Café/Starbucks AU because it's December and everything is getting Christmassy. And also because Starbucks ads have been popping up at me. Inspiration mentioned at the end.

Christmas is jolly time, not a time to get accused of harassing employees at Starbucks. Or according to Nico, 'I Came Out to Have a Good Time and I'm Honestly Feeling So Attacked Right Now'.

Pairings: Main NicoMaki, side NozoEli.

Wait, that's not my name.

Yazawa Nico, new and (probably) promising Idol, Super Star (well, at least on her to-do list), smiled to herself as she sashayed down the street, pleased at the stares and gasps that followed behind her. But that was possibly because her friend - Ayase Eli, model on a promising path, actress, singer, and budding entrepreneur who sold handmade crafts when she had the spare time, was walking beside her. Eli was aware that eyes were following her, and that people were recognizing her, not Nico, but she would rather let Nico have that satisfaction. A fan gathered gulped, tugged his scarf, and took a step forward, but Eli marched on, her fans sighing in unison as they took in her famous 'ice-queen attitude'.

The truth was, Eli was not cold. She was not as cool and intelligent as they all made her out to be. She was somewhat closer to a ditz than a genius, and a lot goofier and childish in private. They few people who knew how Eli actually was like were Nico, and Eli's partner, Tojo Nozomi. The whole time Nico and Eli were walking, Eli was actually totally unaware of the fan approaching her. If she knew, she would have acknowledged him – Eli was actually a nice person, but when her determination took control of her actions, she would only be focused on one thing. And for now, that would be meeting Nozomi at the Starbucks they set as their rendezvous.

"Ah, it's freezing out there!" Nico muttered as she stepped into the store, the bell ringing cheerily.

"Welcome to Starbucks!" A rehearsed chorus greeted her and Eli, and the two scanned the place for purple hair.

Nozomi was waving at them, and they quickly joined her at her table.

"I'm sorry we were late, I was still finishing my shoot." Eli smiled apologetically, and Nozomi waved it off.

"I however, was professional and ended my filming earlier than expected." Nico folded her arms across her chest and smirked triumphantly.

"As expected of Nico." Eli replied, deciding not to add that the photographer was pleased and wanted to take extra photos, free of charge. It would make a great addition to the goods for her next show.

"Of course, who do you think I am?"

Nozomi and Eli exchanged looks and grinned.

"I am-"

"Nico-nii, Cute Icon and Super Idol. We know." The couple giggled as Nico beamed even more.

"Alright, we should order something. Even though the both of you are famous, I don't think Starbucks will have any qualms kicking us out if we stay here forever." Nozomi suggested.

"They won't dare." Nico stood up anyway

"We're just getting a drink and heading to my place." Nozomi reminded Nico.

Eli looked at her girlfriend. "What do you want, Nozomi?"

Nozomi looked over at the board, a finger tapping her lower lip. "Hmmmm…"

Eli stared at Nozomi's action, unable to look away.

"-li. Eli. I'm going to order without you." Nico nudged her friend, who looked back, dazed and guilty.

"Huh? Oh, er, yeah. Wait a moment. Sorry, Nozomi, I didn't quite catch you."

Nozomi laughed, "Was I distracting you, Elicchi? I would like to try the Toffee Nut Latte."

Eli smiled sheepishly, and rubbed the back of her neck. "Alright then, that's all?"

Nozomi leaned forward, and used the same finger to tap Eli's lips. "Yup, that's all, thank you, dear~"

Eli nearly tripped and knocked into Nico, who grunted. "Ahaha, n-n-n-no problem!"

"Alright, let's go before this place turns into an M-rated video." Nico pulled Eli along.

The queue was fairly long, and Nico regretted not preventing the cheesy couple's interactions. They could have ordered their drinks before the sudden crowd came in. It was always like this, you think it's empty and nice, so you wait, but when you blink and turn around, there's a hugeass queue and you have to wait for ages. And somehow, there was not a single person behind them. What luck, to be last.

And during the waiting time, Nico let her eyes wander, occasionally judging others' apparel.

