I Wish I Lived In The 80s

Pairing: Duff x female reader

Words: 5,350

Request: @niksixx “ Hi doll 💖 May I request another Duff fic? Anything your heart desires. Take your time, no rush!! Thank you ❤️ “

Summary: You and Duff have never gotten along, so you’re taken by surprise when he comes to you needing a date for his brother’s wedding. Slight enemies to lovers, fake dating, a confession and all of those fanfiction cliches we love.

A/N: This has taken me so long, so so sorry for the delay Mömma Mötley ! But I really love it, I hope you guys do too.  ❤️

Taglist: @ubernoxa @the–blackdahlia @heavymetalgirl420 @stradlin-cold-heartbreaker @rumoured-whispers @born-to-lose @lost-in-the-80s @teasid @petals-and-bullets @ginny-rose-sixx​

It was a relatively quiet night at the Cathouse, and you were enjoying the change of pace and the drink in your hand, just bobbing your head to the Mötley Crüe song playing.

“Hey, um, Y/N?” At the sound of your name, you turned and smiled at the sight of Slash. Your eyes traveled and noticed Duff towering at his side. He had his arms crossed and leaned against the bar, not wasting any words or looks on you. Instantly, you narrowed your eyes suspiciously.

“Yes?” You asked tersely, trying to catch Slash’s eye. He wouldn’t meet your gaze, which meant he was about to ask a favor.

“Um…Duff needs a favor.” Slash blurted the words out like he was dropping a grenade and planning on running. Duff immediately uncrossed his arms and sent Slash a look of exasperated betrayal. Slash was shrinking into himself, as though he wasn’t sure if you or Duff would be the one to strike him first.

“What?” You demanded. “What is that even supposed to mean, why doesn’t Duff just ask me himself then—”

“No, forget it.” Duff cut you off sharply and turned on his heel, ready to walk away. Slash grabbed at his arm.

“No, hey—” Slash sighed, before he turned back to you. “Okay, look. He needs someone to go to this wedding with him this weekend. His brother’s getting married.”

“What?” You repeated once more, still not following. “Why me? He could literally go outside right now and find 10 very desperate dates.” Duff’s mouth twitched at your words and you pointed a finger at him. “I didn’t say smart, there’s a difference.” Duff rolled his eyes.

“Whatever. Obviously, you and I both know I can’t take one of those girls home with me to meet my family.” Duff finally cut back in, retorting to you as though he shouldn’t have to explain this to you.

“So, you want to take me?”

Duff scowled quickly, “No! I-I don’t want to take you, no.”

“C’mon, I told him you would do it because you’re cool. It was my idea.” Slash said as he hit you lightly on the arm.

“Yeah, believe me, you were not my first choice.” Duff added in quickly.

“Then why aren’t you there?”

“Linda Evangelista isn’t free.”

You rolled your eyes heavily at his words and sipped on your drink idly before you calmly replied, “Yeah, you’d have to pay her a hefty amount to be your date.” Duff’s face crinkled up indignantly.

“I don’t have to pay any girl to go on a date with me.”

You merely took another sip of your drink, swishing the drink around the glass as you shrugged. “Well, you’d have to pay me.” Your eyelashes batted against your cheek as you lifted your gaze, noticing Slash chuckling and Duff shaking his head in disbelief.

“Forget it. I’m not paying her.” Duff spoke to Slash instead of you, as though he were now pretending you weren’t even there.

“Well, man, I mean…you are springing it on her short notice.” Slash replied. “And you don’t have any other options.” Duff shook his head.

“I don’t care. I’m not paying her like I’m some desperate loser!”

“Well, sounds to me like you’re pretty desperate.” You noted calmly. “I mean, I’m stating the obvious here. We’re not friends. Everyone knows that.” For some reason, Slash snickered. “So, for you to even consider me makes you pretty desperate.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t very well take home some chick off the street, or a stripper. Or a groupie.” Duff replied, sending a glare to Slash. But you knew it had to be something more.

“Why do you need a date at all?” You pressed. “Just go alone.” Duff was shaking his head.

“You don’t get it…all of my siblings have husbands and wives and I just…I can’t just show up alone, alright?”

“I told him you were perfect; we know you and you’re nice and cool and chill. And I’m sure families would love you too. I mean, my mom loves you.” Slash said. “And Duff gets those attacks on planes, so that’s another reason. He can’t fly alone.” Duff didn’t look as though he appreciated Slash telling you this, but you took in the information, still trying to piece together the situation.

“Look, even if you did pay me, why would I do you a solid when you always act like I don’t even exist?” Slash started laughing while Duff looked indignant.

“What do you mean, I do. I say hi to you!”

“No, you don’t!”

“Yeah, I do!”

“Here we go…” Slash muttered, taking the drink out of your hand for himself. You didn’t even notice; you were already getting that boiling anger rising in your chest as you turned and faced Duff fully.

“Name one time!”

“That one night, that one night! At the…where were we?” Duff said, turning to Slash who was too busy emptying the contents of the glass into his mouth. “When we were at the Whiskey for that gig! Like two weeks ago.”

You crossed your arms. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You were wearing that snakeskin skirt.” Slash started to smirk as he glanced at his friend. “Front row, in front of Slash.”

“You would remember that skirt…” Slash muttered teasingly while still smirking at Duff, who showed no sign of hearing the comment. Or maybe he was ignoring Slash at this point. But you had heard it.

Now, all your anger evaporated. He had completely disarmed you with his spot-on memory and it stunned you; he had remembered what you were wearing? When it always felt like he never noticed you at all?

“What, don’t tell me you don’t remember me saying hi?”

“I…” you began, your memory hazy of that night as you shook your head. “What, one ‘hi’ is supposed to make us friends?”

“C’mon, babe, just do it.” Slash told you.

“I won’t do it for free.” You replied. Duff glared at you.

“Just ask her how much she wants, c’mon, man.” Slash had now turned into an intermediary.

“How much?” Duff asked you, sounding defeated. You smirked, taking your time to make him wait as you pretended to tally expenses in your head.

“Well, I’d need to take off from work, so I’m not getting paid for that. And if it’s a wedding, then I’m gonna need something nice to wear—”

“How much?” Duff interrupted again.

“$300.”

“You’re out of your mind. $200.”