Chapter 2, Part 1

Good Morning

"Ugh...Pickle?" Toki groaned as he rolled over and scratched his head. He felt shaky, cold. Why, he didn't know. All he knew was something about a new game...

"Yeah? What is it?" Pickles asked in a tired voice as he rolled over and faced Toki. His hair was undone, wild. "Ya sick?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Oh. Okay, 'den. I guess it was a good night," and he closed his eyes and stretched before letting out a large lawn.

Golden sunlight was filtering in from the closed curtains of the room, reminding both of them of just how late in the day it was. Toki glanced over at the clock that hung above the bed and groaned; he sank deeper into the covers and shielded his eyes with his hand.

"Wha's wrong?" Pickles asked as he scooted a little closer to him.

"It so early!"

He looked up at the ticking clock as well and frowned. "Toki, it's one in the afternoon."

"Too early," he repeated.

Pickles chuckled. "Yeah, maybe it is."

There was a long pause before, "Was our parents really here lasts night?"

"Yeah, they was."

Toki let out another groan and pulled the covers up over his head. "I don't wants to go seem thems again. Couldn't we just kick them outs?"

"I guess we could, but they'd just come back," Pickles answered as he scratched at his eyes. "God, I'm tired. What did we do last night?"

"What we dos every night."

"Then how come I can't remember it that well?"

Toki's head popped out from under the covers. He still had the faintest traces of the Yopo on his nose. "I don'ts know, but I thinks it was pretty amazing."

"Yeah," he agreed. He remembered it faintly. Very faintly. He remembered Toki doing all sorts of crazy things...nice things, but things he would never have thought to do—or had the courage to do—in a million years...Yes, the Yopo game would have to be repeated several times.

"You sure ams smiling a lot, Pickle," Toki said, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"I was thinkin'." he said simply. "Just thinkin'."

"Abouts what?" Toki asked as he came a little closer to him. Pickles grinned and wrapped his arms around him, realizing for the first time that he—along with Toki—were still naked. It didn't make much of a difference, though, but the warm feeling of Toki's body was a welcome one.

"About you."

"Oh, ja." and then he sighed. "Pickle, do we haves to get up? Really do we?"

He thought about it for a minute then shook his head. "Nah, not if you don't want to."

"Oh, goods! Cause I really don't!" and with that, Toki snuggled a little more into Pickles' arms, closed his eyes, and smiled. "I ams tired."

"Then go to sleep."

"You don'ts mind? It's one in the afternoo-"

"Goodnight, my Toki."

The words felt a little strange leaving his tongue. Never before had he actually proclaimed Toki as 'his', but the Norwegian didn't mind it. In fact, he almost seemed pleased with it as he let out a content sigh and smiled. Pickles swallowed. He wasn't as cold as he had been when he had first woken up, and the trembling had subsided. He felt normal again, and he knew Toki did to. The guitarist's body hard relaxed, and in a few minutes all that could be heard in the room was the slow, steady breathing that signaled that Toki had found sleep.

This was an overall warm feeling, between the golden sunlight, the heaps of covers, and Toki. It was enough to slowly urge Pickles' eyes closed and for him to drift off back to sleep...

Then there came a loud ganging and Seth's voice. "Hey, Pickles, bro, mind spottin' me a quick hundred or so so me and Toki can—oh, look, there he is. I'll just ask him."

Pickles' eyes shot open. He reached blindly to pull the covers up more, to try and conceal Toki's bare shoulders. "Whadda doin' just comin' into people's rooms like 'dat?"

"I wanted to borrow some money and take Toki out."

"Take him out?" he repeated. "Why would you wanna do that?"

Seth shrugged as walked over to Toki. "I dunno, just to talk about stuff. Ya know, just spend some time with the kid. Jesus, you sure are paranoid about him." he put his hand on the still half-asleep Norwegian and shook him. "Hey, wake up, kid! Wake uuuuuuuuuuuuuuppp!"

Pickles lashed out and pushed him away, still trying to hide the fact that he was naked. "Get away from him! He's tired, so just fuck aff!"

Seth backed away a little and chuckled. "Hey, Pickles, man, relax. You don't have to get all crazy-possessive-jealous on me, okay? I mean, God, I know you learned everything you know about romance from me, but try to calm down."

Toki let out tired little moan and looked up. "Pickle, why ams your brother in here?"

"Oh, good, you're awake." Seth glared at Pickles. "See? I told you that he was awake!"

"No you didn't!"

He ignored him and turned to Toki, who was hugging his bare torso in an effort to hide himself. "Hey, my man Toki Wartooth! How'd you like to go out to dinner? Huh? It's on me."

He arched a brow and looked to Pickles for help. The drummer shrugged. "Do what you want. I ain't makin' your decisions for you."

