Torchwood IMs: Eating Out
Aug. 7th, 2009 10:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
a_silver_storyTitle: Eating Out.
Chapter: 67
Characters: Ianto Jones, Jack Harkness, PC Andy Davidson
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
a_silver_story
Genre Humour. smut
Rating: R
Warnings: M.M implied, cuss
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: Rhys wakes up in a strange house, wandering the streets lost and trying to piece together the events of the night before. Jack, however, has other means of finding out ....
FIRST PART | Ianto and Gwen's IM's
PREVIOUS | Torchwood Index/Masterlist
67 |
“A double date? Are you serious?”
“Oh come on, Ianto! You and Jack and me and Rhys. It’ll be fun. You can pick the restaurant.”
“I dunno, Gwen. I’ll ask Jack.”
Ianto's phone beeped as he received the text message. ‘Jack say’s yes’ it read. It was, of course, from Jack.
“That’s settled then.” conceded Ianto.
“Yay! Oh ... Ianto?”
“Yeah?”
“Could you lay off the drink tonight?” asked Gwen, hugging him as she set off out through the cog door.
Ianto frowned after her, wondering what she meant.
~*~*~*~
“Jack? What are you planning on wearing tonight?”
“The usual.”
“Gah.”
“Why?”
“Can’t you wear something a bit more contemporary? Please?” Ianto begged, slathering shaving foam over his face and neck and reaching for his razor. Instinct told him he should be glad he was topless and about to get wet during this conversation.
“I haven’t got anything ‘contemporary’.” grumbled Jack.
“You’ve got the clothes I bought for you. Don’t you like them?”
Jack entered the bathroom and met Ianto's eyes in the mirror. “I’m saving them for special occasions.”
“Like a double date with friends?” implored Ianto. “In town? At the posh Chinese?” He carefully manoeuvred the razor down his neck. “Y’know, I bet you’d look good with a Mandarin collar.”
“I look good with a blue shirt, navy braces and my usual slacks. Add the big blue coat and it’s a winning combination!”
Ianto splashed water over his face, ridding any remnants of foam from his now clean shaven skin. “For Torchwood, maybe. Please Jack. Shirt and tie and dress trousers. Just for me?” He turned to Jack and laced his fingers together behind his neck, pulling him down until their foreheads touched. “I’ll make it worth your while ...”
“Which shirt do you want me wear?”
“The dark green iridescent one with the black satin tie.” said Ianto, stepping back satisfied. “Oh ... and could you wear some form of deodorant? I’m fed up of waitresses ‘slipping’ and ‘accidentally’ falling into your lap. If you stem off the pheromones a bit, it may happen only once or twice tonight.”
Jack smirked and reached for the deodorant can. “I like it when they do that.”
Ianto tried to hide a snigger as Jack went to spray his underarms, finding with an unpleasant and very cold shock that he’d actually reached for the shaving cream.
~*~*~*
“We’re taking a normal car?” realised Jack as Ianto dragged him to the Torchwood garage. Ianto raised an eyebrow, so Jack just shrugged and got in. Ianto revved up the engine and pulled out of the parking bay.
“You’re driving back, okay?” Ianto told him as they stopped at the first set of traffic lights.
“Okay.” agreed Jack. “Just ... lay off the drink a bit, yeah?”
~*~*~
They were seated on a rectangular table pretty much in the middle of the restaurant. The tablecloth was red shot with gold, and the plates were white with black Chinese characters around the outside wishing the person eating from them luck and happiness. Paper lanterns hung from the ceiling above each table and all the waiting-on staff were wearing black Mandarin-collared uniforms. Ianto insisted he sit opposite Jack to minimise the chances of being groped under the table. Gwen sat next to him, sniggering that she was also helping to minimise the problem of Ianto being felt up. Rhys turned bright red, Jack snorted and Ianto gave her an odd look.
They spent a couple of minutes browsing over the menu before ordering their food, making idle chit chat. Ianto busied himself straightening his cutlery and chop sticks, adjusting the positioning of his wine glass and folding his serviette the way he liked. Jack watched him a little curiously, but averted his gaze when Ianto caught his eye.
Gwen was talking about holidays she and Rhys had been on before Torchwood. Ianto winced a little when she asked him where was the last place he went on holiday before he came to Torchwood three, but Jack intervened and changed the subject.
“Didn’t I mention, Gwen?” he interrupted. “Me and Ianto are going a way for a week.”
“Oh?” she looked surprised. “And ... what am I supposed to do here on my own?”
“I’ll get UNIT to send some young things in red caps up to give you a hand ... you don’t mind do you?”
“No ... not at all ... as long as I get to go on holiday at some point, too.”
“Just talk to Ianto. He’ll sort ya out.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
The waitress came over with their meals, and there was a little peace and quiet as they ate. Ianto reached over for the bottle of wine, topping up his glass and filling it as high as he could. “Woah!” said Rhys. “We’re having a meal ... go easy on the drink, mate.”
Ianto scowled at him, setting down the bottle. “Okay ... what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. You just don’t want to get pissed during a meal, usually.”
“I’m not getting pissed. I’m having a drink to ease down my food.”
