capeandcowl2020 | Open Post 002

[ Norman kept on top of news like this -- escapes, sure, but usually he couldn't be bothered to care. Only in certain cases -- certain cases of certain significance -- did Norman specifically request to be assigned. Personally.

For this one in particular he brought an old friend out to play; one that had faded somewhat over the years, but still stood out in its garishly painted red, whites, and blues.

Come out, come out, wherever you are, Stark.

It was much easier searching by land and air. ]

[ It was hard, coming into a world that was all in black and whites, slow and muted, to suddenly vibrant and bright and loud. Everything in stark relief, everything sharp and in focus, like suddenly the lens had finally been centered, and everything could be seen again.

There was a disadvantage to that, though. A key one. It was overwhelming. It was ridiculously so. He didn't notice. Not at first, not while he was working on getting what he could together. He'd needed defense and offense first, before anything else. If only because he knew how vital it would be, and staying alive was easy, if you could take out everyone else beforehand.

He didn't have faith, but he was a man of priorities, and certain things came before others.

It was a South Korean electronics market where he was, when he noticed it. It wasn't obvious, but the creeping feeling of being at his back was what he noticed first. Satellites needed to be hacked, to see through, but he may be rusty and behind the current tech level by about five years, but, well, he was Tony Stark.

That hardly meant much. It meant much of what was up there now matched what he had ten years ago.

He could see, from the sky, but he had a sinking feeling he could be seen as well. He watched, hyper aware, thankful he'd put the extra care in to the few parts he had already. They weren't a full suit, literally boots and gauntlets, but he'd used (admittedly, embezzled funds from the government) what he could shunt off to the different technology corporations enough to fun a rather expensive few pieces of weapons.

What he had was well worth the sticker price, considering he built it in whatever small room he'd been holed up in the night before.

He lifted the hood of the jacket he was wearing, intending to cover the strongest indicator of who he was with the hood. He couldn't hid that detail, even if he kept his head down. ]

[ Anyone else likely wouldn't have landed if they weren't sure. Norman Osborn wasn't that type of man, not these days. Every suspicion was acted on, because he had authority. He was doing a service. As long as he was tracking imPorts, few people cared.

And he did have some experience looking for Tony Stark. He knew what to look for.

He landed, and not gently. ]

Tell me the truth.

That is you, isn't it?

[ Landing so hard wasn't something he would have ever done, in his own suit. At least not without reason. As it was, it made the ground around them tremble, and he struggled to stay up, before he locked onto the details.

Oh hell no.

He'd known it still existed, of course. It'd never been recovered. It was a spike of anger that flared to life. Tony Stark had always been rather protective of his suited property. Norman had always been lucky he'd never gone on a rampage about it, overconfident that his suit could have always taken it.

But what happened when the suit wasn't here? ]

Me? Well, I'm me, but you're going to have to be a little more specific than that.

[ His heart thudded faster than it should have, systems fighting to regulate the very animal, very human reaction. Fear. He wouldn't be caught again.

Not after he'd just gotten out. ]

[ Norman plucks the helmet off, smiling calmly and smugly in Tony's direction. His single eye narrows its focus. He's fairly certain, now. It's impossible that he could be wrong. ]

Relax, Stark. Is that any way to talk to an old friend?

[ He shrugs openly, walking closer. ]

What are you doing all the way out here?

Oh you know, just seeing the sights.

[ He causally backed up a little, feeling the creep of metal against his shoulders and back. He'd already started deploying underarmor, thankful for what little protection it provided. It wasn't built to withstand serious damage, and it wasn't a suit of armor, but it was something.

Fully clothed, it wasn't noticeable, and he kept it from fully spreading over his hands and head. ]

I've been cooped up for so long, I thought some sunshine would do me some good.

I'm not sure about that.

[ Another step closer, and he slings the helmet under his arm. ]

Although I do understand. I know much you hate staying still. How long has it been?

What, you don't know?

[ He couldn't help at least a low level of belligerence. The backpack on his back slid a little lower, and he still stepped back, keep moving.

People were staring, of course. This looked dangerous, and anyone who followed the news probably knew what this meant. ]

It's been far too long. Years, actually.

I didn't really expect an answer, honestly.

[ Norman rolls his eye, not slowing down his step, though not running either. ]

At least your memory hasn't gone this time.

