Disclaimer: I lay claim only to my family, cat, house and car.

Ok, so I wanted this story to have a nice slow build showing the ever changing relationship dynamic between Heero and Milliardo. Alas, I felt like I was going to bore everyone to tears so I've opted for a little "jump forward" summary to move things along a bit. The usual pace should resume after this, but I needed to get things moving forward a bit. Besides, these two do already have a past to build upon.

Again, any and all feedback is welcomed and thank you for taking the time to read my little bit of nonsense.

Rascal

Chapter 3

"So what made you decide to open your own shop?"

Heero grabbed his beer and drank deeply to drown the growl he wanted to let loose. Is this some sort of karmic punishment?

For the past three weeks Milliardo had been showing up at Rufus's every Wednesday, sitting next to him and talking. The first week Heero left shortly after his arrival, barely speaking a word to him. He'd had an especially bad day and Milliardo was the last thing he wanted to deal with.

The following week Heero refused to concede his territory and stayed at the bar, trying to ignore Milliardo. He didn't know why the blonde had decided to invade his bar, but he wasn't about to get driven out by some pretty boy aristocrat. But Milliardo took Heero's aloofness in stride and by the end of the night he'd somehow manipulated Heero into some brief conversations. The topics were nothing special or personal. Just general things like local events in the news. But the fact that Heero found himself conversing with Milliardo, essentially giving up ground in his territory, frustrated him. Why the hell did I ever speak to him in the first place? I shouldn't have even accepted his car. I'm not a repair shop!

The third week Heero's defenses suffered even more damage. He found himself relaxing in Milliardo's presence and conversations were easier, longer. Sometimes Heero answered, sometimes he didn't, but the blonde took it all in stride. This infuriated Heero for many reasons. He was upset that his haven had been invaded. It irritated him how Rose practically doted on him like a long lost child which in turn made him even more upset for reasons he couldn't figure out.

Then there was the fact that he was actually talking to Milliardo Peacecraft, formerly Zechs Marquis the Lightning Count. A man he once considered his enemy no matter what name he was going by. How many times did we face off, hoping to best the other, or even kill him? But it was really a pride thing. But the war had changed all of them he supposed, so he didn't let that point bother him too much. Not as much as the fact that he was telling Milliardo things about himself. He had kept himself hidden all this time, not even sharing in his friends' lives and suddenly here he was letting Milliardo in inch by begrudged inch.

"I like to work on machinery."

Milliardo had no problem believing that and figured that was the real reason. But he wasn't going to leave it at that. He would keep asking until Heero stopped answering.

"How did you get the capital for start-up?"

Heero turned to fully face Milliardo, his eyes narrowed and his face dark with malice. When he spoke his voice was quiet and deadly.

"I don't know what your game is, Peacecraft, but I'm not playing any more. My life is none of your business. Stop coming here and leave me alone."

Heero didn't give Milliardo time to answer; he stood up and walked out, calling out to Rose as he passed her.

"Put it on my tab."

The normally genial bartender frowned and made her way down to Milliardo. As she grabbed the half-empty beer bottle she cast a glance at the stunned blonde staring at his drink.

"Did you insult his fashion sense?"

Milliardo looked up at the sarcastic voice and blinked a few times, then sighed and took a drink of his whiskey.

"Worse."

"Worse?"

"I tried to be his friend."

Rose laughed and tossed her rag over her shoulder. She had been watching the pair closely over the past few weeks and was happy to see Heero actually socializing, even in a limited manner. She was worried about the young man who drank alone. He seemed normal enough but she couldn't help but feel sad whenever she saw him drinking alone in the shadows.

"What's so funny?"

"You two. I don't know about your history together, and I know there is one, but he has been coming here for over two years and with the exception of me, you're the first person he has allowed anywhere near him, much less talked to. If he doesn't consider you a friend, then what?"

Milliardo frowned and finished his drink, groaning as the unhealthy dose of whiskey burned down his throat. He thought about what the mechanic at Heero's shop said and what Rose just said and even though he wanted to believe that Heero was slowly and begrudgingly accepting him, he couldn't shake the doubt that the brunette was just tolerating his presence and patiently waiting for him to give up and leave him alone.

