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Equus	By : Deb Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2855 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, it belongs to Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. I do own the equines though, please do not take them without permission. Written for pleasure not profit.

Chapter List
- 85
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“Equus”

Chapter 86

Once again Quatre helped his friend to pick up the dropped items. “It was a good result,” he commented as he handed the carrier bags back to Duo.

“Sounds like it was,” Duo replied. “Look, have you got time for a quick coffee? I'd like to know exactly what happened, then I can let Heero know when I get back home and save you a phone call.”

Glancing at his watch, Quatre deemed another thirty minutes wouldn't hurt and nodded his assent. “There's a cafe down here. Want a hand with those?”

“Thanks.” Duo handed over the carrier bags and fell into step beside the blonde.

*

“The judge said he found it highly unlikely that the punch to Nataku had been an accident and fined him another five thousand, plus he put a life ban on him from ever owning an animal of any kind,” Quatre finished and picked up his coffee.

“I'm so relieved and pleased with that outcome and I know Wufei and Heero will be too. I can't believe he tried to say it was us that started the whole fiasco. Good thing the judge could see through him.”

“It was the same judge that was appointed to his case before,” Quatre replied. “Judge Featherstone. He's a nice guy, fair in his decisions and he does look into the background of people in cases such as these. The statements from all the other witnesses backed up yours, Heero's and Wufei's accounts of what happened so he really didn't have a leg to stand on. He was given a suspended sentence last time and with his actions towards you, Wufei and Nataku, he breached that. He's only got himself to blame and now he's going to be behind bars for at least eighteen months. Might give him time to reflect upon his actions and see that what he's done was wrong.”

“I don't know, Quat. It's been my experience in the past that people like that rarely change their habits. Don't get me wrong, I sincerely hope he does change; but somehow I can't see it happening.” Duo placed his empty cup back on the table.

“You're right, I can't see it happening either, but all one can do is hope. At least the animal population will be spared his anger issues in the future.”

“Amen to that,” Duo smiled. “Well, I'd better be off. I've got to get these suits and stuff back home and make sure Heero is happy with the choices I've made.”

Quatre's eyes lit up and a sneaky smile spread over his lips. “I assume you've got Trowa's shirt and tie in there too?”

Duo nodded.

“I can save you some time and take his home with me?”

“Nice try, Quat. Thanks, but no thanks. I'll be keeping them at the cottage as we want it all to be a surprise. Trowa can have it when he comes over next Sunday to get ready with Heero and me,” Duo replied.

Quatre huffed in frustration, but Duo wouldn't budge. Looked like he was going to have to wait for the wedding to see the outfits the men would be wearing. Seeing his friend standing up, Quatre joined him and they exited the cafe together, promising to be in touch during the week with the latest plans.

* * *

Opening the shed door cautiously, Heero peered inside to where the lawn mower sat in all innocence. He spotted the small can on the shelf that Duo said contained the petrol for the mower and he grabbed it. It was about half full as Duo had said it should be. With the can outside he stepped back in to drag the unsuspecting mower out. With the can in one hand, Heero began to push the lawn mower along the raceway towards the stables and back of the farmhouse.

Zechs had done a great job in cleaning the path and weeding the flower beds. The roses were all just coming into bloom and with the soft, spring air, their scent was carried on the light breeze to tickle a person's nostrils. Pausing for a moment, Heero gazed around, seeing in his mind's eye where the chairs would be placed on either side of the path for their guests to sit during the ceremony. He could envision the table set up just by the wishing well for Howard and the rose beds flanking the sides. Turning, he could picture the marquee set up on the back lawn with the stable yard and stables just behind as the perfect backdrop to compliment the old stone farmhouse.

There would be plenty of room for their guests to park in the stable yard and also the caterers and their van. His lips curled into a smile when he thought about the small surprise he had in store for Duo, his eye running around the yard and back area of the farmhouse, picking out the exact place he would need to bring the surprise in.

Satisfied he could see everything in his head for what it would be on the day, Heero turned his attention back to Jaws and the back lawn. The grass wasn't all that long, but he supposed it did need to be cut. Berating himself for being childish over the lawn mower, he picked up the can, removed the cap to the fuel tank on Jaws and filled the mower up. Securing the cap and the petrol can, he set the can to one side and pushed the mower to where he intended to start. He'd begin alongside the path edge, he decided. Once he'd gotten control over Jaws and felt more comfortable with it, he'd move along to the flower beds and mow the sides of those.

At least these were rose bushes in the beds and not flowers so there was less chance of Jaws prematurely dead heading the things.

