MADC Chapter 3 Girl Trouble

Kara rubbed at her cheeks with one hand as though the heat lingering there could be willed away. The little girl’s interruption replayed in her mind again and again—her flushed face, Zack’s wide-eyed confusion beneath her, the embarrassing way she’d nearly lost control. ‘Rao… what would I have done if we hadn’t been interrupted?’

Her hands clenched into fists as she hovered above the park. She’d never been so flustered in her life. She was Supergirl, protector of Metropolis, a Kryptonian powerhouse, a symbol of strength. And yet, one touch from Zack had turned her into a fumbling, desperate mess.

Zack, sitting cross-legged on the grass below, tilted his head at her silence. “Uh… Kara? You okay up there? You’ve been glaring at the air for like… a full minute.”

She snapped out of her thoughts, quickly ascending. “I’m fine. We just… need somewhere more private. Away from interruptions.”

Before he could answer, she wrapped her arms around him again. Zack yelped but didn’t fight it, the memory of his earlier terror dulled slightly now that he knew what to expect.

“Where are we going?” Zack asked as they were ascending.

“My house.” Kara said as she carried him in the air by his waist.

The ground fell away as they lifted higher into the sky. Wind whipped at their hair and clothes, but Zack forced himself not to squeeze her like a lifeline. Instead, he kept his eyes open this time, frozen still but oddly calm as he watched the city below.

It was… surreal. Streets teemed with cars like streams of ants, pedestrians crossing intersections, kids in backpacks darting toward school, workers with briefcases hustling to jobs. A living, breathing city beneath his dangling feet. ‘So this is what it’s like, seeing the world the way she does.’

Kara, meanwhile, tried to focus on the horizon, but Zack’s quiet awe at the view caught her attention. The way he stared down—equal parts terrified and fascinated—stirred something in her chest. She bit her lip, the memory of that powerful urge to never let go returning unbidden. She exhaled sharply, pushing it down.’ Focus, Kara. Don’t lose control again.’

Then a thunderous boom shattered the peace.

Both Zack and Kara turned their heads. In the distance, a column of smoke billowed into the sky, flames licking high above the rooftops. The sound of screams carried faintly through the air, even from here.

“An explosion,” Kara muttered, her jaw tightening. Her protective instincts flared instantly.

Zack glanced at her, his voice low. “You’re gonna go, aren’t you?”

She looked down at him, torn. “I have to. People are in danger. But I can’t take you with me this time.”

“What?” Zack’s grip instinctively tightened around her. “Why not?”

“It’ll be too dangerous,” She said, shaking her head. “Fires, falling debris, who knows what else. You’ll get hurt.”

Zack wanted to argue but one look at her determined expression silenced him. She wasn’t just Kara right now, she was Supergirl, and Supergirl had a duty to this city. Enough to not risk him even if it slowed her down.

She slowed her flight, descending toward a quiet rooftop away from the chaos. Setting down gently, she held his shoulders for a beat longer than necessary. “Stay here. Don’t move. I’ll come back for you as soon as it’s safe.”

Zack nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. His voice was steadier than he felt. “Got it. Just… be careful, alright?”

For a moment, her eyes softened, and the strange warmth between them stirred again. She almost didn’t want to let go. “I will.”

With one last squeeze of his shoulder, she took off in a blur of red and blue, streaking toward the rising smoke.

Zack stood frozen on the rooftop, the wind from her departure still tugging at his ragged clothes. The city buzzed below, alive and oblivious to him. He exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Guess it’s just me now,” He muttered, watching the sky where she vanished.

And faintly, in his mind, the voice whispered again:

Connection established: 65%.

—---------------------------------

The trail of smoke led Kara straight to the heart of Metropolis’s industrial district. The acrid scent of burning fuel and twisted steel filled her nose as she descended, her cape snapping sharply in the wind. Below, chaos reigned—flames devoured the side of a warehouse, glass littered the streets, and terrified civilians scrambled for safety.

And in the middle of it stood the cause.

A man in a patched leather coat and a crude mask paced near the wreckage, hands glowing with unstable sparks. A low-level metahuman she vaguely remembered seeing on DEO files, Fuse, a petty criminal with the ability to create small-scale explosions. Dangerous to ordinary people, but hardly more than an annoyance to her.

