And here is eleven, my friends!
Another chapter full of fluff and cuteness!

I realized the other day that I haven't
put a disclaimer on this story (although you
all know I don't own EEnE), so I suppose I
should put one now.

I don't own Ed Edd and Eddy or any of its
characters, though Mark is mine and Nathan is
c2ndy2c1d's. And I shall make no profit from this!

Okay done. On with the chapter! Enjoy!

The Double-D Dare

Chapter Eleven

"D'you know what today is?"

"Friday?"

Kevin smirked at Edd, holding the helmet out in front of him. Edd took it, unbuckling the strap and placing it gingerly upon his head over his hat.

"Yeah, Friday." He slid his own helmet on. "But it's also our one-month anniversary."

Edd stared at him through the plastic shield on his helmet, a small smile forming on his face at Kevin's words. 'Oh my, he remembered?'

"Yeah I know, right? I remembered. Bet you didn't see that one comin'." Kevin rolled his eyes, and Edd ducked his head with a soft giggle.

"One month," Edd murmured, watching Kevin mount the bike carefully with his boot-cast. He'd graduated from crutches, but the boot was to remain on his ankle for another five weeks while he was up and about. "Kevin, where are we going?"

He grinned, turning to pat the seat behind him; a notion to coax Edd to join him on the motorcycle. "Now that's a secret. This's our second date, and it's a surprise."

Edd's cheeks flushed, and he moved to swing his leg over the bike. Kevin turned the key and revved the engine to life. Edd had grown used to the noise and vibration, but the prospect of flying down an open road at speeds faster than twenty miles per hour continued to frighten him. Still, he felt safe at the hands of the redhead. Kevin handled the motorcycle with ease and skill, and Edd didn't think he would ever feel safer on a motorcycle than he did with his...

'Boyfriend.'

The label both made him giddy and displeased him. Yes, he finally had someone to call his; someone committed to him and him alone. But the term seemed too generic, too over-used. He and Kevin were something more, something different. Weren't they?

"You ready?"

Shaken from his reverie by Kevin's voice, Edd lifted his arms to wrap them around the jock's abdomen. He glanced down as Kevin nudged the kickstand up with his uninjured foot. The boot was a minor inconvenience, but it sat nicely on the little platform, tucked against the bike. Thankfully, the rear brake was on the right side of Kevin's bike, and he'd informed Edd that they wouldn't need it. Edd knew that when they stopped at a light, Kevin would lean the bike to the left to support most of its weight on that leg. Edd always wondered if his leg was tired afterwards, for motorcycles were heavy.

Kevin glided down the driveway and onto the road. At this relatively slow speed, Edd could bear to watch the road as it passed them by. The sky was baby blue, a few cumulonimbus clouds puffing up in the distance like popcorn. It was mid-day; there had been no school due to an in-service day for teachers to catch up on their grading as finals approached. Edd found it astounding that they were so close to the end of their junior year. 'It seems like just yesterday we were playing in the cul-de-sac, building projects for scams and eating jawbreakers. Now, in little over a year, we'll be walking to receive our diplomas and preparing to journey off to university.'

Kevin flicked his right signal on, taking the on-ramp to the freeway. Now Edd was quite curious as to where they were going. It wasn't often that they traveled out of town; Peach Creek had virtually everything they required. As Kevin merged into traffic, he was generous with the gas handle, accelerating to speeds that Edd had never experienced on a motorcycle before. Terrified, he ducked his head to press the transparent shield against Kevin's black leather jacket, hiding his face from the outside world. Beneath his own helmet, Kevin smirked at the tightening arms around his stomach.

They drove for about forty minutes before Edd felt the bike beneath him begin to coast as Kevin let off the accelerator. He peeked over Kevin's shoulder to see him taking the off-ramp. They turned right onto a small street, passing a convenience store and gas station, appearing to be in the middle of absolutely nowhere. 'Where on earth is he taking me?'

Another turn and they were on a gravel road. Edd held onto Kevin tightly, feeling as though the vibrations would jar him to bits. After a short jaunt they pulled into a gravel lot where cars were parked. Edd could see a Ferris wheel looming over the treetops. Kevin cut the engine.

"Is this..."

Kevin pulled his helmet off and turned back to see Edd's face. He wore an expression of unease.

"What, you've never been to a carnival before?"

Edd stared at him. "I... Well, no, I cannot say that I have."

