'All I wanted was a drink, Caught in circumstances of today, Trying to drink away tomorrow, Yet, still living in yesterday.' Bar Fly, Timur Shamatov

"Oh shit man! I'm sorry!" Shura apologized, almost every last drop of the ale had been dumped down his back. The large harry man stood up towering over Shura.  While not as big as King Requiem he was very intimidating. Wordlessly he cracked his knuckles before throwing a punch. Shura let out a squeak as she ducked just in time to dodge it. 

As she ducked another male figure stood up. He turned around and was punched directly in the face by the man that Shura had angered. Sent flying by the punch the male figure landed on top of nearby table breaking it in half

"Banjo!" The male figure's friend shouted rushing over to check on Banjo. But Banjo was out cold. "I'll kill you!" Banjo's friend screamed rushing at the harry man only to be sidestepped and land in the lap of someone else.

"Get off of my man!" A southern accented woman shouted at Banjo's friend hitting him. "Hey don't hit him!" Another voice shouted seeing Banjo's friend being hit. "You don't tell my wife what to do!" Another voice shouted. 

Like dominos, one by one the entire incident turned into a huge mess of a bar fight. Shura, who was on the floor, barely managed to dodge fists and kicks as she crawled her way out of the middle.

Making her way out Shura ran into the same harry man once again. 

"Where do you think you're going?" The man's voice sounded out as he cracked his knuckles. Shura couldn't help but snicker at the sound of his voice. "What are you laughing at!" he shouted picking her up off the floor by her shirt collar. 

Shura burst into a loud guffaw, "You sound like a fucking chipmunk!" She howled with laughter having not expected such a large man to have such a high pitched voice. "I'll kill you!" he screeched before being hit with a bowl of beef stew.

Letting out a scream of pain he collapsed to the floor clawing at his face with steam rising up. Shura, who was dropped on the floor scrambled to her feet looking horrified. "I almost put that in my body." She mumbled terrified. 

Shura's hand was then quickly grabbed and She was dragged away from the massive fight going on. Passing by the bar on her way to the backroom she saw Delta looking furious as beer bottles around him boiled. "Oh shit, he's Aquaman!" Shura exclaimed realizing Delta could control water.

Shura looked over to see who was pulling her away and saw Minnow. Suddenly she was picked up into someone's arms and saw Mako who quickly scooped up Minnow in their arms as well. "Why are we running?!" Shura shouted. Mako and Minnow looked completely terrified.

"Run faster Mako he's going to blow!" Minnow screeched, just barely making it out of the door there was a sudden explosion of hot water and steam that flooded out of The Smelter sending Shura, Minnow, and Mako flying before washing up on the side of the street. 

"At least I got a ba-th..." Shura said burping out a bubble. She sat up seeing Minnow coughing up water. "Waterlogged much?" She asked as Mako laid there looking way too happy that Delta flooded the place. 

"Is... Mako... okay...?" Shura asked scooting closer to Minnow. "Ignore them, they... Get stimulated from Delta's anger." Minnow said coughing with clear disgust in his voice. "So powerful..." Mako mumbled with a stupid grin on their face. 

Minnow hit his chest managing to get the last bit of water out of his lungs. "Well then, that was a wash." He remarked darkly, Shura let out a laugh, "Literally." She said nudging him. "Remind me not to let you go get drinks again." Minnow said giving Shura a knowing look, Shura laughed nervously. "You can't fucking prove anything Dragoon." 

The two of them watched as the door to the smelter opened and the patrons washed out much like they did moments ago. Mako sat up just in time to see Delta walking over soaked to the bone, he was in the middle of fixing his hair when he spotted them.

Minnow looked over at Shura and Mako to see both of them gawking at the sight of the attractive fish man. "Really?" he scoffed, more offended from the fact that Shura was gawking at Delta and less at Mako's gawking.

"Nice," Shura said looking over at Mako, she gave them a thumbs up with a grin. "I can't believe you think that fish is attractive." Minnow grumbled irritated. "I can appreciate art in all of its forms." Shura said waving her hand out in front of her as of motioning to all the 'art' before her.

Delta walked over finally able to pull his hair back into a ponytail. "I'm terribly sorry." he apologized, "It's okay dud-." Shura started to say only to be completely ignored by Delta.

"Mako are you alright?" Delta asked helping Mako up, "Oh...." Shura remarked giving a knowing nod. "That's just adorable." She chuckled. "I'm fine Delta! I'm tough as nails!" Mako said flexing after Delta helped them up. "My dear even the toughest of cookies can crumble." Delta chided softly.

