Author: Merula
Pairings: 2x1
Rating: R
Warnings: Yaoi, AU, lime-ish, death, cowboys.
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.
It's Always Smart to Pay the Bounty Hunter in Advance
Outlaws were not supposed to be quiet. Murderers were not supposed to be polite. Men who had shot people in the back were not supposed to be pleasant traveling companions.
The man on the horse beside him, hands tied to the pommel, ankles tied to the stirrups, his reins attached to Duo's saddle, was quiet, polite and somewhat pleasant.
When Duo had tracked him down to the tiny town at the edge of the territories, Yuy had given up without a fight. He hadn't pulled his gun, he hadn't even cursed. He had simply asked if he could please finish his breakfast since he had been riding for a long time. He had offered Duo his guns... and a piece of toast.
Duo had been a bounty hunter for a long time. No one he'd ever hunted had been like this. He had expected a fight, maybe even a death, not a quiet surrender.
He scanned the horizon. They were still a few days away from the town where Yuy had committed his crimes. It was getting dark. Time to look for a place to camp. Didn't look like any kind of shelter would be found out here.
Duo stopped his horse. There were no trails, no markers of any kind. Just the plains, flat as the eye could see in all directions. One place was as good as another.
He got down off his horse and went to Yuy's. "Kick me, or try to get away and I'll shoot you before you can blink."
"I won't." The quiet reply sounded sincere, but Duo had met men who could swear that they didn't mean any harm, and then shoot you in the next breath. He carefully untied Yuy's feet and hands, then stepped back and pulled out his gun. "Get down."
He half expected Yuy to make a break for it. Half-expected to have to shoot him or the horse in the getaway.
Yuy slid off his horse and stood beside him. "May I care for my horse?" He asked.
Duo didn't relish the idea of caring for two horses; he nodded and went to tend to his. Yuy was gentle with his animal, talking to it softly, tending carefully to its needs.
Duo finished with his horse and moved to clear a space for the fire. He kept one eye on his prisoner, but to his surprise, the other just picked up the bedrolls and joined him.
Soon a fire was flickering merrily. Duo didn't like the idea of sitting on opposite sides of the fire, but he didn't have to say anything. Yuy placed the bedrolls beside each other and then sat on his while Duo made a quick dinner. The outlaw took his share with a soft "thank you".
Duo studied his prisoner and puzzled. He wondered if he had the right man, but he never made a mistake and the description had been dead on.
Yuy lifted his eyes from his plate and caught Duo staring at him. He lifted an eyebrow in silent inquiry.
"You don't act like any outlaw I've ever met." Duo said without thinking.
"Well, I didn't mean to become an outlaw." Yuy answered. "And I knew that I wouldn't get away with my crimes. I knew someone would come after me- and I expected to be killed when they did. Were you supposed to kill me?"
"Only if you resisted. I don't take the assassin jobs." Duo shook his head. "I only hunt people down so that I can turn them over to justice."
"Very honorable of you," Yuy smiled. "Thank you. It's good to know I have a few days left to me."
Duo didn't argue with his prediction of the future. The only thing the town was going to debate over this one was how high to hang him.
It was a pity though. Yuy was beautiful in his way. Too bad that exterior hid such evil.
"Best get some sleep," he advised before he said more than he should.
Yuy lay down obediently, tilting his hat over his eyes.
Duo prepared himself for a long night. He couldn't sleep deeply with a murderer lying next to him. He could doze a little, but that would be it. He shoved his jacket under his head and kept an eye on his prisoner. The man lay as still as death throughout the night.
The next morning, Duo started some coffee knowing that he was working at a disadvantage. Yuy stirred not long after that and asked for permission to go a little bit away so he could "take care of business".
Duo gave his assent, knowing the man would be easy to track down here, but still pulled out his gun and told the other to keep in sight range.
Yuy did as he was told, then fed and watered his horse before joining Duo at the fire again.
"You look tired," he said, as if they were sitting at a breakfast table. "Did you not sleep well?"
Duo raised his eyebrows. "I had to keep an eye on you," he snapped back, annoyed. Couldn't the man have figured that out?
