In that, Cal could agree. His smile flickered into existence with Tony's, perhaps lasting just as long. Tony returned his attention to the fire and Cal to his arc welder, adjusting the output a little.

He understood well enough. His master was trying to prepare him as best he could, but once things suddenly went all wrong, it was like Cal had no idea what he was doing. "I don't think it was quite the listening part that I had trouble with." He'd wanted to do things right, and under controlled circumstances, he could get it. "I wasn't prepared for my allies to suddenly turn on me and my master. I still can't help but think about the things I could have done differently, if maybe I'd been more careful or more alert... I could've helped my master and he wouldn't have..."

Cal closed his eyes, sighing as he moved to stand away from the bench again. "...but things didn't go that way. And I know I was only so old then, but I know I still had a responsibility." He tested the arc welder, gently turning the D.A.T.A. unit so he could begin to reattach those legs. "It just took me long enough to really accept that. I can't change the past, but...I can try to be better so I can be there for people when they need me."