tushanshu_logs

[Going by the rooftops, or as she affectionately referred to it as: “The Turtle Route”, Korra was happily jumping with the assistance of her earthbending. Having it back had been such a relief and brought a high energy with it that Korra was happy to expend on her way to the meeting point she had made with Tony. After all, she was going to be flying today and not by airship either. How could she not be excited from that too?

Having thought of any instances where it might come in handy, Korra brought along her custom metal glider staff. It had only been tested out once when she first got it and the results were a lot less than spectacular. At the time Korra felt like her nose got permanently bent from speeding her face into the ground.

Once there, she hopped over a roof’s edge and slid down the side. Halfway down, a ledge cropped out of the building and Korra vaulted it off it, happily laughing to her landing on the ground.]

Isn’t this GREAT!?

[That had to be asked of Tony. He had to have missed having all of his armor too. It was like she was discovering bending all over again.]

Edited 2013-07-10 23:07 (UTC)

[Having power back is more than just getting the suit. Sure, having the suit was always great, but more than that was just the rush of getting to feel everything again. The extra energy and systems coming online in his mind, giving him access to all of those places he's become used to again. It felt good enough to make him push his limits, which the suit's OS politely informed him was not at full power, to fly between the high rising buildings and over the lower rooftops as fast as he could.

He saw Korra leaping from rooftops as he drew near their rendezvous point and shot straight upward, flying over the spot and diving downward to show off before pulling up at the last minute.]

Feels just like coming home.

[He was quiet, but there was still that edge of excitement underneath his relaxed greeting. Flying in the Iron Man had always made Tony feel better. It made him feel more confident and maybe even more himself. He couldn't help being just as pleased as everyone else to feel the metahuman powers kick in again. He landed carefully, with a slight thunk as he tapped down.]

How about it? You ready to do some flying?

[Not one to miss a show, Korra looked up to see the Iron Man fully in person. The small glimpse she caught on her console screen DID NOT do the armor justice at all. Pure awe was all she wore on her face and she actually gasps when he came down towards the ground and for a brief, wild moment, Korra assumes something went wrong. When he landed she put her hands on her hips and gave him an impressed look.]

Okay, now I can actually see why Nita said to ask about your armor. [All the specs he had given on it seemed to out there to believe completely, but when seeing it in motion with her own eyes, well that changed things.]

I was born to fly. [Just getting there was the hard part. She nudged the air glider on her back with a thumb.] Brought this just in case something really cool happens.

[Like Tony triggering her airbending.]

[He was proud of that armor. It was the best version he had worn yet, and Tony was never above showing off to someone who hadn't seen the Iron Man before. He just didn't get that chance anymore. These days there were heroes with more impressive records and titles. That and Tony Stark being a household name made it rare for him to really impress anyone. People just became too jaded. So Korra's look got a smile out of him. Maybe he was being a little smug, but after losing their powers, could anyone really blame him for that?]

Being a superhero takes keeping up with guys and gals a lot stronger and faster than everybody else. This is just my way of evening the odds.

[He nodded at the glider Korra was carrying.]

From what you told me, it sounds like you were born for a lot of things. Let's stretch your wings and see how it goes.

[Tony held out his hand, inviting Korra to come closer to him. At the very least, he figured he could give her a good flight.]

Just make sure you hang on tight.

[ The fact that Tony was able to keep up with the others was really impressive to Korra. No powers, no abilities. He just used his brain and went from there. Something that seemed a treacherous road whenever Korra attempted to walk it.]

Well, you got my vote for superhero leadership. [There were a lot of them here, and the fact that Tony, a normal human, was a completely self-made one was a relief.]

Everyone’s born to do a lot of things. Some just haven’t realized it yet. [She chirped happily. The cool armor was durable, yet fluid and flexible when Korra took his hand, feeling it for the first time.]

Have you ever been on a polar bear dog while it jumps twenty feet in the air? [She grinned.] You hold on until it hurts.

If it ever comes down to that vote, I'll call you in.

[He was an artificial hero. Tony knew it wasn't the same as being born into it, but he made do because there was always a need for it. Even the "hero" part wasn't entirely accurate--he was more of a problem-solver than a true hero--but maybe in the end it didn't matter. For the moment, he was getting by and hopefully helping Korra find whatever it was that made her powers work.

Oh, and there was some fun in there somewhere.]

Firstly, I can safely say I haven't run into a polar bear dog, and secondly, we're going higher than twenty feet.

