#i wasnt lying abt the egregious fall aesthetics

[juniperallura]

5 & 15 for Shallura ?

5. hold my hand | 15. shooting staraccepting

“Okay, hear me out…what about this one?”

Allura turned, tucking a strand of hair pulled loose by the wind back behind her ear. She could hear his goofy smile in his voice, and sure enough when she looked down at his hand it was cradling the ugliest thing she had ever seen in her life. 

One side was concave, folded and collapsing in on itself, while the other protruded with an ugly bubble. The whole thing was covered in warts, flaunting a disgusting palette of dirty greens and sickened yellows. 

Allura pursed her lips, raising a brow at him. “Are you sure that’s even a pumpkin?”

“You don’t like it?”Shiro laughed, holding it by the bottom to look it square in the wart. “I think it’s kinda cute, if you squint at it the right way.”

“Squinting makes it look like roadkill. But maybe that’s just me,” Allura said, planting a hand on her hip. “Your mom’s coming next weekend, do you really want that to be the first thing she sees in our new apartment?”

“Absolutely. I would put this beautiful pumpkin over our mantle, if we had one.” Shiro gave her that crooked grin of his, the one he got when he thought he was being just hilarious. 

Allura had to bit her lip to hold back a smile. She didn’t have to squint to see how cute he was, even holding that horrendous thing, in his aviator jacket, that big plaid scarf she loved (she always said red was his color,) his hair tucked into a beanie. The chilly October breeze ruffled the shock of white that poked out from beneath the hat and brought a tinge of pink to his cheeks. With that smile and the twinkle in his eyes, she was dangerously close to agreeing even to that radioactive experiment of a pumpkin. She shook her head, turning and waving a hand at him. “No. No! You won’t convince me, we’re getting a nice one-”

A solid-sounding splat cut her off. She turned to see Shiro now standing empty-handed and staring at a pile of oozing pumpkin guts. He looked up at her with wide eyes, “I didn’t mean to!”

“Shiro!” Allura glanced around them. A little kid started pointing at them, pulling on her mom’s sleeve. About ten feet away, the guy who had driven them out to the pumpkin patch was shaking his head at them from his perch on the tractor. 

Shiro and Allura met each other’s eyes. 

She clung to his elbow as they ran from the scene of the crime, giggling as they tripped over the hard packed furrows and crunching vines. 

An hour later they emerged from the farm store loaded down with apple cider, fresh doughnuts, and one big, beautiful, normal pumpkin. The sun had began to fall behind the hills that rolled into the distance, coloring the world beyond the warmly lit courtyard cool purples and blues. Allura took in a deep breath of crisp air, exhaling slowly and contently. 

“Here, Shiro, let me take it,” she said, shifting the gallon of cider so she could reach for the pumpkin.

Of course he only tightened his arm around it, frowning, “Why? It’s fine, I’ve got it.”

Allura rolled her eyes. “I know, but I don’t wanna hold hands with a stem.”

“Oh,” Shiro chuckled, “Here-” It took a minute for them to shuffle everything, Shiro rolling the pumpkin into the Allura’s waiting hand, Allura tucking the bag of doughnuts under Shiro’s residual limb (only after ardent promises that he wouldn’t crush them,) but finally Shiro’s hand, calloused and warm, was folded into hers. He leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “Much better.” 

A contented sigh left Allura as they reached the car and she tucked their pumpkin into the back seat. Snuggling next to Shiro on the hayride, sampling their fill of homemade ice cream until they were no longer welcome in the bakery, talking him down from investing in a hay bale ottoman; it was one of those rare days that sat so light and warm in her chest she didn’t want to leave it. Just before she let out another sigh she felt Shiro’s arm wrap around her waist. He kissed her on the cheek and then settled his chin on her shoulder. “Hey, want to go get us some hot chocolate before we go?” he said close to her ear.

Allura glanced over the parking lot, the farm buildings glowing in the distance across its dark stretch. “You want me to go?” She frowned, trying to turn so she could read Shiro’s face, “What if there’s a murderer in those fields? What if I get Children of the Corn-ed?”

She could only feel the buzz of his chuckle against her back. “I’ll keep an eye out, I promise. If anyone emerges from the corn I’ll throw our pumpkin at them.”

“Always so reassuring,” she muttered, but didn’t protest further, only threw him a look as she walked toward the farm. 

A few minutes later she was shuffling back across the parking lot, two steaming Styrofoam cups in hand. So far no sign of any creepy corn people, but she froze when she saw the car. The lights were on, windows rolled down and radio playing softly- but no sign of Shiro. In a single second her mind went to every worst case scenario, but then he called her name and she noticed that he was sitting on the hood, a old woven blanket spread beneath him. The pounding in her chest quickly turned to a flood of warmth. 

“I hope it’s okay,” he said as she climbed up next to him, “I know it’s late, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave just yet.” He smiled, reaching to tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“Well, you read my mind.” She scooted close to him, savoring his warmth and the musk of his cologne as she nestled against his shoulder. He pressed a kiss against her forehead. “Your lips are cold,” she giggled.

“Really?” Shiro’s hand slid from her hair to hold her chin gently, tilting her face toward his. “Maybe you can help me warm them up.”

“You are so cheesy,” she groaned, while a growing smile betrayed her.

“You walked right into that one,” he breathed, his dark eyes only inches from hers.

She could feel him smiling as their lips met. His jaw was the slightest bit rough with stubble, a contrast to the mouth that molded to hers, soft as velvet. His hand moved to cup her cheek, drawing her closer to him. They broke away only to find each other’s lips again, softly and tenderly. She felt Shiro hum in the back of his throat as he chased her lips for one more touch. 

“If you keep kissing me like that I’m going to spill this hot cocoa I worked so hard for,” she murmured. 

“Sorry,” Shiro said, although his expression certainly didn’t look it. He let Allura thread her hand through the crook of his elbow as they sat back to sip their drinks and gaze up at the night sky. 

Once Allura had drained her cup she slid down to rest her head against his shoulder, laying her arm over his chest. The smell of distant bonfire smoke came on the breeze, but Allura didn’t feel its chill nestled in Shiro’s embrace. Her head moved with the gentle rise and fall of his chest, and as her eyes adjusted stars began to bloom in the night sky. For awhile they didn’t say anything, letting the warbling of the car radio fill the silence. Shiro’s hand absently caressed her shoulder, occasionally running through her hair.

The overwhelming warmth of her happiness was threatening to lull her to sleep when a sudden streak of silver light skated across the stars. “Shiro!” She gasped, tapping his chest, “Look! Did you see it?”

He nodded, his gleaming eyes searching the sky. “A shooting star,” he murmured, mirroring her wondrous smile. He squeezed her elbow. “Did you make a wish?”

“Of course,” Allura winked, “But you won’t get it out of me, so don’t even try.”

Shiro chuckled, drawing her close in his arm. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” 

Another gust blew from the distant hills, but Allura didn’t notice; she was too preoccupied by the thrill in her veins as she leaned into Shiro’s sweet kiss, wishing on that star that the moment would never end.