Guns Fic
Title: Freedom.
Author: Screamer06
Pairing: Axl/Duff/Slash.
Warning/Summery: Kidnapping! Eeep!
Status: Complete.
Disclaimer: Not mine, never happened, no money.
Axl watched the road zoom past, his book lay forgotten on his curled up legs. He rested his chin on this hand and took a deep sigh. Touring can be fun once you’re at your destination but getting there was often painfully boring. They invented games along the way but today everybody seemed too tired to think of one. A black touring bus pulled up alongside theirs, “Velvet Revolver” blazed along its side. It only took a second for Axl to seize the opportunity, “GUNS! VR BUS TO THE RIGHT!” he yelled to get everybody’s attention.
The new line up of Guns N Roses stood in a line and presented their arses and yelled “Freedom!” as the VR tour bus over took. The busses pulled in line again and Axl saw the members of Velvet Revolver leaning out the windows yelling and gesturing. A message crackled through to the driver but Guns N Roses were too busy to hear as they were all congratulating themselves at their mooning idea. Axl heard the driver give a destination but didn’t give time, anyway his job was to make sure the show went smoothly not drive the bus, so he squeezed past and make himself a coffee.
X X X
“Well fuck my arse, it seems Axl’s got himself in gear and is on the road.” Slash said as he pulled himself back into the bus, “Did you hear what they were yelling?” He asked turning to Duff,
“Freedom, I think.”
“Ah well at least they are as board as us then.” A pile of DVD’s, none in the correct cases, lay on the table under a television in the living, dining, cooking area of the bus and Slash regarded them distastefully. They had already watched all of them, twice.
Meanwhile, Axl had finished his coffee and was dozing in the same place he’d been all morning. The TV was on and he was aware of somebody sitting next to him and changing the channel, he wondered whether or not it was worth going to bed but stayed where he was until the bus pulled up at the next venue.
When they did arrive a stage was already being set up as they relayed the equipment, 3 stages in all and about 100 touring crew each and various workers they hired along the way. One stage would be set up while one was being taken down and one would be on the way to the next concert. Sounds simple doesn’t it?
A car was waiting for Axl but he loitered with the rest of the band before taking a look about the main staging area and dressing rooms. Meeting and greeting fans hanging about and new crew as he frequently sipped from a coke can. After a couple of hours he got into the car and made for the hotel. Most of the band had opted to sleep in the tour bus...chosen to be there! Axl couldn’t get his mind round it, being in the bunks was horrible. It was cramped and musty, smelling of feet and farts and sweat. He looked out of the tinted windows to see that black tour bus...Velvet Revolver...no way! Were they taking the piss?! No really, he took his cell phone out and called his tour manager who was still up at the staging area and probably would be all night. The T.M. went to find some more information and called Axl back some time later as he was dining with Beta and some hangers on who he’d invited it sit with them. Beta pursed her lips at Axl answering the phone at the table but realised it was important...
“Holy shit, what the hell do they think they’re pulling here?....the next day....are you fucking kidding me?! Jesus fucking Christ heads will roll for this one...I don’t care some unfortunate fuckhead is going to get fired.” He turned his phone off, apologised to the young girls that were sitting silently for swearing before he explained the situation to Beta. As fate would have it VR were due to play the day after GNR and it was in fact their staging Guns would be using. Axl began to grind his teeth, it was an insult. He helped himself to more carrots and smiled but everybody could see the tension behind it.
X X X
“It's not fucking funny Duff!” Slash said straight faced with his hands on his hips as Duff fought to control his laughter.
“No, no your right it’s not. But I was just thinking of Axl screaming about it and his head exploding!” Duff covered his mouth as he laughed afresh. Okay so yeah it was a bit funny but Slash kept his face straight and waited for Duff to realise he was the only one laughing, which he soon did, reduced to snorts and grins. “What? Are you sucking a lemon?” he asked Slash confused as to why Slash didn’t find it funny also.
“I just don’t want to see Axl, like ever.”
“I know but we have to do the gig, it’s too late to cancel now.”
“Yeah I know.” Slash lit and cigarette and offered one to Duff who waved it away, “So let’s go find something to eat, we move into the dressing rooms soon.”
Both rivals managed to avoid each other for most of the time, Slash saw the back of Axls head once and ducked out the way. Duff passed Axl as he was going out the hotel and each gave a barely perceptual nod to acknowledge each other’s presence.
Soon most of Guns equipment was packed and ready to go on to the destination after next, the crew referred to as leapfrogging. Axl had never found out who screwed up so bad, it was a tight crew this one and they all kept sush about it.
