The next day began quietly for Ethan. The sun shone lazily through the windows of his luxurious yet practical home. The soft hum of electronics and subtle scent of fresh coffee filled the air. Anna and Jean had already left early for Aeon Biotech, dragging Diana along with them to help her become more familiar with this universe and how things operated here. He trusted them both—they were smart, capable, and exactly the kind of people Diana needed to understand this world.
But Ethan wasn't taking any chances.
After yesterday's arrival, he had immediately gone to work securing Diana's mind. With magic circles inscribed on parchment and etched with power, he cast some of the best mental defense and privacy spells he knew. Layers of mind-shielding magic now wrapped Diana like an invisible cloak. No telepath—no matter how powerful—would be able to dig into her memories or even sense her true origin.
Not even the most skilled telepath would get a peek into her mind without tripping into a trap spell designed to mentally lock them in a maze of nightmares. It was aggressive, yes. But necessary.
Ethan clenched his jaw briefly at the thought of Anissa. That whole situation had been a headache and a half. He wasn't about to let another repeat of that mess happen again.
To solidify Diana's cover, he had used his telepathic abilities, reaching into the depths of the city's underworld, to contact an old acquaintance from his days of robbing gangsters. This particular contact had once been a skilled operative in the world of crime—a man who had made his living creating false identities for those who needed to vanish.
With a gentle mental nudge, Ethan instructed him to create a whole new background for Diana: a fabricated history, fake school records, medical files, and even a legitimate-looking ID. He even used telepathy to create false memories of Diana interacting with some people for the story he fabricated.
By the morning, Diana would have an entire life—complete with traces and documentation—that would stand up to even the most thorough investigation.
And to ensure that the operation remained undetected, Ethan had done what he did best: erased the man's memories, wiped the CCTV footage, and made sure that no one would ever know he'd been involved. By the time the sun rose, Diana's cover was complete.
He took a sip of his coffee before recalling how Anna and Jean had reacted when he casually mentioned using his powers to create a false identity for Diana.
"Wait—you just made her a cousin and fixed all the paperwork by controlling some dude's mind?" Jean asked last night, her brows raised.
Ethan shrugged before placing a file down on the dining table. "I've known the guy for sometime. He's a phantom for hire who makes fake IDs for a living. His motto used to be 'proof is an illusion.' I just borrowed his talent, erased his memory after the work was done."
Anna stared at him in disbelief. "And what if someone traces it back?"
"They won't," he replied in confident tone. "Not unless they can outmatch both my telepathy and magical interference layered over every step of the job. And if they do… well, they're welcome to come and say hi."
They hadn't said much after that. Jean simply nodded while Anna gave him a short smile. They both knew Ethan wasn't bragging. He was just prepared.
Now Diana had an entire fictional life ready—one that even SHIELD would have trouble poking holes in. Not that Ethan cared if Natasha tried.
'Let her dig. Let them all try. Watching them scramble with nothing to find would be entertainment enough.'
He took another long sip of his coffee before walking to the large window that overlooked the green lawn and glistening tech garden Anna had built. He sighed, 'The sooner she gets used to this world and me... the better,' he thought.
Diana had to understand how things worked here, especially how Ethan worked. That will play a key role for his plans in DC universe.
Today, Kitty, Bobby, and Angelica were supposed to officially start work at Aeon Biotech. They were assigned to the Genetics and Environmental Division, entry-level positions. Nothing fancy, but enough to get them acclimated. Whether they stayed long-term or not would be their decision. Ethan, Anna, and Jean would support their decisions no matter what.
Ethan was planning to join them soon, especially with the major partnership meeting with Frost Industries only two days away. He needed to prep more of the world-enhancing fertilizers—crafted with his own blood—and finalize the research for his new initiative: Project Aegis.
Unlike typical pharmaceutical ventures that focused on cures, Project Aegis was preventative. It would fortify the human immune system, making people resistant to most diseases from the start. Prevention over cure. The project was something he believed in deeply—a way to change the world for the better before it needed saving.