At least he hoped so.

Checking the 'catcher' was in place, Heero pushed the lever forward to the start position, turned the choke on and stepped back. “Okay, now to start the thing,” he muttered to himself. Taking a firm grip on the handle of the pull cord, Heero braced himself and pulled back quickly and sharply. The motor turned over, spluttered and died.

“Shit!” Heero growled. He braced himself again, grabbed the handle and pulled. Once again the motor turned, coughed and died. “What is fucking wrong with you?” Heero snapped at the piece of metal. He gave the machine a couple of pumps to the primer and grabbed the pull cord once more.

Heero spent the next several minutes alternating between pulling frantically on the cord and pumping the primer.

Lying flat on his back and panting up at the sky, Heero turned his head to glare at Jaws, the smell of petrol thick in the air. A shadow fell across him and caused him to jump.

“What's up?” Zechs asked with a grin.

“Shit, Zechs! Don't sneak up on me like that,” Heero growled. “Fucking piece of shit lawn mower won't start,” he added after he'd gotten over his shock.

Zechs stepped back to take a look at the offending machine ignoring Heero's little rant whilst Heero dragged himself back to his feet. “Smells like the motor is flooded,” he announced.

“Wouldn't surprise me,” Heero muttered. “Damn thing is the spawn of evil, it positively hates me and yet Duo can do anything with it. It purrs like a kitten for him,” Heero huffed.

Unable to help himself, Zechs broke into loud laughter. “Heero, it's just a lawn mower,” he pointed out.

“To you it's just a lawn mower, to me it's the devil incarnate in a piece of machinery designed to make my life hell.”

“I thought that title was reserved for Nrobbuts? Here, I'll give you a hand,” Zechs said with a roll of his eyes. Turning the lever to the off position, Zechs pulled on the start cord a couple of times. “There, that should have cleaned out the excess fuel. Now, let's try it again.” Pushing the lever to the start position, Zechs grabbed the cord handle again and pulled hard.

Jaws gave a cough, sputter and then kicked into life.

“There you go, easy as pie,” Zechs said with a smug grin.

“Lucky pull if you ask me,” Heero muttered darkly. “Thanks.”

“I'll leave you to it. I've got some stuff to catch up on inside. If you get stuck or need a hand, just knock on the back door.” Zechs departed with a wave.

Heero eyed the lawn mower again and carefully stepped up behind the handle. “Okay you hunk of junk, you play nice for me and I'll be nice to you. All we have to do is mow this lawn here all neat and short for the wedding on Sunday. Think you can do that?”

Jaws gave a couple of sputters and settled into a quiet purr.

“Good, now, let's do this nice and easy.” Grasping the handle in one hand, Heero eased the accelerator handle forward a touch, increasing the motor revs. Satisfied with that, he pushed the gear lever forward and prepared for the mower to start to move.

The gears slipped into place and engaged, Jaws gave a slight jump forward as they did so. Unprepared for the small jump, Heero's hand slipped and knocked the accelerator handle to full throttle.

Being the good little lawn mower that it was, Jaws responded immediately, the mower 'leaping' forward, front wheels off the ground and doing a burn out with the back ones. The front wheels came back to earth, the blades dug deep into the turf and Jaws was off and running.

Unfortunately Heero was only used to horses jumping - not lawn mowers - and the sudden leap for freedom by Jaws caught him completely off guard and he failed to follow the movement. One hand did remain on the handle though, his feet slipping with the sudden forward lunge and Heero found himself being dragged behind the mower as it careened across the grass.

Somehow, Heero managed to get his other hand on the mower handle and began scrabbling with his feet. Jaws was speeding ahead with no regard for the human dragging along behind it. In fact, Heero's weight didn't seem to hamper the speed of the mower in any way. The grass was still slightly damp from the early morning dew and Heero's sneakers continued to slip as he fought to regain his footing. A glance ahead had Heero swallowing hard.

There was one large tree growing on the back lawn – one.

And Jaws was aiming directly for the trunk.

“Oh fuck,” Heero muttered and with a desperate lunge, managed to get his feet back under him. Legs pistoned as Heero ran flat out with the lawn mower, desperately trying to either turn the damn thing or reach the accelerator to drop it back to idle. The trunk of the old gum tree was around two foot six in diameter – and solid.

And getting closer by the second.

Zechs glanced up from where he was washing the dishes in the sink and caught sight of Heero flashing past. “Well, he's certainly not wasting any time. He really must want to get that lawn mowed in a hurry,” he mused and returned to the dishes.

