A/N: I am doubly excited to be posting this, because I had really lost the feel for this story. Special thanks to rainingWolf for helping me get my groove back!

There is some texting and some group chat in this chapter. It's fairly obvious when reading, but just to clarify, this is the formatting for texts:
Lance
Keith
Shiro

And the group chat nicknames are:
Lance: Lancelot
Pidge: Lifehack
Hunk: Gourmunk

The alarm on Lance's phone blasted the marimba tune like the world was ending. Resisting the urge to throw it against the wall, Lance snoozed it and stretched his limbs until his hands pressed against his headboard and his toes spilled off the bed.

Last night he had taken the time to tell his roommates in excruciating detail about how Keith and he had exchanged numbers.

"So I'm watching someone sleep on the bus and imagining joking about it with Keith, and I get off the bus and there he is!" Lance sits cross-legged on the couch, elbows on his knees, head resting in his hands.

Hunk sits at the desk and Pidge on the floor, laptops out, doing their respective homework. Neither responds to Lance. They've essentially run out of ways to express pleasant surprise after the first few times of Lance recounting the events of his evening. So then they resign themselves to supportive nods and smiles. And when it becomes apparent that Lance would talk with or without the attention of his audience, they settle into a companionable silence as Lance gushes on.

"I mean, do you remember me freaking out about how to be cool about seeing him again? And then he comes to see me? I still can't believe that happened."

"And I can't believe you're still talking about this." Pidge finally reaches the end of her patience. "I'm getting cavities just listening to you."

"But Pidge, you gotta admit," offers Hunk, "it's nice hearing him go on about someone else rather than himself." He winks at Lance, softening the blow of his words.

"Um, rude." Lance sprawls himself out on the couch, draping a leg over the back and letting the other hit the floor. "Anyway, I'm glad I didn't listen to you guys. If I had made a move like you said, I would have missed out on the glory of Keith seeking me out." With a jolt, he sits back up. "Oh my god, I have his number now! Do I text him? Or wait until tomorrow?"

"Oh my god, why am I friends with you?" Pidge throws her highlighter at him, and he dodges with a pout.

"Wait until morning, definitely," says Hunk, looking pointedly at Lance's abandoned calculus textbook on the couch arm. At Lance's persistent pout, he adds with a smile, "Until then, take comfort in that he's probably thinking about you right now too."

And then Lance had to stay up to finish calculus homework. His achingly tired body urged him to regret it, but his heart still felt light. Wasn't there a saying about how if you waste time but enjoy it, it wasn't really wasted? If Tumblr was to be believed, it was John Lennon who had said it, and that dude knew his shit, so. Lance was in the clear. He picked himself up out of bed to get ready for class.

"Twenty-two missed calls all day yesterday? Keith, are you okay?" The worry in Shiro's voice felt like a warm, steady hand on Keith's shoulder.

His brother had finally called him back on Monday morning, and Keith picked up, still half asleep. He didn't have to open his eyes and check the screen to know who was calling. "Are you? Where were you yesterday? I thought Sundays were your day off." Shiro had been a soldier and an astronaut, and now taught at the military academy.

There was shuffling and soft footsteps on the line as Shiro didn't answer for a moment. Keith finally opened his eyes in surprise. "Did you just wake up?" He pulled the phone away from his ear to check the time. Nine-thirty. Shiro was never in bed past seven. "Seriously, are you okay? What's going on?"

Keith heard fond chuckling and running water in response. "I'm fine. I promise." The tap turned off, and Shiro gulped down some water, then added, "More than fine, really."

Keith huffed, recalling the panic from the night before and the walk that had soothed it. "What were you doing, anyway?"

The sound of glass touching wood, a hitched breath as Shiro hefted himself up to sit on the counter, a throat clearing in anticipation of admitting something big. "I was on a date."

"What?" Keith sat up now, stifling the yawn that threatened to soften his voice. "Shiro." He kept his tone low and stern, but it was still protective, cautiously optimistic. "Spill. All the deets. Now."

Shiro responded with an unhindered laugh, a truly happy sound. "Relax, Keith. It was just a date. With an administrator from the academy."

Keith hummed ambivalently. "You could've let me know."

"Last night was… kind of a last minute thing?" Shiro still sounded unsure.

"She asked you, didn't she?"

"Nothing wrong with that," Shiro defended.

Keith smiled despite himself. It was hard to be mad at his brother for being unavailable when it was because he was finally opening up to someone. "Not saying there is. Just saying you're hopeless. This is the same girl you've had a crush on since you started working there isn't she?"