Axl was checking his dressing area one last time for the earring he’d lost earlier. Duff appeared in front of him with a guitar in his hand. Axl looked up and licked his dry lips, “I was just on my way out, and I was looking for an earring.” Duff fidgeted on the spot looking awkward, “I’m sure one of the crew found one, ugh, and he was small and with dark hair.” As if by magic the man in question appeared in the door way, “Mr. Rose, the car is waiting for you and did you lose an earring?” the man held open his palm to revel a small diamond stud with a butterfly back.
“Yeah thanks.” Axl took the earring and put it in his piercing, he turned to Duff and mumbled a good-bye or good-luck Duff couldn’t be sure which. Axl was stopped short as the small man stepped in front of him, “I Just want to say Mr. Rose, it’s been a real treat working with you.” He said putting his hands behind his back,
“Well, ugh, thanks for doing such a great job.” The small smiled looking very much like a weasel, before he held a gun to Axls chest and cocked it with a small click,
“It's so nice you can stick around for a little bit.” Axl gasped and Duff lunged forward Axl held a hand out to stop him, “That’s right Axl, he comes anywhere near you and you have a new piercing.”
“What do you want?” Axl asked trying to keep his voice smooth,
“I want you to come with me Axl; I can call you Axl can’t I?”
“You have a gun to my chest you can call me whatever you like.”
“Well then Axl would you like to come with me?” The man asked. Duff came forward again, but was stopped by Axl, “No Duff don’t move.” He instructed not taking his eyes off the gunman.
“But...”
“I said STAY WHERE YOU ARE!”
Duff stopped as Axl was lead out by the weasel man. He was forced straight up and passed security who also pulled guns, “Who the fuck called the cops, who called them?!” the man panicked and gripped Axls arm and pushed him down on his knees, he placed the gun at Axl’s head. The seconds crawled by as security looked from Axl to the gun swinging nutcase.
“I asked who called the filth?!”
“No body, no one called anybody at all!” Axl said loudly over the man’s panicked rambling, “These are my staff, and they follow my orders.” He was eager to reassure the madman and avoid any fatalities, “Step back guys...I said step back.” The guards looked to each other before slowly shuffling backwards their guns still trained on the black haired maniac.
“Tell them Axl, tell them to put their guns down...tell them.” The guy said in a calm voice as if he were ordering coffee.
“I’m okay just put the guns down and let us through.” Axl instructed his voice wavering. Again the guards looked to each other before putting their guns on the floor. The man picked Axl up again and walked him to the stage exit before Axl stopped him, “The fans.” He said simply. It seemed to work the man hesitated before putting his hand firmly on the back of Axl’s neck and putting the gun to his back, “The fans don’t love you.” He said, forcing Axl to walk in front of him.
One fan saw the gun pointed to Axl and screamed which set of hysteria amongst the remaining fans. Axl’s kidnapper swore savagely before forcing them into run to the waiting car. Still holding the gun to Axl he shouted instructions to the driver and locked the doors. Once he deemed it safe he took the gun away much to Axl relief and put the safety on. He still seemed very calm as if they were doing the shopping or going to have lunch or something normal. It was that more than anything that had Axl on edge.
“Hey, what’s your name?” he asked the kidnapper trying to make nice.
“Martial, but my friends call me Mark, do you want to be my friend?”
“Ok I’ll be your friend.” That's it Axl, make nice with the guy and the gun.
“Then you can call me Mark too.” Mark smiled warmly and offered Axl a sweet, which Axl shook his head too, “Your sure you don’t want to, their nice, they’re my favourite.”
“No I don’t eat a lot of sweets, Mark, can I ask where we are going?”
“You’re coming to my house for dinner, I’ll make something special. We’re nearly there.” He said and reached beneath his seat.
“Well that's very nice but I’m sure the band would want to know where I am.” Mark popped his head back up,
“No you can’t call them, that would ruin everything damn it.” He had rope in his hands.
“Ok Mark ok, nobody calls them its fine.” Axl put his hands up.
“Sorry I’m going to have to tie you up now.” Mark said before coming at Axl with the rope.
X X X
As soon as Axl was out of sight Duff bolted out of the dressing area. He found Slash among a host of guitars that were being set up and tuned. He grabbed Slash breathlessly and garbbled at him. Slash put Duff on an amp and told him to take some deep breaths and calm the hell down so he could be understood. Once composed Duff told Slash in a low whisper what he had just seen.
“I thought I heard a commotion but didn’t think anything of it.” Slash remarked with a shrug.
