This is an old fic from my ao3 that I'm p sure got deleted. If it's shit, then that's why.

Keith's foot tapped along to the tempo of the orchestra playing inside the concert hall, leaning against the wall next to his guitar case. Shiro told him that he'd have to wait about fifteen minutes for the orchestra to finish up their mock concert before he could have the concert hall to himself. It was going on twenty minutes now. Finally, he heard the ending notes of the song and Zarkon's booming voice declaring that practice was finished. He grabbed his guitar and slung his backpack over his shoulder, hurriedly pushing through the throng of students attempting to escape from the concert hall at the same time. Keith sped toward the stage, receiving the stink eye from Zarkon as he herded the last of the students out of the concert hall.

Another student approached him. "Hey, Schitz!" The boy, Rolo, called out to him. He dragged his violin along behind him and Keith groaned as if in pain. "Hey, fruitcake. I need twenty bucks," Rolo held out a hand, which Keith stared at.

"Why?"

"None of your damn business, ya' psychopath. Just give me the money before I have to sock your sorry ass."

Keith sighed, reaching into his backpack and pulling out a twenty.

"Thanks, lamebrain." Rolo saluted, hurriedly leaving Keith to his own devices.

Keith stepped onto the stage and pulled his amp out of this backpack and plugged it into his guitar, slinging the guitar strap over his shoulder. He stepped up toward the microphone that the orchestra had been using to help magnify their sound, adjusting it to sit at his height. He quickly tuned the guitar, double checking and triple checking to make sure the sound was perfect. He could still hear the sound of the students bumbling around outside, trying to get back to the orchestra room. He breathed out slowly before starting the soft, opening chords to his song, Kick Me . He suddenly started playing in a completely different style, pausing between beats as he sung.

Let's hang the jury

You sick judgmental fools

I'll bury you six feet deep

I'm so tired of your rules

He stared down at his fingers working the strings of the guitar, he didn't notice that a few students had started tricking back into the concert hall, whether by the obnoxiously loud sound of his music or that they had left their instruments is up for discussion.

Fuck you and your opinion

How could you be so blind?

What goes around

Comes back around in time

The trickle of students had now turned into a steady stream as students on their lunch breaks started filtering in as well to listen to him play. It was almost like magic how he hypnotized them with his voice and his guitar. He then started stomping and dancing around the stage obliviously as he played into the chorus.

You don't know shit

You don't know shit

About me

You don't know shit, shit, shit

Don't know a god damn thing about me

He smiled, rocking along the the music. He aggressively strummed the next section of the song as a group of band members came in, speaking in hushed tones.

"Holy shit, that guy's good."

"No kidding. Is that an original piece? No offense Lance, but he might just be better than you."

Lance frowned at his taller friend, pulling a shorter person closer to him. "You're my best friend now, Pidge. Hunk is now dead to me." Pidge shoved him. "He's not right, per se. However, this guy's music is more appealing to our generation. Than your crappy love songs." Lance gasped dramatically. "My songs aren't crappy. And the ladies love it. This guy's music is so edgy." The group of friends peered back at the stage.

Keep looking down on me

I am more than you'll ever be

Cut me deep but I won't bleed

Gonna kick, kick

Kick me when I'm down

By all means

Put me through hell

And I'll make you see

I'll be your worst enemy

Try to kick, kick, kick me when I'm down

Kick me when I'm down

"Dude, we should totally ask him to join our band," Hunk said, starting toward the stage. "Wait, shouldn't we see how we sound together first?" Lance smiled mischievously. "Let's get our stuff first." Pidge narrowed their eyes at him, but took him at his word as Hunk started walking out the door with the others in tow.

Keith suddenly noticed the crowd that had formed and became a little nervous, strumming with less abandon now and awkwardly sidling in front of the microphone. He sung softer now than he had during the chorus, becoming slightly more confident with each line.

Of all the sinners

You're first in line

So go to hell and tell the devil

I'm not that far behind

Fuck you and your decision

'Cause it's not mine

What goes around goes back around in time

You don't know shit

You don't know shit

About me

You don't know shit, shit, shit

Don't know a god damn thing about me

Keith saw the three band members come in now, Lance with his guitar, Pidge with a folded up keyboard, and Hunk with his drumsticks (the drums were already set up behind the curtain as they usually were). They three casually walked up to the front of the steadily growing crowd as Keith continued to sing.

Keep looking down on me

I am more than you'll ever be

Cut me deep but I won't bleed

Gonna kick, kick

Kick me when I'm down

By all means

Put me through hell

And I'll make you see

I'll be your worst enemy

The crowd started to cheer along softly.

Try to kick, kick, kick me when I'm down

Try to kick, kick, kick me when I'm down

Kick, kick, kick me when I'm down

Kick me when I'm down

Kick me when I'm down

Down

Down

Kick me when I'm down

Down

Down

Kick me when I'm down

The song ended somewhat abruptly and Keith wiped the sweat from his brows the three charged up onto the stage, startling him and almost causing him to fall flat on his ass.