"You've gotta be kiddin' me." Kevin dismounted slowly, using the bike for balance, and stood off-center on his medical boot. "Didn't your parents ever take you to one of these? My dad used to bring me here all the time when I was a kid."

From the look on Edd's face, Kevin knew he'd accidentally touched a sweet spot. "My parents were not home often enough to take me to public events such as carnivals... Being prestigious surgeons, they are pressed by quite the hectic schedule."

Kevin didn't like the melancholy look that lingered on Edd's face. Leaning forward, he snatched the helmet from him as he took it off. With a grin, he buckled it to the side pouch. "C'mon, we gotta lot of rides to go on."

Kevin paid their entry fee, and they both received green snap-on bracelets that would last all day and allow them to ride any ride. As they walked inside, Edd's eyes were drawn to the colorful tents housing food and various games.

"Ooh, hey look."

Kevin hobbled over to a tent with bowling pins stacked in a pyramid. Handing over a dollar in exchange for three dimpled balls, he glanced back to Edd. "Watch this." Winding up, he threw the ball, knocking the top three pins right off the stack.

"Here, give it a try," he smirked lopsidedly at Edd, holding out one of the balls.

Ed paled. "Kevin, I'm far too-"

"Just try it," he insisted. With a foreboding sigh, Edd took the ball and stepped up to the counter. Gripping it with his left hand, he heaved it as hard as he could muster. It missed the pins entirely. Mortified, he turned away from the booth, only to come face-to-face with Kevin. Grinning, the redhead spun him back around.

"Kevin, I-"

"Here." He put the ball in Edd's hand and lifted his arm from behind. Edd's cheeks flushed at their proximity. "You gotta bring your elbow up, and keep it up. Release at your ear." With their final ball and Kevin's guidance, Edd knocked the remaining three pins from their places, and was promptly handed a stuffed koala. With a bashful giggle, he followed Kevin away from the booth.

"Told ya you could do it," Kevin murmured, smiling at Edd. "What d'you wanna go on first?" He pointed. "How 'bout the Ferris Wheel? That's a classic."

"But what am I going to do with Nathan?"

"... Who?"

Edd held up the koala, and Kevin laughed. "Aw, man, Nat'll like that. You'll have to introduce him." He watched Edd chuckle, and then shrugged. "Just bring him along."

The Ferris wheel loomed up before them ominously. Edd had no time to prepare himself, for the line was quite short, and soon they were next. The man opened the gate and Edd followed Kevin on shaky legs.

"K-Kevin, I'm not sure this is the best of ideas..."

"Why, you scared?" Kevin asked teasingly as they sat down. The bar was closed in front of them, trapping them there.

"I do have a mild case of acrophobia..."

"Of what?"

The wheel began to move, slowly swinging them upward. "A fear of heights!" Edd squeaked out, turning to bury his face in Kevin's shoulder, clutching the plush koala against his body. With a soft chuckle, Kevin stretched an arm around Edd's shoulder as they reached the top and plunged back down.

After a few more rotations, the ride came to a stop to let people get on and off, halting their seat near the top. Kevin leaned over and murmured his name.

"Edd. Hey, you're okay. Look."

Hesitantly, Edd opened his eyes and turned his head. The view was spectacular; open farmlands and forests as far as sight would allow. Clutching onto Kevin's arm with his free hand, Edd's eyes swept over the landscape.

"Cool, huh?"

"It is rather beautiful," Edd answered wistfully, fingers tightening on Kevin's bicep as the Ferris wheel began to move again. He made to hide his face once more, but Kevin caught his chin.

"Hey, look at me." Edd met his eyes reluctantly. "Seriously, Edd, chill out."

"Kevin, these types of rides are constantly dismantled. It is quite possible that this Ferris wheel has not been properly maintained-"

The remainder of Edd's sentence was cut off by Kevin's lips pressing against his firmly. The arm around him tightened, fingers gently gripping his opposite shoulder. Kevin pulled back, waiting until Edd opened his eyes. The ride stopped again, causing the car to rock, and Edd stiffened.

"I've got you."

The wheel took two more rotations before letting them off, much to the relief of a still-somewhat-uneasy Edd. Feeling bad, Kevin let him pick the next ride. After walking for a bit, Edd chose the Gravitron. It was a bizarre feeling, Kevin decided, to be lifted from the ground like an astronaut.

