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]

Another five seconds. Maybe six.

"How about now?"

[toblameforit]

"No."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Now?"

Hey, Cal can do this all day.

Or at least for the next three minutes or so until they do get there.

Or until he gets bored.

Or until Tony strangles him with his seatbelt.

There are so many possibilities.

[toblameforit]

Tony chooses to ignore him completely the third time around.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Bored it is, then!

Tony is a spoilsport.

[toblameforit]

Well, if Cal would rather be strangled...

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Hey, some people are into that.

Connolly probably wouldn't let it get too far, though.

[toblameforit]

That is what he's there for.

Another reason why bodyguards are no fun at all.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

. . . oh hey, look, now they actually are there.

[if_inconvenient]

"Imagine that. We have arrived."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal laughs a little.

As soon as the car is parked, he unbuckles and gets out. Watching Connolly's car park, he says,

"I need a smoke before we go in. You guys can go ahead if you want."

[if_inconvenient]

He glances in the direction Cal is looking, but doesn't comment.

[toblameforit]

"Sure, see you inside," says Tony, climbing out of the car and heading for the building.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal pulls out his cigarettes and offers the pack to Sherlock as, a few spaces over, Connolly gets out of the car.

[if_inconvenient]

"No, thank you."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal slides a cigarette out for himself and pockets the pack again.

"Any trouble?" he asks as Connolly approaches.

"No, sir."

Cal is not surprised by this, because with Stane out of the picture they weren't expecting any, and because Sherlock would have noticed anything out of the ordinary.

[if_inconvenient]

Sherlock tucks his hands in his pockets, examines Connolly thoughtfully, and smiles.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Connolly maintains his professional stance, but by the way the corners of his mouth twitch, one might gather that he's not too broken up about losing Hannah.

He's breathing more easily now, for a start.

". . . what is it with you and my security staff?" Cal can't help asking.

[if_inconvenient]

He cracks up.

"Good heavens, don't let Tony catch wind of that question."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal blinks, then looks appalled.

"God, that's even worse than him doing the army."

Seriously. Gross.

(Connolly tries not to look amused.)

[if_inconvenient]

Connolly surely can't think he's getting out of the conversation that easily.

"Now you are just giving this poor fellow ideas."

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

He's trying to keep it professional. He really is.

But seriously, what else is he going to do here?

(Plus he knows that with this particular Chandler, he can get away with it.)

"'Fraid not," he says, completely deadpan. "I like 'em at least old enough to vote."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal will not be telling Peter about this conversation ever, thank you very much.

[if_inconvenient]

And Sherlock will just be over here, giggling.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

". . . Anyway," Cal says after a moment, trying to ignore Sherlock. "I'm sure Peter told you we weren't expecting trouble from the same source anymore, but I, uh. Just wanted to doublecheck."