Bandom One-shots book 3

Insecure (Rose Bros/Daxl/Duff McKagan x Axl Rose)

I can feel the tension in the air before I even see him. The room is heavy with anticipation, and not just for the show—Axl's been on edge for hours now. His usual fire, the confidence that burns behind his eyes, has been dimmed, replaced with a kind of quiet anxiety I've rarely seen. And it breaks my heart every time.

I find him in the corner of the dressing room, pacing back and forth, running a hand through his hair in that way he always does when he's lost in his head. His lips are pressed tight, his brow furrowed like he's trying to control the storm inside. I know this look all too well. It's the kind of nervous energy he gets before something big—hell, before anything big—but tonight... tonight feels different.

I walk over, my boots making a soft echo in the silence. He doesn't notice me at first, too wrapped up in whatever thought has a grip on him. I'm used to his quiet intensity, but there's something in the way he's moving tonight that makes my stomach twist.

I reach out, gently pulling him to a stop by the shoulder. He blinks, looking at me with those deep, troubled eyes.

"Hey, hey," I murmur, my voice soft, soothing. I slide my arms around him, pulling him close, feeling the tension in his body. "It's okay. You're gonna kill it tonight. You always do."

Axl shakes his head, his voice a low murmur. "I don't know, Duff. I can't... I can't mess this up. This is our chance. This is everything."

I tilt his chin up so he's looking at me, really looking at me. "Axl, baby," I say, my thumb brushing gently over his cheek. "You're already everything. You're everything to me. To us. And you're gonna give 'em a show they'll never forget. You know why?"

He's still silent for a beat, but I see the flicker of doubt in his eyes slowly fading as I continue. "Because you're the most incredible person I've ever met. The way you move, the way you sing... you make people feel something, Axl. You make them believe. There's not a single person in that crowd tonight who isn't gonna be blown away by you. They'll be screaming your name, because they want to be where you are."

I press a kiss to his forehead, feeling the warmth of his skin under my lips. "And me? I'm right here, with you. I always will be, no matter what."

Axl's shoulders relax just a little, and I can feel his breath even out. He leans into me, letting me hold him for a moment longer, his hand finding mine, fingers lacing together like they always do when he needs that reassurance.

"You're right," he whispers after a long pause. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Duff."

I smile, brushing my thumb over the back of his hand. "Well, you don't have to worry about that, baby. You've got me. Always."

He tilts his head back, looking at me with a soft smile that's barely there but means everything. "You always know how to make me feel better."

"I don't just know how," I murmur, my lips brushing against his ear, my voice low. "I want to. You deserve to feel like the rockstar you are. Because you are, Axl. You've always been, and you always will be."

He finally chuckles, a quiet, almost bashful sound, and I can see the tension melting off him bit by bit. It's like I'm watching him come back to life, piece by piece.

"Alright, alright," he says, his voice steadier now. "I'm ready. Let's go do this."

I pull him into a tight hug, pressing my cheek to his, and for a second, it's just us—no pressure, no crowd, no spotlight. Just two people, in love, about to take on the world together.

"You've got this, Axl," I whisper again. "I believe in you."

And with that, we step out onto that stage, together. And there's nothing that can stop us.

~Insecure~