Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was the summer of '87, a golden age for hair spray, leather pants, and excessive eyeliner. Two of the biggest glam rock bands, Mötley Crüe and Bon Jovi, were ruling the charts, and… coincidentally, sharing the same private jet for their North American tours. Strange? Yes. Ironic? Absolutely. Trouble? You bet.

The tension didn’t start right away. In fact, Jon Bon Jovi and his band initially admired Mötley Crüe's wild antics and stage presence, while the Crüe grudgingly respected Bon Jovi’s knack for writing hit after hit. Things were civil, at first, like awkward, but civil.

But then, something even stranger happened. Nikki Sixx, the Crüe’s bass-wielding chaos magnet, seemed to hit it off with Jon Bon Jovi. Like, really hit it off.

At first, it was subtle with stuff like exchanging pleasantries on the plane, a shared laugh over tour mishaps, the usual rock star thing. But soon, rumors started swirling. Nikki and Jon were spotted together, alone, in bars at the most random hours. And not just any bars, mind you. The kind of places where neon lights flicker, and even the jukebox looks suspicious.

The sightings only fueled speculation. Nikki, known for his flirtatious streak and zero-filter personality, wasn’t exactly subtle. He’d crack jokes, lean a little too close, and, according to one (very drunk) witness, even playfully called Jon “the hottest thing in New Jersey.”

“You’re not my type, Nikki,” Jon quipped during one of their late-night hangouts, sipping his beer with a smirk.

“Your type is boring, though,” Nikki shot back, draping an arm around Jon. “You need someone with edge. Someone who can out-eyeliner you.”

Jon just laughed, shaking his head. “Yeah, good luck with that.”

The rest of the band members were baffled. Tommy, ever the instigator, couldn’t help but tease Nikki. “Dude, are you trying to convert Bon Jovi to the dark side? You know they’re, like, squeaky-clean compared to us.”

“Clean?” Nikki scoffed, pointing a finger toward Jon with a playful smirk. “Have you seen the man’s hair? That’s at least half a can of Aqua Net per day. Trust me, he’s got his demons.”

“Okay?” Vince chimed in, barely able to contain his grin. “And you’re tryna get your dirty fingers through it, or what?”

Nikki froze for a second, then shook his head with an exaggerated smirk. “Man, you’re giving me ideas, Vince.”

Jon, who’d been listening quietly, rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the faintest blush creeping up his neck. “You two done?”

Vince, undeterred, leaned back and laughed. “I mean, what’s the deal here, Nikki? First, you’re making eyes at him, now you’re defending his hair spray budget? Something you wanna share with the class?”

Before Nikki could respond, Mick, the ever-chill voice of the group, chimed in from the corner. “Yeah, and as always, you two end up leaning real close. Like... uncomfortably close.”

Nikki threw up his hands in mock exasperation. “Oh, come on! You all act like you’ve never had a deep conversation with someone who happens to have great cheekbones.”

“You mean conversations that involve staring at his lips?” Vince shot back, earning a wave of laughter from the room.

Jon, finally cutting in, gave Nikki a side glance and smirked. “Y’know, Sixx, I think you just like the attention. But hey, keep dreaming.”

Nikki leaned closer, eyebrows wiggling. “Dreaming, huh? Careful, Jonny. I might make those dreams come true.”

Vince snorted, tossing his head back with a grin. “Huh, what are you gonna say in all the tell-all interviews later?”

The room erupted in laughter, and even Jon couldn’t hold back his grin. If nothing else, Nikki Sixx had a way of keeping things very interesting.

It was hard to say what drew the two together. Maybe it was a shared love of music, maybe it was mutual curiosity, or maybe it was just Nikki being Nikki. Either way, their unlikely friendship turned heads and sparked whispers.

Of course, it didn’t last forever, or did it? They were two rock stars from vastly different worlds, one born in the grit of New Jersey, the other in the chaos of Hollywood. But for a brief, shimmering moment in the summer of '87, Nikki Sixx and Jon Bon Jovi managed to rewrite the rulebook, something like that. And, if nothing else, they gave the tabloids plenty to talk about.

All that until the ego war began.

It all started during an impromptu jam session in one of the tour's downtimes. Bon Jovi was practicing their set in a rehearsal studio. For reasons that remain unclear, one that could perhaps be boredom, perhaps mischief, Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe sauntered in uninvited. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching like some kinda rock 'n' roll critic.

When Bon Jovi wrapped up with "Livin’ on a Prayer," Vince clapped. Slowly. Sarcastically. “Cute,” he said, with a smirk that could launch a thousand bar fights.

Jon raised an eyebrow. “Something you want to say, Vince?”

