#zerith week

@zerithweek - Day 7 - Sanctuary & Transience of Life

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII

Pairing: Zack Fair x Aerith Gainsborough (Zerith)

Rated: T

Story Summary: Zerith Flower Shop AU. Aerith quietly sells flowers in her tiny shop located in Midgar when the new tall, dark and devastatingly handsome delivery driver catches her eye - and steals her heart in the process.

.....

Setting: Takes place in Midgar but Shinra is merely an energy company so there was never SOLDIER nor Hojo to ruin everything. Yet not all is well because with the pollution still plentiful in Midgar, any plant life within the city struggles to thrive.

Characters: Aerith, hiding her Cetra heritage from the world yet wanting to use her powers for good in some way, opens the only flower shop in Midgar. It became a way to survive and also fill the dreary Midgar and its people's lives with a little bit of color and a touch of happiness. Yet because of what she is, she's still rather shy and hesitant to branch out, and other than her customers, doesn't know much of the world outside of the city.

Zack is a delivery driver from Gongaga. With no SOLDIER or other options available to him, Zack is naturally restless. Never being able to stay still in the stifling quiet of his tiny hometown, Zack was determined to travel by any means necessary. Which he fulfilled by accidentally making a business out of delivering people's special orders of Gongaga's Famous Imports of Mushrooms and various plants all across the world.

...This is the story of how they met.

...........

Damn, he was hot… No! Gorgeous!

That's all Aerith could really focus on regarding the delivery guy stepping into her shop.

Tall, dark and handsome would be all the other adjectives she could also associate with him. The captivating stranger delivering her soil and new batch of potted plants she ordered special from Gongaga stood easily over six feet tall, statuesque and incredibly athletic. Framed with thick broad shoulders and a nice rich tan that showcased a life spent out in the sunshine. Arms lined with impressive sinewy muscles, that would probably feel amazing to be wrapped in, all thick broad angles accentuated by a sleeveless wool turtleneck and loose cargo pants that did wonders for his already incredible figure.

Yet nothing could compare to his gorgeous face.

Sexy dimples framing a bright white smile and the prettiest pair of exquisite blue eyes she had ever seen. All this untamed beauty could only be finished off with the wildest yet adorable thick black hair spiked back to better show off his features with a single stubborn strand of ebony resting against his forehead. Even the cross shaped scar on his jaw merely added to his appeal…

Aerith was already in love and she didn't even know his name.

Yet what better way than to introduce herself first to get it?

...............

Damn, she was pretty… No! Beautiful!

That's all Zack could really focus on towards the florist when walking into her quaint shop.

Standing at least a head shorter than himself and paired with a gorgeous hourglass figure. Petite and lithe in the tapered waist cinched by her white apron but generous in the flared feminine curves of her shapely hips and modest breasts. All curves and softness he wanted to press against himself were hugged perfectly by the flowy pink dress that looked amazing contrasted against flawless milky skin. Hair made of bountiful russet curls flecked with hints of cinnamon in every other strand and held back in a pink bandana and lively ponytail that trailed down past her waist.

She couldn't be more his type if she tried.

Yet somehow she was when he became immediately enthralled in her enchanting face for the first time. Beautiful, dainty and heart shaped framed by two twisted ringlet bangs, accentuated by the cutest little button nose sprinkled with light freckles, softest looking cupid's bow pink lips and the most ethereal pair of green eyes he'd ever seen in his damn life. She was so heavenly, he could have sworn he'd died and was greeted into the gates of paradise by the most beautiful angel ever created by Gaia's hands…

Zack was already in love and he didn't even know her name.

Yet what better way than to introduce himself first to get it?

...................

"Hello, I'm Aerith."

"Heya! I'm Zack."

"…"

"…"

They'd spoken out at the exact same time.

Zack was the first to break the silence with a chuckle and embarrassed smile which Aerith followed shortly after with a breathy giggle behind a dainty hand.

