Miss Atomic Bomb

Making out, we've got the radio on

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

"It's okay, guys, Kaoru is with Missy-chan. I just got off the phone with him. They're fine," Hikaru told the group warily.

Inside though, Hikaru could feel his own frustration building. The fact that their new friend had all but commandeered his twin left him feeling isolated and out of sorts. If it hadn't been for Kaoru's pleading voice on the other end of the line, he would have immediately found his twin and dragged him to the club room. As it stood, he was stuck playing the worried twin (though it wasn't really acting) for all their guests until club hours had ended.

"Hikaru, are you okay?" Tamaki asked, noticing the way Hikaru's jaw had clenched after delivering the news of his twin and the model's whereabouts. The Senior could see the frustration of his friend's face.

Tamaki looked at him gently, his arm raised to rest his hand on Hikaru's right shoulder. "You're not going to lose him. You know that, right?" he asked sincerely, his blue eyes soft.

Hikaru shook his head. "I know that- I just-"

"You just what?" Haruhi interjected, moving to stand by Tamaki's side.

"It doesn't matter."

"I think it does matter, Hika-chan," Hani interjected sweetly. "How you feel matters to us, and it matters to Kao-chan and Masu-chan, too. You know they would never want to hurt you."

"Yeah," Mori agreed.

The group had closed in entirely on Hikaru, with the exception of Kyoya who was more than content to watch this very touchy display of concern and affection from the sidelines. Not to say that he wasn't concerned, but more to say that he knew his own limitations well enough to understand that his contribution to the situation would be less than ideal.

"I'm just scared!" Hikaru admitted finally. He ducked his head, unable to meet the expressions of his friends. He knew he was being selfish. He could tell how much Kaoru liked Missy by the way he talked about their friend. But he was terrified of being replaced.

Haruhi reached out to Hikaru, her brown eyes staring him down intently. She touched his arm, mirroring Tamaki's movements. "You know she will never replace you to Kaoru. No matter how much Kaoru likes Missy, it'll never replace the love that he has for you. It's just different. It's like how I love you guys, but it doesn't take away from how much I love my dad. The only limits we have on love are the limits we create for ourselves."

Each member of the club looked over at Haruhi in surprise.

"You mean, you love us, Haru-chan?" Hani asked excitedly, his eyes watering.

Haruhi sputtered in embarrassment, her cheeks flushing . "I-I mean, yeah, I guess I do-"

"I LOVE YOU, TOO, HARU-CHAN," Hani squealed as he threw himself into her arms. "I love you so much, Haru-chan, and so does Usa-chan!"

"Thanks, Hani-senpai," Haruhi said with a smile.

Hikaru looked taken aback. "Do you really mean that? That she won't replace me to Kaoru?" he asked fervently.

"Hikaru, do you really think that anyone could ever replace you?" Kyoya intoned boredly from his favorite seat. "It is biologically impossible for a female love interest to replace a male twin. Especially as close as you two are. So please, stop the melodramatics and reframe from your incessant whining and go talk to your brother. Anything we say can help, but the only way to really fix the problem is to confront it directly with Kaoru. Now that club hours are over, I suggest that you do so sooner rather than later. So please, everyone," Kyoya requested, slamming his laptop shut, "Go the hell, home."

He smiled as she moved around the small kitchen of her apartment, dancing from place to place. Leaning against the counter, he watched her stir the soup that Haruhi had taught her to make the previous day.

The sudden feeling of contentment overwhelmed him and he was glad for the support the surface offered him. A part of him felt guilty at feeling so comfortable, despite the absence of his twin. And yet, Kaoru knew that he would not want his brother to be apart of the scene he was witnessing. The sheer intimacy of the moment was not lost on him as Missy continued to hum along to the music.

No, he wouldn't want to share this moment with anyone.

You're the fear, I don't care

Cause I've never been so high

Follow me to the dark

Let me take you past the satellites

Moving from the safe space he had created for himself, her back to him, he crossed to where she stood. The model remained unaware of the proximity, assuming that he remained at his previous distance across the room.

She was so beautiful.

Of course, that shouldn't have surprised him. She was paid to be beautiful. Yet, here she stood before him without the common trappings of her career. Her hair was damp from her recent shower, strands tousled behind her. The ends of her hair were still wet and little droplets stained the back of her t-shirt where they rested. Even with the aroma of the food, he could still detect a hint of coconut and something warm and coffee-like. Even in this state, she was beautiful.

Maybe it had less to do with her appearance and more to do with her.

"Kaoru, can you turn the music up a bit?" she called to him from where she stood, not even bothering to look at him, her gaze focused on the stove.

Her voice had snapped him from his thoughts and he silently obliged, turning the volume up on the phone.

So love me like you do, la-la love me like you do.

Love me like you do, la-la love me like you do.

Touch me like you do, ta-ta touch me like you do.

What are you waiting for?

He was in too deep, and he knew it. He worried about her constantly, and he wanted to spend his time with her. She made him smile every day, and she could make him laugh just as easily. She challenged him to be better, and she didn't even have to try to do it.

