totally meta

chapter 33

Henry sat across from Dr. Harris in her office, the mood lighter than usual. They had been trying to find time to discuss their relationship again, to clarify what they both wanted after the awkwardness at the restaurant. Dr. Harris was about to speak when the door suddenly burst open.

A woman in an expensive-looking suit strolled in, her presence immediately commanding the room. Her sleek, black hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and her sharp eyes scanned both Henry and Dr. Harris with an air of confidence. She wore a designer jacket with a golden pin on the collar that glinted in the light, a symbol of status more than anything else.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything too important," the woman said, her voice cool and measured. "But I thought you'd like to know that I'm here to help fight criminals."

Henry blinked, glancing at Dr. Harris before raising an eyebrow at the woman. "And who are you exactly?" he asked.

The woman smiled, her eyes gleaming. "Mara Kensington. You've probably heard of me—CEO of Kensington Industries. But that's not important right now. What's important is that I know about *you*, Flash." Her gaze settled on Henry, as if she knew all his secrets.

Henry stiffened, exchanging a glance with Dr. Harris, who remained calm but intrigued. "You know about me?"

"Of course," Mara replied casually. "When you started making headlines as the Flash, well, I couldn't help but think about the possibilities. You see, I've been inspired by someone from a different comic book world—Iron Man."

Henry's brow furrowed, not sure where this was going. "Iron Man? You're saying you want to fight criminals, but... you don't have any powers?"

Mara shook her head, smiling like she was holding all the cards. "I don't need powers. I'm building something. You see, when I realized that meta-humans like you were real, I figured building an *Iron Man* suit couldn't be too far off from reality. I have the resources, the brains, and, most importantly, the meta-human who can melt the strongest metals."

Henry's eyes widened as a realization hit him. He leaned forward in his seat, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Wait a second... you're talking about the guy who helped me stop that bank robbery against the man in the flash proof suit, aren't you?"

Mara grinned, clearly pleased that Henry had caught on. "Exactly. I paid him a considerable sum to work with me. He's been helping me perfect the technology for my suit. With his ability to manipulate metal, we've been able to create something truly groundbreaking."

Dr. Harris, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "You're telling us that you've built a suit that can rival the technology we've seen in comic books? And you're planning to use it to fight crime?"

Mara nodded. "Precisely. It's not just about fighting crime, though. It's about showing that humans, even without powers, can still stand toe-to-toe with meta-humans. We can still protect our cities, our people. We just need the right tools."

Henry sat back in his chair, impressed but skeptical. "And you think this suit will be enough? I mean, you've seen what meta-humans are capable of. You think some high-tech armor can keep you safe?"

Mara's confidence didn't waver. "I know it can. I've designed it with the strongest materials, and thanks to the meta-human you worked with, it's practically indestructible. I have energy weapons, flight capabilities, defensive shields—you name it. I'm not just playing dress-up here, Flash."

Henry chuckled. "Yeah, I figured you wouldn't be."

Dr. Harris looked at Mara thoughtfully. "But why come to us with this? What do you want from Henry?"

Mara folded her arms, leaning against the wall. "I want us to work together. You're a hero, Flash, and while I might not have your speed or powers, I have something just as valuable. If we team up, we could make a real difference. I've already proven I'm serious about this by investing in the technology, and I'm more than willing to put myself on the line."

Henry considered her words. He wasn't sure how he felt about a rich, non-meta human just jumping into the fight like this. But then again, her suit sounded impressive, and the meta-human she was working with had already helped him once.

"Alright," Henry said slowly. "I'm willing to see what you've got. But just so you know, this isn't some game. You put yourself in the line of fire, and it could get real dangerous real fast."

Mara's smile didn't falter. "I know. But I'm ready."

Dr. Harris looked between the two of them, her mind clearly working through the implications. "We'll need to make sure everything is above board. We can't have someone just running around in a high-tech suit without oversight. But if you're serious about this, Mara, we'll figure something out."

Mara nodded, satisfied. "You'll see. I'll prove that I'm just as capable as any meta-human. Maybe even more."

As Mara turned to leave, Henry couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Teaming up with someone like Mara was new territory, and while he appreciated her ambition, he knew this wouldn't be easy.

Once she was gone, Dr. Harris sighed. "Well, that was unexpected."

Henry chuckled. "You can say that again."

The conversation they had originally intended to have was long forgotten as they both tried to process the implications of what had just happened. Things were about to get a lot more interesting, especially for Henry.