Summary: Eli, Nico Ni's long suffering manager meets Nozomi, Maki's long suffering manager while Nico and Maki ditch out the back door.

Eli stepped out into the room, anxiety spiking. She was not comfortable leaving Nico alone with the unknown Maki, but Nico had insisted. And Eli had been making a great effort to not "older sister" either Nico or her actual sister Alisa as much. As much as Eli cared for both of them, wanting to keep them safe, she also had to respect that they were also both adults, able to make their own decisions. And now Eli had to make her own decision: head home or wait for Nico.

"Hey, new friend." A drawling voice slid into Eli's awareness. The pretty, buxom, black haired woman with the purple streaks waved. "Take off those sunglasses and sit next to me." A seat was pushed out for Eli. The other woman in the room smirked.

"Nico said…" Eli looked back over her shoulder, only to be confronted by a door that had been solidly closed behind her. She shrugged and removed the sunglasses."Hi."

"Nozomi Tojo, Maki's long suffering manager." A pat on the chair from the purple tinted, "Sit."

"Umi Sonoda. It is a pleasure to meet you." Pen put down, hand extended for shaking.

Eli did. Strong grip, steady glance. Then a nod to Nozomi. "I'm Eli Ayase, Nico Ni's long suffering manager. Just a minute." Eli strode to the bar, "Vodka, please."

The bartender waited for specifics.

Eli raised the index finger on both hands, tapping them on the bar one after the other, "One bottle of your most expensive import; one shotglass. Put it on Nico Ni's tab."

"Put it on mine." Purring, Nozomi slid in next to Eli, who startled. "And give us a second shot glass."

"Of course, Ms. Tojo."

"We eat here all the time. Maki loves their sauces." Nozomi manuevered Eli to the seat. "And since she's doubling my salary, I need new…habits to spend money on."

Umi snorted, pulled out her phone, and tapped in a series of texts, getting almost immediate replies, which she chuckled over.

"What's so funny, Umi-chan?"

"Just updating Rin. And figuring out the odds." Umi smirked.

"Odds?" Eli asked, lost in this sketch version of a conversation.

"Umi misspoke." Nozomi stated slowly, with a warning tone Umi ignored.

Undaunted, Umi faced Eli, "Nozomi has a "habit" of short term "friendliness.""

"Are the two of you dating?"

Umi paled, "Never."

"Umi has two very lovely wives. Our other business partner and friend, Rin, has an awesome fiancèe. When business is slow, they all get bored with their home lives and live vicariously through me." Nozomi stuck out her tongue.

Umi continued typing, "I'm getting a car. If you and your new friend would like to join us, Honoka sent a pin for the new club."

"How thoughtful."

Umi dodged around the bartender, "It was nice to meet you, Ms. Ayase. I hope to see you again soon."

Eli smiled, "Same." She was a little confused about why Umi was leaving like a fire was about to break out. Maybe her wives were impatient. Nozomi scooting her chair closer, bumping Eli's knee, brought her back to her remaining company.

"So Nico Ni, huh? Must keep you busy." Nozomi opened the vodka.

Eli couldn't hold back a sigh. A new word needed to be invented for Nico, something that meant moving as fast as a hummingbird's wings hovering, while zig zagging like a dragonfly over an open lake. Eli poured a spillover shot. Nerves still shaky.

"My sister, Alisa, lectures me about taking some personal time but Nico always a new project or an album deadline or a rumor I have to shut down. Or she's doing something risky."

Nozomi noticed the trembling hand. She couldn't remember ever having seen eyes so bright and blue. And with every word they got more shadowed. It made her sad, an unexpected reaction.

"She's too available to her fans." Eli raised the glass.

"So you worry."

Eli downed the shot.

"And then she goes and lets some rich weirdo …"

Nozomi scooted closer to Eli, "Maki's rich but she's not a weirdo."

Eli frowned, "Who lies like that?"

"Maki's shy, socially awkward even. But she's a sweetheart. Kind. Loyal. We'd be best friends if she didn't already have a cat. If you want a weird pervert, you'll have to take me." Nozomi patted Eli's hand, "But I'm not rich."

Still not understanding half of what was said, Eli edged away, pouring and chugging another shot.

"Look, she didn't even tell me about the driver thing and it would have made me less mad about her ditching the gallery show and she knows that."

"She didn't tell you?" Eli was suddenly grateful Nico texted nearly every thought in her head.

"No. So it's personal. She hates me mucking in her personal life."

"So Maki just doesn't show up at scheduled events with no excuse or follow up call and you keep working for her."

"She's…" Nozomi whistled, "hot, fun to tease, and pays me more than I can spend."

"Fun to tease?"

Nozomi poured a shot, "Enough shop talk. Time for me to catch up. Two right?"

