Sunnydale AU: don't go into the - never mind.

[americas_son]

Some students, when they hear the final bell ring, head to class right away.

Sometimes Cal is one of them, but not today. He was outside having a cigarette when the bell sounded, and he was too deep in thought to pay it much attention.

So he's slipping inside now, a few minutes late. The halls are already quiet, and he's keeping an eye out for any faculty members authorized to give detention as he makes his way toward his English class.

Comments

[if_inconvenient]

"I love you too."

Click.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal runs his hand through his hair, not really noticing the strands that tug at the fresh papercut, and looks at Tony with apprehension.

[toblameforit]

"Sorry we kind of ignored you there," he says, sounding a little distant and apparently addressing the stacks of paperwork on the desk. "Sherry's probably out the door of his hotel room and on the way to the airport by now. Really doesn't like wasting time, that guy."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"That's fine," Cal says immediately. "Don't worry about me."

Are you okay? is a stupid question. He doesn't ask it. Instead, he reaches over to put a tentative hand on Tony's shoulder.

(Murdered, he thinks. That's a pretty shitty club, too.)

[toblameforit]

Very, very quietly:

"Thanks."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal's answer is equally quiet.

"Any time."

[toblameforit]

He smiles wryly. At the desk.

"Y'know, in case you were wondering, it doesn't get any easier the second time around."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I - didn't think it would."

Cal isn't sure what the second time in question is here - Stane's death, after losing his parents? Finding out what really happened to them and living it over again? - but he's not about to ask for clarification.

(The reflection that wasn't there, the burst of heat against his face - does that count as losing his father twice?)

[toblameforit]

Tony lets go of the desk and straightens.

"Jarvis, why haven't I heard back from what's-her-name yet?"

[poeticterms]

"Since I am not aware of her position on supernatural matters, I left her a message dictating the official story. She has yet to return my call."

[toblameforit]

"Great. Then until that happens or Sherry gets back, I guess I'm reading Obie's paperwork."

He pulls out the chair and sits down, but doesn't immediately pick up a page.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal watches him for a moment, then says,

"Or we could get drunk."

He's hardly an expert on healthy coping mechanisms, but there has to be a happy medium between hiding in your room getting high for days and immediately burying yourself in paperwork.

[toblameforit]

"Oh my God, don't tempt me," he says, shaking his head.

Then: "No, wait, tempt away." He shoves his chair back and stands. "I was a lightweight when I was thirteen, anyway."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"I'm kind of a lightweight now," Cal says. "I'm more used to smoking."

He doesn't appear to see anything amiss in what Tony just said.

He will let Tony lead the way.

[toblameforit]

"Yeah, so I heard." He pauses in the doorway to consider. "Upstairs or down? Upstairs is Scotch; downstairs is wine."

This is an oversimplification, of course, but it's not like the choice is of vast significance anyway.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal shrugs a little.

"I vote for upstairs."

He's not much of a wine drinker.

[toblameforit]

"Sounds good to me."

In that case, he leads Cal up the stairs to his room.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal is all too glad to leave that room, and Stane's lingering presence, behind.

Yeah. Definitely a different room from now on.

[toblameforit]

Tony is a little relieved, too, although the lingering smell of cologne means something different to him. A succession of birthdays—presents like the computer whose component parts have slowly, over the years, been phased out of Jarvis's brain—more hugs than his parents ever gave him.

That last is what comes to mind most strongly, and what he is trying hardest not to think about.

Opening his bedroom door right at the top of the stairs, he finally succeeds.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal follows him in.

[toblameforit]

"Okay," he says, crossing to the liquor cabinet, "I lied. It's not just Scotch."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal laughs a little.

"Yeah, I had a feeling," he says.

[toblameforit]

He opens the cabinet's double doors to reveal a stunning array of alcoholic beverages. "Pick your poison," he says, grabbing a glass. "Scotch for me."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Thanks."

He can't help but think of the supply of tiny bottles in New York, and his brilliant idea to make the hangover extra bad by mixing his liquors as much as he could as a sort of masochistic distraction technique.

It had been pretty effective. And he never wants to do it again. So he'll just stick with whiskey, thanks.

He pours his drink, takes a sip, and sighs. It's not a joint, but it'll do.

[toblameforit]

There's nowhere to sit but the bed, so Tony does. It's a big bed, and—wonder of wonders—neatly made, which minimizes any potential for awkward.