Chapter 2, Part 1

Choices & Questions

Pickles lead Toki into the bus. "Just find a place to sit, I guess," he said as he stepped aside and let the shivering Norwegian get in. As soon as the two stepped inside, everyone's eyes slowly shifted over to them. The drummer smiled awkwardly and said, "Hey, dudes. 'Dis is-"

"The stupids idiot that don't even knows English yet," Skwisgaar completed, an evil smile on his face.

This seemed to be everyone's cue to begin talking at once. Even Ofdensen began talking, his voice a serious hum above everyone else's. In fact, the only one who seemed to be okay with Toki's inclusion in the band was Pickles. He stood there, his arms crossed over his chest, throwing insults out at everyone who tried to say anything bad about the Norwegian. In his mind they were all being total hypocrites, and he didn't hesitate to let them know it.

"Skwisgaar, what're you talkin' about, dude?" he asked. "When I first met you, you didn't understand a fuckin' word. Not anything. At least he can talk if he really tries. You were just-"

"Jeesh," Murderface broke in, frowning as Toki stood hugging himself in the doorway. "he looksh pretty girly. I mean, hish hair ish really long and-"

"Translate?" Toki piped up, his cheeks turning a bright scarlet. He was staring at Skwisgaar as he repeated, "Translate?"

The Swede rolled his eyes and said thru gritted teeth, "Ja, fine. I mean, it's not like I gots words in my mind to be saying. What you wants to tells them, dildo?"

"Fortell dem om å la meg bli. Fortell dem at jeg virkelig ønsker å være i bandet og ville gjøre noe hvis de lar meg bli, og ga meg en sjanse. Bare én sjanse, det er det.

Please tell them to let me stay. Tell them that I really want to be in the band and would do anything if they let me stay and gave me a chance. Just one chance, that's it.

He laughed coldly and retorted, "I wills not tell them that!"

"Vær så snill, jeg vet ikke engelsk ennå.

He spoke now with a quiet desperation in his voice, one that actually made Pickles feel somewhat guitly. The drummer glared at Skwisgaar and demanded, "Just tell us what he said, douchebag."

"Pickles, I really don't think that what he said is relevant to the situation," Ofdensen said, cleaning his glasses off on his suit. "What I think we need to discuss now is Toki's place in the band. I've filled everyone in on your plan, but I think that it's only fair to consider other people's view on the subject, Pickles."

"I will just as long as they're fair!"

"Very well then. Would anyone like to begin?" he asked. When everyone grew silent he sighed. "So now that Toki's here you don't want to voice any of your previously stated complaints? None of you? Not one of you would like to say how you feel about-"

"I just think...you know," Nathan said with a tired groan. "Well, damn it, Pickles. It'd just be a lot of fucking work that we don't need. I mean, look at him. He doesn't even know English yet."

"But he's learning!" the drummer protested as he went and sat on the couch. Toki didn't follow him, just stood by the door nervously twisting his long, brown hair in his hands. Pickels motioned for him to come over, and so he did.

"I jusht think that he'sh short of unneceshshary." Murderface lisped, spit flying between his lips. And he turned and stared at the Norwegian and asked, "What do you think? Do you think that we should put up with you?"

Toki turned back to Skwisgaar and begged, "Translate?"

"I wills not."

"Skwisgaar!" Nathan growled. "Just do it or Pickles is gonna get pissed and we're never gonna hear the end of it."

The Swede glared down at the guitar that lay in his lap. He began strumming at it as he said, "Fines, Toki. I transk-hilate."

"T-Thanks you," he said with some difficulty. He meant to begin speaking right then, but as his pale blue eyes watched Skwisgaar's fingers rapidly move up and down his guitar, his face became ashen. He looked back at Pickles and said with some note of fear, "I can'ts play that good."

" 'Dat's fine, Toki. We don't expect you to, just say what you need to say to Skwisgaar, 'kay?"

He nodded and said in Norwegian, "Jeg vet ikke hva jeg skal si ... Jeg tror jeg egentlig aldri trodde jeg skulle komme så langt. Takk for å gi meg en sjanse, fordi jeg virkelig, virkelig ønsker å gjøre dette. Mer enn noe annet. Det er den eneste måten jeg tror jeg skal overleve. Jeg kan ikke gå hjem, jeg trenger ikke noen til å ta meg i. Jeg er alene. Vær bare hjelpe meg ut. Jeg lover jeg skal bli god. Jeg sverger til Gud..."

Everyone stared anxously at Skwisgaar. It took a moment for the Swede to fully comprehend Toki's words, but once he had he said, "He says that he don'ts gots nowhere to gos, so he dosen't know what he'll do if we throws him out."

