Chapter Text
Keith likes his job as a student librarian. It’s quiet, he can get his homework done during his shift, and he makes some extra cash. All in all, it’s a good job for him. His work hours are after his classes which means he has enough time to swing by the coffee shop before his three hour shift on the weekdays.
Keith has his archaeology textbook open to get some of his reading done when a hand not so subtly slams down on the table.
“Bookkeeper, I need the best books you got!” An excited voice says to Keith. The voice is raised way too loud for the library. Keith glances up from his textbook. He’s about Keith’s age and doesn’t look much taller than him.
“Number one, you’ll have to lower your voice,” Keith sighs. “Number two, you need to be a bit more specific. What type of books do you need?”
The boy raises his shoulders, flinching, realizing how loud he was just now. “Oh, yeah, I forgot. Listen man, I have my first astronomy paper due in a week and I need you to load me up with the best books you’ve got in your fine library,” He says with a smile.
Keith raises points his thumb behind him pointing to a shelf on display about fifteen feet away. “The Stephen Hawki-” but before he could finish his directions he’s cut off.
“Not those. I already own them and they’re in my dorm. I need like, the real deal not your snag it off the Barnes and Noble shelf type book.”
Keith opens his mouth slightly, a little surprised at how serious this student is. His speech pattern doesn’t really scream academic. But Keith knows that you can’t judge a book by its cover.
“Alright then, I’ll show you where they are in the reference section.” Keith stands up from his desk and moves in the direction opposite of the books he tried showing to the guy. The reference section is large and within view of Keith’s desk. He skims the aisle trying to remember which section is the astronomy section. Not many people come asking for astronomy books, it’s not the most popular major at their university.
Keith points to the three shelves in front of them and the reference center couches and tables. “These three shelves are the books on astronomy. I’m not sure what your paper is on, but these should cover it.”
“Awesome.” He puts his hands on his hips and quickly skims all the shelves. “So how many of these can I check out at a time?”
“None.”
“None?” He sighs dramatically before continuing, “Come on! How am I supposed to get this paper done if I can’t take them out of the library?”
“Technically, you could photocopy what pages you need out of the books.”
The boy raises an eyebrow. “Technically?”
Keith sighs and scratches the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed. “I say technically because you have to use the big copy machine, and I’ll be honest, I have no clue how to use it.” Keith points at the monster of a copy machine at the far end of the reference section. It’s a monster of a machine.
“Look,” Keith struggles realizing he doesn’t have the person’s name that he’s helping.
“The name’s Lance,” He says with a smile.
“Alright Lance. I can reserve the books for you so you can for sure have them when you need them. You’ll just have to tell me the books and the time you’ll come to use them.”
Lance scratches his chin thinking about if this will work.
“Alright.”
“Good. I’ll be back at my desk. When you figure out what books you need, come back over and you can let me know.” Lance salutes Keith and Keith takes that as his cue to walk back to his desk.
By the time Keith makes it back to his desk and sits down Lance already has three books in his arms and is searching for more. Keith knows he should get back to his homework, but he can’t help but look at Lance thoroughly check through the shelves. Most people hate researching stuff, especially ahead of time. But Lance looks excited. He didn’t look excited at the idea of his research paper, but the material itself seems to excite Lance.
Lance goes around to the next shelf and as he turns, Keith can see the front of his hat, which is being worn backwards, and his backpack. His hat has the NASA symbol on it slightly faded from the sun wearing down on it. His black backpack has a blue penny board that Keith can see popping out of one of the backpack’s larger pockets. Keith decides he’s spent a little too much time watching Lance and gets back to his archaeology homework.
By the time Keith has read a few more pages of the chapter he’s trying to knock out, Lance has brought a list of the seven books he needs on the checkout desk. Keith scans over Lance’s list and opens up the computer program he needs to use to reserve the books.
Keith flicks his eyes back at Lance. “You know, you won’t be able to photocopy, let alone read, all of these books in one day.”
Lance leans on the table. “Aw, are you worried about me-” Lance stops mid sentence realizing he actually doesn’t know the name of the person he’s talking to.
“It’s Keith."
“Well Keith, no need to worry. I’ll just sign up to reserve them for like a week. Maybe more if I need to. The paper is due in a week, but I can get an extension if I need to. Despite being a tough grader, the professor is pretty nice. Anyway, that’s possible right?” Lance says, still leaning on the desk.
“It is possible. I’ll sign you up for a week with these books then.” Keith begins typing and pauses. “I’m going to need time slots for when you reserve the books.”
Lance taps his chin a few times before speaking. Not hiding how forward he's being, Lance says, “Whatever times you work.”
Keith leans back in his chair further away from Lance. “Excuse me?”
Lance grins knowing that Keith caught that he was flirting. “Come on Keith, you’re the only one that knows what books I want and the urgency of this project. We’re in this together.”
Keith rolls his eyes. “Okay. I work shifts from two until five. Does that work for you?”
“It’s a date. Sign me up, Keith. You and I are gonna kick this astronomy paper’s ass.” Lance hits his hand on the table and smiles.
Keith pauses, looks at Lance, his eyebrows furrowed. “Okay.”
Lance puts his hands on his hips and parrots Keith’s affirmation back to him. “Okay.”
“Tomorrow, you’re signed up from two until five. I’ll leave the books out on the table over there,” Keith points to a table visible from his desk that’s in the reference section. “There will be a note that says reserved books for-”
“For me,” Lance adds.
Keith nods. “Yes, for you. Just make sure that when you’re done you put the books back on the shelf. Sound good?”
“Sounds amazing, Keith.” Lance hits the table one more time and starts to walk off. Before he leaves the building he turns around waving goodbye at Keith eagerly with a smile.
Keith gives a small smile and lazily waves back.