toblameforit | (no subject)

(no subject)

So, there was that.

It's a whole hour before Tony realizes that there is somebody he can talk to about this besides Jarvis, who probably doesn't want to yet. He sends yet another email asking for Cal's phone number, which Jarvis provides.

Being Tony, he doesn't wait around pondering the social correctness of the call first. He just dials.

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"Yeah. So, like, I know he'll try not to do anything too creepy, but..."

"Yeah," Cal says. "He doesn't always know where the line is. Or care."

This hadn't really occurred to him as an issue. Cal is used to being monitored. And he's used to Sherlock. He forgets that most people are neither.

"So that's probably gonna be a thing," he concludes.

"Yeah," Cal says again. "I'll try to help."

"Thanks."

"No problem," Cal says. "I mean, I'm the one who's gonna be here dealing with it if Irene shoots him down."

Which obviously is his sole motivation.

"...Her name isn't Irene," says Tony, with almost complete confidence.

Cal blinks, then laughs.

"No, it's Bella," he says. "I mean like Irene in the movie."

And probably also the books, but whatever, Cal's seen the movie and knows Tony has, too.

"I was telling Sherlock once ages ago about how he needed an Irene."

"Okay, yeah, thought so. Man, don't confuse me like that."

Cal snorts.

"Sorry," he says, sounding more amused than apologetic.

"Asshole," he says fondly.

Cal laughs.

"Why do you think I fit in so good with you guys?"

"Shut the fuck up."

But he's laughing, too.

There is only one possible answer to that.

"Make me."

...some people, Tony reminds himself, say that and don't mean it flirtatiously.

So he just giggles.

Yeah, Cal realized how that sounds about half a second after it came out of his mouth. But it wouldn't make any sense like that, right? They're talking on the phone. It's not like Tony is actually here - whatever, no big deal.

Really.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," he says.

"Okay, you win."

Speaking of things that sound flirtatious.

There's a second's pause before he answers.

"Of course I do."

Because he's right.

"It's bound to happen once in a while."

"Especially when I'm talking to you," Cal agrees.

"God knows it's more likely than when you're talking to Sherry."

In the name of fairness, Cal is compelled to point out,

"Yeah, but that's true for everyone."

"Except Jarvis. And maybe whatsername. Bella."

"Jarvis is a computer," Cal says. "He kind of has the advantage there."

"Man, it's too bad he's too shy to talk to her," Tony reflects. "I bet they'd get along great."