Superman in Marvel
Chapter 18: When Worlds Collide
The First Meeting with SHIELD
Ethan Carter had known for weeks that someone was watching him.
Even before he had revealed himself as Superman, he had felt the eyes of an unseen force tracking his movements.
Now?
Now, they weren't hiding anymore.
He was standing on the rooftop of a skyscraper in New York when he heard it—
The unmistakable sound of a helicopter approaching.
He didn't turn. Didn't react.
Because he already knew who it was.
A voice crackled through a hidden speaker. "Superman."
Ethan sighed. "Took you long enough."
The helicopter circled once before landing on a nearby rooftop. The side door slid open, and a man in a black trench coat stepped out.
Nick Fury.
One eye covered by a patch, the other locked onto Ethan with a gaze that could cut through steel.
Beside him, Maria Hill stood with arms crossed, as unreadable as ever.
A team of SHIELD agents remained behind them, watching but not approaching.
Ethan turned, finally facing them. "I was wondering when we'd have this conversation."
Fury didn't waste time. "You made a hell of an entrance."
Ethan smirked. "Figured I should introduce myself properly."
Fury took a step forward. "And now you've got the whole world talking."
Ethan crossed his arms. "I assume you have questions."
Fury nodded. "A few."
Hill spoke next. "Are you human?"
Ethan didn't hesitate. "No."
The wind howled between them.
Fury didn't blink. "Then what are you?"
Ethan met his gaze, voice steady.
"I'm Kryptonian."
Hill exchanged a quick glance with Fury.
Fury exhaled. "Never heard of it."
"You wouldn't have," Ethan said. "My planet was destroyed a long time ago."
Silence.
Then—
Fury nodded. "Alright."
Ethan blinked. "That's it?"
Fury shrugged. "We've seen weirder."
Ethan chuckled. "Fair enough."
Hill's voice remained firm. "Are you a threat?"
Ethan's smile faded. "No."
Fury stepped closer. "Then prove it."
Before Ethan could respond—
He heard it.
A distant cry for help.
A voice screaming in terror.
Gunshots. A child sobbing. A heartbeat racing too fast.
Ethan's entire body tensed.
His head tilted slightly, his enhanced hearing filtering through the countless sounds of the city.
A hostage situation.
He didn't hesitate.
Didn't explain.
Didn't even say goodbye.
In the blink of an eye—
He was gone.
The First Rescue
The building was a bank in Queens, surrounded by police. A dozen armed men had trapped civilians inside.
Ethan descended like a shadow, landing silently on the rooftop.
Through the walls, he could hear everything.
Terrified heartbeats. The steady breathing of trained gunmen. The soft sobs of a child.
His fists clenched.
Time to act.
He dropped through the skylight, landing in the center of the lobby.
The gunmen barely had time to react.
"What the hell—?!"
Ethan moved.
Faster than they could see.
In seconds, the first gunman was disarmed, his rifle crushed in Ethan's grip.
The second aimed—
Ethan grabbed the barrel and bent it like clay.
The third swung a knife—
Ethan caught his wrist, squeezed just enough for him to drop it.
The leader, panicking, grabbed a hostage. "Stay back, or she—"
WHOOSH.
Ethan was already there.
With the lightest touch, he pried the man's fingers off the woman's arm and lifted him off the ground.
The leader's eyes widened.
"…Oh, shit."
Ethan smiled. "Yeah."
He set him down—gently—before turning to the hostages.
"Everyone okay?"
Shaky nods.
A few sobs of relief.
The police entered moments later, finding all the criminals neatly tied up with steel beams Ethan had bent into restraints.
As he stepped outside, the cameras were waiting.
Reporters. Civilians.
All staring.
He could already hear the headlines.
Superman Saves Hostages.
But he didn't do it for the headlines.
He did it because it was right.
Back at SHIELD
Nick Fury watched the footage from the SHIELD helicopter.
Hill crossed her arms. "Well… he's fast."
Fury exhaled. "Damn."
They had barely started their conversation, and the guy had already vanished to save people.
Not for fame. Not for power.
But because he heard a cry for help and couldn't ignore it.
Fury sighed, rubbing his temple.
"Keep watching him," he muttered.
Because one day?
They might need him for something bigger.