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lonelypond · 6 years

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Santa Cutie and The Christmas Cookie Queen, Ch. 3

Love Live, NicoMaki, 3.1K 3/5

Nico Gets A Clue

Nico had her Christmas playlist blasting. Refrigerator cookies had been unrolled from their wax paper and cut, dry mix ingredients for the next batch of cookies had been taken out of their cabinets and Nico was having fun dancing to Orange Caramel and Nu’est’s “Dashing Through The Snow In High Heels.” Nico’s version would be titled, “Dashing Through The Kitchen in Cute Bunny Slippers,’ but she’d keep the “Kiss me, kiss me,/ I gyeouri gagi jeone Love me,/ love me, namankeum” chorus. The way she’d catch Maki staring at her lips, Nico would have thought a kiss would have happened by now, but maybe you did actually need the mistletoe. Nico made a mental note: acquire wearable mistletoe, wear it in vicinity of cute, shy redhead. Might work. Couldn’t hurt. Maybe she should tell @SantaChan to use that strategy on her crush. SantaChan seemed less bored recently, but also more stressed. Not that their conversations weren’t still mostly flirty fun, Nico was just a little worried. People should have more confidence in themselves. Put on a smile, make a plan, execute your plan boldly.

Nico smiled at the vintage pin up girl in a Santa outfit she’d had printed poster sized and hung up in the kitchen as background for her blog pictures. Maybe she should have opted for a redheaded version? Had Maureen O’Hara or Lucille Ball ever posed in Santa swag? She’d have to find out and post the picture. Suddenly red seemed more seasonal than other hair colors.

But now, Nico had to get to work. Less thinking about cute and/or flirty girls, more baking. Refrigerator cookies were in the oven, next was measuring the dry mix for the oatmeal batches -- this way, she could tease SantaChan about her Papa -- and then, Nico looked at her list, oh right, take the glaze out of the refrigerator before it got too cold to drip properly. Time to be a storm in the kitchen. Nico smiled, remembering Umi making a joke about that the day she and Kotori helped Nico prep for the company Christmas party two years ago. Nico had launched her StormCookie blog soon after. She’d love to put up video, but she was pretty sure either that it would violate a non compete clause or that the station would own the rights. Martha Stewart hadn’t gotten big by letting someone else own her brand; neither would Nico. Plus, it was nice to be able to get covered in flour, spattered in chocolate shavings and not have to worry what it did to your image.

Maki was taking a lunch break. She’d picked up a sub on her way to work and had her phone out as she chewed her way through it. Not exciting. Lettucey. She’d have to swing by and grab a pizza on the way home from work. Nothing new on Twig so Maki took a shot of her sandwich with …φ(。。*) as a caption.

ElfCat: That looks sad.

SantaChan: It is.

ElfCat: Don’t eat sad food.

SantaChan: ┐(´д｀)┌

Maki’s phone buzzed. Text from Rin.

R; How’s the CookieGirl?

M: There is no CookieGirl.

R: Why not, Maki (T＿T)

M: Cookie made me sick… ( -.-)

R: But the girl? Cute, right?

M: Maybe (*^^*) Her name’s Nico.

R: So ask her out.

M: ….（/｡＼)

R: What’d you do?

M: She asked me out; I said I was too busy ᕕ(╯°□°)ᕗ

A pause, then, not unexpectedly, Hanayo weighed in.

H: Are you too busy?

M: No.

R: Maki’s afraid of cute girls §;ﾟﾛﾟ§

M: I AM NOT

R: (*＇Д＇)ﾉｼ)ﾟﾛﾟ)

M: I’m just a little nervous. We did have pizza together.

H: Did she ask you out again ʘ‿ʘ

M: Sort of…but I keep staring at her lips, she does this weird makeup stuff and I feel creepy ༽つ۞﹏۞༼つ

R: Oh, I know what to do. Nozomi was telling me that she was going to hang mistletoe everywhere and finally get Eli to kiss her. So get some mistletoe. And maybe Nico’ll kiss you.

H: Rin’s idea might work.

R: ⊂（♡⌂♡）⊃ I LOVE YOU, KAYOCHIN ⊂（♡⌂♡）⊃

H: I love you too, Rin （´・｀）♡

M: I’m going back to work.

Maki shut off her phone. Mistletoe? She did like seasonal solutions. And she could just summon some with her SantaSack™; Eli wouldn’t think anything odd when it came up on the inventory because holidays.

