Another Life by a_silver_story | Part 08
Dec. 20th, 2009 11:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
a_silver_storyTitle: Another Life
Chapter: 08 | ??
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
a_silver_story
Genre Alternate Universe, Romance
Rating: NC-17 / 18
Warnings: A bit of angst, and some tentacles and d/c in the future.
Disclaimer: If I owned anything in this, I'd be a rich rich rich bitch. However, I am not a rich rich rich bitch so you may all, therefore, assume I own nothing. Which I don't. It all belongs RTD and the BBC, in case any of you didn't know.
Summary: Ianto finds himself heartbroken and alone, but eventually learns that no matter what point in Captain Jack Harkness' life he finds himself, they will always fall in love.
Torchwood Index/Masterlist
First Part
Another Life
AL VIII
Another Life VIII
Till was waiting for him outside her barracks, and she smiled tiredly at him when he rounded the corner.
“Alright, Ianto?” she greeted him.
“Alright. You?”
“Surviving.”
He offered her his arm. “C’mon. Let’s go and grab a picnic spot before all the best ones go.”
They walked companionably, and Till managed to grab them a spot under a towering tree by the little stream that ran through the gardens at the back.
“So how’s the barracks?” asked Ianto as they sat and waited for Rhys to arrive with the food and Giacomo.
“I hate it.” she admitted. “Still, I hate it. Even more now that Vegas has decided the world is against him.”
“I don’t understand that boy.” sighed Ianto, stretching his legs out in front of him. A thought occurred to him. “Do you know a ‘Theo’? Lives on the fourth floor.”
“Yeah. I used to have classes with him ‘til he started working. I ... heard that he ... slept with ... y’know ...”
“It’s not true.” Ianto insisted. “I just ... wanted a character reference.”
“To see if he’s the kind to make that shit up for attention? Then yeah, I’d say he’s the type. He lives with an elderly woman, and she has to do basically everything for him even though she’s got another kid look after, too. He nearly got a professor fired last year because he was spreading rumours about him sleeping with underage students.”
“Wanker.” breathed Ianto. “Wasn’t he punished?”
“Theo? Ohh no. They just gave him a slap on the wrist and told him not to do it again. He loves attention, though. Behaving yourself doesn’t really get you that much attention, does it?”
“Mmm.” Ianto agreed. He could identify with that. The memory of stealing an Easter egg from Tesco’s so that the older boys would hang out with him flashed through his mind.”I asked Jack, and he barely recalled who he was.” Ianto said with a slight smirk.
“Jack? The Captain? You’re on first name terms?” she asked with a smile, seemingly excited for him.
He frowned slightly. “We were always on first name terms.”
“Oh ... just ... I’ve never heard anyone call him anything other than ‘Captain’. So ... what’s he ... like?”
“Submissive.” Ianto smirked, deciding to keep the ‘always was’ that tried to escape his lips firmly silent.
“No? Really?”
“He’s only tried to be dominant once.” he continued, lying back and stretching out on the grass, feeling the strangely warm autumn sun soaking into his skin.
“And?”
“He didn’t succeed.”
She laughed. “Explains why he’s been so interested for so long. I bet no one’s ever tried to tell the Captain what to do before ...” She stopped short when she saw the sharp look on Ianto's face. “What?”
“What do you mean? ‘Interested for so long’?”
“Just ... normally ... after a couple of weeks ... he gets bored. I was suggesting that maybe he’d met his match.” she told him, eyebrow raised.
He blushed a little at the point and she started cooing at him.
“It’s so adorable that you blush!” she grinned.
“IANTOOOOOOOOOOOOH!” squealed a little voice, and Ianto found himself flattened into the ground as a small body belly flopped onto his stomach.
“Ooof!” he gasped. “Giacomo!” He laughed, lifting the little boy off him and looking around for Rhys who was making his way over to them carrying a bag. Ianto waved, and Rhys saluted in return. “Have you had fun at school this morning?” he asked Giacomo.
“Yeah! We had glitter and glue!”
“Oh ... oh dear ...”
“We’re not allowed it again.” he continued sullenly. “We ate too much.”
“You ate the glue?”
“No ... we ate the glitter!”
“Do you feel alright? Is your tummy sore?” he asked, concerned, checking Giacomo’s temperature and pressing his tummy a little to check if he hurt. “Why did you eat glitter?”
“Nadia said it would make us fly!”
“Nadia? Is she one of your friends?”
“No. She’s our teaching assistant.”
“... right ... Maybe I should have words with her ....” he wondered aloud as Rhys plonked the bag of food down between Ianto and Till, settling himself on the grass.
“Hi, I’m Rhys.” he smiled, holding his hand out to Till.
“Till.” she smiled in return, shaking his hand. “And who’s this? We haven’t been properly introduced ....” she said, indicating the suddenly very shy little boy curling into Ianto's lap. It was almost like he hadn’t noticed Till was there at first, too excited about seeing Ianto.
“Giacomo? Are you going to introduce yourself to Till?” Ianto urged gently, trying to turn him to face her.
“I’m Jack.” he said quietly, and copied Rhys by holding his hand out politely.
She shook it, giggling a little. “He’s beautiful! Is he yours?” she asked Rhys.
“No. No idea who his real parents are.”
Ianto shuffled uncomfortably, and Giacomo curled into him again now that his ‘talking to a stranger time’ was over.
“Another Jack?” she sighed.
“His full name is Giacomo.” Ianto said quickly, though he supposed it wasn’t necessary. With Giacomo’s chin on his shoulder, facing away from Till, all thoughts of the Captain while looking at him and maybe coming to a ‘realisation’ were much slimmer.
Then again, Ianto supposed, you could only really see the similarities between father and son if you were looking for them. Ianto had watched him carefully since the day before, and could see it in the way he flicked his hair, the way he pouted, the shape of his mouth when he smiled and the glitter in his eyes. He probably would have eventually made the connection himself, he realised, after being given time to get to know Little Jack.
“Ianto?”
He snapped out of his reverie, and saw that Rhys was offering him a sandwich.
“Sorry ... preoccupied.” he hastily explained, taking the sandwich.
Giacomo unfurled himself to grab his own sandwich, and Ianto managed to get him to sit next to him rather than on him. He munched quietly, casting furtive and nervous glances towards Till as she talked about some TV show with Rhys. Ianto frowned at him.
“You okay?” he asked quietly. Little hands beckoned him to lean in closer.
“Rhys isn’t moving out, is he?” Giacomo whispered.
“No. Not at all. Definitely not!” Ianto assured him, wide-eyed.
“Why is she here?”
“She’s my friend from where I lived before, and I wanted you to meet her because she’s a lovely young lady.”
“She’s not moving in?”
“No.” Ianto shook his head to reinforce the statement.
“Promise?”
“Promise.” frowned Ianto. “Why are you scared Rhys might move out?”
“Helen moved out.”
Ianto froze mid-chew. Helen had been in the flat before Ianto. She had killed herself. He guessed they hadn’t properly explained that to Giacomo. “Rhys is staying right where he is. He’s not going to leave you.”
“Promise.”
“I promise.”
Giacomo returned to quietly munching on his sandwich, but his furtive glances still didn’t stop. Rhys and Till laughed raucously over something or other, and Ianto smiled at them.
After they finished their sandwiches, Rhys produced some homemade cakes that made Ianto glad he could keep a Rhys at home to make more for him. He munched down two, and kept a spare one for the Captain, wrapping it in a napkin and ignoring Till and Rhys teasing him. His eyes travelled between the two of them, and did a bit of maths in his head. Was a ten year age gap an issue in this time and place? Probably not. Species wasn’t even an issue in this time and place.
This time and place really was growing on Ianto.
“Jack? Shall we go and play Pooh Sticks?” he suggested, wiping icing from around Giacomo’s mouth.
“What’s that?” he asked, struggling to get away.
“I’ll show you ...” he smiled, lifting him up. “You two don’t mind ...?”
“Nah, nah. It’s fine.” Rhys assured him, and a little colour rose in Till’s cheeks. Ianto smiled at them and carried Giacomo to the wide bridge over the stream. It was only a small stream, about three metres across and very shallow, but the bridge was wide enough for three wheelchairs to make it across side by side, and would be perfect for running back and forth.
“What you have to do,” he began. “is pick a twig – like this one, maybe.” He picked a twig with a little brown leaf clinging to it. Giacomo raised an eyebrow, then picked the biggest branch he could lift. Ianto laughed. Straight for the biggest weapon – how Jack-like.
“This?” Giacomo grinned.
“No – it has to be able to float in the stream. How about this one?” He picked a twig and Giacomo tossed his branch aside, giving it a doubtful look.
“Okay, now we have to throw the sticks from the bridge into the water at the same time, and whoever’s stick comes out on the other side of the bridge first is the winner. Okay?”
“Sounds boring.” sighed Giacomo.
“Hey! You’re gonna enjoy it!” Ianto told him with certainty. “Okay, after three, drop your stick. One ... two ... three ...!”