"But I don't wants t-"

"Okay, great! See ya later!"

Toki frowned as Pickles began looking for his wallet amidst the junk that covered the nightstand. "What? But its ams one in the-"

"Thanks, bro," Seth said as he snatched the only hundred dollar bill out of his brother's wallet. He pocketed it and walked out the room, smiling broadly. He didn't even bother to close the door.

Once he had left Toki frowned a little and asked, "Pickle, why you give him money? I didn't wants to go with him."

"Oh, sorry. I thought you did."

"Why would you thinks tha-"

Suddenly there came yet another knock at the door. Toki and Pickles turned to face Mr. and Mrs. Wartooth. Both of them noted their son with mixtures of pity and scorn. Upon seeing them there, hovering in the doorway, Pickles chuckled awkwardly and elbowed Toki a little.

"Go deal with them for me?"

"Whys to I gots to-"

"Cause 'dey don't even speak English!"

Toki glared at him and snapped, "So whats? That ams no excuse!"

"Toki, please?"

He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fines," and then said something in Norwegian. He didn't even look into his parent's faces as he spoke to them, only down at his hands. He began picking his nails as his mother talked back, her voice—even to Pickles' ear—sounding stern and harsh.

Finally Toki turned back to him and said, "They wants to spends time with you."

Pickles cursed. "Why would 'dey wanna do 'dat?"

"Cause they wants to get to knows you."

"But wh-"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Toki had resumed talking to his parents again. When he was done, they made the sign of the cross across their hearts, bowed their heads, then exited the room. Pickles sighed. This was going to be a long rest of the day.

: :: :: :: :: :: :

Chapter 2, Part 1

Disobedience For Good Luck

A few hours later, Pickles was staring at himself in the full-length mirror that leaned against a wall in his room. A deep frown was on his face. "Why haven't we ever used this before?"

Toki, who was brushing his hair madly, trying to get it to behave, arched a brow. "What ams could we possibly be doings with a mirror, Pickle? That's rid-him-smacules."

"Don't you mean ridiculous?"

"That's what I said."

"Well, anyway, we could use it for something..." his voice trailed off, and Toki's face grew red at the suggestion.

"You mean watch our self haves-"

"Well, whadda think?" Pickles interrupted. "Do I look presentable?"

Toki got up, walked over to him, and looked him up and down. "Ain'ts you got any shirt with sleeves not cuts off?"

He shook his head. "Nope."

"Well, I guess that will have to do." and he scratched at his cheek and asked nervously, "Ams you scared?"

"Course I ain't," he answered, shaking his head. "I'm sure as hell nervous, but I ain't scared."

"Oh." he looked down before resumed brushing his hair. Pickles frowned at this, took the brush from him, and threw it to the side.

"You don't need that."

Toki shrugged. "Just tryings to looks nice."

"You always look nice."

"Oh, okays," he responded before turning and going back over to the bed. He sat on the floor, grabbed his boots, and put them on. Pickles watched him do this with an odd look on his face. Toki was tense—he could feel it.

"Hey, Toki?"

"Ja?"

"You're not scared, are you?"

He said nothing and continued lacing up his boots. Pickles let out an audible sigh and went over to him. He gently laid his hand on his shoulder, making the other man jump and look up, his eyes wide. "You're not scared, are you?" he repeated.

Toki swallowed and shook his head, saying numbly, "Na-ah."

But Pickles could tell that he was, so he leaned down, kissed him, then sat next to him. He let his head rest on his hand and watched as Toki laced up his boots. He tried toanyway, but his hands were shaking so badly that he couldn't even lace them up right. Pickles said nothing, though, not until Toki let out a frustrated cry and threw off his boots.

"Why're you so scared?"

"Cause Seth...he ams not good, Pickle..."

"He scares you?" he asked this with a chuckle. "Why would my douche bag brother scare you?"

Toki shrugged. He was so frustrated and scared at his eyes were tearing up. His voice was cracking very badly as he sputtered, "I...I don'ts...I just...I don't wants them here...my parents or yours..."

"I know."

"No," he insisted. "You don'ts, cause my fathers—he did bad things. Bad things..."

"Both our families are bad, but listen. After we let them fuck around with us once, they're gone. Once they realize that we're serious, then they'll leave and it'll just be us again." Pickles promised, leaning against Toki. "It's gonna get better."

Toki stared back at him and sniffled. "Okays, ja. It will, but look, you need something before you go see my parentses."

"What's that?"

He watched as the Norwegian got up and began rooting through his things that were all strewn on the floor. He threw shirts, pants, and underwear to the side—both his and Pickles—in search of what he was looking for. Ever since their first night together, Toki had moved into the drummer's room. It had been an exhausting process, moving all of his plane models and other childish remnants into his room, but in the end, Pickles couldn't imagine life without the Norwegian with him every night. Now he couldn't even begin to remember what it had been like to sleep without little Toki in his room...he could just picture it as being very empty.

