toblameforit | (no subject)

Again, a reasonably funny comment, but this time Cal doesn't react, instead saying to Tony,

"Maybe he's testing me. Maybe part of fake Watson's job is to make sure you don't starve after you destroy all the Pop Tarts."

"You know, that actually does sound like Sherry."

Unfortunately, Cal is still not familiar enough with the Holmes mythos to be able to make a crack about Mycroft Holmes being able to take of himself just fine, thanks, so instead he settles for laughing and saying,

"Okay, fine. But just breakfast. I know you're capable of ordering a pizza all by yourself."

"Man, don't even remind me. I promised him I wouldn't drive out for pizza until he got back."

"I don't see why not," says Obadiah. "I know I always disagree with him, but I really think he's overreacting." He smiles at Tony. "Howard's little boy can take care of himself."

Gross. Gross. Gross. Cal doesn't even know where to start with everything that was wrong with that, so when he speaks, the glance he gives Stane is a little more pointed than he'd intended.

"Yeah, well, I don't think Sherlock would forgive me if I let someone try to kill you on my watch, so."

Tony laughs. "Oh my God, you are his Watson."

Cal forces himself to get back on track, to keep it light, and puts on a wry grin.

"Yeah, I pretty much gave up fighting that."

Obadiah doesn't say anything; he just shakes his head.

Which leaves Cal free to ignore the shit out of him.

(When he does eventually have to leave, he is getting right into the shower when he gets home.)

Tony gives Obie a look, but doesn't reproach him out loud. No need to start shit.

"Anyway," he says to Cal, "I wouldn't put it past him to have predicted this whole conversation, I mean I guess minus Obie 'cause he didn't know Obie was coming, and figured you'd keep me honest. Devious little shit."

"He's probably got Jarvis sending him updates right now," Cal theorizes.

He says it lightly but, like his earlier remark about leaving Stane out of this, it's not really a joke.

"Oh, he's totally sitting in his hotel room laughing at us," Tony agrees. "Bet he was cheering for you during the pillow fight that wasn't."

"Well, yeah," Cal says, like that much is obvious.

Though it might have been for different reasons than Tony thinks.

"Hi Sherry," he says brightly. "I'm sorry I called you a devious little shit. No wait, to you that's a compliment."

Cal laughs, but thinks that Tony doesn't even know the half of it. Not yet.

"Seriously though," Tony continues, "when he spies on me he at least tells me about it. So if he's watching this conversation I'm probably gonna get an email telling me how much I suck at Tetris."

Speaking of which, he hands Cal back his phone.

Cal leans over to take it back, saying,

"Now that you've said that, you will."

"Now that you've said that, I won't."

"And now that you've -"

Cal stops.

"This could go on forever."

"At this point he'll probably just flip a coin."

Cal can't resist.

"Not now he won't."

"I know he's not watching," Tony says triumphantly, "because he didn't just call you to tell you what a jerk you are."

Cal looks at the phone still in his hand.

"Saving it for later," he decides.

(Sherlock must be busy right now.)

"Or maybe he has better things to do," Obadiah suggests.