tushanshu_logs | Catchall.

[It had been a whirlwind of activity, at least for him. He was still digesting what he'd seen of the future, ending his relationship with Korra for the second and final time, and Asami-- and Bolin? Then, pro-bending just ended up being a distraction.

But he wanted a real distraction. Something he could get behind and enjoy, something the let him be a loner if he really needed to be.

The motorcycle he got from Korra was already somewhat ruined after their break-up, but he couldn't bear to ignore it forever. Not when it was just tempting him that way. So, he finally took it out, for his own joyride. What he wasn't expecting, however, was catching some poor Kedan getting roughed up by some thugs.

He debated if he should step in, maybe for a second too long. He'd finally made the decision to--]

Hey, knock it off!

[... thugs. Small time. He could tell by how they turned and looked at him, and then ran. He could totally take them.

Something he was good at.]

[Funny thing about Robin leaving the turtle; it didn't do much to dissuade Zatanna from continuing her semi-regular patrols.]

[They might not have been nearly as much fun anymore, but they were therapeutic. Nothing like taking out an entire day's worth of frustrations on a few street scum with a pocket knife and ugly face. Most of the time, she didn't even need to touch ground to do it. Her spells worked long-distance, and when there was nobody else around for her to worry about, there were no concerns if she happened to accidentally toss the crook into somebody else. Because, chances are, that somebody else was their partner.]

Hey, knock it off!

[She heard the cry coming from about a block over. The usual sound of a street punk. No idea how many there were, but it didn't matter.]

Oh, good. I was starting to get bored...

[She had a motorcycle with her that evening. Her favorite splurge; the guy at the shop had taken a liking to her and started offering her discounts on the rentals. What kind of girl would she be if she didn't take him up on the offer?]

[Either way, it led to her getting to rev the engine as she took off along the sidewalk, already leaning to one side to allow her the sharpest turn around the corner. Criminals always loved it when you caught them off guard like that.]

[Oh, no, wait. That was her.]

[Mako flicked the goggles back over his helmet, kicking off to go after them. He could hear another engine racing. His first thought was that somehow, smalltown thugs had backup. His second was that that was ridiculous-- someone else just happened to be in the same place at the same time.

And when he saw her, he realized he really only knew one person in Keeliai that liked to ride. Zatanna.

He skids to a stop when she appears-- the thugs trapped between them, him on one side and her on the other.]

So, don't these guys have a curfew or something?

[Her motorcycle actually came to a complete 180 skid-stop the moment she had the bad guys trapped. Or mostly trapped. No, wait, they were definitely trapped. By her and a second motorcycle on the other end of the alleyway. One that happened to be driven by a very familiar-looking firebender.]

Like we're one to talk. [Keeping one handle on the steering, she lifted her helmet visor just enough for her face to become visible. And, more importantly, her voice to come out clearer.] What are you doing here?

Trying to clear my head.

[he lifted the goggles again, so he could raise an eyebrow at her. He didn't need to really elaborate on why he'd want to clear his head, he figured that Korra probably had already told someone. And she and Zatanna were close.

But even if he did, he wasn't going to.]

Happened to run into these guys, and thought I could take 'em.

What about you?

[She shrugged. Completely ignoring the puzzled looks on the faces of the criminals still trapped between them, eyes nervously glancing back and forth as if trying to decide which direction would be the lesser of two evils.]

I got bored.

Bored.

[he repeats, a hint of amusement in his voice]

Well, we've got two thugs here. Carrying them both back by myself was going to be a hassle.

[he lowers the goggles, and he was about to ask for her assistance... before one of them bolts past him, and the other past her. Well, they probably had stopped and chit chatted for a little too long, long enough for them to somehow formulate a plan]

Wanna work together?

[Mako asks quickly, revving the engine, and looking to keep an eye on the guy who left past him. He was barely waiting long enough for Zatanna's answer]

Well, there's two of them, and two of us...

[The visor goes back over her eyes, and she revs her engine. That answered that.]

[Catching up to the criminal was almost too easy. After all, the guy was on foot. She wasn't. She cut him off again without a moment's hesitation.]

You really don't want to do that. Trust me.

