27 The Date Part 1

-Rome, Italy-

-January 29, 2007, 1515h local-

"Ugh. That's even worse than the first time." Natasha said to no one in particular, but Naruto heard it through the microphone and sound system built into the helmet.

"Hahaha! You took it a whole lot better than when I first experience it. I puked my guts out." Naruto confessed while laughing.

"And you used it without telling me first? I'm wearing a helmet, think about it for a second." Natasha chastised. Naruto did as she asked, and it doesn't paint a pretty picture.

"Wow. That's bad. I'm sorry." Naruto apologized, properly chastised.

"Just remember next time..." Natasha instructed. That's when she decided to look around the surroundings they're riding through. She noticed that the old buildings and classical architecture not found anywhere in the US. "Are we in Rome?"

"Yup! I found the second greatest food after Ramen at a restaurant around here when I was traveling. I'm bringing you there!" Naruto said visibly excited while maneuvering around Rome's side roads.

"Wow. You're pulling all the stops." Natasha teased.

"Of course! I have one shot to impress the lady..." Naruto declared vehemently. Natasha couldn't help but laugh at Naruto's enthusiasm. "And we have arrived, my Lady." Naruto said in an aristocratic voice before stopping in front of a small restaurant.

Natasha dismounted the bike and removed her helmet. She was fully expecting Naruto to bring her to some fancy restaurant to impress her, but this is a whole lot better. She turned around and saw Naruto locking the bike, that's when she noticed something.

"What make and model is your bike? I don't recognize it." Natasha asked, genuinely interested. One of her hobbies that doesn't directly relate to her job is working on her bikes. She loves how she can build-up a monster of a motorcycle and being able to tame it. It's like a cathartic experience for her.

"This? Built it myself." Naruto answered like it wasn't a big deal.

He started building the bike when he was in Japan and saw a motorcycle racing tournament. The moment he saw those high-speed two-wheelers, he was hooked. He bought five different bike models; Honda CBR 1000RR, Kawasaki ZX-10R, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Yamaha YZF R1, and finally, Ducati Supersport 1000DS. He had teams of clones disassemble and reassemble all of the bikes, trying to understand how each of the parts works. It took three months before the clones are satisfied and dispelled, giving him all the knowledge on how the bike works. He used his knowledge of the parts, and the incredibly versatile chakra metal to create the ultimate superbike.

Even now, when a new superbike comes out, he buys it and studies it, looking for anyways he can improve his bike.

"You built that? Where did you get the parts? I can't recognize most of it." Natasha asked, her enthusiasm rising.

"You shouldn't..." Naruto offhandedly said while calling Natasha over to analyze his bike. When she got closer, she noticed that she couldn't even identify the material. "I started from scratch. Studied every bike I can get my hands on until I have an idea on how to build my own. I made everything myself, including the nuts, bolts, engine, suspension. The whole thing is customized to my specification. I call it, Raijin. Named it after the Japanese God of Thunder, Lightning, and Storms."

If it were possible to orgasm at just the thought of the superbike, Natasha would've have done it multiple times at this point.

"What are the specs?" Natasha asked quietly, excited, and afraid at the same time to hear the answer. Naruto's grin just got even more feral, which weirdly attracted her.

"Raijin is an eight-cylinder, 3000 ccs, 1000 horsepower beast of a machine that can go from 0 to 100 kph in 1.5 seconds flat and has a top speed of 500kph." Naruto answered probably. Of course, all of those are without the fuinjutsu enhancements activated, only the chakra needed to transform the properties of the chakra metal are currently running through it. He still hadn't tested how much the fuinjutsu improvements would affect the superbike. As for the fuel, it uses premium gasoline, but it can also run on chakra input.

Natasha is practically drooling. The bike Naruto made is probably the most powerful street-legal machine ever built, and that includes cars. The only more powerful street-legal vehicle she can think of is the 1001 hp Bugatti Veyron, and this bike can make the Veyron look like a freaking Beetle.

"On our next date, you're going to help me build one of these." Natasha said with conviction, only realizing what she said after causing her to turn slightly red.

