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 do own the plot and any other characters, especially the equines, that you will find in this fic. Please do not take them without permission. Written for pleasure not profit.
Pairing: 2x1x2, 3x4, 13x6, H+C
Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, sap, angst, vet themes, AU
Rating: NC 17
Betaed by Karina *snugs*
Summary: Set 2 years after Equus and Heero is doing so well in his own business that he's taken June on as a working pupil. The qualifying shows for the International teams are well underway and it looks like it will be a good year for Heero, his pupils and horses... until Mother Nature steps in.
AN: This fic, although a complete work of fiction is based partially on fact. I will add notes at the end of chapters where necessary to clarify events and provide links where needed.
Dedication: To Leslie and Karina. Leslie for giving me the original idea for Equinity and encouraging and supporting me through the writing of all the fics thus far in the arc. And Karina for not just taking over as my much needed beta, (poor woman needs a medal!), but for also poking and prodding Fred until he went on strike, refusing to work on anything at all until I let him start this. Needless to say, we managed to come to a compromise... Fred gets to write a chapter of this one week... the next week he has to write a chapter of 'Bound'... Did I ever tell you all I hate my muse? :-)
Fic 5 in the Equine Intervention Arc.
Commenced December 2013 – ShenLong
"Rival Riders"
Chapter 17
"How is he feeling, Heero?" Duo asked as Heero brought the gray to a halt beside him.
"Fresh and eager to go," Heero replied with a smile and patted the gray neck. "He's in top form."
"That's good." Duo fed the gray a carrot. "There's been another two clears since Frank which makes five through to the jump off so far. There's two more to go before your turn."
"Thanks."
"Want me to check your girth?"
"If you could, thanks."
"No problem." Duo checked the girth was tight enough before running his hands over Shini's jumping boots and making sure they were all still firmly secured. The gray wuffled and lowered his head, lipping at the vet's hair as he bent to his task. "Hey, Shini, leave the hair alone please," Duo chastised and pushed the gray muzzle away.
The stallion gave the nice human a soulful look.
"Oh no, not the horsey eyes again," Duo sighed.
Sensing victory, Shini turned the 'eyes' up a notch.
"I gotta learn better defenses," Duo muttered but reached into his pocket for another carrot to give to the stallion anyway.
Crunching the orange treat up, Shini wore a smug expression. Humans were so easy to train.
A rider came out of the arena to the announcement of twelve faults and rider twenty went in.
"I'm next," Heero said softly. "I'd better let the gate marshal know I'm here and ready." Nudging Shini lightly, Heero rode towards the steward manning the gate.
The current rider was going very well until they reached the final fence. Both horse and rider's concentration seemed to relax a little too much and although the horse's forelegs only brushed lightly against the top plank, it was enough to send it crashing to the ground and give the pair four faults.
"Heero Yuy? You're next," the gate steward stated and opened the gate for Heero to enter and the other rider to exit.
"Good luck, Heero," Duo said and squeezed his husband's calf.
"Thanks, Duo," Heero replied and began to collect up his reins.
"Be a good boy and jump your heart out for your master, Shini," Duo whispered to the gray.
Shini gave the nice human a gentle push with his muzzle as if to say he would do his best and then the pair were riding towards the arena entry.
With Heero walking away, Duo turned and bolted for the inside of the arena and their friends.
#
"Our next competitor to go is Heero Yuy riding Shinigami. Many of you would be familiar with this combination, the pair having represented Australia at the London Olympics and taking not just team gold, but individual gold too," the commentator announced as Heero rode into the ring amid the applause and cheers.
"Fuck me, did he have to do that?" Heero muttered, feeling his cheeks reddening as he rode towards the judge to salute.
In the stands, Duo had finished his mad dash and landed heavily in his seat next to Treize. Once his ass was on the plastic, he grabbed the end of his braid and began to worry it between his fingers.
"How is he?" Treize whispered.
"A little nervous, but Shini's in fine form," Duo whispered back.
