Under the Sea Nightclub

@BoA The look on her face said it all and he knew he was getting to her more and more. Before she knew it she would be thinking about him and he would worm his way right into her brain. That or she would go crazy and kill him but he highly doubted the last part. She was a good girl with a good head on her shoulders which was part of why he liked her so much.

"Because I am special and so are you, whether you want to admit it or not." he replied with a calm smile as he caught up with her again. "Why do you live so far from work? It has got to be dangerous for a little thing like you walking home by yourself so late at night. How about I keep you company from now on?"

@Zico As much as she hated to admit it he was right. It had only been a little kiss and not even an important one so she had overreacted quite a bite. Rather than apologize though she glared at him, completely unhappy with the way in which he was affecting her. Almost any other guy could have done the same thing and she would have shrugged it off but she just couldn't do that with him.

"What makes you think you are so special?" she asked and continued towards her house, knowing he would follow along. Worse than him pursuing her though was the fact that she almost kinda liked it. Boa had to wonder if she would be so accepting or comfortable if another guy was vying for her attention or if there really was something unique about Zico.

@BoA His face stung but it wasn't a surprise to him as he held his cheek. Zico worked his jaw to make sure it was still functioning but smiled at the diminutive little beauty. She sure packed one helluva punch and in a strange way she looked even better when she was upset. It was hard for him not to laugh but he did his best so as not to make the situation any more volatile.

"It was just a little kiss, not even on the lips." he argued and glanced down at her shaking frame. For all of her fire and fury she was still affected by him, a sign which he took as a go-ahead even if it was just a little bit slower. "But don't worry, I am not after that for the time being. One day I think you are going to want me to kiss you and when it comes I will not disappoint you."

@Zico Dove. That was something she had never been called before nor had she ever heard him use it so it made her stop and think. There was no way he could be serious, even with a somewhat unique and clever nickname. He just wasn't that type of guy, even if he acted like it from time to time.

All thoughts on that count were banished by the gentle pressing of his lips to her head. Her heart raced and her blood boiled in both rage and desire for affection. Boa did the only thing she could do and raised her hand, bringing it across his face hard as she pulled away. "What the heck Zico?" she yelled, her eyes wide and her body trembling. "Do you wanna die?"

@BoA Judging from her reaction he had done the right thing and was getting closer to her. He couldn't blame her the discomfort and all that. He knew his reputation and it wasn't a good one, at least not to good girls like Boa. That realization gave him slight pause as he considered his actions anew.

His thought had been correct: she was a good girl and here he was chasing after her despite her rejections. Hurting people was never something he enjoyed or even thought about in advance, it just happened and it could happen to her too. The man shook his head slightly and dismissed the train of thinking all together. She was a strong girl and could take whatever he threw at her, at least he thought so.

"We've been over this. My eyes are just drawn to you, dove." he whispered and bent down to lightly kiss the side of her head. It was a gamble, of course, and he could have maybe just overstepped his bounds but he guessed it would be worth it. Even if she got pissed it would be worth it.

@Zico When he took off his jacket and placed it on her shoulders there was no way to hide the completely surprised look on her face. No! This couldn't be. He was supposed to be a selfish, self-absorbed, and things like that, not attentive and kind by any means. "T-thanks." she mumbled, her brows furrowing as she tried to figure out whatever angle he was playing. It had to be an act, just had to be.

There was a slight tickling sensation on her cheek as her hair bushed against it in response to him trying to place the fly-away strands behind her ear. This was somehow even more unnerving than his manners and it just got worse as he spoke. "Y-yah! Who said you could talk to me like that?" she asked, reacting to his kindness in something of a panic. "Can't you look somewhere else?"

Boa felt her heart fluttering in her chest as that mixture of wanting and revulsion battled. In a way she wanted him to be sincere, to be able to open herself up to the young man and feel that kind of connection but she knew all too well what he was. Sure, he was good to her for the moment but he wasn't the type to stick around more than one night and that was useless for her.

@BoA It was hard for him not to notice her shaking and despite his attempts to ignore it he just couldn't. "Pardon me." he mumbled as he pulled his hand back and in one fluid motion removed his jacket. Zico set the garment around her shoulders and pulled it in to keep her warm, nodding at his work. Being kind and really caring were not the types of things he was used to expressing so he felt weird doing it but he just couldn't stop himself.

Zico fell into step beside the small woman again and placed her hand on his arm right where it had been. "I know but I think you like it that way." he teased, a slight smirk tugging on his lips. "You are beautiful you know." The DJ reached over and gently tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear, admiring her profile.

It was hard to describe his attraction to Boa mostly because he didn't understand it himself. She didn't have the voluptuous curves he normally was drawn to and she didn't really do anything high-glamour or attention-grabbing. Not that she was plain by any means, just a natural beauty that he somehow could not resist.

@Zico He had to be the strangest man she had ever met. The more she rejected him the more he came towards he and she wondered if he had any idea what the word 'no' really meant. Although it did occur to her that even if he did he would probably just ignore or dismiss it. She imagined he lived in a world completely of his own which was why he was so annoying to deal with. It was like he had his own rules for everything.

