someone beside me who understands, has the same goals as I do and will support me as I would support them to achieve those goals. To have someone to love me, unconditionally, to care for me as much as I care for them. I never thought it would happen, until...” Duo felt his throat beginning to constrict and tears forming in his eyes, “until I met you. Heero, you mean the world to me and I thank you for giving me a chance to share your life.”

The flush began to build on Heero's cheeks with Duo's confession and he felt a lump lodge in his own throat. “I – I don't know what to say,” he whispered.

Duo reached across the table and placed a finger over Heero's lips. “You don't have to say anything, Heero.”

Lips drew together as Heero kissed the finger over his lips, said finger moving a moment later. “But I do have something to say,” Heero murmured. “I love you, Duo.”

Violet eyes glistening, Duo slid out of his seat and moved to sit next to Heero. His arms wound around Heero's shoulders and pulled the other cowboy close, lips found Heero's and Duo bestowed a tender, loving kiss to those sweet lips. Pulling apart, he gazed deep into cobalt and gave a cheeky grin. “When do you want to move in?”

* * *

The day after his discussion with Duo about his proposal, Heero headed back to the bank and spoke once more with the bank manager. From the bank he made his way to a real estate agent's office and discussed putting his ranch on the market for lease. The agents were very helpful, already having a data base of people looking for various types of accommodations. They parted after a short discussion, the estate agent making an appointment to come out to the ranch the following day to look it over, take photos and match the property up with a respectable client on their files. The amount of rent Heero would be able to ask for the ranch would cover the cost of his mortgage repayments and the fees charged by the agents for managing the ranch to make sure all was kept as it should.

Feeling buoyed by his success so far, Heero's next stop was the livestock company. He needed to sell off his cattle as soon as he could which meant finding out when and where the next sale was to be held or if there was anyone currently looking for a herd of steers. The next sale wasn't for eight weeks, but on a better note, there were a couple of ranches listed as looking to increase their current herd size. The livestock company contacted their clients and worked out a figure suitable to all parties concerned. It wasn't quite as much as Heero would have liked, but after considering what it would cost him to keep the cattle until the next sale, he would actually save money. The deal was struck and the company promised to contact Heero the following day to arrange pick up of the cattle.

The only dilemma Heero now had was what to do with his furniture and possessions. He couldn't take all his furniture with him, there simply wasn't the room at Duo's to accommodate it all and he wasn't going to leave it at the ranch for the tenants to use either. After calling Duo and discussing the problem with him, Heero settled on taking a few items with him and putting the rest into storage.

The next few days passed in a blur for Heero. The cattle were brought in and the trucks arrived to take them to their new home. The lease on the ranch had been signed and the new tenants were moving in in two weeks time. The removalists had been and taken what furniture that was to go into storage away, the items Heero planned on taking with him were packed away and the smaller stuff loaded into his pickup. The removalists had also taken the larger items ahead to Duo's.

*

With three days remaining until the final rodeo of the year, Heero stood in the middle of his empty home and gazed around. He'd driven the pickup to Duo's earlier that morning and Duo had driven him back to the ranch so he could collect Wing, the rig and the last of his gear. A pair of arms wrapped themselves around his waist and drew him form his thoughts.

“You okay, Heero?” Duo asked as he pressed a kiss to the nape of Heero's neck.

“Yeah. Just lost in old memories,” Heero replied honestly.

“Not having second thoughts?”

“No.” Heero turned around in Duo's arms and placed his own around Duo's waist, pulling his boyfriend closer. “I'll miss this place, but it's not as if I can't ever come back to it.”

“Now you understand why I didn't want you to sell it,” Duo said softly.

“Yeah, I do. Thanks, Duo.”

“My pleasure. I'll leave you to lock everywhere up shall I?”

Heero nodded, his mind still on a trip down memory lane.

“I'll go get Wing loaded up. See you outside.” With another kiss, Duo released the other cowboy and left Heero alone to finish up. He could understand that it wouldn't be easy for Heero to leave, the ranch held a lot of dear memories for the man, and that was another reason why Duo hadn't wanted Heero to sell.

Taking one last walk through the ranch house, Heero said his mental goodbyes. He was sad to be leaving, but he could come back whenever he wanted which cheered him up a bit. Stepping outside, he closed and locked the door, pocketing the key. Without looking back he strode across the yard to where the rig stood waiting, Duo having caught Wing and proceeding to load the paint onto the rig for the trip to his new home.

Duo drove his jeep ahead of Heero in the rig, his heart feeling lighter than it had for weeks. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected Heero to want to spend the rest of his life with him. Oh he'd hoped, for sure, but having Heero put his proposal to Duo left the long haired cowboy stunned and very happy. For the first time in his life, things were all beginning to fall into place for Duo and he welcomed it with open arms.

Duo's solicitor had been contacted and advised he would have the legal documentation for the partnership drawn up over the next couple of weeks. Once it was ready, Duo would be contacted and both men could make an appointment to visit the solicitor's office and sign the paperwork.

The turn off to Duo's ranch appeared and Heero carefully drove the rig along the driveway he was fast becoming familiar with. Up ahead, Duo parked his jeep and got out. Heero brought the rig to a stop and cut the engine. Inside, Wing gave a soft whinny. The stallion knew something was up but wasn't sure what. He could tell they weren't at a rodeo by sniffing the scents on the air that managed to enter the rig.

In the corral, Scythe noted the arrival of a rig and left his dozing to wander across and see what was going on.

“Let's get him off and settled, then you can unpack the rig and park it up,” Duo said with a smile.

“Thanks,” Heero replied and set about releasing the tail gate. Duo gave him a hand and moments later Wing came down the ramp, head up in the air, ears swiveling back and forth as his nostrils worked overtime smelling the different scents on the breeze.

Reaching the base of the ramp and stepping onto the dirt, Wing turned to take in his new surroundings and stopped dead.

In the corral, Scythe was about to greet the newcomer with a soft neigh when the new horse came into view. Scythe stood stock still, his eyes almost bulging out of his head. He gave a scream of anger instead.

Wing stood and stared, he couldn't believe where he was. The other stallion's angry cry only infuriated Wing and the paint returned the greeting with a snort and pawing of his hoof.

Heero shook his head and gazed at Duo. “You think they'll ever get along?”

Duo gave him a rueful smile. “Not a chance.”

~ * ~

tbc...
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