Distraction in Paradise

Rated: T

Story Summary: During a hot summer day, Zack visits Aerith to help tend to the gardens but proves to be more distracting than helpful. Maybe he should put his shirt back on? …Nah.

Yay! I had this one in the works for awhile now (and the fanart had already been finished) and it actually fit with the 'Floral Paradise' prompt for Day 7 of Zerith Week so I decided to get it done real quick.

Hope you enjoy. :-3

Distracting.

Zack Fair was distracting…

SO distracting…

So much so that he must have been doing it on purpose.

Aerith Gainsborough pursed her lips, another bead of cool sweat slipping down her nape and into the hem of her white dress as she glanced over at one very distracting Zack Fair.

It all started out so normal too…

Zack had come over to help her in her garden today.

A completely normal occurrence since the day they met over a year ago. Whenever he'd get a free moment from his duties at ShinRa, he was under the plate, bursting through the church doors like a ray of pure goodness and sunshine bundled inside that gigawatt puppy dog smile. Always willing to help out at the church, the Leaf House orphanage (the kids adored and idolized the friendly SOLDIER while the slum residents were coming around) and even helping at her own home under the overly protective gaze of Elmyra from the kitchen window.

So, all in all, it was setting up to be a normal day.

Yet, it being the middle of summer under the plate, the weather was ridiculously hot today.

Abhorrently muggy and humid as hell with such little breeze because of the plate and tall walls surrounding the slums that didn't allow even the acrid wind from the wastes inside its cage. With the heat inevitably came dry crumbly soil that it had her flowers wilting. With the lack of water sources at the church and little other options, Aerith was forced to bring bucket after bucket of water for her wilting flowers before they would inevitably succumb to the heat.

Aerith was dreading each bucket as it got heavier and heavier as the sun climbed higher in the sky, until suddenly, it was being gently lifted from her hands. Immediately, she turned to berate whoever dare try and steal a bucket of all things yet instead of a thief, she met Zack's billion gil smile.

"Need some help there, pretty lady?" he asked with a wink and she hated how easily he made her face burn in a blush and knees positively weak at merely looking at his gorgeous face.

Aerith still played it coy, allowing him to take the second bucket from her quivering arm, the barest sloshing of its contents as it exchanged holders. "Hmm, I dunno. What'll it cost me?" she asked, brushing her sweating palms on her dress and hoped the muggy weather didn't make her look too frumpy considering Zack looked like he just walked off the showroom floor.

Zack's smile only widened as he tilted his head, his eyes looking up and down her form before meeting her eyes, "Hmm…how about one kiss?"

The Flower Girl's eyes slipped down to his smiling lips. While she wanted nothing more than lean up to kiss that soft plush mouth like she'd had hundreds of times before, Aerith was still a bit petty at being startled by the SOLDIER. Gathering all the coyness she could, Aerith gently twirled and gathered another dented bucket to fill with water. "I'll think about it," she sing-songed while walking back to the church leaving Zack gaping after her.

Zack groaned and Aerith bit her lip to hold back a laugh. In her mind's eye she could see his pouty bottom lip and big puppy eyes searing holes in her back. "Ugh! That's so mean!" he complained but there was a fond smile in his voice as he easily caught up to her even with his much heavier burden.

Aerith glanced at him as he walked at her side and flashed him a flirtatious smile. "Maybe when we're done watering, I'll be done thinking about it."

With those words, Zack took off towards the church at a speed no one but a SOLDIER could reach.

Aerith didn't hold back her laughter this time around.

While Aerith would normally appreciate any help (especially from one as capable and strong as her SOLDIER boyfriend), what she didn't appreciate was what he was doing now…

Aerith's cheeks were flooded with a red hue, flushed and nearly burning from the heat that wasn't caused by the uncomfortable humidity under the plate.

This was all Zack's fault.

It took an hour and Zack multiple trips and bucket after bucket of water, a sheen of sweat on his face showcasing the severe temperature (even for a SOLDIER), but yet his smile didn't fade. The two continued to work hard to make sure the plants had sufficient water to keep the flowers hydrated throughout the day and long muggy night to come. It was all going well even if the heat only intensified and the last filled bucket was gently poured into the bed of flowers when Zack finally announced that he needed a break.