“Oh, nothing. Just… You guys really nailed that high school talent show vibe,” Vince quipped. “But you know, it’s not just about the sound, man. It’s the attitude. The grit. The edge. You don’t just sing about living on a prayer—you live it.”

Richie stepped in before Jon could retort. “And I suppose your idea of edge is falling off the stage drunk?”

That earned a laugh from the Bon Jovi crew, but Vince didn’t seem fazed. “Hey, it’s called rock ‘n’ roll, sweetheart. You wouldn’t understand.”

The raven-haired figure leaned in toward the blonde frontman, keeping his voice low. “Why are you even hanging with them?”

Vince shot back, half-grinning. “Just passing through. And what now? Ugh, should’ve been you, huh?” His words had the usual playful bite, but there was something different about them—something off in his tone. It was almost as if he was holding back, keeping something to himself. It made Nikki uneasy, like there was a hidden meaning he couldn’t quite place.

Nikki rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the tension rise. “I—I didn’t mean that. Forget it,” he mumbled, throwing in a fake stretch to break the uncomfortable silence. He glanced at Jon quickly, his heart suddenly doing a weird flip. He was aware of Jon’s eyes on him, which only made everything feel more intense. The last thing he wanted was for Jon to notice how weirdly his chest was tightening, or how the usual cocky confidence seemed to be slipping away.

The tours wouldn’t last forever, and Jon knew he needed to figure things out before they all moved on to whatever came next. He had to face it, whatever this weird tension was with Nikki. Or maybe even with Vince? Not that he’d ever think the Crüe were against him and his band, but still, the vibe was starting to get under his skin. If it came down to some goofy, nonsensical beef between rock bands, Jon could handle that. It was just part of the game.

But this? This felt different. The way Nikki was acting, the way Vince was poking at things, it wasn’t just the usual playful pull. Something was off. And Jon needed to know what it was before it dragged out longer than it should.

He glanced over at Nikki again, who was still trying to play it cool but couldn’t hide the tension in his movements. Jon’s mind raced, wondering if it was time to bring it up, to clear the air before it turned into something bigger.

And there, it was hard for Nikki to tell, but it sent a wave of heat through him. Whatever was going on, it was messing with his head more than he cared to admit.

From there, the so-called rivalry between the bands just spiraled out of control. It started with little digs, harmless on the surface, but you could tell there was something more behind them. Vince started with the hair jokes, casually tossing out, “Looks like your stylist got tired halfway, Jon,” whenever he saw Jon. It was a dig at his own untamed look, but there was that edge to it, as if Vince was trying to play the part of the rock star but wasn’t quite nailing it.

Jon, never one to let a comment slide, shot right back. “Nice leather pants, Vince. Are those from the men’s section?” His voice was dripping with sarcasm, the kind that could easily cut through glass. But Vince wasn’t having it, and the insults just kept flying back and forth like a game of verbal tennis. They found new ways to one-up each other, whether it was about their costumes, their shows, or their fans.

The fan interactions became a running joke, too. “Our fans throw bras,” Vince would say with a grin. “Yours throw… prayer cards?” He'd always lean into the delivery, adding just enough sting to make sure Jon knew it wasn’t just a casual observation.

But it wasn’t all bad. There was this weird, unspoken respect hanging between them, despite the sharp words and constant jabs. Beneath all the bravado and snark, both bands knew deep down that they were doing something right. They were playing arenas that other bands only dreamed of, selling out shows left and right, and dominating MTV like they were the only thing that mattered on the airwaves.

It wasn’t just about the competition anymore. Yeah, they were different. Each band had its own style, its own image, its own way of doing things. But when you looked at it from a distance, it was clear that both of them had figured out how to make it in the business. Maybe it was the perfect mix of rock ‘n’ roll rebellion, catchy hooks, and enough energy to fuel a thousand live shows. Whatever it was, neither band was backing down. They were both kings in their own right, each fighting for the spotlight in their own way, but at the end of the day, they knew they were both in the game because they had the goods.

Even though both bands were alright at all, things in Mötley Crüe were starting to get messy. Sure, there was that weird respect between them and Bon Jovi, like they all knew they were on top for a reason. But back in the Crüe’s camp, stuff was getting personal, and not in a good way.

Some other night, Nikki, who was clearly too bothered by everything and yet still couldn’t seem to come to his senses, snapped. He shot a look at Vince, his words slurring slightly. "So... it's obvious you're into Jon, huh, missy?"

Vince, clearly ticked off by his drunk bandmate, didn’t hold back. "Huh, what?!" he shot back, his voice sharp. "What did I do now?"

