AU-squared: someday it will have a name

[americas_son]

Cal could study for the sociology test coming up on Monday. It's not like his grade in that class is so stellar that he can afford to bomb it.

But he could also play sounding board for Sherlock's latest "only in Sunnydale" case.

Guess which one he picked?

Comments

[inhandcuffs.livejournal.com]

"See?"

Suddenly college kids in his basement is the awesomest thing.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that look on Tony's face is pretty familiar.

- but why would something Tony was working on send him to another world? That's really random.

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

"He was working on interdimensional travel?"

That sounds like Tony.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"I don't know."

That would be less random, but why would he have to do it that way when there are already ways to -



Oh.

[inhandcuffs.livejournal.com]

"Why wouldn't he be working on interdimensional travel?"

Sometimes Tony is a little slow on the uptake.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"We have magic that can do that," Cal blurts out, because he really doesn't want to follow that thought to its natural conclusion.

(He'd really thought Tony had come to terms with what happened.)

[inhandcuffs.livejournal.com]

"...Back up. Magic?"

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"- yeah. Uh, some worlds have magic."

He glances to Miss Potts for confirmation; she nods.

"Tony's never messed with it much, but, you know. It's there."

[inhandcuffs.livejournal.com]

"Your world is weird," Tony concludes.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I get that sometimes," Cal says distractedly.

- but it would make sense not to use magic like that on the Hellmouth. Too many things could go wrong and Tony would know it. Of course he'd try a different approach.

Jesus.

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

Pepper watches Cal think, but doesn't say anything about it.

"Most worlds are," she says instead. It's something she's found to be true.

[inhandcuffs.livejournal.com]

"I'm still mad at you for not telling me about this," he says, except he obviously isn't.

"You," this to Cal again, "I'm keeping you. Pepper, find somewhere to put him. I wanna figure out where he came from and how to send him home."

Nobody objects to this, right? Yes? Good.

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

"Yes, sir."

There's a guest suite on the second floor that hasn't been used once since the house was built. Perfect for housing interdimensonal visitors.

"Next time I find a door to Milliways, I'll let you know." Or she probably won't. She happens to like having a place where she is guaranteed not to have Tony distracting her, but doesn't have to worry about what he's getting into while she's out of contact.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Sounds fine to Cal. It sure as hell beats getting kicked out to fend for himself in a world where he doesn't exist.

Miss Potts's remark makes him realize something.

"Could you let me know, too?" he asks. "I could get home that way."

[inhandcuffs.livejournal.com]

"And I can go ask alternate me what the hell he was up to."

Everybody wins!

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I bet he'd love that." Actually, he probably would.

And okay, maybe Cal should be sharing his theories about why, but - it's been a long time, for this Tony. Does he even want to go digging that up?

(Cal realizes that this world's Obadiah Stane cannot possibly have died the same way his world's did.

But it doesn't occur to him that Stane might not have died at all.)

[inhandcuffs.livejournal.com]

"If I can't ask me what the hell I'm up to, who can? Don't answer that, Pepper."

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

Pepper doesn't exactly give him a who, me? look, but she doesn't not give him one, either.

"I'll make sure to keep you both informed," is all she says.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

This time, Cal notices the nickname. Pepper?

Well, it's better than Virginia. He thinks he'll stick to Miss Potts, though.

"Thanks," he says.

[inhandcuffs.livejournal.com]

"Okay, no more emergency. I'm going to work on my cars." He waves a hand at both Cal and Pepper, generally. "Shoo."

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

Pepper sees the startled look that crosses Cal's face and once again steps in to smooth things over, saying with a gracious smile,

"If you could come with me, I'll show you where you'll be staying."

She can't help but wonder what the Tony Stark in Cal's world is like, if a display like this surprises him. As far as she can tell, Tony's manners have not improved with age, but they haven't gotten noticeably worse, either.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Okay, yeah. Thanks."

Cal follows Miss Potts out, deciding that he is actually okay with that, anyway. He needs time for everything to sink in.

That, and his body is beginning to remind him that he took a hard fall and the bruising is going to be spectacular if he doesn't do something about it.