Fuse cackled, flinging another sphere of unstable energy toward a car. “Let’s see how long Metropolis lasts without its pretty little guardian!”

Kara swooped in, intercepting the blast midair. The sphere burst harmlessly against her palm, scattering sparks that fizzled against her skin. She landed hard enough to rattle the pavement, dust rising around her.

“Game’s over, Fuse,” she declared, her voice firm, steady. “Put down the act before anyone else gets hurt.”

But her words carried less bite than usual. Her heart wasn’t fully in it, and she knew why.

Even as the criminal snarled and hurled another explosive sphere, her thoughts drifted back to the rooftop, to the look on his face when she left him behind. His nervous laugh, his uncertain “be careful.” The warmth of his hand in hers, the way it made her body hum with a strange longing.

She shook her head, forcing focus. The sphere detonated against her chest, but she didn’t flinch. The explosion lit up the night in a blossom of orange, leaving Fuse grinning—until the smoke cleared, and she was still standing. Untouched.

“Really?” She said, dusting her suit off as though brushing away crumbs. “That’s your big plan?”

Fuse faltered but quickly tried to cover it up, charging another blast. “Shut up! You don’t scare me!”

Kara blurred forward, faster than his eye could follow. She caught his wrist mid-throw, twisting it gently but firmly until he yelped in pain and dropped the glowing sphere. It fizzled out on the pavement.

Her other hand balled into a fist, stopping just short of his jaw. She glared at him, trying to summon her usual righteous fury, but her mind betrayed her again. Instead of imagining stopping villains, she saw Zack’s crooked grin. His brown hair mussed by the wind. His voice calling her “Kara.”

Her fist lowered a fraction. ‘What is happening to me?’

Fuse, mistaking her hesitation for weakness, tried to swing his other hand toward her. With a sigh, Kara caught it easily, swept his legs, and pinned him flat against the ground in one smooth motion.

“Stay down,” she ordered. Her tone was sharp, but her eyes were distant. “You’re not worth the trouble.”

The police sirens wailed in the distance, already closing in. Kara stood, brushing ash from her gloves, her gaze drifting instinctively toward the skyline. Toward the rooftop where Zack waited.

She clenched her fists. ‘I shouldn’t be this distracted. Rao, what’s wrong with me? Why do I keep thinking about him?’

She looked down at the subdued Fuse, groaning on the pavement. “You’re lucky I’m… preoccupied,” She muttered under her breath. Then, louder, “Stay put. The cops will be here soon.”

With that, she launched herself back into the sky, streaking toward where she left Zack. The city blurred beneath her, but her thoughts remained locked on him.

Her chest tightened again with that same warmth, that same desperate pull she was trying so hard to ignore.

—-----------------------

Zack sat cross-legged on the rooftop, the city alive beneath him. Cars honked, sirens wailed in the distance where Kara had flown, and somewhere below, a hotdog vendor argued with a customer about extra mustard.

For a moment, he felt… small. Powerless. The warmth of Kara’s hand still lingered faintly in his palm, and he flexed his fingers as if trying to call it back.

‘She’ll be back,’ He told himself. ‘She promised.’

The voice in his head hadn’t spoken again since she left. No percentages. No metallic whispers. Just silence—and he hated it. It made him realize just how much calmer he felt when Kara was close.

“Man…” He muttered, leaning back against a vent. “I really hope I’m not just some science project gone wrong. Being actually a frog with thumbs would suck.”

He chuckled at his own joke, but it fell flat against the night. His laughter quickly died, replaced with the uncomfortable weight of loneliness.

Then, a shadow crossed overhead.

Zack squinted up just in time to see a blur of red, blue, and white descend—fast. Before he could react, a pair of strong arms hooked under his shoulders, yanking him off the rooftop like he weighed nothing.

“Wha—HEY!” Zack flailed, the ground shrinking beneath his dangling feet again. “I swear to God, if this is Kara practicing her kidnapping techniques—”

“Guess again, handsome.”

The voice was different. Confident, sultry, with a teasing edge. Zack craned his neck and blinked up into the smirking face of a woman who looked… a lot like Kara. Blonde hair, blue eyes, the same iconic colors—but her uniform was different. White leotard, cleavage window, and a red cape shorter than Kara’s.

“Uh…” Zack stammered, brain short-circuiting. “You’re… not Kara.”

