Sunnydale AU: redux

[americas_son]

The day after Sherlock's phone call, Cal gets up early to stop by the Stark residence as promised.

He pulls into the driveway in the car Tony gave him - the only car he drives now - and sits there for a moment after he kills the engine. He takes a slow, steadying breath, hands still on the wheel.

He willingly volunteered for this, but he's not looking forward to it.

(Behind him, a security vehicle pulls into place. Peter doesn't usually send bodyguards with Cal to the Stark residence, but this morning he's sending a message, discreet but clear, that Cal is under protection at all times.)

After a couple moments, he gets out and heads for the door.

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[poeticterms]

Obadiah smiles.

"You're right," he says. His voice is agreeable, but the smile is vicious. "Discussing him with you won't do any of us any good. I've known him longer than you have, after all."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

- okay, yeah, that's a bit more unnerving, and for a second or two, a small part of Cal wants to retreat.

The rest of him, though, is glad to have it a little further out in the open. It means he's forcing Stane to play by his rules, instead of the other way around.

"That doesn't seem to make much difference as far as he's concerned."

[poeticterms]

"Doesn't it?"

And now the smile says, I know something you don't know.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal draws sharply on his cigarette, a show of impatience.

"Was there something you wanted?"

[poeticterms]

"Oh, no. Just passing the time. You know," he jokes, "it's lonely coming all the way out here just to sit around Tony's house while he's at school. Maybe I should turn around and go back to New York."

Where Sherlock is.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Maybe you should," Cal says, just because he knows it's the last thing Stane will expect him to say.

[poeticterms]

"I could never do that to Tony."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Cal just bets.

"Maybe a late-night walk, then," he suggests. "Sunnydale is beautiful at midnight."

[poeticterms]

Now it is Obadiah's turn to look impatient.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal wonders idly if Stane knows what Sunnydale is really like.

Not that it matters.

"What?" he asks. "You're the one who came out here. Am I passing the time wrong?"

[poeticterms]

That gets an actual laugh out of him.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

That was unexpected.

Cal turns his attention back to his cigarette and waits.

[poeticterms]

"You grow up so fast," he muses, "all of you."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"And then your crap doesn't work on us anymore," Cal agrees.

(Ever since his growth spurt -

It's just a small echo of old anxieties, but for a second or two, it's there.)

[poeticterms]

"Oh, I've still got a trick or two up my sleeve," he says, as though they are talking about something entirely innocent.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

The look Cal shoots him is laden with amusement.

"Such as?"

[poeticterms]

Obadiah chuckles.

"An old man like me needs to keep a few secrets."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal shrugs.

"Doesn't matter."

He takes a drag from his cigarette.

"I'm ten steps ahead of you, anyway."

That's the drawback of the game Stane decided to play with him - once Cal stops playing, not only is he out of the game, he can twist it into whatever shape he wants. Instead of being prey, he's an enemy. And Stane has given him too much information.

[poeticterms]

The threat doesn't seem to put a dent in his fake friendliness. "We'll see about that," he jokes, turning to step back inside. "You have a nice day, now."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Obadiah." Cal raises his voice just a little, but his tone is still even.

"Take me seriously."

Or you'll wish you had.

[poeticterms]

With no better options, he is reduced to pretending he didn't hear as the door swings shut behind him.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal finishes off his cigarette, then counts to ten before he goes back inside.

[toblameforit]

"Hi," says a completely innocent Tony from the kitchen doorway. Obie is nowhere in sight. "We good to go?"

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal gives him a cheerful and genuine smile.

"Yep, all set. The kitchen look okay?"

[toblameforit]

Tony grins back. "It'll do."