Slaxl One-Shots

by axlslittlebitxh

Summary:

Just many many different Slaxl one-shots!

Previously on Wattpad but was removed for mature content.

Notes:

Hello everyone, I wrote these one-shots quite a while ago and had posted them on Wattpad but unfortunately about a month ago Wattpad took them down due to mature content so I decided to post them here. Enjoy ;)

Axl gets mad at a fan wearing a Slash shirt. Set in the early 2000s. Inspired by a real event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwdQhXw5sZ4

Chapter 1: Time Just Fades The Pages In My Book Of Memories

Of course he was the asshole of the situation again. He could already see the headlines, could picture them in his head.

Axl Rose gets pissed at a guy wearing a Slash shirt

Axl Rose loses it over Slash shirt

Axl Rose throws out fan with a Slash shirt

Okay, yes, he had gotten extremely pissed off at that fan in the audience who had mocked him throughout the entire show and had continuously pointed at his "Guns n Roses is Slash" shirt. Sue him.

And really his reaction was nothing compared to what he was actually feeling and what he had truly wanted to do. He had wanted to throw himself in the crowd, find that stupid motherfucker himself, tear his fucking shirt off, rip it to pieces, stuff it into his mouth and punch him until his hand bled. No this isn't an exaggeration or an overreaction.

Because how dare someone show up at his concert with a Slash shirt, teasing him and accusing him, when Slash was the one that had left him.

And alright, he wasn't innocent, far from it, he had pushed the younger man away, had played with his feelings, had given him hope only to cruelly take it all away from him, but ultimately Slash was the one who left. And that in Axl's book made Slash the bad guy and Axl the innocent victim.

So Axl chose to blame it all on him because he was hurt and he didn't know how to deal with it otherwise, couldn't handle the ever growing pain in his heart knowing that it was his fault.

But deep inside he knew and he also knew that the message printed on the shirt was true, Guns n Roses is was Slash, Guns n Roses is nothing without Slash, Axl is nothing without Slash and maybe it was that realization that had made him so unbelievingly mad.

But he was too proud to admit that, wouldn't let himself take part of the blame and finally call Slash to make it all right, to make it how it's supposed to be, wouldn't let himself admit that he needed Slash as much as Slash needed him.

As he was sitting on the couch in his room backstage a few hours after the show, thinking back to the incident that had taken place a few hours ago and, also about all this, still fuming he heard the door open.

"Hello ginger snap" and God he could recognize that voice anywhere. 

Slash closed the door behind him, slowly leaning against it, cowboy boots clicking on the cold tiles, ever growing curls in his eyes, cigarette in his lips, grin on his face.

And oh, how much did Axl want to wipe that stupid smug expression from his face.

But Slash had every right to be smug and he knew it, Axl knew it, the whole fucking world knew it. His reaction earlier that day had proved it.

Because for as much effort as Axl had put into telling everyone -the media included- that he had kicked Slash out, that he didn't want or need him anymore, that he didn't care what Slash did, that it didn't matter to him, he could have tried a little harder not to disprove himself and ruin his well-constructed lie in mere seconds.

Axl, snapping out of his thoughts, took a minute to really look at Slash, he hadn't seen the younger man in person in almost two years after all, and God did he look hot.

And suddenly in his presence he forgot why he had tried so hard to keep his grudge, why he had repeatedly ignored him, refusing to meet him and listen to him, because he realized that even after all this time the only thing he really ever wanted was to crawl into Slash's arms and stay there forever, tucked away safely from the rest of the world.

So for once he swallowed his pride, got up from his seat and made his way towards Slash, who straightened up against the wall as the other man approached him. Axl took the cigarette from Slash's mouth, dropped in on to the floor, pressing on it with his foot to put it out and hugged Slash.

Slash immediately responded, wrapping his arms around the singer, who in return hugged him tighter. 

And Axl figured this was how it felt to return home.

Chapter 2: Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon

Summary:

Pure fluff. Slash braids Axl's hair.

Axl was lying on the couch in the living room of the apartment the five band members shared, his head resting in Slash's lap, as they were watching one of their favourite movies.

Neither of them was really paying attention to the screen, more interested in each other, as Slash was running his fingers through Axl's soft hair and Axl was sorely focusing on the relaxing sensation slowly drifting to a peaceful sleep.

At one point Slash's slow movements stopped and Axl felt a light tag at his hair.

"What are you" he begun to ask but he was cut off by Slash.

"Hush, I want to braid it" Slash replied excitedly.

"Okay" he said unsure, confident that Slash had never braided hair before in his life and sure that his hair would end up in a mess that required five tons of conditioner to untangle, but the light tugging in his heard felt too good and Slash's content humming was the sweetest lullaby to Axl's ears so he let his boyfriend continue.

"Could you turn around a bit" Slash asked and Axl immediately complied, a single mph leaving his mouth.

Slash's calloused fingers continued to work on Axl's hair for a few more minutes before he started making sounds of annoyance and discontent, pulling Axl out of his dream state.

"What's wrong?" Axl asked.

"I messed up. I don't have enough hands for this. How do people do this?" Slash whined.

"You have to divide it into three strands and cross the side stands towards the middle, alternating between left and right" Axl explained.

"Huh" Slash muttered confused, his lips pouting at the same time.

"Wait" Axl said, getting up and making his way to the bathroom to fetch his hairbrush, before returning to sit back on the couch beside Slash.

He brushed his hair as Slash watched mesmerized and he pulled his hair to the side braiding a small section.

"See" he exclaimed.

"Okay wait. I think I've got it. Turn around" he said and Axl once again complied.

After a lot of hair brushing and a lot of too harsh hair pulling -Axl would never admit how much that action turned him on even though Slash could hear his little moans- Slash's masterpiece was finally done.

It was a weird sight to behold, a loop sided French braid with strands messily sticking out all over, secured with a simple rubber band whose previous purpose was to keep shut the pizza box from their earlier dinner.

But it didn't matter because Axl was half asleep -and a little turned on but too tired to do anything about it- by the time Slash had finished so he simply got up extending his arm and offering it to Slash who gladly accepted it, turned off the TV and guided them to their shared bedroom. 

They quickly laid on the bed, almost immediately finding a comfortable position to sleep in with their legs intertwined, Axl's head resting on the warm spot in the crook of Slash's neck, Slash's strong arms wrapped around his body.