Somehow Heero managed to get Jaws to turn and he felt the bite of the scrape of bark against his upper arm as they whizzed past. “Shit! That was close,” he puffed. “Oh hell.” They had bypassed the tree without major disaster, but now Jaws was on course for the rose beds. “Crap, crap, crap. This is gonna hurt.” Heero really didn't fancy being dragged through the rose bed by an uncooperative lawn mower, especially as those roses all had thorns – big thorns.

Zechs happened to look up again and spotted Heero making for the rose beds. He blinked at the sight, then blinked again, wondering why on earth Heero hadn't slowed down. Or why he was mowing the grass in such a random fashion. Then he realized that Heero was out of control. Dropping the plate into the sink in his shock, the soapy water splashed up and into Zechs' face. “Agghhh, shit! Soap in the eyes,” Zechs cried and reached blindly for a tea towel.

Still mopping at his stinging eyes, Zechs charged out the back door to try and help his friend.

Heero made one last ditch attempt to cut the accelerator on Jaws, twisting his hand around until his fingers finally connected with a lever. Although he managed to connect with the gear lever and not the accelerator. Fortunately the gears slipped into neutral right on the edge of the rose bed

Unfortunately Jaws came to a rather abrupt stop and Heero didn't.

Still running across the lawn and doing his best to see through stinging, watering eyes, Zechs felt his heart slide to his boots as Heero went full tilt at the rose bed. “Shit, he's gonna become a pincushion if he doesn't stop.” Just as Heero and the mower reached the edge of the rose bed, the mower suddenly stopped.

Zechs watched in frozen horror as Heero continued on, the handle of the mower catching him squarely in the ribs. Given his momentum, the sudden connection with the handle saw Heero lose his balance and flip right over the top of the mower, sail through the air and land smack in the middle of the rose bed. Zechs winced in sympathy.

Lucky for Heero, he managed to land between the rose bushes, only one catching him on his side as he settled into the dust. His head spun for a moment, the wind almost knocked out of him with his fall from grace. As his senses came back on line he could hear someone frantically calling his name. “Zechs?” he managed to hiss out painfully.

“Heero? Heero? Are you alright?” Zechs yelled as he once again sprinted towards the fallen man. Reaching the rider, Zechs gave Heero a quick look over, noting the damage to the body that he could see and wondering about the damage he couldn't see.

“Can you help me up?” Heero asked, a little reluctant to move as he wasn't sure where the rose canes were and the last thing he needed was further blood spilt. He could already feel trickles of the red stuff about his person.

“Yeah, sure. Just hang on a sec.” Zechs managed to get himself into the rose bed without getting caught up on any of the bushes. Once in a good position, He managed to push a couple of canes aside and stretched out a hand to Heero. “Just grab my hand and let me pull you upright. If you come directly towards me you shouldn't catch yourself on any other canes,” he advised.

Tentatively, Heero raised an arm, Fingers brushing against Zechs' before his hand managed to wrap around that of the blonde vet's. With Zechs pulling, Heero managed to push himself upright, only one rose cane opposing his ascent. Once he was back on his feet, he gingerly picked his way out of the rose bed and onto the lawn. First thing he did was to cut the motor on Jaws, the damn mower was still at full revs and driving him nuts.

The sudden silence was deafening.

“Are you okay?” Zechs asked again, now able to see a little more of Heero's body and the damage inflicted upon it.

“I think I'll live,” Heero replied and winced as a thorn that had gotten snapped off and lodged itself into his jeans stuck him in the leg. He reached down to the denim and pulled the thorn free.

“Let me check you over to be sure,” Zechs stated and without waiting for a reply, he moved closer and began to assess the damage. “What happened?” he asked as he carefully poked and prodded the graze to Heero's upper arm.

With a sigh and knowing he would probably never live this down, Heero related the story whilst Zechs took stock of his injuries. By the time Zechs had finished his inspection and satisfied himself that there was nothing life threatening or broken, he gave into the twitching of his lips and snickered.

“Go ahead, laugh it up,” Heero grumbled. “I really don't think it's funny at all.”

“I have to agree that it was pretty scary at the time, but now that it's over and you're mostly okay, even you have to admit, it is kind of funny.” Zechs' mind supplied him of the image of Heero sprinting across the lawn behind Jaws and couldn't hold the laughter any longer. The blonde went from subtle snickers to a full on belly laugh. “Oh god, I wish I'd had a camera,” he managed to get out in between laughter.

“Thank god you didn't,” Heero replied in horror.