During said break, Aerith had been innocently minding her business making sure there were no dry spots left in the garden when there was a sudden sound of something heavy hitting the wooden floor.

The flower girl's mouth opened, about to ask if he was alright, when Aerith turned around and froze. She could do little other than watch, stunned into silence, when she witnessed the last of Zack's armor hitting the floor with a heavy thud. Before her tongue could figure out how to work again, Zack suddenly peeled off his turtleneck top that was stuck to his sweaty back as if it was nothing to start stripping in the middle of a church! Yet no words slipped past her lips as she remained utterly transfixed watching the SOLDIER casually toss the discarded garment to one of the pews to join his boots and socks he'd removed earlier before she allowed him to step foot into the garden…

What was he going to remove next?

Pants!?

Underwear!?

Aerith's face burned at the sudden imaginings of Zack Fair strutting around naked about the church and lying amongst her flowers wearing nothing a coy smile. A sudden ache developed between her legs and she pressed them together in mortification. Damn these teenage hormones! Forcefully, she pulled her eyes away from a bead of sweat perspiring down the lithe muscles and tanned skin of Zack's back and to the, now rather uninteresting, soil underneath her fingertips.

Zack was doing it on purpose, he had to be!

"Wet enough?" Zack's voice came from somewhere above her and she almost screamed.

The words he said suddenly hit her like a rampaging Chocobo - her cheeks were scalding. "Excuse me?" her voice completely changing octaves for a second while Zack merely flashed her a strange look at her outburst.

"I asked if the flowers and soil were wet enough? Do ya need me to get a few more buckets of water for them?" he clarified while kneeling down next to her. A concerned look flashing on his face and she wondered just how red her cheeks were because they felt like they were gonna burn right off.

Aerith shook her head and forced a smile on her face to hopefully cover the embarrassment she was feeling. "Nope. No need. They should be fine until tomorrow at least."

Zack nodded absently, brows furrowed a bit and before she realized he even moved, the back of his long strong fingers brushed away her sweaty bangs and pressed against her forehead.

Aerith froze.

The SOLDIER's face now so close to hers that she could count the very faint freckles scattered across his nose and the beauty mark on his jaw. The precise thin line of the cross shaped scar on his cheek and how ridiculously thick and lush his eyelashes were. Thick lips were pursed as he looked at her with those eyes... Those perfect eyes, reminding her of a sky that would never scare her - a sky she wouldn't mind falling into for eternity…

Dammit! Her cheeks only grew hotter.

"Shit, babe, you're burning up. You should really take a break, Aer." Zack said with such kind concern it had her shoulders deflating as he gently pulled her to sit amongst the lilies along with him.

Heart still hammering unpleasantly fast but his touch soon became more comforting rather than distracting like earlier. Aerith glanced down at his perfect chest, rock hard stomach and six-pack abs glistening with beads of sweat that disappeared into the pants resting sinfully low on those chiseled hip bones…

Never mind.

"I'm fine," Aerith lied with a smile, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand and finally relaxing as they sat together amongst the lilies they worked so hard to save today.

Zack's eyes flickered across her face and Aerith was worried he'd see beyond her thin veneer coating to the very heart of her…and he did - he always did.

Yet, kind, kind Zack would never pry.

Merely smiling at her as he gently coerced her to gently lay back amidst the floral paradise in the sanctuary of the church they met in. The heat of the day cooled by the grass and flower petals they found themselves resting in. The two lovers lying right underneath the hole in the ceiling where he literally fell into her life like an Angel falling from Heaven and changing her world forever.

Aerith curled a hand over her heart and silently thanked Gaia that he did…

Peering over at her SOLDIER, Zack lay amongst the petals and stems with his eyes closed, his black hair a beautiful contrast to the yellow and green that he rested upon. To think merely a year ago, she was yelling him to not step on the flowers, and now how easily she allowed him to nap in them. How a mere twelve months ago, how she could never have imagined how the boy who fell through the ceiling of the church (and nearly gave her a heart attack doing so) would change her entire life for the better. How unbelievably fast she fell for his boyish smile and handsome face. An innocent crush quickly transforming into this all consuming love - a love she had no idea she could even feel before the first time she peered into his endlessly blue eyes.