And as their eyelids fell heavily and their breathing slowed down, Axl's ginger braid glistened in the moonlight that peaked through the open curtains. 

Which was definitely a cute sight to come home to, thought their other three bandmates when they returned to their apartment later that night. And they were totally, undoubtedly, one hundred percent right.

Chapter 3: Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy

Summary:

Axl wears some very revealing shorts. Slash gets jealous.

Slash was so damn pissed at his boyfriend but even more than that he was fucking turned on.

Who the fuck had given Axl permission to go out on stage in that? Well it's Axl, he doesn't need permission but still. 

His wonderful boyfriend had decided that it was a fucking brilliant idea to go on stage in nothing but fucking underwear -because no matter how hard Axl insisted that those were shorts there was no way in hell Slash would agree. Because they were cotton and grey and tight, clinging at Axl's dick -which by that point during the show was half hard-, riding low at his hips, stuck halfway between his ass-cheeks.

So Slash was stuck watching hundreds of men and women drooling at the sight -he was one of them but that is beside the point-, yelling at Axl to fuck them, fucking desperate they were all, holding up signs and removing half their clothes. Slash was pretty sure the growl on his face was becoming permanent as the minutes ticked by.

But Axl was enjoying the attention and he was nothing if not a tease so he pulled the shorts lower on his hips and began swaying his hips to the music seductively, doing his favourite snake like moves.

And Slash scowled harder as to his annoyance he started getting hornier and even more pissed at himself for that, while his dick got fully hard in his leather pants.

After he finished that song and Axl started singing the opening lyrics to the next one he thought for a few minutes that the Gods had listened to him, as the ginger man seemed to have stopped his teasing movements and instead had sat down on one of the platforms on the stage simply singing.

Oh poor naive little Slash. How wrong he was. 

As soon as the time for his guitar solo rolled around and he breathed out a sigh of relief Axl got up and made his way to him, dancing dangerously close to his crotch. And really he was practically grinding on Slash if it wasn't for the guitar that separated them.

Slash was feeling rather murderous and Axl seemed to have a death wish as he looked at Slash teasingly over his shoulder and snuck his hand behind Slash's guitar to grope Slash's rock hard dick.

And if Slash didn't value his precious guitar as much as he did he wouldn't have thought a second more before smashing it on Axl's head. That or he would have fucked the ginger raw on stage while the whole fucking world watched.

He was blind with rage but he soon got even angrier when Axl removed his hand and he was immediately reminded of his painful erection, which had started leaking precum, staining the front of his pants. He was so getting back at Axl for this.

The rest of the show -thankfully it had only been a couple more songs- had passed in a blur, with Slash trying hard not to cum in his pants as Axl continued dancing like a God damn whore in the middle of the stage, also sporting an impressive boner, as his dick had risen to its full power.

The minute they were backstage Slash grabbed Axl by the neck and slammed him into the nearest wall, chocking him.

"S-s-slash" Axl croaked out.

"What the fuck was that Axl, making me fucking hard throughout the show, dancing like a little bitch, giving everyone a show of what is mine" Slash hissed and he removed his hand from Axl's necks, instead hooking his hands at the hem of those fucking shorts.

"Answer me damn it" he growled, leaving teeth marks all over the pale neck in front of him, as Axl leaned back exposing to him more of his skin.

"Ohh fuck Slash." 

"You like that you bitch?"

"Fuck yesss" Axl moaned.

"Or maybe you want one of those girls that were eye-fucking you to come here instead?"

"Noo, no I only want you Slash" Axl cried out desperately.

"Is that so? Then why were you dancing like that on front of everyone?" he moved to the pierced nipple, toying with the cold metal in his mouth, before biting down hard on the sensitive pink flesh.

"Fuckkk. It wasss jus-just for fun." Axl looked so flustered, his hair was a mess, droplets of sweat running down his forehead, grey shorts turned black from the amount of precum leaking from Axl cock, breath ragged as thoughts became hard to form.

"Fun just like it would be fun to leave you here like this?" teased Slash.

"No please God, Slash please just fuck me."

"Look at you, begging for my cock, all flustered."

"Please Saul" he begged once more.

Slash grabbed Axl face and kissed him long and hard, before he opened his zipper and lowered his pants, exposing his throbbing cock.

"Is that what you want huh?" Axl didn't answer, could only moan in response as Slash placed hot kisses all over his exposed torso.

"Yessss" he managed to say after a few seconds.

"Say it" Slash growled.

"I want you to fuck me, Saul."

Slash teared the stupid shorts off and picked Axl up, placing his hands on his ass, spreading his hole wide open, as Axl locked his ankles around his waist.

Slash thrust balls deep in Axl's hole with no warning, immediately hitting Axl's sweet spot.

"Fuck" Axl cried out.

Slash kept his hands at Axl's ass and bounced him up and down on his cock, always managing to find his prostate, as Axl screamed out profanities.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, I'm so close Saul". The feeling of Slash's dick up his ass and his own dick rubbing up and down their chests was too much for Axl as he spilled his hot load between them.

"Fuck Rosie" exclaimed Slash as he too reached his orgasm, thick ropes of cum painting Axl's insides white.

He removed Axl from his dick and put him down on his feet, kissing him once more, this time softly, as the built-up tension eased away.

"That was hot" he whispered in Axl's ear. "But please don't go out on stage like that again because I swear to God I'll do all that again in front of the whole damn crowd and everyone will see Axl Rose begging for a hard fuck" he continued, softly nibbling at Axl's ear.

"You're hot when you're mad and horny" Axl simply replied kissing him. "You ruined my shorts though. Now how I'm I supposed to go back to my room backstage?"

"So suddenly you're worried about our crew seeing your dick. As if they didn't just see us fucking right here in the open" Slash chuckled.

"Oh, shut up Slash. Carry me?" he asked sweetly.

"Fine. Come on. Hop on, Rosie" he said and Axl wrapped his legs around Slash just like he had done a few minutes ago, but this time drowsy and tired from the show and the vigorous love making. He rested his head against Slash's shoulder and closed his eyes.

"I love you Saul" he whispered, voice barely audible but he was sure Slash had heard him.

"I love you too Rosie" Slash replied and kissed Axl forehead. "Now sleep, I'll take us home love."