Nikki, ignoring the rising tension, clicked his nails and leaned in closer, his frustration bubbling over. "Man, it’s like you’ve been keeping his ghost around. Like you’d sing for him or something, I don’t know? I just feel like... it’s all against me."

Vince stood there for a moment, taken aback, before his face hardened. "You’ve got it all wrong, man," he muttered, but Nikki wasn’t backing down. Something in the air was charged, and Nikki couldn’t help but feel it, whatever had been quietly simmering between Jon and Vince. It felt like everyone was caught up in a mess, and Nikki was right in the middle of it, trying to make sense of things that didn’t quite add up.

"Okay? But could you explain why you pull his leg so often? You bully him like it’s some kind of flirting, teasing, in the worst way possible." Nikki’s words came out harsher than he intended, but he couldn’t hold it in anymore. His heart raced in his chest, and he could barely breathe through the tension. He needed answers, and he needed them now.

"W-why are you saying that?" Vince’s voice cracked, and he gripped the edge of the table like it might hold him steady.

Nikki, barely looking up, took a step closer. "Vince, I just want honesty." His voice softened, but there was still an edge to it. "Think you can take that away from me? I’m Nikki Sixx, man. I could’ve ruined you if you started a stupid game first."

Vince’s face twisted in frustration. "Okay, if you really want it, just call Jon immediately! If it’s so easy for you!" With that, Vince stood up straight, puffed out his chest, and strutted away, his voice a mix of anger and defensiveness. "Go ahead, make it all about you. And keep babying your heroin, sheesh."

Nikki stood there, his chest tight, watching as Vince tried to salvage his pride. The whole thing felt like it was spiraling out of control, but it was too late to take any of it back. The questions lingered in his mind, things he still didn’t have answers to, and maybe never would. But one thing was clear. He wasn’t backing down.

"I know I'm still sane," Nikki thought as he stormed back to his room, trying to shake off the tension. "We'll see who Jon's more into, Vinny..."

Meanwhile, Vince stood on the balcony, staring out into the dark night, wrestling with his own mess of thoughts. He had to figure out how to avoid both Nikki’s demons and his growing feelings for Jon. The whole thing was a tangled mess in his head. Yes, he was into Jon. There was no denying it, and it was eating him up. But Nikki was in the same boat, wasn’t he? It was this weird, unspoken rivalry between them, both of them drawn to Jon in their own twisted ways, but neither willing to face it head-on.

The drugs didn't help. Vince had used them to numb it all, to escape the mess in his mind, but now it was just making things worse. Jon had managed to get clean, which only made Vince feel more like a wreck. He didn’t know how Jon could have kept it all together while dealing with two maniacs from Mötley Crüe. Tommy and Mick would probably never believe it if they found out. They were always biased, always quick to judge. And probably homophobic, too. But neither of them had ever tried to talk about feelings, much less with someone like Jon. It was too weird, too complicated. Feelings were just... ew. Especially when they involved Jon Bon Jovi.

The thought of even trying to talk to Jon about it was too much. Vince couldn’t imagine how that would play out. They’d end up making a mess of things, both of them spiraling out of control with all the confusion and the alcohol and the drugs. And what if Jon didn’t feel the same? What if he turned away, leaving them both stuck in their own mess, alone again?

They hadn’t even been able to make it clear to Jon yet. Not really. Neither of them had the courage to approach him directly. The fear of rejection was too strong, the fear that Jon might leave them forever, not just as bandmates but as people, haunted them both. It was a painful kind of paralysis, stuck between desire and dread. And for now, they kept dancing around it, pretending it wasn’t there, but neither could ignore it forever.

"Girls, Girls, Girls wasn't about girls after all, heh?"

Vince muttered to himself, the irony hitting him hard. He couldn't help but feel a bitter chuckle bubble up. He was tired of all the games, tired of pretending to be something he wasn’t, especially when it came to the "straight rock star" image he had to uphold. The constant pressure to keep up the act, to flirt with every woman in sight, it had become exhausting. He didn’t care about any of the rumors, especially the one about him and that mud wrestler girl. People could talk, but he didn’t give a damn. They didn’t know what was really going on.

All he could see, though, was Jon. It was like a constant ache that refused to go away. Vince couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying. The tension in the air, the quiet frustration, the weird, twisted rivalry with Nikki—it was all starting to unravel. But now, it wasn’t just about Jon. It was about the deeper feelings, the ones he was trying so hard to avoid. It felt like a tug-of-war between him and Nikki over "true feelings," like whoever could claim them first would have some kind of victory. And Vince hated the thought of losing that battle, especially when it came to Jon.