They dropped their sticks and watched the disappear under the bridge. Quickly, Ianto urged them to run to the other side and waited for the sticks.
“Look!” Giacomo pointed. “There!”
“Ohhhhhh!” groaned Ianto. “You win!”
“Again! Play again!” demanded Giacomo. “... please?” he added.
Ianto ruffled his hair and they hurried back to the small tree they’d taken their first twigs from. “Let’s pick a few.” he suggested. “That way we don’t have to keep going back and forth.”
Giacomo nodded, pulling at every twig he could snap and shoving them in his pocket. They made their way to the right side of the bridge again.
“One ... two ... three!” Ianto called, and they dropped the twigs, and dashed to the other side. “You again.” he grumbled, actually peeved at having lost.
“Yay! Again!” cheered Giacomo, already at the first side of the bridge.
They played a few more times, and were on their way to get more sticks when a woman with a small girl walked up to them.
“Erm ... excuse me? My daughter would like to play too, if that’s okay?”
“That’s more than fine. What’s your name, sweetheart?” he asked her, offering her a handful of twigs.
She took them with a smile. “Katherine.”
“Okay Katherine ... what you have to do is ....”
He explained the game to her, and soon the three of them were charging back and forth, shouting and cheering to either side of the bridge.
“Can we play?” asked a small voice during another tip to the tree. Ianto turned, and stood there were four boys and two girls, covered in mud, a little glue and some of them were also glittery.
“Erm ... sure.” Ianto shrugged. “You might have to find twigs elsewhere though – we’re running out here!”
The kids all darted off in search of twigs, and Ianto wondered just what the attraction to Pooh Sticks really was – and how in the hell they were supposed to determine who the winner was with so many players. He decided he would have to randomly hand out the honour.
The new children returned, most of which were in Giacomo’s class, and soon Ianto and eight children were charging from one side of the bridge to the other.
“Ianto!” Rhys called eventually, and Ianto looked up to see him tap his watch while giving an incredulous look to the ... how many? Fourteen? ... children now gathered around him on the bridge.
The kids groaned and began to traipse back to their schoolrooms, and Ianto gave Giacomo a quick hug before sending him along, too.
“You’ve started a cult.” Till observed as the gaggle of children were herded into the School by a woman in uniform outside one of the doors leading into the building.
“It’s just Pooh Sticks.” shrugged Ianto.
“Pooh Sticks?”
“Yeah ... from ... from Winnie the Pooh?”
She gave him a blank look, and it occurred to Ianto that he’d probably have to stop calling the game ‘Pooh Sticks’ in case people thought he meant something different.
It also occurred to him that maybe he should write down and illustrate all the Winnie the Pooh stories he could remember. No way was he raising a child who didn’t know who Winnie the Pooh was.
Maybe he could get it published ....
With a sigh he bade goodbye to Till and Rhys, and watched them walk off together with a small smile. Now that was an unexpectedly good result ... he smirked to himself as he watched Rhys tell a probably very bad joke, and Till laughing as if it was actually funny. He set off in the opposite direction to them, making his way back to work.
He knocked on the Captain’s door and entered with a slight smile, going into the kitchenette and trying not to disrupt the phone conversation he was currently in the middle of. Jack’s voice was agitated when he spoke, though listening seemed to be his main part in the conversation.
Ianto listened as he re-entered the room with freshly brewed coffee.
“... no. That’s not what I’m saying. For Christ’s sake, we’re underfunded as it is! If you cut the education budget, we won’t even be able to afford exercise books! ... No ... well, either we take the exercise books, or we take the pens they write with. Oh, for fuck’s sake!” he growled, and slammed the silver oblong that was the receiver down on his desk. He massaged his forehead.
Ianto slipped a little cream and sugar into his coffee, and handed it to him.
“My ‘Upset’ Coffee.” Jack mused as he sipped it, smiling when the taste caressed his tongue. “Mmm ... that’s gooooood.”
“Trouble?” Ianto asked, giving the Captain the opportunity to vent.
“Gah!” he sighed, throwing his hands up. “They want to cut our funds again – we’re living to our means as it is!”
Ianto thought of his unbalanced and rather large wage, but kept quiet.
“They said that if we won’t cut back on food - food - or ‘luxury materials’ like clothes and sweets and things, we may as well cut back on education! I mean ... why should people who are from this time who don’t even bother going to work claim benefits enough for them not to work and live comfortably, while people who are here, who work hard and earn their keep, have to sacrifice education so that we can afford to feed them?”
Ianto sighed, going round the back of the Captain’s chair and gently massaging his neck and shoulders.
“Can you get them to come here for a meeting?” he asked.
“Probably not.” grumbled the Captain, sipping his coffee and relaxing into Ianto's hands.
“Mmmm. Leave it with me.”
“You have enough on your plate.”
“I’ll put off a couple of things. Let me overview the finances, see if I can rearrange the budget a little.”
“The Secretaries handle the budget.”
“Just let me look.”
Jack sighed. “Okay. You’ve made everything else better so far, may as well see if your string of good fortune is still putting out.” he smiled.
“If the budget is still too small to be unworkable, I’ll help you get it increased. Really – I know all about talking to executives in charge of large amounts of cash, and getting them to see my point of view without being a bleeding heart.”
He stilled his kneading of Jack’s shoulders, and stepped in front of him to sit on his lap. The Captain squeezed him. “Did you figure out the puzzle box yet?”
“Nearly.”
“You haven’t made any progress, have you?”
“I will get it open.” he assured him, sharply nipping his earlobe, cutting off his laugh with a slight ‘ow!’
"Mmm. I promise you'll love it ..." grinned Jack, resting his chin on his shoulder.
"I better had do." Ianto muttered.
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Jus' ... talking to myself ..."
"Ahh okay. Anyway: I have work to do. Ooh! I spoke to a couple of people. They can decorate your office next month.
"Decorate my office?"
"Just a lick of paint. Maybe a new light fitting." Jack waved off his question, pushing him up from his lap.
"Well ... okay. I suppose it could do with a bit of a lift."
"Yep." grinned the Captain.
"That reminds me: is my computer working yet?"
"I should bloody hope so. They were in there at lunch."
"Good ... good." smiled Ianto. "Okay, I'll see you later then?"
"See you. Oh! Ianto?"
Ianto hesitated by the door. "Mm?"
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
Ianto frowned in with a little confusion.
Jack pursed his lips melodramatically and tapped them with a finger as a hint.
"Oh!" Ianto grinned, and crossed the room to press a kiss to his lips. "Byeee." he smiled, backing out of the room again.
"Buh bye." smiled the Captain, and Ianto closed the door, wandering down the corridor to his office. He noticed the sign on his door that had read 'Accounts' had been removed, leaving a patch of unvarnished wood where it used to hang.
He booted up his computer, and brought up the programs he needed how Jack had shown him the day before. Ianto felt like he had done when he'd transferred from Mac to PC - a little bit lost, though the location of everything did actually make more sense in this format. He needed his start bar at the top of the screen, though, and dragged it up there out of habit.
After a bit of experimentation, Ianto managed to find the files for the residents of flat 419, and in turn that of Theodore Danver. He scanned over it, and found that his flat mate, the elderly woman Till had spoken of, had actually lodged two formal complaints about him and submitted a request he be removed from the household and replaced with 'someone more competent at being a sentient being'.
Sitting back and biting his lip, Ianto pondered for a moment. He wasn't normally a territorial man, but he'd never been somewhere where his partner had been so sought after, and also so eager to be sought out. He knew Jack had promised him what he saw as fidelity, but Ianto was too set in twenty-first century thinking to be able to think of him fooling about with another person and not feeling like he was in a competition.
And Ianto hated being competitive. Well, that's the image he projected. Normally, he was already winning and didn't need to compete ...
With a sigh, Ianto pressed the buzzer on his desk that opened the intercom link with Jack.
"Ahoy hoy?" the Captain greeted cheerfully.
"Jack ... you know how ... like ... I'm your favourite?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I have favourites?"
"How do you mean?" Jack asked, and Ianto took satisfaction in hearing a rather jealous edge to his tone.
"One of my friends really, really wants out of the barracks, and I've found someone who's been complained about twice by the people he lives with and had the other adult submit a request for removal. Could I have them switched?"
"Sure." Jack said. "Just search for the 'Change of Accommodation' documents, and it's all self explanatory. You can fill it in yourself, sign it as a witness then bring it for me to scribble on."
"Thanks, Captain."
"Oo ... Captain in your accent makes me hor-"
Ianto cut the link, smirking. It took him ten minutes to figure out where the forms he needed were saved, and found most of it he was supposed to do on the computer, then print off hard copies. The only thing Theo and Till would have to do was receive letters telling them they were moving and actually move. He was also pleased to see that Theo could be moved by force if necessary.
