June 4, 1943 - Stark Industries' Expo
Tommy walked out from the backstage, a big smile spread across his face.
Howard Stark was definitely an odd one. The genius had left the flying car unfinished, disappearing as soon as he got an idea of how to 'fix' it. Tommy had ended up talking to Jarvis, Howard's butler, who handled all the details of what Howard called loans.
'Like his master, the butler was quick to disappear too.'
Tommy glanced down at the $100,000 check in his hand, still feeling like it wasn't real. Being rich had its perks, he thought while carefully tucking the check into his pocket. As he walked back into the lively expo, the late hour didn't bother him anymore.
The noise, which had earlier felt overwhelming, now seemed to lift his spirits. The crowd's chatter, which had once been grating, now felt calming as he strolled through. His feet led him toward the military recruitment hall again.
It wasn't as crowded as the other pavilions, and Tommy found himself wondering, 'Should I pay Dr. Erskine a visit?'
"Thomas?"
'Thomas?'
Only one person called him that. Tommy turned and saw Steve approaching, holding something tightly in his hand. He saw familiar papers in Steve's hand before noticing Steve's smile was quite literally mirroring his. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "You got enlisted?"
"It's about time I serve my country, Colonel Shelby," Steve responded with a smile.
Tommy looked at the scrawny guy and burst into laughter, "About time, eh?"
"Congrats, soldier."
Tommy patted Steve on the shoulder, glancing back at the military recruiting hall. Steve definitely had the attitude for it, he would give him that. As for whether he was fit enough to be a soldier, well, that wasn't Tommy's concern.
Plenty of men had died already. And even if Steve somehow made it through training, Tommy doubted they'd send the scrawny kid straight to the front lines.
"Say, uh, what are you plan—Hmm?" Tommy began to ask, but he suddenly felt someone watching him.
Turning his head around the corner, he saw Dr. Erskine was watching them. The scientist had his hands folded behind his back, just like Tommy's dad used to do when he'd send Tommy off to school. That thought pulled Tommy into his memories for a moment.
It also made him think of the project Dr. Erskine was working on as he turned back to Steve and asked, "Steve, have you met Dr. Erskine?"
"Dr. Erskine?" Steve followed Tommy's gaze, spotting the scientist standing at a distance. "Oh, yes. He's the one handling my application."
'You want him, eh? That explains a lot,' Tommy thought.
He watched as Dr. Erskine gave Steve a warm smile. Tommy narrowed his eyes, wondering why the doctor would pick someone like Steve for his project. They seemed to get along well enough, sure. But it was still surprising to see Dr. Erskine pick someone scrawny.
Tommy looked at Steve and said, "Well, I guess that'll do. Looks like we'll be seeing more of each other, soldier."
"Ah, yes, sir!" Steve replied.
Poor lad didn't know what he'd gotten himself into. As Tommy was about to walk away, his eyes caught sight of Bucky, laughing and dancing with one of the girls. Bucky's wide smile made Tommy chuckle, "Looks like Bucky's having a good time."
"He sure is," Steve said with a small smile.
Tommy glanced around and noticed the blonde girl who had been with them earlier. She stood off to the side, watching the dance floor. She must have felt his gaze because she turned and smiled at him. Tommy asked, "Not going back to join them?"
Steve shook his head. The scrawny lad looked down at the recruitment papers in his hand, then back at Bucky. "I've got bigger things on my mind now than just having fun."
Tommy chuckled and took out a cigarette, lighting it.
"I thought we weren't allowed to smoke?"
Tommy chuckled softly at Steve's serious tone. He took a long drag from his cigarette, then exhaled, watching the smoke swirl into the air. He patted Steve on the shoulder, smiling. "Well, if you're not up for fun, I won't stop you."
"I will..." Steve said, though his gaze shifted toward Bucky, who was still on the dance floor, laughing and enjoying himself. But before Steve could finish, he noticed Tommy was heading in a different direction—toward where Steve's supposed 'date' was standing.