"They will both do great," Treize said with confidence and reached across to pull the tufted end from Duo's abusive fingers. "Looks like someone else is nervous too. You'll give yourself split ends."
Violet eyes blinked widely at the other rider. "Since when did you become an expert on hair care?"
"In case you've forgotten, my boyfriend also has a mane of hair he's devoted to," Treize murmured with a smirk.
"Oh, yeah."
#
Having saluted the judge, Heero collected up his reins and pushed Shini into a slow canter. His eyes scanned the arena as he rode between the jumps towards the start flags, mind focusing on what he had to do. The bell sounded and Shini gave a small buck of excitement. He was more than ready to jump!
Turning through the start, they broke the beam and were on their way.
The first jump; the rails, passed easily underneath the gray belly and Shini was cantering on towards the barrels. Lengthening his stride, he pushed from the ground and soared easily over the jump.
"Steady, Shini," Heero murmured and applied his left leg along with pressure to the right rein. The stallion responded well, turning and lining up the double. Both jumps were oxers and reasonably wide ones too so Heero made certain to sit a little deeper and push his horse together.
Eyeing off the first element, Shini gauged his take off point and dug his hind hooves deep into the arena surface, powerful muscles pushing him up and forward. They landed safely and took the two strides before launching into the air again.
Once more, forelegs unfurled and bore the brunt of the landing, hind legs following and pushing the gray away from the jump. His master's weight shifted to the right and Shini followed suit, turning his body and spotting the fourth jump ahead.
"Good boy," Heero praised as they landed clean over the brush fence.
#
"So far, so good," Duo muttered and shoved his hands into his pockets. The end of his braid was looking a little worse for wear and Heero wasn't even half way around the course yet! Regardless of how many times he'd been in this position, watching his life partner pitting his wits and his horse against the course designer, it never got any easier.
Duo had every confidence in Heero, his skills and Shinigami, but it was the unknown factors that could spell disaster. Duo hastily shoved all those negative thoughts out of his mind.
A hand snuck back out of his pocket and gravitated towards his mouth. Silently a finger slipped past slightly parted lips and teeth began to nibble on the nail.
Both June and Treize watched in amusement and catching each other's eye over the top of Duo's head, June rolled her eyes whilst Treize shook his head.
Back in the arena, Shini was homing in on jump five: the Swedish oxer.
#
"Steady, Shini, we have a sharp turn after this one," Heero said softly. A gray ear cocked back to listen, Shini picking up on the tone of voice and knowing he needed to pay attention to the signals he would be getting from his master.
The stallion popped neatly over the jump, shortening his stride upon landing and making the sharp turn to the right. The fancy gate lay ahead, gray ears swiveled forward and Shini lengthened out once more. A soft grunt came from the gray, his hind quarters pushing the body and its rider into the air. Once more a clean pair of heels were shown.
Landing over the gate, Heero dropped his weight and drove Shini's hind legs deep under his body. He had a sharp left turn to make before the parallel bars and with that being both high and wide, Heero wanted as much impulsion as he could get in his horse.
The stallion's frame shortened, the stride became more elevated as the energy concentrated in those muscular hind quarters. The left turn was made, the parallel bars lying ahead and looking like a never ending sea of red and white poles.
With gray ears pricked, Shini never hesitated. He bounded up to the jump and sailed over it as if it wasn't even there.
#
"Atta boy, Shini. That's how you do it," Duo breathed.
"Doing well so far," June commented.
"Yeah, they are. The really nasty one is about to come up though," Duo replied.
"Ah, the water followed by the triple," June agreed.
"Got it in one," Duo muttered.
"Heero will clear them all, Shini's done all of this sort of thing many times," Treize offered, trying to settle the vet a little with words meant to comfort.
"I know, but I can't help but worry."
June patted him on the shoulder. "It will all be fine, Duo. Just you wait and see."
Duo nodded in reply and continued to nibble on his fingernail.
