Bandom One-shots book 3

You're So Vain (Steven Adler x Axl Rose)

1989 – Axl's House, Somewhere in LA

"Are you fucking serious right now?" I snapped, my voice sharp enough to slice through the silence of the house.

Steven stood in the kitchen, his eyes red and glassy, jaw twitching as he pulled at the ends of his hair. "It was just a little, Axl. I needed it to—fuck—I don't know. To feel normal."

"Normal? You call this normal?" I paced toward him, arms flailing, my boots stomping against the hardwood. "You disappear for hours, come back high as a goddamn kite, and then act like I'm the asshole for caring?!"

Steven scoffed, hands thrown up. "You don't care, you just want control! You don't care that I'm struggling, you just care if I mess up the band!"

"Oh, fuck you, Steven!" I slammed my hand on the counter. "I've carried this band on my fucking back while you're too busy getting high and screwing off! You think Slash and Duff don't talk shit when you nod off in the middle of rehearsal?!"

He flinched like I'd hit him. "Fuck you, Axl! You think you're God's gift to the world, but you're just a narcissistic prick with a temper! I'm sick of walking on eggshells around your damn moods!"

I got in his face then. "At least I'm sober enough to remember we have a six-month-old daughter asleep upstairs!"

Steven shoved past me. "Don't fucking guilt trip me with Rainie! I love her!"

"Then act like it!" I screamed as he threw open the front door.

The slam was deafening. And worse—immediately followed by a piercing scream from upstairs.

"Shit..." I winced, heart clenching. Rainie.

I didn't yell again. I didn't even call after him.

Instead, I made my way upstairs, scooping my crying little girl into my arms. "Shh, baby. I got you."

An Hour Later – The Studio Room

Rainie sat on a blanket beside me, cooing softly now, gnawing on a teether shaped like a microphone. I sat at the piano, a haze of frustration, guilt, and exhaustion weighing down my shoulders. And out of nowhere, I started playing.

That damn song. One that always got under my skin—but tonight it fit too perfectly.

I sang quietly, voice cracking more from emotion than pitch.

"You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht...
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye...
Your scarf, it was apricot..."

I glanced at Rainie. "He probably doesn't even know what the fuck apricot is."

"You had one eye in the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte...
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner..."

I hit the chorus with a little more venom.

"You're so vain...
You probably think this song is about you...
Don't you? Don't you?!"

Rainie babbled, like she agreed with me. I smiled for a second, bittersweet.

"Well, I hear you went up to Saratoga...
And your horse naturally won...
Then you flew your Learjet up to Nova Scotia...
To see the total eclipse of the sun..."

I exhaled slowly. My fingers lingered on the keys.

"She doesn't deserve this shit," I muttered to myself. "Neither of us do."

An Hour After That – Front Door Opens

I didn't even look up when I heard it creak open. Just one hand on the piano, the other holding Rainie close to my chest.

Steven stood there in the doorway—his eyes bloodshot, clothes disheveled, and hands shaking.

"I... I'm sorry," he croaked, stepping in cautiously. "I just needed to cool off."

"You slammed the door," I muttered. "She screamed so loud I thought she'd stop breathing."

His face fell, horror washing over his expression. "Axl... I didn't mean to scare her—"

"You didn't just scare her, Steven." My voice was softer now, but still edged. "You scared me too."

Steven approached, slowly, kneeling beside me on the floor. "I'm a fuck-up."

I looked down at Rainie, now asleep against my shoulder. "You're my fuck-up."

He let out a broken laugh, then his lips brushed my temple. "I love you."

I leaned my head against his, closing my eyes.

"You better," I whispered. "Cause next time, I'm covering Hit Me With Your Best Shot and you won't like it."

We both chuckled softly, even though the air still buzzed with tension.

But for now... Rainie was asleep, Steven was home, and I had him back—even if just for the night.