Summary: You takes Dia for a drive and Nico and Maki finally get some alone time.

Dia seemed to have a permanent scowl, her upper lip scrunched and her nose scrunched down as she stared out the window of You's car. And You was trying really really hard not to be nervous. Technically, Dia hadn't been born yet, so surely that meant You had already said whatever it was she was going to say and Dia probably hadn't shoved You out of the car. Or did it? You shoved her hat back. This was even more confusing than the usual Yohane messes. Time to mainline time travel movies. Were there any cheerful ones? Right now, the only one You could remember was Terminator and while Dia was reserved, surely she wasn't a killer robot.

"So is it very different?" You ventured before she started down the Dia destroying property path.

"Every car on the road is a carbon criminal. And they smell." Dia leaned into her hand, her elbow jutting out from the opened window.

"Well, at least there's progress." You tried for cheery.

"Very little here, truthfully. It's no wonder my parents decided to spend most of their time in Japan."

You sighed. "So is there anything you like about LA?"

Dia considered, "I've always liked the Malibu house."

"Seems a little cold."

Dia shook her head, finally smiling, "Not with Mom around. She could make the surface of the moon warm and bright. And Mama would always take us outside to look at the stars. Too many satellites, but the view could still be pretty amazing. Ruby liked all the quiet."

"Mom is Nico, Mama Maki, right?"

Dia nodded.

"Well, I love the Pacific. There's some beautiful views. I'm always grateful I've been assigned here. The Great Lakes weren't quite the same."

Dia seemed puzzled. "Great Lakes?"

"In the midwest, Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron…"

"Oh."

"I was a liaison with the RCMP."

"RCMP?"

"Royal Canadian Mounted Police."

"Ah." Dia found something she could approve of, "Your superiors must have a lot of trust in you to assign you to international cases."

"I am extremely reliable." You saluted.

"Which is why you're involved with that winged demon..."

"Technically, she's a fallen angel and the rest of us are demons."

"What?"

You chuckled. "Sorry, old joke."

"Explain." Dia demanded.

You sighed, "I'd rather not. I sense Yoshiko is still not vibing with you." You flicked on the turn signal, "Why don't you tell me about your sister?"

Silence. Green eyes glared, like a dangerous bit of wave about to crash You back to the beach.

"Then tell me something that might help us get your parents together?"

###

"I don't LOVE pizza." Maki insisted.

Nico laughed, "You just ranked all the pizza places in Malibu and half of the ones in Silver Lake. Nico doesn't believe you."

"I haven't heard about this one."

"Hidden treasure. Nico knows all the best places to take pretty girls."

Maki stopped, blushing. It took Nico a couple of steps to realize she'd lost her audience.

"Maki?"

"Are we really going on a date?"

"Yes."

"Without…"

Nico sighed, carefully watching Maki's body language, So much hesitation, turned mostly away, very wary, no eye contact. Not the open invitation to a carefree evening Nico wanted. Nico reached out and took Maki's hand, "The pizza's great, Nico really wants to hear all about whatever you want to tell Nico, and can we just pretend neither of us is wondering if I'll get a phone call."

Maki squeezed Nico's hand, suddenly enthusiastic. "Sure. But I might talk a lot. You won't believe the song requests I got in Toronto. I'll need a disco ball soon."

"Disco is evil." Nico said flatly.

"Are you actually gay? Disco is…" Maki paused, her face scrunched up into thinking mode, her eyes twinkling, "dance joy."

NIco pulled Maki closer to bump shoulders, still holding hands and enjoying the warmth building between their palms, " Nico will demonstrate exactly how gay she is at exactly the right romantic moment. And disco is…"

Maki broke away to do some silly dance move from an even sillier movie, her arms cutting through the air, "An apocalypse survival tool."

"What?"

"Disco is an apocalypse survival tool. Kylie Minoghue knows it, Carly Rae Jepsen keeps teasing it, Dia Lupa and Doja Cat are driving people to the dancefloor, and…"

"Stop." Nico held up a hand. "I'll turn off my phone if you stop talking about disco."

Maki stared, Nico's face was...beautiful, tired, amused, and a little sad. Maki suddenly knew, like the cork on champagne finally loosening to pop, that Nico meant it, she would shut off her phone, ignoring any Eli problems, that Nico was offering what she thought Maki wanted. But what Maki wanted was Nico.

Maki laughed. It was her choice. And she chose Nico, who tilted her head, curious about Maki's amusement.

"I'm sorry Nico, I just can't stop talking about disco. Not even for you." Hands on her hips, Maki dared Nico to disagree.

Nico blinked, too surprised at Maki's answer to hide it. Then she reclaimed Maki's hand to pull her along, "Nico's going to pick all the best toppings. It's a good thing you'll be so busy eating the best pizza ever that you won't have time to talk. Better get it all out of your system now."

"Dancing, euphoria, angst, lust, pulsing against someone on the dance floor, Donna Summer, Thelma Houston, …" Maki stopped, closing her eyes, head bobbing to the tune she was hearing, arms queueing up songs, hips swaying, "Surviving, staying alive, being alive…" Maki's voice dropped and she sang,

Push. Press. More. Less.
Here together
What's your pleasure?
Stop. Go. Fast. Slow.
Here together
What's your pleasure?

Nico knew, in a deep in her core way, why so many pretty people rushed to be next to the Diamond Princess at every one of her gigs. Maki was magnetic, unaware of her own allure. Before dinner, a shadowy sidewalk, traffic noises for a soundtrack was not Nico's first choice for making a move, but maybe this time the universe wouldn't dump someone on her head. She stepped forward, hands reaching for Maki's hips, and those gorgeous eyes flew open, Maki staring down, seemingly stunned. Nico began to dance, keeping the same rhythm, Maki matching move for move, Nico pushing closer to those hips.

Nico got as near Maki's ear as she could, grinning when the taller redhead leaned closer to hear what Nico was whispering.

"Nico can't resist. Do I have to?"

Maki's eyes were so wide, as bright as full gem moons, as deep as the distance to Mars. She bit her lip, Nico now so close to her nose the tips were brushing.

"Please?"

Maki nodded, swallowing and Nico pulled her in, lips a tender tease, pressing eagerly forward when Maki murmured a yes, both their legs trembling. But Nico's hands were sure and Maki, after the initial uncertainty, slid her arms over Nico's shoulders, and continued her dance, refusing to break away from kissing for more than short breaths. Nico was beginning to wish they were in a car. Pizza could be delivered later, after all. And then Maki's body was flush against her, and Nico was feeling curves push ever closer, and her fingers were in Maki's hair, and there was no room for even the shortest breath between them.

A/N: A short chapter to get me back in this story zone after AU Yeah August and a busy summer.

And we finally get a kiss.

Lyrics are from Jessie Ware's "What's Your Pleasure."