You had never had so much fun on a tour bus in your life. Normally it was cramped, you would all try and sleep and forget you were on it until you got to the destination. But you didn't want this to end.
You all sat around, discussing Motley's new album, listening to some of the demos. And you were impressed. You eyed Lita going off with Vince yet again, you weren't sure how that guy did it. You were friends with them all, but Vince and you had some kind of barrier. He was cocky and you were unsubmissive.
You talked riffs with Mick, especially when it came to Dr Feelgood, you were so impressed with what you had heard on the demo. You couldn't wait to hear it produced.
"So you're giving them our song?" Alice asked curiously. "Just like that?"
"Uh oh" Tommy grinned standing up and getting himself more booze. Rachel looked at you concerned and you shrugged.
"You guys never wanna use my songs and it was just gonna go to waste." You mentioned, lighting up another cigarette. "Not saying that in a mean way, most of my stuff is shit"
"But we liked that one" Alice pouted with a sigh. She looked around and shook her head, mumbling something about preferring to be on the road with the scorpions. "Why do you want the song?"
Nikki had his arm around you, just watching everyone converse initially, but when Alice addressed him, he sat forward.
"It's a good song, good melody. Shame to waste it, especially if it's unappreciated" He said, his tone almost laced with a snarl. You frowned, you hadn't seen him like this.
"We appreciate it!" Alice said exasperated "I just don't get why you want it? Don't you pride yourself on being the only songwriter. Mr hey hey look at me?"
"Alice" You warned and she looked at you in disbelief. "You said it yourself when we met them. He acts like a rockstar but he just runs over his band"
"We said that as a war of words when they were joking around. It wasn't serious" You reminded her but she threw her arms down in defeat.
"Alice, Cmon.." Rach took her hand and led her to one of the rooms in the back. You looked at Nikki, his jaw was clenched and his fists were too. You sighed and rubbed your temples. You took his hand in yours, you stood up and gestures for him to head to the back with you. His demeanour broke a little and he followed you.
You pulled the door closed as he lay back on the bed with a huff. You looked around the room, it was kinda dark. A lot of black, lot of red. Lots of candles and two guitars propped up in the corner. It was definitely him all over.
Laying to the side of him, you didn't say a word. His jaw kept clenching and unclenching, like he wanted to rant but kept holding back. You guessed way back when he would rant too much and get on peoples nerves with his outgoing ways. Or he would rant too little and get fucked up instead.
"Talk to me Sixx" You said softly. He looked at you, trying to tell if you were being serious. He turned his glance back to the bus ceiling and sighed.
"I know I can be a prick" He started to which you sniggered. He glared at you but his mouth turned up into a smirk. "Stop it. But I'm not as much of a prick as I was. I'm struggling to own up to who I was"
"Well that's fair enough. It's a big step to recognise who you used to be." You said with a nod. "You set the asshole bar high. Now everyone assumes that's the way you are or you're gonna be. This is a learning curve for everyone else, not for you"
"So you're telling me that people have to get used to me not being a dick?" He asked and you nodded, running a hand through his hair.
"Surprise them with how nice you are now. But not too nice. A little cocky and a little ego never hurt anyone..Especially you Sixx" You said with a wink.
He nodded and sat against his headboard, he looked at his arms. You ran a finger across the tattoos that laid there, covering up god knows what. He looked conflicted as he stared at them.
"Are you happier?" You asked curiously.
"A lot" He nodded "I can think clearly now. Everything sounds and looks better. I'm better.... I'm not there, but I'm better."
You nodded and hugged his arm and laid your head against his shoulder. He used his spare hand to run it through your hair before kissing the side of your head.
You had a lot of questions and judging by how curious he was with you, you guessed he did too. But now wasn't the time. Too early.
—
You kept trying to include Alice the rest of the night but she wasn't having it. She just wanted to be left alone, so you left her alone. You had a lot of fun hanging out with Tommy as he listened to some of your songs. He kept asking for one song in particular over and over. You were convinced it was so he could see Rachel get into tapping her sticks against the drum pad, swishing her hair and boobs, everywhere.
"We got vodka, we got rum, we are out of whiskey and scotch." Mick said as you looked through the cupboard with him. "Don't make me no fruity shit"
"We may not have a choice" You said looking at what you had to play with. You started mixing drinks and juices to the best of your ability. You were out of whiskey and you couldn't drink vodka or rum straight, no matter how hardcore you acted. You poured the mix into a glass and laughed at the pink colour. Mick grimaced and leant far away from it.
