On With The Show

19

A/n: Realized a day late that I missed half the chapter on this! So sorry.

Nikki had his notes all over the floor. He stared at his ideas intently; he had a band, they needed a name. He and Tommy were messing around earlier - the name 'Sixx-crotum', 'Four Skins', and 'Condom-nation' (Tommy swore that was a play on condemnation; Nikki didn't see it. Either way, it hardly fit the band) decorated the pages of his notebook, among other song ideas. He sighed, letting the drummer lean into him before wrapping one arm around him.

He felt Tommy bury his face in his arm, relaxing into him and he smiled. It was an unprompted smile - a pure one, the type he only ever did around Tommy. He didn't understand it - as much as he despised the weight of what he felt for him, being around him always filled Nikki with a sense of security that was completely foreign to him, like he was wrapped in the safety and care he craved his entire life.

Looking around the room, he took a second to breathe before moving towards Tommy, letting his mind wander from the constant staring at his ideas. Vince was in an ill-fitting tank top, sitting by a window and going over the lyrics, unmistakable focus in his eyes. He felt a sudden rush - this was his dream. And it was happening, at last. He had a band, they had talent and he was on his way to the top. It was surreal.

"You okay, man?"

"Oh, yeah, just... it's strange, is all. I've got a fucking band..."

Tommy laughed a bit, sitting up fully but still holding onto Nikki's arm. "It is, right? One day it's going to be us headlining a tour around the world - you, me, Vince and Mick, thousands of fans chanting the band's name..."

Try as he might, Nikki couldn't fight back a laugh as he rested his head on his shoulder. "You're right, Tom," He said, "It's going to be us there, one day, changing lives with music. We just need a name..."

*

Fuck it, Mick thought, feeling around in his pocket for any spare change. This was going to go towards rent - but his back was killing him. He dragged himself to a pharmacy, pulling out his copy of the prescription.

"Two bottles of this," He said, handing the papers and the cash, leaning against the counter, wincing. His whole body was on fire. It felt like he was cracking into pieces as he stood there, desperate for the medication. He knew it was doing more harm than good - but as long as it stopped the pain, what did he care?

Grabbing the pill bottles, he dry-swallowed a tablet, remaining at the confuter till he felt it finally kick in. He shoved it into his jacket before turning around, wincing to himself as he went back to the apartment.

John didn't have to know.

*

"Did you get any decent names yet?" Mick asked, coming back inside. The pain in his back had faded to a dull throb; it was still there, it just wasn't as... Crippling as it had been earlier that day. He clenched his jaw, sitting on the stool next to the three of them. "Please tell me you're not going with Nikki's idea of X-Mass, or Vince's logo idea for it."

Vince smirked to himself - the logo he'd suggested (two people with substantial mass participating in X-rated activity) would NOT work; especially not if they wanted to be played on the radio at some point. But, it did get him a laugh from the other three.

"No viable ones," Nikki said, now on the couch while Tommy scribbled away penning down a rhythm he had in his head.

An audible sigh left Mick's mouth. "I've got an idea for a name - it just doesn't give me the right energy when penned down. Paper?" Mick's hand shook slowly above the paper as he spelt the words - 'Motley Crew' - onto the paper and handed it to Nikki.

Seconds later, it had been crossed out. Mick looked at the bottom of the page and smirked.

Mötley Crüe

"Been waiting a long time for this day..."

The conversation had piqued Tommy's interest. "That's going to look AMAZING on the banner above the stage!" He said, twirling his drumsticks in his hands as he looked at Nikki, the same giant grin on his face. "Mötley Crüe, what it's pronounces the same as Motley Crew? Or are we gonna do that whole Scandinavian O and U thing?" Tommy was leaning against Nikki again, clearly thrilled once he heard Nikki's slight laugh at what he said.

Mick presumed he didn't need nor want an answer - simply a positive reaction from Nikki. The smile on the drummer's face proved him right.

"We're Mötley fucking Crüe," He said, "And we're going to knock all those motherfuckers on their asses."