Ch. 6 – Yesterdays and tomorrows
Yesterday, there was so many things
I was never told
Now that I'm startin' to learn
I feel I'm growin' old
'Cause yesterday's got nothin' for me
Old pictures that I'll always see
Time just fades the pages
In my book of memories
Prayers in my pocket
And no hand in destiny
I'll keep on movin' along
With no time to plant my feet
'Cause yesterday's got nothin' for me
Old pictures that I'll always see
Some things could be better
If we'd all just let them be
Yesterday's got nothin' for me
'Yesterdays' ~ Guns N Roses
…...
Warning…m/m explicit, multiple partners
…...
Axl lay with his head pillowed on David's silent chest, the blonde's hand running idly up and down his back.
"Won't be long till dawn."
The singer hummed distractedly, fingers tracing down the other man's abdomen.
"Something wrong, Red?"
Axl tilted his head to look at David.
"Would you really have killed us all over Duff's refusal?"
David smirked down. "Tell me Red, how many times have I visited you?"
The singer frowned, trying to sort through hazy memories. "Dunno. Three, maybe four times?"
David gave a deep chuckle. "Try doubling that, and add some more for your friends."
Axl stared, lifting up, surprise turning to annoyance. "What did you do?"
Tapping his temple, the vampire grinned. "Just what was needed. You remembered what was important. If shit hadn't worked out, well, you'd have still had a few good years left, plenty of time to meet again."
"…was this the first time you asked?"
A gentle hand carded through short red hair. "Yes."
"Why now? Why did you wait?"
Pale blue eyes crinkled, a fond smile gracing soft lips.
"Had to let you sort yourselves out. So many personal issues, addictions to overcome. What you have is rare, Red. Couldn't just take one, needed to be the whole package."
Axl turned pensive. "Are we whole though?"
"You're the ones that made it through. The ones that came back together. That stand you all took against me? That loyalty, that brotherhood? That's what I was looking for."
Axl sighed as he relaxed back on David's chest.
"I miss the others though. When we made ourselves a family, us against the world."
David curled an arm around the singer's shoulders, kissing the top of his head.
"We'd have taken them if it was right. Sweet as he is, Steven's too weak to be one of us. And Izzy would want this less than Duff. You know this."
Axl dropped his gaze, grumbling as he readjusted himself, curling in closer. It stung to hear, but he couldn't argue the truth of David's words.
"You really are an asshole, you know that?"
David's laughter shook them both. "Takes one to know one, Red."
…...
In the suite's giant tub, Dwayne had Duff bent over the rim, the vampire's hips and hand rolling in slow rhythm as the tall blonde braced himself, stuttering moans falling from his lips. Warm water swirled with their movements, sloshing violently against the sides of the tub.
Duff could feel pressure building, tension ratcheting the muscles in his thighs and arms tighter, moans turning low and guttural, answered by matching growls from the dark-haired man behind him. With a shuddering groan, the blonde felt his body lock up, every function frozen in deference to the waves of pleasure radiating from his groin, drowning all thought and sense.
A sudden jerk brought him back, near excruciating sensitivity making him gasp and tremble, still pinned against the rim of the tub, at Dwayne's mercy. The dark-haired man pulled out, releasing him, sitting back and beckoning when Duff turned around.
Moving slowly, the musician seated himself gingerly, wrapping long legs around Dwayne as the tawny man guided him down to nestle deep inside him once more.
Looking up, Dwayne let his eyes shift, smiling toothily when Duff's heart sped up. With exaggerated gentleness, he kissed up the blonde's chin, meeting lips with a feather touch over and over, till Duff was the one pulling him close, invading his mouth with eager tongue, hissing as a sharp fang caught and drew blood. Then Dwayne dove in, lapping eagerly, soothing the sting and leaving the human gasping for breath.
Breaking apart, he locked golden eyes to lust-wide hazel, a smirk met and returned despite the swiftly beating heart. Kissing a slow trail down stubbled jaw, to wiry neck and arched throat, the vampire started rolling his hips, easily lifting the man impaled on his lap.
One last fiery side glance and he let needle teeth sink slowly into softly thrumming skin, rich blood pooling on his tongue. Groaning into the wound, he spilled deep, rocking them both in the thrall of his release.
Hands slid up, sinking deep in raven silk, holding Dwayne close as Duff ground down, lean body shaking with overstimulation. Letting himself return to a human façade, the vampire licked the small bite closed, curling strong arms around the blonde to stroke soothingly, encouraging the human to relax in his embrace.
Resting his chin over Dwayne's shoulder, Duff chuckled weakly. "Jesus, is it always like this? Last time, it took me a week to recover, even longer before I could look my lady in the eye."
He could feel Dwayne's body shake with laughter, rumbling voice in his ear. "You play your instrument better now, after a few decades of practice, yeah?"
"Well, yeah…oh."
More amusement that shook them both. "Imagine how you'd be after a century or so."
"Shit! Really?" Duff pulled back to look at Dwayne, wonder painting his face.
A wistful look came over the tawny skinned man. "It's been a very long time since David found me…" he tucked a strand of golden hair behind Duff's ear "…yet looking back it seems like nothing, a blink of an eye, or less. I was there then, and I'm here, now."
