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lonelypond · 2 years

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Fly By Flirting

NicoMaki, Love Live, 7.8K, 1/1

Upcoming star Yazawa Nico meets a pretty girl on a beach. And doesn't quite get her name. And Nico's promised to deliver a summer romance ready for the big screen, based on her whirlwind romance. So she really needs that name.

Fly By Flirting

“No Romo, No Homo. What does that even mean?’ The number one busiest rising movie star Yazawa Nico threw her phone into the office couch of Tojo Nozomi, her long suffering manager’s.

“No romance.” Nozomi decided, “No Roma would be a slur so they just went for the rhymey headline.”

“It’s a stupid, clickbait headline.”

Nozomi giggled, “And Nico is very pro homo.”

Nico glared. “Too many people are using this stupid, take Nico’s quotes out of context interview to say Nico isn’t romcom material.” Nico scoffed. “Like Nico couldn’t open to the best box office rom com weekend ever.” Nico leaned over Nozomi’s desk. “Nico has a plan.”

“What?”

“Nico writes the script.”

Nozomi snickered.  

“Fine,” Nico pushed her chair back, “Nico hires someone else to write it, based on Nico’s true life meet cute to whirlwind wedding romance.”

“Whirlwind wedding?”

Nico was now caught in the fantasy, up on her feet, pacing, hands flying, words 10,000 kpm. “Nico Nico Ni. Nico finds the cutest, sexiest, snazziest girl, everybody roots for Nico, a rival tries to steal Nico away…purely for drama,” Nico batted her eyelashes in Nozomi’s direction, “Nico barely notices.”

“Not an old flame stealing Mx. Sexty from soon to be sad Nico?”

“Nico Ni is never soon to be sad. No one outshines Nico.” Nico glared for emphasis.

Nozomi, amused, nodded. Nico continued.

“Big flourish, surprise beach wedding. We’ll announce it now,” Nico’s face scrunched up, serious thinking happening, “now for a month from now…”  

“A month!” That surprised Nozomi, but Nico had zoomed on to the next stage of wedding planning.

“Hawai’i beach.” Nico would look great in a sarong.

“You don’t want to do that. The natives are asking tourists to stay away.”

“Fine.” Nico flomped down on the couch, rescuing her phone for a quick notification check, “One of those fancy East Coast islands, get Nico a place, Nico finds the girl, bachelorette party, wedding…”

Nico wasn’t kidding.

Nozomi grabbed the parking brake. “This isn’t smart, Nico. You’re taking an unnecessary risk. What if something…”

Nico waved a dismissive hand, paying more attention to her screen than Nozomi, “Nico will deal. Plus,” and Nico raised her head, ruby eyes aglow with the embers of dreams going to full flames, “Nico’s got game, Nico is cute and funny and charismatic. The ladies will swoon. No Nico rom coms is a crime.”

Nozomi conceded the last point. Nico and gay girls and lesbeans everywhere deserved the romcom Nico was hatching in her brain. There was one practical point Nozomi felt obligated to raise, “How to you find The Girl™?

Nico shrugged, “Rent me a house and we go to a party.”

It could be a start. Nozomi had cas dated her way through their social circle. Refreshing the view would be…refreshing. “Umi might know someone.”

“Find out. And announce the wedding…” Nico checked her phone calendar, “for…”

###

Sonoda Umi did know a number of someone’s, including Minami Kotori, who was throwing a very very stylish party that weekend, best clothes, best girls, intelligent conversation, no tequila shots off bars anywhere, so to keep from looking as bored as she was, Nico was posing, vibing the classy aesthetic, imagining a photoshoot in this glamorous vacation home. Yazawa Nico, upcoming action and horror (and ROMCOM) queen did not draw as much attention in this crowd as Sonoda Umi, youngest Pulitzer Prize winning poet for her collection titled Fascinations Of The Sea Colored Girl.

After selfie number 59, Nozomi decided to intervene, before Nico’s increasing boredom at not being the center of attention created a NicoCrisis.

“How ya doing, Nico-chi?”

“This Kotori has” Nico chef kissed, “exquisite taste in clothes and the people wearing them, but,” here, Nico glanced around, a little sad, “where are all the party animal, risk taking daredevils ready for the ride of their life with Nico.”

Nozomi did a spit take on ride.

“What the hell, Nozomi.” Nico grumbled, brushing off spew.

“You said ride.”

Blank from Nico.

“Haven’t you seen Derry Girls? Northern Ireland. Teenagers. Fast and furiously funny,”

“Nico doesn’t watch things Nico isn’t in.”

“Well, there is one lesbian and she’s kind of a disaster.”

“Nico could handle a disaster. That’s a great story….love train wreck meets polished corporate competence.”

Nozomi was glad she wasn’t too drunk to zing back at the attack level Nico deserved, “And you think you’re the poster girl for polished corporate competence.”

Nico puffed out her chest proudly, “In every damn thing.”

Nozomi’s eyes had been following someone around the room. Nico half spun to see who. Flash of red hair, flash of gold in deep conversation with Queen of the Prim Party Sonoda.

“How did you meet Umi anyway? She’s so…” Nico stretched into the depths of her vocabulary, “genteel.”

Nozomi gasped, hand fluttering near her chest, “And what, dearest Nico-chi, are you implying about your dearest friend and loyalest manager.”

Nico scowled at Nozomi’s sudden simpering. “That you are an unrelenting, utterly shameless flirt and don't seem like a Sonoda pal. Can we stop with the Jane Austen now?”

“Well, the extremely kind and discerning Ms. Sonoda has an auteur’s taste in French films and I enjoy our discussions. So does she. She always sends insightful notes in impeccable calligraphy.”

“And so Nico is slumming at a classy party where no one’s seen any of her films.”

There was a snort of laughter from the group around Umi. Nico couldn’t tell from who, but now she had drawn Umi’s attention. Umi, the blonde, and a few others drifted Nico-ward.

