americas_son | Sunnydale AU: careful of the curse

Cal reaches over to take Tina's hand.

"Let's."

She almost pulls her hand away. How can he stand to touch her? It's not like they can be... anything any longer.

But she wants his touch, and she knows there will be a day soon, probably tomorrow, when he comes to his senses.

"Okay. I'll- I'll make it up to you somehow. To both of you. For all of this I've put you through."

"Think nothing of it."

He leads them down to the kitchen.

He feels her tense up a little, for just a second, but then she seems okay again.

"He's not kidding about liking to cook," he tells her as they follow Sherlock. "He's probably excited to have someone new to cook for, he already knows everything about what me and Tony eat."

He lets the inclusion of himself in her remark slide by, because isn't this what a good boyfriend would do? How could he do anything else?

"Quite right," he contributes without turning around.

"Okay. I like pretty much anything."

She's never been that picky of an eater. She has her favorites, but right now, she's starving.

She does manage a smile for the first time since yesterday. She doesn't realize it. It just happens.

Cal notices this, and looks pleased.

"Want a soda?" he asks in the kitchen. Apparently Sherlock is doing dinner and Cal is in charge of beverages.

"That sounds good."

She's not too thirsty; she's had a couple of glasses of water. Soda sounds just right.

Sherlock busies himself assembling ingredients.

Pasta went over well with Cal; he thinks he'll try spaghetti with meatballs this time.

Mmmm, meatballs smell perfect.

"Can I help with anything? It smells so good already."

Which is a bit of a trick, since nothing's been cooked yet.

"I, um, I can smell things better now," she explains.

"I have matters well in hand, thank you."

Now is probably not the time to question her in detail about her enhanced senses, so he doesn't.

Cal gets a glass in case Tina wants it, then puts it and the can down in front of her.

"I guess I'll have to remember to shower, then," he says, studiedly light, as he takes a seat himself.

She is so embarrassed, but she knows Cal was trying to help.

"I don't think it's like that."

She hopes.

"And maybe the three day thing- maybe it's not always the case. Maybe it's just one night. I feel perfectly fine now."

"We've done up a room for you, nevertheless. I'd be much obliged if you'd stay the night in it."

She doesn't even know what to say to that.

"I-"

She nods her head and busies herself pouring the soda into her glass.

Cal reaches over to stroke her hair, smoothing a piece back behind her ear.

"We have to be sure," he says, as gently as he can.

...Sherlock will just be over here. Cooking.

"I know."

She looks down into her glass. It is fascinating soda.

"Mmm, spaghetti and meatballs," she finally says, faking a smile. "Did you know that was one of my favorites, Sherlock?"

"Lucky guess," he admits, with a flicker of a smile.

She feels more human in a nice kitchen with friends and food that smells so good...

And then she realizes the implications of that saying 'feels more human'. It must have been coined in Sunnydale.

"You're a great guesser, then. Cal, um, you already ate, right?" She notices for the first time how tired he looks.

"Yeah, a while ago."

He gives her a smile. "I'm all set."

"I, um, if it's okay, I want you both to leave me alone if- when it happens. Just shut me in the room and don't come back. I don't want you to see me like that."

Or to be in danger by being near. That way maybe they can get some sleep.

She hopes the room is soundproof.

Cal nods.

"That's fine," he assures her. "Jarvis can keep an eye on you. No one else has to be there."

"Good. You need to get sleep. Promise me you will, okay?"

Cal wonders vaguely if he smells tired; having not run into a mirror yet today, he doesn't realize how clearly it's written on his face.

"I'll try," he says. It's the closest he can get to a truthful promise. It's possible he might not be able to sleep tonight at all. But he can try.

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