A/N: Holy crap. It took me forever to figure out what songs would be perfect for this and even then I ended up having to change some of the lyrics to fit according to the story and it probably sounds pretty fucking bad when you read the lyrics, but I wanted them to fit and I couldn't find any better songs for this. I'm so sorry for the crappy work.
Keith growled at his phone as he read the message on the screen for the gazillionth time. His teacher didn't seem to notice or didn't care that he had his phone out in class. Though the teacher might have been overlooking it since class was almost over.
And there was the bell.
Keith hurriedly packed his stuff up and shuffled past people in the hall, looking for the person in question who had sent him the text message mentioned above. He finally spotted him in the upper west B hall and he groaned in frustration as he saw the sea of students moving at a snail's pace around each other. He shoved his way through the crowd with extreme difficulty as others pushed him around and shoved past him in turn.
"She cheated on you?" Keith asked incredulously, giving Lance a look that said 'why the fuck do you do these things to yourself?' Lance merely shrugged in response like as if it wasn't a big deal that Nyma had done this. There seemed to be a lot of things he was tolerating from the blonde. It made Keith frustrated to know that Lance was just laying down like a little bitch for Nyma while she yanked him around with no semblance of remorse for him.
Keith tried to dodge around people to keep up with Lance, who was walking very quickly, but people kept bumping into him and jostling him around the hall. He hated the west upper B hall. It was always so busy and filled to the brim with students, despite being the widest hall in the building.
"Why haven't you broken up with her yet? Why haven't you talked to her about it? Or something. Why are you still with her?" Keith asked, his frustration edging into his words. Lance shrugged again. "It's not exactly the first time. And it's not that big a deal anyways." Keith fell back a step as people weaved between him and Lance.
Keith growled. "I swear to God," He hissed unhelpfully. "That makes it worse. She shouldn't be cheating on you and you shouldn't be tolerating that shit."
"Look, just drop it. Nyma's going to be sticking around while we practice and I don't want to argue about this in front of her," Lance demanded. Keith hummed noncommittally as Lance glared at him. "Look, I've got it under control. I'm not a little kid. I know what I'm doing. So stop." Lance then started walking faster and managed to disappear into the crowd, leaving Keith standing in the middle of the hall, festering in his irritation while the sea of students continued to jostle past him.
Keith sat at the back of the stage, strumming his guitar and mumbling lyrics under his breath. Allura, Pidge, and Hunk were busy gossiping on the right side of the stage. While Lance was sitting on the edge of the stage with his guitar, happily chatting with Nyma, who was sitting in the front row of the concert hall. Of course he still hasn't said anything. Nyma probably thinks that Lance has no idea too.
Keith strummed roughly and loudly, grabbing the attention of Pidge, who shot him a worried look. He just shrugged in response before standing and joining the three.
"Hey, maybe we should get to practicing now?" He said unsurely and the three glanced at each other and nodded in agreement.
"Well, what exactly do we have planned for today?" Pidge asked. Keith shrugged. And turned to them, and said quietly, "How about NME?" Pidge nodded with a sly smile and everyone got to their spots without drawing the attention of Nyma or Lance. Allura quickly grabbed her violin and stood at attention.
Pidge started playing and creepily singing without grabbing the attention of the couple at the front of the stage.
After doing this once, Keith suddenly broke in with a loud 'ha' as he started playing his guitar, which startled the two. Lance sent Keith a glare at the interruption, then as he realized what song they were playing, he growled lowly.
Keith smirked in response as he started singing with anger in his voice.
Remove the gag and step away, he's suffocating
You pull the strings day after day
That's why he needs a break from you
Bid your ass adieu
A break from you
Bitch, your ass is through
There was more emphasis put on the sound of the violin in a as it slowly went into the chorus and Keith's voice became sweet instead of coarse and angry.
Oh, I hope he hears these words
Maybe this time he will learn...
He started playing his guitar, making his own voice sound even more coarse. Hunk played drums harshly, adding fuel to the fire.
