Paradise City Chapter The Ninth!
Title: Paradise City Chapter The Ninth.
Author: Screamer06
Pairing: Axl Rose/Izzy Stradlin/OC
Warning: None
Disclaimer: I am not associated with Axl Rose or Izzy Stradlin. To the best of my knowledge none of the events here occurred, this is for entertainment only.
Notes: Thank you to my very patient Beta. For anybody who has questions to ask either of the characters please go right on ahead as they will be useful for an interview scene I want to write. You will of course be credited.
Izzy appeared from Axls office just as Axcelise was seeing his new “friend” to the door. They said goodbye with a friendly hug and she went on her way. Axcelise turned after he shut the door and saw Izzy leaning casually against the wall.
“Oh you’re still here then.” Axcelise said, monotone and attempted to walk past Izzy. Izzy however was sick of the attitude and reached out for Axcelise. Axcelise made a move to shrug him off but Izzy pulled him back and shoved him against the wall. The air rushed out of Axcelise making him gasp. Anger making Izzy rougher than he wanted to be.
“Axcelise Rose Valentine when did you become such a spoiled little scrot?!” He asked in a voice that suggests an answer wasn’t necessary. Axcelise ignored the tone and opened his mouth but was cut off before he’d taken a breath;
“No, don’t you dare say a word;” with a hand on Axcelise’s chest to hold him there and the other wagging an accusing finger in his face Izzy continued; “What the hell makes you think you’re the big dog? You break the rules but do you have the balls to stand for the consequences? She is going to run back to her supervisor and tell them everything! What the fuck were you thinking?”
He almost missed Axcelises mumble.
“Your mother...here, when?” Izzys tone had softened and concern was clear in his face. Distracted he let his grip on Axcelise weaken enough for him to slip free and bolt to his room. Izzy reached the door as it was slammed in his face. He heard locks slide into place as he tried the handle.
“Axcelise, let me in and we can sort this out.” He said using his calming voice that works with Axl. He was well used to temper tantrums by now and figured they must run in the family. Izzys voice however unleashed Axcelises rage. He threw a glass at the door screaming so hard he thought he might vomit.
“FUCK WOULD YOU KNOW JUST FUCK OFF!” Truth be told Izzy didn’t expect that reaction and left to make a soothing cup of tea before trying later.
X X X
Axl got into the car and Beta smiled at him tensely; he knew something damn it.
“What the hell went on while I was away? Honestly, two damn weeks to myself and people are already keeping secrets?”
“Axl, it’s no big deal, we dealt with it...” she began waiting for an opening in the traffic, the ticking of the indicator seeming very loud;
“Dealt with it, apparently Bas seemed to think it was a very good idea...” he was cut off mid-rant by his phone ringing, “Oh great that’s management.” He touched the screen, “Yes...”
It seemed Axl knew about the performance before he was taken ill but not about the rest of it. Beta sighed relief as Axl hung up the phone. “Beta can you take me straight to The London please, his Lordship wants to meet with me, all I want is a hot bath and a good book but no, if there’s no rest for the wicked I must be such a bitch.”
Sometime later, Izzy opened the door to Axcelises bedroom a crack. Dim light streaked across the floor and Axcelise himself lay on the crumpled covers, breathing erratically. There was broken glass on the floor and the room was strewn with clothes, thrown in temper. Izzy left after surveying the state of the room, he returned with some lotion from Axl’s bathroom. It took him a while to find what he was looking for in the array of potions Axl had on various shelves.
He perched on the edge of the bed;
“Hey, you all done now?” he asked quietly, touching Axcelise on the ankle. Axcelise mumbled something that was rude, his lips swollen and his face streaked;
“I can’t do that Axcelise, I love you too much to leave right now” Izzy stated and dispensed some lotion on to his hands. He rubbed it into Axcelises feet. Izzys grandma used to do the same when he was sick and he always found it soothing; he hoped it worked with Axcelise.
After a pathetic attempt to resist Axcelise gave in and let himself be comforted. He was so tired, emotionally exhausted and this throat hurt, his eyes were itchy and heavy, he rubbed them like a child resisting a nap. Izzy kept quiet and continued this manipulations, he watched Axcelises eyes droop and wake, blinking slowly his breathing evened out before he drifted off.
Izzy put the blind half down and covered Axcelise with a light blanket and let him sleep deeply, the kid needed it.
X X X
Izzy paced a little and realised that it was useless and came to the conclusion that it would be easier on everybody if he left for the night and picked it up in the morning, besides Axl wasn’t coming home until the day after next so that was plenty of time to smooth things over, maybe grab and pizza for dinner.
Meanwhile Axcelise dreamed fitfully, tossing and turning in the bed as Axl came home to a dark house. It was late, or early depending on how one looks at things and he was dead tired. He would sort it out whenever he got up.
Nobody knew Axl was home however, apart from Sebastian Bach.
