Terror Twin [Def Leppard] #Wattys2016

V: To Be Alive

Sav strummed his bass, tucking some unruly hair behind his ear.

"Joe, have you heard from them at all?"

"Nope." Joe growled, rolling his eyes as he plopped down on the floor of the garage. "We were supposed to start at noon. Now it's fucking 1:30, and there's still no sign of 'em!"

Sav sighed.

"How 'bout I run over to Phil's and see if he's there? We can pick up Steve on the way back." He suggested, receiving only a shrug from Rick in reply.

Sav groaned, removing his instrument from his body and setting it on the table.

"Well, I'm going. So I'll be back.. sometime."

Sav took off walking down the street, following the bends in the roads and turning in all the right places, and soon enough he stood in front of Phil's house. The lights in the kitchen were on. So he must be in there, Sav deduced, scurrying up the steps and knocking twice on the front door.

He did not expect what he saw.

"Steph'? Who's at the door?" Phil's voice called from further in the house.

Steve cocked his head, staring at Sav inquisitively.

"Is something wrong?"

Sav nearly exploded.

"We had fucking practice at 12, you moron. Where have you two been?! We're putting out our third effin' album and it's like you're not taking it seriously at all!"

Steve stared at Sav like he had kicked a puppy. Thankfully, at that moment Phil realized something was wrong and darted out to the front door, removing Steve from the doorway before he could spit out a good few words to their friend.

"Hello, Sav. I'm making tea and crumpets right now. Would you like to come in?" Phil played his friendly card, only remembering the practice now that Sav's brought it up.

"Fuck, could you be any more stereotypical?" Sav rolled his eyes, but walked inside anyway, not bothering to ask why neither man were dressed properly (suited up in only robes, and hopefully undergarments). Steve had plopped down in a seat at the kitchen table, drumming his long fingers on the wood. The new visitor sat across from him.

Sav sipped from the fresh tea Phil had poured out for him, watching as the tie of Phil's robe swung around him as he dashed around, pretending to be quite busy for his "guest". He's so gonna avoid answering my questions.

"So, would either of you like to tell me where you were all morning? You mates look like you've just woken up."

"You aren't our mother, Ricky." Phil sang, attempting to wash dishes, but successfully forgetting to turn on the sink. Sav cringed.

"Just call me Sav, for fuck's sake. And if I was your mother, would I approve of what you've been doing?"

Neither answered. Sav buried his face in his hands.

"I'm only here because I have to retrieve you two and bring you to practice." Sav mumbled, rolling his eyes as Phil tossed a crumpet at him and landed it nicely on his plate.

"Grape jelly or strawberry jam?"

"For fuck's sake, Collen!" Sav flipped the plate, Steve only narrowly blocking the flying crumpet from his spot across from Sav. "We're leaving in five minutes. Go get ready, both of you. My god." Sav found a spot leaning against the wall, arms crossed as he huffed out a breath.

Phil was frozen in place, holding out a butter knife and a jar of fruit preserves.

"That's good, because we don't have strawberry jam anyway and I know that would be your preference."

Steve took the warning and steered Phil out of the room, leaving the utensil and the jar on the counter.

Once they were gone, Sav sucked in his breath. Feeling his anger ebb away, he scooped the crumpet up from the table, walking over to the counter and covering it in jelly.

•

Rick heard a snap, groaning as he tossed yet another drumstick into the pile of broken ones.

"How do we know Sav isn't gonna get wrapped up in their antics?"

Joe shrugged.

"We don't. But how bad can they be?"

"Pretty bad, I'd say." The youngest member droned, playing around with his high hat to get the position just right, knowing that next time he moved his kit it would be all messed up again anyway.

"I'm half-expecting Sav to drag them here by their ears." Joe replied flatly.

As if on cue, three figures appeared on the distant sidewalk.

"Oh my god, Sav made it back alive." Rick rumbled sarcastically, getting up from his kit to greet the newcomers.

Steve and Phil both had their guitar cases in hand. Sav flipped his hair over his shoulder, obviously proud of his work.

"A'ight mates, sorry for the delay. Let's get down to business, eh?" Phil broke the awkward silence, tugging is guitar out of its case and strumming it, flashing a satisfied grin.

Was Steve.. limping? Rick couldn't tell, and the blonde man had seated himself next to Phil before Rick could rightfully study his gait.

Rick had already warmed up, so he reached for his water bottle and took a swig. He turned back around to see Joe leaning over the drum kit, chuckling softly as he tapped a cymbal with his nail, watching him laugh at the muffled noise that made Steve jump on the other side of the garage.

Phil laughed, and Steve rolled his eyes, twirling a piece of hair around his first two fingers.

"How about we try playin' the new one all together?" Steve suggested, turning to look at Joe.

Joe was sure he noticed a dark spot on Steve's neck before it was covered with his hair.

"Billy's Got A Gun? Yeah, sure, if you wanna go over it again before we record it on Saturday." Joe agreed, counting off to Rick on his fingers, as the drums started off the song.

Bad-da-tss.

Steve in a bit fast to his part, but quickly evened up when Phil joined him.

"Billy's got a gun, he's on the run. Confusion in his mind, he's taking his time. Oh, Billy's got a gun.. wait." Joe sang, pausing after only halfway through the first verse.

"What?" Sav looked up, brushing some fluffed hair out of his eyes. "Did we play it wrong?"

"Nah. Gotta change the lyrics. 'He's taking his time' sucks arse." Joe laughed, thinking for a moment.

"What about, 'the deaf leads the blind'?" Phil suggested, shrugging.

"Make that 'the blind leads the blind'." Sav commented, grinning at the guitarist.

"That's good. Real good. Why don't I just make you guys write the songs?" The vocalist joked, trotting over to his lyric notebook and swiftly changing the words to the song.

"From the top?" Rick asked, twirling a drumstick between his fingers.

"Yeah. Hit it."