To his surprise, the other blushed. "I'm so sorry." He apologized. "But- it's still a few days until we reach the town. You can't go without sleep in all that time."
"I'll be fine."
"I don't suppose you would believe me if I promised not to run away?" The faint questioning tone in his voice indicated he already knew the answer. Duo shook his head. "You could leave me tied up."
"No," Duo answered. "I tried that once when I was first starting out. The prey slipped out of his bonds and then tried to brain me with his shoe." He reached up and touched the faint scar on his forehead that vanished into his hairline.
Yuy frowned. "I wouldn't do that... I know. You wouldn't believe me." He sounded faintly insulted though, as if Duo should believe him.
"It's hard to believe that a man that killed five people in cold blood, one of them a woman, would expect someone to take his word not to harm them." Duo said flatly.
Yuy bent his head, his bangs and the brim of his hat hiding his expression. "I didn't kill the girl."
Duo frowned. The man who had hired him had been specific. The girl had been Yuy's first target. The start of his killing spree. She was the reason that he'd even agreed to take the job- the other four Yuy had killed had been known bully-boys with contracts on their heads- they were the reason he'd gone to the town in the first place. Why that girl had hired them on to work at her ranch was beyond him...
Yuy's head snapped up, and Duo found himself transfixed by the look in his eyes.
"Five people?" He grated out. "Counting the girl? They said I killed five people?"
"Yes, the girl and the four men that worked on her ranch. They said that you shot them down when they tried to restrain you..."
"What about her brother?" Yuy's eyes were burning with barely suppressed rage and Duo suddenly saw the murderer he'd been sent to catch. He tensed and reached for his gun, but he answered the question.
"Her brother hired me." The rage flared higher.
"He's not dead? I shot him. He went down..." Yuy was shaking.
"You must've been mistaken. He was bedridden when I saw him, but he said it was because he caught a fever, the grief over losing his sister..."
Yuy flung himself to his feet and began to pace. "Grief?! Don't make me laugh! He's the one that killed her!"
Duo eased himself to his feet carefully, pulling his gun out of his holster, watching the other pace.
"That bastard is still alive..." Yuy snarled and turned on his heel. Duo realized a split second later that Yuy was headed for his horse.
Duo leaped after him, knocking Yuy to the ground. "Get off of me!" Yuy hissed at him, trying to push Duo off.
"Did you forget something?" Duo managed to grab Yuy's wrists and pinned them to the ground above the struggling outlaw's head. "Like me? Hello? Bounty hunter? Caught you? Has your guns?"
Yuy stopped struggling. He closed his eyes, took several deep breaths and then opened them again. The burning rage was damped down, but Duo could still see it. "Can I have my guns back please?"
Duo blinked at him, speechless.
"Please Mr. Maxwell? You said you believed in justice. That man deserves to die- and afterwards I'll turn myself in. You'll still get paid..."
"No I won't," Duo managed after a moment, trying to figure out where to start. "Mr. Peacecraft was going to pay me. You aren't on the feds list- not like those four men you killed." He sat up, yanking Yuy with him and pulled the piece of rope off of his belt. "Which coincidentally, was why I was headed to that town." He started binding Yuy's wrists. "If you had just stuck to them, no one would really give a damn."
"I didn't kill the girl..." Yuy protested as Duo finished tying the knot and moved to his feet.
"So you keep saying." Duo wrapped the rope around Yuy's ankles. "I'm going to clean up camp and saddle the horses. The sooner I get you to that town the better."
"I could help..."
"Right. You'd be on your horse and gone."
Yuy opened his mouth and then closed it again. Duo left him lying in the grass and went to clean up the camp.
A little while later and they were back on the road, Yuy once again bound to the horse, his horse bound to Duo's. This time though, Yuy seemed to sit in offended silence, as if, Duo thought, he had been the one wronged.
The bounty hunter hid a sigh. Nothing about this job was normal. Had Peacecraft been hiding a gunshot wound? If so- why?
Because he said he hadn't been at his sister's home that night- that he had found her the next morning, Duo's memory supplied.