“Nozomi, always a pleasure,” Umi bowed her head, “I am very pleased to meet you, Ms. Yazawa.”  

“Nico, please.”

“Nico…is there anything I can get you? And allow me to introduce Eli Ayase, my friend, and the principal dancer for the Eastern Shore company.”

“A dancer,” Nozomi hip shoved past Nico, “Hi, I’m Nozomi. Dance is my favorite of the arts. So much precision poured into the art of perfection.” And making sure the blue eyes were locked on hers, Nozomi continued, “And so pretty.”

The barest of blushes on proud cheekbones.

“Point Nico away from here.” Nico rolled her eyes as the host, Kotori joined the group.

Umi and Kotori exchanged a glance.

“There is a small seating area on the beach that no one seems to have noticed yet.” Umi paused, arching an amused eyebrow, “If you would like to skip out on high brow conversations concerning the ballet.”

“Please.” Nico leaned a hand on Umi’s steel solid arm, forward, pushing up for a cheek kiss, “You are Nico’s new best friend.”

Kotori giggled, “I love your dress, Nico.”

Nico curtsied, “Thank you. But Nico needs the name of your stylist. That dress is exquisite.”

Kotori smiled. Umi looked proud. And Nico, having brought joy, was off with a wave.

“Nico will be on the beach. Send iced tea.” Nico was not planning to get drunk tonight. This was a dangerous crowd not to be watching words in.

  ###

Cooler. Quieter. Quieter wasn’t often a Nico mood, but having been the center of attention nonstop on set and on line for three plus years now, including this wedding whirlpool she’d stirred up around herself, a night quiet but for wind and the roar of surf surging into a new tide was a novel, head clearing experience.

“Tea.” A raspy, breathy voice startled Nico.

“Yikes.” Nico turned with a glare, but confronted with the sight of a tall woman, hair under a black beanie, wearing in a black polka dotted white dress the wind was caressing into curves, Nico’s brain kicked back into charm mode.

“Nico thanks you…” Nico left an obvious pause.

The tray clanked. “You can pour your own.”

 “Nico wanted your name.”  

A low mumble.

Nico pointed at the ocean and her ears, “Again?”

A blush, a mumble, Nico gave up.

“Hi, mystery moon goddess, let Nico pour you a drink.”

A long stare, a shrug, a graceful collapse into the chair nearest Nico, long legs kicking up sand that flicked against Nico. Nico decided that meant yes so she poured out two glasses.

“Kanpai.”

Finally a response Nico could hear. And a shy smile. “Kanpai.”

Nico sat, sipping, surprised by the alcohol sting. But it was a party. People put alcohol in unexpected things. “What’d you spike the tea with?”

Raised eyebrow. “It’s a Long Island.”

Obviously, something Nico should know. What kind of liquor was New York known for? Beer? What was in a Manhattan? Whiskey? Didn’t taste like beer or whiskey. Nico held up the glass. From what she could see in the dim light, the color looked right, so it must be a clear liquor, “Vodka, right?”

“You don’t know what a Long Island Iced Tea is?” A giggle. Too cute.

“Nico knows.” Nico chugged back half the glass, wincing at the sting. Was that tequila? Tequila led to demon nights.

“You might want to slow down.”  

“Nico can handle it.” Nico finished the drink, pouring herself another. She glanced to her side. The sexy sea goddess was sipping, staring at the stars over the ocean. Nico decided to be friendly. “Nico likes the stars.”

A grunt of agreement. Sexy sea goddess accepted a refill. More quiet sipping .

“Nico is a star.”

Laughter. Was it sexy laughter? Nico was feeling too buzzy to be sure, but decided to be encouraged. A sigh, a dramatic gesture back at the house, “That isn’t a Nico party.”

“What is a Nico party?”

Nico bounced up, possibly spilling Long Island Tea in the sand, before she finished her glass, and slammed it back on the tray. “More people paying attention to Nico, clothes you can dance in, MUSIC!!!”

“What’s your favorite song?” Sexy was leaning forward, pulling her beanie forward to keep the wind from teasing it off her head.

Nico frowned, trying to remember what the hot girl summer song was. No luck. She giggled, “anything.”

Sexy began to sing, lyrics semi familiar to Nico, dancing, starlight, love…Nico joined in and the song became a duet and then another song and then Nico was chasing a laughing goddess into the surf, tripping, falling into strong arms, being pulled back to the chairs, sharing one for warmth, covered with throws, splitting the last glass of tea, two sets of lip prints sloppily overlapping while the originals argued over which star was brighter as the world blurred, and then, laughing, dizzy with joy, Nico stood, pulling Sexy to her feet, spinning them both, holding onto hands so tight until…

###

Nico woke up, pounding pain, head spinning, staring ahead…she could see…the sky, barely dawn kissed, through a window, an antique airplane cockpit, and a leg, barely visible, the Sexy Sea Goddess’s polka dot dress bunched up above the curve of the thigh, stiletto heel tapping out a rhythm. Wincing, Nico wondered if this was what flying angels references meant? Was Nico in an alcohol induced coma? Is that why her head hurt like spikes were being driven into it?

“heY!” Nico…croaked.

“You’re alive.” Amused sexy sea goddess voice, no ocean to dampen the contours. Nico liked it.

“Where are we?”

“Flying.”

Ah, that was the motion of a plane, not Nico.

“Why?” Solid ground would have been so much more…solid.

“You didn’t believe I was a pilot.” Teasing.

Nico vaguely remembered something about ‘too sexy.” But she was hoping for a pilot’s hat to look cute in, not an airplane to be…carried to? Had Nico been carried off the beach and missed it? Must be a dream. A flash of light brightened the stiletto. White. Goes with the dress. Cinderella, not Little Mermaid. Nico had maybe a half a brain cell left and what it wanted was sleep.

“Good night.” Nico leaned her throbbing head back.

