Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Cowboy ❯ Chapter 15 ( Chapter 15 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

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 15

[Well, itfs bulls and bloodItfs dust and mudItfs the roar of a Sunday crowd
Rodeo ? Garth Brooks]  

Relena ignored Heero’s call and stormed off to their room. Once inside she locked the door and threw herself on the bed, the anger, hurt and humiliation all crashing down on her. The tears began to fall as she slowly came to grips with the situation. This was all the fault of that damn rodeo and that long haired freak of  a cowboy.

What had gone wrong? What had happened? They had been so happy together, working the ranch and attending the rodeos. Once Heero had won the title of Cowboy of the Year, they had planned on leaving the rodeo, settling down and getting married.

Then that unknown had shown up on the circuit and caused nothing but trouble.

The fact that Heero had voiced his objection to getting married and leaving the rodeo on many an occasion, didn't enter Relena’s head. Once he’d won that title, she knew he would settle down with her, she had convinced herself of it.

At first, she’d viewed the new cowboy as a challenge to Heero and the title. She’d even found him to be quite charming, polite and friendly. Now she knew why, he’d been after her Heero all along.  ‘But Heero isn’t gay,’ her mind kept repeating, he must have suffered some trauma to his head when he’d taken that spill a while ago.

What Heero needed was a shock, something to jolt his mind back to where it should be. Relena was certain she remembered reading somewhere about if a person who suffered a trauma to the head and lost memories or the like, could find those memories returned when they suffered another shock.

Drying her tears, Relena grabbed a suitcase from under the bed and began to pack her things. As she packed, her mind continued to analyze Heero’s words. She knew he was making a big mistake. All that bullshit about them being more like siblings than lovers was total crap. Her anger raised another notch when she thought about how blatantly he’d lied to her, told her there wasn’t another woman.

Duo Maxwell may not have been another woman, but he most certainly was the cause of  Heero’s breaking up with her.

She would have her Heero back; she would make sure he saw the error of his ways. Two men were never meant to be together, it just wasn't natural; she knew it and Heero knew it. In all the time they'd been together, Heero had never shown an interest in another man - never.

The more Relena thought about it, the more she convinced herself that Heero must have suffered some form of trauma and clearly wasn't his usual self. That excuse for a cowboy had laid eyes on her man and decided to taint him with his perverted ways, had taken advantage of her Heero when the man clearly wasn't in his proper state of mind.

No, Duo Maxwell would not have her Heero, she would make sure of that.

With her suitcase packed, Relena unlocked the door and ventured out to the bathroom to collect her toiletries and other bits and pieces. There were several other belongings of hers still remaining, but she would send for those later, right now all she wanted to do was get out of there, away from Heero and go somewhere where she would get the sympathy she deserved and plan her next move.

Grabbing the suitcase, she picked up her purse and headed for the front door.

Heero heard her struggling along the hallway and got up from where he was still sitting in the kitchen to offer his assistance. “Relena,” he began only to be cut off.

“Heero, I think you've said enough,” Relena growled.

“Please, at least let us remain friends.”

“Heero, I think it would be best if you were to leave me alone right now, after all you’ve just said I’m not feeling very charitable.”

Lowering his eyes, Heero nodded. “I understand. Can I help you with that?” he asked, pointing to her suitcase.

“Thank you.” Relena replied and released the suitcase. She stepped outside, her anger still boiling under the surface. She wouldn’t give into it yet though, Heero wasn’t in his right mind. Besides, her anger was really targeted at that other cowboy, the one who had taken advantage of her Heero, tainted his mind with his perverse ways and made Heero think he didn’t want her and a future together.

The only anger she held towards Heero was for lying to her.

Fiddling in her purse, she pulled out the keys to her car and unlocked it. Popping the trunk, she watched Heero place her suitcase inside and then close the trunk. Doing her best to keep her voice steady, she turned and addressed the man. “I still have several things here and I will either send for them or fetch them myself later.” Unable to say anything more for the moment, she slid into the drivers seat.

Heero came to the door and stood. “Relena, I’m sorry. I do care for you, but not in the way you want me to any longer. I can’t live a lie.”