-fin

These are the shorts for anyone wondering ;)

https://www.facebook.com/loveaxlgnr/photos/prácticamente-las-nudes-de-axl-rose-en-hd-%EF%B8%8Fedit-waxlrosee-grey/2132863036819784/

Chapter 4: Adequacy

Summary:

Coffee shop AU.

Axl stood behind the counter, waiting. He had been waiting for a whole minute. It seemed like he would have to wait for a few more.

"No. No. Steven, I don't care." The customer insisted. "Call them back, and tell them the deal's off ...  what? ... Of course they're going to be angry .... No, I don't give a shit. I hope they do get angry. And maybe next time, they'll know not to jeopardize a year-long negotiation so close to agreement."

Axl drummed his fingers impatiently on the counter. The man had been in the middle of the same phone-call when he joined the queue five customers ago. He seemed to see no reason why a little thing like reaching the counter with a sizeable queue behind him should disrupt his conversation.

Axl had long since used up his arsenal of non-verbal gestures of impatience. He had folded his arms, shifted his weight from foot to foot, sighed visibly and aloud – but this guy was either oblivious to the fundamentals of body language, or he just didn't care. By now, there were three people in the queue behind him. 

" .... and you know what?" the man continued "Cancel tomorrow's meeting. Cancel all upcoming meetings with them. Tell them that we'll negotiate again when they come back to the table with an acceptable offer, and not a second beforehand. Understood?"

Axl's best friend, Izzy, was one of the unlucky ones stuck behind the man. He caught Axl's gaze, raised his hands in disbelief. What the fuck, he mouthed. Axl silently agreed with Izzy and then sighed and huffed in annoyance before turning his attention back to the customer.

"Sir" Axl said, with an unnatural volume, interrupting the conversation. "May I take your"

But the customer merely raised a hand to stop Axl, and continued talking. Axl stared at him, dumbfounded. Back in the queue, Izzy jokingly wrapped his arms around his throat in a chocking motion. 

"... Steven, hold on, I'm getting my coff – no. No, we're not going to be reconciliatory. We're in a position to bargain. They aren't. When they realize that, they'll be back." Then, finally, he placed a hand over the mouthpiece of his phone for a few seconds, just long enough to say, "A soy venti macchiato with two sugars."

Somehow, Axl wasn't surprised that the man's order was obnoxious, and that his clearly extensive vocabulary didn't encompass the word please. Axl looked the man up and down. He wore the kind of suit that suggested he didn't have to rely on words like please too often.  

"Can I get you anything else with that?" Axl asked, between gritted teeth.

"No. No, Steven. Listen, I'll be there in ten minutes, okay? We'll discuss matters then. Alright. Bye."

Finally, he hung up. He huffed annoyed, and properly met Axl's gaze for the first time. His eyes were a warm brown and they seemed so soft and inviting and full of emotions that didn't seem to match their owner that Axl had trouble believing how something so beautiful and pure could belong to such an asshole. 

"Five dollars" Axl said and the man slipped a bill change across the counter. "And your name, sir? For the coffee?"

"Slash."

Axl nodded as he scribbled the name onto the cup. What kind of name was that? Not that Axl was one to judge weird names, Christ he had named himself W. Axl Rose and his best friend was a guy named Izzy. But still, Slash? What kind of businessman uses the name Slash? It just sounded weird and straight up bizarre. Just one more reason for Axl to consider him more of an asshole. 

Slash walked in at 7:30 the next morning, and his phone was stitched to his ear again. There weren't any other customers in the coffee shop, so he made his way straight to the counter. He nodded at Axl to acknowledge him and continued what seemed to be the same argument with the same person from the day before.

".... listen, Steven. If they want to bring lawyers into this, they can. Ours are better. I'm not concerned about legal action."

"I hate to interrupt what I'm sure is a very important conversation," Axl cut in sarcastically, in both a tone and volume that would probably get him fired if his boss, Duff, overheard it. "But can I take your order?"

Slash stared at him for a long moment before cutting short his conversation.

"Hey, Steven? Yeah, can I call you back? Good. Bye." He then slipped the device into the inside pocket of his blazer and looked pointedly at Axl's name badge. "Tell me, Axl, do you use that tone that with all your customers?"

"No. I don't." Axl replied testily. "They really have to earn it."

The answer didn't impress Slash at all. "Do I need to ask to speak to your manager?"

"That's up to you, but my manager isn't here yet."

In fact, Duff was out the back, unpacking the supply truck that had come in that morning. But Slash didn't need to know that. "I'll be back tomorrow morning to speak to him, then."

"Whatever. In the meantime, you still haven't given me your order."

"I want ...." Slash began and Axl had served enough customers in his life to recognize that characteristic tone that forewarned that the order following would be fucking hell. " ... a half-soy, half-trim venti macchiato with a vanilla shot, sweetened with one sugar and one sweetener. Think you can manage that?"

The corners of his lips had twisted upwards, like he had won already.

"One half-soy, half-trim, venti macchiato with a vanilla shot, sweetened with one sugar, and one sweetener" Axl replied, without missing a beat, repeating the order, word for perfect word, because this guy wasn't the first of his kind, or even close to the worst. "Is that right?"

Slash's smile faltered a little. Axl figured that this was as close he would get to a yes.

"Coming right up." He said, smiling with a hint of artificial sweetness as he did so.

"Try to get the name right today, won't you?" Slash said, ignoring the smugness of Axl's response. "I told you yesterday that the name's Slash. Were you not paying attention? You wrote down a completely random name."

"Oh no, I was paying attention all right. Just no one is born and named Slash. What kind of name even is that that? I'm trying to guess your real name. I'm guessing Jack ain't it?"

Axl scribbled a different name on a takeaway cup, and began preparing the drink. When he eventually handed it over, not-Jack accepted the cup with the most insincere thank you he had heard during his two years at the coffee shop. He decided that if not-Jack came back the following morning to complain to Duff about his behaviour, he would serve the next order directly to not-Jack's face.

Axl liked to be difficult sometimes, when customers got on his nerves, and Duff didn't like it. Axl maintained that he was refining the quality of their clientele. Duff exasperatedly reminded him that no one could afford to cherry-pick customers in this economy.

In any case, he arrived at work the next morning wondering whether his short temper would be enough to ward off not-Jack. For most people, going somewhere else was preferable to picking an argument with a barista that wouldn't budge.

