Zenless Zone Zero Nicole X Reader - Tumblr Posts

Hi! I really like your crush fics from zzz! I was wondering if you could do one for either Nicole or Anby? Whoever you prefer. That would be amazing! Totally understandable if you’d rather not tho! No pressure :)

Hi~ 👋🏼 Thank you for the ask 😊 I sure can do Nicole! Here are some cute headcanons about Nicole when she has a crush:

Subtle Generosity: Nicole, known for being stingy, suddenly starts treating her crush to little things, like snacks or small trinkets, using the excuse of "leftovers" or "extra stock." It’s her way of showing affection without being obvious.

Nicole: "Hey, I had some extra snacks lying around, thought you might like them." She casually tosses a small bag of treats onto the table, trying to act indifferent.

Crush: "Thanks, Nicole! This is really thoughtful of you."

Nicole: "Yeah, well… Don't get used to it." She shrugs, but a faint smile tugs at the corner of her lips.

Clumsy Cunning: Normally sharp and quick-witted, Nicole finds herself stumbling over her words or making silly mistakes when her crush is around. She’ll try to play it off with her usual cunning, but it’s clear she’s off her game.

Nicole: "So, uh, I… I was thinking… maybe we could… I mean, if you’re not busy—" She suddenly drops her pen, cursing under her breath as she scrambles to pick it up.

Crush: "Sure, I’d love to. What were you thinking?"

Nicole: "Oh, um, just… you know, a quick… discussion. About work." She finally retrieves the pen, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Extra Protective: Nicole’s protective instincts kick into high gear. She’ll casually inquire about her crush’s safety and well-being, and if they’re ever in trouble, she’ll drop everything to help, though she’ll insist it’s just business.

Nicole: "I heard there’s been some trouble in that part of town. You’re not planning on going there alone, are you?" Her voice is firm, almost commanding.

Crush: "I was, but I can handle it."

Nicole: "No way. I’ll come with you. Just… to make sure nothing goes wrong." She crosses her arms, leaving no room for argument.

Doodles in the Ledger: Her agency’s ledger, normally filled with serious notes and financial records, starts to have little doodles in the margins—hasty sketches of her crush, hearts, or the two of them together. She’d be mortified if anyone found out.

Nicole: "Where did I put that… Oh, here it is!" She quickly flips the ledger closed, but not before a small sketch of her crush catches their eye.

Crush: "What was that?"

Nicole: "Nothing! Just… just some random doodles. Nothing important." She tries to change the subject, her heart racing.

Awkward Invitations: Nicole awkwardly tries to invite her crush to hang out, often under the guise of "business meetings". She’ll overcompensate by being overly professional, even though it’s clear she just wants to spend time with them.

Nicole: "So, I was thinking… maybe we should, uh, discuss our next job… over dinner?" She fiddles with her nails, trying to sound nonchalant.

Crush: "Dinner sounds great. Are you thinking somewhere specific?"

Nicole: "Yeah, I mean, no… I mean, we could go wherever. It’s just business, after all." She forces a casual shrug, though her pulse quickens.

Uncharacteristic Generosity: Despite her usual financial struggles, Nicole doesn’t hesitate to spend what little money she has on things that might impress or help her crush.

Nicole: "I noticed you were looking at this the other day, so… here." She hands over a small, but expensive, item, avoiding eye contact.

Crush: "Nicole, this is… I don’t know what to say. Thank you."

Nicole: "Don’t mention it. Just… take care of it, okay?" She brushes it off with a wave, but her heart swells with pride.

Eager to Impress: Nicole goes out of her way to show off her skills and knowledge around her crush, whether it’s her street smarts, negotiation tactics, or even her (admittedly lacking) financial acumen. She wants to make sure they see her at her best.

Nicole: "You know, I managed to negotiate that deal down by 30%. Not bad, right?" She leans against the doorframe, a confident smirk on her face.

Crush: "That’s really impressive, Nicole. You’re a natural."

Nicole: "Well, I’ve been doing this for years. You pick up a thing or two." She tries to sound humble, but the compliment makes her beam inside.

Overthinking Everything: Normally decisive, Nicole starts overthinking every interaction with her crush. She’ll replay conversations in her head, analyzing every word and gesture, trying to figure out if her crush feels the same way.

Nicole: "So when you said you liked working with me, did you mean… you know, like in general, or like… specifically?" She tries to sound casual, but there’s a hint of nervousness in her voice.

Crush: "I meant it in every way. You’re great to work with, Nicole."

Nicole: "Oh, okay. Cool. That’s… good to know." She nods, biting her lip as she mentally replays the conversation for the tenth time.

Secretive Smiles: Nicole, who usually keeps a cunning smirk, starts smiling more often when thinking about or interacting with her crush. These smiles are softer and more genuine, something she’s not used to showing.

Crush: "Nicole, did you hear what I said?"

Nicole: "Huh? Oh, yeah, I heard you." She quickly snaps out of her thoughts, a soft smile lingering on her lips. "I was just thinking about how things have been going lately."

Crush: "Good thoughts, I hope?" They raise an eyebrow, curious about the smile.

Nicole: "Yeah, surprisingly good." She glances at them with a warm, almost shy smile before focusing back on the task at hand, the smile still tugging at her lips.

Unexpected Sweetness: Known for her sharp tongue, Nicole starts slipping in unexpected compliments or sweet comments directed at her crush. It catches even her off guard, and she quickly tries to cover it up with a joke or a change of subject.

Crush: "I’m not sure if I did this right. Can you check it for me, Nicole?"

Nicole: "You doubt yourself too much," she says, her voice unusually gentle as she looks over their work. "You're more capable than you give yourself credit for."

Crush: "Thanks, Nicole. That means a lot coming from you."

Nicole: "Don't let it go to your head," she quips, though there’s a softness in her eyes. "But yeah, you did great." She quickly looks away, trying to hide the hint of sweetness that slipped into her tone.