Spending Christmas without her had been surprisingly lonely for him, something that also confused him. He struggled to admit that to his brother, but he knew there was no keeping secrets from Hikaru.

He thought back to their earlier conversation. She had trusted him with something she seldom shared with others, something that made her vulnerable. And then Missy had gone and asked him to witness her further vulnerability in the privacy of her own home.

She trusted him.

Somehow, this girl had affected him. She had shattered the glass that surrounded him, protecting him from caring about others too much. Missy wasn't the first, and he hoped she wouldn't be the last, but wasn't it a wondrous accomplishment in and of itself? She didn't have to swing a bat to break down his walls. Instead, she had paced around quietly, her slender fingers caressing the surface gently, understanding the ins and outs of the barrier. He had watched her silently the entire time, frozen in fear, but also with hope. She applied no force, because she didn't need to. As soon as the model took a single step away from the glass, he took a deep breath and shattered it himself, closing the distance between them.

Closing the distance between them. A novel idea.

Fading in, fading out

On the edge of paradise.

Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I've got to find.

Only you can set my heart on fire.

Yeah, I'll let you set the pace

Cause I'm not thinking straight

My head spinning around I can't see clear no more

What are you waiting for?

"Kaoru, can you-" Missy cut off abruptly as she turned around, surprised to find him so close, staring at her intently. The look in his amber eyes was almost predatory, but it wasn't frightening to her. She stepped away, doing her best not to shiver as her mind raced with possibilities. There was no way, he just couldn't be . . .

But he had never looked at her like that before, had he?

She didn't expect him to follow her. Backing up ever so slightly, she felt her hip hit the counter next to her.

His gaze flickered from her blue eyes to her lips, a questioning look in his eyes, and she knew.

Love me like you do, la-la love me like you do

Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do.

Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do

What are you waiting for?

Kaoru held her face in his hands, his right thumb running across her cheek, his eyes never looking away from her. It was this moment, this moment right here, that she had thought of and anticipated. The brunette had imagined the half-lidded expression, but she never anticipated seeing it.

Energy crackled between them, their breaths almost mingling as they stood so incredibly close to each other. She was completely still against the counter, neither daring to move as if the slightest movement would ruin the moment. Finally, she surrendered and whispered, "What are you waiting for?"

He closed the distance between them quickly, capturing her lips with his own. Her lips were pliant against his as he pushed against her. The motions were soft and gentle, both still a little timid in the experience as they kissed.

Missy pulled away, opening her eyes to see him gazing down at her tenderly, his long lashes framing a heated gaze. A soft smile gathered at the corner of her lips and he recognized the invitation, moving back in, his hands never leaving her face.

I'll let you set the pace

Cause I'm not thinking straight

My head spinning around I can't see clear no more

What are you waiting for?

This time, Missy pushed against him, increasing the fervor of their kiss. She moved one hand up to run it through his hair, the other rising to clutch the front of his shirt. Leaning back further against the counter, she grinned into the kiss, a laugh bubbling up in the back of her throat.

Kaoru moved his hands from her face, allowing him to grab her hips as he lifted her up onto the counter, giving him better access so that he wouldn't have to lean down to kiss her. He smiled when he felt her mouth tug into a grin, knowing that he hadn't made a mistake in acting on impulse. Hikaru was usually the impulsive one, but maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

Missy tugged on his shirt, trying to bring him even closer to her. She felt warm all over and her breath came out in pants. She felt like she was gasping for air, but she didn't want to stop. Kaoru shifted gears, one hand resting on her knee, the other on the counter, trapping her beneath his arms as he pulled back, leaning his forehead against hers and closing his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes to see her flushed cheeks, her blue eyes wide with surprise. Her right hand was still fisted into the fabric of his shirt while the other had moved to the safety of her lap. Kaoru moved his right hand to her lap, grasping her hand in his, and marveling at the softness of the skin. He traced the tendons that ran along the bone, running his thumb across the ridges on her palm, noting the calluses at the top. She sucked in a breath, her whole body humming as she tried to calm her breathing.

Missy bit her lip, desperately trying to will the blush away from her cheeks, as it was surely spreading down her neck and to her ears by now. He looked back at her, golden eyes softly lidded as he leaned forward. The brunette moved in anticipation, only to find that his mouth had found its way to her cheek.

She smiled as she closed her eyes, allowing herself to simply feel.

He planted a gentle kiss on her cheek before moving down, lips grazing the junction between her jaw and neck. Missy gasped at the sensation, her hand tightening its grip on his shirt. Kaoru hummed, a feeling of pride surging through him. He smirked against her skin as his attention wandered, trailing kisses down her neck, stopping at the top of her collarbone.

"Kaoru," she moaned against him, her eyes still closed as her muscles tensed. He nipped the skin gently, hoping to leave just the tiniest mark on her perfect skin. Nothing a good concealer couldn't cover up.

He moved back up to her face, leaving trails of fire along her skin as he kissed his way to her mouth, his lips just barely brushing against her own.

