#me: gives up halfway down laguna's jacket

[faeriesboon-a]

gives you the finger

@itsbalthier

[undinegeist]

turn your coat inside out (1)

-xx- y/n -xx-

The call comes about two hours before we’re on; I know it’s a big deal when the overlord herself, Celia, comes to talk to me about it.

“We’ve got an extra job for you tonight.”

“What is it?”

“There’s a rockstar coming in, and his manager wants someone to babysit him while he’s here. He has a bodyguard, but he wants to be at least a little inconspicuous, so that man will be keeping his distance, which means you’ll have to watch out for him.”

“Who’s gonna do my stuff?” I’d feel worse about this if I could feel anything; last weekend was hell, so it’s all gone now.

“The boys will manage…just answer the phone when his agent calls. He has a few details to run through with you.”

A few details turn out to be a long list of rules; don’t let him fuck anyone backstage, keep him from picking fights or getting drugs, see him into a car after it’s over, don’t let him give his bodyguard the slip…the forbidden list is so long, I feel bad for him.

“What’s his name, anyway?” I just want him to stop talking about what this guy can’t do; it reminds me too much of what everyone tries to do to me.

“Nikki, Nikki Sixx.”

I don’t know him; that’s probably for the best, too. “Okay. Anything else?”

I wish I hadn’t asked; he goes over everything again, then off on a tangent about something involving doors set on fire, but halfway through, I tune out, and eventually, finally, he hangs up, saying he has to see his rockstar into a car…keep him from taking the subway. An extra asshole.

-xx- nikki -xx-

She’s waiting for me by the stage door; I wanted to go through the front, but Fred refused, promising he’d give me an Ace in the Hole before bed as payment.

I still didn’t want to, didn’t give a fuck about his Ace, but knew I had no choice, so I said yes…might as well get something out of it.

“Hey.” She shakes my hand, throws open the door. “Cool jacket.”

“Thanks…I like your shorts.”

What I really like are her bare legs; not sure how she can stand to do that in the cold, though that only adds to the allure.

We duck in, lock Fred out, wind around to the front.

It’s a long hallway, all dark, until we’re in a room with fairy lights, loveseats, carpets; it’s so crowded with crap, it’s almost claustrophobic in its opposition.

“How long until showtime?” I’m anxious to get out there; for no reason, maybe, except a chance to escape Fred when it’s all over.

“About an hour, you’re way too early.”

“Fuck.”

If she’s shocked, she doesn’t show it. “Yeah…I can’t wait to get out of here either.”

“Why’s that?”

“Time ruins everything.”

-xx- nikki -xx-

“Why don’t we just go, then?”

“So your bodyguard can maul us?”

“He can’t maul what he can’t see…come on. There must be some way to get out without tipping him off, right?”

Her eyes are blank at first, but then they light up, and I know I’ve got her; it excites me, the fact that something’s going to happen, finally.

“There’s a second entrance in the back, for set pieces and costumes…no one’s ever there during performances.”

“Great.” I’m flying off; I need out of here…

She holds on to my arm, holding me back. “Turn your coat inside out.”

I smirk, the closest she’ll get to a thank you, and her lips flick up in the corners, eyes all fire; this is gonna be the best night ever.

-xx- nikki -xx-

We’re out on the bridge, having just passed Fred at the entrance; she was smart enough to hide my hair under my collar, just in case; we’re far enough away that Fred won’t catch us.

I don’t even care what we do now, I’m just happy to be on my own.

“Do you think we could jump into the water from here?”

“Sure, why not?”

She watches me, clearly looking for a lie. “We could get arrested.”

I snort. “Been there, done that…I’d get us out by the end of the night anyway. Why haven’t you though?”

“Pussy reason, don’t want to be sent back home.”

“Where’s that?”

“Laguna.”

“Oh…we’re neighbors, then.”

“LA?”

“Yeah.”

“I miss it, sometimes. Mostly in winter.”

“Why don’t you come back?”

“Too many people I hate down there.”

“You could always just kill them.”

At first she gives me a look, but then her eyes get that same glint from before…I like it too much.

-xx- nikki -xx-

We’re just staring out at the water, talking every now and again, when I see Fred in the crowd.

“Fuck!”

She follows my eyes, sees him, moves closer; turns my face so he can’t see it.

“At least you didn’t turn the coat back out.”

“Yeah, but what if…”

“Sixx!”

“Let’s go.” She holds on to my arm, climbs onto the railing, despite being a foot shorter than me…I follow, and then we’re flying off and over, hitting the water faster than I expected.

-xx- nikki -xx-

It’s freezing; people are screaming somewhere in the distance, Fred included, over all of them, just my name.

“How do we get out of here?” My teeth are chattering already, but fuck it.

“Swim under the bridge until they can’t see us, find a way up.”

She’s uncertain, but her idea’s as good as any other, given that I can’t think.

We go as fast as we can, not letting go, but before long they have floodlights on the water, so we have to go under, hiding behind boats; I can barely breathe through the cold, but we still haven’t gone far enough to get away unseen.

“We need to get out.”

She’s not stopping, a better swimmer than me, or maybe just healthier, but her fingers are trembling where she’s holding my arm.

“I know.”

Still, the thought of getting caught, going back to the hotel, the night ending, makes me want to die…

She’s watching me, too closely. “Maybe if we sneak around the side, they’ll miss us.”

-xx- nikki -xx-

We make it to the edge, sticking to the shadows against the walls, praying no one’s looking too close…find a set of stairs, rush up, cross the street into a supermarket.

People stare, but she doesn’t spare them a glance; I’d worry, but in this state, they won’t recognize me, either.

We end up in the bathroom, stripping; she payed for new clothes, forced me to hide, hold the door.

I watch her, but she doesn’t seem to notice, much less care; done in less than a minute, switching places with me.

I don’t look, suddenly nervous at the thought that she’ll be looking at me too…wishing I hadn’t looked at her.

-xx- nikki -xx-

“Where are we going?” I don’t want to go anywhere, but I don’t want to go back to the hotel either.

“My place is close enough for us to take the train.”

“You don’t mind?” I can’t believe I’m asking this; if this was any other night, I’d be fucking her.

She rolls her eyes, shoves the door open, taking the bag off the floor. “If I did, I wouldn’t have offered.”

-xx- y/n -xx-

He’s asleep the second he’s down on my bed; I get him a blanket, feeling strange as I slip it over him, even as I lie on the other side, but then I’m gone, and just like that…it doesn’t matter.

-xx- (2) -xx-