Rai_jin
patreon
#19 VCM
🕑 Added 2025-03-23 04:08:01 +0000 UTCCoulson, how’s the background check on Ethan?” Fury asked, leaning back in his chair with his hands clasped on the desk. His one good eye locked onto his best agent.
“It’s all sorted out,” Coulson replied, flipping through a file. “Ethan’s identity has been meticulously documented from birth to present.”
He skimmed through the pages before continuing, “His father, Lukas Hunt, and his mother, Emily Hunt, were both American citizens with no known relatives outside the country.
They got married twenty years ago, had Ethan two years later, and ran a small bookstore in Brooklyn. By all accounts, they were an ordinary couple—friendly with neighbors, paid their taxes on time, and had no history of criminal activity.”
Fury narrowed his eye. “That’s a lot of detail for a normal couple, Coulson. Not your usual style.”
Coulson exhaled sharply. “That’s because there’s a twist. Seven years ago, they disappeared without a trace. What’s odd is that they seemed to anticipate it. They left Ethan with a neighbor before vanishing entirely.”
Fury’s expression darkened. “And the police?”
“The neighbor called them a week later, but before law enforcement could act, an unidentified individual took Ethan to an orphanage. The circumstances were highly unusual.”
Fury drummed his fingers against the desk. “Legally, a disappearance without evidence of death requires seven years before being declared deceased.
And yet, you’re telling me Ethan’s parents were officially listed as dead the same day they vanished?”
Coulson nodded. “That’s what the records show. Someone manipulated the system.”
Fury leaned forward, eyes sharp. “Can we identify this person?”
Coulson slid a grainy photograph across the desk. “This is the only lead we have. It’s an old image, taken at night.
The figure is wearing a yellow robe with a cloak obscuring their face.”
Fury studied the image, frustration evident. “This tells us nothing. I can’t even determine the person’s gender, let alone their identity.” He let out a sigh before shifting gears. “Let’s move on. What do we know about Ethan’s abilities? Especially when he awakened as a mutant.”
“Our intel confirms his mutation emerged about two weeks ago after a high fever.”
Fury shot up from his chair. “Are you sure?”
Coulson remained calm. “Sir, teenage years are the prime time for mutant awakenings, and fevers often trigger them. It’s not unusual.”
Fury exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. “That means he’s still figuring things out. And yet, he…” His gaze fell to a report on his desk—one detailing Ethan’s single-handed takedown of the Abomination. A bead of sweat formed on his brow.
“What exactly is his power?” Fury pressed.
Coulson hesitated. “That’s where things get complicated.”
Fury’s patience wore thin. “Spit it out.”
“The scientists and researchers we consulted can’t agree. Some classify him as having spatial manipulation abilities, others suggest physical augmentation, and a growing faction believes he possesses multiple powers.”
Fury scowled. “There are six main categories of mutant abilities, Coulson. You’re telling me they’re throwing darts at the board and picking whatever sticks? Even if they did guess right, there are thousands of subcategories. This is useless.”
He paced for a moment before turning back. “Why haven’t we interrogated him or conducted a covert physical assessment?”
Coulson’s expression turned serious. “Sir, with all due respect, that would be a terrible idea.”
Fury frowned but slowly sat back down. He realized he’d let his frustration get the better of him. “Go on.”
“Ethan isn’t just a mutant—he has powerful allies. Namely, Professor X.” Coulson paused, letting that fact sink in. “Just two days ago, the Professor personally warned us to keep our distance. That alone tells you how important Ethan is to him. We managed to pull Ethan into S.H.I.E.L.D. when he stepped away from the Xavier's School, but if we push too hard…”
Fury didn’t need the rest spelled out. Charles Xavier, despite his peaceful demeanor, commanded respect and influence.
Running a mutant academy in the heart of New York without interference spoke volumes about his power. And if push came to shove, Xavier wasn’t someone to cross lightly.
Even setting Xavier aside, Ethan’s sheer strength was a problem. Fury wasn’t foolish enough to believe anyone was invincible, but without fully understanding Ethan’s abilities, it was impossible to exploit weaknesses.
After a long silence, Fury finally asked, “You’ve had the most contact with him, Coulson. What’s your assessment of his threat level?”
“For mutant classification, we base danger levels on ability strength and psychological evaluation,” Coulson began. “While Ethan’s powers are undeniably formidable, I’d rate his danger level at minus Level 3. Personally, I lean toward Level 2.”