The police monitor went to static. Fire. Nico, Umi and Honoka were on their way back from an afternoon shoot, with Nico due at a charity auction in 3 hours. But breaking news took precedent.

“That’s close.” Nico had plugged the address into her Map feature.

Umi agreed. “5 minutes away, at most. We’ll have to turn back.”

Honoka bounced in her seat, turning the wheel to move them into the right lane, “I know a shortcut.”

Umi and Nico replied in unison, “NO.”

“Just follow my directions.” Umi commanded as Nico started to check social media for any information.

Maki was quite pleased. She’d managed a olive watch cap with an embroidered mistletoe sprig and the words “Mistletoe. Kiss Below” across the ribbing. Festive and practical. Maybe she’d run into Nico downtown this weekend. She wondered what else Nico could possibly do with her lips for seasonal decorations. Maki showered, after a difficult day of repair work, changed into black jeans and a purple henley and headed out to grab a pizza. And maybe watch Miracle On 34th Street. Some kind of holiday social event was happening at the hotel this evening, well dressed people were bustling into the ballroom, sweeping in cold and light snow as they swept off their coats.

Her phone went off. Surprised, Maki expected to see a text from Rin, but no, it was Nico?

N: Maki! Are you in your room? I NEED your shower. Right now.

Maki stared at her phone. Why would Nico need her shower? Where was she. People pushed past her as Maki continued to gape at her phone, not sure how to answer, when Nico’s voice, breathless and aggravated, interrupted Maki’s internal debate.

“There you are.” Maki’s free hand was suddenly holding a hanger with a gown on it and Nico’s ruby eyes were squinting at her, trying to decide if Maki were paying any attention at all, “Cute hat.”

And then, once again, Nico’s lips brushed Maki’s cheek with a refreshing tingle, but the acrid, throat closing smell of smoke immediately caused Maki to step back, with a shudder, “You smell like burning machinery.”

Nico sighed, foot tapping in frustration. She took Maki’s phone out of her hand, shoving it in the redhead’s jacket pocket and grabbed Maki’s face between her icy hands. She waited to speak until she was sure Maki was focused on her, eyes wide, mouth closed, nose scrunched up as the redhead tried not to inhale. “Nico knows she smells like smoke. Which is why she needs your shower.”

“I ordered a pizza.” Maki pointed in the direction of the door.

Nico muttered something that sounded like a string of profanities followed by the word pizza, then she smiled at Maki as if Maki were a toddler just starting to walk. “Just give Nico your key and room number, go get the pizza and Nico will be done with the shower by the time you get back.”

That might work, somehow, if Maki didn’t think at all about Nico in her hotel room, or the mess she’d left in the bathroom or…why did Nico want her...

Nico flicked Maki’s bangs as her attention drifted away from Nico’s simple instructions, “Key.”

Blinking, Maki reached into her back pocket and pulled out the keycard. “Room 314.”

“Nico will see you in 20 minutes.” Nico paused. She wondered if Maki had had a long day at work, just really needed some food or was usually this spacey when surprised. Nico wasn’t sure which would be the better answer. She grabbed the gown back before Maki took it with her.

Maki’s eyes focused, now worried, “Why do you smell like smoke?”Maki took a good look at Nico. The dark hair was in disarray, there was a grimy smudge across Nico’s cheek and her coat seemed to have a scorch pattern from the shoulder down. Maki reached out a finger through a crinkly brown burnt patch, into the lining, her voice verging on panic, “Are you okay, Nico?”

Nico patted Maki on the shoulder, sympathetically. “Nico is fine. Intrepid reporter, remember. Someone had a faulty light set up so neighborhood fire.” Nico laughed at herself as she watched that work its way through Maki’s brain. “Details at 11.” Nico zipped to the elevator, leaving Maki’s thoughts swirling while she tried not to gag on the lingering smell of smoke. She could hurry, grab the pizza and be back so Nico could explain. Nico would still be there when she got back, right? Maki almost pivoted to follow Nico, but opted instead for a near run into the cooling air, a few minutes to collect herself and the prospect of sharing another pizza with Nico. More people were walking into the lobby. Maki wondered what was going on. Didn’t matter.

Nico whistled as she entered the suite. The bedroom looked untouched, while there was a pillow and blanket pile on the couch facing the large television screen. Scattered around the couch were bags of snack food and a few t-shirts. Nico shook her head, Maki was obviously not expecting company so Nico tried not to dock any points.

