New York City, New York-
-February 4, 2010, 2030h local-
"I'm Billy Russo, Marine corps."
William Russo or Billy is a 6'1 caucasian with dark eyes and hair. As evident from his nickname, Billy has an attractive face. Combining that with his muscularly lean body and tall frame, he never had problems getting the attention of women and some men. His history, though, is as dark as his eyes.
Billy was abandoned by his meth-addicted mother addicted outside a fire station at a very young age. The system took him in, causing him to bounce from foster home to foster home until he was placed in the Ray of Hope group home. That's where he found his love for baseball and the formation of his dream to be the next Joe DiMaggio. Although, that dream of his would crash and burn even before it can take off.
One faithful night when he was 11 years old, one of the 'good samaritans' of the orphanage named Arthur Walsh took an unhealthy amount of interest in him. He was forced into a secluded area of a park near the orphanage after one stickball game. Arthur yanked his arm, tearing his rotator cuff before proceeding onto breaking his arm. Good thing, his adrenaline kicked in just in time to fight back and escape.
Years later, Billy's patriotism and the lack of prospect to be a baseball star made the choice of joining the US Marine Corps reasonably easy. Everything turned around for him from that point onward. He had made a name for himself in the military, increased his assets, and, best of all, made a buddy he can count on through thick and thin.
"Huh..." Naruto replied while staring at Billy. "So you're who they call 'Pretty Face.'"
Billy flinched when he heard the dreaded nickname. Don't get him wrong. He owns up to the moniker when he's at someplace even remotely military, but it's an entirely different matter otherwise. But, that small detail gave him an idea about Naruto.
"You military?" Billy asked.
"Nope. Close though..." Naruto answered with a teasing smile before sitting beside Jessica. Billy decided to sit beside Trish. "I'm you guys but richer..." Naruto was expecting any negative emotion from Billy since he basically admitted being a merc but was surprised when he detected nothing. "Though I'm more into building stuff these days."
"So, you built a Phalanx?" Billy said incredulously.
"Yup..." Naruto replied while taking two ordering tablets and giving one to Jessica. "Tony designed it, but I made it better."
Trish choked on the water she's drinking when she heard Naruto's statement. She can't pass up on that juicy detail, especially since she's a radio show host that focuses on relevant topics like 'privatization of world peace.'
"By 'Tony designed it,' you mean Tony Stark designed the Phalanx you improved, right?" Trish interjected in the conversation.
"The one and only..." Naruto answered before looking over Jess's shoulder, brushing off how monumental is that information. He noticed that she's struggling to choose what she would order. Either because of how extensive the menu is or, more probably, the price of each meal. "Get whatever you like, but I would recommend the meals on page 6..." He reached inside his pocket and took out a black metal card and placed it on top of his ordering tablet. Everyone in the booth was looking at it curiously to see if something would happen. "I got the bill for tonight."
"No, don't worry about it. It's my treat..." Trish countered. "Well, my producer's paying for it, but you get the idea." She turned around to Jess when she heard her stifling a laugh.
"You really don't want to do that unless you want your producer to hate you." Jessica said with an amused smile while glancing at Naruto, who is still looking over the menu.
"Ok, I'll bite. Why is that?" Trish asked, noticing the subtle glance.
"This guy right here..." Jessica replied while pointing towards Naruto. "Can eat a ridiculous amount of food when he's on a roll. He's the epitome of a bottomless stomach."
"I know a lot of guys like him in the military. I remember this guy we call Bubbles—massive dude. Looks a lot like Shaq. He eats 10000 to 15000 calories a day." Billy joined the conversation.
"That's a lot but rookie numbers compared to Naruto. Do you guys know about the steakhouse near John Jay?" Trish and Billy nodded.
The Whirlpool Steakhouse and Deli's origin is a story that is known to a lot of local New Yorkers due to its media coverage. Known initially as Jinseki food house, the Whirlpool was on the verge of bankruptcy when due to the lack of customers when they suddenly turned it around and becoming one of the most popular low-medium cost restaurants in the city. They're famous for their use of different high-quality kinds of beef, including wagyu.
"During my first year at John Jay, Naruto would pick me up at least once a week. He would have a snack at that place every time..." Jessica started. "There's this one time when he didn't know that I won't be able to leave until 7 pm because of an exam, and he's already there at 3 pm. He sank 18000 dollars that day on food alone. Let me remind you that the meals then cost fifty dollars at most..." She explained before pulling onto Naruto's ear, surprising him. "Worst of all, he didn't even give me a taste."