Her eyes fluttered open to see a slight smirk on his handsome face as he pulled away.

She felt light-headed and wanting, as if the kisses were only meant to be an introduction. Missy flushed at the thought, realizing exactly what direction her thoughts were headed in.

"Missy," Kaoru murmured as he put his chin on her shoulder, enjoying the warmth of her skin. "I think the soup is done."

The model's eyes went wide as she pushed him off of her. Quickly, she slid off the counter and rushed over to the stove to find the pot just about to boil over. Reaching over to the dials, she turned it off and grabbed a wooden spoon to stir it down with. "Damn, I hope it didn't burn," she muttered as she looked over her hard work. Haruhi had spent an hour teaching her how to make it the day before, and she would hate to see the honor student's hard work go to waste.

As she stirred the thick liquid, careful to not crush the chrysanthemum, she felt to long arms wrap around her waist and head rest against her neck.

"Did you burn it?" he mumbled against her collarbone, his breath warm on her exposed skin.

Missy shivered slightly at his touch, but kept her attention on the soup. "I don't think so . . ."

Kaoru had to admit, he liked the way she smelled. Like coconut and warmth. And her skin was undeniably soft as he pressed his face against it, relishing the feel of it.

"Good. I want to try it."

Turning the heat off, Missy ladled a portion of leek stew into two bowls. Kaoru shifted one arm so that it was resting on her lower back, the other hand holding the dinner she had painstakingly prepared.

He quickly discovered that he liked the feeling of being connected to her. He liked having a hand on her knee or the small of her back. He liked playing with the ends of her hair and feeling the warmth that came from her skin under his fingertips. He especially liked the way she seemed to lean into his touch.

They ate in quiet silence, seated on her couch, her feet in his lap as she leaned against his shoulder.

When they cleared the dishes away, Kaoru couldn't help but stand right next to her the entire time, as if he thought it would all come to an end as soon as she vanished from his line of sight. He wondered if this would be a carriage turning back into a grubby pumpkin, or if he really had kissed Cinderella.

He felt his phone buzz again, and he knew it was a text from Hikaru. He replied to his twin's inquiry immediately.

"I'm staying the night here. I can't give you the details, but I'll explain it all tomorrow. I'm sorry, Hika, she really needs me right now."

The response came within thirty seconds.

"Are you gonna sleep with her?"

Kaoru felt his face heat up as he tilted his phone screen away from Missy. There was no telling how awkward it would make the evening if she thought that was what he was up to.

"No, dude! No! Just trust me, okay?"

There was a long pause while he waited for the reply, the only sound coming from the faucet Missy was rinsing the dishes under.

"Okay. Fine. I'll cover for you if mom and dad ask. Just don't be stupid."

"That's your prerogative, Hika :)"

Kaoru shoved his phone back into his pocket just as Missy reached for the dish towel to dry her hands off with. "Texting HIkaru?" she asked.

He grinned. "That obvious?"

"No," she smirked in reply. "I'm just that smart."

"I'll concede to that."

"Will you now?" she said suggestively, placing the towel on the counter next to him. "Smart enough to pick the movie?"

Kaoru chuckled. "I wouldn't dream of telling you what to watch. I know you well enough to know that I would lose a hand if I told you what to do."

"Smart boy," Missy chuckled as she moved towards the couch. "I'm feeling a Netflix original. How about that one with Noah Centineo?"

"The one with the good soundtrack or the stupid one about surfing?" he asked, taking a seat next to her on the couch. He grabbed the blanket from the arm of the sofa while Missy reached for the remote.

"Can I just say that I love that you know both movies well enough to define them like that?"

Kaoru snorted. "It's a perfectly reasonable description, especially since I never finished the surfing one."

Missy leaned into him comfortably, enjoying the way she could hear his heartbeat faintly when she placed her head on his chest. "Ugh. Did anyone? It was awful."

As she flipped through the options on the screen, it occurred to Kaoru how okay he was without Hikaru, and that scared him a little. Part of him wondered how Hikaru felt about the whole situation and made a mental note to talk to him in the morning.

But, for now, he refused to think about his brother. He couldn't think about his twin when there was a gorgeous model in his arms. That would be a recipe for disaster.

So instead, he focused on the moment.

And what a good moment it was.

A/N: Hey guys! So, after I dropped the last chapter I just wanted to say that I have changed the direction of this story a lot since I started writing it. My original intention was to focus on Missy's modeling career and how that was affecting her mental health. However, in light of recent circumstances, that plot has been almost entirely scrapped. You can see references to it in past chapters (because this bitch loves foreshadowing (look at the chapter headings if you don't believe me)). That being said, none of them are concrete enough for me to feel it necessary to go back and delete them. A lot of them are references to being self critical, which can be a result of her scarring childhood of being molested, attacking her self worth. So, hopefully everyone is okay with this trash story, and I guess we will continue full steam ahead on this trash ship.

Also, you're welcome for the fluff. Our cuties finally got together (like 70% together). There are still some kinks to work out.

Love you!

-Star