Chapter 5: An Offer from S.H.I.E.L.D.
"When a woman as beautiful as you asks, how could I possibly refuse?" Ethan said with a charming grin. "But I have one small request. Could we get me some actual clothes first?" He gestured down at the green fabric still wrapped around his waist.
"No problem at all," Natasha replied, her smile never wavering.
Natasha clearly had money to burn, as she led him directly into a high-end designer clothing store.
Since she was paying, Ethan didn't hold back. He selected a perfectly tailored suit, a pair of Italian leather shoes, a belt, and a new watch.
When he emerged from the fitting room, he was a completely different man. He was devastatingly handsome.
He had strong brows, a high-bridged nose, and a wide, firm mouth set in a chiseled, square jawline. Standing at six feet tall, his frame was massive—a thick, powerful neck, broad shoulders, and large hands and feet. His entire body was a roadmap of terrifying muscle, radiating an aura of explosive power.
He was already striking, but the suit took him to another level. He had left the shirt unbuttoned at the top, giving him an untamed, wild edge that amplified his raw, masculine charisma.
"Oh my god," Natasha whispered, covering her mouth as a genuine shockwave of surprise and attraction hit her. She had seen countless men, but never one who exuded such potent, primal masculinity.
"Wow... he's gorgeous!"
"He must be a personal trainer with a body like that."
"If I had a boyfriend like him, I'd be the most satisfied woman on Earth."
The female employees of the store were completely captivated, their eyes glued to Ethan. If Natasha hadn't been there, they might have swarmed him on the spot.
Natasha stepped forward, linking her arm through Ethan's. She looked at the fawning employees and announced proudly, "He's my boyfriend."
Ethan just smiled, not taking her seriously. Having seen the movies, he knew all about Natasha Romanoff. She was an expert manipulator of emotions who had charmed countless superheroes, yet not a single one had ever truly won her over. You could play her game, but the moment you took it seriously, you lost.
"Come on, Ethan," Natasha purred, her voice taking on a sultry, playful tone. "Let's go get that drink."
The sound of her voice sent a jolt of impulse through him. He wrapped an arm around her slim waist, pulling her close as they walked out of the store. Natasha didn't resist, melting against him with the practiced ease of a woman who knew exactly what she was doing.
She led him to a bustling, upscale bar and into a private VIP booth. The room was luxuriously decorated, and the dim lighting and pulsing music created an intimate, charged atmosphere.
Natasha ordered a bottle of whiskey from the waitress. She poured two glasses, handing one to Ethan.
He took it from her.
"A toast," Natasha said, her eyes glinting with amusement. "To our meeting."
"Cheers," Ethan replied, clinking his glass against hers.
He then tilted his head back and downed the entire glass in one go.
Natasha took a more elegant sip before smiling at him. "A drink without a story is a shame. I wonder if Mr. Hunt would be willing to tell me a little something about himself."
"My name is Ethan Hunt. I came to America in search of power. The end," he stated simply.
"Uh, that's it?" Natasha raised an eyebrow, looking unimpressed.
"That's it." Ethan had no intention of revealing anything more. If he told them his entire backstory, S.H.I.E.L.D. would likely lock him up in a lab for study. He had no powerful backers to protect him.
"And besides the pursuit of power, what is your purpose?" Natasha pressed.
"I can extract the genes of others," Ethan said, deciding it was better to be upfront about the one ability they had already witnessed. "It doesn't cause them any harm, but it requires their willing cooperation."
"A superpower?" Natasha asked, her curiosity piqued.
Ethan nodded. "You could call it that."
"We heard you extracted the Abomination's genes, which are known to be an irreversible transformation. How were you able to change back to human?" she continued, her questions becoming more pointed.
"Because I later extracted the Hulk's genes as well. By fusing the two and learning to control my emotions, I can change at will," Ethan explained.
"There are two kinds of powerful people on this planet, Ethan," Natasha said, her gaze sharp and penetrating. "Superheroes, who are loved by all of humanity, and supervillains, who are humanity's public enemy. Which one do you intend to be?"
"A superhero, of course," Ethan answered instantly, thinking to himself, Only an idiot would say they want to be a supervillain.
"Have you ever heard of an organization called S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Natasha asked. She still didn't know if Ethan was good or evil, but there was no denying he was qualified to be on their radar.
"I've heard of S.H.I.E.L.D.," Ethan said, feigning an air of mystery. "I also know your director is a man named Fury, the one with the eyepatch. And I know that your callsign is 'Black Widow'."
Natasha was genuinely shocked. While S.H.I.E.L.D. was powerful, it operated in the shadows. Very few people even knew it existed, let alone the name of its director.
"How do you know all of that?" she asked, her professional composure momentarily rattled.
Ethan took another sip of his whiskey. "I'm not telling." It was important to cultivate an aura of power and mystery. It would make S.H.I.E.L.D. think twice before crossing him.
"Alright," Natasha said, shifting gears. "Then I'll be direct. Our director, Nick Fury, would like to invite you to join S.H.I.E.L.D. We'd like you to consider the offer."
"I'll join," Ethan said without hesitation. "But I have conditions."
"Name them," Natasha replied.
"First, I need you to arrange a legal U.S. identity for me."
"Second, I want my freedom. I'll be available to help with special circumstances, but my time is my own."
"Third, I want you to introduce me to Tony Stark. I want to work with him."
Ethan laid out his three conditions clearly.
"All of that is acceptable," Natasha agreed. "But if you want that level of freedom, you'll be classified as an independent asset, not a full-time agent. You won't have much official authority."
"That's fine," Ethan said with a shrug. As far as he knew, most of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s heaviest hitters—like the Hulk, Iron Man, and Ant-Man—were all consultants anyway.
Natasha stood up and extended her hand again, this time with a warm, welcoming smile. "Then on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D., welcome aboard."
Ethan stood and shook her hand. "The pleasure is all mine."
After they sat back down, Natasha's curiosity got the better of her. "Ethan, why do you want to work with Tony Stark?"
"Technology," Ethan answered simply.
In the Marvel Universe, money could buy you power. Iron Man was the prime example, but there were others, like the Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus. Ethan's plan was to get his hands on Tony Stark's genes, to acquire his unparalleled gift for mechanics. With that, he could build his own tech empire, get rich, and then, like Ultron, create a legion of machines to establish his own global power base.
"What kind of technology?" Natasha pressed, fishing for more details.
"You want to know?" Ethan countered.
Natasha nodded. "Mm-hmm."
"Kiss me," Ethan said with a wicked grin, "and I'll tell you." In front of a woman like this, only a fool would pass up the chance to flirt.
Natasha playfully shoved his shoulder, a smirk dancing on her lips. "You are so much trouble."
She didn't take the bait, and Ethan didn't push it. After all, he wasn't truly powerful yet. Not by a long shot.