Author's Note: A new series, of sorts. Love is a Friendship Set to Music is meant to be a series of non-related one-shots featuring Artie and Tina. Consider it a home for all the drabbles and short fics that I don't think need to stand alone as individual stories. Updates, much like for Perky Goth, will be irregular based on inspiration and prompts/suggestions thrown in my direction. (Anyone and everyone is welcome to throw ideas at me, by the way.) First up, this one.
Notes: Pre-established relationship, set sometime during their late sophomore/early junior year.
Heartbeat
She knows it's odd, but to Tina, her favorite part of actually sleeping with Artie is getting to rest her head on his chest and feel his heartbeat afterward. Not that she doesn't like the ...other stuff (she actually likes it quite a bit), but the intimacy afterward kind of gets to her in an even more profound way. Sometimes the sound of his heart beating is fast and frantic, an erratic march. And other times, it's slow and sweet and it makes her ache with longing. But she likes it best when it's steady, like a perfect rhythm, and it makes her feel soft and safe and perfectly content.
Artie asks her what she's doing the first time Tina slinks her head down to rest over his bare chest, her ear perfectly aligned to listen to his heartbeat.
"Listening," she says, her tone making it clear that her actions should be perfectly obvious.
"You're listening to my heartbeat?" Artie's tone is amused, curious, and a bit surprised.
She closes her eyes and gestures for him to be quiet. His heartbeat has picked up now, going faster, like he's nervous, just a little bit unsure. Tina smiles, because she can read him so well just by listening, and that makes her feel special. Powerful, even.
Artie rubs her shoulder gently, trying to get her attention. "Tina?"
"Still listening," she murmurs, unwilling to pull away. "Your heartbeat says a lot about you."
"Like what?" Artie wraps his arm around her, cuddling her closer. "What does it say?"
"That right now, you're nervous," Tina says, softly, eyes closed, still listening. "Earlier, it was slower, like you felt satisfied. Contented. And I think it's settling down again, going back to steady, which is my favorite."
"You're something else, Tee." His hand moves up to rest on her head, and his fingers wind themselves through her hair, still boldly streaked.
Her ears perk up, his heart is starting to race again. Tina knows something important is happening, so she reaches out to take his free hand and squeeze it comfortably, trying to give him the courage to speak to her.
"I love you."
His heart is still beating rapidly, and his fingers in her hair have tensed slightly. Tina listens for one marvelous beat before finally lifting her head up to smile at him, her face glowing and vibrant and happy.
"I know."
Reviews are love. :)