"Yeah, and." this wasn't enough for Pickles. Although he didn't understand a word of Norwegian, he knew that Toki had said something else. He could tell by the desperate look on the teenager's face that he'd said something else.

Skwisgaar gazed at him hatefully. Begrudgingly he continued with the rest of his translation. "Even thoughs I don't think it ammnest relevants to the situ-haksen, hims says—he thinks—that if we gives him a chance he'll do good. He swears."

"I think we should give him a chance," the drummer said. "He could be really good."

"Or dildos." the Swede said, resuming the strumming at his guitar.

Pickles scoffed. "Yeah, well...how can you even understand him anyways? I thought you didn't speak Norwegian, only Swedi-"

"Sweden and Norways ammnest right next to each other, dildos, so the languages ams similar!" he snapped. "I ain'ts gots no time to gives you a Geometrys lesson, but-"

"Geography?" Toki inquired sweetly, smiling a little.

Everyone snickered and Skwisgaar's face flushed as he said, "Fucks you! I don't even likes you, stupid Norwegian. Don't tells me where places ams and ammnest, 'cause you don't knows any more than I dos." he glared back down at his guitar and added under his breath, "All the Norwegian ammnest scum..."

"Well, anyway. Guys, look." Ofdensen spoke up, trying to make them refocus on the matter at hand. "Either Toki's staying with us or he's not. It's not up to me to make that decision, but I'd advise that you think very carefully."

"Fuck you!" Pickles exclaimed suddenly, getting to his feet. "What do you have against him? It's like ever since you met him you're-"

"Pickles, please sit back down." he interrupted coolly. Only when the drummer was sitting back on the couch did he continue. "Consider the fact that he's nothing more than a fan. Imagine if we went around picking up everyone off the street. He could be a danger to the band. He could-"

"Does he really look like a fuckin' danger to you? Look at him! He looks like he's about to die!"

Toki, realizing that he was being talked about, asked quietly, "Foods?"

Pickles turned to him and immediately he lost every sign of his previous hostility. "Huh? What is it that you want?" he asked the question in an uncharacteristically kind way. It made Skwisgaar roll his eyes.

"Foods?" Toki repeated patiently. "Hungries."

He nodded. "Oh yeah, I forgot. Anyone gat any food?"

Nobody said anything. Skwisgaar grinned and said to Toki in Swedish, "Dumma norska. Du är inget bättre än en hund, och hundar förtjänar inte mat."

Nathan frowned at this. "What'd you say?"

Toki just began picking his nails and said quietly, "I'ms no dog, Skwisgaar."

"What the fuck?" Pickles yelled. "Now we're just gonna all call him a dag? What is that shit, Skwisgaar? Who the hell do you think you are?"

"I thinks," he answered, throwing his guitar down on the floor in a sudden rage. "I thinks that I ammnest Skwisgaar Skwigelf, and I thinks that I am the fastest guitarist in the worlds. I also thinks that we don'ts needs him. There ams no place for him in this band, Pickle. Face it. Not as long as I'ms here."

Pickles opened his mouth to say something else, but Ofdensen spoke before he had the chance. "Look, guys, we need to decide right now. Is Toki going to stay or not? We'll put it to a vote. All those in favor of him staying in the band for a six month trial period, please raise your hand."

"Voting shucks," Murderface said, crossing his arms.

Nathan, however, raised his hand. "I'll give the little prick a chance."

Toki gave him a grateful little smile. "Thanks."

"Whatever."

Pickles also raised his hand. Ofdensen nodded and said, "Good. Half the band's support is enough to keep him in the band. I guess I'll go write up a contract for you to sign, Toki." and he glanced at Skwisgaar and asked, "Can you please ask Toki if he can read English?"

The Swede nodded and said bitterly,"Hej, dum. Kan du läsa på engelska?"

Toki frowned and asked obliviously, "English?"

"Can you read it?" Pickles asked, trying to sound less annoyed than he actually felt. "Do you even know how to read?"

"Knows to read? Ja, Norwegian."

"No English, huh?"

He shook his head. "Nos English."

"Hmm," Ofdensen said with a little frown. "I suppose that I'll just have to make a copy of the contract in English and Norwegian. Would that be okay, Toki?"

He shrugged and said cluelessly, "Okays."

"Good. I'll just leave you to guys to mingle." and Ofdensen made a quick exit, all the while running his list of things to do thru his head. Managing Dethklok was more than enough work for the average human being, and now he had a non-English speaking Norwegian to worry about. Not to mention the fact that half the band didn't even want Toki around...

This was perfect. Just perfect.

As soon as he left, Murderface said, "I don't like that shtupid Norwegian prick."

"Nobody asked you, douchebag." Pickles retorted bitterly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Technically we did." Nathan pointed out. "I mean, we did just put it to a vo-"

"I don't care. I hate you all."

