Chapter 7
Goodluck!
'There, comfortable?' Duo placed another blanket over Lee, who was lying in bed, recovering from what had happened the day before.
'Duo, please! I'm fine, but thank you though.' She said, her voice hoarse. She had caught a cold. She must have been lying longer outside then they had initially thought.
'Do you want something to drink? Or to eat'
'Duo, I'm fine. I already have Heero and Bob fussing over me! There's no need to-' She was caught mid-sentence by a loud coughing fit. Duo rushed to her side and patted her back. She covered her mouth with her hand and between gasps she said: 'Better not come to close Duo, or you'll get sick also'
He just continued patting her back while the fit slowly subsided. 'Do you really think that matters to me'
'Well, who else is there to keep spirits high? You always made them laugh. Your humour will be good for them'
'The only thing that's good for them is you getting better. So rest. I'll be back later to check on you'
'I'm sure you will Duo,' She said, with a smile on her face while she closed her eyes, 'just like the rest of the family'
He smiled and softly closed the door behind him. He looked at his watch. It was still early, he should probably help the others out doing chores Lee used to do. Once downstairs he saw that the entire family had gathered around the dinner table. Not knowing what was going on Duo silently sat down with them and looked up at Bob, who was holding a list.
'Okay, it's gonna be a busy day, sons'
Duo forced down his content smile. Maybe Bob hadn't noticed his precence, but his heart was filled with warmth as he was referred to as son.
'WuFei, you just take the cows to the feeding grounds and the sheep to the paddock on the hillside'
'What about wolves'
'You can leave Farah with them'
'I need her to guide the cows...' WuFei softly commented, not sure if he should have said that.
'We'll get back on that later...' Bob scratched his head, not really knowing what to do with the sheep, 'Trowa, you go deliver the sold horses. You can pick up the truck at Ginger's. Heero, Duo, you two take care of the plants... or, no wait. You two can bring the sheep the hillside paddock!' Bob called out, proud of himself for thinking of that solution. But Trowa and WuFei laughed.
'Swift and Heather... Sheepdogs! Come on paps, you can't be serious'
'Why can't I stay here to take care of mom?' Heero asked, really not pleased with having to leave his mother. Duo frowned, maybe he just didn't look forward to spending the entire day with Duo, after their little... situation, yesterday.
'I'll take care of Lee, Heero. You just go with Duo. He doesn't know the way after all. Or the trade'
'Why don't you take him and I'll stay with mom'
'Heero'
Heero ducked his head between his shoulders and murmered a soft okay.
'That's settled then... And I'll take care of Lee and tend the plants a bit... Okay, well boys, on your ways'
Trowa and WuFei rose from their chairs. Trowa immediately left the house, heading towards the horse stables. WuFei whistled a high tune and soon Farah, his black, long haired sheepdog, came running in, bursting with energy.
'Bob?' Duo walked up to the man before he could leave to go upstairs. 'You really think it's a good idea to bring Heather, she might turn violent. I heard a lot of stories about docile dogs suddenly killing sheep'
Bob looked at him and then eyed Heather for a while. 'Put a leash on her and... Just go stand in the way the sheep shouldn't go and let her bark. Swift can handle the rest.' He looked back at the black and white border collie lying lazily on the couch 'I hope'
While he had talked to Bob, Heero had packed some sandwiches and two bottles of water he also handed him the leash they ususally used for Teddy, it was extra strong, in case she got a bit too excited.
'Come on Swift'
The dog wagged his tail, jumped of the couch and ran to the stables, thinking that that was where they'll be heading.
Heather wanted to join in on the fun, but he pulled her back. She whined, but other then the twitching in her body, that indicated she wanted to run, she didn't protest.
'Swift!' Heero whistled and the dog made a sharp U-turn and returned. He turned back to do 'It's easier not to go by horse. The sheep aren't that troublesome.' He explained and they walked towards the small, muddy, paddock the thrirty sheep were now located in.
Heero opened the gate and Swift immediately ran in, eager to do what she was made for.
'I though Swift wasn't such a good sheepdog.' Duo remarked as they watched Swift slowly persuading the sheep to come out of the paddock through the gate and gathered them in a large group, standing close to each other.
'I have been training her lately, you know, for the contest. She is better then my father and brothers would ever want to admit'
Duo smiled, he did notice, in his time being here, that people were very competitive when it came to their dogs. That, combined with WuFei's already competitive personality.
'How far is the... hillside paddock'
'About an hour walk from here, maybe one and a half'
'Great...' Duo muttered under his breath as they left.
Swift had a hard time controlling the large group. The sheep were used to Farah, not this black and white ball of hair that once in a while came rushing by. Once in a while he had to go after half the group with Heather, standing in their way and making them bark, they sure did listen to that.
The only time when they spoke was when Heero told him to take Heather up front, or to keep the group together while he and Swift went back to retrieve some runaway sheep.
It turned out to take them about two hours before Duo could finally see the white fending of the large and grassy paddock. Heero ran up ahead to open the gate and Heather and Swift both barked loudly. The sheep seemed to recognise the location and in their fright they just ran right into the paddock to have the gate closed behind them.
