Based on the prompt from the website posted in chapter 1: Wally and Artemis go to a fair/amusement park and Wally wants to go on the roller coaster and Artemis agrees. Later, Artemis regrets her decision and ends up clinging onto Wally for dear life.
No Warnings, rated General Audiences
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"I still don't know why I agreed to come here." Artemis said as she looked at the millions of kids running around her, people in costumes mingling about, and parents trying to drag their children through the park.
It was a crazy hot day, and Artemis was sweating, trying to clean her face with the back of her hand. Wally was too, but he didn't seem phased by the heat as much as she was.
"You know why we're here, Artemis. You've never been to an amusement park before so we're her now!"
Artemis shrugged. "I didn't think it would be this…hectic."
"That's an amusement park for you, babe."
Wally took her hand and led her to a map of the park, gesturing to the multiple rides and games that were shown.
"Alright. What do you want to do first?"
Artemis gave a small smile as she watched Wally's eyes light up as he inspected the map. Even though she wasn't too comfortable in this situation, especially without her bow, Wally really wanted to be here. So, she would try to make this day as fun as she could for him.
"Which is the biggest ride?" Artemis asked, and Wally turned to her quickly, his eyes wide.
"The biggest ride? Arty, you've never been on a ride before in your life!"
"I've been on the Bioship when Superboy was driving it, couldn't that count?"
Wally chuckled. "Okay, that was a disaster, and could be an amusement ride, I'll admit it. But, are you sure you want to go on this one? It's crazy, I don't think you can stomach it."
Artemis scoffed, crossing her arms across her chest. "Really, Baywatch? You think I can't handle a stupid amusement park ride?"
The speedster raised his eyebrow with humor, a smile breaking forth on his lips. "I don't think you can, babe. It's a beast, especially for your first official ride."
Artemis grinned. "Alright, how about this. If I go the whole ride without getting scared, you owe me $50."
"And if you do get scared, you'll pay for a couple funnel cakes? Deal?"
Artemis shook his hand when he reached it out, sealing the bet, unclear about what a funnel cake was but was willing to risk buying some to prove to Wally that she could handle it.
Wally smirked and turned to the map, drawing an invisible line with his finger.
"Alright, it's nearby. Let's go."
The two of them weaved through the crowd and made their way past all of the people and families, the smell of hotdogs and pretzels surrounding them. Artemis half expected Wally to get deterred from his mission and go towards the food, but he stayed on track.
He must've really wanted those funnel cakes.
She looked up and saw a huge red structure, towering high above the park. It was full of loops, sharp turns, and steep drops that made her sweat even more. At least she wasn't going on that one.
But, much to Artemis' fear, Wally turned towards the entrance to this monster roller coaster, and Artemis stopped. Wally turned back to her with mischievous eyes.
"Scared?"
"Are…are we going on that one?"
Wally smiled. "Yup, it's the biggest in the park. It's not too late if you want to back down, babe."
Artemis set determination on her face. "Nope, I'm not backing down. We'll do this, and you'll owe me some money after."
Wally rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, beautiful."
They joined the line, and Artemis didn't let go of his hand. Wally didn't seem to mind, and pointed to a sign, indicating how tall you had to be to ride.
"I'm surprised that you passed the minimum, honestly. You're short."
"I'm not that short, Wally.. I'm clearly taller than the minimum. If you keep up this childish teasing I may have to punish you."
"Oh, really?" Wally flirted back, and he pulled her into a quick kiss. Artemis smiled, and she forgot about her worry for a split second.
The line moved forward slowly, but the two of them continued to chat about nothing important, which is exactly what Artemis enjoyed. The two of them lived very unique lives, it was very rare that they could appreciate normal things that everyone took for granite. Like dating.
This was only Wally and Artemis' second date, even though they've been a couple for over two years. Between the missions and the training, they hadn't had any time at all to spend together by themselves. Things were bound to change, with Wally going to college in the fall, Artemis joining him when she could, but they always appreciated the time they got to date.
Wally had wrapped his arm around her shoulder, beaming as the two of them talked, and Artemis let him pull her forward as they walked forward, her hair swaying in the breeze.
"How come these lines are so long?"
Wally shrugged. "Well, there are a lot of people here. And, it's the biggest ride, so it's a long line."
Artemis huffed. "It's so hot out here, and we have to wait?"
Wally kissed her forehead. "It's all a part of the fun, babe."
Wally soon looked down, feeling a small tug on his shirt, and he saw a young boy standing behind him, looking up at him with wonder.
The speedster kneeled down, observing that the kid was small but just tall enough to be on the ride, and smiled.
"Hey there, buddy. How can I help you?"
The kid's eyes widened as he pointed to Wally's hair.
"Your hair makes you look like Kid Flash!" The boy exclaimed wildy, and Wally grinned.
"No way, are you serious?" Wally said, his draw dropping. "I look like Kid Flash?"
The kid nodded, and Wally looked to Artemis.
"Do I look like him?"
