The wind was soft in Malibu.
Sunlight bathed the cliffs in gold. Waves rolled against the shore. The world moved on.
But Kai stood still.
He sat alone on the balcony outside the guest room at Stark's mansion, knees tucked to his chest, the Omnitrix quiet on his wrist. No green glows, no alien pulses—just cold metal resting against his skin like a loaded secret.
Birds chirped. Somewhere inside, robots cleaned. The ocean breathed.
But in Kai's mind… the hybrid's last words echoed:
"...thank you…"
He hadn't slept.
Not well, anyway.
Not since Project: G-03, the hollow-eyed clone twisted by HYDRA's obsession with power. He'd watched a life—no, a person—fade in his arms. A person who might have been him.
He could still feel the vines receding from his fingertips. He could still feel the heartbeat stop.
---
Downstairs – Stark's Lab
Tony was already deep into his morning routine, multitasking like a symphony of genius: one hand calibrating his repulsor gauntlet, the other typing code, holograms swirling around him like an interactive storm.
Kai wandered in, hoodie drawn up, eyes shadowed.
"Morning, sunshine," Tony called without looking. "You hungry? making pancakes."
Kai didn't respond.
Tony turned, and the smirk faded. He saw the slump in the boy's shoulders, the hollowness in his expression.
Tony nodded at a stool. "Sit."
Kai did.
They sat in silence for a moment, the usual energy of the lab replaced by something quieter.
Then Kai broke it.
"Did you ever… regret building the suit?" he asked quietly.
Tony looked over, surprised by the question. "Every day."
Kai blinked. "Really?"
Tony leaned back. "You think I enjoy knowing every mistake I've made flies around the world in somebody else's colors? That half the tech people use to blow stuff up started as mine?"
He tapped his chest. "This thing in here—" he gestured at his arc reactor, "—was supposed to keep me alive. But it's also a reminder. That I built something I couldn't fully control. Sound familiar?"
Kai glanced down at the Omnitrix.
Tony continued. "You've got a nuke on your wrist. But more than that—you've got a conscience. That's the part they'll never be able to clone."
Kai stayed quiet for a long moment. Then he stood up.
"I need to get out for a while," he said. "Not a mission. Just… life. Something normal."
Tony gave a half-smile. "Take the day. Recharge. But keep the watch on."
Kai nodded. "Not like I could take it off if I wanted to."
---
Downtown Los Angeles – Afternoon
Kai moved through the city like a ghost. People bustled around him. Vendors shouted on the corners. Couples laughed on café patios.
Nobody knew what he'd seen.
He slipped into a small bookstore tucked between a deli and a bike shop. The air smelled like paper and coffee.
A girl near the counter smiled as he entered. "Hey! Welcome."
Kai nodded politely and drifted toward the back shelves.
He didn't know what he was looking for. Maybe nothing. Maybe something real.
He paused at the philosophy section. One title stood out:
"The Burden of Power: Ethics and Responsibility"
He picked it up and flipped through it.
"Trying to be a better person?" the girl asked, appearing beside him.
He startled slightly.
She laughed. "Sorry. Didn't mean to sneak up on you. I just… noticed you looked kinda lost."
Kai shrugged. "I guess I am."
She looked at his wrist. "Cool watch."
Kai almost pulled his sleeve down—but paused. For once, he left it visible.
"Thanks," he said.
They talked for a minute. Nothing deep. Just books, movies, music. Her name was Leila, and she loved fantasy novels and horror movies.
Kai smiled for the first time in days.
---
Later – Rooftop Alone
He found himself atop an empty parking structure as sunset painted the sky in amber and crimson.
He sat at the edge. The city stretched beneath him, alive and careless.
Kai raised his wrist.
The Omnitrix was glowing faintly now. Not activated, not warning—just alive.
"Why me?" he whispered. "Why not someone stronger? Smarter? Someone who doesn't screw up every time someone needs saving?"
He remembered the drone hybrid's face. The pain. The half-human eyes pleading to die.
"You gave me this to protect people," Kai muttered. "But I couldn't save him."
He stood up, clenched his fists.
"I don't know if I want this anymore!"
He raised his hand as if to tear it off—but the Omnitrix pulsed, flashing yellow.
Warning: Incompatible user detachment attempt.
The voice inside the watch was mechanical—but something in it felt... gentle. Almost like it was reminding him:
You are not a weapon. You are the choice.
Kai sat down again. Hard.
And cried.
Not loudly. Not for long. Just enough to empty the part of him holding back everything he didn't want Tony to see.
---
Back at the Mansion – That Night
Tony sat in the living room, watching old footage of Steve Rogers training new recruits. A fresh drink in hand.
The door opened. Kai stepped in.
His eyes were puffy, but clearer. His voice was low but steady.
"I'm not okay," he said.
Tony muted the screen.
Kai walked over and sat down across from him.
"But I want to be."
Tony nodded slowly. "That's how it starts."
Kai looked down at the Omnitrix. "I think… I was given this for a reason. But maybe it's not to win fights. Maybe it's just to make sure the wrong people don't get to decide what it's for."
Tony raised his glass. "Now you're thinking like someone dangerous."
Kai smiled faintly. "I met a girl."
Tony blinked. "Wow. You do bounce back fast."
"She thought the watch was cool."
"She clearly has taste."
They laughed softly.
Closing Scene – Kai's Bedroom
Later that night, Kai lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The Omnitrix sat quietly under the covers, pulsing faintly.
He closed his eyes.
A nightmare threatened at the edge of sleep—but he pushed it back with one quiet thought:
"I'm still me. No matter what I turn into."