Arrowverse: I'm a Hero

Chapter 9: Crossover Chronicles and Central City Calls

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Impending Event: Barry Allen Crossover (First Contact). Warning: Timeline integrity at risk. Do not, repeat, DO NOT, tell Barry about his future emo phases. Or his numerous, highly complicated time travel screw-ups. Just be cool. Or as cool as you can be, Stiels. ]

The hum was no longer a hum. It was a full-blown siren song in Adam's mind, a rhythmic, pulsing thrum that vibrated with the very essence of impending speedster shenanigans. Barry Allen was coming. The first big crossover. It was like Christmas, his birthday, and the invention of caffeine all rolled into one glorious, universe-altering event.

He'd been dropping hints to Kara with the subtlety of a freight train. "You know, Kara," he'd said casually over brunch, "my 'network' is detecting some unusual vibrational frequencies around National City. Very fast. Very... scarlet. Almost like something, or someone, is about to make a very dramatic entrance. Probably from another dimension. Just a thought."

Kara, who by now was used to his cryptic pronouncements, merely raised an eyebrow. "Another alien?"

"Possibly," Adam mused, stirring his coffee. "Or perhaps a very enthusiastic, very fast human. You know, the kind who talks really quickly and has a penchant for breaking the laws of physics without actually trying to."

He'd also begun planning his "accidental" encounter with Barry with military precision. He knew Barry would be drawn to the biggest, flashiest problem in National City. And currently, that problem was an alien named Livewire, who was about to go on a very public, very destructive rampage. He couldn't stop Livewire entirely; that was Kara's fight. But he could certainly be in the vicinity. Preferably somewhere with good vantage points and minimal risk of being electrocuted.

His flight was improving. He could now hover, move slowly in the air, and even manage a somewhat controlled descent. He'd practiced navigating his penthouse like a low-flying, slightly awkward blimp. It was far from graceful, but it was flight. And paired with his kinetic energy manipulation, he was slowly becoming a one-man chaos management team.

He spent days preparing, not just for Barry's arrival, but for the subtle influence he'd exert. He wanted to solidify his role as the invaluable, slightly unhinged strategist. He reread his notes on Barry's early arcs, refreshing his memory on key vulnerabilities, emotional triggers, and, most importantly, the best pop culture references to throw his way.

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Pre-Crossover Hype Level: Excessive. Your internal monologue is currently 87% excited fangirling. Maintain composure. Remember, you're a sophisticated, mysterious investor. Not a screaming teenager at a concert. Mostly. ]

"Sophisticated, mysterious investor, right," Adam scoffed to himself, pacing his living room. "Who also happens to know the exact molecular structure of Central City's average pizza slice. Details, system. It's all in the details."

The day finally arrived. The air crackled with a different kind of energy, a distinct speed-forcey shimmer that only Adam, with his nascent "Future Insight," could truly feel. The news channels were already reporting unusual energy spikes and flickering lights around the city. Livewire was making her grand, destructive entrance.

Adam was positioned on a rooftop overlooking the heart of the city, armed with a pair of ridiculously powerful binoculars and a thermos of his now-perfected, industrial-strength coffee. He watched as Supergirl engaged Livewire, a dazzling display of powers and explosions.

And then, a blur. A streak of red and gold. Barry Allen. The Flash. He arrived with a literal whoosh, skidding to a halt beside Supergirl, looking slightly bewildered but utterly ready for action.

Adam felt a ridiculous, childish grin spread across his face. "There he is," he whispered, a thrill running through him. "My boy. My fast, perpetually late, future-screwing-up boy."

He watched their initial, awkward interaction. Kara's surprise, Barry's endearing nervousness. It was all playing out exactly as he remembered. Now, for his part.

He used his kinetic energy manipulation to create a minor, precisely aimed tremor in a nearby, empty alleyway. Just enough to draw Barry's attention, without causing any actual harm.

Barry, ever the curious speedster, immediately zoomed towards the source of the tremor. Adam quickly descended from the rooftop using his still-clumsy flight, landing (more or less) gracefully in the alley before Barry arrived. He positioned himself casually, pretending to be examining a loose brick.

Barry skidded to a halt a few feet away, looking around with heightened perception. "Whoa. Did you feel that? A weird energy spike. Like a... micro-earthquake, but localized. And strangely rhythmic."

Adam straightened up, turning to face Barry with an expression of polite, slightly bored curiosity. "Oh, that? Probably just the city's existential angst manifesting. National City has a lot of it. Blame the coffee."

Barry blinked. "You... you felt that too?"

"Well, I'm not entirely devoid of a nervous system," Adam replied, taking a sip of his coffee. "And when the ground starts doing the cha-cha, I tend to notice. Adam Stiels, by the way. International investor. And occasional seismic anomaly interpreter." He offered a hand.

Barry, still a little disoriented, shook it. "Barry Allen. I'm... a CSI. From Central City. And you're right, that was definitely a seismic anomaly. But it felt... different. Not natural."

"Nothing's natural around here anymore, my friend," Adam said, gesturing vaguely at the sky where Supergirl and Livewire were still zipping around. "We've got flying aliens, walking metahumans, and apparently, the occasional dancing alleyway. You just learn to roll with it. Or, you know, grab a really good thermos of coffee."

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Emotion Lock-on: Barry Allen (Curiosity/Amusement, 10%). Progressing. Your ability to sound utterly unhinged while simultaneously being correct is proving effective. Don't reveal too much, you magnificent spoiler-factory. ]

Adam felt the familiar hum, a different resonance this time, distinctly Barry's. It was lighter, more energetic.

"So," Barry said, his eyes scanning Adam, "you're just... hanging out in alleys during what appears to be a city-wide power outage?"

"Someone's gotta be the designated 'dude who calmly observes the chaos'," Adam explained. "It's a niche, but important, role. Plus, I figured if things got really out of hand, I could offer some invaluable moral support. And maybe some extremely unhelpful commentary."

Barry chuckled, a genuine, endearing sound. "You're... interesting."

"It's the goal," Adam said, taking another sip of coffee. "So, 'CSI from Central City,' huh? That's quite a commute. You wouldn't happen to know anything about... oh, I don't know, extremely fast people? They seem to be quite the topic of conversation these days." He gave Barry a pointed look.

Barry's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of guardedness crossing his face, then quickly replaced by his usual awkward charm. "Fast people? I mean, I guess... marathon runners? Or, uh, really efficient postal workers?"

"Right," Adam deadpanned. "Because a marathon runner just casually flew over that building. Definitely. Look, Barry," he said, dropping the casual facade slightly, "I'm not going to ask how you got here, or why you're here. But if you're looking to help out the local flying sensation, she's currently engaged in a rather electrifying debate with a very angry woman in purple spandex. Just thought you'd want the heads-up." He nodded towards the distant explosions.

Barry's eyes snapped to the sky, and his expression shifted, the CSI mild-manneredness replaced by focused determination. "Right! Thanks! Uh... nice meeting you, Adam Stiels!"

And with a whoosh, he was gone, a red and gold blur streaking towards the action.

Adam watched him go, a triumphant smile on his face. First contact. Mission accomplished. The bromance was officially initiated. And he'd done it without giving away too much. He felt a profound sense of satisfaction.

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Emotion Spike Detected: Urgency/Determination (Barry Allen). Proximity: Fading. Skill Copy Opportunity: Super-Speed. Status: In Progress. Maintain proximity or re-engage for higher proficiency gain. ]

The system buzzed again, confirming the start of the Super-Speed copy. Excellent. This was just the beginning. The Arrowverse was about to get a whole lot more sarcastic. And a whole lot faster.