Mario first encountered the Black Falcon after Kaz activated the wormhole and accidentally set him free. He was intrigued with your present, his future, and decided not to return to 1953. Aside from the atomic battery keeping him alive, also granting him his powers, he blended in easier than most superheroes. Well, until he opened his mouth that is.
The last thing Kaz could have predicted was that the superhero chose, out of the many coffee shops in the city, the one you worked at. He wanted to try as many as possible with the little cash he had and you brought over the three different brews to his table, and he watched out the window at the time that was alien to him.
You glanced over now and then at the tall blond as he tasted the coffees, and grimaced. You turned to the shelf of coffee beans, trying to find one that he'd like. You settled on one that was not too bitter, but packed plenty of punch, and took it over to his table.
"Hi," His head turned and you suddenly questioned your decision to approach the stranger. "I noticed you forcing them down and I thought you might like this one better." You set it on the table in front of him, nodding when he thanked you as you placed the three coffees he didn't like on a tray.
He lifted the mug as you returned behind the counter, and his blue eyes followed your movements before he looked at the coffee. It didn't smell as sweet as the Café Bombón and when he took a sip it wasn't as bitter as the first one he had tried.
He left the table when he was finished, and he brought the mug to the counter and you took it with a smile when he gave his positive verdict.
"Thank you. I'm Mario Steel."
You told him your name as you shook his hand.
It became common for him to come into the coffee shop. He still tried different types of items on the menu, but he always gravitated back to the blend you had chosen for him on his first visit to the coffee shop.
One day, he was later than usual and after the lunchtime rush you believed he wouldn't be showing up, which was odd for the blond who came in almost everyday. You were eating lunch when he arrived and asked to join you and returned with his usual coffee when you said yes. Your lunch break always seemed to be the quickest part of your day, but that day it seemed to end sooner and you sent him a small smile as you returned to work. Before he left a short while later, he asked you out on a date and due to his limited knowledge of this time, of which you were unaware, let you plan where to spend it.
For weeks he managed to keep his superhero life separate, and when you asked about his family, he changed the dates, but kept as close to the truth as he could to avoid raising suspicion. When he asked about your family, and you told him about your siblings, it hadn't taken Mario long to put two and two together.
Of all the people he could have met and fallen for, it was the sister of one of the normo doctors at Mighty Med. He knew things were going to get complicated as there was only one Kaz that he knew of, and you had no clue about Mighty Med or about Mario's secret identity.
He had managed to avoid running into Kaz when he met your parents and a handful of your siblings, as he had chosen a time when he knew the teenager was working. Kaz hadn't questioned why he wanted to know and Mario was gone before he could begin to wonder about his sudden interest in his schedule.
For two months, he had successfully managed to keep the two worlds from colliding and while dating, you had unknowingly helped integrate him into your time when you went on dates to the movies, or went to a museum.
It wasn't that you were totally oblivious to his strange ways, but rather filed him under quirky and fell in love with his eagerness to experience new things. He had grown more sure of himself as time went by and when he tried to tone down the 'cheesiness' as Kaz called it, you asked why he was acting different, and told him you found it endearing.
Falling in love with you was the easiest thing he had ever done. And in a time that sometimes overwhelmed him by how it starkly contrasted his own, you would smile and he'd feel grounded again.
While at Mighty Med, Mario never gave any indication that he knew you, even when he could hear Kaz and Oliver mentioning your name now and then. So it came as a tremendous surprise to the duo when the news broadcasted that his normo girlfriend had been taken by the Black Falcon.
Horace had checked him over after his latest fight and turned up the TV when his name was mentioned. Mario rose from the bed, swallowing the gravel in his throat at the thought of you being used as a pawn in Black Falcon's revenge plan.
"I didn't know you were dating a normo." Horace spoke first.
Mario stepped closer to the TV as more was revealed and the reportor disappeared as scenes from the street outside the coffee shop where you worked, were pictured and people running for their lives.
"Hold on, Kaz, isn't that the place Y/N works?" Oliver asked.