Skwisgaar chuckled. "Wows. That ammnest pretty mean thing to say, Pickle."

"Well it's true! You're all dicks! You don't even wanna give him a chance!"

"Why you care so much if we gives him a chance or nots? He looks like one of them hobos, anyway."

Murderface laughed and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Toki'sh like a hobo!"

Nathan just opened himself a bottle of booze and grumbled, "This is gonna be a long ride."

There was a moment of silence before Pickles glanced down at the suitcase Toki had brought with him. He nudged it with his shoe and asked curiously, "Hey, Toki? What kinda stuff you brought from home?"

"Lots of music. That ams about it."

For some reason he didn't seem quite as nervous now that he had been voted into the band. The drummer gave him an inviting little smile and said, "Oh. Cool. What kinda music?"

"You can looks in it if you-"

In a moment Murderface had jumped out of his seat and had unzipped Toki's suitcase; he dumped out all of its contents and his eyes grew wide. "What the fuck? It'sh jusht a shitload of C.! Haven't you ever heard of an iPod, idiot?"

Toki arched a brow. "iPods? What ams that?

Nathan laughed. "You don't know what an iPod is?"

He shook his head and said innocently, "Nos. Hva er det?"

"It ammnest a thing you keeps your music and videos on, idiots." Skwisgaar answered, strumming on his guitar. "You do knows what music is, don'ts you?"

"Fuck yeah he doesh! Look at thish!" Murderface held up an Iron Maiden album and said, "Thish ish amazing. You bought all of theshe?"

Toki nodded. "Ja."

Pickles reached for a C.D. And scratched his head. "What's 'dis one called?" he flipped it over and read, "Hendrix...dude, you gat fuckin' Hendrix in Norway?"

"Hendrix?" Skwisgaar inquired, glancing up from his Gibson. "Who or what ams a Hendrix?"

"Jimi Hendrix, you dildo. Ain't you never heard of Hendrix?"

"Hims was the best guitarist ever." Toki chimed in, smiling proudly and taking back the C.D.

The Swede chortled and said confidently, "Nos, that ammnest impossible, 'cause I am the greatest guitarist 'dat ever lives."

Pickles got down on the floor and began looking thru Toki's suitcase of C.D.s for himself, an astonished look on his face. "Dude, are you kiddin' me? This is really cool..." and he dug out a very strange-looking one and read in confusion, "The Doors? Who 'de fuck are 'dey?"

Nathan just stared at the suitcase in wonder. "Didn't you bring any clothes?"

"Ja, what I gots on."

"No, you know what I mean. Any more shirts or whatever?"

Toki shook his head. "Nos. Jeg er iført alle klærne jeg eier."

"Huh." then he turned to the Swede and asked, "Skwisgaar, what the fuck did he just say?"

"Hims said that he ammnest wearing all the clothes he owns."

A look of pure bewilderment came upon Nathan's face as he said, "Oh. Wow, really? That sucks..."

Pickles laughed at this. "You're jokin', right Toki?"

"Joke?"

"You're really nat wearin' all the clothes you own, right? You must have at least, like, one other shirt, right?"

He shook his head. "Nos. Just this." and he began hauling all the C.D.s back into his suitcase, but before he could Pickles stopped him.

"No, dude, don't even bother. We're gonna get you an iPod." and he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, dialed a few numbers, then waited for someone to pick up. In a moment he was talking, sounding annoyed. "Hey. Yeah, dude, by the time we get home can you have a new iPod touch ready? Yep." he paused, frowned, and said, "Nah, as much memory as it can have. Yep, sure. I'll pay. 'Kay. Thanks, dude. Oh yeah, and a couple of Big Macs and some fries. Yeah, whatever. Piss aff." and he hung up and said, "Toki, by the time we get home you'll have a new iPod and some food, alright?"

His pale eyes were wide as he asked, "Justs like that? Easy?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, sure. 'Dat easy."

"Wowee! You guys gets everything you wants, huh?"

"Yep. It's what happens when you ammnest famous." Skwisgaar said. "You gets all the ladies you wants, all the drugs, and everything else. We coulds own the world if we wanted."

Toki gave him a little smile. "Well why don'ts you, then?"

"Because we ams too lazy."

Murderface laughed and asked, "Hey, Toki, can I ashk you a queshtion?"

"Sures."

Needless to say, that Murderface's one question spiraled into a dozen more, and soon everyone was asking Toki something. They all jumped around from one subject to another, but it all began with, "Have you ever had a girlfriend?"

Toki turned a little red. "Nos, not really."

Murderface stared at him oddly and finally inquired, "Well don't you ever want one?"

"Sures, I guess."

