A Taste of Chaos

Puente Antiguo – Morning Calm

The early sun painted the desert town in gold and amber. Birds chirped lazily from rusted power lines. A dry breeze rolled down the street, pushing dust and a crumpled soda cup past the little diner where the group had reconvened.

Inside, the table was strangely quiet.

Then—

"Okay!" Kai declared, sliding into the booth and placing a paper bag on the table with dramatic flair. "Here. A piece for you… and for you… this one for you… and this one for me."

He handed out round, crispy balls filled with spiced water and potatoes—pani puri, carefully stacked and wrapped in foil.

Tony accepted his with suspicion. "Okay."

Thor took one, sniffed it curiously. "Nice."

Jane raised hers, hesitant. "...Gulp?"

Kai grinned. "One for you… and another for me. One for you… and another for m—"

Tony's hand shot up. "Wait, wait, wait—this is not how it should be."

Thor and Jane nodded in agreement.

Kai blinked innocently. "What?"

"You're getting, like, double pani puri!" Tony said, pointing an accusatory finger. "That's manipulation. You're rigging the snack economy!"

Jane narrowed her eyes. "He's right."

Thor stood slowly. "Kick him."

"Wait—what?!" Kai laughed.

"Kick him and we all get one!" Jane shouted, pointing like a general.

Thor and Jane lunged forward.

Kai leapt out of his seat, pani puri in hand, holding it up like a sacred relic. "Touch me and the snack gets it!"

"You wouldn't!" Darcy shouted from the kitchen, holding a can of soda.

"Oh, wouldn't I?" Kai smirked, backing toward the door. "You don't know what I'm capable of."

Tony sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We're being blackmailed by a teenager over Indian street food. This is what rock bottom looks like."

"Technically," Darcy muttered, "this is delicious rock bottom."

Thor crossed his arms. "Where did you even get these?"

Everyone turned toward Kai.

He straightened, smug. "I flew to India again this morning. Got them fresh from my favorite pani puri stall near CST. Best spice balance. Clean hands. Glass of nimbu pani while I waited."

Jane's jaw dropped. "You flew to India this morning?"

Tony looked at his smartwatch. "You were gone less than 20 minutes."

Kai shrugged. "Jet speed. No customs."

Everyone stared.

Except Thor.

Thor, bless him, was already crunching down on his second puri. "Exquisite. A fine mortal delicacy."

After That – Rooftop Conversations

After the food war truce was negotiated (everyone got equal shares, Kai agreed not to snack smugly), they moved to the rooftop of Jane's lab where folding chairs had been dragged into the sun.

Kai sat on the ledge, legs swinging over the side, sipping tea from a paper cup.

Tony was fiddling with his glasses, syncing them with satellite data.

Thor gazed into the distance. "It is strange, the things your world holds. So simple. And yet they bring joy."

"Pani puri does that," Kai said with a grin.

"You really went to India and back for breakfast?" Jane asked again, disbelief lingering in her voice.

"Yeah. Why not? I used to deliver food across towns before I got here. Guess the instinct's still in me."

Tony smirked. "That's not instinct. That's snack-driven teleportation."

Thor leaned toward Kai. "You fly like a bird, but you hold power like stars. What are you really?"

Kai paused. The question had been asked before—but it never felt as heavy.

"I'm still figuring that out," he replied. "The Omnitrix is a tool. But… who I am? That's a work in progress."

Thor nodded solemnly. "Then we are alike."

They shared a brief look—understanding, quiet and true.

Down Below – SHIELD Watches

In a hidden surveillance van parked on the edge of town, two SHIELD agents sat glued to screens displaying thermal and audio feeds.

One sipped coffee. "Do they always talk about snacks this much?"

The other agent replied, "Stark does. The others? This is new."

"Fury's not gonna believe this."

---

Midday – A New Shift Begins

Suddenly, a sharp beep echoed from Tony's glasses. He looked up.

"Satellite sweep just picked up energy readings from the old crater site. Mjölnir's glowing again."

Thor stood immediately. "Then the time has come."

Kai looked to Tony. "Are we moving?"

Tony nodded. "Suit up. We're heading to the hammer."

Kai finished the last of his tea and dusted crumbs from his hoodie. "Fine. But I'm choosing the playlist this time."

Tony groaned. "If you start with Bollywood techno again—"

"You'll thank me when your suit gets rhythm," Kai teased, activating the Omnitrix as a faint green glow pulsed under the rising sun.

Thor gripped his borrowed jacket, pride stirring in his chest.

They were no longer strangers.

They were allies.

And somewhere in the desert, the hammer was calling.