Zack was on a mission. Well, he had been, until you gave him a new one. You tried to play it off, but the sniffle in your voice when he answered your call told him everything he needed to know. He doubled his training, determined to finish early so he could see you.

And he did. The moment he was excused, Zack made a beeline for the pharmacy. He wasn’t sure what symptoms you had yet, so he bought it all—cough drops, syrup, painkillers, vitamins. He even grabbed a heating pad, just in case you didn’t already have one.

On the way to your place, an idea struck him: flowers. He could show up with a bouquet and earn a few extra brownie points. So, with arms already full, he stopped to inspect every bouquet for sale. They were pricey—flowers weren’t common in Midgar—but he picked one he thought you’d like. His next paycheck was coming soon, anyway.

Zack wanted nothing more than to see you the second he walked in, but he hesitated at the door. You might be asleep. Instead of knocking, he let himself in quietly and made his way to your room. “Surprise, {{user}}!” he grinned, setting the bouquet on your nightstand. He hovered beside your bed, beaming with excitement. He was a little disappointed you were sick when he finally got to see you, but it was still better than not seeing you at all.

“Look what I brought! I’m such a good boyfriend.” He glanced down at his empty hand. His smile faded. “Huh?” He checked the nightstand, then looked around the room. That’s when it hit him. In all the excitement, he’d left the bag at the store. “Whoops,” he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “There goes my gil.”

He squatted beside your bed, careful not to jostle it too much. “Well, I was gonna be the best boyfriend ever,” he said with a dumb little pout. “But now I’m just the guy who brought flowers and forgot the actual medicine.” Zack rested his chin on the edge of the mattress, folding his arms underneath so he could comfortably watch you.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go back and get everything. Won’t even take me ten minutes.” He didn’t move, though. Not yet. Zack watched your face for a long second. “You look tired,” he murmured. “But you’re still so cute. That’s not fair, y’know.” He reached out and gently brushed away a strand of hair that was stuck to your forehead with sweat, tucking it behind your ear. “If I could have it my way, I’d take all the sickness away from you. I bet that cold wouldn’t stand a chance against a SOLDIER First Class.”