"Heh. Let's try that again, shall we?…" he theatrically cleared his throat before offering her his hand, "Hi there! The name's Zack," the dark-haired man introduced himself. The easy confidence and charisma he exuded his entire life seemed to falter under the attention of the suffocating beauty in front of him. Never had he felt more shy or tongue tied than gazing into meadow green eyes that reminded him so much of the lush green pastures of his hometown nestled right in the irises of this city girl.

Aerith hoped the heat of the day concealed how her cheeks had burned, flushed scarlet under his attentive expression and those astounding sapphire eyes. While Aerith had met countless people from all walks of life in her time running the only flower shop in Midgar, she could easily determine that she had never met anyone like him before. So many people who lived in this city were worn and weary or so enslaved within their own lives and personal bubble, that they barely acknowledged her existence. Yet this man's sunny demeanor and hypnotic gaze that held the beauty of a cloudless sky in his iris never faltered his attention away from her.

"Hello Zack. My name is Aerith." Aerith placed her much smaller hand in his outstretched palm and was instantly struck by the gentleness of his grip, hands so large and warm even through the soft leather of his gloves.

Aerith… A beautiful name for an equally beautiful woman.

Melodic voice caressing his ears like honey and silk and the way she said his name like a breathy exhale? Zack was smitten. The sensation of her pressing her hand into his own, he registered just how petite in every aspect she was yet he felt the deceptive strength in her fingers, the bits of dirt clinging to her fingertips and under her practical short nails. She was fucking perfect. Zack hoped she couldn't hear the way his heart pounded frantically against his sternum.

"Nice to meet you, Aerith," he spoke her name like a benediction and never had she heard her name spoken like something to be treasured. She hoped he'd blame the heat of her shop to be responsible for the ample redness filling her cheeks. Wanting to make a good impression, she gripped his hand firmly, shaking it slightly and her heart skipped a beat at the deepening dimple in his cheek as his smile broadened further.

Realizing he still had a hold of her hand after their elongated greeting, Zack finally came back to his body. Desperately hoping he didn't freak her out or think he was some lecherous creep! The last thing he wanted to do was to offend her.

Feeling cowed at his own behavior and like he finally broke out of some kind of spell, Zack put his hands back on his hips (the place her hand had touched his own still tingled), put his customer service voice back on and asked, "I assume I have the right place. The order form said Gainsborough and I had you down for 10 bags of dark planting soil and some Gongaga bred flowers, correct?"

Aerith curled her hands together over her chest as if in prayer when Zack suddenly pulled back from their handshake (the place his hand was wrapped around her own was pleasantly warm). Finally acknowledging his statement and realizing that he was there for business, she flushed. Hoping he didn't notice how unprofessional and strange her behavior had been thus far, she quickly affirmed, "Yep, Aerith Gainsborough! That's me."

Zack nodded, "Perfect! I'll unload the soil bags last, but right now, I have a few fragile potted plants in the truck bed that should be attended to first. I'll grab those right away, but once I get back in, do ya mind showing me where I should put them?"

Looking away from his bewitching eyes and trying to act more natural (normal was best, right?), Aerith nodded. "Of course."

"Great! Be right back!" he left as quickly as he came and it was like he took all the oxygen in the room with him.

.................

The bell above the door still ringing, Aerith stared at the place he vacated and held back the tingle that echoed along her spine from the comforting warmth he left behind.

Aerith's strange connection to plants and life itself as the last Cetra, a heritage she valiantly hid her entire life, suddenly had rang to life around him unlike anything she'd ever experienced beforehand. It was akin to a burst of pure radiant sunlight through the dark clouds overhead. Like the Planet itself was ringing its approval; as if the echoes of the lifestream itself was pulling his very essence to her and vice versa. Akin to a puzzle piece that slipped in to complete some incomplete part of her soul, when she hadn't even been aware anything had been missing, until he clicked perfectly into place.

Never in her life had she felt such an instant connection to anyone.