But no, Axl thought, as not-Jack appeared at the store window the next morning, and made his way inside. He was in a dark grey suit. The fact that it was a three-piece inexplicably magnified Axl's disdain for him. It looked tailored too, and it rested pristinely against his well-built body.

Not that Axl had noticed that, or anything.

And again, he was on his phone.

The coffee-shop was empty. Not-Jack arrived at the counter, in the midst of yet another conversation. He met Axl's eye, continued his call, and didn't stop speaking for at least another three minutes. Axl knew that at least another three minutes had passed, because he watched the clock on the wall and timed not-Jack as he spoke.

Axl got so carried away with the task, and with his simmering sense of disdain, that he didn't realize when Slash finished his conversation. He only came to when he realized that fingers were being snapped in front of his eyes.

"So, you space out on the job as well." Slash observed. "Where's your manager?"

"Not here. He's home with the flu."

And this morning, it was true. Duff had messaged Axl at five that morning, complaining about his stuffed nose and scratchy throat. He asked Axl to open up the shop, and to arrange for someone else to come in for a shift.

"I guess I'll be back tomorrow, then." Slash said.

"Suit yourself. Are you actually going to order anything this morning? Or did you come in just to be obnoxious?"

"Give me an Earl Grey tea. No milk, no sugar. Steep it for two minutes."

"Earl Grey's only meant to be steeped for three to five."

"I like it light." Slash said. "And let's be frank. Neither of us wants me to be in here longer than absolutely necessary."

Axl gave him a humourless smile. "So, we agree on something, then."

Slash held out a five dollar bill to Axl. When Axl reached for it, Slash tightened his grip on the bill.

"While we're on the subject of obnoxious behaviour," he noted drily. "How about you just write my actual name on the cup this time?"

"So not Myles?" Axl asked, yanking the money out of his hand.

"Nope, not even close."

Axl shrugged indifferently. "You should consider making the switch. Myles at least sounds like an actual name."

The next morning was a Saturday. Axl wasn't supposed to be working but Duff was still ill. Faced with the prospect of closing for the day or inconveniencing Axl, Duff only too happily chose the latter. Axl tried to focus on the extra money and the small mercy of opening up at eight in the morning instead of at six. It didn't help much, especially not when the warm morning sunshine began streaming in through the windows, taunting him with beautiful weekend weather that he wouldn't get to enjoy.

At quarter past eight, he spied his first customer of the morning walking to the door. When the customer came inside, Axl realized that it was none other than Slash. He was dressed quite differently from his usual suit. He wore tight black leather pants, a Motley Crue shirt, a leather jacket and cowboy boots. In the five seconds it took Slash to walk up to the counter, Axl found himself thinking that he looked surprising hot. Not that he'd ever admit it or anything.

Slash smiled at him like they hadn't spent the entire week exchanging barbed insults.

"Morning."

"Where's your phone?" Axl asked.

"I'm not carrying it with me." Slash said. "That means you have to be polite to me today."

"Do I? I'm not sure that I do."

"Look, Axl. We got off on the wrong foot." Slash explained. "I'm a nice person. I swear. You caught me in the middle of a rough week at work. I was a bit of a dick. I shouldn't have behaved as I did. I'm sorry."

Axl eyed him over. Begrudgingly, Axl accepted that the apology appeared to be genuine. 

"You were a real asshole last week." Axl pointed out. "Like, a real asshole."

"Okay, fair enough. That's ... not uncalled for. But since the transition to civility is clearly going to take us some time," Slash offered, "how about we declare a truce for the day because it's the weekend, and then on Monday, we go back to sniping at each other? Then we slowly work towards politeness?"

"That depends. Do you still want to speak to my manager on Monday?"

"Yes. I do."

"Then you and I are going to stick to this whole mutual exchange of thinly-veiled hatred." Axl replied breezily. He reached for a disposable cup and a marker to take the order. 

"What can I get you this morning?"

Slash looked more amused rather than frustrated. "As you wish. I'll have a hot chocolate with a vanilla shot"

"A hot chocolate?" Axl raised an eyebrow. "Really? In this weather?"

Slash raised an eyebrow. He looked to be on the verge of smiling. "Did I ask for your advice?"

"It's unhealthy to drink so much sugar first thing in the morning you know. You'll get fat."

"I'm at peace with that prospect."

"It'll go straight to your ass." Axl warned. He stood on his tippy-toes and took a look at Slash over the counter before adding, "Although on second thought – that might not be such a bad thing, in your case."

Slash was definitely smiling now, looking rather smug.

"Here's an idea. How about you stop checking out my ass, and you start making my drink?"

"You don't have an ass to check out." Axl retorted, moving behind the coffee-machine to froth the milk. He was quietly thankful that the machine concealed most of his face in the process. "Anyway, tell me something. Why do you keep coming back here? There's a different coffee shop down every five steps on this street."

"I know. I've tried every one of them. All their coffees are subpar."

"As opposed to?"

"Yours." Slash answered. Axl looked up over the machine just in time to catch his smirk. "Which are adequate."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that was a compliment."

"It was a compliment" Slash hissed.

Axl rolled his eyes and finished preparing the drink. He capped it and handed it over to Slash.

"There you go. One adequate hot chocolate."

Slash laughed at that, and his was a loud, brief laugh that changed the demeanour of his entire face. He threw back his head, and with it, the air of cool composure he had shown earlier in the week. Slash left the store, and left Axl with the distinct impression that maybe – just maybe – his first impression about him had been an error of judgment.

Not that Axl cared, or anything.

On Monday morning, Axl weathered a morning rush that was heavier and longer than normal, and Slash appeared a little while after it.  

"Good morning, Axl." Slash smiled. "I'll have a cappuccino please."

Axl stared at him blankly. "Sorry, what?"

"I said: good morning Axl. I'll have a cappuccino please. Thank you."

"No, I heard you the first time." Axl replied. He leaned forward against the counter and narrowed his eyes at Slash. "What are you doing?"

"I'm ordering a drink."

"No, you're ordering a sensible drink. With manners. It's making me uncomfortable."

"Is it?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Excellent." Slash smirked.

And Axl thought to himself, ah. There's the asshole I know. He scribbled a name on a disposable cup and made the cappuccino, stealing the occasional sideward glance at Slash as he did so. Slash was in a black suit and black tie, and he scanned the posters on the wall behind Axl with mild interest while he waited.

When Axl finally handed the drink over, Slash took the cup out of its sleeve before tasting it. When he saw what Axl had written, he chuckled.

