Marik didn't choose to end up a bartender, but he also didn't choose to lose his job in the university tutoring center, either. How was it his fault that two students decided the tutoring center was the perfect place to brawl out their feelings on a Friday night, when he was the only tutor on staff? Okay, so maybe he might have egged them on a little bit. But that shouldn't have gotten him fired.

He dropped the beer-reeking rag he held into the bucket of grey water, grimacing at the whole thing. His life had gone from sitting in an air conditioned room and telling people how to win over their science professor, to cleaning up spilled alcohol and vomit. But hey, at least it meant free drinks? And attractive men. He wandered back behind the bar and dumped the nasty water into the mop sink to fill it back up, and turned around just in time for the door to open. In walked a trio of men, laughing and pushing each other in that way 20-somethings often do.

And in the center of them was a golden-haired god. He was tall, thin, and definitely spent most of his free time at the gym. Marik only realized he'd been staring when Jenny, the barkeeper, elbowed him in the ribs. "Stop ogling the customers, you weirdo. Finish refilling your bucket and get out to table 12. Someone rejected their alcohol all over the floor."

His stomach roiled at the thought of yet another vomit puddle, but such was the life of working at a bar. At least it gave him a chance to get closer to the blonde stranger and get a better look at him.