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Smuggling and swapping low level tech on what's considered a backwater planet to the rest of the galaxy isn't how Kevin expected to get by after escaping the null void. But, well, with his newfound sobriety, leaving power trips in the past, he's just gotta be thankful for some kind of honest living.
Sure, it's illegal, but buying and trading isn't a crime in itself. Guys like him don't get the luxury of getting accepted into society, offered a place to be a law abiding, respectful citizen. Sometimes work is dirty, or off radar. That's just how life is for people like him.
It's better than running around, power turning him into a raging lunatic hopping from prison to prison.
His life may not be the best or the most respectable, but hes in his right mind. He feels the most free he has in his entire life. Homeless and living on his bike and off gas station food, but free. That's what matters.
Kevin fumbles with the hem of his hood, pulling it further over his eyes and tucking his sleeves down. It's pitch black out here-- but you can never be too safe. He's made a lot of enemies out here, past and present.
He's struck up a deal with some kinda nomad dude just passing through this sector of the galaxy. The thing about low level tech like this on earth is that it's seen as trash. The good part is that clients come here looking for that trash. All Kevin has to do is be the one to find it first, and strike up a bargain.
A figure is waiting for him in the alleyway, just as they planned. A single streetlight illuminates his shadow further in the alley, flickering.
"...Levin." The man greets, moving from his position off the wall.
Kevin only nods in greeting. Keeping things quick and clipped and civil-- that's the best way he's managed to stay out of trouble so far.
"I assume you have what was promised?"
Kevin turns up his nose, swinging the duffel bag off of his shoulder and tossing it onto the ground between them.
"Level three tech. was a real rare find on a planet like this." Kevin says. "--You're getting a real valuable piece here."
His client studies the duffel bag, leaning down and rifling in the bags contents. Just as Kevin promised, the hardware is there.
The alien peers up at him, face completely hidden by his dark cloak. "In good condition." The guy notes.
"Yeah, tell your friends." Kevin crosses his arms. "Now, I'm guessing you have your end of the bargain?"
The guy stands back to full height-- almost two full feet taller than Kevin. At thirteen years old, you'd think Kevin would finally be blessed with some size. but his luck has kept it's consistent track record.
The alien turns around, pulling out the smallest crystal shard.
"As promised." he gruffs.
He flicks it out of his hand towards Kevin, and he scrambles to catch it in his fist. He admires the gem in his hand. It's no Taydenite-- but it's worth more than he can usually get his hands on. For once, he can live it up just a bit more.
The smallest smile quirks Kevin's lips. "Pleasure doing business with ya."
His client doesn't respond for a moment, holding the duffel bag in his arms and gazing at the piece of tech. He suddenly stills.
"...This is an overtrade." The guy realizes.
Kevin's smile drops.
The alien looks up, face still shrouded in shadows, but Kevin feels his gaze boring into him. "Got half a mind to back out of this. Level three engine booster could go for a pretty penny."
Kevin's eye twitches. Reputation. he reminds himself. The only way he's gonna ever move up in the world is by creating cred for himself.
"Got a level two circuit board on me. Galvan tech, though it's cheap." Kevin offers. "'Make it even."
The guy considers this. "Deal."
Kevin lets out a petty breath through his nose, taking out his wallet from his back pocket and unfolding it completely to access the cash compartment. He was gonna use that to upgrade his bike. But scavenging for a new one will be worth the brownie points this gets him.
He's just gotta keep telling himself that.
His client watches him carefully, tilting his head. "...Who's that?"
Kevin blinks. "...Huh?"
"The photo." The guy says, pointing a sharp, boney claw at his card holder. "Who's that kid?"
Kevin's eyes land on the photo.
Ten year old Ben Tennyson's face stares back at him, blurry and fuzzy from the low quality print. The scrap is torn at the edges, taken from an old newspaper years ago.
It was the only newspaper of him in color.
