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

[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."

[if_inconvenient]

"Evidence is of universal benefit."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal does know perfectly well that this is an argument he can never, ever win, nor does he want to, but he keeps right on going anyway. What else are they going to do on the way to Modesto?

"I'm not trying to put anyone in jail," he says. "I'm just explaining to Tony that he's wrong."

[if_inconvenient]

"Someone is certainly wrong here."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"It's Tony," Cal says.

Helpfully.

[toblameforit]

"Is not."

Not that he even remembers what they're arguing about anymore.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Is - so wrong."

He just narrowly avoided the is too there.

[toblameforit]

"Are we actually going to do this all the way to Modesto?"

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"If you'd stop being wrong, we wouldn't have to."

You're bringing it on yourself, Tony.

[toblameforit]

"I honestly do not even remember what you think I'm wrong about."

Beat.

"But I'm right about it."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal laughs.

"No, dude," he says. "You're not."

[toblameforit]

"I so am."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Nope."

(. . . are they gonna do this all the way to Modesto?)