Silver Service | 8
Sep. 16th, 2009 02:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
a_silver_storyTitle: Silver Service
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
a_silver_story
Chapter: 8/?
Genre: AU, Romance, Angsty, fluffy
Rating: NC17 / 18
Pairings: Main Pairing is Jack/Ianto. Also includes Ianto/Martha, Ianto/Tosh friendship, Ten/Tosh, Mickey/Martha (mentioned)
Warnings: M.M, rentboy!Ianto, Alternate Universe
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. Now pass the retcon ...
Summary: Started as a PWP, but since it's me (sorry folks!) and I really can't do things by halves, it grew and grew and grew (and not in an innuendous sort of way). Doctor Smith owns a posh Cardiff hotel, and the respectable Sixth Earl of Boeshane is coming to stay - and he brings with him some very specific demands.
The story follows Ianto from being born, meeting Toshiko and them running away together to the city, right up until Ianto is taken to work in the Doctor's hotel as a 'service' butler for - you guessed it - Jack.
Everyone's fave OTP ensues. BOO YA!
Torchwood Index/Masterlist
FIRST PART | Chapter 1
Silver Service
Chapter Eight
He woke hearing the sound of Jack and Harold Saxon speaking in hushed tones from the sitting room. Whatever they were saying, it sounded urgent. Ianto lay as still as possible, trying to discern the gist of the conversation, but they moved further from the corridor and their voices dropped to little more than a murmur. He heard the clunk of a box and the snap of a clasp, and they fell silent for a moment. A cry of ‘A-ha!’ made Ianto jump, so he finally dragged himself from the bed and pulled on a dressing gown.
Keeping as quiet as possible, Ianto crept into the hallway until he could hear the conversation.
“... so it’s not in Cardiff?”
“They’ve moved it, Jack. They probably found out you were looking for it.”
There was a pause. “How?”
“I found one of their men. I managed to extract enough information to be certain they have Faith.”
Ianto winced when Saxon spoke of ‘extracting’ information, then frowned at the mention of ‘Faith’. He imagined it to be a name, rather than religious devotion, and Jack’s lack of reaction to the mention of it demonstrated her importance.
“Can we track them?” he eventually said.
“Already on it.” sighed Saxon.
Shifting slightly, Ianto could just about see Saxon’s back. He was stood by Jack’s desk, rifling through some of the documents Jack had collected about his apparently magical gauntlet. Ianto still didn’t believe in it, really. He’d probably have to see it at work for himself before resigning to the idea it might possibly be real – and to be honest, he didn’t really want to be around a dead body long enough to test it. It appeared Harold Saxon was hunting for it as well, and also believed in its ‘powers’. Ianto shuffled back from the doorway as Saxon took a step back, and he caught a glimpse of a shiny, silver CD in his hand. He was offering it to Jack.
“All the programs you’ll need to hack and track in my absence.” he was saying.
Jack frowned before accepting it. “You’re going back to London already?”
“Some scandal or other. It’ll blow over soon enough, but I suppose I should really get back to the whole ‘running the country’ thing for a couple of weeks or so – or until I get bored. Given the lack of capital punishment these days, I’m guessing the boredom will set in sooner ...”
Jack laughed and turned to put the CD on his desk. Ianto bit his lip, feeling guilty for eavesdropping, and quietly made his way back to the bedroom. He slipped off the dressing gown, hearing the murmurs of Jack and Saxon’s voices floating into the peripheral of his hearing, and climbed back into bed. It was still warm from when he’d been there last, and he lay there on the edge of sleep until he could hear the clunk of the front door closing and Jack’s boots thudding their way back to the room. Ianto felt the warmth of Jack’s body press against his hip as he climbed over him, dipping the mattress as he got comfortable and slipped an arm over Ianto's waist, pulling himself in closer to his naked body.
“Where did you go?” Ianto asked, sounding sleepy and settling further back into Jack’s arms and feeling the rough cotton of his clothes against his bare skin.
“I was only in the sitting room. Saxon decided to visit again.”
“Oh. I heard laughing.”
“Did we wake you?” Jack moved his hand and stroked Ianto's hair.
“I was coming ‘round anyway. What were you talking about?” Ianto asked, turning in Jack’s arms to face him and press a kiss to his nose.
“Business. Law. Politics.” shrugged Jack. “Which lie do you prefer?”
Ianto averted his gaze, settling himself closer into Jack’s body and resting his head on Jack’s bicep. “It was about your magic gauntlet, wasn’t it?”
Jack sniggered. “Any mystery until proven to be science is called magic.” he quoted. “And yes it was. But you can’t tell anyone – especially not Saxon. And he definitely can’t know that you were here. Or that you knew he was. Understand?”
“I didn’t tell anyone about what you showed me- the Welsh documents and stuff. I’m hardly going to start gossiping about your gauntlet now. But … anyway … did you ... erm ... learn something new?”
“We made progress, and that’s all you need to know. Forget about it for now, okay?” Jack leaned forward and kissed his temple, pulling the covers up a little higher and closing his eyes.
“You need to stop falling asleep with your clothes on.” smirked Ianto.
“Damn. Looks like you’re going to have to take them off me …” realized Jack, who very quickly found himself lying on his back with Ianto straddling his waist and quickly pulling his buttons free of their holes. He reached up and touched Ianto’s already hard cock. “Anyone’d think you were lying there naked, ready and waiting.”
Ianto grinned, then leaned down and kissed him, arching his back upwards a little so that Jack could keep the grip on his erection. He gasped as Jack moved his fingers and stroked with his thumb, making Ianto almost forget that he was supposed to be undressing Jack and not kneeling over him, lost. Jack removed his hand and cleared his throat, and Ianto smiled sheepishly before moving lower to pull at Jack’s belt. He tugged the trousers and underwear off in one, tossing them away and moving to kiss the insides of Jack’s thighs. Jack growled in frustration as Ianto teased his entrance with his little finger, stroking the tip of his cock with the lightest touches and gently marking the his inner thigh. Ianto had neglected to pull off Jack’s shirt and t-shirt, leaving the cotton to rub over his nipples as he tried to reach in the drawer for lubricant. He hooked his legs over Ianto’s shoulders and tossed him the tube, lifting his hips a little to make it easier.
He smiled as Ianto’s fingers entered him, arching his back as he felt them move inside him. He was panting in anticipation by the time they had withdrawn, and moaned loudly as he felt Ianto pushing himself into him. Ianto leant forward, kissing him as he began to slowly move, pushing a little further in before pulling out again, so slowly Jack was practically keening with frustration. He put his feet flat on the bed, using them as leverage to thrust his hips and try and hint to Ianto that he wanted him to go faster. Ianto, however, just laughed, stopping completely and leaning down to kiss Jack again. Jack’s hands ran over his back, over his shoulders and down to his waist. Ianto realized what was going to happen a fraction too late, and found himself on his back with his hands pinned above his head and Jack sat on him. His breath hitched at the change of angle, and Jack smirked down as he began to ride him, his impatient pace making Ianto bite his lip and close his eyes.
He opened them again to see Jack, flushed with exertion and arousal, his eyes dark. Ianto tried to lift an arm, but Jack held them firmly in place, quickening his rhythm and sharpening his rocking. He lowered his head and bit and sucked gently into Ianto’s shoulder, and Ianto’s hips bucked upwards, slamming himself further inside Jack. Quickly matching Jack’s rhythm, they worked together as they got closer and closer, until eventually Jack came over Ianto’s chest and Ianto shot upwards inside Jack’s body. The Captain slumped to the side, reaching for tissues as they both panted and tried to catch their breath.