"Do you miss anyone, anything, at all?"
"Not really. Life was good then, but it's good now too, just different. I sure don't regret not being ground into dust, my bones pulled up and tossed in a museum for the amusement of others. And I really don't regret being around to meet you."
The vampire leaned in, kissing the blonde softly, letting it grow deeper till Duff had to break for air. The blonde shook his head as he caught his breath.
"Fucking hell, don't you ever stop? Fuck blanks, I'm gonna be shootin' blood at this rate…"
"Sounds delicious…"
"Holy fuck!"
Duff startled as Dwayne growled hungrily, face all sharp angles, eyes glowing, tongue darting out of a feral grin. Letting his predatory smile grow for a minute, the vampire paused before his eyes crinkled, fading to mahogany once more as he rocked with laughter.
"Bastard." Duff huffed, annoyance bleeding into wry amusement.
"Probably. Still funny though."
Duff snorted, rolling his eyes. A quiet moan caught his attention, and he glanced across the room to see Slash reclined against the long-haired blonde, his head arched back, wild curls mingling with Paul's to make a drape of shaggy straw and inky mop over the other man's shoulder.
A shock of pale honey curls bobbed unhurriedly in his friend's lap; a marble-sleek form stretched out along the couch, perfectly curved ass tilted up, waving temptingly. Dwayne followed Duff's gaze, smirking as he watched his brothers' languid assault on their newest member.
With a babbling whine, Slash tangled strong fingers in Marko's hair, thighs quivering, chest bowing out only to snap back as he curled over the man between his legs, swearing incoherently between panting breaths. Gentle hands pulled him back against Paul's chest, Marko releasing him with a soft pop to crawl up and lay on his broad chest, sharing the taste of his spend in a lingering kiss.
The three wrapped themselves around each other, limbs tangling, Paul and Marko nipping on either side of Slash's neck. He tipped his head back, groaning when teeth sank in, and they smiled into his skin, lips and tongues working gently to milk shallow wounds.
The door to the bedroom opened, David striding out fully dressed and smoking, Axl following a bit more leisurely, clad in loose boxers.
"Well, I hate to pull a Cinderella, but the clock is chiming and we're about to turn into pumpkins. Assholes and elbows, boys."
There was a chorus of groans, followed by rustling and sloshing as Dwayne, Paul and Marko got up and started putting themselves together. Slash sat on the couch, blinking and watching the bustle, scratching his scalp idly.
Axl came and sat down next to him, smiling when the wild-haired man threw an arm around him. Pulling his naked friend close, he stared openly as the other vampires dressed, grinning when Paul winked and blew him a kiss.
David came over, dropping to a knee in front of Slash and taking one of his hands. "Good thing we've got all the time in the world…" He drew a sharp nail across the palm, drawing a thin line of blood. "…so much fun to be had now that you're more…durable…" He bent his head, tongue dragging slowly along the cut, sharp eyes flashing amusement as Slash shivered.
Standing up again, he winked at Axl. "Sorry, kids, but we've got to be off. No safe place here for us old-timers. You two'll be fine though. You're still in transition, the sun won't be more than unpleasant."
He whirled around, catching Duff's eye. "Wouldn't expect much outta these two today, they'll sleep like the dead." David's brothers chuckled dryly at that. "They'll be fine around sundown; we'll be back not much after that."
Duff nodded, and the three musicians followed the vampires out to the balcony, watching in amazement as they lifted off, disappearing in rush of wind.
Slash was hanging on the railing, straining to see where they'd vanished to. "Did you SEE that!" he exclaimed as he spun around. "They were fuckin' flying! We're gonna FLY, Ax!" He grabbed the singer in a bone-crushing hug.
"Something else you're gonna have to do, Slash." Duff said softly. "Gonna have to feed sometime, I guess."
Slash settled; exuberance drained in an instant. "Yeah…yeah. We are." He shrugged. "There are more than enough assholes out there that nobody'll miss though. Is that really why you didn't want to join us?"
Now Duff shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "I dunno, man. It just seemed too fast; you know? It's kind of a big freakin' deal to just jump in to – not that I think you were wrong to want to. I just…need a little more time to process it."
"It's cool, man. Healthy as you are, you'd've probably outlived us all anyway. Take your time. We'll be here, whenever you're ready. Be here even if you never are. Stay with you till the end, yeah?"
Duff smiled, reaching out to pull his friends into an embrace. "To the end."
"To the end!" Axl and Slash shouted together, returning his hug with enthusiasm, till Duff wheezed, swatting at them.
"Hey, I still need to breath, dammit!"
Chuckling, they let go, heading back inside. Duff lingered for a moment, looking up into the lightening sky, rubbing absently at the soft bruise on his throat.
"You coming, blondie, or are you gonna sleep out there today?"
Duff shouted over his shoulder, never taking his eyes from the sky. "Fuck you, I'm coming!"
"Yeah, that's what he said…"
At the sound of laughter, he smirked, rolling his eyes. Sighing, he turned away, following the others inside as the sun began to crest the horizon.