Note: Had to raise the rating for this one. Also, it seems that these one-shots won't stop forming in my brain. So I hope you enjoy them while they last. I sure am.
Skwisgaar stood in the booth, glaring through the glass at Pickles and Nathan. He couldn't believe they were recording a song that Toki Wartooth wrote. The lead guitar part was... slow. It was not something that appealed to the World's Fastest Guitarist. Sure Toki may be the second-fastest and possibly the second best guitarist in the world, but Skwisgaar's seat as lead was safe since he wrote all the music. He couldn't let Toki threaten him like this. Maybe Nathan and Pickles were just humoring the Norwegian. That must be it. Toki had quickly shown him the lead part before he passed out on one of the couches in the back of the studio.
"Do it again, Skwisgaar," came Nathan's rumble over the intercom. This wasn't a normal occurrence for the Swede.
"This part is dildoes, Nat'ens. Lets me ams fixing it fors yous," he whined, stepping up to the glass.
"No. Now play it right, or I'll get Toki to re-record it later."
A seething rage boiled up inside Skwisgaar. How dare they suggest such a thing! He was Skwisgaar Skwigelf, he did not need some two-bit nobody off the streets like Toki to cover for him. "I amnest goings to takes this shits from yous, Nat'ens! Stops fuckings arounds with this sillys babies song and lets me outs of here."
"Skwisgaar," Toki's blue eyes met Skwisgaar's through the glass. "What's wrongs wit de part? It isn't too hards. Yous just have to feels it."
"Little Tokis... where is the speed? There is nothings brutal about droning chords. Yous are seriouslies worrying mes wit dis songs. Feelings amnest brutal." He took a moment to try to keep his cool. He didn't want to send Toki into a catatonic trance. But it was very difficult.
Toki started to leave and Skwisgaar sighed, his fingers flying across the frets in his usual speed exercises. He hadn't notice Toki opening the door to the booth and step inside.
"I understands that you ams not feelings things. You don'ts usually feels much of anythings. But I wants you to try," Toki said quietly, so that the others, who had gone to the food table, wouldn't hear.
"Showing feelings amnest brutal, Little Toki. Hows cans this be a good sound for de new album? Nat'ens and Pickles are just going alongs to makes yous feels better."
Toki unexpectedly switched off the light in the booth, the only light came from the window to the rest of the studio. "I ams not scareds of the darks, Little Toki." Swkisgaar laughed at Toki's attempt at revenge. He was unprepared for the left hook that the younger man threw at his head. The taller man staggered back and the Explorer was pulled off him and set aside.
"What de fucks was dat for!?" Skwisgaar shouted at Toki, whose expression was strangely unreadable.
"You don't feel a damn thing, Skwisgaar. Nothing except your big fat fucking ego!" Toki had effortlessly started speaking in Swedish, likely to get his point across to the other guitarist.
A punch to the gut doubled the Swede over. Another blow rained down on the back of his head blackened his vision and sent him to his knees. "T-tokis..." he tried to sputter out, then felt something tighten around his neck. He was suddenly jerked backwards by the throat, his scream cut off as he was drug backwards towards the wall. The leather of the belt bit into him as he struggled for air.
"Just think about being alone. Unable to speak. In pain. Knowing that nobody was going to come for you because they are too busy fucking and drinking and doing crystals meth. That the people that should be there for you, always, just decided to say 'fuck it' and only do something about it when it benefitted them." Toki continued speaking to him in Swedish as he hauled Skwisgaar up and hung the belt around his neck on a high equipment rack. Skwisgaar was finally able to breathe, but his fingers were now hooked between his throat and the leather. His head still swam as Toki put a pair of headphones on his ears. He could do nothing but stare as Toki picked up the Explorer. The next thing he saw was Toki, holding the sides of his bruised face and he said "Guitar playing is about feeling. It isn't all speed. Slow down and FEEL it!"
Toki started playing the part, slow and heavy, and Skwisgaar couldn't help but close his eyes and feel like he was alone in the dark with a madman. Was this how Toki spent most of his life? The throbbing in his head was building with the melody, until a change in the key made it feel like the light had been suddenly switched on. The mood changed from helplessness and fear to hope? Control? He wasn't used to... emotions. Long ago the child known as Skwisgaar Skwigelf had closed himself off to such things. When his mother was too busy with her lovers. Before he found the Explorer. The same Explorer that Toki was making sound so... magnificent. Something felt strange inside him, though he was sure it wasn't the bruised rib from Toki's beating. A feeling of power flooded him and he blinked several times, since he was imagining himself and Toki glowing.
All too soon, the music stopped and Skwisgaar felt Nathan's large hands hauling him up and off the rack. The belt was loosened from around his neck and he was sat down on the couch outside. He could vaguely register Murderface and Pickles across the room with Toki. Pickles with his arm around the younger man and Murderface ready in case Toki decided to come at any of them again.
Skwisgaar closed his eyes for a long moment as the pounding in his head subsided. Several counter melodies started threading through his thoughts... reinforcement of the part Toki had played.
"I didn't hit you that hard. You bruise too easily," Toki said, sitting down on the couch, just far enough away to give Skwisgaar some space.
"I'm a lover, not a fighter" was Skwisgaar's only reply, thankful that their conversation was still private thanks to the other band members' refusal to learn another language. "Is this how you feel all the time?"
"No." Toki shook his head, "I felt a lot worse. Like I said, I didn't hit you that hard."
"Toki. I'm... sorry for... not appreciating your writing. But don't ever do that again." Skwisgaar had a lot more that he meant to say, but none of it would come forward. Hey, he was trying enough as it was! He didn't need to turn into a little girl over this.
"Like you could do anything about it! I barely hit you!" And Toki ran over to the sound board and plucked Deddy bear off the console, where it had sat next to Nathan for the past few hours.
"Is this going to be a problem? Are you two cool now?" Nathan's distinctive rumble reached Skwisgaar's ears.
"Ja. No mores fights. I ams goings to take a breaks. I ams will be backs later to records de rhythm's parts. Keep Toki's as da lead."
And nothing else needed to be said on the matter.