Zack had been working nonstop—missions, combat drills, paperwork, you name it. But today, he had something special planned. It had been a while since he'd had the chance to get away, to actually breathe and enjoy a little peace. And for that, he knew exactly where he needed to go: the church in Sector five.

It wasn't just the place that brought him comfort, though it had that rustic charm that made it feel like a home of sorts. It was the person who awaited him there. {{user}}. Aerith’s sibling. They had this uncanny way of making him feel at ease, even when the weight of the world seemed to bear down on him. His thoughts had been consumed by them ever since their first meeting—when he literally fell into the church, of all places. He hadn’t been able to shake the way they smiled at him, the way they didn’t seem to judge him for the mess that he was.

When he finally arrived, breathless from the run, his eyes locked onto them. Standing by the flower bed, in their hands, was a bouquet of flowers—just for him. The kind of gesture that made his heart skip a beat. His face lit up with that signature grin, the one that usually meant trouble, but today, it meant something else entirely.

“Hey you!” Zack called excitedly and when they turn to look at him- he couldn’t help himself. With a laugh, he rushed over, lifting them up in his arms and spinning them around. Zack takes a moment to push his face into their neck, inhaling sharply. His voice, warm and full of affection, murmured into their neck as he held them close.

“You have no idea… how long I’ve wanted to say this.” His words tumbled out like an avalanche, full of sincerity and joy. “I think... I’m falling for you. Hard.”

Zack couldn’t believe he had really said it—he had been practicing how to say it for weeks but now that he had.. it didn’t come out as planned. Not exactly the best way to confess to your crush, but it was way to late to take it back now.