###

Nico woke up again. Moving. But someone had pulled out the spikes and just left a pain pushing at the center of her forehead. Back and forth movement. Swaying. Wasn’t helping with the headache. Rocking. Waking up Nico’s stomach in ways Nico did not want to cope with.

Open eyes. Hammock. Outside. Bright sun. Beach. Seaplanes. Hut with…Nico squinted to read the sign but the glare off the beach and the water made it impossible. With a groan, Nico eased herself out of the hammock. It might not have been her most graceful move, but solid ground was the gift she’d just given herself.

“You’re awake!” An unfamiliar voice shouted. Nico glanced up to see a cheerful ginger haired woman jogging toward her, “How’s the hangover?”

“Where am I?”

“My shop. Hi, I’m Honoka.” Cheerful smile. Nico refused to be charmed.

“Kidnapping Nico is a crime.”  

A raspy voice joined the conversation, “You were begging to leave.”

Nico turned, cautiously, to meet amused amethyst eyes, above a scowl slashed across a pair of stunning lips. Red hair in a ponytail coming out the back of a Mr Zoggs Sex Wax dad cap, completely tasteless fake Hawai’in shirt with…Nico squinted…half naked women surfing, gray board shorts, kicky sneakers.

Headache somehow worse, Nico winced at her own whine, “Where’s the pilot who brought me here?”

Honoka and Tacky Clothing Choices exchanged a glance. Tacky shrugged; Honoka giggled.

“You tell us.” Tacky frowned.

“How is Nico going to get home?”

Honoka started to say something but Tacky raised a hand, “Where do you live?”

“Where does Nico live?” Nico’s laugh was not amused. This would all be so much better if Nico seemed at all like she knew anything. Or remembered anything. Nico was never like this. Nico was always prepared. Nozomi. Nozomi had texted her the address and handed off the key last night but Nico hadn’t stopped by before the party. She pulled out her phone, waving it in the direction of the interrogation squad.

Tacky took the phone. “Let me borrow Betty.”

“Okay, Maki, whatever you say.”

“Betty? Maki?” Nico was still failing all this morning’s pop quizzes. What had she ever done to life?

“Betty is the green sea plane over there,” Honoka pointed to two planes bumping against a dock. “Maki is going to fly you.”

At least today, Nico was getting names.    “Did anyone see the pilot who dropped me off? Tall, legs up to…” Nico whistled, “simple and sexy black and white dress.” Nico closed her eyes. Everything from last night seemed to be painted black and white, like a movie as old as that airplane cockpit. “Probably collects vintage planes.” Maybe tequila had wiped out all the colors. Nico should swear off tequila. “Why would you spike a drink with tequila?” Nico demanded.

  “Huh?” Honoka frowned.

Nico shook her head.

Maki scowled, “If you can remember that much, maybe you should have paid attention to the name.”

“Ocean. Loud.” The headache was surging. Nico crouched, hands to her temple. Why were people still talking at Nico. “What the hell is in a Long Island Iced Tea anyway?”

Honoka giggled, “Everything but tea.”

Maki chuckled, “I’ll go get things started. Maybe go get Ms. Memory Loss some water, Honoka.”

“Just Nico.” Nico gritted.

Honoka sprinted to the shop, “Be right back.”

Maki slung a duffle over her shoulder and headed for the dock, leaving Nico staring between the bright, bobbing ponytail and the clashing colors of the fake Hawaai’in shirt. Black and white would be a better filter for this dudes on the beach morning than last night’s starlit sea goddess mystery.

###

“Throw a party.” Nozomi ordered from the doorway.

“Nico is lazy. And on vacation.” Nico had been on the porch all morning.

“Nico needs a wife in…” Nozomi glanced at her phone calendar, “three weeks. Or Nico could admit this is a stupid plan.”

“No Nico plans are stupid.”

“We need to announce Nico’s arrival as the start of the summer social scene.” Nozomi knew her audience. Nico considered, Nozomi continued, “We owe Umi.”

Nico brightened. “And Umi will invite her friends.” And Nico could find out who the sexy sea goddess was when Nico wasn’t colorblind drunk.

“Probably.” Nozomi knew she’d won the argument.

  “All her friends.”

Nozomi slid in next to Nico, “Ooh, Nico-chi, do you have your eye on someone?”

Nico grumbled, pushing Nozomi away.

“Where did you spend the night anyway? Did you do…sexy things?”

Nico hated the prurient tone Nozomi hit when she was in the perv zone, “None of your business.”

“Oh my, did someone take Nico home?”

“No. Someone dumped Nico on a beach like driftwood.”

“That’s not fun.”

“Duh.” Nico rolled her eyes. “Nico is fine china, not beach trash.”

Nozomi frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“You’re not raging.”

Nico stood, staring directly at the beach they were 200 yards away from.

“Someone got Nico in a plane and then left me in a hammock.”

“A plane?” Nozomi had a vision of commercial flights. “That’s weird?”

“Antique-y plane. Pilot in a very short skirt.”  

Nozomi whistled. “That’s sexy.”

“Nico knows. But Nico doesn’t know who the sexy pilot was.”

“No name or face?”

“Just leg, dress, and stiletto.” Nico frowned, a song coming back into memory, “Voice, maybe.”

Nozomi hissed in shock, “What were you doing that you didn’t see her face.”

Nico reached back to hit Nozomi, “Nico was buckled in a seat, trying not to throw up, behind the cockpit.”

“Actually, I think if the pilot’s a woman, they call it the box office.”

“Shut it.”

“Or maybe it was the beaver box.”

“Don’t you have a blonde to perv on?”

“Yes.” Nozomi jumped off the couch, grabbing her open weave cardigan, “My lunch date. When’s the party? Eli can spread the word.”

“Tomorrow night. Nico needs to recover.”

“I’ll get liquor.”

“No iced teas. No one’s sneaking another Long Island on Nico.”

“You know that’s not…” Nozomi watched a pale, still suffering Nico drop into the couch, ready to nap, “Never mind.”

