Shadows
"The twins are finally asleep.” Ayase Eli sighed, letting her hair free from its ponytail as she entered the private sitting room at the Kurosawa compound.
“They’re restless tonight.” Nishikino Maki poured soju.
“It’s the storm.” Eli sounded shaky herself.
“Ruby doesn’t seem to be afraid of weather.” Yazawa Nico placed a snack platter, then tucked herself into the end of the couch.
“And Dia can sleep through anything.”
Nico snorted, catching Maki’s eye and winking, “Almost anything.”
Eli didn’t need to see the full flaring blush on Maki’s face to know what Nico was hinting at. They’d known each other for too many years.
“So drink some soju and tell us about this porn film Nozomi’s getting an award in Vegas for.” Nico swigged down a shot, pouring another.
“It’s not a porn film.” Now Eli was blushing, “It’s an…”
“Art film.” Nico and Maki finished in unison. Eli grabbed the nearest pillow to throw, when a loud crack of thunder froze her, the lights blinked, died for a minute. When they came back on, Eli next to Nico, nearly exploding the pillow with hugging.
“The lights’ll stay on, right?” Eli’s voice quivered.
“Better light a candle, Maki-chan.”
“All right.”
Grabbing a lighter, Maki went to the mantel, a series of candles flaring to bright life as another thunder crash shook the house and the lights went off.
“NICO!” Eli, now hugging Nico and the pillow, stared wide eyed at three merging, bobbing shadows on the wall.
“Why’s she clinging to you?” Maki grumbled, glaring at the oblivious Eli..
Nico snorted, “Do you want this?” She tried to push Eli off, but Eli had burrowed her head into Nico’s shoulder, chin leaving a bruise.
After a frowny minute, Maki laughed and shook her head, “What are we going to do with her?”
Eli whimpered.
Nico sighed. “We don’t really need the emergency generator for this, Eli.”
Maki took a candle, opening the door, “She better not wake up Ruby."
Nico, choking from Eli’s grip as a third thundersheet roared, “Maki…help.”
“C’mon Eli.” Maki pried Eli off Nico, only to be galumphed in a crushing embrace. “NICO!”
“She’s not sleeping between us; it's not a high school camping trip.” Nico sippd soju, the crushing blonde problem now Maki’s.
“Call Nozomi?”
"Probably still out partying.”
“Then maybe we SHOULD call her.”
“That’ll just make Eli sad since Nozomi can’t be here…don’t worry, Nico will save the day.”
“I can’t carry her.” Maki gritted out as a new crash put Eli into clinging koala mode.
“S’okay…mom skills beat fear.” Nico nudged Eli , “Hey, Eli, maybe Teddy’s scared too. Let’s go check on her.’
“Teddy.” At the mention of her daughter, Eli loosened her stranglehold on Maki, who scurried out the door, phone as a flashlight.
“I’m going to check on Ruby.”
Still running away from emotions, Nico thought.
Eli deliberately took a deep breath before blinking at Nico, who kept the candle steady so the shadows didn’t jump with the flame.
“You can do this, Eli.”
"Don’t tell Nozomi.”
“Cutie panthers keep secrets.”
Eli smiled, her eyes lightening at the callback to their Bibi days. “Okay,” deep inhale, “Let’s go.”
###
Half an hour later, Eli snored between her snuggling twins, Nico leaning in the doorway, watching, a fond smile on her face. Then a pair of hands grabbed her waist, and she nearly dropped the candle.
“There you are.” Maki hugged Nico.
“What took so long?”
“Dia wanted to talk about monsoons and hurricanes.”
Nico chuckled, “Glad you got to field that one.”
Nico leaned in to Maki, a much gentler hug than Eli’s panicked attack. On the futon in the guest room, Teddy snuggled into Eli, blonde head leaning into blond head, Vik sprawled out, hand on Eli’s cheek.
“Kinda cute, but not Nico cute.” Nico whispered.
“I like Nico cute.”
“Let’s send Nozomi a snap.” Nico pulled out her phone.
“And then I get your attention.”
Nico leaned back to kiss Maki’s cheek, “All of it.”