The vet continued to laugh until he was having to hold his sides they were aching that much and tears were running down his face.

“If you've quite finished, I still have the small problem of a lawn to mow,” Heero huffed.

“I know, I know. Look, come inside for a minute and I'll patch up the worst of the damage for you, then I'll give you a hand if you like?”

As reluctant as Heero was for Zechs to mow the lawn as he'd already done so much towards getting the garden ready for the wedding, he was also wise enough to admit defeat before his pride and dignity were completely shot to pieces. “Thank you, Zechs, I'd appreciate that.”

*

Still chuckling away to himself, Zechs emerged from the farmhouse ten minutes later with a patched up Heero. The rider was sporting a light bandage around his biceps where the tree had made contact and several band-aids on his lower arms, a couple on his hands, two on his neck and one on his cheek from the rose thorns.

He'd flatly refused to let Zechs check anything from the waist down. If there was any damage to his legs, backside, or heaven forbid, groin, he'd deal with it himself later.

Taking charge of the situation, Zechs dragged Jaws back to the path and managed to get the thing started. Engaging the gears, he carefully accelerated and began to walk methodically up and down the lawn behind the mower.

Jaws behaved perfectly.

“I don't fucking believe it!” Heero snapped and threw his hands up in the air. “Fucking thing works perfectly for you.” Zechs flashed him a smug grin and continued to mow the grass. Heero gathered his tattered t-shirt and dented pride around him and stalked off to the stables.

* * *

Duo took the suit bags and carrier bags through to the bedroom and hung the suit bags up. Removing the shirts and ties from the carrier bags, he placed them on coat hangers and hung them on the handles of the wardrobe. He wanted Heero to see them and hopefully approve of his choices before he hung them away in readiness for Sunday's wedding.

Thinking of Heero had Duo wondering where his partner was. Then he remembered Heero saying he was going to mow the lawn at the back of the farmhouse ready for Sunday. Smiling to himself, Duo decided to go and start making a belated lunch. No doubt Heero would be hungry after the physical exercise and he could give him the good news regarding Saunders whilst they ate.

Duo was cutting the sandwiches up when he heard the sound of the garden shed door being opened and assumed his partner was returning and putting the lawn mower away. Moments later the back door opened.

“That was good timing, lunch is just about rea- oh good lord, what the hell happened to you?” Duo dropped the sandwich to the plate and quickly wiped his hands. He'd spotted the various 'extras' adorning Heero's skin and immediately made a bee line for his lover to check out the damage.

“I'm okay,” Heero reassured as he tried to bat Duo's hands away from the many band-aids

“Clearly you are not okay if you're sporting a bandage and numerous band-aids,” Duo said firmly. “Now, tell me what happened.”

Knowing he had to come clean, Heero sighed and took a seat at the kitchen table. Duo placed the plate of sandwiches down in the middle and took a seat opposite Heero. “Come on, spill!” Duo demanded and picked up a sandwich to eat.

As they ate, Heero gave Duo the entire, sorry tale. Duo didn't interrupt, he sat quietly eating and let Heero get on with it. When Heero finished by telling him that Zechs had patched him up and finished the lawn, Duo relaxed a touch. Knowing Zechs and his first aid skills, Duo knew Heero would have been in good hands. With the shock of finding his soon to be husband had almost become a pincushion beginning to fade, Duo couldn't help the small chuckle that started.

“It's not funny,” Heero huffed.

“No, it's not,” Duo agreed and burst out into loud laughter. “It's damn hilarious! I wish I'd been there to see it. Zechs didn't manage to get some photos, did he?”

“No he bloody well didn't!” Heero growled.

“Shame, I really would have liked to have seen it.”

“That lawn mower is a menace. I'm sure it's possessed by some sort of demon that just wants to make my life hell,” Heero sniffed.

“Heero, it's just a lawn mower, nothing evil about it. It doesn't have any form of intelligence and it's certainly not out to 'get you'. I can't see how you have such a problem with it. It works perfectly fine for me,” Duo snickered.

“I could say the same about you and Nrobbuts. That's just a heap of wires and circuits,” Heero retaliated.

Duo sobered a little at that. “Point taken, although in the case of Nrobbuts, that machine is the devil incarnate.”

“Well, I hate to tell you this, but Nrobbuts has a brother. It's sitting out there in the garden shed!” Sticking his nose in the air, Heero picked up their empty plates and did his best to ignore his laughing lover. When Duo's laughter had died down into small chuckles, Heero decided it was time to change the subject. “Did you get the suits, shirts and ties?”