"Really, Axl? Lucifer?"    

"I'm pleased with that one. I think it suits you."

"You think I'm the devil?"

"Yes. Well, not the devil himself, but your ability to annoy borders that of Satan."

Slash raised a single, infuriatingly arched eyebrow. "Did you think this one in advance, Axl?"

"No." Axl lied and curse his skin for being so pale and showing every little blush of his.

Slash smiled. "If I didn't know any better, Axl, I'd think you were making an effort for me."

Axl flushed, entirely because the accusation was embarrassing, and not at all because it may have continued a kernel of truth – microscopic as it was.

"Don't flatter yourself. More importantly, how's the cappuccino?"

Slash took a sip and pretended to think for a moment before nodding. "Perfectly adequate." He said, slyly.

Axl wanted to throttle him, but in a slightly different way to last week, and perhaps for slightly different reasons.

The next morning, it rained. The coffee shop was fuller than normal, and people came inside for shelter from the weather as much as for the warmth of a hot drink.  Slash wasn't there first thing in the morning, and he didn't come in as part of the morning rush either.

Not that Axl was waiting for him, or anything.

Slash eventually appeared at half past nine, drenched, phone glued to his ear. Rain had darkened his light grey suit into a darker shade and his curly hair was all over the place, sticking out in every possible direction.

Despite his dishevelled state, Slash caught Axl's eye when he walked in and he smiled. He walked near the front windows, away from the counter, continuing his conversation in hushed tones. Eventually, he found the mirror above the stand with the newspapers, and he continued speaking on the phone while running a hand repeatedly through his hair. Axl didn't think that it made much of a difference; Slash's hair seemed too wild to be compliant.

Not that Axl was watching him, or anything.

The queue had five or six customers when Slash arrived and Axl had long finished serving them by the time Slash finally made his way to the counter. 

Slash was still soaking wet, but he looked like he was in a good mood, and when he finally spoke, his tone was as playful as his eyes seemed to be.

"Did you see that? How I waited till the end of my conversation before approaching you?"

"So, I see you've learned minimum standards of human etiquette." Axl replied drily, his tone much more in control than whatever the hell was going on in his chest. "Or are you making an effort for me, Slash?"

When Slash had levelled that accusation at him the day before, it had sent Axl's wits into a blushing nosedive. The same accusation seemed to have no noticeable effect on Slash. If anything, he seemed to welcome it. 

"What would you do, if I was?"

Axl's mind, on the other hand, blanked white. He decided very quickly that it would be easier to ignore the question, and the look Slash was giving him, than to respond. 

"My manager's here today" he said "Do you still want me to call him?"

"No, that won't be necessary. I think we've both learned our lessons." Slash smiled. "And I'll have a flat white today."

"I see. So, uh." Axl began, and then stopped. "Is that it? We're just going to be nice to each other from now on?"

"Looks like it." Slash said. He slipped his hands in his pockets and gave a small shrug. "Is that a problem?"

"No, just less interesting. You were more fun when you were being a jerk."

Slash smiled. "Oh. I see. In that case, should I change my order to something more obnoxious?"

Axl responded with a vaguely reproachful look. "I was making an observation. I wasn't inviting you to start annoying me again."

"Well, let me know if you change your mind. I'd be more than happy to oblige."

Axl moved behind the coffee machine and pursed his lips before they could curve into a smile. He began making the flat white, distinctly aware that Slash's eyes were on him the whole time. He finished preparing the drink and handed it over to Slash.

Before taking a sip, Slash took the cup out of the heat sleeve and examined it. When he looked back up at Axl, there was with a sense of discontent in his eyes.

"Oh. You wrote down Slash."

"For someone who's been hounding me about it for a week, you sound inexplicably disappointed."

"I am. I was waiting for you to top Lucifer."

"Honestly?" Axl answered, raising his hands in defeat. "I tried and I couldn't. I'm never going to top that. I'm retiring on a high."

"That's it?" Slash scoffed. "I'm disappointed. This isn't the service I've come to expect."

Axl clutched sarcastically at the chest of his apron, dramatizing his tone in jest. "Oh no. How will I ever make it up to you?"

Slash shrugged and took a sip of his coffee. Over the top of the cup, he said casually "Well, you could start by letting me take you out to lunch."

Axl stopped and folded his arms, narrowing his eyes, like he was trying to figure out whether Slash was kidding. Slash's gaze remained even, confident, unwavering.

It's unfair, Axl thought to himself, that he's drenched from head to toe, and that he's still the more composed of the two us.

"Lunch?" Axl began suspiciously. "Why? We can barely have a civilized conversation first thing in the morning."

"Well, unless I'm woefully misreading this," Slash said, gesturing back and forth between himself and Axl with his free hand, "and I'm almost certain that I'm not - you seem to enjoy it. So, instead of being jerks to each other for ten minutes over a counter in the morning, we can be jerks to each other for an hour over lunch. Sounds good, or no?"

"Sounds adequate" he answered, wryly, and as much as he tried to resist a grin this time, it came around anyway. "I'm free at one thirty."

"Then I'll come get you at one thirty," Slash said, eyes dancing as he slipped money for the coffee across the counter. 

He turned to leave and when he had made his way half way to the door he looked over his shoulder back at Axl. "It's Saul by the way" he smirked.

Axl blushed and smiled happily at the new information. Saul. He began getting exited for their lunch, not that he would count down the hours till then, or anything.

But in case anyone was asking, there were four to go.

Chapter 5: My My Serpentine

Summary:

Axl and Slash visit a snake farm. It doesn't turn to be the dream day Slash imagined it would be and there's only one overdramatic redhead to blame.

Axl wasn’t sure how he had end up in this situation, with a huge ass ball python chocking him, smooth scales wrapped around his neck, constricting his breathing. Well technically the reptile was loosely hanging around his shoulders and was in no way harming him, but same difference if you asked Axl.

Somehow, magically, Slash had convinced Axl that morning to visit a new snake farm that he had discovered. Maybe it was the puppy eyes that Slash had looked at him with warm brown eyes pleading at him behind long lashes that did the trick. Or maybe it was the way he had practically sucked his soul through his cock with his impeccable blowjob skills. Could have been any of those he figured, but it probably was that he loved the young guitarist way too much to deny him and would do literally anything to see him smile that bright smile that filled his heart with pure joy whenever he saw it, even if that meant leaving his last breath in a snake farm. Death by harmless ball python. Great fucking headstone that would make.