#
With the parallel bars behind them, Heero checked the stallion before sending him on into a steady gallop for the water jump.
Pleased to have his head, Shini wasted no time in stretching out. It felt good to let the energy loose. He noted the low hedge ahead and the shimmer of water behind it and knew what was coming up next. The stallion had no problem at all with jumping water, in fact, Shini would jump anything Heero asked him to. The only problem he did have was with hay bale jumps.
No matter how many times he'd jumped hay, he still couldn't understand why he had to jump it and not eat it. Hay was for eating, any horse worth their horse shoes knew that. Seemed that humans didn't though.
Sprinting ahead, Shini cleared the water with a good foot to spare and keen to keep galloping on. His master had other ideas though and reluctantly, Shini obeyed the steady pressure to his mouth and slowed his gait.
Eyes fixed on the triple ahead, Heero silently counted the strides. At the same time his weight was deep in the saddle, his leg and seat muscles working together to steady Shini's forward motion and build up the impulsion. Hands kept a light pressure on the mouth, allowing the stallion to move forward, but still retain his energy.
Three strides out and Heero eased forward a touch, letting the energy come forth. Two strides and Heero was pushing forward, taking his weight on his knees and urging Shini on. One stride and Heero came fully forward, his own hands sliding up the neck of his horse, upper body also coming forward as he lifted as much of his weight as possible off the stallion's back.
Muscles rippled beneath the gray hide, haunches strained to push the equine airborne and over the first element of the triple. They landed safely, Heero using his seat and leg to drive the gray back together in the two strides they had before the second element was upon them.
Again the gray dug deep, soaring into the air and reaching for the spread of part B of the triple. It was a wide jump, but the final part was wider still. Shini cleared it and front hooves bit deep into the dirt as he landed.
Immediately Heero was there with his hands, seat and leg. The second element would have taken a bit out of his horse and with the third element also being high and wide and with only one stride between them, Heero knew he needed to have as much energy in Shini's hind quarters as possible.
With another grunt, Shini pushed himself into the air, his front legs curling up against his body, hind legs following in a perfect arc. Ligaments, tendons and muscles all strained to take the weight of the horse as Shini landed, his hind hooves slotting into the deep gouges his front hooves had left and pushing him away from the jump.
#
"Thank God he cleared that," Duo sighed and abruptly pulled his finger out of his mouth when he realized he was chewing the fingernail. He darted a look to either side and felt relieved when neither Treize or June appeared to have noticed his nervous habit.
"That's the really difficult part of the course out of the way, now all he has to do is keep his concentration and clear the last three jumps and he's through to the jump off," Treize commented.
"I hope he does," June said. "It wouldn't look too good if Frank were to get through and Heero didn't." Feeling the weight of eyes upon her, June turned her head slowly and blinked. "Errr..." she muttered, realizing what she'd said.
"If, by some weird stroke of fate, Heero doesn't make it through then it will be a testament to his coaching skills that his pupil is excelling so well," Treize said, getting in before the vet could formulate any sort of come back. Knowing Duo and how protective he was of Heero and Shinigami, Treize knew that whatever came out of that mouth would not be very pleasant.
"Thank you, Treize," Duo managed to choke out.
"Sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound the way it came out," June apologized.
"It's okay, I know what you meant," Duo said and turned back to the arena where Heero was on course for jump ten – the wall.
#
"Good boy, Shini," Heero praised the gray and gave a quick pat to the sweaty neck.
Shini tossed his head and continued on. He could tell there weren't too many jumps left and he was starting to get a little tired.
Dropping his weight, Heero kept the light contact with Shini's mouth and used his legs to drive the stallion together. The wall was a pretty solid obstacle and they would need a lot of impulsion to get over it. The triple had taken quite a bit out of the gray and Heero did all he could to help his horse.
Seeing the wall ahead, Shini gathered himself together, pushed his hocks right underneath and sprang into the air. He tucked his front legs up tight, body soaring over the top of the bricks before the pull of gravity drew him back towards the earth.