Mario looked at the teenage doctor, realizing it was time to reveal the truth, to both you and your brother.
Mario took out the cell phone he had bought to contact you with, and while he still didn't know the full extent of its capabilities, he knew how to call you, and look at the pictures you had taken.
Kaz froze when he turned the phone around and showed him a photograph you had taken. Mario had given it to you to enter your number into, and you had taken a picture of the two of you that showed on his screen whenever you called.
Oliver glanced at his friend when he didn't speak, staring at your smiling features as you leaned into your boyfriend, completely unaware that he was actually a superhero at the secret hospital that you didn't know he went to when he rushed off to work, because it was meant to stay hidden and posed a risk.
"You're dating my sister?" Kaz finally snapped out of it, and quickly descended into panic. "And she has been taken by the Black Falcon who is trying to draw you out!"
Mario nodded, placing the cell phone in a pocket in his suit. "But don't worry. I know of a few hideouts he could be using to hide her."
The blond stepped aside, prepared to take flight when the duo stopped him and began listing hideouts they'd read about in comic books, and the ones that had been destroyed during the many fights between the Black Falcon and numerous superheroes.
"I'm coming with you."
"Correction: we're coming with you." Oliver said.
Mario shook his head. "No, it's too dangerous."
He took off to rescue you and Kaz grumbled as he left the hospital with Oliver running at his side as they rushed to where they believed you were being held by the Black Falcon.
Captain Atomic flew into a window, breaking the glass, his boots creating a loud thud that echoed through the warehouse. The ground shook slightly and the Black Falcon leaned on his scepter to avoid falling over.
"Ah, Captain Atomic. It's too late. She's already gone."
Captain Atomic had faced the Black Falcon before. Since Kaz and Oliver had returned to the past to retrieve a new battery that saved his life and strengthened his powers, he had faced many villains with various abilities after their first fight, and combined with some training, he had adapted his own abilities a lot since their first encounter.
He was stronger, but he was also concerned about you, and the Black Falcon knew he had an upper hand as he taunted him. Mario was knocked back by a burst of energy from his scepter, and rolled on the floor, wincing as he tried to get up. He glanced up as the Black Falcon approached him with a menacing laugh and caught sight of Kaz and Oliver sneaking into the warehouse.
He knew he couldn't let them be discovered and rolled to where his yo-yo had landed, jumping to his feet and using it to deflect the Black Falcon's attacks.
When you were nowhere to be seen, the two teenagers left to search the rest of the warehouse to find where the Black Falcon had hidden you. Oliver discovered you after a few minutes, staggering when he saw you on the floor, limbs straight and eyes closed.
He called for Kaz as he rushed to your side, relieved when he saw you were breathing, but when he took your pulse it was weak. Kaz ran into the room and the two teenagers tried to wake you up.
The building groaned and they shielded you when the roof shook, some dust falling, and a loud crash from elsewhere rocked the ground. Oliver heard Captain Atomic calling your name, and called him to where the three of you were.
"She's breathing, but she's not moving!" Kaz exclaimed.
Mario knelt beside you, placing a hand on your cheek as his expression clouded. He picked you up and quickly rose to his feet.
"Meet us at Mighty Med." Mario flew off with you in his arms and Kaz and Oliver left the warehouse to head to the hospital.
When Kaz arrived, you were already on a bed and Horace tried to figure out what was wrong with you, but he had limited knowledge of normos and so it was up to Kaz and Oliver to figure it out.
The two ran through everything they knew about the Black Falcon. "Well, there's the obvious, he can fly like a falcon." Kaz began.
"He can channel his energy into his scepter to cause shockwaves." Oliver added.
"He can fire blasts of energy. Right." Kaz perked up. "But he can also use it to knock people out cold."
"So, we need to find a way to wake her up. But she's not a superhero. We don't know how to treat her." Oliver gestured with his hands wildly.
Kaz approached the bed and began rapidly tapping your cheek. "Wakey wakey!" He walked to a trolley and picked up a glass of water, tossing it over your face.