Minnow looked over at Shura who was just watching this entire scene with clear entertainment. "Why aren't these two together already?" She asked mostly herself. "I couldn't hazard a guess." He deadpanned, getting up he dusted himself off before offering a hand to Shura.

"Oh, I can get up myself." Shura said before standing up, Minnow had a displeased look on his face, "I know." he mumbled. This went unnoticed by Shura as she reached over and bushed some hair behind Minnow's ear. "You're soaking wet." She laughed, Minnow's expression softened. "So are you," he said with a chuckle.

"So I guess we should let these two have some alone time," Shura said glancing over at Mako and Delta. "Yeah, it's getting late anyway. We should get some rest. After all, you have to meet the head of the knights in the morning." Minnow said rubbing his arm.

Then something occurred to Shura, "Ah man I don't have a place to stay." Shura complained rubbing the back of her head. Minnow's eyes lit up at this, "You can stay with m-!" He started to say before being cut off.

"She'll be staying with me." Delta's smooth voice cut Minnow off. "What?" Both Shura and Minnow said at the same time. Delta's coal-black eyes narrowed at Shura. "I know you started the bar fight." he hissed lowly. Shura let out a nervous laugh, "Ha-ha... Maybe...?" She nervously said slowly backing away from Delta.

"Oh come now, you'll just be working at night to pay for room and board...!" Delta sang, slowly walking up to Shura before clasping a hand on her shoulder. "So cold," Shura mumbled feeling Delta's cold hand through her tunic. "Also the damages," Delta added with a sinister smile. 

Shura shivered in fear, a pit of anxiety she knew all too well grew in her stomach. It seemed that no matter what world she was in... She always managed to end up in some kind of debt.

"When was this decided?!" Minnow exclaimed unhappy with the concept of Shura staying with Delta of all people. "Oh just now, Mako and I were talking about it." Delta said smoothly, "It'll be great for Shura! She can work in the evenings after training! We can visit her often too!" Mako exclaimed clearly excited. 

"This is clearly more about you and less about Shura." Minnow deadpanned seeing through the rouse. Mako just wanted Shura to stay with Delta to have an excuse to visit more often. Shura look between the group and ran her fingers through her hair. "I guess it's fine. I mean, I don't have a place to stay." Shura said with a shrug. 

"You could stay with me!" Minnow practically yelled throwing his arms in the air. "Thanks, Minnow. But, I couldn't impose on you like that. You've done enough for me as is." Shura said with a small smile and her hands held in front of her. "You wouldn't be!" Minnow retorted, he seemed determined to convince Shura to stay with him.

"Minnow we live in the knight's barracks," Mako said walking over to their student trying to calm him down. "Y-Yeah but..." Minnow's excitement died down at this. "Shura isn't a knight." Delta chimed in, "Yet!" Minnow corrected with a glare. 

"Minnow! Don't talk to Delta like that-!" Mako went to scold their student but was cut off by Delta. "Mako," Delta said, "Can I talk to Minnow for a moment?" He questioned. "Sure... I guess." Mako shrugged and walked off towards The Smelter with Shura.

Minnow stood there watching Shura walk further into the distance with Mako. They were talking about something but he couldn't quite hear what they were saying. He turned back to Delta and shot him a glare. 

Delta, unintimidated folded his arms. "Listen, kid, I'm not interested in Shura. So you can cut that territorial crap right here." Delta cut straight to the chase, unwilling to beat around the bush any longer. Especially since Mako wasn't around. 

Minnow's face lit up red with anger and embarrassment, "Firstly, I am not a kid! Secondly, I am not territorial! I'm just concerned!" Minnow nearly shouted indignant at such accusations. Sure, the two of them had just met! But Minnow felt like they've known each other for much longer than a day!

He looked up at Delta who had his hands on his hips. "Uh-huh..." Delta's eyes were narrowed in disbelief. "Sure kid." Delta seemed more bemused by Minnow's justifications than anything. 

Delta waltzed over to Minnow and raised his hand, Minnow winced expecting a hit or something. But Minnow was surprised when Delta's webbed hand rested on top of his head. "Minnow, she'll be fine," Delta said with an understanding smile present on his face. "You have to trust that she can take care of herself. Don't you think I worry about Mako when they leave the city to go fight monsters?" Delta's voice was calm and soothing. 

While his words reassured Minnow, he couldn't help but worry. Deep down something told him that Shura was special. He just didn't know what made her special. No specifics anyway... His eyes lingered on Shura's distant form before he moved them back to the taller fish man.

