Lance flapped his wings a couple more time more than necessary when Tori sent him a if looks could kill glance. He should have known better than say what he did or to chuckle but he had always been a gloater. This is what happens when you're a middle child, especially when you had a sibling like Odette. But he always been the sort who can dish it but never be able to take it and remembered back to his first and second years in which it just seemed like such a long process. Hockey had come easy to him. Most sports came easy to him. Why was this particular activity so difficult for him back then? Why couldn't he have a power that was intuitive? And he hated having wings and not being able to fly beyond baby-flying because what good were those cumbersome appendages unless they allowed him to do something! No doubt if he were in Tori's position, he would have shot such a glare himself.
But then the asshole side of himself thought, well, she agreed to this competition and said she was better than him. Really, he felt conflicted about it. Why shouldn't he gloat? But at the same time, he remembered being there and how frustrating it was. His urge to coach began to swell in his chest like indigestion.
"I'm sure you will," he yelled back at her from above in an actually earnest tone. He sighed and glided after her as she ran again. She sure was determined but that is one thing he did admire Tori for. He met so many people at this school who just did not try particularly hard at their abilities. That is why on his ideal squad, Tori was on his list because she would try her damnest to the bitter end and that ability alone often were ten times more useful than a powerful mutant who just didn't give a damn.
Although, despite that, Lance did think Tori was letting pride get in the way here. Nevermind if only one of the deadly sins ruled his life more it was pride. His ego was easily bruised.
"You're stressing yourself out! It tenses the muscles when they should be loose," Lance yelled down at her. For a moment, he wondered if he should use his thermokinesis to give her a slight boost but that would be a little dishonest. Lance didn't believe in that.
He dipped a little lower and sighed, "When you took your first steps, you didn't cruise across the floor. Look to a closer lamp post. Like gliding."