[He put his arms under hers, pulling Korra up against him so that she was supported when he took off. He was used to passengers, used to the weight and change in the balance. He didn't fly quite as fast as his bravado suggested he would, but it was still enough to clear the higher buildings in a matter of seconds. Once they were hovering above them, he loosened his hold to give her more free movement.]

You remember that different angle I mentioned before?

Maybe someday I’ll get to introduce you to one. [If Mako showed up, why couldn’t Naga?] Twenty feet’s nothing. I’ve cleared a hundred with waterbending. [Said with some sass and a smug smirk as he puts his arms under hers. There was a hitch in her voice on the last word when Tony took off. Speechless, Korra watched as they cleared the building before she looked over her shoulder to the Iron Man.]

You weren’t kidding! [She said in a raised voice over the air that was buffeting her ears.] Let me go when you think we’re high enough.

[Not knowing how good his reaction time in case her airbending didn’t trigger, Korra thought it best to leave it up to his discretion.]

As long as you promise not to let it eat me.

[He heard the second part, but he was already getting them into the air by that point. And it only served to make him push harder to impress her. Pride was a part of everything he did. At least she couldn't see him grinning mischievously behind the faceplate.]

Dive down once you get going. Don't worry about the speed. I'll keep up.

[It was a little reckless, but Tony had caught people before. He was sure that as long as he paid attention they wouldn't have any untoward mishaps. Once they were high enough to see birds flying below them, he gave Korra a small nudge and loosened his grip so that she could position herself comfortably with the glider in hand.]

Three, two, one.

[Once he let her go, Tony followed after, dropping down alongside her in the descent.]

[The thought of Naga eating people was ridiculous enough to get Korra to laugh.]

Why would I worry? You’re a superhero.

[When he loosened his grip enough, Korra placed a hand on the glider, bracing herself for the release at the end of the countdown. When he got to “One.” Korra took a deep breath and put her other hand on the glider. As she fell, the wind buffeting her hair wildly about and her cheeks pushed back against her face, Korra positioned her body so it was more streamlined. Quickly she looked over her should and spotted the Iron Man not too far away, flying perfectly in the air, his boots giving all the propulsion needed to keep him going. Seeing the city below was distracting, but she placed the glider on her back and flicked the switch that popped open the wings on either side. It slowed her descent drastically, but not enough for it to still be fatal if she fell. Her hands now gripped on the handle, Korra tried to focus on airbending the wind around her, to keep it steady and generate currents for the glider to fly on.]

[He almost makes a flippant remark. Something like that's a lot of faith or you don't know us very well, but it never makes it out. Which is for the best, but he won't think about that until later. After he's alone and has a chance to think about what he's done. Dropping people from eighty stories up is not the best time to question your own reliability.

For falling, Korra takes it with surprising grace. Tony keeps up with her, making sure to stay close enough to grab her if they get too low, but he has to note how well she takes the whole thing in stride.]

Push the nose down. Use the speed to get more lift under the wings.

[Tony doesn't know anything about bending, but he does know about flight mechanics. And that is what he bases his backseat driving on.]

[Even though she tried to get used to it, Tony’s voice through the armor was still new. But she nodded and brought her arms down, the glider arcing downward as well. Doing so caused the glider’s wings to catch that lift he was talking about and instead falling, she was soaring. A quick, small laugh escaped her. It wasn’t because of airbending, she knew that, but it was still the first time she had the experience of gliding.

After that moment she focused and the wind that was buffeting against suddenly moved back, pushed by air that came from around her. After that the glider elevated, its descent changed.]

Whoa…

[A toothy smile came across her face and she looked at Tony. Flying wasn’t all that he could do, but she knew he hadn’t always been able to. But as far as she was concerned, he was born to just as much as she was.

Spreading her arms out a little more, her hands sliding further out on the glider, Korra let loose with a powerful gust of wind. Zooming out, the speed of her flight picked up and she lost sight of Tony. The sudden burst ahead was too much and the glider jutted upwards and the glider’s wings caught like a chute and Korra held on tightly as she was pushed back along with it. A loud yelp came from her as it suddenly changed in elevation, dropping down.]

[If any of Tony's associates were there at the time, they might have advised more caution in this adventure. But they were already in the air now so there wasn't much room for regret.

The Iron Man kept along Korra's flank, diving parallel to her so that Tony could match the speed like a dolphin riding the break made by a boat. Then she took off suddenly and Tony pulled up. It wasn't that he didn't believe her, but seeing the air form and rush around the glider in person was different from hearing about it over the console. He hovers in place while she shoots ahead, only realizing the problem with that when she gets too far out and starts dropping.

