Chapter 23: The Last Daughter of Krypton and a Shared Burden
The arrival of Superman in National City was, for Adam, a surreal blend of fanboy dream and logistical nightmare. He watched the news reports of the Man of Steel soaring through the skies, a beacon of hope, and felt a familiar mix of awe and a slightly sarcastic eye-roll. "Well, look who finally decided to show up. Took you long enough, Big Blue."
Superman was here to help Supergirl deal with a new threat, a shadowy organization known as Project Cadmus. Adam knew Cadmus. He knew Lillian Luthor. He knew the long, complicated, often tragic history that was about to unfold.
He found Kara at CatCo, looking a mixture of thrilled and utterly intimidated. She was trying to act casual, but her excitement was practically radiating off her.
"So, the original," Adam said, leaning against her desk, a playful smirk on his face. "Nice to meet you. Love the cape. Though, the red undies on the outside? Bold choice. Very retro. You know, I hear they're making a comeback. Or maybe not."
Kara giggled, a genuine, unburdened sound. "Adam! He's… he's Superman!"
"I gathered," Adam said, deadpan. "He's got the 'S' on his chest, the brooding gaze, the whole 'I'm here to save the day, but I'm also really conflicted' vibe. Classic. But seriously, Kara. Don't let him overshadow you. You've done amazing things here. You saved this city from Myriad. You're Supergirl. You're your own hero. You don't need his approval. Or his fashion advice."
Kara looked at him, a flicker of insecurity in her eyes. "But he's… he's Superman. He's been doing this for years."
"And you're doing it your way," Adam countered, his voice firm. "And your way works. You're compassionate, you're empathetic, you actually talk to people. He just punches things. No offense to the punching, it's very effective. But you've got something more. You've got heart. And that's something even a literal Man of Steel could learn from."
Adam then subtly helped Winn and Alex with early clues about Cadmus. He "accidentally" left a printout on Winn's desk about "unusual energy signatures" detected near abandoned industrial complexes, or "speculated" about a connection between the new alien threats and a shadowy scientific organization with a history of unethical experiments.
"You know," Adam mused to Winn, pointing at a map of National City. "I was watching this documentary about secret government labs – total conspiracy theory stuff, but fascinating – and they always seem to set up shop in abandoned industrial zones. Lots of space, easy to hide. And if they're experimenting on aliens, they probably need a lot of power. And maybe a really good ventilation system, because alien experiments can get… messy."
Winn's eyes widened. "Abandoned industrial zones? Power signatures? You think Cadmus is hiding out there?"
"Hey, I just watch the documentaries," Adam said with a shrug. "But if I were a shadowy organization trying to create super-weapons, that's where I'd go. Just a thought. And if they're connected to the Luthor family, they're probably really good at hiding things. And really bad at picking ethical scientists."
Superman, meanwhile, observed Adam's unique relationship with Kara. He saw the easy banter, the deep trust, the way Kara seemed to relax in Adam's presence. He saw how Adam subtly guided her, how he bolstered her confidence. It was intriguing, a dynamic he hadn't seen with his own human friends.
Adam and Kara's bond was now deeply established. He was her anchor, and she relied on him implicitly, sharing her insecurities about her cousin, her fears about Cadmus. He was the one person who truly saw her, both as Supergirl and as Kara Danvers, and loved both versions equally.
"He's not just a friend anymore," Kara thought, watching Adam playfully argue with Superman about the merits of capes in combat. "He's… he's my partner. In everything."