"Dos you really care if you haves one or not?" Skwisgaar asked.

Toki thought about it and shrugged. "Sures. I guess it would be nice."

"I've got a question." Nathan said.

"Hmm?"

"How did you learn to speak English?"

"I listens to a lot of American music."

"What's your favorite band?" This time it was Pickles. He had sworn that he wouldn't ask Toki anything because he didn't want him to feel that different from the rest of the band, but he was honestly curious. Besides, the Norwegian didn't seem to mind—he did seem fairly uncomfortable with all the attention, though.

"I...ums...I don't know."

"I got one! What'sh your favorite color!"

The drummer rolled his eyes. "Dildo, that ain't a good question!"

And that one question spiraled into a dozen more stupid and seemingly irrelevant questions like, "What was the longest time you've ever spent outside during a blizzard?"

Toki considered it and finally answered, "Probably abouts three hours. I hads to come inside 'cause I couldn't feels any parts of my body anymore."

"Did you ever get frostbite?"

"Well nos, but once I gots inside and my foot was black. It turned back to normal color, though."

"Have you almost ever frozen to death?"

"Ja, loads of times."

"What was the worst thing that ever happened to you?"

Toki considered talking about the time his father had pushed him so hard that he'd fallen into a counter and dislocated his shoulder, but he decided not to. Instead of reliving that pain, he said shyly, "I fells into a frozen lake once."

Skwisgaar laughed. "Ha! I would've lets you outside to freeze!"

"Dude..." Pickles muttered, ignoring the Swede. " 'Dat sucks. What'd you do?"

"I gots out and...I don't knows—didn't die, I guess. I fells in it loads of times, so it really wasn't no bigs deal."

There was a moment of long silence before Nathan asked in his deep, harsh voice, "What the fuck were you doing at your house to make you fall in a damn lake?"

"I works a lot."

"What about school? You ever been?"

Toki shook his head. "Nopes. I had to drops out 'cause my dad mades me."

Skwisgaar grinned wickedly and spoke up finally, after a brief but heavy silence. "So you ams stupid?"

"Nos. I don't thinks so."

"Then tells to me about something that don't gots to do with the guitar."

"I..." all of his previous comfort melted away as quickly as it had come. He shifted in his seat, looked down, and began picking at his nails. Suddenly he lost all of his knowledge of his English language. All he could think to say was, "Jeg vet ikke noe som ikke har å gjøre med gitaren."

"Skwisgaar..." Pickles began. The Swede didn't quit.

"Uh-huh. So nothings. You can't think of one fuckings thing that ain't got to do with guitar?" Toki shook his head. "So you ammnest what? Stupid?"

"Skwisgaar! Shut the fuck up!"

"What?" he asked, glaring at the drummer. "I ammnest just playings with him! You know, like little game. Rights, Toki? I ams just a little game, right, Toki? Huh?" he gave the Norwegian a malicious grin and said again, "Just a game."

Toki stared at the Swede with his pale eyes and said submissively, "Ja. Game."

"Goods. See? He ams fine with it. Right, Toki?"

"Sures. Fine."

Skwisgaar laughed and continued strumming on his Gibson, making a big show of it to impress Toki. After a moment of this he got bored and began speaking again. "Sos that's it, then? You can'ts speak Anglish no mores? Just one words?"

"Maybes I don't wants to talk anymore."

"Ashames. I was just startings to like talkings to you." Skwisgaar said coldly.

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Chapter 2, Part 2

Saying Goodbye

After that everyone grew silent. The rest of the ride was a long one, but finally they arrived at the airport and loaded all their stuff onto the Dethcopter. Pickles began to worry as he watched Toki board the copter; the Norwegian was just standing there, staring back over his shoulder with a look of deep concentration on his face. Pickles approached him and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, you alright, dude?"

"Huh?"

"Are you okay?"

He ran a shaking hand thru his greasy mat of brown hair and nodded. "Ja, sures."

Pickles chuckled and shook his head. "No, dude. Don't even try to pull that one-word sentence crap with me. If you're gonna talk then just do it."

Toki gave him one of his adorably confused looks."Hva snakker du om?"

"You still don't really understand English too good, huh?"

"I'ms trying really hard."

"I know. It's cool."

He noticed that the Norwegian's eyes were shining brightly as he stared out at the snowy countryside of Norway. "You...you don't wanna leave, huh?"

Now Toki laughed. It was a bright, much needed sound; Pickles couldn't help but smile at the suddenness of it. "Are you kiddings? I want to go, it's just...you ever wanted to do somethings that you know is wrong? Or haves you done somethings you ever regretted?"

Pickles nodded. "Yeah, loads of times." and he hesitated before trying to add thoughtfully, "But if you never woulda done 'dem to start with, then you would't have…" his voice trailled off and he sighed in frustration. "Shit. I don't know how to say it right. Sorry. I'm not good with words."