Keith waited for the rustling to subside as Shiro moved his phone to his other ear. "How did you-"

"You're way more obvious than you think," he snickered. He could imagine the indignation passing over his brother's face. To make up for not being there to see it, Keith decided to push some more. "Is that why you woke up so late?" He made his voice as suggestive as possible. "Had a good time last night?" Keith relished in the crash of the phone slipping from a stunned Shiro's hand.

"You know you should try it sometime," Shiro offered after a moment of flustered silence.

Keith hummed questioningly, and Shiro clarified. "You know, dating. A date. You should try it too. Then you'd be less invested in my prospects."

The sudden image of a lopsided, smug smile and the feeling of a shoulder bumping his kept him from sassing back right away, and Shiro was all over it. "Oh? Have you finally met someone? Keith? Who is he?"

"Shut up, Shiro." Wow, great comeback, Keith.

"Oh woah, so it's serious." Mirth peeked out from his voice, though he was careful not to let it bubble through. Not before he got a few jabs in. "Did you already speed him around on your bike to make sure he's weak in the knees for you?" Keith groaned, but Shiro was not done. "Don't let him realize your entire wardrobe is from Hot Topic, or you'll scare him off."

"Oh my god, I'm hanging up. I can't believe I spent a whole day worrying about my garbage brother." He had to shout the last part to be heard over the giggles now filling his ears. Metal slapped softly against wood as his brother braced his prosthetic hand on the counter to throw back his head and laugh. "Ugh, you are the worst!" And he was seriously about to hang up, when Shiro forced himself to calm down enough to say,

"Keith hang on." He added in a softer tone, "I'm sorry I missed your calls. I must have worried you."

Keith just rolled his eyes. "It's okay. Send me a selfie of you being cute with your new girlfriend, and I might forgive you."

"How 'bout I do you one better?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't worry about it. Just keep me posted on this boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend," he insisted, but not before the word tingled all over his skin.

After hanging up, Keith didn't get out of bed right away. He'd missed his usual workout hour anyway. He lay back down instead, wondering when was the last time he'd slept this soundly, not awoken by anxiety or bad dreams, or both. As hard as he'd pouted when Shiro teased him, his brother was right. A relationship could be good for him. Lance could be good for him. As if on cue, his phone buzzed. "Text message from McSlain ❤: Morning, sleepyhead"

Who? What? Keith stared at the screen for a moment in bemusement, until he realized who it was.

➤McSlain? Seriously?

➤;)

Keith was just taking a moment to get his bearings—because he'd just gone from pining over his crush in bed, to texting his crush in bed—when Lance hit him with a double text.

➤Guess what I saved your name as in my phone

➤uhh.. I just put in my name last night? probably don't want to know what you changed it to :|

➤dw it's not embarrassing ;P

This was followed by a screenshot of the text window. The contact name was just a K followed by the angry red face emoji.

➤what's that red face for?

➤it's cuz ur always grumpy and pouting

Keith barely had a chance to huff in response before Lance texted him again.

➤it's cute tho

Keith rolled over so he could hide his face in his pillow and groan inwardly.

➤I'm changing ur contact name

He pulled up the text details, ignoring the "Noooo" that had just come through from Lance. After a moment's hesitation, he left the "McSlain ❤," but added a smirk, a winky face, and the poop emoji. Coming back to the conversation, he took a screenshot and sent it.

➤I'm crying ;D you're so mean

➤ur the one making me look like I have anger management issues

➤lmao would you prefer the knife emoji instead?

➤well the smirk and the wink are pretty much me I guess ;)

➤dw it's cute

Keith stared at the heart before tossing his phone on the bed. This was too much. It was too early for this. He sat up and leaned against the headboard, pulling his legs to his chest and resting his chin on his knees. Then he caved and picked up the phone again. Lance was still talking.

➤so you're up early. you have class rn too?

➤it's not that early... i usually get up to go to the gym, but i kinda slept in today. i woke up when my brother called me

➤and no, i don't have class until later

➤ofc ur a morning person smh

➤i didn't know you have a brother?! there are more of you?

➤lol what does that even mean? yeah my brother's name is shiro

➤it's short for takashi shirogane

➤oh he has a different last name than you?

➤yeah i was adopted

➤ohh that's cool! I have 7 brothers and sisters, and way too much extended family to count haha

➤but i'd lay down my life for any of them

➤sounds intense

➤:)

➤hbu? any other siblings?

➤nah, just shiro

➤hmm. I feel like you'd have the kind of relationship with your brother where you'd do anything for each other, but would also sell the other to satan for 1 corn chip

➤... wtf shiro sent me that meme just last week and said it described us perfectly

➤i don't need another memelord in my life what is this

➤hahahaha

➤ok class is about to start. talk later B)

Keith realized he'd been smiling the whole time, with his cheek pressed against his knee. He thumbed up in the conversation to read it over and overanalyze the heart Lance had sent him.

