"Excuse me sir, do you know if you have any jobs going at the moment?"

The older man shook his head.

"Not at the moment, young lady."

Lucy Heartfilia sighed but kept her face hopeful. This man was a few years older than she'd like to do this for but she had no option at the moment.

"If you have anything come up, will you please keep me in mind?" She winked, leaning on to the bar and pushing her chest together to add some more cleavage.

"I said we have nothing going at the moment, but I will hold on to your resume." The man looked unamused by the show he was just given and Lucy had no choice but to leave the bar area with her dignity intact.

"What the hell, that usually works?" She grumbled to herself, making her way back through the crowd to leave the crowded bar.

She was running short on money and on patience. Since she ran away from home a few months earlier, her savings were circling the drain. She could barely afford to keep feeding herself, let alone keeping her little dog Plue in the kennel any longer. As she was between homes, she couldn't very well have him with her in a hotel room. Though, he was small, he was a yappy little white Shi Tzu cross and there was a strict no pet policy. At this stage, the only option she had was to get a job and fast.

A few months ago, she had turned 18. As expected for a Heartfilia, she was sent off to gathering after gathering by her father to meet a 'respectable husband'. How he could think that it was okay to practically sell her off in the 21st century was beyond her. One day, she'd had enough. She'd packed up what belongings she could carry, grabbed Plue and ran from the mansion she hadn't called home in many years. She remembered being on the train from her hometown to Hargeon, her current residence, with the bitter thought that her father would miss the dog more than her, his daughter. That was almost 3 months ago.

"Did you hear? Salamandar's here!"

She turned her head, surprised she could hear anything over this music, to see two girls her age push past her. Wait, THE Salamandar? From Fairy Tail? Lucy gasped in excitement. Fairy Tail was the best bar in the country, winning award after award. Best customer service, best drinks, best music, best atmosphere, you name it! Lucy had heard of it and had wanted to go since she had her 18th birthday and could legally drink. (AN:1) And one of their most famous bartenders/DJ's was here?

Each bartender had a flair. She'd heard of one who could do tricks with ice, one who made ones that were so strong you'd only need one or two before you were drunk, and one that one sip felt like a bolt of lightning! Salamander's specialty was fire. The bar top being set on fire was something that happened regularly from what she heard. But what could he be doing in this town? Promoting for Fairy Tail? In another town, in a different bar? Not wanting to over think it, she followed the girls.

In the dark club and flashing lights she found a crowd of women a few metres away that caught Lucy's eye. That had to be him! Lucy pushed through the crowd and made her way to the middle where she found a tall man with blue hair and a tattoo above his right eye.

"Now now ladies, one at a time." Salamandar said, spinning a glass in his hand, which sent the girls into a squealing frenzy. He winked at Lucy, her heart beating in her ears. What was wrong with her? Why was she so flustered? Was it because he was famous? Had she had one too many?

He smirked and walked over to her. She'd obviously caught his eye. Oh yeah, move away ladies, this ones mine. She smiled flirtatiously, using what didn't work on the older man from before.

"Why hello, I don't believe we've met, I'm Salamander," he kissed her hand and winked at her again.

"Lucy."

"Now Lucy, what would you say about coming to an exclusive party later on my yacht," he whispered in her ear, placing a hand on her waist. Normally she'd get weirded out by a complete stranger being this close to her but she swallowed her uncomfortableness down. It was a bar, people get in her personal space, you can't help that; she reassured herself. That was before she felt his hand fall from her waist to cup her ass. Okay, moment gone, he was a creep! Lucy felt her face twist in to a scowl as she tried to manoeuvre away from this asshole but he held a grip on her other arm instead.

"Hey, where are you going, babe? Party is just getting started."

"Let go of me," she hissed through her teeth. Before she could promptly kick this guy where the sun doesn't shine, he was pulled off her by the collar and pushed back in to the crowd.

"Watch your hands, buddy," her savoir said with venom in his voice.

Before he could do anything, one of Mister Assholes lackeys grabbed him and kneed him in the stomach. Lucy gasped and tried to push her way in between the two. Instead, she was pushed back by some girls who were cheering on the assault. What is wrong with these girls? Just because he was famous he could have his friends beat on someone who was trying to help her. She tried to yell over the crowd but the music coupled with the yelling was making it impossible for anyone to hear her.