With those words, Relena’s tightly controlled temper snapped. “You can’t live a lie?” she hissed. “Hypocrite, that’s what you are, Heero; a hypocrite. You tell me we’re through because you don’t love me anymore; you tell me there isn’t another woman and then have the gall to say you can’t live a lie?! You are a liar, Heero. No, there isn’t another woman, I know that now. Duo Maxwell is all man, isn’t he, Heero?” she sneered. “You will regret this, Heero. No one dumps me like that, and certainly not for another man!”  Grabbing the car door, she yanked it shut and locked it, starting the car up and pressing down hard on the accelerator.

By the time the words registered, it was too late for Heero to do anything, Relena had slammed the car door and started the engine. He opened his mouth to protest as the car took off, roaring down the driveway and leaving him in a cloud of dust. Once the dust had settled and Heero could breathe again, Relena was long gone.

“Shit!”

She knew.

Heero didn't know how Relena had found out, but she knew.

With a sigh, Heero turned around and walked back inside the house. No point in dwelling on it, Relena had gone, he had made his stand and told her they were through, he was finally free to explore these new found feelings he had for a certain long haired, violet eyed cowboy.

Thinking about Duo made Heero’s heart skip a beat and he felt warm all over. With a smile on his lips, he pushed all thoughts of Relena and her threats to the back of his mind and headed for his bedroom and the piece of paper Duo had written his phone number on.

* * *
“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” Duo muttered as he placed the last dish in the rack to drain and quickly dried his hands. “La Grange Ranch, Duo speaking,” he said as he answered the phone.

“Duo? Is that you?”

“Yeah, this is Duo Maxwell. Who is this?”

“Duo, it’s Heero.”

“Heero?” Duo whispered.

Heero’s heart was beating wildly in his chest. Duo didn’t sound overly excited to hear from him. Maybe the other cowboy had changed his mind. Heero’s blood ran cold with that thought. “Duo, if it’s not a good time...”

“No, no. It’s a good time. Sorry, you caught me by surprise,” Duo was quick to reassure. “It’s good to hear your voice.”

A soft sigh escaped Heero. “It’s good to hear yours too. I’ve missed you.”

“Same here, Heero.”

“Duo, I...  I’m calling to let you know I’ve broken it off with Relena.” There was complete silence on the other end of the line and Heero began to panic. “That was what you wanted, what we both decided.” The silence remained. “Duo? Are you still there? Did you hear what I said?”

“You broke it off?” came Duo’s whispered words, unable to believe what he’d just heard.

“Yes, I did. Relena’s gone, packed her things and left not more than half an hour ago.”

There was a momentary silence where Heero thought Duo had hung up on him; then...

“Yee Haw!!!” Duo whooped.

Heero had to yank the phone away from his ear or suffer permanent hearing loss. An amused smile graced his lips and a relieved sigh left his lungs. “I take it you’re happy about that?” he asked, his tone light and teasing.

“You betcha,” Duo all but yelled.

Heero snorted with laughter. He could just picture the look on Duo’s face.

“How did she take the news?” Duo asked, his voice sobering a touch.

“Overall, pretty well, a lot better than I expected. I thought she would rant and rave, throw a few things around and at me, but she didn’t. Oh, she had a few choice things to say, but nothing like I was expecting. However...” Heero swallowed as he dredged up the memory of Relena’s parting words.

“However?” Duo prompted. He didn’t like the sound of Heero’s tone when he said that.

“She knows, Duo. I don’t know how, but she knows about us,” Heero said softly.

“Oh.” Duo thought on Heero’s words for a moment. “I don’t see how she could have found out about us, especially since we haven’t really gotten together yet. I know we’ve talked, shared a few cuddles and a couple of kisses, but that’s not what I’d call being in a proper relationship. The start of one, yes,” he quickly added when he realized how his words must have come out and sounded to Heero. “That didn’t quite come out right.”

“Duo, it’s okay. I think I know what you mean,” Heero chuckled, and then his tone turned serious. “Duo, I think we need to be very careful. Relena did have a few words to say as she left and she does have a lot of influence.”

“Heero, don’t worry so much. She’s gone, off the scene and that leaves the way clear now for us to get together and see if this could work, if a relationship between us is what you want.”

“I don’t know Duo...”

“You having second thoughts, Heero?”

“NO! No, Duo. Not at all. I still want to discover what it is I’m feeling, I want to get to know you better, explore a relationship, but only with you. Duo, I really don’t know if I’m gay, straight or even bisexual, but what I do know is that I only feel something for you.” Heero sighed. “I think we really need to get together and talk.”

Duo felt touched by Heero’s shy words. “Heero?”

“Yes?”

“I don’t even know where you live.”