Kevin goes still, gazing at the photo. Those green eyes bore into him, still sending electricity shooting through his chest. Even after all these years, even through a photo, Ben looking at him still makes him feel seen.
He hasn't even seen the guy in years, not since he was trapped in the null void, but he could never shake Ben Tennyson from his mind. He should have by now. He really should have. But Ben was what propelled him to keep going for all that time. Right or wrong reasons-- his face in his minds eye filled him with energy. The memory of his kind eyes looking Kevin in his, offering him his hand, made rage spark deep inside of him. He continued on, winning fight after fight, conquering and escaping until he fizzled out completely.
He shed that rage years ago. It went along with the power he gave up, clearing his mind. But Ben Tennyson stayed.
"...None of your business." Kevin mutters.
"Is he a friend?" The alien asks. His tone is casual; he's clearly just trying to make small talk. But this topic-- Kevin is not in the mood. "Someone you used to know?"
Kevin lets out a single humorless chuckle. "You could say that."
Kevin grabs the circuit board out of his wallet and snaps it shut. Bens photo disappears from sight, but he lingers in his minds eye.
He always does.
Kevin tosses the circuit board to the alien the same way he gave Kevin his payment. "Now we're even." Kevin presses his lips into a thin line. "Are we done here?"
His client turns the board over in his hands, then tucks it away along with the engine booster, satisfied. "I suppose we are."
"Great." Kevin says, grabs his duffel, then promptly turns on his heel and leaves.
He keeps his head ducked, walking fast through the streets. He has a sour taste in his mouth. Not over Ben-- he sees Ben's photo every day, reminding Kevin of all of his worst choices and missed opportunities. It was what the alien said.
Ben isn't his friend. And that's what hurts the most.
The worst thing about a clear mind is that you then have the rest of your life to reflect on every terrible thing you ever did while under the influence. He was controlled by emotion, by righteous anger that turned him cruel and unfair and nonsensical. He'd faced hardship-- but he'd inflicted it on others, too. Those who didn't deserve it.
He'd always believed that nobody was innocent. That everyone just hadn't had a chance to bully him yet. He'd shared that with Ben. He'd believed he found someone just like him, someone who wouldn't take that chance.
Kevin really has nobody to blame but himself. He'd forced Tennyson's hand-- attacking him again and again until he just had to keep him put away. He'd hated him for everything he did. All that he said to him. But Kevin didn't inspire much kindness, did he?
When Ben offered it to him, he always threw it back in his face.
All he's been able to do for years on his own, surviving off of crumbs and scraps, is think about what could have gone differently. That connection he'd felt with Ben was real. They were friends first before they were enemies and Kevin let his hunger for power control him. He hadn't even known about the Omnitrix when he chose to steal that game for Ben, he just wanted to.
And after all Kevin did, Ben still offered him a place, with those kind green eyes and smile that used to drive Kevin crazy.
Kevin really has nobody to blame but himself.
So he continues to get by, hopping states with sacks of junk and trading with dangerous individuals to make a living. It's not with friends and it's certainly not in a comfortable RV.
But he does it, because it might not be great, but it's a life. And it's honest and in his eyes, respectable.
Trying is really all he can do. Criminal or not.
That photo in his wallet is what keeps him going. Throughout prisons and healing and freedom, those green eyes have always haunted him, like an invisible tether in his chest, connecting him to Tennyson, even across the galaxy.
Before, he'd wanted to pull on that tether until Ben appeared in a heap at his feet, so Kevin could beat and pummel him until he was groveling and begging for mercy.
Now, Kevin just wonders where Ben is and how he's doing. He still feels that friction-- he just knows he doesn't deserve to tug on his end. After two years since they met, Kevin just wants to know how Ben has changed. He wants to know how Mr. Hero is getting by. With nothing in the news for months, all Kevin can do is guess. He wants to know if Tennyson is even alive.
He wants to know what would happen if they met again.
But he doesn't and he can't. So he just keeps going, a piece of scrap paper in his wallet.
And a pair of green eyes following him in his minds eye.