Her savior was pushed back towards the door and thrown out, his head hitting the pavement with a crack and his bag falling off his shoulders. Lucy pushed through, determined to help him, elbowing a few people to get to him. She fell to her knees beside him just outside the entrance, her hand on his shoulder, ready to help him up and to the hospital if need be. His hoodie had fallen back and reviled a light head of hair and a scarf. She squinted. Is his hair pink? No, it must be because of the lights from the club streaming through the window. He hadn't raised his head yet, still rubbing the spot where he must have hit the pavement. Lucy winced, remembering the sound it made when he fell. She looked around for help, but found the bouncer wasn't even looking at them. What, was he blind? Did he think they were thrown out or were drunk or something? What a dick!

"Man, that hurt! Those guys are lucky I'm used to this sort of punishment."

Lucy frowned, confused, looking back to the boy. "Sorry?"

The guy shook his head, apparently not talking to her but himself. He pushed his hair away from his forehead and looked up at her. He was handsome, she decided straight way. Not a traditional model handsome, but interesting handsome. He had tan skin, either a natural tone or from being in the sun a lot and dark eyes that squinted at her. She realised she was standing where a light was hitting his eyes, making it hard for her to see. She stood up. Gaining courage, she held out her hand in offering.

"Thanks for your help. Now, let's get you to a hospital. You hit your head pretty hard there."

He eyed her hand for a moment. A moment later, he grinned, his eyes squinting even more when he smiled and took her offered hand. Leaning back she helped him up.

He was taller than her, she noticed first. While she was average height at 5'7 he stood over her by at least a few inches. 6' or 6'1 she guessed. The next thing she noticed was his hair. It was…pink? And it wasn't a trick of the light; his hair was actually a soft rose pink. It suited him perfectly, strangely enough.

"Why are you staring at me weirdo?"

Lucy felt her face grow hot instantly. Shit, was she staring, she didn't even realise! Great job, already looking like a complete nut job. She squeaked and broke eye contact.

"I-I was not staring. And I'm not a weirdo. Besides, I just helped you up. You should be saying thank you."

"Well, since I did just save you from a groping by that guy, I think I'm the one who's owed an apology."

There was no bite to his voice she noticed but he was right. She sighed and met his gaze, holding out her hand.

"Thank you, for helping me. "

He grinned, accepting her handshake and thanks. Walking over to his bag, he lifted it over his shoulders and waved at her.

"Well, see ya weirdo."

"Wait!"

"Hm?"

"You need to go to a hospital. You hit your head and if you've been drinking that could end really bad for you." Lucy walked over to him and grabbed him by his sleeve, dragging him in the direction of the hospital.

"Oi, I said I'm fine, weirdo. Let me go," he pulled his arm away, trying to get her to release her hold of him. She held on tighter. No way was she letting him leave without medical treatment first.

"One, no way you're fine after that. Two, my name is not weirdo, it's Lucy. And three, I can hold on tighter if you want." She tightened her grip on his arm to make a point. He stared at her transfixed for a moment, not expecting her reaction obviously. She didn't care. He helped her, now she was going to help him. Pulling him to the nearest park bench, she sat him down.

"Okay, do you have a headache?"

"No."

"Light headed? Dizzy?"

"Nope."

"Nausea?"

"Well I'm not in a vehicle, so no."

"Feeling angry?"

"Well I did just get a knee to the gut and had my arm almost ripped off by some random girl, but apart from that, not really?"

"Loss of sense of smell or taste?"

"No…"

"Ringing in your ears?"

"Just from you yelling at me before."

Lucy glared but was satisfied. He didn't seem to have a concussion but she wanted to keep an eye on him. Her mother was a nurse before she died so she wanted to make sure he didn't show any symptoms. But they don't always show right away.

She stood and brushed herself off. The pink haired guy did the same and started to walk away. She grabbed him by the back of his hoodie, causing him to stop and make a choking sound.

"Oi, weirdo! What are you doing?"

"Me? What are you doing?"

"Leaving?"

"Nu uh, you're not going anywhere until I keep an eye on you for a while." Her eyes softened.

"Come on, I'll shout you some food if you let me keep an eye on you until I know you don't have any brain injuries. Deal?" She held out her hand for him to shake on the agreement.

He eyed her suspiciously for a moment before grinning.

"Deal!" he exclaimed, shaking her hand.

(AN:1 Australia has a legal drinking age of 18 so it's what I'm used to. Also, it keeps their ages closer to what it was in the manga)

I didn't proof read this as much as I should have, so please ignore any small errors.

Please review if you liked it! Next chapter should be up in a few days so let me know what you think!