Slash on the other hand was nearby, happy as could be, ecstatic that Axl had agreed to come to the snake farm, talking pictures of anything and everything under the sun -but mostly Axl’s terrified gaze and half permanent growl-, completely oblivious to his boyfriend’s impending death.

Fucker, Axl thought, I’m dying and he’s over there having the time of his life.

Soon the snake keeper that had placed that obscene monster -it was no animal- on Axl’s shoulders sensed the redhead’s fear and removed the animal.

“Why didn’t you keep him around you?” asked Slash finally turning to look at his boyfriend.

“You asshole. I almost died and you’re here taking fucking pictures” yelled Axl pointing an accusatory finger towards Slash, as he made his way towards him in quick strides.

“You almost died? When?” Slash asked almost ready to laugh. “A minute ago when I looked at you, you looked perfectly alive, burned holes in my skull with that death glare of yours, but still breathing without a hitch” he said letting out a dry chuckle.

“Stop laughing you idiot. Yes I almost died, with that, that thing chocking me to death” he spat out.

“Chocking? It was barely even around your neck.”

“Oh it was very much around my neck, I could feel it sucking the life out of me.”

“Axl, it was seriously just hanging on your shoulder, nowhere near wrapping around you.”

“Well if you paid more than a fucking second’s worth of attention to me then you’d have noticed that your ex-boyfriend could have just died. Yes, ex-boyfriend, since you don’t care about me dying and all that. And you shouldn’t bother coming to my funeral. There is no room for snakes” he hissed and with that he turned around and stormed off like a petulant child, seething in anger.

Slash immediately followed and grabbed his arm to stop him.

“Oh Axl come on. I was just enjoying the other snakes, I wasn’t ignoring you. And I’m pretty sure that the little snake was harmless and even if it wasn’t this place is full of experts who would help you.”

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Would you help me?”

“Of course I’d help you. I’d kill that snake in a heartbeat for you.”

“You’d kill a snake for me?” Axl asked softly, looking at him through tearful eyes.

“Yes” Slash painfully admitted. He loved snakes, adored them, but this was Axl. His Axl.

“Ohh you love me” Axl said teasingly, his mood making an 180 degree turn and completely changing.

“Shut up” mumbled Slash.

“Can we go home now, I’m tired” asked Axl after a while.

“Yeah sure” replied Slash, taking a few more pictured of an adorable little boa and a very annoyed Axl, before they started making their way towards the exit.

As they were walking side to side Axl reached for Slash’s hands to intertwine their fingers as they always did, but Slash swiftly moved his hand.

“Huh?” Axl turned at him confused.

“Well, I don’t think it’s wise to hold your ex-boyfriend’s hand. Might send the wrong message and all that you know” Slash smirked.

“Oh fucker just give me your hand” whined Axl.

“Ex-boyfriend, fucker, nice names you’ve given me today. Really rich, enhanced vocabulary. Planning on taking the SATs and you didn’t tell me? I’m hurt.”

Axl hit him playfully at the chest, giggling.

“Fine you can be my boyfriend again” he huffed. “But stop being such a little whining bitch about it.”

“Oh what an honor, I get to be Axl Rose’s boyfriend again” Slash said jokingly.

“Oh shut up.”

“Yes an honor indeed” Slash ignored him. “And he treats me just like a princess all the time too. Pure honey pouring from his tongue every time he opens his mouth to speak.”

Axl paused mid walk and stood in front of Slash, quickly grabbing Slash’s face pressing a short but passionate kiss on his lips.

“Just shut up okay” he mumbled against the guitarist’s lips, pecking him once more.

“Fine. As you wish. But let’s see how long you can walk without my incredible commentary” Slash huffed.

“I think I’ll manage” replied Axl, finally taking Slash’s hand in his own and rubbing his fingers over the guitarist knuckles.

For a while they walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, but still enjoying each other’s presence, their intertwined hands keeping them in check with reality and grounding them to each other.

“Slash” Axl mumbled after they had walked almost half the way to their apartment.

“Yeah?” Slash responded.

“I’m tired” he complained.

“We’re almost there. Just a few more blocks baby.”

A few more minutes passed by as they continued walking in silence.

“Slash” Axl repeated.

“Yeah?”

“How much longer?”

“A few more blocks love.”

“You said that the previous time I asked” Axl whined.

“And we’re still on the same block. What did you expect me to tell you?”

“Ugh fine.”

A few more steps.

“Slash I’m tired” he whined again.

“Axl shut up.”

“It’s not my fault I have shorter legs and get tired more easily.”

“Axl I’m barely two inches taller than you, I’m pretty sure your legs are not that much shorter than mine.”

“Well still though, they are shorter, so my point still stands.”

“Just keep walking.”

“But Slashhh.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m tiiiiireeeed.”

“Axl for the love of God shut up.”

“Stop ignoring me” Axl protested.

“Stop acting live a five year old” Slash fired back.

“But my legs hurt and I wanna go to sleep.”

“A few more blocks and then we’re home baby. Just a few more” Slash whispered half to Axl to make him shut up and half to himself so as not to punch his boyfriend’s beautiful annoying little face.

“You keep saying that.”

“I keep saying it because it’s true.”

“You’re mean.”

Slash pinched the bridge of his nose trying to remain calm. Breath in, breath out, in, out repeat.

“Slash.”

“Yes baby” Slash said through gritted teeth, trying to sound as sweet as possible and not at all as someone ready for homicide.

“How much farther?”

“That’s it” Slash said and removed his hand from Axl’s. He bend his knees a little and picked Axl up throwing him over his shoulder, Axl’s face landing dangerously close to his ass, his legs dangling in front of him.

“What are you doing, put me down” Axl yelled, kicking his legs in the air.

“Would you just stay still? If you’re gonna act like I child then I’m going to treat you like one. Now shut up. And stop moving” Slash said fed up with Axl’s constant complaining.

“At least the view is nice from here” Axl exclaimed, admitting defeat. “These leather pants really do your ass favors honey.”

“Axl shut up.”

“No really, they make it look so nice and round and firm.”

“Are you implying that it’s not?”

“No of course not. Just paying you a compliment. You never appreciate me” he whined jokingly.

“Axl.”

“Yes?”

“Shut the hell up.”