Hands remained light on the reins, Heero's body following the movement of his horse and once they were safely back on four legs, he was there, encouraging and pushing the stallion together again. Knowing there was only the triple and the planks to go, Heero didn't let his concentration waver for a minute. A right hand turn brought them in line with the triple and the gray gamely sailed over it.
"One to go, Shini and it's a tricky one. Not hard but flimsy. I'll need you to make sure you pick your feet right up over this one, boy."
A snort was Shini's reply. He could see the flags just ahead on the other side of this last jump and he was keen to get there. Mustering up the last of his energy, he lengthened his stride and shot into the air.
#
"Please clear it, please clear it, please clear it," Duo muttered, his fingernail back in his mouth again but he really didn't give a damn. Beside him June was also chewing on a fingernail, much to Duo's amusement and he turned his head slightly to stare at the woman.
Feeling Duo's eyes on her, June tilted her own head in askance. Duo's eyes flickered to her mouth and the nail she was biting on. She grinned and shrugged. "Must be contagious," she replied to the silent question.
Duo snickered.
#
As soon as Shini's hooves were back on the ground, Heero rode flat out for the finish flags. He hadn't heard the sound of anything falling and wasn't game to look back either. He just hoped they'd cleared those flimsy planks and were within the time allowed.
Passing through the invisible beam the timer stopped, indicating the pair were within the time allowed and the audience broke into loud cheers and applause.
"Clear round for Heero Yuy and Shinigami!" the commentator announced.
"Good boy!" Heero put his reins into one hand and rained pats upon every bit of Shini's neck he could find.
The stallion snorted and tossed his head, lapping up the attention and showing off by tossing in a couple of bucks. He knew he was good.
Up in the stands, Duo jumped from his seat and punched the air with a loud, "Yes!" Before anyone could say anything, he'd hot footed it over June and was well on his way out of the arena to congratulate his husband and charge.
Watching the braid disappear, June smiled. "I think he's happy, don't you?" she said to Treize.
"I think you could be right," Treize replied, his smile widening on his lips. "I'd give them a couple of minutes and then go and pass on our own congratulations."
"Sounds like a plan."
# # #
Scrambling back out into the collecting ring area, Duo's eyes scanned around until they alighted on Heero and once they did he made a bee line for the pair.
Heero was still patting the gray and making a fuss of him when he was pounced upon by a braided whirlwind. "Great round, Heero!" Duo congratulated along with a 'buddy' hug.
"Thanks. He was such a good boy," Heero replied with a grin.
"Yes, he was," Duo agreed and patted the gray neck. "You were a very good boy, Shini." Reaching into his pockets, Duo found the carrots he had hiding there and proceeded to stuff the gray mouth with as many as Shini could handle.
He knew he'd been good, the pats, praise and tone of voice of his master had told him as much. Once the other nice human appeared, Shini knew he would be getting his reward – and he wasn't disappointed either. The nice human produced carrot after carrot and Shini was more than happy to keep gobbling them up.
Noin, Treize, Joe and June arrived, all of them passing on their congratulations and patting Shini.
Noin was especially pleased and let Heero know how proud she was of the pair. "Neither one of you has lost that magic touch you had at the Olympics," she said with pride.
Heero turned a fetching shade of red and muttered something about it all being Shinigami, all he did was sit there and steer. June found that most amusing and had to turn her laughter into a coughing fit.
Frank appeared a few moments after the other three and once he'd finished congratulating his mentor, the pair went into a discussion over how Heero had found the course. Before the pair could get into too deep a discussion, the commentator came over the public address system.
"Ladies and gentlemen, that was our last rider in the A Grade Championship event. We have a total of six riders through to the jump off which will be over a shortened course against the clock. There will be a short break of ten minutes for the judge to raise those jumps in the jump off and another ten minutes for the competitors to walk the jump off course. Will the following riders please present themselves to the gate steward ready to walk the course. Riders four, seven, twelve, fifteen, sixteen and twenty one. Thank you."
