Welcome to the Jungle, Sweetheart

Twilight

It was late after a show, Izzy and Steven had gone back to the house a while ago, Steven brought a girl back, and Izzy was just tired. So Axl, Slash, and Duff went out to drink. Axl passed out and Duff left with a girl, so Slash had to carry Axl back, no surprise. He always wound up having to. 

They showed up at the house at 3:45 in the morning. Izzy was watching Nightmare on Elm Street with Michelle, Steven was in his room, maybe or maybe not sleeping depending on how things went with the girl. Izzy paused the tv, "Hey, you guys are back."  

Slash glared at him, "Shh!" He silenced him, being that he was carrying a sleeping redhead.

Axl shifted in Slash's arms, "Shut up..." he grumbled. Slash bit his tongue and glowered at Izzy. Axl must've sensed his frustration when he smiled lightly, "You're good sweetheart," he mumbled, patting Slash's cheek. 

Slash felt his face getting warm. Michelle eyed at him suspiciously. Why? She grinned and nudged Izzy to un-pause the movie. Slash ignored it and carried Axl to his room. 

He dropped him gently on the bed and tucked him in. Axl hissed, "No... No..!" 

Slash grinned, "What?" 

Axl climbed out of the blanket and Slash was certain he was still half-asleep, "Stay with me," he grumbled, tugging on his arm to get under the blanket with him. 

"Why?" 

Axl clawed at his wrist, "Come on, I've gotten used to sleeping next to you..." he growled, pulling him down as he crawled back into the bed. 

"O-okay," Slash stammered. 

Slash took his jacket and t-shirt off, pulling back the blanket to situate himself. Slash was probably under the blanket for two seconds before Axl was crawling onto him to cuddle him. Slash smiled, when he's awake he hits you when you try and snuggle, but then he's all soft and affectionate when he's sleeping. Fuckhead.

Slash woke up early that morning to be kicked and clawed at. The sound of painful whimpering and groaning and crying entered his ears. He sat up, realizing it was Axl. He glanced at him. The skinny redhead was trembling and shifting, his breaths panicked, short and fast. Slash nudged him gently in the back, "Axl, are you alright?" Slash tried to sound calm but his voice betrayed his worry. Axl didn't reply, still asleep, his body just twitched and he mumbled something with a whimper in his throat.

Slash wasn't sure what to do. He rested his hand on his ribs and felt his heart rate, beating fast. Slash firmly put his hand on his shoulder and shook him, not hard, but enough to wake him. "Axl, Axl wake up." 

Axl suddenly jolted upright, his green eyes wild with terror. He panted, gasping for air, sweating. His body still trembled madly, "S-Slash-" 

Slash propped himself up onto his elbows, "Are you okay?" 

Axl didn't reply, he just tried to steady his breathing. Slash sat up and rested his head against Axl's chest, putting his hand calmly but firmly on his thigh. He wasn't quite sure what he was doing, or if it would make a difference, but he'd seen therapy dogs do a similar thing, and he figured he could give it a shot. After all he was basically Axl's therapy dog. 

Axl didn't know what Slash was doing either, but he appreciated him there at that moment. Axl put his arms around him, holding onto him tightly in fear. Slash didn't budge or say anything, he just listened to his heartbeat. To his surprise, he heard it gradually begin to slow and his breaths relaxed as he calmed down. 

Axl took a deep breath. "Thank you," he said, still a little shaky, running his fingers through his hair. 

Slash nodded, "Shhhh... It's okay."