That spurs him into action. Tony dives forward, the jets burning through power as he rushes to get behind her.]

I guess this means the game's over.

[Tony grabs the edges of the glider's wings and tilts it back up, using his thrust to push the glider forward.]

No one would forgive me if I let you crash here. Try again. If you can push out a small air current, I'll pick up the slack.

[The sudden catch from Tony is jarring, but a relief and much more preferable to the tail-spin that would have followed if he wasn't there.]

See? Superhero. [She said breathlessly and she nodded. There was no way she wanted to give in that easily either.] I try not too make to big of a current.

[That was the main problem, but she was learning to get a more concentrated focus on Air. If anything, this "exercise" was forcing her to. Now that Tony had tilted the glider to the correct position, Korra was able to manifest a small, but strong gale that fought against the natural buffeting winds to fill up the glider's wings.]

I think I got it!

Superhero. It'd be embarrassing to lose you after I was the one that brought you out here.

[It was all accounted for, though, so he didn't sound strained. Tony might have pulled his share of reckless stunts (and this might have counted as one), but he wasn't going into it without a plan for the eventual stumbles along the way. He liked to think of this as just a little on demand training. He knew it probably wouldn't go over very well with anyone else, including the Avengers, but maybe a little controlled pressure was what Korra needed to get started. It wasn't like he told her to do it on her own.]

You've got it. I'm going to let go. Just hold it steady.

[He did let go, keeping the glider wings level until he released them. Tony pulled back, letting Korra fly ahead so he wouldn't shake the air current.]

Don’t worry, I’ll do my best not to die and embarrass you. [Said with a smirk now that she was steady and ready to go again.]

All right, I’ll try to circle around this time. Maybe even land properly if I can.

[When he let go, she flew straight forward. Starting to get the hang of the glider, Korra experimented in shifting her weight to one side. It caused her to turn in that direction and the extra boost from the glider changing course sped her around in a broad half circle. She flashed Tony a grin and started to spiral downwards slowly, every once in a while giving herself an airbending lift. After a certain point, she pointed the glider up and flew upwards through the imaginary rings she made from that descent.]

Haha! Did you see that??

[Not that something that simple would be impressive to Tony, who had probably been flying just as long as she had bending. But it was a new experience for her to enjoy.]

Okay, I’m going to land for real this time!

[Leo’s craftsmanship was really showing in the glider he made for her as it withstood the airspeed she was building up as she started a sharp descent. With the smirk that was on her face, it might be a giveaway that she was going to try to imitate Tony’s landing from earlier.]

[He was used to all of this by now. It was second nature to him after all of the years he'd spent in the armor. But no matter how many years passed, flying was one thing that always made him feel great. It renewed the excitement he had first felt when he built the jets and mastered flying with them. And watching Korra do that brought back moments he really didn't experience much anymore. The feeling of being powerful and free to go anywhere he wanted. He could understand her excitement.]

By the end of the day you'll be doing stunts. And then we'll never get you back to land.

[He turned away after the joke, checking the area around them to make sure they weren't going to have any sudden interruptions. It was just paranoia, really, but usually when things were going well it was only a matter of time before something went horribly wrong. Maybe he should check up on the others. Bucky or Carol or-

She was landing?]

Okay, just make sure you don't go too-

[He should have been watching. It was her first flight as far as he knew, and he hadn't exactly told her anything beyond picking up speed. When Tony turned back, Korra was diving toward the ground.]

Whoa! Pull up!

[He dove after her, hoping he wasn't going to be too late to do something.]

You have to slow down before you land!

[Korra was barely able to hear Tony’s shout from behind her as she cleared the bottom layer of clouds and she turned her head, the shapes below slowly turned into tiny buildings. ]

Go down, yeah, I know! [She yelled back with a smile.] You kind of have to in order to land!

[Obviously Tony thought she didn’t know what she was doing. From her trajectory, she was doing a straight dive bomb and as far as Korra understood from watching Tony, she just needed to fly straight back at the last second and then land slowly like a leaf.]

Bet my landing will be just as cool as yours!

[Only more so because she’ll have person wind lowering her down safely around her hair. Providing physics works the way Korra thought they did. Which was, however she wanted them to.]

[He should have been paying more attention. That was the one dominating thought Tony had as he dove after Korra. He shouldn't have let her take over and he shouldn't have assumed she'd be all right once she had lift.]

Don't crash don't crash don't-

[He pushed power into the boot thrusters, flying under her and turning around so he could push her back up and aim the glider away from the ground.]

