Chapter 7: Noticed

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Tony, still in his casual clothes after the earlier fight, tapped a few buttons on his device, bringing up the holographic footage of his encounter with Ethan. "Meet our new friend," Tony said, as the image of Ethan flickered into view, his white skin and swirling black circles visible as he moved with impossible speed. The team watched as Ethan dodged Tony's repulsor blasts with ease, slipping in and out of portals in the blink of an eye.

"That's him?" Steve said, his arms crossed. "He looks... strange."

"He's more than just strange, Cap," Tony replied, his face serious. "The guy moves like he's everywhere at once. I couldn't land a hit on him."

Bruce leaned in, studying the footage more closely. "Those portals... they look like miniature black holes. Some kind of spatial manipulation?"

"Yeah, and that's what worries me," Tony said, turning off the display. "He's fast, unpredictable, and his powers make him nearly impossible to pin down. I couldn't get a good read on him, and trust me, I tried."

"Do we know anything else about him?" Natasha asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Not yet. But I've sent the footage to SHIELD. Maybe Fury will have something to say about this."

Sam shook his head. "This guy breaks into your house just to have a fight? What's he after?"

Tony shrugged. "He said he was just curious about my suit, but who knows? He's a wildcard. The kind that needs to be on our radar."

As they continued discussing strategies to handle Ethan, an incoming call buzzed through the table's communication system. Tony pressed a button, and the familiar voice of Nick Fury came through.

"I've seen the footage, Stark," Fury said, his voice as no-nonsense as ever. "This guy's a problem."

"Tell me something I don't know," Tony replied, leaning against the table.

"We're looking into any potential leads on his identity. Whatever he is, he didn't come out of nowhere."

"So what's the plan?" Steve asked, his tone even.

Fury's voice cut through the room. "We observe. If he becomes a bigger threat, we'll act. But for now, don't engage unless absolutely necessary. We don't need to start something we can't control."

Tony sighed. "Fair enough."

The conversation ended, leaving the room in thoughtful silence. Ethan's powers were clearly beyond what they'd dealt with before, but they weren't about to let it slide. The Avengers would be watching closely.

....

Meanwhile, Ethan sat in his hotel room, flipping through channels after the news. The night had been more enjoyable than he expected, and as he lay back, he couldn't help but feel amused by how easily he had caused a stir.

He stretched out on the bed, his mind already thinking about the next day. There was so much left to explore in this world.

And so much more to test.

....

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit SHIELD facility, Nick Fury sat at his desk, reviewing the footage of Ethan's abilities on a small tablet. His one eye remained fixed on the swirling black portals and the seemingly effortless way Ethan moved through them. The man's abilities were unlike anything Fury had ever seen. This wasn't just another enhanced human, nor was it something as simple as advanced technology.

He tapped his fingers against the desk, deep in thought, before reaching for his comm device.

"Coulson," Fury said, his voice calm but firm.

A brief moment later, the voice of Agent Phil Coulson came through on the other end. "Sir?"

"We've got a new player on the field. I need you to take a look at something," Fury replied, sending the footage over to Coulson's terminal.

There was a pause as Coulson reviewed the footage. "Who is this guy?"

"That's what I need you to find out," Fury said, his tone not leaving much room for interpretation. "He breaks into Stark's mansion, starts a fight just for fun, and walks away without a scratch. This isn't your average troublemaker."

Coulson hummed thoughtfully. "From the footage, it looks like he's manipulating space. Those portals... they're dangerous. If he can move in and out of any place at will, he could be a serious threat."

"Exactly," Fury said, leaning back in his chair. "I want you to put your best people on this. Background checks, cross-referencing with known enhanced individuals, anything that could give us a lead. He didn't just pop out of nowhere."

"I'm on it, sir," Coulson replied. "What about the Avengers? Should I coordinate with them?"

Fury rubbed his chin. "They're already aware. Stark's keeping an eye on him, but until we know more, we're keeping it low-profile. We don't want to spook him, and we don't need another enemy on our hands right now."

Coulson's voice was steady, professional. "Understood. I'll reach out to a few contacts, see if anyone's encountered anything like this before."

"And Coulson," Fury added, his tone sharp. "Be discreet. The last thing we need is this guy knowing we're looking into him."

"You've got it, sir," Coulson replied before the line disconnected.

Fury sat in silence for a moment, staring at the footage one more time. He didn't like unknowns, especially ones with powers like this. Whatever this being was, he had the potential to become a real problem, and Fury didn't want to be caught off guard.

He sighed, turning off the screen and staring out the window at the skyline beyond. The world was getting stranger by the day, and SHIELD had to stay ahead of it.

....

In the dim quiet of his hotel room, Ethan stretched his arms above his head, feeling completely at ease. He had a feeling that the world was starting to take notice of him, and the thought only made him more eager for what was to come.

Little did he know, Nick Fury and SHIELD were already on his trail, and the game was just beginning.

....

The next morning, Ethan woke up to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains of his hotel room. After taking a quick shower and going through his morning hygiene routine, he got dressed and prepared to head out for the day. The excitement from the previous night still buzzed in his veins. He was eager to explore more of the world and have some fun.

Ethan stepped out of the hotel, feeling the energy of the city around him as people bustled through the streets. The air was filled with the sounds of honking horns and conversations blending into a steady hum. He glanced up at the sky and smirked.

He was in the mood for something different today.

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