“I think we should try to find him.” Duff said setting his shoulders.
“What?!”
“Find him, his bags won’t have been loaded yet.”
Slash looked the sky for answers and found none, “I told you I don’t want to see him, ever.”
“Right, then.” Duff said standing up and walking away to find Axls cases. Slash watched him walk away before growling and throwing the guitar strings to the floor in temper and storming off to find Duff, he couldn’t find Axl all on his own.
Duff was in Axls dressing area where he’d last seen him. His cases were tucked next to a chair they contained nothing of importance. There was a small bag containing letters directly under the dressing table. Duff began to pour through the ones that had already been opened as Slash appeared at the door;
“What do you think you’re gonna find in there?”
“Something, anything.” Duff said opening yet another letter and scanning it. Slash joined in. Twenty minutes later that had found nothing but paper, drawings, song lyrics and love notes. Duff frowned in frustration.
“Nothing, there’s nothing here.”
“I don’t know why you don’t call the police.”
“The dude was freaked out and I don’t want anything to happen.”
Slash put another letter on a small pile of five aside the main pile, “What do you care, I say stay out of it.”
“We used to be a band of brothers Slash.” Duff stated simply keeping the pack mentality that kept them all alive. One for all etc. Giving a sigh of defeat Slash gathered up the small pile he’d been harbouring;
“Well these might help.” Duff looked through them;
Dear Axl;
This is my first fan letter, I’d tried to write to you before but never had the guts to send it. I just want to say I’m a huge fan and I love your work. You are truly an inspiration.
Mark.
Dear Axl;
Hey how’s it going, I’ve not had your reply yet but I guess you’re busy so it’s okay. I saw you at the club last night and reached out to you but I guess you didn’t see me. Next time you’re in town you’ll have to come to dinner, I read once you like pizza, well I make the best pizza in the world. Also I really like the braids don’t take them out ever.
Your Friend Always,
Mark.
“Wow this guys freaky, I wonder if it’s the same guy.” Duff said opening another letter.
“No you think?” Slash asked sarcasticaly.
Dear Axl;
Hey Bud it looks as though I’m going to be working on your road crew, we’re going to have so much fun together, I can teach you how to surf. You can stay at my house if you like, I bet it’s nicer than a hotel, what do you like for breakfast?
I still haven’t got any of your replies yet, I think to post office is hiding them from me they always hide things. I think they don’t want me to have friends. Anyway, take care I’ll see you soon.
Love, Mark.
“Wow dude is proper nuts, but it seems Axl never answered these.”
“Why do you suppose he kept them?” Slash asked lighting a cigarette.
“I don’t know maybe he thought to keep an eye on the situation, or take it to the police or something, I still think we should go get him.”
“No! We got go to the police and say here, then we give them the letters then we eat.”
“I don’t want to aggravate the situation we don’t know what this guy will do.” Duff protested holding up the letters.
“Okay smart guy how are we going to find them?”
Duff merely held up the back of an envelope where, scrawled on the back was a return address.
Slash sighed, “How do we know they’ll be there?”
“Didn’t he say repeatedly that Axl could come to his house?”
Slash chucked his cigarette on the floor in temper knowing he was defeated, “Okay but we take your car.” Slash thrust a finger in Duffs triumphant face.
X X X
Axl was sat in a chair in a very cottage-looking kitchen. In front of him was table with a lace cloth and places set for two. Mark was at the cooker making them both dinner. Axl moved his hands around trying to get the blood moving round the tight bindings. Mark put a cup down in front of Axl filled with water he put a straw in it to allow Axl to drink. Soon after he put a plate in front of Axl filled with mushrooms and sauce on top of pasta. And began eating;
“Don’t you like it Axl?” Mark asked seeing Axls plate untouched.
“Am sure it’s lovely Mark, but I’m still tied up.”
“Oh of course you are, sorry.” Mark said smiling, he shifted his chair over to Axl and began to spoon feed him. Axl kept his lips firmly closed. Mark huffed, “Axl I know it’s supposed to have beacon in it but your vegetarian now so it’s your own fault if you don’t like it, now open your mouth for just a little taste.” Mark told Axl off as if he was a child,
“I’m not really that hungry.” Axl said just as his stomach growled. Knowing he was caught out lying Axl opened his mouth. It was very good actually. “You know....” Axl began, “it would be so much easier if you untied me.”
“Yes but that means you could also run away.”
