After lunch, they made their way to a neon-lit arcade. As they walked through the entrance, greeted by a wave of excited shouts and the steady thump of electronic music. Tony's eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
"Ready for the next round of fun?" Tony asked, grinning.
Mystique scanned the rows of games, the competitive spark never dimming in her eyes. She gave a half-smile, arms crossed. "What are we playing first? Something with actual skill, or do you want to see me destroy you again?"
"Start with Whac-A-Mole," Tony said, pointing to the row of brightly colored arcade machines. "Let's see how fast you really are."
Mystique raised an eyebrow. "Whac-A-Mole?" she repeated, smirking. "That's a child's game."
"Exactly. Let's see if you can beat a child's reflexes."
She stepped up to the machine, slipping a token into the slot. The game began with a series of moles popping out of their holes. Mystique's hands moved with such precision that the mallet looked like an extension of her arm. Her reflexes were nearly inhuman as she whacked every mole before it could even blink. The clanging sound of each hit was satisfying, and with each new round, her speed only increased.
'This is so fun,' she thought, smirking as she took out another mole. 'I could do this all day.'
Tony, meanwhile, had grabbed a mallet of his own and was flailing with all the grace of someone who'd never seen a mole in their life. He missed half of the targets, hitting the side of the machine more than anything else.
'Darn it! Why is it so hard without powers?' He thought.
"Need some help, Stark?" Mystique asked, watching him miss for the third time.
Tony scowled but grinned. "I'm just saving my energy for the real challenges."
They moved to Dance Dance Revolution. The flashing lights of the dance pads and the upbeat rhythm of the music filled the air. Mystique stepped onto the mat with the same graceful confidence she had on the skateboard. Tony positioned himself next to her, smirking.
"Prepare to be amazed," he said, slipping a token into the machine.
The music started, and Mystique's body moved in perfect sync with the arrows flashing across the screen. Her steps were fast, fluid, and almost acrobatic. She spun and twirled in time with the beat, her agility making the routine look effortless. Tony couldn't help but be impressed, even though he was too busy focusing on the screen to look up much.
As the song finished, Mystique gave a slight bow, breathing lightly, but not a drop of sweat on her. The screen flashed a perfect score for her.
Tony wasn't far behind, though. He remembered the pattern well enough and was quick to match the beats, even if his moves were a little less... graceful. Still, it was a draw.
"I think we can call this one even," Tony said, giving her a playful nudge.
'Ha! I know you memorized the pattern,' Mystique raised an eyebrow. "Next time, I'll really make you work for it."
Tony grinned. "I'm just getting warmed up."
The two moved on to Pac-Man, where Tony was already grinning at the chance to wipe the floor with her. They each sat down at their respective machines, and Tony immediately leaned into the game with his usual intensity. Mystique, though, took her time. She'd played it once or twice, but this was Tony's turf.
Within minutes, Tony was maneuvering the maze like a seasoned pro, dodging ghosts and gobbling up pellets with ease. Mystique, on the other hand, was still getting her bearings, trying to predict the ghosts' movements. It wasn't long before Tony completed a perfect round.
"Ha!" he said, leaning back with a victorious grin. "That's how it's done."
She shot him a sideways glance. "I was letting you win," she said, but Tony could hear the slight teasing tone in her voice.
"I don't believe you," he said, picking up another token.
They played for hours, bouncing from game to game. Mystique was unbeatable at the claw machine, her fingers quick and precise as she scooped up prizes. She actually won the big stuffed bear in a single try and a couple of other toys.
"Oh, c'mon. How did you do that? Most of these claw machines are rigged," Tony asked as he failed to get the bubble shooter again.
She shrugged with a mischievous smile. "It's a skill."
He leaned in and whispered after failing for the fourth time. "Get me that bubble shooter."
She smiled as she put in a token in the machine and got the bubble shooter in a single try. She gave it to Tony.
"Hahaha! Hell yeah," Tony hugged her and lifted her a little before giving a spin. Then he put her down. "Thanks. You are the best. Do you know what this is?" He held the shooter before her.
'Wow! He looks so happy,' She thought.
"A toy that shoots out bubbles?" Mystique said.
"This is a limited edition dino bubble shooter. There was this show back then when I was a kid. I always wanted one, but with all the studies, MIT, and creating things, and... Well, let's just say, being intelligent is also a curse. You lose too many good things that might seem silly and fun. Anyway, let's hit the next game," Tony said with a smile.
