Sunnydale AU: let's try that again

[americas_son]

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.

Comments

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal rolls his eyes.

"He's on our side," he points out.

[toblameforit]

"Doesn't stop it from weirding me out. Which I'm pretty sure is kind of a good thing, I mean, at least this way I'm never gonna forget he's there."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal smiles a bit, wry.

"I guess," he says.

Then,

"You are weird."

[toblameforit]

"No, you're just used to bodyguards. Having some guy following you around watching you all the time is objectively creepy."

Says the man who created Jarvis.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

It's true that Cal is used to bodyguards. He ignores that point.

"He's on our side," he says again. "If he were one of the bad guys, then it would be creepy."

[if_inconvenient]

"I don't think it is creepy in the least," Sherlock puts in.

[toblameforit]

"Yeah, but you follow people around watching them for kicks."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, no offense, but I'm not really sure you're the back-up I want on this one," Cal agrees.

[if_inconvenient]

He laughs. "Nonsense. I am a perfectly objective witness."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Usually," Cal agrees. "I don't think you're helping my case here, though."

Judging from Tony's reaction.

[if_inconvenient]

"Nothing could help your case."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"I will help my case," Cal says. Decisively.

[toblameforit]

"Convincing me that being tailed isn't creepy? You're dreaming."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"I'll get there."

Cal sounds totally convinced, like he's stating a fact instead of a theory.

"Maybe not tonight, but I'll get there."

[toblameforit]

"Uh-huh."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"I will."

He sounds no less assured than he did a moment ago. In fact, he sounds so assured that he also sounds mildly unconcerned.

(Someone has been spending an awful lot of time with Sherlock.)

[toblameforit]

He cracks up.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

. . . Cal was not expecting that response. He blinks.

"What?"

[toblameforit]

"Sherry, your ego is contagious."

[if_inconvenient]

"So it is."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Cal says.

He just knows what he's good at, that's all.

[toblameforit]

"Uh-huh."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

(It would not be inaccurate to say that the list of things Cal believes himself to be good at has indeed gotten longer since he met Sherlock.)

"- whatever, I'm still right."

[if_inconvenient]

"So you've said. Repeatedly. Against all evidence."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Evidence is your thing," Cal points out. "Not mine."