Artemis shrugged, playing along. "Well, you do have red hair."
"I do? I thought it was blonde!"
The kid laughed, and an older woman ran up to them, face flushed. Her eyes widened when she saw the kid, and she grabbed his shoulder, pulling the boy away from them.
"I'm so sorry, he always interrupts people."
Wally waved it off, putting his hand up to the boy. "No biggie, he seems like a cool dude. High five, little man!"
The boy returned the high five, and the woman looked up from her son, smiling.
"Thank you, and I just have to say, you two are the cutest couple."
Artemis wasn't one to blush, but she did at those words.
"Thanks." She mumbled, and Wally beamed
"Thank you so much, we appreciate it."
The woman nodded, and pulled her son away from them, returning to their spot in line a ways back. Wally hoped that someone was saving their spot, the line was as long as ever.
"That was funny." Artemis said, shuffling forward. Wally nodded.
"Yeah, that's the first time that's happened to me."
Only minutes later, they were at the front of the line, and Artemis watched as the small carts on the roller coaster got filled with people, Wally pulling her along as they were allowed to enter the ride.
They got the second seat to the front, and Artemis was feeling a bit nervous. Maybe this wasn't a good idea.
But, she knew that she had to prove Wally wrong. Her pride and some cash was on the line.
Wally helped Artemis hook up the seat belt and harness, which, why in the world did it have a seat belt? The employee soon came around and made sure that it was secure before moving onto the people in front of them.
"If you fall out, I'll be sure to catch you, okay, babe?"
Artemis scowled. "That's not scaring me, Baywatch. You're going to have to try harder."
Wally smirked. "Oh, I won't have to try at all. The ride will do all of the work."
Artemis gulped, and an announcement went over the system, and soon the ride jerked, making her flinch. They were moving forward.
"Ready, Artemis?"
She nodded stiffly. "Ready."
The ride jerked once again, and they went over the steep track. They sped up as they kept falling, their stomachs lurching within their bodies. Artemis felt herself be lifted off the seat, and she screamed.
"Wally!"
She turned to her boyfriend desperately, and there was a huge smile on his face, he glanced at her, laughing.
"I knew it!"
The roller coaster slammed into a corner, making Artemis' arm bump against Wally, and began to climb up the steepest slope that she had seen.
The clacking of the machinery fell upon her ears, and it was when she looked down to the park below them she knew that they were going to fall down the height they were climbing.
Wally reached his hand over to hers, which was clutching her harness. He smiled reassuringly and humorously as they climbed higher and higher.
She could see the top, and the drop that came with it, and Artemis held on tighter.
In a second they did drop, just like she expected, and she didn't think it was possible to scream as loud as she did.
Everyone was either screeching in fear or laughing around her, but she couldn't see how this was funny. She grabbed Wally's arms desperately as much as she could with the harness, feeling the wind through her hair, and begging that it would be over soon.
More jerks and turns shook the roller coaster carts, and Artemis couldn't stop screaming, closing her eyes as the ride kept on going, the end never in sight. She could feel the coaster go on a couple loop-de-loops, making them go upside down, which nearly made her puke, and she knew that she would never go on a ride like this again.
Finally, the ride slammed to a stop, clicking, and then rolled forward. She opened her eyes to see the building they started in, a crowd waiting for their turn. Artemis shuddered as the ride soon came to a complete rest, hissing. She looked over to her boyfriend, eyes wide with fear. Wally's red hair was a complete mess, wind blown and tossed, and he reached over to unclip her harness. Yet, despite it all, he never stopped smiling.
"So? Were you scared?"
Artemis sat in her seat motionlessly, watching him with shock. Why was he so…happy? That was horrible, and yet it was like it was the best thing ever. And, not only that, he looked so cute right now, with his hair tousled and green eyes shining. Wally playfully punched her shoulder, breaking her out of her trance, and he helped her get up.
As the two made their way down the steps and to the ground, Artemis forgot how to use her feet for a second, so Wally held onto her the whole time.
"That sucked." She finally said, and Wally chuckled.
"I told you it would be tough. It's not for beginners."
"Clearly."
"Are you okay?"
She smiled at his obvious care for her. "Yeah. It was just a lot."
Wally kissed her forehead. "I know. But, for the record? A lot of people wouldn't even try. I didn't try my first time, it took three times coming here for me to even risk it. And I think I screamed more than you."
Artemis scoffed, blushing. "I'm pretty sure no one was as scared as I was."
Wally shrugged. "I…have to agree with you on that."
"Wally!"
The two of them laughed, and Wally led her across the park, Artemis following him willingly. She soon transferred her hand from his to his arm, holding on affectionately.
"Where to now?" She asked, and Wally gestured a restaurant ahead of them
"Remember? You're paying for some funnel cakes."
Ugh, right. The bet.
"What even are they?"
"You'll find out soon, babe, and this time I'll force you to enjoy it. You may not like the rides, but you gotta like the food."
Artemis sighed teasingly. "Agree to disagree?"
"Nope."