“That’s your third glass in the half hour we’ve been here.” Jack pointed out. “And that’s not exactly a low percentage wine.”
Ianto looked at each of their faces, frowning a little. “Right ... what’s going on?”
“Nothing’s ‘going on’, Ianto.” soothed Gwen. “You just need to slow down a little.”
“I’m not a child. I know my limits.”
Jack made a ‘hmph’ noise. “If you knew your limits, you’d still be able to remember Monday night. And Saturday night. And the Wednesday night.”
“I didn’t even go out Wednesday night!”
“No ... you don’t remember going out on Wednesday night.”
Ianto scowled angrily. “Stop all the ... the ... circumlocution! What the hell have you three dragged me here for?”
“We’re having a nice time out with friends. It’s what people do.” said Gwen.
“We’ve never done it before.”
Gwen sighed. “Jack?” she said, and gave him a pointed look. Jack shifted and glanced at Rhys.
“Rhys?” he said.
“Well ... thing is, mate. Erm ... we think you drink too much. Not like ... quantity and stuff ... that’s like ... your business. But too often.”
“I never heard you complaining.”
“You work for a top secret organisation.” Jack cut in, his tone serious. “You might need to be on call. What use are you if you’re legless?”
“Who’s side are you on?” challenged Ianto, his hackles properly risen.
“It’s not about sides. It’s about common sense.” Gwen said gently. “Don’t get angry. We just need you safe.”
Deciding he couldn’t argue with that, Ianto raised his glass to his lips and took a long sip. He gazed over the brim at Jack who was avoiding eye-contact. He set the glass down, picked up his chop sticks and started eating like the tension around the table wasn’t pulled taught to breaking point. The others followed suit, eating in awkward silence. They made a silent and mutual decision not to stay for desert.
The car journey back to Ianto's flat was even more awkward. Ianto point blank refused to acknowledge anything Jack was saying, and eventually Jack pulled the car over to the side of the road to confront him.
“Look. You just totally ruined what should have been a really nice night out. Now will you just grow the hell up and talk to me?”
Ianto scowled. “What was tonight supposed to be, Jack?” he asked quietly. “Clearly, you knew about it before I did. If Gwen planned something like this, she’d ask me first and then it would be my job to persuade you.”
“It was my idea, actually. I thought you might like to have a nice meal out with our friends; have a nice time anywhere other than the hub or the coffee shop.”
“Then why did Gwen ask me and not you?”
“Because you’d have told me off for being a soppy bastard!”
Ianto's face softened and he dropped his gaze to study his hands on his lap. “Oh. Y’know ... when I say that ... I don’t mean it.” Jack grunted in response. “I actually ... I like it when you’re soppy. But ... I’m a bloke. I’m not supposed to like soppy.”
Jack was smiling a little now. “You can like whatever you want, Ianto.”
“But sometimes what I want is so different from what you want. And therein lies the problem.” he explained, sadness tingeing his words.
Jack looked away, gripping the steering wheel. “Okay ... um ... we should go back to your flat and talk about this.”
They pulled away from the kerb smoothly, heading in the direction of Ianto's flat. Jack glanced sideways at him occasionally, but his gaze was set firmly out of the window, his hands clasped tightly on his lap, shoulders tensed.
~*~*~*~
Ianto gave him a quizzical look when he sat down on the sofa. “Aren’t we going to bed?” he asked.
“I thought we were going to talk.” replied Jack, patting the seat beside him.
“We can talk in bed.” said Ianto, giving him that wicked little smile.
“Ah ... so you’re hoping that instead of talking we’ll just end up having sex again? Nope. Not happening.”
Averting his gaze slightly, Ianto started straightening his tie and pulling invisible creases out of his jacket. “You ... want to talk about ... feelings?”
“Yep.”
“Oh. What makes you think that’s a good idea?”
“I spoke to your mother.”
“You. Did. What?”
“I was worried about you. So I asked her what I should do.”
Ianto was scowling, folding his arms over his chest. He formed a defensive stance, and Jack recognised it as Ianto gearing up for a row.
“Sit beside me.” he said, trying to sound soothing. “C’mon. Just sit beside me, and we’ll talk. Please.” he added.
Ianto's face softened, and his arms dropped. He lowered himself onto the sofa beside Jack, and found a comforting arm slipped around his shoulders. Jack kissed him, gently cupping the side of his head and stroking a thumb over the sideburn. Ianto kissed back, looping an arm around his waist and holding firmly. His other hand was smoothing circles on Jack’s shoulder, before slipping casually to brush over the pectoral and massage a nipple. Jack pulled away, touching their foreheads together. “You’re tryna distract me again.” Ianto said nothing, but smirked and moved to kiss him again. Jack pulled back out of his reach.
“Ohhh Jack!”
“We’re talking about stuff. No sex.” he admonished, but he kept his arm around Ianto and pulled him close, tucking his head under his chin. There was a bit of an awkward silence.
“Well?” said Ianto.
“Erm ... let’s start with your sister. Shall we?”
Ianto tensed. “What about her? I think I’ve told you pretty much everything there is to know about my feelings towards her at the moment.”