You should escape,
Skip town,
No more excuses,
Abandon ship or drown.
No more excuses,
Do you even have a plan of attack?
A way to react?
Oh no, you should escape, skip town,
You're better on your own.
As Keith sung the next verse, he sounded more like he was just talking, though this effect made him seem much more frustrated as he tauntingly sung. He tilted his head from side to side as if the extra movement would help get that overwhelming irritation out of his system. And it did help some as he moved his feet occasionally in a sort of stomping motion.
OK we get it,
You're both a happy couple,
Why else go through the trouble,
Of posting it ten times a day?
Break from you,
Bid your ass adieu,
We need a break from you,
Bitch, your ass is through.
Allura played alone on the violin as Keith sung his transition part, receiving a glare from Lance. Nyma, however, seemed oblivious to the silent argument going on.
Oh, I hope he hears these words
Maybe this time he will learn...
Everyone joined into the lilting, yet grinding rhythm in the chorus, playing their silent agreement about the matter through song. The song oozed of frustration and anger, the lyrics only adding to the flames, which flared huge and fearsome throughout the concert hall.
You should escape,
Skip town,
No more excuses,
Abandon ship or drown.
No more excuses,
Do you even have a plan of attack?
A way to react?
Oh no, you should escape, skip town,
You're better on your own.
The song slowed down with only Allura and Pidge playing while Keith sung, slowly adding back into that grating rhythm that the chorus had.
If you're both in black and white
And they ask who dares defy,
I'll be raising my hand high.
Everyone quieted as Pidge asked for any objections to a fake marriage and Keith objected, leading everyone into the chorus again.
If anyone should object to this marriage,
Please, speak now or forever hold your peace.
Yeah, I got somethin' to say...
Unlike the other choruses, Pidge started singing her lilting tune and the lilting rhythm was just as loud as the grating part, the sound competing for the attention of the audience.
You should escape,
Skip town,
No more excuses,
Abandon ship or drown.
No more excuses,
Do you even have a plan of attack?
A way to react?
Oh no, you should escape, skip town,
You're better on your own.
The two rhythms combined and were played harmoniously together in an angry, frustrated beat with the lilt getting louder for a moment before the drums effectively brought it back down until the sounds were equal.
You're better on your own.
You're better on your own.
You're better on your own.
You're better on your own.
Lance stood from the edge of the stage and walked toward Keith, sending him a 'what the fuck was that' message with his eyes. Keith pretended to not have seen the look in his eyes as the Latino took up center stage, forcing Keith to step aside for him. Keith smirked as Lance glared.
"Let's do 'Don't You Dare Forget the Sun.'" Lance made a twirling motion with his finger, indicating that they start from the beginning. Keith scowled as Lance suggested the usage of one of his songs. But everyone else was cooperating.
They started with Hunk on drums and Keith playing a fast guitar solo. As Lance started singing, Allura played on violin and Hnk continued to play in a calmer rhythm. Eventually the guitar parts joined in and Pidge started playing with Allura.
Keith hated how Lance twisted a song about a bad relationship to be about Keith and his shortcomings. He jabbed at every insecurity Keith held inside himself, while making fun of the fact that he thought he was right about their argument. Taunting him by sarcastically building up his ego and telling him to fuck off immediately after. Telling him that he won't be proud of himself for winning the argument.
You're a mess tangled with your confidence
You think you haven't sinned
Well you're unstoppable,
Your walls are impassible oh!
I think you're better off looking alone,
The boys that chase your hips can just go find their way home
And at the end of the day you'll think to yourself
My body isn't proud of me and so are the shells
Tell me I can change
Tell me I can change
They continued to play and Keith festered in his anger as Lance continued to sing, not letting any of his anger or frustration show, which only served to frustrate Keith even more.
As he sung, he seemed to jab at Keith, who recoiled at having his thoughts said out loud for him, then being told not to forget the sun, like it was that easy. Lance pushed the idea that all Keith was doing was ruining things between them. Warning him that nothing good would come from this argument.
