Just want to say a quick thanks to everyone who has been posting reviews. I really appreciate them!
Chapter 19 - Model Airplanes
In the living room of the Malibu house, Loki wandered around the plane, or at least the pieces of it strewn around the room.
"I meant to clean that up," Tony said with a smirk, wandering over to join Loki, dressed to do more work on the plane. Loki rolled his eyes but stopped wandering the wreckage to allow Tony to join him.
"What are you hoping to make?"
"I'm on my tenth model of an arc reactor powered plane," he said proudly, greeting Loki with a quick kiss on the cheek, and gaining a smile from Loki who then continued to wander the wreckage.
"May I see the most recent model?"
Tony lit up with excitement at the idea of showing off a new toy and grabbed Loki's hand, leading him outside to where a very beat up plane sat.
Loki hummed as he moved towards it, pacing around it to observe the plane.
"Looks like you've already flown it a few times," Loki teased, and Tony shrugged.
"I had to test it somehow." he nudged the nose of the plane, wiping at a dent with the cloth in his back pocket.
"You don't really seem to have very much self-preservation in that head of yours?" Loki teased again, and Tony just smirked.
"Not particularly," he replied, but it wasn't as teasing as Loki's words, more blase, and it made Loki uneasy, nearly forcing him over beside Tony to slide his arm around his partner.
"Sometimes you worry me."
"No need to worry, I always know what I'm doing." he said confidently, pressing another kiss to Loki's cheek. "If I ever seriously thought I was going to die, you know I'd stop. Who'd keep you in line?"
Loki gave a short laugh, "I know," he assured, but Tony continued.
"You won't be getting rid of me that easily."
"I know that as well."
Reassured, Tony pulled Loki towards the plane.
"Want to test it out with me?"
Loki grinned wickedly.
"Of course."
Tony gave an answering grin, and moved to grab the toolbox waiting a few feet away.
"I know how to fix what went wrong last time." he muttered, and Loki just lifted a sarcastic eyebrow.
"Oh really? That simple. Of course, should have known."
Tony just shot him a grin.
"Just got to make a few adjustments. I want to convert air into reactor energy. The power kept cutting out because at that speed and weight, the arc technology couldn't keep the plane up due to how the wind cut over the plane. But if I can convert air to energy through wind power, it should fix te problem."
Loki watched in amusement as Tony crawled under the plane, playing with his machinery as per usual.
"Should be good now," he grunted, coming back out, tossing the tools back in the kit.
"You think?" Loki asked with a smile, and Tony just nodded enthusiastically, climbing into the plane and into the pilot seat, Loki close behind him.
Tony tried to start the plane but it didn't work, and Loki allowed him to continue to try in vane, getting more and more frustrated.
"Why won't it work?" he grumbled in irritation, and Loki tried to keep his smile small.
"Perhaps you should enlarge the size of the reactor itself?
Tony rolled his eyes.
"If that were possible I would've done it already. It can only be so big before it outweighs the plane." he said, while Loki just let him rant, a small smile turning up the corner of his lips. Unable to stand the silent teasing, Tony finally huffed.
"What?"
"Just check the reactor. Perhaps with all your tinkering you forgot to factor in the change in mass of the plane."
Tony glared at him a moment before conceding.
"You might be right." he admitted grudgingly, and Loki gave another smile.
"I am fairly intelligent."
Tony laughed at that, "Oh I know."
"Oh thank you," the thanks was sarcastic, and Tony just took his hand, pulling Loki out of the plane.
"Back to the lab. Don't have much equipment here but should be able to make it work."
Loki gave another smug smile.
"You do know I could be at your other lab and back before you even realized I was gone?"
As uncomfortable as the magic made him, Tony was glad to see Loki this carefree. It was the first time he'd appeared this relaxed since the visit from his family. Without further ado, Tony wrote out a quick list, handing it to Loki. Loki disappeared after reading the list and Tony heard a small crash in the lab minutes later, a floor beneath him with a wince.
Loki's voice floated up moments later. "Nothing broke!"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure." Loki scoffed, "Are you coming or not?"
Tony moved quickly down the stairs, and sees his equipment set up just as it had been in his lab in New York.
"You know me to well." Tony said fondly, and Loki frowned, leaning against the table next to where Tony was working.
"To well?"
Tony just shook his head with a smile. "It's a compliment."
"Human compliments are strange." he noted, passing Tony the next tool he requested.
"In any case, I'm still going to use them to compliment you. Unfortunately I am human." Tony said good-humouredly, accepting the tool.
"It isn't unfortunate. I like you just the way you are." he leans over and kisses the top of Tony's head while he's bent over working, and Tony just rolled his eyes.