“Okay. But you are going to make up with her, right?”
“I don’t know. Depends on whether or not she tries to make up with me.”
Jack ‘mmed’ his agreement. “You should try though. To instigate a reconciliation. She needs you right now.”
“Then why is she pushing me away?”
“In her own silly, grief-stricken way, she’s trying to look after you. She loves you – and don’t start. I know you love her, too.” Jack said as Ianto rolled his eyes. Jack started stroking the hair at the base of his skull, and Ianto's arms curled further around him.
“I hate the way she talks about you. You’ve done nothing to upset her.”
“What she says about me is my problem, not yours. It’s not changed anyone else’s opinion of me, has it? She can say what she likes. You know who I am.”
“I don’t even know your real name.” muttered Ianto, his voice bitter.
It was Jack’s turn to tense. “I ... you can’t know. Spoilers. Paradoxes.” he stumbled out.
“Whatever.” said Ianto. His arms became looser around Jack’s body, and he tried to disentangle himself from Jack’s arms.
“Woah ... you’re not goin’ anywhere.” Jack pulled him back into him, tucking Ianto's head under his chin again. Ianto sighed.
“I’ll invite Rhiannon out for a meal next week. Talk things over. Sort ourselves out.”
“Good.”
“No promises though. If she starts up about you, I’m finished with her.”
Jack sighed in exasperation. “That’s not how it works! She’s your family. You can’t just stop talking to her. You need to help her through this.”
“Mmm.”
“Okay ... so next, we talk about us.” Jack took in a deep breath. “What is our relationship to you, Ianto?”
“Woah. Straight in at the deep end ...”
“You can’t learn to swim if you can feel the bottom of the pool.” replied Jack. “Just ... answer the question.”
“You go first.” said Ianto quietly.
“No. Because then you’ll just agree with what I say.”
He could feel Ianto's scowl. “I don’t know what ... what our relationship is.” admitted Ianto. “You call me your partner, but you’ve never introduced me as such – apart from at Eira’s wedding, but most of the time that was you explaining why you were there. You never tell me that you feel anything for me. You say you care. I know you care. But you never tell me in plain, simple English whether or not you ... your ‘caring’ runs deeper than that.”
Jack thought for a couple of moments. “I prefer ... physical demonstrations.”
“And even those are sparse.” Ianto replied, his tone bitter again.
“I buy you presents.”
“Most of which I don’t like.” admitted Ianto, gently. “Though I do appreciate you trying. I really, really do. And when you put Janet in that dress ... I appreciate how close you must have come to getting mauled by her ever since ...”
“You’ll be surprised how easy it was to get Janet in that dress. It was Myfanwy in a tux that I struggled with.” Ianto gave a small laugh.
“I do love you, Jack.” he said quietly. Jack massaged a circle on his back.
“I know, Ianto. And I ... you really are so, so important to me. Above everything. I want you to be happy.”
“I don’t know if we can be. I want ... I think I want different things to you.” Ianto was being honest now. The four glasses of wine he’d had at dinner helped, but his head wasn’t fuzzy enough for him to start babbling everything out in one go.
“What kind of different things?” asked Jack, apprehensive.
“I ... I always thought I’d be married, have a family, a house. Even a dog. That was the plan.”
“That could still happen.”
“Not with you, though.”
Jack inhaled deeply. “We’ll take it slowly. See how it goes.”
“But that’s just it!” cried Ianto, sitting up straight and looking him in the eye. “I have no idea how long I’ve got left! No idea whether or not tomorrow morning will be the last time I wake up before ... before I get shot. Or evaporated. Attacked by an alien. Hit by a bus ... even have an accident with the coffee machine! You want to go slow because you’ve got the time ... but I don’t, Jack! I know I’m never going to have a marriage or a family or a dog; you’re all I’m ever going to have until I die, and I had to acknowledge that and get over it because this is all about what you want!”
Jack’s eyes widened in shock at that last admission. “So ... it’s me that wants to go on holiday is it?”
“Did I ask you to take me away?” Ianto shot back.
“But ... your fantasy ... we were going to ...”
Ianto gave a weak laugh. “Because it’s what you want to do! If I’d have turned to you and said ‘Jack, let’s go somewhere hot – Turkey or Greece or something?’ you’d have made excuses and said we were busy and Torchwood isn’t made for tourists. But because you see the profit of going, we’re practically all packed and ready to fly.”
“It’s not like that! I’m trying to make you happy! I want you to be happy – I need you to be happy!”
“So that I’ll fuck you whenever you want!”
“No ... it’s not ... it’s not like that!”
Their bodies were no longer touching as they sat on the couch, glaring at each other.
“What is it like then?” Ianto growled, low and dangerous.
“It’s ... it’s ... I want to be with you. I like being with you. Not just the sex – I know that’s how it started, but you know that it’s changed, right? The sex is still ... mindblowing ... but ... that’s not all there is to it. Not anymore. I ... I care about you.”