Ianto was first to speak. “You need to learn some patience.” he sighed as Jack cleaned him off.
“You need to learn some impatience.” Jack teased.
“Patience is a virtue.” pointed out Ianto.
“What’s virtuous about what we just did?” challenged Jack, watching him with a playful smile. Ianto flicked his nose.
“I know. You’ve never even bought me a drink!”
Jack frowned, then smirked. “I bought you coke yesterday. Does that count enough to make me chivalrous and gentlemanly?”
“You had me sucking you off in the back of the car. I’d say probably not.”
“D’oh!” Jack mock face-palmed. “Maybe I should take you out somewhere a bit more posh than McDonalds …”
Ianto felt his face burn. “Oh … you don’t have to take me out anywhere. I was only joking …”
“But how am I supposed to show you off if I leave you locked up here all the time?” Jack pouted.
“Oh … erm … I don’t know …”
“Maybe I could have a dinner party … you could serve all my guests and I can watch them get all jealous …”
“What? Of me?”
“No. Jealous of me for having you.” Jack laughed. “Y’know … Saxon wants you …” he leaned forward and kissed Ianto’s nose. “… but he can’t have you …”
“I thought you said you wouldn’t dare cross him.” Ianto said quietly, putting his arms around Jack and pulling himself in close.
“We made a deal.” shrugged Jack. “Don’t worry. He won’t touch you.”
“A deal?” frowned Ianto. “You mean … he wanted to …”
“Don’t worry.” Jack cut him off. “If he tries anything, I have enough on him to have him torn from power and disgraced beyond redemption.”
“Blackmail?”
“A guarantee.”
Ianto bit his lip, then tucked his head under Jack’s chin. “Given the way he treats his man, I think you should disgrace him anyway.” he muttered.
“You can’t go thinking things like that.” sighed Jack, running his hand up and down Ianto’s back.
“You were just thinking things like that.” scowled Ianto.
“I won’t get in as much trouble as you will. You start vocalizing thoughts like that, and someone overhears, they’ll try and take you away from me.” Jack arms tightened around him, and he smiled into his hair. “I won’t let them take you away from me.” he whispered. Ianto raised his head and touched their lips together, Jack's hand moving to caress the side of his head and face, pressing his tongue into his mouth deep. He ran a hand over Ianto's chest, stroking a thumb over a nipple. Ianto pulled back and groaned.
"Oh ... not again, Jack. It's been ... five minutes. If that."
Jack chuckled. "Aww okay. I'll let you have a rest."
Ianto smiled and tucked his head back under Jack's chin, closing his eyes. Jack squirmed a little. "Your stubble is ticklish."
With a snigger, Ianto nodded his head up and down, making Jack writhe away from him as stubble scratched at his skin.
"Ohh stop it." yawned Jack, pulling on his hair a little. Ianto stilled, settling his head on Jack's bicep and closing his eyes again.
"What time is it?" he murmured sleepily.
Jack looked at his watch. "Nearly ten."
"Mmmf." was all Ianto said in reply. "We'll stay in a bed for another hour or so. Then we have to get up ...."
"Why?"
"We can't stay in bed all day, Jack."
"We can." he grumbled.
"You don't have anything big and important and Earl-ish to do?"
"Nope. Not today." Jack grinned.
Ianto sighed. "Maybe stay in bed 'til lunchtime then ...."
"Okay." smiled Jack, feeling Ianto relax against him as he fell asleep. He closed his own eyes, inhaled Ianto's scent, then drifted off himself.
~*~*~*~
They ended up spending the whole day in bed - apart from when Ianto had to go and answer the door to let room service in with food and drink. They lazed about, reading to each other, chatting, napping or having sex. They spent barely any time dressed, Ianto growing more and more comfortable and less body-shy, eventually caring just as much as Jack that he was wandering around completely naked without a second thought. Ianto grew to find that Jack preferred to be held rather than hold another, and made a mental note to make sure they cuddled up with him holding Jack more often in the future. He told Jack his life story - from growing up in the orphanage, running away to Cardiff and everything that had happened since (omitting the part where Martha had seduced him). Jack listened seriously, and Ianto was sure he nearly cried when he got to the part where he and Toshiko had been torn apart.
"I feel guilty." Jack said, after he'd finished. "If it wasn't for people like me, none of that would ever have happened ..."
Ianto folded him into his arms. "I don't blame you, Jack. If anything you've made it all better. And think about it: if this business wasn't going, Toshiko and I would have perished on the streets as kids."
"Are you sure that wouldn't have been better for you?" asked Jack.
Ianto was silent a long while. "Tosh would never have met Owen." he said. "And I wouldn't have ... wouldn't have been here now."
Jack buried his head in his neck, kissing the skin tenderly as Ianto turned to kiss his hair.
~*~*~*~
The next day was pretty much the same as the one before, and so was the next. And the next. Eventually, though, Ianto managed to persuade Jack to go out while Ianto cleaned, changed the bed linen and sent already clean things to the hotel's dry cleaners so that they didn't gossip about the lack of clothes received from the Earl's suites. He sent a couple of his own suits down, too, just in case. He ran the hoover around the rooms, polished all the surfaces, amusing himself on the piano in the corner for fifteen minutes or so, making up simple little tunes with one finger as he had no idea how to play the instrument. He wondered if Jack did, and whether Jack might show him a couple of simple pieces. Experimenting with the echo pedal, he nearly laughed out loud at his own incompetence. Standing, he moved a couple of the flowers in the vase above the piano around and turned, nearly jumping out of his skin, to discover he was not alone.
"Having fun?" asked Harold Saxon, amusement in his voice.
"I was having a mini-break, sir." Ianto replied as politely as he could.
"How sweet." smirked Saxon. "Where's your Earl?" he demanded, looking around.
"I don't know, sir. I haven't seen him since this morning." Ianto replied, moving to make himself busy with other flower arrangements, removing the wilting heads and moving around those that were still passable. He found a pen and paper, aware of Saxon's watchful eye on his back, and began to note down the colour schemes of some new flowers he would need to order. Pausing, he turned back to to Saxon. "Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?"
"You could lie on your back." he shrugged.
Ianto drew himself up to his full height, folding his arms and tilting his head slightly, looking Saxon up and down as if making an assessment. "No ... I don't think I could, sir."
He didn't make a sound of surprise as Saxon's hand closed around his throat, trying to back him into the wall. Ianto stood his ground, glaring at the shorter, skinnier man as best he could.
"I don't care what Jack says ... I always get what I want ..." he hissed. Ianto pushed him backwards, and he stumbled slightly.
"That's wonderful, sir. Now, if you are looking for his Lordship, perhaps I could ring him for you?" He moved to the phone and picked up the receiver, not waiting for a reply before punching in Jack's number from memory. "Hello? It's Ianto. Yes. Mr Saxon is here - he'd like to see you. As soon as possible, I'd presume. Yes. Yes. Okay ... right ... I'll tell him. Goodbye, sir." He turned to Saxon. "He requests you leave me in peace, return to your suite, and he shall call on you when he returns. Shall I show you to the door, Mr. Saxon?"
Saxon glowered at him, and lunged forward again. Ianto simply stepped to the side, and Saxon nearly lost his balance without Ianto being there for him to impact with. Regaining his composure, he threw him one more venomous look and strode out of the room. He hesitated in the doorway. "I don't suppose you want me telling Jack about you and Lucy, do you?"
