Cal Chandler

There was one and only one thing about this that was lacking:

It wasn't a meal. It was barely a snack. And it definitely wasn't about eating.

Now it's well into nighttime, and Cal is hungry.

Time to go do something about that.

He's been avoiding Sherlock.

Not as thoroughly as he had after Sherlock told him about the whole clone thing. He's called a couple of times, and talked to Sherlock rather than hiding behind Jarvis like he did before. But he hasn't visited, and he hasn't suggested that Sherlock come over to the Chandler compound.

After Tony's visit, though, the guilt of it starts catching up with him. It's not Sherlock's fault he couldn't keep himself under control. And - anyway. That never happened. He's pretty sure Sherlock would be okay with that.

And Sherlock is his best friend. It's stupid to let that fall apart because of something that doesn't even (have to) matter.

So, one afternoon, he gets in his car and drives out to the Stark residence.

First thing about college that sucks: Classes started two days before Sunnydale High.

Cal is also not excited about his classes themselves.

He does have to admit, though, that not having to be awake practically before sunrise has been pretty awesome. And today he got out at roughly the time Sunnydale High does, which he'll have to mention to Sherlock - there are three days in his week when Cal will be able to give him a ride home.

. . . although, judging from the ancient red truck with the hot girl driving it that Cal passed on his way up the driveway, that may not be an issue.

He's still smirking as he heads for the door.

It's been an odd couple of days. Cal has kept his focus mainly on Tina, and hopefully that's helped keep the weirdness on his end at a minimum.

When she's ready to go home, though, he promises with a glance at Sherlock to come back once he's dropped her off. With any luck, Tony won't ask too many questions until then.

Tina is finally asleep. Richard has been and gone, leaving a mild sedative so she can sleep between transformations. Cal closes the guestroom door quietly behind him, trying to think through his own physical and emotional exhaustion (and low blood sugar, and nicotine withdrawal) to decide exactly where Sherlock will be.

Cal isn't sure which took longer: the speeches at the graduation ceremony, or the gathering his mother had planned after. At least the monotony of the party was broken up by Grahame's calmly stealing the spotlight to announce his new job with some law firm in LA.

Cal kind of has to admire his style there.

But, whatever, either way it's finally all over, and now he's pulling up in front of Tina's house to pick her up and head over to the Stark residence for the real party.

Cal knew graduation was coming, but after everything that's happened in the past few months, it still catches him by surprise. It should be a major milestone, but it seems almost pointless, like it's getting in the way of more important things.

He never seriously considered skipping the ceremony, though - there's still the family image to consider, after all. And besides, for some of the people who matter to him, it is important. So he arrives right on time, crimson gown and hat in hand, and watches the other excited seniors mill around the gym.

School is, finally, over.

Cal has shoved everything he's not bringing back home into his locker (so, pretty much everything) and now he's gone to find Tina.

The Milliways vacation was, Cal thinks, exactly what they all needed. He definitely came home to discover that things seemed a lot more manageable than they had before he left for New York, and not just because Obadiah Stane will officially never be his damn problem again.

(Peter, he knows, suspects that something happened while Cal was away, but Cal calmly ignores his less-than-subtle hints for an explanation. What would he even tell Peter?

Although he does kind of love imagining the look on Peter's face if he found out exactly how far Cal was out of his reach, and for how long.)

There's more time for life beyond the household now, and so it is that Cal is resuming something resembling regular visits to the Stark residence once more.

Three days after Stane's death, the worst of the work is over. The fake death is set up and scheduled for tomorrow; all that remains is the execution.

So to speak.

Cal is at the desk in his room going over it all one last time, just to be sure, when Danielle knocks and tells him he has a visitor.

"Tony Stark to see you, sir."

Cal kind of saw this coming, sooner or later. He sits back and stretches. "Okay, yeah. Send him in."