“For god’s sake!” Ianto nearly shouted. He was on his feet, arms folded and obtaining the dominant position. “I get that you care for me ... you also care for Myfanwy and trees and the everyday person walking down the street. Saying you ‘care’ for me isn’t enough anymore. You asked me what was wrong - what I wanted. I want solidarity, Jack. Just once ... tell me you love me. Just once. Even if it’s a lie.”
Jack raised himself to his feet, slowly. Ianto searched his expression, trying to discern what he was thinking. The Captain swept him into his arms, holding him close, pressing their mouths together and not waiting for permission before forcing his tongue into Ianto's mouth, kissing him with passion. Ianto kissed back, then remembered himself. Pushing Jack away, he moved to set the coffee table in between them.
“Ianto ...”
Tears were welling up in Ianto's eyes. “I want a relationship, Jack. I want to hold hands while walking down the street, be introduced as your partner, go on holiday together – get a house together. But you don’t want that. You just ... you just want a fuck and a bigger bed to sleep in.”
“No ... no!”
“Get out.”
“No ... Ianto!”
“What?”
“Look ... maybe we should calm down, go to bed, get some sleep and then talk about this in the morning. Get a clear head, yeah?”
“Clear head?” Ianto's eyebrow raised.
“You had four glasses of strong wine. Your brain must be a little foggy.” Jack said calmly, trying to sooth him.
“My brain is not foggy! Maybe my alcohol threshold is higher than yours, Jack!”
“Maybe ... but. That’s not a good thing. Maybe your alcohol threshold is so high because you drink too much?”
“GO!” yelled Ianto. “Cancel your holiday. Forget about it. I’m not coming into work tomorrow.”
“Ianto! No!”
“I’m not a child, Jack. I’ll decide how foggy my brain is. I’ll decide when I’m ‘drinking too much!” Grabbing Jack’s elbow roughly, he began showing him the way out.
“I’m trying to help you! As your partner!”
“Ha! You only call yourself that when it suits, don’t you? Go on ... go!” Ianto gave him a shove through the door.
“Aren’t I ... aren’t I staying here tonight?” asked Jack, bewildered.
“I dunno. Maybe you should talk to my mam and ask permission!” snarled Ianto, and slammed the door in his face.
“FINE!” Jack shouted through the wood. “I will!”
FIN
Uh oh. Angstosaurs have reared their scaly heads! But I'm sure you've learnt that in my writing, angst leads to lots of comfort fluff, right?
Also: anyone else want to enter a base for 'Minion' icons? Got a couple, but the more the merrier ^_^
I swear there shall be fluff soon.
And also sex den fun.
Next Part | Previous Part | Torchwood Index | Request a Convo/Prose Fic
EDIT | I'm also now on Twitter (I joined a while ago, but mentioned it in a spoilered post so many of you may have missed) and I'm under the name @a_silver_story (duh). Follow if that is your interest. I'm trying to keep it updated and stuff, but I keep forgetting because I'm new to the mystical land of micro-blogging
Chapter: 67
Characters: Ianto Jones, Jack Harkness, PC Andy Davidson
Author:
a_silver_storyGenre Humour. smut
Rating: R
Warnings: M.M implied, cuss
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: Rhys wakes up in a strange house, wandering the streets lost and trying to piece together the events of the night before. Jack, however, has other means of finding out ....
FIRST PART | Ianto and Gwen's IM's
PREVIOUS | Torchwood Index/Masterlist
67 |
“A double date? Are you serious?”
“Oh come on, Ianto! You and Jack and me and Rhys. It’ll be fun. You can pick the restaurant.”
“I dunno, Gwen. I’ll ask Jack.”
Ianto's phone beeped as he received the text message. ‘Jack say’s yes’ it read. It was, of course, from Jack.
“That’s settled then.” conceded Ianto.
“Yay! Oh ... Ianto?”
“Yeah?”
“Could you lay off the drink tonight?” asked Gwen, hugging him as she set off out through the cog door.
Ianto frowned after her, wondering what she meant.
“Jack? What are you planning on wearing tonight?”
“The usual.”
“Gah.”
“Why?”
“Can’t you wear something a bit more contemporary? Please?” Ianto begged, slathering shaving foam over his face and neck and reaching for his razor. Instinct told him he should be glad he was topless and about to get wet during this conversation.
“I haven’t got anything ‘contemporary’.” grumbled Jack.
“You’ve got the clothes I bought for you. Don’t you like them?”
Jack entered the bathroom and met Ianto's eyes in the mirror. “I’m saving them for special occasions.”
“Like a double date with friends?” implored Ianto. “In town? At the posh Chinese?” He carefully manoeuvred the razor down his neck. “Y’know, I bet you’d look good with a Mandarin collar.”
“I look good with a blue shirt, navy braces and my usual slacks. Add the big blue coat and it’s a winning combination!”
Ianto splashed water over his face, ridding any remnants of foam from his now clean shaven skin. “For Torchwood, maybe. Please Jack. Shirt and tie and dress trousers. Just for me?” He turned to Jack and laced his fingers together behind his neck, pulling him down until their foreheads touched. “I’ll make it worth your while ...”
“Which shirt do you want me wear?”