Boa shuddered slightly but she didn't know if it was from the cold, his nearness, or a combination of both. "You are so greasy." she muttered and started walking towards her home, doing the best she could to lessen her time with the young DJ. Maybe if she just limited her contact with him he would eventually learn to give up.

@BoA The more she threatened him the more she was sure that he was getting to her and he was thrilled. Boa was definitely a challenge and he loved that about her. There was nothing simple with the bartender, she was always complicated and deep which led him to believe that putting for the effort to get that close to her would be worth it. Not that he intended to hurt her once he did but he usually had a way of getting what he wanted out of the women he schmoozed whether it was what they wanted or not.

"I am not sure I will be paying much attention to watching me since my eyes are constantly drawn towards you." he replied and placed his hand over hers on his arm. Zico pulled her just a little bit closer to him as he walked her out of the door and into the alley behind the club. "Just relax, alright. I wont let anything happen to you."

@Zico Her eyebrow rose as she looked at him in disbelief, shaking her head just a bit. There really seemed to be no end to his boyish attempts at charm and as much as she loathed to admit it, they were working. Of course she had to remind herself that he was just a dirty womanizer and that she shouldn't trust him any farther than her small frame could toss him.

"Fine but you just watch yourself or I will hurt you." she warned as she reluctantly placed her hand on his arm. There was an odd moment of attraction and revulsion that gnawed at her insides. Boa liked the warmth and contact with him but hated that it was him at all. In other words: Zico was probably the last person on the planet she wanted to be so close with.

"It's this way." Boa mumbled and tugged him out of the back entrance. The cold night air greeted her and wakened almost every nerve ending it touched. It was spring so the breezes were still chilling despite the relative increase in temperature from days past. Not that it stopped the chill that spread through her body and she involuntarily stepped closer to the young man.

@BoA "Oh! Your words wound me beautiful lady." he replied in a mock-hurt voice as he put his hand over his chest again. "Why would you want to hurt me so when I am only trying to be nice?" Zico smiled mischievously and set his chin in his hand as he looked at her. She was looking in the mirror bur he didn't really understand why. To him she looked great.

When she seemed to be giving in he his lip in an almost predatory manner. In truth he was mostly just pleased to be making progress at all but the way she was handling him only intrigued the male more. "Can't I be a little bit of both? I think your version of good would probably be boring." he teased.

With a smooth motion the tall male moved to her side and offered his arm to her. "I don't think I am as bad as you think I am. I wont do anything you don't like." he assured and led her to the exit. What he neglected to say was that he wasn't as good as he thought he was either.

@Zico Part of her cringed inwardly at his cheesy lines but she had to guess that he meant them that way. Or at least she hoped he meant them as a joke and didn't believe that they actually could steal her heart. It was hard to tell with him. Most of the time he was like a little kid clowning around without a care in the world but she guessed there was a least a little something going on between his ears. Granted there was no telling if his brain could produce anything coherent and logical.

"I am definitely a dream then because there is no way you are getting this in the real world." she replied somewhat coldly and checked her reflection in the mirror. There were bags forming under her eyes from her lack of sleep and she sighed as she shut the door to her locker, stopping briefly as she heard his sincere request.

"Your version of good or my version of good?" she asked, feeling a slight ache in her heart as she glanced at him over her shoulder. There was a pain as she felt herself opening up to him against her will but she didn't know how to fight it. "You be my good version and I won't mace you in the face."

@BoA She was smiling and laughing. It wasn't a lot but it was enough to give him hope. As much as she seemed to want to act like it, she wasn't ice and there was some part of her that enjoyed him even if just a little bit. Zico could work with that and he had every intention of getting the beauty behind the bar to open herself up to him just a little bit. He was still convinced she was something special and no matter what she or anyone else told him he was going to see it through.

"Well, my mother always told me to follow my dreams. Thus, I follow you." he answered with a soft smile. "Why would I pester anyone else when I could be next to you?" It was cheesy, flirty, and all part of the fun as he watched her deposit her money and head to the employee room.

He took a seat on a bench and just watched her get ready to go, admiring the way her dark hair fell below her shoulders. Her frame was a bit more slender than he would normally like but it was natural to her, not like the type of girl who would diet crazily. "Let me walk you home. I promise to be good." he said quietly, almost begging for a few more minutes by her side.

@Zico Her eyes rolled back into her head in mild annoyance but she smiled a little at his comment. The blonde hair did suit him in a way even though she did wonder what he would look like with it's natural color. Zico was attractive in a boyish sort of way; youthful and cocky to a fault which he then attempted to turn into charm but it wasn't for her.

There wasn't going to be a reply until he rushed in front of her and opened the door. That would have been enough but the incredibly cheesy bow made her laugh and shake her head. The boy was laying it on thick but she wasn't about to give in. "Why are you following me? Don't you have someone else to pester?" she asked as she moved past him towards the safe to make her deposit.

Boa put her envelope inside and waved cheerfully to the security cameras before heading to the employee area to get her things. She opened her locker, basically ignoring the man as she pulled out her bag and jacket. With a shrug she slid her jacket on and then reached back inside to get her scarf to wrap around her neck. It wasn't really that cold anymore but she was chilly much of the time and scarves helped with that. She put her tips in her bag and put the strap on her shoulders, eager to get home for the night.

