Honestly, I update whenever my beta has the time to read through my story, so I'm sorry I don't have a set schedule! I try to keep updates about a week apart. But enjoy this "kinda" long chapter.


It had been a few weeks since the pinkette had seen his lemonade girl. Maybe she got busy? They were in college, and some people had midterms. Which honestly, they sucked. A lot. He could deal with college if it weren't for midterms. Everyone was stressing, and any college kid who ended up coming to his bar was always complaining. He was getting sick of it. Couldn't they complain to a beer at their own place? With a sigh, Natsu leaned against the bar top and mindlessly wiped the table. It was a slow day, he had to assume everyone was too busy last minute studying.

"Natsu."

He honestly wished someone would come entertain him, because he still had 4 hours left on his shift and it wasn't going any faster. Hell, he wouldn't mind seeing Gray even! He just needed something to keep him from boredom.

"Flame-brain."

He could almost hear his annoying voice right next to him. Was he going crazy from the lack of excitement? He rubbed his temples, hoping that he wasn't actually crazy enough to imagine the stripper's voice right next to him.

"OI! FIRE-FREAK"

"SHUT UP BRAIN"

"I'M RIGHT HERE YOU IDIOT!"

"GRAY SHUT UP!"

Natsu turned to the voice, surprised that he wasn't actually crazy when he saw Gray standing in front of him in his shirtless glory.

"Ew man, seriously? That stripping shit has to stop."

"Screw you, it just happens."

The darker haired man grabbed his shirt from the floor and slipped it back on before settling into the bar stool next to him.

"Why is it so slow here tonight?"

"Hell if I know."

"But you work here."

"So?"

"So, you should know."

"Nah."

"Yes. That's how it works idiot."

Natsu shrugged, ignoring the statement from the stripper. He regretted wanting to see Gray. He wanted to see Lucy. She was a lot more fun than Gray was, and he was honestly ticking him off.

"Why are you even here?"

"Because I wanted a drink."

"But you drink over at Fairy Tail."

"It's closer here."

Natsu rolled his eyes, grabbing an assortment of ingredients for Gray's usual drink.

"Go a little heavier on the rum please."

"That makes it gross! I hate it when you want it burnt."

Gray flips off the young bartender and Natsu scowls at him, but continues to make his drink.

It was a fairly easy drink to make. Ice. Milk. Rum. Malt Powder. And just a bit of ice cream. Honestly it was a pretty sissy drink, but Gray liked it. It was one of the coldest drinks Natsu even enjoyed making. After blending the weird vanilla-y concoction he handed it to Gray.

"Want some whipped cream on top of that?"

"Go screw yourself."

"Hey, I'm just asking. I mean, it's pretty much a milkshake."

"And I like it, now quit."

"Sissy."

"Dick."

"Bitch baby."

"Dude. Really? We're going that way?"

Natsu grinned, and he rolled his white sleeves up. He was itching for a fight, and he hadn't had any good ones at his practice in weeks.

"So what if I am?"

Gray was practically growling in annoyance at the pinkette, his hand clenching the freezing glass fairly tight.

"Hey! Aren't you that guy who makes those great ice sculptures?"

Gray turned to the voice of the other bartender that works with Natsu, and for some god awful reason he can't remember the kid's name.

"Yeah, why?"

"Wouldyoubewillingtotrythisdrinkimade."

"I'm sorry what?"

"I made a drink inspired by your work. I call it Frostbite."

That peaked Gray's interest, and he fought the urge to punch Natsu in the face. The idiot was complaining loudly to the kid about how he was about to fight Gray.

"Sure, why not."

It took the giddy boy a few minutes, but he came back with a bright blue drink. It honestly looked like someone had gotten frostbite.

"Holy shit. This looks awesome."

The boy grinned, his hands on his hips as he stood there proud of his drink.

"I made it with tequila, white crème de cacao, blue curacao and some cream. What do you think?"

The boy waited for him to try the drink, watching in anticipation for the reaction the sculptor was going to make. Gray took a hesitant sip of the blue drink, and his eyes widened.

"This is actually pretty good. Not awesome, but if you tweak it around it'll be a great drink!"

The boy grinned and fist pumped the air.

"Yes! Next time you come by I'll have it perfected!"

Gray smiles at the boy.

"I can't wait."

"Dude. You're gross."

Gray flipped off the pinkette and downed his melted drink, and burped.

"Yeah, you're gross and weird. How did you not get a brain freeze?"

Gray just shrugs, grabbing the 'Frostbite' to finish it.

"Did we even name the drink you made up?"

Natsu tapped his chin in thought, thinking back to when they figured out the concoction. Either they were really drunk, or the name was just too stupid to even remember.

"Honestly, I have no idea. Wanna come up with one right now?"

Gray shrugs, chugging the rest of the 'Frostbite' quickly before practically slamming the glass down onto the countertop. Natsu jumps slightly at the sound and glares at Gray.

"Dude. Really? Can you not break the glass?"

"What about 'ice make'? It sounds cool enough."

Natsu's nose wrinkles when he hears the name. He thought the name was dumb, but it was Gray's drink so he honestly didn't give a crap. With a shrug, he grabbed the glasses from the countertop and went to clean them off.

"It's okay. But if it's a name you'll remember then let's stick with that."

"Damn right I'll remember something like that. And it's not okay, it's great! How could you think it's just 'okay'?"

He ignored Gray complain about how dumb he was, and he would much rather be thinking about a certain blonde anyway. He really was getting worried, he hasn't seen her and he really wanted to poke more fun at her. Even his cat was being moody, and Happy is never moody. Ever.

