Arrowverse: I'm a Hero

Chapter 5: Relationship Building and Reactive Ruminations

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Relationship Status Update: Kara Danvers (Love Interest). Progress: Significant. Your questionable humor is surprisingly effective. Keep it up. Just don't tell her about the 'Copy System' yet. Trust us. It's not a first-date topic. ]

The days following the dock incident blurred into a whirlwind of subtly orchestrated "chance" encounters, increasingly witty banter, and Adam's ever-growing, meticulously cataloged list of National City's best coffee shops (spoiler: still mostly disappointing). He and Kara had fallen into a comfortable, almost natural rhythm of seeing each other. Lunch at CatCo (where he charmed Cat Grant by pretending to be deeply impressed by her 'media empire' and subtly agreeing with her most outrageous demands), "accidental" run-ins at National City events, and even a few proper, non-life-threatening dates.

Their dates were usually a chaotic mix of Adam's sarcastic observations about mundane life and Kara's earnest attempts to explain the intricacies of alien biology or the latest Cat Grant decree. He found himself genuinely enjoying her company, beyond the "fanboy meets idol" aspect. She was kind, brilliant, and possessed a quiet strength that resonated with him. Plus, her reactions to his more outlandish jokes were gold. He was also subtly dropping hints about future events, disguised as "hunches" or "just a feeling." For instance, suggesting she double-check the structural integrity of the bridge before a certain rogue alien decided to use it as a trampoline. She always looked at him funny, then, to his internal delight, usually followed his advice.

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Emotion Lock-on: Kara Danvers (Affection/Admiration, 30%). Proficiency: Climbing. Her internal monologue about your charming audacity is quite endearing. Don't be creepy. We told you not to be creepy. ]

"I'm not being creepy," Adam muttered to the invisible system, currently watching Kara explain the difference between a solar flare and a sun-powered sneeze over a plate of ridiculously large burgers at a diner. "I'm being... strategically charming. There's a difference."

"What was that?" Kara asked, mid-explanation, wiping a bit of ketchup from her chin.

"Just thinking aloud about the profound philosophical implications of the perfect burger-to-fry ratio," Adam smoothly lied, taking a bite of his own burger. "It's a very serious matter, Kara. Don't mock my intellectual pursuits."

She rolled her eyes, but a smile played on her lips. "Right. And I'm sure that's why you're constantly muttering to yourself."

"A sign of genius, my dear," he declared, gesturing with a fry. "Or possibly just too much caffeine. The jury's still out."

His Kinetic Energy Manipulation was slowly improving. He'd spend hours in his penthouse, away from prying eyes, practicing. He could now make small objects levitate for short periods, create minor concussive blasts that felt like a strong gust of wind, and even subtly deflect thrown objects if he concentrated hard enough. He was nowhere near Supergirl's level, but he was no longer a completely squishy mortal. It was empowering, in a distinctly nerdy way.

One evening, during a quiet moment in his penthouse after another successful (and thankfully, non-explosion-filled) date, Kara confessed something to him. She was curled up on his ridiculously expensive couch, sipping tea, looking thoughtful.

"You know," she began, "there's something... different about you, Adam."

Adam tensed, his internal alarm bells going off. "Oh? Is it my sparkling wit? My devastatingly handsome good looks? Or my uncanny ability to always know where the nearest excellent slice of pizza is?"

She chuckled softly. "No, it's more than that. It's like... you know things. Things you shouldn't. Like when you told me to check the power grid before that electromagnetic pulse hit, or when you 'randomly' suggested I wear a specific color on a day I was meeting a very particular alien ambassador who had a known aversion to plaid."

Adam kept his expression neutral, though his mind was racing. "Just good instincts, I guess. My mother always said I had a sixth sense for impending doom. And a seventh sense for bad fashion choices."

Kara leaned forward, her expression serious. "It's more than instincts, Adam. It's like you're... one step ahead. Always. And you're always there when something bad is about to happen, but you never seem to get hurt. And you never ask for credit."

He knew this was a pivotal moment. He couldn't outright tell her the truth, not yet. But he could offer a palatable, plausible half-truth. He sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair.

"Okay, look, Kara," he said, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "You want the truth? The real truth?"

She nodded, her blue eyes wide and expectant.

"I... I have a really, really good source," he whispered, leaning in. "Think of it as... a very advanced, very discreet, highly sophisticated intelligence network. They give me tips. About... things. Things that are about to go wrong. And I, being the incredibly altruistic, morally upstanding citizen that I am, try to... nudge things in the right direction." He gave her his most innocent, charming smile. "Think of me as a philanthropic busybody."

Kara stared at him, then slowly, a smile spread across her face. "A philanthropic busybody?"

"Exactly," Adam nodded, sitting back. "I mean, someone's gotta do it, right? And since you seem to have your hands full with the whole 'saving the world' thing, I figured I could lend a hand. From the shadows. With plenty of snacks."

She laughed, a genuine, heartfelt laugh that filled the large room. "You're ridiculous, Adam Stiels."

"It's a gift," he agreed, beaming. "Now, about this 'very advanced, very discreet' network... they also told me you prefer chocolate chip cookies over oatmeal raisin. Just saying. Consider it a highly classified intel drop."

She playfully swatted his arm. "You are unbelievable."

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Emotion Spike Detected: Affection/Trust (Kara Danvers). Proficiency: 40%. Rapid progress. She finds your ridiculousness endearing. Also, good call on the cookies. We approve. ]

Adam felt a surge of warmth, a different kind of hum, more gentle and pervasive than the alien rage. It was the feeling of a bond forming, of trust blossoming. This was it. This was the foundation.

He knew he was inching closer to the 100% love/trust achievement with Kara. He needed to be patient, to continue to be her rock, her confidant, her sarcastic companion in a world of super-powered chaos. He didn't want to rush it, to force the emotion. It had to be genuine. It had to be real.

"So," Kara said, leaning her head on his shoulder, "what does your 'highly sophisticated intelligence network' say about tomorrow? Any runaway trains? Any disgruntled pigeons trying to steal bagels?"

"Only that you'll probably need extra coffee," Adam replied, wrapping an arm around her, "and that you look really good in red and blue. Just a hunch."

She playfully nudged him. "You're lucky you're cute."

"It's my greatest superpower," Adam declared, looking out at the city lights. "Along with, you know, being obscenely wealthy. And knowing that eventually, I'm going to need to introduce you to a guy who runs really, really fast. And then things are going to get really weird."

He smiled, a genuine, unburdened smile. He was doing it. He was becoming the "Subtle Savior." And he was having a blast doing it.