Just Dust N' Bones, Baby

Bohemian Rhapsody

"How are you feeling?" Slash asked compassionately, his brown eyes soft. 

Axl let out a deep sigh, "I don't know.." he replied truthfully, "It's not so bad... But it's weird." He looked around the living room, at the walls, the furniture, the floor, the couch he and Slash sat on, it was still the same. The same place he had sat so many times before. The same walls that looked at him just as he looked at them for so many years.

The room itself was alive. The carpet breathed whispers of countless horrors and lies, only faint and hushed words lost in the air that lost most of their meaning. The walls that have seen so much, that could talk, but choose not to, because they've seen too much. Nobody would talk if they'd seen as much as they did. 

The room itself didn't scare Axl, but what it knew did. And the idea of all it knew lingered in the air and haunted him, and it was deeply unnerving, giving off an eerie atmosphere. It just takes some readjusting, he told himself over and over again, hoping it would convince him. 

Slash gave him a comforting look that reassured him without the need for words. He brushed his hand gently along his shoulder and leaned out to give him a soft kiss on the cheek, when Axl flinched away. 

Slash blinked at him once in surprise, he hadn't done that in a long time, and he wasn't quite sure why he shied away from him suddenly. Axl looked down guiltily, he didn't want Slash to be offended, "Sorry baby just..." he lowered his voice, glancing anxiously around the room, "Not here..." 

Slash had a confused look hanging on his face, was Axl embarrassed of him or something? "Why? Nobody's even in here Axl.." 

Axl look sorrowfully at him with deep, pleading eyes, willing Slash to understand. Slash met his gaze evenly, and he let out a short sigh, Axl didn't know if it was of understanding or giving up.

Amy returned to the living room, "Okay, Axl, since you and Slash are staying here, you can take Mom and Stephen's room, or I'll take it and you can stay in my room, or if you'd prefer you can stay on the couch." Axl didn't want to be of trouble to Amy or anything but, he knew one thing for certain.

There was no fucking way in hell he was staying in Mom and Stephen's room. 

"Uh, I think the couch'd be okay." 

Amy gave him a look, "..Nope. There's two of you, you're taking my room. I don't even think that couch'll fit both of you."

"It's okay I can sleep on the floor," Slash offered.

"No I can't make either of you do that."

"Y'know I've spent the night in much worse places and been perfectly content, Amy," Axl pointed out.

Amy rolled her eyes, "Well then you'll be treated like a king while you're here because this ain't Los Angeles buster and I actually want you to feel at home in your own home." 

Axl sighed, "Okay, okay fine if you insist."

"Good, now bring your crap on in."

Axl sat down on the bed, taking off his jacket while Slash, perfectly unashamed, flopped onto the bed next to him. Amy nodded her goodnight, "Okay, only rule is please don't make a big mess in here, I like things kinda organized, oh and no sex in my bed." 

Slash cackled with amusement, completely unabashed, while Axl snickered, but his face was noticeably redder than his boyfriend's. "Goodnight, sleep tight kiddos." She went to close the door when she stopped and poked her head in through the crack, "Oh and, William... It's nice having you back..." Axl gave her a smile, but said nothing, no comment of its good to be back.