Bad Day (Mötley Crüe)

Stormy May Day

Mick woke up first, the rain and thunder resonating in the sky above them.

It was a strange feeling. Safe, warm, out of the weather. It was all so foreign. He almost felt like he needed to go sit outside in the middle of the parking lot. It's been too long since he felt safe.

Nikki hadn't moved all night. Mick was glad he was able to get some good sleep for once. Both of them, for that matter.

Nikki. Mick hated how Nikki sold himself for money. He was livid when Nikki came back and had a bit of a busted face. He wasn't even sure when Nikki started doing it, there were days where Mick would get off work and Nikki had just... wandered off and came back with a decent amount of cash.

He sighed. Poor kid...

He thought about attempting to sneak out of their room to see how much it would cost to get them another night, seeing how the weather wasn't going to let up. He managed to move his feet from under Nikki's head and his legs out of Nikki's loose grasp. Mick rubbed Nikki's hair before getting dressed and making his way towards the lobby, grabbing his car keys and wallet on the way out.

Mick saw the same lady from when they got to the hotel last night.

"Good morning sir" She smiled, propping herself up on her elbows.

"Morning... how much for one more night?" Mick asked, walking up to the counter.

She just looked at him from over her glasses. She smiled and cocked her head to the side.

"Seriously? I told you no charge, hon"

"No, we can't do that, just... let me pay something" Mick offered.

"Look, I don't know your situation, but... I had a rough growing-up too" she said. "And... you guys don't look that great off" she treaded carefully.

"We... we don't have a home, we haven't for twelve years" Mick sighed. "But... it is what it is" he glanced down the hallway to see Nikki making his way out. "Go back to bed, Nik, it's okay"

"You left... I thought we had to run" Nikki said quietly.

"No... it's okay, I'm just getting us another night" Mick said, he grabbed Nikki's hand and squeezed it.

"Do I... do I have to do anything?" Nikki asked. He glanced up at the lady.

"No Nikki... not this time"

The girl looked at the two boys with sympathy. She could only imagine the hell they've been through, they didn't look very old either.

"Go back to bed, Nikki, I'm just gonna get the rest of our things"

Nikki just nodded slowly. He made eye contact with Mick and the girl before walking back down the hall and slipped back into their room.

"You two seem like very nice boys... I'm serious, you two will always be welcome here, I'll make sure of it" she smiled. "What's your name, hon?" She asked.

"Mick... Mick Mars" he said hesitantly.

"Well, Mick Mars" she started to say, "like I said, you and Nikki are welcome here. It doesn't get very busy, at all" she chuckled.

She turned her attention towards a couple of men who walked into the motel lobby. The two men immediately turned their attention towards Mick, who was starting to walk away.

"Hey freak" one of them said. "Yeah... I'm talkin to ya"

Mick stopped in his tracks. He thought about running, but the guy was about twice his size.

"Hey, leave him alone" the girl snapped.

"Quiet!" The other man shouted at her.

"Nikki..." Mick said under his breath.

"If I'm not mistaken... you're little fucker of a whore-" the man growled. "Fucked my girlfriend?"

"Nikki get out of here!" Mick shouted down the hallway.

"I've seen you junkies around, you're nothing but a pile of shit" one of the men scoffed. "Especially you" he shoved Mick backwards.

The girl had the police on the phone. God bless her... Mick thought to himself.

"We were just leaving" Mick said as he held his hands up in surrender. "Leaving... and you'll never see us again..." he said as he walked backwards.

Mick heard some thumping and the thudding of guitar cases, big feet, and a car door. There was a window in their motel room, he figured Nikki escaped out of that.

"Is there a problem here?"

Mick looked behind the guy and saw two police officers. He heard the girl tell them that the two men came in and started harassing him.

"You can go" one of the officers urged Mick from the lobby.

He took the opportunity and hurried out to his car, and sped off. He found a rather deserted parking lot and parked in the furthest corner.

He looked over at Nikki, who was hanging his head low and staring at his hands. Mick saw the tears welling up in his eyes and grabbed his hands.

"I-I didn't mean to!" Nikki started crying. "I didn't know!" He collapsed in Mick's lap, crying and hyperventilating.

"Shh... it's okay, Nikki, it's okay" Mick held on to Nikki securely. "It's okay" he whispered, his voice starting to waver.

"Mick?" Nikki sniffled. Mick hummed in response. "Is that all we are? Junkies?"

Mick sighed heavily.

"Yeah Nikki... we are..." he said quietly, his own voice threatening to crack.

"Is there even a place for people like us?" Nikki asked, not even a shred of hope to be found in his voice.

"Maybe, somewhere, I'm sure..."

The rain and thunder continued to surround them. Mick dug one of his hands in Nikki's hair, hoping to lull him to sleep for a while. He grabbed a blanket from the full back seat and draped it over Nikki. Nikki's whimpers and cries diminished as he fell asleep in Mick's lap, draped over the center console and his forehead pressed against the steering wheel.