Chapter 17: The Arrow vs. The Flash
The air in the Arrowcave crackled with a different kind of energy. Not just the usual tension of impending doom, but the electric anticipation of a crossover. Barry Allen was back in Starling City, and this time, it wasn't just a friendly visit. It was The Flash S01E08: "Flash vs. Arrow" and Arrow S03E08: "The Brave and the Bold". Two heroes, one city, and a whole lot of brooding versus boundless optimism. Adam was practically vibrating with excitement.
"Alright, people, gather 'round! It's time for the moment you've all been waiting for! The epic team-up! The clash of the titans! The... the Arrow and the Flash!" Adam announced, gesturing dramatically as Barry zoomed into the Arrowcave. "Try not to break anything, Barry. Oliver gets really grumpy when his expensive punching bags get rearranged by super-speed."
Oliver, of course, was already in full "I don't trust anyone, especially not cheerful speedsters" mode. Barry, meanwhile, was trying to be polite, but his natural enthusiasm was clashing spectacularly with Oliver's stoicism.
Adam (POV): This was it. The iconic team-up. The stuff of legends. And I'm here, in the middle of it, making jokes. It's like I've been cast in my own personal superhero sitcom. Oliver's the grumpy dad, Barry's the excitable kid, Felicity's the exasperated mom, and I'm the sarcastic uncle who keeps stirring the pot. This is going to be glorious.
"Barry, this is Adam," Felicity introduced, a nervous smile on her face. "He's... our resident genius. And a big fan of yours."
"A big fan! Barry, my man! It's like seeing a unicorn, but a really fast, really nerdy unicorn!" Adam exclaimed, shaking Barry's hand vigorously. "So, how's the whole 'fastest man alive' thing going? Any accidental trips to the future yet? Because if so, I have a few lottery numbers for you."
Barry chuckled, a genuine laugh. "Uh, no, not yet. But it's... a lot to get used to."
Oliver cleared his throat. "We need to focus. There's a new meta-human in Central City, and he's here. Captain Boomerang."
"Captain Boomerang! Oh, that's a classic! Does he have, like, a giant boomerang that comes back to him? And does he wear a ridiculous costume? Because if so, I'm already a fan," Adam said, turning to Oliver. "See, Oliver? This is what happens when you don't have enough fun. You get boring villains. Barry gets villains with flair!"
Oliver shot him a look that promised pain. "Adam."
"Right, right. Focus. Boomerangs. Got it," Adam said, then turned to Cisco. "Cisco, my fellow pop-culture connoisseur, I need your help. How do we track a guy who throws really fast, really sharp boomerangs? Any thoughts on, like, a 'boomerang-tracking app'?"
Cisco's eyes lit up. "A boomerang-tracking app! Adam, you're a genius! We could calibrate the S.T.A.R. Labs satellites to detect the unique aerodynamic signature of his boomerangs!"
"See, Oliver? Collaboration! It's a beautiful thing!" Adam exclaimed, nudging Oliver. "It's like 'The Avengers,' but with more sarcasm and less giant green rage monsters. Though, sometimes, Oliver comes close."
The team-up was, predictably, a clash of styles. Oliver's grim, brutal methods clashed with Barry's more optimistic, non-lethal approach. Adam, caught in the middle, tried to mediate with humor, often making things worse.
During a confrontation with Captain Boomerang, Oliver found himself in a precarious position, dangling from a rooftop, a boomerang whizzing towards him.
"Oh, for crying out loud, Oliver. Always with the dramatic falls. It's like he's trying to win an award for 'Most Likely to Fall Off a Building and Survive'."
Adam, from a safe distance, quickly activated his Sword of the Far-Striker. A shimmering, invisible force shot forth, deflecting the boomerang harmlessly away from Oliver. It looked like a lucky gust of wind, or perhaps a very clumsy pigeon.
[SWORD OF THE FAR-STRIKER USED. COST: 30 NON-PLP (DEFLECTION).]
Oliver, regaining his footing, looked around, confused. He saw nothing. He glanced at Adam, who just shrugged innocently. "Just a lucky deflection, Oliver. Sometimes, the universe just decides you're not going to die today. It's a rare occurrence, I know, but it happens."
Oliver (POV): He had no idea what had just happened. One moment, a boomerang was heading for his head, the next, it was gone. Adam was a mystery, a chaotic element he couldn't control or understand. He was annoying, yes, but he was also undeniably useful. And sometimes, in the darkest moments, his ridiculous jokes were almost... comforting. Almost.
Ultimately, Captain Boomerang was captured, and the two teams, despite their differences, had worked together.
[MISSION COMPLETE: FLASH VS. ARROW. REWARD: 300 NON-PLP.]
"Three hundred LP for mediating a superhero squabble and saving Oliver's life? This is a good day. And a PLP! Five PLP! I'm practically a god now. A sarcastic, slightly clumsy god, but a god nonetheless."
Back in the Arrowcave, Oliver and Barry were still bickering, but with a newfound, grudging respect. Adam just smiled, watching them. He had his friends, his powers, and his ever-growing LP balance. The multiverse was a chaotic place, but with a little luck, and a lot of sarcasm, he was going to make it his own.
System Status After Chapter: Non-PLP: 25. PLP: 5.
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