The upcoming meeting with Emma Frost, however, still tugged at his curiosity. Frost Industries was powerful, secretive, and ambitious. What did Emma really want?
'I'll think about it later,' Ethan told himself.
Just as he finished his coffee, the doorbell rang. A small smile crept onto his lips. He knew exactly who it was.
He walked to the door, his casual steps betraying the anticipation he felt. Pulling it open, he was greeted by a familiar, radiant smile and a cascade of blonde hair that shimmered in the sunlight.
"Hi Ethan," Susan Storm greeted.
Ethan stepped aside smoothly. "You're becoming more beautiful by the day, Sue. Come on in."
She gave him a light chuckle and stepped inside. He closed the door behind her, the sound echoing softly through the entrance hall.
Susan wore a simple outfit—white blouse tucked into high-waisted jeans, with her usual confident grace. There was no Fantastic Four suit today. This wasn't about missions or crises. This was personal.
Ethan had disabled all the defensive enchantments and trap wards in his home—just for her. She was a trusted friend.
She turned slightly to look at him. "Thanks for seeing me on such short notice."
Ethan nodded before guiding her into the living room. "For you? Always."
They sat side by side on the plush gray sofa, the low hum of the city outside blending with the occasional chirp of birds from the nearby tech garden. The silence between them wasn't awkward—but it wasn't entirely peaceful either.
Ethan glanced at Susan out of the corner of his eye. Her posture was relaxed, but something in her expression told him her mind was far from here. There was a subtle tension in her jawline, and her fingers toyed absentmindedly with the edge of her blouse. Something was bothering her.
So, he did what he always did when the air got too heavy—he cracked a joke.
"Do you always invade a man's house and make him contemplate reality before his second cup of coffee?" Ethan quipped, shooting her a sly grin.
Susan blinked, then gave a small, genuine chuckle. "I guess I do have a habit of doing that."
"Should I be worried about the Fantastic Four charging me for emotional damage?"
She laughed a little more freely this time, "No, but I might send Johnny over to raid your snack cabinet."
"Oh, now that's just cruel."
The mood lightened for a moment, and Ethan leaned back, enjoying the flicker of amusement on her face. But it was fleeting. He noticed the smile didn't reach her eyes—not really. He let the quiet stretch for a few seconds longer before tilting his head, "Sue... what's going on?"
The smile slipped from her lips, fading like sunlight behind a cloud. Without a word, she stood and walked toward the glass doors leading to the balcony. Ethan followed her, stepping outside into the open air where the wind tugged gently at their clothes and hair.
The city stretched before them, gleaming and vast. Aeon Biotech's tower loomed in the distance, "I assume you found out about my wedding?" Susan asked.
Ethan leaned on the railing beside her before nodding casually. "Yeah, heard about it. I assume Anna and Jean already told you, I was off on some business trip when you sent the invite."
Susan smiled faintly but her eyes were distant.
He shifted slightly before glancing her way. "But forget the trip. That's not important right now. What I want to know is—are you okay?"
Susan didn't answer immediately. Her gaze dropped to the streets below, to the people bustling through their lives, "I... I don't know," she finally whispered.
Ethan's brows drew together. "What do you mean? You're getting married next week to the guy you love. That should be something to celebrate."
Her shoulders rose and fell in a slow, uneasy breath. She turned to face him, her eyes searching his. "I don't... know if he's the one."
Ethan blinked and is caught off guard. "Wait, what?"
Susan's voice grew more certain, even as her words trembled. "I liked Reed. I do like him. And I thought I was ready to take the next step. We've been together for years... but lately, I've been questioning everything. We've been arguing more, drifting apart in ways I didn't notice until recently. And..."
She looked away again, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"And?"
"I was the one who proposed," she admitted. "He didn't say yes right away. He hesitated. And even after he agreed, it felt more like... obligation than excitement."
Ethan was quiet. He could've reached into her mind for the answers—his powers were more than capable—but he wasn't a bald, nosy telepath with no respect for boundaries. He respected Susan too much for that.
