Toki is genuinely pleased to be back in Dethklok. Honestly, he is. Hanging out with Murderface has its moments (even if Toki had just been swept along without really understanding what they were doing), but Dethklok is where he belongs.
It hurt, though. Being let back in the band with nothing more than an 'uh, yeah, whatever'. He knows Nathan isn't good with words, but did he really have nothing better to say?
At least he had said something. Skwisgaar had just sat there, a displeased look on his face. He'd done nothing but give Toki that look ever since the court case had started. Toki would have appreciated even the slightest hint from Skwisgaar that he was glad to have Toki back.
Once upon a time, Skwisgaar had stood up in front of an audience and told him that the band needed him, regardless of his input. It was a back-handed compliment delivered in a way only Skwisgaar knew how, but it had touched Toki.
Now, Skwisgaar won't even tell him when there's no one else around. Their relationship has always had its ups and downs, sure, but the periods of animosity never normally last this long.
Something about Skwisgaar's been off for a while, and Toki decides to confront him once things are otherwise back to normal.
"Skwisgaar?" Toki begins when it's just the two of them. Skwisgaar looks at him from the corner of his eye, as if it's not worth turning around. He doesn't acknowledge Toki, but Toki knows that he's listening. "Ams you wantings me back in de bands?" Skwisgaar's not looking at Toki anymore.
"Why would I wants sloppy playings ruinings everything, huh? Pfft."
"I wasn't talking abouts my guitars, Skwisgaar; I was talkings about mes. Toki."
"In de band, what ams de difference?"
Toki feels like he's been punched in the gut.
"I hates you, Skwisgaar."
"Ja ja, so you always says," shrugs Skwisgaar. "Why don'ts you go plays with Moiderface agains? I's busy."
"I hates you," he repeats, and comes to the heartbreaking conclusion that maybe, just maybe, he actually means it this time.
(Toki never considers that wanting someone and needing someone are two very different things; Skwisgaar has never stopped needing him, but he can't bring himself to say it once more.)
The weird atmosphere continues between the two of them: things haven't completely soured, but they're not exactly sweet. Not too long after, Skwisgaar leaves the band to return to Sweden.
Toki leaps at the chance to play lead, deciding that he never needed Skwisgaar after all.
So why does Dethklok fall apart without him?