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Argent silences her TV with a wave of her hand and crawls over Ortega to you. She shoves you (gently) back against the arm of the sectional and presses an ear to your left breast.
"… what are you doing?" you ask once the confused shock passes. Still confused though.
"Listening to your heartbeat," she says, like it's obvious.
"... why?"
With a seemingly satisfied nod, she pushes herself back up and crawls over to Ortega's side and presses her ear to his left breast.
"So I can compare it to Ricardo's, because you keep suggesting you're not human." She rolls her eyes. "Like an idiot."
"Aw Angie, that's so sweet." Ortega drapes an arm around her back in a loose embrace, kisses her forehead.
"Shut up, I'm listening."
He passes you an amused glance over her shoulder but does as he's told.
After a few moments, she slides out from under his arm and sits back on her heels between the two of you. "I think you guys sound almost the same." Critical silver eyes turn your way, daring you to argue. "So, you're human."
"Does Ric really count though? He's like half robot," you say with a shrug.
"Hey, no I'm not—"
"Who else should I be comparing it to then?" she demands, glowering.
"Well, not yourself obviously, because you're half monster."
"And you're a lab grown slab of meat." The words are tempered by her tone and the grin teasing at the edge of her lips.
"Hey, don't be rude." Ortega gets up and cuts in between you and Argent like a referee. You have to put your feet on the floor to make space as Argent scooches back.
Argent shrugs the blame away. "She said it, not me."
"Yep, I did. Five minutes ago, even." Probably what started this whole charade.
His long-suffering sigh reminds you too much of his mother and a giggle sneaks out.
"Besides, I can't even listen to my own heartbeat." Argent gives you a pointed look as she brings the conversation back on track.
"Then I'll listen and compare you two." Ortega says and leans towards Argent.
"You just want an excuse to put your head on my chest." Argent crosses her arms over her chest to block him, her serious and stubborn gaze completely undermined by her smirking lips.
"Hey, c'mon. You did it to me!" he widens his eyes in mock innocence. He rolls them when she doesn't budge. "Are we comparing heartbeats or not?"
"Oh, alright." Argent lowers her arms so he can lean in.
He does, listens for a few moments, then turns his face in and presses a kiss to her heart. You don't have time to dodge before he traps you in the corner, gives the same tender treatment, making your face burn.
Fuck, why can't Argent blush too?
"Yeah, you ladies sound pretty similar too." He settles back on the couch, still between you. "Must all be human."
"I feel like we need an outside perspective," you say, not quite ready to admit defeat on this.
"What if we listened to Chen's heartbeat?" Ortega suggests, playing along.
You shake your head. "I don't think he'd let us. Besides, he's like three-quarters robot."
"Still being rude." He taps you on the nose, grins impishly. "Spoon?"
Argent gets to him before you do, whacks him gently upside the head. "Don't be stupid."
"Fiiiiiiine," he drawls. "I guess that just leaves Danny?"
You shake your head. "We'd give him an aneurysm, he's still crushing hard on us. Gotten a lot better at hiding it, though."
Argent perks up, gives you a curious look. "He is?"
"Yep. Brain practically lights up like the sun near us."
"Interesting." You foresee teasing in his future and almost feel bad for the kid. "What if Ricardo listens?" Argent suggests.
Ortega shakes his head. "Nope, that won't work either."
"Why?" you ask, prodding him in the chest. "You suggested him."
"Because he has a crush on me too."
"He does?" You've never picked up anything like that from him.
"Of course." Ortega's grin widens to shit-eating and you mentally swear at yourself for stepping into that one. "Everyone does."
"You're so full of yourself, oh my god." Argent grabs one of the throw pillows and chucks it at his face.
He laughs and lets it hit him, lets it fall to the floor. His strong arms coil around your torso and he pulls you into his lap. "You know, you haven't listened to ours yet, Ry."
"Augh, fine," you grouse and lean your ear in against him. He's warm and his heart beats strong, slow, steady. Not at all like when he almost killed himself using his lightning against Sharkinator in the water like a goddamn idiot. When you had to resuscitate him.
You like it much better this way.
As you draw back, he catches your chin and tilts it up for a kiss, because of course he does. You let him, though. Return it and then some. This whole game has left you feeling entirely too soft, punchdrunk on warmth.
He finally lets you slink out of his arms and into Argent's. She kisses you on the way in, nips you a little with sharp teeth. Probably for arguing with her about your supposed humanity. She doesn't like it when you refer to yourself as a thing. You give her another little apology peck when she lets go of your lip.
Sometimes it's hard to fight twenty-plus years of conditioning. To just let yourself be happy. Be more than what they made.
You lay your ear on her breast. She's cooler, softer, just as you expect. But her heart is just as steady, just as strong as Ortega's. Did it falter when she was torn apart and rebuilt?
You hope not.
Rather than getting up entirely, you turn over onto your back when you're through and lay your head in her lap. Stretch out your legs into his lap.
Her fingers comb the shaggy hair back from your face. His fingers dig into your left calf, into the tight muscles there. You bite back a groan. Your old scar from Psychopathor has been bothering you lately. He must have seen you limping when you arrived at Argent's apartment.
"So what's the verdict then, Riley?" Argent asks as she lightly massages your scalp.
"You two sound the same." You give her a crooked grin. "I guess we're all abominations.
"Humans. Humans who love each other," Ortega corrects and interjects, digs his thumb in deeper. You swear and fumble for another pillow to throw at him.
Argent has your back, supplies one for you. "I don't know if I'd go that far," she says with a smirk.
He bats the pillow away with a laugh before it hits him in the face. "You two are the worst. Can't we just go back to snuggling and watching the movie?"
She gives him a sly sideways glance. "Maybe after you order some food. I'm getting hungry."
"Same." You nudge his leg with your other foot. "Thai?" You remember Argent mentioning there was a good one down the street.
"Yeah, that sounds good. I'll be back in a few." He slides out from under your legs and heads into the kitchen, where he left his phone.
You glance up at Argent and ask quietly, "Can I listen again?"
"Of course," she answers just as softly. Wraps an arm around your shoulders after you sit up and lay your head on her breast once more. The beat of her heart, the gentle rise and fall of her chest lull you into quiet relaxation. Her fingers knot with the hand you've lain across her lap.
People are supposed like heartbeats because it reminds them of the womb. You can’t relate to that at all but at the same time… maybe the instinct is still there...
You nod off before Ortega gets back with the food.