Rather isolated her entire life, friendly and approachable certainly, but never letting anyone in too close to see the real her she valiantly sequestered away. The girl that always knew when someone she'd known, even in passing, had died the moment it transpired, the hushed whispers she spoke to the Planet or digging her strangely glowing fingers into dead soil only to watch as new plant-life emerged from their lush new depths.

She was different…Always had been.

A freak, an anomaly - the last of her kind the world forgot ever existed.

Yet even if her mind was warring against her desires to bring this stranger in any closer, her heart wanted nothing more than to find out more about him…and hoping he saw something about her that was worth knowing too.

.......................

As soon as Zack rushed back to his pick-up truck, he took a much needed moment to lean against the vehicle as if all the air had left his lungs in one fell swoop.

The heat of the metal from recent use of the engine not even phasing him; solely focused on calming the frantic pounding of his heart. Never in his damn life had he felt such an instant attraction to anyone. Doing this job and being born a naturally social butterfly, he'd met countless people on his travels, yet absolutely no one on the entire Planet had ever instantly drawn him into their orbit like this girl he barely spoken a dozen words to had. It was akin to a moth to a flame; inevitable. The severe need to be close to her even if it made no logical sense.

Meeting her was like he was seeing colors for the first time or experiencing his first sunrise after a seemingly endless winter.

Zack had always shone too brightly, been a little too friendly and overzealous most of the time due to his excitable nature and never being able to stay still. Yet as many friends he'd acquired over the years traveling Gaia, he felt rather lonely. Traveling to and from the ends of the Planet on business, never finding a true sense of home other than the brief stints he was in Gongaga. While he'd had a few romantic relationships prior, they never lasted long. Every woman he'd either dated or even had a brief fling with had never felt right. The women, while physically beautiful, were shallow and superficial, yet try as he might, he could never connect with any of them on more than a baser level that only went skin deep.

Even in a world filled with people - many he considered friends - he felt so utterly alone sometimes.

Yet the moment he waltzed into the quaint little flower shop ready for merely another boring day at work delivering Gongagan goods - it instead flipped his entire world upside down. And now, all he could see when he blinked was the comforting warmth of her ethereal green eyes, her sweet smile and this inexplicable pull he felt towards her…she felt like coming home in the best way possible.

Feeling chagrined, Zack only hoped he hadn't come on too strong for her tastes. Perhaps he could merely start by getting to know her better…and hoped she felt the same persistent need to connect to him too.

"C'mon, Zack…You can do it," he hyped himself up under his breath. The Gongaga native shifted into a determined stance and gathered the plant he needed from the front seat.

....................

Aerith was keeping her mind occupied with organizing a few stray bits and bobs behind the counter when Zack walked back in the shop. His smile was gentle and bright like a few scattered rays of sunlight that warmed her skin. His presence filling her chest like a fresh breeze on a stifling hot day, the hum of the Planet hovering around him in acceptance and excitement that had her heart skip a beat when his smile grew as his gaze settled into her own.

"Here we are," he announced. His azure gaze flicking down to the potted plant encased in a thick plastic tub and held in steady, gentle hands.

It was only that glance that tore her eyes away from his attractive face. Blushing, Aerith ignored the pounding of her heart to meet him in the center of the store, stopping next to the buckets of freshly cut roses she'd cultivated that morning.

"Ooh, which ones are these?" Aerith asked.

Zack flushed at the warmth she exuded when she closed the distance between them. The way the sunlight was filtering through the windows and catching on the amber and reds scattered in her brunette hair, giving her a halo effect like the angel she appeared to be.

Realizing she asked him a question, he quickly answered, "These are the Gongagan Lilies. It's best to transfer them while they're only sprouts so they can survive the long trips I make. When they're stronger, they can easily be transferred into deeper soil."

Aerith peered down into the tub, her fingers gently resting on its edge and purposefully brushing against his hands still holding it. The tiny green sprouts appeared healthy and full of life, she sensed their presence and knew they had been well taken care of - maybe even a bit spoiled in their previous environment. Feeling their pleased murmurs, Aerith smiled.