"You lookin' for your bear?" Pickles called. "Cause last I saw, it was over on your side of the be-"

"Nos, I alreadys says goodnights to him; he still there."

"Oh."

Yes, Toki's little teddy bear was something that he took with grave seriousness. Pickles didn't even like to touch the stuffed animal—Toki could get to be very protective of it.

There was a moment of silence before Toki let out an triumphant, "Yes! I founds it!" and he came hurrying back over to Pickles, a big smile on his face, and pressed something into his hand. "Heres," he said. "For good luck."

Pickles opened his hand and frowned. A small charm attached to a winding string sat in his palm. It was a simple one, carved out of what appeared to be wood. Trying not to seem rude, he asked, "Uh...what the hell is this?"

"Well," he answered, plopping down next to him, "back home in Norway, there was a months when the snow would starts to let up and the sun would melts almost all of its away. It would leave nothings but mud. At the last day of the months, if the kids was good and done whatever thems parents asked of them and didn't gets dirty and play in the mud, they woulds gets something nice." and he grinned brightly.

Pickles smiled back and ran his fingers along the crude little wooden charm. "Oh, I get it. So this is what you got for bein' a good kid?"

He shook his head. "No, it's not. All the bad kids woulds get a rock or a piece of woods carved with that sign on its or whatevers..."

"Oh," he frowned. "What does the symbol mean?"

"Norwegian symbol for disobedience."

He laughed a little at this. "And you got this every year? This was your present from your parents?"

Toki nodded. "Ja, only time in my lifes when they gives me somethings...other than my birthday, when they just gives me stupid book called Bible."

"You're kidding!" Pickles exclaimed as his hand closed over the wooden symbol. "My folks used to try and throw bibles at me for Christmas! Every year they'd give me one and you know what I'd do with it?"

"What you do with it?"

"I'd gut it out to hide weed or coke in it." they both began laughing. "Yeah," Pickles continued, "that would make my year..."

Once the laughter had subsided, Toki's smile faded a little. "You knows something? I ain't that scared no more."

"That's good," Pickles said, putting the wooden charm in his pocket. "cause neither am I."

"Ja..." and Toki's voice trailed off as he put some of his hair behind his ears. He hugged his knees to him tightly. Finally he asked, "Hey, Pickle?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you thinks I ams bad?"

He stared at him oddly. "Whadda mean?"

"Oh, you knows, just bad. Like if yous had to get me gift-"

"I'd get you the best fuckin' thing ever."

"-okays, but what if you was my dad..."

"Toki, this is a weird conversation," Pickles said, trying not to smile. Toki just didn't get it, though. He was too innocent.

"...woulds you kicks me out and make me go away?"

"Away from where?"

"Home?"

He opened his mouth, but found that no words would come. Finally he forced out the words, "Toki, listen to me, I know that your parents were just really bad to you. It pisses me off, but I have to go and have dinner with them, okay? I have to-"

"That's not that I'm worried about, really."

"Then what?"

He looked down and bit his lip. His face had become a chalky white, totally drained of any color. He really was terrified. "Pickle, whatever thems tell you—they can talk Anglish if they really, really wants to—but just don't believe them. I ain'ts as bad as they say."

"I...uh...okay, but I don't get what-"

"I ams not bad."

He forced himself to smile. In reality, he felt sick. What had Toki really done to make his parents hate him so much? Or better yet, what had they done to him?

Then a knock came at the door, followed by a Klokateer saying, "My Lords, your families are awaiting your presence downstairs; they are ready for dinner."

" 'Kay, we're comin'!" Pickles called back before he dug the little wooden charm out his pocket, strung it around his neck, and tucked it in his shirt.

"I hopes it makes you get good luck," Toki said. "I know I'lls need it."

Pickles helped him to his feet and gave him one last, tight hug before administering a little kiss on the top of his head. Toki was a little taller than him, so he had to step up a little, but he didn't mind. "You ready?"

"Not reallys."

He gave him one of his characteristic half-smiles and took his hand. They walked out the room together in silence, enjoying the last few moments they had together.

: :: :: :: :: :: :

Chapter 2, Part 3

The Truth About Angels

After saying goodbye, Toki went over and joined Seth and his parents, who stood at the far right of the room. Pickles' mother and father pursed their lips as the Norwegian's walked up to them, his shy little smile on his face. Seth, however, opened his arms wide and gave him a rough hug, slapping him on the shoulder many times.

"Ah-hey, Toki! Glad you could come, man! Glad the first fastest guitarist in the world could come with us to fuckin' lunch! Fuck! Ma, Dad, can you believe this kid?" he asked, laughing a little.