He clicked 'Print', and the hard copies appeared out of slot in his desk. He spent five minutes on his hands and knees trying to find the printer, and then another two minutes wondering what the Hell he was supposed to do when the paper ran out. In the end he decided to cross that bridge when he to it, and crossed over to the walk-in cupboard in the back corner of the room. He opened the door and flicked on the light.
It was empty, apart from his new suit in a dust jacket, hanging from the top shelf at the back. He quickly changed into it, telling himself it was a coincidence he'd decided to take it with him to work on the day he went to confront Theo Danver, and checked his reflection in a mirror he'd also coincidentally decided to bring. He smiled to himself. He loved this suit. He really, really did. He'd already ordered two more suits in different designs and materials from Mr. Turnbull the tailoring was that perfect. He'd winced when he'd seen the price, but decided to write it off as a work expense as soon as he could let Jack realise how essential it was he wore one. Or, how essential it was he wore one to take it off.
He took the forms and letters for Jack to sign to his office, knocking before entering and taking a deep breath.
"Hello ag - Ianto?" the Captain blinked, running his eyes up and down him, around him, over and probably inside him.
"You need to sign these."
"Yeah. Yeah ... I do ..." the Captain mumbled, reaching blindly for a pen. He cleared his throat and scribbled his signature on the lines Ianto indicated and offered him the pen, then remembered it was the papers he wanted and gave him them instead.
"Have you got any envelopes I could use?" Ianto asked, pretending to be oblivious to the Captain's rather distracted behaviour.
"B-bottom drawer." Jack indicated, and watched as Ianto bent down and retrieved an unopened pack.
"Mind if I take the lot? None of my stationary has come yet."
"Sure sure ... take me - THEM ... take them ..."
"Yes, sir." Ianto turned his back so that he could snigger to himself. "Goodbye, then."
"Oh ... bye, Ianto ..."
Ianto kissed his lips, lingering slightly, then turned to leave, closing the door behind him and only just managing not to feel more than just a little self satisfaction at the Captain's reaction. He returned to his office and enveloped the letters, then properly filed away the official documents before making his way down to the fourth floor to see Theo.
He found the flat easily, and knocked brusquely. The elderly woman, Elizabeth Saunders, opened the door.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Saunders. My name is Ianto Jones. I was wondering if I could speak to Theo Danver?"
"Is this about my complaints? I ain't retractin' 'em ..." she sighed.
"No, ma'am. This is about your request to have him removed."
Her face lit up a little bit too brightly. "He's going?"
"Yes. And we already have a lovely young woman to take his place, far more deserving of his position and far more amenable to the general requirements of living in a unit."
"Oh! Oh yes! That would be ... yes! Um ... he's not in though. He's at work. The barbers' in the market. Charleston's. Unless you'd like to leave a message?"
Ianto ran his fingers through his hair. "Hmm ... my hair is getting a little long ..." he pondered. "I think I may surprise him at work, ma'am. Thank you for your help, and I apologise for how long it took for action to be taken."
"Mmm." she grumbled, her lips pursing. "I'm guessing there's been quite a backlog to work through ..."
Ianto groaned inwardly. Backlog? He'd have to check how the complaints were dealt with when he got back .... Damn! Another thing for his list! He'd have to see if there were any more employable people who wanted work ...
He thanked Mrs. Saunders for her time and began his descent to the market town. He avoided the tailoring sections, knowing he'd only end up buying something, and quickly found Charleston's Barber on the outskirts of the cosmetic quarter. There was a customary candy-striped cylinder rotating outside, and the establishment looked quite classy and rather pricey. Entering the shop, Ianto saw that there was only one other customer in, and he was not being tended by anyone that anywhere near matched the description of Theo Danver.
The girl behind the till pressed a buzzer when he entered, and Theo appeared at the top of a set of stairs leading down to what was probably a kitchen and rec area.
"May I help you, sir?" he asked cheerfully.
"Just a trim, I think ...?"
"Theo, sir. And you would be ...?"
"Jones. Ianto Jones." he smiled, and saw the flicker in Theo's eyes as he handed over his jacket to be hung on a stand in the corner. Ianto was glad he wasn't getting a shave.
"Sit." offered Theo, and Ianto sat down in the chair he'd indicated while he went to noisily get a sink ready. They said nothing to each other as Theo washed his hair or guided him back to his seat, and Ianto didn't try and strike up conversation until he'd returned with scissors and began trimming the longer strands.
"So ..." Ianto began. "... I've been hearing some interesting things about you, Mr. Danver."
"You have, sir?", and Ianto could hear the smirk in his voice.
"I have indeed. Few of which I suspect are true, but caution is never a bad thing, I'm sure you realise."
"Yes, sir. Especially when sharp things are involved." he replied, and he opened and closed his scissors with an ominous 'snip-snip' sound.
Ianto smiled. "I find sharp objects are only dangerous when someone who doesn't care about the consequences is wielding them. I'm fairly certain that the consequences of harming me aren't ones you'd be happy to deal with. Oh, and if you screw up my hair you'll be wearing a toupee for the rest of your life." he added.
Theo plugged in some shears and began neatening the hair at the base of Ianto's neck carefully, before working his way round everywhere that needed clipping. Ianto watched warily, though he didn't let concern show in his eyes. He knew that by putting himself in this vulnerable position would show Theo his strength - or possibly, stupidity. But he hoped it was strength.
"Hmm ..." Ianto broke the heavy silence, and was now aware the receptionist was listening avidly. "It would also appear that I am not the only person unhappy with your behaviour at the moment." he sighed. "Mrs. Saunders, your housemate, has requested twice you be removed from her home. Did you know this?"
"I ... had an inkling."
"Well, I personally assessed the situation, and thought it may be best if you were sent to live in the barracks."
"You can't do that!" snapped Theo, his professional demeanour lost. He set down his shears, regretful that Ianto had waited until his cut was finished before breaking the news.
"I can. And ... look!" He produced the letter. "I already did! Totally unbiased, of course."
Theo glared at him, tearing open the envelope. "You bastard!" he hissed.
Ianto blinked in mock surprise. "Well, I just hope it teaches you for spreading nasty lies about people, being a generally bad unit member and trying to bring attention to yourself all the time."
"Lies?"
Ianto raised an eyebrow. "You can prove they are true?"
"He ... he has a ... a freckle. On his shoulder."
Ianto took a deep breath. "He does." agreed Ianto. "But ... what does this prove?"
"I've seen the scar on his inner thigh, too." he smirked.
Ianto knew his face was stony, and a thousand different ways that Theo could know about the freckle and the scar - essentially boiling down to word of mouth - raced through his head. "And? I still don't believe you. Far, far too vague."
"What would you like me to tell you about?" asked Theo with an arrogant air.
Managing to just about not bite his lip, Ianto thought for a moment. "The tattoo on his upper thigh. Which side is it on?"
"Left." Theo said, not missing a beat.
Ianto grinned, and Theo's face fell a little.
"Worth a try." Theo sighed.
"He doesn't even have a tattoo, you lying little git."
Theo said nothing, storming away down the stairs he'd come up before.
"I'm guessing he doesn't want a tip, then?" Ianto said jovially to the receptionist, and she smiled at him. "Ah well, I'm sure you'd spend it better anyway - how much was that, love?" he asked.
"That was priceless!" she grinned. "I mean ... his face! The Captain doesn't have a tattoo! His face! Oh erm ... just put your thumbprint there ..."
Ianto paid for the cut, and smirked to himself all the way up to barracks V. He'd made a small scene in front of a gossip, and come out on top while marking his territory. Good times.
He knocked on the door to the barracks, and Rina answered. Bollocks, he thought. I can't speak in front of Rina!
"I ... uh ... um ... is ... Till?" he sputtered, her beautiful eyes drinking in his suit and new haircut. She smiled sweetly and called for her.
Till came out into the corridor, and Ianto silently and solemnly handed her her letter. She read it warily, then jumped up and down with glee and threw her arms around him, laughing.
"Oh my god! I can get away from the kids!" she grinned, and kissed his cheek. "How did you ...?"
"I just told the Captain where to sign." he shrugged. "Listen, I gotta go back to work. I've ... wasted quite a bit of time already."
She hugged him again, and they said goodbye before parting ways. He climbed the rest of the stairs, and found himself in his familiar fantasy about lifts, lift voices and lift music. He found Jack lingering outside his office door, about to knock.
He cleared his throat, and Jack turned, flicked his eyes up and down Ianto's body and smiled at him.
"I was thinking ... I'm not particularly ... preoccupied at the moment ... and ... you haven't let me ... y'know ... top you yet ..."
Ianto sighed, though the thought was incredibly appealing, he'd done barely any work today. "I've hardly done anything today, Jack ... and you know what my schedule is like ..."
“C’mon, Ianto ...” Jack pleaded, taking a step forward.
Ianto tried to stay his resolve, but it was abandoned when he realised he couldn’t properly remember the last time Jack had been inside him, dominated him or just let him let go.