"I swear by the first king if anything happens to her I will be having sushi for dinner." Minnow threatened earning a chuckle from Delta. "Sure... Sure." Delta agreed before looking over at Mako and Shura. 

"We've got our hands full don't we?" Delta asked with a fond smile on his face. Minnow shifted slightly rubbing his upper arm. "Yes, we do," he mumbled unable to get rid of the pit of worry in his stomach.

During the same time that Minnow and Delta were having their little talk. Shura and Mako were talking as well. 

"Look I'm going to level with you," Mako spoke up as they walked away from Delta and Minnow. "I need an excuse to talk to Delta more," Mako admitted to Shura. 

Shura smirked amused, "Not very orc-like to need an excuse." She teased Mako. The orc in question puffed out their chest offended as a dark green tint filled their cheeks. "T-This is different!" Mako exclaimed, "Fishmen have very particular courting rituals!" Mako defended their position as best as they could. 

Though they were a tad hypocritical for criticizing other's slow-burning romances despite having one themselves.

"And those are?" Shura asked, "I have to find a very special kind of metal before I can let my feelings be known." Mako mumbled quietly, it was a tad uncharacteristic for a person with such a loud personality as Mako's. But Shura could tell that Mako was feeling insecure and embarrassed at the moment.

"The problem is it's really rare!" Mako exclaimed before clamping their hands on their mouth. The dark green tint spread to Mako's entire face once they realized that they nearly shouted that. "Is he looking over here?" Mako's voice was muffled under their large hands. Shura leaned over and looked over at Minnow and Delta talking very intensely.

"Nah, they're having some sort of man-to-man talk," Shura remarked rolling her eyes seeing Delta patting Minnow on the head. It was kind of cheesy if you asked her. Mako, hearing this relaxed and removed their hands from their mouth. 

"I have to make some sort of piece of jewelry before I can even make my move." Mako's voice was hushed. Shura cocked an eyebrow, this sounded a tad traditional. If she knew anything about people, she knew that they didn't always follow traditions like that.

"Are you sure you have to go through that much trouble?" She couldn't help but ask, Mako, furrowed their brows determinately, "Absolutely!" Mako shouted once more before quickly quieting their voice. "I need him to know how serious I am." Mako quietly spoke looking a tad insecure at the moment.

"Delta's got a lot of people chasing after him. I thought if I could get something like that... He'd give an orc like me a chance." Mako's voice was finally in a hushed tone. Shura's eyes softened at the sound of Mako's plight.

"Well, when you put it like that." Shura put grinned at Mako, "I'll be your wing-woman then!" She patted Mako on the shoulder. Mako gave her an astonished look, Shura grinned feeling like she did something good today. That is until Mako spoke up once more. "Wait you're a woman?"

Back over with Minnow and Delta, they heard Shura yell "Son of a bitch! It's the fucking hair isn't it?!" Just a few yards from them. Minnow couldn't help but snicker at Shura's yell. 

After the two groups reconvened back together, they were back in the smelter. Which was now empty... Save for a few employees putting tables and chairs upright after being pressure washed by Delta's explosion of anger. 

Sitting at one of the few tables that were upright, Delta was the first to speak up. "Shura will be staying in the loft above the restaurant," Delta explained. It seemed that only Mako and Minnow were paying attention. Mako because Delta was talking. Minnow because he was 'concerned'. Meanwhile, Shura had her feet propped up on the table leaning back in her chair staring at the ceiling. 

"She'll also be working as my new cook," he added causing Shura to nearly fall out of her chair. "I don't think that's a good idea!" Shura shouted sitting up. She flashed back to all her previous attempts at cooking, she nearly started coughing from the memory of smoke.

"Well, good idea or not. You need a place to stay and I need a cook. The last one just quit because he nearly drowned." Delta snidely rolled his eyes at the memory of the previous cook. "By the way can you swim?" He asked smiling at Shura who looked horrified. 

"Yes, but, swimming don't help when you fucking flood the place you damn geyser!" Shura shouted back a retort once she was able to. "Well here's hoping you can hold your breath too," Delta replied not missing a beat.

"You're evil." Shura glowered at him, "Very good. I see you already think of me as your boss." Delta said with a smile.

Soon after, Minnow and Mako left. Though, Minnow took more coxing than Mako. Nevertheless, the two of them left and Shura was led upstairs towards the loft. Delta said his goodnights to Shura before leaving her there alone.

Shura took one brief glance at her new home before heading straight to bed. It had been a very long day.