Peacecraft had come into quite a tidy inheritance because of his sister's death... Duo remembered the saloonkeeper saying something about it.
It wouldn't be the first time he'd been sent out after an innocent man. He pushed that memory to the back of his head. He looked at Yuy on the horse next to him, his face nearly hidden by his hair, and remembered the way the rage had burned in his eyes that morning, the way it had brought life to those cold features...
Duo finally gave up. He was a sucker and he knew it.
"Fine," he sighed. "Tell me what happened."
Yuy turned his head and looked at him. "You won't believe me."
"And so you won't even try to convince me otherwise?" Duo lifted an eyebrow. "Maybe parts of your story have already rung true with me. Maybe I've been used to hunt innocent men before and don't want to do it again. Maybe I won't believe you- but maybe I will."
Yuy looked away, frowning. Duo wondered if he was going to say anything. He waited, the minutes ticking by, and was just about to say something when Yuy spoke again.
"I didn't kill Lena. She was dead when I got there." He swallowed hard. "I knew she and her brother had been arguing over some things... including her engagement to me..."
Duo blinked. Now there was a piece of information no one had told him.
Yuy smiled faintly. "They didn't tell you that? The Peacecrafts took me in when my parents died. I was raised with Lena. Milliardo," he spat the name, "was older- already established in the family business. When their father died he wasn't happy that Lena had been left with the ranch. He wanted it. She told him that she was going to marry me and we'd run it."
"Guess he didn't like that?" Duo offered and Yuy snorted.
"No. The night..." he paused and bit his lip. "The night she died, he sent for me, said he wanted to make his peace. Lena was so happy... she was so sure it was all going to be solved, that her brother had finally seen reason. I headed for town- but I wasn't halfway there when my horse threw a shoe. It was quicker to go back..."
His expression was distant now, his eyes fixed on something only he could see. "They must've been waiting for me to leave. I got back and there were horses in the yard- Milliardo's horse- and I thought I had been mistaken, that he'd wanted to meet at the ranch. I walked into the house and I could hear her screaming..."
His eyes closed. "I wasn't fast enough. I was halfway up the stairs when... when the gunfire started...."
Duo remained silent, waiting.
"I surprised them. They tried to run from me- one even got as far as his horse, but I shot them all... or I thought I had... there was so much blood..."
Heero's eyes opened again. "You know what the worst part of all of it is?"
Duo shook his head, not trusting himself to speak.
"I didn't love her like I should've. I didn't want to marry her. She always said I would in time, that I would grow to love her, but I didn't. I couldn't love her that way. I was ready to call it off- tell Milliardo that I wasn't going to go through with it. That I was going to disappear and he'd have to be the one to help Lena with the ranch. He was going to get what he wanted anyway. He didn't have to kill her. He didn't have to have his men hurt her... It was unnecessary. And it was all my fault."
He bent his head again and was silent.
Duo wondered what the hell he'd blundered into. Which one of them was lying? Obviously one of them was... but which one?
If Yuy was telling the truth- what should he do about it? If he let the man go, then there would be more bloodletting... deservedly so maybe...
But if he wasn't telling the truth... He obviously wanted to kill Peacecraft... and that death would be on Duo's conscience.
"Do you believe me?" Yuy asked in a soft voice.
"I don't know yet." Duo replied honestly. "I'll I do know is that if I let you go, Peacecraft is going to die. Now, maybe he deserves it..."
"But you aren't sure." Yuy nodded. "Fair enough."
"I hunted an innocent man once." Duo shook his head. "I brought him back to his town for justice and discovered that there was none to be found. He had spoken up against a local gang. They hung him from the church's steeple and I didn't find out until later that I had been their pawn."
"What did you do?"
"He had wanted the gang to leave his town. So I sent them to hell." He met Yuy's gaze evenly. "Revenge doesn't bring the dead back to life. It doesn't right wrongs. You can go and kill Peacecraft but it won't bring her back to life. It won't make your mistakes hurt any less. It won't stop her ghost from haunting your dreams."
"I know that already," Yuy said quietly. "But I don't care."