"It ams fines." he said, putting his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "I don't expects you to be."

"Hey, Toki?"

"Huh?"

Pickles swallowed, tried to think of a way to say what was on his mind, but all he could do was slap the Norwegian's shoulder supportively and clear his throat. "I...um...it's gonna be okay. You know 'dat, right? I mean, you know you're in the band now, don't you? You're not going anywhere and we're not just gonna dump you somewhere on the street or any-"

"I'ms leaving everything behind."

"What?"

"Everything." he said, letting out a breath. It made a white cloud of vapor and then disappeared into the freezing air. "I...what if I'ms not good enough?"

"You are."

"But how do you knows for sure?"

"I just do."

Toki shook his head. "No you don'ts. I'm not dumb."

Pickles bit his lip. "I know you're nat, just come on. We're about to take off." he made to walk off, but when Toki didn't come he turned and added, "Seriously. It's gonna be fine."

The Norwegian gave him a small, shy little smile. "You promises?"

He had never kept a promise in his life, but he still nodded. "Yeah, I promise."

"And America ams warm, right? No snows?"

Pickles grinned and shook his head. "Nope, no snow except for in the winter."

Toki put some of his hair behind his ears, trying to keep it from flying wildly in the biting cold wind, and he something very odd—he began laughing and he went right up and pulled Pickles into a tight hug. The drummer didn't know what to do. He just stood there patting Toki's head awkwardly, as if he were a dog, and glanced back at the Dethcopter, praying that nobody would see them hugging like this.

It was so un-brutal that it almost made him vomit...

...but still, Toki was freezing and Pickles was warm in his thick jacket, so he felt obligated to hug him back and say, "I swear to Gad, you're gonna be fine. We're really not 'dat bad. Skwisgaar's just a dick sometimes, but you get used to him."

"Thanks, Pickle," Toki said, sniffling. "You ams really good."

"Yeah, no...uh...no problem, I guess." he tried to pull the Norwegian away, but Toki wouldn't let go. The drummer rolled his eyes. "Okay, you can let go now—stap hugging me, please."

He pulled away and looked down, clearly embarrassed. "Sorry. We can gos now?"

"Whenever you're ready."

Toki walked with him into the Dethcopter. Just before they rejoined everyone else, he stopped and asked, "Pickle, you knows what?"

"Huh?"

"You don't makes me nervous that bad no mores."

He smiled and said quietly, " 'Dat's good. Thanks."

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Chapter 2, Part 3

Welcome To America

They arrived home a few hours later and all gathered in the living room before going to bed. After plopping down in his seat on the couch, Skwisgaar began practicing on his guitar. "That stupids tour mades me so fuckings tired. What do we haves to do for tomorrow, Ofdensen?"

"Well, let's see. There's the new album that you have to start writing and recording as soon as possible, and also Duncan Hills Coffee contacted us today. They're interested in doing a jingle, but first they want Toki to sign his contract." and he took a pen out of his pocket and began clicking it madly—a nervous habit of his—and asked the Norwegian, "You do know how to write your name, don't you?"

He nodded. "Ja."

"He ain't stupid." Pickles added in, taking a sip from the bottle of vodka he was clutching.

"And I'm not saying he is, but we just have to think about these things." Ofdensen said before rising to his feet. "Well, I think that's it, boys. We're done for tonight and I want you all in bed by at least one A.M. You all have a busy day tomorrow, so let's get some sleep." and he exited the room, still clicking his pen.

Once he left, everyone except Toki let out annoyed and exhausted groans. "Is he kidding me?" Nathan growled. "We just got home and now we have to start on a whole new album?"

"But we jusht finished the other one!" Murderface protested. "That'sh bullshit."

"Uh, guys, permits me to say something." Skwisgaar said. "But that ammnest our jobs."

They all laughed at this. Pickles drank some more vodka and added, "Nah, I joined a band for two things—chicks and drugs. 'Dat's it."

"And money," Nathan added. "Don't forget about the money."

"Right, the money."

Toki looked around, his pale blue eyes shining with curiosity and his stomach growling loudly. He gently tapped Pickles' shoulder and asked politely, "Foods, please? I thought you saids that-"

"Oh shit, yeah!" and he got up, put a hand to his mouth, and yelled as loudly as he could, "Klakateer! We need a fuckin' Klakateer in here! Hurry up!"

In a second a Klokateer had entered the room. He bowed to them all and said, "My Lords wanted to request something?"

"Fuck yeah I do." the drummer said, sounding annoyed. "I ordered two damn burgers, some fries, and an iPod on my way home. Where are 'dey?"

