Sunnydale AU: and nothing even blew up

[americas_son]

Cal isn't sure which took longer: the speeches at the graduation ceremony, or the gathering his mother had planned after. At least the monotony of the party was broken up by Grahame's calmly stealing the spotlight to announce his new job with some law firm in LA.

Cal kind of has to admire his style there.

But, whatever, either way it's finally all over, and now he's pulling up in front of Tina's house to pick her up and head over to the Stark residence for the real party.

Comments

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you're kind of out of excuses." That would be the negative side to graduating.

To Tina, he says,

"Well, let me know when you can. We can call it a late graduation present."

[take-youaway.livejournal.com]

"Um."

She's going to wait until they're in private to bring up her concerns. This is so not the place.

"Okay."

[toblameforit]

"And I have to find somebody to hand the whole thing off to before September."

Not that it's really going to be a tough choice. Unless she says no.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal is not entirely unaware of Tina's sudden discomfort, but he's not sure what the big deal is, so he smiles and kisses her temple. Definitely a conversation to save for later.

"Sounds like you're gonna have an awesome summer," he tells Tony dryly.

[take-youaway.livejournal.com]

She relaxes against Cal, grateful they can let this go until later.

"I'd offer to trade, but I don't think you'd like folding t-shirts, either."

[toblameforit]

"Ha ha. God. Okay, no." He gestures emhatically with his beer bottle. "The next time I bring up Stark Industries, somebody please chuck something at me. Drink today; work tomorrow."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal eyes the nearest pillow, but is sadly in no position to grab it. He's already occupied by beer and Tina.

Not necessarily in that order.

He contents himself by saying,

"I promise."

[take-youaway.livejournal.com]

"Maybe high school wasn't so bad after all," she teases.

Her beer is great. She hasn't had this brand before.

[if_inconvenient]

"For some of us, it still is," Sherlock comments.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Poor Sherlock."

Cal's tone is rather noticeably lacking in sympathy.

[take-youaway.livejournal.com]

"So mean," she says, nudging Cal with her elbow. "Leave the poor kid alone."

Yes, Tina is teasing, too. It's a daring thing for her! Hopefully she won't end up putting her foot in her mouth. As usual.

[toblameforit]

Tony snickers.

[if_inconvenient]

"Well," says Sherlock. "It is good to know someone is on my side."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Damn," Cal says, "my girlfriend likes you better than me. And here I thought Tony was the one I'd have to worry about."

He gives Tina a little squeeze and sips his beer.

[take-youaway.livejournal.com]

"You don't have to worry, honey," she says, and she kisses Cal on the cheek.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal smiles and returns the gesture.

[take-youaway.livejournal.com]

"Not that you guys aren't charming and adorable," Tina assures Sherlock and Tony.

(Cal's just more so to her!)

[if_inconvenient]

In unison:

[toblameforit]

"We know."

[if_inconvenient]

"We know."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Oh god," Cal says, "don't encourage them."

Pause.

"Also that was a little creepy." They should not do that again.

[take-youaway.livejournal.com]

"I think it was cute," she laughs.

Okay, maybe it was a little creepy.

[toblameforit]

"Creepy," Tony says definitively, "would be him doing it in my voice."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

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

He glances at Sherlock.

[if_inconvenient]

Who contrives to look as innocent as possible.