Fury raised a brow. “You have that much faith in him?”
Coulson folded his arms, smirking. “He’s left a good impression on me, sir. But that’s not the only reason I gave that score.”
Fury leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Coulson, tell me your reason."
Coulson nodded, standing firm. "Sir, you already know that it's only been half a month since Ethan awakened as a mutant. That also happens to be when Professor X first came into contact with him. Before that, Ethan lived his entire life as a normal person."
"You're talking about mentality," Fury interjected, his sharp gaze locked onto Coulson. "You’re saying that despite becoming a mutant, his mindset hasn’t drifted too far from that of an ordinary person."
Coulson nodded. "Exactly. Unless his abilities actively alter his personality, a person's core beliefs don’t just change overnight."
Fury exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. "Seven years in an orphanage. No family, no adoption…" He trailed off, his expression darkening. "In an environment like that…"
Coulson remained silent. Fury fully understood firsthand the consequences of systemic discrimination.
But in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s mutant threat assessments, one psychological factor stood out: mutants who harbored deep-seated resentment due to discrimination were often the most dangerous.
Those who had been outcasts their entire lives sometimes viewed society as an enemy the moment they gained power. Magneto was a prime example.
Fury sighed. "Tell me, Coulson. What makes you think Ethan isn’t walking down that path?"
Coulson pulled out a photograph and placed it on the table. "Her name is Emma Jones, the head of the orphanage. We've done a background check—she's a kind-hearted woman, well respected in the community. Ethan holds her in high regard. In fact, the reason he left the Xavier's school was to protect the orphanage from potential threats."
Fury studied the photo for a long moment before exhaling. "So, we owe this woman for making sure another Magneto wasn’t born."
Coulson didn’t respond, waiting for Fury to reach his own conclusion.
Fury tapped his fingers on the desk. "A powerful mutant… but not necessarily a dangerous one." He muttered the words under his breath, as if testing how they felt.
The world had been growing more chaotic, and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s grip on global stability was slipping. The New York incident with Abomination and Hulk had been a prime example.
Fury had watched from the sidelines, powerless to intervene.
He had long considered assembling an elite force of individuals with extraordinary abilities, and now, Ethan presented a new opportunity.
Despite Professor X reaching him first, there was no way Ethan had built an unshakable allegiance to the Xavier's Institute in just half a month. If Fury played his cards right, he could bring him into S.H.I.E.L.D.’s fold.
Fury’s thoughts were interrupted by a sudden transmission from Agent Hill.
"Sir, Professor X is here. He wants to see you."
Fury smirked. "That was fast. Take him to the waiting room. I’ll be right—"
A voice cut in before he could finish. "No need for that. I’m already here."
The office door swung open, revealing Professor X in his wheelchair, flanked by Cyclops and Storm.
Fury tensed. "How the hell did you—"
Then he saw Hill standing just outside the door, her posture oddly stiff, her gaze unfocused. Fury’s eye narrowed.
"Hill, wake up!"
The moment he spoke, Hill blinked rapidly, disoriented. Then, in an instant, she drew her gun and aimed it at Professor X.
"Sir, I—"
"No need to explain. I already know what happened." Fury turned his glare to the bald telepath. "Professor X, this isn’t your style."
Xavier laced his fingers together. "I don’t like it either, but it is effective."
Fury’s jaw clenched. "I could raise your danger level from Level 2 to Level 4 just for this stunt."
"And I could consider your actions against Ethan as a direct provocation against the X-Men." Xavier’s expression hardened.
"Ethan is here of his own free will. S.H.I.E.L.D. has treated him with nothing but respect."
"Then why," Xavier countered, "can I not reach him through Cerebro? His location is being deliberately shielded."
Fury leaned back, feigning indifference. "I wouldn’t know anything about that."
In truth, Tony Stark had recently developed technology capable of scrambling telepathic signals, and S.H.I.E.L.D. had eagerly installed it in key locations—including where Ethan was staying. Fury wasn’t about to let Xavier use Cerebro to keep tabs on everything.
But just as Fury was about to press further, an emergency transmission came through from Agent May.
"Director, we have an intruder. A mutant is trying to get to Ethan."
Fury’s gaze snapped back to Xavier. "Yours?"
Xavier shook his head. "Not one of mine. But I have a guess who." His expression darkened. "There is someone who doesn’t have as many scruples as I do."
