Seeds are sown
…..
2017/2019 Axl, Slash, Duff and GNR gang/OC
Has Axl finally found the one?
…
Warnings: nonconsensual drug use, slow burn, eventual smut M/F, possible multi-pairings
….
Singing as he moved back and forth, Axl scanned the barrier looking for someone to bring up for an easy song. During the set, he'd noticed a woman a bit older than the kids that screamed and writhed to their music. She sang along and he could tell she was going word for word with him whenever he glanced at her.
There was something almost pensive about her. No doubt she was enjoying herself, but there was an air of melancholy to her that he found intriguing.
Deciding to bring her up, he sent security to collect her, watching as she startled when they reached her, smirking at the hot looks of the kids around her. He couldn't help but grin wide when she finally cottoned that she was in for a treat, not a threat.
Slash wandered near, strumming effortlessly through a solo as he leaned in close.
"Going soft, old man? She's almost our age."
Axl gave a shrug. "Call it a good deed."
Slash grinned wide, mouthing 'soft' as he shook his head and made his way back around the stage. Staff held the lady just backstage, waiting for the current song to end, and Axl to start his intro.
He waved her over as he talked, and with encouragement from security, she stepped forward, timid but smiling, blinking at the bright lights. She went a little wide-eyed as she stood at the front of the stage with him, and he leaned in to whisper to her.
"Just pretend it's the ocean, the noise just the roar of the waves."
She stilled for a moment, taking a deep breath and nodding.
"Now, look at me."
When she turned, he made a funny face, and she laughed easily, body relaxing. He nodded to Slash, and the curly-haired man launched into the intro to 'Sweet Child 'o Mine', the crowd roaring its approval.
Tears started to track down her cheeks as he sang, and he moved in, laying a light arm across her shoulders and giving a gentle squeeze, wondering what it means to her. He could just make out her singing along with him, though it was difficult over the crowd and speakers and sound feeds in his ear.
Taking a chance, he brought the mike close, surprised to hear a voice nearly as deep as his own singing smoothly despite her emotions. The crowd seems to love it, and he leaned closer to ensure the mike picked them both up. Trusting she'd keep to the classic melody on the lower register, he played with harmony, voice soaring above hers.
Axl caught Slash glancing over, nodding at him as the pair sing. With a motion, the guitarist took the lead singer's cue and slowed down the tempo, Duff and the rest picking it up and falling in line.
The song turned from the classic sweet reminiscence to something soft and bittersweet, and he can feel the crowd catching the change in mood, quieting down as the song reaches Slash's solo. Wrapping up, the final lines are less smirky and sly, more a question to the heavens, an aching cry that has no answer.
As the pair stopped singing, the audience went wild, the sound washing back over the stage. Axl stepped forward, gently taking her hand and holding it up, pulling her into a bow with him. She had a watery smile, wiping at wet cheeks with her free hand, and she dipped her head and smiled at him in clear thanks.
Security came back up to guide her off stage, and he pulled one aside, whispering to invite her to stay with them in the back, and attend the after party. The man nodded, smiling, and Axl got the sense they liked her just as well as the crowd did.
…
As the encores end, the group walked offstage together, sweaty and pleasantly tired as they came down from the high of a good show. Axl saw the woman standing off to the side with the security guys, smiling as she chatted with them.
He changed course, making a beeline for her, the rest following at a more leisurely pace. He reached out to take her hand gently in both of his, grin on his face. Away from the madness of the show, he noticed her eyes were a bit red, tear tracks still glistening on her cheeks.
"That was quite impressive, ah, Rose, was it?" His eyes twinkled. "That really your name?"
She made a sour face at him and huffed a sigh. "It's actually Rosemond."
His eyebrows lifted. "That's…unusual."
"I swear! Ask security, they saw my ID. Mom named me after her grandma. You can understand why I prefer Rose."
Axl chuckled. "Yeah, I get it, even if it's almost too much a coincidence."
She smiled back, through it didn't quite reach her eyes. "The universe does work in strange ways."
"You seemed to enjoy the show…ready to party with your favorite band?"
