Guns Fic
Title: Paradise City Chapter the Twelfth.
Author: Screamer06
Characters: Axl Rose/Izzy Stradlin/OC
Disclaimer: I no own, no monies, no sue.
Warning:
Notes: Thank you to Bipolarbrit for betaing x x x
“So you’re not my Dad?” Axcelise asked confusion written in his face. They were still curled on the sofa, the television was off and the fire was on, casting a warm glow across the floor. Axcelise was frustrated that he didn’t understand what was happening. He lived with his Dad but he was 21 so surly he didn’t need anybody to look after him. Axl did his best to be patient.
“You are brain damaged right?”
“Ugh, yeah.” Axcelise nodded.
“Okay so that means that you need a guardian, just to help you if you get stuck or in trouble.”
“But I always go to you.” It was a simple statement thrown out as Axcelise reached for a chocolate from the bowl that sat on the coffee table in front of him.
“I know that and you know that but we need my lawyer to know that, do you want me to be your legal guardian?”
“Umm, I guess.” Axcelise was more concentrating on opening the chocolate than realising the magnitude of the situation presented.
“Good.” Axl smiled warmly at his son nibbling a chocolate, his socked feet curled round him and a blanket on his lap. How he had changed.
“Can I put the telly on now?” Axcelise didn’t wait for an answer instead he picked up the remote and switched the idiot box on and began to mindlessly surf the channels. The conversation was obviously over, the choice had been made.
X X X
Boxes of things arrived from the hospital where Axcelises mother spent her final fitful moments. Her clothes and personal things. Axcelise wanted to go through them himself, he felt it was his duty to decide what was done with his mothers things. One box was full of scrap books and baby clothes. Axcelise kneeled on the floor at Auntie Janet’s feet.
“Oh you were a very tiny baby, so good a quiet.” Auntie Janet cooed as she lifted out a very small pair of socks. Photos of him came next, they were under the few baby clothes. Then bits of paper. Axcelise scanned over hospital records. His baby journal his mother kept of his first year. It was strange thinking that once there had been hurt and crying and that cupboard to “keep him safe.” An involuntary shiver went up his spine then, making the hair on his arms stand up and his scalp tingle.
“It was awful seeing him go cold turkey. I wish I had stayed clean now, I’m going to try to contact his father again to see if he wants to be involved in his son and to see if he wants his name on the birth certificate. I have a name for him. Axcelise Rose Valentine, after his daddy.”
The entry was written neatly, obvious care had been taken. Axcelise frowned...cold turkey, there was no way they entry could be in reference to him, no way, he’d never done drugs.
“My Mum loved me right Auntie Janet?”
After a moment Janet replied, “All mothers love their babies.”
“Then what's this about?” Axcelise handed the worn book over to his Aunt to read.
“’Lessy, your mother...the thing about drugs is...we all...” she pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed heavily; “You were born a drug baby, addicted to heroin.” It seemed easier to say, yet the most difficult thing she had ever had to do. Axcelise had suffered no lasting damage due to his mothers addiction, and her subsequent treatment of him, he was a normal young man until the accident last year.
Janet read Axcelises face carefully, trying to prepare herself for the onslaught of his temper. To her surprise he merely sighed, resolute. It didn’t surprise him that he mother continued to use drugs throughout her pregnancy with him.
It was odd now to think of her, he couldn’t remember being cuddled or kissed by her. He frowned again as he tried to bring his first memory forward. He was sitting on some “Uncles” lap in his head. The man would bring him chocolate. He was only in a diaper and chilly. But the man made him happy, tickled and talked to him. He couldn’t recall the face clearly. He blinked and the pictures popped.
“Auntie Janet, Dad’s told me about this legal business, and I want Axl to be, ugh...the, you know, parent.”
“Your guardian? I have no objections to that, would you like to take the rest of these things home, Axl might like to see them.”
“Yeah, I guess he would.” Axcelise replied distractedly. He was still thinking about his mother, he wasn’t sure what to feel for her now.
“How is Axl?” Janet asked, shattering the silence as Axcelise packed things back in the box.
“Fine, on the phone a lot, in the study a lot. But DJ comes down sometimes and hangs out. Dad says he’s going to teach me piano and Izzy teaching me guitar but I think they are just trying to keep me busy.”
“Busy is often the best way, do you want a slice of cake?”
“Oh yeah!”
X X X
Axcelise was fingering the tattoo on his wrist, the only ink he bore. He was waiting patiently, leaning on the door frame as Axl spoke rapidly on the phone. He looked at his father’s colourful arms and wondered whether or not he would like more tattoos.
“You look like your thinking about something.” Axl had put the phone down now, finally and was standing in front of his son.
“Just tattoos, what your friend say.”
“My lawyer is coming over tomorrow afternoon.”
“Okay...I have some things to show you, from the hospital.”
“Let me make smoothies and we can sit down together, okay?”
“Finally!” Axcelise thumped down the stairs after Axl. “Don’t put wheatgrass in it, it tastes like the fish pond.”
“Wheatgrass is good for you.”
For once Axl was enjoying Axcelises sarcasm. Lately he had become sullen and withdrawn, often seeming lost in his thoughts. Then a glimpse of the smiling Axcelise would come through before disappearing again. It was to be expected, the least Axl could do was make sure his son got as much nutrition as he could and let nature take its course. When did he become such a Dad?
“Read this, I think, Dad I think I’m an addict.” Axl scanned the paragraph that Axcelise had pointed out. He struggled to suppress his anger. His nostrils flared and he noticed how he gripped the page too tightly.
“No, Sporn, you’re not an addict. But by the looks of things you were an addicted baby.” He managed to say when he felt confident he could control himself to speak. From a tiny baby his son had been a fighter, he defiantly had his genes, the hair and cheekbones.
Axcelise felt very lonely, despite having lots of visitors, Axl was away more and more, working. He needed his family right now. He had no appetite, slept though felt tired all the time. His eyes sported large dark rings and his cheek bones protruded. Axl was his rock though he hadn’t realised it until now. He was sat by the pool with DJ talking quietly while DJ plucked at the strings of the guitar. The high notes making contrast to the low murmurings of the young men. It was early evening and the sun was beginning its decent but the heat of the day still hung in the air and all that was needed was shorts and tee-shirt. As usual Axcelises clothes seemed to hang off him, even more pronounced with the recent weight loss. Axl appeared baring the gift of protein shake for Axcelise. He was dressed smartly, with his hair held back and aviator sunglasses shielding his eyes.
“Sporn, I have something for you.” Axl handed his son paper.
Frowning, Axcelise skimmed over the legal jargon he didn’t understand before looking to his father.
“It means that I’m now...your legal guardian!” Axcelise jumped up to squeeze Axl.
“Dad that’s so great, I can’t believe you did this for me.” Axcelise was truly overwhelmed by his own swelling emotions. “To celebrate I’m going to take you out to dinner...also I need to talk you.” Axl disappeared at that last mumbled statement. Leaving DJ and Axcelise to dangling their feet in the tepid waters of the pool.