It had been a good week or 2 since you and Melissa officially started dating. And since then, you guys had made great progress on the development of the Full Gauntlet and its framework. As the hours turned by, and the days had gone to rest, you two were fully prepared to test the third iteration of the gauntlet. Once you guys were fully ready for test runs, you both walked back down to the testing grounds and got everything set up once again. Similar tests were laid out and prepared to go off at any minute.

Melissa: We have the propulsion systems hot. Plenty of targets. Subjects of increasing durability. We rented out the correct equipment and-

(Y/N): Hey. We'll be fine. We have everything we need, ok? We've got it all set up and we have the gauntlet fully ready. Melissa, we don't have anything to worry about.

Melissa: I know. But I just-

(Y/N): We'll be fine.

You took her hand and made her look up at you. You offered her a slight smile and slowly pushed her back to the test console. You nodded at her and she smiled at you. As she began to punch in information, you turned around as you almost sensed something. Your eyebrows raised as you saw Adrian, David Shield, and Dr. Hall all walking up to you guys.

You lightly tap Melissa on the shoulder to get her attention. She slowly turned around and her eyes widened a bit as well.

Melissa: Dad? What are you doing here?

David: Well, someone is having a test run today. Couldn't let it go unobserved.

Melissa smiled and walked up to her father and hugged him. Shield laughed a little and hugged her right back. You couldn't help but to smile at the sight before you. You turned over and looked at Adrian and Hall. Adrian gave you a thumbs up and walked over to you and offered up a fist bump. You smiled and bumped it as Hall walked over to you.

(Y/N): Dr. Hall?

Hall: Decided to support my students. I have all the confidence.

You smiled slightly, trying to hold back a much larger grin. Melissa placed a hand on your shoulder. You nodded at her and walked over to the briefcase. You strapped on the new gauntlet and went through standard test runs. Making sure grip strength was good, making sure it felt right, making sure of x,y, and z. You looked at Melissa and nodded at her. She smiled and pointed you to the assigned point.

Melissa: Are you sure about this one?

(Y/N): Positive. Launch it.

Melissa: Ok. Just...be careful.

You turned at her and nodded. You took a deep breath as you saw the giant block of stone be dropped before you. As you waited for the spring to take off, you looked around and saw a few pro heroes watching you guys. It was clear to you that everyone was a little on edge over the test launch. And to be fair, you were too. This could actually be life or death right here. Still, you had to try.

You looked back to Melissa and saw she had a look of worry on her face. You smiled, it widening more so with every possible second. She relaxed a little and nodded at you. She grabbed a microphone and looked at you.

Melissa: Resistance test. This test will see how much force the gauntlet can take at extreme speeds. We will launch a block of pure stone at 480 kph directly at the subject. This is to see how much force the gauntlet can take and how much damage, if any, it will do to the human body. Test begins in 20 seconds.

You took another deep breath and looked over to Melissa. She mouthed a "Are you sure" to which you just nodded. Sure you were insanely nervous. But now was not the time. Now it was time for action. Which meant, now was the time to see if you would live long enough. You looked back at her as she counted down from 10. You took another deep breath.

Melissa: Five...four...three...two...

In an instant, the block was launched. You kept your arm up and waited to see what would happen. You closed your eyes and you felt something slam down onto your hand and a loud crash. You slowly opened your eyes and saw that the gauntlet, or yourself, was holding back the stone. You laughed, a massive smile on your face. You looked at Melissa who had her mouth covered, a large smile there as well.

Hall: Most impressive.

Adrian: Alright man!!!

You laughed as the stone reset its position. You looked at the massive dent left within the stone. Melissa smiled as the stone was shortly replaced with steel set at the same speed. You smirked and held up your hand and Melissa launched it again. Like before, you were able to stop the wall, but this time, you were pushed back slightly. As she retracted the pillar, you shook your arm slightly due to the force.

Melissa: Feeling alright?

(Y/N): Fine. It just stings a little.

Melissa: Got it.

(Y/N): How much force was that?

Melissa: That was about 6,500 Newtons of force coming straight at you.

(Y/N): Good. Keep them coming?

Melissa: How do you feel?

(Y/N): Feeling great. Up it!

Melissa: You sure?

You looked at her and nodded.

(Y/N): Positive.

Melissa nodded and increased the speed and durability of the pillar. You raised up your hand and got ready for the onslaught of power. Within a second, the pillar was launched and was thrusted against your hand. You slid back about a tenth of a meter but still was able to stop the pillar and place a dent into it. You smiled and looked a little over to Melissa and the others.

David: Are you alright, (Y/N)?

(Y/N): Doing just fine.

Adrian: That has to be about 7,000 newtons. Maybe even more.

(Y/N): Think we're ready for the final test?

Melissa: You really want to push it?

(Y/N): I mean, we did just unleash 5,000 newtons of force on it at minimum. I think we can handle it.

Melissa: A few more test runs.

(Y/N): Fine. Launch it.

Melissa nodded and began to reset the timer. Like before, different pillars made out of different materials were launched at different speeds and hit you dead in the face but were blocked by the gauntlet. And so, you guys continued onward with test after test. As you guys were doing so, David and Hall walked off and returned about 3 hours later as you were lifting weights with the gauntlet.

You guys looked over and saw as they walked over to the launcher and placed a hard stop where you normally stood. You walked over to it as Shield turned around and smiled at you guys.

Melissa: What's this all about?

David: Figured you guys could use a spotter. Without being launched back a few feet, or meters for you (Y/N), you will be able to get more results.

You and Melissa looked at one another and smiled. Due to being pushed back, you had to stop the launch tests outright. You still got strength and durable tests, but you had to stop the launcher tests for safety purposes. So, you ran back into position as Melissa increased the speed and force up to 7,500 Newtons. You smirked and raised your arm as David and Hall strapped you into the holder.

Once you got into position completely, you nodded to the three and they walked off. Melissa took a deep breath and looked at you. You looked at her and smiled at her. She mouthed an "I love you." Your eyes widened but you smiled back at her and nodded at her as well. So, she launched the pillar and the gauntlet stopped it, but not all of it. The force and the backing of the holder pushed half of the pillar back and the other half forward and slammed onto the back rack.

You slowly turned your head around and looked to see the clean cut of the pillar. You slowly turned your head back to Melissa as she and everyone else was in awe. You just had no real words to describe what has happened here. You just slowly unattached yourself from the holder and walked over to Melissa. She still had her jaw dropped as you approached her. You stopped right across from her and panted a little.

(Y/N): I think it works.

Melissa: Yeah. Yeah, it does.

You broke into a smile and slowly began to laugh. Melissa began to laugh with you. You reached over and pulled her into a hug. You both stayed there for some time, just laughing and enjoying the success. After an entire semester, you guys had gotten this gauntlet made clean and cut to perfection.