"Are you sure you don't need your film crew?" Karl asked politely as he places a jug of milk into his shopping cart along with a carton of strawberry milk, his favorite.
"Nah. Besides i figure i can get a more personal interview this way. No corporate nonsense or cookie cutter questions, just the god-honest truth." She said with a cocky smile as she took out her phone and begin recording.
"Hello this is Emma Schmidt from HR-1 News, here today to give you a exclusive interview with everyone new favorite hero! Ubermensch!" She said with her confident voice followed by her trademarked award-winning smile.
"People think of me as their favorite?" Karl asked incredulously as he made his way deeper into the dairy aisle.
"Of course, after you prevented what would've been mass murder last year at the pride festival? Why would they not? Preventing mass death tends to make people view you in a more favorable light, look at the United States Android for example." Emma explained with a smile, she was planning to keep all of this in.
Karl did remember the United States Android stopping a hijacked plane from flying into the twin towers in New Empire City, which then became known as the Tri-Towers after they erected another one in honor of that historical day. He always thought about how beautiful life can be like that.
"That Android is a inspiration to us all. I can only hope to be half as good as the U.S Android." Karl said with a smile that shine like the sun.
"Half as-With all due respect, you are a super hero...hell you're practically a icon to everyone in Germany." Emma said with a incredulous look. Nobody can be this humble. She refuse to even entertain that idea. She knew something had to be up with this Adonis. And she was willing to do whatever it takes to expose that truth.
"Well with all due respect-" Karl stopped mid-sentence and reached a carton of eggs for a elderly woman who thanked him.
"I'm just doing my part. Anyone would have done the same." Karl said with such enthusiasm that it can make even the most cynical and bitter person's heart melt like butter in a saucepan.
Emma took a deep breath, her face trying not to betray any emotion. "I'm immune to your charms Mr.Perfect." She thought as she felt her heart raced a little.
"Maybe, but all things considered. It best that you're the one who been blessed with such extraordinary power." Emma responded with a smirk as they walked into the bread section. The blending smells of butterscotch and flowers wafting through the air as Karl enjoyed the smell.
"I don't really consider my so called power all that extraordinary. I think of great heroes like the local Ricochet. Or for example SuperNova Man, Lighting, Mimi-Cry and the rest of the Champions when it comes to truly amazing powers. I also don't consider myself blessed either. I guess lucky is the right word, and i use my luck to help out other people." Karl told her as he picked out his favorite, the honey wheat bread, make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches taste even better!
"Oh you are too modest. Speaking of Champions, do you think Germany needs it own superhero team?" Emma asked, just a few simple questions until she get to the juicy stuff.
"Well, yes i do. Being able to have more people helping out other people would be amazing. As far i know, it just me and Ricochet right now. But if more heroes want to come together and protect the people of this great nation, who am i to say no? I hope that one day, if this team is formed, then hopefully it will inspire many others to help out in their own communities all over the world." Karl explained with a calm smile as Emma just look at him incredulously.
"There is no way this man is real. That has to be something deeper to this seemingly perfect boy scout." Emma thought as she kept her trademark smile on her face as Karl stopped his cart to let two kids pass by as they went to their parents.
"So Karl, after saving the day. What do you like to do in your downtime?" She asked with a raised eyebrow, she kept the camera on him.
Karl thought for a moment, putting his hand on his perfectly chiseled chin.
"Well i do enjoy drawing, i also love going fishing on the weekends and watching movies. Not to mention Volunteering at local charities and children birthday parties." Karl mentioned, the fond memories of helping set up the birthday parties and having six children hang off his arms. Or the time he helped serve food to the homeless and helped them move the few things they had into the homeless shelters.
Emma couldn't believe this, but she kept recording. She was determined to break through this façade of his. It has to be a front, right? There no way.
"Oh? You draw? What do you like to draw?" Emma asked, now very curious about what this hero draws in his spare time.
"Just things i find intriguing! Like people just going about their everyday life. Animals, what happening on the news, buildings and monuments. But to you i imagine this would be kinda boring wouldn't it?" Karl asked her.
Emma chuckled.
"More boring than watching a baseball game in the nosebleed section and both the teams have similar colors so you can't even tell what going on." Emma thought and politely didn't say it out loud because she had manners damn it.
Well ok that a lie, but she knew better than to say that to the man who easily crush her head like a grape.
"Just didn't take you for the artist type." Emma admitted.
"Well looks can be deceiving, i also like to read books as well." Karl responded as he grabbed a roll of paper towels.
"Damn, i really need to ramp up the questioning before i get put to sleep." Emma thought before a idea struck her.
