Disclaimer: so here's chapter 4 for all those who are still reading. I again apologize for the long wait in between, school has been hell, and I've been terribly sick. Its still rated M for violence, sexuality, and language so if you don't like it, hit the back button. As usual, I don't own the Expendables, though I wouldn't mind owning Jason Statham :P Oh and anything in italics is a character thinking. Oh and there will be people speaking German in this chapter, but the translations will follow each sentence.
"Hey guys, this is Ava."
For a few moments, no one spoke. I shifted uncomfortably under the onslaught of stares, until one of the men, an Asian man who looked to be in his mid-thirties, stepped forward. He stopped a mere few inches from me, and I looked at him quizzically, wondering why he was so close. He stared at me, concentrating on the top of my head. Finally, he nodded, and returned to his spot around the table. My left eyebrow raised as I shot Ross a confused look.
"Height," he mouthed at me. This just confused me even more. Deciding to ignore it, I looked back at the men gathered around the table.
"Well guys, going to introduce yourselves?" Lee spoke up from next to me. One of the men stepped forward. He was tall, a bit more so than Ross, with a shaved head, and dark chocolate skin. He had a goofy air about him, but I figured that was just a façade.
"I'm Caeser, Hale Caeser," he introduced, and I shook his hand.
"And I'm Bond, James Bond," I laughed. At that, everyone in the room chuckled, and the serious mood lifted. The Asian man who had stepped forward earlier stepped forward again.
"I'm Yang," he said seriously
"Ok question. What was up with the whole standing-two-inches-from-me deal?"
"I'm short," he answered simply. This, of course, confused me again, and I looked to Ross for help.
"Yang here is sensitive about his height. He doesn't like it when people are taller then him," Ross explained.
"Well, good for you, I'm practically a midget, so we won't have any problems." I smiled widely at the Asian. He nodded, and took a drink of his beer. The other two guys stepped forward finally. One was seriously tall, taller than Hale, with shaggy blonde hair and a distinctly foreign look to him. The other one was shorter, but was built. He had broad shoulders and muscular arms. His head was shaved like Hale's, and he had cauliflower ears. The tall one went to speak, but I raised my hand, silencing him.
"Let me guess. You're from Europe, presumably northern, like Sweden. And you," I rounded on the other man, "you were a high school or college wrestler." They both shot a look at each other.
"I'm Gunner Jensen," the tall one said, his accent giving away that I was right. "And yes, I'm from Sweden." I shook his hand, beaming inside that I was indeed right.
"And you are?" I smiled at the other man. He was actually really attractive, even though his ear were a bit funky looking.
"Toll Road." He hung back slightly, not coming as close as the others were. Odd, I thought, but oh well. Maybe he's just not as comfortable around strangers. After the introductions, everyone took seats around the messy table.
"So, little lady, I hear you are a crack shot with those Berettas," Tool commented. I had met him when I had first come to the shop to meet Lee, right before we left on the mission we had just come back from. I chuckled.
"Yea I guess I am."
"No guessing about it, you are damn good with those. Where'd you learn?" Lee asked from the chair to my right.
"I used to go to the range with my dad when I was young," I explained.
"Used to? Implying that you don't go anymore?" Tool asked, sliding his cowboy hat off his head to hang around his neck. I shifted slightly in my chair, trying to hide my discomfort at the question. I didn't really like to talk about my dad with complete strangers. Ross, apparently sensing my discomfort, quickly butted in.
"She's also damn good with knives." Tool snorted.
"I'm betting I can beat her, just like I kick Lee's ass every time." This pulled chuckles from all the guys and me.
"You don't kick my ass," he grumbled, mostly to himself. Everyone laughed even harder at that.
"Care to test that little theory out?" I challenged.
"Oh here we go," Hale spoke up.
"Only one condition little lady. No crying if I beat you." With that, me, Tool and Lee all stood up. Tool wheeled his chair behind a white line that had been etched into the cement and took a seat, Lee stood next to me and I joined them.
"Gents first," I smirked at both of them. Christmas' hand flew to his waist then up with the knife in hand and let it fly in one fluid motion. It embedded itself in the outside edge of the ornate Day of the Dead skull picture that hung up on the wall. The bald man sighed as he took in the placement of it. Tools hand drifted down to his boot, and with a small click the blade shot out, and he tossed it underhand. It stuck in the left eye of the picture. Tool shot Lee a haughty look, one that screamed cocky. Lee flicked him off.
"Now, now ladies, play nice," I giggled at the childish like acts. Bending over, I slid my knife out of the holster around my ankle that was hidden by my jeans, and as I stood back up, I flicked it into the air. The blade shot out as if flew straight up, and I caught it in my right hand, my arm sliding fluidly back, then forward and I released the blade. With a dull thunk, it connected with the picture, landing close to the left edge of the right eye.
"Hot damn! I think she beat you Tool," Hale yelped from the table. The men all raced over to the picture to examine it.
"And just like that, Tool looses his crown!" Ross chuckled and pulled my knife out of the picture. With a whistle, Tool gestured to Ross to let him see my knife. He examined it closely, weighing it in his hands. Closing the blade, he tossed it to me.
"Large Espada?" I nodded at his question. "You don't see many women carrying those."
"Well not many women are in my line of work," I smiled smugly at him. He smiled back at me, and we all returned to the table.
'She's my cherry pie, cool drink of water such sweet surprise' suddenly echoed out of my pocket. I fished my phone out of my pocket, and, after checking the caller id, answered it.
"Hello?" I asked, trying to ignore the stares and chuckles of the men. They were probably weirded out by my ring tone choice.
"AVA!" the voice on the other end of the line screamed. The hand holding my phone shot away from my ear at the loudness.
"Well hello to you too Tara. And thanks, I almost went deaf."
"Wie gehts(how are you)?" Tara squealed.
"Gut, und du (good and you)?" I laughed at her excitement.
"Ich habe dick gefehlen (I missed you). Willst du heute abend ins club gegangen (do you want to go to a club tonight)?" Tara asked.
"Naturlich mein lieben! Ich bin nicht in meine hause, aber ich um 10 uhr will (of course my love! I am not home right now, but I will be at 10). Ist dass alles ok? (is that ok?)" I asked, trying to ignore the very strange looks the guys were now giving me.
"Naturlich (naturally)! Mochtest du ins Tantric gehen? (go you want to go to Tantric?)," Tara asked.
"Dass hort gut (that sounds good). Ich habe meine motorad, so kannst du fahren? (I have my motorcycle so can you drive?"
"Ja. Siehst du spater! (yes. See you later!)"
"Bis spater! (till later)" With that I hung up. "What?"
"I had no idea that you spoke another language," Ross said. I smiled.
"German, right," Toll asked. At that I nodded.
"Me and my friend Tara learned it in high school, so to keep up and remember it, we use it when we talk to each other," I explained.
"Care to translate what you were saying?" Gunner rumbled.
"She was excited that I was home safe and alive, and she wanted to know if I wanted to go to a club later."
"So, I'm guessing she knows what you do for a living?" Lee finally spoke up. I nodded.
"She's one person I will never keep secrets from." We spent the next hour drinking and talking, getting to know one another. At 9:55, I hopped on my bike, and after waving goodbye to the guys, sped off.
Disclaimer: anywho thanks for reading. REVIEWS WOULD BE AMAZING! Just so I know what's good and what I should change.