###

“So you have to come, Tsubasa. Bring Erena, Anju, and whoever’s hanging around. Nico needs to teach these people how to par-tay.”

Tsubasa, continuing her stationary bike workout, chuckled on Nico’s screen, “Nico does know how to par-tay.”

“Right. Everybody on the best coast knows Nico throws the funniest parties.”

“So what are the locals like?”

“Old money loaded. They have their own planes. And they either dress Super Sleek or Surfer Slack. And sit around reading. Or surfing. Or…” Nico shrugged. There were ice cream parlors and mini golf courses, only a few bars, and no scene at all from what Nico could tell from the directory that came with the house.

“Sounds different.”

“It is. No SHOPPING. Just little local boutiques. ONE grocery store.”

“You still have the internet. And the private numbers of a dozen designers.”

“True.” Nico stretched. Tsubasa’s energy was making Nico feel lazy. “Nico’s just not used to sitting and looking at the beach. ‘S a nice beach though. "Nico’s not complaining about the view. Nozomi found this bungalow that’s just the right size for Nico.”

“Sounds cozy.”

“So you’ll come to Nico’s Beach Bash, since you’re in Virginia and have a couple nights off?

“Wouldn’t miss it.” Tsubasa grabbed her water bottle, “How’s the bride hunt going?”

“Nico is irresistible.”

“So still looking.”  

“Nico is fine.”

“We could always combine our charisma…”

Nico sat up, sliding her sunglasses down her nose. This was unexpected.

Tsubasa stopped pedaling, green eyes serious. “If you decide on different backstory, former tourmates reconnecting isn’t a bad one.”

A pause.

Nico frowned. Tsubasa seemed down suddenly, “Nico’s not saying no but you don’t really need a pr boost so why…”

Tsubasa dismounted, “Fans swing back and forth between ‘why aren’t you dating’ and ‘OMG, that woman across the street from your doorway is your secret lover’. It wears me down. I’m always looking around for people snapping pics.”

“Nico gets that. Tiring.”

“Yeah.” Tsubasa smiled, “A break might be nice.”

“Maybe you’ll meet someone at Nico’s party. Nico met someone at a par…” Nico paused as Tsubasa grabbed her phone, eyes twinkling.

“Nico’s withholding. Spill.”

“Someone spiked Nico’s innocent iced tea, but there was a tall…pretty…pilot…or sea goddess or something.”

“I don’t know about sea goddesses, but there can’t be that many pretty pilots.”

“Guess again. Nico’s seen three in 12 hours.” Nico leaned back, arms crossed behind her head, “Nico gets the Prince in Cinderella now.”

“Did she leave you a shoe?”

“Maybe.” Nico grinned as she remembered the curvy thigh, the rumpled dress, the stiletto.

“You’re crazy.”

  “Nico Nico Ni.” The gesture just made Nico's headache return.

“See you tomorrow. I’ll help you interview pilots.”

Nico flipped her phone over, staring at the ocean, remembering pieces of that night, dancing, whirling, a voice, breathy, serenading Nico and the stars.

“Hey.”

Nico jumped. Maki, with an even more beat up cap, a loose mesh tank with a purple bikini top underneath, and black and white checkerboard board shorts, dropped a couple of cases of something heavy at the foot of Nico’s chaise.

“Tojo said to stack these.”

“Not on the beach.”

“Party’s on the beach, right? Eli’s bringing some more.” A pause, Maki pushing down Ray Bans (how 20th century) so Nico could see the wink. “No iced tea though.”

Nico growled, her headache returning. “You take those up to the bungalow.” Nico was off the chaise, waving her hands at Maki, who was just staring, twirling a stray curl, “The bungalow. Where there is an ICE CHEST.”

“Sure”, Maki grabbed the cases of canned crush cocktails, lifting form OSHA approved.

“NICO-CHI!” Nozomi called from the top of the dune, “Eli and Maki volunteered to do the heavy lifting. Where do you want the canned cocktails and beer?”  

“IN THE ICE CHEST.” Where else would you put them? Nico couldn’t believe any of these people.

“In the ice chest, Eli-chi. By the car. Hi Maki. Nice muscles.” Whatever Maki’s reply was, Nozomi giggled at it. Nico stomped up the dune. Someone sensible had to supervise.

“We picked up Italian Sausage and Pepper sandwiches, Nico.” Nozomi was bustling in the kitchen by the time Nico got to the house. Eli was unpacking a paper bag and Maki was pulling the water pitcher out of the fridge.

“Peppers? Spicy peppers?” Nico grimaced.

“Oh, Nico-chi, I know you better than that. We had them make one with only sweet sausages and peppers.”

‘That sounds okay. Nico likes sweet.”

Eli put a wrapped sandwich in front of Nico, “Here you go. I’m Eli, by the way. We didn’t really get to talk at the party.”

“Lot of people Nico didn’t get to talk to.” Nico mumbled as she unwrapped the sandwich. Definitely Italian spicing, chunks of sausage and slivers of onions and peppers stuffed into a bun. Nico took a bite, then put the sandwich down as she chewed.

Eli and Maki scarfed their sandwiches down liked they’d lifted cars not cases.

“Needs tomato sauce.” Nico announced.

Maki swallowed quickly, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, my go to pizzeria makes ‘em that way. ‘S better.”

“Is there any non pizzeria food on this island?”

“Burgers and seafood and stuff.” Eli said, “Everyone wants something quick and casual.”

“Sounds like my kind of place.” Nozomi winked.

Nico was not going to encourage Nozomi. “Someone needs to fly Nico to Manhattan for fine dining but Nico is afraid she’d be shoved out the door into the ocean mid-flight.”

“No body, no crime.” Maki smirked, grabbing french fries away from Nico.

Nico froze for a moment, something almost clear…but then she got distracted by the french fry tug of war, “Nico needs those so she has an excuse to run them off before the party.” Nico turned to Nozomi, “Tsuabasa spent the entire call on her bike.”  

