Arrowverse: I'm a Hero

Chapter 7: Flights of Fancy and Financial Fortitude

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Current Skill Proficiency: Kinetic Energy Manipulation (15%), Flight (10%). Congratulations, you're officially a D-list superhero. Don't quit your day job. Or do. You don't have one, remember? ]

Adam spent the next few weeks trying to master his fledgling Flight skill. His penthouse, thankfully, was vast and mostly unoccupied, making it the perfect clandestine training ground. He started small, focusing on lifting his feet off the ground for a few seconds. It felt less like flying and more like having really strong, invisible springs in his shoes.

"Come on, Stiels," he muttered to himself, arms outstretched, wobbling precariously a few inches above his plush carpet. "Think like a bird. Or a plane. Or a really ambitious squirrel. Just... fly!"

He'd tried all the classic methods. Running and jumping, dramatically throwing his arms back, even yelling "Shazam!" just to see if it helped. It didn't. What did help was focusing on the feeling of lightness he'd felt when J'onn had shown his gratitude. It was a subtle mental push, a nuanced interaction with an invisible force.

After numerous embarrassing wobbles, a few scraped knees (he still hadn't figured out landing gracefully), and one incident where he almost face-planted into his ridiculously expensive art collection, he finally managed it. A controlled, albeit slow and slightly jerky, hover. For about a minute.

"Yes! Take that, gravity!" he crowed, punching the air. "Who's the master of verticality now? Me! That's who!"

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Flight Proficiency: 12%. Progressing slowly. Your form is atrocious. We recommend watching more nature documentaries about birds. Or, you know, asking Supergirl for tips. She flies. A lot. ]

"Oh, like I'm just going to walk up to Kara and say, 'Hey, sweetie, can you teach me how to fly? Because I just spontaneously developed a superpower for no discernible reason,'" Adam scoffed at the system. "Subtlety, remember? Also, birds don't exactly have the best landing strategies when it comes to concrete. I'm aiming for 'graceful superhero,' not 'splat on the pavement.'"

His financial fortitude, however, was far less problematic. He used his wealth to establish a "charitable foundation" – the Adam Stiels Foundation for the Advancement of... Well, Everything. It was a perfect cover. He could funnel money into various local initiatives, indirectly funding things that would help the heroes down the line (better emergency response equipment for the NCPD, upgraded public infrastructure for faster evacuations, a surprisingly robust coffee-bean procurement program for local cafes). It made him seem like a benevolent billionaire, which was far less suspicious than "guy who randomly shows up and knows things."

He also began subtly investing in technologies that he knew would be crucial later on. Small, seemingly innocuous startups working on advanced materials, energy efficiency, and even a company experimenting with vibrational frequencies. He wasn't building his own super-suit factory (yet), but he was laying the groundwork.

One afternoon, he met with a rather bewildered but delighted CEO of a small tech company, signing a massive check. "So, your 'vibrational frequency dampeners' are quite innovative," Adam said, leaning back in his chair. "I foresee a great future for them. Especially in, say, mitigating sonic attacks. Or, you know, really annoying bass lines at concerts."

The CEO, a wide-eyed young woman named Brenda, blinked at him. "Uh, yes, Mr. Stiels. They're designed to reduce structural resonance."

"Exactly!" Adam beamed. "Think big, Brenda. Think beyond mere buildings. Think... cities. Or, theoretically speaking, a very loud, very angry villain. You're on the cutting edge of civic noise control. And potentially, super-villain headaches. Very important work."

He also continued his "philanthropic busybody" routine with Kara, offering more specific "hunches" as new threats emerged. He'd suggest specific tactics, warn her about traps, or even recommend particular types of equipment the DEO should use. He always phrased it as: "My 'network' thinks... " or "I had a really vivid dream where..."

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Relationship Status Update: Kara Danvers (Love Interest/Confidante). Progress: 50%. She's starting to rely on your 'hunches' more than her own intelligence agency. You're basically her personal, sarcastic Oracle. Don't tell her that either. ]

Kara's trust in him deepened with each successful intervention. She'd call him after missions, sometimes just to vent about Cat Grant, sometimes to debrief him on a particularly tricky alien. He became her sounding board, her emotional support, and her secret weapon.

One night, after a particularly grueling fight against a telepathic alien, Kara was exhausted. She showed up at his penthouse, looking utterly drained.

"I just... I don't know how I would have handled that without your... 'network' today, Adam," she confessed, sinking onto his couch. "That alien almost got into my head. I thought... I thought I was going to lose control."

Adam sat beside her, gently placing a hand on her arm. "Hey, you were incredible. You always are. And my 'network' is just really good at reading the room. Or, you know, the alien mind. Sometimes they're very similar."

He felt her emotional fatigue, her lingering fear. He also felt something else, a subtle shift in the hum from the Copy System. He knew this was an opportunity, but he didn't want to exploit her vulnerability.

"You're strong, Kara," he said, his voice softer than usual. "Stronger than you think. And you're not alone. You've got Alex, J'onn... and me. Even if I just provide the occasional cryptic warning and moral support. With snacks."

She leaned her head on his shoulder, a profound sigh escaping her. "Thank you, Adam. Really. You make everything... easier. And funnier. You always know how to make me laugh, even when I feel like the world is ending."

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Emotion Spike Detected: Deep Affection/Trust (Kara Danvers). Proficiency: 60%. This is good. Very good. Keep nurturing the bond. Also, you're surprisingly good at being serious when it matters. Don't let it go to your head. ]

He felt the system register the subtle shift. Progress. He didn't push for anything, just let her lean on him, providing comfort. He knew the 100% mark would come when she was ready, when her love and trust were absolute and undeniable.

He still chuckled at the irony. He'd come to this world wanting to date Supergirl, and here he was, becoming her anchor, her safe harbor in the storm. It was far more fulfilling than he'd ever imagined. And a lot less embarrassing than his initial attempts at flying.

"Anytime, Supergirl," he murmured, gently stroking her hair. "Anytime."

He had a feeling that soon, their dynamic was going to shift again. The show was called "Arrowverse" for a reason. And the Arrowverse had a very fast, very nerdy hero waiting in the wings. Central City was calling.