"Really?" Oliver deadpanned.
"I'm panicking!"
The monitors above the bed began to beep and Kaz felt your pulse and Oliver picked up a stethoscope, listening to your heart. "She's getting weaker."
"She's dying." Kaz whispered.
Oliver paused for a moment, "If it was someone else, how would we treat her?"
Kaz listed different ways they've healed superheroes after they've been injured by the Black Falcon and when Oliver believed they had a plan, the two put it into action while Mario stood anxiously nearby.
The blond stepped closer when your head turned, and you blinked, raising a hand to shelter your eyes from the bright lights. Your brow furrowed when you heard the two teenagers calling your name, pausing when you noticed your surroundings.
"- you feel okay?"
You noticed a blonde woman on a bed next you, wearing a black mask over her eyes, and wearing a costume with flames on it, creating fire with her hands.
"Take it easy." Kaz warned when you shifted into a seated position.
"Where am I?" You murmured, looking around the room, squeaking when you saw a lizard man.
"You're in Mighty Med. The villain Black Falcon took you to draw out Captain Atomic. He knocked you out with his powers, but we managed to bring you out of it." Kaz explained, resting a hand on your shoulder.
You drew your wide eyed gaze to your younger brother, eyebrows raising when you saw your boyfriend behind him, wearing a red and blue suit with a large A on his chest.
"I think I'm having side effects from the medication."
"She's freaking out." Oliver stage whispered.
"She's totally fine." Kaz said seconds before you got off the bed and tried to bolt to the nearest exit, but halted when you nearly collided with Gray Granite. "Yeah, she's freaking out."
You turned, looking at Solar Flare who was still showing her powers, before looking at the lizard man, then your boyfriend who caught you when you fainted, lifting you effortlessly and carried you back to the bed.
"You know, it could've been worse. Last time she freaked out, she whacked our sister with a baseball bat." Kaz chuckled.
Mario raised an eyebrow at his words, but didn't look away from you as he removed his gloves and moved your hair away from your face. You blinked slowly, brow furrowing briefly before you met your boyfriend's gaze.
"I had the weirdest dream..." You leaned your cheek against his palm, "There was a lizard man and a chick with fire hands."
"Technically, she manipulates fire and heat from her hands -" Oliver began.
"Not now." Kaz muttered.
You noticed your boyfriend's outfit then. The blue and red suit was hard to miss, as was the large A on his chest. "Mario..." You whispered, meeting his guilt ridden gaze.
"I think it's time I told you the full truth about who I am."
"The bird man said something about Captain Atomic." You placed a hand on his chest, "I'm guessing the A isn't for applesauce."
"I was wondering why I craved applesauce so much." Kaz chuckled, crossing his arms.
"But first, how do you feel?" Oliver asked.
"Aside from the urge to run screaming from the room? Fine."
Kaz decided it was news best delivered with food and you listened as he and Oliver revealed how they had stumbled across Mighty Med and started working there months before. While Mario explained why Black Falcon had taken you in an attempt to draw him out and weaken him, you knew that the rest, how he became a superhero and arrived in your time, would come later when you were alone.
"It was never my intention to put you at risk. I thought I was being careful, yet the Black Falcon discovered what you meant to me." Mario placed a hand on your cheek and you stepped closer to the blond superhero who wrapped his arms around you as you placed your arms around his waist and rested your head on his chest. It felt as if he was shielding you from further harm, and you had always felt safest in his embrace.
He rested his cheek against your hair, closing his eyes briefly and sighed in relief as you were once again safely nestled against his chest and considering the events, taking the heaps of information better than expected.
The superhero news broadcast was constantly playing, and after seeing the way he looked at the screen, you knew he wanted to help. He kissed your cheek before stepping back, taking flight and you looked at your brother with raised eyebrows.
"You should see what he can do with a yo-yo."
