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 18
Duo watched nervously from the side of the warm up area as both Frank and Heero loosened their horses up. Jester appeared to be full of himself as usual, but Duo could tell that the stallion was listening to Frank. The pair had come a long way since their arrival at Heero's stables just over a couple of years ago. Casting his gaze to Shini, Duo gave a soft smile. The gray was working perfectly, so finely in tune to his master that the pair appeared to blend into one.
It reminded Duo so much of another gray stallion many years ago when Duo had first laid eyes on his now husband and love of his life. They had weathered many storms together over those years and somehow managed to survive. And Duo hoped they would be graced with many more happy years together.
The crackling of the PA system drew him from his thoughts and with a deep breath, he mentally prepared himself for the anxiety he knew he would be suffering very shortly.
With the commentator's call for all those in the jump off to present to the gate marshal, Duo found himself walking between Jester and Shini to stand just to the side of the entry where they could see inside the arena and what was happening without getting in the way of the other competitors.
Treize, June, Joe and Noin all passed on their wishes of good luck to both Heero and Frank before taking their leave back inside and to their seats. Peter, Christine, Sam and Greg had all wished the pair good luck a little earlier and were now somewhere inside watching. With Duo being outside with Heero, Chrissy had volunteered to take on 'cheer leader' duty inside and promised the other three men would join in; much to her husband's horror. Duo had snickered madly at that announcement.
The first rider in the jump off entered the arena, his fellow competitors wishing him good luck as one did.
Craning their necks – Duo a little more than the other two as he didn't have the advantage of a sixteen or so hand high horse to sit on to watch – the three held their breath as the bell rang and the first rider started their course.
Opting to play things safe, the first rider didn't push their horse too much, giving the equine room to move and doing their best to go clear. Unfortunately their plan didn't come to fruition and they pulled a rail at part C of the triple, finishing with four faults in a time of 56:25.
Patting his horse as he exited and the next rider entered, those still waiting passed on their commiserations to the pair, something Duo found to be amusing considering that the rider's error had given all of them a much better chance of finishing in the top three; but that was good sportsmanship.
The bell rang and rider seven was on his way and it was evident he was determined to not only go clear, but set a fast time to beat. The dark bay was well educated and listened to his rider, managing to go at a good pace and clear each obstacle as well.
"Clear round in a time of 42:16 seconds for Craig Lampend riding Liaison. Ladies and gentlemen, that is the official time to beat. Can any of our other riders manage to better that time?"
"Of course we can," Duo muttered under his breath. "You haven't seen Shini yet."
"I'm next," Frank said looking a little green around the gills.
"You'll do just fine, Frank," Heero reassured. "Ride the course exactly how we walked it and planned it and Jester will clear it all in a good time."
Feeling a little more bolstered by Heero's words and faith his mentor had in him, Frank set his jaw and collected his reins. "I hope to make you proud," he told Heero as he rode to the entry.
"You already have," Heero replied with a smile.
"Good luck, Frank. Knock 'em out, Jester... The other competitors I mean, not the jumps," Duo corrected and gave the stallion a quick pat and slipped him a carrot.
"Our next competitor in the jump off is Frank Lowe riding Royal Park Jester."
Jester's ears were pricked as he entered the arena, dancing a little on his hard hooves. He really did love to jump and being a 'hot' horse by breeding, he sometimes found it difficult to listen to his rider and curb his enthusiasm. Over the past couple of years though he'd matured a lot in both body and mind and with his master's riding improving in leaps and bounds, he'd finally started to settle down and respect his master and what he asked of him.
Frank rode towards the judge's box, eyes roving over the jumps as he went and mapping out once more the route he intended to take. He saluted, turned Jester and sat deep into his saddle. Jester responded, breaking into a slow canter. The bell went, Frank cantered a half circle and rode for the start flags. The beam broke and the pair were off.
Jester's ears went forward when he spotted the rails ahead and automatically lengthened his stride. Frank remained still and steady on the stallion's back, using his seat and leg to quietly guide the horse to the jump. Jester sailed into the air and they easily cleared the first fence.
"That will give him a lot of confidence," Heero murmured to Duo, the vet nodding in reply, eyes firmly fixed on the pair in the ring.
With Jester back on the ground, Frank concentrated hard, riding to the right to bring the horse around in a half circle and pass jump four. He counted down the strides he planned to take and turned Jester sharply right to line up with the brush.
"Tight turn," Duo noted.
"It will still give him a good four to five strides before the take off and that's enough for Jester to rebalance and still clear it," Heero replied. He didn't add that he planned to do a similar thing with Shini, only he hoped to take a couple of strides off the distance and hopefully shave a second off his time.
Jester bounded forward and hopped neatly over the brush fence, landing and pulling a little as the excitement inside him built.
