Balance
by Kenboy
July 4, 2002
"No! You're so not getting me up there!"
"C'mon, it'll be fun."
"I don't like heights."
"Oh, please. You're just afraid of being trapped at the top – alone – with a good lookin' black man. You're afraid you won't be able to control yourself!"
Cordelia smacked him. "I'll control myself just fine. Let's go."
"Oooh, a challenge," smirked Gunn.
She hit him again as they got in line.
*
The wheel went around twice without stopping before Cordelia let on she knew. "When do we get stuck at the top?"
Gunn tried to feign innocence, but it didn't work.
"I saw you slip the kid $5 when we got on."
"You saw that? Damn. I was real subtle, too."
"Yes, because everyone shakes hands with the ride operator."
"Maybe I knew him from the neighborhood!"
"Yeah, lots of pimply white boys with southern accents back in the neighborhood."
With a sudden lurch, the wheel stopped spinning. Gunn blushed.
"Mmm-hmm." Cordelia leaned back, folding her hands behind her head. "So?"
"What?"
"Make your move, big boy."
Gunn blushed again. "You're not making this easy, you know!"
"Yep."
He sighed. "Cordy, I just..."
"Yes?"
"Stop that!"
She laughed. "You're kinda cute when you get all flustered, you know."
Gunn's jaw dropped involuntarily. "Really?"
"Yeah." She leaned in and kissed him.
*
They met up with the rest of the gang later, in time for the fireworks.
"You guys have fun on the rides?" asked Wesley as they sat on the blanket spread out on the sand.
"Yeah...it was cool."
Cordelia grinned at Gunn's underplayed comment. "Yeah," she added. "Cool."
Willow, up for the holiday, looked at them critically before she settled back against Oz's chest. Catching Cordy's eye, she raised an eyebrow at her and Gunn. Cordelia's blush was answer enough, and Willow grinned back.
Angel looked around at the two couples and smirked. "Wesley, buddy, you wanna go grab a pint someplace?"
"Yeah, why don't we," he replied. The two of them walked off into the night, leaving the two happy couples alone under the fireworks.
