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]

"Deal."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal stretches lazily in his seat.

"I'm gonna hold you to that."

[toblameforit]

"Good."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal doesn't look at Sherlock, and he does his best not to think about suspicious car accidents.

This is not that kind of afternoon.

[toblameforit]

Tony, of course, is completely innocent.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"So," Cal asks after a moment, "are we there yet?"

[toblameforit]

He snickers.

"Did you seriously just ask me that? You know I'm not actually an adult, and I can take a longer route just to be an asshole, right?"

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Do that and I'll light up right here in the car," Cal says cheerfully.

And then he'll probably die of asphyxiation from having the entire pack shoved down his throat shortly thereafter, but he will do so content in the knowledge that Tony will never get the smell out of the upholstery.

[toblameforit]

"You're an asshole."

So why does he sound so happy about it?

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Because he knows Cal's survival instincts will kick in before he actually does it?

"Just trying to keep up with you."

[toblameforit]

"Yeah, well, you're doing a great job."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"I learned from the best."

He might mean Tony.

Or, considering his family, he might not.

[toblameforit]

"I'll bet."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal snorts.

[if_inconvenient]

"We've got a good quarter of an hour still to go," Sherlock provides.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"What, you don't know it down to the second?"

Cal is disappoint.

[if_inconvenient]

"Even supposing I did, if I were incautious enough to voice such an estimate Tony would immediately seek to prove me wrong."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

". . . That is very true," Cal concedes.

Because, for those of you just tuning in, Tony is an asshole.

[toblameforit]

Tony puts on his best who, me? face.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Cal isn't buying.

[toblameforit]

He laughs.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal holds out for a couple seconds.

Then he laughs, too.

[toblameforit]

Tony looks smug.

Not that he has a good reason to be, but since when has he ever let that stop him?

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal rolls his eyes.

The gesture is not without a touch of fondness.

[if_inconvenient]

Awwww.