Maki Nishikino leaned back against her pillows, staring out the window at the glowing, golden arrow of the Eiffel Tower. Brilliant, illuminating, nearing her favorite time of year…so why was the only song in her head Nat King Cole and George Shearing's "Azure Te."

"Gone and got the blues in Paris…" Had Maki flown all the way over here and taken an apartment for six months just to be lounging in a comfy bed on the highest count linen sheets in a very American Carharrt flannel shirt listening to the blues on the radio in her head? Throwing her head back, she shook her fingers through her hair, a quickie scalp massage that did nothing to change the station her mood had locked into.

She reached over for her phone. She leaned, walking her fingers until she barely touched the cold plastic of her phone case. A groan, a desperate further lean and she'd hooked two fingernails into the break between phone and case. This allowed her to drag it close enough to wrap her hand around it. TIme differences didn't matter when texting. She was bored. Rin would suffer. A payback for all the bff buffonery and rib cracking, the effusive, obtrusive public hugs.

M: Bored (￣ ￣|||)

Maki stared at her phone, willing Rin to pick up. Didn't happen so she hit call and let it ring. Ignored the voicemail and hit call again.

"Maki! Rin needs sleep."

"Answer your texts." End call.

A ping.

R: Go to sleep. Kayo-chin says it's almost 1 o'clock there (￣ρ￣)..zzZZ

M: Can't sleep.

R: Sleep, Maki, sleep. Think like a cute little kitten (^=◕ᴥ◕=^)

M: Can't.

R: Call Kotori. She'sprobably woking.

R: Working. And woking.

R: Rin doesn't want to be woking.

Rin was making no sense. Maki sighed.

M: Go back to bed (＿ ＿*) Z z z

No reply.

Maki stared out the window. Pretty as the tableau was, the morning would come. The sun would rise. And Maki would be staring at its brightness with floaters from three nights of no sleep and the dehydration that comes with a seemingly unfixable state of being out of synch with life. Something had to change. She glanced around the apartment, fingers itchy, every muscle in her body longing to be thrown into Chopin's nocturnes. Lack of piano. That could be fixed. A quick search. Kawai actually had a Parisian showroom. Tomorrow night, Maki wouldn't be alone.

###

The salesman was polite. But there was very little he could do. The 800's were extremely difficult to find, even for such a fine musician with such deep pockets in such desperate need. There were a variety of other choices. Maki looked very disgruntled. Her Sayori Tanaka outfit brought little comfort. The clerk – Maki demoted him in her mind with every minute she was not exchanging her black card for a that day delivery piano.

"Do you have something I could play." It wasn't really a question. And the while you make some panicky calls did not really need to be said.

"We have studios in the back." The pebble under the foot of her designer silver boots attempted to lead Maki to a corridor but she brushed past him.

"I'll find my own way. Let me know if you make any progress."

Maki strode quickly, heading for the first door. She nearly ripped it off its hinges in frustration then froze. She'd made an egregious error and disturbed an already occupied studio. She heard a few words in a bright, cheerful tone, sprightly voice outpacing the clunkiness of the piano player.

"I love Paris in the summer, I love Paris in the fall…"

A tiny woman wearing a black tweed jacket and gray open hoodie over a red t-shirt with a jump roping chibi lucha libre wrestler, with knee high wading boots and a ball cap over sable hair was both singer and pianist.

Maki continued to freeze as ruby eyes narrowed at her. The delightful music stopped.

"Rude much." The singer snapped.

"Couldn't hear you."

The woman rolled her eyes, "Soundproofed rooms. Have you ever been in a studio before?"

"Yes."

The woman waited. Maki did not illuminate further.

"Nico doesn't get much time here. Could you leave?" A quick gesture.

"No."

Now the woman was leaning forward on the piano. "Feet glued to the floor."

Maki lifted her foot and stared at the sole of her boot. "No." She frowned. "Your tempo was too slow for that song."

"Nico is a singer, not a pianist."

Maki sat next to Nico, sliding the smaller woman out of the way, "It really should go like this." And she turned out a melancholic take on the Cole Porter classic.

"That sounds sad. Nico likes not sad."

Maki armored up with vocabulary, "Melancholy is valid mood."

