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The days blended together in a strange rhythm, one that was both mundane and extraordinary. Alexander moved through the motions of his daily life with a practiced ease, each morning rising early to tend to the small appliance store on the edge of town. The bell above the door chimed softly as he stepped inside, the smell of cardboard and electronics filling the air. Mrs. Jenkins, the kind but nosy elderly woman who owned the shop, had fretted over his absence during the previous week, her sharp eyes narrowing in suspicion every time he returned from one of his unexplained disappearances. But now, she had grown used to it, simply accepting that Alexander was the kind of man who came and went with the wind.
Today, the store was quiet, as it often was, with only a few customers wandering in and out. Alexander went about his tasks in silence—sorting through boxes of blenders, microwaves, and coffee makers, checking each item against the list on his clipboard, marking down the inventory with methodical precision.
He was focused, as he always was, but there was a new undercurrent of distraction in his life. Kara.
She had taken to shadowing him wherever he went, her curiosity about Earth and its customs pushing her to follow Alexander even to the most mundane of places. While he worked, Kara observed, her eyes darting around the small store, taking in the sights and sounds of a world that was so different from her home planet. It was strange, in a way—this Kryptonian girl, with her vast powers, standing quietly in the corner of an appliance store, trying to understand why Earthlings needed so many machines for such simple tasks.
When Alexander wasn't busy, he took the time to teach her things—small, everyday lessons about Earth culture and customs. He explained how to use common household items, like toasters and washing machines, even though Kara clearly didn't need them. He taught her phrases in various Earth languages, knowing that communication would be key for her. She listened intently, her wide eyes focused on his every word, absorbing the information like a sponge.
But there were also moments—moments of tension—where her powers would slip through the cracks. Today was one of those days.
---
They were in the back of the store, where the stockroom was filled with tall shelves, each stacked with rows of neatly organized boxes. Kara had been practicing controlling her strength, following Alexander's instructions as he handed her small items to place on the shelves. It was a simple task, meant to help her adjust to her environment. But as she reached for one of the boxes, her fingers tightened around it, and without warning, the entire shelf groaned under the pressure.
"Kara, easy," Alexander said softly, glancing up from his clipboard.
"I—I'm sorry," she stammered, quickly loosening her grip, but the damage was done. The shelf swayed dangerously, the boxes wobbling at the top, threatening to topple.
Alexander moved instinctively, leaping up to steady the shelf, but before he could reach it, Kara's reflexes kicked in. She zipped across the room in a blur, catching the falling boxes in midair before they could hit the ground.
For a moment, there was silence as they both stood there, frozen in place. Then Kara turned to look at him, her face flushed, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. Her hands trembled slightly as she lowered the boxes to the floor, her eyes wide with a mixture of panic and embarrassment.
"Good catch," Alexander said, his voice even, trying to calm her. He could see the strain in her expression, the way she was holding back the full extent of her power.
But then, as she straightened, Kara stumbled—just for a second. Her foot caught on the edge of one of the boxes, and she tripped. Before she could fall, Alexander was there, moving faster than even she had expected, his hands outstretched to catch her.
In that split second, time seemed to slow. Alexander's arms wrapped around her waist, steadying her before she could hit the ground. Kara's face turned a bright, vivid red, her cheeks flushing with an intense heat that had nothing to do with physical strain.
For a moment, they stood there, caught in an awkward dance—Alexander's strong hands supporting her as she hovered in his grip. Kara's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with a dozen different thoughts. She felt the heat rising in her cheeks, and she didn't know why.
Alexander blinked, confusion flickering in his eyes as he held her. "Are you okay?" he asked his face to close for comfort, his voice soft and concerned using his X-ray vision to scan her.
Kara nodded quickly, pulling herself upright and stepping back, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She averted her gaze, her face still flushed, unable to meet his eyes.
"Did I... do something wrong?" Alexander asked, his brow furrowed as he tried to piece together what had just happened. He could sense that something was off, that Kara's reaction wasn't just from embarrassment over her clumsiness. "If I did, I'm sorry—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Kara suddenly bolted. With a blur of movement, she darted out of the stockroom, leaving Alexander standing there, bewildered.
"Wait, Kara—" he called after her, but she was already gone, racing towards the mountain in the background.
---
In the medbay of the ship, Kara leaned against the cold, metallic wall, her breathing ragged as she tried to compose herself. Her mind was swirling with emotions she didn't fully understand. She, had fought for survival across space—and yet, this... this moment with Alexander had rattled her in a way she couldn't explain.
She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to calm the rapid thudding of her heart. The medbay's dim lighting cast long shadows on the walls, and for a moment, Kara felt incredibly small, despite her immense power. It wasn't just the physical strength that she struggled with. It was the emotions—the feelings that came rushing to the surface when she was near him. It was confusing.
---
Back in the appliance store, Alexander stood in the stockroom, staring at the spot where Kara had been just moments before. He glanced down at his hands, still slightly tingling from where he had touched her.
Why had she reacted like that? And why did he feel a strange, inexplicable sense of guilt?
As he tried to piece together the puzzle, a soft chime rang through the store—Mrs. Jenkins calling from the front, asking for his help with a customer. Alexander sighed, pushing the thoughts aside for now.
There was work to do, and there would be time to figure things out later.