Ianto raised his eyebrow and regarded the man coolly. "I've already got my friends in security to get me a copy of the CCTV that more than proves nothing happened between me and your wife." he lied. Saxon seemed to buy it, grinding his teeth and slamming the door shut behind him.
~*~*~*~
"Saxon tried it on with me." said Ianto the second Jack returned. "Then he tried blackmailing me, saying that unless I agreed to do what he wanted he'd try and make out like something had happened between me and Mrs. Saxon."
Jack looked grim. "I thought he was going back to London ..."
"Well, he's here." sighed Ianto. "Where've you been, anyway?"
"Hospital." Jack replied as Ianto helped him out of his coat. Ianto gave him a small smile of understanding. "Then I went into town for a bit. I bought you a present."
Ianto felt his face flush. "A ... a present? You didn't have to, Jack ..."
"I know." Jack waved away his protests. "I wanted to. And it was only cheap." He pulled a slim red box out of on the pockets of his coat as it hung on the stand. "Here you go. A DVD. Jimmy Carr - if you like suits and sarcasm, you'll like him. A little offensive in places, but a good laugh nonetheless."
"A comedian?" asked Ianto, turning over the case to read the back. He beamed at Jack. "Thanks! I ... don't really know what to say ... um ..."
Jack shrugged. "S'alright. Made you smile already, look!"
"I can watch it while you go and see Saxon."
"You can't watch stand up comedy on your own! No where near as fun. I'll go and see Saxon, you stay here and entertain yourself and when I come back, we'll have chocolate, popcorn and so much coca cola we'll be as dizzy as six year olds. 'Kay?"
Ianto rolled his eyes. "I need to clean the kitchenette anyway."
"Good. I'll be back as quick as I can."
~*~*~*~
Ianto fell asleep waiting for Jack, and it was dark before he woke again. He called his Captain's name, but there was no reply. He checked his PDA, and found a message from Jack.
Ianto's stomach grumbled, so he slipped the room key into his pocket and headed towards the lift. He paused in the lift, his finger millimeters from the button that would take him to the foyer, then bit his lip. Stay in my bed, he had said. Lock the doors. Hit the red button ... if you need to .... Ianto stepped out of the lift and hurried to his own suite, taking fresh clothes and crouching to reach under his bed to get his cardboard box of possessions bundled into his arms. He hesitated at the door to Jack's suite, turning his eyes to the lift at the end of the corridor. Suddenly, it seemed so ominous, and the numbers indicated the level it was on flicking up and up made the hairs on the back of Ianto's neck stand on end. It was two floors below when something in his brain clicked, and he practically threw himself into Jack's suite, flicking the switch down on the lock that stopped people entering from the outside. He ran to the kitchenette, applying the same setting to the door leading to the corridor there.
He gathered up his clothes, his cardboard box and PDA, and some cereal and milk from the kitchen, and headed to the bedroom. As a last minute thought, he went back into the sitting room and crouched under Jack's desk where he knew he hid the safe containing all the documents and papers and photographs about his treasured gauntlet. Ianto hadn't told Jack he'd watched him key in the combination, and decided that not telling him unless it was necessary was probably a good idea. Punching in the code, he pulled out the box containing Jack's things, and took it to the bedroom. There was a traditional lock in there, and he turned the knob on the inside to seal it shut, the sense of danger still sluicing through his conscious mind. He laid his things across the chair in the corner, and crossed to the left-hand bedside table. There, hidden towards the back, underneath the main surface, was the red button Jack had spoken of. Ianto didn't know what it did, and decided to find out whether or not his fears were unfounded or just good instinct before pushing it. Sitting on the bed, he half wished he hadn't changed the linen, the scent of Jack that made him feel safe absent from the fresh bedclothes. He curled up in them nonetheless, pretending Jack would be back soon to press their bodies together.
The silence in the suite was making Ianto's ears ring. He couldn't even hear a clock ticking, Jack preferring digital ones because the constant rhythm of time passing made it hard for him to sleep. Ianto hardly dared move, the rustling of the sheets seeming incredibly loud in the quiet around him, practically holding his breath so that it didn't sound like he was exhaling a gale every few seconds.
A loud bang and crash made Ianto nearly fall off the bed in fright. He lay there frozen a moment, hearing muffled voices, before springing into action. Crouching by the bedside table, he pushed the button, wondering what would happen, thinking for a second that nothing had. Then he heard a dull thud behind him, and turned to see part of the wall had swung open, revealing a hidden room behind. The voices in the other room were growing irritated, and Ianto heard something smash. Gathering up his things as quickly as he could, he turned back to the hidden room. Panic room, he thought. Shit ... I think I saw film like this once ...
Something thudded and smashed very close by, and Ianto hurried into the room, taking his change of clothes, cereal, cardboard box and the contents of the safe with him. He glanced around, and just inside the door was another, larger red button. He hit it, and the heavy secret door swung shut, once again looking like a wall to an outside viewer. There was a switch next to it that deactivated the button outside, and Ianto flicked it with a shaky hand. He turned and looked around him.
The walls were a creamy shade, and the room was more aimed for comfort than bare essentials. There was a full en suite bathroom, a little kitchenette, fridge and a comfortable-looking single bed against the wall. There was a desk, on which were stacked several small monitors, and a phone. Ianto crossed to it, and flicking on the monitors and confirming what he had suspected: CCTV camera feeds. There were two men in conversation in the sitting room, and Ianto could see Jack's safe lying open and broken across the floor.
Ianto dialed Jack's number, biting his lip, counting the rings. His heart was pounding in his ears as he waited for Jack to answer.
"Harkness." Jack eventually barked.
"Oh thank God you're okay!" Ianto nearly shouted in relief.
"Ianto?
"I'm in the panic room thing. There's two guys ... I dunno who ... I'm really, really sorry."
"Are you hurt?
"No, I'm fine. But ... they've broken into your safe ..."
Ianto was met with silence.
"Jack?"
"As long as you're okay, it doesn't matter." Jack eventually said, sounding like he was biting back anger.
"No ... it's okay. The didn't get anything. I've got the stuff that was in it in this room with me."
"Oh thank God! - how ... did you hack my safe?"
"I ... saw you key in the combination a couple of times. But I've got the box full of your stuff here. It's safe. But ... the blokes are looking rather pissed off."
"Don't worry. They can't get to you. Don't be frightened." Jack said soothingly.
"I'm not frightened." lied Ianto. "What ... where are you, Jack?"
"I'm on my way back. I've got what I needed. I'm coming straight back now, okay?"
"Should I ring the police?"
Silence met his question.
"Jack?" No answer. "Jack?" he repeated, more forcefully.
"Ianto ... I ... I got to go ..."
"Are you alright?"
"Don't ring me again until I ring you. Stay where you are, and don't let them know where you are."
The line went dead, and Ianto resignedly replaced the receiver. Glancing at the monitors, he saw that the two men were helping themselves to scotch and chocolates from the minibar, smashing vases and ornaments as they went. Ianto lifted the receiver, his finger hovering over the 'nine', before replacing it and putting his head in his hands, rubbing his eyes in frustration. The screens showed the men moving through the suite, getting to the bedroom and rattling the handle of the door, realizing it was locked. It chilled Ianto's bones, knowing they were so close. The man was shouting something through the door, but Ianto couldn't hear. Stepping back, the man shouldered the door and smashed through it, staring around the bedroom.
Ianto tensed, realizing that all that separated them from him was the hidden door and a wall. He could see the other man had a knife, and he began to slash and tear at the bedclothes and mattress while the other yanked open the wardrobe and started pulling Jack's things out of it, holding a couple of the more expensive dress shirts against himself and making limp-wristed mimes to his companion.