Zack flushed at her innocuous touch and the up-curve of her pretty pink lips as she looked down at the plants. Feeling a tad hot under the collar and his perpetual need to fill the sudden silence, he continued, "I, uh, gave them a little water before I left port this morning but it was a long drive here so they probably can go with a bit more soon. And as long as you water them regularly and leave them where they'll get plenty of sunshine, they should grow just fine!"

Lifting her eyes from the plants, she meet Zack's sweet gaze and smile that put the sun to shame. "Thank you so much. I've only seen these particular lilies in books before! I always thought they were absolutely beautiful and wanted the opportunity to grow some myself. I really hope they'll be happy and thrive here."

Feeling brave, Zack gently nudged her hand with his own still clenched around the pot. "Under your green thumb, I'm sure they will! I've delivered a bunch of stuff to Midgar but never flowers before. I've never even known that plants can actually grow here until I seen your shop! You must be one hell of an amazing gardener!"

Aerith flushed under his overwhelming praise, hands finally leaving the gravitational pull of his presence to brush down the small bits of soil on her apron in order to give her hands something to do to abate this endless nervous energy filling her chest.

"Thanks," she muttered sweetly.

Zack swallowed the lump in his throat at her bashful smile. He prayed this instant attraction wasn't one sided and her body was giving him the right cues to tell him she probably was interested but he'd never want to push anything.

Play it cool, Zack, just play it cool…

"You're welcome. So, uh…where did ya want me to put this down?"

The florist jumped at the question, eyes leaving the safety of the toes of her practical brown boots to peer towards a sunny alcove at the back of the shop. "Right over here would be perfect. Follow me!"

Zack did so. Keeping a professional distance, but with her back turned, he did allow his eyes to roam over the swaying of her gorgeous wavy hair and even the gait she walked as if treading on air. She was magnificent. The scent of flowers and plant life was apparent in the shop, but amidst it all, he caught the scent of her hair as she stopped in front of him and fuck, she smelt so damn good. Floral, fresh and full of life was the only description he could give it.

"Here we are!" Aerith announced, bringing Zack back down to Gaia amidst his place lost atop the clouds. Dainty hand was gesturing towards a shelf filled with tubs filled with colorful flowers of various shapes and sizes. Right in the center was just enough room for the new addition.

Aerith watched as he gingerly set the planter down, feeling flush as his body brushed beside her to do so. It was only now that she truly registered how incredibly tall he was. The addicting warmth of his skin combined with the scent of woodsy sandalwood cologne, the freshness of rich dark soil he carried with the slight tinge of clean sweat and motor oil only made him that much more real and alluring.

Biting her lip, Aerith reached for the watering can nearby and while she gently gave the plants the perfect amount of water they required, Zack's eyes never left her.

Hypnotized and lost in the way the sun glistened along her milky skin, the droplets of water that scattered bits of light over her. Yet it was the smile she guided towards the tiny sprouts that took Zack's breath away. A smile so tender and loving curving the edges of her mouth, nurturing and full of care for the smallest of life. And in a world filled with shallow people who could care less, she was like a beacon of pure light in a cold dreary world…

Yet when her curious eyes met his own and she caught him staring at her like a love sick puppy, he panicked.

"I'll uh, let you finish up here. I'll go get the rest of the stuff. Be right back!" he said suddenly, and when he left again, he took all the air away from her lungs this time.

...................

Bags of soil lined neatly in the storage room and the other plants she ordered all scattered in various areas of the shop. Aerith couldn't wait to see all of them in full bloom! All the Gongagan plants she'd researched were gorgeous and to have some in her shop!? it was like a dream come true…but she felt melancholy because she felt like the time with Zack was coming to an abrupt end.

And since she caught him staring at her watering the plants, he'd been almost standoffish.

