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Chapter Text

Nico Yazawa had never experienced a night like it before. Never seen anyone like her, never heard anything like this music, never been in a crowd reacting like absolutely everyone , INCLUDING NICO, was mad DRENCHED for the woman onstage.

Now Nico, Nico was not modest and fans, fans LOVED Nico Ni. But this, this was a hot pot, a room crammed with women femmes butches enbies anyone in hearing range all SCREAMING THEMSELVES RAW, throwing every thing, every limb, every loose article of clothing forward, a siege (where did Nico remember that word from) against this music wall, this rock fortress, this sexy smirk of a solar flare spike haired punk rock goddess assaulting every ignorant adult, every speak no hear no see no evil sellout with a molotov cocktail bouquet of songs, lyrics hammered into bullets and blades, collecting pain, crafting a cacophony. Nico's whole body reverbed, vibrating like a slicing guitar string, dizzy from dissonance, shaking from proximity to the emotional explosion that was Diamond Princess. And eyes, behind tinted glasses, that locked onto Nico's with a magnetic pull, never looking away.

And now, was that, was Nico hearing a screaming punk take on Mariah Carey's Christmas kick off classic, a month too soon, Nico rushing the stage, caught in the moment, everything reaching out to her, everything bright…everything and yes, Nico was saying that a lot but this room bursting with overwhelming asks, everything was happening too soon, too fast, too sudden.

And then Nico was backstage, not following anyone but hearing, really hearing a call that might have been on her wavelength alone because nobody got Nico like Nico but somehow this Diamond Princess was Nico's tonight. Nico stepped inside a small room, locked the door behind her, and the lights stayed low and Nico couldn't really see anything but the spiky hair was soft and the skin under the studded leather belt was softer and Nico, Nico had never ever before been aware of this danger, that her hands, her lips were biting, burning through a fuse to free an explosion that had been building for…. A scream, throat raw, and a whisper, sweet and shy, both would haunt, taunt, jaunt Nico, hiss in her ear, kiss a frisson of memory down her neck, tear her out of sleep, trigger longings that could not be satisfied alone, not with Nico Ni back on the road in concert and the Diamond Princess, shutting herself back in her tower, hiding away, monster again.

###

Working at home wasn't ideal for Nico, she missed random hallway chats, but with concerts coming up, she couldn't afford exposure to Covid. So to prep for her December dates, she went into the office a couple of days a week, the recording studio when needed, but mostly worked from her apartment's living room. With her manager Nozomi Tojo in residence when she wasn't needed at the label.

Slumping back against the couch, Nico pulled her headphones off, "Can you even do Christmas anymore?"

Nozomi leaned forward, closing her laptop, "What do you mean?"

Nico raised her hands, half counting on her fingers, half stretching, "People dying, planet's burning, genocides R Us in three or more locations, assassinations, everyone's hangry, smad, and exhausted." Nico sat up, "So can you even do Christmas anymore?"

"Well, you have a contractual obligation to."

""Maybe if Nico believed in something…" Nico muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"If Nico were religious, then Nico could be all "O holy Night, O silent night, What child is this, God rest ye merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay."

"But you're dismayed and not religious."

Nico groaned. "Best I got is some gay apparel."

Nozomi giggled.

Nico frowned, "But then there's fast fashion too. Did you see "Buy Now? Nico's breaking out her knitting needles for presents. Darn everyone's socks."

The sudden onset of frustrated, frazzled Nico puzzled Nozomi. Nico had been surfing easily through Year 5 of the Nico Ni Plan to Seize Fame and Fortune and Hit Number One on every chart before she hit 25. Now though, it seemed like Seasonal Affectative Disordered had gloomed into town too soon. But Nico had been productive all month, after her mini break…Nozomi's gossip radar tingled.

"Did something happen on Halloween?"

"No."

"So she still won't return your calls."

"Nico never said anything about…" Nico growled and pushed to her feet, "Nico is going for coffee. What's the name of this town?"

"Chicago is not a town."

"You know what I mean, Nozy."

"It's on the lake, Otonizoka Falls."

"Maybe Nico needs to take a day trip. Scout out the scene."

"When are we going?"

"Nico is going alone."

