Disclaimer: I lay claim only to my family, cat, house and car.
Wow, this pairing was better received than I thought. I was real worried about writing a 1x6 story and truth be told, still am. But hopefully I will continue to make you happy as this thing continues. Also, any suggestions are always welcome as this story is not yet finished.
Rascal
Chapter 2
"Thank you, sir and have a nice evening."
Milliardo smiled at the older man as he tucked his receipt in his pocket, then wandered over to the door leading back to the garage and peered through the window.
"He's not here."
Milliardo turned around to find a tartar-stained smile aimed at him.
"On Wednesday nights you can find him hanging out at Rufus's."
"Rufus's?"
"Yup. It's a little bar about six blocks north off of 2nd."
Milliardo smiled as he made his way to the exit.
"Thank you very much."
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Milliardo walked into Rufus's and immediately his eyes found Heero sitting at the end of the bar, tucked as far into the shadows as possible. He walked over and sat down next to the mechanic and the bartender made her way over.
"What can I getcha?"
"I'll have what he's having."
The older woman just nodded and walked away to make his drink while Milliardo waited patiently for Heero to acknowledge his presence. He wouldn't need to wait long.
"Is there something wrong with your car?"
"No, it's running perfectly. I don't know what you did, but I think it might actually be running better than it did when I bought it."
Milliardo heard the quiet scoff and would have continued the conversation had the bartender not returned with his drink. He smiled at her and took a sip from the glass, wondering what kind of drink Heero Yuy preferred.
Heero observed the platinum blonde out of the corner of his eye and held the chuckle back as he saw Milliardo's features scrunch together momentarily at the taste of the drink. He slowly lowered the glass to the bar and looked over at the brunette next to him.
"Really, Heero?"
At this point Heero let his lips curve in a smirk as he took a sip from his own glass.
"No. Somebody bought me a drink. Just being polite."
His eyes slid over to look at Milliardo's glass and noticed something that raised his eyebrow. He looked up and over at the bartender whom he knew to be using washing glasses as an excuse to hover and eavesdrop. It wasn't everyday that their resident recluse spoke to someone.
"Hey, Rose." The woman looked up, an innocent look upon her face. "Why did he get a lime?"
"Because he's prettier."
Both men looked at the older woman, speechless, eyes a bit more round than normal. Then Milliardo chuckled and raised his glass to the bartender in thanks. What the hell. I've been called worse things in my life.
Heero watched the bartender wink at Milliardo and walk away to take care of another customer. Then he turned to the smug looking man sitting next to him who was suddenly enjoying his drink.
"Somehow I don't mind losing that contest to you."
Milliardo just chuckled and the two sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, passing their time by finishing their drinks. But while Heero was no doubt trying to shut out everything around him despite his training to the contrary, Milliardo took the opportunity to make casual observations of the people and environment around them. The bar seemed to suit Heero. It was done entirely in dark wood. The walls, floors, bar and tables all seemed to be of the same wood. And Milliardo couldn't help but note with more than a little amusement that the wood and Heero's hair were almost the same color of dark chestnut.
There was soft lighting throughout highlighting a few mirrors and pictures of what he assumed to be softball teams and important visitors. The bar was rather quiet, fairly empty at the moment with a few regulars. He could hear old time country music playing and discovered a jukebox in the far corner, its red and yellow lights dimly flickering as if scared to shine brighter and bring color into the room.
The bar itself was straight as an arrow with no special embellishments. The half-wall behind the bar was a mirror, spanning the length with various bottles of liquor lined up in tiers. He could tell the mirror was old and had seen better days because it had that cloudy blue, aged look to it. Kind of like their bartender. She seemed to be a veteran of her profession and it wouldn't surprise Milliardo to find out that she'd worked here her whole life. She was tall for a woman, sturdy looking, but not what he'd call overweight. Her white hair was tied back in a tight bun and seemed to have the same blue tint to it as the mirror. And for a woman who he would have to guess was in her sixties, she had very few wrinkles and sharp eyes. I can see why he likes it here. He can hide in the open and relax.
Since the war ended, Milliardo had been working for the Preventors Organization with his longtime companion Noin. They were mostly stationed out in space for the first two years or so, keeping an eye on shipping lanes and monitoring old satellites that could be targets for rebels to pillage.
Things fell apart when Milliardo and Noin, in a moment of drunken stupidity slept together. Even though they laughed it off and tried to ignore it, it was obvious the damage had been done. Six months later Milliardo found himself back on earth being assigned missions that required "diplomatic flare" as Lady Une liked to call it. But Milliardo saw it for what it was: subtle intimidation using the specter of Zechs Marquis, the Lightning Count. Speaking of ghosts….
"Does anybody know?"
Heero knew what Milliardo was asking and it was a question he had wrestled with long and hard before finally making a decision. For the first time in his life he was free to do as he wished, live where he wanted, and not have to answer to anyone. And he wasn't sure he wanted any part of his past to taint it. But he'd finally come to the conclusion that not all of his past was bad. In fact, there were a few bright spots in the form of the rest of his fellow Gundam pilots. He didn't want to lose touch, but he didn't want to constantly relive old times either, so he settled for a compromise.
"Chang knows. He keeps me informed. The others……I'm just not ready yet."
Just what it was Heero wasn't ready for would have to wait for another day. Milliardo knew enough about the former Gundam pilot to cease his questioning. So he would bide his time, and change topics.
"I didn't mean to insult you."
Heero just turned his face enough for Milliardo to see a raised eyebrow in question.
"When I dropped off my car, I got the feeling that I had somehow insulted you."
"Don't apologize. I wasn't insulted."
"Good. I didn't mean anything by it."
"No, you meant it. You wanted me to work on your car."
"True."
"Why?"
"I've never known you to be anything but exceptional at what you do, Heero."
Heero had been bringing his glass up for another sip when he froze, the glass hovering a few inches from his lips as he stared forward. Finally deciding there was nothing he could say and not wanting to encourage Milliardo he eventually brought the glass to his lips. Milliardo just sat there with a sly smile on his face, happy that he'd gotten his point across.
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Milliardo didn't learn anything else about Heero that evening other than his preferred drink was beer which was in line with what Milliardo thought the man would drink. So once Heero switched over to beer, Milliardo switched over to his preferred drink: whiskey.
Around 10 o'clock Heero placed money on the inside ledge of the bar and waved to Rose who smiled and waved back, too engrossed in whatever story she was hearing to make her way down.
Milliardo followed his example and then proceeded to follow Heero out into the cool night. Expecting his drinking companion to turn and address him, Milliardo stopped on the sidewalk and looked down, buttoning his collar against the chill. When he looked up again he saw Heero already several paces away, walking down the street.
Should I stop him? What for? Just to say goodnight like some silly teenaged girl?
Milliardo shook his head and grinned as he crossed the street and got into his car. We'll see each other again real soon, Heero.
To be continued….