The thought of Nikki, though, was equally complicated. They were caught in this endless loop, two sides of the same coin, fighting for something neither of them could really define. It wasn’t just jealousy but something deeper, more confusing. And Vince wasn’t sure what to do with it anymore.

As much as he didn’t want to admit it, it felt like everything had come down to this: Jon, the guy who had been too clean, too perfect in Vince’s eyes, was now the center of something messy. Something they both couldn’t control.

Up on the balcony, Vince heard Mick and Tommy calling from the pool below, their voices carrying through the night air, inviting him to join in the fun. They were a few drinks deep, already enjoying themselves, and for a moment, Vince considered it just to escape, to get away from the heavy feelings swirling in his chest. But there was a tight knot forming in his stomach, an unease he couldn’t shake. He was supposed to be having fun, wasn’t he? But it felt harder than ever to just let go.

He couldn’t turn down Mick and Tommy, though. He couldn’t leave them hanging, not when they were like brothers to him. They were family, even if he couldn’t always stand the noise or the chaos that came with them. It was part of the deal, part of what made the band what it was. Still, the weight of his emotions, the anger and confusion, felt too heavy to ignore.

And then there was Nikki. Vince tried to shove the thoughts of him aside, tried to focus on the sounds of the guys below, but it wasn’t easy. He loved Nikki, no question about it. They were brothers in arms, the kind of bandmates who had each other’s backs no matter what. But that love, that bond, it was more complicated now than ever. Nikki’s challenges, his dark moods, and the way things were between them... Vince couldn’t help but feel torn.

He loved Nikki as a best friend, as someone he probably couldn’t live without, but the weight of their rivalry, the unspoken feelings that neither of them were brave enough to address, was starting to eat at him. It wasn’t just about rock and roll anymore. It wasn’t about the games or the posturing, it was about the real stuff, the raw emotions he couldn’t push down anymore.

A pang of guilt crept up on him. He wasn’t sure if it was because of Nikki or because of Jon, or maybe because he was standing here, letting his bandmates down while trying to figure out his own mess. He was heavy on his feet, stuck in place, but there was a part of him that was just... ticked off. Angry at the situation, angry at the feeling of being stuck between two things that he didn’t want to choose between.

Maybe… he thought for a moment that he could just give up on it all. Let Nikki take the reins and prove just how much of a “sweet brother” he really was. Maybe he'd step back and keep mocking Bon Jovi, playing the game just to hide his true intentions. After all, it was easy to slip into that role, the teasing, the rivalries, the back-and-forth shenanigans. He could keep things happening between them, keep the tension high, and pretend like that was enough. Hypothetically, it sounded perfect, like something straight out of a glam metal fantasy.

But reality hit like a cold slap in the face. No matter how much he played it off, no matter how much he wanted to convince himself that he could keep it all in check, the feelings were still there. They gnawed at him, pulling at him from all sides. And it wasn’t going away. No matter how many jabs he took at Jon or how much he pretended to be unaffected by everything with Nikki, it was just a temporary fix. The truth was still lurking beneath the surface.

Maybe, just maybe, if he dove into the pool right now, he'd feel like he could escape it all. The water would cool him off, wash away the frustration and the confusion, if only for a moment. The chaos of the rivalry, the guilt, the constant push-and-pull with Nikki. It all felt like it would disappear if he just sank into the water and let it take him away.

But deep down, he knew it wouldn't be that easy. The mess in his head wasn’t going to clear up with a swim. No matter how many times he dipped into the pool or turned to his bandmates for a distraction, the real questions, the real feelings, would still be waiting for him when he came back up for air.

Then again, Jon himself was ready for whatever came next. He had always been a beast when it came to writing lyrics, pouring his heart into songs, channeling his emotions through melodies and words. But when it came to talking about feelings? That was a different story. He was a pussy about it. He could write a killer love song, but saying how he felt to someone? That was a whole different challenge. And with Nikki and Vince both clearly in his orbit, things were getting complicated. He had never expected his life, his relationships, to get so messy. That one encounter with Nikki and Vince, what a hell that was. The whole situation felt like a bomb waiting to go off, and he didn’t know when, or if, he could defuse it.

As the hectic days gone by and the tour buses rolled toward the next stop, the heavy atmosphere that had hung over the bands for weeks started to lighten, if only just. It was like the last stretch of a long road trip where the tension finally began to break, and the air cleared. Vince, Nikki, and Jon had all been caught in a whirlwind of unspoken desires, jealousies, and frustrations, but now, with the end of the tour in sight, something had shifted. The chaos was finally giving way to something neither of them could deny anymore.