Nico, if that was her name, spun Maki to the side, opening her jacket and reading her t-shirt.

"Your shirt says Love Is Not Dead three times. Why are you such a gloomy Gus?"

"I didn't design it."

The tiny woman jumped up, "You dressed yourself this morning, right."

Maki nodded.

"When Nico wears a shirt that says something, Nico means it."

"Yours is a chibi wrestler jump roping with No Pain, No Gain text. What's that mean?"

"Cute wins. Nico wins."

Maki shook her head. "Is wrestling big in Paris?"

"No. Yeaaah-Studios is. My sis Cocoa loves the art style. Vintage treasure. Found it in Marais."

Maki wanted to be playing music not learning facts about some stranger's family.

"What's your name?"

"Maki."

"Well, Maki, are you going to leave Nico her last 10 minutes."

Maki found herself fidgeting, "I could play for you. As long as you want. They're not going to kick me out."

"Why not?"

Maki grinned, "They're searching Europe for the piano I plan to buy."

Nico whistled, "So the love's that is not dead is the love to spend money."

Maki shrugged.

Nico giggled.

"Know this one?" Maki started "Azure-Te".

Nico shook her head.

Maki began to sing.

Nico slid back onto the bench, shoving Maki over. "No one as hot as you should sound that sad."

Maki laughed.

"Know any Sabrina Carpenter?"

"Maybe."

"Play "Paris"."

"Not "Espresso"?"

Nico tilted an eyebrow, "Nico just met you."

Maki pulled out her phone, searching to remind herself of the song. "How about this one?"

Maki started to play "Sue Me".

Nico snorted. "That cheers you up?"

Maki nodded, pursing her lips playfully, opening her eyes wide.

"All right. But Sabrina did it a capella you know."

Maki hovered her fingers over the keyboard and pouted.

Nico ignored her and began:

"Remember when you said it, there's no second chance?
Oh, baby, I heard you been hoping you could change the past
You miss the long goodnights, you miss the long goodbyes
You miss the long goodnights (Yup, yup, yup, yup, yup)"

Maki was surprised at how powerful Nico's voice was. And jumped when Nico stopped singing long enough to whisper "C'mon, keep up" in her ear.

###

Two more Carpenters, one Lovato, one Miley, and half a Sawayama before Nico collapsed with laughter when Maki merged La Vie En Rose with This Hell Is Better With You. There was a knock. Peremptory. The drudge.

"Ms. Nishikino?"

"I'm busy."

Nico looked at her watch. "Nico has to run anyway. This was fun. Thank you, Maki. I have never had a back up band almost as good as Nico before." Nico's eyes twinkled, close up stars.

Maki bowed, "My honor."

"Come to an open mic night with Nico."

"Maybe."

"Or we could grab an espresso." Nico winked.

Maki blushed.

Suddenly Nico's phone was in Maki's hands. "Give Nico your number."

Maki did. Nico took her phone back, brushed a light kiss on Maki's cheek, and rushed for the door. The serf smirked.

"Shut up." Maki growled.

###

R; You bought a piano.

M: I have minions scouring Europe for one.

R: (*≧▽≦)

M: This is not Despicable Me.

R: Despicable You

M: ¯\(°_o)/¯

R: Come back home if you're bored.

M: (＾＾)

R: What happened?

M; WHy do you think something happened.

R: Rin knows you. ANd you didn't say no. Or yes. So you're…

R: ԅ[ •́ ﹏├┬┴┬┴

M: Am not.

R: R 2

M: (;¬_¬)

A ping, a different number, a new number…Maki squinted at the contact name: Nico Ni, Number One Chanteuse

N: Hi Maki!

M: Chanteuse?

N: When in Paris…

M:(◎＿◎;)

N: Did you get your piano?

M: Not yet. Minions are scouring Europe for me.

N: Oh, you're a supervillian. Makes sense.

M: ^_~

R: MAKI!

R: You're ignoring me.

M: I am. GO away.

R:(´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)

M: Go talk to your girlfriend.

R: Fiancé. Come back for the wedding. Bring a date.

M: If I find one who fits in the overhead compartment.

