americas_son | (no subject)

(no subject)

It's been a few days since - well. Everything. Cal's been at home, focusing on his obligations there, giving Sherlock and Tony space to deal.

(Tony knows he can come talk to Cal if he wants. Cal told Jarvis. And he hasn't cut off all contact with Sherlock, either. He's called a couple of times.

He just. Doesn't want to get in the way.)

He's been keeping an eye out for Milliways, though. He did make a promise.

So when a door shows up, he takes it.

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Cal takes out another cigarette.

(Killing Stane would be easy. He might expect Sherlock to try something, if he expects anything at all, but not Cal. Never Cal.

And killing someone who should be fucking dead doesn't even count as murder.)

He coughs on the first inhale.

"Don't hurt yourself," Sherlock says dryly. "I was under the impression that mortals needed their lungs more or less intact."

Cal swallows, wincing. It is starting to feel kind of like scrubbing his throat and chest with steel wool.

"I'll live."

"I know you will, or I would be taking that away."

Cal snorts softly.

Whatever.

"I can't imagine you doubt that I would."

"No," Cal says quietly, "but I can doubt your motives all I want."

"If I wanted you dead—and I don't, but I hardly expect you to take my word for it, and my most compelling argument is in your pocket—you may be sure I would do it myself."

"For all I know, you're just playing with your food."

Pretending to care, whether Cal believes it or not, because he's bored or because he thinks he can wear Cal down or just because he can.

At that, he goes quiet.

Cal draws from his cigarette.

Now the nicotine is getting to be too much, and he shudders.

"It seems my better half has been remiss."

Cal lowers the cigarette a little to take a slow, clean breath.

"How so?"

"Well," he says, very dryly, "I am certainly not going to convince you that the soulless are still capable of emotional attachments."

Cal raises his eyebrows.

"Yeah, that'd be a little too convenient for me," he says coolly.

Sherlock glances back at him.

"Ask the one who got his soul back, next time you see him. I imagine it will make future conversation between us rather less harrowing."

Cal meets his eyes.

"Hopefully you won't be Bound for that long."

And Milliways will leave him alone until after the spell.

"Hopefully, yes."

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