Deciding to pretend the men weren't there, Ianto decided it was probably best to turn the monitors off and forget about them as best he could. Flicking the buttons on each one to 'off', he hesitated before he switched off the final one. It showed the men in the bedroom, pulling a box from under the slashed mattress and opening it, rifling through its contents. Ianto felt his blood boil, knowing that the box contained all of Jack's personal letters and photographs - the 'stuff you'd rescue from a burning house' collection of memories. Ianto had once asked him about it, when he'd awoken and found Jack looking through it, and he said that it contained letters from his parents, his brother, long-lost lovers and his daughter. There were also photographs of her growing up, and of Jack's friends in the RAF when he'd been a pilot, before taking up his father's title. He hadn't let Ianto see anything in that box, which meant that it was more personal than anything else Jack owned. Ianto felt like kicking himself for forgetting it, but since the one time he'd seen Jack with it it had slipped his mind.
The men seemed to realize what was in the box, and started reading the letters and casually flicking through the photographs, occasionally showing one to the other or reading something aloud. With a bitter taste in his mouth, Ianto flicked off the monitor, trying not to think about what they would say when they found Jack's sex toys, and climbed onto the bed and wept into the pillows.
~*~*~*~
Ianto jolted awake, the phone on the desk ringing loudly. Alert, he slowly lifted the receiver to his ear. "Hello?"
"Ianto! You're okay? You're safe?"
"Jack? Yes ... yes ... I'm fine ..." Relief flooded through him, and he closed his eyes as his nerves and fear disspiated.
"I'm outside the room ... let me in ..."
The line went dead.
Pushing the button, the door swung open and Ianto nearly yelled in shock as someone barreled straight into him, practically pinning his arms to his sides. Inhaling deeply, Ianto could smell that it was Jack and feel the strength of him while trapped in his arms. His head was buried in Ianto's neck, holding him so tight he felt crushed and struggled to draw a proper breath. Eventually, Jack relented, running his hands over Ianto's body and checking for any sign of injury.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened? Did they see you?"
"One question at a time ..." said Ianto, practically pushing him off. "Where have you been?"
"I nipped across the border. I had to ... uh ... acquire something." Jack replied, indicating a large, grey metal box sitting on the slashed mattress in the room behind them. "I think ... we need to get out of here. Let's go to your room, okay?"
Jack turned without waiting for a reply, picking up the box, which appeared to be quite heavy, and leading the way out. Ianto picked up his cardboard box, clothes and Jack's box of documents, balancing them all precariously but not struggling to carry them too much. He ignored Jack's shirts slashed and strewn over the bedroom, as well as the broken furniture. He noticed that the letters and photographs disappeared, and just about spied the box they were kept in tucked roughly into one of Jack's pockets. Somehow he managed to make it through the sitting room without baulking and trying to tidy up. Glass and porcelain were scattered like a mine field over the carpet, the cushions of the sofa torn and the stuffing pulled out and thrown around the room. A harsh night wind echoed through the room, whipping anything light and not held down around the room, and Ianto raised his eyes to see that one of the windows of the top-storey suite had been smashed. He followed Jack out onto the corridor, glad it was considerably warmer. With a smirk, Jack slipped his hand into Ianto's pocket and pulled out the keycard for his room.
"I thought you had your own key." frowned Ianto as Jack used his to unlock the door.
"I do." replied Jack, slipping the card back into Ianto's pocket. "I just thought it would be more fun to get yours."
Ianto rolled his eyes, entering the room and kicking the door shut behind the both of them. He set the boxes and suit down, turned and folded his arms around Jack properly. "Come to bed ..." he muttered in his ear, pushing his hands under Jack's coat and putting his arms around him.
He laughed as Jack pushed him backwards, and he landed with a bounce, flat on his back on the bed. Jack knelt over him, touching their lips together momentarily, then withdrawing and sitting up straight, his expression troubled.
Ianto propped himself on his elbows and frowned up at him. "What's wrong?"
"Stay here a second."
Jack got up off the bed, and took the box of memories out of his coat pocket. He placed it on top of the grey box he'd 'acquired' and picked them up, with the documents from the safe, and put them in a cupboard. Ianto watched him with interest, before sitting up fully. "I know a safer place." he smiled. Getting up, he crossed to a corner where a large China urn stood, and with a bit of effort he moved it aside. The carpet was a little loose, and he pulled it back to reveal the wooden plank flooring underneath. He pulled up a loose slab of wood, and yanked up the one next to it. "Here." he indicated.
Nodding once, Jack transferred the boxes, being gentle with them and almost caressing them, before allowing Ianto to replace the floorboards, the carpet and the urn. Ianto stood and turned to see Jack removing his coat, over shirt and braces and boots before flinging himself on the bed. Ianto crawled up next to him, bending down and kissing his lips.
"I'm tired." yawned Jack, stretching melodramatically and draping his arm over Ianto's shoulder.
"Too tired?" asked Ianto, giving Jack his best suggestive eyebrows.
"Too tired." Jack agreed with a smile. It faded a little as their eyes met. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"A bit shaken ... but ... who were they? What's going to happen?"
"They were probably Saxon's men, but ... well ... I won't be able to prove it. He'll make a show of being concerned tomorrow, and you'll accept that concern with gratitude, forget about it all and move on."
Ianto moved slightly so that he was a bit higher than Jack on the bed, putting his arms around him and tucking Jack's head under his chin, resolutely ignoring the instructions about how he was to behave with Saxon. "Cuddle and sleep?" he asked.
Jack turned a little, pulling him closer and settling down.
"Cuddle and sleep ..." he agreed.
Ianto fell asleep pretty much immediately, but it was a long time before Jack could stop watching his peaceful, young face and fall asleep himself, worry etched into his brow and his dreams plagued with the contents of his new box, Harold Saxon, a dying Lisa and a very hurt Ianto.
FIN
This would have been posted hours ago, but someone set up a SaveIantoJones message board and I kinda lost what I was supposed to be doing ... SOWWI!
Anyways ... moved house properly now! Yayyyy!
I also have nutella, and am eating it with a spoon. THIS IS WHAT SUCCESS TASTES LIKE!
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Author:
a_silver_storyChapter: 8/?
Genre: AU, Romance, Angsty, fluffy
Rating: NC17 / 18
Pairings: Main Pairing is Jack/Ianto. Also includes Ianto/Martha, Ianto/Tosh friendship, Ten/Tosh, Mickey/Martha (mentioned)
Warnings: M.M, rentboy!Ianto, Alternate Universe
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. Now pass the retcon ...
Summary: Started as a PWP, but since it's me (sorry folks!) and I really can't do things by halves, it grew and grew and grew (and not in an innuendous sort of way). Doctor Smith owns a posh Cardiff hotel, and the respectable Sixth Earl of Boeshane is coming to stay - and he brings with him some very specific demands.
The story follows Ianto from being born, meeting Toshiko and them running away together to the city, right up until Ianto is taken to work in the Doctor's hotel as a 'service' butler for - you guessed it - Jack.
Everyone's fave OTP ensues. BOO YA!
Torchwood Index/Masterlist
FIRST PART | Chapter 1
Silver Service
Chapter Eight
He woke hearing the sound of Jack and Harold Saxon speaking in hushed tones from the sitting room. Whatever they were saying, it sounded urgent. Ianto lay as still as possible, trying to discern the gist of the conversation, but they moved further from the corridor and their voices dropped to little more than a murmur. He heard the clunk of a box and the snap of a clasp, and they fell silent for a moment. A cry of ‘A-ha!’ made Ianto jump, so he finally dragged himself from the bed and pulled on a dressing gown.
