A/N: I don't know if Mello is actually German or not, just like I don't know if Near is actually an albino or not. Those are just my opinions. I'm going to play the 'artistic liberties' card here and say please don't bug me about it. Actually I've taken liberties with pretty much the whole Wammy House set up. There wasn't much detail about it in the story. If you don't like it… well, tough. Bite me. Also I'm not sure if the translations are totally right, so if you know that they aren't then please tell me. Thank you to Huntershivers for correcting my translation!

Disclaimer: Lack of ownership still firmly in place.

Stage 2: Bargaining

"Well-" Near began, but didn't get far.

"Shut up! God, are you that arrogant!? You think you can just come here and show off, it was probably pure luck anyway!" Mello wasn't one to hold anything back.

"...What are you talking about?" A very confused Near asked, still maintaining his monotone despite the spitfire facing him.

"Don't play dumb! You're Near, right? Don't try and deny it!" Mello pointed a finger threateningly.

"Why would I deny that? And I'm not 'playing dumb' at all. I simply don't know what you're so angry about." Near tried to explain. Mello snorted derisively, but for some reason he wasn't as angry as before. He examined this 'Near' in detail. White hair, white pajamas, gray eyes, pale skin. Probably an albino. The boy had evidently just finished a puzzle, and was on the floor in a position that was a cross between kneeling and sitting, with one slender arm wrapped around his raised knee.

This fluffy, white thing was the one who had beaten Mello's grade? He certainly didn't look particularly formidable. In fact, Mello thought as Near raised a hand to twirl a lock of his pale hair, he was kind of cute.

It was about that moment that Matt stumbled into the room.

"Holy crap Mello, what'd you eat for breakfast, rocket fuel?" Matt gasped for breath, leaning over and placing his hands on his knees for support.

"Oh. Sorry Matt." Mello had enough grace to look a bit sheepish. "Forgot about you for a minute…"

"Obviously." Matt replied, having more or less regained his composure. "Oh, hi. You must be Near." Matt smiled. Near nodded, raising an eyebrow at this interesting development. "I'm Matt, this is Mello." Mello cleared his throat, and Matt hastily corrected himself. "I mean, the Great and Powerful Mello."

"I see…" Near said solemnly.

"So, when did you get here?" Matt adjusted his trademark goggles expertly.

"About three days ago." Near answered. "So… why were you yelling at me?" Near directed this query at Mello.

"Because you were conceited enough to actually beat my grade in criminal psychology class by two points. Everyone knows that I'm the smartest one here." Mello informed Near.

"Really?" Near asked, showing interest for the first time.

"Yeah. But don't worry, I'll overlook it just this once. Because you're new and all." Mello assured him. Matt stared at Mello in amazement. Although the blonde undoubtedly knew the definition of the word leniency, he rarely put it into practice. Especially concerning something he had been so worked up about mere moments ago. Matt concluded that there really must be something special about this Near kid. Like maybe he had some sort of calming effect against Mello the way some people did with animals. God knew Mello was wild enough to be an animal, at times. "Got it?"

"I believe I do." Near replied. Mello smiled and nodded, satisfied.

"Great. C'mon Matt, let's go play some soccer." Mello ordered. Matt nodded enthusiastically, soccer was always fun. "Hey Near, you wanna come?"

"No thanks…" Near turned back to his puzzle, which he held up to allow all the pieces to fall apart.

"Whatever." Mello shrugged and ran out of the room, Matt following close behind.

…

"What. The. FUCK!?"

The grade sheet was updated daily, as any and all work could affect the rank of the orphans. It had been three days. Mello was still second.

"Mello!" Roger sounded more resigned than upset, "Don't use language like that."

"Was zum Teufel!?" Mello repeated his earlier statement in German, with an added "Dummer alter Mann…" for good measure. Roger gave up with a sigh. That was the problem with being the caretaker for a genius orphanage: the kids were all smarter than you.

Matt saw the return of that ever-so-terrifying fury and made a feeble attempt to placate his best friend. It was for naught. Mello was zooming towards the first floor playroom faster than you could say 'bloody death' and Matt could only follow at a more human rate.

"NEAR!" Mello shoved the door open so hard it bounced against the wall and rebounded, but by then he was already inside the room and so was spared an embarrassing hit to the face.

"Yes, Mello?" Near replied calmly, he was completing a puzzle with the picture facing the carpet this time.

"You are NOT smarter than me! No one is smarter than me!" Mello insisted.

"The rankings say different, Mello." Near observed emotionlessly. Mello glared in disbelief at this pale brat. The only one who had ever challenged him like this, the only one to achieve his academic level, and the kid was two years younger!

"For now." Mello snarled. "But that'll change! We're rivals now, and I'll beat you, Near."

Unexpectedly, Near smiled. "I look forward to it."

TBC…

A/N: Hehe, so yes… we're already seeing signs of attraction. Although the signs are firmly buried under Mello-rage and Near-naivety for the moment. It's only a matter of time though. Review please!

Oh yeah, the German translates (as far as I know) to:

Was zum Teufel!?- What the fuck!?

Dummer alter Mann...- Stupid old man...