She wondered if she did something wrong…

"I think that's everything." Zack announced, brushing his hands of any loose dirt after placing the final pouches of bulbs she ordered atop the counter.

Zack pursed his lips, glancing forlornly at her back where she stood in the alcove still peering at the Gongagan Lily sprouts. Every rational thought inside of his head kept telling him he was being strange, that this sudden attraction came from the mere lack of substantial contact with the opposite sex for the past few months…yet his heart told him otherwise. This inexplicable pull he'd felt upon meeting her was getting more insistent and as his time with her was nearing its end, it was now a frantic thump of protest against his sternum.

The florist glanced at him over her shoulder. A smile that was brighter than a summer day in Gongaga etched onto her mouth as she looked at him in a way Zack knew he didn't deserve.

"I can't thank you enough, Zack!" she exclaimed, her voice like a balm, a sweet melody to his aching heart. "When the vendor told me someone actually delivered fresh Gongaga Mushrooms, I didn't believe it… I'm glad I was wrong."

Zack swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat at the naked tenderness in her eyes. She was so beautiful it made his chest positively throb. While Zack wasn't a believer in fate, why did this feel like it? Like he known her his entire life?

"Yeah, me too," the unfiltered words came out of nowhere and he almost slapped a hand over his mouth when her beautiful laugh suddenly filled the air around him in infectious joy.

Zack couldn't help but join her.

Aerith bit down on another giggle about to leave her lips. The last Cetra peered around at her shop and knew she had no right to keep him here any longer than she already had. Hating that feeling as if this moment and this connection she had was coming to an end because of her own stubborn shyness, Aerith forced herself to approach him. She peered up at his questioning expression, smile sweet as she reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a generous wad of gil.

"Thank you so much, Zack! I really appreciate everything," She offered him the bills and while he was normally happy to accept tips, it didn't feel right taking absolutely anything from her…

Instead, he felt the want and need to build her a house with a field full of every flower on Gaia to surround it, only to see how it would make her smile… His heart throbbed painfully in his chest.

Zack's eyes left the green of the offered gil and lifted to meet the much more brilliant verdant shade of her irises.

"No, I can't accept that." he honestly stated with a shake of his head, gently pressing the money back towards her chest.

A conflicted look flashed across her expression as she slipped the gil back into her apron pocket. She huffed cutely with a pursed pout on her already tempting mouth, "You've done so much work and drove so far to deliver these! I need to offer you something!"

Yet all Zack could focus on was the fact that Aerith's smile was like the sun. Meadow green eyes sparkling with life and cheeks flushed a beautiful cherry hue as she gazed back up at him from her modest height. How the actual hell could he walk out of here without even trying? The worst she could say is no, right?

Using every bit of charisma Aerith had seemingly sucked out of him, Zack put his hands on his hips, a wide smile on his face as he looked at her and asked, "...How about one date?" Zack asked, the words seemingly coming from nowhere and yet felt so familiar on his tongue.

As if he'd asked her this same question before…

Aerith's eyes widened but never left his as those four simple words left his mouth. There was a flash of something substantial behind her eyes, as if in recognition or remembrance she clung to with both hands.

Yet before he could focus on that, it was gone, and instead, her smile widened.

For some reason, hearing him simply asking her out, she felt like crying and laughing at the same time. Although she'd never even experienced her first one, she already desired to kiss him until both their lips were swollen. It was so strange, those words, as if he'd asked her this question before, as if this very moment had already happened, that in some other life, she'd already experienced his lips on hers - as if them meeting today was simply meant to be.

The Planet hummed happily in her chest, combined with the warmth in her cheeks and the smile pulling at her lips.

Like something so wonderful had just occurred - like her life was about to change for the better.

And it was all because she met Zack.

(This post is an organised rearrangement of our Zerith fangirling as to why we really love and appreciate their story of love. All credits go to my fellow Zerith shippers on Twitter; @eleamaya​, @sylvthea, @ZeroTwt0, @artbyshimo, @KeyToAeris, @aerithluvletter. This one’s for you guys!)

