Nothing Special V (Nothing Special 5)

He turned his television up louder over the heavy metal music blasting next door. After a few more gulps, he wouldn’t give a damn, like most nights. Steele scowled, staring at the replay of last night’s Raiders game. He was becoming a functioning drunk. Since he’d left Oakland last month, he had to have bought at least eight or nine bottles of whiskey. The sound of heavy footsteps on his porch halted his internal berating.

A fist banged hard on his door, but he didn’t bother to get up. He had the start of a nice buzz going, so whoever it was could fuck off.

“Coming in. Don’t shoot, Marine.”

Steele’s brows furrowed as he swiveled his chair in the tight space towards the front door. A hand waved around the door, then a black boot came into focus before Green’s face appeared. Steele groaned. Damn, they really were coming for him. He wouldn’t fight them. He deserved whatever they dished out on their friend’s behalf. After Ruxs came in behind him, Steele held his breath, wondering if Tech was with them, but he wasn’t.

“Nice place you got here, man.” Ruxs’ pale green eyes took in the meager surroundings while he ran his palm over his buzz cut.

Steele looked at the outdated furnishings that came with the place – except for his television and stereo. “Yeah well, the online pictures didn’t do it justice. Came fully furnished… can’t beat it. Honestly, didn’t think I’d be here long.”

Ruxs grinned at him and sat on the black- and red-checkered loveseat – that clashed horribly with the sage green carpeting – in front of the window. His leather coat gaped open, showing a cool Kid Rock Snake Label t-shirt. When he sat back, Steele got a view of the blade under his shoulder and the black Beretta in a holster tight to his hip. Green stood close to the door – which was still right by the loveseat – propping one big boot on the wall. Steele could see more of the tribal tats licking up his neck under the white V-neck t-shirt. They both looked like renegades.

“I take it this isn’t a social visit,” Steele grunted, pulling out his little cigars and lighting one. He put the bottle next to his chair and looked at the two detectives that took up more space than the furniture. “Are you here to arrest me for assaulting an officer?”

“We don’t arrest our own team.”

Steele watched Ruxs for the punchline, but he never cracked a smile.

Instead, Green took over. “About what happened today, Steele. We’ve all messed up, so don’t sweat it. Even with each other. No one’s holding it against you.”

Steele jerked his head back, shaking it in disbelief. “Even Detective Murphy.”

“Especially Detective Murphy,” Green and Ruxs said in unison.

After a couple seconds, Ruxs frowned and craned his head back to look out the dirty window. “What the fuck, man? How can you sit here and listen to that racket? That’s not even metal, that sounds like a man being raped in Dolby.”

“Want me to tell him to turn that shit down?” Green smiled like he’d enjoy nothing more.

“No. I usually just turn up the television.” Steele dismissed the thought of noise and instead focused on what Green said before the music distracted him. Steele looked back and forth between them. He didn’t believe it. Tech had to have a hit out on him by now.

“He’s sorry about what he did. He didn’t know that speaking those words would do that to you. And he’s real… well… he’s come down on himself pretty hard. He was just trying to show you his skills. If you watched that video of the Artist bust then you’ve seen ours. He wanted to show you his. I’m sure all this shit can be squashed with a handshake.”

Steele still wasn’t sure if he was buying the “everything’s all good” speech. He wouldn’t become part of a team that already hated him, just because his uncle pulled some strings. It would only lead to no back up when he radioed for it. “You guys seem real tight. Any of you ever put your hands on each other the way I did him today?”

“Pfft, yeah. It’s been about a year and a half since the last incident. But Michaels clocked the shit out of God.” Green chuckled.

“Oh damn. I forgot about that,” Ruxs added with a huge chuckle, scooting to the edge of his seat. “I thought God was gonna kill him, Syn had to hold him back. That was entertaining. No one usually hits him. It’s usually Day that gets the business. Fucker plays too damn much. He broke into Syn’s apartment when he first signed on and got a shotgun shoved in his face.”

Steele found himself smiling along with them. This team sounded like his old squad.