571. Chapter 571

The boy had scribbled his number onto Adrian’s forearm, and his name, too.

Jackson.

And even in the midst of finding out that Kara was Supergirl – which really wasn’t all that surprising, because Maggie was so, so right about the glasses – and in the midst of his school being attacked by Cadmus, he couldn’t stop thinking about the feeling of the boy’s fingers on his arm before the medics came to take care of his broken ankle.

Adrian had called.

Of course he’d called.

And he’d visited.

Of course he’d visited. He felt sort of… bonded, to Jackson. He’d saved his life. He hadn’t known he was capable of something like that.

He’d like to think he was, certainly. But he figured that everyone thought they’d be a hero if the moment arose; he actually… had.

It got him a stern talking to from Maggie, from Alex, from Kara, hell, even from James and J’onn. From his mom, from his dad. From his uncle who usually only ever called on Christmas and Easter and his birthday.

But it also got him flutters in the pit of his stomach, because this boy, Jackson?

Jackson was cute.

And, apparently, he was bi.

Which maybe – just maybe – Adrian thought he might be, too.

They weren’t dating – not really, not exactly – but Adrian had gone to visit him in the hospital and he’d brought him Big Belly Burger and they’d share fries and a milkshake on his hospital bed. He’d fluffed his pillows and he’d let Jackson’s mother hug him windless when she showed up, tears streaked on her face and thanking Adrian over, and over, and over again.

So they weren’t dating – not really, not exactly – but they were becoming friends. Good friends. That part was definitely clear.

And Adrian’s friends – especially the ones who weren’t out, and, it turned out, that Jackson wasn’t – came over to Alex and Maggie’s for dinner.

Except the night he brought Jackson over, the dinner is at Kara’s place.

Because – even though none of them were ready to tell Jackson that Kara’s Supergirl – she wanted to see him. Both of them.

To see with her own eyes that they’re okay.

Because that attack had been personal. All Cadmus attacks were. But this one targeted kids.

It tore Kara’s stomach into shreds.

So when Alex mentioned that Adrian was bringing that boy he saved over for dinner, Kara immediately offered her place.

Maggie smiled. Her family was growing where once there’d been nothing.

“Ms. Danvers,” Jackson greeted Kara politely, holding out the bouquet of flowers he’d insisted on bringing as he and Adrian stepped through the door.

Kara barely caught her laughter, only containing it for the boy’s sake.

“Kara works just fine.”

“Kara, then,” he’d nodded. “Thank you so much for having us in your home.”

“See, I know how to pick em,” Adrian grinned as he wrapped Maggie in his increasingly lengthening arms. “The boy’s mama taught him manners.”

“Yeah, and I happen to know that yours did too, kid, so where are my flowers?” Maggie teased, and Adrian laughed as he shifted to hug both the Danvers girls at once.

“Ain’t your house, Detective Sawyer,” he laughed, and Maggie rolled her eyes as she brought Jackson inside Kara’s apartment.

“Make yourself at home, kiddo,” she told him as his nerves set in again.

Maggie made sure Jackson was looking when she brushed her hand across Alex’s ass when she leaned over to finish setting the table.

Kara made sure to mention that Lena, her girlfriend, couldn’t make it because she was working late.

Alex made sure to work the fact that James and Kara used to date into the conversation.

Adrian made sure to watch Jackson’s comfort level rise the more they talked casually about their lives, their relationships, their loves.

They all saw Jackson’s eyes widen when he realized that Kara’s bi, that she was saying it casually, like it was no big deal. Like it was safe. Like it was… loved. Like she was safe, and loved.

Adrian bit his own lip in between bits of laughter and tales of college life in Star City. Jackson wasn’t the only one who was terrified to tell people that he also liked men.

“So, he’s cute,” Maggie leaned over and murmured to him when Jackson excused himself to go to the bathroom. “You too an item? You’d be cute together,” she nudged him softly.

His eyes flooded, but hers were warm enough to evaporate the tears.

“I love you, Ade,” she reminded him as Kara reached for Alex’s hand under the table. “Always.”

Adrian swallowed with difficulty and nodding, putting his own hand over Maggie’s, which was squeezing his thigh gently.

“Love you too, Mags. And uh… thank you.”

He tried to put as much into the simple words as he could. Maggie suddenly wet eyes told him that he succeeded.

It only took until dessert for Jackson to casually mention a crush he’d had on this boy in high school.

His voice, that is, was casual. But his body was rigid, and Kara could hear his heartrate soaring.

“Oh yeah. Did you know it was a crush at the time, or no? Because I had this gigantic crush on my best friend in high school, and I had no idea I liked her like that until a decade later,” Alex chimed in enthusiastically.

It took Jackson a moment to revel in his relief, in his ecstasy, in his sense of home.

He hoped this was a place he could always come back to.