Zora really isn´t interested in romance, or so he tells himself. He really tries his hardest to suppress any feelings of that nature. But you just had to ruin that, didn´t you?
That said he wouldn´t ask you out. You wouldn´t be interested anyway and even if you were, what would you want with a guy like him?
Of course you can imagine his surprise when you actually do ask him out. He thinks it´s a joke at first and you´re gonna have a very long conversation about how serious you really are until he finally agrees.
He won´t do any planning. You´re the one who asked him out after all. Lazy bum. But he´s good at reading people and your choice for the date really helps him understand you more.
You´re gonna go to the market together and talk there, getting to know each other and in the evening you´re going to cook and eat together while watching the sun set.
This is very romantic and you really learn a lot about each other this way.
Zora actually makes an effort in the relationship (or he tries to), he makes sure to see you as often as he can, but he´s not the best at words or actions in a nice and romantic way.
One day you´re just lying on the grass together because he claimed he was free that day (which was a lie, Yami would totally yell at him later), it was so peaceful and quiet. You talked about nothing and everything really and he told you something silly that happened at the Black Bull´s base earlier which made you laugh.
He could feel his heart flutter more than it ever had and pulled you in for a kiss, taking you off guard a bit. His lips are surprisingly soft and he´s really gentle.
First one Saying I love you
This is such a big step for him because those three words change everything. Sure, you had fun before, it was nice being with you, but he´s not ready for the seriousness that follows after saying ´I love you´, because that makes it real and he´s scared of it.
That´s why he takes such a long time in saying it, you wanted to say it earlier, but you also wanted him to say it first and take his time with it, you didn´t want to pressure him in saying it first.
When he says it, it will be in private, very simple and short, accompanied with a tight hug.
Good luck getting him to sleep in a normal place. Seriously, he can sleep every where whenever he wants, but when he´s supposed to sleep in a bed at night? He´s out. Zora can´t sleep in such circumstances for some reason.
He comes home after a long and tiring mission (he couldn´t even nap >.<) and you basically have to drag him into bed without you, otherwise he´d just sleep on the floor in the doorway (this happened numerous times before and you don´t want it to repeat).
This takes no resolve from him, as soon as you bring it up, he´ll pack his bags.
And it doesn´t even matter where you live, everything is better than the base. Hell, Yami snores so loud it shakes the whole building (the first few times Zora woke up in panic and thought they were under attack or it was an earthquake). Not to mention Asta who for some reason has to yell his heart out while he cleans, not to mention gets up at 4am for no goddamn reason (oh yeah he said he needs to train).
So yeah, moving in will only further prove why he loves you so much, you essentially saved his sanity.
Intimacy is the biggest step to commitment he has to take and it scares him. He doesn´t like being vulnerable around others, even if it´s you and he knows he can trust you more than anyone.
It´s hard enough for him to be affectionate towards you, he´s just always so awkward and can´t figure out what to do with his hands, or what to do in general. This is all so new to him.
You definitely need to lead him a bit and do the first steps to show him that it isn´t as scary as he thinks.
This happens on the death day of his father. You know he always leaves for a few days at this time of year, but never ask because you give him enough space and don´t pry into his life too much. He´ll tell you when he´s ready. You also tell him your story, fears and dreams in your own time.
One year though, he takes you with him and tells you about his childhood and father.
While Zora always has an aloof, relaxed and straight up lazy attitude around him and pulls pranks all the time, loosening up around you means acknowledging his fears of commitment and rejection. It´s easier with you though. He completely trusts you and manages to loosen up over time, he´s so grateful that you´re so patient with him and will never fail to tell you.
This happens in such an anticlimactic way. He literally jokes about it like : `hahaha what if we got married, that´d be so crazy, right?´, then uses your confusion to whip out the ring and gets serious all of a sudden.
You´re still wondering if it´s a joke.
Zora lowkey tears up when you say yes (ok he´s ugly crying but you´re the only one that sees him so it´s okay) and hugs the ever loving shit out of you. Rambles on and on about how he´s gonna try his best to be a good husband and how he just wants to make you happy.
You´re having a small ceremony, so no big planning needs to happen (as if he´d help or have time to do that anyway, and it´s also less stressful for you so yay).
Gets your favorite flowers and food though.
Is really moved to see the other members of the Black Bulls there since he didn´t invite them (you did because you know how much they mean to Zora even if he´d never admit that).
Has a hard time not to cry hearing your vows and breaks down when he hears sniffles from Finral (yes, Finral is a big cryer at weddings, mostly because of his jealousy). Asta´s also in tears, but he´s so damn loud that you can´t hear Zora´s vows. So you yell right back at him and shut him up. (Zora fell in love with you again in this moment).