"So there's a next date? That's good to know." Naruto teased with a wide smile. He then took Natasha's hand and pulled her gently inside the restaurant. "Come on. We'll miss our reservation."

Natasha saw a typical family restaurant set up on the inside. A few tables and chairs here and there, corner booths for a more private setting, a wine rack, and an open view to the kitchen. There are only around ten employees inside, including the cooks and waiters milling around. A lot of natural lighting is used, which makes the whole ambiance more open.

Naruto walked to the receptionist and spoke in fluent Italian.

"Mi scusi. Ho una prenotazione sotto il nome di Vulpe. (Excuse me. I have a reservation under the name Fox.)" Naruto said politely.

"Certo signore. Fammi controllare per un momento. (Of course, sir. Let me check for a moment.)" The receptionist replied while opening the reservation book.

"Mentre ci sei, puoi dirmi se Leon è dentro? (While you're at it, can you tell me if Leon is inside?)" Naruto asked.

The receptionist looked a little surprised that someone knew her boss, but she just answered it like a professional.

"Si signore. È nel retro. (Yes, sir. He's in the back room.)..." She answered before finding a 3:30 reservation for Vulpe marked with VIP. "Seguitemi signore. Abbiamo uno stand riservato per te. (Follow me, sir. We have a booth reserved for you.)..." The receptionist said while leading them to a secluded box at the back of the restaurant. "Eccoci qui. Un cameriere sarà con te a breve. (Here we are. A waiter will be with you shortly.)" She then walked away.

"I didn't know you speak Italian." Natasha said, impressed.

"You pick up a lot of things if you have as much free time as I have." Naruto confessed.

"You still have a lot of free time? Even while running your other business?" Referring to Naruto's information brokering and mercenary venture.

"Yup. The network pretty much runs itself while the hands-on part just happens from time to time..." Naruto explained. "You should probably text Coulson or Fury."

"Why?" Not really wanting to let SHIELD be in her business.

"Because the jump from Missouri to Rome might've destroyed that watch of yours." Naruto answered while scratching the back of his head.

Natasha immediately checked over her watch and saw that it's not moving. She removed it from her wrist and checked the inner mechanism. The moment she opened it, she saw the fried circuits and a part that doesn't belong.

"Fuck. I'll kill them. I told them no mics..." Nat angrily mumbled to herself. She doesn't know if she's worried or happy that the band was destroyed.

Natasha pocketed the watch and retrieved her phone. She texted Coulson that everything was okay, and they shouldn't panic but not adding their current location. She wants them to work for it.

That's when a man walked over to their table. He's a 6'2 Italian man with receding pepper colored hair, brown eyes, and trimmed beard. He also wears a black coat and dark-colored glasses that are perched at the tip of his nose.

Natasha stared at the man, trying to remember him. She knows that she met him before but didn't remember when and where.

"Naruto! You didn't tell me your date is the beautiful Signora Vedova." The man said with a knowing smile.

Natasha quickly reassessed the situation. She rechecked the entry and exit points as well as the possible number of hostiles.

While Natasha is formulating an exit plan, the man and Naruto just kept on talking.

"Awesome, right!? I can't believe she said yes..." Naruto said while smiling, still not recognizing the fact that he essentially blackmailed her into saying yes. "How are you anyway, Leon?" He asked the now identified Leon.

The mention of the man's name snapped Natasha out of her musing. She recognizes the name. Leon was a New York-based hitman that did several hard jobs that made him a legend in the community. Apparently, reports of his death seven years ago are exaggerated.

"I'm doing great. The info you gave me two months ago helped a lot..." Leon answered. He then faced Natasha and gave a small bow. "Pleasure to meet you, Signore Romanoff. I assure you that I am out of the game for a long time. Besides, Naruto here is a friend, and it would be a shame for his date to end abruptly." He reassured with a smile.

"Nice to meet you too. I see that you are alive and well. Naruto surely has a wide range of friends." Natasha cautiously said. She has no idea if she would report this to SHIELD, but personally, she would just let him be.

Leon laughed a little, recognizing that Naruto has a weird collection of acquaintances.