“Ooohh, is she coming? And bringing A-Rise?”

“No one misses a Nico party and they have a night off from tour.”

“A-Rise?” Maki asked.

“You don’t know who A-Rise is?” Nico nearly dropped the sandwich half.

Maki shrugged.

“Chart topping pop act.” Nozomi was sliding closer to Eli, “Nico met them in her punk phase.”

“Nico never had a punk phase.”  

“I was talking attitude, Nico-chi, not music genre.”

Nico flipped off her manager. Then she turned to Maki, “How could you not know A-Rise?”

Maki flushed slightly, wiping her hands on a napkin.

Eli spoke, breaking the nervous tension, “Maki’s a classical pianist.”

“Between that and jazz…” Maki and Eli exchanged a glance that set off Nico’s “they’re up to something” radar, “I don’t have time for much other music.”

Nico might ask follow up questions later, but right now she needed some local advice.  “Where should Nico order party food from?”  

Maki grinned, “I know a place.”

Nico groaned, “A place that puts marinara sauce on these, right?” Nico ate the last bit of her sandwich.

“Yep.”

Nozomi and Eli giggled.

###

Fairy lights everywhere, from the porch to the beach. Pretty people in pretty casual dresses. Conversations and soft giggles. Music, centered between house and beach seating, playing at a nice level, leaving a ring outside of it where conversations could actually take place, as well as the living room. After her last, mostly lost party experience, Nico was sticking to non alcoholic drinks she poured herself as she drifted through groups in the initial welcome phase.

Umi and Eli were standing together, relaxed, in not quite matching linen shirts and pants.

“Hi! Welcome to Nico’s.”

“Eli was telling me what a cute place this is.”

  “As cute as Nico.” Big wink, not much reaction from either woman. “She and Maki were a big help yesterday.”  

Eli blushed a little, “Nozomi had a lot to carry.”

Umi smiled fondly, “Eli is always very gallant.”

“Nico could tell that.”

Kotori rushed up, “Nico! Are you really getting married in three weeks? You have to let me do your dress, Nico. I can see it now.”

Umi turned very seriously to her wife, “Kotori, I have explained that you cannot just run up and demand to dress people.”

Nico had looked up Kotori Minami, of the Floating Feather Atelier, which was the only stylish thing on this entire New Jersey Island.

“Your talented wife can certainly sweep up and demand to dress Nico.” Nico slid her arm through Kotori’s and steered for the beach, away from interfering spouses. “What did you have in mind?”

“Sea foam.”

“In a dress?”

“No, no, material that floats like sea foam. I have a roll of it, just the palest pink to it, faintest sea green, an opened abalone shell. You’ll be like Venus.”

  Nico liked that thought.

“Two dresses or will your bride be in a suit?” Kotori’s eyes got wide and she practically swooned, “I got Umi to wear this amazing three piece pale gray wool. So soft. I couldn’t keep my hands off her at the reception.” Kotori giggled, blushing at having shared that memory, “I can find fabric like that for you.”

Nico was not ready for the who was on the other side of the officiant discussion. “For the dress, Nico thinks sleeveless.”  

“Ooh, that could work. WIth your hair and the veil and…” Kotori stopped, “I have to find something to sketch on.” And she ran back to Umi. Nico watched Umi pull a small leather folio out of a pocket, and hand it and a pen to Kotori with all the gravity of a person handling a holy relic. A partner like that wasn’t found in a month, Nico feared.

###

“Tsubasa!” Nozomi opened the door, immediately pulling the much smaller singer into a hug, “Nico will be so glad to see you.”

“This is a great place!” Tsubasa stepped into the center of the room, poised and cool, “I love the breeze.”

“I could hook you up.” Nozomi followed, “And can I get you a drink?”  

“Wine?”  

“Of course. I just opened a nice, juicy Barbera.”

  “That’s an unusual choice.”  

“Very summer evening, hand me a slice of pizza.” Nozomi swung behind the bar, “The menu’s heavy on Italian dishes.”

  “I didn’t realize Nico was a fan of the cuisine.”  

Nozomi poured, “Caterer was recommended by a local.”

“Tsubasa!” Nico chirped.

“Nico!” Tsubasa turned, “Join me in a toast.”

Nico, hair long and loose, considered, hands in the pockets of her sleeveless, loose pink jumpsuit, a contrast to Tsubasa’s more form fitting, black tank dress. “Pour Nico a mocktail, please, Nozomi.”

“Staying sober?”

  “Nico can be fun without alcohol.”

  “Plus,” Nozomi leaned over the bar, conspiratorially, as she muddled mint leaves for Nico’s drink, “Last party she went to…” Nozomi whistled, “blackout drunk. Couldn’t remember how she got home. You can get a really bad reputation that way. Be more careful, Nico-chi. You never know who might take advantage.”

Nico’s glare could have ended her manager’s evening bloodily, if Nozomi weren’t so used to it.

“I got her home safely.” A clear voice rang out and Nico turned to see a frowning, familiar redhead striding toward the bar, dressed in laundry day jean shorts and a muscle tee from a local gym.

Nico groaned.

Tsubasa raised an eyebrow; Nozomi openly stared.

Nico was forced to share information about her life. Which was never a win. “Nico ended up in a hammock, on a beach, ALONE.”

The rest of the room stared at Nico, “And Maki was kind enough to fly Nico here.”

“We actually had to tie up two houses down. This place doesn’t have a jetty.” Accusatory. Like Nico had left out that feature on purpose.  

“Nico-chi,” Nozomi sounded outraged, “How could you be so thoughtless?”  

Nico was not taking that hit. “You rented the house.”  

“Maki where did you go?” A small woman with glasses and light brown hair rushed forward, knocking into Nico. When she turned to apologize, her mouth opened in a shrill scream, “NNNNNNNIIIIIII!”

“What the hell?” Nico glanced to Nozomi, who shrugged. Maki stepped forward.