A long day of classes behind him, Lance made his way to the library to finally start on his homework for the week. On his way he pulled up messenger on his phone.

Lancelot:
Finally out of class guys
Kill me now

Not expecting an immediate response from the group chat, he pocketed the phone, only to have it vibrate seconds later.

Lifehack:
Careful what you wish for...

Lancelot:
Omfg Pidge why are we even friends D':

Lifehack:
Because you love me

Lancelot:
:|

Lifehack:
And apparently I like you despite my better judgment

Lancelot:
You know what, I'll take it :D

Gourmunk:
Aww you guys

Lancelot:
❤

Lifehack:
Ok let's stop now

Gourmunk:
Speaking of liking and loving

Lifehack:
Oh no
Hunk do not do the thing

Gourmunk:
How's it going with Keith?

Lifehack:
He did the thing

Lancelot:
Fine?

A couple of minutes went by in which the chat was dead, presumably waiting for Lance to elaborate. He didn't.

Lifehack:
Wait what?
That's it?
No gushing about how how cute your name sounds in his voice or some other sappy shit?

Lancelot:
What? I don't do that!

Gourmunk:
Yeah, and you don't make heart eyes at your phone texting him either
idk what Pidge is even talking about here

Lifehack:
Pfft

Lancelot:
Guuuys
▻.◅

Gourmunk:
But yeah, have you asked him out yet?

Lancelot:
Umm,

Gourmunk:
Lance?

Lancelot:
Idk guys what if I'm wrong

Gourmunk:
?

Lifehack:
What do you mean?

Lance stared at Pidge's last text, wondering if he should unload his insecurities onto their supportive but tired ears. By the time he arrived at the library, he decided they deserved his honesty after listening to his pining (mostly) without complaint.

Lancelot:
How does one go about seriously asking someone out?

Lifehack:
Ha
Lance needs advice on asking someone out

Lancelot:
I'm honestly asking?! It's easy to do it when I'm not actually serious because I already know I'm gonna get rejected

Lifehack:
Oh

Lancelot:
Yeah and like, I don't wanna mess this up?

Gourmunk:
It'll be fine

Lifehack:
Well you ARE annoying. I hated you when we first met.

Gourmunk:
Just go for it
(Not helping Pidge.)

Lancelot:

…...

Lifehack:
No, think about it. I hated you, and now you're one of my best friends. I would punch the sun if it hurt you
So yeah dw about first impressions or anything like that. He must like you if he still talks to you after how mean you were to him freshman year

Lancelot:
Thanks Pidge, I appreciate it. But liking someone as a friend and LIKE liking someone are totally different things! What if he isn't into me like how I'm into him

Gourmunk:
Didn't you say you guys were flirting?

Lancelot:
I mean I was? But technically he never said anything that couldn't have just been "friendly banter"

Lifehack:
Omfg Lance just ask him if he was flirting

Lancelot:
What kind of garbage advice is that

Lifehack:
Why do I even try with you
Watch him ask you out. You'll owe me 20$

Lancelot:
Pfft

Gourmunk:
In all seriousness, take your time
But Pidge is right. You should ask him. It could get awkward sure, but it's better than the uncertainty

Lancelot:
Ugh
I hate you guys and your sound advice
❤

Lifehack:
(He's not gonna do it is he?)

Gourmunk:
(Nope.)

Lifehack:
:|

Lancelot:
:)

Gourmunk:
:(

Lance left it at that, but in the coming days, he found himself still texting Keith, a lot, and it was not good for his sanity. He wanted to grab Keith's Snapchat, but wasn't about to be obvious and ask for it. He'd been the one to ask for Keith's number, after which Keith hadn't offered to exchange any other info. So he tried dropping hints by taking screenshots of his snaps and texting them. He sent meme-captioned selfies with him sprawled over his books, with his face mask on, and sometimes with just the dog filter. Keith always responded with a noncommittal "lol." In all of this, Lance was getting really good at asking himself why Keith would like someone like him, but not so good at answering that question.

Keith received each selfie with a flutter in his chest, but played it cool by texting "lol" instead of keyboard smashes Were keyboard smashes even a thing in texting? Keith wasn't sure. But the point was, how did this boy look so good even about to pass out from tiredness? Keith looked like Death when he was tired or overworked, and Lance somehow made puffy eyes and disheveled hair look cute. This was unfair. Keith had to get back at Lance in some way.

After the latest picture of Lance practically inhaling a sip of Starbucks iced coffee like it was oxygen, Keith decided to strike back. It was 10:30, so nighttime but not too late, and he actually had an appropriate response for a coffee cup selfie. He opened up his front camera and framed the shot. Raised eyebrows, hand holding a mug of steaming tea covering half his face. He sent it with the text, 'You're actually drinking ICED coffee in this weather?'

