With the new movie coming up I've found I have to get my excitement out somehow, and what better then to write a little something! First chapter is a shorty, but more to come- thank you for reading! :)
The boys sat around the garage unlike any other night. A beer in hand and some funny stories, their voices carried far from the open garage door. But tonight was different. Their laughs were not as bellied and the music not as enjoyable as it had been every other moment. As Hale finished his story their laughs carried off and a soft hush fell over the crew. Tonight was the eve of Billy's death, and not a thought in their minds could mend that heavy-handed fact.
Barney stood from his bike and walked solemnly away from the group to lean against the metal frame of the door. His gaze carried sky wards to the building across the back lane. The building itself was nothing but a laundry mat and above that was an old warehouse attic.
Barney smiled at the kid. He had been with them only a month yet he was already a little brother to all of them—and somewhat of a son to Barney, "What can I do you for Billy?"
"Well you see, I was thinking… to be a more valued asset to the team… I should probably move closer to the shop." Billy looked down at his feet nervously, "I mean, that way I'd always be more prepared to take on jobs with you guys."
He glanced up from his nervous shuffling to read Barney's expression, but all he found was warmth, "See I already kinda got a place… I hope it's not a problem."
"Of course not! Your mom's gonna be alright though?" Barney had never asked Billy to move to the city because he knew just what a sacrifice that would be. Billy's dad had passed away a few years back, but his mother still hadn't moved passed it. Since then Billy had taken on the protector and breadwinner of the house, never leaving his mother's side until it came to the army, and now the Expendables.
"Ya she'll be fine. I'm still gonna help her with the bills, but she understands. Its for the best—for both of us." His smile was bright and hopeful, but Barney could see a small glimmer of pain in his eyes. It was for the best though, the kid needed to grow, and although Barney knew the Expendables wasn't a great start for him, he'd do what he could to set that kid on the right track.
"So you need help moving then? Me and boys will definitely lend a hand—"
"No need Barney, I didn't have much to move. I'm already settled in" He glanced sheepishly again at Barney.
"What is it kid? Where is this place?"
He smiled and turned his head to glance at the windows above the laundry mat across the back lane. Ross instantly chuckled and slapped the kid on the back; "Wow we really got you in our back pocket now!"
"How's his mother doing?" Hale piped up, while the rest watched equally as interested.
"After sending the majority of his cut to his girlfriend, and shipping what he had in that apartment to his mom, we also sent her a nice cut to help her get by… well I did anyhow."
"Barney why didn't you ask us?" Toll's temper started the flare but no one took it seriously, it was Toll Road after all.
"Yea Ross, what's the deal?"
"It was on me that he made that move, that he joined this crew. I made a promise I couldn't keep and I'll pay for that for the rest of my—" Before Barney could finish, and anyone could interject with a sarcastic comment, a light came on in the apartment across the street. Hale and Toll jumped to their feet and met Barney at the door while the rest sombrely walked up.
"I thought it was vacant?!" Hale could never keep his voice down, but this time was a special occasion.
"It was, I check the place often to make sure—" Again before Barney could finish a shadow past across the ceiling.
"Well its definitely not vacant anymore." Lee took a swig of his beer and turned on his heels and walked back into the garage, that was enough excitement for him.
"Well I'm gonna check it out." Hale took off across the back lane; the only one trying to stop him was Barney.
He grabbed him by the hand but there's no stopping Hale, "Caesar stop, you're gonna start something none of us are gonna help you finish." But he wouldn't listen, kicking the door in and beginning to yell as he galloped up the stairs.
Sending an accusatory glance at the rest of the team Barney threw his hands in the air. "Thanks, real helpful."
"What?" Yang gave him a look, "I'm off the clock."
"Hey!" Hale began with a knock at the door, but it slowly turned into a beating. He reconciled in his mind that he was probably acting on the liquor in his system but that was also the perfect reason to not care.
"Who is it?" The voice had attitude, even a temper in its tone, but that's not what stopped Hale in his assault on the wooden door. It was a woman.
