|
"Horse Tales"Written By: Kaeru Shisho Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Gundam Wing
or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Yaoi, Very AU, so very AU it's AD, another
dimension. The GW boys are horses. My apologies. Please heed the warning. Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 6x5 Summary: A few lucky stallion purebreds are given a second chance at the Horse Haven Sanc-tuary. A/N: In defense of my writing this extreme version
of a GW story… Waterlily and Snowdragon made me do it, heh, heh… " Horse Tales" Chapter Eleven- Winter Blues (o) Percy the Cat's POV I noticed everyone staring at my Asfar, waiting for his response. No pressure there. Actually, he was smarter than he looked, too smart for his own good. He excelled in everything he tried, bringing attention to himself and then having to meet ever higher expectations. Much better to underachieve and be ignored, in my opinion, than to have to live up to the expectations of others. "I suppose it is; after all, it was my idea to open up, wasn't it?" Yep. See? You thought you were being smart, I'll bet, and now? It slaps right back at you, in the face, where it hurts. "To start, I grew up in the company of an all-female harem. I think I've told you about that before." "It explains your fondness for ribbons," Killer said. I couldn't tell if that expression meant he was teasing or not; it looked much akin to his usual, serious expression. It was all in the details, and frankly I didn't care for him. He wanted to kill me, so I don't think my attitude was at all over the top. "Even the warrior horses wore ribbons streaming from their halters and tails," Asfar insisted in a louder voice. "It's cultural." Of course it was. I didn't like loud voices, ordinarily, but his voice made me think of home. It carried me back to the desert, and not in a stuffy box with no food or water or... litter tray. Nothing at all of mine. And does anyone hear me complaining? No, never. I did shred some ribbons in the course of a stressful journey, but that was then. This is now. A stinking-of-horse new place. "Of course it is, Beautiful. He knows that." Grr... it really ticked me off when Spot did that, taking my lines and getting all the glory. I just couldn't get the sap to drip off my tongue like he could. I wasn't a horse for one thing. I was a prince-ahem-I'd been a Persian, a Puuuursian prrrince with a harem of my own. I didn't need a sappy tongue. Mine was like sandpaper. Talk about traction. "He was just pulling your chain." Rope, the gorgeous-haired one, said that. And it wasn't just me; no one understood him half the time. See the chain? Ha! Not even an imaginary one. Which reminded me-he'd stuffed me in a box and left me to fend for myself, not that there's much around this place to fend for. But! I showed him, tearing the nasty box to tatters. Hmm, much like putting his feed box through the shredder-good idea! Lovely fun. The box hasn't been created yet to hold Percy, the Desert Prince-not out of cardboard. And if I wasn't so comfortable, if it hadn't taken me so long to get comfortable, I'd get right up and worry knots in his tail. I can do that later, when I start to feel bored. Time to stretch. "Oh. Anyway, I couldn't stay with the females once I was sexually mature, even though I was hidden away." Hid? The mares wanted you to breed colts of their own with your rare coloring, you naive thing. "I was discovered. I, ah, being the only horse with the Asfar coloring made it difficult to remain hidden for long. Then sent to stud, where I failed-" Eh, he'd had a real problem with that, all right, and it was more than just the right lady not coming around at the right time. Everyone knows they've got to be in heat, all hot and ready for action, but the mares brought to our shiny boy were raring to go. No, the problem wasn't with the ladies, that's for sure. I could tell. I knew the difference. I was a hit with the ladies. Left my mark, I did. His mortifying revelation just got met with a round of understanding sighs? What kind of queer herd of stallions had I got myself mixed up with? I should just go back to sleep. This was fast becoming uninteresting. "-and then for training with the war horses. I was a tough as the best of them when it came to riding like the wind over the desert. But the training was difficult and went on for hours at a time; I couldn't concentrate well. You see, I had been taught in the ways of peace and how to avoid bloodshed and disputes. So when I refused to run blindly into a human battle ground and crush the injured-whether it was horse or humans-I just couldn't do it. Their response? More training, longer hours!" "So you refused to take part in the violence and stand by your pacifist beliefs? There's honor in that." Good summary, Chewer. Hey, don't look at me