Theon and Robb drove up to the rundown studios in a scummy part of LA and parked outside.

"Are you sure this is the place?" Robb asked giving the place a dubious look. In the back of the car Arya wrinkled her nose at the scuzziness of their surroundings. Weeds grew out of the cracks in the sidewalk and the alleyway smelt faintly of stale burrito, weed and piss.

"You coming, Arya? At least to the doorway-" Robb turned to ask Arya.

Arya looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "I'm staying in the car, thanks- and I'm locking my car door. I might get mugged or worse otherwise." She started to smirk. "Theon, you're on your own."

"They definitely gave you the right address?" Robb fretted, looking round him in a doubtful fashion. "Not gonna lie, this is a dodgy part of town."

"Positive-"

"You sure this is what you want?" He ran a hand through his rusty curls, messing them up even further. He leant against the side of the car. "You know you could stay in the band if that's what you want. You know the songs. It won't be the same without you."

Theon had to ignore the pleading tone of Robb's voice.

If the truth be known, he would love nothing better than to stay with the band, writing songs and playing lead. But he knew that he couldn't deny what he was. That 2nd guitarist spot was his. He was going to join Krakken, it had been his ambition ever since he had picked up a plectrum as a green kid.

"It's the family band. I'm a Greyjoy, it's all I've ever wanted since I started to play. You know I want to play heavier stuff than the rest of you and I'm not sure-"

"Not sure of what?" Robb asked.

Theon found it hard to admit the issue that had been niggling him for a while and caused most of the arguments with Arya. Since they both did most of the songwriting, it was quite a bone of contention. "Whether my stuff fits the band any more. I know what I'm doing-"

Robb took his determination well, supportive friend as always. "Hey break a leg, man. I hope it all goes well. We're all going to miss you."

"Even Arya?" Theon couldn't help sounding a little sceptical. He wasn't about to forget the raging arguments he had with Arya very regularly about creative differences. She might be tiny, but she was a regular spitfire in a fight.

"She's fond of you, really."

"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, Robb." She muttered from inside the car.

Theon doubted it, but didn't say anything.

Theon was a badly snarled knot of nerves as he entered the rehearsal rooms, not sure of what to expect from the band. He felt the adrenaline rush, so strong he feared he was going to be sick for a moment.

Krakken had a reputation for untamed shows and strict adherence to a cultish lifestyle few were prepared to emulate. They were feral, controversial and showed more than a streak of debauched insanity which had made them the talk of the scene and gained them adoring fans and cult status.

Theon was determined to join the group.

He made sure he listened to all their EPs and albums, even their most obscure b-sides which only came out on limited edition coloured vinyl. He worked out the chords and tunings by ear, transcribed the lyrics and painstakingly playing the tracks over and over. He lived breathed and idolised the band. He'd been dreaming of the day he would be good enough to join.

It had been great playing with Robb and Arya. They'd had a lot of fun and they'd got miles better since they first picked up instruments and started bashing out a few punk tunes because that was all they knew the right chords for. But it was time to move on.

I know I'm a shit-hot guitarist, He told himself sounding more confident than he felt. I'll ace it and when they find out about my inside connection it's a done deal. He told himself as he entered the rehearsal space.

Theon wondered if the rest of the band would even recognise or remember him. He was only a kid when he'd got taken into care, the road not being a suitable place for a kid. Theon had been in the system for a couple of years before the Starks had taken him in and fostered him.

But he'd always dreamed of coming back to his own family and being a Greyjoy at last. No matter how kind Ned and Catelyn Stark had been to him and he was grateful for their care and warm family life, this was his real family, his people.

He dreamed of joining Krakken and proving that he was a part of the group. Part of the family at last.