Eli nodded.

Nozomi poured Eli another shot, "Let's make it three. Do you always mainline vodka? Aren't you supposed to drink something this good slowly." Nozomi licked her tongue around the edge of the glass. "I like my shots salty."

Another sad sigh. Eli rubbed her forehead. Nozomi was not liking the way her heart seemed to be responding to Eli's gloom. She preferred keeping things light.

"Sorry. I'm acting out, I guess. Nico's just not thinking. And her siblings keep quizzing me about her security. They're imagining these scenarios that make me lose sleep at night. So explaining this Maki situation to them is just going to be…" Eli downed the shot.

"Let Nico do it. She's the one snuggling in a room with a pervert stalker."

Eli almost stood but Nozomi kept a grip on her arm. "You said Maki wasn't a…"

"I'm kidding, Eli-chi. Relax. Maki never even gets in the ballpark by the first date."

"Huh?"

Nozomi took another shot. Two down, one to go. "I know a place that makes excellent Bloody Mary's. We'd have to wait for breakfast though." Nozomi leaned in, sliding her hand up Eli's arm.

"Breakfast." A word Eli recognized. "I am hungry. I don't remember when I ate last."

"I know a place we can fix that. My treat." Nozomi stood up, "Unless you really want to finish that bottle."

Eli stared at the bottle, catching her own face reflected in it. She looked old. And worried. And tired. More frown lines than laugh lines. Too much Nico Ni. Then she glanced at the woman offering her a hand. Sharp green eyes, smart and friendly, a welcoming smile, a pretty floral wrap dress playing off the colors in her eyes and hair. Someone Eli might want to know better. Someone she had no responsibility for.

"Actually." Eli reached back and the hand she grasped was strong and warm. "I know a place. Do you bowl?"

They were at the car again, staring at it. Maki unlocked the doors with the remote.

"Is it really bulletproof?" Had Maki actually lied about anything or had it all been deflections?

"Yes. Papa insisted."

"Do you have security?"

"Sometimes." Maki sounded sad.

Nico could make that better. She stepped forward with a flair, opening Maki's door, "Tonight, Nico will be your bodyguard, pretty lady. You can just be hot and drive. Where are we headed?"

Maki's stomach had done a flip at Nico's gesture. Nervous, she decided on mischievous as a mood. "Just drive until we stop?"

"Where would you go?"

Maki stared up at the sky, light pollution limiting the number of stars. Light, noise, people…"Some place dark and quiet."

"Not home?" Nico had wanted to see inside Maki's life, know more than that her clothes were fly, her fingers twirled curls when nervous, her cologne smelled like a standing on a pier, crisp shirt blowing open in a fresh breeze.

"I'm restless."

"Nico is too."

"Yeah."

"And hungry." Nico moved around to the passenger side. "You should take Nico to your parent's place. You've been to my mom's."

"They live in Connecticut."

"No hideaway in the city?" Nico was in the car, but Maki still leaned against the open door. It was a good view. Nico would not be hurrying her.

Maki bit her lip. "They do have a penthouse near Riverside Park. Mostly an investment property. They host parties and fundraisers there."

Now that was more what Nico had in mind. She clicked the seatbelt in place and kicked her feet happily. "Let's go. Nico and the karaoke app on her phone is a party."

Maki laughed and slid into the car. "I know a place to grab some food."

"Good. It's been a long day; Nico's not cooking."

Eli still managed to give off an the air of polished professional, even with her suit jacket over her arm, and unbuttoning the top two buttons on her blue, thin striped oxford.

Nozomi was enjoying the enhanced view. And amused by their location.

"I did not know there was a bowling alley in the Port Authority."

"It used to not have a street entrance."

"Secret transit based bowling rendezvous? How clever. I love New York City." Nozomi threw out her arms.

"Now it's bowling, ping pong, karaoke, darts, pool, arcade games, great bar food, upscale casual dress code."

"Am I all right?" Nozomi had a sudden moment of doubt, holding an arm across her torso.

"You're perfect for anywhere."

Eli's enthusiasm hit Nozomi like a non revolving door. She stopped, shocked by the sudden compliment.

"I'm sorry I don't have my bowling shoes or ball with me, but the rentals are fine."

"You own bowling shoes?" Curiosity drew Nozomi back into the conversation.

"Yeah, Nico bought them for everybody in the league as a Christmas present. And the dorkiest bowling shirts ever. She said I inspired them."

"You have a corporate bowling league?"

"It's incredibly competitive. And I win. With high scores." Eli winked, "I have trophies."

Nozomi finished lacing her shoes. "Oh, I'd love to see them."

A grin.

"Doesn't Nico Ni get rushed by fans."

"There's a private room. Two lanes."