X X X
Waking and feeling rested Axcelise lay there while the cat purred lazily next to him, he scratched her head and contemplated getting out of bed. If felt he owed Izzy an apology for yesterday as, having thought about it, Izzy did know what he was talking about. But he felt alone. His dad didn’t seem to have time for him alot anymore. Axcelise wanted his own friends. At least when he was in Pistols N Poses he felt like he belonged. Now he didn’t feel as though he fit in anywhere. His musings were interrupted by a soft rap at his door, Izzys head following shortly after;
“Morning.”
“Hey, Izzy would you come sit here, just...for a sec?” Axcelise patted the bed next to him. When Izzy was sat and the cat had rubbed herself all over him Axcelise cleared his throat;
“Izzy...Izz, I just wanted to say, that, ugh...” he cast his eyes down and the cat took the opportunity to butt her nose against his chin, “That, um, I’m sorry, you know about last night.” He finally looked up and waited for Izzys reply;
“You’re as bad at saying sorry as your pappy is, gimme a hug.” Axcelise climbed on to Izzys lap to give the cuddle, much to Izzys delight.
“So friends again?” Axcelise asked
“Friends always.” Izzy replied
“Good...now make me breakfast.” Axcelise chirped before wiggling off Izzys lap and making his way to the shower leaving Izzy bemused and twitching.
In his bedroom dozing, Axl was vaguely aware of noise happing somewhere in the house.
X X X
Axcelise came down the stairs, his still wet hair swinging, he was confused that he couldn’t smell anything cooking and his mood sank a bit at the thought of cereal. Izzy was smoking in the kitchen and Axcelise stole one out of his packet.
“When did you start smoking again?” Izzy asked, shocked slightly.
“Since I had to make my own breakfast.” Axcelise smirked as he lit the cigarette dangling from his lips. He took a long pull knowing Izzy was watching him. He blew the smoke out with a flourish.
“That’s better!” he smiled brightly again and reached for a bowl.
Maybe he was more like Axl than any of them thought. He had his blow up and all seemed right with the world this morning. The dark circles under Axcelises eyes seemed to have disappeared he was back to his bright, smiling self.
A loud hello announced a visitor. Axcelise and Izzy abandoned breakfast for a moment to greet whoever it was. Sebastian Bach stood in the lounge.
“Hey Baz, what’s happenin’?” Izzy asked putting his hands in his jeans pocket.
“Oh God Sebastian Bach is standing in my living room!” Axcelise chimed in excited. Baz merely smiled good-naturedly at Axcelise, who by now, was bouncing on his toes a little. Axcelise wished he could stop himself from being star struck, his father was Axl Rose for crying out loud. But there he was grinning like and idiot and shaking Baz’s hand too vigorously. He was sure Baz had just said something to him;
“Pardon?”
“I said I’d heard you were a Brit.”
“Yeah but Dad says I’m getting an American twang.”
“It's weird to hear Axl referred to as ‘Dad’, where is he?”
“At some retreat somewhere.” Replied Axcelise, confused.
“Nah dude, he text me last night.”
“What?” Izzy blurted and looked about him, “He’s home, now?”
“That’s what he said last night.”
Axcelise and Izzy looked at each other for a moment;
“Tell you what ‘Less I’ll take you out for breakfast.”
“You know Iz that sounds like a great idea.”
X X X
The atmosphere at the table during dinner was tense. Beta had cooked and was joining them, Axcelise complimented her quietly which and she acknowledged him with a kind smile.
Axl, sat at the head of the table took a sip of very good wine, savoured it and the glass down;
“I always think good wine tastes even better out of crystal glasses.” He stated and took a bite of fish, “So does anybody want to tell me what went on when I was enjoying some time off?” Axcelise, Izzy and Beta stopped eating simultaneously and looked at Axl and Axl looked pointedly at Izzy.
“We don’t know how she got in, but she is now in a more secure wing at the hospital so I don’t expect she’ll pull that stunt again, I think she just wanted...”
“Wait, wait.” Axl interrupted Beta with a hand held up, “Who came in? Who is this she?” Axl thought he may know.
“Axcelise’s mother.” Beta answered.
“Holy Hell! When?! Where!?” he had to swallow quickly to prevent any coking mishaps.
“We thought that’s what you were talking about.” Izzy put in.
“No I was talking about that stunt you pulled on stage, Baz came up and told me all about it.” Axcelise tried to leave the table,
“Axcelise Rose Valentine you sit down!” Axl banged the table making everything rattle and Beta jump; “You take the consequences of your actions!” Shocked, Axcelise did what he was told.
“Now somebody is going to tell me what happened.”
X X X
Axl sat in his office, or the dungeon, as Axcelise had dubbed it. It was sort of a dungeon. Dark and smoky with stale incense hanging in the air, Axl would lock himself in there for sometimes days, now it was his place of solitude. The computers hummed warmly and cast an eerie glow, the only light in the room. Axl had taken his contact lenses out and was now leaning back in the comfortable chair, his glasses where on his head as he pinched the bridge of his nose. The glow from the screens making his eyes dry he heaved a sigh and wondered why he’d left. None of this would have happened if he’d been there to be a father to his son.
A knock interrupted his meditation.