R: (◯_◯;)

R: (✖╭╮✖)

M: what is it

R: you always say no

M: Not true

M: Doesn't matter

M: jk

R: I'm watching you (¬＿¬)

M: ᕦ⊙෴⊙ᕤ

No more information for Rin.

M: Hi, Nico. Sorry our piano party got broken up before we got to Billie Eilish.

N: …

M: What?

N: Asking you to lunch now would be (✿〰✿)

N: SO I guess Nico will ask you to breakfast. Meet me at the French Bastards near Kawai. 7:30 ish.

M: French Bastards?

N: CHeck out their website. Tasty. Nico likes tasty. They actually drop the P word.

M: P word?

N: Porn. Food Porn. Caramel driiiiiping over curvelicious cakes. Lots of scrumptious pictures. Even scrumptier in person.

N: check it out: French Bastards /fr/foodporn

M: Scrumptier is not a word.

M: Why are you in Paris?

N: FLirting with hot piano players?

M: So Kawai is your…club? Bar? In person Grindr? Tindr?

N: (ᗒᗨᗕ)

N: S tier queers use Hinge

M: Like a door?

N: No. It's a dating app set up to be less one and done for dates. No swiping. More finding things in common. Not everyone has Nico's luck to be rudely interrupted by supermodels.

N: That's why you're in Paris right? Designers want to dress you?

M: ¯\(°_o)/¯

N: Woman of mystery.

M: Supervillian, remember?

N: How could Nico forget?

N: So foodporn at breakfast, walk after, show off some kind of sexy designer leg thing.

M: Sexy designer leg thing? Is everything sex and porn? And Lunch?

M: ᕕ(╯°□°)ᕗ

N: 人(_ _*)

N: Nico was a little un-Hinged. Busy day. Nico bartends a couple nights a week. today was open mic crazy. And Maki's a texting cutie (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

N: (´□｀川)

N: Nico might not remember this convo in the morning (︶｡︶✽)

M: It's on your phone.

N: Not really into nostalgia.

Maki glanced at the time. After one a.m.

M: It'll be six hours. Six hours ago is not nostalgia.

N: ¯\(°_o)/¯

M: So will you even remember our date?

N: With you. Yes. Is that a yes?

Maki blushed. She hadn't meant to type date.

M: Sure.

N: Okay. Time for Nico's beauty and sleep regimen. See you bright and early, beautiful.

N: ( ◡ )❤G

What had happened. A drive by flirting? Maki dropped her phone, eyelashes blinking rapidly. She'd been replying without thinking. What would Nico think? What had Maki actually said. And agreed to? She reread the conversation, groaning. Oh, she sounded like an idiot. Grindr? Really? Nico would think one night stands when Maki never really…not going there. Nope. Breakfast was a safe meal. Plain coffee, not "Espresso". Almost multiple espresso revved now though. Maki switched to a racing game to distract herself. Time to level up. And forget about dating apps. Maybe Rin would be up for a few courses.

M: MarioKart?

R: Vroom

M: (^ ^)b

###

Maki yawned as she half stumbled down the street. Was she late? Why did she agree to meet this early? Didn't people usually get to know each other over dinner. Dinner dates were in the vernacular, with breakfast you got breakfast in bed…Maki stopped. Froze. Panicked. She didn't date. She didn't come to Paris to date. She came to watch the Olympics and the Paralympics, visit museums, listen to music, think about music, take pictures, and avoid her parents' inquiries into her future plans. Not that dating was an absolute no. But after so many late night rants at Rin about how weird it was when people randomly chatted her up, Maki had expected any relationship to be a gradual thing. With an on ramp. Not an embarrassing door opening accident. Squaring her shoulders and shaking herself out of this spiral, Maki reminded herself that this was breakfast in a busy Paris neighborhood, not anything intimate. And yawned again.

"Maki!" Nico came toward her, waving. Today, Nico was dressier; pink and black plaid skirt, pink v neck cardigan, sheer white socks and open toed platform clogs. Cute. Maki had opted for an oversized lavender oxford, dark purple trousers, and the matching jacket tied around her waist. Comfy walkable ballet flats and the half unbuttoned shirt made the outfit more casual. Nico slid her arm through Maki's, holding tight when Maki jumped a little.

