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

[if_inconvenient]

"It's not worth the trouble of explaining. Although I must say, what did you expect? I am cryptic enough when you do pay attention."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

". . . sorry, did you say something?"

Cal isn't really trying that hard not to smile.

[if_inconvenient]

Bone-dry: "No. Not a word. Go back to your pizza."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal does so, though the snickering presents something of a challenge.

[if_inconvenient]

After about ten seconds, Sherlock's deadpan cracks.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

That does not help with the snickering. Unless you count turning it into full-blown laughter as "helping."

[if_inconvenient]

It is the best kind of helping.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal disagrees!

But he's not too upset about it.

[if_inconvenient]

Yes. Sherlock can tell by the giggling.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

It's a pretty solid giveaway, as these things go.



"Anyway," Cal says after a minute or two. "What were you saying?"

[if_inconvenient]

"Nothing, remember?"

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"I'm s'posed to remember stuff now?"

That's asking a lot, Sherlock, don't you think?

[if_inconvenient]

"Apparently not."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Exactly," Cal says. Regardless of whether it makes sense or not.

[if_inconvenient]

"Good heavens. Why do I bother?"

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"'Cause you like it."

Cal sips his soda (somewhat) serenely.

[toblameforit]

Tony cracks up.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal looks pleased with himself.

[if_inconvenient]

Sherlock concedes defeat with a gracious nod.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Winning!

It's a thing Cal does.

[if_inconvenient]

Yes, yes it is.

Although perhaps not as often as he'd like to think.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

And yet still more often than he used to think.

[if_inconvenient]

Which is, naturally, all Sherlock's fault.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

He has been terribly reckless when it comes to wielding his influence over what Cal thinks of himself.

[if_inconvenient]

On the contrary, his every effort in that direction has been quite calculated.