Yazawa Nico hated closing. Most nights there were few customers to flirt and chat with and fewer tips. Give her the morning bustle, business people and students desperate for their coffee, full of nervous energy and hustle, eager for a smile, grateful for a good morning. Plus, at night, there was no one to foist off garbage duty on. Not that Nico was afraid of the dark or anyone who might be lingering on the pier, but after a long day, with perfumes and pumps and coffees and colognes, adding the noxious mix that was a day's worth of trash to it just made Nico want nothing more than to walk home, shower off this not even a manager dead end job, and find a stage to hold a concert on. She grunted as she picked up the trash bag, kicked open the back door, and froze when the sound of sobbing hit her ear.
"Hello? Who's there?"
Movement, by the pier, was someone about to throw themselves in the water? Nico dropped the trash bag and rushed toward the motion, throwing out her arms to catch whoever was wrapped in a tarp. Pulling in the larger than Nico weight forced Nico to fall back into the decorative fishing nets, while the tarp person landed on Nico.
"Hey, are you all right?" Nico searched for a gap in the tarp, maybe a face she could identify in the light of the lantern. Had a customer come back after hours, not knowing Nico would still be here, doing the work of her two went home sick co-workers. Nico felt something, wet, cold, clinging...hair. So cold. "Hey." Nico started to panic, shaking the person.
There was a grunt. And a hand reached out, grabbing Nico's forearm. "Stop."
Nico froze. The hand was colder than the hair. That couldn't be healthy.
"C'mon inside, you feel freezing. Nico will make you a drink. Nico is the best barista on the island. You're lucky Nico found you."
The tarp shifted, and suddenly Nico was staring at a face, beautiful, sharp, strong features, eyes too dark to see the color of in this shadow, hair pressed down against cheeks.
"Nico?"
Nico nodded, "Nico Nico Ni! Best barista on the island until Nico becomes the number one Idol in the universe."
"Idol?"
Nico was close enough to see how long the eyelashes were as the tarp person blinked. "Singer. Celebrity. Performer." Nico stood up, struck her pose and sang.
"If you wanna run away with me, I know a galaxy
And I can take you for a ride
I had a premonition that we fell into a rhythm
Where the music don't stop for life
Glitter in the sky, glitter in my eyes
Shining just the way I like
If you're feeling like you need a little bit of company
You met me at the perfect time."
"Siren." Nico thought the girl might have smiled as she spoke, but she kept dodging prolonged eye contact.
"Is that your name?" Nico asked eagerly.
A head shake, and the girl stood, taller than Nico, dark green tarp draped somehow regally, "Maki."
"Hi, Maki. Let Nico find you something warmer to wear."
More blinking, then a slow nod.
"Cool. Nico will warm you up. And then we can get you home."
Maki recoiled and almost went off the pier backwards.
"Dammit," Nico muttered, then reached out a hand, "Nico didn't mean that. Let's just get you inside, okay, Maki. Nico's really cold." And Nico extra shivered for dramatic effect. "C'mon, Maki. Trust Nico."
As Nico spoke her name a second time, the tarp princess stepped forward, seemingly ready to follow Nico.
"Okay, let's go." Nico went back to the trash bag, lifted the dumpster lid, and tossed it in. "Nico's off the clock. So let's get you some calories inside you."
###
Hot cider and potato chips. It was a weird combination, but Maki enjoyed the saltiness. And Nico had put some extra cinnamon in the cider for warmth.
"Here." Nico put her oversized pink hoodie next to Maki and the largest uniform polo shirt, "This is a clean uniform shirt and Nico's spare hoodie. It'll keep you warm. I keep it for when the temperature drops."
Maki stood, pulling the polo shirt over her head and seaweed bikini top, tarp tied around her waist. Nico forced herself not to stare at a supple, tanned set of abs that looked like they could crush steel cans. Obviously, Maki spent a lot of time on the beach, surfing or swimming or…
The polo barely shirt hit nightshirt length. Then the hoodie, Maki's red, tangled hair was just long enough to fall to the shoulders, where its red hue was a stark brightness against the faded pink. A shy smile, "It is warm."
"Nico's not a liar." Nico sat down. She'd made herself a bucket sized hazelnut mocha. This was a problem to be overcaffeinated for the duration of the resolution. "So what brings you to Nico's store?"
Amethyst eyes, worried, terrified, confused...so many emotions flashed Nico lost count, but she understood that Maki was in trouble.
"What happened? Are you hurt?" Nico pushed her chair closer, hand near Maki's but not touching. "Nico's a safe person, whatever happened."
'Whatever?" A whisper.
"Whatever."
Maki put her palm in Nico's and squeezed so hard Nico had to bite the inside of her lip not to yelp in pain.
"You're warm."
Nico stayed quiet, deciding to ignore the unnatural clamminess of Maki's touch.
Maki yawned, a huge sound that wrenched through her whole body. Nico considered the odds Maki had somewhere safe to stay.
Decision made, Nico squeezed Maki's hand back. "C'mon, Maki. Nico's got a couch. You'll be okay there. We can talk in the morning."
After a long minute, Maki nodded sleepily, letting Nico pull her to her feet. Maybe Maki would give Nico some clues during the car ride.
A/N: For some reason I got a mermaid and coffeeshop craving...there's a kinda linked YouDia story I seem to be writing at the same time.