Lance's reply was almost immediate. Keith was unsure if that was supposed to make him feel this good, but he decided to just go with it.

➤yolo ;)

➤yes exactly. only once. so why would you do this to yourself?

➤gotta get that caffeine somehow

Keith rolled his eyes and responded with another picture—almost the same shot as before, but this time with the tea mug even closer to the camera, blocking almost his entire face. The little tag of the teabag was front and center, leaving no doubt as to what point Keith was trying to make.

➤lol u make it look enticing but I'm sorry to say

➤tea tastes terrible. even worse than coffee

➤it's just like, weirdly flavored water

➤what? you're crazy

➤and you don't like coffee? then why're you drinking it?

➤again, gotta get that caffeine somehow

➤even if it means it's buried under layers of milk and sugar

➤and like vanilla syrup? not sure but it's super sweet

This was accompanied by a selfie—Lance sipping from the straw thoughtfully, eyes looking off in the distance, as if trying to place what flavors were in his own drink. Stubbornly stifling his smile behind his fist, even though there was no one around, Keith tapped and saved the picture to his phone before responding,

➤ok but why iced

➤the hot takes too long to drink dude

➤need that caffeine asap

➤omfg

Lance responded with a picture of the now empty cup, followed by thumbs up emojis. Keith huffed out a laugh into his knuckles. This boy was hopeless. Keith decided to intervene.

➤listen idk what kind of tea you've been drinking but you don't know what you're missing

➤sounds fake but ok

➤i will prove it to you!

Lance sent the skeptical-looking thinking emoji. It was a silent challenge. Or at least that's how Keith decided to take it. In hindsight he should've thought this through; but when had he ever been known to do that? There was nothing to do but respond in kind. He entered the angry face, decided it looked too angry, and replaced it with the one huffing air from its nose and sent it.

➤i'm serious. if you're free friday afternoon i can make some for you and show you how to make it

Up until that point Lance had been responding instantly and keeping the conversation going. But this message was followed by a solid ten minutes of radio silence. And really, that should have been a strong hint, even for Keith's socially inept ass, that he did something to cause the silence. But he just assumed Lance got distracted by actual work, which he figured was for the best. As freaked out as that boy was about studying, it would do him some good to get work done. So Keith settled into his own physics homework until his phone buzzed again.

➤i guess I'm free. I mean I don't have classes or anything

➤what time are you thinking?

Still thinking of quantum models, Keith needed to scroll up and check what Lance was talking about. Oh right, Keith had offered to show him what properly made tea could taste like. But that was 10 minutes ago. So was Lance checking his schedule this whole time? Anyway,

➤anytime. i'm completely free Fridays

The three dots indicating that Lance was typing popped up. And stayed up. For a while.

➤ok how about 1pm?

Wondering vaguely why it took Lance so long to type that, Keith replied with an 'ok' and was about to tell Lance to come to his dorm and just text him when he was downstairs, when Lance started typing something again. It came through a bit quicker this time.

➤will you have eaten by then? if you want we could grab lunch and then have the tea

➤which I will def hate btw. just lettin u know

➤pfft just u wait. it will be the most amazing tea you've ever had

➤it may very well be my man, but that doesnt mean it'll be good. it'll still be tea

➤like, a good dictator is still a dictator

Keith finally sent that angry face emoji. He received three laughing ones in response.

➤and sure lunch is fine. you know that diner off campus?

They made plans to meet in front of the diner, which Lance had not known about, as a matter of fact. Apparently he'd been living off his overpriced dining hall meal plans the whole time he was at college.

It was only after Keith had finished his homework and settled in to sleep around 1am that his eyes flew open with realization. Did he ask Lance out? On a date? He sat up. Now that he thought about it, replaying the text conversation in his head… he did, didn't he? He chewed on his lip.

Wait. Had Lance accepted? Yes, and he'd extended the offer to lunch. Oh. He fell back into the bed with an audible groan. Oh no. He grabbed his phone from the nightstand and sent off a furious text to Shiro.

➤omg I think I accidentally asked Lance out

He tossed the phone back in the general direction of the nightstand—having needed to get that out there but unwilling to deal with having woken up his brother. He buried himself into his blanket, knowing full well he was not about to get any sleep that night.

The next morning, Keith awoke groggily—having gotten a few winks in after all—to texts from Shiro.

➤who is Lance?

➤how do you "accidentally" ask someone out?

➤nvm i shouldnt doubt ur abilities

Followed a few minutes later by,

➤where/when is this date?