She stopped suddenly though, something about the room seemed familiar. She’d seen this scene before. Striped wallpaper, Nico looked up, non stripey ceiling with a slight, discolored crack over the couch. Tossing her gown over the couch and leaving her makeup kit, Nico hurried to the bathroom. @SantaChan had a really cute rabbit in a Santa Hat toothbrush holder that had popped up in a few of the recent photos. And there it was. Nico stood, blinking in the glaring light of the mirror fixtures. SantaChan. Maki. Nico sat on the hamper, shcoked. For six months, she’d been flirt chatting with the shy redhead she’d taken in out of the rain two weeks ago. Maki had noticed the Christmas cookies on the set, that was a SantaChan thing...good thing Nico hadn’t let her eat any...could she really be? Nico pulled out her phone, swiping through @SantaChan’s TWIG feed. Yep, same bathroom, same couch...Nico had found the “You Are Here” spot on the map. But then who was the cute, non cooking girl Nico had been giving Maki advice about? Nico? Biting her lip, Nico considered. Possibly. Maki wasn’t unfriendly, just gawky, almost teenage awkward. But Nico could definitely cook, although Honoka had eaten the sandwich. Maybe Nico should find out more before she said anything to make Maki uncomfortable.

Head still spinning as she put together details and conversation, Nico breathed in. Which made her cough. Damn, the wind change really had engulfed her in smoke. No wonder Maki had complained. Time to fix that so the next time Nico kissed Maki, Red and Reclusive would lean in, not jump away. Nico smiled at that picture.

Maki hesitated outside of her hotel room. She’d borrowed a warming bag from Vincenzo’s. Go to a place at least three times a week for six months and they do you favors. Should she knock? Of course, she had to knock, Nico had her key, but would Nico be out of the shower yet? And why hadn’t her breathing gotten back to its regular pace yet. Feeling silly, Maki reached out a tentative fist to tap on the door. There was only enough time to blink before the door ripped open and Nico pulled her inside.

“Oh good, Nico wanted a slice of pizza before she got into her dress.” Nico perched on the arm of the couch, Maki cringing at the pile of clothes and things that should have been in the trash. Nico was wearing Maki’s bathrobe, a plaid flannel number that could have wrapped around the diminutive reporter twice. Without makeup, Nico looked younger, more relaxed, but Maki still found her glance drawn to the classic angles of Nico’s profile, until she forced herself to look at something else.

Nico noticed Maki staring at her clothing choice, “Nico’s usual robe is fluffier,” Nico pulled the collar up around her face, sniffing, “although this one’s warm. Smells good too.” Nico winked at Maki, kicking a leg over her knee and as the robe threaten to slip open, Maki nearly dropped the pizza. Settling herself in a small space at the end of the couch opposite Nico as Nico watched her, eyes crinkling in amusement, Maki opened the bag and slid the box Nico-ward, trying not to notice how natural Nico seemed, sitting in Maki’s bathrobe, grabbing the first slice of Maki’s pizza.

“So,” Nico said while chewing, “Is this how you spend your nights? On the couch, eating pizza?”

Maki kicked some of the trash under the couch with her heel as she grabbed her own slice, “No.”

Nico raised a skeptical eyebrow and after a suspiciously few seconds, Maki glanced down, letting herself eat her way halfway through the slice before she met Nico’s curious stare, “I spend a lot of time at work. It’s tiring.” Maki smiled, “I hate meetings. It’s why Papa lets me travel around the country so much. I’m much better working with machinery.”

Nico put the phrase “lets me travel” aside for a moment, “Tudor is factory central.”

“Yeah.” Maki stretched, relaxing a little as Nico, eyes bright as she listened, took a second slice, “Harley to snack food, it’s actually been pretty interesting to see how equipment and processes adapt. We’re considering adding more robotics, but we’d have to hire a specialist. I’ll probably have to head to auto assembly plants in Tennessee next. We might make big changes next year...Eli wants…” Maki stopped herself. Although Nico didn’t look bored, Maki couldn’t imagine going further along with this topic would make sense.

“What do you manufacture?” Nico glanced around, Maki realized she was searching for a napkin when she apologetically wiped her hands on the bathrobe.

