~Heartbeat~

Syntax stuck out her tongue in concentration, eyes narrowed as she stared at the television screen. Her thumbs danced across the buttons of the game controller in her hands as she battled Aria in yet another game.

"Sorry, Syn, buuuuut..." Aria smirked as with a final move she defeated her opponent.

"Oh come on!" Syntax shouted in frustration.

"That makes six times so far today." Her companion stated with a smug look on her face.

Syntax responded with a low growl accompanied by a death glare, and Aria burst out laughing. Groaning, Syntax stood up from the couch and stretched.

"I need a break. Something else to clear my head and chillax so I can actually beat you for once." She scowled at the responding snicker. "How bout we go grab an ice cream cone and go to the park?"

Aria tossed her controller to the side and stood up, running her fingers through her hair as she grinned slightly.

"Yeah, ok. I guess that sounds fun."

She started for the door.

"Ahem. Aria?"

She paused. "What?"

"You wanna put some pants on first?"

Aria looked down at the brilliant orange underwear she wore and rolled her eyes.

"Right."

Syntax laughed as Aria stalked to her room. The siren hated wearing pants around the apartment. They made her hot and uncomfortable, so she was much more at home in a pair of thin shorts or, as was more usual, just her underwear. And Syntax could care less, as she sometimes ditched her own pants for the sake of being cool and comfortable. Aria returned wearing a pair of purple slacks.

"You know, one of these days, I'm going to walk out that door in my t-shirt and underwear just for the hell of it." She announced.

"Given your choice of underwear colours, I don't think that's a good idea." Syntax returned, grinning as they exited the apartment.

"And just what is wrong with the colour?!" Aria demanded in mock anger.

"It's either really bright or a really weird combination of colours."

"It's not that weird!"

"Aria, you have a set that's bright purple with hideous neon pink dots. Who even makes such an awful mix?!"

"Says the one who once had on neon red ones covered with the most neon pink cats in existence!"

"...touché."

The girls shared a laugh as they made their way down the street, conversation drifting to other topics such as games, parties, and the Rainbooms' latest shenanigans. They stopped at the ice cream shop to collect their cones, and then strolled leisurely to the park.

Choosing a quiet spot in the shade of a massive oak, the two of them settled into the lush green grass, not saying much as they focused on devouring their sweet and icy treats. Once the last of their cones had vanished into their mouths, they stretched out in the grass, feet in opposite directions, Syntax's head on Aria's left shoulder while Aria's rested on her own left, the sides of their heads nearly brushing against each other. They stared up at the tree above them, and through the spaces to the clear blue sky above that.

"Syn? Can I ask you something?" Aria finally asked.

"Sure." Syntax answered without hesitating.

"Why would you fall in love with me, of all people? I mean, there are lots of boys at school, and other girls too if you wanted. Why me?"

This was honestly not an unexpected question. Syntax had already guessed she would ask at some point, and while she couldn't fully explain why she had fallen for her, she could tell her what had drawn her interest in her. She inhaled.

"There was...is, something in you that I like."

"Yeah, but what? I'm a notorious troublemaker. I'm kind of an obvious bad girl, you could say."

The other girl snorted, rolling her navy eyes. "And just maybe I like bad girls."

She heard Aria inhale sharply and mutter something about that being innapropriate, and she grinned. "That's not what I meant, Aria."

"Ok, fine, but just tell me why you fell for me."

"I could see something in you that everyone else didn't at first." Syntax replied. "In spite of your bluff and bluster and bad girlish persona, I could tell you had a good heart. And then I saw you with your sisters, and you seem to actually care about them. That and we bonded really fast, because we have a lot in common. I don't know, it's tough to explain. I do know that one day not long after we met, you grinned at me and my entire world fell apart into the chaos and confusion of being in love, and I was perfectly fine with it."

"Oh. Syn...what do you see me as? I mean, what am I to you?"

Syntax rolled into a sitting position and focused intently on Aria, eyes sparkling but serious.

"You're one of the few people I'd trust with my life. You're my closest companion, the one I can talk to about anything, and the one that never judges me based on what I think or feel. You're funny, smart, cool, and absolutely adorable. I love every minute of the time we spend together. And you are the one I would love to call mine. I would love to say you're my girlfriend."

Aria was blushing furiously, but her eyes were locked into Syntax's and she wasn't trying to interrupt or anything. So the other girl pressed on courageously.

"And I know you might be thinking I just want you due to some kind of wild sex drive, but honestly Aria, I don't even care about that. Not now at least. I want you because I love you, plain and simple. And there's an entire list of ways I want to love you, and not one of them involves the other thing."

Aria leaned closer, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Like what?"

Syntax blinked. "Huh?"

"The list. What kind of things?"

"I..." Syntax reddened and looked down. "I mean, it's kinda sappy and romantic..."

"I don't care if it is, please just share it with me."

"Uh...are you sure, cuz I'm gonna be telling you what I want to do with you, and that might be awkward."

"Nothing wrong with being honest. And I'd like to know. Hearing you talk about these things kinda...makes me see you differently."

"Is that good or bad?"

Aria inhaled deeply. "I-I might be falling in love with you too. I just...I can't say for sure, it's just, it's confusing."

"Join the club." Syntax smiled. "If you want to hear it, then I'll tell you."

"Please."

"Alright then." Syntax drew a breath. "I really want to do adorable and sappy things. Like for instance, let's say we're sitting in a park in the shade, and you're looking ultra adorable, and all I can think about is that I love you. And I might lean in closer to you and kiss you on the cheek, and tell you just how special you are to me."

She leaned closer to the blushing siren, her breath warm on her face as she planted a light peck on her cheek, startling herself at her boldness. Her voice dropped, her words audible to Aria's ears alone.

"You might not know it, but you are very special to me. I can't tell you how much I love you because there's not enough words in existence to do it justice."

Aria caught her lower lip between her teeth, inhaling deeply as her face turned a shade darker with embarrassment, but she made no attempt to move away.

"Anyway." Syntax went on, a tad bit louder, "Then I would want to push you back into the grass and crawl right into your arms."

She did exactly that, gently pushing Aria back into the grass before planting her body fully on hers and snuggling into her happily. Aria squeaked adorably, instinctively wrapping her arms around her.

"And from there, I would put my head on your shoulder and nuzzle my face into your neck to make you go all red and make you giggle."

This she did with plenty of enthusiasm, and Aria let out a giggle. "What else?"

Syntax was no longer interested in the play by play she was giving. "Then, this."

She turned Aria's face towards her and ever so gently kissed her on the lips. It was different than the kiss Aria had given her after she'd told her how she felt. That one had been light and extremely fast. This one was gentle, yes, but a little deeper and alot slower. Aria quietly squeaked, eyes closing as she simply surrendered to it, lost in the moment. Her heart was hammering furiously in her chest, and she couldn't deny she loved the sweet tenderness of the contact.

Syntax finally released from her lips, her face scarlet as she managed an embarrassed chuckle. "I, uh, yeah. The list has several tender moments like that."

Aria hugged her tighter, her breath warm as she spoke softly into her ear. "I wouldn't mind finding out those other moments. If you would like to show me."

Syntax giggled. "Yeah. But can I snuggle you for now?"

"You damn well better." Aria returned. "I demand it."

Syntax snickered. "Careful, you might be accused of loving these snuggles."

"No, they're absolutely hideous." Aria tightened her hold. "That's why you have to keep it up. I hate it so much it's gonna take a looooong time to even partially win me over to it!"

"Oh, yes, of course." Syntax snuggled even closer.

They stayed that way, snuggled up adorably in the shade, simply enjoying the closeness.