A soft chuckle came down the line.

“Well, you could live all the way over in California for all I know!” Duo huffed.

“Could be a long way to drive the trailer for the rodeos,” Heero teased.

“Good point.”

“No, I don’t live in California. I actually live in Texas. My ranch is on the outskirts of a town called White Deer.”

“Heero?” Duo’s voice sounded excited.

“Don’t tell me you live in California?!”

Duo laughed. “No, no I don’t, but I also live in Texas.”
“You do?” Heero held his breath.

“Yeah. My ranch is just out of Sunray.”

Heero quickly did the math. “That means you’re about seventy miles from me.”

“Pretty much.”

“Well shit.”

Duo snickered. “Heero, I don’t know about you, but I really want to see you before the next rodeo. Maybe...” Duo swallowed. “Do you think we could get together? Have that bit of a talk and maybe get to know each other a little better?” Duo’s voice sounded hopeful.

“I’d like that, Duo.”

“Where would you like to meet? Do you want to come up here to my ranch, or would you prefer it if I came to yours? Or maybe meet somewhere half way?” Duo didn’t want to push too much and possibly scare Heero off, but he really did want to see the other cowboy.

“I think it would be best if we were to meet somewhere half way,” Heero returned. Whilst he had no qualms about driving all the way to Duo’s ranch, he thought it would probably be better for both of them if they were to meet on neutral ground. Better than risking Duo coming to his ranch and possibly having Relena show up to collect the rest of her things. If that were to occur, who knew what would happen.

“That’s fine with me,” Duo replied as he scanned his memory for somewhere half way. “How about we meet in Stinnett? That’s about half way and there’s some nice bars there where people don’t get too nosy.”

“Sounds perfect,” Heero replied. “When?”

“I’m free for the rest of the week so any day is good for me,” Duo replied.

Thinking over what he had to do on the ranch that week, Heero quickly came to a decision. “How about the day after tomorrow, say around eleven?”

“Perfect.”

“Umm, Duo? I don’t know any of the bars in Stinnett. You have somewhere in mind?”

“There’s a bar called Illusions  just off the main street, it’s gay friendly too which helps.”

“Okay, Illusions it is then.”

The pair continued to converse for a while longer, Heero getting Duo’s address and directions to the bar, and Duo receiving Heero’s phone number and address in return. After chatting for another ten minutes, they finally hung up.

Duo stared at the phone in his hand, the disconnected signal beeping down the line as his mind continued to play Heero’s soft, smoky voice as they wished each other goodbye. Setting the receiver back in the cradle, Duo jumped up and punched the air. “Yes!” he hollered. “Yes! Yes! Yes! Wooo hoo! The wicked witch is gone,” he shouted as he danced his way back to the kitchen.

Out in the paddock, Scythe could hear Duo’s excited yells and wondered what on earth was up with his master.

* * *

With his heart hammering in his chest, Heero checked his appearance once more and finally got up the nerve to exit the car. He locked it and walked towards the door under the sign that said ‘Illusions’. Stepping inside, his eyes took a moment to adjust to the darker interior, but when they did, he was pleasantly surprised.

The bar was quite cheerfully decorated. The tables and chairs were all a medium colored wood, the walls painted a creamy color. A dance floor and small stage sat to one side, several booths were around the exterior and the bar, made out of a darker wood, ran down the one side. In the evening the bar would come alive with the sounds of a live band and the place was usually packed. During the day, it was a cool, quiet place to retreat, have a cold drink and maybe a meal.  A blackboard stood propped up on the end of the bar, the day’s menu and specials scrawled on it in white chalk.

With his eyes adjusted, Heero scanned around the area looking for the familiar form of Duo. He didn't see the other cowboy anywhere inside and his heart plummeted for a moment. Checking his watch he noted he was ten minutes early. Heero decided to sit at the bar and order a drink. Maybe it would help to calm the butterflies a little whilst he waited for Duo to show up.

“What can I get you?” the barkeep asked with a warm smile and an appreciative look up and down Heero’s body.

Heero felt his cheeks heat a touch with the blatant ogling of his body, but placed his butt on a stool. “A beer will be fine,” he replied.

The barkeep fetched the beer and dropped it in front of Heero. “Haven’t seen you around here before,” the barkeep said as he took Heero’s money and passed over the change.

“I’m just meeting a friend,” Heero replied.

“Ah,” the barkeep replied and added a wink. “I completely understand.”