Jon had spent the last few days doing some serious reflecting. The more he thought about everything, the more he realized that, despite the messiness, he was drawn to Vince in a way he couldn’t ignore. The playful rivalry, the constant digs, the way Vince’s presence seemed to fill the room, it had all been building up to this moment. Vince had his flaws, sure, but there was something about him that Jon couldn’t resist. Vince was the one who made him feel alive, the one who had snuck in behind all the walls Jon had carefully built around himself. And maybe, just maybe, it was time to stop pretending like it didn’t matter.

Nikki, on the other hand, had come to a quiet realization of his own. As much as it stung, he knew he couldn’t keep holding on to something that was never going to be his. He loved Jon, but in the end, he had to admit that Vince had won this round. But there was no bitterness in it, not anymore. There was relief in knowing that he hadn’t crossed a line with Jon, that he hadn’t let things go further than they already had. At the same time, Nikki had grown to appreciate the bond he shared with Vince, even if it was a complicated mess. They were brothers, and nothing could change that. He had to let it go, for both their sakes.

A goofy gathering at the next stop on their way home helped put things into perspective. It wasn’t all doom and gloom. They’d spent enough time together to know how to let loose and share a laugh, even if it was in the middle of all this emotional chaos.

“So, what’s next? Are we still pretending we’re not getting tired of this shit?” Vince asked with a smirk, tossing a bag of chips at Jon, who was half-watching him with a bemused grin.

Jon laughed, catching the bag in mid-air. “What, you think we’re not already tired of you? You’ve been talking in riddles for days.”

“Riddles, huh?” Vince raised an eyebrow. “Is that a metaphor for ‘I’m into you, but I’m too chicken to admit it?’”

Jon shrugged, playing it cool but there was something in his eyes that spoke volumes. “Something like that.”

Nikki, who had been nursing a drink quietly, finally spoke up, though his tone was a mix of amusement and resignation. “You guys are idiots, you know that?” He grinned, shaking his head. “But I guess it’s better than trying to kill each other.”

Vince grinned back, flicking a piece of popcorn at Nikki. “Better than all that ‘soul-searching’ shit you’ve been doing. Don’t act like you haven’t been thinking about it.”

Nikki smirked, eyes flicking to Jon, and then back to Vince. “Yeah, well, I’ve been thinking about a lot of things. You’re right, I guess. I didn’t need to make it weirder. Glad we didn’t do anything stupid.”

Jon raised his glass, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken truce between them. “Yeah. It’s better this way.” Then, he turned to Vince, his gaze softening. “Let’s just take it one step at a time, yeah?”

Vince’s smirk softened too. “One step at a time,” he echoed, and for a moment, everything felt right. No more games. No more pretending. Just the three of them, as complicated and messed up as they were, figuring things out together.

As the goofy chat settled into a more comfortable rhythm, the rest of the crew, Mick, Tommy, Tico, Alec, and David, sat back, watching the whole thing unfold. They hadn't said a word, mostly because they were too weirded out by the whole situation to even know how to respond. Watching Jon, Vince, and Nikki navigate their complicated web of emotions was like trying to watch a car crash in slow motion, morbidly fascinating but too awkward to comment on directly.

Mick, the quiet one in the back, had been observing it all. He wasn't surprised by the tension. Hell, he’d seen it before in the music world. Bands with egos, rivalries, and unspoken emotions. But this... this was different. Jon and Vince, in particular, had always had something simmering beneath the surface. Mick could see it in the way they’d throw playful jabs at each other, and in the way Vince would look at Jon when he thought no one was watching. The connection was undeniable. Nikki, for all his tough exterior, was tangled up in it too, but he was still holding on to something that wasn’t his to claim. Mick knew that Nikki wasn’t one to back down easily, but he also knew when to let go. And now, it was time for him to step in.

He leaned over to Nikki, who had been quieter than usual, his mind clearly miles away. Mick could sense that the tension in the air wasn’t helping.

“You alright, kid?” Mick asked, his voice soft but firm. “You’ve been quiet.”

Nikki shot him a glance, his expression unreadable. "I'm fine," he muttered, though it was clear he wasn't. He’d been trying to bury the thoughts about Jon, but they kept resurfacing. It wasn’t easy, but he didn’t want to show any weakness. Not now.

Mick took a breath and gave Nikki a knowing look. "You know, sometimes it’s better to just let things run their course. Fighting it only makes it worse."

Nikki scoffed, but Mick could tell the words were sinking in. "Yeah, well, it’s not like I have a choice, huh? They're both like... magnets or something."

Mick chuckled. "Maybe. Or maybe it’s just about letting them figure it out. You can’t control everything, Nikki. Not even with all the power you think you have."

