poeticterms | (no subject)

(no subject)

After that night, Sherlock has been unusually reserved. And for Sherlock, that is saying something. Jarvis worries about him, but there is little he can do besides offer his advice and keep a metaphorical eye on Obadiah, who hasn't done anything interesting since.

Tony is asleep. Sherlock is playing the violin. Jarvis lets his mind wander a little.

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Peter doesn't expect to be told more than he needs to know to do his job, and he doesn't usually want to know. His employer tells him to do something, he does it.

Occasionally he applies creative interpretation, but he does it.

Mrs Chandler calling him in to tell him specifically to make sure that Obadiah Stane gets nowhere near Cal when he's in town, though, over a week after Stane left town - that gets him thinking and making connections in some new and interesting ways.

He does his own research, of course, and does it thoroughly, and tags Stane so that if the man even thinks about Sunnydale, Peter will know about it.

But a little inside insight never hurts. So he tracks down the number to the Stark residence (accomplished by "borrowing" Cal's cellphone) and gives it a call.

The phone system goes through Jarvis, of course, like everything else in the house. He feels the incoming call in a way analogous to human tactile nerve impulses—you might compare it to a tap on the shoulder, gently requesting his attention.

He doesn't recognize the number, but a quarter second's cursory research declares it the security line for the Chandler household. Sherlock's business. Jarvis decides it would not be in his interests to answer it himself.

"Sorry to interrupt," he says over the quiet strains of Vivaldi, "but you have a call from the Chandlers' security phoneline."

(One ring passes.)

"Do I now?" He raises the bow from the strings. "Put him through, then."

(Two.)

"Done," he says, and connects the call before the third ring.

"Good afternoon, Mr Beardsley."

It doesn't surprise him that, despite the blocked ID, Sherlock knows it's him. It would have surprised him a little if he hadn't.

"Afternoon, Sherlock," he says.

"I assume you are not calling to discuss the weather. Is there news regarding our investigation?"

"I'm not sure yet."

Peter has no problem whatsoever with theorizing in advance of his data, but that doesn't mean he's always ready to share with the class.

"Tell me about Obadiah Stane. I mean the important things, not the stuff I can look up for myself."

"Ah, so Mrs Chandler did tell you to keep him away from Cal. Good."

The tone in which he delivers that last word should be very informative all by itself, but Sherlock elaborates.

"He has managed to convince Tony that they have a genuine friendship, but I have suspected otherwise for some time. Cal confirmed his insincerity. I have also received compelling evidence that he has an unsavoury interest in the three of us, Cal particularly."

He must be pretty fucking cold, to talk so matter-of-factly about it.

Strangely enough, Peter tends not to evaluate people who have decided they're famous fictional characters by the same criteria he uses for everyone else. The kid is obviously fucked up six ways from Sunday, so why should Peter expect him to behave like a normal person would?

"And Mrs Chandler's taking him seriously as a threat," he says. "And you're doing the same." It's an observation, not a question.

Similarly: "And you are considering him as a suspect."

"I'm sure it's occurred to you," Peter says mildly, "that in terms of the situation with Stark Industries, he'd have the most to gain from Tony's untimely death."

In other news, water is wet and the sky has been known to be blue upon occasion.

"Of course it has. I hesitate to speculate without evidence, but by motive alone, he is an obvious choice."

Evidence. What are they, the cops?

Still, he has to agree that it has its uses.

"There are plenty of possibilities," he says, "Stark Industries has a list of enemies as long as my arm, and those are just the legitimate aboveboard types. But if I had to pick a favorite, he'd be it."

"Noted."

And Peter's perspective is genuinely valuable.

"I'm planning to give myself a little refresher on your parents' death, as well."

Because, really. They happen to die in an accident that happens to destroy any evidence and happens to leave the company in limbo for a few years while its new owner comes of age and now someone happens to be trying to kill him, too? Really?

"A sound plan. Perhaps we ought to compare notes."

He's cold about this, too. It often doesn't even occur to Sherlock that the deaths of Howard and Maria Stark are something about which he is expected to feel grief.

If the rumors that Sherlock cracked under the stress of grief are true, then his cool response isn't much of a shock. A coping mechanism that didn't work would be pretty pointless.

(Peter makes a mental note to look into that more closely, too.)

"Of course," he says.

"At your convenience."

That is to say, when Peter actually has notes to compare.

Naturally.

"Thanks for the information on Stane." It may actually come in handy - it'll help him anticipate Cal's reactions if he needs to. "Anything else I need to know?"

"He is very adept at implying nastiness without overtly crossing social boundaries."

Peter is free to extrapolate as he likes from that observation.

Peter snorts. He knows the type. He is not impressed by the type.

"He can try it on me, see how far he gets."

"I expect he prefers to try it on people he considers vulnerable."

"And Cal's like a fucking baby rabbit with shit like that."

He has no intention of elaborating on that comment, but assumes Sherlock isn't aware of exactly how accurate it is. Cal barely acknowledges his uncle these days. Forget talking about him.

"Well, I hope he enjoyed himself, because he's not getting a second chance."

"Indeed he is not," Sherlock agrees.

Peter reads that as a declaration that Cal will continue to be safe in the Stark residence and says,

"Good. I'll give you a call once I've gotten a chance to read up on your parents."

Further to the trend of Sherlock being a disturbing person, he chuckles at that last.

"I look forward to speaking with you again."

Fucked up six ways from Sunday, Peter thinks.

"Of course you do," he says, and hangs up.

"Might I point out, sir, that as far as the general public is concerned Tony's parents are in fact yours?"

"Do shut up, Jarvis."

Not that he doesn't have a point.

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