They moved to a pinball machine, where Tony tried to show off his "superior reflexes", but Mystique was on fire. With each flick of the flipper, she sent the ball soaring like a pro. Her score topped his, leaving Tony with a wide grin, albeit one tinged with mild defeat.
"You know," Mystique said as they took a break, leaning against a nearby counter. "I haven't had a day like this in... forever. Just... fun."
Tony paused, looking at her. His usual cocky grin softened slightly, but only for a second.
"I'm glad," he said quietly. "This is about the only thing I'm good at: giving people a good time."
Her smile softened. "You're doing a great job of it."
By the time evening rolled around, the arcade started to get more crowded. Teens and kids filled up the place.
Mystique and Tony were sitting on the roof of his car near a hot dog cart. They were eating hot dogs.
"You memorized the pattern, didn't you?" Mystique asked.
Tony took a big bite of his hot dog, chewing thoughtfully before answering. "Me? Memorize the pattern? I would never do such a thing." He grinned through the bite. "Okay, fine. Maybe a little."
Mystique smirked, clearly amused. "I knew it. You just can't resist the competitive streak. You're like a raccoon trying to get into the trash—curiosity will always get the best of you."
He chuckled. "Hey, raccoons are smart. And I prefer the term 'strategically opportunistic.'"
Mystique raised an eyebrow. "That's your excuse for memorizing the Dance Dance Revolution steps?"
"Absolutely. Just like a chess master." He leaned back, watching the bustling arcade scene through the windshield. "And don't think I didn't notice your weirdly perfect claw machine skills. Do you have some kind of… mutant claw ability? Are you secretly part octopus?"
"Octopus?" She raised an eyebrow, amused. "And here I thought you were the one with all the gadgets. You really don't know what you're dealing with, huh?"
"Oh, I know what I'm dealing with. I'm just still processing the fact that you've never lost a single claw game. I mean, that thing is practically rigged against us. You've defied the laws of arcade physics."
Mystique shrugged with mock modesty. "It's just skill. And also, I've spent some time using my... hands in situations that required precision."
"Right, right," Tony said, eyes glinting. "Like picking locks? Stealing diamonds? Or are we talking about the whole 'backflipping out of helicopters' thing?"
She chuckled. "Maybe all of the above. But, for the record, I'm just good at focusing on the task at hand." She finished her hot dog and wiped her hands. "I could teach you a few tricks if you wanted."
"Teach me?" Tony raised an eyebrow, shaking his head. "If I start learning tricks from you, next thing I know I'll be putting out an album of late-night karaoke and getting my own reality show."
"You'd be a hit," Mystique said dryly. "A billionaire playboy showing off his rock 'n' roll skills and secret gaming prowess? People would love it."
Tony thought for a moment, then grinned. "Yeah, you're right. Maybe I'll pitch it to Pepper—'The Stark Experience.' The first season: Tony gets schooled at every arcade game imaginable."
"Yeah, and you end every episode in a 'life lesson' moment. A tearful epiphany about the power of friendship and learning from your mistakes. I can see it now." Mystique rolled her eyes playfully.
"Perfect," Tony said, nodding seriously. "I'll make it a reality. We'll have a segment where I teach people how to blow stuff up, but with a moral. Could you imagine? I'd be like the superhero version of Mr. Rogers with a power suit."
Mystique laughed, looking at him. "Just don't forget your cardigan."
"I'll take it up a notch with a flaming red onesie and a stethoscope. Nothing screams 'fun' like Dr. Stark."
"Maybe you should stick to being the genius inventor and leave the TV stardom to the professionals."
"Oh, I don't know," Tony said, tapping his chin. "I think I'd be a natural. But I'll settle for just being your personal arcade tutor today." He held up his hands like he was about to make a grand announcement. "Next up: air hockey. Prepare to lose."
Mystique's smile widened. "You're on."
...
[Morning]
"Arg!" Tony woke up, grabbing his head.
His head was throbbing from all the drinks he chugged last night. Everything was fuzzy, but he remembered how Mystique challenged him to a drinking game, and both of them drank enough. Tony had his nanites disable his enhancements, and he shut down his cosmic power just to feel normal for a night.
After that...
Tony looked to his right.
Mystique lay beside him, completely naked. No, not her usual naked self. There were no scales around her boobs. He could see her light blue nipples.
He then looked under the blanket and both of them were naked.
"Oh!"
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