John's plan for the day was to take a good look around this city, which had little time left before its destruction.
John had watched some Marvel movies before, but not all of them. There were characters he knew nothing about.
Daredevil, for instance. All he knew of Matt's identity came from the name Ferdinand had blurted out in Hell's Kitchen.
That was only natural. This series of superhero movies always had more heroes cropping up.
He had mainly watched the Avengers movies.
He knew Tony Stark and Thor, for example, and was somewhat familiar with the original Avengers.
Beyond that, he knew little.
The FBI was watching him, and S.H.I.E.L.D. had him under surveillance as well.
There were also the forces from Hell's Kitchen and the lurking Hydra.
Without even realizing it, he had already become one of those caught at the center of the vortex swirling around New York.
Yet somehow, he alone had become entangled with every faction.
Inside the gallery, John held a brochure introducing the theme of the current art exhibition.
"How unusual."
A woman in a deep purple dress spoke.
Realizing she was speaking to him, John turned to look at her. "What is?"
"A young boy like you taking an interest in these works of art." Poised and elegant, the woman smiled. "Shouldn't young people prefer something more fashionable?"
"I'm not young," John said with a smile. "I just look young."
"You certainly don't show it." Intrigued by his response, the woman asked, "Do you like this painting?"
John looked up at it. It depicted shimmering light on the sea. He shook his head. "No, I don't."
"I'm just passing the time," he said with a soft laugh. "Just as women feel the urge to shop, men need something to satisfy their desires