Keith had to keep himself calm as he walked through the alien village. Now, normally Keith would be fine seeing all the people who looked like full-grown elves all walking around in pairs. He would be fine walking around the unknown territory. As the red paladin, he did that often. He would have been fine with it now even, if it weren't for one itsy-bitsy problem. Lance. Or rather Lana "Lance" McClain.

Her soft teasing and the soft purring in her tone as they walked through the little village together, the small Cuban girl clinging to his arm. Allura had thought of this as a team building exorcise landing on this planet.

"Paladins, it seems we took some rather heavy damage" Coran chirped "We'll need to land for repairs" he added

"Well the only place we can get to is Tepra" Allura said, "Their laws are strict, mainly about who steps onto the land…" She trailed off

"Well what are the requirements to land?" Shiro asked beside Allura

"We can land, we- well some of us can't leave the ship" Allura explained "They have strict rules that only… couples can set foot on the land." Everyone stood stock still. Keith felt everything in him almost shut down when he glanced at Lance

"So… what? It's a couples' retreat?" Lance pouted.

"Exactly," Allura answered and Lance pouted. "Me and Shiro should be fine and we can see if we can have them join our side. But I'm afraid this time everyone must stay in the ship."

"Actually, princess, why don't we use this as a bonding exorcise?" Coran spoke up

"That's a great idea" Allura cheered. Keith felt something in him scream at him to run, that he would regret hearing them out as the castle landed.

"I'll need Pidge and Hunk to help with some of the outer repairs since they are the more… techy people" Coran cut in.

"Meaning…" Keith trailed turning his gaze to Lance once more "No way. Nuh uh. Hell the hell no" Keith growled. There was no way he was going to pretend to be his crush's boyfriend just so she could indulge her curiosity. But he almost flinched at the hurt look on Lana's face.

"then I guess me and Keith are staying on the ship" Lance sulked. Pidge and Hunk shrugged giving the blue paladin a sympathetic look before heading out to help with repairs. Lance turned and marched off to the main room sitting on the couch curling up into a ball as she pulled up one of the tablets to watch some earth show. Keith came and sat next to her feeling a little bad for his reaction and decided to keep her company.

Only for her to wiggle away. "Lana" Keith groaned leaning his head back against the back of the couch. The woman refused to look at him. "Lana" he called again. When she didn't look at him he started poking her shoulder. "Did you really want to go out that badly?"

Lana then finally looked at him with the look of a kicked puppy and nodded.

That was so cruel. Resist. Keith tried his best not to let the sad look on her pretty face sway him. "I'm sure there is other things…" Lana turned away from him the sad expression. "Do you really want to pretend to be my girlfriend just so you can walk around the little villages?"

"Yes! It would be so much fun!" Lana pouted.

Keith moved to that Lana was pressed against the arm of the couch his body crowing hers. Just her scent had him struggling to not kiss her right then and there. "We'd have to actually act like a couple" he purred seductively "Hold hand's, hug, flirt… kiss… would you really want that all to be fake?" Keith asked, his voice like silk.

"We… we don't have to kiss Keith" Lana stuttered. She was blushing cutely and Keith forced himself to pull back and off the couch. She was too cute to the point that Keith struggled reign in his control, sometimes it got too much for him when others noticed or when she flirted with just about any guy that caught her attention.

Sometimes she even flirted with Keith and although he knew she didn't mean it, he couldn't help how his heart stopped every time. "Fine, be ready in 20 minutes"

Lance squeaked "Only 20?!" she cried

"Better get moving" Keith grumbled.

That was a week ago. And the repairs still weren't done. And every day since then Lance had managed to drag him out to the villages, to the shops with all sorts of clothes and trinkets. Or to some little spas around the place which amused Keith to no end.

But it took everything in him to remember that it wasn't real. It was just so she could walk around and do what she normally does. Connecting with the people. Keith was brought out of his thought when he realised they had stopped and Lana was staring off into the distance with a rather distraught look. "Lance?" Keith asked.

Lana jumped when she heard his voice. "Sorry" Lana mumbled "Can… can we go back, I think I'm done for today."

Concerned Keith followed her gaze and noticed Allura and Shiro arm in arm as they walked down the street. Keith didn't understand the look she was giving. Could it be possible that she likes Shiro?

Keith's heart nearly broke at the thought and he nodded, taking her back to the ship. Once they arrived Lana immediately broke off from Keith and almost bolted when Keith grasped her hand "What's wrong, Lance?"

"Nothing, Keith I'm just not feeling to into shopping right now" Lana lied through her teeth, something had shaken her, and he knew it, but instead of pushing he let it be

"I'm here to talk if you want to, you know that" and he let her hand slip out of his before turning towards the main living room sighing when he heard Lana's hurried footsteps carried her away rapidly.

He didn't notice Coran enter the way Lana left "Did you and Lana have a fight?"

"No"

"Then I wonder wants wrong" Coran hummed

"I… I don't know" Keith muttered before heading off to the training deck.