toblameforit | (no subject)

(It works. It works quite well, actually.)

"Jarvis has a screwy sense of humour."

Cal locks his hands behind his head

(just to be sure)

saying,

"Yeah, I can't really see you programming a boring AI. It wouldn't fit in here."

(It's going to be a very long, very hot shower. Creating this particular distraction on his own terms still comes with its own very special level of gross.)

"Nothing I make is ever boring," Tony agrees.

Obadiah chuckles.

Just in case Cal's skin wasn't crawling before, it is now. He makes himself hold the position for another second before casually shifting back to the way he was sitting before.

"No kidding," he says. "My car keeps doing new things."

"Yeah, I put a couple good tricks in there. I promise you're not gonna, like, hit the wrong button and fly to Mars, though."

Cal blinks at this idea, then laughs.

"Good," he says. "I don't think Peter would accept that excuse."

"I mean, trust me, if I could build a car that doubled as a spaceship, I would. But we're not quite there yet."

"I bet you get there first," Cal says.

"Oh, no shit I will."

"There's the Stark ego we all know and love," Obadiah says fondly.

"I'd be confused if it didn't show up."

He's speaking to Stane, but still looking at Tony.

"Gotta keep up the family tradition of making physicists cry."

Cal grins.

"Sadist."

"Also a family tradition."

Obadiah laughs.

Suddenly, Cal has had just enough enough of this topic of conversation. He loops back to a little earlier.

"As long as nothing happens that makes me drive off the road," he says.

"Course not. Safety first. Then again," he teases, "with the way you drive..."

"There is nothing wrong with the way I drive," Cal protests, with a wry smile.

"Uh-huh."

This time, Cal does not make a face. Instead, he says,

"What?"

"Haven't we been over this?"

Cal can't remember. He hasn't spent much time in this conversation paying attention to the details of it. His awareness has mostly been focused on Stane's presence.

"- well, I still don't believe you."

He snorts.