"Normally I'm inclined to agree with the sage observations of a bartender such as yourself, Rose." Milliardo stood up and fished several bills out of his pocket and tossed them on the counter. "But if it's one thing I've learned, Heero Yuy does not prescribe to conventional wisdom. But thanks, and use that to pay for his drinks as well, ok?"

He couldn't even muster a smile for the older woman as he waved goodbye and exited the bar. As he drove home, Heero's words echoed in his head. Even turning on the radio couldn't drown out the angry voice, "Stop coming here and leave me alone."

Did he really mean it, or is he just that sensitive about money? If he hated my presence that much, he should have just punched me and tossed me out of his precious bar. But he didn't.

So what the hell is his problem?!

Milliardo growled and hit his steering wheel in frustration.

Well, you'll get your wish, Heero. I won't be around next week. I'll be in some backwater town tracking down an arms dealer. Enjoy, you uptight jerk.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Heero walked along the sidewalk, hands shoved in his jacket pockets, a scowl on his face. This is all his fault. If he would just leave me alone. What the hell does he want with me anyway? He turned into a familiar alcove and opened the door. The squeak and shot of sunlight in the dim room announced his arrival. Heero just nodded at a wide-eyed Rose and approached the bar.

"Hey, Rose. Sorry about yesterday."

Rose just shrugged and smirked as she leaned against the bar.

"That's ok. I figured it had to be pretty bad for you to walk out on a friend like that. You don't seem the type."

Heero scoffed. Friend? Milliardo?

"And he must have felt pretty bad because he paid your tab. But then again he seems the type to be generous with his friends."

Heero looked up at Rose and the older woman just smiled at him. He knew what she was doing but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing it had worked. He simply nodded and left with a wave to Rose.

As he walked back to the shop his mood became darker and darker as he realized that he had allowed Milliardo so far in, that even he was actually considering the possibility of the blonde becoming his friend. I suppose it was inevitable that I would make a friend on my own, but….why did it have to be him?!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Heero sat at the bar, hunched over his beer, trying not to look up every time the door opened expecting to see a smiling platinum blond walking towards him. He'd been at the bar for two hours and after the first hour he realized that he didn't like drinking alone. There was something about having Milliardo sitting next to him, talking or not, that made things why? We've always had that thing…..we make each other's blood boil. We're competitive. Being with him is not supposed to be comfortable.

Heero tipped his head back and drained the beer bottle, sitting it on the inner ledge of the bar, a signal to Rose that he wanted another. The older woman came over and took the empty bottle away, replacing it with a full chilled one, all the while watching Heero with a smug grin.

"So where's your friend?"

Heero scoffed and took a sip from the fresh bottle.

"Don't know."

"You think you scared him off?"

"Don't care."

"Liar."

Heero felt his cheeks getting warm but he still managed a steely glare for Rose. But the experienced bartender just smiled and chuckled as she returned to serve the other customers. She thinks she knows me so well. She has no idea.

Heero stayed to finish his beer, his thoughts still on Milliardo. I wonder where he is. Probably off at some snobby club drinking with his rich friends.

Heero scoffed at the image in his head and took another deep drink from the beer bottle. I could find him. I'd love to see the look on his face when he picks up his cell phone and hears my voice. It would be so easy to hack the phone system and find it. I could track his car too thanks to that expensive satellite radio system he has.

Realizing what he was contemplating, Heero frowned and quickly finished off his beer and headed out, deciding it wasn't safe for his mental health to drink alone. Damn you, Milliardo, you've reduced me to thinking like a stalker. Why did you have to show up at my shop? My bar? Why did I talk to you? And why did you take me seriously and not show up?! With a brief wave he made his way to the front door of the bar.

"See ya, Rose."

"See ya later. And say hello to your pretty friend for me."

Halfway out the door Heero looked back and shot Rose one last parting glare which only made her laugh. Damn you, Milliardo.

To be continued……