On With The Show

16

Nikki showed up first.

Then Tommy.

Vince looked at them, not wanting to bring up the previous night.

"So we called a guitarist," Tommy began, "He called us piece of crap motherfuckers and said he's coming to audition!"

Vince looked at the two of them.

"You are piece of shit motherfuckers! What the hell, Tommy! We haven't even had a proper rehearsal - " He cut himself off, feeling his voice get higher-pitched, squirming a bit. Fuck, he couldn't have one day without that lovely little reminder?

Nikki felt Tommy tense up - he glared at Vince. Tommy hated yelling, directed at him especially. If he ever found Honey, all hell would break loose...

Stepping forward, he glared at Vince. "Shut it. Not like you've got a fucking impossible job, Vince, you've got to learn a song and sing it. Cover band singer like you should find that a piece of cake."

"Oh yeah?" Vince scoffed, glaring more at Nikki. He knew for a fact Nikki would not take him seriously if he told him what was really on his mind - what was really bothering him. "We were supposed to rehearse yesterday, Nikki. If you and your little whore Tommy actually bothered to turn up instead of mumbling sweet nothings to each other all night we wouldn't be in this position!"

Next thing he knew, he'd been tackled to the ground, Nikki's hands wrapping themselves around his throat. He growled, bringing up his leg to kick Nikki in the gut. Everything was a blur - he felt someone try to pull him off, just turning and slapping them as hard as he could across the face. "Back off, bitch," He growled, getting up and giving Nikki one last punch in the gut, stepping back as the raven-haired bassist doubled over, clutching his stomach.

"Don't test me, it's always a conscious decision to hold back."

He was glaring at both of them fists still shaking and ready to attack as he felt the rush of pure rage fade. He squeezed his eyes shut, panting and breathless.

A twinge of guilt washed over him when he finally opened his eyes and looked around - Nikki was doubled up on the floor, Tommy had a handprint on his face. He barely felt anything.

"Shit..." He was shaking - before he knew it he'd gotten up and sped out of his apartment, slamming the door shut and sprinting to the roof.

*

Nikki winced - he crawled back up to his feet, largely ignoring Vince and stumbling over to Tommy. He was in a heap on the floor - frozen and in shock, clutching his cheek, eyes fixed on one point on the wall.

"Tom..."

He flinched away from Nikki, still shocked.

"Lee, please just look at me?"

Tommy murmured something under his breath.

"Can you repeat that?"

"How... How long till it's me you attack, Sixx?"

A million things flooded Nikki's mind - none of them seemed good enough to say while Tommy was in this state. "I'd never hurt you?" How pathetic was that - Honey probably said it to him when she lost her temper during their early days. Nikki knew how it sounded - like a last ditch attempt to keep someone with you.

"I-" He cut himself off, reaching over to stroke Tommy's cheek softly. "I never want you to get hurt, Lee..."

Tears streamed down Tommy's face - every trace of his usual easygoing nature gone. He didn't look at Nikki, just down at the floor, and grabbed his hand, holding it against his face. Nikki heard something that sounded like a cross between a whimper and a whine, feeling the exasperation he normally felt till he realized it came from his drummer - his best friend in the world. He looked at him, slowly stroking his cheek and holding his head close to himself. "I - I was just trying to get Vince to stop saying horrible shit about you like that, I hate it when anyone insults you..."

Before he knew it, Tommy had flung his arms around his waist, hiding his face in Nikki's shoulder. "You promise you'll never turn around and take it out on me like she did..."

Nikki barely caught the words - Tommy's voice was ever so slightly above a whisper. He didn't want to lie - he knew how volatile he could be. But wasn't every single time he got into a fight to protect someone he cared about, ever since he met Tommy? Wasn't it always to make sure Tommy was safe, that Tommy's friend got to LA okay?

Before he could give it another second of thought, he heard the words tumble out of his mouth. "I promise, Tommy. I'll never, ever take my anger out on you - you're too important for that."

Tommy threw both arms around Nikki, almost desperately. He let his sobs escape his mouth, not caring who heard them at all All he cared about right now was Nikki - being with Nikki, staying with Nikki, and not changing a thing about Nikki. He was attached - there were no two ways about it. If anyone else were here, they'd probably laugh, he hadn't known him a month. 

Not that he ever cared if they did - when nobody takes you seriously, you learn early on to stop taking them seriously, too. He hummed a bit - though it came out more like a groan - when Nikki tangled his fingers in his hair, running them through it. He sighed softly - strange as it was, he trusted Nikki, too. More than he trusted anyone else.

Almost the way he instantly trusted Honey.

*

Vince lit a cigarette, wincing as he touched his face and staring at the street below, just looking at the passing cars. It was somewhat of a hobby of his - he wanted to see every single license plate, and see if he could spot a 1921 Alaska plate. It was rare, that much he knew - so rare, in fact, he was sure he'd never see one. Still, searching kept his mind occupied. It also kept him away from tendencies most would simply describe as self-destructive.

He saw a black car pull up in front of the building, and a dark-haired man pull out an amplifier.

Shit, the guitarist...

He had to go back down now - back to Tommy and Nikki,joined at the hip. He wouldn't be surprised if they'd demonized him, too. Or if Tommy got so pissed that he told Nikki about 'The Situation'.

Throwing his head back, he let the warm sun rays fall on his face as he blew out smoke, watching it float away into the air for one last second before throwing down his cigarette and stomping it out. He sighed; he had had approximately a minute and a half to himself.

The only thing that brought him comfort? Maybe Nikki would keep his mouth shut and perhaps actually rehearse at the set rehearsal time for once.

He fixed his acid-washed jeans before opening the door to the roof and walking back down.