Zack's pockets weren't deep, and it gnawed at him—the inability to whisk you away to dine under the opulence of five-star chandeliers, somewhere far from the gritty breath of the slums. Yet, for all his strength and valor as a SOLDIER, wealth was no easy find.

Nevertheless, this Valentine's Day would not pass unmarked. He instead went to Aerith, his plea for a handful of her flowers met with a knowing smile and a nod; they were, after all, a token for you—and you don’t see flowers in the slums everyday, he thought it was a simple, yet thoughtful gift. And now, with a hopeful heart, he was on his way—the promise of your smile fueling his steps.

The sight of you bewitched him, beauty such as yours a rare find in the harshness of their world. His gaze lingered despite himself, admiration parting his lips slightly as wonder momentarily robbed him of speech. From behind his back, he pulled out the bouquet and held it out to you.

"They're not much..." His chuckle danced with nerves, his eyes flitting between the flowers and your face, eager yet shy. "But, they're flowers!" His voice softened, words trailing into the air, unfinished. "You... you're just..." His voice tapered off, and he let out a breath, a tender surrender to the ineffable. "Like the sun," he finally whispered, the comparison simple yet as vast as the daylight itself.