Marvel : Copycat System

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Kai Vale and Ethan arrived in Hell's Kitchen, heading straight for the law firm.

"I didn't know you had lawyer connections here," Ethan said, puzzled. "Since when have *you* been in legal trouble?"

Kai chuckled. "I'm not that kind of guy. I met this lawyer back in college when I needed help sorting out my tuition loan."

Ethan nodded in understanding.

When they pushed open the door to the firm, Ethan felt his expectations sink. He knew a law firm in Hell's Kitchen wouldn't be glamorous, but the cluttered desks, towering piles of documents, and the chaotic atmosphere still surprised him.

A woman stood up quickly to greet them, pouring two glasses of water.

"Thanks, Karen," Kai said with a grateful smile.

"Long time no see, Kai. What's brought you back?" Karen Page asked warmly.

"Got a few questions," Kai replied.

The two men at the nearby desks — one of them a man in sunglasses — stopped their conversation to look over.

"This is the lawyer I told you about," Kai introduced. "Matt Murdock. And that's his partner, Foggy Nelson. Together they run this firm. Karen helps manage the place too."

Kai added in a quieter tone to Ethan, "Don't let the sunglasses fool you. Matt's blind, but trust me, his legal skills are top-notch."

___

Karen invited them to sit down, and after exchanging pleasantries, Ethan explained their reason for coming.

"We're starting a company — a short video platform — but we don't know much about the legal side of things. We were hoping you could guide us."

Matt leaned in, asking detailed questions about their business goals and structure. With patience and precision, he outlined the legal steps they needed to take — registration, permits, tax details, and liability protection.

Grateful, Kai paid the consultation fee, and the two friends left the firm.

---

On their way home, Ethan was still buzzing with excitement.

"We should rent a place in Chinatown," Kai suggested. "The rent's cheap, and it's close to home."

Ethan shook his head. "Nah, man. We're thinking too small. If this takes off, Chinatown's gonna feel cramped. We need somewhere with room to expand — like Wall Street."

"Wall Street?" Kai raised an eyebrow. "We can't afford that."

"Not yet," Ethan admitted. "But big ideas need big moves."

Kai couldn't argue with that logic.

---

Later that evening, Kai was pacing his room, still unsure how they'd fund their startup. He had no idea that SHIELD had been keeping tabs on him.

Nick Fury, reviewing the day's intel, zeroed in on Ethan. Since Ethan seemed closer to Kai, Fury decided he might be the easier target.

"Natasha," Fury ordered. "Switch your focus to Ethan. See what you can find."

---

That night, Kai headed to Ethan's shop to brainstorm ideas. As soon as he walked in, his heart sank — Ethan was chatting with a red-haired woman.

'Natasha', Kai realized immediately.

Calmly, Kai walked over, eyes fixed on her.

"Ms. Romanoff," he said flatly. "I know why you're here."

Natasha turned, her smile never wavering. "I'm sorry... have we met?"

"It's fine," Kai said with a shrug. "You don't have to understand — as long as whoever's in your earpiece does."

Natasha's smile faltered just slightly. She knew the game was up.

Fury's voice crackled in her earpiece: "Abort. For now."

Before she left, Natasha discreetly tapped a listening device onto Ethan's sleeve.

Kai, noticing the move, calmly walked up to Ethan, plucked the bug from his shirt, and crushed it in his hand.

"She's not here to flirt with you," Kai warned. "She's digging for dirt on me."

Ethan's face turned red. "What the hell?! She was 'using' me?"

"Relax," Kai said. "It's not a big deal. They're just paranoid about me for some reason. Probably 'cause I knocked some equipment over at that lab once."

"Still," Ethan fumed. "I can't believe they tried to drag me into this."

"Don't stress about it," Kai said with a grin. "Just... maybe don't tell my grandpa, alright? Last thing I need is him getting riled up over SHIELD poking around."

Ethan agreed.

---

Back at the SHIELD van, Natasha returned to a disappointed Nick Fury.

"Bug's gone," Natasha reported.

Natasha added thoughtfully, "he's sharp. Knows more than he's letting on."

Fury's suspicion deepened.

"Keep digging," he ordered. "I want to know everything about Kai Vale — childhood, school, friends... and check for leaks on our end. Someone might've told him too much."

---

Meanwhile, Kai and Ethan continued plotting their startup. After scouting locations, they found the perfect spot on Wall Street — but without funding, it was out of reach.

Frustrated, Kai wandered the streets, trying to think of a solution. That's when he noticed a gang of thugs pushing drugs in an alley.

Suddenly, an idea clicked.

'These guys have money… and I can take it without them ever knowing.'

With his control over space, Kai could "borrow" what he needed — no violence required.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. The gangs wouldn't even know what hit them.

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