Chapter 11

Rose Red Lake

Their plan went off without a hitch. With Levy's word magic, or Solid Script as she called it, able to activate at a distance, they managed to sneak close enough to launch their surprise attack before the two S-Class mages could spot them. Gajeel chuckled as the two powerful mages fell into Levy's well-timed trap. Lightning cracked along the edges of the hole and Gajeel leaped over the obstacle, hearing Levy mutter words and create more holes behind them. He charged down the road, trying to put as much distance between them and the destructive mages as possible.

Gajeel waited until his lungs began to burn before deciding they were a safe distance away from the two mages. He crouched, allowing Levy to hop off his back, and quickly moved to create distance between them. He could feel his heart wavering, the line between worlds twisting and turning until he couldn't remember what was dream and what was reality. He stared at the girl following him, on the verge of throwing caution to the wind and asking her all the questions that plagued his mind.

"Hey, Gajeel?"

He jerked to attention, heart thumping. He followed Levy's pointed finger towards the edge of the forest. He managed to hold back his sigh, but Levy laughed at him anyway.

At some point, I'm gonna stop bein' so surprised about what my mind decides to come up with…

Grumbling to himself, Gajeel stalked out of the forest and towards the sound of splashing water. The sweet scent of roses filled the air and the very trees around them seemed to take on a red-colored hue. Everywhere he looked, he saw pink. Pink colored trees. Pink grass. Even a rose-colored lake that splashed merrily in front of them. The bright sun glittered off the shining surface, making sparkles of red light flash across his vision.

Eyes straining in the monotone landscape, Gajeel trudged towards the edge of the lake. Levy skipped ahead towards a wooden dock. Pink water splashed up the sides of the pier and wetted the surface. A colorful boat bobbed in the water, tied to the dock with a red candy rope.

Are those…shells?

"Gajeel, look! I think it's made out of Mother of Pearl."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Shrimp," he grunted, eyeing the small boat warily.

Levy carefully stepped into the boat, despite his silent protests. "I think it'll move on its own. At least, I don't see any oars, but it obviously has to move somehow. Probably magic, based on everything else we've seen today. But how did they make it–"

Gajeel nodded at the appropriate times during Levy's long-winded explanation and studied the small boat. The tall back of the boat curved and shaded Levy's face from the gleaming red sun. The sun glinted off the colorful shell, making it shimmer blues and greens. A single purple bench rested across the base of the boat, given Levy plenty of room for her bouncing legs.

Don't know about me, though…

"What are you waiting for? Come on!"

Gajeel shook his head. "Dunno if I'll fit–"

"Don't worry, I'll scoot over."

Levy moved closer to the edge of the boat and waved him over. Praying to the mages that he wouldn't regret his decision, Gajeel untied the rope and carefully stepped into the boat. It rocked and wobbled as he slid onto the bench. His knees bunched upwards and his shoulder rested against Levy's, despite her attempt to move as close to the edge as possible.

The boat lurched forward the moment he settled into his seat. Gajeel gripped the side tightly, closing his eyes against the inevitable clench in his stomach. Several minutes passed. Water splashed and birds sang overhead. Cautiously, Gajeel cracked an eye open.

The boat lazed across the water, silently drifting towards the opposite side of the lake. Diamond fish jumped out of the waves and silver swans glided past, their golden collars twinkling in the sunlight. Gajeel rubbed his stomach, slowly easing his tight grip from the side of the boat.

"How's your motion sickness," Levy peered up at him.

"It's fine, surprisingly."

"Maybe because we're moving so slowly?"

Gajeel shrugged. A mistake, because he could already feel the warmth from Levy's shoulder seeping into his jacket sleeve. He swallowed thickly, staring out across the lake.

"Have you always gotten motion sick?"

She's just talkin'...don't let it get ta you…

"I guess. 'S been my whole life, so I dunno when it started."

"It probably was a hassle with your missions."

Gajeel started to lift his shoulder before opting for the safer option of nodding. The two lapsed into companionable silence. The pink waters lapped up the side of the boat. A swan swam past, honking loudly at its friends. Levy twisted in her seat to watch. Gajeel wrapped his arms around his knees and watched the waves slowly travel underneath the boat. Levy shifted next to him, the cramped boat making him all to aware of every movement she made.

Desperate to put some space between them, Gajeel peered around the tall back of the boat and craned his neck to look across the lake in front of them. He settled back into his seat with a huff.

Not even halfway…great.

His neck warmed and he startled when he caught Levy's bright, brown eyes staring at him. They twinkled in the sunlight and her mouth twitched.

"What?" he raised a brow at the mage, his voice coming out rougher than he intended.

"Sorry," Levy's lips quirked into a small smile. "I just can't get over the way you look right now."

Gajeel rolled his eyes, trying and failing to stretch out his legs. "Ain't my fault this blast–I mean, this boat is too small."

Levy giggled, a tinkling sound that echoed across the lake and made the swans turn to listen.

"This is so nice, much better than the last river we had to cross."

Levy leaned her head against his arm, her deep sigh of contentment moving through him. Gajeel stiffened. His throat dried and he scratched his head with his free hand.

"Um…"

"Yeah?" Levy murmured, snuggling deeper against his shoulder.

"You…ya shouldn't do that."

"Do what?"

If his heart beat any faster, he was certain she would hear it. "I warned ya, didn't I? If ya do things like this, then…then I'll–"

"I know," she said, not moving in the slightest.

"No, I don't think ya do. I'm this close…" he pinched his fingers together and waved them in front of her face. "So ya better–"

"...that's fine."

The words died on his tongue. His gaze drifted down to the top of Levy's blue hair. She shifted, blinking up at him with impossibly brown eyes and a slow, soft smile that melted away the last of his restraint. He cupped the side of her face with a hand, tracing her soft skin with the pad of his thumb. A voice in the back of his mind told him to stop, to remember that it was only a dream and could never actually happen. Levy blinked and the voice disappeared.

Gajeel swallowed thickly. "And if ya keep lookin' at me like that then…I'm…I'll hafta kiss you…"

"That's fine too," she murmured and leaned forward in her seat.

Her lips brushed against his, as soft and fleeting as a swan's wing. Gajeel sighed and closed his eyes, fully capturing her kiss. Her soft hair trailed through his fingers and her lips moved shyly against his. She was sweetness and she was spice, just like the cinnamon candies he hid in his pocket. And warm…incredibly warm. The warmth trickled through his lips and into his chest, settling deeply into his heart.

A loud screech came from the bottom of the boat and the boat pitched, flinging them backwards. The boat skidded and thudded to a halt as it beached itself on the lakeshore. Levy righted herself on the seat and tucked a hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushed an adorable pink.

Gajeel cleared his throat, a lingering warmth still on his lips. "W-well, I suppose we should get going."

Levy gave a heavy sigh and stood, rocking the boat. Gajeel blinked. Was she…pouting?

Why do I feel so happy about that?

Gajeel jumped to his feet and scrambled out of the boat. He hurried to her side of the boat and reached out a hand.

Levy peeked up at him. "Th-thank you."

Her small hand fit perfectly in his. His feet shifted in the fine sand, but her hand remained firmly in his. Once her black shoes were firmly planted on land once again, she dropped her hold and shook out her skirts. Gajeel scratched the back of his head, easily spotting the colorful road that weaved through the snowy landscape.

"Um," he cleared his throat and put out his hand, "it's…it's pretty slippery over here, so ya might want to hold on."

Levy dimpled, her cheeks still rosy from their kiss. "Good idea."

With their fingers clasped together, they made their way across the sand and towards the road, neither one of them mentioning the completely dry pathway.