"I...um...I'm sure they're on their way, Master Pickles."

"But 'dat's just it. What if I'm hungry now? What if I want to listen to my music now?"

The Klokateer glanced around nervously at the others and asked meekly, "Shall I go and ask someone about the delay, sir?"

"Damn straight, you will." distractedly he laid a hand on Toki's shoulder. "Our new rhythm guitarist is hungry." and he glanced down at the Norwegian, who was sitting on the floor, and asked, "When was last time you ate?"

"A meal?"

"Yeah, any real food."

"Couple of weeks."

"God damn, you've been wanderin' around Norway for-"

"Few months." he hesitated before adding, "I really wanteds to see your concerts."

Murderface, however, snickered and repeated, "Two shtupid weeksh without food? God, you're dumb. You spent two weeksh without food and a few monthsh wandering around Norway becaushe you wanted to shee our shtupid concert?"

Toki ignored him and leaned against the side of the couch. He began digging thru his suitcase again as Pickles snapped at the Klokateer, "Okay, look, the point is that I want my stupid, mother-douchebag burgers and my iPod. Is that too much to ask for?"

"Master Pickles, please forgive me." another Klokateer said as he entered the room. In one had he held two greasy bags of McDonald's and in the other an iPod case. "There was a slight wait at the Apple Store."

"Coulda sped it up anyways." he mumbled under his breath, snatching the bags of food and the iPod. Nathan frowned at this.

"You ordered food didn't get us anything?"

"Ja, you knows I likes the apple pies!" Skwisgaar yelled.

"Oh, come an, guys. Shut up." was the drummer's response as he passed Toki the bags of food. "He ain't never ate American before, so just chill out."

"Sho that'sh what we're calling McDonald'sh now?" Murderface questioned sarcastically. "American?"

"Will you all just please shut up?" he begged, letting his head fall onto his hands dramatically. "I'm getting a headache." Pickles wanted them all to just get out and got to bed; he was sick of hearing them pick at Toki.

"Well fines, then. I won't bother you anymores." Skwisgaar said, getting to his feet. "Goodnights."

They all said goodnight and went off to their separate rooms. Everyone except Pickles. He didn't feel right leaving Toki with just the Klokateers for company, so he sat on the couch and watched as the Norwegian unwrapped the a burger and bit into it, smiling.

"Anything else, my lord?" the Klokateers asked together.

"Nah, I've gat all I need right here. Thanks."

They left the room as well, and as soon as they had closed the door Toki grabbed the bags of food and went to sit on the couch beside Pickles. "Sorry about 'dat..." he said, clearing his throat. "You havin' to sit on the floor an' all. Tomorrow we'll make them bring in another couch or something."

"Okays."

Pickles reached over and opened up the iPod box. He turned it on and went to the music section. "Good. 'Dey put them all on here."

Toki looked over at him and swallowed. "What ams put?"

"I texted 'dem a list of songs and bands and shit from the C.D.s you had. Y'know, made 'em put them on there before I bought it." and he gently put the music player back on the coffee table. "That means you don't gotta haul around that suitcase anymore if you don't want. Tours are already hard enough without all of that stuff."

"Oh. Thanks." he took another bite from his burger and then noticed the second bag. "Um...Pickle?"

"Huh?"

"I'm never goings to eat all that."

"Eat what you want. I didn't know how hungry you were and I was scared you was gonna pass out or somethin', you looked so bad."

"I really feels bad I made you pay for it. Sorry."

"You didn't make me do nothin'. Nobody makes me do anything."

Toki shrugged. "Still, I'ms sorry. I can pays you ba-"

"I'm rich, dude. Seriously, it's no big deal. Just eat."

"Thanks."

Pickles nodded and turned on the T.V. He flipped thru every single channel before asking, "You had a T.V. Back in Norway?"

Toki arched a brow. "Hva?"

"What does 'dat even mean?" the drummer wondered aloud, forgetting his first question. "You say it all the time, but I can't even guess at it."

"What."

"I asked what it mea-"

"I'm tellings you; means what."

"Oh." he looked down, slightly ashamed. "Sorry."

"You don't haves to be." and he wiped his mouth off on his jacket. "I don't knows Englishes that well yet and you don't know Norwegian. Guess we ams even."

"Yep, guess we are damn near even."

Toki grabbed the other bag of food and offered it to Pickles. "Eat?"

He shook his head. "I'm fine. S'your food anyways."

The Norwegian frowned and didn't back down. "Please? I feels guilty."