"Mind if we join you?" Lance asked cockily. Keith answered back with a smirk, adjusting his guitar and answering, "Only if you can keep up." He started playing the opening chords to another song, leaning into the mic and saying snidely, "This is about you." Hunk started up on the drums and Lance set up his guitar. Pidge adjusted their keyboard to Alto Sax, playing along to Keith's guitar.

Beware, beware, be skeptical

Of their smiles, their smiles of plated gold

Deceit so natural

But a wolf in sheep's clothing is more than a warning

Keith sounded much more confident now as he sung this song.

Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any soul?

No sir, by the way, what the hell are morals

Jack, be nimble, Jack, be quick

Jill's a little whore and her alibis are dirty trick

Lance started getting louder on guitar as Keith bobbed his head from side to side. He noticed the slight accent that punctuated each of Keith's sentences, making him seem more angry than he actually was.

So could you

Tell me how you're sleeping easy

How you're only thinking of yourself

Show me how you justify

Telling all your lies like second nature

Listen, mark my words, one day

You will pay, you will pay

Karma's gonna come collect your debt

Pidge played a short, lilting solo on her keyboard before Keith took over the instrumental again.

Aware, aware, you stalk your prey

With criminal mentality

You sink your teeth into the people you depend on

Infecting everyone, you're quite the problem

Fe fi fo fum, you better run and hide

I smell the blood of a petty little coward

Jack, be lethal, Jack, be slick

Jill will leave you lonely dying in a filthy ditch

Lance scowled, strumming a slightly more difficult tune as it pulled into the chorus, making it seem as natural as breathing.

So could you

Tell me how you're sleeping easy

How you're only thinking of yourself

Show me how you justify

Telling all your lies like second nature

Listen, mark my words, one day

You will pay, you will pay

Karma's gonna come collect your debt

Keith hung on the last note, singing in a higher pitch. Pidge immediately moved to accommodate, turning up the volume on their keyboard and playing repeated patterns on different instruments, stacking the sounds on top of each other throughout the small portion. It actually turned out good despite the hurried improvisation and the pace at which she had to press different keys.

Maybe you'll change

Abandon all your wicked ways

Make amends and start anew again

Maybe you'll see

All the wrongs you did to me

And start all over, start all over again

Keith then started laughing maniacally as he transitioned into the next monologue, surprising some of the others, who still continued despite the surprise.

Who am I kidding?

Now, let's not get overzealous here

You've always been a huge piece of shit

If I could kill you I would

But it's frowned upon in all fifty states

Having said that, burn in hell

Keith hung on the last note again, giving the others ample time to transition into the chorus of the song again.

So tell me how you're sleeping easy

How you're only thinking of yourself

Show me how you justify

Telling all your lies like second nature

Listen, mark my words, one day

You will pay, you will pay

Karma's gonna come collect your debt

Karma's gonna come collect your debt

Karma's gonna come collect your debt

They all caught their breaths for a moment as the crowd (which now occupied the whole of the concert hall being filled at this point. All the seats were occupied, some people taking to standing at the sides of the aisles. Keith spotted Acxa and Shiro waving wildly from the back of the concert hall. Shiro was the theatre teacher, so he had fourth and lunch off. Acxa had decided to have her Senior break period during fourth like Keith, since most of her friends also has Senior break during fourth. Keith waved awkwardly back at his overbearing sister and annoying cousin.

"You have any other good songs up your sleeve there?" Pidge gestured to his strangely designed leather jacket and he nodded. He strummed a short scale on his guitar in practice. "You mind starting this one for me?" Pidge nodded, starting up a slow and unsure instrumental at her keyboard's normal settings. Keith seemed to accept it though as he started singing, swinging his guitar over his shoulder for the time being as he wouldn't be using it for this particular song.

I can't quite contain or explain my evil ways

Or explain why I'm not sane

All I can say is this is your warning

I can't quite contain or explain my evil ways

Or explain why I'm not sane

All I can say is this is your warning, duality

Lance sung along with him on duality, strumming the next part along with his singing, keeping constant background noise. Hunk quickly started up on the drums along with them.

I have a confession

That you will not believe

That you could not perceive

This freak, gonna set it off

I have a confession,

Of a side that I hide

It's a cloak or disguise

Unleashed, gonna get it off

No, I'll never get away

'Cause if I try to stray

It only holds me closer

No, I'll never get away

I love it anyway

I'll never stop

The background music stopped abruptly, starting up again just after Keith started on the chorus.

I can't quite contain

Or explain my evil ways

Or explain why I'm not sane

All I can say is this is your warning

I can't quite contain

Or explain my evil ways

Or explain why I'm not sane

All I can say is this is your warning,

Duality

The instrumentals quieted down again as Keith barged straight into the next portion of the song.

