Marcus's travel plan was taking shape—an adventure that would see him visit the cities of his new comrades. After the vibrant neon of Metropolis, the gothic shadows of Gotham City, and the restored vitality of Central City, his next destination was Gateway City, the home of Diana Prince, also known as Wonder Woman.
EXT. CENTRAL CITY AIRPORT - DAY
In front of the main terminal, a gentle breeze played with Marcus's hair. He stood facing Barry Allen and his wife, Iris, a sincere smile on his lips.
"I don't know how to thank you," Marcus said, shaking Barry's offered hand. "Taking me in the way you did... it went far beyond simple courtesy."
Iris gave him a warm hug. "It was our pleasure, Marcus. Our home is always open to you."
Even though he had the means to afford a suite in the city's finest hotel, staying with the Allens had given him something more: a genuine connection, human warmth, and a precious glimpse into the life of the man behind the lightning.
Barry patted him on the shoulder. "Gateway City, huh? Take care out there. And say hello to Diana for me."
"I won't forget," Marcus promised.
He glanced at the electronic departure boards. Delays and cancellations flashed red, primarily for flights heading to the west coast. A significant low-pressure system, an unpredictable and violent storm, had formed over the Gateway City region, paralyzing all air traffic.
A frustrated businessman nearby grumbled into his phone. "Yes, I know! At least another six-hour wait, maybe more! It's insane!"
Marcus looked back towards the sky, beyond the terminal roofs. Clouds were piling up on the horizon, dark and threatening, even from this distance. Taking a commercial flight was out of the question. Waiting for hours in a crowded terminal held no appeal.
A small smile played on his lips. Sometimes, conventional transportation was overrated.
He turned back to the couple. "It seems the weather has decided to work against the airlines today."
Iris followed his gaze to the boards. "Oh, no! You're stuck?"
"Not exactly," Marcus replied with a calm that slightly surprised Barry. "I've just decided to take my own flight."
Barry's eyes widened, immediately understanding the meaning of his words. "You're going to...?"
Marcus took a step back, moving away from the crowd. "It's the safest way to avoid the turbulence."
He gave one last wave to the astonished couple. Then, his red boots left the ground with an unnatural lightness. A barely visible energy field enveloped him, and he rose into the air, first slowly, then with increasing speed, cutting through the wind like an arrow.
Barry and Iris looked up, watching him rapidly disappear into the sky, his red and white form silhouetted briefly before blending into the distant clouds.
"Well," Iris murmured, impressed. "Life is certainly never dull in this world, is it?"
Barry laughed, shaking his head. "No. Never."
---
IN THE AIR
Marcus soared over the landscapes whipping by at a dizzying speed, the fields, rivers, and cities becoming mere blurs of color. The fresh air stung his face, a sensation far more invigorating than the conditioned air of a plane cabin. He maneuvered with an aerial grace, his mastery of flight allowing him to sense and adapt to the air currents.
As he approached the bad weather zone, the sky ahead became a sea of swirling gray clouds, streaked with lightning. The wind howled around him, much louder than on the ground. It was the very chaos pilots feared.
But Marcus was no ordinary pilot. He dove straight into the storm.
The turbulence that would have torn a plane apart shook him, but his perfect control over his flight and his superhuman strength kept him stable. He weaved between the cloud columns, avoiding electrical discharges with impossible agility, his golden energy shield deflecting the hail pelting around him. It was both terrifying and exhilarating—a challenge only someone of his caliber could meet.
After several intense minutes of this aerial battle, he emerged on the other side of the storm front. The sky was clearer, and in the distance, the distinctive skyline of Gateway City emerged along the ocean shore.
His descent was as smooth as his ascent had been powerful. He landed with a soft, muted touch on a quiet rooftop, offering a stunning view of the bay. Wonder Woman's city lay before him, calm after the storm, ready to be explored. His personal journey had just taken on a new dimension, far more literal than he had initially planned.