She tilted her head, eyes blinking, curious look on her face. "What makes you think you're my favorite?"
Axl's mouth fell open, a dry chuckle coming from somewhere off to the side. He stared at her, and Rose's lips start to twitch, skin crinkling around her eyes as a smile broke free, and then a giggle that turned into a laugh she hid behind a hand.
He snorted. "Pretty cheeky there."
Her eyes flashed amusement. "You can handle a little cheek, you've got enough fawning sycophants. It was a fantastic show though."
"Big words from such a small package. Surprisingly big voice, too. You sing professionally?"
Her eyes went big, and she blushed, shaking her head.
"Only if you count my kids as audience. Thank you for the compliment, though. That's very kind."
Now Axl laughed. "That's something people don't accuse me of very often."
"There goes your reputation." Slash interjected.
"Fuck you."
"And…it's back." Duff chuckled, the rest joining in. The tall blonde reached out in greeting, grinning as his own large hand engulfed hers.
"Hello there! All right if we call you Rosie? We call this asshole…"
"That's 'Axl'."
Duff continued unperturbed "…everything but the son of god. Don't want to get your head spinning every time we holler at him."
The woman laughed, nodding her head. "That's fine. I can see where it might make for a confusing evening."
"Wouldn't want that. You're much too nice a person to get mixed up with Red. I'd be happy to escort you to the party."
Duff grinned brightly, though the saucy tilt of sharp eyebrows set to question the sense of trustworthiness he implied.
Rosie tilted her head away, cautious smile blossoming.
"Thank you for the offer, but I'm sure Mr. Rose will be a perfect gentleman."
Slash made a choked sound, Duff's eyes going wide with amusement. Dizzy and Frank cackled behind them. Mel shook her head, long blue hair swishing emphatically as she pushed her way past the others.
"Don't let these guys scare you. Axl's a good man, he'll make sure you have a great night with us."
"Thanks, Mel. Nice to know somebody's in my corner."
The keyboardist turned a brilliant smile towards Axl. She side-eyed Rosie and winked.
"And if he acts up, just slug him. It's always worked for me." Everyone laughed.
Axl spluttered. "Traitorous fuckers! And for you, dear lady, please call me Axl."
Turning, he offered the crook of his arm, smiling as she wrapped her hands around it.
"Ignore these idiots. I assure you; you couldn't be safer with anybody else."
"I believe you." He patted her hands with his free one before giving the group the finger as he led her away from backstage to the dressing rooms.
"Now, I'm going to leave you here for a moment, I've got to change shirts, freshen up a bit. But I'll be right back out and we'll be on our way."
He left the door open, continuing to talk as he moved around the room.
"So…you sing for your kids, hmm? Just our songs?"
Axl's voice sounded muffled, and there was the sound of water running for a few minutes.
"Not hardly. 'Wish you were here', 'Time Table'. Stuff like that."
"Nice selection. Not what first comes to mind as songs for kids."
"Well, anything can be a lullaby if you sing it low and slow enough."
"Heh. Fair enough. You did a pretty good job with 'Sweet Child'. I might have to play it that way more often."
His voice got clearer, and he poked his head out the door, grinning as he saw her leaning on the wall off to the side. He'd taken off the hat he'd had on stage, and had changed from the black shirt to a red one. His hair was a wild shock of half-dried curls spiraling madly off his scalp, glinting in the bright lights of the hallway.
Rosie snickered as she saw him, and he came out of the room, standing in front of her with his arms crossed, eyes glinting.
"Something amusing?"
She smiled, and reached up to pat a stray curl down, freezing as she seemed to realize the overly familiar way she was acting. Axl grinned down at her.
"Don't stop now. I'm a hot mess at the best of times."
"Axl, stop pestering that nice lady. It's a thankless task trying to make you look good."
"Fuck you, Slash. I always look good."
The guitarist came sauntering up, wide smile splitting full lips, eyes hidden behind mirrored shades.
"You'd like to think you do." He turned to face Rosie. "Think you might have missed a spot…or two."