"Good morning. How do you pull off casual and chic so well? Nico is envious."

Maki frowned, blinking at Nico's energy. "Okay."

Nico laughed. "Not a morning person?"

Maki shook her head.

"Are you a chocolate person?"

"Sometimes?"

"Nico is a fruit and sweet person. Both dripping in chocolate."

Maki stepped toward the bakery, "Everything on that website you sent me was dripping."

"Did Maki mind?"

"Pictures made me hungry. Next time, I'll need more snacks. "

"Nico can't send them by text. They'd be flattened anyway."

"A travesty."

"No pastry's puff would die on Nico's watch."

Maki tilted her head, then things made sense. "Not a tragedy. Just a non violent crime against proper delivery services."

"Crime-ing again. Like a supervillain."

Maki shrugged. Post midnight jokes often shriveled in sunlight.

"Well, Nico would suggest the brioche cookie bien gourmande, caramel and not chocolate maybe. Or you might want a cruffin."

"I'll probably just get whatever this week's special is and a very large coffee." Maki yawned again, shaking her hard to try to stay awake as Nico held the door open.

"Why did you agree to breakfast if you're this sleepy?" Nico sounded worried.

"I thought you probably had to work during dinner. You said you bartended."

"Maki is paying attention. Not tonight. Nico has today off." Nico pointed to a bench nestled in a corner, "Grab us seats, Nico will bring you coffee and something special."

"Sure."

Maki slid into the bench, putting her sling bag next to her. Nico didn't take up much room but she would need a seat. Maki had to keep occupied or she'd fall asleep. Nico was in line. Maki could pull out her phone and text RIn quickly without seeming rude.

M: I hate mornings.

R: Why are you up?

M: Trying out a bakery.

R: Is it any good?

M; DOn't know yet.

She sniffed. Biting coffee and rich buttery sweetness made her brain feel like it was split in half, each falling to the side, one waking, one being buried under fluffly layers.

M: Smells intense.

R: Send a pic.

M: (^^ゞ

R: Rin wants a gap year in Paris.

M: There isn't much ramen.

R: But there wouldn't be forced study sessions. Rin hates forced study sessions (｀0´) Maki was the best tutor.

M: Your coaches just want you to do well.

Nico had a tray and was headed back.

M: Have to go.

R: Cute waitress?

M: no

R:I'll figure out what you're hiding, Maki.

M: no

"Something up?" Nico put a basket with six beignets down next to two cups of coffee.

"Promised my friend a snap."

Maki switched to camera mode while she considered angles, shifting, wanting to catch the powdered sugar texture and the colors of the fillings in the morning light.

"Baker said these are a new range of beignets. Nico figured you'd like to be one of the first customers to have them."

"Cool." Maki was rotating her camera. "Looks like chocolate, caramel…what's the third?"

"Pistachio."

"Oh, interesting. I can see the greenish tint."

Nico picked one up, twisting it apart. "Take a pic like this. Show your friend the full glory."

"Great textures. You don't mind?"

"Nico will waive the usual modeling fee."

Maki switched to macro and moved her phone close to Nico's hand, catching a contrast between Nico's shimmery pink nail polish and the khaki olive filling. She could even see a dusting of crumbs and sugar clinging to the sworls of Nico's fingerprints.

"You do eat right?" Nico asked after several minutes, popping a chunk of beignet in her mouth to demonstrate how it was done.

"Huh?" Maki glanced up. Nico was smiling, her eyes as shimmery as the nail polish. "Sure."

She switched her phone for the other pistachio pastry. Velvety smooth, nutty with a delicate earthy sweetness.

"Nico approves."

"Mmmm. Very different." Maki grinned. "Thanks, Nico."

Nico raised her hand to her heart, "You charmer." Then she leaned forward, eyes alight with mischief, "Caramel or chocolate next?"

Maki took a chocolate and handed Nico a caramel. "Half and half. We split them and then…" She made a crushing gesture while cradling hers.

"Smashup."

"Exactly."

"Messy."

"Too much?" Maki shrunk back.

Nico tore hers in half with a flair, "You don't know Nico very well."

Ah, Maki realized, maybe she would like to.

A/N: Paris and music and flirting would not leave me alone. So here you go.