Heero almost choked on his beer. What the hell would a barkeep know about his and Duo’s relationship? Then, when he thought about it a bit more, the barkeep was probably right, he would know quite a bit with this being a gay bar and given how society was still bigoted against gay people. He would be no stranger to couples sneaking out to meet up and enjoy each other’s company without the ridicule of society.

“Hey, Heero. Sorry I’m late,” came the voice to Heero’s side and drew the dark haired cowboy from his thoughts.  Heero looked up from his beer and contemplation, his eyes widening and he had to swallow the drool when his eyes found Duo.

The other cowboy was a wet dream walking, dressed in black, ass hugging jeans, black cowboy boots and a black shirt with the top three buttons undone and showing off the creamy skin beneath. A black cowboy hat sat cockily on that head of chestnut to complete the picture.

“You’re not late, I’m early,” Heero replied, his voice a little on the hoarse side.

The barkeep gave Duo an appraising look. “What’ll you have?”

“Beer, thanks,” Duo said and gave the barkeep a warm smile.

The beer was duly fetched and paid for, Duo taking a long swallow. Heero watched the man’s adam’s apple bob as he drank. Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. Duo continued to hold the bottle and glanced around. “Let’s get a booth,” he said, nodding to one in the corner and heading for it.

Heero grabbed his own beer and followed those swaying hips, sliding into the seat opposite Duo a moment later. Once they were sure they were alone and not about to be overheard, Duo sat his beer on the table, Heero mimicking his action. Duo reached over before Heero could remove his hand and lay  his own atop of Heero’s. With his thumb stroking over the back of Heero’s hand, he raised his violet eyes and looked deep into Heero’s blue.

“I’ve missed you,” Duo said softly, his eyes warm with the desire he was feeling.

Heero’s stomach was doing funny things, the feeling of Duo’s hand over his, the stroking of his flesh sending tingles along his spine. “God I’ve missed you too,” he replied huskily and twisted his hand to grasp Duo’s and entwine their fingers. Gazing deeply into Duo’s eyes, Heero forced himself to speak. “What now?”

Duo chuckled. “Well, with Relena gone, I guess we’re free to discover all about each other, see if this relationship is something you want and are comfortable with.”

“Duo, we need to be careful.”

“You don't have to tell me,” Duo sighed. “Society still doesn’t take to kindly to two men being together.”

“I know that, but that isn’t quite what I meant.” Heero sighed and released Duo’s hand to pick up his beer and take another swallow. “Duo, Relena made some threats when she left. She said I would regret breaking up with her, that I would be sorry. Duo, we need to be very careful, Relena can be a vindictive person when she thinks she’s been wronged. She seems determined that I will come crawling back to her and beg her forgiveness. She also knows there’s not another woman involved... but she does know I’m attracted to you.”

Duo looked up sharply. Trowa’s words coming back to haunt him. “You don’t seriously think that Relena would go so far as to inflict harm on us, do you?”

Choosing his words carefully, Heero replied slowly. “No, I don’t think she would. Relena is one of those bigots, Duo. She doesn’t believe in a relationship other than one between a man and a woman, anything else is just plain perverted to her. I have no clue how she found out I want to be with you, and right now it doesn’t really matter either.” Heero paused. “She does have a lot of influential friends though and all she would need to do is have a word in the right ear and she could make things very difficult for us both.”

“How so?” Duo growled.

“To start with there’s the media, the papers mainly. She knows the managers of several large newspapers and it wouldn’t take much for her to get them to run a story on us.”

Duo shrugged. “So what? Most people don’t believe half the stuff they read in the papers anyway.”

“She also has connections within the rodeo, not to mention the cattle and horse industries. In some ways she’s been responsible for my getting good prices for my beef cattle at the markets. One word in the right ear and I could find my cattle not worth two cents, same with your dream of breeding cow ponies. A few words here and there and you would find it very difficult to buy any mares, or sell any offspring.”

“I see. Look, Heero, we don’t even know if this relationship will work yet, we haven’t given it a chance to get off the ground. I’d suggest we keep things very low key when in public or at the rodeo.” Seeing Heero’s face falling with his words, Duo continued. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t start to explore it more when alone. Maybe you could come up to my ranch a couple of days before the next rodeo, bring Wing with you and stay with me. We can travel down to the next rodeo either together or in our separate rigs. At least that way we can spend some quality time together and get to know each other a bit more.”