“The dark green iridescent one with the black satin tie.” said Ianto, stepping back satisfied. “Oh ... and could you wear some form of deodorant? I’m fed up of waitresses ‘slipping’ and ‘accidentally’ falling into your lap. If you stem off the pheromones a bit, it may happen only once or twice tonight.”
Jack smirked and reached for the deodorant can. “I like it when they do that.”
Ianto tried to hide a snigger as Jack went to spray his underarms, finding with an unpleasant and very cold shock that he’d actually reached for the shaving cream.
“We’re taking a normal car?” realised Jack as Ianto dragged him to the Torchwood garage. Ianto raised an eyebrow, so Jack just shrugged and got in. Ianto revved up the engine and pulled out of the parking bay.
“You’re driving back, okay?” Ianto told him as they stopped at the first set of traffic lights.
“Okay.” agreed Jack. “Just ... lay off the drink a bit, yeah?”
They were seated on a rectangular table pretty much in the middle of the restaurant. The tablecloth was red shot with gold, and the plates were white with black Chinese characters around the outside wishing the person eating from them luck and happiness. Paper lanterns hung from the ceiling above each table and all the waiting-on staff were wearing black Mandarin-collared uniforms. Ianto insisted he sit opposite Jack to minimise the chances of being groped under the table. Gwen sat next to him, sniggering that she was also helping to minimise the problem of Ianto being felt up. Rhys turned bright red, Jack snorted and Ianto gave her an odd look.
They spent a couple of minutes browsing over the menu before ordering their food, making idle chit chat. Ianto busied himself straightening his cutlery and chop sticks, adjusting the positioning of his wine glass and folding his serviette the way he liked. Jack watched him a little curiously, but averted his gaze when Ianto caught his eye.
Gwen was talking about holidays she and Rhys had been on before Torchwood. Ianto winced a little when she asked him where was the last place he went on holiday before he came to Torchwood three, but Jack intervened and changed the subject.
“Didn’t I mention, Gwen?” he interrupted. “Me and Ianto are going a way for a week.”
“Oh?” she looked surprised. “And ... what am I supposed to do here on my own?”
“I’ll get UNIT to send some young things in red caps up to give you a hand ... you don’t mind do you?”
“No ... not at all ... as long as I get to go on holiday at some point, too.”
“Just talk to Ianto. He’ll sort ya out.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
The waitress came over with their meals, and there was a little peace and quiet as they ate. Ianto reached over for the bottle of wine, topping up his glass and filling it as high as he could. “Woah!” said Rhys. “We’re having a meal ... go easy on the drink, mate.”
Ianto scowled at him, setting down the bottle. “Okay ... what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. You just don’t want to get pissed during a meal, usually.”
“I’m not getting pissed. I’m having a drink to ease down my food.”
“That’s your third glass in the half hour we’ve been here.” Jack pointed out. “And that’s not exactly a low percentage wine.”
Ianto looked at each of their faces, frowning a little. “Right ... what’s going on?”
“Nothing’s ‘going on’, Ianto.” soothed Gwen. “You just need to slow down a little.”
“I’m not a child. I know my limits.”
Jack made a ‘hmph’ noise. “If you knew your limits, you’d still be able to remember Monday night. And Saturday night. And the Wednesday night.”
“I didn’t even go out Wednesday night!”
“No ... you don’t remember going out on Wednesday night.”
Ianto scowled angrily. “Stop all the ... the ... circumlocution! What the hell have you three dragged me here for?”
“We’re having a nice time out with friends. It’s what people do.” said Gwen.
“We’ve never done it before.”
Gwen sighed. “Jack?” she said, and gave him a pointed look. Jack shifted and glanced at Rhys.
“Rhys?” he said.
“Well ... thing is, mate. Erm ... we think you drink too much. Not like ... quantity and stuff ... that’s like ... your business. But too often.”
“I never heard you complaining.”
“You work for a top secret organisation.” Jack cut in, his tone serious. “You might need to be on call. What use are you if you’re legless?”
“Who’s side are you on?” challenged Ianto, his hackles properly risen.
“It’s not about sides. It’s about common sense.” Gwen said gently. “Don’t get angry. We just need you safe.”
Deciding he couldn’t argue with that, Ianto raised his glass to his lips and took a long sip. He gazed over the brim at Jack who was avoiding eye-contact. He set the glass down, picked up his chop sticks and started eating like the tension around the table wasn’t pulled taught to breaking point. The others followed suit, eating in awkward silence. They made a silent and mutual decision not to stay for desert.
The car journey back to Ianto's flat was even more awkward. Ianto point blank refused to acknowledge anything Jack was saying, and eventually Jack pulled the car over to the side of the road to confront him.
“Look. You just totally ruined what should have been a really nice night out. Now will you just grow the hell up and talk to me?”
Ianto scowled. “What was tonight supposed to be, Jack?” he asked quietly. “Clearly, you knew about it before I did. If Gwen planned something like this, she’d ask me first and then it would be my job to persuade you.”
“It was my idea, actually. I thought you might like to have a nice meal out with our friends; have a nice time anywhere other than the hub or the coffee shop.”
“Then why did Gwen ask me and not you?”
