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]

"No way. I only like the best assholes."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal . . . does not exchange a glance with Sherlock. He stirs the ice in his soda with his straw and says,

"When you put it that way, it's kinda gross."

[toblameforit]

Tony cracks up.

[if_inconvenient]

Sherlock is not far behind.



Er.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal joins in.

[toblameforit]

"You said it, not me."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"No, I'm pretty sure you said it."

For certain values of "it," anyway.

[toblameforit]

"Well, you're the one who made it about—like, assholes."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"All I said was that it sounded gross," Cal says. "You're the one who said it."

A subtle yet crucial distinction.

[toblameforit]

"Innocently."

[if_inconvenient]

Sherlock snorts.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

As does Cal.

"Do you do anything innocently?" he asks. "Ever?"

[toblameforit]

"...maybe."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal feels that a deeply skeptical look is the only response that's required.

[toblameforit]

"No, for once, I was not the first one at the table to think of the dirty meaning."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"That doesn't count."

Give him a few seconds and he'll think of why!

[toblameforit]

"Because," he continues inexorably, "you got there before I did."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't mean you wouldn't have thought of it at all."

That's why.

[toblameforit]

"And that matters how?"

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Because you still would have thought of it."

Obviously.

[toblameforit]

"Except, again, you thought of it first."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"And that makes you innocent how?" Cal asks. "'Not first' is not the same as 'not at all.'"

[toblameforit]

"It makes me innocenter than you."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal rolls his eyes. Really, does he even need to say anything?

No. No, he does not.

[if_inconvenient]

"Innocenter is not a word," Sherlock feels the need to point out.