Arrowverse: I'm a Hero

Chapter 6: DEO Debacles and Martian Mysteries

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: New Objective: Integrate with DEO. Sub-objective: Don't alienate Alex Danvers. She's got a mean glare and a healthy dose of suspicion. Also, J'onn J'onzz is a powerful psychic. Try not to think too loudly about all the spoilers. ]

Adam's integration into Kara's life meant, inevitably, integrating with the DEO. He'd managed to avoid it for a while, claiming busy "investor meetings" or "spontaneous deep-sea basket weaving conventions," but Kara, bless her earnest heart, eventually insisted. "You're important to me, Adam," she'd said, "and they're my family. You have to meet them properly."

"Properly," in this context, meant a very awkward, very formal dinner at Alex Danvers' apartment, which somehow felt less welcoming than a supervillain's lair. Alex, in her crisp, no-nonsense manner, interrogated him with the intensity of a seasoned FBI agent trying to break a terrorist cell. Which, given her job, was probably accurate.

"So, Mr. Stiels," Alex began, spearing a piece of suspiciously green broccoli on her fork. "Kara tells us you're an 'international investor'." Her tone implied she found the term as believable as a unicorn tap-dancing on the moon.

"That's right, Agent Danvers," Adam replied, smiling his most charming, slightly disarming smile. "Though, honestly, 'professional dilettante with too much disposable income' is probably more accurate. It just doesn't sound as good on a business card."

Alex's eyes, sharp and scrutinizing, narrowed slightly. "And your interest in National City is...?"

"The vibrant economy, the burgeoning tech scene, the surprisingly resilient street-food vendors," Adam rattled off smoothly. "And, of course, the charming locals. Especially the ones who can fly and wear capes." He winked at Kara, who giggled nervously.

Alex did not giggle. Alex looked like she wanted to dissect him with a very dull butter knife. "You seem to know a lot about... 'flying locals', Mr. Stiels."

"Just a keen observer, Agent Danvers," Adam demurred. "And frankly, once you see someone catch a falling bus with their bare hands, it's hard to unsee. Takes a real toll on your sense of normalcy. I've had to recalibrate my entire understanding of gravity. It's exhausting."

Just then, J'onn J'onzz, in his human form as Hank Henshaw, entered the dining room. He offered a polite nod to Adam. "Kara speaks highly of you, Mr. Stiels." His voice was deep, resonant, and had an underlying calmness that Adam knew masked immense power.

"And Kara speaks highly of you, Director Henshaw," Adam replied, meeting J'onn's gaze. This was the real test. J'onn was a powerful psychic. He had to be careful not to accidentally broadcast his entire fanfiction-fueled knowledge base. He immediately started thinking about puppies, kittens, and the most innocuous, bland elevator music he could recall.

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: J'onn J'onzz Psychic Scan Detected. Activating 'Bland Thought Protocol'. Current thoughts: 'Fluffy bunnies, elevator music, the inherent beauty of spreadsheets, a really good sandwich, don't think about Krypton, don't think about White Martians, don't think about the multiverse, oh god I hope I don't think about that one time I wore mismatched socks for a week.' Keep it up, Stiels. He's confused. ]

J'onn's eyes lingered on Adam for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable in their depths, before he simply nodded. "Indeed."

Adam internally breathed a sigh of relief. The "Bland Thought Protocol" was a resounding success. He was a master of mental camouflage, a chameleon of consciousness. Or, you know, he just thought about boring stuff so hard it actually worked.

Over the next few weeks, Adam found himself increasingly involved with the DEO, albeit from a distance. His "intelligence network" continued to provide conveniently accurate "hunches" about incoming threats, which he'd subtly pass on to Kara, who would then relay them to Alex and J'onn. It built trust. Slowly. Alex still eyed him like a suspicious stain on her pristine carpet, but she was starting to admit, grudgingly, that his "luck" was undeniably helpful.

One particular incident stood out. A rogue alien, capable of generating incredibly intense electromagnetic pulses, had disabled the National City power grid. Kara was struggling, her powers flickering from the sheer energy disruption. The DEO was in chaos, their tech useless.

Adam, having "conveniently" been in the vicinity (which, by "vicinity" he meant meticulously tracking the alien's likely movements), found Kara struggling to contain the alien, her movements sluggish.

"Kara!" he yelled over the crackle of dying electronics. "Try focusing your heat vision on its power source! Not directly, but as a disruptive frequency!" He remembered this from a deleted scene, or maybe a fan theory, it was all a blur at this point.

Kara, disoriented, looked at him. "My powers are fading!"

"Just trust me!" Adam insisted, dodging a stray EMP blast that sent sparks flying near his head. "Think of it as a tuning fork! Resonance! Vibrational frequencies! Just... blast it with all you've got, but make it resonate!"

She hesitated for a split second, then, with a desperate surge of will, she focused her heat vision. It wasn't a direct beam, but a pulsating, resonant wave. It hit the alien, causing it to scream as its internal energy field destabilized. The alien dropped, incapacitated.

The power flickered back on. Kara collapsed, exhausted but triumphant.

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Emotion Spike Detected: Trust/Relief (Kara Danvers). Proficiency: 45%. Impressive tactical suggestion, Stiels. Your brain isn't entirely useless. Who knew? We did. ]

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: New Emotion Spike Detected: Gratitude/Respect (J'onn J'onzz). Proximity: Optimal. Skill Copy Opportunity: Flight. Initiate Copy Protocol? Y/N. ]

Adam felt a profound connection, a distinct mental resonance. J'onn, who had arrived on the scene as the power came back, was looking at Adam with an expression of profound respect and gratitude. He knew how dire the situation had been, how close Kara had come to failing. And Adam had, somehow, known exactly what to do.

"Y," Adam mentally affirmed, practically vibrating with excitement.

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Copying... Copy Complete: Flight (10% proficiency). Warning: Beginners usually fall. Try not to embarrass yourself in front of the Girl of Steel. ]

He felt a lightness in his bones, a subtle pull upwards, like his very atoms were yearning for the sky. He had to suppress a whoop of joy. He had flight! Albeit, 10% flight. It probably meant he could jump really high and maybe float for a second. Still, a superpower!

Later, back at the DEO, as Kara was being checked over by medical staff, J'onn approached Adam. His gaze was softer now, less scrutinizing.

"Mr. Stiels," J'onn said, his voice thoughtful. "Your insight during the incident was... remarkable. How did you know that frequency modulation would work?"

Adam shrugged, affecting casualness. "Just connecting the dots, Director. Electromagnetic pulses, resonant frequencies... it's all basic physics, really. And a lot of late-night documentaries. You'd be surprised what you pick up." He paused. "Though, I admit, I did get a particularly strong 'hunch' about that one. Must be all the coffee."

J'onn's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Indeed. Well, Mr. Stiels, on behalf of the DEO, and Kara... thank you. You proved to be a valuable asset today."

"Anytime, Director," Adam replied, genuinely pleased. He'd earned J'onn's respect. And potentially, his full trust down the line. That meant more flight, and maybe even mental manipulation resistance. He was already planning his training regimen. He'd start with hovering awkwardly over his bed. Just in case.

As he left the DEO, he caught a glimpse of Kara, resting but smiling, looking at him with an expression of deep affection. The hum intensified. He was in. And he was just getting started.