~*~
Duo stopped to camp earlier than he had planned. They had made good progress. Another day and they would be in sight of the town. He had found a small stand of trees and decided it would be the best place to camp for the night and let the horses get some rest. He knew he wouldn't.
Yuy had not said anything else. He had not struggled against his bonds. He had not tried to plead his case.
The hunter had spent most of the day thinking. He had remembered a few more things that seemed to weigh heavily in his prisoner's favor. Peacecraft hadn't looked like a man distraught over a loved one's death- despite his whole 'taken to his bed routine'. The way he'd corrected one of his servants- 'his ranch' not 'his sister's' now... and then there was just a gut feeling- the man he had caught wasn't the type to lie. He'd been upset when Duo hadn't taken his word...
Duo dismounted and tethered both horses. He tended to his own first, leaving Yuy on his for the time being.
Then once again, he pulled his gun and untied Yuy from the horse, his wrists still bound together.
"May I tend to my horse?" Yuy asked.
Duo shook his head. "I don't think so. I'll take good care of him, don't worry." He walked Yuy over to a tree, lifted Yuy's bound wrists over his head and quickly tied his hands to a low branch.
"You didn't do this yesterday."
"You weren't showing signs of wanting to run off yesterday."
Duo went back and tended to Yuy's horse. Then he set up the fire and bedrolls, pulling supplies out of the saddlebags to make dinner with.
"I guess this means that you don't believe me." Yuy said finally.
"Maybe it means I don't want you rushing back there without thinking things through first," Duo replied evenly.
"So you do believe me?"
"Maybe I don't want you killing the man who's planning on paying me."
Yuy sighed, his frustration evident.
Duo got to his feet and walked over to the tree. He stopped in front of Yuy and crossed his arms over his chest. "It means that I don't know what to think. All I know is that if I don't keep an eye on you, you'll go blundering back there and someone will die. Maybe you, maybe Peacecraft."
Yuy lifted an eyebrow. "Blundering?"
"You were ready to charge off the minute you heard he was alive. What were you going to do? Charge into his house? Kill his servants? Maybe die before you even confronted him again?"
"I would've calmed down before I got there," Yuy protested.
"How would I know that? I barely know you." Duo retorted, lifting his chin.
Yuy glared at him for a minute. Then he took a deep breath. "You don't know Peacecraft either. So why are you taking his word over mine?"
"Again, I never said I was. If anything, I am more tempted to believe you. I've been thinking about things today, and your version does make more sense."
"Then why?" Yuy tugged on the ropes that bound him.
"Just like I said. You'll go blundering in there and maybe other people will get hurt. People who aren't part of your revenge. Do you want that to happen?"
Yuy looked up sharply. "You did that, didn't you?" Duo didn't reply, and Yuy suddenly looked remorseful. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said..."
"It's the truth," Duo said quietly. "I can't hide from it. And you can learn from it."
Yuy looked away for a moment, his brow creasing in thought. Then he met Duo's eyes again. "Will you help me get to him? I'll pay you..."
"With what?" Duo asked. "You used the last of your money on that breakfast. You told me that yourself."
"You can have my guns... after."
"I like mine, thanks," Duo touched the one that rested on his hip. "Besides, that's payment after the fact."
He watched Yuy's eyes move over to where the horses were tethered. Watched as that idea was reviewed and discarded. Duo hid a smile. The man was attached to his horse, and again, smart enough to realize that it was another payment after the fact.
"Let me know if you think of anything else," he said and wandered back over to the fire. He had no intention of leaving Yuy tied to a tree all night, but he had to make sure the idiot didn't run off. His head was pounding thanks to the lack of sleep and the situation he now found himself in. Duo sat down on his bedroll by the fire and pulled off his hat, letting his heavy braid tumble down his back.
Yuy's eyes widened and he made a soft noise. Duo shot an annoyed look over his shoulder. "What?"
"Your hair... are you a wo..."
Duo yanked his knife out of his boot and had it up against Yuy's throat before he finished the word.
"No," he growled. "And no, it's none of your fucking business why I do."
Yuy blinked. "You're fast."
