Welcome to the Jungle, Sweetheart

Thank you Slash

            Slash woke up in Axl's bed frequently after that. Often during the night, Slash would wake up to Axl hollering at him because he couldn't go to sleep or he was afraid. 

He didn't usually say why he was calling, but Slash never asked. 

He'd just climb under the blankets with him, or if he were moody he'd sit at the foot of the bed and wait to see how he could help. 

It was a tricky situation, sometimes he wakes up really angry, but he was afraid of it, so he calls for Slash. Sometimes he's still furious when he comes in, and gets irritated by his presence, but usually calms down in a second and apologizes. Slash didn't get bothered by it because he knew Axl didn't mean to get mad at him. He just hated to see him like that, because when he wasn't angry anymore he was frightened of his own rage. Slash always was considerate and gentle with him, he was his best friend and that helped him know what he could do to help. 

Some nights Axl lays in bed and just sits there, afraid of falling asleep and the nightmares that he knew were inevitable. On those nights he calls for Slash to come before he even fell asleep. 

But Slash did notice that he could sleep better when he was there. Sometimes he held him to calm him down, some nights all he needed was just for Slash to be there and that was enough. But he couldn't leave, Axl was such a light sleeper that if he left he'd wake up, and he didn't want that. Not that Slash really minded, Axl's room was much warmer anyway. 

But sometimes Axl had a mood that really scared Slash. He never knew what he'd do when he was that way. He was angry, and afraid, he could do anything. Slash always had to be careful with him when he was like that, he didn't want to set him off more. 

Today was one of those days.

"...Slash..!" 

Duff poked his head out of his room, hearing his friend's voice, which sounded really odd and unsteady. He didn't sound right. "Axl?" Duff asked, walking up to his door, "You okay?.... Can I help?" 

He heard him hiss through the door. "No!" Duff jumped back in alarm, "I need Slash!"  

Duff sighed. Axl was his friend too, and he wanted to help, but if he didn't want it, there wasn't anything he could do. "Alright, alright, I'll go get him."

"Axl? Can I come in?" Slash asked tentatively. Axl didn't respond, so he slowly opened the door, closing it behind himself. He held back a squeak of shock. 

Axl sat at the end of his bed, a seemingly loaded revolver in his hand. His hair was messy and he stared down at the handgun with wide, stormy eyes, his hands shaking uncontrollably. His foot tapped on the floor, his knee bouncing up and down rapidly and his entire body was trembling madly. He looked up at Slash with those green-blue eyes, that were clouded with so much clashing emotion, he was angry, and sad, and in so much pain. 

"Please..." he breathed, his voice so shaky and weak he could hardly hear him, "...Take it from me..." 

Slash swallowed and walked calmly to him, trying not to unnerve him, like he was trying not to spook a young deer. Slash gently sat down on the bed next to him. He knew Axl was conflicting inside so much it hurt him, he didn't want to hurt anybody, but he still clutched the revolver so his knuckles were white from his tight grasp. Slash didn't want to have to pry it from his hands. "Axl..." He said in his most soothing voice, "...You can let go now..." 

Axl's body quivered wildly. "I-I, I don't think-think I can..." 

Slash looked him straight in the eyes, keeping his voice steady, "It's okay..." He put his hands calmly around Axl's shaking ones, keeping his hands soft and gentle not to make him flinch. "...I'm here, I promise... Just let go of the gun..." 

Axl hesitated but Slash saw his grip loosen briefly. Slash kept his breath slow and calm as he smoothly took the gun out of Axl's hands, setting it down on the bed, far from Axl's reach. Axl still looked down at his hands, the gun no longer there and Slash thought he seemed close to tears. He opened his mouth as if to say something but no words came out. Slash put his arms around him, "You don't have to say anything if you don't want, its okay... I'm here." 

Axl took a deep breath and let his head fall on Slash's chest. He still didn't speak, but Slash didn't need him to. Slash held his smaller body close to him and he buried his fingers into his hair, cradling his head in his hand. Slash didn't say anything either. Axl rested his ear against him to listen to the calm rhythm of his heartbeat. It was slow and relaxed, unlike his own, which was fast and unsteady. 

Slash held onto him until he was no longer trembling and his breath managed to relax. Slash stroked gingerly up and down his spine. "Is there anything more I can help you with?" 

Axl shook his head, "Just... Please don't let go." 

Slash continued to comfort him, "Do you want to lay down?" Axl hesitated but nodded, keeping his head against him. Slash carefully slid his arm under the bend of Axl's leg and scooped him up carefully, keeping Axl still close to his body. Axl grunted tiredly from the movement and closed his eyes. Slash laid him down softly and pulled the blanket over him, joining him under the covers after anticipating his next request. 

Axl rolled over onto his side so his back was facing Slash and he curled up into a tight ball, his legs tucked close to his chest. Slash laid his arm over his side and pulled him close, his own legs underneath of his, being that Axl was noticeably smaller and the way he slept made him look very little. Slash kissed the back of his head and rested his on his neck to keep him close. Axl gave a heavy sigh and Slash knew he was close to sleep. He stretched his jaws into a yawn, and said in a soft, barely audible voice, "...Thank you Slash..."