“Yeah.” He mumbled. Axcelise peered round the door, holding on to it he offered a shy smile and slinked round into the room. He had obviously been in bed for some time. His hair was falling out of his low pony tail, ruffled and in pyjamas. Axl wanted to smile but kept himself from doing so. He had never really been a pyjamas kind of guy but his son just looked so innocent standing there barefoot. More innocent than he probably was Axl honestly didn’t know and not sure he wanted to.
“Dad, ugh...I’m sorry about earlier.”
Axl folded his arms, he was in dad mode now and would not be fazed, and he put his glasses down on to his nose again so he could see Axcelise properly. That way he could see his face and see if he was truly sorry.
“And what are you sorry about.”
Axcelise was thinking fast, it seemed that he didn’t know.
“I should have told you about Mom showing up, but I wanted to deal with it myself.” Axcelise took a faltering step forward.
“And what else.”
“...else?...” Axcelise bit his bottom lip.
“Yes, something about a blond women.”
“Ah.”
“Yes, Ah. Axcelise have I not talked to you about the press. There is a reason that I have electric gates, fences and privacy hedges. I like my privacy. I need my privacy and the press are hounds. They are not to come in the house, understand?”
“Yes Dad, I’m sorry.”
Axl could see that Axcelise was sorry and beckoned him over. When Axcelise had reached him he patted his lap which Axcelise sat delicately on. Axl linked his arms round his sons skinny waist and smiled at him. He would have liked to have done this when Axcelise was small but now was better than never.
“Axcelise I know you can get lonely knocked about with us olds.” Axcelise smiled at Axls joke. He actually didn’t think of any of the people around him as the olds. “Anyway,” Axl continued, “the lead guitar player was asking after you.”
“The one with spiked hair and eye liner, got lots of tattoos?”
“Yup, DJ Ashba. I thought maybe he could come up and you could kick his ass on the dance mats.”
“That would be great dad.” Axcelise gave a beaming smile and tried to move off his dads lap.
“Oi, where do think you’re going? Give me a hug before you get back into bed.” Pleased that he’d been forgiven Axcelise snaked his arms round Axls neck and leaned in, pressing his whole body into the cuddle. Axl kissed his son on the cheek, getting a mouthful of hair in the process.
X X X
The next morning Axl was in fact up, dressed and breakfasted by the time Axcelise finally dragged himself out of his bed and was saying good morning to his rat. He looked in the direction of the bathroom and curled his lip. He liked to sleep in, he liked his bed. Still he figured he would feel pretty rubbish if he didn’t have a shower and he needed a shave.
Axl ushered DJ in with hush hush motions and pushed him towards the kitchen, the centre of the household and where all business, band or otherwise, was done.
“Okay I know what I’m about to do is wrong and I should stay the hell out of it, but I would like to remind you that I pay your wages.” Axl let out one big breath. DJ merely relaxed one leg and hooked his thumbs in his pockets. “You’ve met my son right?”
“Yeah, I think so.” DJ smiled at the memory of the younger man, his easy to read face and bouncing excitability. He would have liked to have had a chance to talk to him after the show but like his father, he had disappeared after the show.
“I need you to be you know...pally with him.” Axl explained with lots of flapping hands.
“Pally?” DJ smirked and leaned against the counter.
“Yeah, since all the stuff that's happened, I think its all been a bit of a shock, anyway he has lost alot of his other life and friends and whatnot...it worries me.”
It wasn’t like Axl to stumble or go off on a tangent, he was usually to the point and precise. The current situation was obviously a concern of his and DJ was beginning to see that. His shocking blue eyes darting to read Axls face and body language as his boss wandered about the kitchen, emptying and refilling the dishwasher and generally doing busy stuff, anything to distract himself.
“Axl, where are going with this?”
“Well, ugh do want something to eat or drink? No? You sure?” footsteps interrupted him moments before Axcelise wandered in smelling clean with his hair still wet, though gathered up in a tucked in pony tail that was almost on top of his head.
“Hey.” He greeted simply and poured himself some coffee. Axl took the opportunity to slither his arm round his son’s waist as Axcelise leaned against the counter,
“This is DJ Ashba, Deej this is my son Axcelise.” Axl beamed as he heard himself introduce “my son” he couldn’t hide how much of a warm feeling it gave him, he leaned in slightly to Axcelise and said in a stage whisper, “I stole him” before turning to the cat and tickling her behind her ears.
“DJ Ashba, the DJ Ashba in my kitchen, shit hows it going?” Axcelise shook DJs hand enthusiastically.
“Hey man.” DJ smiled at the beaming Axcelise and took his hand;
“Sorry, but I still get a bit star stuck.” Axcelise apologised, blushing at his reaction. He wished, oh how he wished he could be cool. He should be very good at meeting famous people, Axl Rose was his dad!
“Really, but Axl Rose is your dad dude.” DJ pointed out;
“I know, what's with that! I did the same with Sebastian Bach a while ago, made a complete dick out of myself.”
Axl stood aside quietly and let the boys talk, they were roughly the same age...he thought...anyway they seemed to be getting on well so he slipped out to the dungeon to do some business.