"Heero, you're twenty one and Frank is twelve," Duo informed, just in case they had missed the announcement.
"I guess we should get ready to walk the course then," Heero said and looked at Frank.
Frank looked at Jester and back to Heero. Seeing what was going through Frank's mind, June stepped forward. "I'll hold Jester for you if you like, Frank?"
"Would you? Thanks, June, that would be great," Frank replied.
"No problem, happy to help out," the woman grinned back and took the bay's reins.
Seeing the conflict going on through Duo's facial expressions, Joe gave the vet a touch to the arm. "Want me to hold Shini so you can walk the course with Heero?"
"Joe, that would be wonderful. Thank you so much," Duo replied, his smile dazzling.
Joe chuckled. "Give him to me."
Duo handed over the gray's reins and with one last carrot, followed his husband towards the arena entry.
Noin and Treize had also offered to walk the jump off course with Heero and Frank, an offer Heero had gratefully accepted.
"What is the jump off course?" Duo asked as they entered the arena once the jumps had been raised and the judge gave the all clear for them to walk it.
"It's one, four, two, seven, eight, nine A, B and C," Heero told him.
"Great," muttered Frank. "They had to keep the water and following triple in it, didn't they?"
Heero laughed. "They aren't going to make it too easy for you. You'll do just fine, Frank. Just remember to sit down hard after the water and collect Jester up. Don't push him too fast after that water or you will have a rail down in the triple somewhere."
"I'll probably have all three elements down knowing my luck," Frank muttered.
"Come on, less of that attitude and more positive thinking here," Noin interrupted. "Gentlemen, we have a jump off course to walk and figure out the best tactics to ensure a first and second placing for the Salsbury Jumping Team." With the words said, Noin marched towards the start flags.
"Salsbury Jumping Team, huh?" Duo asked with his head cocked to one side.
"Sounds good to me," Heero replied with a grin.
"Does to me too," Frank added.
"Then let us go walk this thing and see what is the best plan of attack for annihilating the opposition," Treize smirked.
Duo shook his head. "Treize? Anyone ever tell you that you have a weird sense of humor?"
#
The jump off course wound around in a figure of eight and there wasn't much in the way of short cuts to be taken. Heero figured it would all come down to how much skill and control a rider had over their horse when faced with a water jump and following triple which now stood at a good 1.5meters with a spread of two meters on parts B and C.
"What do you think?" Heero asked Treize as they stood and looked back over the course.
"I'd say it will be won or lost over that triple," Treize stated.
"That's true, Treize," Noin agreed. "You will be trying to go fast to get a good time as there aren't any short cuts where you can shave a second or two off. That means everyone will be coming into the water at a good lick and then trying to slow down and build impulsion for the triple after. With the triple now at maximum height it will be a very big ask of the horse to steady up and have enough energy to get over all three elements cleanly."
"What would you suggest, Noin?" Heero asked. He'd already got a good idea of what he was planning to do, but it was also a good idea to listen to others who could offer a different view on things.
"If it were me out there I'd be steadying my horse for the water, not push flat out but still go at a good pace. Once over the water sit down hard and check the horse back, push their hind quarters right underneath them so they have as much energy as possible. Rather take an extra second or two to build that impulsion and go clear over the combination than run out of steam and knock rails down."
"That's sound advice, Miss Noin," Frank said. "Funny thing is, Heero pretty much told me the same thing."
Noin smiled at the rider. "And sound advice it is too. I take it that is what you're planning on doing, Heero?"
Heero nodded.
"I hate to break this little party up, people, but everyone is starting to leave the arena," Duo informed them.
Sure enough, all the other competitors in the jump off were starting to walk towards the exit.
"Then I think we should also be getting back to our horses and warm them up again for the jump off," Heero said.
With one last look over the course, Heero followed his lover and friends from the arena.
tbc...