[so, getting rental satomobiles was kind of a hassle. More than he thought it'd be, and it's not like there was a really good track for them to race at. But he wasn't opposed to learning a trick or two from the master herself. He glanced at Asami, and then back to the open fields. There were paths they could follow there.

Not a hard race track, but it was empty. And there was room to maneuver.]

Want to try here?

[Asami examined the landscape out yonder like she would consider saying no, but her answer was only to come after she could get an idea for the track. So she didn't know the exact layout, but that's where improvising came in. Made things interesting.

She delivered her ready answer,] Looks good. [Her smile was different than usual, less warm and carrying an edge of feminine spunk.]

So, are you ready? I'll take the passenger seat and let you follow my instruction.

[he could hear the change in her voice-- he figured this was definitely her comfort zone. He took one last glance over the track, and then turned back to her. He seemed relaxed and at ease.]

Alright, Miss Sato.

[the teasing emphasis was there, just because her being his teacher was a little out of the norm for them. But he winked after it, and headed towards the car, before holding the passenger's side door open for her]

[All this display was impressive. She paused for a moment, glancing at him flirtatiously.]

I like how that sounds. Maybe keep that in mind.

[For what, she didn't say out loud. She slunk into the car and strapped on her seatbelt.]

[he let out an amused 'hmm' before shutting the door behind her and going around to the other side to climb in. He knew the basics-- after all he'd almost ran over Korra in a satomobile once.

Clutches were not his strong point, but not something he was completely unfamiliar with. So, he started the car and glanced over at Asami]

So, what're we doing first? You tell me and I'll do it.

[The entire time he was getting situated, she looked at him like she was waiting for something. She even grants him an extra second or two after he asks for step one.]

Well, Mister Man, first you put on your seatbelt. [She pulls her goggles over her eyes.] Rule number one, always respect the machine you're climbing into.

[well, that was the obvious first step. He glances back at the seatbelt, and then grabs it. It clicks into a place easily enough. But watching her pull down her goggles reminded him that they'd be a good idea for him right then-- especially driving on a dirt track.

He readjusts them, and then pulls them down]

You got me, Miss Sato. Alright, so how about the step after we've got the safety gear on?

[She rests her elbow on the car door and straightens up, scooting back her hips.]

Take a minute to adjust your mirrors, then you go ahead and step on the clutch all the way. You know how to get it into gear, right?

[he nods, his arms already reaching at least to adjust the overhead mirror] I can pop a clutch, sure. Basic stuff.

[he liked motorcycles, though. They already were infinitely simpler than the full-on satomobile. But, he was learning from a pro.]

You think we're ready to go that far?

[... so what if there was innuendo there]

[She's not above that.

In fact, she's kind of a sucker for it.]

If your tachometer says it's okay, I don't see why not. [It's an innuendo for something. For the sake of the joke, she leaves it at that, but her eyes are peeled on his stick shift and the dash in front of him to make sure he's about to do everything correctly.]

[he glances at the RPM, and then at the shift. First, start the car.

Then, popping the clutch was easy, his foot pressing down on the gas, and he wasn't lying when he said he knew how. In fact, they were speeding off (though he was paying attention to the fact that they were on a dirt path). He grinned back at her]

Then you better hold on.

[It didn't sound or feel to her like the engine was outperforming itself, a good indication he'd made it to third. This put her somewhat at ease, and she was able to sit back in her seat, although her back remained straight.]

Not bad, sweetie. Who here taught you how to drive?

[she missed his crazy driving from a couple of months ago-- so it was probably a good thing. For then, the question catches him off guard. He hadn't learned anything about driving in Keeliai. He mostly walked everywhere]

I picked up a few things back home.

[... wait, no, he didn't want to talk about that either. But, hey, maybe that was the only answer she needed. Who wanted to talk about watching the Triads drive?]

[She immediately thinks he's referring to her expertise, so luckily for him his answer satisfies her.]

I see. [She switches into her instructional mode.] Alright, come to a stop whenever you're ready.

[Only for her to see whether or not he downshifts, so her eyes are on him more and the road less.]

Catchall.

Feb 2nd, Zatanna

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Asami, SOMETIME PRE-LANDALL

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