She grinned. “The name’s Power Girl. And don’t worry, I’m not here to hurt you. I just couldn’t resist snatching you up after watching you and my other play handsy in the park.”

Zack’s face went crimson. “W-wait, what?! You were watching?!”

“Relax.” Power Girl winked, holding him easily as she soared across the skyline. “I just thought it would be fun to mess with her. Kara takes herself way too seriously sometimes. Seeing her all flustered over a guy? Priceless.”

Zack’s heart pounded. “You—you can’t just kidnap me because you’re bored! Put me down!”

Power Girl chuckled. “Sorry, can’t do that. Not yet. Besides…”

Her hand shifted slightly, tightening around his arm. The second her skin touched his bare wrist, Zack’s mind lit up like a switchboard.

New Connection established: 3%.

Zack’s eyes widened, his breath catching. “Oh no. No, no, no…”

The mechanical voice was back, but different—sharper, like it was branching into something new. And this time, the warmth and calmness that had filled him with Kara was starting to have the same effect on the girl in front of him.

Power Girl, still smirking, raised a brow. “Huh. Did you feel that?”

Zack swallowed hard, panic bubbling in his chest. ‘Great. As if one mysterious connection wasn’t enough, now I’ve got a second one starting up—with Kara’s cousin who looks like she bench-presses planets for fun.’

“Yeah,” he muttered weakly, eyes wide. “I… definitely felt that.”

And somewhere far off in the city, Kara stiffened mid-flight, an unfamiliar twinge pulling at her chest.

—-----------------------------

Kara shot across the Metropolis skyline like a crimson comet, her cape whipping violently behind her. She’d left Fuse in the hands of the police and wasted no time doubling back toward the rooftop where Zack waited.

But when she landed, boots striking the gravel with a thud, her stomach sank.

The rooftop was empty.

Her eyes darted left, right—nothing. No Zack sitting cross-legged, no nervous grin, not even the faintest trace of him. Her breath caught in her throat. ‘No. No, no, no. I told him to stay put. He promised.’

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, nails biting into her palms. A sharp, uncomfortable panic lanced through her chest. ‘Where is he?!’

For the first time in a long while, Kara felt powerless. Her X-ray vision swept the rooftops, her super-hearing reached for his voice in the chaos of the city below, but neither gave her an answer. Only silence.

Her pulse quickened. ‘What if someone took him? What if he’s hurt?’

Then—she froze.

A tug. Subtle, invisible, pulling at her chest like a thread connecting her to something far away. Her heart skipped, eyes widening. It wasn’t physical, but it was undeniable.

‘The connection.’

Her lips parted as realization struck. “It’s him… It has to be.”

Hope flared in her chest as she focused on the sensation, the faint guiding pull that urged her eastward. She didn’t understand how, but she didn’t care. It was all she had.

Without hesitation, she kicked off the roof, breaking the sound barrier as she followed the invisible tether. Her thoughts tumbled over each other in a whirlwind of fear and anger.

‘Hold on, Zack. Whoever took you… they’re going to regret it.’

The city blurred beneath her, lights streaking past, but she didn’t slow. The pull was growing stronger now, sharper, like a beacon only she could feel.

Kara gritted her teeth, her blue eyes narrowing. “I’m coming. Just hang on.”

—--------------------------------

And somewhere ahead, in the strong arms of Power Girl, Zack’s own heart thumped as the metallic voice whispered again in his mind—

Connection established: 12% (Power Girl).

The wind tore past Zack’s ears as Power Girl carried him through the city sky. Unlike Kara’s careful, almost protective grip, Power Girl held him casually, one arm looped around his torso as if he weighed less than a backpack. Every shift of her flight jolted him, making his stomach churn.

“Uh… so,” Zack started, trying to sound calm even though his legs dangled helplessly, “mind telling me why you swooped in and… y’know… kidnapped me?”

Power Girl smirked, her eyes glinting. “Kidnapped is such a harsh word. I prefer… rescued. You were all alone, bored on that rooftop, and I figured I’d give you a change of scenery.”

Zack groaned. “Yeah, some rescue. You nearly gave me a heart attack.” He squinted at her, brow furrowing. “And another thing—why do you look like Kara? You’re practically her twin, just…  with, uh…” His eyes flicked down before he quickly looked away, face burning. “…differences.”