Pull up! You can't land at this speed!

[He didn't have time to ask nicely. If Korra tried to land by flying straight down she was just going to smash into the ground. He didn't know about her plan to pull up, but even if she did pull back out of panic (which was another possibility), Tony assumed that she would end up overbalancing the glider and hit the ground anyway. Maybe if she were used to flying he wouldn't be trying to backseat drive her landing, but he couldn't count on that for what he knew as her first time doing this. He shoved upward on the glider handle, pushing himself backward and downward instead.

This was probably not the best idea he'd had.]

Edited 2013-08-17 04:35 (UTC)

[A startled Korra saw Tony suddenly appear underneath her and pushing the glider back up.]

Give me a second, give me a second!

[Creating a large burst of air under the glider’s wings pushed it upwards, assisting the Iron Man’s effort. Leveling back out with forty feet to spare, Korra looked over her shoulder at Tony.]

Why couldn’t I land? I was just doing what you did.

[And it had been fun, an adrenaline rush, and would have likely ended out very badly.]

[Oh, God. He had a passing thought about how close he had been to having a heart attack on that one, then managed a laugh as the glider righted itself again. At least she had good reflexes. He couldn't fault her there.]

You were going down too fast. You hit the ground at that speed and it'll tear your glider into pieces.

[Not to mention what the impact would have done to a human body. He decided not to bring that part up.]

You can't do what I do using a glider. Jets let me fly vertically. I can slow down without having to keep wings level and maintain the altitude I need to not drop myself on my face. You need a gradual decline. Diving down like that will make you increase speed. You can't shoot back at the last minute or you'll rip the wings off.

[He thought about that, hovering as he watched Korra fly.]

Although I'll give you points for style on that. Just don't crash it on your first time out, okay? Save some for later.

[She almost opened her mouth to protest, but the physics lesson shut her up. Just about any other adult and Korra would have fought them on the point, but Tony knew his stuff and she was very aware of it. Not just anyone can build a suit that almost seemed alive.]

So what you’re saying is my glider needs stronger wings and those jets to do that. [Even though that would be a total disaster in and of itself, that’s what Korra got from it.]

That’d look a little weird.

[And it would defeat the purposes of airbending when she thought about it.]

Gotcha, normal landing. [Angling it down only slightly, Korra reversed the direction of her airbending to slow the glider’s descent. Forty feet was a lot less intimidating now that she knew she would have died had Tony not intervened.]

[Tony was used to being argued with, but he was also used to being right. Even when he was wrong. At least Korra pulled up without crashing, though. He righted himself and hovered next to her.]

Your glider couldn't handle jets. If we stuck jets on it, you'd need a plane to withstand the force. What you need is to brake.

[That wasn't the best explanation, but he was trying.]

Your glider moves horizontally. You can pull up to decrease speed, but you'll always be going forward. You've seen birds fly, right? You're a big bird. Move downward in a spiral to drop altitude.

[Airbending was a great advantage. He found that out when Korra started using hers to slow her descent.]

Huh. Not bad. Maybe we will get you a plane.

You’ve obviously never seen me drive a car before. [She said in a humored, self-deprecating way.] It’d probably explode if I looked at it funny.

[With her descent slowing, Korra continued angling it downwards until she climbed down from forty, to thirty, to twenty, to ten feet. Half of that and she closed the glider, pushing out a blast of air to cushion her landing.]

I think I can go with bird for now. So what does that make you?

It takes time getting used to. And the fact that you have cars is impressive. It puts you one step ahead of the technology here.

[Now that the danger had passed, Tony was back to joking. In honesty, he probably never stopped joking. Even when he tries to be serious, it always ends in a sarcastic comment. He watched Korra fly to the ground, appreciating how quickly she caught on to the concept of decreasing her speed. Using the air blast to land was clever for someone who hadn't flown before. Tony followed her, hovering in place a few feet above a landing point before touching down.]

Iron Man. I'm just one of a kind.

[The metal armor retracts away from his face, leaving him without a helmet so he can look smug.]

[Airbending was new and fun, but seeing a shiny suit of armor with fire, or at least she assumed it was fire, coming from the boots was just plain awesome. Watching the metal actually recede, or as she though of it, melt away from his face was a lot more to take in than just watching it over the consoles.]

Hey, I can appreciate being unique. [Grinning, she circled her finger in front her face.] So that doesn’t hurt or feel weird? Because it looks like it could hurt or feel weird.

Closed; Tony Stark (616)

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