Panting from the track up the hillside, that was steeper then he had initially thought, he asked between breaths: 'Are we gonna go back now'
Heero shook his head. 'We have to stay here. To protect the herd from wolves'
Duo swallowed. 'Is that common around here? Attacks by wolves?'Heero turned to him with a smirk. The only sign of emotion he had given him during their long walk. 'Very common'
Hoping that the smirk was some sort of white flag to indicate new found peace between them Duo came to stand next to him, leaning against the white fence, taking deep breaths.
'I don't know about you but I have to sit for a while.' Such a long walk, together with running, sprinting even, and holding back a dog far stronger then him was nothing common for a city boy like himself. He sagged down, his back against the fence. He took the time to take and undecent look at Heero's lower regions which were now about at his eyelevel.
To his surprise and maybe to his dismay, since he was very content oggling Heero's ass, he came to sit beside him in the damp grass looking for something in the brown backpack he had taken with him on this 'voyage.
'Here'
Duo gratefully accepted the bottle of water and drank with long gulps. Wrong decision. Next thing he knew he was coughing for life. However, a pleasant bonus was Heero's hand, that now lay comforting on his shoulder.
'Must have went down the wrong pipe.' Duo said with a laugh when his life was no longer in immediate danger.
'Duo'
'Yeah'
'I'm a... I'm sorry for how I reacted yesterday'
Duo looked him straight in the eyes, he knew what he was talking about but still, maybe he was sadistic, but he wanted him to be more specific. 'You didn't overreact, finding you're mother like that is a scary thing, I know'
Heero smiled, as if he knew that Duo knew damn well that that wasn't what he was referring to. 'I mean... when we went horsebackriding and we... kissed.' He sighed, looking guiltily at the ground. 'I shouldn't have left you, I heard from Bob what happened. I really shouldn't have left, you could have died because of me'
'Me? Dying? That would take a hell of a lot more then a puddle of mud'
'It was a swamp of quicksand.' Heero corrected.
Yeah, as if he didn't know. 'I know'
'You didn't leave the horse'
'Huh'
Heero looked up with a smile. 'You said you really didn't feel anything for animals, still... you sticked with her, while you could have gotten out'
'Yeah, I guess I did. Does that make me a hero?' He leaned in a bit, with a seductive look.
'No.' Heero promptly asnwered with a smile.
'Did you ever do something courageous'
He thought about that for a while, looking up at the clouded sky.
Duo followed his gaze. It's gonna rain soon. He though. Not too pleased. He didn't look forward getting all soaked. There was a large tree not far from him, but he doubted that it will keep them dry.
'No.' Was Heero's answer to his question. 'I don't think so. Maybe you should define courageous'
'Well, back in the city, I once saw a little girl lying on the street. She had fallen and was crying. I saw a truck nearing her, honking. He couldn't stop, the road was too slippery. So I ran onto the road, grabbed her and jumped to get out of the truck's way. I'd say something is courageous when you risk your own life'
Heero thought again, after being absorbed into Duo's short story. 'Well, then I guess that I never did anything courageous.' He looked sad, a crestfallen look on his face.
'That doesn't make you less a man, ya know'
Heero whipped his head around. A secretive twinkle in his eyes a smirk displayed on his lips. 'I know something that would make me less a man'
Duo was too surprised to do anything but accept Heero's face nearing him and pressing their lips together. Surprise slowly seeping away he brought his hands up to Heero's neck. Just as he was about to deepen the kiss, the very first, fat drop of water fell right on his head. The next drops soon followed and they broke loose. Looking up at the sky as rain fell down like buckets were being emptied on their heads.
Laughing, Duo stood, reaching out a hand to help Heero rise and they ran towards the large oak tree. By the time they got there they were already soaked and drops still managed to make their way through the thick roof of leaves, but it was better under there.
Heero leaned back against the trunk, looking very invitingly. The white shirt was now see-through and clung to his frame.
Duo was never one to pass an invitation. With his hands on the narrow hips and Heero's hands buried in his hair they locked their mouths together again. When breaking apart for much needed air Heero whispered: 'It's dangerous to stand under a tree when it thunders'
'It ain't thundering yet.' Duo moved closer, pressing their bodies together. It did dawn to him that it was better to take it slow, if he didn't want Heero to bolt like yesterday, but the desire was just too much after spending the night dreaming of their kiss.
'But it could start soon...' Heero panted, squinting his eyes to protect from the drops coming from his nags onto his face and dripping down to fall off his chin and nose.
'I'm willing to take the risk... oh and Heero'
'Hm...?' Heero was busy nuzzling his wet neck, placing kisses on it.
'This doesn't make you any less a man'
The comment made Heero pull back to look at his face. Duo seized his chance and pressed their lips together again, not wasting any time on deepening the kiss.
He copied the move he had done yesterday, the one that made Heero flee, slipping his hand under the shirt. Just like the day before, Heero pulled back his head, but didn't look like he was going anywhere this time around.
'Let's just take it slow, okay'
'Why'
'Just... things. Memories. Please'
Duo smiled, touching Heero's forehead with his. In his mind he was slaughtering Therasias. 'Sure.' Smiling, they continued their passionate kissing till the heavens cleared.
Did I do okay? I mean, it is the seventh chapter so I thought it was time to get some juices flowing (if you know what I mean), but just like in the last chapter it feels like it's going to fast.
For the horny minded out there: They are not going to have sex for a long time, so don't hold your breath for it. .
Thank you so much for reading and even more thanks to those who review
And a happy newyear to all of you!
C.W.