Thankfully, Kaz hadn't given you enough time to panic again, as he rambled and dragged you all over the hospital for a tour. He and Oliver introduced you to superheroes and learning their friend Connie was actually Skylar Storm, was the least surprising after everything.
"Isn't she the one who you have a cr-" You yelped when Oliver pushed you out of the door and Kaz snickered when he immediately apologised and squeaked as he pleaded for you not to retaliate.
They continued with their tour and when Mario returned you were sitting on a empty bed as Oliver checked that your vitals were still normal.
"Again, we're really sorry about the lying." He smiled nervously after answering all your questions about the hospital and how they'd managed to keep it a secret for so long.
"Technically it was more misleading than lying. We were at work, but not where you thought we were, but you didn't know where we worked, so it - wait I'm confused." Kaz chimed in.
"Doesn't matter. You are so grounded." You drawled, rising from the bed.
"You can't do that! You don't even live with us anymore!" He complained. "Oliver lied too!"
Oliver huffed when Kaz pushed him forward slightly so he was in front of him. "Really?" He threw over his shoulder.
You shook your head at the two and turned to your boyfriend when you spotted him approaching the three of you, wearing normo clothes. And for a moment, to anyone paying attention, the blond's expression revealed his fears about the ordeal with the Black Falcon leading to him losing you, but you smiled at the blue eyed superhero who looked like he remembered how to breathe as he mirrored it.
You were eager to go home and as the four of you left the hospital, Mario got his first glimpse at the teasing nature of your relationship with Kaz, and by extension Oliver who you thought of as a sibling.
"You know, you are really making me regret saving you."
"Kaz, don't say that. She could get taken again at any moment." Oliver fretted.
"I won't." You chirped, smirking at Kaz when he turned to you. "He is not that lucky. Besides, he loves me."
"Urgh, you heard that?" Kaz grumbled. During his and Oliver's race to save your life you remembered hearing voices, and your brother saying that you were his favorite sibling.
"You love me." You continued to tease much to his dismay and Mario chuckled as you left his side briefly to drape your arms around the shoulders of the two teens who had different reactions. Kaz was groaning and wiggled out of your embrace while Oliver was far more receptive.
While the two teens headed to The Domain, Mario took you home and finally told you the truth. How he got his powers, his family and how Kaz released him from the wormhole. You sat with your knees tucked beneath you, elbow resting on the back of the sofa as you listened to his story and realised that while he had changed some details to maintain his secret identity, he had been as honest with you as he could.
You knew that he intended to tell you everything eventually both from observing his minute expressions as he spoke, and he had told you such. And while it raised a lot of questions, like 'would it happen again' or 'did you constantly have a target on your back from supervillains who wanted to catch him off guard in the confrontation due to his love for you', you could answer most of them. Yes, it was worth it just to be with the man you'd fallen in love with, and as you helped him navigate your world, he would help you navigate his.
You could see the vulnerability in his blue eyes as the conversation lulled and placed a hand on his cheek, silencing those worries by pressing your lips on his. He rested a hand on your thigh as he chased your kiss, and you wrapped your arms around his neck, as his hands moved to your waist, drawing your body closer to his.
You pulled back a few moments later, smiling softly as you toyed with the blond strands of hair that tickled the nape of his neck. If Kaz saw you now, he'd probably ask Solar Flare to burn his eyes out of his head after seeing his sister kissing a superhero in her living room, while on his lap.
There was still so much to learn about the secret world of superheroes, and it would take some getting used to, but you had Kaz and Oliver who had spent most of their lives following their adventures and Mario who could explain the rest.
A giggle left your lips, "Now, the phone thing makes sense, grandpa."
He reeled back, offended at the playful jab, and shifted so your back was on the sofa. He nuzzled his head into the crook of your neck, knowing you found it ticklish and it the quickest way to make you laugh. He lifted his head and smiled down at you as he tucked your hair behind your ear, his blue eyes contently adoring you for a moment.
"I can't believe it sometimes. How lucky I am to have met you." He thought aloud.
You smiled fondly at the blond superhero, "I love you too, Captain."