Keeping as quiet as possible, Ianto crept into the hallway until he could hear the conversation.
“... so it’s not in Cardiff?”
“They’ve moved it, Jack. They probably found out you were looking for it.”
There was a pause. “How?”
“I found one of their men. I managed to extract enough information to be certain they have Faith.”
Ianto winced when Saxon spoke of ‘extracting’ information, then frowned at the mention of ‘Faith’. He imagined it to be a name, rather than religious devotion, and Jack’s lack of reaction to the mention of it demonstrated her importance.
“Can we track them?” he eventually said.
“Already on it.” sighed Saxon.
Shifting slightly, Ianto could just about see Saxon’s back. He was stood by Jack’s desk, rifling through some of the documents Jack had collected about his apparently magical gauntlet. Ianto still didn’t believe in it, really. He’d probably have to see it at work for himself before resigning to the idea it might possibly be real – and to be honest, he didn’t really want to be around a dead body long enough to test it. It appeared Harold Saxon was hunting for it as well, and also believed in its ‘powers’. Ianto shuffled back from the doorway as Saxon took a step back, and he caught a glimpse of a shiny, silver CD in his hand. He was offering it to Jack.
“All the programs you’ll need to hack and track in my absence.” he was saying.
Jack frowned before accepting it. “You’re going back to London already?”
“Some scandal or other. It’ll blow over soon enough, but I suppose I should really get back to the whole ‘running the country’ thing for a couple of weeks or so – or until I get bored. Given the lack of capital punishment these days, I’m guessing the boredom will set in sooner ...”
Jack laughed and turned to put the CD on his desk. Ianto bit his lip, feeling guilty for eavesdropping, and quietly made his way back to the bedroom. He slipped off the dressing gown, hearing the murmurs of Jack and Saxon’s voices floating into the peripheral of his hearing, and climbed back into bed. It was still warm from when he’d been there last, and he lay there on the edge of sleep until he could hear the clunk of the front door closing and Jack’s boots thudding their way back to the room. Ianto felt the warmth of Jack’s body press against his hip as he climbed over him, dipping the mattress as he got comfortable and slipped an arm over Ianto's waist, pulling himself in closer to his naked body.
“Where did you go?” Ianto asked, sounding sleepy and settling further back into Jack’s arms and feeling the rough cotton of his clothes against his bare skin.
“I was only in the sitting room. Saxon decided to visit again.”
“Oh. I heard laughing.”
“Did we wake you?” Jack moved his hand and stroked Ianto's hair.
“I was coming ‘round anyway. What were you talking about?” Ianto asked, turning in Jack’s arms to face him and press a kiss to his nose.
“Business. Law. Politics.” shrugged Jack. “Which lie do you prefer?”
Ianto averted his gaze, settling himself closer into Jack’s body and resting his head on Jack’s bicep. “It was about your magic gauntlet, wasn’t it?”
Jack sniggered. “Any mystery until proven to be science is called magic.” he quoted. “And yes it was. But you can’t tell anyone – especially not Saxon. And he definitely can’t know that you were here. Or that you knew he was. Understand?”
“I didn’t tell anyone about what you showed me- the Welsh documents and stuff. I’m hardly going to start gossiping about your gauntlet now. But … anyway … did you ... erm ... learn something new?”
“We made progress, and that’s all you need to know. Forget about it for now, okay?” Jack leaned forward and kissed his temple, pulling the covers up a little higher and closing his eyes.
“You need to stop falling asleep with your clothes on.” smirked Ianto.
“Damn. Looks like you’re going to have to take them off me …” realized Jack, who very quickly found himself lying on his back with Ianto straddling his waist and quickly pulling his buttons free of their holes. He reached up and touched Ianto’s already hard cock. “Anyone’d think you were lying there naked, ready and waiting.”
Ianto grinned, then leaned down and kissed him, arching his back upwards a little so that Jack could keep the grip on his erection. He gasped as Jack moved his fingers and stroked with his thumb, making Ianto almost forget that he was supposed to be undressing Jack and not kneeling over him, lost. Jack removed his hand and cleared his throat, and Ianto smiled sheepishly before moving lower to pull at Jack’s belt. He tugged the trousers and underwear off in one, tossing them away and moving to kiss the insides of Jack’s thighs. Jack growled in frustration as Ianto teased his entrance with his little finger, stroking the tip of his cock with the lightest touches and gently marking the his inner thigh. Ianto had neglected to pull off Jack’s shirt and t-shirt, leaving the cotton to rub over his nipples as he tried to reach in the drawer for lubricant. He hooked his legs over Ianto’s shoulders and tossed him the tube, lifting his hips a little to make it easier.
He smiled as Ianto’s fingers entered him, arching his back as he felt them move inside him. He was panting in anticipation by the time they had withdrawn, and moaned loudly as he felt Ianto pushing himself into him. Ianto leant forward, kissing him as he began to slowly move, pushing a little further in before pulling out again, so slowly Jack was practically keening with frustration. He put his feet flat on the bed, using them as leverage to thrust his hips and try and hint to Ianto that he wanted him to go faster. Ianto, however, just laughed, stopping completely and leaning down to kiss Jack again. Jack’s hands ran over his back, over his shoulders and down to his waist. Ianto realized what was going to happen a fraction too late, and found himself on his back with his hands pinned above his head and Jack sat on him. His breath hitched at the change of angle, and Jack smirked down as he began to ride him, his impatient pace making Ianto bite his lip and close his eyes.
He opened them again to see Jack, flushed with exertion and arousal, his eyes dark. Ianto tried to lift an arm, but Jack held them firmly in place, quickening his rhythm and sharpening his rocking. He lowered his head and bit and sucked gently into Ianto’s shoulder, and Ianto’s hips bucked upwards, slamming himself further inside Jack. Quickly matching Jack’s rhythm, they worked together as they got closer and closer, until eventually Jack came over Ianto’s chest and Ianto shot upwards inside Jack’s body. The Captain slumped to the side, reaching for tissues as they both panted and tried to catch their breath.
Ianto was first to speak. “You need to learn some patience.” he sighed as Jack cleaned him off.
“You need to learn some impatience.” Jack teased.
“Patience is a virtue.” pointed out Ianto.
“What’s virtuous about what we just did?” challenged Jack, watching him with a playful smile. Ianto flicked his nose.
“I know. You’ve never even bought me a drink!”
Jack frowned, then smirked. “I bought you coke yesterday. Does that count enough to make me chivalrous and gentlemanly?”
“You had me sucking you off in the back of the car. I’d say probably not.”
“D’oh!” Jack mock face-palmed. “Maybe I should take you out somewhere a bit more posh than McDonalds …”
Ianto felt his face burn. “Oh … you don’t have to take me out anywhere. I was only joking …”
“But how am I supposed to show you off if I leave you locked up here all the time?” Jack pouted.
“Oh … erm … I don’t know …”
“Maybe I could have a dinner party … you could serve all my guests and I can watch them get all jealous …”
“What? Of me?”
“No. Jealous of me for having you.” Jack laughed. “Y’know … Saxon wants you …” he leaned forward and kissed Ianto’s nose. “… but he can’t have you …”
“I thought you said you wouldn’t dare cross him.” Ianto said quietly, putting his arms around Jack and pulling himself in close.
“We made a deal.” shrugged Jack. “Don’t worry. He won’t touch you.”
