A Shy Kiss

Chapter 22

The rest of the day was...tense, to say the least. Your mind started to ruminate on thoughts of Tamaki. Unlike other days, these thoughts were not pleasant. The victims are all somehow tied to Tamaki. At least that's how it looks like. But...how could Tamaki have anything to do with this? He was just as worried about the killer as you were! In fact he was even more protective! He drove friends to their respective dorms, he stayed up late to keep watch, checked all doors and windows, and met with you after classes to make sure you were okay.

You never told him of the group's suspicion. A few believed Tamaki to be a poor pawn in the midst of the crimes....while a few believed Tamaki to be the mastermind himself. The arguments that went back and forth in the hidden group chat started to tear the group apart. A few tried to stay on your side while the other group was scared of Tamaki and chose to keep their distance.

Tsu decided to stay at Ochako's dorm, now that her roomate Hagakure had gone missing. She would keep paying her share of the rent, but she refused to stay too close to Tamaki, 'just in case' she said. Tamaki decided to stay over at your apartment, not wanting you to be alone. You lied and told him that Tsu left to keep Ochako company, not wanting to hurt him. He would hold you close at night, softly kissing your shoulder as you faced away from him. Some of those nights were difficult, the arguments from the group playing back in your mind. He couldn't be bad. He musn't be bad. There was no way!

Right?

right?

All these what ifs were eating you alive, making you toss and turn at night; wondering if Tamaki really was this sweet person. Was he truly the kind and loving man you grew to love? Was it all just an act? Even him loving you? Why? Why would he act like this? Can you even trust him? And what about....the murders? The killing, the butchering of bodies. He couldn't have any way of doing that right? There's no way-

"Bunny, is everything okay?" You turned your head quickly to look at him, like a deer in headlights. As if you were caught doing something wrong. You shook your head, getting all those pesky questions out of your head. At least for now.

"I'm sorry Tama, my head is just a little fuzzy with all the news. Everyone who's gone missing, those who died. And the damn school is still insisting on having us do our projects while a killer is on the loose. It's just too much, ya know?"

He pulled you towards him, embracing you while rubbing your back and kissing your forehead. These past few days left you feeling scared of him, his caresses leaving you trembling at times instead of feeling comforted. And yet now, anytime he holds you like this, you can't help but melt into his arms. His hold on you was tight, but not too tight. You could lay your head on his chest and inhale the mesmerizing scent of his cologne. Every time he held you like this, all of your worries melted away in seconds.

There's no way he could be a bad person. His love is too sincere to be someone cruel enough to hurt anyone. You decided to put at least some of those pesky thoughts in the trash, abandoning any thought of Tamaki being the killer. At most, maybe it was a close friend of his who heard his complaints?

Either way Tamaki was safe. You were safe. And whoever is the real killer is someone else. You were sure of it. All of this nonsense of doubting Tamaki had to stop. The arguments, the hidden group chat, the sleepless nights...all of it.

You held onto Tamaki, your hands gripping on to his shirt tightly. It was only now that you realized Tamaki had been speaking. No, he was singing. You tried to quiet the thoughts in your head as you focused on him. His hand still rubbed circles on your back, his lips close to your ear as he continued to sing. It was then that you could tell what he was singing: this lovely dork was singing Phil Collin's "You'll be in my heart".

Tamaki wouldn't hurt a fly. You knew this. You sighed, relaxing a bit more into his hold as he sang the last few lines for you. A bit of guilt lingered in you, like a bad taste in your mouth. He is a good man. And he doesn't deserve all these accusations over just theories. There's no concrete evidence tying him to any of the bodies, and yet at the first theory everyone ran around in a panic. This sweet man just serenaded you to help you relax, and you thought he was a killer not even two minutes ago.

You lifted your head to kiss him on the lips. His soft lips moved against yours, his hands slowly moving down to your hips. You pulled away, giving him a smile.

"Thank you my love, I feel better now."

"I'm glad bunny, I j-just want you to be happy." You couldn't help but smirk a little.

"I haven't heard your stutter in a while my love." He bit his lips as his cheeks flushed with pink.

"Y-your surprise kisses make me happy, a-and nervous bunny."

This sweet innocent man. You couldn't help yourself and kissed him again. You wrapped your arms around his neck, reaching on your tippy toes to kiss him. He made a small yelp in surprise, his eyes wide at your reaction. You smiled internally. You couldn't help it; he's too cute like this.

"Tama, you've been taking such good care of me these past few weeks. I wanna spoil you too."  He sheepishly smiled, the blush still on his face.

"Y-you don't have to bunny."

"Nope! It's decided. I'm making christmas cookies and homemade hot cocoa and we're gonna watch whatever you want on disney plus!" His eyes widened at the idea, and a big smiled formed on his face.

"Really?!"

"Yeah! Do you want to order in for dinner or cook tonight?"

"I-Is it okay if we order in?"

"Sure! I'll pay for it today Tama, order anything you'd like. You deserve it after keeping me safe and sane this whole semester." He laughed a little at your words.

"I didn't do that much bunny."

"You did more than you think my love." You said before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. You turned around to grab the ingredients to make you quick and easy christmas cookies.

"Then....could we have pho tonight?"

"Sure! Let me just order it in before I get my hands dirty with the cookie dough."

"Can I help with the cookies?"

"Yes please! I have a few cookie cutter we can use too!" He smiled before pulling up his sleeves and putting on the extra apron you had on.

This angelic man was too kind for this world.