Written for @zerith-week​ Day 2 — Dating/Kisses

The rule of thumb is, FINAL FANTASY VII is not a romance story. This was accentuated by the ending of the original game where Hironobu Sakaguchi, who was the producer and created the story concept of the original game had said; "And what happened to the characters? It doesn't really matter, after all. It's their growth through the content of the game, though important. The main story of FINAL FANTASY VII is the battle for Planet. Focusing on each character would have distracted from the most important themes. Nothing is more important than a Planet. Nothing is more important than life."

Despite that, Zack and Aerith had been portrayed to have a romantic relationship from the get go. Aerith had mentioned Zack as her first love, and Zack had written to his parents about a girlfriend. Not to mention the numerous times the NPC in Crisis Core had addressed Aerith as his girlfriend as common knowledge, and Zack Fair Fanclub visiting Aerith upon the announcement of him being KIA in a mission as an act of condolences to the deceased's girlfriend. In the story compilation of FINAL FANTASY VII, we did get some love stories; Cloud and Tifa, Cid and Shera, and also... Zack and Aerith.

So how was Zack and Aerith shown to be a romance?

Tracy Wolff, a New York Times bestselling author had said; "Writing an emotionally compelling love story is all about the connection between your characters. The emotional payoff only happens when you've stoked the flames between them as high as the stakes that should be keeping them apart." And while there isn't one specific way to drive the point home, these bestselling authors had listed general rules to create this romance in stories, compiled by J. Kenner in "How to Write Romance Scenes; Ultimate Guide for Romance Authors", which had impressively projected on the love story of Zack and Aerith.

1. Start with attraction.

Even enemies-to-lovers story, there needs to be an attraction, a spark. Zack and Aerith are not an exceptional to this rule during their meet cute. The meet cute is the term for the inciting incident in a romance that sets the tone for the entire story. It had been well-known that when Zack first saw Aerith, he was attracted to her to the point of calling her an angel. He proposed a date to her not because she reminded him of someone but because he was attracted—okay, that was half joking lol. But anyway, this is really self-explanatory. Zack is a ladies-man. He’s not some kinda aloof guy who would hold back his flirting when he saw a girl he was attracted to. And Aerith is not a shy girl. She was also shown to be attracted to the guy when the game showed how her eyes followed his every movements since he doubled back up. She even admitted that she wanted to spend more time with him. Zack also tried to look cool by showing his strength against some monsters, and Aerith wasn't buying it. They share the same sense of humour that magnetizes them towards one another. We got some nice teasing and flirting scene back and forth which became the dynamic of their relationship onwards. But there was still an emotional gap between them here. When Aerith mentioned he was strong, and Zack thought about what was happening with Angeal, he felt deflated. He didn't immediately share what he was thinking with Aerith despite her asking, and that was realistic considering they have just met. Both of them are vocal about their initial attraction, even if the emotional bond has not formed yet. Not to mention their aesthetic and height difference make them look good together, but let's not go there. lol.

