and I knew it complete

[toblameforit]

He worries about Sherry.

If you'd asked him, before he moved to the other corner of the continent, he wouldn't even have thought of the possibility. Worry? About Sherlock Holmes? What about him, exactly

Comments

[thefirstexpert]

"Look at you."

He's standing in a corner, partially obscured in shadow.

(Should the shadow be falling quite like that? Never mind.)

"Three thousand miles away and he's still messing with your head."

[thefirstexpert]

The earsplitting shriek of feedback that bursts from the receiver may interfere with that plan somewhat.

"There's no need to be rude." He looks a little irritated.

[toblameforit]

"No, actually, there is."

Phone not happening? Fine. He flips open the lid of his laptop.

"I don't know who the fuck you are, but I'm pretty sure I know who you're not. So get the fuck out of my room."

[thefirstexpert]

The computer is silent and unresponsive under Tony's hands.

"I am putting in a certain amount of effort here. The least you could do is appreciate it."

[toblameforit]

"Fuck you."

Not to be deterred by such trivial obstacles, he starts for the door.

[thefirstexpert]

Guess who's waiting there for him?

"You always were an ungrateful little shit."

[toblameforit]

"...Wow! Okay!"

That one stops him in his tracks, but he's only getting more pissed off.

(If he stops getting more pissed off, he'll have to deal with what this-thing-is showing him, and that can only end in tears. So he just won't. He just fucking won't.)

"You're just not going to quit, are you? What is this? Do you honestly get your kicks from doing bad impressions of dead people? I cannot even count the ways that is fucked up and sad."

[thefirstexpert]

"It passes the time."

She smiles at him, the winning smile with the subtle sharp edge that first caught Howard Stark's eye years ago.

"I have a lot of time to pass."

[toblameforit]

"You are creepy," he informs her. "Get a new hobby. This one sucks."

[thefirstexpert]

She puts her head to one side, studying him.

"It's a shame you're so bright," she says. "If you were just a little stupider I could have had you digging around in the Hellmouth months ago."

[thefirstexpert]

Low and pleading:

"Save me, Tony. Come and find me."

[toblameforit]

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

"Get. The. Fuck. Out."

[thefirstexpert]

He chuckles.

"Have you noticed how saying that hasn't worked yet?"

[toblameforit]

"Yep."

Tony opens his eyes and starts for the door again, without ever looking directly at whatever is pretending to be his dad.

[thefirstexpert]

"You know, I can follow you wherever you go."

She's right beside him, speaking into his ear.

"How long do you think you can ignore me?"

[toblameforit]

"Sorry, did you just tell a Stark he can't do something? You don't get out much, do you."

The snide remarks are running on automatic. Whatever he does, he is not going to let himself stop and think.

Almost at the door now.