"No, Nico is not." Nozomi stood, "I don't trust you in this mood. You worry me."

"Nico isn't stupid."

"Doesn't mean you don't need a wingwoman. Or an over coffee Tarot reading."

"Fine. But Nico's driving."

###

Maki Nishikino didn't have the energy for this. Waking up, wrapped in luxury linen sheets, in a bedroom as big as a studio apartment, protected by acres of lakeside property, her parents expecting her promptly at breakfast, dressed in business casual, prepared to take positions on issues affecting Nishikino Industrials like it was a briefing for the C suite.

Instead, Maki would wake up breathless, panting, sheets clinging from sweat, remembering that night in October when her audience had been more alive than they had ever been, when she had seen HER there, ruby eyes sharp and seeking, turning a crowd of strangers into an intimate emotional exchange, the intensity of a never wavering piercing gaze, her name on glistening lips, her lyrics sung back with power, her eagerness magnified, her aching met. How could Maki think about anything but that night, process anything but how much she ached to be lost like that again?

And Nico had called the club, asking for her number. But Maki couldn't be that person without her guitar, without music, without a mask.

In the bathroom, she scrubbed her face with cold water to wake up, avoiding the mirror except to adjust her wig. Her parents didn't need to see the shortness of the cut or the the pink streaks. Button down light blue oxford tucked into pinstriped charcoal gray skirt, a gray cardigan as an extra layer against her parents noticing the tattoo on her right inner forearm, Nico Ni's chibi rabbit logo.

She'd slept in a little late. As if to rep her mood, the weather had been mostly gray. With no sunlight there had been even less incentive to open her eyes. Maki expected a scolding when she got to the dining room table, her parents at the far end, picture perfect food produced by the probably not overpaid professional chef arrayed before them.

"Good morning, Maki. Did you get any sleep?" A friendly tone from her mother.

Maki faked a smile, "Yes, Mama."

Her father coughed, then almost sounded kind. But Maki knew it was only kindness for those quietly in their cages.

"We know you've been having a rough time since winter break started."

And before that since your grades were dismal and your premed classes dropped was left unsaid.

"So we arranged a Christmas present."

Maki found herself with her arms protecting her torso, left thumb rubbing the cheerful icon inked into her skin. She kicked herself for the thrill she'd felt at the word present. She needed to get herself away from the headspace where her parents generosity was a boon.

"What?" Her voice sounded flat. Her parents exchanged a glance.

"That singer you like. Nico Ni? We've hired her for the island's Christmas Eve charity concert."

Oh fuck no. Maki almost tripped, reaching for a chair to steady herself.

Her mother laughed, "I told you she'd be excited."

"No it's…" Maki struggled for words,

"This will be good for you. Invite your friends. Maybe look up some people from high school. Have some fun with people your own age."

People who hate me because my parents are private jet flying, climate destroying robber barons, Maki thought bitterly.

"Mama!"

"Now don't worry, Maki. Nico's manager said singers do private concerts all the time. And Nico Ni seems to be quite popular. We'll raise a lot of money for our foundation."

Their foundation. To pay for medical conferences in fancy hotels and trips to Davos to persuade donors over expensive Michelin star meals. Maki could have spit. Nico would be paid, like any other employee, and what would she think and she'd never believe and Maki…

Her parents were suddenly on either side of her.

"We'll be in Chicago for the week. Do whatever you want about decorating the tree. Have fun. Dust off your piano or something." Her father talking like her music was a toy or a diversion, a thing to be taken up lightly and tossed aside at a whim. Music was life. He was a doctor, He'd listened to heartbeats, the thrum of blood, the rhythm of breath. How could he not know better.

"Call us if you need anything." Her mother waved. The door shut.

Maki's mind went dark as she fell into the chair. Nico. Here.

"no"

Chapter Text

Maki's hands shook as she pasted an emoticon into the message bubble.

M: (x_x)

Insta reply from Rin Hoshizora.

R: (´-ω-`( _ _ )

M: ε=ε=┌( >_<)┘

R: ( ￣▽￣)[] [](≧▽≦ )

M: (-_-#)d

###

Eccentric. Rin knew her bff was eccentric, probably the smartest word Rin used regularly. But sitting outside their favorite coffeeshop in > 40 degree weather was crazy.