"Nice of you to notice."
"I didn't mean... I am sorry. I've just never seen a man with hair that long. I was surprised. I..." Yuy seemed to be stumbling for words. Then he took a deep breath and gave Duo a faint smile. "It's too bad you aren't. Then I could've thought of another way to pay you."
Duo's head jerked back. He regarded Yuy for a long moment. "Too bad I had to be female to get that offer, despite it being insulting to womankind as it was," he said and placed the knife back in his boot. "I would've taken you up on it."
Surprise flashed over Yuy's face. Before Duo could move away from him, he lifted himself up a bit and grabbed the bounty hunter with his legs, wrapping them around the other's waist.
"I didn't mean that," he said, with a lift of his eyebrows. "But if you'll take that, then I'm offering." He tightened his legs, pulling Duo closer. He bent his head and placed his mouth on the bounty hunter's.
Duo opened his mouth, letting Yuy's tongue tangle with his, wondering if it wasn't a big mistake. But it had been a long time...
A very long time...
He reached up and untied Yuy's hands from the branch. Yuy's arms went around his shoulders, and Duo staggered for a moment.
It was easy enough to take a few steps backwards, to fall down on the bedrolls beside the fire.
"Yuy..." he gasped as a tongue stroked along his throat.
"Heero," the other said against his skin, making him shiver. "If you're taking my offer, then I'm Heero to you..."
"Heero..."
~*~
Duo woke up the next morning alone on his bedroll, blankets wrapped around him. He sat up with a muffled curse. Damn it! He shouldn't have let his guard down! The idiot was no doubt on his way...
"Good morning." Duo looked over his shoulder. Heero was standing by his horse, running a currycomb over its flanks.
Duo blinked for a moment, mentally revising the situation, then closed his mouth and set about finding his clothes and making breakfast. Heero joined him a few minutes later, accepting the tin cup of coffee that Duo handed him. They ate in silence, both of them busy with their own thoughts.
"So," Heero said, once breakfast was finished. "How are you going to help me?"
Duo swallowed the last of his coffee before he answered. "I have a feeling the plan that will work the best is the one you'll like the least."
Heero looked puzzled. "Why?"
Duo sighed. He wasn't looking forward to this.
~*~
Heero struggled against his bonds and glared at the bounty hunter. His hands were tied behind his back, the rope wrapped several times around his chest. The end of it was attached to Duo's saddle along with the reins for Heero's horse. It was obvious that he thought Duo had betrayed him. He had been glaring at Duo for the last several hours. Duo wondered if he'd get tired of it.
Not that it mattered. The madder Heero seemed, the better. At least he had stopped cursing at Duo, but that was only because Duo had found it prudent to use a gag.
"We're nearly there," Duo could see the buildings looming on the horizon. He hoped his plan worked. At the very least he'd see who was innocent and who was guilty.
Heero growled.
When they rode into town, they got immediate attention. People came out of their homes and businesses to watch their progress. Duo noticed most of them looked at the man beside him with pity. It made him wonder what had happened in the few days he'd been gone. Most of them had been howling for Heero's blood when he left.
"Where's Peacecraft?" He called out to the saloonkeeper, who had come out of his bar to watch them. "Is he still ill?"
The man shook his head. "He's moved out to his sister's ranch. He made a miraculous recovery. You can find him there."
Heero's snarl was muffled by his gag.
Another point for the Heero column, Duo thought and nodded his thanks to the saloonkeeper. He spurred his horse into a fast trot, Heero's horse following.
When they reached the ranch Duo wasn't surprised to see Peacecraft come out to meet them. He scanned the area carefully. Did the man have more stooges hiding out? Or was he that sure of himself?
"I see you caught him," he said as Duo dismounted. "I'm surprised you didn't kill him though- I doubt he just came along without a struggle."
Duo pulled Heero off the horse, loosening his gag as he did so.
"No problem at all," he replied, and pushed Heero up in front of the porch. He didn't see anyone. It looked like it was just the three of them. Peacecraft must be feeling pretty secure.
"Murderer," Heero spat his gag out. "You killed your sister and blamed me for it!"
