Welcome to the Jungle, Sweetheart

Restless

Axl had left the house a few hours ago. Why did he always do this? Slash's mind swarmed with questions. And even though Axl had left on his own terms, he was a perfectly capable man, he could take care of himself, and he wasn't Slash's responsibility, he was still worried about him. How could he not? Last time he had walked out, he was gone for six days, came back with a hangover so bad he collapsed on the couch the minute he got home, and slept there for two days straight. And uh, punched Slash in the throat when he accidentally woke him up... Then Axl went back to sleep again for another eleven hours.

          Slash sat in the living room, taking a sip from his tea. They were out of liquor. Besides, Duff made one good mint tea. He was watching Perry Mason, he never particularly liked it but his dad always watched it when he was a kid. He didn't understand what was going on then but he'd watch it because his dad seemed to be interested in it. His dad was a good guy, even if he didn't agree with his taste in television.

          Steven sat down on the couch next to him, "Whatcha doin Slasher?" He asked curiously, peering over his cup to see what he was drinking. Slash pulled his drink away, "Mind your own business, nosy." Steven pouted and snatched the tv remote, changing the channel to Tom and Jerry. Then he smiled again in amusement as Tom got his tail stuck in a mouse trap and screeched. Slash smiled too, he always found it funny when Tom would yowl like that.

         Steven tilted his head, "Slash who do you root for, Tom or Jerry?" Slash thought for a moment, "Tom." Steven looked at him curiously, "Really? I root for Jerry 'cause he's the mouse, y'know?" Slash shrugged, "Yeah but even still, poor Tom never  wins. He's just always getting beaten up by Jerry, and most often, he's not even going out to catch him, Jerry's just causing trouble and picking fights." Steven looked at him, "I never really thought about that. I just always think about how Tom usually wants to eat him."

"Well that's probably because Jerry hit him in the head with an anvil."

         Duff leaned over the back of the couch, "Yeah, why does Jerry always cause trouble? He's just a little mouse, what could he gain from it?" Steven and Slash glance at him, Slash shrugs, "I dunno, maybe he just enjoys getting him riled up." Slash took one last sip from his tea before he set the cup down on the coffee table, "Alright, I'm going to bed." Duff raised an eyebrow, "Really? But it's only ten thirty?" Slash shrugged, "I don't know, I guess I'm just a little tired." Steven smiled softly. "Alright then, night Slash!" He said cheerfully, hugging his shoulder. "Er, night Stevie."

          Slash untied his converse and took his tank top and jeans off, tossing them into his laundry hamper so they were easier to find when he had to do the laundry. He flicked the light off and sat on his bed, glancing out the window. His curtains had been broken for about a month now, and he didn't care enough to get them fixed. So every night when it was dark in his room, the bright city lights would shine onto the foot of his bed, sometimes on him directly. But he never really minded it, he always liked the lights.

          He looked out at the street lights, seeing people walk down the side walk, and he wondered vaguely where Axl was right then. He was probably drinking his body weight or fucking a girl. But that was what he always did, what made it different this time? Slash burrowed under the blanket and laid on his side, his eyes rested on the wall, and he was lost in thought. Eventually he managed to drift off into a restless sleep.

          When he woke up again, he was cold and distraught. His room always got cold in the night. He had dreamt about something but he couldn't remember what it was about. And that bothered him.

Slash glanced at his watch on his nightstand. He didn't have an alarm clock because as a kid he hated them, and vowed that when he was an adult he would boycott them. He held it to the light shining through his window, 5:26 in the morning.

          He stretched out and dragged himself out of bed, resting his feet on the hardwood floor. He walked over to his closet and threw on some jeans and his black led zeppelin t-shirt. He loved that shirt. He always thought he looked good in that shirt because it hugged his body nicely. Axl always stole the shirt because it was a size too big on him and he never wore shirts his size. Slash laced up his high-tops and left his room.

          And even though it was 5:30 in the morning, Izzy was already up drinking coffee. Slash assumed Steven had fallen asleep watching Tom and Jerry being that he was unconscious on the couch next to Izzy, cuddling his legs like a pillow.

            Izzy flipped through the channels before he lifted his eyes a little to see Slash. "Hey Slash, bad dream?" He asked, taking a sip from his coffee. Slash shrugged, "Sorta." He walked around the living room looking for his jean jacket. Izzy raised an eyebrow at him, "What are you doing?" Slash rummaged through some dirty clothes, Lord, this place was a mess, "I'm looking for my jacket."

"Why?"

Slash finally found it underneath a pillow, "I'm going for a walk."

           Suddenly Steven sat up with a dazed look in his eyes, but you could still see them gleaming, "Walk?" Slash laughed a little and said in a sweet voice, "Awww, does puppy wanna go for a walk?" Steven knew he was making fun of him but he was still too excited and stood up, "Yes please!"

             Izzy got up as well. "I guess I'll go too then, you'll probably need two adults to keep an eye on him," he said, motioning with his hand towards the blonde. Steven glanced around, "Should we get Duff then?" Izzy shook his head, "No, he couldn't fall asleep last night, he'll want to sleep for a while."

             "Alright then," Slash said, putting on his jacket, "I'd wear a coat if I were you, Stevie." Slash glanced out the window. "It looks cold out there."