Terror Twin [Def Leppard] #Wattys2016

VII: Let Me Be The One

Steve woke up cold and alone.

He flipped onto his back, wondering where the hell Phil had gone, and why he had left him.

He rolled again, hearing a crinkle underneath him. Steve sat up, removing a piece of paper out from underneath his arse, smoothing it out as best as he could over his thigh.

It was a note.

Steve -
I had to go out to get some groceries and run some errands. I wanted to wake you up but I'd rather have let you sleep. It seemed like you needed it. I'll be back soon.
Love, Phil

Steve sighed softly, hopping out of bed and stripping himself of his robe. He exchanged it for one of Phil's shirts and some jeans - a bit too baggy on him, but they worked with a belt (which also belonged to Phil, surprise surprise).

Steve grumbled to himself quietly, snatching his guitar from against the wall and sitting down on the floor with it. He began to strum it softly, dragging his callused thumb along the steel strings.

His fingers found the fret board, slipping along it naturally, and he started to play something he had been working on for a while.

It wasn't much, only an intro that lasted about 50 seconds, but it had special meaning to Steve. He played it when he needed help. He had never told the others about it.

"Let's welcome home the soldier boy, from far away, no angel of mercy; just a need to destroy." Steve sung softly, pressing his fingers along the chords and strumming the song as best as he could without a pick. He inhaled smoothly, closing his eyes as he continued.

"Let's toast the hero with blood in his eyes, scars on his mind. He took so many lives." His voice got softer as he went along, becoming more and more conscious of his volume even though no one could hear him. He strummed the final chord, stumped as ever as where to go next in the song. He sucked on his bottom lip, breathing out the last line he had written.

"Die hard the hunter."

Steve let the silence invade his mind, opening his eyes again after a few minutes to realize he was staring at Phil.

Phil was situated in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his jaw slightly slacked.

"Steve.. I had no idea you could sing that well."

Steve was immensely flustered, his face flooding a dark shade of red and he tossed the guitar onto the bed; almost making it seem he hadn't been doing anything at all.

"I sing on backup tracks all the time."

"Yeah, but not like that."

Steve noticed that the floor was suddenly very interesting.

Phil took a step into the room.

"What was that song? It's beautiful."

"I don't know. That's all I've got - I've been tryin' to write it for months. I was thinking of callin' it Solider Boy. Or Die Hard The Hunter." Steve shrugged, watching Phil plop down next to him on the bed.

"I could help you write it. We could even put it on the album!" Phil suggested, his energy intoxicating. Steve's smile wasn't forced.