It wasn't difficult to get the little boy to gather everything Tony needed. With the roll of U.S. dollars Kai had given him, he quickly managed to collect the items on Tony's list.
As the boy ran off, Tony Stark leaned back in his chair and said, "You know why I asked that kid to help me?"
Kai crunched on a potato chip and replied casually, "Because you want to help him."
Tony smiled faintly. "Exactly. My dad once said that when you help someone, you should never do it out of pity. Make it feel like a fair trade. Everyone has self-respect—especially a kid like him, whose dad's gone."
Taking the potato gun from Kai's hands, Tony examined it closely. His genius wasn't limited to machines—he had a sharp insight into people too.
The design, the crude tools, the way the kid carried himself—Tony could tell he'd probably been bullied at school.
So Tony's "trade" wasn't just about parts. He planned to give the boy a small spray device from his armor—something that could help him stand up for himself.
That way, he'd fix more than just metal tonight.
Watching Harley disappear down the street, Tony turned back to Kai. "I need something that can actually fix this armor. You'll have to head back to New York."
Kai groaned. "What a hassle…"
"For the sake of the dollar, Kai," Tony teased.
Kai grinned. "Deal."
New York, Tony Stark's other villa
"While Tony's away, Pepper, I'll stay here to protect you," Natasha said, sitting across from Pepper Potts. "I'm not sure if that guy Killian will make another move. Better safe than sorry."
Before she could finish, a soft hum filled the air. Light shimmered—and Kai appeared in front of them in his usual confident posture.
The moment she saw him, Pepper shot up from the sofa and hurried over. "Kai! You're back! Is Tony okay? Why isn't he with you? Where is he—"
Her words came fast, her eyes filled with worry.
"Relax," Kai said calmly. "Tony's fine. You saw his message, right?"
He quickly explained everything that had happened—the boy, the repairs, Tony's request for materials.
Pepper immediately began gathering everything Tony needed. Meanwhile, Natasha smirked. "I don't get it. If Tony needs armor, why not just have you bring a fresh suit from here?"
Kai shrugged. "You know Tony. His thought process isn't something mere mortals understand. My guess? The armor he's fixing is a prototype—something new."
He pointed at the half-eaten pizza box. "Mind if I grab a slice? Haven't had dinner."
Natasha grinned. "Go for it. I ordered three boxes. Pepper barely touched hers."
By the time Kai finished eating, Pepper had neatly packed the supplies.
"Here," she said, handing him a coat. "The weather's cold. Make sure he wears it. And Kai…"—her voice softened—"please take care of him."
Kai gave her a confident smile. "Always."
Later that night
It was one in the morning when Tony finally stopped working.
"I'm a genius," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "I just figured out the next upgrade for the Mark series during the repairs."
He glanced over his shoulder. Harley was fast asleep on the couch, wrapped in Pepper's coat. Kai was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, silently watching.
"The armor's seventy percent done," Tony whispered. "Few more hours and we'll have it ready. But first…"—he grinned—"how about a midnight snack?"
Kai arched a brow. "Sure, if you're buying. But does this town even have a restaurant open now?"
A sleepy voice piped up from the couch. "There's one… my mom used to take me there after work. It's open all night."
Tony chuckled. "Perfect timing, kid. Let's go."
The town was quiet—small, only a few hundred people. As they walked, Harley peppered Tony with questions about Iron Man and turned to Kai about his "Flash Man" stories.
Tony deflected half the praise, mostly by teasing Kai's fighting style. Kai returned the favor by mocking Tony's questionable piloting skills in New York.
Harley laughed at both.
Soon, they reached a half-collapsed house. Only two walls were left standing. White candles and flowers lay on the ground, and a few wooden crosses leaned quietly in the corner.
Tony slowed his steps, frowning. "What happened here?"
"This used to be Chad Davis's house," Harley said softly. "He was a decorated soldier—people respected him. Then one day, they said he went crazy. Made a bomb and blew himself up. Right here."
Tony stepped closer, studying the blast marks—dark silhouettes of people burned into the walls. He traced the outlines with his eyes, his expression darkening.
"Six people died in total, right?" Tony asked.
"Yeah," Harley nodded. "Including Chad Davis."
Tony looked from one wall to the other. Then he turned to Kai, voice low and serious.
"Six people died… but there are only five shadows."