"Maki!!! I'm freezing."

"Drink your cocoa."

"Nya. But I'm still freezing." Rin, hands in huge cat face mittens, picked up her cup.

Maki looked a little blue herself, lips drying out with every chilly inhale.

"Give me your scarf." Rin demanded.

"No."

"Why are you making me turn into a catsicle?"

Maki glanced around, slowly, as if her eyes were searching every corner and every car. "We can't be overheard."

Rin snorted. "If anyone's outside, their ears will fall off."

Maki pulled off her earmuffs, slammed them down on Rin's head, and pulled up her own scarf over her head. "Shut up and listen."

Adjusting the muffs, Rin nodded.

"My parents have hired Nico Ni for the Christmas concert."

Rin went flying into the air, cocoa spattering everywhere as she bounced on her seat.

"That's so cool. Kayo-chin's gonna be so happy; I love your parents. I can't wait to tell her. Nico Ni here. Do we get to meet her? Have dinner? Oh, After party. A Nico Ni afterparty wou…

Maki grabbed Rin's shoulders, shoving her roughly back into her seat. "This is why we're outside. Stop shouting Nico Ni."

"Why? We love Nico Ni. It was our first concert together. We all got tattoos." Rin pulled up her pant leg but her boot obscured the ankle ink.

"I know, Rin."

"So what's wrong?"

Maki wanted to tear out her hair. She wanted to keep this a secret. But she needed someone to tell. She needed an ally. Someone who could distract everyone. Keep people, escpecially Nico people, from paying too much attention to Maki. Distraction was Rin's superpower.

Rin leaned forward, recognizing Maki's furtive mood, "What'd you do?"

Maki took a sip of coffee. But it had gone cold. Maybe Nico had gone cold. Nico wouldn't, couldn't know.

"I met Nico."

"Huh?" Rin seemed confused. "Where? She wasn't on campus. Kayo-chin would have known."

Keep it impersonal. "Diamond Princess met Nico."

"Diamond Princess met Nico…" Rin shot up again, "She came to a concert?!?!?!? That's so cool. She likes your music. Did you talk to her?"

"No." Maki could feel herself flushing. Rin's expression sharpened. This is why Maki was telling her. Rin would have figured something was up the first time she saw Maki near Nico.

"You can't say anything. Not even to Hanayo." Maki leaned forward, eyes hard, pinkie out. "Bestie code."

Rin stared over the pinkie, eyes wide.

"You kissed Nico Ni."

"For a start…"

Rin still on her feet. "You…"

"Sit down. Pinkie swear."

Rin pulled off a mitten. "You better tell me everything."

"You better not tell anyone."

Rin pointed to their joined pinkies. Maki smiled. Rin could be trusted. But could Maki get the details out?

Maki refused to look at Rin. "So we had a…date…"

"That's why you didn't…"

"Shut up and let me talk."

"Please."

"Please, Rin." Eye contact. Maki knew she probably looked desperate. She looked away again before she read pity in RIn's eyes.

"So you had a…date…"

Maki nodded. "And then she tried to get in touch with me and I…well, I didn't…"

"YOU GHOSTED NICO NI!!! NO MAKI NO," Rin was out of her chair again, reaching to shake Maki, "You have to text her your number and date her and marry her and she can be Kayo-chin's friend in law and we'll have family dates and it'll be amazing…"

"Calm down." Maki hissed, silent until Rin sat again. "I can't tell her. She'll think I'm a groupie."

Rin pointed a finger at Maki, "It was after your concert, that makes her your groupie."

"No one's a groupie."

"Did anyone have sex? Then someone's a groupie."

"Can we not talk about it like this?"

"How would you like to talk about it?"

Saying "I wouldn't" would just make Rin tease more..

"How do I keep Nico from finding out I'm Diamond Princess?"

"Easy." Rin shrugged. "Like you keep everyone else. Your parents don't even know."

"They don't go to my concerts. They don't know my music."

Rin tapped her fingers, making sure of Maki's attention.

"Don't sing, keep your wig on…and don't kiss Nico."

"Right."

"Easy."