“Oh such abuse I put up with” he said dramatically.

“Yeah when you’re begging for me to fuck you every night doesn’t seem much like abuse.”

“Bastard.”

“Oh just stop it with all those pet names. You’re making me blush.”

Slash finally put him down and Axl noticed that they were at the entrance of their apartment complex.

“Oh it wasn’t that far after all” he exclaimed and made his way in.

“You fucker” yelled Slash behind him, quickly following Axl who had bolted to the stairs, running up to their apartment, trying to escape from Slash.

But Slash was far too quick and he caught Axl by his shirt just before he managed to enter their apartment. He moved towards him trapping him between their door and his own body, pressing his arms against the door above Axl’s head, as Axl looked up at him.

“Caught you” he whispered triumphantly and he leaned down to kiss him, taking the ginger’s bottom lip between his teeth, slowly nibbling on it, making the older man moan.

“Thank you for coming with me today” he said sincerely after he parted from Axl’s lips. “Even if you were a little bitch through every little part of the day.”

“But you still love me right?” Axl asked, green hopeful eyes meeting reassuring brown ones.

“Always Rosie” Slash replied and kissed him once more.

Chapter 6: Cute Is What We Aim For

Summary:

Axl will *not* under any circumstances be called cute. Slash begs to differ.

Slash was laying back on the couch in the living room of the apartment the five band mates shared, with a guitar in his lap, absentmindedly strumming some chords.

Axl was sitting next to him next to him, singing random lyrics to match the random melody that Slash was playing, his eyelids closed, completely lost in the serenity and comfort of the moment. He was wearing an oversized yellow hoodie that went way past his hips, completely covering the skin tight shorts he was wearing, making it seem like he was wearing underneath, along with a pair of white fluffy socks.

After a while Slash stopped playing but Axl continued singing not noticing that the music had seized. A few moments later he finally noticed and opened his eyes, only then noticing the guitarist staring at him with a look full of love and adoration and just so much more. His body natural reaction was of course to blush, cheeks turning into a nice shade of red, perfectly complimenting his fiery locks.

“Why are you looking at me?” Axl asked.

“You’re cute” Slash shamelessly replied.

“What?” Axl asked, surprised, not having anticipated that response.

“You’re so cute and sweet and precious. With your big hoodie and fluffy socks, you look so tiny and cute, I just wanna tuck you in my arms for safe keeping. And when you’re singing your eyes shut close and your eyebrows knot a little and your nose does that cute little sniffle like a bunny. Cute.”

“I’m not cute” Axl protested in a whine that definitely didn’t help prove his point.

“Yes you are. You’re adorable. I could just eat you up.”

“I’m not cute” Axl repeated. “I’m dark and mysterious and dangerous. And very pissed off” he said, a soft frown appearing on his features looking anything but terrifying. His whole appearance completely contradicted his statement, his attempt to look scary only making him appear even more adorable to Slash.

“How cute” Slash exclaimed.

“Shut up. I told you I’m dark and twisted and seriously angry.”

“Sure you are. You look like a pissed off bunny.”

“Slashhhh” he whined.

“Even your whine is adorable” Slash mused.

“’M not adorable. I’m manly and scary and” he yawned before he managed to finish his sentence.

“You sure? Cause to me you just seem sleepy. And cute of course, but we’ve already established that.”

Axl slapped his torso lightly.

“I’m not tired. And I’m definitely not cute.” He yawned again.

“Okay big boy, let’s get you to bed” Slash said.

“No I wanna stay here with you” he complained.

“Fine. As you wish. Do you wanna watch a movie then? Since you’re not at all sleepy and all that?” Slash asked as Axl yawned once more.

“Sure” he replied sitting up straight and trying to kick his tiredness and sleepiness from his body.

“What do you wanna watch?” Slash asked turning on the TV and flipping the channels looking at the different options. “Ohh there is The Shining, Aliens, Friday the Thirteenth” Slash mentioned as he passed the different movies. “What do you want?”

I want that Axl said pointing at the TV at the channel that Slash had currently stopped.

“You wanna watch the Aristocats?” Slash asked in disbelief. But then of course Axl would want to watch a fucking kid’s movie with singing cats.

“Yeah” Axl said blushing once again.

“You serious? It’s a stupid movie. It’s for fucking children.”

“Shut up. Yes I want to watch it. It’s a classic. And Toulouse and Berlioz and Marie are adorable. Plus Duchess and Thomas are couple goals” he defended.

“You do know that Clyde and Bonnie could eat your Toulouse and Berlioz right up don’t you?” Slash asked with amusement.

“Shut up. I wanna watch it. ”

“Alright we’ll watch it” Slash agreed. “And yet you say you’re not cute” he mumbled under his breath, smiling at the redhead.

“Hey I heard that” Axl snapped.

“Just watch the movie you angry kitten. You’re just like Marie you know. All prissy and stuck up trying to play tough but underneath you’re just a big ball of fluff.”

“And how would you know how Marie is huh?”

“I may have watched it once or twice” Slash admitted looking very pained while doing so.

“Oh?” asked Axl teasingly. “I thought you said it was stupid?”

“Okay I admit it is a good movie. But no one else needs to know that. So just shut up and watch the film” Slash said, his eyes narrowing at Axl.

“Fine” Axl sighed in an overdramatic manner but complied nonetheless, moving to sit closer to the guitarist, laying sideways, pressed to Slash’s side, his head resting on the younger man’s chest, his arm laying on his torso, as Slash’s arm came to wrap around his waist securing him in place.

They watched the movie in silence and by the time the credits rolled around Slash was way more engulfed in the movie than he’d ever admit to anyone. He moved to turn the TV off and he noticed that Axl had fallen asleep in that same position, still pressed to him, the only difference being that one of his legs had made its way between Slash’s, making him look like he was climbing the other man like a tree. His mouth was half open, soft snores escaping from it as he occasionally mumbled in him sleep.

Not cute my ass Slash muttered as he finally turned the TV off and pulled the throw blanket that was resting on the arm of the couch over their bodies to cover them both. He slid a little bit lower on the couch, trying to get a bit more comfortable and always careful not to wake Axl up, as he too closed his eyes, sleep soon taking over him as well, the last thoughts on his mind being of how adorable and precious his cute little pissed off bunny is.

Chapter 7: Broken Pieces of a Whole

Summary:

Somehow, after all the heartbreak, they find their way back to each other.

