Chapter Text
The year is 1867, march 1st. The great cattle drive has been going on for a year, Nebraska is admitted as the 37th U.S. state and it was on this day that Frank Feranna Junior decided to change his name to Nikki Sixx.
A strange name most would say, but Nikki thought it suited him perfectly.
Born to a mother who didn’t give a rats ass about him and a father who left him with nothing, Nikki left his town as a loner, an outlaw, a troublemaker.
At only 18 years old he was shunned by his village, so he made the step to leave on his own. Nikki never liked being alone. His thoughts tended to spiral into a deep, vast nothingness and it made him feel like he couldn’t do anything at all.
Alas, this was his only way out of a depressing adulthood, so Nikki left.
Going through the dry Nevada desert on his black mustang named Kickstarter, Nikki was a runaway looking for a family, a gang, a crew of some sorts. He had packed three weeks worth of supplies, hoping he’d make it to a village or town in time.
With a stolen black leather hat and chaps gifted by his only friend, his hometowns blacksmith, Nikki went on his way.
–
After five days of steady riding, sleeping and repeating, Nikki stumbled upon a small creek of water streaming down from a mountain.
Nikki got off his horse and went down towards the creek to freshen up. Putting his hands in the cold water, Nikki washed his face. Not having acces to water for a few days really takes a toll on you.
As Nikki washed his face, he suddenly felt a gun barrel against his head.
“Stop what you’re doing and give me all of your money. Right now or else!” A young sounding voice behind him said. The perpetrator didn’t sound too sure of himself.
Nikki gazed down into the water, and at just the right angle he could see the gunman behind him. A lanky boy with long dark brown hair (a teenager at best) stood behind him wearing a bright red bandana around his neck, a sleeveless jacket and dark jeans.
Before the skinny boy had a chance Nikki swooped his feet from underneath him, and he fell down making his pistol fall. Nikki quickly grabbed it and held the boy at gunpoint with his own weapon.
“Or else what?” Nikki said with a smirk, sweeping his bangs from his face.
The tall boy looked up at Nikki in shock, his hazel eyes showing a hint of fear.
“A-Alright man look, I didn’t really mean that I mean- could you maybe not point my gun at me? It was a joke really! Please!” the boy frantically blabbered as he held up his glove covered hands. He was obviously inexperienced in stealing from people.
Nikki eyed the boy for a minute longer and then put away the gun. He sighed
“Sorry partner, I don’t have any money for you. I am totally broke.” Nikki said as he folded his arms as the boy struggled to get up.
“No money?? You have to be lying! I-I can fight you yaknow!” The stranger said as he put up his hands into fists.
While being atleast a head taller than Nikki, the boy looked pathetic.. but, he had potential.
Nikki smiled.
“Listen man, I don’t want to fight you. I’m here to look for people to start a gang with.” Nikki said, “And you look like the right person for my crew.”
The lanky boy lowered his hands,
“Me? But I just attacked you! How do you even know you can trust me?” the boy said as he waved his hands.
Nikki smirked. “Because this whole time you haven’t even tried to get your gun back, and you look way too scrawny to beat me up!”
The tall teen looked at him with widened eyes,
“Well that’s just rude..” He said as he lowered his head. Nikki smiled and stood in front of the stranger, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“If you join me I can show you some moves on how to really rob someone. You know, without getting floored and all.” Nikki said with a laugh.
The boy looked at him with a hopeful smile, “Really?” he said with a twinkle in his eyes, this boy had wayyy too much trust in strangers. Nikki might have to do something about that.
Putting his thoughts aside Nikki nodded. “Yes really.”
He handed the gun back to the boy, “Come on, I have supplies left for only a week more if you’re going to join me, so get ready for some saddle-ass the next few days!” Nikki walked back to Kickstarter and gave him some hay he had stored in his saddle bags.
Meanwhile the tall stranger stood rooted on his spot, dumbfounded. He looked up at Nikki and felt sense coming back to him, making him jog after the raven haired boy. “Hey! What’s your name even? My name is Thomas! But you can just call me Tommy, since we’re going to be partners and all!” Tommy held out his hand. Nikki eyed him strangely but shook his hand anyways, “The names Nikki Sixx. Good to meet you Tommy.” Nikki let go and got up on Kickstarter. “Hop up on the back Tommy. It’s gonna be a long ride.”
Tommy smiled and struggled to get up on Kickstarter. After a few grunts and huffs he managed to get his lanky self on the mustang. “Nikki Sixx?? That’s such a cool name! I wish my name was that cool! It also shouldn’t take too long to get to the nearest village! Around fourteen miles from here there’s a little town called Silverton, I’ve been there before and they have a nice inn we can stay at!” Tommy rambled excitedly, holding on to Nikki’s waist as Kickstarter began to move.
Nikki looked at his compass and nodded, “Alright then, I might’ve been a little dishonest with you back there T-bone. Firstly, your eyes, they shine in a way that makes me trust you. And secondly, I have some money, just not a lot, so we probably have to get some one way or another while we’re there.”
Tommy laughed, “You mean we have to steal it? I’m in for that! You can teach me some of those moves you were talking about! Oh, how about some cool kick moves so I can bust peoples knees! Or maybe punches that can break noses! Or maybe-“
Tommy rambled on about fighting moves and gun tricks with great enthusiasm. He sounded so happy to be going with Nikki to just steal shit from strangers. Nikki wondered if this kid even had a family.
Nikki blocked Tommy’s talking and thought of the future, he thinks traveling with this crazy kid won’t be so bad after all.
He gave Kickstarter a little boost, and there the two went, off to Silverton.