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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"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."

"Give him time," Cal says. "He didn't talk to me at first, either, but now we practically hang out."

Sort of.

"Good. He's gotta be getting lonely out there. This is the longest time I've been away from him in, like, ever."

"Yeah, I wish I could spend more time over there."

For Sherlock and Jarvis's sake, of course. Not at all because even though Cal has never been close to any of his family, he's painfully aware at times of how, for all intents and purposes, he's the only Chandler left living here. Technically Mother still does, but Sacramento is far enough away that she only comes home weekends, and she said something recently about there being fewer expectations in that regard now that Cal is officially a college student.

He tries not to think about it much.

"The great thing about Jarvis, though, is he's always at home."

"Yeah."

Cal's tone turns thoughtful.

"I wonder if he ever wishes he could go to a movie or something."