I have an impression,

In the back of my mind

For the black in my tie

Contains all your dirty thoughts

Make me an obsession,

When you lock me inside

For the ride of your life

Unleashed, gonna get it off

Keith winked cockily at Lance, who stopped playing for a moment, a blushing mess. He started back up again quickly though, practically unnoticed.

No, can't count the list of things

I know are wrong with me

No need to justify them

No, I'll never take the blame

So I'll just stay the same

I'll never stop

The four fluidly played into the chorus again, ignoring the loud cheers coming from the new audience.

I can't quite contain

Or explain my evil ways

Or explain why I'm not sane

All I can say is this is your warning

I can't quite contain

Or explain my evil ways

Or explain why I'm not sane

All I can say is this is your warning,

Duality

Keith took the mic off of it's stand, untangling the wire from it with a quick fluid motion before walking across the stage toward Pidge, turning up the volume on their keyboard and changing the settings to choir before playing a single note. Pidge, catching on quickly, started playing along to Keith's staccato accented notes through the glissando verse.

I am good,

I am evil

I am solace,

I am chaos

I am human,

And that's all I've ever wanted to be

Pidge adjusted back to her original settings as Keith stalked back to the center of the stage, pressing the microphone back onto it's stand.

No, can't count the list of things

I know are wrong with me

No need to justify them

No, I'll never get away

I love it any way

I'll never stop

I can't quite contain or explain my evil ways

Or explain why I'm not sane

All I can say is this is your warning

I can't quite contain or explain my evil ways

Or explain why I'm not sane

All I can say is this is your warning, duality

Pidge smirked, putting their hands on their hips. "See, I told you our experience in jazz band would be useful someday," they said haughtily. "How many other good songs do you have? I'm thinking this'll be good practice regardless of whether Lance can convince you to join the band." Keith's face screwed up into a confused expression, having not gotten the memo that they wanted him to play in their band.

"Um, I have one more songs that I meant to practice." Pidge nodded and Hunk tapped the ride symbol with his drumsticks, effectively getting the attention of the two. "How about we give Lance a chance to sing one of his songs. I know he doesn't look it, but he can write some pretty edgy songs too." He jutted a thumb toward Lance, who stuck out his tongue at Hunk for ratting him out. Keith loosely held out the microphone to Lance. "How about it? Show me what you got." Lance cursed under his breath, snatching the mic and stamping to center-stage. He immediately started strumming, giving nobody else any time to catch up. Keith got his bearing a few ticks after, immediately taking over the song with his guitar.

She said she wants to end it all when she's all alone in her room

She cries

The way she feels inside is too much for her

When all you got is these four walls

It's not that hard to feel so small

Or even exist at all

How come no one heard her when she said

Lance paused, hanging on the last note before aggressively strumming into the chorus, setting up a very punk-rock sound in the chorus.

Maybe I'm better off dead

If I was would it finally be enough

To shut out all those voices in my head?

Maybe I'm better off dead

Better off dead!

Did you hear a word

Hear a word I said?

This is not where I belong

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Gone, gone

This is not where I belong

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Keith sung background vocals, effectively keeping the focus on Lance while harmonizing with his voice, getting used to Lance's higher pitch of voice.

She doesn't know she's beautiful

Because no one's ever told her so

And the demons that she has, are all she knows

And maybe she can fall in love with someone in her life that she could trust

And tell her she's enough (Have someone tell her she's enough?)

How come no one heard her when she said

Keith felt something in his chest pull at the sentiment, but he shook his head continuing to pluck the strings of his guitar.

Maybe I'm better off dead

If I was would it finally be enough

To shut out all those voices in my head?

Maybe I'm better off dead

Better off dead!

Did you hear a word

Hear a word I said?

This is not where I belong

You gonna miss me when I'm gone

This is not where I belong

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Keith started playing an entirely new instrumental background just as Lance started screaming the next lyrics into the mic, clearly letting his emotion get the best of him even on stage.

When all you got is these four walls

It's not hard to feel so small

When all you got is these four walls

It's not hard to feel so, feel so small

All she wanted was to be enough

All she wanted was to be enough

So what does it take?

Maybe it's not too late

Lance's tone immediately shifted as he sung the next line, taking the audience completely by surprise.

How come no one heard me when I said

He let the note hang for a single dramatic second before continuing into the chorus.

Maybe I'm better off dead

If I was would it finally be enough

To shut out all those voices in my head?

Maybe I'm better off dead

Better off dead!

Did you hear a word

Hear a word I said?