“Because you’d have told me off for being a soppy bastard!”
Ianto's face softened and he dropped his gaze to study his hands on his lap. “Oh. Y’know ... when I say that ... I don’t mean it.” Jack grunted in response. “I actually ... I like it when you’re soppy. But ... I’m a bloke. I’m not supposed to like soppy.”
Jack was smiling a little now. “You can like whatever you want, Ianto.”
“But sometimes what I want is so different from what you want. And therein lies the problem.” he explained, sadness tingeing his words.
Jack looked away, gripping the steering wheel. “Okay ... um ... we should go back to your flat and talk about this.”
They pulled away from the kerb smoothly, heading in the direction of Ianto's flat. Jack glanced sideways at him occasionally, but his gaze was set firmly out of the window, his hands clasped tightly on his lap, shoulders tensed.
Ianto gave him a quizzical look when he sat down on the sofa. “Aren’t we going to bed?” he asked.
“I thought we were going to talk.” replied Jack, patting the seat beside him.
“We can talk in bed.” said Ianto, giving him that wicked little smile.
“Ah ... so you’re hoping that instead of talking we’ll just end up having sex again? Nope. Not happening.”
Averting his gaze slightly, Ianto started straightening his tie and pulling invisible creases out of his jacket. “You ... want to talk about ... feelings?”
“Yep.”
“Oh. What makes you think that’s a good idea?”
“I spoke to your mother.”
“You. Did. What?”
“I was worried about you. So I asked her what I should do.”
Ianto was scowling, folding his arms over his chest. He formed a defensive stance, and Jack recognised it as Ianto gearing up for a row.
“Sit beside me.” he said, trying to sound soothing. “C’mon. Just sit beside me, and we’ll talk. Please.” he added.
Ianto's face softened, and his arms dropped. He lowered himself onto the sofa beside Jack, and found a comforting arm slipped around his shoulders. Jack kissed him, gently cupping the side of his head and stroking a thumb over the sideburn. Ianto kissed back, looping an arm around his waist and holding firmly. His other hand was smoothing circles on Jack’s shoulder, before slipping casually to brush over the pectoral and massage a nipple. Jack pulled away, touching their foreheads together. “You’re tryna distract me again.” Ianto said nothing, but smirked and moved to kiss him again. Jack pulled back out of his reach.
“Ohhh Jack!”
“We’re talking about stuff. No sex.” he admonished, but he kept his arm around Ianto and pulled him close, tucking his head under his chin. There was a bit of an awkward silence.
“Well?” said Ianto.
“Erm ... let’s start with your sister. Shall we?”
Ianto tensed. “What about her? I think I’ve told you pretty much everything there is to know about my feelings towards her at the moment.”
“Okay. But you are going to make up with her, right?”
“I don’t know. Depends on whether or not she tries to make up with me.”
Jack ‘mmed’ his agreement. “You should try though. To instigate a reconciliation. She needs you right now.”
“Then why is she pushing me away?”
“In her own silly, grief-stricken way, she’s trying to look after you. She loves you – and don’t start. I know you love her, too.” Jack said as Ianto rolled his eyes. Jack started stroking the hair at the base of his skull, and Ianto's arms curled further around him.
“I hate the way she talks about you. You’ve done nothing to upset her.”
“What she says about me is my problem, not yours. It’s not changed anyone else’s opinion of me, has it? She can say what she likes. You know who I am.”
“I don’t even know your real name.” muttered Ianto, his voice bitter.
It was Jack’s turn to tense. “I ... you can’t know. Spoilers. Paradoxes.” he stumbled out.
“Whatever.” said Ianto. His arms became looser around Jack’s body, and he tried to disentangle himself from Jack’s arms.
“Woah ... you’re not goin’ anywhere.” Jack pulled him back into him, tucking Ianto's head under his chin again. Ianto sighed.
“I’ll invite Rhiannon out for a meal next week. Talk things over. Sort ourselves out.”
“Good.”
“No promises though. If she starts up about you, I’m finished with her.”
Jack sighed in exasperation. “That’s not how it works! She’s your family. You can’t just stop talking to her. You need to help her through this.”
“Mmm.”
“Okay ... so next, we talk about us.” Jack took in a deep breath. “What is our relationship to you, Ianto?”
“Woah. Straight in at the deep end ...”
“You can’t learn to swim if you can feel the bottom of the pool.” replied Jack. “Just ... answer the question.”
“You go first.” said Ianto quietly.
“No. Because then you’ll just agree with what I say.”
He could feel Ianto's scowl. “I don’t know what ... what our relationship is.” admitted Ianto. “You call me your partner, but you’ve never introduced me as such – apart from at Eira’s wedding, but most of the time that was you explaining why you were there. You never tell me that you feel anything for me. You say you care. I know you care. But you never tell me in plain, simple English whether or not you ... your ‘caring’ runs deeper than that.”
Jack thought for a couple of moments. “I prefer ... physical demonstrations.”
“And even those are sparse.” Ianto replied, his tone bitter again.
“I buy you presents.”
