Chapter 2

x Natsu's POV x

I mixed the cocktail as fast as I can and quickly walked back to where he was.

"This is my special 'All Fired Up' cocktail." I put the glass in front of him and smiled softly, looking straight into his eyes. "I'm making it only for special people, so you should be honored to drink it!" He looked kinda worried, so I quickly added, "And don't worry for paying – accept it as a present from me."

I just kept smiling when he looked at the cup and back at me for a couple of times.

"U-um, t-thank you, but I.. I can't accept it.." He pushed the glass carefully back at me. I smirked as an idea ran through my head.

"Then tell me your name and then giving this to you free won't be so weird." He lifted his gaze to mine. "I'm Natsu Dragneel."

"Gray. Gray Fullbuster."

The first thought that came in my mind was 'what a beautiful name'. But I didn't say a thing and continued the conversation casually.

"So, now you can take the drink, can't you?"

He smiled. Ah, that smile. It might've been an exhausted and sad smile, but still.. He picked up the glass and drank the half of the mix in one sip. Then he put it down on the bar again.

"T-thank you so much! That was exactly the thing I needed!" He smiled again, this time his smile wasn't so sad. I smiled myself,

"You're saying 'thank you' too much. It's not that big deal, ya know." I wasn't finished with my sentence and he drank the other half of the liquid.

"That's so good. Bring me more of it, please!" His features were starting to get pink. It looked like the alcohol was taking its way to his brain.

"Glad ya like it!" I quickly mixed another one and gave it to him. "But don't drink it that fast! I didn't call it that way for no reason!"

He laughed. It felt like bells rang in my head. "That was the exact reason I came here at first place!"

"Would you mind telling me why were you so grumpy when you entered here? " I smiled when he looked at me, so it wouldn't be that weird. I think, yeah.. Anyways, he drained the glass and turned back to me,

"Would you mind getting me more of this so I could tell you?" He smirked. His features were now soft crimson. He surely was at a half-drunk state. I got him another one and he continued talking, "So, I am a swimmer. My older brother is one, too. We had our little competition again. I lost, again. And as always, he laughed at me. But this time I was so sick of his stuff, so I kinda stormed out of the building and came to the club to get waste or something." While he was talking, he was slowly drinking the strong liquid in his glass. When he finished his story, the glass was empty. He soon started to hiccup. He surely was drunk. "Now, please, bring me another.."

"Heh, not a chance. You're already drunk, and if we're keeping this, the money I earn as payment will go back to the club as a repayment for your drinks."

He hiccupped again and yawned.

"Oh, great, so you're getting sleepy now, huh?" I smirked at him, while his sleepy dark blue eyes were observing my every expression. 'Oh, well.. I think I'll get out from work a little bit earlier today!'. I smiled at this thought, "I'll be back in a second. Please, don't fell asleep." I walked to Gajeel, who was the other barman and told him that I was planning to leave early tonight.

"Is that because of the pretty boy you were talking to just now, Salamander?" He smirked, "Okay, go. I'll cover you, but you owe me one!"

"I don't owe you anything, you stupid metal-head! I covered your sorry butt last time you got out from here to be with Levy!" His smirk quickly disappeared, then he blushed, then his smirk appeared as fast as it disappeared, then he said cocky as always,

"At least Shrimp worths it."

I was about to say something more, but then I remembered about Gray, who was probably asleep 'til now. And when I walked to him, I assured that my thoughts were true. He had his head laid on the bar, his hands on both of its' sides. I smirked, picked him up bridal style and started walking towards my apartment, because, well, I didn't have even the slightest idea where he lived. When we got to my place, I laid him on the bed and walked to the bathroom to take a quick shower, before lying next to him to sleep for the rest of the night. I was curious what his reaction would be in the morning..

x Gray's POV x

He brought me an orange liquid in a glass. How did he called it? Oh, yes, 'All Fired Up'. He said that he made it only for special people, so I should feel honored to drink it. And I did. But then I thought about how much money I got. They weren't many, so I looked at him with worried look. Good he understood me, but I wasn't expecting this kind of reaction!

"And don't worry for paying – accept it as a present from me."

Wait, what? I looked at the glass and at him again and again.

"U-um, t-thank you, but I.. I can't accept it.." I pushed the glass back at him, carefully not to spill the liquid all over the place.

"Then tell me your name and then giving this to you free won't be so weird." I lifted my gaze to meet his. "I'm Natsu Dragneel."

He had a cool name. As far as I knew, 'Natsu' means 'summer' in Japanese. It suited him, actually.

"Gray. Gray Fullbuster." I said my own name, still holding his gaze, when he smiled. This guy liked smiling, didn't he? Not like I was complaining, his face was more handsome when he did.

"So, now you can take the drink, can't you?"

Well, he was right. I smiled at him, picked the glass up and drunk the half of whatever was inside.

"T-thank you so much! That was exactly the thing I needed!" I smiled again, already feeling the effect of the alcohol. But I didn't really cared, as long as he was here..

"You're saying 'thank you' too much. It's not that big deal, ya know."

And even before he could finish his words, I drank the rest of the drink. It felt so good, dammit! I begged for more.

"Glad ya like it!" He got me another one. "But don't drink it that fast! I didn't call it that way for no reason!" I laughed at his words,

"That was the exact reason I came here at first place!" That was the truth, actually. But it get even better because of him, so I didn't mind it.

"Would you mind telling me why were you so grumpy when you entered here? " Aaand, there is it! I somehow knew that this question was coming. Well, both can play this game..

"Would you mind getting me more of this so I could tell you?" I felt like I was already half-drunk, but who cares? He got me another one and I told him what have happened earlier with Lyon in the pool. And, the last thing I remember was how I begged for another one, and then I fell asleep. I felt strong arms lifting me up and carrying me somewhere..

-/\/\/\-

A/N: So, here is it, chapter 2... took me a looooong time to write it (like, 2 hours.. ) .. I think it's better than the previous one, but, yeah, there's still more to come.. :D I have some ideas in my head for future chapters... but still, I wanna hear your ones... keep reviewing, it warms me up more than a hot chocolate 3