Sunnydale AU: An Illicit Visit (no, not that kind)

[americas_son]

There is some definite disapproval going on in the Chandler compound over Cal's refusing to go along with the implicit decision that the Starks (especially Sherlock) are not the best company for him. It's not the first time he's pushed such a ruling - far from it - but this is something of a special case. Whether it's the shooting or the fact that Sherlock and his identity issues are generally glossed over in proper society with "He just couldn't handle his parents' death, the poor thing, at least his brother is made of sterner stuff" that causes greater concern . . .

Well. Cal has the feeling his knows the answer to that.

His own accidental death could at least be used to the Chandlers' advantage, after all.

The obvious response to all of this is, of course, to invite Sherlock over to visit.

"We'll have to sneak if we don't want to spend twenty minutes listening to Mother, though."

Comments

[if_inconvenient]

"Oh?"

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal nods.

"He knows Tony Stark," he says. "There was a time travel thing. They look alike, but they're not brothers."

Un-deduce-able, because even in Milliways, what are the odds?

[if_inconvenient]

"That is remarkable."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Seriously, Cal loves knowing stuff. He looks quite cheerful now.

"I thought he was you from the future at first," he says. "It was really weird."

[if_inconvenient]

"I can imagine."

But he doesn't offer any guesses as to how the conversation went.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"But they don't have vampires."

Obvious conclusions were obvious.

[if_inconvenient]

"A sound basis for inference."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"It helped rule things out."

Funny, he feels like his mun just made that joke he just said that.

[if_inconvenient]

"As I said."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal rolls his eyes.

"He knows about the books and stuff, too." So if the Sherlocks happened to meet in-bar, there wouldn't be any need for weirdness around that. In case Sherlock was worried about that. "He heard me ask the Bar for this." He hands the binder over.

[if_inconvenient]

"Oh, dear. A list of Sherlock Holmes movies?" He glances at it as he accepts it, estimating the number of pages. "No doubt this is the abridged version, at that."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"If I'd known there were that many, I might've been more specific."

How, he's not sure.

[if_inconvenient]

"Next time, you'll know. She has access to an arbitrarily large number of universes, after all. She could probably produce a list this long of anything you care to name."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal makes a face, because that seems like something he should have thought of before he'd asked.

"You want me to put that in or what?" he asks, pointing at the DVD.

[if_inconvenient]

"By all means."

He hands it over.

"Don't feel bad. Thinking of things before other people do is the entire purpose of my existence. Any sufficiently well-supported fact is obvious after you already know it."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Well."

Cal is still getting used to this thing Sherlock does where he doesn't ridicule Cal for not knowing something. Usually it's the opposite that happens to him.

He turns away to the TV stand to put the DVD in, saying,

"Make yourself comfortable, there's plenty of room." It's a big bed, and there are no chairs. The guests Cal brings up here are not usually here to watch movies.

[if_inconvenient]

Sherlock takes a seat.

It reminds him of watching movies with Tony, actually. The bed is similarly big, the chairs similarly absent. But there are a few important differences. Luckily for Cal, Sherlock has never made a sexual overture to anyone who wasn't Tony Stark and he does not intend to start.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

That's probably lucky for everyone. It would get very uncomfortable very quickly.

Cal drops onto his side of the bed and grabs the remote off the nightstand.

Hopefully, Sherlock won't be distracted by a certain amount of fidgeting during the movie - Cal is making an effort not to be distracting and let Sherlock focus, but he's not used to watching movies sober these days. It feels weird.

(Almost as weird as watching a movie whose main character you just met. Milliways.)

[if_inconvenient]

Sherlock is difficult to distract.

The movie begins. A chase scene; carriage, running figure. Sherlock chuckles. Half a minute later the running figure is revealed to be Holmes.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

A chase scene is a good way to get Cal's attention. Following it up with a thwarted cult murder is even better.

This is not what he expected. It's actually interesting. It would be anyway, considering the circumstances, but as a movie in and of itself, it's off to a good start.

[if_inconvenient]

He watches hungrily, drinking in every detail, particularly of Holmes's voice and movements. Much of it is familiar. Even, perhaps especially, the analytical violence.

(At Always nice to see you, Watson he grins. Oh, indeed.)

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

The movie proves itself engrossing by Cal's standards, definitely not the kind of dry and cerebral thing he had assumed it would be. It keeps his attention, though he also glances at Sherlock from time to time to watch him watch it.

(When the Sherlock on the screen tells Watson, "It makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on whom I can thoroughly rely," Cal's expression flickers as the familiarity of the comment registers, but he brushes it away.)

[if_inconvenient]

And Sherlock laughs again.

"They do enjoy including their little references to the books," he murmurs.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Well, it is based on the books, right?

Cal shrugs, though, and doesn't answer.

[if_inconvenient]

Soon enough there is a fight scene to occupy both their attention, followed by a chase through the streets. Sherlock is grinning at the screen. This movie isn't just fascinating; it's fun.