Chapter 88: 5 seconds

(A/N: For those who saw what happened with this chapter... Shut the fuck y'all saw nothing... lol)

**************************************

[Third Person's PoV] 

Mei had her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth as she concentrated on assembling the white and blue bow in front of her. The bow sat atop a placeholder as she carefully pieced everything together.

However, something was still missing—the string that was supposed to hold and shoot the arrows.

When Mei finished, she lifted her goggles from her eyes and put her hands on her hips with a proud expression. She then playfully pretended to cry, wiping her eyes with her forearm. "My baby looks so beautiful. I'm actually shedding tears of joy."

Tony couldn't help but scoff in amusement, shaking his head. "Anyway, here," he said, handing her a pair of pink-colored visors that matched her hair. "These should protect your eyes and guard them just in case. They're actually connected to your bow and quiver, so you'll be able to summon them mentally with the neural transmitter. Not to mention, they should help you with your aim—calculating wind speed, arrow trajectory, etc., etc.," Tony explained, moving his hands in a circle as if to list all the features.

"Hehe," Mei giggled happily as she put the visors on. She grabbed the stringless bow, and as soon as her hands made contact with the handle, a light blue glowing string zapped into place.

Mei pulled on the string and watched it snap back into place. She then stuck her tongue out to the side again, pulling back on the string while closing one eye and pretending to shoot an arrow into the distance. However, due to the neural transmitter, her thoughts became reality, and an arrow made of pure energy formed. Shocked, she accidentally released it.

Luckily, Tony's nanobots swiftly emerged from his chest, covering his hand as he grabbed the arrow from behind her just as she released it. He squeezed it, causing it to dissipate with a sigh as the nanites then swam back into his reactor.

"Well, that could have been dangerous," Tony said in a teasing tone.

Mei practically tossed the bow onto the desk alongside her visors, putting her hands behind her back and looking around nervously.

"Ah… I didn't mean for that to happen…" she said apologetically. "Someone could have gotten seriously hurt…"

"It's alright. No one got hurt, and if they did, we have everything we need here to take care of it."

"But still…" Mei said, sounding a bit down.

"Accidents happen. No one said inventing was ever safe. I can't tell you the number of times Melissa and I had a misfire or cut ourselves while creating something new. I'm sure you've had your own share of dangerous accidents, and I'm sure this won't be your last."

"I suppose you're right…"

"So, shall we take these bad boys for a proper test run? Which, if you ask me, is the best part of any good invention," Tony said, raising an eyebrow as he handed her some protective gloves.

Mei glanced at the bow once more, grabbed the visor, and put it back on. With a serious expression, she nodded.

…

Tony and Mei stood in his training room, where flying targets floated around—some moving, some stationary.

Mei pretended to be a skilled archer by taking a deep breath before aiming her bow straight ahead. Her demeanor shifted to one of focus as she began to draw the bow back, causing an arrow to form on the glowing string and within the circle in the middle.

As she fully drew the bow, the strings emitted pulsating blue energy, charging the arrow. The longer she held the arrow back, the stronger and more powerful it became.

Mei took careful aim at a target and released the arrow. It shot off like a beam, cutting through the air with power and precision. As it hit the target, it exploded into a blue burst, causing the hologram to flicker and reveal the true nature of the targets—flying androids made of vibranium. The hit was registered as 10 points on a holographic display.

"Woah! That was awesome!" Mei celebrated. She then gave the bow a twist, causing it to change colors. The string turned red, and as she pulled back, an arrow made entirely of flames formed.

Mei held it for a few seconds, causing the arrow to grow hotter. The air around it began to crackle, and the tip of the arrow even started to turn blue.

Mei's eyes zoomed in on the farthest target, and with careful aim, she released the fiery arrow. It shot through the air like a missile made of fire, hitting its target with an explosive force.

Excited, she flicked the bow two more times. One turn created an arrow made of cold energy, while the other generated one made of lightning.

"This bow is so cool!" Mei exclaimed excitedly.

"Well, I'm glad you like it," Tony nodded with a satisfied grin. "There's something great about satisfying a customer."

"Eh? But wasn't I the one who made it?"

"But who was it that designed it?"

"Touché." Mei laughed.

Mei let out a sigh and placed a hand on her hip. "Phew, that was fun," she said, handing the bow and visor back to Tony.

Tony looked at her, confused. "What?"

"Here, I already had my fun. Let's create more cool stuff!" Mei said eagerly.

"Keep it. It's yours," Tony replied, waving it off.

"Eh?"

"Think of it as a souvenir for working with a Stark."

"Really?" Mei asked, taken aback.

"Yeah, what am I going to do with that?" Tony shrugged.

Mei beamed and hugged Tony. "Thank you!"

Tony patted her arm. "Speaking of souvenirs..." He pulled out his phone, but before he could finish, his expression turned serious. "You should go home now."

"Ehhh? Are you kicking me out? Was the bow to let me down gently? Was it a farewell gift? Did I do something wrong?" Mei asked, suddenly worried.

Tony maintained his straight expression and flipped his phone toward her. "Mei… It's twelve o'clock… Midnight. You can come back tomorrow."

"Oh…" Mei said, rubbing the back of her head and laughing awkwardly. "Hahaha, that's so embarrassing, hahaha."

Tony just shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Come on, I'll get you a ride home."

Mei nodded and pressed a button on the bow's handle, watching as it shrank into a small canister that she clipped to the side of her pants. "Can I leave my stuff here since I'm coming back tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I don't mind," Tony said as he arranged for her transportation home.

Once Mei left, Tony returned to the lab. As he passed by Melissa, who was working on a mathematical equation, she muttered under her breath, "Playboy."

"Wha–?" Tony began, caught off guard.

"Hmm?" Melissa turned to him, blinking exaggeratedly and tilting her head in mock confusion.

Tony stared at her with a straight face as she continued to blink at him rapidly. "Do you need something, Mr. Stark?"

Tony shook his head and started to walk away.

"First Momo, then Toru, now Mei. I wonder who's next?" Melissa mumbled just loud enough for him to hear.

Tony's shoulders slumped as he sighed. He placed both hands on his hips and looked up. "Melissa, Melissa…"

Melissa blinked in confusion, not expecting that reaction.

"I'll give you five seconds to run…" Tony said ominously.

"Pfft, why would I run–" Melissa didn't even finish her sentence before bolting from her seat. When she glanced back, she saw Tony chasing after her.

"I THOUGHT YOU SAID FIVE SECONDS?!"

"I LIED!!"

"Ahhhhhh!!!" Melissa's screams echoed throughout the mansion… 

*********************************************

+31 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3