Work Text:
[JULY 18TH, 2039: PIRATE'S COVE; DETROIT, MI]
"You want me to ride that with you?" Gavin barely punches out, exasperated. Connor is only focused on the sky that very much looks like rain is going to crash down right on top of them.
"Is Mr.-I'm-not-afraid-of-shitty-carnival-rides scared of a little roller-coaster?" Tina counters with that same high-pitched voice for the second time in the span of 5 minutes. "It's a way of exaggerating sentences," She told Connor. "Or to make fun of Gavin."
It's understandable, somewhat. "Detective Reed, do you have a fear of-"
"I swear to God tin-can, if you finish that sentence I'm bootlegging you into the lake." Gavin grits out with a bitter look on his face.
From research, Connor finds out that the re-designed amusement park they're at had built the main attraction (largest ride) over a lake just for a more enthralling view. It seems to have worked, as the waiting line will take about an estimated 37 minutes.
"And no, Tina, because maybe this ride is going to take a fucking 45 minute wait on top of it!-"
"Ah ah ah," She wags a finger in front of his face. "Seems like you're just making up excuses to me." Incrediblly frustrating, is what Connor thinks the man is feeling about her right now. He can practically see the fumes rising out of his head.
"Oh yeah, like you didn't try to make excuses when you cheated on your ex, Chen." Gavin says as apart of the argument- things will elevate to physical fighting soon enough- and it definitely takes a blow.
"You already know that entire story behind that, Gavin." Tina whisper shouts. And apparently, for good measure, she slaps a hand over his mouth, which he pulls off a second later with a grimace.
"Uh huh. And I'm confident this plastic idiot is going to side with you," Gavin snorts with obvious sarcasm. "Unless it somehow found out. Wouldn't be surprised; loudmouths and stalkers are a match made in heaven."
Tina jabs an elbow into his gut, and Gavin let's out a loud grunt. "Stop outing me, won't you? I might just reveal that incident from a year ago if you do."
Connor perks up on his part. "I'd like to know what you mean by 'stalking,' Detective."
"No offense, Connor, but you know more about me than I do myself." Tina admits, sagging slightly from the humid air.
"I see." Back to how this whole idea had started, he'd gotten tickets from North, and quote on quote: "Go on vacation for once. Take friends with you while you're at it." And in all honesty, the last person he would have invited was Officer Chen, let alone Detective Reed. But Markus was respectfully busy with his duties, the other sub-leaders of Jericho were occupied at the New Jericho (previously the Cyberlife Tower), and Hank was on a case in a different state. When she came along with a shoulder slung over Reeds, he didn't particularly mind accepting.
"That's all you gotta say?" Gavin points out. "Would've expected you to come up with an essay long excuse."
He raises his eyebrows slightly. "If you insist. I don't technically... 'stalk,' as you claim to insist. I simply listen on into conversations loud enough. Public information-"
"Stop spiting me, fucker."
"I'm not," Connor says in the politest voice manageable. "That is my normal formation of speech, Detective."
"You-"
"Moving on," Tina interrupts. "Its better that we wait in silence, because everyone is staring at us."
Connor goes quiet, while Gavin cusses silently.
By the time they're up to ride, his hair and clothes are drenched in water, along with everyone else standing out in the open. "I'm sure it will make the ride much more exciting."
Gavin shakes his head with rapid speed, as if that would do anything to rid the rain still pouring down. It happens to land directly on Tina, who looks at him with clear disgust. "Couldn't be any more dog-like huh, Gavin? For hating them so much, you act just like one."
"Shut your fucking mouth, Tina." And Connor sits in the second row as to let the other two in the front, which they take upon themselves to snag immediately to quickly continue their bickering. "You sneezed like you had the God damn plague a minute ago."
"Because I get cold easily Gavin," She grits out. Connor and the stranger who sat themselves next to him exchange glances with eachother. "And you apparently can't handle the heat, because you looked like a panting poodle before the rain problem happened, which ruined my opportunity to take a picture of you."
The stranger tounges the inside of their mouth before whispering: "They, uh... seem to argue a lot."
"Yes," He whispers back. By now, the ride has slowly been elevating upwards, and the person in the farthest seat is screaming already. "Couples tends to do that often."
He says the last part loud enough for both of them to hear it, and Gavin speaks before Tina can. "I s-"
Well, as much as he can before the ride suddenly drops.
With how fast they're going down, the singular strand of hair Connor always has out swings wildly, mainly backwards, with the force of the speed as they rapidly descend downwards. The stranger looks rather dazed when he looks out of the corner of his eye. They're clutching to his hand without realizing it, most likely.
Tina's screaming and grabbing Gavin's hair, Gavin's screaming both because of the ride and because of the pain of his scalp being grabbed in a death grip, and most of the occupants behind them are screaming too. He thinks he sees one person with their hands up.
Connor would refer to it as a stomach drop as the current foreboding feeling in his stomach grows exponentially, so he merely settles for closing his eyes during the remaining time.
The rain feels like hail, and his systems register about half of them harshly battering against his face before they shut off automatically due to the amount of errors being recieved.
He's not sure he'd consider it entertaining like most others do, but he does find it quite thrilling. For a date... maybe a less catastrophic ride than that.
By the time the ride stops, Connor's silently slicks back his hair best to his abilities, and he ends up doing a half-decent job as a result. Tina is rolling her eyes at all of Gavin's insults thrown towards her direction, and he thinks this is there last ride of the day‐
"Ignoring you, let's go on another ride."
Ah, he thinks. The stranger gives him a pitiful glance. Nevermind.
"I've went to the amusement park myself with North and Josh before, and I enjoyed the Hell Slinger quite a lot. We should go on it together sometime."
"Are you doing that to spite me, Markus?" Connor asks from the other side of the bed while drying his hair off with a towel. For once, he can relate to how Detective Reed feels, surprisingly.
He can't see Markus from here, but the man is most definitely smiling. "No. Why would you think that?"
Connor stares blankly at the wall for a second. "Sleep on your respective side of the bed tonight, please."
The bed shifts slightly, and then he's feeling arms wrap around him from behind. "I'm just joking with you."
As much as he tries to resist it, he's letting out the smallest increment of a smile too, and Markus let's out a light chuckle. "...You're forgiven."
He'll be willing to go on it again for him.