@BoA "User error." More like access denied. Zico wasn't deterred though and even as she walked away he got up to follow her, his smirk still plastered on his youthful face. "Your words pain me so! They are like little barbs right in my heart." He called after the woman dramatically and pounded his chest lightly for emphasis. "Besides, I think I look pretty ing y as a blonde."

The male hurried his steps to move in front of her and opened the door to the back with an exaggerated bow. No, he wasn't going to give up that easily. The more she rejected him the more desirable she became. Unattainable was always more attractive to him than the objects right within his grasp. "Allow me, my princess." he cooed softly, hoping maybe this attempt would soothe her fiery spirit just a little.

Zico wasn't exactly the type of guy to be really devoted to a woman and there were times when he believed that a rejection should be headed but this wasn't one of them. He had convinced himself that once he moved past her cool exterior there would be lots of heat he could bury himself in, literally and figuratively. That being said, his intentions weren't necessarily bad but he wasn't completely in it for any kind of romance.

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@Zico All of her money was being sorted into bundles of five and then stacked together, but staggered in case she lost quick count to make it easier. Boa was making it through the cash when she heard a male's voice just across the table from her and looked up to see Zico's smirking face. If she hadn't been in a relatively good mood she would have glared at the boy but she had made out pretty well so she could put up with his empty compliments. Why on earth did he have to bug her though? It wasn't like she was the only bartender or even the only woman bartender.

Still, he didn't seem to mean any harm so she would hold back on her sharp tongue and attempt to be pleasant. He was just so vacuous and shallow that simply being in his presence annoyed her. Boa tried not to let it show though, there was no need to make enemies with her coworkers if she didn't have to.

"User error." she said shortly and glanced back down to finish her tally, adding everything together for her total. "So I don't see the reason to give you my number and you already know my name. Unless it somehow escaped or was erased during one of your many bleachings." Boa put everything owed to the club in the envelope with her paperwork and headed back towards the safe, not even sparing a look back at the male. He was just one of those playboys and she had no time for him at all, no matter how charming he thought he was.

@BoA When the customers had all left he shut off the music and gathered his equipment. There wasn't much to it but that was actually perfect for him because he knew Boa liked to take off almost immediately when she was done counting her drawer. If he had more stuff then he probably would miss her but as it was, he could basically head right from the booth down to her little table.

With a flick of his finger he turned the house lights on, brightening the vicinity immensely before he strut in her direction. Each confident step brought him across the dance floor and it was just as he imagined it in his head. The corner of his lips pulled up into a cocky smirk as pick-up lines swirled in his head, trying to find the right one to fit the occasion.

Just as he reached her the perfect one came to him, at least in he thought it was. "I was so enchanted by your beauty that I ran into that wall over there." he began and pointed off behind him. "So I am going to need your name and number, you know, for insurance purposes." Zico grinned at the bartender as he pulled out the chair across from her and spun it around to sit in it backwards, crossing his arms over the top of the back.

@Zico The dim atmosphere of the club was only accentuated by the seemingly random flaring of colored lights as they strobed over the dance floor. From her position behind the bar she smiled at each of her customers, the slight dip in her cheek from her dimple flashing in her forced joy. Truthfully her feet hurt from standing on them all night and the area just behind her eyes pulsed painfully. Despite having worked there for quite a while she still sometimes had days when the whole ambiance really got to her.

When she heard the last call over the speakers she inwardly sighed, incredibly relieved to know that she would be able to take a seat and count out her til. Boa quickly poured out the final drinks for the night and collected her tabs as patrons headed out the door. If the sheer number of foot traffic was any indication she made quite a bit of dough which would turn her fake smile into a real one.

Her head bobbed to the beat slightly of whatever random new mix the DJ was playing as she gathered her drawer and headed towards one of the tables to count it out, completely oblivious of the looks he was giving her. The music stopped as the club emptied and only the ringing in her ears kept her companies as she started tallying her earnings. As the numbers began to climb she began to think that maybe, just maybe she would be able to buy something a little extra special that week.

@BoA From where he sat overlooking the entire club Zico could see just about everyone inside. The crowd on the dance floor had their hands in the air, undulating almost hypnotically to the beats he was playing for them and it had been that way most of the night. That wasn't what drew his eye though. Behind all the sweaty scantily clad bodies he had his sights on a girl behind the bar.

They had spoken once or twice and she seemed nice. He flirted but for the most part she rejected him. While other men might simply move on, Zico just couldn't do it. She was a challenge and he had convinced himself that once he got through all of her layers he would be well-rewarded, even if he didn't know what with.

It was almost closing time and he announced last call over the system as he went into his final set. He usually saved his newest mixes for just those moments to try them out. To him, those who were left on the floor by then were the ones who really like to dance if they responded well then he knew he was on the right track. Even so, he couldn't really bring himself to take his eyes off of her. Already in his mind he was walking up to her, something catchy rolling off his tongue and past his lips to capture her attention.