"Oh? Do tell!" Emma told him with fake enthusiasm. She wanted to know what kind of man he truly was as she followed him into the junk food section. He took two big bags of barbeque chips and a pack of soft-chocolate chip cookies as well.
"Well one of my favorite books is the Man in the High Castle by Phillip K. Dick-
"RED FLAG!" Emma thought with a sinking gut feeling.
"It was so intriguing seeing how what life would be like if we let a monster like Hitler won the war. It serves as a reminder to me about making sure that evil can never triumph. I also a big fan of the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, have you heard of it?" Karl asked Emma, full of excitement.
"Ok, green flag." Emma thought as a warm smile spread across her face along with guilt for thinking that a blonde blue-eyed man who look like what Hitler dreams about would ever be privy to take that book as inspiration for what Germany should be.
"Never make a assumption based on appearances and circumstantial evidence." Emma was reminded of this lesson by her father when she was just a little kid.
"I'm vaguely aware of DiscWorld, i mean i played the game back on pc a long time ago when i was a kid and was fairly fascinated by the colorful characters and dialogue. But i never actually sat down to read it." Emma admitted, she can't believe this was a real conversation she was having with a superhero.
"Oh you would love it, in fact, Considering you work at HR-1 News, I can just stop by there and hand off The Colour of Magic! It a great jumping on point, but any of the stories could be enjoyed in any order you want." Karl explained with excitement as they headed into the soda section.
This caught the award-winning journalist off-guard as she took a step back.
"You alright?" Karl asked in concern, seeing the look on her face.
"Oh, i didn't mean to step over the line-" Karl started to apologize but Emma cut him off with a laugh.
"No, no it fine. I would love that, just maybe not at my workspace. Don't want to start any unnecessary rumors." Emma told him, a faint blush on her face that she did her best to get rid of as she wrote down her home address and gave it to him.
"If i'm not there, you can just drop the book off in my mailbox." Emma said, still not believing the surreal situation she was in.
"Definitely cutting this part out of the interview...maybe." Emma thought while shaking her head as she followed Karl into the meat section and watched as he took out two packages of bacon and placed them into the cart. Karl pulled out a list, and it seem like he got anything that he wanted.
Karl brought the cart to the waiting line, seemingly ignoring the stares from the other store-goers who took pictures. Emma stared straight ahead, she could already sense the rumor mill spinning.
"You know what? You can drop it off at my workplace." Emma said suddenly.
"Oh, you sure that ok?"
"Yeah, it fine. Besides i don't want to take up too much of your time and we can finish the rest of this interview there. (Emma hands Karl a business card showing the address of HR-1 News, on the back was her personal phone number.) But before i let you go, one more question." She told him.
"Sure. What is it?"
"How did you come across such power? Were you born with it?" Emma asked, her eyebrow raised with curiosity and anticipation.
So she wanted to flop to the floor in disbelief when she heard this.
"Believing in myself."
"Y-you believe in yourself?" Emma said with bafflement.
"Yes, if i want to help someone or protect the good people of Germany i just...do what i have to do." Karl answered honestly.
"WE ALREADY HAVE CORN IN AISLE SEVEN!" Emma found herself yelling, that phrase ripping itself from her very integrity-driven soul. Bringing everyone's attention to her, her face went red as she realized she made a utter fool of herself over a simple answer.
A very infuriating simple answer.
Karl look at her with a understanding smile as he payed for his groceries. Emma felt her face burned brighter as she heard murmuring behind her and in other waiting lines.
"Sorry if the answer was corny but it the truth." Karl gently told her.
Emma could only sigh as she carried some of Karl's bags, catching Karl off guard.
"At least allow me to help, it the least i can do for snapping at you." Emma said with a apologetic tone.
"Thank you Emma." Karl said gratefully, carrying the heavier bags.
They went outside, the skies was still a murky grey, the once pouring rain turned into a light drizzle.
"We can still continue this interview at HR-1, right?" Karl asked. Emma chuckled.
"Yeah of course we can, boy scout." Emma said with a smirk. What she got on the interview was...nice but completely by the numbers. Which is something that was driving her up the walls.
"But that's alright, just need to rethink my questions, maybe chase some leads about our superhero. But he is kind and he seems to mean well." Emma thought, conflicted on this man's nature.
"Well i can't wait to talk more to you, spaz." Karl teased with a grin, catching Emma off guard as her face turned red and he took the bags out of her hands and walked off.
"Spaz...damn didn't expect boy scout to come back with a nickname for me." Emma thought with annoyance that turned into amusement as she went the opposite way.