"Hey sweetie! Long time no see!"

Lucy forced a smile. She laughed nervously. "Yeah..." All the while Rogue glared at her. Sting smiled hugely. "Have a seat, beautiful."

"I really shouldn't - "

"I insist."

Lucy sat down. "She might get in trouble, you idiot." Rogue said coldly. Sting waved his hand dismissively. "Nah, she won't... Will you, Lucy?"

Lucy wanted to say 'yes', but she would be lying. Big Brain liked it when the girls familiarized with customers. He liked it when they treated customers like family. It brought in more customers and more importantly, money.

So Lucy just shook her head. Sting smiled at Rogue. "See? She won't get into any trouble." He winked at Rogue.
Rogue ignored him. Sting laughed and nudged Lucy. "He's on his period today..." He whispered. "So excuse him if he's rude."

Lucy stifled a laugh as Sting made a funny face. 'What a charmer...' She thought, blushing as she gazed into his dark eyes.

"Can I get a drink?"

Lucy and Sting turned their heads towards Rogue. Sting smirked. 'So he finally talks...' Lucy frowned. He finally spoke, but his voice was stiff, like he forced the words to come out of his mouth. She stared him.

He looked tense, eyes dark, a scowl on his face. Lucy cleared her throat and stood up. "Sure. What can I get you?" Rogue's fists clenched. "A beer..."

Lucy nodded and rushed to the kitchen. Sting slapped Rogue's back as soon as Lucy disappeared behind the kitchen doors. "Why so tense, Rogy?"

"Don't call me that..." Rogue hissed. Sting watched as his best friend ran a hand through his hair. A sure sign he was annoyed. "I'm not tense." Sting shook his head, then grinned.

"You're jealous!" Rogue raised an eyebrow. Sting smiled. "I have no idea what you're talking about..."

"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about." He chuckled. "You know exactly what I'm talking about." The raven-haired man frowned in response. "You're jealous because she was staring at me all in love and stuff. And that drove you nuts inside because you want her to look at you that way... You and only you."

The blonde smiled. "Am I right?" Rogue tsked. "Yeah right." It was true, but he wasn't going to admit that to Sting. Or anyone else. He frowned. The way she looked at his idiot best friend annoyed him. And he didn't know why. Rogue shook his head. 'Maybe it's just work. Driving me nuts...'

"I wonder what happened to flirty Lucy. She was so confident and flirtatious before. Now she's all shy..." Sting smiled. "Don't matter anyway, as long as you get to see her, right Rogue?"

The man grunted in response. Sting grinned. "Yeah... I know how you feel..."

Lucy hurriedly opened the fridge and grabbed a beer. She leaned against the fridge, sighing. Why did he have to come back? She didn't want him back. Sort of...

Because he made her nervous, he made her lose focus. Especially with that chilling gaze of his. 'That cold gaze...' Lucy shivered. Why did he stare at her like that? Did she do something wrong? Did she say something wrong? The confused blonde shook her head.

She hoped not. She sighed and went out to serve Rogue his beer.

"Oh! She's coming!"

Sting smirked as Lucy walked towards them, clutching the beer. He could tell Lucy was nervous. And a bit afraid. He didn't blame her. He would be too, if Rogue's cold gaze was pinned on him. Sting nudged Rogue. "Stop looking so mean and scary." He whispered as Lucy sat down. "You're scaring her."

Rogue rolled his eyes, but complied. Sting glanced at his best friend. The raven-haired man's face was stoic now. Sting tsked. Typical Rogue.

"Ahem." Lucy smiled and set the beer in front of Rogue. He tensed up again, grabbing the beer. "Thanks..." He said through clenched teeth. Lucy's eyes widened. Sting coughed and elbowed Rogue.

"What?" He hissed. "Relax..." He whispered. Rogue sighed and took a sip of his beer. How could he relax? He couldn't. Not with Lucy around. She... Made him feel strange. Strange feelings...

"So..." Sting said, breaking the awkward silence. "How's it going, Lucy?" Lucy smiled, relieved. "Oh fine. Things are normal. I sleep, eat, go to work. That's all." Sting laughed. "Yeah. I do that, too." He grinned. "So... You taken?" Rogue almost spit out his drink. 'Stupid ass...' He thought. 'You don't just ask someone that... She's gonna flake for sure...'

But to his surprise, Lucy just laughed. "I'm not taken at the moment." She fluttered her eyelashes. "Why?" She said flirtatiously. "Are you?" Sting laughed. "Yeah. I have the most beautiful girl, Yukino." He smiled. "Not that I'm saying you're not gorgeous, Lucy."

Lucy giggled. Rogue slammed his beer on the table. Both blondes stared at him in surprise. He looked angry. His nostrils were flared, his fists clenched. "Dude..." Sting frowned. "Are you alright man?" Rogue stood. "I'm fine." He hissed as he went outside.

Lucy gulped. What was his problem? "Don't worry." Sting smiled reassuringly. "He'll be fine. He... just needs some air." Lucy nodded, speechless.

Rogue stomped outside, fists clenched. He leaned against the cement wall. Seeing Lucy and Sting flirt made him so pissed! And he didn't know why... He closed his eyes, sighing.

He had a feeling he didn't only lust for her... He... liked her. Sting and the guys were right. He did like her. A lot. And he barely knew anything about her. He sighed. He couldn't help it. She was just so.. Beautiful. And innocent-looking, and innocent and sweet.

There was something about her that made him feel warm inside. Ever since that night in the bar, on his birthday, ever since he met her... He couldn't stop thinking about her. He couldn't forget. She was always on his mind, in all his thoughts. The thought of her made him lose concentration when he was working.

"Hey..."

A soft said, breaking him out of his thoughts. Rogue's eyes snapped open. He immediately tensed. Lucy was in front of him, blushing. "Are you alright?" She asked shyly. Rogue didn't respond, he couldn't speak. He blinked. Hard. 'Talk, you idiot...'

"Uh, yeah." He managed to force out. Lucy took a step closer towards him, she gently took his hand. And Rogue almost stopped breathing. Lucy looked up at him, warm brown eyes shimmering. "It's just... You didn't seem okay earlier. And... I was a bit worried." She blushed.

"Since you're our customer and all. And we have to treat them like family. Not that I'm doing it because I have to, I want to..." She babbled, blushing. Rogue stared at her lips, his eyes darkening. 'Sweet, pink, soft lips...' "And so I just wanted to check up on you, because I- mmmmmph."

Rogue cut her off by slamming his lips on her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him. Lucy blushed, not knowing what to do. Then her eyes began to close, and she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Rogue grip around her waist tightened, she tasted so sweet, her lips soft like he imagined they would be. He slipped his hands in her shirt, just ready to -

"Hey Rogue are you - woaaaaah!" Lucy pulled away from Rogue, blushing and breathless. She turned to see Sting. He stared at them, eyes huge as saucers. Rogue growled, pulling Lucy to his chest. His eyes were dark, full of lust. Lucy buried her face in his chest, blushing hard. 'I just kissed Rogue!'

Sting just stared, surprised. He didn't know Rogue had it in him. Well he knew his best bud wanted Lucy, but he never thought he'd lose control in public. Sting cleared his throat, a bit frightened by the cold, irritated gaze his friend was giving him. Sting finally managed to say something.

"Am I... interrupting something?"