Disclaimer: The following story is a work of fiction. The author does not own any of the following names or personalities. The author does not imply that the people mentioned within would act or have acted in the ways depicted. No money has been made from this.

******

"What?!" Nikki snapped.

If the fucker thought he was going to get away with hanging up on me-- twice-- he was sorely mistaken. "You hung up. I called back."

I hear him sigh on the other end of the line. "What the fuck do you want from me?"

"Since you said you didn't want to go out for lunch, I'm coming over for Easter dinner."

"No, you aren't, Vince."

"Try to stop me."

"I'll tell my security guy not to let you in."

"Yeah, right. You made security work on Easter."

Silence. Asshole better not hang up again. "Now is not a good time, Vince."

"You've been telling me that for a month."

"It's not a good fucking time!"

"Bullshit. You can't hide in your fucking house forever."

"Fuck you."

I swallow. Nikki never responded well to tough love. For him, it was neglect, betrayal, all that shit. I thought maybe rehab had gotten him over it. But now I'm starting to think it just made it worse.

"Nikki, I--" Fuck, what do I tell him? That I miss him? It's the fucking truth. "I'm sick of your bullshit."

"That's rich, coming from you."

"You want Chinese food? Or should I stop for curry?"

*click*

Well, fuck his opinion, anyway. I want some dumpling soup.

*

Frankly, I'm a little surprised Nikki didn't have the place swarming with security. I guess fucking apathy wins every time, doesn't it? I ring his doorbell. Ring it again after about 30 seconds. And again. I see the curtains on the door window rustle. "Go away, Vince," Nikki shouts from inside.

"Let me in. The food is getting cold."

No response. I ring the doorbell again.

Nikki flings the door open. "I'm going to kick your ass!"

He looks like shit. He's wearing a stained, ratty t-shirt and a pair of boxer shorts. He's got little bits of paper and God-knows-what stuck in his hair. He looks pale-- frail, even, with dark circles under his eyes. He glares at me.

I breeze in past him. "I got dumpling soup, sweet and sour chicken, fried rice..." I look back over my shoulder. He's not following me into the kitchen. He's still standing by the door. I put the take-out bags on the countertop, then open a cupboard to look for plates.

*crash* *bang* I knock some pots and pans around. If anything will get his attention, it's fucking with his precious cooking shit. I hear his footsteps behind me. Suddenly his hands are on my hips, pulling me backward. "Vince, quit it."

I take that opportunity to turn around and press myself against him. Bury my fingers in his messy hair. He pulls away before I can kiss him, face impassive.

"I told you I wasn't in the mood."

He sits down at the table and rests his head on his arms. I turn back to the cupboard and get out the cups and plates, not really sure what to say.

"My family never really did any of this Easter shit growing up, you know? No fancy dinners, none of this fucking 'togetherness', no Easter bunny or any of that other shit that makes kids happy."

"You call me forcing Chinese food down your throat 'togetherness'?" I glance over my shoulder and catch him smirking. "My family didn't do Easter either, you know. Besides church, where they make you feel guilty about the whole 'Jesus dying for our sins' thing. I knew from about age five that I wasn't worth it."

Nikki laughs.

I spoon some soup into bowls and bring them over to the table. Nikki's face is unreadable again, eyebrows scrunched up in thought. He picks up his spoon absently.

"Come on, eat. You look like you could use it."

Nikki's gaze turns sharp again, eyes focusing on my face. He scowls. "You can't save me either, Vinnie. It's fucking hopeless. I'm done."

"Save you from what, man?"

The scowl turns into a sneer. "Fuck it. Like you'd understand." He pushes away from the table and stands up.

I dart around the table and grab his elbow. "What the fuck is your problem?"

"Leave me the fuck alone. Go home."

"No." I squeeze his arm tighter.

"Let go."

"No." Nikki's pissed, but I don't think he's in good enough shape to kick my ass right now. He tries to yank his arm away. And then, before I can register what's happening, his full body weight is pushing against me and we're toppling to the floor. I let go to break my fall, and he manages to wrench my arms above my head and pin me down, his ass against my crotch. It's not the best fucking time, I realize, but it's been too long. I feel my dick start to get hard.

Nikki's glaring at me. "I should break your fucking face." He leans back a little, ass pressing harder into my dick. "Fuck, that what this is about, Vinnie? Been too long since you got laid, decided to come badger me about it?"

"No, no--"

"You're such a liar. Expect me to actually believe you came over here because you care? Bullshit. I really should break your fucking face."

I don't know what to say. After this many years, I still don't quite know how to handle him. I swallow a couple of times. Then Nikki slumps a little, all the heat leaving his eyes. He gets off of me and rolls beside me on the floor. I don't try to move. And then he puts his head on my chest. "I haven't written a fucking word since I came out of rehab, Vinnie. What if it's all gone?"

He lets me work my fingers into his matted-down hair. "You'll just have to let me write all the songs, then."

Nikki snorts. "Like hell."

"Yeah, 'Like Hell.' That'll be the title of my next masterpiece." I feel Nikki's warm breath coming in puffs through my t-shirt. I can't see his face through all the hair, but I think he's laughing. I scratch his scalp a little bit. "I like hell, you like hell, let's all go to hell..."

He lifts his head. "Holy shit, Vince. You hate me. You're trying to kill me."

I grin. No, Nikki, I love you. "You know what's good for creativity? Showering with your lead singer."

"You saying I'm dirty?"

"Yep."

"Oh, fuck you. Let's eat first."

"Okay."

Nikki hauls himself off the floor and offers me his hand. I let him help me up.

###