“NICO NI NICO NI NICO NI.” Breathless, the woman barely paused, “You’reNicoNi, Maki didn’t tell me, I’myourbiggestfancanIhaveyourautographOMYGOD.”

“Let’s go find RIn.’ Maki grabbed the woman’s arm and dragged her back toward the door.

A despairing cry. “Somebody save me.”

  “What the hell.” Nico did a shot of celery juice.

Tsubasa and Nozomi had no response.

###

Party guests were spilling out of the house, more food and liquor had been delivered, lovers were finding their way to darkened spots, and Nico needed a breath of fresh air, heading toward the surf, a spot just outside of the light and sound zone. Someone was already there, pacing, muttering, kicking sand.

Nico got closer, recognizing the late arrival. “So you came to Nico’s party for the ocean?”

Maki jumped, making the cutest startle noise. Nico giggled.

Maki sighed, kicking more sand, “Sorry about my friend.”

Nico shrugged, “Fans get crazy. Nico thought you were skipping the party.”

Maki frowned, stepping a little closer to Nico, grumbling. “Had to fly my friends down from New York. So much stupid traffic. No time to stop at home and change.”

“No traffic here.” Nico stared out at the ocean. “Nico could get used to this. Do you just summer on the Island.?”

“No. My family has a house. I stay year round now mostly. ‘S quiet in the winter. There's a piano.”

“And the marinara sauce place delivers.”

Maki chuckled and nodded

Nico’s phone vibrated. She pulled it out of her pocket, swiped through a few screens, then turned it off.

“Marriage interviews?” Maki sounded hesitant.

Nico turned and stared, “huh?”

“Your whirlwind, get married in a month…suitors…if we were in Japan…” Maki tried explaining, but Nico’s confused stare slowed her into indecipherability.

“You’re weird.”

Maki rolled her eyes, took off her cap, and looked ready to fling it into the ocean like a Frisbee.

“But cute.”

Maki froze.

Nico waited a couple minutes but Maki still seemed frozen so Nico decided to have a conversation with the surf, “People are already speculating on pics from the party, who will Nico choose, Tsubasa or your friend.”

“She’s already married.” Maki said sharply, jamming her hat back on her head.

Nico crouched, hands out in front, fingertips in the waves, “With Nico’s sex appeal, you’d think people would be lining up…”  

Maki skipped back from a wave, “What even is sex appeal? Does it exist?”

Nico tilted her head to stare at the taller woman, “And how should Nico choose a romantic partner, O wandering beach expert?”

“Can’t you talk to them?”  

“Nico can talk to anyone. Anything. Wandering cute girls. Screaming fans. Ocean waves. Even pieces of driftwood.”

Sudden silence. Nico wasn’t going to let it linger.

“So tell Nico what’s the tiebreaker if sex appeal doesn’t exist in your world.”

“Perfect wind.” A quick, quiet answer.

“What?”  

“Perfect wind. Catching that…wind, that drift, that just lets you glide farther than with anyone else.”

“Speaking from experience?”

“Flying experience.”

Nico stood, stepping in closer, curious.

“MAKI MAKI MAKI.”  

Nico was pretty sure perfect lips mouthed “fuck” as Maki stumbled back and a Nico sized person tackled her into the surf.

“You hurt Kayo-chin’s arm. You’re such a jerk.”

“I’m wet.” Maki splashed cold water on everyone, Nico shivering as her jumpsuit clung. “And she nearly broke Nico’s ribs.” Maki pointed.

“Nico.” the tiny non Nico person spun, also pointing, sounding shocked. “You’re Nico?” In a sudden change of mood and with surprising strength, the intruder hauled Maki out of the surf, shoved her toward Nico, shouting “sorry sorry sorry” and sprinting back to the house.

Maki flung off water like a wet dog,

“Once again.” This seemed to be a question Nico asked a lot around Maki, “What the hell.”

Maki crouched, becoming a little ball.

“Oh, no, Nico is not letting you curl up in a shell.” Pulling Maki up by an arm, Nico pointed toward the disappearing person, “Explain that…person.”

“Rin.”

“Rin? What’s a Rin?”

“A cat-asptrophe.” Maki uncurled, laughing at herself. “Rin’s my best friend. Her wife is the one into inappropriate celebrity contact.”

Nico didn’t like Maki saying celebrity and meaning Nico. ”How do you feel about…”  

“Celebrities?”

Nico shook her head. “Nico.”

“I like Nico dancing on a beach.”

And Maki started to hum and Nico had a vivid flashback in color to twirling in the surf. Lips pursed around words. A familiar note. Nico shoved and Maki found herself stumbling backward, “It was you. One the beach. The sexy sea goddess pilot.”

Maki’s legs seemed to give out and she was sitting in the surf again.

“It was you.” Nico loomed, Maki staring up wide eyed. “Why didn’t you tell Nico?”

Brows lowered. “You forgot me. Looked right through me the next morning.”

“Nico blames Long Island.”

Maki snorted. “You only want sex appeal in stilettos and a dress.”

“No.” Okay, some truth. “Not only that. You don’t know what Nico wants.”  

Maki pushed up, forcing Nico back up the beach, “You want publicity. I read all the articles. You don’t care who. Just pick a random person with 'sex appeal,' marry them, and write a movie.”  

“It could be you.”

Maki glared, arms crossed.

Nico stepped forward, kicking off sandals ruined by the salt water, “You were in my head, every minute. Even with the headache. Even when I was thinking about YOU.” Nico reached for Maki’s hand, “It annoyed Nico.”

Maki pulled away.

Nico kept pushing, “No drinks tonight. Nico will remember this.” A pause, a hand on Maki’s waist. “What does Maki want?”

Tongue licked lips. Nico thought that taste must be salty and suddenly Nico had a mad craving. But she waited, Maki’s hand resting on Nico’s forearm, amethyst eyes looking out toward the sea.

“Maki?”