2. Building chemistry and dynamic.

Someone once commented that Zack and Aerith fell in love within ten minutes and then they only had cute moments with no development. This is false. The attraction and spark were there within the first ten minutes. The bond was built through time. Through each scene, their observations of one another get deeper and more intimate in a non-high-five way lol. But as I pointed out earlier, FINAL FANTASY VII is not a love story, thus the proportion of the romance being told becomes secondary or even tertiary to the plot. If you’re expecting a love story, FINAL FANTASY VII is not your game. However, we are still being fed with how Zack and Aerith gradually get to know each other. They went for a walk-turned-date, and Zack learned that Aerith loves pink ribbons and scolds people who stepped on flowers. She opened up about being scared of the sky. Zack also learned that Aerith is actually people-smart when she told him that the kid who pick-pocketed him didn't do it without reason. Aerith learned that Zack is actually troubled beneath all the jokes he cracked. And how he was willing to listen to her insecurities when she mentioned her fears. Subsequently they spent time together, getting to know each other better. They also called each other frequently to the point that she interrupted him pre-fight amidst missions. You see, Aerith didn't fall in love with Zack because he was cool, or because he was a perfect prince charming. She fell in love with him because he was a messed-up goof, non-judgemental, and way too caring for his own good. Zack fell in love with Aerith not because she was a Cetra or a Gainsborough or whatever privilege she possessed. He fell for her because she was a quirky girl who likes flowers and ribbons who empathised and helped around the kids in her sector. They chipped off the outer layer of each other and dug deep into their most vulnerable selves—Zack when he opened up to Aerith during his lowest point in his life never caring about being a cool guy, and her with her fear of sky and her insecurity of being different. That's when they finally fell in love. Aerith did not wait for 5 years and wrote 89 letters because of a guy she had a crush on. She did all that for a guy she had learn to love over the course of 18 months, whom she finally revealed the most vulnerable wish she could bravely entrusted to him; her 23 tiny wishes, all so that she gets to spend more time with him.

3. Emotional/internal conflict that build the tension.

Conflicts are important in story building. This includes hinting at any emotional wounds or baggage, and showing how falling in love might heal them. In romance, there are two main conflicts that make up good stories. One of them is Internal Conflict in which would build the tension between the two partners. Aerith and Zack are not normal people. Aerith is a Cetra. Zack is a superhuman SOLDIER. They both had eccentricities, Aerith probably more than Zack. But it was her Cetra heritage that held Aerith back. Her traumatic experience of watching Ifalna getting suspicious drugs and doing shady things to get them out of Shinra had her built up a defence mechanism to avoid the glaring problems right in front of her eyes. It manifested in their relationship in a way. There was this awkward push and pull on Aerith's side the first time they met because she was hesitant if Zack would accept her for who she is. It was a highlight of Aerith's insecurities that made her long for Zack but wary of his attraction at the same time. But she grew out of it while being with him. Slowly but surely, she expressed herself more, she gets bolder; her fears, her kind of wagon she wanted while still being mindful of him. She attempted some carefree conversation for a bit when Zack cried—her usual defence mechanism—but they showed how she knew him enough to recognise that wasn't what he needed, and she proceeded to give him a hug. They supported each other through their fears and lows. Their love healed each other. She was the best version of herself when she was with Zack. Caring, outgoing, sassy, but still empathetic. Zack, on the other hand, found out about Aerith's internal conflict from Cissnei. Aerith never told anyone about it, because she had been lying to herself to seek comfort in normalcy. Interestingly enough, she didn't need to. The minute he found out, he was only like "okay, so, anyway—". For Zack, she was still one of a kind, Cetra or not. It is the kind of scene where, in the case if Aerith finds out about it, her love for him would only deepen. It is his understanding and acceptance that makes their love that much sweeter. If this reveal happened earlier in their relationship, it would probably create a wedge between them. But their bond had been cemented, no ancestry was relevant to how they view each other by this point. Behind those walls, they were just Zack and Aerith, two ‘normal’ people who love and support each other unconditionally, giving comfort and hope for freedom and future, with no ulterior motive. And that was how their relationship grew as the game progressed.

4. External conflict that separated the lovers.

External conflicts work as the actual reason the lovers became separated. A realistic obstacle outside of the relationship that keeps them apart, driving the actions and plot of the two characters. The factors that keep the characters apart are important to make people root for them to get together. Most of this external conflicts for Zerith came from Zack's side, in contrast to their internal conflicts which mostly were Aerith's. Angeal's death, Zack reprimanding Tseng for tailing Aerith after knowing she was a Cetra, that foreboding when Zack had to be deployed to Nibelheim... Aerith asked when he'll be back and if she could call Zack during that mission even if it was constantly her routine in previous missions and it had never been a problem. The foreshadowing of their tragedy; building flower wagons and selling flowers, as if to savour every last seconds they had together. We have this bittersweet but equally heartbreaking scene when Aerith told Zack that she had fun even if they weren't selling well because he was there with her. Zack, too, entrusted Aerith to Tseng despite his vocal complaint about it before. The build-up of their separation was imminent. And then it happened. They were separated for good. What's unique and beautiful about Zerith's external conflict though, is the fact that neither of them were at fault for the separation or miscommunication. Aerith tried to reach out to him. Zack tried to get back to her. They both did their parts to their very best. It's just that their external conflict was too huge, it prevented their message from reaching each other.

