A Bitter Cinderella Story [Tom Keifer/Nikki Sixx fanfic]

Chapter 10: Wretched

They laid in bed until the sun had long since set. Tom rubbing Nikki's tense back in soothing circles. Nothing was spoken between them, not until Nikki felt ready too. 

Tom could only speculate about what he just witnessed. The guy in the sunglasses, black roses and wine, was he an ex? A stalker? Fans often got carried away, some scarily so. Whoever they were, they were bad business, and had sent Nikki into a right state. 

Nikki rolled on to his back, finally turning to face Tom. 

"Thank you."

Tom smiled wistfully, "No problem, you okay? I mean like better than before?"

Nikki merely nodded. 

He sat up, but hunched over his bents knees taking a deep breath before finally, finally telling someone about last weekend. 

Tom's blood ran cold listening to Nikki softly explain what he experienced last weekend. What started out like a casual one night ménage à trois turned into a horror show that he barely escaped. 

The worst was hearing how Nikki felt truly helpless. His worst fears of being restrained being played out against him. 

"I got out in the end, I fought like fucking hell but...just seeing him today brought me right back there that night. I felt trapped...until you showed up." 

Fuck, if Nikki hadn't called him, what if he got there a few more minutes later? That bastard was a sick twisted freak and he needed to stay the hell away from Nikki. 

"Is he...like from the label or someone you're likely to bump into?" Tom didn't want to probe too much but needed to know if he should be on the look out for the fucker. God he was fucking furious. 

Nikki shrugged and sighed, "I dunno...Fuck!" 

"Hey hey it's okay. You're not alone okay?" Tom sat down beside him. 

"I haven't even told Tommy and we're closer than anyone I know!"

"Sometimes it's easier telling someone you don't know very well hard shit like this. Give it time." 

He was way in over his head here but Tom tried to find the right words for Nikki. 

Nikki let out a drawn out sigh, "I feel like such a fuck up, more than normal. My gut knew something was fishy about them...but I didn't listen and--"

"You can't blame yourself, they're the fuck ups Nikki." 

"I need a drink." Nikki muttered head in his hands. 

Tom knew drinking in this state wasn't such a good idea but he was in no position to say so. 

"Ice?"

"Yeah." 

Tom returned holding a glass if whiskey with ice, Nikki greedily sucked up the liquor in one go. 

"Can...can you stay the night with me?" 

God he sounded so vulnerable Tom immediately wanted to scoop Nikki into his arms and hold him tight.