[ His eyes narrow, just slightly. Memory gone? It tugged at something, but he couldn't really place it. Like a memory that was just out of his reach, and grasping at it just made the sand slip through his fingers while he clawed to try to dig it up. ]

Should it be? I don't know about you, but I plan to keep my brain in excellent condition well into my nineties.

[ Either way, this was going to be bad, he could already tell. ]

I'm kind of insulted that you pulled out that piece of trash again, though. Were you worried I'd have one of my own?

You never know. When it comes to you, I know how you're always tinkering around there. Trying to make "improvements."

[ Airquotes and all. ]

I pulled it out for the occasion, yes. Just because I knew it'd make you angry.

Of course you did.

[ Oh, and it did make him angry. Nothing seemed to annoy Tony Stark more than knowing that his tech had been taken and repurposed. ]

I'm afraid, though, the only thing you'll probably get is some excessive force charges. Don't you think if I had something I'd been tinkering with, I'd have pulled it out by now?

Excessive force? Please, Stark. I have the authority to take you in by any means necessary. That's more than you can say.

[ He cocks his head and gestures with his hand. ]

But we're better off making this easy, don't you think?

I don't know, going the easy way is always such a drag.

[ He shrugs, kicking at the dirt almost petulantly. ]

I just got out, you know? I'd hate to have gone through all that trouble of risking my life just to end up right back where I was.

[ Shrugging the shoulder that held his bag, before he tugged it off, and then unzipped it. ]

Besides, I have been tinkering. It's not much, but hell, I could use a bit of a test run.

Well, pull it out. I can't say I came all this way expecting it to be simple. It never really is with you.

[ He cracks his neck a little. ]

So bring it on, Stark.

[ He'd hoped pride would be his downfall. Or at least the need for something of a challenge. He didn't rip off his clothes, for once. (Why he'd thought that a good idea whenever the underarmor deployed, he'd never know.) But he did let metal cover his head and fingers, peeking out from under the second-hand, goodwill clothing he'd dug out.

And then came the gloves, and the boots. They were chrome, rather than red. He didn't pull them out, either, but they fastened into place anyway.

He had the plans in his head, it had been easy to find replacements, or improvise. ]

What do you think? Not too bad for being on a budget and on the run? I know it's missing a little flash.

I get tired of flash. You manage always to make it awfully gaudy.

[ Norman puts his helmet on and flies himself forward, fast. ]

[ He'd built what he had very specifically. They had affixed themselves to his hands and arms, feet and calves, just enough to give him something.

And it's a good thing he's covered in metal, even if it isn't the metal of a full suit. It's fast, or at least fast enough. He watches it, though. No Mach 3 for him, lest he end up spattered matter. ]

And that isn't gaudy? I don't know, Norman, it looks pretty bad from where I'm at.

[ Which was, consequently, flying backward, and up, leaving civilians behind. Gauntlets were powered, but didn't launch, not yet. No need to make imports look worse than they already did. ]

Anything this patriotic doesn't have to be tasteful.

[ Norman turns sharply, flying up after Tony. ]

You of all people should know that.

There is something called over-patriotic, you know that, right?

[ He couldn't go too high, or too fast. But he kept up a quick enough speed, pushing it just beyond what a normal human should be able to take, flying backwards.

It was dangerous, is what it was. Stupid, really, but he had eyes in the back of his head, figuratively speaking. Or at leas,t he was wired in through cameras and satellites enough that he could see well enough.

He finally let one go, once he cleared City limits, expecting a dodge and aiming low so it wouldn't go flying back in the city proper. ]

Just how would you define that, Stark? I'm the one with a legitimate job here, remember.

[ Norman veers as expected, then lunges toward Tony, aiming a punch. ]

Yeah, congratulations on that. I noticed, you're missing something, too. Government healthcare not up to snuff?

[ He kicks it into high gear, speeding up, which is dangerous, he knows. He's lobbing another shock from his gauntlets out, closer range hopefully something he can deal with.

But he knows the suit Norman has, and he is way outclassed. ]

What, the eye?

[ Norman's tone goes from smug to irritated. ]

That's hardly any of your concern. Healthcare can't salvage everything.

No, I guess it can't. Imagine that.

[ He wonders, for a moment, before he decides it doesn't care. It's a good thing. He has eyes everywhere, and he can use it to his advantage, so he swings sharp in the direction the blindspot would be in.

It's an obvious move, and obviously made. He waited for him to follow. ]

Open Post 002

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