If Axl wasn’t tied up with a nutcase it would have been an enjoyable lunch. Mark fed Axl refusing to untie him, though he did move his bound hands to the front as Axl had to go to the bathroom. Mark was washing the dishes and put Axl on the sofa, after a scout of the room it revealed no phone and nobody passed by the window. Axl put his head back and fought down panic, he had to get out.
X X X
Duff parked outside. It was dark and cold now but there were lights on in the house. He checked the address on the back of the envelope again and certain it was the right house got out the car.
“Wait, what the hell are you doing?” Slash asked leaning over to call out the driver’s window.
“Well...you know...I’m gonna go knock.”
“Your just going to walk up there and knock on the door and say what?...Huh?...Is Axl allowed to come play?”
Duff opened his mouth, closed it again and shrugged.
“It's nice to see you thought this through Duff.” But not having a better idea Slash got out the car and walked up to know on the door. As he waited he tied his hair back in case it came to them forcing their way in.
Mark had bought in wine and waited for Axl to take a sip all with that creepy smile on his face. Axl took a sip and nodded his approval. Again the cottage theme ran into the lounge, it would have looked dated twenty years ago.
Mark gagged Axl before answering the door shutting the front door on his way.
As the door opened letting light flood into the street, Duff stepped forward, “Good evening sir, we are Elder Hudson and Elder Keggan we’re from the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints and we were wondering if we could have moment of your time?”
Mark looked the pair up and down, “You don’t look like Mormons.”
“Appearances can be deceiving sir.” Duff said inclining his head slightly in acknowledgement.
“Sorry but I’m entertaining right now.” Mark said pleasantly and began to close the door.
“May I use your bathroom?” Slash asked in a hurry, making Mark open the door fully again, “We don’t usually ask but we have been driving for a very long time.” He continued. Mark thought for a while. “Well, ugh, yes of course you can but I am busy.”
“Thank you kindly sir.” Slash took on the same tone as Duff had and walked into the house with Duff following him.
As they left the house and got back in the car Duff sighed, “Your right, the guy looked the same but I don’t think it was him, he let us in with no resistance.”
“Axl’s in there.” Slash said simply and held up a ring, “Read it.” An inscription read, Love Amy on the inside of the ring. A gift from Axl’s sister, Duff was there when she had given it to him. Duff had helped her pick it out, she even had one the same he recognised it in a heartbeat.
“Right so how do we get him out?”
X X X
Mark removed the gag from Axl, “Sorry Axl but we can’t have you making a noise now.”
“Who was it?”
“Mormons if you must know.”
Mark pulled out a battered looking acoustic guitar and asked Axl if he could sing with him. Having no choice Axl did. He was grateful that he’d not been poisoned though Mark hadn’t untied him he hadn’t done anything really terrible to him either.
Axl sang unknowing of Duffs presence lurking outside scanning the property.
Following Axls voice Duff found a slightly open window while Slash ‘kept watch’, that is he sat on a pavement smoking, huming to himself.
Duff dithered wondering what to do now. He took a deep breath and wistled a long high note, it was immediately answered by Axls short sharp blast. They had devised the signal long ago to find each other in the darkness of backstage, or bars or as a call across the street, even when they went shopping.
Axl was cut off by Mark hitting him across the face, it caught Axl off guard and he overbalanced dystroying the table on the way to the floor. He landed on his side with a grunt. Slash hearing the call sprang to his feet and ran up the garden giving his answering note to let Duff know he was coming. The boys had always been smash-and-grab and it wasn’t about to change due to special circumstance. Slash unhooked the window safety catch from the out side and Duff slithered in the widening gap. He saw Axl struggling off the floor, a red mark on his pale skin. Without knowing what he was doing he pulled a gun and held it steady at Mark;
“Don’t move.” He said to Mark,
“Duff were the hell did you get that?!” Slash squeeked. Axl stood still, his hands still tied in front of him.
Mark pulled his own gun frighteninly fast.
“Axl go to the window.” Duff said not moving his eyes from Mark. Axl did as he was told. He was very good at doing what he was told when there was being guns brandished about. Slash helped him down. He looked back to see Mark crying.
“I just wanted to be your friend.” He said to Axl before turning the gun on himself and pulling the trigger. Blood splatterd the wall and sofa, brain matter reduced to a pulp hit Duff who looked on numbly. Surpriseing everybody includeing himself Axl made a lunge for Mark but was held back and pulled into a rough cuddle by Slash.
Slash mumbled soothing nothings and Axl pushed and pulled weakly while mumbling, eventually he relented pulling Slash in closer. Duff was on the phone asking for an ambulence and the police and giving the address.
He only heard one sensible sentence from a very shocked and tearful Axl; “You came back for me.”