Her smirk widened, clearly enjoying his embarrassment. “Oh, you noticed.”

“I wasn’t trying to notice!” Zack shot back, glaring at the horizon. “You’re impossible to ignore.”

“Relax,” she chuckled, flying a bit slower now, almost leisurely. “The reason I look like her? Simple. I’m her clone. Same Kryptonian DNA, same powers, same everything… with a few enhancements.”

“Clone?” Zack repeated, his mind reeling. “You mean… you’re basically Kara’s copy?”

Power Girl gave a casual shrug. “A copy, a sister, a rival—depends on who you ask. The point is, I’ve got everything she’s got. Strength, speed, heat vision, you name it. And unlike her, I don’t play by the same rules.”

Zack’s brow furrowed deeper. “Okay, so you can do everything Kara does… but why take me? What’s the game here?”

Her smirk shifted, gaining a sharper edge. “At first like I said, just to mess with her. I saw you two holding hands, getting all cozy in that park. The great Supergirl blushing over a guy? That was too juicy not to poke at. So I swooped in and snatched you up, just to see her reaction.”

Zack blinked. “So… I’m a prank? A prop in your cousin-clone drama?”

“Was,” Power Girl corrected. Her expression softened slightly, and to Zack’s horror, she drew him closer against her chest. “But then… I felt it. That… calming aura you give off. It’s addictive. Being near you… it’s like every sharp edge in me smooths out. I don’t want to let go.”

Zack’s heart skipped. “Oh no…”

Her voice lowered, almost husky. “So now I have to ask you something, Zack. Wouldn’t you rather belong to me? Forget Kara. Forget anyone else. Be mine.”

Zack froze, caught between terror and disbelief. ‘First a dumpster, then a bank heist, then Kara pinning me to the ground… and now her clone is asking if I’ll “belong” to her? What the hell kind of life is this?!’

The metallic voice in his head whispered again, as if mocking his panic:

Connection established: 12% (Power Girl).

And far behind them, streaking through the clouds like a missile, Kara zeroed in on that invisible tug in her chest—her grip tightening, her jaw clenched.

‘Hold on, Zack. I’m almost there.’

Zack’s mouth went dry. His brain scrambled for the right words, but all that came out was a weak laugh. “Belong to you? That’s, uh… a pretty big ask. I don’t even know who I belong to. I literally woke up in a dumpster this morning.”

Power Girl chuckled, pulling him closer, her warm grip firm and unrelenting. “Which means you’re a free agent. No memories, no attachments. Perfect. Why waste your time with Kara when you could have me?”

Zack squirmed slightly, but her hold was like iron. His heart raced faster when the cold voice in his head whispered again:

Connection established: 18% (Power Girl).

He grit his teeth. Not good. This is how it started with Kara. If it keeps climbing… what happens at a hundred percent?

“I, uh, appreciate the… offer?” Zack managed, trying not to sound like he was about to panic. “But maybe you should think about what Kara’s gonna do when she realizes you’ve swiped me. I mean, she’s probably not gonna send you a thank-you card.”

Power Girl smirked, eyes glinting with mischief. “That’s the fun part. Kara always tries to play the saint, the perfect protector. But deep down? She gets jealous. And if stealing her little… boyfriend and make her snap, I’d pay to see it.”

Zack’s face flushed. “Boyfriend?! Whoa, no, I’m not—she and I aren’t—we didn’t—”

“Please,” Power Girl cut him off, laughing. “The way she looked at you? The way she nearly melted pinning you to the grass? Oh, she’s hooked. You just haven't seen it yet.”

Zack’s stomach twisted. “You were watching that too?!”

“Every second.” Her voice dropped low, teasing. “And if you were mine, Zack, I wouldn’t have stopped. I wouldn’t let anyone interrupt.”

Zack gulped, his ears burning as much as his cheeks. She’s insane. And worse—why does part of me feel flattered?’

The voice returned, steady and merciless:

Connection established: 23% (Power Girl).

“Dammit…” Zack muttered, clutching his head.

Power Girl noticed and tilted her head. “There it is again, isn’t it? Whatever this is… it’s bonding you to me now.”

Her smirk curved into something hungrier. “Looks like I win, handsome.”

Before Zack could respond, the air around them thundered.

BOOM!