"Steady boy, there's a few more to go yet and you need to keep as much of that energy as you can for when it's really going to count," Frank muttered. Remembering what Heero had taught him, Frank dropped his weight deeper and took a slightly firmer grip on his reins. He steadied the forward movement of his horse and channeled that energy into the hind legs.
A slight turn to the right and the pair were on track for jump two.
"That's it, Frank. Steady him back, make him listen," Heero muttered
"Good boy," Frank praised as Jester landed cleanly over the barrels and motored on. "Now we have the tricky part coming up."
Following the barrels there would be a gradual left turn to bring them in line with the parallel bars and then it was the water and triple.
With Heero's instructions firmly in his head, Frank rode the bay at jump seven.
The sea of red and white poles rose before them, a very formidable looking obstacle; more so now it had been raised by another five centimeters. Driving his horse's hocks underneath him, Frank rode with all his determination at the jump.
The bay picked up on his master's emotions, sensing the determination there and he knew this was a big jump. Eyeing off the poles appearing before him, Jester gauged the height, located his take off point and lengthened out his stride. Hind legs dug deep, muscles rippled beneath the bay hide as the body strained to leave the ground. Red and white poles flashed beneath Jester's belly, the bay reaching for the distance and stretching his front legs out to meet the returning ground.
Frank heaved a sigh of relief once they were safely over the jump and quickly gathered his wits. The water was next and whilst he wanted Jester to speed up a little so he could clear it, he didn't want the stallion tearing off too much or he wouldn't be able to get him back in hand soon enough to clear all three elements of the triple.
Lifting his weight a touch from the saddle, Frank retained a firm hold on the reins, but gave enough for the bay to stretch out and gain the speed he would need.
The water sparkled in the sunlight, Jester's ears were pricked and his canter increased in speed until he was at a hand gallop. Reaching his take off point, Jester flew into the air, low but forward going. His front hooves stretched for the other side, unwilling to get a hoof wet – Jester wasn't fond of having his legs wet at all.
Dust and gravel flicked back to spray in the water when Jester landed safe on the dry side and the bay gave a toss of his head.
With the triple only a few strides ahead of them, Frank took a very firm hold on his reins, blocking Jester's gallop and bringing the stallion back to a more sedate canter. Seat and legs were used to drive those hind quarters underneath, the energy contained and building.
"This is the last one, Jester and it's going to be a really tough one. Just listen to me, boy," Frank said to his horse, eyes never wavering from the jump ahead.
The stallion steadied his canter, gathered himself together and picked his take off point.
In the collecting ring, Heero watched intently as Frank rode his horse together, mentally riding the line and track with his pupil. He was pleased to see that Frank had listened to him and not let the bay go flat out at the water. The stallion was coming back to hand much easier and judging by the way Frank was riding him, that impulsion was building in the bay's hind end.
Duo simply watched, his breathing shallow and nails suffering from the constant nibbling.
Leaping into the air, Jester sailed over the first element of the triple, clearing it with ease. Once he was back on the ground, Frank was there, riding him forward, encouraging him on for the two strides before they were airborne again.
It was a big jump, the distance between the front and back poles of the oxer having been widened by a quarter of a meter.
Part C though was wider still.
The extra width took a little more out of the stallion than Frank had anticipated and once they were landing, he was immediately there with his seat and leg. "Come on, boy," he encouraged.
Jester took the one stride and grunted as he shoved off the ground. He was tired but still game. Forelegs cleared the poles and began to unfurl for the landing. Hind legs followed, Jester's fetlocks just catching the back pole and rubbing against it as he came back to earth. The pole rocked in the cups for a moment and then decided it preferred to stay there.
With all four hooves back on terra firma, Frank gave the stallion his head, drove his legs hard against the bay flanks and Jester galloped through the finish.
"Clear round for Frank Lowe riding Royal Park Jester in a time of 39:33 seconds! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new leader!"
"You did it, Jester. You did it!" Frank exclaimed and rained pats down on the bay neck. Frank could feel the emotion of the moment running through his blood and forming a lump in his throat. He was so damn proud of Jester.
The bay snorted and tossed his head. He was feeling very pleased with himself as he'd obviously made his master very happy given all the pats and praised that were being heaped upon him. He hoped he would get some of those lovely orange treats too, once they left the ring that was.
Locating the exit, Frank steadied the bay back to a trot and left the arena amid thunderous applause and cheers. Once he was back in the collecting ring he was surrounded by his friends and mentor.
"Way to go, Frank!" Duo yelled once Frank brought the stallion to a halt beside them, practically bouncing on the spot in his excitement.
"Thanks, Duo," Frank replied, his eyes shining. "He was a good boy, wasn't he?"
"He certainly was," Duo agreed and fished in his pocket for some carrots.
A certain gray stallion's eyes narrowed as he watched those carrots disappearing down a bay throat.