5. Happily ever after.

This one is a bit tricky. Because we all know that Zerith is a tragic couple. However, here's the thing. Even a tragic romance has some sort of a happy ending—something to follow through the 'Downfall'. It is called the Perspective/Reflection. The story needs to put the tragedy into perspective, not let the Downfall go all the way down. The best example I could think of is Nicholas Sparks's romance novels, such as "Best of Me", when they had spent the time they lost and had their closure, the hero accepted the fatal fate he should've gotten earlier. And the heroine, despite heartbroken, becomes a better mother, better partner, and she moved on with a bittersweet memory. There is a hopeful glimpse of the character moving on or a montage of memories as they reflect on the loss. It should not end by making the living lover go around flower fields to take commemorative photos endlessly—okay, that referenced joke was uncalled for, sorry. But this is what Zerith had in spades. The Downfall of their romance was their separation, the failure to reunite, the grief that Aerith would never see her lover again. But what is the perspective after their tragedy? What is the resolution or reflection of their relationship? And this had been answered beautifully in Advent Children, bringing the romance story between Zack and Aerith into full circle, completing the criteria of writing a love story. The fact that they had reunite, walking out of the church together, with a full knowledge that they accepted their fate, and they stayed by each other's sides in the Lifestream, always. Later accentuated by Aerith’s yellow flowers blooming on Zack’s resting place, and Zack’s Buster Sword placed in the Sector 5 church where they spent the most time together, as if to tell us they have the eternity together.

Conclusion

In a way, Perspective/Reflection is the tragic romance's version of happily ever after, not in a fairy tale way, but more convoluted that leaves us satisfied with the culmination of the romantic relationship, in an odd way. The type that wrenches our hearts and keeps us thinking about them for days even. Ending on this note however, I do believe that the developers are not actually done with the Zerith's Perspective/Reflection. They had their Downfall—their fate was predestined to be separated, to be star-crossed. But such is the mystery in Remake, something they enunciated to be something to look forward to in Rebirth.

So is Zerith poorly written?

I'd say, according to the standards of the New York Times Bestselling Authors, they're pretty damn well-written considering FINAL FANTASY VII is not a love story, and they're not even the main pairing. But the important plot points and pivoting events to bring their relationship forward are included. They got their own beginning, their own conflict, their own dynamic, and their own ending. Their love and passion are explored from the superficial attraction down to the deep subconscious connection that made us turn our heads just by having them passing by each other.

In short, they ticked the boxes of romance recipes authors go for.

Zerith Week starts tomorrow!

@zerith-week Day 4: Clear Blue Sky

For Day 7: Ever After of @zerith-week

Enjoy ❤

Day 1: Church

Day 3: Letters

Day 6: Reunion

First, there was darkness. 

Quiet. Cold. Like sleep, but heavier.

Aerith felt like she was sinking, further and further down, without end it seemed...until she opened her eyes and a warm, green light shined from above.

Aerith blinked as she stared up at the light. It felt so warm. She reached a hand up for it, wanting to capture it for herself. But as she stared at that light, she saw something come down from within it. A shadow of a man--or no, there was a wing…

“An… angel?” Aerith whispered out.

“That’s my line,” a voice answered.

A voice she knew too well. 

A voice she could identify immediately even though she hadn’t heard it in five years.

A voice she thought she might never hear again in her life--but then, Aerith had to remind herself, she was no longer alive.

Zerith week 2021 by @zerith-week