That sounded like a good idea to Heero and he said as much, the arrangements being made whilst they drank a second beer. They ate a light lunch too and continued to talk, learning a little more about the other and liking what they found out. Sitting across from Heero was doing all sorts of things to Duo, he ached to hold the other cowboy, desperately wanted to kiss him, but with Heero’s warnings regarding Relena, he wasn't comfortable with displaying such affection in public. Glancing at the clock and noting the time, Heero reluctantly decided he needed to get going. He still had an hour’s drive home and chores to do before the night came.

Duo completely understood, having his own chores also to complete back home. The pair got up, paid their tab for their lunch and left a hefty tip for the barkeep. Walking outside and to the parking lot, Duo glanced around, noting the area was pretty secluded.

“Where’s your car?” Duo asked.

“Over there,” Heero nodded to the pick up parked under some trees. “Where’s yours?”

“There.” Duo nodded to the jeep which sat three spaces down from Heero’s and equally secluded under the trees. A wicked smile lit up Duo’s face and he began to walk towards his car, tugging Heero behind him.

At first Heero was startled and instinctively pulled back; when he realized where Duo was heading, he eagerly allowed himself to be pulled along. Stopping beside the jeep, they were pretty much hidden from view of anyone that might happen to pass through the car park.

Once they stopped, Duo wrapped his arms around Heero and drew him close. His lips sought out those of the other cowboy and brushed lightly across them. “God I’ve been wanting to do that for so long,” he whispered.

Although he was taken by surprise, Heero was quick to reciprocate, his own arms coming up to secure Duo’s waist in them as he moaned softly into the brief kiss. “More,” he whispered and tilted his head in invitation.

Eyes lighting up, Duo dove in, his mouth covering Heero’s and beginning a soft, sensual kiss. The kiss deepened, Duo running his tongue along Heero’s bottom lip and then pressing forward inside Heero’s mouth when the other man opened to him. The kiss was returned with much enthusiasm, Heero’s tongue shyly coming forth and meeting with Duo’s.

A soft groan escaped Duo as his jeans began to tighten. The warmth in his belly began to build and he pulled Heero even closer. With their bodies aligned, Duo began to rock his hips slowly but steadily against Heero’s. The slight friction felt good against his rapidly swelling need and he was pleased to feel an equally hardening length pressing back.

A soft gasp fluttered from Heero as his groin reacted to the feel of Duo. When Duo began to rub himself against Heero’s groin, the feeling intensified. Never before had Heero felt anything like this – but it left him aching for more.

Heero’s reaction hadn’t gone unnoticed by Duo. Pulling away from the kiss, he rested his head in the crook of Heero’s neck and began to press fleeting kisses to the skin there. Hoping he wasn’t pushing his luck too far, he let one arm drop slowly from around Heero’s waist and slide towards those nicely shaped buttocks. He ran his hand over them, pleased to feel Heero respond as he caressed the firm flesh. Feeling a little bolder, he brought his hand to the front of Heero’s jeans and gently kneaded the firmness he found. Even through the barrier of clothing, Duo could feel that Heero was nicely endowed.

The teasing touches were setting Heero on fire. Never in  his entire life had he felt so alive, so hungry for more. Relena had never invoked such intense reactions in him and he’d thought they’d had a pretty good sex life.

“God what I’d love to do to you, Heero,” Duo moaned, “But if I don’t stop now I fear we would be arrested.”

Heero was flushed and panting, craving more of Duo’s touch, but unsure of what was happening. “I... I don’t know if I want you to stop, I don’t know what I’m feeling; hell, I don’t know what I want,” Heero moaned.

“It’s okay, Heero. I don’t think either of us is ready for this yet. We need to learn more about each other before we commit to anything further.” Giving one last squeeze to that hardened length, Duo removed his hand and replaced it around Heero’s waist. “As much as I’d love to have my wicked way with you, I think we need to wait.”

Heero agreed, despite his blood boiling with the flush of arousal. Duo was right, he wasn’t ready for this yet. But one day, one day he would be and when that day came, he knew Duo would be gentle with him and teach him all he wanted to discover and learn.

~ * ~

tbc...


Author’s Note: Sunray, White Deer and Stinnett are actual towns in Texas.  The bar, ‘Illusions’ does exist, although it is a gay bar and is in Dallas. I’ve borrowed it for this fic and relocated it to Stinnett. No disrespect intended to the owners of the bar.
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