You tried it and was pleasantly surprised at how strong it was and how good it tasted. You poured some more and offered it to Vince and Tommy. Rachel and Mick shook their heads.
"More for me" You shrugged with a laugh.
You had left Nikki to his own devices as he started getting inspired by some stuff. But by the early hours of the morning, you were very drunk. As was nearly everyone else. Even Mick seemed kinda giddy after persuading him to try some.
You knocked on the door and opened it a few seconds later. Nikki was passed out fully dressed on the bed. Guitar on the bed and a ashtray smoking away to the side of him. You found his lyrics but you weren't one to pry, so you put them to the side. You ran your hand across his guitar, it was a beautiful acoustic. It was dark wood, it could have been a barrel in another life.
You put the covers over him and then got undressed before snuggling down into the bed. You lay there, wondering why this man beside you had gone through hell. Why he was separated from his wife. Did he have kids? You didn't know anything about anything. But here you were, convincing yourself that you weren't head over heels for Nikki Sixx.
—
Bob Rock was a hard ass.
He was pushy, he was bossy but he was talented. You were amazed at how he instructed the band and they listened to him. How he suggested chords and other solos and they just did as they were told. You were amazed.
The guys were in the mixing booth discussing what needed to be done as you wandered around the studio. Lita had caught the first flight home from Canada and Alice was hiding on the bus or in a bar with Rach. You were here because this is why Nikki asked you to be here. But you were distracted by on the guitars sat aside. You plugged it in low and started playing. Just jamming out to yourself quietly. It was a beauty. No guitar had ever felt so smooth.
You jumped as a voiceover boomed throughout the recording studio. It was Bob Rock, telling you to put the guitar down. You looked at the glass and the guys were laughing at you as you had nearly jumped through the roof. You rolled your eyes and stepped away from the guitar with your finger up to the boys behind the screen.
After being beckoned to the backstage, you got talking to one of the sound guys. His name was Dylan and he said he was a big fan of your band. You listened with a smile as he talked.
"Maybe after we record, you could play some songs for me? I'd love to hear Murder for one or Loverman when you have a chance?" He asked excitedly.
"Yeah, why not it'll be fun" You said with a nod. He grinned before heading off to collect some wires for the outputs. You turned and jumped once more when you seen Nikki stood so close to you, you nearly fell over.
"What was that about?" He asked as chewed his gum. You raised an eyebrow, surely he wasn't pulling this card.
"What was what?" You asked nonchalantly as you walked around the room, playing with the amps.
"Y'know what I mean, don't be coy" He said putting an arm either side of you. Between him and the amp you were up against, you were a mix of annoyed and aroused.
"He wants me to play some songs. He's a fan, it's not a big deal" You said putting your hands on his. "What's it to you?"
"Nothing" He murmured as he stood closer to you, you felt him nearly pressing up against you as he moved his hands to your hips. "Just wanted to make sure you were okay"
"Oh I'm well taken care of" You teased pulling down the collar of your sweater, revealing the newer and the older hickeys. "See?"
"I'm sure there's more I can do to help" He said with his evil little smile. His finger hooked the hoop on your jeans as he brought you forward, kissing you gently.
"I'm not having sex with you in the bathroom of a recording studio. You whispered as your nails ran along his hips. He hissed and towered over you, grinding into you.
"Why not? ...I want you so bad" He moaned as he grinded against you once more. You smiled, it was always him in control and for once you were pulling the strings.
"I have higher standards than bathrooms baby" You murmured, nipping his bottom lip gently. "See ya."
He watched you walk off into the other room where the guys were practicing the new song. He watched through the glass as you sat down, you stared at him with a smirk. You knew you were in for something really special tonight.
It took 7 hours to get the song finished and to start the recording process. It sounded better than you could have tried to pull off that's for sure. You loved their energy as they played.
You went off for a while, making sure Alice was okay on the bus and Rach was keeping her good company. Alice seemed a little less pissed off with you. You tried your best with her but she still wasn't happy.
Walking off the bus, you spotted Vince and Nikki stood outside smoking. They had their back to you as they talked about the song.
"So now you've got the perfect song to end the album, are you gonna ditch the chick and move on?" Vince asked. You rolled your eyes, he was such a dick. But your heart was in a fragile place and the next sentence was something you were hanging on for.
"Dunno... We'll see" Nikki grunted as he stubbed out his cigarette and went back inside. You frowned, what the hell just happened?