Maki couldn’t really say “anything, with the help of magic, which is why robots are so difficult to incorporate into the flow”, so she went with the old standby, “Toys and recreational gear.”

“Ah, so that explains the ‘North Pole.’ Inside joke.” Nico bounced up, make up case held against her chest, notching another point for the Maki-SantaChan theory.

Maki just shrugged at Nico’s comment. “Can I help?”

Nico shook her head, “Letting Nico change here is a big help. There’s a charity auction I’m hosting downstairs” Nico hissed as she checked the time, “way too soon. Nico has to hurry. You sit tight.”

Nico came back out of the bathroom after fifteen minutes, a svelte crimson gown draped across her curves, crystals sparkling as they swept down from her shoulders, twisting across her torso. One side of the skirt was slit nearly to mid thigh and once again, Nico was wearing heels. Her lips matched the dress exactly, color and crystal sparkle both. Dark slashes of eye liner highlighted the jewel like depths of her eyes, “So Nico looks like a million dollars, right?”

Maki pulled her knees up against her chest, not caring about her boots on the couch, drawing a blank as to the appropriate reaction as her pulse skipped faster the closer Nico got. Oh god, Nico was leaning in, were the crystals on her lips sliding around, what was going to happen...

“Maki?” Nico waved her fingers in front of Maki’s eyes. No rings. Just a thin silver bracelet.

Maki frowned, having processed the wrong part of the question in the background of her brain freeze. “Why a million dollars?”

Nico leaned against the arm of the couch as Maki curled up tighter, “Nico was joking. Nico is one of the hosts but I’m also an auction item, a caroling night this weekend. Nico will make the cocoa.”

“You look fine.” Maki admitted, giving Nico the side-eye, guarding against sudden movement.

“Flatterer. Nico swoons” Nico flipped Maki’s bangs again and the redhead rolled her eyes. “And thanks for the use of the shower. You saved me.”

Maki uncurled suddenly, before Nico’s hand could get any closer, standing and nearly knocking Nico over, “What’s the auction for?”

“Childrens’ charities. Nico’s is for homeless gay teens.” Nico stood, smoothing out her dress. She slid next to Maki, her hand on the taller woman’s forearm somehow a command for attention and lavender eyes met hers, waiting, possibly eager for a clue. Nico really didn’t have time to start this conversation, or begin anything else that would involve her lips and Maki’s. “This really was a big help.”

“Do you need a ticket?” Maki was curious about Nico and the auction. And not as tired as she’d been an hour ago. Distracted by serious thinking, Maki reflexively adjusted the stole Nico carried, pulling it up to drape over Nico’s bare shoulders. Nico looked cold.

“A ticket?” Nico shivered as Maki’s fingers briefly dallied.

“For the auction.” Only half paying attention to Nico, Maki scratched her head, wondering what in her wardrobe would work with the sorts of outfits she’d seen coming in downstairs. Maki must have something shoved in the closet that might pass. And there was the emergency corporate credit card, unused, in her card wallet. Papa always encouraged supporting charitable causes.

Nico watched curiously as Maki turned aside, frowning, heading for her closet, “You can leave your things here if you want.” Maki said off hand as she reached in for something, “And get them after.”

Nico crossed her arms, not exactly happy to be ignored, “Nico has to go back to the station. They want me on air at the end of the broadcast.”

Maki had a designer cashmere hooded sweater in her hand and slight disappointment on her face, “Oh. right.” She chuckled, “I’m so used to work by 7, I forget there’s night shifts.”

“You start at 7?” Nico gathered her things. Maki pulled the gray sweater over her head, then picked up Nico’s make up case.

“Most mornings. This hasn’t been my favorite town to work in for a few reasons.” Maki grinned. “I’m going to take a couple of weeks to sleep in until 10 or so when this is over.”

“10?”

“Well, I’ll have to be awake to watch the 11 o’clock news. I’m a fan” Maki winked as she opened the door. “Can I carry anything else?”

Nico shook her head, not sure how to reply. Now Maki was starting to exhibit a little of SantaChan’s flirty charm. But as her work ringtone went off, Nico was reminded that this was not the time for that thought. Nico wondered if today would have any more surprises in store.

A/N: I've been done too many 5 act plays, so that seems to have infected this story.Hope your holidays were good. Happy New Year!

#nicomaki #Santa Cutie and The Christmas Cookie Queen #holiday #Christmas #fanfic #love live #yazawa nico #nishikino maki

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