"Well done, Frank. That was an excellent round," Heero congratulated and offered his hand.
Shaking his mentor's hand, Frank found those cobalt eyes and held their gaze. "Thanks, Heero, not just for all your help today, but for everything you've done for me and Jester here. I don't think we would be where we are now if you hadn't taken us on. It really means a lot to me to know you have faith in us both." Frank started to turn a little red with his speech, but before he could become really embarrassed, Heero gave him a warm smile.
"No thanks needed, Frank. I could see the potential there in the both of you, all you needed was a guiding hand in the right direction. You're the one who has put in all the hard work and you thoroughly deserve to be here and noticed by the selectors. I sincerely hope you do make it to the short list for the next Olympics."
Seeing the air becoming a little thick and uncomfortable with all the praise going back and forth, Duo decided to interrupt and get things back on a more even keel; especially since he could see June, Treize and Noin approaching.
"If you two are done with all the compliments, I'd suggest that you, Heero, get on Shini as there's only one more to go before your turn, plus Noin, Treize and June are about to descend upon us."
"Ah," Heero muttered and tuned back to his horse, pulling the stirrup forward and shoving his foot in it to mount up.
"Well done, Frank, that was a cracking round," Treize said as the three came to a stop before the two horses and their riders.
"Thanks," Frank replied, taking all the congratulations in his stride.
"He's certainly set you a time to beat, Heero," Treize said, turning his blue eyes to his former pupil and now fellow businessman.
"It is a good time, I'll grant you that," Heero said with a smile. His eyes narrowed a touch and his smile turned slightly feral. "But it's not unbeatable."
"No it's not," Treize replied and gave his friend a sly grin. "I'm assuming you have a little something up your sleeve?"
"Maybe?" Heero said with a mysterious air.
Treize nodded. "I wish you all the very best, my friend."
"Thanks."
Another rider exited the arena to the sound of applause and the commentator announcing they had scored four faults and a time of 54:47.
"Frank's still leading," Duo stated absently as he watched the rider before Heero enter.
"Anything can still happen," Heero replied, moving a little closer to the entry so he could watch the rider's round and be ready to go in for his turn as he was the next and last rider to go.
It was obvious that the pair currently on course were determined to give the jump off all they had and they also had quite a lot of experience too. They started off steady, increased the pace as they went and like Frank, took the water jump a little slower than in the first round so they had their horse back between hand and leg for the triple.
Everyone held their breath as the pair took off over the first element of the triple and proceeded to clear all three elements. Once safely over the last they bolted for the finish and stopped the clock.
"Clear round for Andrew Connigen riding Sparkle in a time of 39:18 seconds. Once again we have a new leader! Can our last rider to go in the jump off beat this time and go clear?"
"You bet he can," Duo muttered and petted Shini's muzzle. "You can do it, can't you boy," Duo stated.
Shini rubbed his muzzle against the nice human's chest as if to say 'Of course I can.'
"Ladies and gentlemen, our last rider to go in the A Grade Championship jumping competition is former Olympic gold medallist, Heero Yuy riding Shinigami."
"Good luck, Heero. Show them all what you can do and come back to me in one piece," Duo said softly and gave his husband's calf a squeeze.
"I'll do my best, Duo." Heero gave his lover a smile and mouthed, 'I love you.' Gathering his reins and with the rest of his 'support crews' wishes of good luck ringing in his ears, he rode the gray into the arena and the jump off.
Treize and the others all left to go back into their seats to watch leaving Duo alone in the collecting ring. Chewing on his fingernail again, Duo sent a silent prayer to any god listening that his lover would do well. A presence beside him had Duo glancing out the corner of his eye to see Frank and Jester stopping beside him.
"I'm surprised you have any fingernails left," Frank said with a chuckle.
Removing the digit from his mouth, Duo gave the rider a sheepish look. "Saves me a fortune in manicure bills," he quipped.
"And hair trims too I would imagine," Frank snickered back and gave a pointed look to the end of Duo's frazzled braid.
"Uh, yeah, I guess. Can't help it though." Duo shrugged and proceeded to play with the tufted end.
Frank snickered again before turning his attention to the arena and his mentor.
Heero saluted the judge and took a firm hold on Shini's reins. Sitting deep he pushed the stallion into a canter and rode towards the start flags. He looked over the course of jumps, running through his intended track as he approached the start flags. The bell rang and everything disappeared into the background for Heero. All that remained was the horse beneath him, the jumps ahead and the electronic timer.
"This is going to be a tough one, Shini, but we've beaten better ones."
The stallion snorted, tossed his head and gave a small buck. He knew that the jump off was ahead and he was more than ready to strut his stuff. He would show all these upstarts how a jump off was done!
They passed through the start, the timer turning on and approached the first jump. Shini soared over it in his usual style, landed and waited for the instructions from his master.