Steve blinked, confused. "Wait, where are you going?"
"To have fun," Tommy replied simply.
He walked away, feeling Steve's eyes on him. His gaze drifted back to the blonde girl across the room. She noticed him too, giving him a soft smile as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
Tommy's lips curled into a smirk as he thought, 'The night's still young. Might as well have a little fun, eh?'
June 12, 1943 - Upper East Side, Manhattan
Time slipped by without Tommy realizing it.
Usually, the passing moments felt like a fever dream, but this time, he felt at peace. It was like getting a good night's sleep, free from any dreams. He smiled to himself, remembering the look on everyone's faces when he returned home with the check—utter shock.
"Whoa, watch where you're going!" A loud shout jolted him from his thoughts.
Tommy glanced to the side as Jesse gripped the steering wheel of the old Chevy truck, his head poking out to see the road ahead. A man darted around the corner, running from a shady group of people. The truck slowed for a moment, the cracked leather seat groaning under his butt as they hit a few more bumps on the uneven road.
"Goddammit, people are going crazier by the day," Jesse muttered.
Despite his words, Tommy could see that Jesse's mood was still sky-high. And why wouldn't it be? After seeing that $100,000 check, everyone was elated. He started bars, not just one but three!
'Even Polly's wrinkles almost disappeared when she saw the check,' Tommy thought with a smirk.
He rolled down the window, letting the wind brush against his face. The cool air was a welcome change from the stuffy interior of the truck, which smelled of gasoline and old metal.
As they rattled along the street, Tommy's eyes wandered to the buildings they passed—polished facades with large windows, so different from the places he was used to. The cars parked along the road were all sleek and new, and the people walking on the sidewalk were dressed in fine clothes.
The old Chevy truck felt out of place here, but it didn't dampen his mood.
Tommy smiled as the truck made a turn and came to a stop in front of one of the biggest buildings on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. As Tommy stepped out, he felt curious stares from passersby, but he paid them no mind. His eyes were fixed on the towering building in front of him.
"You're finally here, boss. Haha! Time to see some real art!"
A familiar laugh made him turn. Arthur was striding toward him, grinning from ear to ear.
"Jesus Christ, Arthur, you must've been possessed." Stepping out of the truck, Jesse was in disbelief. "Where's the grumpy Arthur we know? Now you're walking around like a damn clown with that smile!"
Arthur laughed heartily, slapping Jesse on the back. "Hahaha! Look at your own face, Jesse! That smile of yours is enough to make anyone sick!"
It was a rare sight, and Tommy couldn't help but chuckle. The brooding and bitter Arthur, who had been sulking ever since his discharge, was gone. In his place stood a version of Arthur that Tommy hadn't seen in forever—lighthearted, almost carefree.
"Assistant Manager," Tommy said, giving Arthur a pat on the shoulder. "Glad to see you're in high spirits. But remember, we're here to check on the renovation progress, not for laughs."
"Of course, of course! Let me, as Assistant Manager, lead the way!" Arthur clutched his chest dramatically, laughing again.
With a grin, he led them in, "Here she is, lads—our bar."
When they walked in, the first thing that caught their eye was the bar. It was grand, just like Tommy wanted. The counter was polished mahogany, accented with brass. As his eyes drifted further, he saw rows of whiskey, gin, and scotch bottles lined up perfectly.
The chandeliers above amused him with their irony as he thought, 'And we still live in that cramped apartment.'
"Not bad, eh?" Arthur grinned while pulling out a cigarette. "Built it proper, just like we said we would."
They had renovated the place fast. They pulled most of the stuff from second-hand markets, and the building they leased fit perfectly for a bar. Tommy told Polly not to skimp on anything and to get it all done quickly.
Chester's connections helped speed up the paperwork, too. He owes it to the colonel. So far, everything was going their way. Tommy looked around, feeling satisfied.
He glanced at Arthur and asked, "Stock's good. You made sure it's all legit?"
