Summary: Nico and Maki hide out from the rain.
Rain. About to start. And they'd both forgotten their umbrellas. They were shopping in an unfamiliar section of Tokyo, but to their right, Nico saw a corner coffee shop. She thought she remembered reading a review, something about sandwiches. Maki's face was pale with cold, Nico shivered, they'd both need calories to warm up.
"C'mon, Maki-chan." Nico reached down for Maki's hand, racing them through the initial drops, avoiding a puddle, and finding safe haven inside the warm shop. Stairs led to a small loft with couches and cushy chairs, wood in warm colors on the wall. Nico dropped into a couch and watched as Maki shook off rain drops like a grumpy akita.
"They have good sandwiches, Maki-chan."
Maki paused, eyebrow raised, lips in a frown. "And you want me to get you one?"
"No, Nico wants you to get you one. Nico knows hangry when it growls at her." Nico pointed at Maki's torso. "Nico wants something sweet. But Nico can get it…"
Maki waved a hand, "I will. You spent too much on that skirt."
Nico gasped, raising her hand to her mouth, "Maki caught me."
Maki laughed, "Set up the chess board. I haven't played in months. You know the rules?"
Nico knew all the movement rules. Maki liked to play so Nico had learned and practiced with Cotaro, who really loved the game. But Nico was a bit rusty on the setup so she had to search what squares the knights and bishops started on.
Maki came back with a sandwich, two coffee mixed drinks, and a sweet bread. "They are famous for their reubens and an Earl Grey White chocolate bread. So I bought both so we can try them."
"Ooh, Maki has the best ideas." Nico reached for the milkier looking of the drinks. Maki preferred her coffee drinks bitter.
Maki was frowning at the chess board. "You have the black king and queen switched." A deft hand movement resolved that.
"Sorry. Need to start playing with Cotaro again."
"Or me."
"Nico needs some practice to take you on."
Maki handed Nico half a sandwich, took a bite of her own half, then licked her lips as she low hummed happy noises.
"Maki is distracting Nico."
Maki shrugged, winked, and took another bite.
"Nico's favorite piece is the Queen. Just like Maki, she sweeps through everything and wins." Nico demonstrated, knocking over her own pawns.
Maki shook her head, quickly finishing her sandwich, then reaching out for Nico's hand, the touch of her fingertips warm and greasy, but still making Nico crave more of it. Maki gently pushed the Queen back to her starting space.
"I always think the Queen is like Nico. Ready to go in any direction, to swoop in and save the day."
"Nico can be like that." Nico took another sip, watching the rain beat against the window, Maki pushing the board away, dipped her half of the bread in Nico's coffee, and keep leaning against Nico.
"That's Ai Kurabawa. Her trio." Maki sighed, curling up against Nico. "I like this place."
"You're just cozy, away from the rain."
Maki hummed again.
"Not in a playing mood?" Nico asked softly, amused by the way Maki's hairs were getting affected enough by humidity to tickle her nose.
"This is nice. We can just announce moves. King's Knight to F3."
Nico chuckled, sounding doubtful. "You can just announce moves. Nico not so much."
"No, no, then Nico goes, pawn to e5."
"Oh, Nico does?"
"Yep."
"And Maki moves pawn to…"
"G4." Maki was giggling.
"And Nico moves to…?"
"Queen to H4. Checkmate, Nico."
Nico reviewed that sentence, "Checkmate, Nico? Nico won?"
"The Fool's Mate." Maki was rocking against Nico, giggles turning into laughter, "Silly me."
"So we're done with chess."
"Yep."
Silly Maki." Nico dropped a hand to hold Maki's.
Maki's fingers tightened around hers. "Rainy days with Nico are the coziest."
Nico would make sure that stayed a thing that she and Maki shared, along with finding cozy new spaces to spend them together.