“Only if we go to your bed.” Ianto smirked, and waited for Jack to walk in front of him before setting off, falling into step with him. Jack clasped his hand and practically dragged him down the spiral stairs into his living room, then on through to his bed. He threw himself down, and relaxed with his hands behind his head.
Ianto remained standing, watching the Captain’s eyes slide over him, and slowly took off his jacket and hung it over the back of the dressing chair. Cufflinks next, and he set them on the bedside table nearest Jack.
“That is one fine, fine suit ...” sighed Jack. “You look so, so good in it. I almost want to rip it off ....”
Ianto smirked, and Jack’s eyes fluttered closed as if that little wicked smile of his sent a chill through the Captain’s body. He got up from the bed, and crossed over to Ianto, pulling him down onto the mattress, burying his head in his neck and muttering into his skin. “I want to undress you ...” His hands began unfastening the waist coat, and Ianto sighed happily as Jack finally began to take control. Carefully he began to pull open Jack’s own shirt and trousers as his own layers of clothes were taken from him.
Jack lay him down when they were both naked and covered his body with his own. He kissed Ianto's face and neck lightly, feeling his Ianto's hands caressing the planes of his back as he moaned softly under Jack’s gentle touch. The Captain ground his hips down, making Ianto arch his back and hiss, exposing his neck to be bitten, licked and sucked. He marked his collar harshly, sensing his grimace of pain, but Ianto allowed it as no one would ever see it there.
Ianto wrapped his legs around his Captain as they practically rutted against each other, gasping into his mouth as Jack forced him to kiss him and surrender completely. Finally, Jack reached for the bottle of lubricant, and Ianto drew his knees up, panting, waiting eagerly for Jack’s fingers.
Screwing his eyes shut, he felt the burn a little stronger than usual, and recalled he hadn’t done this for nearly three months. He relaxed and heard himself moan as Jack stretched him and opened him.
Ianto breathed deeply in anticipation as Jack crawled his way back up his body, both of them ready and trembling slightly – though neither of them were trying to show it. Ianto let out a long, gentle moan as Jack pushed inside his body, and he pretty much forgot how to breathe it felt so good.
“Let’s test our willpower ...” suggested Jack huskily. “Let’s see how long we can go without moving.”
Ianto made a frustrated sound, almost a whimper.
“Shhhhh ...” Jack soothed him, squeezing him and holding him. “It’ll be worth it, Ianto ...”
“Not from where I’m lying!” Ianto groaned, and clenched hard around him, trying to make him move. He gasped and arched slightly, but his hips remained resolutely still.
Ianto stared up into his dark, lust-filled eyes. He felt his chest expanding and contracting against his as they both breathed deep and wanting. He felt skin tingling with sweat and heard air being drawn and exhaled in panting breaths. He felt Jack deep inside him, big, hard and throbbing.
He bit his lower lip, daring Jack to look away from him, fighting the urge and desperation to squirm, buck his hips or flip Jack onto his back and ride him.
His body thrummed with his lust, his desire and his need for release. His body was on fire and it needed friction deep inside just to give him the slightest bit of relief. Clenching again, he watched Jack’s eyes flutter closed. Finally, he let out a surrendered cry and began to pound Ianto into the mattress, unforgiving thrusts making them bounce on the mattress springs and the bed hit the wall behind it. Ianto had to put his hand above his head to stop him from hitting it against the headboard, and finally he came, muttering things he didn’t even conceive thinking of saying, feeling Jack’s hot release exploding inside him as he wrapped his arms and legs around his Captain’s body again.
Jack flopped down onto his back to lie beside him, and Ianto tilted his head to the side so that his forehead brushed his shoulder. Jack didn’t respond, even flinching away from the contact.
“You should go now.” the Captain told him.
Ianto blinked. “Sorry ... what?”
He didn’t respond, turning his back on Ianto and getting comfortable on his side.
"Jack? I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell you're talking about ..."
"What you just said. You shouldn't have said it."
Ianto frowned. "What did I just say?"
"What you said when you came. You shouldn't have said it."
Ianto gave a nervous laugh. "Jack ... I ... I didn't even know I ... I didn't know I said anything when ..."
"You said ..." Jack turned to face him finally. "... you said you loved me. And now I think it's best if you leave."
Ianto stared at him. "Jack ... every man loves you when he's coming." he said, repeating his sister's bitter words to him after a particularly bad break-up she'd had at seventeen.
Jack narrowed his eyes, but couldn't argue the point. "Don't say it again?" asked.
"I didn't even know I'd said it that time." Ianto pointed out, spooning into his back in case he felt inclined to roll over and catch the anguish in Ianto's features.
They lay in silence for a while, Ianto silently panicking and Jack lost in thought. It was the Captain who broke the silence first.
"I saw you on the bridge in the garden today. With Giacomo." he said quietly, though Ianto could hear his smile. "Why were you running backwards and forwards - and what inspired about a hundred other kids to join you?"
"We were playing ... erm ... Tigger Sticks."
"Tigger sticks?"
"Each player picks a twig, drops into the stream on one side of the bridge and then you all run over to the other side to see who's stick comes out first."
"You were racing twigs?" Jack asked flatly.
"Yes. And we had lots and lots of fun, thank you Captain."
Jack gave a small laugh. "You got quite a following."
"That's the strange, magical draw of Tigger Sticks. You just can't get away from it." joked Ianto. Jack turned onto his other side to face him, and they kissed each other slowly for a while. Eventually, the phone in Jack's office began to ring angrily. With a sigh Jack disentangled himself and pulled on his trousers to go and answer it.
"You should get an extension next to your bed." Ianto told him when he returned, fastening his waistcoat.
"Get one next to yours and the nights you don't stay here may get a little more interesting." smirked Jack.
"Mmmm now there's an idea ..." Ianto agreed, allowing himself to be pulled into a kiss and cuddle. "I need to get back to work." he murmured into Jack's shoulder. "It's nearly four and I've done nothing since before lunch."
"Fine, fine. I'll let you go and do what I pay you to do ..." Jack grinned, giving him a gentle pat on the bottom to send him on his way. Fully dressed, Ianto climbed the stairs to leave the Captain to get dressed himself.
~*~*~*~
Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored.
Ianto glanced at his watch again.
Hmmmm ... maybe I could sell that to a museum ... he pondered.
He jumped as his desk phone started ringing.
"Hello?"
"Ianto Jones?"
"That's me."
"My name is Mozette Perry. I'm from the School's complaints department. A Mr. Theodore Danver has lodged a complaint about your conduct, and given circumstantial evidence it has been deemed in all our best interests that this complaint is taken further."
"Right. Go on." he said, trying not to sound like he was sighing, already opening up his computer to find his file and read anything that may have been written.
"Erm ... well ... following a hearing, you may be liable to serve out a sentence of the judge's choosing."
"Of course." Ianto sighed, reading the complaint about 'intimidating behaviour' and 'inappropriate mannerisms'. He highlighted it, and hit delete.
"Also, there is ... oh ... erm ... it ... it ... went ..."
"What went?" he asked innocently.
"There appears to be technical difficulties this end. Is there another time I might be able to contact you, Mr. Jones?"
"Yes. Tomorrow at about eleven AM? You'll have to ring me through extension zero-five-nine-five, though."
"Very well. I've made a note of that, and shall give you a ring then. Thank you for your time, Mr. Jones."
"You're welcome, Miss Perry." he sighed, hanging up.
He hit 'undo' on his computer keyboard and the complaint reappeared. He could imagine the reaction of the woman downstairs were she still looking at it. With a sigh, Ianto opened the intercom to link to Jack's office.
"Ahoy hoy?"
"Jack - someone's lodged a complaint about me, and I didn't even do anything wrong!" he grumbled/lied.
"Don't worry about it. Just get their next call to redirect to my office and I'll tell them where to shove it. Ooooo you have been a bad boy ..."
Ianto smirked to himself, realising Jack had probably just searched out his file.
"Intimidating behaviour'? You may have to show me that sometime ... hang on ... Theodore Danver? Blond? Highlights?"
"Yep."
"You asked me about him yesterday."
"He was still spreading rumours."
"Was it him you moved?"
"His housemate had requested it twice, sir."
"Well, fair enough." Jack said, and Ianto could hear his shrug. "I'll get it sorted now, actually. Quick email, all done. Just don't expect me to bail you out every time you get ... territorial ..."
"Who said anything about territorial?" he asked innocently.
"Just a feeling. I'm also not stupid." Jack pointed out, and this time Ianto heard the smirk.
"Hmm, if you say so." he joked. "Anyway: work to do."
"Ahh okay. Buh bye."
"Toodle pip."
He heard Jack laugh, and broke the connection.
Well, shagging the boss still had lots of advantages, he decided, starting to shut down his computer.
Can anyone tell me why I've got 'Hello' by Lionel Richie stuck in my head?
Heyy ... Instead of buying me a Christmas present, why not leave me a comment? It's cheaper, and less likely to wind up being given away as a gift to someone else next year!