“Huh?” It took Duo's mind a moment to process the question. “Oh yeah, I did. They're in the bedroom hanging up. I hope you like what I picked out for Treize and Trowa. Oh, I also literally ran into Quatre in Salsbury.”

“You did? What was Quatre doing there?”

Duo got up from the table and led the way towards the bedroom, explaining as he went. “He was coming out of the court house; Saunders' trial was this morning.”

“Shit, I'd forgotten about that. What happened?”

Duo proceeded to fill his partner in on what Quatre had told him, at the same time he fetched the suit bags out of the wardrobe.

“Good, I'm glad that bastard got jail time. At least that's one person both the equine population and human one won't have to worry about for a long time.”

“Yeah, that's pretty much what I said too. What do you think? This one for Treize, this one for Trowa.” Duo held out the coat hangers with the shirts and ties on them for Heero to take a look at.

Running his eyes over the shirts and ties, Heero had to admit, his lover had excellent taste. “Perfect. They will suit both guys and compliment our own outfits,” he said with a smile.

Duo gave a relieved sigh. “Good, I'm glad you like them too. I was a little worried you might have thought they were too bold or something.”

Wrapping his arms around Duo's waist, Heero nuzzled the vet's neck. “They are perfect, Duo. You have impeccable taste.”

“Really? I don't know so much about the fashion side of things, but I do know I have great taste when it comes to my lover.”

“Modest, much?”

“Nah, just honest,” Duo replied with a grin and kissed his partner.

“What's on the agenda for this afternoon?” Heero asked when he was allowed up for air.

“We still have to work out our words we want to use in the wedding ceremony. Howard wants them by Thursday at the latest so he can incorporate them into the ceremony.”

Still nuzzling his partner's neck, Heero replied. “Any ideas on what you want to say?”

“Oh, I might have an inkling,” Duo teased.

“You going to share?”

“Nope.”

“Bastard.”

Duo just laughed.

* * *

Stepping back into the cottage after he'd finished putting the horses away for the night, the smell of dinner tickled his nose and Heero sniffed the air appreciatively. “Something smells good,” he said, walking up behind his lover.

“Roast chicken with baked vegetables,” Duo replied and snuck in for a quick kiss.

“Do I get you for dessert?”

Duo gave him a light thwap to the arm. “You still have to work out your words for the ceremony. No snuggling until you have,” he said firmly, although his eyes danced with mischief.

“Bugger, I'd forgotten about that.” Heero had worked the horses that afternoon thinking the solitude of riding might help him to work out what he wanted to say to his partner when they got to that part of the ceremony. Unfortunately, it hadn't worked out quite that way. The horses had all decided they were feeling very full of themselves and Heero had ended up using all his concentration on the equines. “Have you done yours?”

“Yep,” Duo replied with a smug grin. Seeing the glint in Heero's eyes, he added quickly, “And no, you can't copy mine.”

“Damn. Foiled before I could even start.”

“It wasn't that hard.” Duo's eyes took on a dreamy look. “All I did was think what I wanted to say and wrote the words from my heart.”

“Would you help me?”

“I suppose I can do that,” the vet agreed.

“Thanks.”

*

“What do you think about that?” Heero asked when he put the final touches to his words and handed the laptop over to Duo to read.

“You trust me with that?” Duo questioned. “You know how these things have a habit of short circuiting when I so much as look at them.”

“Trust me, it won't do anything,” Heero said with a shake of his head.

“Okay, but remember, if something does happen, it's your fault,” Duo stated and took the offered laptop. He began to read the words Heero had written and as he did, his eyes began to mist over.

Watching his partner, Heero noted the slight tremor pass through the vet's body, the tremble of the lower lip and finally a couple of tears slide down rosy cheeks. “Is it okay?” he asked, a little worried. “I can always change it if you think it's too bad.”

“No,” Duo whispered and wiped his eyes. “No, don't change it.” Turning his head to meet his lover's gaze, he asked, “Is this what you really feel?”

Taking the laptop from Duo and setting it to the side, Heero's eyes never left those of his partner. “Hai, this is exactly how I feel about you. You said I should write the words from my heart, so I did. You don't think it's too over the top?”

“No, Heero. Don't change a thing, it's just perfect.” With the tears still sliding down his cheeks, Duo enveloped Heero in his arms and kissed him passionately. “Oh, god. I love you so much, Heero.”

Smiling to himself, Heero was relieved he'd managed to do something right. But when all was said and done, the words only said exactly how he felt about his long haired partner.

~ * ~

tbc...
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Equus