"The operation of that ride is intriguing!" Edd exclaimed as they exited the ride. "If I were to make an estimate, I'd say we were traveling close to twenty-four revolutions per minute. Did you know, Kevin, that centrifugal force causes the panels to slide upwards? I would say that it felt equivalent to two, perhaps three times the force of gravity!"

"Huh." Kevin appeared at least somewhat interested as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm guessin' you'll wanna go on that again then, yeah?"

Edd clasped his hands together. "Oh, can we?!"

And so they rode the Gravitron again, and a few other rides after that. After stepping off of a pirate ship that swung back and forth, Kevin noticed that Edd had turned a bit green.

"Let's find something more toned down," Kevin mumbled, glancing around as they walked. "Oh, hey." He pointed. "A Scrambler. I haven't been on one'a those in years."

"I'm not positive I can handle the prospect of being beaten like an egg at the moment."

"It's gentle, I promise. C'mon."

Kevin took his hand, and the warmth of his long fingers obliterated his feeling of sickness. Following Kevin's limping gait with a smile, they stood in line. The wait gave Edd the chance to see the ride in motion. It seemed reckless; like the intertwined cars would collide at any moment, but he knew better. The hydraulics – if they were working correctly – would prevent such an occurrence. Still, the illusion made his stomach churn.

The ride slowed to a stop, and the gate was opened for them. Kevin chose a car labeled "number four."

"You don't wanna sit on the outside of one 'a these. Trust me."

"Why?"

Edd discovered exactly why once the ride began and built up to speed. The gravitational force created by the swing of the arm pushed him against Kevin with more and more force each time. Had they sat in opposite places, Kevin would have been squashing Edd with each turn.

"I-I apolo... gize!" Edd managed to say for the fifth time.

"Quit apologizing, dork," Kevin responded, throwing an arm around his shoulders, holding onto the handlebar with his other hand. "Maybe I like you this close."

"Kevin- ... Ah!" Edd's reprimand was interrupted by the hardest turn yet, and they were hurdled at the fence surrounding the ride, slowing and pulling back just before they smashed into it. Edd laughed breathlessly, clutching onto the bar to avoid colliding with Kevin, but it was no use. Gravity was stronger, and it shoved him against a grinning Kevin, who held him there, finding that Edd's laugh was like music to his ears.

After the Scrambler, Edd found his stomach growling. As he looked down and smoothed a hand over his abdomen, Kevin caught the gesture.

"How about some cotton candy?"

Edd was mystified by the pink, fluffy substance. Kevin paid for two bags, and handed one to Edd.

"Are you sure this is edible?" Edd questioned doubtfully. It felt like the consistency of a downy pillow.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Kevin said, sitting down at an empty picnic table. Edd sat across from him. "See?" Kevin tore open his bag, ripped a piece off, and popped it into his mouth. Watching him carefully, Edd mimicked him, struggling to open his own bag. Finally, he tore off a piece of the soft cotton candy and hesitantly placed it on his tongue.

Almost immediately, it melted in his mouth, leaving only the sweet, sugary flavor on his taste buds. With wide, surprised eyes, he looked across the table at Kevin.

"It's gone!"

Kevin chuckled. "Yeah. It's good though, ain't it?"

"Isn't," Edd murmured absentmindedly, tearing himself another piece. Kevin smirked fondly, eying the blue and white ring on Edd's middle finger. A little voice in the back of his mind told him that, someday, a real gold band would look better.

"Kevin?"

Startled, Kevin lifted his gaze to meet cyan irises, bright and questioning. He wondered how long he'd been staring.

"Yeah?"

"Well, I don't mean to be rude or to prod, but... when exactly did you begin to develop romantic feelings for me?"

Kevin lifted an arm to scratch the back of his neck, considering Edd's question. "I dunno, really. I mean, I always liked you more than the other Eds because you weren't a total dork. And you were resourceful, too." He shrugged. "But I don't think I ever thought of you like that until that dumb bet. I mean, I'd always thought you were cute, but not in a gay way."

Kevin grinned at the way Edd's cheeks predictably flushed as pink as the cotton candy left in his bag. The fondness in his chest was unfamiliar and new, like an untouched guitar, shiny and full of promise and possibilities. He never wanted to leave the kid's presence; he wanted to hear those big words – the ones he sometimes didn't understand – until he fell asleep. He wanted to see that damn cute gap-toothed smile everywhere he turned. 'What the hell is happening to you, dude?'