"Sure."

Voices.

"This is a cute little town, Nico-chi."

Maki heard the name, leapt out of her seat, and hid behind Rin. Two women were hustling toward the coffeeshop.

"I think you scared the natives, Nozy."

Maki recognized the voice. She twisted Rin's arm to keep her seated.

"Too bad, they're kinda cute." The other voice had a drawl.

The door opened and the voices disappeared inside.

"Why is Nico here?" Maki hissed.

"Stalking you?"

Maki fell back on her heels, "She can't know. How could she know?"

"It's a joke. Don't be a dummy, Maki. Your parents hired her. She's probably making concert plans." Rin pulled out her phone, "I'm gonna text Kayo-chin."

Maki grabbed Rin's phone, "No, you're not."

"You can go home."

"I am. And I'm taking your phone." Maki bolted for her car.

"MAKI!!!"

###

"Cute coffee shop." Nico slid into the back booth, lowering her mask, smiling at the cutesy Christmas decorations. Lots of lights, elves, hearts, reindeer, some yeti. Cute. "Nico approved."

"I'll give them the sticker on our way out." Nozomi broke off a piece of gingerbread cookie. "Wherever they get their cookies is good."

"Oh, let Nico try." Nico bit the head off a snow cutie sugar confection. "We'll have to take some back for the kids."

"They'll love them. Do you want me to get them tickets for the concert?"

Nico licked whipped cream from her double chocolate salted caramel mocha, "Need to meet these people first. They have a daughter who's a Nico Ni fan, right? What age?"

"College, I think. We can search…"

Nico shook her head, "Nah."

"Don't you want to know if she's single and hot."

"Nico is performing a concert, Nico is a professional…"

"Nico is holding out for someone else?"

Nico sipped, ignoring Nozomi.

Nozomi took off her coat, pulling her worn Tarot deck out of its inner pocket. She put them down off to the side, took three quick sips from her herbal tea, and began shuffling. After three minutes of that, she offered the deck to Nico.

"Take three cards, place them in a row."

"This again."

"This or you tell me who she is."

Nico put the top three cards in a haphazard line.

"Turn them over."

Nico took a closer look at them, "None of those are…major cardinals?"

Nozomi glanced, "You mean Major Arcana. No, these are all Minor Arcana. Two cups and a pentacle."

"Is that bad? No majors?"

"No. It just means less dramatic things, more day to day, immediate emotional dynamics. So it's about what you're feeling now, Nico-chi."

"Bored."

Nozomi frowned, "Don't disrespect the cards. They're being nice to you."

Nico tapped the center card, "Nico's having a New Year's Toast."

"Good guess, Nico-chi. But let's start with the past. This Three of Cups…"

"Nico loses a cup?"

"No. They're separate. Three of cups is sudden and intense, falling in love, irresistible energy, intense, blind to any danger. And in the Past slot." Nozomi's turquoise eyes glinted, "What did you do on your vacation?"

"So what's the two in the center?"

"Start of a relationship."

Nico leaned forward, "This one looks grim."

Two people struggling in the snow outside a church window. "Oh, it's the Five of Pentacles. Things may seem rough, it's a new reality, not a sure thing, but if you keep going, you'll find warmth."

"Warmth?"

"Help."

"Help." Nico stared at the cards.

"Going to tell me what's going on now?"

Nico shook her head.

Nozomi pulled out another card.

"What's that?"

"For me. Since you won't talk. Seven of swords."

"You gonna cut me?"

"The Truth is."

"Nico would like some truth."

"About what?"

A long pause. Then Nico zoomed into her current crisis.

"Fine. There's a girl. Nico was cute and charming and Nico."

"Of course you were."

"So Nico was cute and charming and Nico. And the girl really liked Nico, really really really liked Nico. So why hasn't the girl called Nico."

Nozomi almost laughed but Nico's face was twisted up like this was torturing her.

"It was a great night. Nico was sexy, she was sexy, Nico was happy, she was happy, Nico was hot, she was hotter, nobody's better than Nico at…" Nico stopped. "So where is she?"

"Nico lost a girl hotter than Nico."

"Nico didn't lose her. Nico…" Nico flailed into a gesture.