Next Part | Previous Part | Torchwood Index | Request a Convo/Prose Fic
Chapter: 08 | ??
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones
Author:
a_silver_storyGenre Alternate Universe, Romance
Rating: NC-17 / 18
Warnings: A bit of angst, and some tentacles and d/c in the future.
Disclaimer: If I owned anything in this, I'd be a rich rich rich bitch. However, I am not a rich rich rich bitch so you may all, therefore, assume I own nothing. Which I don't. It all belongs RTD and the BBC, in case any of you didn't know.
Summary: Ianto finds himself heartbroken and alone, but eventually learns that no matter what point in Captain Jack Harkness' life he finds himself, they will always fall in love.
Torchwood Index/Masterlist
First Part
Another Life
AL VIII
Another Life VIII
Till was waiting for him outside her barracks, and she smiled tiredly at him when he rounded the corner.
“Alright, Ianto?” she greeted him.
“Alright. You?”
“Surviving.”
He offered her his arm. “C’mon. Let’s go and grab a picnic spot before all the best ones go.”
They walked companionably, and Till managed to grab them a spot under a towering tree by the little stream that ran through the gardens at the back.
“So how’s the barracks?” asked Ianto as they sat and waited for Rhys to arrive with the food and Giacomo.
“I hate it.” she admitted. “Still, I hate it. Even more now that Vegas has decided the world is against him.”
“I don’t understand that boy.” sighed Ianto, stretching his legs out in front of him. A thought occurred to him. “Do you know a ‘Theo’? Lives on the fourth floor.”
“Yeah. I used to have classes with him ‘til he started working. I ... heard that he ... slept with ... y’know ...”
“It’s not true.” Ianto insisted. “I just ... wanted a character reference.”
“To see if he’s the kind to make that shit up for attention? Then yeah, I’d say he’s the type. He lives with an elderly woman, and she has to do basically everything for him even though she’s got another kid look after, too. He nearly got a professor fired last year because he was spreading rumours about him sleeping with underage students.”
“Wanker.” breathed Ianto. “Wasn’t he punished?”
“Theo? Ohh no. They just gave him a slap on the wrist and told him not to do it again. He loves attention, though. Behaving yourself doesn’t really get you that much attention, does it?”
“Mmm.” Ianto agreed. He could identify with that. The memory of stealing an Easter egg from Tesco’s so that the older boys would hang out with him flashed through his mind.”I asked Jack, and he barely recalled who he was.” Ianto said with a slight smirk.
“Jack? The Captain? You’re on first name terms?” she asked with a smile, seemingly excited for him.
He frowned slightly. “We were always on first name terms.”
“Oh ... just ... I’ve never heard anyone call him anything other than ‘Captain’. So ... what’s he ... like?”
“Submissive.” Ianto smirked, deciding to keep the ‘always was’ that tried to escape his lips firmly silent.
“No? Really?”
“He’s only tried to be dominant once.” he continued, lying back and stretching out on the grass, feeling the strangely warm autumn sun soaking into his skin.
“And?”
“He didn’t succeed.”
She laughed. “Explains why he’s been so interested for so long. I bet no one’s ever tried to tell the Captain what to do before ...” She stopped short when she saw the sharp look on Ianto's face. “What?”
“What do you mean? ‘Interested for so long’?”
“Just ... normally ... after a couple of weeks ... he gets bored. I was suggesting that maybe he’d met his match.” she told him, eyebrow raised.
He blushed a little at the point and she started cooing at him.
“It’s so adorable that you blush!” she grinned.
“IANTOOOOOOOOOOOOH!” squealed a little voice, and Ianto found himself flattened into the ground as a small body belly flopped onto his stomach.
“Ooof!” he gasped. “Giacomo!” He laughed, lifting the little boy off him and looking around for Rhys who was making his way over to them carrying a bag. Ianto waved, and Rhys saluted in return. “Have you had fun at school this morning?” he asked Giacomo.
“Yeah! We had glitter and glue!”
“Oh ... oh dear ...”
“We’re not allowed it again.” he continued sullenly. “We ate too much.”
“You ate the glue?”
“No ... we ate the glitter!”
“Do you feel alright? Is your tummy sore?” he asked, concerned, checking Giacomo’s temperature and pressing his tummy a little to check if he hurt. “Why did you eat glitter?”
“Nadia said it would make us fly!”
“Nadia? Is she one of your friends?”
“No. She’s our teaching assistant.”
“... right ... Maybe I should have words with her ....” he wondered aloud as Rhys plonked the bag of food down between Ianto and Till, settling himself on the grass.
“Hi, I’m Rhys.” he smiled, holding his hand out to Till.
“Till.” she smiled in return, shaking his hand. “And who’s this? We haven’t been properly introduced ....” she said, indicating the suddenly very shy little boy curling into Ianto's lap. It was almost like he hadn’t noticed Till was there at first, too excited about seeing Ianto.
“Giacomo? Are you going to introduce yourself to Till?” Ianto urged gently, trying to turn him to face her.
“I’m Jack.” he said quietly, and copied Rhys by holding his hand out politely.
She shook it, giggling a little. “He’s beautiful! Is he yours?” she asked Rhys.
“No. No idea who his real parents are.”
Ianto shuffled uncomfortably, and Giacomo curled into him again now that his ‘talking to a stranger time’ was over.
“Another Jack?” she sighed.
“His full name is Giacomo.” Ianto said quickly, though he supposed it wasn’t necessary. With Giacomo’s chin on his shoulder, facing away from Till, all thoughts of the Captain while looking at him and maybe coming to a ‘realisation’ were much slimmer.
Then again, Ianto supposed, you could only really see the similarities between father and son if you were looking for them. Ianto had watched him carefully since the day before, and could see it in the way he flicked his hair, the way he pouted, the shape of his mouth when he smiled and the glitter in his eyes. He probably would have eventually made the connection himself, he realised, after being given time to get to know Little Jack.
“Ianto?”
He snapped out of his reverie, and saw that Rhys was offering him a sandwich.
“Sorry ... preoccupied.” he hastily explained, taking the sandwich.
Giacomo unfurled himself to grab his own sandwich, and Ianto managed to get him to sit next to him rather than on him. He munched quietly, casting furtive and nervous glances towards Till as she talked about some TV show with Rhys. Ianto frowned at him.
“You okay?” he asked quietly. Little hands beckoned him to lean in closer.
“Rhys isn’t moving out, is he?” Giacomo whispered.
“No. Not at all. Definitely not!” Ianto assured him, wide-eyed.
“Why is she here?”
“She’s my friend from where I lived before, and I wanted you to meet her because she’s a lovely young lady.”
“She’s not moving in?”
“No.” Ianto shook his head to reinforce the statement.
“Promise?”
“Promise.” frowned Ianto. “Why are you scared Rhys might move out?”
“Helen moved out.”
Ianto froze mid-chew. Helen had been in the flat before Ianto. She had killed herself. He guessed they hadn’t properly explained that to Giacomo. “Rhys is staying right where he is. He’s not going to leave you.”
“Promise.”
“I promise.”
Giacomo returned to quietly munching on his sandwich, but his furtive glances still didn’t stop. Rhys and Till laughed raucously over something or other, and Ianto smiled at them.
After they finished their sandwiches, Rhys produced some homemade cakes that made Ianto glad he could keep a Rhys at home to make more for him. He munched down two, and kept a spare one for the Captain, wrapping it in a napkin and ignoring Till and Rhys teasing him. His eyes travelled between the two of them, and did a bit of maths in his head. Was a ten year age gap an issue in this time and place? Probably not. Species wasn’t even an issue in this time and place.
This time and place really was growing on Ianto.
“Jack? Shall we go and play Pooh Sticks?” he suggested, wiping icing from around Giacomo’s mouth.
“What’s that?” he asked, struggling to get away.
“I’ll show you ...” he smiled, lifting him up. “You two don’t mind ...?”
“Nah, nah. It’s fine.” Rhys assured him, and a little colour rose in Till’s cheeks. Ianto smiled at them and carried Giacomo to the wide bridge over the stream. It was only a small stream, about three metres across and very shallow, but the bridge was wide enough for three wheelchairs to make it across side by side, and would be perfect for running back and forth.
“What you have to do,” he began. “is pick a twig – like this one, maybe.” He picked a twig with a little brown leaf clinging to it. Giacomo raised an eyebrow, then picked the biggest branch he could lift. Ianto laughed. Straight for the biggest weapon – how Jack-like.
“This?” Giacomo grinned.
“No – it has to be able to float in the stream. How about this one?” He picked a twig and Giacomo tossed his branch aside, giving it a doubtful look.
“Okay, now we have to throw the sticks from the bridge into the water at the same time, and whoever’s stick comes out on the other side of the bridge first is the winner. Okay?”
“Sounds boring.” sighed Giacomo.
“Hey! You’re gonna enjoy it!” Ianto told him with certainty. “Okay, after three, drop your stick. One ... two ... three ...!”