"So, what would it be?" Leon asked their choice of meal.

"I'll have a Caprese with Bread and a glass of Chardonnay." Natasha answered without pause. She already decided what she wanted to have when she learned that they are in Italy.

"And you know what I'll have. Just add a Margherita pizza and tiramisu to share." Naruto added his order.

"Carpaccio and Spaghetti alle vongole with sparkling water. Got it." Leon stated for confirmation before walking away.

There was a small stretch of awkward silence between the two, probably because they have no idea where to start the conversation. Natasha only has been on one real date in her life, which abruptly ended when her date run away scared. As for Naruto, he has only been on dates with one girl, and they already knew each other for quite a while.

Natasha decided to throw caution in the wind and ask the question that's been bugging her for quite a while.

"Are you human?"

Naruto suddenly chokes in surprise, hearing the question. Of course, he knows about aliens, but he never considered himself as one. But thinking more about the definition of an alien, he is regarded as one.

"No. At least I don't think I'm not." He answered, using a loophole. He is a human-alien. A bizarre situation if you think about it.

"Then how can you do the things you do: the teleportation, cloning, and nigh invulnerability." Natasha pushed forward.

"That's a complicated question with a complicated answer..." Naruto thoughtfully said. "It should be a third date question, I think, but for now, let's just say I'm special.

"We haven't even been on a second date, and there's already a third date. Aren't we moving too fast? What else do you think would happen on the third date?" Natasha teased this time.

Luckily for Naruto, Leon and a pair of waiter served their orders at that time.

"Your meal is served. Just call me if you need anything." Leon said before walking away.

The meal went on smoothly. They just exchanged funny stories and experiences while making sure nothing to personal would come up. Some questions were answered, but most of them are skirted over, both of them not wanting to scare off a prospective partner.

They stayed for two hours until people started to fill the restaurant for the evening rush. Naruto called over Leon so they could check out.

"Don't worry about the meal. It's on the house." Leon waved off.

"Thanks, Leon! I'll see you next time!" Naruto said without fighting back.

"Thank you for the meal. I hope you can make your business grow." Natasha cordially said. She decided that she won't mess up Leon's new life by putting him in SHIELD's radar.

Leon nodded in appreciation and watched them walk out of the restaurant. He started cleaning the table when he saw a folder on Naruto's chair. He picked it up and opened it. Inside are different pictures of a girl walking around campus. He involuntarily shed a tear from seeing his adoptive daughter.

"Damn, you're good, Naruto." Leon said to no one in particular.

"So where to next?" Natasha asked when they exited the restaurant. She saw the folder Naruto left behind for Leon but decided not to say anything about it.

"I'm going to show you something awesome and the best part; you can bring it back to Fury..." Naruto said while wearing his helmet. "But, I think you should wait until the rats been dealt with." He finished while mounting his bike.

Natasha quickly wore her helmet and got on behind Naruto, wrapping her arm around him and pressing herself. She felt a small shiver run through him.

"I think you just brought your bike so you can feel me behind you." Natasha teased behind him.

"I'm neither going to confirm or deny that..." Naruto answered before revving the bike and shooting off. "We're going to do a jump. Just saying."

Natasha braced herself before the scenery suddenly changed from an alleyway in Rome into a jungle treeline with a salvage yard in the distance.

-Clint's Homestead, Missouri-

-January 29, 2007, 0815h local-

"Why is my bow pink!?" Clint shouted.

Laura finally understood the pair's dynamic. Naruto messes with Clint, and Clint retaliates. It's a vicious cycle that she can't help but laugh at. She looked over the case of her husband's bow and quiver is and saw a piece of paper. She opened it and read it out loud.

"'Just submerge in hot water for 30 mins.' At least it's not permanent." She said the last part to her husband with a comforting smile.

"I'm just going to use the bathtub..." Clint said with a sigh. He placed his weapons inside the case again so it can be carried easier. "Come on, Hun. Let's go inside and have breakfast." Clint saw Laura frozen in place a little scared. "Hun?... Laura?" He tried to get her attention.

When Laura snapped out of her stupor, she faced Clint and said,

"My water just broke."