that way! I'm just the messenger of the truth, as I see it. Eh, you can't understand me any more than the others so don't look so insulted. "Thank you." Aw, Asfar, don't cry now. "I-I missed my other friends and the warrior horses stuck together in mean little cliques." He was absolutely correct about that. I had been there and nobody had cared that I'd come from the harem house-not one sign of respect or deference to our position. We were the Sheik's favorites! Well, we had been. Clearly we were out of favor by that time. Had it not been for his disastrous bouts with the mares, we might have found a new social set. I was a success with the female crowd, but his failures rubbed off on me, brought us both down. Oh, how far the Majestic Percy has fallen! Sleeping with outcast horses in a stall in an ice box. Another damn box. "They told stories at night. Mostly about the battles they'd seen and some just filled with awful images. In the darkness it was dreadful. They discovered how I felt things differently-more." He kicked at a pile of straw, which achieved nothing at all but spread dust around. *Wheeze* I'm trying to sleep and, instead, I'm down here choking in your dust! Not that any of them cared, the big oafs, lounging about- one roll the wrong way, and I'd be Flap Jack Percy. Are you still telling your sob story? Don't answer that, Asfar. Why do I try? Nobody listens. Except-stop staring, Chewer. Didn't your mama teach you it's not polite to stare? And, no I don't stare. Cats watch- or we can meditate with eyes either open or closed. Right now, I'd like to- "Stop yowling like a tom cat." Yowling? Me? Oh, Spot, you are so doomed. "He is a tomcat. Just rub his back." Nice try, Asfar. Okay, Spot, keep rubbing my back like that and I'll... I'll... Purr. That's right, right there, purr. "Where was I? Oh, yes. That wasn't clear, what I'd said. It was more that I felt emotions of others and if they were afraid it could inflame my own fear more. And I believed in the supernatural creepy things which could 'get' me in the dark." Too bad you didn't see as well as I, then you wouldn't have been so easily fooled. "Snakes were real." Snakes were cool. Like rats without the fur part. I love chasing tails and snakes were all tail, if you avoided the bite end. Was that a hair clump? Time to groom. "I know, Trowa, and they often did sneak into tents at night, but the scary stories with horrid things were even worse." This time he shivered and shifted around, potentially a small catastrophe considering I was between him and Spot. "It got to be too much. The moving shadows from flames appeared alive. I was so frightened! I had to escape at all costs! I dashed out of the tent into the darkness and ran and ran. Forgetting the perimeter fences and everything not centered on fleeing my torment." "Sounds pretty awful, Quat, my Beautiful Quat." Cat! The only thing cat like around here was me and-must clean... *lick, lick* "Like Goldie said before, running away is instinctual, right?" UGH! Rope had the gall to swipe his colossal nose across sweet Asfar's back, like that could make him feel better. That was my job, such as it was-. Dear Lion in the sky, what was I about to say? I have no job. It's my right. I'm the prince and he and his stall buddy were there to do my bidding, or at least protect me and provide me with food-and water. "Correct. There's no shame in using your survival instincts." No shame, no gain. Other leg- *lick, lick* "Well, thank you, but shame or not it was stupid to go haywire like I did. My legs tangled with the wire fencing, those cruel, little barbs left all the scars you see." We all looked at the leg he'd extended. Not so bad. I really didn't think it showed that much, but he just snorted at me. I was missing a patch of fur on one of my rear legs, but that was from a fight-something to be proud of. "Not so bad," Parroted Spot. He got a pair of big grateful eyes aimed his way. I'd gotten the royal snort. "Thank you. I try not to think about that night. My human masters found me the next day, dehydrated, delirious enough to actually see the terrible things the mean horses had told me about." "So that's why you're afraid to be alone at night," Killer deduced. "Yes." "Since the humans didn't figure you to be trusted as a battle mount, and the scaring meant you were no good for showing purposes, they had run out of uses for you," Chewer said, putting plenty of bite into his tone to make me think he'd had similar experiences. "Humans are so narrow-minded about such things." "That's about right, Goldie," Rope put in. "He was pretty much washed up, so they sent him here," he added, just begging Chewer to argue with him. "Just like the rest of us." "You are right-" Is Chewer mad or something? He's being nice to Rope. "Yes, we're all lucky, now I can see it. What happened to