"Who is she?"

"If I knew I wouldn't have a problem." Nico slammed her face into the table.

Nozomi could tell Nico hadn't revealed everything. But Nozomi was surprised at how much Nico had shared. So she went to get a second round of drinks to soothe and smooth over the mood. Nico pulled out her phone.

Chapter Text

Rin stared after the fleeing Maki, then turned to stare at the coffeeshop. She could just walk in and give Nico Ni Maki's phone number. After all, Nico already knew she and Maki had… Rin frowned. Maki could be so aggressively bold and then just as easily turn blushy and naive. Rin shook off the idea of making it easy for her friend. If Maki wanted to talk to Nico, Maki would talk to Nico.

###

Maki checked her rearview mirror. Yes, Rin's SUV was there. With the stuffed, decorative antlers on the luggage rack. If Rin was going to follow Maki, Maki was going to drive like an F1 driver hanging on to her qualifying spot. And then slide into Rin's favorite parking spot in front of her townhouse. And then, spring out of the car, sprinting up to point of entry, bang like a madwoman on the Hoshizora-Kozumi front door until, after too many moments, a flustered Hanayo peeps out.

"Maki? Is Rin okay?"

"She's fine. Annoying as always. Here's her phone." Maki handed Hanayo the tech.

"Why do you…"

A sharp gesture cut off Hanayo's question, then Maki leaned into a slight bow. "I'm sorry, Hanayo."

"Did you do something to Rin?" Hanayo's eyes darted from side to side. "Where is she?"

Then the stomping whirlwind of ginger cheer arrived, shoving past her visitor.

"It's okay, Kayo-chin. Maki's just in a BAD mood." Rin hugged her wife, then turned to confront her best friend. "Were you going to tell her? You got to tell her, Maki."

"Yeah." Maki folded."But I don't know…"

Another spin, a fed up Rin skipping the make Maki do it part. "Nico Ni's in town, Kayo-chin. Let's find her."

"NICO NI!!!!!!!" Hanoyo squealed then rushed inside.

"Kayo-chin'll find her in a minute." Rin predicted.

"How?"

"Surveillance cameras."

"That's not a good thing, Rin."

Rin shrugged.

Hanayo rushed back, her coat in hand, "She's shopping downtown with her manager, Nozomi Tojo. They're probably buying some things for Nico's siblings. We have to hurry."

Maki's feet were set in concrete. "What do I say?"

Rin pointed to the wreath on her door. "Invite her to your tree decorating party."

"I'm not having a tree decorating party."

"Yes, you are. It's easy." Rin grabbed Maki's sleeve and yanked, Maki stumbling off the landing, "Text Umi, Kotori, and Eli. Tell 'em to pick up snacks. You already have a tree, right."

"Yeah."

"See, easy. Even if Nico doesn't come, we'll have fun."

Maki nodded, but her head still buzzed with tension.

###
Nozomi and Nico strolled past old fashioned street lamps, linked by threads of lights. Everyone bustled cheerfully, careful of each other's space, even with arms full of shopping bags. Friends greeted each other, strangers smiled with warmth when glances met. Shop windows had themes, some classic, some clever, some just silly. Free samples of drinks and desserts were offered. There was no rush to hustle and every reason to linger.

"This is a cute little town." Nozomi was busy ogling the residents, not the shops.

"Yeah. If the venue has this same kind of vibe, it'll be a really cozy concert."

"You seem more relaxed, Nico-chi."

Nico did a little quick step, as she threw her pink and white scarf dramatically over her shoulder, "Nobody's looking at Nico."

And then the scream happened, "It's an emergency!" And a body slammed into Nico.

Running feet, more shouting, "Hanayo, NO!. Get her off her, Rin. NOW!!! We'll end up in jail."

Nozomi reached into her purse for her taser. Nico twisted with all of her slippery sneakinesss, freeing herself from the unsolicited embrace.

Two women, one tall and redheaded, one shorter and ginger haired had each grabbed an arm of the Nico seeking missile and hauled backwards. The redhead whirled with a deadly glare; the ginger had both arms around the woman in glasses. Nico recognized her rescuers from earlier, they'd been seated outside the coffee shop.