They dropped their sticks and watched the disappear under the bridge. Quickly, Ianto urged them to run to the other side and waited for the sticks.
“Look!” Giacomo pointed. “There!”
“Ohhhhhh!” groaned Ianto. “You win!”
“Again! Play again!” demanded Giacomo. “... please?” he added.
Ianto ruffled his hair and they hurried back to the small tree they’d taken their first twigs from. “Let’s pick a few.” he suggested. “That way we don’t have to keep going back and forth.”
Giacomo nodded, pulling at every twig he could snap and shoving them in his pocket. They made their way to the right side of the bridge again.
“One ... two ... three!” Ianto called, and they dropped the twigs, and dashed to the other side. “You again.” he grumbled, actually peeved at having lost.
“Yay! Again!” cheered Giacomo, already at the first side of the bridge.
They played a few more times, and were on their way to get more sticks when a woman with a small girl walked up to them.
“Erm ... excuse me? My daughter would like to play too, if that’s okay?”
“That’s more than fine. What’s your name, sweetheart?” he asked her, offering her a handful of twigs.
She took them with a smile. “Katherine.”
“Okay Katherine ... what you have to do is ....”
He explained the game to her, and soon the three of them were charging back and forth, shouting and cheering to either side of the bridge.
“Can we play?” asked a small voice during another tip to the tree. Ianto turned, and stood there were four boys and two girls, covered in mud, a little glue and some of them were also glittery.
“Erm ... sure.” Ianto shrugged. “You might have to find twigs elsewhere though – we’re running out here!”
The kids all darted off in search of twigs, and Ianto wondered just what the attraction to Pooh Sticks really was – and how in the hell they were supposed to determine who the winner was with so many players. He decided he would have to randomly hand out the honour.
The new children returned, most of which were in Giacomo’s class, and soon Ianto and eight children were charging from one side of the bridge to the other.
“Ianto!” Rhys called eventually, and Ianto looked up to see him tap his watch while giving an incredulous look to the ... how many? Fourteen? ... children now gathered around him on the bridge.
The kids groaned and began to traipse back to their schoolrooms, and Ianto gave Giacomo a quick hug before sending him along, too.
“You’ve started a cult.” Till observed as the gaggle of children were herded into the School by a woman in uniform outside one of the doors leading into the building.
“It’s just Pooh Sticks.” shrugged Ianto.
“Pooh Sticks?”
“Yeah ... from ... from Winnie the Pooh?”
She gave him a blank look, and it occurred to Ianto that he’d probably have to stop calling the game ‘Pooh Sticks’ in case people thought he meant something different.
It also occurred to him that maybe he should write down and illustrate all the Winnie the Pooh stories he could remember. No way was he raising a child who didn’t know who Winnie the Pooh was.
Maybe he could get it published ....
With a sigh he bade goodbye to Till and Rhys, and watched them walk off together with a small smile. Now that was an unexpectedly good result ... he smirked to himself as he watched Rhys tell a probably very bad joke, and Till laughing as if it was actually funny. He set off in the opposite direction to them, making his way back to work.
He knocked on the Captain’s door and entered with a slight smile, going into the kitchenette and trying not to disrupt the phone conversation he was currently in the middle of. Jack’s voice was agitated when he spoke, though listening seemed to be his main part in the conversation.
Ianto listened as he re-entered the room with freshly brewed coffee.
“... no. That’s not what I’m saying. For Christ’s sake, we’re underfunded as it is! If you cut the education budget, we won’t even be able to afford exercise books! ... No ... well, either we take the exercise books, or we take the pens they write with. Oh, for fuck’s sake!” he growled, and slammed the silver oblong that was the receiver down on his desk. He massaged his forehead.
Ianto slipped a little cream and sugar into his coffee, and handed it to him.
“My ‘Upset’ Coffee.” Jack mused as he sipped it, smiling when the taste caressed his tongue. “Mmm ... that’s gooooood.”
“Trouble?” Ianto asked, giving the Captain the opportunity to vent.
“Gah!” he sighed, throwing his hands up. “They want to cut our funds again – we’re living to our means as it is!”
Ianto thought of his unbalanced and rather large wage, but kept quiet.
“They said that if we won’t cut back on food - food - or ‘luxury materials’ like clothes and sweets and things, we may as well cut back on education! I mean ... why should people who are from this time who don’t even bother going to work claim benefits enough for them not to work and live comfortably, while people who are here, who work hard and earn their keep, have to sacrifice education so that we can afford to feed them?”
Ianto sighed, going round the back of the Captain’s chair and gently massaging his neck and shoulders.
“Can you get them to come here for a meeting?” he asked.
“Probably not.” grumbled the Captain, sipping his coffee and relaxing into Ianto's hands.
“Mmmm. Leave it with me.”
“You have enough on your plate.”
“I’ll put off a couple of things. Let me overview the finances, see if I can rearrange the budget a little.”
“The Secretaries handle the budget.”
“Just let me look.”
Jack sighed. “Okay. You’ve made everything else better so far, may as well see if your string of good fortune is still putting out.” he smiled.
“If the budget is still too small to be unworkable, I’ll help you get it increased. Really – I know all about talking to executives in charge of large amounts of cash, and getting them to see my point of view without being a bleeding heart.”
He stilled his kneading of Jack’s shoulders, and stepped in front of him to sit on his lap. The Captain squeezed him. “Did you figure out the puzzle box yet?”
“Nearly.”
“You haven’t made any progress, have you?”
“I will get it open.” he assured him, sharply nipping his earlobe, cutting off his laugh with a slight ‘ow!’
"Mmm. I promise you'll love it ..." grinned Jack, resting his chin on his shoulder.
"I better had do." Ianto muttered.
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Jus' ... talking to myself ..."
"Ahh okay. Anyway: I have work to do. Ooh! I spoke to a couple of people. They can decorate your office next month.
"Decorate my office?"
"Just a lick of paint. Maybe a new light fitting." Jack waved off his question, pushing him up from his lap.
"Well ... okay. I suppose it could do with a bit of a lift."
"Yep." grinned the Captain.
"That reminds me: is my computer working yet?"
"I should bloody hope so. They were in there at lunch."
"Good ... good." smiled Ianto. "Okay, I'll see you later then?"
"See you. Oh! Ianto?"
Ianto hesitated by the door. "Mm?"
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
Ianto frowned in with a little confusion.
Jack pursed his lips melodramatically and tapped them with a finger as a hint.
"Oh!" Ianto grinned, and crossed the room to press a kiss to his lips. "Byeee." he smiled, backing out of the room again.
"Buh bye." smiled the Captain, and Ianto closed the door, wandering down the corridor to his office. He noticed the sign on his door that had read 'Accounts' had been removed, leaving a patch of unvarnished wood where it used to hang.
He booted up his computer, and brought up the programs he needed how Jack had shown him the day before. Ianto felt like he had done when he'd transferred from Mac to PC - a little bit lost, though the location of everything did actually make more sense in this format. He needed his start bar at the top of the screen, though, and dragged it up there out of habit.
After a bit of experimentation, Ianto managed to find the files for the residents of flat 419, and in turn that of Theodore Danver. He scanned over it, and found that his flat mate, the elderly woman Till had spoken of, had actually lodged two formal complaints about him and submitted a request he be removed from the household and replaced with 'someone more competent at being a sentient being'.
Sitting back and biting his lip, Ianto pondered for a moment. He wasn't normally a territorial man, but he'd never been somewhere where his partner had been so sought after, and also so eager to be sought out. He knew Jack had promised him what he saw as fidelity, but Ianto was too set in twenty-first century thinking to be able to think of him fooling about with another person and not feeling like he was in a competition.
And Ianto hated being competitive. Well, that's the image he projected. Normally, he was already winning and didn't need to compete ...
With a sigh, Ianto pressed the buzzer on his desk that opened the intercom link with Jack.
"Ahoy hoy?" the Captain greeted cheerfully.
"Jack ... you know how ... like ... I'm your favourite?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I have favourites?"
"How do you mean?" Jack asked, and Ianto took satisfaction in hearing a rather jealous edge to his tone.
"One of my friends really, really wants out of the barracks, and I've found someone who's been complained about twice by the people he lives with and had the other adult submit a request for removal. Could I have them switched?"
"Sure." Jack said. "Just search for the 'Change of Accommodation' documents, and it's all self explanatory. You can fill it in yourself, sign it as a witness then bring it for me to scribble on."
"Thanks, Captain."
"Oo ... Captain in your accent makes me hor-"
Ianto cut the link, smirking. It took him ten minutes to figure out where the forms he needed were saved, and found most of it he was supposed to do on the computer, then print off hard copies. The only thing Theo and Till would have to do was receive letters telling them they were moving and actually move. He was also pleased to see that Theo could be moved by force if necessary.
He clicked 'Print', and the hard copies appeared out of slot in his desk. He spent five minutes on his hands and knees trying to find the printer, and then another two minutes wondering what the Hell he was supposed to do when the paper ran out. In the end he decided to cross that bridge when he to it, and crossed over to the walk-in cupboard in the back corner of the room. He opened the door and flicked on the light.
