The frantic pace of the last few months—finalizing Demon Slayer, launching the iPhone with Holt Industries, missions with the Justice Society, and the Watchtower expansion—had finally taken its toll on Marcus. He felt he needed a break, not as Utopian, but simply as Marcus Kane.
One morning, having breakfast in his Tokyo apartment, an idea came to him. He had visited Gotham, Metropolis, and Star City, but he'd never really taken the time to explore Central City, Barry Allen's hometown. The idea of surprising his fastest friend in the world, in his civilian element, made him smile.
A few days later, Marcus landed at Central City International Airport, dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and a casual jacket, a simple suitcase in hand. There was no hero suit, no global emergency, just the quiet excitement of a tourist.
He went straight to the downtown area, impressed by its energy. Central City had a different vibe from Gotham or Metropolis; it was brighter, more optimistic, much like its protector.
His first stop was Barry's favorite coffee shop, "Jitters," which he had heard so much about. He ordered a latte and sat at a table, watching the comings and goings of the locals. He smiled, imagining Barry, always in a rush, grabbing his coffee on the fly.
Next, he visited the Museum of Science and Technology, a place he knew was particularly dear to Barry, the forensic scientist. He spent hours exploring the exhibits, lingering on those dedicated to particle physics and renewable energy, subjects that would certainly have fascinated his friend.
But the highlight of his trip was to be the surprise. He had hired a small jazz band to perform impromptu on the steps of the Central City courthouse, the place where Barry and Iris had gotten married. He discreetly got the word to Iris, asking her to find an excuse to bring Barry there at the appointed time.
And it worked perfectly. As Barry and Iris were descending the courthouse steps, the jazz band suddenly struck up a lively version of "Sing, Sing, Sing." Passersby stopped, smiling, some even started to dance.
Barry, initially surprised, looked around and spotted Marcus leaning against a lamppost, a wide grin on his face.
"Marcus? What are you doing here?" Barry exclaimed, rushing over to him—at human speed, for once.
"I'm on vacation," Marcus replied, shaking his hand and then greeting Iris with a kiss on the cheek. "And I thought it might be nice to see how the fastest man alive lives when he's not busy saving the world."
Iris burst out laughing. "He actually managed to surprise you! I never thought it was possible!"
The evening continued over dinner at a cozy Italian restaurant, filled with laughter and conversation. Marcus happily listened as Barry and Iris shared stories about Central City, far from cosmic crises and alien invasions.
For Marcus, these moments of simplicity were as precious as any heroic victory. It was a welcome reminder that, behind the masks and the powers, they were all, fundamentally, human. And that sometimes, the best way to recharge was simply to spend time with friends.