Overcome with this sudden emotion, Aerith's fingers gently reached out and she gently nestled her hand into his. Like a puzzle piece finally finding the spot it always belonged, a comforting embrace she could never live without now that she knew what it felt like to know and desperately love Zack Fair.

Zack opened his eyes, turning his head to look over at her where, instead of his body that beckoned her more primal needs, it was his smile and gentle eyes that always made her heart skip a beat that she noticed.

The love echoed back to her the most distracting and most wonderful thing of all…

Before she knew it, Aerith had picked a flower.

An rare occurrence, something she never tended to do unless it was going to be sold, and presented the lily to Zack. She's pressed it close to his face, the petals tickling his nose and his eyes went crossed for a second to look at it which made her immediately giggle.

Zack looked back at her and smiled cheekily, "Thanks," he said as she gently placed it behind his ear. "So, what do I owe you, beautiful?"

Aerith blushed at his compliment knowing she probably looked sweaty and hair limp but his sincerity was never to be questioned. She bit her lip, using her free hand to put her finger to her chin as if thinking hard. "Hmm…"

Zack's smile only grew as he waited for her answer and it stunned her just how sunny and bright his smile was - the sun could be put to shame in comparison.

"Oh, I know!" she said while proudly holding up a single finger, "…How about one kiss?"

Cheeks burning at her own forwardness, Aerith's smile faltered a bit but never fell as Zack merely scooted closer to her.

Aerith's heart hammered pleasantly against her sternum as she felt a rush of his soft breath against her cheek before he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers. Immediately, she closed her eyes and melted into it. A shiver from the top of her head to the tip of her toes from the mere brush of his lips upon her own. No matter how many times he kissed her - it always felt as electric as the first - no materia required.

Zack pulled away after only a second and lay back down as if going to sleep.

Aerith merely stared at him and wondered if it was normal to want to yell at him right about now.

Yet before she could, Zack opened one eye and looked at her with a cocky grin on his face. "What?" he asked innocently and Aerith's cheeks burned. "You said one kiss so one kiss it is."

Unamused, Aerith flashed him a look.

Zack's smile only grew, "Ya know... You did say you'd think about owing me a kiss from earlier," he reminded her.

Aerith stared at him rather unimpressed before letting out a, "Hmph. Well. I maybe I changed my mind," and began to sit back up.

Before she could, Zack lunged, grasping her hand and gently pulled her back down into the bed of flowers.

Aerith opened her mouth to scream and berate him but any words she would have spoken were swallowed up but his lips and tongue and the caress of his hands on her sweaty body.

Mouth open and insistent, Zack kissed the breath right out of her lungs.

A pleasant ache in her chest as she kissed him back. Who needed oxygen when Zack's mouth felt and tasted this good? Instead of verbal admonition, praise or some combination of the two, Aerith let out a long breathy moan as the one kiss she owed him led to a dozen she wanted to give him and vice versa. Relentlessly, his mouth moved against her own, his tongue delving and wrestling hers and the softest nips of his teeth upon her bottom lip. Aerith's bare toes curled against the coolness of the garden as he sucked her tongue into his mouth and she could do little other than let out a visceral moan.

Before she knew what was happening, Zack had gently rolled her onto her back as Zack lay on top. Even with his weight, the heat emanating from his Mako-infused body, the sheer heat roiling off his skin coupled with the horrid heat of the day suddenly didn't matter. So lost was she in the feel of his sweat-slicked skin and the press of his mouth along her jaw that she could be set on fire and probably not even notice right now.

No words were spoken, mere breaths and groans as they lost themselves to nothing but each other.

A few moments later, Zack pulled back from her lips with a soft pop. Aerith stared up at him through bleary eyes to stare at his wet kiss-swollen lips and half-lidded gaze and an expression of a heady combination of love and lust she felt proud to be the one to put on his gorgeous face.

Sure, Zack Fair may be distracting, but two could play at that game after all.

That was Aerith's only thought before she took his limited distraction and sudden confidence to pull her dress over her head. Throwing the garment towards his discarded clothes and there she lay in only her underwear amidst the flowers, flashing him the same coy smile he gave her earlier.

Zack's surprise didn't last long as he merely flashed her a tender smile before his mouth returned to hers and he kissed her again and again and again. Heat delving into an inferno as the two lost themselves to the most visceral expression of love they could share. One that only the lilies surrounding them and caressing their bodies got to witness.