Slash was sitting in a booth in their usual bar with Izzy, Duff and Steven, seething in anger, smoke almost coming out of his ears, and if he opened his mouth he was sure he was going to breath out fire. The other three were oblivious to his blinding rage as the drowned glass after glass of bitter brown liquid, the alcohol in it taking away their mindfulness and consciousness bit by bit.

The reason behind Slash’s transformation to a dragon ready to burn and destroy was the redhead missing from their usual quintet, who was currently flirting with a brunette at the bar across from their table. With every lustful look, every smile, every touch that the brunette gave Axl -and that the redhead reciprocated- Slash’s anger grew even more.

When the brunette reached up to whisper something in Axl’s ear and Axl threw his head back carelessly, laughing at whatever she had said and pulling her closer to him, Slash finally decided that he had had enough and got up from the table, making his way towards the pair in long quick strides.

When he reached them, he grabbed Axl’s bicep, tightening his fingers around it in a death grip sure to leave a mark in the shape of his hand, and dragged the shorter man towards the back door and out in the cold air, without giving him any time to react or protest against his actions, and without offering any explanation to the woman he had taken him from and had left standing dumbfounded.

As soon as he made it out he released his death grip but he did it with enough force to send Axl a few steps back, making him collide with the wall behind him.

“What the fuck Slash?” hissed Axl.

Slash’s only response were the heavy breaths he let out and his rage filled eyes, which seemed to be trying to drill a hole through Axl’s skull.

“What the fuck is the matter with you?” he asked again.

“Tonight is supposed to be a night out for the five of us as a band, you know” he said after a while, trying to seem indifferent, his expression not at all changing

“It is. All of us are here, aren’t we Slash?”

“No. I and Steven and Izzy and Duff are. But you are off with some little bitch.”

“Oh hell no Slash, we are not having this conversation. You have no right to complain about me being with anyone. You don’t get a say in this. You lost that right two months ago. You were the one that broke up with me Saul, remember?” Axl asked, spitting out the other’s name as if it were poison.

“No don’t you worry I remember just fine William” he replied bitterly, the name leaving his lips like venom.

And these names, their given names, were used between them like the worst possible insult, far worse than any swear word invented or imaginable. Because in the past they were used to show the true meaning of their relationship, they were the only ones allowed to use them - still are- because they were the only ones who got to see Saul and William, they only ones who managed to dig deeper than Slash and Axl, the only ones who could see the each other truly for who they were, not as they wanted to be seen but as they were really meant to be seen.

“Then leave me the fuck alone Saul” he said more as plea and less as an order or threat.

“I can’t” Slash said in an almost audible whisper that was so soft that if Axl wasn’t used to deciphering Slash’s mumbles, he wouldn’t have heard it. And as those words left his mouth so did his anger, his eyes softening a bit just to be filled with hopelessness and sorrow instead, his breath calming down only to quicken immediately as sobs threatened to escape the guitarist.

“What?” Axl asked softly, surprised but the younger man’s confessions, his own anger rapidly dissolving.

“Fuck Will, believe me I’ve tried. I’ve tried anything to let you go. But every time I close my eyes, you’re there, staring at me with your green eyes that always seem to be able to see into my soul, your red hair flowing in the wind, like a halo round you, and every time I open them I’m faced with the reality of your absence, so I close them again. And every time I go to bed, I fall into a restless sleep, as my dreams are filled of past memories and future plans we never got to fulfill, and I kick and toss but there is no one to kick other that the bedsheets and no one to kick me back and yell at me, because the bed is empty and I’m all alone” Slash said and by the time he finished tears were running freely down his face.

“Why are you telling me this? You were the one who broke it off after three years Saul. Three years. Because you didn’t know who you were anymore?”

“I thought I had lost myself, I thought that me and you had just become us, the me part completely lost. I couldn’t see myself, I couldn’t only see you and me as a whole, I couldn’t make out my own self in this thingthat had become us, an intricate web equal parts me equal parts you, but still a tangly web nonetheless. I had become so entangled in this web that I thought I was lost. Because I thought that I had stopped being myself. But God William, I was so wrong. I couldn’t see that the only reason that I was so lost in this web was because solely I existed along with it, there was not a me any more to be found. My existence is only through you, through us, through had we had and yours is as well, I know that it still is.”

Axl leaned forward a bit to wipe some of Slash’s tears with the back of his sleeve.

“What do you want me to say Saul?” he asked quietly.

“I don’t want you to say anything other than what you feel William. Even if that is that you hate me, which I know that quite a big part of you does, or even if that is punch in my face. You know I only care for your true emotions.”

“I know, I think that to this day you’re the only one that fully does. The only one who puts up with my mood swings and paranoid thoughts without thinking that I should be sent off to a psychiatrist or without wanting to change me. I always appreciated that, I still do.”

“Fuck, Will, I’m so sorry. I wish I could go back in time and change what I did. On the one hand this stupid mistake of mine helped me realize just how much I need you to not just exist, but to feel whole, to feel alive, to feel like myself- because I don’t know who I am if I’m not part of us- and how much I love you but God I’d do anything not to have hurt you. I hurt you so much” Slash said as even more tears streamed down his face.

“You did. I’m not going to lie or sugarcoat it, there’s no point in that, you’d see past my act in a second. You hurt me a lot. I spent so many days and nights -even though to me it just seemed like a single excruciating long continuous day- going over everything that I ever said or did you, wondering where I went wrong, thinking about what I could have done to prevent it, praying to God that it was all a nightmare that would soon be over. But I’m happy that you managed to sort everything out, I never want you to be unhappy or miserable, and I’m not stupid, yes, you hurt me, but I know that I, as much as you, exist through us. I love you Saul, I always have, I never stopped, and I think I always will, until my hearts stops beating or until my lungs give out.”

“I love you too William. I love you too” Slash said and pulled Axl in for a kiss full of passion, expressing everything they had just said and everything else that they couldn’t put into words. And it wasn’t the most romantic of make-up kisses, not really like those on the movies, it tasted too much like whiskey and the mix of their salty tears, as their teeth clashed, their lips moving furiously against each other, trying to make up for lost time. But for now it was enough, there would be time for romance later, now they only thing that mattered is that they weren’t lost anymore, they weren’t broken pieces of an once beautiful picture, they were one and they were whole.

At last they were whole. They were themselves.