“I don’t know…” Maki’s glance snapped to Nico’s, the black and white movie filter with sultry jazz in the background filter sliding back over their beach scene, “You to talk to me…you to remember me…”  

“I remember.”

“What about tomorrow?”

“Don’t fly Nico to a random beach hammock and dump her there. Stay. Tell me about you.” Nico pulled Maki back toward the chairs, “Nico sends everyone else home.”

With a shudder, Maki flung her arms around Nico, almost mimicking her friend Rin’s tackling technique, Nico’s arms pulled her in as if Nico had practiced the move. “Wet, I’m so cold, you’re warm.” Maki’s teeth chattered. With better lighting her lips might be blue, Nico felt like all the warmth between them was draining into the sand.

“Nico prefers when wet means warm.”

Maki was shivering, their joint body temperature dropping. “Like a bath?”

They were at the chairs, a few people watching them curiously. Nico grabbed a blanket to cover both of them.

“Sure. Let’s get back to the bungalow. Nico will lay out towels before kicking everyone out. You can borrow something dry.”

“Eli’s probably got workout clothes in her car.” Maki matched Nico’s shuffling run, holding on to her end of the blanket.

Suddenly they were in a swirl of people, coming out of the porch, Nozomi at the head of the scrum, “Nico-chi, what happened?”

“Crazy waves. Maki’s other pushy friend. We’re freezing.” When Nozomi leaned in, Nico whispered, “Get people out of here. And ask Eli if she has anything Maki could wear. Nothing mine will fit.”

“No, you’re a little…”  

“Don’t.” Nico kicked out and Nozomi squeaked.

“C’mon Maki, Nico will point you to the bath.”

Maki, cheeks pale, hair wet and covering her eyes, followed Nico into the bungalow, both actively ignoring everyone else in the room. Get Maki settled first, put on a bathrobe, then Nico would deal with all the things she heard whispering around the room.

###

Nico was in a bathrobe, towel around her head. Maki was sitting on her bed, wrapped in a beach towel and a blanket, still looking frozen.

“All right, Nico started the bath.”

“Have any candles?” Maki stood, blanket falling off, towel clasped around curves Nico was trying not to examine too closely.

“Are you planning to stay in for hours?”

“I have standards. Gonna kick me out?” Maki smirked. “I’ll take bubble bath too.”

Nico groaned. At least if she had to spend the night outside of her bedroom, her couch was more comfortable than a hammock. But Nozomi would NEVER shut up about it.

“There’s both in the bathroom. The linen cabinet.”

“Thanks.”

“Nico’s a saint.”

Maki sneezed; Nico folded, no bluff, all concern.

“Go get warm.”

Perfect lips, luminous smile, “See you soon.”

Nico liked that thought. ###

Nico changed into cute pajama pants and a staff hoodie from her last movie set. There were fewer people in her living room, still a party sized crowd, but fewer. Nico wondered how many were lingering around the beach fire.

Nico grabbed several slices of pizza, turning on the oven and sliding them in. The celebrity hugger and the Maki tackler approached, followed by Tsubasa and Nozomi.

The hugger bowed, pushed forward by Rin, apparently Maki’s BFF. “I’m so sorry.”

“Louder, Kayo-chin, you have to say it like you mean it.”

“I’m sos so sorry canIhaveanautographplease.”

Ron shook her head, sighing. “Tell Maki I tried.”

Nico scrawled her signature on a cocktail napkin with a doodled smile, handed it to the stalker, then stepped away from the kitchen to talk to Nozomi and Tsubasa, waving at a few stragglers looking for a word, hugging familiar faces who wanted a personal goodnight. “Nico’s so tired. Thanks for coming. This was so much fun Nico could do it every day. See you next time.”

Finally, Nico made it to the couch, sitting with her legs underneath her. No sign of Maki yet.

“SO, this was a very full evening.” Nozomi flopped down next to Nico.

“You have the best parties. Everyone's already talking about it.” Tsubasa settled on Nico’s other side.

“Did Erena and Anju make it? Nico didn’t see them.”

“They needed a date night at home.”

“No third wheel.” Nico poked Tsubasa.

“No third wheel.”

“You turn up soaking wet with a hot heiress and suddenly everyone believes the romcom is happening.’ Nozomi pushed her phone under Nico’s nose.

“NISHIKINO HEIRESS AND NICO NI HAVE A VERY WET NIGHT”

Someone had caught a snap of Nico embracing a cold Maki.

“STORY DESTINED FOR THE BIG SCREEN”

“Heiress?” Tsubasa leaned in, “You always were lucky.”

“Nico always is hard working.” Nico corrected, biting her lip. ”People respect that.”

“People respect the hell out of that.” Tsubasa agreed.

“Suck up.” Nozomi giggled, “It’s not respect. People are looking for a good story. This,” she pulled her phone back, “is a great story.”

“What is?” Smooth and raspy at the same time, a combination of sensuality and friction Nico was not tiring of.

“This snap of…”

“Shut it, Nozomi.” Nico’s hand was a vice on Nozomi’s wrist, “Nico needs some private time.”

Nozomi flumped up, fixing her skirt, glaring at Nico, “Eli’s waiting to take me to her place. Need a ride, Maki? Tsubasa?”

“Maki’s staying.” Nico glanced at Maki, seeing surprise on her face, “If she wants.”

“I’ll take that ride.” Tsubasa kissed Nico’s cheek, “You take care, my friend. Write the boldest ending ever.”

Nico chuckled, “Nico will do that.”

Nico and Maki watched Tsubasa and Nozomi leave, Nozomi with a cheeky, teasing wave and air kiss. After an awkward minute, Maki shuffling, twisting a curl, and refusing to make eye contact, Nico patted the couch, “Sit with Nico.”

“Sure.”

The buzzer went off.

“Or go rescue Nico’s pizza.”

“That would be my pizza then.” Eli’s spare clothes were gray sweats, a pale blue zip hoodie, and a white crop top.

