Home is Where the Heart is

Rating: G
Category: AU
Pairing(s): Pickles and his guys.
Warnings: None.
Summary: Pickles finds it’s not always easy to get a good night’s sleep.
Notes:

“When she gets up in the morning, it’s enough to wake the dead.
Oh she’s turning on the radio, and dancing on my head.
It’s no good living in the sun, playing guitar all day.
Boogalooin’ with my friends, in that erotic way…”
- Sir Elton John, ‘Jamaica Jerk-Off’.

It was 5:19 in the morning. All Mordhaus was silent. In Pickles’ room, it was still and dark and peaceful, and Pickles teetered on the edge of sleep, just enjoying being warm and drowsy and safe in his own bed…

Then to his left a small form sat upright, sandy hair askew, lips parted, eyes glazed. Lukis looked around, as if asking himself for the ten thousandth time how the fuck he ended up in a rock star’s bedroom, then shook his head before reaching across Pickles to shake the body on the other side. Darren waved his hands as he was startled awake.

“Fuck off! What? I’m awake! I don’t wanna go to school, it sucks.”

Darren yanked the covers over his head and rolled to his side. Lukis pushed him again.

“It’s starting in ten minutes! Charles says if we miss it then it will be ages before he can get the company in Japan to play it again!”

“Shit! Right! I’ll order breakfast.” Darren half-fell out of bed and began yanking his pants on. “Hey just think – we’re the only two guys in North America to ever see the entire uncut version of ‘Seven Hares’ – and all seven episodes! Go get Candy!”

Lukis yanked on some clothes; some belonging to Pickles, some belonging to Darren, and a left sock that may have been Nathan’s. He then scrambled across the stone floor to the adjoining guest room, pulling the door open and scooting inside.

“Candy wake up! It’s starting!”

“Coming! What’s for breakfast?”

“I dunno, ask Darren. Um… are you gonna wear that in front of my boyfriends?”

“Don’t be stupid, I’m gonna put slippers on.”

“Um… okay. Yeah you’ll probably… be cold.”

Lukis came scooting back out and leapt onto the bed, causing everything to bounce.

“Hey careful! We don’t wanna wake Pickles!” said Darren.

“Sorry!”

Moments later Candy did the same thing, wearing a baby-doll nightie and purple fuzzy monster slippers. Pickles yanked the pillow over his head, but that was the only indication of life he gave.

“Man he can sleep through anything,” said Candy. “Where’s breakfast?”

The door nudged open and Jamie came in, pushing a cart. Gears were not technically allowed to join the band and assorted companions, but no way in hell Jamie was missing what may be the only complete showing of ‘Seven Hares’ in North America ever. Besides, Lukis liked him.

It had cost a lot of money to secure the private showing of ‘Seven Hares’; the Japanese director feeling very strongly that nobody who wasn’t Japanese had any business seeing the disturbing, powerful and terrifying series of hour-long episodes. However when he learned it was for Dethklok, he relented. Once. And speaking of Dethklok…

Toki tore into the bedroom and got on the bed, wearing only a t-shirt that had once been Nathan’s and a pair of blue flannel pyjama bottoms with clouds on them.

“Is starts yets?” he asked excitedly.

“Couple minutes,” said Darren.

“Gawd you guys are all such nerds,” said Candy disdainfully. “Gimme some waffles.”

“Where’s Pickle?” asked Toki, looking around.

“I think you’re sitting on him,” said Lukis.

“Ja I t’ought bed was lumpy. Everyone here?”

“I think so,” said Lukis, holding the remote, watching as the enormous big screen TV slowly lowered and flickered into life. “This is gonna be so awesome! Should we wake up Pickles?”

“Nah let Pickles sleep,” said Darren. “He’s tired. He’s not all that into anime anyway.”

Still snuggled deep into his bed, the sound of his friends and family all around him, Pickles just smiled. It seemed he rarely got a solid night’s sleep anymore. But he really didn’t care.