Bandom One-shots book 3

Nothin Lasts Forever Even Cold November Rain (Duff McKagan x Keith Richards)

I'd lost count of how many days I'd been in this room. The blinds were drawn, bottles of Jack Daniels and crushed cigarette packs littered the floor, and the air was thick with regret. My guitar sat in the corner, untouched for what felt like weeks, and the only sound I'd heard recently—aside from my own miserable breathing—was the occasional ring of the phone.

Keith Richards was the only one who kept calling.

I'd been in love with Slash for years, not that he ever knew. Not that it would've mattered. He got married last month, and I... well, I spiraled. Hard. The booze didn't help. Neither did the drugs. And the thought of going back on tour or facing anyone from the band? Not a chance.

But Keith kept talking to me. He'd started calling out of nowhere, and somehow, I'd found myself picking up every time. He didn't lecture me or tell me to snap out of it. He just... talked. Told me stories about the Stones, about his own disasters and heartbreaks. He'd make me laugh, and for those few minutes, it didn't feel like the walls were closing in.

Today, though, he wasn't satisfied with just a phone call.

"Duff, mate, I'm comin' over," Keith had said earlier, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I'd groaned, burying my face in a pillow. "You don't have to do that."

"Yeah, I do. Don't argue with me."

And now, here he was, standing in my doorway, a cigarette dangling from his lips and a bag slung over his shoulder. His presence filled the room, calm but commanding, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like maybe I could breathe again.

"Christ, Duff, you look like hell," he said, stepping inside and dropping the bag on the floor.

"Thanks," I muttered, pulling the blanket tighter around me.

Keith didn't miss a beat. He sat down on the edge of my bed, pulled out a pack of smokes, and offered me one. "So, you gonna tell me what's really goin' on, or am I supposed to guess?"

I hesitated, taking the cigarette and lighting it. The first drag burned in a way that felt almost cleansing. "It's stupid."

"Try me."

I glanced at him, his dark eyes soft but steady. If anyone would get it, it was Keith. So, I told him. About Slash, about the wedding, about the way it felt like something inside me had cracked open and spilled out everywhere.

Keith listened, nodding occasionally but never interrupting. When I finished, he leaned back, exhaling a stream of smoke toward the ceiling.

"Well, that's a bloody mess," he said with a wry grin.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, no kidding."

"But you're still here," he continued, his voice softer now. "And that means you've got somethin' worth stickin' around for. Trust me, Duff. I've been where you are—more times than I'd like to admit. It gets better, but you've gotta let it."

His words hit me harder than I expected, and before I knew it, my eyes were stinging. I looked away, trying to hide it, but Keith was already leaning closer.

"Hey," he said, his hand brushing mine. "It's alright. Let it out."

I did. For the first time in what felt like forever, I let the tears fall, and Keith just sat there with me, his presence a steady anchor. When I finally calmed down, I glanced up at him, and the warmth in his eyes was almost overwhelming.

"You're not what I expected," I said, my voice hoarse.

He smirked. "What, you thought I was just some old bastard with a guitar?"

"Something like that."

Keith chuckled, his hand resting on my knee. "Well, I'm full of surprises."

The silence that followed wasn't awkward—it was comfortable, almost tender. And then, before I could second-guess myself, I leaned forward and kissed him.

It wasn't rushed or frantic. It was slow, deliberate, and laced with a kind of softness I hadn't felt in years. Keith responded instantly, his hand sliding up to cradle the back of my neck as he deepened the kiss.

When we finally pulled apart, we were both smiling like idiots.

"Didn't see that coming," Keith said, his thumb brushing my cheek.

"Me neither," I admitted, my heart racing.

We didn't take it any further. We didn't need to. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could stand on solid ground, and Keith was right there beside me, steady and unwavering.

"Stay?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled, leaning back against the headboard and pulling me closer. "As long as you need, mate. As long as you need."

And for the first time in what felt like forever, I believed it would all be okay.

~Nothin Lasts Forever Even Cold November Rain~