She giggled, reaching up again to run fingers through soft red hair, Axl tilting his head obligingly. It was only a moment till she seemed satisfied, pulling her hand back reluctantly. It surprised Axl to realize how much he'd enjoyed her touch.
Slash snorted in amusement at Axl's gentle smile.
"Not bad, old man. You almost look respectable. Here, lemme fix it."
He reached out only to have Axl bat his hand away, laughing. "Don't try it, fucker. My personal stylist here used her magic fingers to perfect my image."
"Magic fingers, hmm? Maybe I should borrow her talents." Slash turned towards Rosie, thick eyebrows waggling suggestively over the tops of his shades.
She blushed bright red, raising a hand to hide behind as her shoulders shook in merriment. Duff chose that moment to saunter up, chiseled smirk firmly in place.
"Hassling the poor girl already? Thought you 'gentlemen' would at least wait till the party."
"What hassle? She tamed Axl's rat's nest, thought she could do something with mine."
"If she could make this asshole's shaggy mop look good, she'd really have to have magic fingers."
Duff's dark eyebrows shot up, smirk intensifying as he turned towards Rosie, leaning against the wall and practically looming over her. "What's this about magic fingers? What'd I miss?"
She waved at Slash, eyes twinkling.
"Nothing much, just this beast being absolutely terrible."
"'Beast', hmm? Better watch out, little girl, this beast bites."
Rosie straightened up, turning to face Slash with a steady gaze that pinned him behind his shades.
"So do I."
Slash felt steel hidden under that deliciously husky voice, repressing a shiver that threatened to break his cool façade. He tilted his head and pulled his shades down, gazing at her with sparkling russet eyes.
"Wanna show me?"
She raised an eyebrow, glint in her eye and smirk on her lips.
"If that is a petition for my interest, you'll have to do better. Cheap I may be, but not easy."
The other men chuckled as Slash grinned, white teeth flashing against dark skin and hair. "I like a challenge."
Rosie tilted her head, giving him a firm yet gentle glance.
"I'm not a challenge, I'm a person. If you're looking for a quick roll, I suggest you keep looking."
Slash raised his hands in defeat, smiling playfully, though he felt stung by the soft chastisement.
"I get it! My apologies. I just thought we were having a moment."
Rosie snorted. "I suppose it was something like a moment. You can still miss me with your lazy excuse for a pass."
Duff was practically choking with laughter, and Slash glared at him, though the effect was somewhat muted by the ever-present mirrored glasses. Axl was coughing behind a hand, eyes bright.
Stepping up, the singer offered his arm again.
"Young lady, if I might escort you away from these ruffians?" He affected a definite 'aristocratic' accent, leaving Rosie smiling back as she again curled small hands around his arm.
"I'd be most delighted, kind sir." She tried to match his tone, laughing too much to pull it off.
"Hey, I wasn't being a 'ruffian'!" Duff protested.
Leading Rosie away, Axl turned to give a shit-eating grin over his shoulder.
"Suck it, blondie!"
Passing down spiraling ramps, they walked past the VIP lounge as they headed towards the exit and the waiting tour bus. Axl paused, listening in to happy shouts from the small group, replay of tonight's show playing in the background.
"I just need to stick my head in for a moment. Wanna come with? I bet they'd love to meet you."
Rosie shook her head, eyes a little wide. "No, really. I'll just wait out here. It's fine."
Axl patted her shoulder gently. "I get it. I'll be right back out – you're my excuse to bail."
He walked into the room, and she could hear the frenzied noise of the excited crowd turn almost deafening in their excitement. True to his word though, he was back out moments later, arms laden with all sorts of small trinkets and gifts that he immediately handed off to one of the security detail.
Turning to Rosie, he put a hand over his heart. "I swear that's the last stop till the party."
She giggled, waving her hand at the singer. "More like you swear you're up to no good, I think."
"That'll be at the party." Mel interjected, sliding up to punch Axl lightly on the arm. "Holding us all up again, I see." The redhead feigned shock, to the amusement of the gathering band.
"Surely you jest."