Dropping his weight, Heero shortened the gray's stride and turned to the right. They swept along, Heero glancing over to his right as they turned and once he judged them to be far enough away, he spun Shini around and with three strides they flew over the brush fence.
"Fuck! That was a really tight turn," Frank exclaimed, his mouth dropping open.
Duo grinned. "That's my Heero."
With the brush safely behind them, Heero gave the gray a little rein and urged him forward. He was sure to keep a little in reserve though as jump two was fast approaching. Using his seat, Heero slowed the gray a touch and lined the jump up on a slight angle. Shini gauged the height and angle of the fence, knowing exactly what his master required of him and never hesitated.
They launched into the air, Shini tucking his legs up neatly beneath him and almost flying over the barrels.
"Shit, he's not wasting any time," Frank said in awe of the skill on display.
"Nope, he isn't. He wants to win this," Duo replied, eyes never leaving the pair in the arena. His heart was hammering in his chest though and he silently willed the pair on.
Having cleared the barrels on an angle, Heero sat down hard and brought Shini back to a steady canter, building the impulsion a bit more before letting the stallion have his head and sail over the parallel bars. The red and white poles flashed beneath the gray belly, Shini's head coming up to balance his body as he landed.
"The water is next, Shini and then the big triple," Heero muttered.
A gray ear swiveled back to listen, the tone of the voice letting the stallion know there were a couple of tough ones ahead and for him to listen to his master's instructions.
Checking the forward speed, Heero made sure to keep Shini at a steady hand gallop coming into the water. He needed a certain amount of speed to enable him to get the width, but he also needed to have a lot of energy left to contain if they were to clear the triple successfully.
Spotting the water ahead, the gray started to speed up a little, only to have his expected gallop held in check. He didn't fight his master though, knowing after years of working together to trust his master. He kept his gallop to what speed his master asked for, drawing his hind quarters deeper under his body as he pushed ahead.
Reaching the water, Heero gave with his hands and followed the movement of his horse. The gray took off, body flatter than usual and reaching for the opposite 'bank'. He didn't need height to clear the water, just a good, long reach with his legs.
They touched down with several centimeters between Shini's back hooves and the edge of the water.
The jump steward looked a little disappointed that he hadn't gotten to wave his flag indicating a foot in the water.
"Hah! Shini's not about to get his feet wet," Duo crowed.
Immediately Shini landed over the water Heero dropped his weight as deep as he could into the saddle and applied his legs. His hands remained firm but sympathetic on the reins, checking the forward movement whilst building up the impulsion in the hind quarters.
Shinigami dropped his nose, rounded his back and softened his muscles, letting Heero sit right into him and contain the energy. He could see the triple ahead and remembered it from the first round. The stallion let his master guide him, trusting his rider to keep him safe, just as he would keep his master safe.
Three strides out from the jump and Heero started to come forward, giving a little with his hands and letting the gray stride out a touch more. Picking the take off point, he gave the gray his head and went forward with the surge of power that exploded from the stallion's hind quarters.
Soaring over the first element, Shini's hooves bit deep into the dirt as he landed, his master's weight and legs pushing him together and doing their best to keep his energy contained.
Two strides and the pair were again airborne, the extra width not affecting the stallion in any way as his master had made certain to have the energy where it was needed.
Touching down again it was one stride before the gray launched into the air for the final element.
The tension was thick in the arena, silence deafening as everyone held their breath. Shini seemed to hang in the air for a moment before gravity took over and began to pull the gray body back to the earth.
In the collecting ring Duo was also holding his breath, his braid coming unraveled from his mangling of the end. His eyes darted between the horse and rider and the electronic timer.
Feeling the gray hind quarters landing, Heero gave the stallion the reins and drummed his legs against gray flanks. "Go!" he urged the horse.
Shini grunted as he landed and with the aids from his master against his sides, he flattened his ears back against his skull, gathered his legs beneath him and galloped flat out for the finish flags.
They shot through and stopped the clock.
The arena erupted into screams and cheers. In the collecting ring Duo couldn't see the timer but gathered it must be close given the crowd's enthusiasm.
Heero hadn't looked at the clock either, his attention was fixed solely on getting through the finish as quickly as he could. Once he was through he sat back in the saddle and closed his fingers on the reins, slowing Shini's gallop to a more sedate canter. "Good boy," he praised and patted the gray neck.
"Ladies and gentlemen, what a finish!" the commentator yelled down the microphone. "That is a clear round for Heero Yuy riding Shinigami in a time of 37:04. Now you can all see why he was an Olympic gold medallist! What a round, people!"
Still bringing his horse back to a trot, Heero heard the announcement and felt the lump rise to his throat. "We did it, Shini!" he cheered and proceeded to pat and praise every inch of the gray neck before him.
Shini cantered on, a smug expression on his face. He'd known all along he was good.
tbc...