"What 'bout you?" he asked, attempting to distract his mind.

Edd, who was in mid-bite, fixed him with a wide-eyed look of surprise. He swallowed his candy and lowered his eyes in embarrassment.

"I... have thought about it before," he admitted, clasping his hands together on the tabletop. "But I never pursued such fantasies because I believed they were just that; fantasies. My imagination. You were-"

"A popular jerk?"

Edd nodded, peeking up at Kevin from underneath his brow where his beanie sat. "And I am just a 'nerd', as high school social statuses would label me. Not to mention our childhood years..."

"Yeah, well, look at us now," Kevin murmured lowly, a small, genuine smile upon his lips. "The dork and the jock. Classic rom-com shit right here."

Edd's cheeks flushed as he giggled, covering his mouth to keep cotton candy from falling out.

The afternoon was spent riding the remainder of the rides at the carnival, save for the few that Edd refused to go on. Actually, Edd was much braver than Kevin had thought. Truthfully, he'd expected to have to drag Edd onto most of the rides. But the only ones Edd wouldn't go on were the ones that spun and went too high.

As the sun began to set, Kevin told Edd to close his eyes. He led him back through the carnival, holding the small hand securely in his. "Keep 'em closed," he murmured as they waited in line. Edd obeyed, following Kevin's guidance into the seat. "We're gonna go up. Don't open your eyes," Kevin repeated, voice close to his ear. Edd felt the acceleration of the ride, familiar enough to be remembered, and gripped his arm tightly, once again tugging his stuffed koala close and squeezing it tight.

"Kevin, I don't like this..."

"Open your eyes."

Edd did as Kevin said, greeted by the brilliant colors of the sunset; orange, pink and purple painting the sky like something of Picasso's. Edd inhaled the fresh air, stomach dropping as they swooped back down the back of the wheel before ascending once more.

"Still scared?"

Edd turned to look at the other male seated beside him, green eyes turned golden-emerald by the sunset. Perhaps Kevin wasn't talking about the Ferris wheel anymore, but it didn't matter. Edd's answer remained the same.

"No."

Kevin leaned in to kiss him, lips molding together affectionately.

Edd latched to Kevin for the ride home, holding onto him tightly as they sped down the black freeway, his koala tucked away safely in the side pack. The wind whipping past his body no longer frightened him. In fact, neither did the prospect of their relationship. Previously, Edd had feared that they were speeding things along, that Kevin may be repeating history, or even just the irrational fear of feeling something so strongly for someone else. But now, those things didn't frighten him anymore. He wasn't sure if it was an epiphany, or a sudden change of heart, but he didn't question it. Things weren't happening too quickly; they were happening just the way they were supposed to. Kevin was not going to hurt him in such a way again; Edd believed that. They'd grown past that incident. And Edd was no longer afraid of his feelings toward Kevin. The affection he felt; that warmth gave him a newfound confidence. He could acknowledge it now.

'Now? Is now the time for such a powerful emotion?'

Edd knew that once he admitted it to himself, there would not be any retreating. As they coasted down the off-ramp, Edd lifted his head from Kevin's shoulder.

'I love him.'

Kevin cut the engine in the driveway, dismounting and glancing at Edd. "D'you want me to walk you home?" He paused, trying not to seem too eager. "Or you could spend the night."

A small, bashful smile curved Edd's lips. "I would like to stay, if that is alright with you."

Kevin grinned. "Hell yeah."

His house was quiet, cool, and dark. Kevin put a movie on, if only for the sake of background noise. Tugging Edd over to his large couch, he pulled him down onto his lap.

"Kevin...!" Edd whined. Despite his protest, Kevin held him there, cradling the smaller male against his body. With a defeated sigh, Edd allowed Kevin to maneuver him until he was comfortable. Having little interest in the film, Edd turned his head to tuck it beneath Kevin's chin against his chest.

After a moment, Kevin lowered his head to gaze at the top of Edd's hat. "Wanna go upstairs?"

When he heard no response, he pulled back slightly to look at Double Dee's face to find him peacefully asleep. 'The carnival must've worn the little guy out.' With a small smile, Kevin closed his eyes, listening to the sound of the movie and Edd's soft snoring until he, too, drifted off to sleep.