"Ow! Ow! Ow! What did I do!?" Naruto exclaimed before rubbing his ear.
"You're not listening, are you." Naruto shook his head no. "You're busy ordering, right." This time he shook his head yes. "We were talking about The Whirlpool."
"That's just foul..." Naruto said with a shake of his head. "I was hungry and bored. That's a bad combination." He defended.
"You didn't even leave me a sandwich!" Jessica countered.
The argument/foreplay would have continued if not for a sudden notice that there's someone at the other side of the door. Trish quickly stood up and unlocked the door. The door opened, revealing a man wearing a suit carrying a tablet of his own. He walked in and closed the door behind him.
"Mr. Uzumaki. I'm Ellis Jackson, the General Manager for the week..." The man introduced himself respectfully. Naruto moved out of his seat and approached the GM. "We have prepared the penthouse and rooftop suite if you would like to use it."
Naruto placed an arm around the GM's shoulder and pulled him closer.
"Nah, don't worry about it. Just keep the orders coming, and all would be a-ok. I have a request, though. Well, three actually."
"Just tell me what it is, and I'll sure to make it done." The GM replied enthusiastically. Trisha and Jess could practically see a wagging dog's tail behind him.
"First, cancel their orders. They have no idea what they want..." This drew various reactions from inside the booth, but Naruto ignored them. "Secondly, open up the secret menu for us. I know for a fact that the ingredients came in last night..." That certainly got everyone's attention. "Lastly, don't tell Tony that I'm here. You don't need to hide, but just don't inform him."
"I'll head to the system port and do what you asked for, Mr. Uzumaki." The GM said before rushing out of the booth.
Naruto gave himself a nod before sitting back on the chair. He could feel the stares of Trish and Billy on him but thought nothing of it. Jess is by his side, trying to hide her amusement.
"Hold up. Are we just going to ignore 'that'?" Trish voiced out. Billy agreed with that statement.
"Ignore what?" Naruto replied flatly while combing through the menu, possibly looking at the secret menu which everyone was waiting for.
"That..." Billy supplemented before pointing at the door. "He acted like he's your boss, and you're going to fire him anytime."
"Especially about being the General Manager for the week thing." Trish added.
"That's because I can fire him, and unless he got at least 75 over a hundred on his weekly assessment, he would be axed at the end of the week." Naruto answered seriously.
Trisha and Billy gawked at Naruto like he grew another head while Jessica is thoroughly enjoying that someone else minds are blown this time. Naruto, on the other hand, kept on ordering foods. After a significant amount of time, Trish finally decided to break the silence.
"Jess, we're going to have a long talk after this." Trish told Jess without any room to argue. Jess let out a hearty laugh.\
"Come on. Let's order! I'm getting hungry!" Naruto exclaimed with a cheerful disposition, contrasting his earlier attitude.
Jessica released another chuckle before picking up the ordering tablet, which Trish and Billy copied.
"... Seriously, Tony's Mark two suit costs around 100 mil, and he uses it as a coat rack! He won't even let me borrow the thing!" Naruto exclaimed before taking another sushi.
"... I'm telling you! The Governor is an asshole and a pervert! He only looked at my face like 30% of the time!" Trish complained emphatically.
"... My classmate would still be trying to get into my pants if Naruto didn't scare the living shit out of him. I mean, who doesn't understand that when a chick breaks your arm, she's not interested." Jess said before downing a shot of sake.
"... Frank then caught the grenade mid-air before throwing it back from wherever it came from. To this day, that's one of the most badass and flashiest things I ever saw." Billy finished his story.
"Oh yeah! That hit the spot!" Naruto exclaimed while snuggling towards Jess.
"You ate like ten full courses. I would be surprised if it didn't 'hit the spot.'" Jessica teased while running her hands through his hair, causing him to drowse off.
"Goddamn Jess. You need to marry him ASAP if he cooks like that." Trish commented while leaning on Billy.
"We can't precisely marry unless we go to the middle east." Jessica replied awkwardly.
"Oh, right. Forgot about that part." Trish let out.
"Ok. What are you guys talking about?" Billy interjected. "Why do you need to go to the sandbox just to get married?"
"We're not exactly in a 'conventional' relationship..." Jessica answered, still not stopping from running her hands through Naruto's hair. She's hoping he would fall asleep and pass the conversation, no matter how unlikely it was. "Let's just say I'm girlfriend number two."
"He's cheating with you?" Billy asked.
"No, no, no..." Jessica vehemently denied. "We are in a polygamous relationship. We even live in the same apartment."
