What One Does For Love
Final Fantasy VII
By DarkHybridChild
Notes: I am once again drowning in FF7 Hell because my co-conspirators ALynnL and Cinnerman and I went flailing over a fanart pic someone made of Zack and his grin and then we descended down into Zerith hell because DO NOT SEPARATE THESE TWO. THEY ARE A SET. And when ppl say "a perfect hetero couple doesn't exis-' SHOW THEM THESE TWO. -foams at the mouth and flops around on the floor- Anyway, I suppose I should shut up. Enjoy, everyone, I'll be over here in my corner gross sobbing.
There was very little Zack wouldn't do for Aerith. He would've gladly dove from the top of the Shin-Ra building or even headbutted an oncoming train for her. And yet, she never asked anything big of him.
Sometimes he wished she would, she was so humble and kind it honestly made something ache and possibly break inside his chest—or was it his ribs?—every single time she smiled at him and shook her head when he would ask her if there was anything, anything at all that she wanted.
Needless to say the day she finally did ask him for something made him overjoyed.
"You want to go to the Theatre District?" He asked, almost in a bemused stupor.
"Oh, yes! I heard that they're having a grand festival this week! Music, lights, dancers and actors of all kinds will be putting on shows! Oh, I'd love to see it just once. Please, Zack? Will you take me?"
He didn't even wait a heartbeat before immediately responding. "Of course I will! Leave it to me."
Her radiant smile made the strain of his own cheeks in response and racing heart worth it. The way she grasped his hands with her own and squeezed never failed to turn his own grip weak.
She gleefully spun them around. "I can't wait! It'll be something to really remember, my first time going above the plate. …I'm already a little nervous, but the excitement's stronger." She murmured.
"You won't fall up into the sky, I promise. I'll keep you here on the ground." Zack promised.
"Oh, you… Hey, don't make fun of me!" She cried, giving him the briefest of pouts. That look never failed to send him into a flailing frenzy as he attempted to remedy and soothe her over even though he knew she wasn't truly mad.
"Sorry, sorry! But I mean it. I won't let anything happen to you, you're too important. I'll make sure we have the best time, okay?" He apologized.
Her smile returned, just as bright, just as beautiful. "Okay. I'm counting on you."
Honestly those were the best words Zack lived to hear from her. Other than the times she would quietly say 'I love you', as she looked up at him with a tender gaze and an almost bashful smile.
He was so, so lucky to have found her, for her to be in his life and accept his companionship.
It was honestly a miracle he didn't just combust with all the feelings she filled him with. He felt like he could take on anything in the world.
Zack Fair was the most head-over-heels, love-sick fool in Midgar, possibly the world. But he wouldn't change it for anything.
Aerith Gainsborough considered their meeting to be Fate, and while she had never expected things to turn out this way, she was happy. Truly. There was someone out there, waiting just for her. Childish, and potentially hopelessly romantic dreams they had been, the fact it was real made it all the more important to her.
So when Zack took her hand a few days later and pulled her into a shop, only to regale her with a beautiful new dress, donning quite the formal outfit himself, she was speechless, heart beginning to thrum excitedly.
"Shall we be on our way, my Lady?" He asked, playful grin on his face as he offered her his hand.
"Yes! Let's go." She urged, the excitement slipping into her tone as she took said hand.
The train ride was quick, although she had felt nervous, Zack distracted her with his endless chatter of things they would see.
Stepping off the train onto the platform, for the first time, she viewed the twilit sky above and all the different lights surrounding the area as people bustled about.
She clutched Zack's arm unconsciously. "It's so… So different than what I thought it would be like." She murmured.
"Is it good, though?" He asked in response.
Looking around once more, taking in the sights before her, a slow smile came to her face as she nodded. "Yeah. It's good."
"Then come on, the first show is about to start!" Zack replied, gently guiding her down the street.
The show was wonderful, the actors engaged with the crowd, the music accompanying it was perfect and when it was over, Aerith's heart was beating so fast from the rush she felt lightheaded.
"Hey, you alright?" Zack asked her concernedly.
She smiled dreamily up towards him in return. "I'm okay. I'm just so…overwhelmed. Thank you for bringing me. It's beautiful, how everything comes together in the show, with the music and the actors, even the dancing!" She gushed.
He grinned in return. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. Come on, there's still some more things to see."
She eagerly took his arm and let him guide her through the streets once more.
Music poured from a corner, musicians were playing and there was a gathered crowd, dancing there on the street.
"Oh, that looks like fun. Will you dance with me, Zack?" Aerith asked.
He gave her a grin. "Sure, but I gotta warn you: I don't really know how to dance."
"I don't either, but how hard can it be? Let's try!" She replied.
So he took her hand and led her towards the crowd before pulling her in closer to himself like the others were doing.
They stumbled and stepped on one another's feet as they tried to figure out how to move together, all the while laughing and giggling at one another. Stopping for a moment to readjust themselves, Zack leaned down to press his forehead to Aerith's, grinning for all he's worth.
"Not so easy, is it?" He asked.
She giggled in response. "No, definitely not. But it's okay. Because this is ours. That's what matters."
The music slowly wound down from something upbeat to a slow, languid waltz.
"Ours…" Zack echoed. His hand squeezed Aerith's gently, arm around her waist drawing her just a little closer.
"Yeah. This moment, this memory it will become, everything now… It's all ours. No one can take that away from us." She breathed.
Her eyes closed and a moment later found her head resting against Zack's chest.
Almost like magic, the two began to sway as one in time to the music.
It was picturesque, and perfect; like a scene from a fairy tale, with the two of them lost within the spell that was the music.
But all things have to end, and when it did, it was almost like waking from a trance.
"Thank you, Zack." Aerith murmured softly as she lifted her head, eyes slowly opening.
"Anything for you, Aerith." Zack replied, his voice soft.
Leaning up, a gentle flush rising to her cheeks, Aerith pressed a small kiss to Zack's lips. "Let's go back now, it's starting to get late." She urged.
"Oh, yeah. You're right, the time seemed to just slip away. Come on." Hand in hand, they walked back to the station and took the train back to the slums.
Zack escorted her home, smiling widely once they arrived. "Here we are."
"Thanks, Zack. I had such a good time, really. It means everything to me." Aerith murmured.
"Hey, any time. I mean it. If there's anywhere you want to go or anything you want to do, just tell me. We'll make it happen." He assured her.
Surprising him, Aerith threw her arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes with a wide smile. "Thank you. I'm so lucky to have met you, Zack."
He didn't hesitate in practically lifting her up as if she were a Princess. "Ditto. Meeting you has been the best thing, ever."
She gazed down at him, smile turning soft as her eyes misted with emotion. "I love you." She whispered out, face tinged pink again.
Feeling his heart hammering in his chest yet again, Zack smiled back. "Love you, too, Aerith. Always."
Spinning around with her once, he set her down, leaning in to place a kiss to her cheek. "See you tomorrow?" He asked.
"I'll be here." She promised.
Nodding with a grin, he reluctantly let go of her and gave a wave before making his way back to the station.
There was very little Zack wouldn't do for Aerith…
But the things he would do?
He'd do gladly and willingly.
-End-