Toki turned red and shook his head. "Second fastestest."

Seth chuckled. "Right...anyway, let's get goin'." he grabbed Toki by his arm and began to lead him out the door, but not before he glanced back at Pickles' parents.

"But what abouts your mothers and father? They ams not coming?"

"Course they ain't! It's just you and me today, man!"

He sighed and glared up at the sky, silently cursing God—if there may be one. "Ja, great."

Seth drove him to a nice little restaurant, where he proceeded to order Toki a hamburger. Unfortunately, though, this only reminded the guitarist of one thing—hamburger time—so, he didn't eat much of it, only a few bites. He found that even if he would've been hungry, he couldn't have eaten, not with Seth staring at him in the way he did. Finally, when he couldn't stand it any longer, he said, "Coulds you please not stare at me while I eat?"

"But you ain't eatin'."

"Sos? Just don't stare, please."

"Fine, fine. Whatever...jeez, you ain't gotta be a fuckin' dick about it, man..."

Toki swallowed the mouthful of Cola that he had been drinking—he had declined a beer, which is what Seth had ordered—and began rapping his fingers on the table. Seth continued to stare at him until finally he admitted, "I just don't get it, I really don't."

"Don't get whats?"

"Why you're...ya know..."

Toki's mouth twisted into a frown. He had somehow known deep inside that this subject would come up. He had tried to mentally prepare himself for it, but now all that seemed stupid as he inquired, "You ams wondering why I ams gay?"

Seth's eyes grew wide and he shook his head quickly. "No way, I just don't understand why you're doing this if you really love my brother as much as you say you do."

"I...wait, whats?" he asked, arching a brow. He took another drink before adding, "What ams I doing?"

"Nothing, it's just..." Seth let out a sigh, ran his hand thru his hair, and looked down. "Ah, Jesus. I shoulda known this wasn't a good idea...that stupid Swedish guy told me so, but I-"

"What Skwisgaar tell you?"

Seth took a long sip from his mug of beer before saying, "He didn't have to say anything. It's so plain to see, what you're doing to Dethklok..."

"WHAT AMS I DOINGS TO DETHKLOK?"

The severe loudness of his voice surprised even Toki. As soon as he had yelled, he bit his lip, sunk down in his seat, and let his hair fall in his face. Hopefully nobody could see just how red he was turning as everyone in the restaurant turned to stare at him...

"Listen, I'm only saying cause I actually have, ya know, fuckin' business shit goin' on with Dethklok, but dude, I gotta be fuckin' honest—you're ripping the band apart." and the questioning look on Toki's face, he continued, "Sorry, but I can't fuckin' hold it in no more. You, and the way you hold on to my brother...I know it ain't none of my fuckin' business, but look, kid, you've got to understand that what you're doing to him, tying him down to another guy, is just plain selfish."

"But...but he say he love me."

"He does, I guess. I won't fuckin' deny that, but the way it's making everyone else so..." he shuttered and said quietly, "...if you really cared about him, you would just leave him. Think about it."

Toki's hands began shaking. He was nearly crying as he asked, "Whys should I do that? He always said that wes were made for each oth-"

"You know there are these things," Seth broke in. "There are these things; when you die, you know what happens? If you really love someone, you become they're guardian angel, and you protect them from all the bad shit in life. Or, at least, that's what happens to people who really, really love someone..." he let his voice trail off and watched as a look of understanding came over Toki's face.

"So you ams saying that I ams like Pickle...angel? Cause that's kind of gay. I wants to be something cool, like a demons or something."

"You mean you wanna curse him?" Seth asked. Toki quickly shook his head.

"Nos, no, I just mean that-"

"Cause that's what you're doing now. Come on, use your fuckin' brain, man. Pickles doesn't wanna take care of you forever."

"But he say that he loves me, and that's what love is, isn't it?"

Seth laughed and shook his head. "Damn, you must be fuckin' with him a lot to get him to say he loves you! Fuck, I ain't never heard something so stupid in my whole life."

Toki frowned. Could what Seth was saying be true? After all, who knew Pickles better than his own brother? "But he say...he says..."

"Please, he's a fuckin' liar, always was. He doesn't love anything that doesn't have to do with himself. Use your brain! Think about it!"

A heavy silence followed his words, one where Toki looked down and bit his lip...

Pickle don'ts wants to do that, to takes care of me forever...he loves me but is it selfish to bes with him? Maybes he really don't love me at all, maybe he just likes me cause we haves sex so much...

"Hey, Toki, you ready to fuckin' get outta here?"

"Huh?" he looked up and said quietly, "Ja, sure."

...not like Pickle ams missing me right now anyways.