It was empty, apart from his new suit in a dust jacket, hanging from the top shelf at the back. He quickly changed into it, telling himself it was a coincidence he'd decided to take it with him to work on the day he went to confront Theo Danver, and checked his reflection in a mirror he'd also coincidentally decided to bring. He smiled to himself. He loved this suit. He really, really did. He'd already ordered two more suits in different designs and materials from Mr. Turnbull the tailoring was that perfect. He'd winced when he'd seen the price, but decided to write it off as a work expense as soon as he could let Jack realise how essential it was he wore one. Or, how essential it was he wore one to take it off.
He took the forms and letters for Jack to sign to his office, knocking before entering and taking a deep breath.
"Hello ag - Ianto?" the Captain blinked, running his eyes up and down him, around him, over and probably inside him.
"You need to sign these."
"Yeah. Yeah ... I do ..." the Captain mumbled, reaching blindly for a pen. He cleared his throat and scribbled his signature on the lines Ianto indicated and offered him the pen, then remembered it was the papers he wanted and gave him them instead.
"Have you got any envelopes I could use?" Ianto asked, pretending to be oblivious to the Captain's rather distracted behaviour.
"B-bottom drawer." Jack indicated, and watched as Ianto bent down and retrieved an unopened pack.
"Mind if I take the lot? None of my stationary has come yet."
"Sure sure ... take me - THEM ... take them ..."
"Yes, sir." Ianto turned his back so that he could snigger to himself. "Goodbye, then."
"Oh ... bye, Ianto ..."
Ianto kissed his lips, lingering slightly, then turned to leave, closing the door behind him and only just managing not to feel more than just a little self satisfaction at the Captain's reaction. He returned to his office and enveloped the letters, then properly filed away the official documents before making his way down to the fourth floor to see Theo.
He found the flat easily, and knocked brusquely. The elderly woman, Elizabeth Saunders, opened the door.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Saunders. My name is Ianto Jones. I was wondering if I could speak to Theo Danver?"
"Is this about my complaints? I ain't retractin' 'em ..." she sighed.
"No, ma'am. This is about your request to have him removed."
Her face lit up a little bit too brightly. "He's going?"
"Yes. And we already have a lovely young woman to take his place, far more deserving of his position and far more amenable to the general requirements of living in a unit."
"Oh! Oh yes! That would be ... yes! Um ... he's not in though. He's at work. The barbers' in the market. Charleston's. Unless you'd like to leave a message?"
Ianto ran his fingers through his hair. "Hmm ... my hair is getting a little long ..." he pondered. "I think I may surprise him at work, ma'am. Thank you for your help, and I apologise for how long it took for action to be taken."
"Mmm." she grumbled, her lips pursing. "I'm guessing there's been quite a backlog to work through ..."
Ianto groaned inwardly. Backlog? He'd have to check how the complaints were dealt with when he got back .... Damn! Another thing for his list! He'd have to see if there were any more employable people who wanted work ...
He thanked Mrs. Saunders for her time and began his descent to the market town. He avoided the tailoring sections, knowing he'd only end up buying something, and quickly found Charleston's Barber on the outskirts of the cosmetic quarter. There was a customary candy-striped cylinder rotating outside, and the establishment looked quite classy and rather pricey. Entering the shop, Ianto saw that there was only one other customer in, and he was not being tended by anyone that anywhere near matched the description of Theo Danver.
The girl behind the till pressed a buzzer when he entered, and Theo appeared at the top of a set of stairs leading down to what was probably a kitchen and rec area.
"May I help you, sir?" he asked cheerfully.
"Just a trim, I think ...?"
"Theo, sir. And you would be ...?"
"Jones. Ianto Jones." he smiled, and saw the flicker in Theo's eyes as he handed over his jacket to be hung on a stand in the corner. Ianto was glad he wasn't getting a shave.
"Sit." offered Theo, and Ianto sat down in the chair he'd indicated while he went to noisily get a sink ready. They said nothing to each other as Theo washed his hair or guided him back to his seat, and Ianto didn't try and strike up conversation until he'd returned with scissors and began trimming the longer strands.
"So ..." Ianto began. "... I've been hearing some interesting things about you, Mr. Danver."
"You have, sir?", and Ianto could hear the smirk in his voice.
"I have indeed. Few of which I suspect are true, but caution is never a bad thing, I'm sure you realise."
"Yes, sir. Especially when sharp things are involved." he replied, and he opened and closed his scissors with an ominous 'snip-snip' sound.
Ianto smiled. "I find sharp objects are only dangerous when someone who doesn't care about the consequences is wielding them. I'm fairly certain that the consequences of harming me aren't ones you'd be happy to deal with. Oh, and if you screw up my hair you'll be wearing a toupee for the rest of your life." he added.
Theo plugged in some shears and began neatening the hair at the base of Ianto's neck carefully, before working his way round everywhere that needed clipping. Ianto watched warily, though he didn't let concern show in his eyes. He knew that by putting himself in this vulnerable position would show Theo his strength - or possibly, stupidity. But he hoped it was strength.
"Hmm ..." Ianto broke the heavy silence, and was now aware the receptionist was listening avidly. "It would also appear that I am not the only person unhappy with your behaviour at the moment." he sighed. "Mrs. Saunders, your housemate, has requested twice you be removed from her home. Did you know this?"
"I ... had an inkling."
"Well, I personally assessed the situation, and thought it may be best if you were sent to live in the barracks."
"You can't do that!" snapped Theo, his professional demeanour lost. He set down his shears, regretful that Ianto had waited until his cut was finished before breaking the news.
"I can. And ... look!" He produced the letter. "I already did! Totally unbiased, of course."
Theo glared at him, tearing open the envelope. "You bastard!" he hissed.
Ianto blinked in mock surprise. "Well, I just hope it teaches you for spreading nasty lies about people, being a generally bad unit member and trying to bring attention to yourself all the time."
"Lies?"
Ianto raised an eyebrow. "You can prove they are true?"
"He ... he has a ... a freckle. On his shoulder."
Ianto took a deep breath. "He does." agreed Ianto. "But ... what does this prove?"
"I've seen the scar on his inner thigh, too." he smirked.
Ianto knew his face was stony, and a thousand different ways that Theo could know about the freckle and the scar - essentially boiling down to word of mouth - raced through his head. "And? I still don't believe you. Far, far too vague."
"What would you like me to tell you about?" asked Theo with an arrogant air.
Managing to just about not bite his lip, Ianto thought for a moment. "The tattoo on his upper thigh. Which side is it on?"
"Left." Theo said, not missing a beat.
Ianto grinned, and Theo's face fell a little.
"Worth a try." Theo sighed.
"He doesn't even have a tattoo, you lying little git."
Theo said nothing, storming away down the stairs he'd come up before.
"I'm guessing he doesn't want a tip, then?" Ianto said jovially to the receptionist, and she smiled at him. "Ah well, I'm sure you'd spend it better anyway - how much was that, love?" he asked.
"That was priceless!" she grinned. "I mean ... his face! The Captain doesn't have a tattoo! His face! Oh erm ... just put your thumbprint there ..."
Ianto paid for the cut, and smirked to himself all the way up to barracks V. He'd made a small scene in front of a gossip, and come out on top while marking his territory. Good times.
He knocked on the door to the barracks, and Rina answered. Bollocks, he thought. I can't speak in front of Rina!
"I ... uh ... um ... is ... Till?" he sputtered, her beautiful eyes drinking in his suit and new haircut. She smiled sweetly and called for her.
Till came out into the corridor, and Ianto silently and solemnly handed her her letter. She read it warily, then jumped up and down with glee and threw her arms around him, laughing.
"Oh my god! I can get away from the kids!" she grinned, and kissed his cheek. "How did you ...?"
"I just told the Captain where to sign." he shrugged. "Listen, I gotta go back to work. I've ... wasted quite a bit of time already."
She hugged him again, and they said goodbye before parting ways. He climbed the rest of the stairs, and found himself in his familiar fantasy about lifts, lift voices and lift music. He found Jack lingering outside his office door, about to knock.
He cleared his throat, and Jack turned, flicked his eyes up and down Ianto's body and smiled at him.
"I was thinking ... I'm not particularly ... preoccupied at the moment ... and ... you haven't let me ... y'know ... top you yet ..."
Ianto sighed, though the thought was incredibly appealing, he'd done barely any work today. "I've hardly done anything today, Jack ... and you know what my schedule is like ..."
“C’mon, Ianto ...” Jack pleaded, taking a step forward.
Ianto tried to stay his resolve, but it was abandoned when he realised he couldn’t properly remember the last time Jack had been inside him, dominated him or just let him let go.
“Only if we go to your bed.” Ianto smirked, and waited for Jack to walk in front of him before setting off, falling into step with him. Jack clasped his hand and practically dragged him down the spiral stairs into his living room, then on through to his bed. He threw himself down, and relaxed with his hands behind his head.