"Glad someone does." He tinkered with a few more things, and then stood back, wrapping it in a tarp and turning with an excited expression on his face.
"Done already? That was quick," Loki noted skeptically, but Tony just pulls him back outside and towards the plane, crawling back underneath.
"All I need to do is add this bit right here," there was a clunking noise as Tony attached it. "And presto. Ready to go." he came back out, clearing the way and then ushered Loki back onto the plane.
"Alright, let's get this thing started."
The plane starts up as it should've the first time and Loki glanced out the window, gripping the armrests nervously.
"What – don't trust me?" Tony asked playfully, and the plane lurched, making Loki grip the armrests tightly. Suddenly it wasn't such a good idea, and the realization that he was immortal while the other passenger was a human was giving him heart palpitations.
"If this doesn't turn out well, and we get to high, would you mind if I used magic to get us both out?" he asked tentatively, and Tony glanced over, to see Loki's pale face.
"Yeah, course." he agreed amiably, though it made him uneasy, but Loki looked visibly relaxed. "I won't take us to high."
At that Loki gave a full laugh. "If you didn't take us as high as possible, I think I would be disappointed that you were holding back because of me."
They shared childish grins, and Tony guided the plane skillfully higher.
"I'm going to take us over the water. I built it to be able to land on water too."
"Did you test out that water landing device? or just assume it would work?" Loki asked in exasperation, more amused then upset, and Tony shrugged.
"Well I haven't actually landed on the water myself yet, so I haven't had any real testing, but it worked in the lab."
Loki made a sound of displeasure, but there was an amused smile playing across his lips.
"Oh Tony, what am I going to do with you?" he asked, and Tony gave a devilish smile.
"well for starters you're going to kiss me," he turned in his seat, grabbing the front of Loki's shirt to pull him closer, catching his lips with his own.
Loki allowed it to last only a moment before he pushed Tony back, flushed but pleased. "Watch what you're doing! I really would rather we fly this plane without the worry of crashing." he glanced out the window as they passed over the edge of the cliff and flew out over the ocean. "You're insane. I love you. But you are insane." he said in awe as he watched them pass over the clear blue water, and Tony felt the rush at his words.
"Let's go higher."
Loki just watched the landscape disappear and couldn't help his amazement at the man next to him. He was fearless.
"How fast do you think we can go?" Loki asked, and Tony laughed.
"Thought you'd never ask."
With a flick of a switch and the push of a button, they were speeding through the air far more quickly than before, both men laughing at the sheer exhilaration.
"Looks like this plane is a success." Tony said gleefully, clearly impressed with his own handiwork, and looked over at Loki. "What do you think? Fly a bit longer or put the plane away?" he asked, worried he may have pushed the other past his limit. He tended to be a bit too worried about Tony's fragility as a human.
"I generally find myself entertained when you've got your experiments going, so whichever you prefer." Loki smiled, and Tony felt relieved enough to move to his next problem.
"Good. I should warn you though. I've never actually landed a plane before on my own."
Loki gave an exasperated laugh.
"I don't really find myself surprised at this point," he replied, much to Tony's surprise, and so he pushed on.
"It cant be that hard though, I've successfully crashed it a fair amount of times. Only from a few feet up, but I know how to fly lower."
"You promote such confidence in me." Loki teased, though it didn't go unnoticed by Tony that his long-fingered hands were now gripping the armrests tightly again. "Question Tony, does this thing still rely on fuel or is it completely powered by the reactor?"
"That's one of the kinks I'm still trying to work out." Tony said slowly, glancing over to see Loki sitting with his eyes closed, expression tense. "I mean we have fuel as back up, but the plane has been burning it, but I'm not sure what for. I mean, it doesn't need it. Or shouldn't."
Loki turned a flat gaze on Tony.
"I'm assuming this isn't one of the things you tested before?"
Tony grinned reassuringly, or at least what he hoped was reassuringly.
"I'll take her down to land now, that way we don't have to worry about it so high up," he said, and breathed a sigh of relief when he watched Loki's fingers relax on the sides of the seat. "Nothing to worry about."
"I'm not worrying," Loki said suddenly, laughing as the plane jolts, but it wasn't necessarily an amused laugh. I'm rather amused. I think I'm going to make sure you get flying lessons."
"This is a hobby! I don't need lessons." Tony protested, but Loki just leaned over, brushing a kiss over Tony's cheek.
"But you'll take them for my peace of mind."
Tony shot a look at the other passenger, who returned the look with one of serenity, and Tony relented.
"I'll get Rhodey to teach me."
A triumphant grin flashed across Loki's face as the plane continued to jolt lower and lower as the fuel began to run out, and a look of excitement flashed in his eyes.
"Looks like we're about to find out if you're toy works."