Eli moved eagerly to the shelves of balls, then stopped herself. "Oh, are you hungry, Nozomi? I can order us snacks. What do you like?"

You, Nozomi thought. I like you.

"Let's bowl a few frames first. I want to see what you've got."

An even bigger grin, "You won't be disappointed."

Nozomi smiled back at Eli, then stepped next to her, hip to hip, "What size do you think I need? I like the brighter colors."

Eli took an orange ball off the shelf, "A 12 pounder is a good place to start."

Nozomi let her hand linger on Eli's as the ball handoff happened. "It feels light."

"Very light?"

"Yeah."

"Here's a 14 pounder."

"Too heavy."

Eli giggled.

"What?"

"Goldilocks."

"I thought that was you."

Eli blushed, fidgeting with her ponytail. "Here." She spun a bright blue ball in Nozomi's direction. "That should be right."

"Blue's my favorite color. How'd ya know?" Nozomi pirouetted, "Which lane is ours?"

Pizza would arrive in an hour. The doorman had waved Maki in with a quick hello. Nico was impressed with how well the the early 20th century building's old money vibe mixed with modern architectural flair. Maki had said it was designed by some famous architect whose name Nico didn't remember. A terrace wrapped around the entire penthouse apartment, offering a gorgeous view of the city and the East River.

"Nico's impressed and Nico lives in Katherine Hepburn's townhouse."

"You really meant that."

"Yep. Nico took the tour, saw the huge vintage vanity in the master bedroom, mirrors on three sides, and thought classy, that's where Nico will do her makeup every morning from now on. Paid cash on the spot. Quintupled in value since then, but Nico's not selling. Nico invests in things long term. What's your place like?"

"A rowhouse, recently renovated, skylights in the bedrooms and bath, close to McGolrick Park. Lots of trees. That's what sold it for me. All green and the cool."

Nico gave Maki a thoughtful look, "Do you just spend all your time on the terrace when you visit here, Outdoor Girl?"

Maki glanced up, "The city's pretty, with all the lights. When I want to see stars, I stay home or go to a beach."

"So Stargazer Girl."

"Sure." Maki shrugged, getting bored.

Nico was great at reading audiences and Maki seemed to be falling into a toxic sort of anti enthusiasm so Nico bounced into cute mood, peeking in windows. "Show Nico the inside."

"Well, there's really only one showcase room, the Solarium. We'll go through the gallery."

Maki led the way through a long narrow room lined with art and books, then turned into a grand, open, airy room with tall windows on the sides and a ceiling made up of glass panels.

"The Solarium."

Nico whistled and spun, taking in the view, the openness, the light colored furniture, tall lamps, dark wood of a baby grand piano, "Wow. Nico is wowed."

"It used to be a second bedroom but Mama and Papa loved the thought of having music in here. The designer did well. When there's a party, it's always full of people mingling, listening to the piano, a quartet or something."

"It's a great space for it."

Maki nodded, moving to the piano.

"Wait. Used to be a second bedroom…so there's only one? Where do you stay if this is your parent's place? On the terrace?" Nico fell back into the couch, staring up through the ceiling panels.

"I don't."

"Oh." Nico didn't know what to say.

Maki seated herself on the piano bench and a slow jazz piece filled the room, a shadowy and melancholic mood tinting its edges.

"What's that? Nico doesn't know it."

""Let's Get Lost."" Maki's fingers deftly chose notes, a graceful hunt.

"That music sounds so sad about it." Nico tapped the piano.

Maki winced.

"Nico has three Map apps, we can get found." Nico waved her phone.

"That's not the…"

"What?"

Maki shook her head, blowing stray tendrils of scarlet out of her face, "Never mind. Any requests?"

This was jazz. Nico had to stretch her brain. Jazz wasn't anything she voluntarily spent time with. But there was that one singer, recently, the new artist winner at the Grammy's last year. Nico made a point of studying the Grammy nominees every year. Nico had liked her bright smile, bouncy, velvety sound, and how connected she was to her musical family. She and her father had recorded a Christmas single together. Nico would have loved the opportunity to do that.

"Jazz right?"

Maki shrugged again. As attractive as the pianist's shoulders were, Nico would love to move Maki's needle past aggressively not caring to some percentage of interest, if not enthusiasm.

"Nico's a big Samara Joy fan. How about "Can't Get Out Of this Mood."

Maki frowned, pulling out her own phone to look something up.

"Don't know that one. Someone to Watch Over Me?"

"Nico approves." Nico decided to strike a pose next to the piano, amused as Maki cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at her, "Nico will join you."

Maki bowed her head, "As you wish."

"Nico's changing the pronouns."

Now there was interest, a sparkle in dreamfuel eyes, "Good."

A/N: Been a hectic fortnight. Thanks for reading.