Ianto remained standing, watching the Captain’s eyes slide over him, and slowly took off his jacket and hung it over the back of the dressing chair. Cufflinks next, and he set them on the bedside table nearest Jack.
“That is one fine, fine suit ...” sighed Jack. “You look so, so good in it. I almost want to rip it off ....”
Ianto smirked, and Jack’s eyes fluttered closed as if that little wicked smile of his sent a chill through the Captain’s body. He got up from the bed, and crossed over to Ianto, pulling him down onto the mattress, burying his head in his neck and muttering into his skin. “I want to undress you ...” His hands began unfastening the waist coat, and Ianto sighed happily as Jack finally began to take control. Carefully he began to pull open Jack’s own shirt and trousers as his own layers of clothes were taken from him.
Jack lay him down when they were both naked and covered his body with his own. He kissed Ianto's face and neck lightly, feeling his Ianto's hands caressing the planes of his back as he moaned softly under Jack’s gentle touch. The Captain ground his hips down, making Ianto arch his back and hiss, exposing his neck to be bitten, licked and sucked. He marked his collar harshly, sensing his grimace of pain, but Ianto allowed it as no one would ever see it there.
Ianto wrapped his legs around his Captain as they practically rutted against each other, gasping into his mouth as Jack forced him to kiss him and surrender completely. Finally, Jack reached for the bottle of lubricant, and Ianto drew his knees up, panting, waiting eagerly for Jack’s fingers.
Screwing his eyes shut, he felt the burn a little stronger than usual, and recalled he hadn’t done this for nearly three months. He relaxed and heard himself moan as Jack stretched him and opened him.
Ianto breathed deeply in anticipation as Jack crawled his way back up his body, both of them ready and trembling slightly – though neither of them were trying to show it. Ianto let out a long, gentle moan as Jack pushed inside his body, and he pretty much forgot how to breathe it felt so good.
“Let’s test our willpower ...” suggested Jack huskily. “Let’s see how long we can go without moving.”
Ianto made a frustrated sound, almost a whimper.
“Shhhhh ...” Jack soothed him, squeezing him and holding him. “It’ll be worth it, Ianto ...”
“Not from where I’m lying!” Ianto groaned, and clenched hard around him, trying to make him move. He gasped and arched slightly, but his hips remained resolutely still.
Ianto stared up into his dark, lust-filled eyes. He felt his chest expanding and contracting against his as they both breathed deep and wanting. He felt skin tingling with sweat and heard air being drawn and exhaled in panting breaths. He felt Jack deep inside him, big, hard and throbbing.
He bit his lower lip, daring Jack to look away from him, fighting the urge and desperation to squirm, buck his hips or flip Jack onto his back and ride him.
His body thrummed with his lust, his desire and his need for release. His body was on fire and it needed friction deep inside just to give him the slightest bit of relief. Clenching again, he watched Jack’s eyes flutter closed. Finally, he let out a surrendered cry and began to pound Ianto into the mattress, unforgiving thrusts making them bounce on the mattress springs and the bed hit the wall behind it. Ianto had to put his hand above his head to stop him from hitting it against the headboard, and finally he came, muttering things he didn’t even conceive thinking of saying, feeling Jack’s hot release exploding inside him as he wrapped his arms and legs around his Captain’s body again.
Jack flopped down onto his back to lie beside him, and Ianto tilted his head to the side so that his forehead brushed his shoulder. Jack didn’t respond, even flinching away from the contact.
“You should go now.” the Captain told him.
Ianto blinked. “Sorry ... what?”
He didn’t respond, turning his back on Ianto and getting comfortable on his side.
"Jack? I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell you're talking about ..."
"What you just said. You shouldn't have said it."
Ianto frowned. "What did I just say?"
"What you said when you came. You shouldn't have said it."
Ianto gave a nervous laugh. "Jack ... I ... I didn't even know I ... I didn't know I said anything when ..."
"You said ..." Jack turned to face him finally. "... you said you loved me. And now I think it's best if you leave."
Ianto stared at him. "Jack ... every man loves you when he's coming." he said, repeating his sister's bitter words to him after a particularly bad break-up she'd had at seventeen.
Jack narrowed his eyes, but couldn't argue the point. "Don't say it again?" asked.
"I didn't even know I'd said it that time." Ianto pointed out, spooning into his back in case he felt inclined to roll over and catch the anguish in Ianto's features.
They lay in silence for a while, Ianto silently panicking and Jack lost in thought. It was the Captain who broke the silence first.
"I saw you on the bridge in the garden today. With Giacomo." he said quietly, though Ianto could hear his smile. "Why were you running backwards and forwards - and what inspired about a hundred other kids to join you?"
"We were playing ... erm ... Tigger Sticks."
"Tigger sticks?"
"Each player picks a twig, drops into the stream on one side of the bridge and then you all run over to the other side to see who's stick comes out first."
"You were racing twigs?" Jack asked flatly.
"Yes. And we had lots and lots of fun, thank you Captain."
Jack gave a small laugh. "You got quite a following."
"That's the strange, magical draw of Tigger Sticks. You just can't get away from it." joked Ianto. Jack turned onto his other side to face him, and they kissed each other slowly for a while. Eventually, the phone in Jack's office began to ring angrily. With a sigh Jack disentangled himself and pulled on his trousers to go and answer it.
"You should get an extension next to your bed." Ianto told him when he returned, fastening his waistcoat.
"Get one next to yours and the nights you don't stay here may get a little more interesting." smirked Jack.
"Mmmm now there's an idea ..." Ianto agreed, allowing himself to be pulled into a kiss and cuddle. "I need to get back to work." he murmured into Jack's shoulder. "It's nearly four and I've done nothing since before lunch."
"Fine, fine. I'll let you go and do what I pay you to do ..." Jack grinned, giving him a gentle pat on the bottom to send him on his way. Fully dressed, Ianto climbed the stairs to leave the Captain to get dressed himself.
Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored.
Ianto glanced at his watch again.
Hmmmm ... maybe I could sell that to a museum ... he pondered.
He jumped as his desk phone started ringing.
"Hello?"
"Ianto Jones?"
"That's me."
"My name is Mozette Perry. I'm from the School's complaints department. A Mr. Theodore Danver has lodged a complaint about your conduct, and given circumstantial evidence it has been deemed in all our best interests that this complaint is taken further."
"Right. Go on." he said, trying not to sound like he was sighing, already opening up his computer to find his file and read anything that may have been written.
"Erm ... well ... following a hearing, you may be liable to serve out a sentence of the judge's choosing."
"Of course." Ianto sighed, reading the complaint about 'intimidating behaviour' and 'inappropriate mannerisms'. He highlighted it, and hit delete.
"Also, there is ... oh ... erm ... it ... it ... went ..."
"What went?" he asked innocently.
"There appears to be technical difficulties this end. Is there another time I might be able to contact you, Mr. Jones?"
"Yes. Tomorrow at about eleven AM? You'll have to ring me through extension zero-five-nine-five, though."
"Very well. I've made a note of that, and shall give you a ring then. Thank you for your time, Mr. Jones."
"You're welcome, Miss Perry." he sighed, hanging up.
He hit 'undo' on his computer keyboard and the complaint reappeared. He could imagine the reaction of the woman downstairs were she still looking at it. With a sigh, Ianto opened the intercom to link to Jack's office.
"Ahoy hoy?"
"Jack - someone's lodged a complaint about me, and I didn't even do anything wrong!" he grumbled/lied.
"Don't worry about it. Just get their next call to redirect to my office and I'll tell them where to shove it. Ooooo you have been a bad boy ..."
Ianto smirked to himself, realising Jack had probably just searched out his file.
"Intimidating behaviour'? You may have to show me that sometime ... hang on ... Theodore Danver? Blond? Highlights?"
"Yep."
"You asked me about him yesterday."
"He was still spreading rumours."
"Was it him you moved?"
"His housemate had requested it twice, sir."
"Well, fair enough." Jack said, and Ianto could hear his shrug. "I'll get it sorted now, actually. Quick email, all done. Just don't expect me to bail you out every time you get ... territorial ..."
"Who said anything about territorial?" he asked innocently.
"Just a feeling. I'm also not stupid." Jack pointed out, and this time Ianto heard the smirk.
"Hmm, if you say so." he joked. "Anyway: work to do."
"Ahh okay. Buh bye."
"Toodle pip."
He heard Jack laugh, and broke the connection.
Well, shagging the boss still had lots of advantages, he decided, starting to shut down his computer.
Can anyone tell me why I've got 'Hello' by Lionel Richie stuck in my head?
Heyy ... Instead of buying me a Christmas present, why not leave me a comment? It's cheaper, and less likely to wind up being given away as a gift to someone else next year!
Next Part | Previous Part | Torchwood Index | Request a Convo/Prose Fic
Tags:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-12-21 05:57 am (UTC)