Nikki glared at him for a moment, but Mick’s calm, steady presence was enough to make him exhale a frustrated sigh. He wasn’t wrong. The more he fought it, the more it felt like he was drowning in it.

“You’re not the only one who’s been keeping an eye on those two,” Mick continued, glancing toward Jon and Vince, who were still sharing light-hearted jabs and banter. "It’s not about keeping them apart, man. It’s about letting them figure it out themselves. They’ve got their own rhythm, even if it looks like a damn mess."

"Yeah, well, I don’t know if I can just step aside," Nikki said, his voice tinged with both frustration and something deeper, something he wasn’t quite ready to admit.

“You’re not stepping aside,” Mick reassured him, leaning in a bit closer. “You’re just... giving them space. Sometimes, you gotta do that. It’ll work itself out, just don’t force it.”

Nikki was silent for a moment, mulling over Mick’s words. He hadn’t realized it, but Mick’s wisdom was something he could trust. Maybe he was right. Maybe letting go, just a little, was the way forward.

As the night went on, the rest of the crew exchanged glances. Tommy, Tico, Alec, and David stayed out of it for the most part, each of them clearly amused by the weirdness but also respecting the quiet agreement between the two bands. It wasn’t their place to meddle, but they all knew the unspoken truth, they had a job to do now. Keep things together. They had to make sure that the two sides didn’t tear each other apart with their own internal conflicts.

Jon and Vince would have to work it out in their own way, and Nikki, well... he’d have to accept it, whether he liked it or not. But Mick, always the observer, knew that this could work. It would take time, and maybe a bit of patience, but these two (Jon and Vince), were something different. And maybe, just maybe, the rivalry was never meant to last.

Mick barely glanced over at Nikki, but his voice had that calming, steady tone that Nikki was starting to appreciate, even if he didn’t want to admit it. "Got anything in mind?" Mick asked, keeping his focus on the others, but still attentive to Nikki’s mood.

Nikki let out a deep sigh, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. "Well, I'm bi," he said, voice blunt, like it was the simplest thing in the world. His lips were pouted, and for a moment, the seriousness of the statement was undercut by the way he looked, almost like he was expecting Mick to react in a way he didn’t really care about.

Mick couldn’t help it. He let out a soft chuckle, his eyes softening with amusement. There was something about the way Nikki had said it that made the whole thing feel almost endearing. It was like Nikki had been holding it in for so long, and now that he’d let it out, it wasn’t as big of a deal as he thought it would be. It wasn’t the revelation that caught Mick off guard, it was the way Nikki had said it, as if he was almost testing the waters to see how Mick would react.

"Yeah?" Mick replied casually, with a hint of a grin. "Well, there’s a lot of things about you, Nikki, that I’m not sure anyone really gets. But I’m pretty sure you don’t have to explain it to me." He raised an eyebrow, giving Nikki a knowing look. "You’re you, man. You don’t owe anyone an explanation."

Nikki smirked, still holding that hint of defensiveness in his posture. But Mick’s nonchalance made it feel less like a big deal than Nikki had imagined. Maybe Mick wasn’t the one who needed convincing after all. Maybe the struggle was just in Nikki’s head.

"Yeah, well," Nikki shrugged, rolling his shoulders in a half-dismissive, half-relieved gesture. "I’ve never really cared to hide it. Just didn’t feel like talking about it until now."

Mick nodded slowly, respecting that. "No need to talk about it if you don’t want to. But you know, you do whatever feels right. You don't need to force it."

There was a long pause as Nikki processed Mick’s words. He still wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of letting things go between him and Jon. But maybe Mick was right. Maybe he didn’t need to force it. Maybe stepping back, letting Vince and Jon figure their shit out, was the better choice after all. It wasn’t about being the one to get the guy, but about finding peace with it.

"Guess I’m still figuring it out, man," Nikki said quietly, his usual bravado slipping just enough for Mick to see the vulnerability lurking behind it. "But I don’t want to make it harder on myself."

Nikki’s moment of clarity was interrupted by Tommy’s familiar voice cutting through the conversation like a knife. He turned his head to see Tommy, still lounging by the pool and munching on something, giving him an almost amused, yet exasperated look.

"You're giving me headaches more than any textbooks could be," Tommy shot at him, voice muffled from chewing on something that sounded like popcorn. "You're making it obvious and yet playing hide and seek with reality."

Nikki rolled his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smirk despite himself. Tommy had a way of getting under his skin, but at the same time, he couldn't help but laugh a little. "Yeah, well, not all of us can be as straightforward as you, Tommy," Nikki replied, leaning back in his chair with a sigh. "Some of us have more... complicated shit going on."