"I'm quite serious, and don't call me Shirley." Mel snickered. "Now move it, old man, before I yeet you out the door."
Axl turned a curious look at the keyboardist, just as Rosie spoke up.
"Need help with that?"
Mel grinned wide. "You offering?" She slid around behind Axl, who was now glancing back and forth between the two women.
"Hold on there, ladies. I'm an old man with bad ankles. Let's not get carried away!..."
Rosie winked at Mel, sidling up to Axl's other side. "Don't worry, I know it's not the kind of double-team you're used to, but we'll be gentle."
"Hey, now, wait a minute!"
Matt and the rest of the team leaned on one another as they laughed, watching Axl get escorted firmly and swiftly out of the venue by the two women, disappearing with a terribly insincere cry for help onto the bus. When the others joined them, they found Axl seated like a king with his arms around both ladies, booted feet up on a low table.
Slash grinned. "Looking pretty comfy there, old man."
Axl flashed a thousand-watt smile right back, making a big show of squeezing Mel and Rosie while they giggled madly. "And why shouldn't I?"
….
The ride to the hotel was quick, Axl keeping the conversation light as the band members chatted with each other. They pulled some of Rosie's musical preferences out of her, Axl teasing her terribly when she admitted to liking Linda Ronstadt and Hall & Oates in her youth, at least till she and Mel started tickling him from both sides, leaving him vainly trying to protect himself while even the security staff were rolling on the floor.
Once in the suite, Axl led Rosie around, keeping her close as he talked with celebrities and other top tier fans. Seeing her get overwhelmed with attention, he smoothed over the conversation, redirecting the admirer's energy while he hinted she should go get some food.
She smiled in relief, ducking out of the little group to head off towards the generous buffet. Getting caught up with acquaintances and business associates, Axl lost track of her, save for an occasional glimpse of her wandering ghost-like past happily chattering groups.
Her timidity and low-end outfit ensured that most of the party's patrons ignored her completely, and Axl frown as he considered the attitudes of people invited to the event. He meant to reach out, bring her to some of the more chill people hanging out, but he got distracted again, the night turning slowly to very early morning.
Duff slid up to him somewhere past three a.m., the tall blonde looking as fresh and bouncy as he had the morning before the concert started.
Feeling the effects of the long night, Axl grumbled at the smiling man.
"Whaddya want, you perky fucker?"
Duff laughed, clapping Axl on the back a little harder than was really necessary.
"Just thought you might wanna go collect your trim. She's been enjoying the party a little too much, from the looks of it. Slash and I are taking bets on if she'll even make it to your suite before kissing the floor."
Axl groaned, looking around for Rosie, seeing her staggering slightly, holding on to a wall for support. She looked around blearily, confusion writ across her face.
Duff patted Axl's shoulder consolingly. "Thought you were past that kinda stuff, but whatever does it for you, I guess. Better give it up tomorrow though." The blonde wandered off chuckling.
Sighing, the singer moved to help, determined, despite what the bassist thought, to at least make sure she made it to a cab in one piece. The closer he got, the more concerned, as he watched her zone out only to snap back with fright, head swiveling wildly.
Reaching her side, he slid a guiding arm across her shoulders, only to have her nearly jump out of her skin, eyes almost all whites with panic as she tried to shrink away from his touch. Recognition hit, her eyes focusing on him clearly, and she grabbed tight to the collar of his shirt.
"Ru..roof." She mumbled; speech heavily slurred. Axl shook his head gently, patting her hand.
"No, Rosie. We're not going to the roof tonight. Let's get you a ride home, ok?"
She turned, swaying as her eyes glassed over again, then shook her head so violently Axl had to steady her.
"N…no…roof..ru…roof.." she pushed a half-full glass at him.
"Easy, Rosie. I think you've had enough. Come on."
He went to grab the glass but she held it firm, glancing down at it and back up to him, sorrow and fear warring in her eyes. Axl went still, wheels clicking in his head.
"FUCK!"
Rosie swayed again, some her tension releasing. Meeting his gaze, she nodded sadly. Someone had roofied his guest.