This is not where I belong

You gonna miss me when I'm gone

Gone, gone

This is not where I belong

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Gone, gone

This is not where I belong

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Lance took a deep breath as he listened to the cheering of people in the audience. He then took the microphone and handed it back to Keith. "One more song?" Keith smiled back at him. "Sure." He took the mic in his gloved hand, walking back to the center of the stage. Keith immediately started strumming, purposefully letting his voice waver with each note, creating a slow vibrato.

Watch your step around these words

'Cause they're gonna get you,

They're gonna get you in the end,

I swear it's not a disease

It's just a game of pretend,

A game of pretend,

Why is it me they're after,

Couldn't they pick another one,

Some day I'll spit their laughter,

And bite their tongue.

Lance laughed at the last line behind him and Keith glowered back, unamused, as he continued into the chorus. A tan girl around their age had gotten her violin out in the front row and started playing along to the group.

Horrible kids,

Would you look what you did,

It was your ignorance,

That formed a beast with your wit.

Bah duh duh dum bum

Horrible kids, horrible kids, horrible kids,

Look what you did!

What makes this target grow?

Is it when his feelings show?

Hold a gun to his head and you'll know,

Keith pointed his finger at his head, pulling an imaginary trigger and jerking his head as if he'd just gotten shot in the head. It was a small gesture, but said all it needed to.

You've pushed him down as low as he can go,

He sung the next notes as if he was actually pleading to an invisible assailant, making the song seem more meaningful and personal as he sung it.

Go! Get away from me,

Leave me be,

I beg you please,

I'm on the floor on bended knee.

Maybe then I'll keep my sanity.

His voice suddenly went much higher in pitch as he sung.

And I can't stand this pain they cause me,

This puzzle will solve itself,

And maybe I just can't seem to put this together yet.

At this point he pulled back around to the style of singing he had been doing earlier as he sung the chorus.

Horrible kids,

Would you look what you did,

It was your ignorance,

That formed a beast with your wit.

Horrible kids, horrible kids, horrible kids,

Look what you did!

Horrible kids, horrible kids, horrible kids,

Look what you did!

Pidge turned the volume up on her keyboard, playing the same volume as the violinist in the front of the audience.

Picture this he was just a kid,

Not knowing where to begin,

He wore all the wrong clothes

Followed all the wrong trends,

Persecuted for the things he did.

Picture this he was all alone,

Without a friend to call his own

So he sat on his bed,

With the thought in his head,

With wishes that they all were dead

But then he saw the light,

Gained the will to fight,

Saw that victory was in sight,

But soon they all will see.

Keith hung on the last note, giving it a slight vibrato before he continued into the chorus.

Horrible kids,

Would you look what you did,

It was your ignorance,

That formed a beast with your wit.

Horrible kids,

Would you look what you did,

It was your ignorance,

That formed a beast with your wit.

Horrible kids, horrible kids, horrible kids,

Look what we did!

Horrible kids, horrible kids, horrible kids,

Look what we did!

The bell suddenly rung, signaling that first lunch was over and students started filing out of the concert hall, the only people sticking around being the violinist, the four on stage and one shady guy hanging in the back, leaning against the wall with a smoke.

"Allura!" Lance leaped off the stage, hugging the violinist. "I haven't seen you in forever, babe." She softly kicked his leg in discomfort at being called 'babe' despite not being his girlfriend. Lance started waving his hands around wildly as he spoke. "I haven't heard your voice in forever. I missed it. I thought you'd moved to Britain." Allura waved her hands back without speaking. Keith suddenly realized they were speaking in sign language.

"What is she saying?"

Lance smiled at him. "She said that I've never heard her voice before, so there's no way I could have missed it," He laughed. He then turned to Pidge. "Allura's going to finish off her Senior year here, so you guys can go to prom together." Pidge rolled their eyes. "I could see that. I can read sign too, jackass." Allura giggled behind her fist as Lance gasped in mock offense.

Keith had already finished packing up and moved to leave, when Lance stopped him. "Hey. If you want, we practice here after school on Thursdays. Maybe you can swing by." Keith looked him up and down, searching for any sign of malintent. "Sure." He moved past him hurrying down to the exit, noticing that the shady figure had moved to walk beside him.

"Hey, fruitcake."

"Leave me be."

"Speaking of, don't think I didn't notice that you wrote an entire song about me. I'm touched, really." Rolo swooned, leaning against Keith, who shrugged him off.

"It's not about you."

"Oh? Then who's it about?"

"Someone I made up."

"Funny. This made up person sounds a lot like me."

"It's not."

"Well, don't get any ideas. You're still a weakling, Schitz. Don't forget that. I'll put you back in your place if you do and you won't like it."

"I understand."

"Good." Rolo patted him on the back before leaving him alone in the hall.

Keith sighed. It was going to be a long week.

End A/N Notes:

Kick Me - Sleeping With Sirens
Wolf In Sheep's Clothing - Set It Off
Duality - Set It Off
Better Off Dead - Sleeping With Sirens
Horrible Kids - Set It Off