Tommy made a dramatic gesture, gesturing to himself like he was the epitome of clarity. "Oh, I’m just saying, man. You’re standing in front of a mirror, but you’re still too scared to look at your reflection."

Nikki chuckled, more out of frustration than humor. "Easy for you to say," he muttered. "You don’t care about anything. You’re just high on life and whatever’s floating around in your head." He glanced over at Mick, who had remained quiet throughout the exchange, his arms crossed in a way that suggested he was listening but not about to jump in.

Tommy leaned forward, wiping his hands on his pants as if he were trying to shake off the seriousness of the conversation. "I don’t care about the details, man," he said, chewing thoughtfully. "But what I do care about is you not blowing shit up for no reason. I mean, what’s it gonna be, huh? Are you gonna keep pretending you don't care? Or are you gonna go for what you really want?"

Nikki stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes flicking between Tommy and Mick. There was something about the way Tommy said it, so blunt, yet so simple, that made Nikki’s insides twist. He didn’t want to admit it out loud, but maybe Tommy was right. Maybe it was time to stop hiding and just face the damn reality of it.

"I don’t know, man," Nikki admitted, his voice a little softer now. "I just... I don’t want to screw this up. Not with Jon, and definitely not with Vince." His fingers drummed lightly on the table, the rhythm betraying the uncertainty still swirling inside him.

Tommy waved his hand dismissively, grinning. "Dude, you’re just overthinking it. You want him, go after him. Don't let your stupid pride get in the way."

Nikki shot Tommy a look, half amused and half annoyed. "It’s not that simple."

"Yeah, it is," Tommy said, sitting up straight and brushing a piece of lint off his pants. "All this mystery shit, it’s just making everything worse. You’ve got a choice, Nikki. So make it."

Mick, who had been watching the back-and-forth with a kind of quiet amusement, finally spoke up, his voice even. "He's right, you know. You can’t keep dancing around it. It’s not about forcing anything, but it’s about not letting it slip away, either."

Nikki shot a glance at Mick, considering his words. He wasn’t entirely convinced, but there was a part of him that appreciated the honesty. Maybe Tommy was right. Maybe he was overthinking it.

"Alright, alright," Nikki said, standing up and stretching as if he were shaking off the weight of the conversation. "I’ll figure it out. But no promises I won’t make a mess of it first."

Tommy grinned, already moving toward the pool, his attention back on whatever absurd thought was running through his mind. "Don’t make promises you can’t keep, man. Just go for it and see what happens."

Mick smiled faintly, watching Nikki leave, then leaned back and sighed, glancing at Tommy. "Well, looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us, huh?"

Tommy smirked. "Guess so. But hey, at least it’s gonna be interesting."

Mick just chuckled quietly, knowing full well that whatever happened next, it was bound to be a mess, but at least the three of them were starting to figure it out, in their own way.

Mick gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, the kind of brotherly gesture that Nikki hadn’t realized he needed until that moment. "Don’t worry about it too much. You’ve got enough on your plate, huh? Just keep being you. That’s all you need to worry about."

Nikki nodded, a small but genuine smile tugging at his lips. For the first time in a while, it felt like a weight had lifted, even if it was just a little. Mick might have been right about a lot of things, but for now, it was enough to know that he didn’t have to have all the answers.

Chapter Text

Despite all the chaos, snarky comments, and unspoken tension, Jon found himself drawn to Nikki. There was just something about him, the way he carried that dark, edgy vibe like it was part of his DNA, but every now and then, you’d catch a glimpse of something softer underneath. It was raw, messy, and impossible to ignore. Against all odds, Jon chose Nikki, and surprisingly, it didn’t end in heartbreak for anyone.

…And there Jon stood, tall and steady, almost as if he was living up to some unspoken mantra of "I can fix him."

All in all, it was as if Nikki had this uncanny ability to bewitch anyone in his sight, pulling them in with that mix of danger and charm. Maybe it was his quiet intensity, or maybe it was just the way he seemed to live right on the edge of everything, always a little wild, always unpredictable. Whatever it was, Jon didn’t stand a chance, and truthfully, he didn’t mind.

Sure, Jon might’ve once said Nikki wasn’t his type, brushing it off like he could stay immune to the pull. But that was a backfire if there ever was one. The more he told himself he wasn’t into the whole "bad boy with baggage" thing, the more Nikki seemed to get under his skin.

So, yeah, Nikki might not have been what Jon thought he wanted, but it turned out he was exactly what Jon needed. And the way things unfolded, Jon wasn’t about to fight it anymore.