you?" Oh, Asfar, you've opened yourself up to his hostile attack. "Nothing-no, that's not true. I... I spent only the great Horse God above knows how long moping because I had failed 'Nataku.'" Ah, I'll bet he's the type to go off and brood on his failures and unworthiness. "Nataku?" "My mate. I'd shamed her when I'd failed to mount properly and consummate our pairing properly, and because I was weak." "You don't seem weak to me at all, not the way you ploughed a path through that snow." "No, I was weak. I must have been, because I'd been condemned to parade duty rather than entered into battle. While we were outside I was nearly overcome with homesickness. Crossing snow-covered plains carrying a real warrior of the clan. Not all the horses made it, but I did. I thought I'd performed my duty well. It was painful to never have that honor again." Whine, whine whine... the infernal whine of a wuss. And now my stomach was acting up. Great. "And maybe putting you in a parade was a way of rewarding you for a job well done? I loved being in parades with the warriors. It was something I could do with pride," my dear compassionate prince said. No, sweetheart, life doesn't work that way. "I must have failed." "That's crazy talk, Goldie," Rope said. "As if humans know what a horse's made of inside. Look at Sunshine here. He's a brave as they come. He just didn't wanna risk lives for nothin' so they kept at him until he goes berserk." Chewer wanted to suffer, even I could tell that much. "I know what you're saying," Spot said. "It was degrading to catch cats on my back, rather than people. It made me feel inferior." "Hey, I'm sorry bout dumping the furball on you. I didn't think about what I was doing. Really sorry." Oh, boo who. The insults didn't pass me by, Rope- just wait until I'm alone in your stall, sharpening my claws on your food bin, and Spot, hacking up an actual fur ball in your food bin will be a pleasure. "Heh, it's all right. That puny one doesn't count, you know." Puny? Grr... You say that now. "Yeah, humans can really mess with your head, for sure. My owner promised me I'd pull a tandem rig with Solo-a real promotion. Then he up and got sick on spoiled grape juice stuff. Don't be so hard on yourself, Goldie." "Thank you... everyone. I appreciate what you are trying to do for me. I-" Oh, come on and spit it out: you're a chewer. A horse with a purpose would not be focusing on hair if he wasn't. "I engage in equine nibbling. It's a nerve problem." Oh, catkins, that'll set off my Asfar's compassion button. "You've got good qualities, too! You must learn to concentrate on those and not Duo's beautiful hair." "Yours, too." "Yes, and mine. Same with you, Trowa. You are a wonderful dancer. Your rolls and jumps are thrilling. You would have been prized by the harem." *Hack* *Gack* Oooh, fur ball coming. "You must focus on getting along or castration procedures will begin." "'Ro's right. I swear I just might bite yours off if the vet comes-" Eew! "Duo! No. It's bad enough that my behavior and Wufei's is under suspicion. Don't add mutilation to the list." "Sorry, 'Ro. Getting carried away." "Threats won't be necessary. I promise to improve, although, without my honor, what am I?" "You're pretty quiet." Yay, Spot! "Yes, he is, but easily aroused. And you are Bold, Alert and Intelligent." Asfar, my little cheerleader. *Gack* "And Brave," Rope added. "Strong," came from Killer. "Thank you. Thank you all. I promise, on my honor, to be more cooperative from here on out." Now bow, no, that's Spot's trick. You all look alike in the hoof. "And by the way, Quatre, your cat is insane." I say! Chewer pushed his big fat nose in my face. "I can hear you and understand everything you say." No. "Yes, I can. So, watch what you say, or "Killer" will earn his nickname." Meow! "You realize you're picking on someone smaller than you. Not much honor to be had in that, seems to me. "Don't listen to Trowa. That creature is just grease under my hoof." And *hack* *gack* *hack* *gack* Aaaaaaaaaaaaach! "Yuck Almighty! What did Percy just chuck up? Another cat?" (o) Duo POV We shoved the nasty wet fur thing Percy hacked up way, way far way. And it was no easy thing getting Heero to forgive and forget the mess spit up nearly on his knees. Spot saved Percy, hid him in the straw, I think, while Sunshine begged us to 'find a comfortable spot to lie down'." He managed to calm Heero, which was like trying to hand-tame a rattlesnake, but eventually calm was restored. We each assumed the same positions we slept in every night, no matter where we were. Heero, who usually only stood, as he assured me over and over, made a huge concession and ultimately lay down next to me, curling bit like Spot, but insisted on being angled with his nose right by the door. Spot 'always slept on the same side', which meant I had