"Uh.." He glanced down the stairs but of course he was alone, thanks guys, appreciate it, "Its uh.. Its Hale. I live—well I mean I'm sort've your neighbor. "
It was silent for a while before he received a reply, short and curt, "Yea, and?"
"Well I just thought I'd introduce myself, as a neighbour."
She was pacing in her kitchen, chastising herself for considering even opening the door. The apartment was cheap but certainly wasn't in the greatest of areas. The lovely Chinese couple downstairs had warned her that many biker gangs frequented the area. Luckily she worked at home, and hardly had a need for leaving (especially at night) so it seemed like she could skim by unnoticed. But not even a week in and here she was getting a knock at her door at 1 in the morning.
Throwing on her robe she marched to the door, "Yea, " she dared a quick look through the peephole. On the other side was a tall, oversized black man smiling a charming but almost frighteningly nervous smile. "You introduced yourself. Ya done?"
"Well no.. not really, you don't even know my name."
"And mine either, looks like a fair deal. Goodnight."
"Look I'm sorry to bother you, I just… I sorta told my friends I was gonna come up here and see who moved in and if I leave empty handed…" She looked through the peephole again and half smiled, he genuinely looked disappointed and nervous to meet his friends after this.
With that she marched over to the back window and sure enough, across the way, were 5 guys standing around laughing and drinking. They looked rough around the edges even with the smiles on their faces. Her gaze followed the warm light into the garage where she could see a few chrome muscle bikes but nothing else from her vantage point. She was risking a lot by doing this, but she also figured she should stand her ground and earn some respect. It was too late to pretend she didn't occupy the space. Thrusting her window open, she popped her head out.
Each were taking turns putting bets on Hale. Whether he'd make it in, get his ass kicked, or get the cops called, "I bet you he's standing outside the door kicking his own ass for going up there!" Toll chuckled to himself.
"We all know he's a teddy bear, but I wouldn't want open my door at this time of night to a drunk his size, " Gunnar added.
"Hey!"
Looking up they noticed a person leaning out the window in a silk Asian robe and long dark hair casting a silhouette over their face. It caught them off guard, a woman was not at all what they expected.
"Shit" Barney uttered and motioned for Gunnar to go get Hale.
"I'm assuming you're the friends of the belligerent man at my door. " Her voice was strained and tired, no doubt she found nothing funny about this situation.
"Yea, sorry about that, no ones lived in that apartment for quite some time. We didn't stop him from going up cause—"
She cut him off, "Whatever the reason, could you please remove him before I call someone else who will?" With that she ducked inside and shut the window.
That was the third time that night Barney had been cut off, and he was feeling pretty stupid by this point. As soon as Gunnar came out the back door with Hale in tow, Barney had quick and heated words with them all. He wasn't about to lose control of his team and cause them any more embarrassment.
After finishing their drinks the team cleaned up and went their separate ways. It'd be a few days before Tool would fish for some leads; they all need a reprieve from the night of remembering Billy.
Lee was the last to leave, hanging around as Barney's second for a short heart to heart. "You know Barney, they can't help themselves. Especially tonight. We're all getting a little anxious for a job."
"Yea I get it Christmas, its coming. I have Tool putting his feelers out by the end of the week."
Zipping up his biker jacket, helmet under his arm, Lee pointed with his freehand up to the building, "What do'ya make of all this?"
"Just a tenant and a reason for us to let go a little more is'all. I honestly never expected Chao to rent out the place as it wasn't even up for grabs when Billy was asking for it." He played around with his hat in his hands; even mentioning the kids name seemed hard.
A low rumble of a laugh escaped Lee, a hand knocking on his helmet, "He was a good kid Barney, and you did right by him. I think its time you let up on yourself a little bit and see that."
He walked backwards towards his bike, "And if you want to do right by that girl, you should probably apologize tomorrow-and maybe put a couple more apologies in the jar, lord knows with this group, we'll be needing it."