The drummer took the bag of food and gave Toki one of his little half-smiles. " 'Kay. Whatever you say. Thanks." he opened the bag, took out his burger, and bit into it. While he chewed he thought about what he could say to make Toki feel better, but came up with nothing. He felt guilty that he and the rest of Dethklok had encouraged him to run away from home, almost die in the wilderness of Norway, and sneak past armed security guards...all for what? He wasn't even getting respected and nobody really liked him...Pickles felt his heart grow heavy with guilt and put down his burger.

"Hey, Toki?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you...y'know, okay?"

"Hva mener du?"

"Do you feel okay? Y'know, as in good?"

Toki shrugged. "Ja, sure." and he ate the rest of his food in silence then smacked his lips. "That was goods. Thanks."

"Welcome." Pickles yawned and closed his eyes. Finally thought of what to say."Hey, Toki?"

"Ja?"

And just as quickly as they had come, all of those wonderful and motivating words that had been swimming thru his brain melted away. All the drummer could do was sigh and say, "Well...goodnight. I-I'm goin' to bed, but if you need anything—anything-I swear you can come and y'know...ask me."

The Norwegian gave him a sweet, tired little smile. "Thanks, Pickle."

"Sure. Tomorrow we'll get you a room, but tonight could you just sleep here on the couch?"

"Couch? Sures."

He nodded. " 'Kay. I—well, I guess goodnight, then." and he got up, picked up his trash, and was ready to go out the door, but before he could Toki was calling him back.

"Heys, wait! Comes, please."

"Huh?" he turned and saw that Toki was staring at him, his pale eyes full of concern. "Yeah?"

The Norwegian held out his arms and asked in a quiet sort of meekness, "Hug?"

Pickles frowned and asked cluelessly, "Hug? Hug what?"

"Hug. Please?"

"Oh! From me? Yeah, sure." he went over, bent down, and hugged Toki as tightly as he could, trying to somehow let him know that it was okay. It struck him then just how brave the guitarist was. He'd run away from the only place he'd ever known to a new country that he had no clue about—a new country that had a totally different language? It seemed insane to him. He'd never be brave enough to do it...

Never.

Toki hugged him tightly, as though he'd never see Pickles again. Finally the drummer pulled away and patted him on his shoulder. "Look, it's fine, okay? I'm just gonna be right upstai-"

"Cold?"

"What?"

"Ams it get cold in here at night?"

Pickles shrugged. "I dunno. I guess not...why?"

Toki bit his lip and looked down. "Nothings. Sleep good."

"Yeah." he said, giving him a reassuirng little smile. "G'night." he went to walk away again, but something stopped him. His heart seemed to tug, to pull him back over to where Toki was, grab a blanket, and make himself a spot on the couch.

The guitarist frowned at this and asked, "Hva gjør du?"

"I...uh...in English, dude?"

Toki arched a brow and shook his head. "Nos, can't say."

"Oh...well..." Pickles sighed and bit his lip in thought. "If you're askin' me what I'm doin', I'm sleeping in here tonight. Is 'dat okay? Would you mind if I did that?"

"I...mind?" he frowned. "What means that?"

"Can I sleep in here with you?"

Toki's face lit up and he nodded, rushed to make room for him. "Ja, sures!"

Pickles grinned and sat down next to the Norwegian. "Thanks, Tok-" before he could finish his sentence, Toki was talking away, about anything and everything. The drummer could only understand part of it, but what he could make out was actually funny. Toki had a sense of humor? Who knew.

They talked for a while, until Skwisgaar came down, his hair wild and messy, and glared at them. He was nearly naked, only wearing the covers of his bed around his hips. "Hey, here ammnest an obnoxious thought, but hows about you two shuts the fucks up? Me and my ladies can here you all the ways up in our damns room! It ammnest ruining the moods!"

Pickles smirked. "You got a girl up 'dere?"

"Ja, and I ammnest really horny, so can you please control yourskelfs?"

Toki blushed."Du har en kjæreste?"

Skwisgaar chuckled and said cleverly, "Ja, lots of 'dem—more than you haves, anyways." then he turned his attention to Pickles. "I'm going back up to my rooms now. Can you two dildos try to keeps it down?"

"Sure." he said. "We'll try."

And the Swede went back up the stairs, nearly tripping over the blanket that was covering him. Once he had left, Toki began picking his nails. After a moment he asked, "Pickle?"

"Yeah?"

"What ams a queer?"

His green eyes grew wide. "I...what?"

Toki met his gaze and repeated, his voice unsure and his expression confused, "A queer? What ams it?"

Pickles bit his lip and blushed a little. "What're you askin' me for?"

" 'Cause you ams the only one I can talk to."

"Oh. Shit, then I guess I have to tell you..." and he hesitated for a moment before another question popped into his head. "Toki, why do you wanna know 'dat?"

" 'Cause it ams...just tells me, please."

Pickles took a deep breath and scratched his head. "Okay, well...how should I—I don't guess you can just go and ask your parents or something?"