“A deal?” frowned Ianto. “You mean … he wanted to …”
“Don’t worry.” Jack cut him off. “If he tries anything, I have enough on him to have him torn from power and disgraced beyond redemption.”
“Blackmail?”
“A guarantee.”
Ianto bit his lip, then tucked his head under Jack’s chin. “Given the way he treats his man, I think you should disgrace him anyway.” he muttered.
“You can’t go thinking things like that.” sighed Jack, running his hand up and down Ianto’s back.
“You were just thinking things like that.” scowled Ianto.
“I won’t get in as much trouble as you will. You start vocalizing thoughts like that, and someone overhears, they’ll try and take you away from me.” Jack arms tightened around him, and he smiled into his hair. “I won’t let them take you away from me.” he whispered. Ianto raised his head and touched their lips together, Jack's hand moving to caress the side of his head and face, pressing his tongue into his mouth deep. He ran a hand over Ianto's chest, stroking a thumb over a nipple. Ianto pulled back and groaned.
"Oh ... not again, Jack. It's been ... five minutes. If that."
Jack chuckled. "Aww okay. I'll let you have a rest."
Ianto smiled and tucked his head back under Jack's chin, closing his eyes. Jack squirmed a little. "Your stubble is ticklish."
With a snigger, Ianto nodded his head up and down, making Jack writhe away from him as stubble scratched at his skin.
"Ohh stop it." yawned Jack, pulling on his hair a little. Ianto stilled, settling his head on Jack's bicep and closing his eyes again.
"What time is it?" he murmured sleepily.
Jack looked at his watch. "Nearly ten."
"Mmmf." was all Ianto said in reply. "We'll stay in a bed for another hour or so. Then we have to get up ...."
"Why?"
"We can't stay in bed all day, Jack."
"We can." he grumbled.
"You don't have anything big and important and Earl-ish to do?"
"Nope. Not today." Jack grinned.
Ianto sighed. "Maybe stay in bed 'til lunchtime then ...."
"Okay." smiled Jack, feeling Ianto relax against him as he fell asleep. He closed his own eyes, inhaled Ianto's scent, then drifted off himself.
They ended up spending the whole day in bed - apart from when Ianto had to go and answer the door to let room service in with food and drink. They lazed about, reading to each other, chatting, napping or having sex. They spent barely any time dressed, Ianto growing more and more comfortable and less body-shy, eventually caring just as much as Jack that he was wandering around completely naked without a second thought. Ianto grew to find that Jack preferred to be held rather than hold another, and made a mental note to make sure they cuddled up with him holding Jack more often in the future. He told Jack his life story - from growing up in the orphanage, running away to Cardiff and everything that had happened since (omitting the part where Martha had seduced him). Jack listened seriously, and Ianto was sure he nearly cried when he got to the part where he and Toshiko had been torn apart.
"I feel guilty." Jack said, after he'd finished. "If it wasn't for people like me, none of that would ever have happened ..."
Ianto folded him into his arms. "I don't blame you, Jack. If anything you've made it all better. And think about it: if this business wasn't going, Toshiko and I would have perished on the streets as kids."
"Are you sure that wouldn't have been better for you?" asked Jack.
Ianto was silent a long while. "Tosh would never have met Owen." he said. "And I wouldn't have ... wouldn't have been here now."
Jack buried his head in his neck, kissing the skin tenderly as Ianto turned to kiss his hair.
The next day was pretty much the same as the one before, and so was the next. And the next. Eventually, though, Ianto managed to persuade Jack to go out while Ianto cleaned, changed the bed linen and sent already clean things to the hotel's dry cleaners so that they didn't gossip about the lack of clothes received from the Earl's suites. He sent a couple of his own suits down, too, just in case. He ran the hoover around the rooms, polished all the surfaces, amusing himself on the piano in the corner for fifteen minutes or so, making up simple little tunes with one finger as he had no idea how to play the instrument. He wondered if Jack did, and whether Jack might show him a couple of simple pieces. Experimenting with the echo pedal, he nearly laughed out loud at his own incompetence. Standing, he moved a couple of the flowers in the vase above the piano around and turned, nearly jumping out of his skin, to discover he was not alone.
"Having fun?" asked Harold Saxon, amusement in his voice.
"I was having a mini-break, sir." Ianto replied as politely as he could.
"How sweet." smirked Saxon. "Where's your Earl?" he demanded, looking around.
"I don't know, sir. I haven't seen him since this morning." Ianto replied, moving to make himself busy with other flower arrangements, removing the wilting heads and moving around those that were still passable. He found a pen and paper, aware of Saxon's watchful eye on his back, and began to note down the colour schemes of some new flowers he would need to order. Pausing, he turned back to to Saxon. "Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?"
"You could lie on your back." he shrugged.
Ianto drew himself up to his full height, folding his arms and tilting his head slightly, looking Saxon up and down as if making an assessment. "No ... I don't think I could, sir."
He didn't make a sound of surprise as Saxon's hand closed around his throat, trying to back him into the wall. Ianto stood his ground, glaring at the shorter, skinnier man as best he could.
"I don't care what Jack says ... I always get what I want ..." he hissed. Ianto pushed him backwards, and he stumbled slightly.
"That's wonderful, sir. Now, if you are looking for his Lordship, perhaps I could ring him for you?" He moved to the phone and picked up the receiver, not waiting for a reply before punching in Jack's number from memory. "Hello? It's Ianto. Yes. Mr Saxon is here - he'd like to see you. As soon as possible, I'd presume. Yes. Yes. Okay ... right ... I'll tell him. Goodbye, sir." He turned to Saxon. "He requests you leave me in peace, return to your suite, and he shall call on you when he returns. Shall I show you to the door, Mr. Saxon?"
Saxon glowered at him, and lunged forward again. Ianto simply stepped to the side, and Saxon nearly lost his balance without Ianto being there for him to impact with. Regaining his composure, he threw him one more venomous look and strode out of the room. He hesitated in the doorway. "I don't suppose you want me telling Jack about you and Lucy, do you?"
Ianto raised his eyebrow and regarded the man coolly. "I've already got my friends in security to get me a copy of the CCTV that more than proves nothing happened between me and your wife." he lied. Saxon seemed to buy it, grinding his teeth and slamming the door shut behind him.
"Saxon tried it on with me." said Ianto the second Jack returned. "Then he tried blackmailing me, saying that unless I agreed to do what he wanted he'd try and make out like something had happened between me and Mrs. Saxon."
Jack looked grim. "I thought he was going back to London ..."
"Well, he's here." sighed Ianto. "Where've you been, anyway?"
"Hospital." Jack replied as Ianto helped him out of his coat. Ianto gave him a small smile of understanding. "Then I went into town for a bit. I bought you a present."
Ianto felt his face flush. "A ... a present? You didn't have to, Jack ..."
"I know." Jack waved away his protests. "I wanted to. And it was only cheap." He pulled a slim red box out of on the pockets of his coat as it hung on the stand. "Here you go. A DVD. Jimmy Carr - if you like suits and sarcasm, you'll like him. A little offensive in places, but a good laugh nonetheless."
"A comedian?" asked Ianto, turning over the case to read the back. He beamed at Jack. "Thanks! I ... don't really know what to say ... um ..."
Jack shrugged. "S'alright. Made you smile already, look!"
"I can watch it while you go and see Saxon."
"You can't watch stand up comedy on your own! No where near as fun. I'll go and see Saxon, you stay here and entertain yourself and when I come back, we'll have chocolate, popcorn and so much coca cola we'll be as dizzy as six year olds. 'Kay?"