"What was that ugly sweater? Christmas isn't a time to invite the fashion police over." Nico muttered, and moved on to the next person. "That hat is hideous. Looks like mold growing on her hair."

Eli elbowed Nico. "Be nice!"

Nico shrugged, and kept her thoughts to herself. 'That man's beard is fusing with his furry jacket. Are those yellow knee-high socks? Why would someone – oh, nice boots.'

On and on she went, following the queue in front of her until she reached the barista. 'Oh. Oh, she's hot.'

"I know, right?" Eli nodded, and Nico jumped.

"You can't read my mind, only Nozomi has that spooky power!"

"Nozomi can't read minds, and neither can I! You were speaking out loud!" Eli protested, and Nico's mouth opened in shock.

"Since when was I speaking out loud?"

Eli sighed. "From 'Oh. Oh, she's hot.' You were referring to the barista, right?"

"I – no, I- why – no, yes. Yes I was." Nico scowled, and Eli patted her shoulder.

"I approve of your taste. Go for it, Nicocchi."

"What are you, my father?" Nico mumbled, and gazed at the barista again.

Her red hair which looked so inviting to touch matched with the green apron she wore, making it seem like a tacky Christmas ambience addition. A elf of some sorts.

'A hot one.' Nico mentally added, and felt her throat go dry as the queue progressed. Since when was it so fast? She was complaining about it just a while ago, and now, now it was moving as though the – oh – right, this barista was amazingly efficient. Just her luck. Efficient and hot. She had mesmerizing purple eyes, and Nico shifted her gaze when the hot barista glanced lazily in her direction for a split second. Her eyes were so sharp that Nico felt as though she had seen through her, and looked into her very, very impure mind.

"Well, ask for her number, or give her yours. You've always been good at playing the role of the confident flirt." Eli winked, and Nico tugged onto her sleeve.

"I can't! You've been the one who has all the charm! I know I got into some scenes and managed to be smooth, like that episode in that drama – erm, what was it called – ah, yes, Dream Sensation! That was a good role, I walked right up to that guy and smiled at him and worked my unique charm. That was good." Nico nodded.

"See, you're good to go. You've had plenty of experience! No biggie." Eli squeezed Nico's hand, and looked forward. "Ah, it's almost my turn. I forgot what I wanted to order."

"Thanks, Eli." Nico squeezed Eli's hand back, and returned her gaze to the hot barista. 'Maki' – her moniker read. Nico read the name again and again in her mind, wondering how she would go with this.

"Thank you. That will be sixteen dollars and seventy cents." The barista said, and Nico's knees buckled slightly. That voice was a gift from Aoide, or perhaps the girl was Aoide herself. Nico slapped her cheeks and received a worried look from Eli.

'Alright, I have to run this through my head. I'll walk up, order, introduce myself, just a short introduction as Yazawa Nico, idol and I'll ask her when her break is and get her number. Hook, Line and Sinker. Or however that goes.'

"I would like a Peppermint Mocha, and A Toffee Nut Latte, both Grande, please." Eli placed her order, and the Barista nodded.

"A grande Peppermint Mocha and grande Toffee Nut Latte, for…?"

"For Eli and Nozomi. Thank you." Eli smiled and the barista's head tilted up.

"No problem." She exhaled audibly, "I'm a fan of your work, especially your singing. You've got a really melodious voice." The barista's eyes twinkled and she looked so excited cute that Nico wanted to hug her in front of everyone there.

"Thank you. You have a lovely voice too."

Maki blushed, a hand finding a lock of her red hair and twirling it. "T-thank you. I study music."

"Oh, that's nice. You know what, I'll hand you my business card. I'll be glad to offer you any help if you would want some." Eli handed her card out, and Nico nearly kicked the blonde in front of her.

"Maki, get back to work!" A woman with long blue hair, probably the manager, hissed at Maki, who apologized to her and Eli.

"All the best!" Eli wished Maki, who blushed once again.