Toki shook his head. "No."

"Okay. I thought nat." he didn't know why, but just the notion of having to explain something like that to a person as innocent and seemingly ignorant as Toki made him almost feel sick. With much difficultly, he began. "Okay, well I guess it's whenever you're a dude, right?"

He nodded. "Ja, okays."

"And you like another dude."

Toki's eyes grew wide. "Ohs. So that ams why you didn't want to tells me."

Pickles turned almost as red as his hair and cleared his throat. "I...um, yeah. So why do you wanna know anyway? Did someone call you a queer?"

He shook his head quickly, trying to forget about the kids back in Norway who had thrown ice at him and called him names. Queer wasn't the only thing he'd heard being shouted at him. He'd heard worse things. Many worse things, although 'queer' had been the most popular. He'd never really known what it meant, though he'd gotten a clue when another teenager had come up to him once—a boy—and tried to kiss him right in the middle of town. When he'd refused, the kid had gotten angry and given him a black eye. That had made Toki very confused.

Now he tried to forget all that and he did what he usually did when faced with bad or painful thoughts—he smiled and shrugged it off happily. "I don'ts know," Toki answered cheerfully. "I guess it just-"

"Skwisgaar said it or somethin'?"

He shook his head. "Nos. He didn't." Toki silently cursed himself for putting emphasis on 'he'. It had been an accidental slip of the tongue, one that he thought but didn't mean to say. It only seemed to make Pickles more concerned.

"Who did it? Who called you a-"

"Do you thinks my hair ams too long?" he asked, trying to change the subject before he was totally humiliated.

"Do I what?"

Toki swallowed, closed his eyes, and repeated calmly, "Do you thinks my hair ams too long?" He had also been wondering about his hair for a while. Everyone said it was too long, made him look effeminate. This made him confused, too.

Pickles just chuckled and shook his head. "Nah. Have you seen my hair? No way. It just needs to be washed, that's all."

In the back of his mind Toki was remembering what the boy who had tried to kiss him said..."But you look gay, so I just figured...

"I...I don't looks queer, right?"

The drummer's eyes darted from the Norwegian to the floor as he shook his head. "Uh, no. You don't. Listen, this is a really weird conversation. Can we just-"

" 'Cause I'm not, okay?"

"Okay, I never said..." his voice trailed off and he sighed. Pickles wasn't stupid; there was some bigger problem other than Toki's obvious lack of self-confidence. Taking care not to sound too nosy, he ventured to ask, "Hey, seriously, dude. Who the fuck in their right mind called you a queer?"

"I tolds you," Toki said, his pale eyes meeting Pickles' green ones. "Nobodys."

"But you-"

"I'm sorrys I asked. I knew I really didn't wants to know."

"Toki, please. Just tell me."

The guitarist bit his lip; his mask of carefree, childlike happiness didn't waver as he began to tell Pickles. Toki could tell that he'd started something, somehow sparked the drummer's curiosity. It almost seemed as though Pickles was genuinely concerned about him, which was a totally foreign and strange concept to Toki. Nobody ever really cared about him. Never had anyone once showed him a hint of true concern...

Never.

As Toki spoke, Pickles' eyes grew wide. The Norwegian didn't tell him much, only that one day in Lillehammer a kid had come up to him and said that his long hair made him look like a queer. Once he became silent, Pickles let out a long, tired sigh and said, "That kid was an idiot. You're fine, Toki. You look fine, you act fine; you are just fine, alright? Got it?"

"I...sures, Pickle. Whatever you say."

The drummer's words took him completely by surprise. He half expected Pickles to laugh, take his words as a joke, and agree, tell him that he did look like a queer. Anyone else would've...anyone but Pickles. Suddenly Toki found himself feeling very weird around the drummer. He wanted to stay up all night and just talk, but Pickles refused, saying that for both of their own goods they'd better get to sleep.

"You've gat a lot to learn and a short time to learn it in, Toki," he said, laying down on a couch a ways away in the corner of the room. "And the bad part is that I've gotta teach it to you, and I'm a shitty teacher."

Toki just gave him a little smile and said sheepishly, "I don'ts think you're shitty and anything, Pickle. Sov godt. Ser deg I morgen."

"What does 'dat mean?"

"Sleep well and see yous in the morning."

"Yeah," Pickles said. "See you in the morning."

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**A/N**

Sorry about this chapter; I know it might've seemed kind of dull, but I swear the next one will be better. It'll have lots of cute little moments and junk and Toki will strip...okay, well maybe not, but still. No matter what he's adorable. ^_^

Oh yeah, and I had to throw the Doors into Toki's C.D. cfollection because they're my favorite band and I love them...so yeah.

Peace & Love.