"Damn. I don't know what. to say." Billy admitted absentmindedly.
The trio continued with their conversation for a few moments before Naruto suddenly straightened from his seat and reached inside his pocket, earning a few questioning states from everyone. He pulled out his phone and pressed a button.
"Hey! Tony! You're on speaker." Naruto greeted.
"Hey, Hi..." Tony greeted back. "What are you doing?" he asked, but you can hear the wind rushing from the other side.
Billy, Trish, and Jess are listening in on the conversation, especially the first two since they're assuming that this 'Tony' is Tony Stark himself.
"I'm on a date with Jess and her sister." Naruto answered.
"What! You're adding another one!?" Tony exclaimed.
"Hell No! Jess's sister is on a date with a jarhead..." Naruto countered. "Why is it so loud there, anyway?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about..." Tony said while a series of gunfire can be heard in the background. "I need some help. You have someone near the east village?"
"Yeah. I'm in Shoku, right now."
"Great! Can you send over my suit? These assholes won't let up."
"Alright. Alright. Give me a minute." Naruto grumbled before placing the phone back in his pocket. He took the car keys and valet card from his pocket and handed it over to Jess. "I have to go. You can go home ahead of me if I'm not back."
"Sure you want me to take the GT?" Jess asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Why not? You can handle her just fine..." Naruto countered while standing up from his seat. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you two but I have to cut it short for now..." He apologetically said to both Trish and Billy before giving Jess a kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you at home later or tomorrow, depending on how big this thing is."
"I'll let Nat know." Jess replied with a smile.
Naruto returned the smile before rushing out of the booth. Jessica picked up the key and valet ticket and placed it inside her purse. When she looked up, she saw the Trish and Billy staring at the door.
"Huh, I don't know what to say." Billy commented before bottoming up his beer.
-New York City, New York-
-February 4, 2010, 2300h local-
Tony decided to visit the Stark Expo grounds since it's in the final stages of construction. He wouldn't normally do something as inane as an inspection, but the Stark Expo is something he 'inherited' from his father. That's why he's making sure that everything goes smoothly. He also had another goal of checking out a building where he would build the 'Stark Tower.'
Everything went to shit when they were about to leave the expo. Tony visited the grounds at the same time as some 'unsavory figures' building some backdoors entrances to the expo. Unluckily, he didn't bring his suit with him, and his security team was quickly overwhelmed them.
The only reason Tony managed to get away was that the guys who are after him wanted to take him alive, most probably because they want his suit. He got out of the expo grounds before they have surrounded him and worked his way to a truck garage a few hundred meters away.
Good thing a truck driver, who's a former army guy from what Tony could tell, helped him out. The driver was supposed only to drive him towards the Stark Industries, but the assholes found them, and they are trying to run them off the road. After a few minutes of cat and mouse, Tony decided he had enough and called the big guns.
They were trying to dodge the hail of gunfires when they both heard something dropping from behind them. Tony quickly turned around and saw Naruto sitting at the back seat with his suit.
The truck swerved a little because of the driver's surprise.
"I got your suit right here." Naruto said casually while patting the suitcase-sized Mark 4.5.
"I'm not even going to question how you got here. Just switch seats with me." Tony replied while scooching over to the back seat and Naruto moving to the passenger side.
"The Seal I placed on your arm. I can track you anywhere if you think about it..." Naruto answered before looking towards the driver. "How are you holding up?"
"Good, actually. The whole thing is giving me nostalgia." The driver answered.
Naruto looked at the guard weirdly for a moment before asking.
"You're not going to ask how I suddenly appeared at the back of your truck?"
"Tony Stark is in my truck with men in black chasing the hell out of us..." The driver replied with a shrug. "Besides, I'm in the army. Need to expect the unexpected."
"Damn. You take shit a whole lot better than the jarhead I met earlier tonight..." Naruto commented honestly, causing the guy to smile. "What's your name anyway?"
"Sergeant Kyle Reese. Got out of the army a year ago." Kyle introduced himself while making a sharp turn at an intersection.
"Well, nice to meet you, Sergeant Reese. Nathan Umber, private contractor." Naruto said before he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder, causing him to turn around.
"I'm going to go out of the roof and deal with the ants." Tony informed the pair before flying through the roof.
Naruto released a sigh while looking at the hole formed at the top of the truck and pulled out his phone.
"Jarvis, send over the best-articulated truck SI has to the New York Main Office?" Naruto texted. He recieved a confirmation a few minutes later.