Ianto rolled his eyes. "I need to clean the kitchenette anyway."
"Good. I'll be back as quick as I can."
Ianto fell asleep waiting for Jack, and it was dark before he woke again. He called his Captain's name, but there was no reply. He checked his PDA, and found a message from Jack.
Had to go to England. Back tomorrow. V Sorry. Stay in my bed tonight. Lock the doors. Hit red button under left bedside table if you need to.
Ianto's stomach grumbled, so he slipped the room key into his pocket and headed towards the lift. He paused in the lift, his finger millimeters from the button that would take him to the foyer, then bit his lip. Stay in my bed, he had said. Lock the doors. Hit the red button ... if you need to .... Ianto stepped out of the lift and hurried to his own suite, taking fresh clothes and crouching to reach under his bed to get his cardboard box of possessions bundled into his arms. He hesitated at the door to Jack's suite, turning his eyes to the lift at the end of the corridor. Suddenly, it seemed so ominous, and the numbers indicated the level it was on flicking up and up made the hairs on the back of Ianto's neck stand on end. It was two floors below when something in his brain clicked, and he practically threw himself into Jack's suite, flicking the switch down on the lock that stopped people entering from the outside. He ran to the kitchenette, applying the same setting to the door leading to the corridor there.
He gathered up his clothes, his cardboard box and PDA, and some cereal and milk from the kitchen, and headed to the bedroom. As a last minute thought, he went back into the sitting room and crouched under Jack's desk where he knew he hid the safe containing all the documents and papers and photographs about his treasured gauntlet. Ianto hadn't told Jack he'd watched him key in the combination, and decided that not telling him unless it was necessary was probably a good idea. Punching in the code, he pulled out the box containing Jack's things, and took it to the bedroom. There was a traditional lock in there, and he turned the knob on the inside to seal it shut, the sense of danger still sluicing through his conscious mind. He laid his things across the chair in the corner, and crossed to the left-hand bedside table. There, hidden towards the back, underneath the main surface, was the red button Jack had spoken of. Ianto didn't know what it did, and decided to find out whether or not his fears were unfounded or just good instinct before pushing it. Sitting on the bed, he half wished he hadn't changed the linen, the scent of Jack that made him feel safe absent from the fresh bedclothes. He curled up in them nonetheless, pretending Jack would be back soon to press their bodies together.
The silence in the suite was making Ianto's ears ring. He couldn't even hear a clock ticking, Jack preferring digital ones because the constant rhythm of time passing made it hard for him to sleep. Ianto hardly dared move, the rustling of the sheets seeming incredibly loud in the quiet around him, practically holding his breath so that it didn't sound like he was exhaling a gale every few seconds.
A loud bang and crash made Ianto nearly fall off the bed in fright. He lay there frozen a moment, hearing muffled voices, before springing into action. Crouching by the bedside table, he pushed the button, wondering what would happen, thinking for a second that nothing had. Then he heard a dull thud behind him, and turned to see part of the wall had swung open, revealing a hidden room behind. The voices in the other room were growing irritated, and Ianto heard something smash. Gathering up his things as quickly as he could, he turned back to the hidden room. Panic room, he thought. Shit ... I think I saw film like this once ...
Something thudded and smashed very close by, and Ianto hurried into the room, taking his change of clothes, cereal, cardboard box and the contents of the safe with him. He glanced around, and just inside the door was another, larger red button. He hit it, and the heavy secret door swung shut, once again looking like a wall to an outside viewer. There was a switch next to it that deactivated the button outside, and Ianto flicked it with a shaky hand. He turned and looked around him.
The walls were a creamy shade, and the room was more aimed for comfort than bare essentials. There was a full en suite bathroom, a little kitchenette, fridge and a comfortable-looking single bed against the wall. There was a desk, on which were stacked several small monitors, and a phone. Ianto crossed to it, and flicking on the monitors and confirming what he had suspected: CCTV camera feeds. There were two men in conversation in the sitting room, and Ianto could see Jack's safe lying open and broken across the floor.
Ianto dialed Jack's number, biting his lip, counting the rings. His heart was pounding in his ears as he waited for Jack to answer.
"Harkness." Jack eventually barked.
"Oh thank God you're okay!" Ianto nearly shouted in relief.
"Ianto?
"I'm in the panic room thing. There's two guys ... I dunno who ... I'm really, really sorry."
"Are you hurt?
"No, I'm fine. But ... they've broken into your safe ..."
Ianto was met with silence.
"Jack?"
"As long as you're okay, it doesn't matter." Jack eventually said, sounding like he was biting back anger.
"No ... it's okay. The didn't get anything. I've got the stuff that was in it in this room with me."
"Oh thank God! - how ... did you hack my safe?"
"I ... saw you key in the combination a couple of times. But I've got the box full of your stuff here. It's safe. But ... the blokes are looking rather pissed off."
"Don't worry. They can't get to you. Don't be frightened." Jack said soothingly.
"I'm not frightened." lied Ianto. "What ... where are you, Jack?"
"I'm on my way back. I've got what I needed. I'm coming straight back now, okay?"
"Should I ring the police?"
Silence met his question.
"Jack?" No answer. "Jack?" he repeated, more forcefully.
"Ianto ... I ... I got to go ..."
"Are you alright?"
"Don't ring me again until I ring you. Stay where you are, and don't let them know where you are."
The line went dead, and Ianto resignedly replaced the receiver. Glancing at the monitors, he saw that the two men were helping themselves to scotch and chocolates from the minibar, smashing vases and ornaments as they went. Ianto lifted the receiver, his finger hovering over the 'nine', before replacing it and putting his head in his hands, rubbing his eyes in frustration. The screens showed the men moving through the suite, getting to the bedroom and rattling the handle of the door, realizing it was locked. It chilled Ianto's bones, knowing they were so close. The man was shouting something through the door, but Ianto couldn't hear. Stepping back, the man shouldered the door and smashed through it, staring around the bedroom.
Ianto tensed, realizing that all that separated them from him was the hidden door and a wall. He could see the other man had a knife, and he began to slash and tear at the bedclothes and mattress while the other yanked open the wardrobe and started pulling Jack's things out of it, holding a couple of the more expensive dress shirts against himself and making limp-wristed mimes to his companion.
Deciding to pretend the men weren't there, Ianto decided it was probably best to turn the monitors off and forget about them as best he could. Flicking the buttons on each one to 'off', he hesitated before he switched off the final one. It showed the men in the bedroom, pulling a box from under the slashed mattress and opening it, rifling through its contents. Ianto felt his blood boil, knowing that the box contained all of Jack's personal letters and photographs - the 'stuff you'd rescue from a burning house' collection of memories. Ianto had once asked him about it, when he'd awoken and found Jack looking through it, and he said that it contained letters from his parents, his brother, long-lost lovers and his daughter. There were also photographs of her growing up, and of Jack's friends in the RAF when he'd been a pilot, before taking up his father's title. He hadn't let Ianto see anything in that box, which meant that it was more personal than anything else Jack owned. Ianto felt like kicking himself for forgetting it, but since the one time he'd seen Jack with it it had slipped his mind.
The men seemed to realize what was in the box, and started reading the letters and casually flicking through the photographs, occasionally showing one to the other or reading something aloud. With a bitter taste in his mouth, Ianto flicked off the monitor, trying not to think about what they would say when they found Jack's sex toys, and climbed onto the bed and wept into the pillows.
Ianto jolted awake, the phone on the desk ringing loudly. Alert, he slowly lifted the receiver to his ear. "Hello?"
"Ianto! You're okay? You're safe?"