“Most of which I don’t like.” admitted Ianto, gently. “Though I do appreciate you trying. I really, really do. And when you put Janet in that dress ... I appreciate how close you must have come to getting mauled by her ever since ...”
“You’ll be surprised how easy it was to get Janet in that dress. It was Myfanwy in a tux that I struggled with.” Ianto gave a small laugh.
“I do love you, Jack.” he said quietly. Jack massaged a circle on his back.
“I know, Ianto. And I ... you really are so, so important to me. Above everything. I want you to be happy.”
“I don’t know if we can be. I want ... I think I want different things to you.” Ianto was being honest now. The four glasses of wine he’d had at dinner helped, but his head wasn’t fuzzy enough for him to start babbling everything out in one go.
“What kind of different things?” asked Jack, apprehensive.
“I ... I always thought I’d be married, have a family, a house. Even a dog. That was the plan.”
“That could still happen.”
“Not with you, though.”
Jack inhaled deeply. “We’ll take it slowly. See how it goes.”
“But that’s just it!” cried Ianto, sitting up straight and looking him in the eye. “I have no idea how long I’ve got left! No idea whether or not tomorrow morning will be the last time I wake up before ... before I get shot. Or evaporated. Attacked by an alien. Hit by a bus ... even have an accident with the coffee machine! You want to go slow because you’ve got the time ... but I don’t, Jack! I know I’m never going to have a marriage or a family or a dog; you’re all I’m ever going to have until I die, and I had to acknowledge that and get over it because this is all about what you want!”
Jack’s eyes widened in shock at that last admission. “So ... it’s me that wants to go on holiday is it?”
“Did I ask you to take me away?” Ianto shot back.
“But ... your fantasy ... we were going to ...”
Ianto gave a weak laugh. “Because it’s what you want to do! If I’d have turned to you and said ‘Jack, let’s go somewhere hot – Turkey or Greece or something?’ you’d have made excuses and said we were busy and Torchwood isn’t made for tourists. But because you see the profit of going, we’re practically all packed and ready to fly.”
“It’s not like that! I’m trying to make you happy! I want you to be happy – I need you to be happy!”
“So that I’ll fuck you whenever you want!”
“No ... it’s not ... it’s not like that!”
Their bodies were no longer touching as they sat on the couch, glaring at each other.
“What is it like then?” Ianto growled, low and dangerous.
“It’s ... it’s ... I want to be with you. I like being with you. Not just the sex – I know that’s how it started, but you know that it’s changed, right? The sex is still ... mindblowing ... but ... that’s not all there is to it. Not anymore. I ... I care about you.”
“For god’s sake!” Ianto nearly shouted. He was on his feet, arms folded and obtaining the dominant position. “I get that you care for me ... you also care for Myfanwy and trees and the everyday person walking down the street. Saying you ‘care’ for me isn’t enough anymore. You asked me what was wrong - what I wanted. I want solidarity, Jack. Just once ... tell me you love me. Just once. Even if it’s a lie.”
Jack raised himself to his feet, slowly. Ianto searched his expression, trying to discern what he was thinking. The Captain swept him into his arms, holding him close, pressing their mouths together and not waiting for permission before forcing his tongue into Ianto's mouth, kissing him with passion. Ianto kissed back, then remembered himself. Pushing Jack away, he moved to set the coffee table in between them.
“Ianto ...”
Tears were welling up in Ianto's eyes. “I want a relationship, Jack. I want to hold hands while walking down the street, be introduced as your partner, go on holiday together – get a house together. But you don’t want that. You just ... you just want a fuck and a bigger bed to sleep in.”
“No ... no!”
“Get out.”
“No ... Ianto!”
“What?”
“Look ... maybe we should calm down, go to bed, get some sleep and then talk about this in the morning. Get a clear head, yeah?”
“Clear head?” Ianto's eyebrow raised.
“You had four glasses of strong wine. Your brain must be a little foggy.” Jack said calmly, trying to sooth him.
“My brain is not foggy! Maybe my alcohol threshold is higher than yours, Jack!”
“Maybe ... but. That’s not a good thing. Maybe your alcohol threshold is so high because you drink too much?”
“GO!” yelled Ianto. “Cancel your holiday. Forget about it. I’m not coming into work tomorrow.”
“Ianto! No!”
“I’m not a child, Jack. I’ll decide how foggy my brain is. I’ll decide when I’m ‘drinking too much!” Grabbing Jack’s elbow roughly, he began showing him the way out.
“I’m trying to help you! As your partner!”
“Ha! You only call yourself that when it suits, don’t you? Go on ... go!” Ianto gave him a shove through the door.
“Aren’t I ... aren’t I staying here tonight?” asked Jack, bewildered.
“I dunno. Maybe you should talk to my mam and ask permission!” snarled Ianto, and slammed the door in his face.
“FINE!” Jack shouted through the wood. “I will!”
FIN
Uh oh. Angstosaurs have reared their scaly heads! But I'm sure you've learnt that in my writing, angst leads to lots of comfort fluff, right?
Also: anyone else want to enter a base for 'Minion' icons? Got a couple, but the more the merrier ^_^
I swear there shall be fluff soon.
And also sex den fun.
