Screams and laughter filled the air. The aroma of fried food and sweet candies was strong. Everywhere there were colors and bright lights making them all the eye could see.
Jin Ling loved and hated amusement parks.
For the most part, he loved the thrilling rides and attractions. He enjoyed the overly priced foods and the cheerful mascots running around.
The one thing he hated the most though was the roller coaster.
Everything about them screamed danger. In his opinion, roller coasters were just death traps on wheels. Why would someone willingly sit in a small metal box with wheels that speed down a thin track and hope to come out alive? Let's not even talk about the loops! I mean, if the speed wasn't bad enough, let's just make this tiny box flip upside while you're strapped down with one or two seat belts.
Thanks but no thanks.
And yet here he was, strapping a threadbare seat belt across his waist, the tiny boxcar a bit to small for his larger body.
If it weren't for him, he never have subjected himself to this torture.
But how can he say no when Lan Sizhui was giving him that heart wrenching smile and a small ‘please’ against his lips?
So here he was, sitting in a small death trap on wheels, squished between the cold metal siding and the warm side of the boy he was in love with.
“I'm so excited. I heard this is one of the fastest roller coasters around,” Lan Sizhui exclaimed enthusiastically as the metal safety bar descended onto their laps, trapping them into the death box for the unseen future.
Jin Ling remained quiet, fearing that if he opened his mouth, something other than words would come out.
Instead he tried to focus on Sizhui's voice. The soothing timbre of it, the way he spoke each word with care even with the excitement lacing his words.
Upfront, the ride operator was giving his speech on what not to do on the ride. Jin Ling didn't really need to worry about that. He wasn't going to unbuckle his seat belt or stick his hands anywhere other than on the rickety bar holding him down.
The car jolted slightly before it began it's slow approach along the track.
His hands squeezed tighter on the bar, his knuckles white from the strength that he was squeezing it with.
Sizhui looked over at Jin Ling, his smile broad and beautiful. He didn't even realize the fear in Jin Ling's eyes or the cold sweat rolling down his neck.
The roller coaster slowed to a stop at the first peak along the track. Jin ling looked out over the amusement park. If he was afraid of heights, he was sure to have fainted right then and there. It felt like he was being deceived. The view was a beautiful sight to see. The lights shined brightly in the dimming evening sky. It was much quieter at their height. The only sounding being the excited chatter of everyone on the roller coaster and the mechanical gears working along the tracks. It was like the calm before the storm. Everything was calm and wonderful before the earth fell beneath your feet.
Tipping over the edge of the peak, the roller coaster sped down the hill at an extreme speed. Twists and turns jolting Jin Ling from side to side. Screams and cheers sounded from the people around him.
Jin Ling felt like he was about to be sick.
His eyes squeezed shut as the cart ran along the track, more and more twists and turns and hills speeding them along.
It was fast, to say the least.
A cool breeze swept past his cheeks, cooling the burn of his skin before it even had a chance to flush his skin.
If he ignored the fact that he was going insanely fast while sitting in a small car several feet in the air, he would have said the air whipping past his cheeks felt nice.
However, he couldn't forget that one tiny fact.
The longer the ride went on, the more Jin Ling wished he had opted out of it altogether.
Eventually the ride began to slow its pace. It crept along the track leisurely before stopping.
His ears were ringing and he was sure he looked just as bad as he felt. He hadn't even opened his eyes yet.
The bar raised from their laps as the operator thanked them for coming on the ride.
“A-Ling?”
Slowly Jin Ling opened his eyes. Sizhui's warm gaze was looking at him, a question hung in the air.
With shaking hands Jin Ling unbuckled his seat belt. He felt like a newborn fawn that had just realized what its legs were for.
A warm hand slid across his lower back, steadying him and he stood up and stepped out of the death box.
Sizhui remained quiet as they made their way down the ramp and away from the roller coaster.
They walked over to one of the many benches along the parks pathways.
Jin Ling slumped down onto the seat, his legs no longer willing to hold him up. His head bent down to rest between his knees as his breathing attempted to return to normal.
He hadn't realized Sizhui had walked away until he felt something cold press against his cheek.
Looking up, he saw Sizhui crouched in front of him. He was pressing a cold cup against Jin Ling's feverish cheek. There was a look in Sizhui's eyes that Jin Ling wished he hadn't put there.
“A-Ling, are you alright?”
A moment had passed before Jin Ling nodded his head, still not trusting himself to speak.
“Did… do you not like roller coasters?” Sizhui asked quietly.
Shaking his head, Jin Ling was too tired and drained to snap back a snarky reply.
“No…” he muttered, his throat felt dry and horse as if he was the one screaming on the ride.
“Why didn't you say anything?”
Jin Ling sat back in his seat. He took the cup that Sizhui had been pressing against his cheek.
Thankfully it was just ice water. If it had been any sugary beverage, he's sure his stomach would have rebelled.
“You were so excited for it.” Jin Ling mumbled, his cheeks tinting a soft pink. He wasn’t sure whether it was from his embarrassment or the thrill of the ride catching up to him.
“But if I had known-”
“I still would have gone… because you wanted to go on it. I couldn't just let you go alone.”
Sizhui looked torn. Part of him wanted to scold Jin Ling for doing something he clearly didn't want to do, and another part was giddy that he was willing to do something he didn't want to do just to make Sizhui happy.
There was silence between them. At first Jin Ling thought that Sizhui was mad at him. He hadn't seen the older boy mad before so he didn't know what to expect.
However, he definitely didn't expect Sizhui to stand up, walk the remainder of the distance towards Jin Ling. He didn't expect Sizhui to lean down and place his warm, soft lips against Jin Ling's forehead.
“You're too good to me, A-Ling.”
Amusement parks were loud and colorful. There were many thrilling rides and attentions to see and plenty of food to eat.
Yet none of it compared to how Jin Ling felt as he lifted his head to kiss the warm, soft lips of the boy he loves.
Name: Joc AO3: daretoliveforever Twitter: kingtsunashi