Well I know you're laying back,
Contemplating your own death
Well just look at what you've done
Don't you dare forget the sun, Love!
Don't forget!
Lance continued to prod at Keith's insecurities about his mental health. While Keith had argued and tried to change Lance's mind passive aggressively, Lance attacked Keith, insulting him and pushing him to back down.
Cold white walls keep you from your pad and pen
You wanna stab again,
I can't believe it's half this hard,
You never knew your mind was dark, no!
I think you're better off looking alone
The boys that chase your hips can just go find their way home
You can dig so deep for scars
You never knew your mind was dark
Come on and breathe with me oh!
Breathe with oh!
Lance sung the last portion of the chorus, trying to tell Keith to stop trying to fix him. That he didn't know him fully and that he needed to stop treating him like he did. That he needed to stop looking down on him and let him fix his own problems.
Well I know you're laying back,
Contemplating your own death
Well just look at what you've done
Don't you dare forget the sun, Love!
You look down on me so casually, in everything I know
You look down on me, but not right on me
Did I wreck this broken home?
Lance looked back as if asking Keith if he went too far and receiving no acknowledgement from the boy in question. He sighed as he sung in exasperation.
Dear Diary,
Life is trying me
Can I get a sign?
Or a two of mind, a piece of mind
Can I get a sign, can I get a sign
Lance sung with less gusto than he had in the beginning as if he was walking on glass, waiting for Keith's reaction.
Well I know you're laying back,
Contemplating your own death
Well just look at what you've done
Don't you dare forget the sun, Love!
You look down on me so casually, in everything I know
You look down on me, but not right on me
Is it plain to see that life trying me?
Lance continued to sing in exasperation as Keith showed no sign of acknowledging him or being bothered in the slightest.
Life is trying me!
Life is trying
Can I think of something, gotta think of something!
Keith smirked, having already thought of another song as he moved to center stage, motioning for Lance to move back, which he did reluctantly. "'Sweet But Psycho,'"
Keith said monotonously and Pidge smirked, thoroughly enjoying the performance. Lance scowled, seeing how Keith had done the same thing as him by choosing to use one of Lance's songs against him.
Keith started singing as Pidge played a slow rhythm with him.
Oh, she's sweet but a psycho
A little bit psycho
At night she's screamin'
"I'm out my mind"
Oh, she's hot but a psycho
So left but she's right though
At night she's screamin'
"I'm out my mind"
Keith sung as he started strumming a soft and sweet melody with Pidge as Hunk played with them and Allura played softly, almost inaudibly.
She'll make you curse, but she a blessing
She'll rip your shirt within a second
You'll be coming back, back for seconds
With your plate, you just can't help it
Keith sung with less anger. His voice was soft and sweet as he sung, as if mocking the way that Lance spoke about Nyma like it was fine for her to treat him the way she did.
No, no, you'll play along
Let her lead you on, on, on
You'll be saying, "No, no"
Then saying, "Yes, yes, yes"
'Cause she messin' with your head
Lance sung along with him, his voice more like honey than Keith's. It was obvious that Keith was not used to singing songs like this that were meant to be sung sweetly and without anger.
Oh, she's sweet but a psycho
A little bit psycho
At night she's screamin'
"I'm out my mind"
Oh, she's hot but a psycho
So left but she's right though
At night she's screamin'
"I'm out my mind"
Lance smirked slightly, amused by how much trouble Keith was having singing the song how it was meant to be sung.
Grab a cop gun kinda crazy
She's poison but tasty
Yeah, people say, "Run, don't walk away"
'Cause she's sweet but a psycho
A little bit psycho
At night she's screamin'
"I'm out my mind"
Lance started singing louder, attempting to take over for Keith, but he refused to back down, only singing with even more edge than he'd originally been singing with.