"You killed my men." Peacecraft replied. "And you tried to kill me."
"You see? He doesn't deny it!" Heero slanted a glance back at the bounty hunter standing behind him. "I told you I was innocent of her death!"
"Like he cares," Peacecraft smiled. "A bounty hunter only cares about his next paycheck. He's getting paid enough to forget what he hears."
Duo smiled. "Don't know much about bounty hunters do you?" He said pleasantly. "You really should've paid me before I left." He yanked hard on the rope that bound Heero and it fell, freeing the dark-haired young man. "We also care about our last paycheck, and this gentleman paid me to get him close to you."
Peacecraft's eyes widened.
Heero lifted the gun Duo had given him. "Hands on your head, Milliardo. We're taking a walk."
Peacecraft's hand snuck down towards the gun resting on his hip, but Duo's knife flashed through the air, and Milliardo bit off a scream as it bit into his hand. "My client said walk." Duo tapped his fingers on the gun still holstered at his side. "I suggest you walk."
Milliardo walked.
Duo wasn't sure what Heero was up to, but he followed the two of them back into town. Once they got back to the city limits, word seemed to get around.
The crowd that had come out to watch them ride through town was nothing compared to the one that came out to watch their walk. Duo kept an eye on the crowd just in case.
The Sheriff was waiting in the center of town, in front of his jailhouse. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched them approach.
Heero stopped a few feet in front of him.
"This man has something to say to you." Heero placed the barrel of his gun beside Milliardo's eye. "Tell the Sheriff what really happened."
"You... you killed my sis..."
"Don't lie. You may think they can shoot me before I kill you, but that's not much to count on."
"I could always use more target practice." Duo moved to stand beside the Sheriff, pulling out his knife and beginning to clean his fingernails with it. "I do so love to practice."
Milliardo swallowed hard. "I killed Lena. She was going to marry Heero. If she did, he'd inherit everything if she died, or their children would. I had to stop that. I was supposed to get the ranch... I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn't listen... I hired those men to work on her ranch... but they were there to watch her in case she decided to elope... I went there that night... I tried to convince her to give me the ranch... she kept saying no... I had no choice! The ranch was supposed to be mine! Not hers!" He stopped, breathing heavily.
The Sheriff nodded. "We'd been wondering," he said in an undertone to Duo. "It just didn't seem right once we had time to think..."
Duo smiled. "Yeah. Know what you mean. Don't suppose I could convince you to write me a certified note that says those other men were killed? They all had bounties on their heads- at the least I can report their deaths and salvage something out of this..."
The Sheriff nodded. "As soon as we get Milliardo locked up." He looked back at Heero. "The judge will be by in a week or so. That soon enough for you?"
Heero nodded and let his gun drop to his side. The Sheriff grabbed Milliardo, and once he was gone, Heero was surrounded by people eager to shake his hand and beg his pardon.
Duo grinned and headed off after the Sheriff. His job was done.
An hour or so later, he trekked back out of town and headed towards the ranch. He had to collect his horse and gear and then head off for the next job. He hadn't seen Heero in town, but that was to be expected. Man was getting his life back after all...
Duo's horse wasn't where he'd left him. He eventually found the animal in the stable, happily crunching away on some hay. "Sorry Scythe." He patted the horse's head. "Got busy. Don't suppose you're ready to get a move on?"
"You're leaving?" Duo turned around. Heero stood in the doorway, outlined by the sunlight. "The least I can do is offer you a bed for the night."
Duo smiled. "That's kind of you, but I should get going."
"Have to find the next job?" Heero moved to join him by the stall.
"Something like that. I have the information on those four to get to the feds too."
"So you can get paid."
"Yeah. That's what hunters do, right? Get the next check?" Duo shrugged. Heero regarded him thoughtfully for a moment.
"Don't suppose you'd want a partner? You could go after bigger jobs..."
Duo's eyes widened slightly and Heero smiled.
"Yeah, but then I'd have to split the rewards," he said. Heero shook his head and leaned closer.
"I think I'd be willing to take out part of my share in trade..."
OWARI
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