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

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Which, Cal thinks, is basically why Stane is there now.

In a way, that's not fair.

Cal can think of much better reasons for him to have gone. And he's sure that what he knows is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to everything Stane has done to deserve - whatever's happening to him now.

"As long as we only talk about it," he says.

[toblameforit]

"Okay, point."

He downs the rest of glass number two in one go.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Want a refill while I'm up?" Cal asks.

[toblameforit]

"Yeah," he says, leaning forward and holding out his glass.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal snags it, then pours out of what he is pretty sure is the bottle Tony has been using. His pouring for Tony is decidedly more generous than for himself.

He brings the drinks back over and resumes his seat at the end of the bed.

[toblameforit]

"Thanks."

It is, in fact, the right bottle, not that it would have mattered terribly much if it wasn't.

He lapses into silence.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Welcome."

Cal falls silent, too. He hadn't meant to, and it's not like there isn't anything he could say.

There just seems to be too much.

[poeticterms]

"Miss Potts is calling," Jarvis reports. "Shall I handle her for you?"

[toblameforit]

Tony thinks for a moment.

"Yeah, but do it out loud."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal doesn't actually breathe a sigh of relief at the interruption, but he's glad of it all the same.

He's also a little surprised that Tony apparently doesn't mind him overhearing this conversation, but these are unusual circumstances. And Cal is part of this, whether Stark Industries knows it or not.

[poeticterms]

"Certainly, sir."

Jarvis connects the call and broadcasts the audio into Tony's room so the boys can listen in.

"You've reached the Stark residence," he says pleasantly.

A slightly concerned female voice replies, "You left a message earlier about Mr Stane's condition. Is he still not taking calls?"

"That's correct."

One very good reason to have Jarvis field this conversation: his voice doesn't waver with the lie.

[toblameforit]

Tony knows he couldn't in a million years sound that okay about it.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

(What lie? It is technically true: Stane is in no position to be taking calls.

Something else that Cal cannot risk allowing himself to even think right now.)

[poeticterms]

"I'd appreciate it if you could let me know when that changes," she says. "I've cleared his schedule for the immediate future, but if this is going to last for more than a few days, I need to know that."

"We'll be sure to keep you updated," Jarvis promises.

"Thank you. I'll be in touch."

"Goodbye, Miss Potts."

She hangs up.

[toblameforit]

He polishes off his third glass of whiskey.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal hasn't had any of his second glass yet; now he just turns it around in his fingers.

After a moment he says, carefully,

"That gives us some breathing room to work in. A few days is plenty of time to set up something good."

[toblameforit]

"Man, am I ever glad I've got you on board," he says, staring into the empty glass.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal smiles a little.

"It's easier when you've got back-up."

There is Sherlock, of course, and no doubt he could handle both setting up Stane's untimely death and comforting Tony with ease. But he's not here yet, and Cal is.

[toblameforit]

"Don't I know it," he agrees.