See, someone said, "Don't drink her potions"
She'll kiss your neck with no emotion
When she's mean, you know you love it
'Cause she tastes so sweet, don't sugarcoat it
No, no, you'll play along
Let her lead you on, on, on
You'll be saying, "No, no"
Then saying, "Yes, yes, yes"
'Cause she messin' with your head
On the last word, Keith sung loudly, while Lance sung for a longer time, singing a high-pitched riff. They sounded off-beat, yet melodious at the same time, despite how polar the two were in their singing.
Oh, she's sweet but a psycho
A little bit psycho
At night she's screamin'
"I'm out my mind"
Oh, she's hot but a psycho
So left but she's right though
At night she's screamin'
"I'm out my mind"
Grab a cop gun kinda crazy
She's poison but tasty
Yeah, people say, "Run, don't walk away"
'Cause she's sweet but a psycho
A little bit psycho
At night she's screamin'
"I'm out my mind"
The two sung together, each taking turns to sing softly or loudly during each half of every line and competing to sing the main vocals for the last two lines, though both sung very differently throughout.
You're just like me, you're out your mind
I know it's strange, we're both the crazy kind
You're tellin' me that I'm insane
Boy, don't pretend that you don't love the pain
Lance finally backed off, realizing that Keith didn't want his help to finish the song, though still smiling in amusement regardless as Keith struggled to finish the song.
Oh, she's sweet but a psycho
A little bit psycho
At night she's screamin'
"I'm out my mind"
Oh, she's hot but a psycho
So left but she's right though
At night she's screamin'
"I'm out my mind"
Grab a cop gun kinda crazy
She's poison but tasty
Yeah, people say, "Run, don't walk away"
'Cause she's sweet but a psycho
A little bit psycho
At night she's screamin'
"I'm out my mind"
As Keith finished the song, Lance made up his mind for the next song to sing and signaled everyone that he had with his finger. "idontwannabeyouanymore." Everyone started getting ready for the song as Nyma smiled up at Lance. Keith scoffed at the soft looks they were giving each other.
It started with just piano and Lance singing softly, before Lance started on guitar and Hunk played drums. He sung softly, with a hint of sadness in his voice. The lyrics didn't seem to say a lot regarding their argument, but the sound of his voice and their instruments said enough.
Don't be that way
Fall apart twice a day
I just wish you could feel what you say
Show, never tell
But I know you too well
Got a mood that you wish you could sell
Keith started on guitar, slightly off-put by the sound of the song and its lyrics. It sounded accusing and cold, but not just toward Keith this time, and not Nyma, but the whole world. Blaming the world for having expectations for all of them. For people breaking each other apart. For making people hurt.
If teardrops could be bottled
There'd be swimming pools filled by models
Told a tight dress is what makes you a whore
If "I love you" was a promise
Would you break it, if you're honest
Tell the mirror what you know she's heard before
I don't wanna be you anymore
Nyma clasped her hands as if telling him to stop singing. Her hands shook, though she gave no other warning that she was uncomfortable with the song as they continued with the song.
Hands, hands getting cold
Losing feeling's getting old
Was I made from a broken mold?
Hurt, I can't shake
We've made every mistake
Only you know the way that I break
Lance sung slowly, accusingly, but at the same time with just as much forgiveness. Singing about the hurt that people cause them. About the shit that gets thrown at them. How it's hard to stay, but that he needs to. How it hurts him to be what he isn't, but it's even worse to be a plastic girl.
If teardrops could be bottled
There'd be swimming pools filled by models
Told a tight dress is what makes you a whore
If "I love you" was a promise
Would you break it, if you're honest
Tell the mirror what you know she's heard before
I don't wanna be you
I don't wanna be you
I don't wanna be you, anymore
Lance rolled his shoulders in exhaustion. "We done here?" Everyone else nodded silently and Lance nodded back as he hopped off the stage. "Well, I'm off. See you guys later."
End A/N:
NME - Set It Off
Don't You Dare Forget the Sun - Get Scared
Pretty But Psycho - Ava Max
idontwannabeyouanymore - Billie Eilish