This marked their first real date.

Sure, they went out a couple of times before this -like the trip through a sparkling asteroid belt, the three sunsets on that one planet, picnic on the observation deck - but they were all cut short due to duty.

Every. Single. Time.

Shiro loved being a Paladin and Allura thrived being their Princess and commander. But sometimes, they just wanted to be two people enjoying each other's company.

Shiro gently smiled as they walked down the pathway hand in hand. For their Earth Date Allura kept her hair color but also added a pink ombré tint near the ends of her hair. He had explained that humans liked coloring their hair so she didn't have to darken it.

It made him grin to see she went ahead and was playful with it. It matched her pink polka dotted sundress very well, as well as the ribbon in her pink sun hat.

He was going to have to give his sister something good for getting Allura this outfit.

"Shiro."

He followed along her tugging. Her wedges made light thuds on the wooden bridge as she walked faster, another enclosure having caught her eye.

"Oh!"

Her eyes were wide as she stared at the furry, ring tailed creatures hopping from branch to branch.

"Those are lemurs," Shiro said.

"Lemurs," Allura repeated as she looked at the plaque then back up at the creatures. "They have rather big eyes for their faces." She turned back to smile at him. "They're adorable."

"Yeah," Shiro grinned as he stared at her.

She lightly blushed as he held her gaze a couple of ticks longer than necessary. She tucked some hair behind her rounded ears.

"Flirt," she declared.

"Cutie."

She blushed more when he quickly pecked her cheek.

"Shiro!"

"What? We're not at the castle."

"...That's true."

It came out automatically, she realized. She was so used to being cautious about the PDA around the others to avoid the annoying little quips and teasing.

But here...

She leaned in, her face tilted up. He chuckled and leaned down, giving her a proper kiss. She followed his mouth when he disconnected, getting on her tiptoes to reconnect. She sighed happily into the kiss, her hands coming up to his shoulders as his arms went around her waist.

"I like this," Allura sighed.

"It's really nice weather too."

"That as well. But I meant this. Us, together." She slid her hands around his neck. "Having you to myself."

"Likewise, Princess." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Come on. There's one last area I wanna show you before dinner."

There were trees all around them.

"What's this?"

He smiled as her nose wiggled, taking in the scent in the small cup.

"That's nectar."

"It smells sweet."

"Don't." His hand covered the cup when she made to taste it. "That's not for you to eat."

She lightly pouted. Then her ears twitched, having caught movement above them.

"What creature did you say is in here?"

Shiro lifted his hand off the cup and took a step back. "I didn't."

She caught flapping coming closer. She made to turn around but Shiro told her to keep still. She didn't have to wait long. She nearly jumped when the creature landed on her forearm.

"Shiro," she loudly whispered.

He had his phone out and with the free hand he gave her a thumbs up. She felt the little pricks of the creatures claws as it walked down to her hand. The colors on it were beautiful, a blue head, orange-red beak with a similar shade along its chest, blue along its underbelly and green along its back.

"The creature's eating the nectar," she gasped.

"It's a rainbow lorikeet, a type of bird."

"He's quite hungry," she giggled. "I really do have to keep my hand still."

"That they are."

"...They?"

Some more flapping sounded. Allura twitched as another bird landed on her hand. The two lorikeets were now bickering. Another one landed on her sun hat, making her eyes widen.

"Shir- ahh!"

Two more landed on her arm.

"Hang on Allura!" Shiro dug in his pocket. "Give me your hand."

She held out her free hand. He placed another cup of nectar in her hand, popping the lid off for her. Immediately, three more lorikeets landed on her other arm.

"Shiro!"

"It's tradition!"

She let out a half laugh-half shriek as more came upon her.

SA

SA

SA

Bonus: Shiro gets her a lorikeet plushie and prints out a poster of her and the birds. :)