A sonic crack split the sky as Kara barreled toward them, her cape blazing behind her like a comet’s tail. Her eyes locked on Power Girl with fiery intensity, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles whitened.

“Kara…” Zack whispered, relief and dread flooding him all at once.

Power Girl looked back over her shoulder, grin widening. “Well, speak of the angel. Looks like she noticed.”

In a blink, Kara was in front of them, hovering midair, blue eyes blazing with fury. “Power Girl. Put him down. Now.”

Power Girl laughed, holding Zack closer like a prize. “Aw, look at you. All protective. Didn’t think you had it in you to get this jealous.”

Kara’s cheeks flushed, but her voice sharpened like steel. “This isn’t a game. He’s not yours to take.”

Zack awkwardly raised his hands, dangling between them. “Hey, uh, I’m right here, guys. Maybe we can—”

“Quiet, Zack,” They both snapped in unison.

His eyes widened. “Oh, great. Now they’re syncing up.”

Power Girl leaned in closer to him, deliberately, her smirk taunting Kara. “Face it, Kara. You can’t protect him from me. He’s safer with me. Stronger with me. And—he’s already starting to bond with me.”

Kara’s chest tightened at those words. She could feel the tug of her own connection with Zack, but now it was muddied, twisted by something else. Something foreign.

Her voice shook with anger. “You don’t understand what you’re messing with.”

Power Girl tilted her head mockingly. “Then explain it. Oh, wait—you can’t.”

The tension crackled in the air like static, both Kryptonian women floating midair, the city lights glittering beneath them. 

Zack, caught between them, swallowed hard, his mind screaming at him. His breath hitched. ‘Oh no. This is about to get ugly.’

Dangling in Power Girl’s grip, Zack’s legs kicked helplessly against the empty air. 

“So uh,” Zack said, raising a nervous finger, “before you two start throwing punches and leveling half the city… could one of you maybe—I don’t know—put me down first?”

Neither of them answered.

Kara’s eyes glowed faintly red, her fists clenching tighter with each second. “Power Girl. For the last time. Hand him over.”

Power Girl shifted her grip, pulling Zack closer with one arm as if to flaunt how little effort it took her. She smirked, her voice dripping with mockery. “Relax, Kara. You act like I’m holding your favorite toy hostage.”

“I’m not a toy!” Zack snapped, his voice breaking in panic. “I’m a person, damn it! A person who really, really doesn’t want to be in the middle of a superpowered family feud!”

But his words fell flat against the rising storm.

Kara floated forward, her body tense, the air itself humming around her with the force of restrained power. “This is your last chance. Let him go, or—”

“Or what?” Power Girl cut in, grinning wider. “You’ll fight me? Over him?” She gave Zack a light jostle with her arm, as if to emphasize the point. “Face it, cuz—you’re already losing. Look at him. He’s bonding with me too.”

Kara’s jaw tightened. “You don’t understand what that means.”

“Oh, I understand perfectly,” Power Girl replied. “And I’m not letting go.”

The space between them vibrated with tension, two suns about to collide. Zack’s stomach flipped as he realized they weren’t bluffing.

“Oh god, you are gonna fight,” Zack muttered, panic flooding his veins. He tried waving his arms frantically. “Hey, hi, reminder—I’m still here! If you two start throwing punches with me hanging like a keychain, I’m gonna die before either of you wins!”

But Power Girl only smirked, unbothered, her one arm holding him steady as if he weighed less than a feather.

Kara’s breath came sharp, controlled, but her thoughts churned in chaos. She could feel Zack’s presence tugging at her connection, hot and desperate, but now there was another thread—thinner, weaker, but growing—that linked him to her clone. The idea of losing that bond sent a surge of emotion through her, hotter than any explosion she’d faced.

“Let him go,” Kara repeated, her voice low, almost trembling with something deeper than anger.

“Make me,” Power Girl shot back.

The air cracked around them as both prepared to strike, their capes snapping violently in the high-altitude wind. Zack, still clutched in Power Girl’s arm, closed his eyes tight. ‘I’m about to be ground zero in a Kryptonian catfight. This is it. This is how I die.’

The metallic voice whispered again, overlapping, distorted as if it couldn’t keep up:

Connection established: 35% (Power Girl). 

Connection established: 65% (Supergirl).

Done, tell me what you think and if I made any mistakes.