I freeze mid-flight, nearly plummeting from the sky when I hear it—a soft, broken whisper that cuts through the glass of L-Corp's windows. "Happy birthday to me..."

My enhanced hearing picks up the sound of a single cupcake being placed on a desk. No party, no colleagues singing, not even a phone call. Just Lena, alone in her corner office with a cupcake that has a single, unlit candle.

I hover outside, using my x-ray vision to scan the entire building. No decorations, no party preparations, no sign that anyone else knows or cares that today is Lena's birthday. My heart aches at the sight of her hunched over her desk, staring at that cupcake like it's the only friend she has in the world.

The woman who saved National City countless times, who's fought to redeem her family name, who's faced betrayal after betrayal—deserves better than this lonely celebration.

That's when I make my decision. Today is going to be the day everything changes for Lena. Starting now.

I quickly right myself in the air and check my surroundings before landing on Lena's balcony just long enough to confirm what I already know—she's completely alone on her birthday. With a determined nod, I shoot off toward my apartment, already formulating a plan.

"Alex, I need to take the day off—emergencies only," I say into my comm as I land outside my building. "I'll explain later, promise."

Thirty minutes later, my apartment looks like a craft store exploded. Paper, glue, markers, and scissors cover every surface. But spread across my kitchen table are five beautifully handmade cards, each containing a carefully crafted riddle. Lena's about to go on the scavenger hunt of her life—one that will remind her just how loved she is.

I stack the envelopes neatly and grin. The final clue will lead her here, to my apartment, where I'll finally have the courage to tell her how I really feel.

But as I prepare to leave and hide the clues around the city, a thought strikes me: what if she doesn't feel the same way? What if this elaborate gesture crosses a line and ruins everything?