She continued, "Reed is a great man. A genius. A hero. But when it comes to emotions... to relationships... he shuts down. He doesn't listen. He doesn't see me. Not really. And maybe it's just me being scared, or second-guessing something I already decided. But—"
Her voice cracked slightly. "—something deep down is telling me he's not the one I'm meant to spend my life with."
Ethan exhaled slowly, he understood exactly what she meant. Reed Richards was brilliant, but brilliance didn't always translate to empathy. Even in his old world—the comics, the YouTube breakdowns of Marvel lore—Reed had a pattern. Neglectful. Emotionally distant.
But this wasn't a comic book. This was reality. And people, even superpowered ones, deserved better than roles written for them.
"I can't imagine how hard this must be for you," Ethan said quietly. "And I won't pretend I have all the answers. But if there's one thing I've learned—it's that the heart usually knows. And yeah, it might sound boring or overly simple, but I've always believed in making life... less complicated when I can."
Susan turned to look at him, "Simple sounds nice."
He nodded. "Then listen to that feeling inside. You don't have to rush. You don't owe anyone a perfectly tied-up story. You owe yourself happiness and Peace."
She stared at him for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "Okay. I'll follow what my heart tells me."
The words seemed to lift something off her shoulders. The atmosphere softened, the tension giving way to something warmer, something easier.
They stayed on the balcony for a while, shifting the conversation to lighter topics. They joked about Johnny's endless need for attention, about the last chaotic mission with Ben Grimm, and even the time Ethan accidentally created a sentient houseplant that tried to unionize.
Susan laughed more freely now, her eyes shining with something that hadn't been there when she arrived—clarity.
Ethan smiled, watching her with quiet fondness. He didn't know what she'd ultimately choose. He wasn't trying to be her savior or wedge himself between her and Reed. That wasn't what this was about.
But if she needed someone who saw her—really saw her—then she already had that. And he'd be here. Always.
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High above the towering skyline of New York City, where clouds kissed the edge of steel giants and the noise of the world faded into wind, a shimmering portal twisted open on the rooftop of an old, unused broadcasting tower.
The energy rippled outward in glowing waves, humming with power that didn't belong in this time. From its center stepped a young man—tall, striking, and composed. Blonde hair tousled gently in the breeze, his sharp blue eyes scanned the horizon. Dressed in a black tactical coat that fluttered behind him, he looked no older than his early twenties, yet his presence carried the calm weight of experience far beyond his years.
A moment later, the portal rippled again and another figure stepped through—a grizzled, battle-hardened man with a cybernetic arm and a glowing red eye. His rugged face carried the map of wars long fought and timelines long traveled. It was Cable.
The portal snapped shut behind them, vanishing without a trace.
"You really couldn't just let me come alone, huh?" the younger man asked, half-joking.
Cable let out a breath before adjusting the heavy rifle strapped to his back. "Frank… I told you not to interfere. This timeline's already veered off its original course. One wrong move and—"
"Relax, Nathan," Frank said before lifting a hand and cutting him off mid-sentence. "Nothing's going to happen. I'm not here to start a paradox or throw a grenade at the past. I just want to witness it."
"Witness what?" Cable asked warily.
Frank's gaze softened as his lips curling into a faint, nostalgic smile. "How my mother's wedding falls apart... and how she interact with him."
He lifted his right hand, and a small translucent sphere hovered above his palm. Images flickered inside it like a memory made real—Ethan and Susan, standing together on a balcony, sharing laughter and quiet conversation. The wind tousled her hair, and the sunlight painted warmth across both their faces.
Cable's expression darkened. "Frank..."
Frank ignored him, his eyes fixated on the image as if it were a treasured photograph he hadn't seen in years.
"Well, hello," he said softly, more to himself than anyone else. His voice was filled with something between admiration and melancholy. "Mother."
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Author's Note:
Who do you think the young man is, and what do you believe his true purpose might be?
Do you think Susan will end up marrying Reed—or will fate take a different turn?
Find out in the next chapter of Dragon Ba— cough, cough... I mean, Rise of an Immortal!