[b]October 28th 5:00 PM

Queens, New York[/b]

When you look the way John does, it was easy to gather attention even through his hooded sweatshirt Tall, strong, relatively good looking... mothers gossiped to each other at the young man who frequented visited the local boxing gym while fathers privately reflected their youth pondering if they looked as John did at the same age. Ever since his brief entanglement with the Irish Mob the great "Superman" had relatively been quiet since then. While New York City and the other boroughs struggled with its crime activity, one particular masked individual in the form of the Tiger was far more active. As the Tiger went about and made his mark throughout New York, Superman simply stayed quiet and when several other famed individuals descalated the conflict in the Middle East, Superman remained quiet. For a figure who had made several notable appearances, John was fortunate he was able to routinely settle back into the shadows.

Sitting in a stool outside the ring John wrapped his hands slowly as any typical boxer would do. Such an activity was a waste after all, nothing was capable of harming him, or at least so he thought. Was it laziness or maybe a lack of understanding in his place in the world that John pondered as he wasted his days again in secrecy. It was reassuring being out of the spotlight and there was enough heroes in the world and he wasn't one of them until...

John glanced upwards as he saw several young children running around imitating the very super heroes they watched on television. 
"Lady Arcana is the coolest!"
"No, no! Aquaman is the coolest!"
"No uh!" Another cried as John chuckled at their innocent arguments. 
"Hey kids what about New York's... the Tiger! huh?" The kids turned and looked towards the head boxing trainer, Julian who caught their attention with a clap, also laughing at the arguments as the kids nodded their heads in approval. As the various parents of the children rolled their eyes in the silly conversation Julian congratulated the kids on a good day's work from the previous hourly long workout class
"Alright everyone, that's enough for the day, get home safe!" Julian said as he waved the children and their parents goodbye. But just before one exited the building, one small boy asked out loud "Hey coach, what about Superman!?"
"We can talk about this tomorrow, go home good job today!" Julian replied watching the last of them leave as he took a deep breath knowing the gym was closed. It was only 5 in the afternoon but the way the world was... nobody liked being out at night, it was too unpredictable. The gym was now empty save for Julian and of course the sitting man who stared at his wrapped hands.

"Hey champ you alright?" Julian asked as he approached wondering why John seemed so lost in thought.
"Yeah I'm good" John replied as he glanced upwards. He didn't want to admit it but the reminder that nights now a days can be so scary for the common people irritated at him. 
"Listen, I got some guys from the island coming in tomorrow I think they got someone who wont be too scared to get in the ring with ya"
"You always say that" John replied as the pair bumped fists and the two shared a quick chuckle.
"Listen John, you think about what I said? You're a natural. A real heavyweight but your real fit, you're fast, hit hard as shit. It's like you aint trying half the time. I'm telling ya, you're here all the time why don't you fight, for real just once, I can set something up" John rolled his eyes, he's heard this pitch before. 
"Oh cmon John don't give me that! look at ya! You were built to go professional in something, you look like a god damn super hero. You remember when that guy Marvin won the championship? That could be you next time! imagine that New York producing another world champ"

John stayed quiet and ignored the statement as he stood up as he rotated his shoulders before he began to lightly shadow box in place. "Listen man, I know you ain't scared to be in there so what's the deal? I mean your crazy enough to walk these streets alone at night" 

"You think the world has enough super heroes?" John finally replied as his attention turned towards the nearby wall mirror as John watched his movements closely making sure he did all the little thing correctly. Shadow boxing after all was all focused on watching your own movements, to perfect them... a honest way of critiquing one's technique. "The hell? See now that's some bull shit. The world is all sorts of messed up, the world needs all them crazy freaks out there saving the world cause hell you know I ain't doing it" As Julian watched John work, John picked up the pace in his intensity, each punch fast and powerful, each with a purpose. There was some real pop behind those punches, Julian knew it but what bothered him is why it looked so easy as if John routinely held back. 

"You think Superman should've went to the Middle East?" Another question, a relatively dumb one but Julian had an opinion on everything and anything. 

"You're god damn right he should. You seen that asshole on television, he's capable of doing all that weird super alien shit but I think he's on our side you know?. But I think he's a bit off in the head, just my opinion" Julian shrugged before letting John be to continue warming up... 

An hour or so later

John could hear Julian relaxed in his office watching the local news as the latest stories about the latest murders and kidnappings in the local area. Each story seemingly got more negative and depressing than the other as John got too caught up in listening that his concentration slipped and with a punch with too much pop into it sent a punching bag flying off its hook, the heavy bag slamming into the wall as sand spilled everywhere. Realizing what he done John slightly cringed at his mistake but took a sigh of relief as Julian was too caught up in the news to notice. Kneeling towards the downed bag John slowly worked too clean up his mess as he took the time to close his eyes and truly listen to the world around him as he once more asked the question he's been asking himself all year... Does the world need a Superman?