Chapter 10: Relationship Milestones & Foreshadowing of the Flash
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: SKILL PROGRESSION: FLIGHT (18% PROFICIENCY). ENHANCED STRENGTH (19% PROFICIENCY). SUPER-HEALING (14% PROFICIENCY). TELEKINESIS (13% PROFICIENCY). TACTICAL ANALYSIS (55% PROFICIENCY). PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: STRENGTHEN ROMANTIC BOND WITH KARA. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: PREPARE FOR BARRY ALLEN'S ARRIVAL. TERTIARY OBJECTIVE: IMPLEMENT MORE VISIBLE, YET DENIABLE, HEROIC INTERVENTIONS. WARNING: THE TIMELINE IS ACCELERATING. EXPECT IMMEDIATE CANON CHARACTER ENGAGEMENT.]
Months had passed since Adam's arrival in National City, and his life had blossomed into something beyond his wildest fanboy dreams. His relationship with Kara was no longer just a strong bond; it was a deep, unshakeable partnership. They were inseparable, a perfectly balanced duo of compassion and cunning. Their shared secrets, his bizarre abilities, and her heroic life had woven them into an intricate tapestry of love and mutual reliance. He was her safe harbor, the one person she could truly be herself with, without judgment or fear. She, in turn, was his inspiration, the catalyst for his powers, and the heart that grounded him in this extraordinary new reality.
One crisp autumn evening, after a particularly perfect date that ended with them stargazing from his penthouse balcony, Kara turned to him, her eyes shining with emotion. "Adam," she began, her voice soft, "I… I can't imagine my life without you anymore. You're everything. My best friend, my rock, my love." She took his hands, her gaze steady. "I want to be with you. Properly. Like, living together. What do you think about me… moving in?"
Adam's heart swelled. This was it. A milestone he hadn't dared to fully anticipate. "Kara," he said, his voice thick with genuine emotion, "there's nothing I'd want more. This is your home, too. It always has been." He pulled her into a tight hug, a wave of profound contentment washing over him. Their bond, already unbreakable, had just gained another layer of permanence. The Copy System hummed with quiet satisfaction, registering the deep happiness and emotional security from Kara. While no new major skill was gained, the overall proficiency of his existing skills subtly strengthened, a testament to the thriving relationship.
With Kara now residing in his penthouse, Adam's opportunities for discreet action expanded. He became her unseen guardian, subtly clearing paths, disarming traps, or providing intelligence from a distance, always attributing it to his 'extensive network' or 'unusual insights'. His Tactical Analysis was now at 55% proficiency, allowing him to process complex combat scenarios and environmental factors with breathtaking speed, feeding Kara real-time advice through their secure comms. His Flight (18%), Enhanced Strength (19%), Super-Healing (14%), and Telekinesis (13%) were finely tuned, ready for action.
He began to undertake slightly more overt, yet still deniable, heroic interventions. He couldn't fly in broad daylight, but at night, during the height of a storm, he might use his Flight to guide a floundering news helicopter to safety, a shadowy figure glimpsed only by the terrified crew. He used his Enhanced Strength to subtly reinforce weakened structures during a localized earthquake, making it seem like the building "just held up," a testament to its engineering. His Telekinesis became his unseen hand, disarming a mugger by making his gun "misfire" or causing a purse to "levitate" just out of reach, allowing the victim to escape. The public of National City began to whisper about a "Guardian Angel" or a "Ghost Hero," a benevolent, unseen force protecting them. Adam ensured Kara, as Supergirl, got the credit for all the major saves, maintaining his anonymous status.
One evening, as they relaxed after a grueling day – Kara had just stopped an alien fugitive from blowing up a power substation, and Adam had subtly provided her with the schematics of the substation's weak points via comms – his Future Insight flared with an intensity that dwarfed anything he'd experienced before. It wasn't a minor tragedy or a local villain. This was something significant, something fast.
Images flooded his mind: a streak of red lightning, a man with vibrant green eyes, a blur of motion, Central City news reports, and the distinct, excited voice of Cisco Ramon. Barry Allen. The Flash. The Speed Force.
[SYSTEM ALERT: IMPENDING CANON EVENT: FLASH/SUPERGIRL CROSSOVER INITIATING. TIMELINE CONVERGENCE DETECTED. PRIMARY CANON CHARACTER: BARRY ALLEN (THE FLASH) IMMINENTLY APPROACHING. PREPARE FOR IMMEDIATE ENGAGEMENT. NEXT SKILL ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITY: SUPER-SPEED. WARNING: THE TIMELINE WILL NOW ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. YOUR INTERVENTIONS WILL HAVE GREATER IMPACT.]
Adam sat bolt upright on the sofa, his casual demeanor instantly replaced by focused intensity. Kara looked at him, startled. "Adam? What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost."
He took a deep breath, the taste of ozone and the scent of rain from his visions still lingering. "Not a ghost, Kara," he said, a slow, excited grin spreading across his face. "More like… a very fast, very interesting visitor from another city. A city called Central City." He paused, looking at her, a profound sense of anticipation building within him. "Get ready, Supergirl. I have a feeling your world, and ours, is about to get a whole lot faster."
Kara tilted her head, confused but intrigued. "Faster? What are you talking about?"
"You'll see," Adam replied, his eyes gleaming with the promise of future adventures. "Just make sure you have your running shoes ready. Because when Barry Allen comes to town, things tend to pick up speed." He chuckled, already plotting. This was the moment. His favorite character, the Speed Force, and the start of a whole new chapter. He was ready.