'Argh, Eli is totally stealing my moves! I would have done that!' Nico shot daggers at the tall blonde, who was now waving goodbye to Maki. Nico took a step forward, and found her mouth dry.

"Welcome to Starbucks." The barista was now back to normal, and looking at Nico with the same lazy eyes.

"What would you like?"

'You, preferably with me, on date.' Nico thought.

"C-christmas Panettone Latte, Venti." Nico stammered, and the barista raised an eyebrow.

'She's so small but she wants a Venti? Wow.'

"That will be eight dollars and ten cents."

Nico fumbled around her purse for the exact change, and Eli nearly smacked her face while watching Nico's clumsiness.

"Venti Christmas Panettone Latte, for…?" The barista looked expectantly at Nico, who was steeling herself for this moment.

"Yawani – I mean, Niconi, I mean, Yazawa Nico."

"Please make up your mind, Niconii." Maki tapped the marker against the counter.

"That's not my name! It's Yazawa Nico."

"Alright, thanks." Maki was about to wander off, and Nico felt Eli's pressuring stare on her. 'Er- erm, please wait!"

The red haired barista swung around, her red hair swishing and catching Nico off guard. Oh, this was bad. Nico could feel the verbal vomit rolling off her tongue.

"I know I shouldn't say this to someone working, but I just wanted to say… I- I think you're really cute and hot and your hair is just perfect and I, I mean, I think you're attractive, in a I-want-to-take-you-on-a-date sort of way, so-"

Silence, and Nico's agitated hands found themselves beside her hips again.

"Ueh?!" The barista's face flared, and she took a step back before calming down and turning around to the manager.

"Umiiii, I'm being sexually harassed by a customer!" Maki shouted loud enough for Eli to hear, and the fierce looking blue haired lady whirled around to face Nico.

"N-NO?! WHAT, I-"

"Okay, that's enough, Nico. I'm sorry, Maki, and Manager Umi." Eli grabbed Nico from the back, and pulled her back to Nozomi, who patted her friend sympathetically.

"Urgh, that went wrong in all possible ways." Nico buried her face in her hands and slumped onto the table.

"It's alright, Nicocchi." Nozomi rubbed circled on Nico's back, and the young idol groaned.

She stayed like that until,

"Toffe Nut Latte and Peppermint Mocha for NozoEli!" Maki's voice rang out, and Nico shoved her face further in her arms.

"I'll be back soon." Eli patted Nico's shoulder, smiled at Nozomi, and walked off.

"Christmas Panettone Latte for Nico!" Maki announced, and Nico growled.

"I hope Eli got that for me."

"Nozomi, here's your Toffee Nut Latte." Eli placed two cups on the table, one hers and the other Nozomi's.

"What about mine?" Nico peeped at Eli, who shrugged.

"You should get your own drink."

"After that humiliation?!" Nico whined, and Eli looked firmly at Nico.

"Just do it. You had the guts to go through with your auditions, you had the guts to tell the agent that he was a jerk for belittling you, you had the guts to talk to her first, so finish what you started. Isn't that what you always did?"

Nico rubbed her cheeks and slapped them lightly. "You're right, Eli. Thank you." She stood up and walked back to the counter.

"That was so cool, Papachika." Nozomi giggled, and Eli blushed.

"You were pretty good at comforting Nico too, Nozomama." Eli replied softly.

Nico wondered if people remembered her as the sexual harassment idiot as she dragged herself to the counter.

Maki handed her the drink hastily. "Took you long enough." She complained, and Nico grabbed the cup and marched back, trying to preserve what was left of her pride.

As she joined Nozomi and Eli, she looked at the scribbling on her cup holder.

"Wait, that's not my name."

Her eyes widened as she read the numbers in her mind, and the last line out loud, eliciting excited squeals from Nozomi and Eli.

"Call me after 5pm - Nishikino Maki."

End

AN: the only thing I remember fondly about starbucks is my barista friend giving us free drinks on the sly. Inspiration from cute-blue tumblr's /post/131654038516/i-once-spent-2-hours-working-up-the-nerve-to-tell
An early Merry Christmas all you LL sinners