"As legit as we get, Tommy," Arthur replied, smirking as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Let's see the casino then," Tommy said.
"You know, Tommy, I could maybe tr—"
"No, Jesse," Tommy interrupted. He turned to see Jesse staring at the bottles of gin on the shelves. He shook his head and added, "Not now."
"We'll have time for drinks later, Jess. Come on, let's go!"
Arthur laughed, leading them through an arched doorway. The casino was just as luxurious. Plush red carpets muffled their footsteps as they approached one of the many gaming tables. Tommy smiled at the empty casino, "Looks like we're set."
This was where they'd make even more money.
"Everything a bloke could want to lose his money," Arthur said with a laugh, slapping a roulette table. "Or win, if he's lucky enough."
"And, just like you requested," Arthur's voice trailed as they moved along to a set of heavy doors tucked away in the corner.
Arthur opened the door, revealing a modest but well-furnished room. Tommy looked at the sturdy oak table in the center, with sofas on each side. No frills, just practical as he continued Arthur's sentence, "For business meetings—just us."
"Absolutely righ—"
"Tommy, you've gone and done it again, haven't you?"
A voice suddenly interrupted. Tommy didn't turn right away, but he knew who it was. He noticed Jesse's expression freeze, and that made him chuckle. "You did a great job, Polly."
Polly strode into the room before them, holding a ledger in her hand. She sat down on the sofa, waving the book at Tommy. "You wanted everything done fast, and now we've spent nearly half more than we should've!"
Tommy glanced at her, noticing how she squinted her eyes at Jesse. He gave Jesse a pat on the shoulder before walking over to sit across from Polly. He pulled out a cigarette pack and offered it to her.
"Are you not happy with it, Polly?"
"Do you even realize how much we've spent in just a few days?"
Polly took a cigarette, and Tommy lit one for himself.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Arthur shrug, ending the tour. The assistant manager sat on the sofa, reaching for his Chesterfield, but Tommy quickly snatched it away as he said, "Well, I haven't seen the numbers yet. Why don't you surprise me?"
"Ha! You son of a bitch," Polly sighed, leaning back as she lit her cigarette. She took a long drag, trying to calm herself. Her eyes turned to the doorway, seeing Jesse standing there awkwardly as she scolded, "Don't just stand there like an idiot. Come in!"
"Fucking hell..."
Tommy heard Jesse mutter under his breath as he finally walked in and sat down. But he could feel the tension completely ease up between them. This brought a smile to his face as Polly looked at him.
Her brown eyes were telling him she was exhausted. "I tried to stick to the budget, but with your demands, it was impossible. In total, we've spent $97,500. All that money, gone to build this bar of yours, Tommy. Do you understand? We've only got $2,500 left!"
"Holy shit, $97,500? I've barely got $500 in my bank account, and you spent that much? That's mad." Arthur took a drag from his cigarette, his eyes still on the Chesterfield pack in Tommy's pocket.
The average household income in the U.S. at the time was around $2,500. Spending $97,500 so quickly felt surreal. Most families could live for 40 years without working with that kind of money. Yet here they were, splurging it in just over a week.
'That's unexpected,' Tommy went quiet.
His smile slowly faded as he truly hadn't expected it to be so high. His mind drifted away as he took a long drag from his cigarette making the smell of tobacco thicken in the room. Tommy turned his gaze to the large window, catching sight of a nearby building that reminded him of their cramped apartment—only better.
Suddenly, he asked, "Does that $97,500 include salaries for our employees?"
"Of course," Polly replied. "I set some aside in case we ran out. It's the least we could do."
Hearing that, Tommy smiled and turned to her. "Well then, Polly, with $2,500 left, why don't we find a better place to live?"
Arthur choked on his cigarette, and Jesse immediately burst into laughter. Tommy's smile grew wider as Arthur joined in, filling the room with laughter. However, the same couldn't be said for Polly.
She was rolling her eyes at him, saying, "You lot must've lost your fucking minds."