"You were at Lakeview Lattes"

"We were." Maki agreed.

"Why didn't you talk to Nico then?"

Maki and Rin exchanged glances.

"Can I have your autograph?" Hanayo pulled out a book and a pen.

Nico put a restraining hand on Nozomi's arm, "You look familiar."

Hanayo gleamed, "I've been at all the Midwest fan meets, I send you DMs on TWIG. I'm Number 1 Nico Fan."

"Number 1 Nico Fan…" Nico considered, "You've been a fan from almost the beginning."

Hanayo nodded so hard if she'd been a bobblehead, her head would be bouncing down the street.

Nico's body language changed subtly and suddenly, more welcoming. "Nico Ni loves all her fans."

"Me and Rin and Maki went to our first concert together when you opened for A-Rise four years ago."

"But Nico was better, right." Nico winked.

Hanayo hesitated, "Ummmm…"

Nico laughed and relaxed even more, "It's okay. Nico's an A-Rise fan too. They gave Nico a great launching pad. What's your name, Number 1 Nico Fan?"

"Hanayo Koizumi-Hoshizora."

"We're married!" Rin announced proudly, as she did whenever the opportunity came up.

"Double cuteness." Nozomi squealed, in a decent imitation of Hanayo's enthusiasm. Nico rolled her eyes.

Maki blinked through this whole conversation, mouth occasionally opening as if she were going to say something, but then flushing even more and glancing away, a glove hand pulling on her ear. Nozomi wondered how red she could get.

Rin half turned, to pull Maki forward, "This is Maki. You're doing a concert for her parent's charity. She's shy."

"NICO NI'S HEADLINING THE CHARITY CONCERT!!!!!!!"

Everyone winced at the sonic attack of Hanayo's excitement.

"Me and Kayo-chin'll be over here." Rin dragged Hanayo to free candy samples.

"Lotta hotness points for the college aged daughter," Nozomi whispered in Nico's ear.

"Nico's not shopping."

"Oh, are you leaving?" Maki's question was polite, her body language disappointed.

"It's kind of a small town. Nico keeps running into the same people."

Maki's expression turned to the sadder side of gloomy.

"It is a cute town though. Very lake-y." Nico was an idiot, Nico suddenly realized. Just lean into the cute celebrity persona. No reason for nerves. Nothing scary about the shy, gorgeous redhead with intense amethyst eyes.

Nozomi was chuckling, "Did your friends leave you here to say something?"

"We recognized you earlier and after we finished our…business, we thought if we ran into you," here Maki skipped the full "my friend cyberstalked you on the downtown cameras" explanation. "We'd invite you to see the venue and come to a tree decorating party at my parent's house." Maki glanced at Rin and Hanayo. "Hanayo's usually pretty shy. She won't be in your face the whole time." Even if I have to look her in the carriage house, Maki decided.

Nico glanced to Nozomi, "Nico wasn't planning to stay that…"

Nozomi cut her off, "Are all your friends that cute or…" Nozomi's gaze flicked over Maki, causing her to recoil, "As hot as you? I like some warmth in my winter, Nico-chi."

Nico frowned, "Now Nico has to apologize for her friend."

Maki giggled, then covered her mouth, eyes wide with panic as Nico raised a curious eyebrow.

Rin walked by, holding her wife's hand. "Me and Kayo-chin are heading to the gazebo."

Maki slipped into host mode.

"We'll be right there, Rin." Maki stepped to the side, waving Nico through, "You should at least see the venue. I usually run the sound so I can answer any questions."

"You're an audio engineer?"

"I know the gear."

"Do you play an instrument?"

Maki hummed, "Piano, synth sometimes."

"Yeah, lotsa plug ins with synths."

"Now it's mostly software but I have done a few DJ sets with keyboard assists, laptops, mics, and record players. Lots of cords. It gets complicated." Maki's hands were behind her back as she strode confidentially toward their destination, "I've got dedicated laptops with a huge music library. Your songs too."

"Your parents did say you were a fan.You'll have to tell Nico your faves."

Maki nodded, face flushed, suddenly too shy to continue.

Nozomi nudged Nico Maki-ward. Nico swatted her hand away.

"Let's see this concert set up."