“Guess you’ve got some kind of spell, Sixx,” Vince had said one night, half-joking as he lounged with a drink in hand. “First, you’re out here stealing the stage, and now you’re stealing the guy. What’s next, the whole damn world?”

Nikki just smirked, leaning back with a confidence Vince hadn’t seen in a while. "Maybe. Guess you’ll have to stick around and find out."

For once, there was no rivalry nor bitterness, just a sense of balance. Vince had let go, Nikki had found something worth holding onto, and Jon? Well, Jon was just glad he’d finally stopped running from his own feelings. Somehow, it all worked out. Even amid the chaos of their lives, they’d found a little piece of clarity, and for now, that was more than enough.

Vince, for all his bravado and teasing, took it in stride. Deep down, he knew Nikki deserved this. If anyone could pull someone like Jon in, it was him. Besides, Vince had never been one to linger on things he couldn’t change. He wasn’t exactly the guy who could put his feelings into words, let alone navigate them. So, with a shrug and a crooked grin, he stepped back and let Nikki have what he wanted.

“You’re better for him, anyway,” Vince said one night, his voice casual but honest. "I’d just screw it up."

Nikki was caught off guard by the admission, pausing as if Vince had just said something out of character. "You sure, man?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

Vince smirked, leaning back in his chair with that classic Vince Neil swagger. "Yeah, I’m sure. Besides, I’m too busy being the wild, reckless one to play house."

"And not to mention the Italian descent on both sides," Vince added with a shrug, gesturing between Nikki and Jon. "You guys are lucky enough to find each other. Me? I’m probably made for the streets, not any of this. I wouldn’t know what to do with all the sweetness at once, not my thing, man."

Nikki froze, staring at Vince as the mention of "Italian descent" echoed in his head, hitting a nerve he hadn’t realized was still so raw. His jaw tensed, and his eyes flickered with something between anger and unease. Memories of his father started creeping in, uninvited. His dad’s absence, his actions, the way he’d left scars Nikki tried so hard to bury.

But then, another image surfaced: his grandparents. Their kindness, their unconditional love, their unwavering support. The memories of them softened the edges of his emotions, pulling him back from the dark places his mind tended to go.

Vince noticed the shift in Nikki’s expression and tilted his head, frowning slightly. "Hey, you good? I didn’t mean to, uh, bring up anything—"

Nikki shook his head, cutting him off. "Nah, it’s fine," he said, his voice quieter but steady. He wasn’t about to unload all of that here, not now. Instead, he forced a smirk and looked back at Vince. "Guess you’re right, though. Jon and I have that… connection or whatever. Maybe it’s fate. Or just dumb luck."

Vince grinned, clearly relieved to see Nikki brush it off. "See? Told you. You’re both too serious for someone like me anyway. I’d just mess it all up and end up in the tabloids for something stupid."

Nikki chuckled despite himself, the tension easing. "Yeah, probably. But hey, someone’s gotta keep us entertained."

"And that," Vince said, raising his drink, "is where I come in. You two can have your romance or whatever. Just don’t forget the rest of us little people while you’re off being all happy and Italian together."

The two shared a laugh, the heaviness of the moment lifting. Even if there were parts of Nikki’s past he wasn’t ready to face, and parts of Vince he might never fully understand, this was enough. For now, at least, they were still brothers in their own chaotic, messy way.

It was Vince’s way of saying he was cool with it, and Nikki got it. For all their fights and rivalry, they were still brothers, and Vince wasn’t about to let anything ruin that.

As the days went on, the tension between the two bands eased. Jon and Nikki found a strange kind of balance, with Jon quietly grounding Nikki in ways even Nikki didn’t expect. Vince, meanwhile, settled back into his usual antics, cracking jokes and keeping things light. And for the first time in a while, it felt like both bands were in sync, like not just on stage, but off it, too.

In the end, it wasn’t about heartbreak or rivalry. It was about moving forward, finding happiness where they could, and proving that even in the wild, unpredictable world of rock ‘n’ roll, there was room for some kind of peace.

...

"Beasts of songwriting, hell yeah," Mick said with a low chuckle, his gravelly voice cutting through the room like it always did.

Nikki and Jon froze for a moment, their faces turning a deep shade of red almost in unison. Nikki shifted in his seat, muttering something under his breath, while Jon suddenly found the floor very interesting.

Mick raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "What? Did I say something wrong, or are you two just proving my point right now?"

"Shut up, Mick," Nikki shot back, though there wasn’t any real heat behind it.

Jon tried to compose himself, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Yeah, uh, thanks for that… I guess?"

Mick just chuckled again, leaning back like the wise sage of chaos he was. "Relax, boys. Just calling it how I see it. Don’t let the compliments kill you."