"...Dude. What is wrong with you?"

"What do you mean? Nothing is wrong with me."

"You've been like it for a while now. Like you just tend to daydream and ignore all of us. It's getting really annoying."

Natsu just scoffed at the man, mindlessly wiping the countertop again. He didn't notice if he was any different, mainly because he didn't feel any different. He was just worried. Was that so bad?

"There's just some stuff going on, nothing major."

"Well figure it out flame idiot. Because it's annoying watching you be like this. It's like you're infatuated with a girl or something. "

The pinkette felt his face heat up at the mention of liking a girl.

"I-it's not like that!"

"Right. It's not. Your face definitely says otherwise."

"No seriously, it's not!"

"Whatever you say Natsu."

Natsu turned away from the man, a pout on his lips as he wiped the glasses Gray had just used.

"You're a dick ice princess."

"Just like you're a pansy."

Gray stood up from his chair, watching as Natsu slowly took in that last retort. He could be slow at times, and right now was the peak of his obliviousness. He was flustered because of some weird reason. He definitely thought it was because of a girl, but Natsu never talked about girls. Ever.

"HEY! I AM NOT A PANSY!"

Natsu lunges after Gray over the countertop and the two topple to the ground with a loud thud. Most of the patrons ignore the two, but several of them head to the two that are now brawling on the ground. The other bartender leans over the countertop, a concerned look on his face.

"U-uhm. Natsu? Is there a reason for you fighting?"

"Not now kid! I'm busy beating ice freak to a pulp!"

"But the customers are standing around you."

"Kid, did you not listen to the flame idiot? We're busy right now!"

"S-sorry!"

The two men continued their fight, if you could call it that, on the floor. Punches were thrown at each other, and each had landed a few on the other.

"Natsu."

"Not right now."

"But there's a crowd right now."

"Dude."

"I'm serious Natsu."

"Yeah, and I'm trying to win against Gray!"

A loud cough was heard and the two fighting stopped and stared up into the crowd. They could see a familiar head of striking red hair and they both gulped in terror.

"Shit."

"Fuck."

They both scrambled to get up, and they cowered at the woman standing in front of them. Her arms were crossed tightly against her chest, and her eyebrow was raised in annoyance.

"Gray started it!"

Natsu spoke up before Gray could accuse him of anything, and the darker haired man turned quickly to Natsu to glare at him.

"Natsu was just being a pansy!"

"No I wasn't!"

"SILENCE BOTH OF YOU!"

The two slink back into the wall of the bar top, cowering in fear of the woman. Natsu knew better than to anger the woman standing above the two.

"I told you two idiots to stop fighting each other!"

They both scoffed and moved away from each other, arms crossed in defiance. The red haired woman glared at the two, a tick on her face as she tapped her finger impatiently.

"Will you two ever learn?"

They ignored her, a scowl on each of their faces as they continued to sit away from each other. The woman crouched to their level and pulled the two of them together by their sleeves.

"Apologize."

They ignored each other still, and she smooshed their faces together until and smirked at their pained expressions.

"You will apologize immediately."

"Y-yes Ma'am"

"A-aye sir."

She releases her grip on the two and takes a step back, waiting for their apologies to commence.

"Sorry flame idiot, for calling you a pansy."

"Sorry for fighting."

The red haired woman smiled down at the two, and she put her hands on her hips.

"Good. Now Gray, we must go. You have an essay that is due soon."

"What? That's not even due till next week!"

The woman glares at Gray, and he shrinks away from her.

"S-sorry Erza. L-let's go."

Natsu watches as Gray scrambles to get up quickly, and he gets up as well, dusting his pants off. The patrons had all gone back to their seats, but the younger bartender was still freaking out over the fight between the two idiots. Natsu let out a deep breath, and checked the time on the nearby clock. That little brawl only lasted 20 minutes, and Natsu was shocked that Erza even bothered to come to this bar. None of his friends typically came down this way, they preferred Fairy Tail since it was closer. He did hear something about Gray having an essay due, and she was probably there to make sure he actually did his work. Gray was a slacker when it came to English, and Erza would have none of that.

"Hey, kid. I get off soon, what do you want me to do before I leave?"

The boy snapped out of the daze he was in and looked around the bar. It was a slow night, like always, and they had gotten a lot of the stuff done before Natsu's friend had come in.

"If you wanted to leave now you can. I really don't want to see you right now after that fight anyway. You look a little bruised up."

Natsu didn't realize that the boy's face had a horrible green tinge to it and he smirked on the inside. Having squeamish coworkers was always a blast, and if he could get sick from just a few bruises then Natsu was going to have a blast.

"Oh, this is nothing. You should see me when I'm at my tournaments, they tend to get pretty brutal."

The boy's face paled, and he looked like he was going to puke.

"Don't worry, no one dies."

Natsu laughed when the boy sighed in relief, and he continued on his way towards the exit.

"Thanks for letting me go home early, even though I really did nothing."

The boy shrugged, and he waved him off.

"Just go home Natsu, I'm done for today. At least you didn't light anything on fire."

Natsu just grinned at the boy and put his scarf on before he left the building.

"Later kid."

"Bye Natsu."


Thank you for reading! I really do love getting reviews, they help me out a bunch! I love hearing from everyone, and thanks to all the followers! Any requests for a chapter? These next few ones are going to be 'filler' with some more Nalu fluff in it. ^^

Thank you again, and I hope you look forward next week for the update!