“There’s three slices. We share.”

Maki winked, heading for the kitchen.

“So what’s the great story?”

Nico left out the lewd undertones. “Night on the beach with an heiress. Turns out your an heiress. Nico didn't know.”

A pause.

“It is a pretty good story.” Maki said cautiously, over oven closing noises.

“Nozomi said great. People are gonna be all over this island taking pictures as soon as they find out which island this is.”

“Hmmm…”

“Which island is this?”

“You don’t know.”

Nico shrugged.

Maki flumped next to Nico, handing over a slice and a half on a paper plate about to be soaked through with grease. She picked up her own slice and creased the crust, “Chicago pizza doesn’t fold.”

“And Nico needs to know this why?”

“I have a concert in Chicago…” Maki frowned, “Wednesday.”

“Do you have one of those fancy dress on the cover albums?”

“Three.”

“Nico will listen to one that night.”

Maki shook her head. She hadn’t dried her hair so the droplets were chill on Nico’s cheek.

“Better story.”

“What?”

“We disappear.”

Nico put down the plate with half a slice left.

“We disappear? Nico has a career. Nico has a family…”

“Family?” Maki blinked.

“Siblings. The cutest. Nico will show you pictures.” Nico was up on her feet, “Nico is here for the summer, finding a bride, because Nico is a genius, and now, because Nico has the best friends, Nico met an heiress…what kind of heiress?”

“Old money, medicine. Family of doctors.”

Nico grunted in acknowledgement, “Impressive. So they worked for it?”

Maki did the flippy ‘maybe yes, maybe no’ hand gesture, combined with the ‘water sliding off my back” shoulder shrug.

Suddenly inspired, Nico dove back to the couch, with a hip check that made Maki squeal. “Yeah, Nico’s firing the heiress angle.”

“Why?”

“Nico likes the sexy pilot arc better.”

“You’re weird.”

“Only if it’s exciting.”

Maki laughed. Nico’s phone pinged with a series of notifications. “There’s not going to be any quiet on this island after tonight.”

“Nope.”

Head back, deft, delicate fingers brushing through bright red hair, lips in a thoughtful pout.

“Runaway Heiress. You, me, plane…”

“Maki might be a genius, but Nico has a better idea…”

“Better than mine. But you just said…”

“Nico is genius +1.”

Maki turned to look at Nico, long lashes blinking over suspicious amethyst.

“Runaway Honeymoon.”

Maki frowned, “There is an implied wedding in that scenario. We haven’t even kissed.”

Nico was now on her knees, leaning over Maki. “We will.”

“Oh really?” Arched eyebrow, covering for the cutest slightest blush.

“If we want.” Nico fell back, arms waving. “THEY DON’T HAVE TO KNOW.”

“I thought your whole idea was everybody knows everything.” Maki grabbed Nico’s half slice.

Nico shook her head. “Not about this because they’ll have to wait for…”

“The movie.” Maki finished, after a dramatic pause. “Can you be a spy?”

“Huh? Nico’s a Nico.”

“I’ve always wanted to be a Bond girl.”

Nico rolled up, jaw dropped, stunned.

“Kidding.” Maki giggled, “Now, writing a Bond theme…” And Maki started to hum, slow, rising, waiting, then sprightly, and on the run, daring and dangerous.

“How about a Nico theme?”

Maki changed the tune, adding words, "And nobody does it better Though sometimes I wish someone could Nobody does it quite the way you do"

“You flatter Nico.”

“Probably.”

Nico grabbed a pillow, “Check out Nico’s fighting technique.” Twirling, Nico pointed the pillow at a vase of flowers, pulled it back, and let it fly, where it bounced off the wall three feet to the side of the vase, hit the video screen cattycorner, and slowly slid to the floor, sagging.

Maki started laughing, deep, silly roars, rolling into Nico, knocking her flat on the couch, rocking back and forth. “Come to Chicago with me.”

“Okay, but you’re writing Nico a spy song. Cocoa would love it.”

“Cocoa?”

“Middle sib. Ball of motion. Never stops. One of Nico’s biggest fans.”

More pings from the phone. “She’s got competition.”

“Yazawas don’t lose.”

Maki levered herself back up to sitting, “I bet.”

“You could.” Nico winked.

Maki stood up, singing again, striding across the room.

“Hey baby, think you need a friend to stand here by your side? Yes you do (Your side) Ohh, baby, now you can depend on me to make things right”

“What movie’s that from?”

“License to Kill.” Maki bent over, rescuing the pillow, soft tossing it back to the couch.

“Nico’s got a license to thrill.”

Maki rolled her eyes, stepping out onto the porch.

“No pun appreciation for Nico?”

“I’m not that easy.”

Nico ignored that, grabbing her phone. “So the plan is Chicago, your concert, and then…”

Maki glanced over her shoulder, hoodie sliding down the curve of it, her eyes catching Nico’s for a long, deliciously daring moment, as the surf crashed behind her and Nico’s sultry black and white jazz memory filters slid into focus. “And then…”

###

Nozomi was watching Eli energetically bounce off to get them water when Nico’s alert went off. She read the message, re read it, and snorted.

“Something wrong?” Eli double back without drinks, concern in her warm blue eyes.

Nozomi shook her head, “Just Nico-chi being Nico-chi.”

###

Cancel the wedding. Runaway honeymoon.

A/N:

So I saw this pic* on Tumblr. Then there was the vintage airplane talk with Ryqoshay. And now, three weeks or so later, there's this. Kinda low energy these days, but working on recovery. Take care. *https://lonelypond.tumblr.com/post/695529501975789568

#NicoMaki #Nishikino Maki #Yazawa Nico #fly and flirt #drinking #black out drunk #accidental #romance #fun #summer #Tojo Nozomi #Ayase Eli #Sonoda Umi #Minami Kotori #Kosaka Honoka #Koizumi Hanayo #Hoshizora Rin

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