to shift about to make room for his bulk, and to watch that Percy, nestled in near him and Sunshine, was kept out of Heero's line of sight and far from Heero's feet. Sunshine made a nest, spinning and pawing to arrange the bedding just so, and until Spot pinned his legs still. Goldie banked shavings for a pillow. It took hours. It had been a full day and we all really needed to let settle in what had been said. This meant Sunshine had to talk to Spot and Goldie until his head was cleared. I could hear the soft rhythm of his voice, but not the words. I didn't hear a grunt out of the other two. They might have even fallen asleep. I was drowsy and yet awake with stuff on my mind. "Hey, Heero?" "What is it, Duo?" "Just-I thought it was pretty nice of you to pick up on Sunshine's distress today. You know, out in the snow?" "I'm glad you think so. Good night." "Um-" "What now?" "Naw, it's stupid." "I'm sure it isn't." "Well, you're wrong, 'Ro. Forget it." "Prove me wrong and tell me what's on your mind." "All right. I was wondering if you could say my name like you say Relena's." Okay, that sounded pretty stupid said aloud. In my head it made only barely more sense. Then came this breathy voice, low and taut with passion, making my lips curl. "Duuu-o." Oh, my. "That was... that was amazing. I'll never complain again about her again-" Not as long as he kept saying my name that way. "I love you, too, if you hadn't guessed." Hh? Hh! Breathe! I couldn't breathe! Okay. That just blew me away. Took my breath clean away. Oh, wow. Choke. Wheeze. I didn't want to get into all that right now, being all warm and comfortable after the workout in the snow, but I couldn't think about anything else. He loved me. Solo'd loved me, taken care of me. We'd been best friends. That was love. I loved Heero too. And we were best friends. So, why was I shaking? Well, I wasn't so warm and comfy any more. No sirree. I was wide awake with chills running down my back like I was in a panic. I was in a panic. Erck! I nearly wrenched my neck whipping it around to see if any of the others had overheard. I felt a sharp kick in the butt and jerked my head around just in time to hear Sunshine nicker his amusement. I figured we'd be having a little talk the next day, where he'd try to wrangle the juicy details of this conversation outta me. Great. "They're talking over there and not listening to us, idiot." "Oh. Oh, well, ah. Yeah." "Is that all?" Heero asked, bearing down on me with that intensity of his. Had I said anything intelligible yet? No. "Oh, um, no. What I mean is, ah, it's cool." "Cool? I tell you how I feel and you say 'it's cool'? That's it? Cool?" "No, no, no! It's better than just that. I'm, ah, speechless. Unprepared." "You said it first. You called me love." "Well, geez, it just came out when we were out there fighting for our lives." "When you thought I hadn't heard? Or did you think we'd all die and you wouldn't have to face me? Or it was by accident and you didn't mean it?" "What? No! Not at all. It wasn't like that. I don't know what it was like, but it most certainly wasn't like that at all. No. Not a bit. Not in the slightest." "Duu-o. How do you feel now? About me?" Oh, he'd said my name THAT WAY again and I felt all "woozy, oozy." "Woozy...oozy? What the hell does that mean?" Oh... "My legs have gone all soft." "All woozy, oozy?" "Yeah, like that." "Your brain, too." "Yeah... No! I'm okay." "You don't have to say it if you don't feel it. Just go to sleep." But I wanted to say it! I did! I licked his nose, his chin, his muzzle and up to his eyes, which he'd closed. Here goes. "Love, you, 'Ro." It was his turn to go mute. His eyelashes swept up. He blinked. Twice. He stretched his neck full out and licked my nose and lips with his long, long tongue. "There. Now, be quiet." "Ah, sure thing." Yeah, right. Like I could sleep now. Sunshine had shut down, too. "Night!" "Night, 'Ro." But I lay awake, my heart pounding so hard straw moved. I'd never, ever fall asleep. I was positive what with all the 'love' talk swirling around and around in my head- and the licking, so I counted individual sticks of hay. One... two... Somewhere around two, one for each hoof, front hooves, I drifted into dreamland. Yes, feeling pleased with the new sleeping arrangements and my life in general, my eyelids drifted down, down, when the snoring started up and my eyelids snapped open. "Who the hell?" Heero grumbled. "He must be relaxed and happy for the first time since he got here." The snoring continued undisrupted. He snored so loudly, I would have bet I coulda heard him two or three barns away. Still it had a kinda mesmerizing quality to it, a cadence that rose and fell in a vague and fuzzy sort of way. Although it took most of the night to work its magic, as it turned out, Goldie's snoring put us all to sleep.
|
