Bandom One-shots book 3

Overprotective As Hell (Stash)

(Slash's Point Of View)

Another fucking night. We'd just finished a killer show—sweaty, high on adrenaline, and ready to crash. But of course, shit can't ever just be easy.

I was packing up my guitar, my mind still buzzing from the set, when I heard it.

Axl. Yelling.

And not just at anyone.

At Steven.

My stomach dropped.

"You can't keep fucking up like this, Steven! You're gonna ruin everything!"

Oh, hell no.

I turned so fast I nearly knocked over my amp. And there he was—Axl in Steven's face, red with anger, veins popping, and Steven...

Steven looked wrecked.

His big blue eyes were wide, glassy, and he was nodding, barely holding it together.

Not on my fucking watch.

"Hey!" My voice echoed through the dressing room as I stormed over, my blood boiling.

Axl spun around, eyes narrowing when he saw me.

"What the fuck, Slash?"

I was already stepping between them, my body blocking Steven.

"That's enough," I growled, my jaw clenched tight.

Axl blinked. Speechless.

"You," I snapped, pointing a finger in his face, "don't get to talk to him like that."

Axl opened his mouth, but I didn't let him get a word in. "He's trying, Axl. And if you can't see that, then maybe you're the one fucking this up."

Silence.

Axl opened his mouth again, but I cut him off with a look. A sharp, hard glare that said everything.

"Go cool off. Now."

For once, Axl didn't argue. He just walked away, probably too stunned to say anything else.

And the second he was gone?

I turned to Steven.

"Hey, baby..." My voice was softer now, and I cupped his face in my hands, tilting it up to look at me.

Steven's bottom lip was quivering, and his eyes were blinking back tears. I could feel his body shaking beneath my hands.

"I'm okay, Slash..." he mumbled, but his voice wobbled.

Liar.

"No, you're not," I whispered, my forehead gently resting against his. "Talk to me, Stevie. Please."

That was all it took.

Steven broke.

He collapsed into my arms, burying his face in my chest, his body wracked with silent sobs. His shoulders shook with each breath, each sob. My heart shattered into a million pieces.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice muffled against me. "I didn't mean to—"

"Shh, baby. Don't." I tightened my arms around him, rubbing soft circles on his back. "You don't have to apologize. Not to me. Ever."

He continued to cling to me, his tears soaking through my shirt, but I didn't care. I wasn't going anywhere. Not now. Not ever.

"C'mon, let's get outta here, yeah?" I murmured, pulling him gently toward the couch in the corner of the room. I could feel how fragile he was, how much he just needed to be held.

I sat down, pulling Steven onto my lap like it was the most natural thing in the world. And it was.

"Better?" I whispered, running my fingers through his hair.

"Mmm... yeah," he mumbled, his cheek resting against my chest, his arms wrapped around me. His body was still tense, like he was afraid if he let go, something would break. But I wasn't going anywhere.

I kissed him softly, just a quick brush of my lips against his, like it was a promise. "I'm not going anywhere, Stevie."

"I know..." He whispered, his voice so small it nearly broke me. He nuzzled into me, his hands gripping my shirt, pulling me closer like he was afraid I'd vanish if he let go.

Later that night, when we finally made it back to the hotel, Steven was still half-asleep in my arms, looking like he might drift off at any moment.

"Bed, baby," I whispered, trying to rouse him. But he just mumbled, burying his face in my neck and holding me even tighter.

"Mmm... don't wanna move..."

I smiled to myself, my heart swelling. He was so fucking adorable when he was like this.

"Okay, okay," I chuckled softly. I gently laid us both down on the bed, pulling the covers over us. I held him close, not even for a second thinking about letting go.

As Steven drifted off, his breathing evening out, I whispered the same thing I always did. "I love you, Stevie. So damn much."

And even though he was half-asleep, I felt him whisper it back, his voice faint and warm. "Love you too, Slash..."

My heart? Gone. Completely.

But that was just it. I would protect him. I would keep him safe. Every day, every hour, every fucking minute. And no matter how much chaos the world tried to throw our way, it was just me and him. Forever.

And that was the only thing that mattered.