EDIT | I'm also now on Twitter (I joined a while ago, but mentioned it in a spoilered post so many of you may have missed) and I'm under the name @a_silver_story (duh). Follow if that is your interest. I'm trying to keep it updated and stuff, but I keep forgetting because I'm new to the mystical land of micro-blogging
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2009-08-07 09:40 pm (UTC)*begs* make it better please *begs some more* :(
ps. still love this! XD
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Date: 2009-08-07 09:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 09:43 pm (UTC)IANTOOOOOOOOO!
*cries*
Why?
Make-up fluff soon plz?
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Date: 2009-08-07 09:47 pm (UTC)Other than that, ahhhhhh lovers arguement!
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 10:39 pm (UTC)Nicole
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Date: 2009-08-07 09:49 pm (UTC)Minion is content! :)
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:10 pm (UTC)Hehe. We all need some angst or it turns into an ITV show!
Amoda, reading is so very very sexy ...
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:26 pm (UTC)I love the angst...probably a little too much for my health...*shuffles off to be angsty*
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 10:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 10:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 10:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 10:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 11:02 pm (UTC)I'm ecstatic either way ...
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Date: 2009-08-08 09:16 am (UTC)Minion out!
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Date: 2009-08-07 09:51 pm (UTC)Great job!
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:00 pm (UTC)You maded Jacky and Yantoes sad. :(
You are unfairly good with angsty scenes. But...still...*sniff*...necessary evil, 's what this is.
*Pouts until make-up fluffyness (and, hopefully, brutally hot make-up sex) fixes everything*
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 11:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 10:06 pm (UTC)You better! xD
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:09 pm (UTC)Well maybe an intervention in a open place and the fact that they deny it was not the best plan.
Oh and their argument, Jack wants the same right? He just does not know how to ask for it.
I hate when they fight.
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:15 pm (UTC)There better be fluff soon. This was one of the funnier series I've read, but it seems to have gotten a bit of a plot added to it somehow. When did that happen?
Please, Please make it better! Don't do a RTD on us, please (sends Ianto over with big puppy-eyes to plead the case)?
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:23 pm (UTC)Stupid RTD. Ruined everything.
I like your icon, btw. Harry Potter stole my childhood too - not that I'm complaining overly much!
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 10:40 pm (UTC)Although it makes me sad to see them fighting, part of my secretly loves it, because I know that there will be lots of lovely make-up fluff to come! Also, the nastier and angrier the argument is, the more passionate the whole thing becomes :D
I feel ashamed admitting I love this :P
I hope Ianto comes around soon (but I'm liking this new 'twist' of sorts to the story - it's good for the soul to have some rage every now and then!)
Also, I'm glad Jack didn't cave in with all this "I love you so much" over the top. Not only does it extend the angst, but canon!Jack wouldn't go for that straight away. (Although to be fair, canon!Ianto died. Goes to show what bulls*** this so called 'canon' can be at times!)
Also, I'm now following you on twitter! Ahh, Twitter :') taking stalking to a whole new level.
This comment may be rather long, but I just adored this chapter almost as much as some of my favourite chapters in this series :)
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:41 pm (UTC)This turned into a story that has plot, plot doesn't and shouldn't be happy all the time.
Nicole
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Date: 2009-08-07 10:43 pm (UTC)nicole
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Date: 2009-08-07 11:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 11:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 10:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 10:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 11:06 pm (UTC)I may have to alter this to "so sayeth the coffee boy" and make it my new version of "Gospel Truth".
RTD needs to go to murder rehab - and that's the Gospel truth!
becomes
RTD needs to go to murder rehab - so sayeth the Coffee Boy!
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Date: 2009-08-07 11:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 11:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 11:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-07 11:18 pm (UTC)Hope to see more soon!
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Date: 2009-08-08 12:44 am (UTC)Looking forward to make up sex!
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Date: 2009-08-08 01:53 am (UTC)"'Saying you ‘care’ for me isn’t enough anymore. You asked me what was wrong - what I wanted. I want solidarity, Jack. Just once ... tell me you love me. Just once. Even if it’s a lie.'"
It made me cry like a little girl. Very unseemly.
This was amazing! I...just, fuck!
w.w.w.
p.s. I really really liked it.
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Date: 2009-08-08 03:52 am (UTC)Jack really needs to just tell Ianto what he feels. And he deserves being kicked out for being the one to talk, then telling Ianto he wasn't thinking clearly. I hope Jack does talk to Elsie and she chews Jack out too.
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Date: 2009-08-08 04:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-08 06:53 am (UTC)Hang on... sex den fun to come? Really? Oooooh! Happy minion is happy. :)
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Date: 2009-08-08 11:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-08 03:15 pm (UTC)waiting for the fluff, but I was expecting this chapter
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Date: 2009-08-08 04:31 pm (UTC)I was wondering if Ianto's heavy drinking was going to lead to an uncomfortable conversation such as this one. Poor Ianto! Poor Jack! But I gotta love the angsty conflict, especially knowing that the boys will work it out in the end. :D
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Date: 2009-08-09 01:34 pm (UTC);-) loving the angsts ...