"Jack? Yes ... yes ... I'm fine ..." Relief flooded through him, and he closed his eyes as his nerves and fear disspiated.
"I'm outside the room ... let me in ..."
The line went dead.
Pushing the button, the door swung open and Ianto nearly yelled in shock as someone barreled straight into him, practically pinning his arms to his sides. Inhaling deeply, Ianto could smell that it was Jack and feel the strength of him while trapped in his arms. His head was buried in Ianto's neck, holding him so tight he felt crushed and struggled to draw a proper breath. Eventually, Jack relented, running his hands over Ianto's body and checking for any sign of injury.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened? Did they see you?"
"One question at a time ..." said Ianto, practically pushing him off. "Where have you been?"
"I nipped across the border. I had to ... uh ... acquire something." Jack replied, indicating a large, grey metal box sitting on the slashed mattress in the room behind them. "I think ... we need to get out of here. Let's go to your room, okay?"
Jack turned without waiting for a reply, picking up the box, which appeared to be quite heavy, and leading the way out. Ianto picked up his cardboard box, clothes and Jack's box of documents, balancing them all precariously but not struggling to carry them too much. He ignored Jack's shirts slashed and strewn over the bedroom, as well as the broken furniture. He noticed that the letters and photographs disappeared, and just about spied the box they were kept in tucked roughly into one of Jack's pockets. Somehow he managed to make it through the sitting room without baulking and trying to tidy up. Glass and porcelain were scattered like a mine field over the carpet, the cushions of the sofa torn and the stuffing pulled out and thrown around the room. A harsh night wind echoed through the room, whipping anything light and not held down around the room, and Ianto raised his eyes to see that one of the windows of the top-storey suite had been smashed. He followed Jack out onto the corridor, glad it was considerably warmer. With a smirk, Jack slipped his hand into Ianto's pocket and pulled out the keycard for his room.
"I thought you had your own key." frowned Ianto as Jack used his to unlock the door.
"I do." replied Jack, slipping the card back into Ianto's pocket. "I just thought it would be more fun to get yours."
Ianto rolled his eyes, entering the room and kicking the door shut behind the both of them. He set the boxes and suit down, turned and folded his arms around Jack properly. "Come to bed ..." he muttered in his ear, pushing his hands under Jack's coat and putting his arms around him.
He laughed as Jack pushed him backwards, and he landed with a bounce, flat on his back on the bed. Jack knelt over him, touching their lips together momentarily, then withdrawing and sitting up straight, his expression troubled.
Ianto propped himself on his elbows and frowned up at him. "What's wrong?"
"Stay here a second."
Jack got up off the bed, and took the box of memories out of his coat pocket. He placed it on top of the grey box he'd 'acquired' and picked them up, with the documents from the safe, and put them in a cupboard. Ianto watched him with interest, before sitting up fully. "I know a safer place." he smiled. Getting up, he crossed to a corner where a large China urn stood, and with a bit of effort he moved it aside. The carpet was a little loose, and he pulled it back to reveal the wooden plank flooring underneath. He pulled up a loose slab of wood, and yanked up the one next to it. "Here." he indicated.
Nodding once, Jack transferred the boxes, being gentle with them and almost caressing them, before allowing Ianto to replace the floorboards, the carpet and the urn. Ianto stood and turned to see Jack removing his coat, over shirt and braces and boots before flinging himself on the bed. Ianto crawled up next to him, bending down and kissing his lips.
"I'm tired." yawned Jack, stretching melodramatically and draping his arm over Ianto's shoulder.
"Too tired?" asked Ianto, giving Jack his best suggestive eyebrows.
"Too tired." Jack agreed with a smile. It faded a little as their eyes met. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"A bit shaken ... but ... who were they? What's going to happen?"
"They were probably Saxon's men, but ... well ... I won't be able to prove it. He'll make a show of being concerned tomorrow, and you'll accept that concern with gratitude, forget about it all and move on."
Ianto moved slightly so that he was a bit higher than Jack on the bed, putting his arms around him and tucking Jack's head under his chin, resolutely ignoring the instructions about how he was to behave with Saxon. "Cuddle and sleep?" he asked.
Jack turned a little, pulling him closer and settling down.
"Cuddle and sleep ..." he agreed.
Ianto fell asleep pretty much immediately, but it was a long time before Jack could stop watching his peaceful, young face and fall asleep himself, worry etched into his brow and his dreams plagued with the contents of his new box, Harold Saxon, a dying Lisa and a very hurt Ianto.
FIN
This would have been posted hours ago, but someone set up a SaveIantoJones message board and I kinda lost what I was supposed to be doing ... SOWWI!
Anyways ... moved house properly now! Yayyyy!
I also have nutella, and am eating it with a spoon. THIS IS WHAT SUCCESS TASTES LIKE!
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Date: 2009-09-16 02:37 am (UTC)Also, adorable new background!
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Date: 2009-09-16 03:16 am (UTC)I was talking to a friend today about "The Ballad of Ianto Jones" and how you were great to make us feel the characters feeling (I was mainly thinking of Jack's difficulties to remember Ianto's name and face, and the photo... ahhhh, so sad!). Just to prove me right, you post this chapter today, in which you made me feel scared with Ianto (a feeling I don't get often when reading, really!).
All that to say: YOU'RE BRILLIANT!!!!...oh, and Yay! Nutella! xP
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Date: 2009-09-16 03:32 am (UTC)Saxon is the creepiest of the creepy! *shudders* He really needs to stay away from Ianto. :P
Though... starting and ending with Jack and Ianto in bed helped. :D
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Date: 2009-09-16 04:13 am (UTC)(btw you update really fast. which I find awesome, so no complaints here) :D
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Date: 2009-09-16 04:18 am (UTC)AND, they're in bed again, heeeey~! ;)
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Date: 2009-09-16 04:27 am (UTC)I want to do nasty things to Saxon now!
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Date: 2009-09-16 06:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-16 07:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-16 08:38 am (UTC)Saxon is such a creepy evil bastard... man needs to be shot or something...
Funky new background and now I'm craving nutella....
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Date: 2009-09-16 08:49 am (UTC)Bloody great chapter though! I can't wait for more! <3
Janto FTW!
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Date: 2009-09-16 08:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-16 02:44 pm (UTC)ICON!
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Date: 2009-09-16 09:35 pm (UTC)Lol - we all know what effect that man has on us mere mortals! *iz also ded*
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Date: 2009-09-17 02:52 am (UTC)*seez ikon*
*iz ded agen*
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Date: 2009-09-16 02:57 pm (UTC)it's hard to get here!
Sucess indeed, for this chapter.
Where's this message board at?
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Date: 2009-09-16 08:51 pm (UTC):D
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Date: 2009-09-17 02:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-16 04:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-16 07:00 pm (UTC)Jack has too much to worry about. And all this for the gauntlet. :( Oh silly boy. Stop trying to get it and whisk Ianto away for many bumminz. ^^
Srsly. You had me going with the Ianto dying thing on msn. Tut tut. LOL What's he guna do about Lisa though? Make 'er better! Make 'er better! We know what Jack does when he's all mopey and depressed!
*worries*
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Date: 2009-09-16 08:26 pm (UTC)It's for moments like this I rehearse my evil laugh.
*ahem*
MUA-HA-HA-HAAAAA!
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Date: 2009-09-16 07:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-16 07:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-17 02:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-17 02:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-17 06:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-17 03:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-21 01:28 am (UTC)Wanna be friends?
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Date: 2009-09-21 10:16 am (UTC)